Revisiting Anticoagulation in Spine Surgery: Balancing Venous Thromboembolic Events and Epidural Hematoma.

Study Design: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: Venous thromboembolic events (VTE) and post-operative epidural hematoma (EDH) are significant complications after spine surgery. Guidelines for chemoprophylaxis are controversial and variability amongst surgeons remains.

Maternal Prenatal Hair Cortisol Is Associated with Child Wheeze among Mothers and Infants with Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Who Face High Socioeconomic Adversity.

The association of co-occurring prenatal stress and tobacco exposures on childhood wheezing and asthma are not well established. In this study, we compared maternal prenatal hair cortisol concentration (HCC) to the maternal report of infant wheezing (y/n) in the first year of life among mother-infant dyads exposed to tobacco smoke and socioeconomic adversity. Data were obtained from the Vitamin C to Decrease Effects of Smoking in Pregnancy on Infant Lung Function study.

Risk of metabolic syndrome and metabolic phenotypes in relation to biomarker-calibrated estimates of energy and protein intakes: an investigation from the Women's Health Initiative.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased mortality independent of BMI, resulting in discordant metabolic phenotypes, such as metabolically healthy obese and metabolically unhealthy normal-weight individuals. Studies investigating dietary intake in MetS have reported mixed results, due in part to the limitations of self-reported measures.

Objectives: To investigate the role of biomarker-calibrated estimates of energy and protein in MetS and metabolic phenotypes.

Vitamin C to pregnant smokers persistently improves infant airway function to 12 months of age: a randomised trial.

Background: Vitamin C (500 mg·day) supplementation for pregnant smokers has been reported to increase newborn pulmonary function and infant forced expiratory flows (FEFs) at 3 months of age. Its effect on airway function through 12 months of age has not been reported.

Objective: To assess whether vitamin C supplementation to pregnant smokers is associated with a sustained increased airway function in their infants through 12 months of age.

Oral Vitamin C (500 mg/d) to Pregnant Smokers Improves Infant Airway Function at 3 Months (VCSIP). A Randomized Trial.

We reported a randomized trial demonstrating daily supplemental vitamin C to pregnant smokers significantly improved newborn pulmonary function tests. The current study tests these results in a new cohort using infant pulmonary function tests. To determine if infants of pregnant smokers randomized to daily supplemental vitamin C would have improved forced expiratory flows (FEFs) at 3 months of age compared with those randomized to placebo, and to investigate the association of the α5 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Smoking cessation in pregnancy: a continuing challenge in the United States.

Despite significant population level declines, smoking during pregnancy remains a major public health issue in the United States (US). Approximately 360,000-500,000 smoke-exposed infants are born yearly, and prenatal smoking remains a leading modifiable cause of poor birth outcomes (e.g.

Quantification of nutritive sucking among preterm and full-term infants.

Purpose: We developed summaries of oral bottle-feeding skills among preterm (<37 gestational weeks) and full-term (≥37 gestational weeks) infants using a mechanical device (Orometer) to measure intraoral pressure changes, with accompanying automated software and analytics. We then compared the rates of change in feeding skills over several weeks (feeding trends) between preterm and full-term infants. We also compared group means at 40 weeks post menstrual age (PMA).

Vitamin C to Decrease the Effects of Smoking in Pregnancy on Infant Lung Function (VCSIP): Rationale, design, and methods of a randomized, controlled trial of vitamin C supplementation in pregnancy for the primary prevention of effects of in utero tobacco smoke exposure on infant lung function and respiratory health.

Despite strong anti-smoking efforts, at least 12% of American women cannot quit smoking when pregnant resulting in >450,000 smoke-exposed infants born yearly. Smoking during pregnancy is the largest preventable cause of childhood respiratory illness including wheezing and asthma. Recent studies have shown a protective effect of vitamin C supplementation on the lung function of offspring exposed to in utero smoke in a non-human primate model and an initial human trial.

Medical advocacy among African-American women diagnosed with breast cancer: from recipient to resource.

Purpose: Medical advocacy at multiple levels (self, community/interpersonal, national/public health interest) may be helpful to address the disproportionate burden of breast cancer African-American women encounter. Little, however, is known about the interplay of medical advocacy at different levels.

Methods: We analyzed qualitative data from two studies focused on the psychosocial experiences of breast cancer among 38 African-American women living in Western Washington State.