Injection of drug residue as a potential risk factor for HCV acquisition among Montréal young injection drug users.

Background: Preparing drugs or medications for injection may leave residues in containers and filters used by injection drug users (IDUs). Little is known about the specific practice of injecting someone else's drug residue as a possible route of HCV transmission.

Methods: A prospective cohort study of street youth aged 14-23 years old was carried out between July 2001 and December 2005.

Addition of frailty and disability to cardiac surgery risk scores identifies elderly patients at high risk of mortality or major morbidity.

Background- Cardiac surgery risk scores perform poorly in elderly patients, in part because they do not take into account frailty and disability which are critical determinants of health status with advanced age. There is an unmet need to combine established cardiac surgery risk scores with measures of frailty and disability to provide a more complete model for risk prediction in elderly patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Methods and Results- This was a prospective, multicenter cohort study of elderly patients (≥70 years) undergoing coronary artery bypass and/or valve surgery in the United States and Canada.

Men had a higher risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism than women: a large population study.

Background: Most reports of sex differences in the risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) are based on small or moderate sized cohorts of selected patients with VTE.

Methods: We aimed to determine the effect of sex on recurrent VTE in a large non-selected, real-world population of men and women with incident VTE. Using the linked administrative health care databases of the province of Québec, Canada, we constructed a cohort of patients with a first-time diagnosis of VTE between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 2004.

An introduction to infertility counseling: a guide for mental health and medical professionals.

The practice of infertility counseling delivered by mental health and medical professionals has become more sophisticated and widespread over the past decade. This paper summarizes information presented at the second campus workshop of the Special Interest Group of Psychology and Counseling of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). This group is dedicated to improving infertility services by creating meaningful connections between mental health and medical professionals.

Tackling burden in ART: an integrated approach for medical staff.

Discontinuation is a problem in fertility clinics. Many couples discontinue assisted reproductive technologies (ART) without achieving a live birth for reasons other than poor prognosis or the cost of treatment. Discontinuation has been attributed to the burden of treatment.

Usefulness of brief intervention for patients admitted to emergency services for acute alcohol intoxication.

Background: In hospital emergency services, the prevalence of alcohol-related admissions is about 20%, of which 80% display elevated γ-glutamyl transpeptidase or carbohydrate deficient transferring (CDT). We investigated whether intensive case management (ICM) that included cognitive behavior-oriented brief intervention could decrease patient morbidity.

Methods: This study was a 13-month, prospective, exhaustive, longitudinal, controlled trial in an emergency department.

Consensus on women's health aspects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): the Amsterdam ESHRE/ASRM-Sponsored 3rd PCOS Consensus Workshop Group.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in females, with a high prevalence. The etiology of this heterogeneous condition remains obscure, and its phenotype expression varies. Two widely cited previous ESHRE/ASRM sponsored PCOS consensus workshops focused on diagnosis (published in 2004) and infertility management (published in 2008), respectively.

How patient-centred care relates to patients' quality of life and distress: a study in 427 women experiencing infertility.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent patients' experiences with fertility care are associated with their quality of life (QoL), and levels of anxiety and depression.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional questionnaire study within 29 Dutch fertility clinics, including women with fertility problems. Through multilevel regression analyses, associations between patients' QoL (FertiQoL) and distress [anxiety and depression; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)] and their experiences with fertility care [patient-centredness questionnaire (PCQ)-infertility] were determined.

Association of menopause and hormone replacement therapy with large artery remodeling.

Objective: To evaluate the remodeling of large arteries according to age at menopause, duration of menopause, and use of hormone therapy (HT).

Design: A cross-sectional study consisting of baseline measurements of a multicentric randomized trial were used to evaluate arterial parameters.

Setting: The study was conducted in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands in academic hospitals and private clinics.

Reference dosimetry during diagnostic CT examination using XR-QA radiochromic film model.

Purpose: The authors applied 2D reference dosimetry protocol for dose measurements using XR-QA radiochromic film model during diagnostic computed tomography (CT) examinations carried out on patients and humanoid Rando phantom.

Methods: Response of XR-QA model GAFCHROMIC™ film reference dosimetry system was calibrated in terms of Air-Kerma in air. Four most commonly used CT protocols were selected on their CT scanner (GE Lightspeed VCT 64), covering three anatomical sites (head, chest, and abdomen).

Older first-time mothers and early postpartum depression: a prospective cohort study of women conceiving spontaneously or with assisted reproductive technologies.

Objective: To evaluate whether older first-time mothers (≥37 years) have higher rates of postpartum depression compared with younger first-time mothers, controlling for mode of conception and known risk factors for postpartum depression.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Assisted reproductive technology (ART) clinics in two large Australian cities and public and private antenatal clinics and/or classes in the vicinity of ART clinics.

Influence of the recommendations on the implementation of home blood pressure measurement by French general practitioners: a 2004-2009 longitudinal survey.

Objectives: To assess the implementation of home blood pressure measurement (HBPM) by French general practitioners (GPs) in current practice in 2009 and to assess the evolution of practices between 2004 and 2009; the perceived benefits and limitations of the method; and the adherence to methodological European [European Society of Hypertension (ESH) 2007] or French [La Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS) 2005] recommendations.

Method: Two phone surveys on a representative random sample of French GPs in 2004 and then in 2009.

Results: Five hundred and forty and 801 GPs were contacted in 2004 and 2009, respectively, in which 511 and 500 participated, including the same 214 in both surveys.

Is there a role for rifampicin, ofloxacin and minocycline (ROM) therapy in the treatment of leprosy? Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: A combination of rifampicin, ofloxacin and minocycline (ROM) is one of the newer recommendations for treatment of leprosy. We performed a systematic review and a meta-analysis of studies that had evaluated the efficacy of ROM therapy in treatment of paucibacillary and multibacillary leprosy patients.

Methods: Studies were identified by searching the PubMed, Embase, LILACS and Cochrane databases.

Androgen-deprivation therapy and the risk of stroke in patients with prostate cancer.

Background: Some evidence indicates that androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) increases the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. To date, few studies have investigated whether this therapy also increases the risk of cerebrovascular events.

Objective: To determine whether different types of ADT increase the risk of stroke/transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) in patients with prostate cancer.

Modeling initiation into drug injection among street youth.

This study aimed at examining the predictors of initiation into drug injection among street youth using social cognitive theory framework. A prospective cohort study based on semi-annual interviews was carried out. Psychosocial determinants referred to avoidance of initiation.

Effect of sodium bisulfite injection on the microbial community composition in a brackish-water-transporting pipeline.

Pipelines transporting brackish subsurface water, used in the production of bitumen by steam-assisted gravity drainage, are subject to frequent corrosion failures despite the addition of the oxygen scavenger sodium bisulfite (SBS). Pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes was used to determine the microbial community composition for planktonic samples of transported water and for sessile samples of pipe-associated solids (PAS) scraped from pipeline cutouts representing corrosion failures. These were obtained from upstream (PAS-616P) and downstream (PAS-821TP and PAS-821LP, collected under rapid-flow and stagnant conditions, respectively) of the SBS injection point.

Influence of female bodyweight on IVF outcome: a longitudinal multicentre cohort study of 487 infertile couples.

This study investigated the impact of women's body mass index (BMI) on the outcome after consecutive IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles in 487 patients initiating treatment with 5-year follow-up. The total number of cycles was 1417. In total 103 (21.

Antibiotic use and risk of gynecological cancer.

Objectives: Several studies addressed the association between antibiotic use and breast cancer risk. The objective of this study was to assess the association between antibiotic use and risk of cervical, ovarian, and uterine cancer.

Study Design: We carried out a population-based case-control study using data from Saskatchewan Health administrative databases (Canada) between the years 1981 and 2000.

Increased risk of miscarriage among women experiencing physical or sexual intimate partner violence during pregnancy in Guatemala City, Guatemala: cross-sectional study.

Background: Violence against women by their male intimate partners (IPV) during pregnancy may lead to negative pregnancy outcomes. We examined the role of IPV as a potential risk factor for miscarriage in Guatemala. Our objectives were: (1) To describe the magnitude and pattern of verbal, physical and sexual violence by male intimate partners in the last 12 months (IPV) in a sample of pregnant Guatemalans; (2) To evaluate the influence of physical or sexual IPV on miscarriage as a pregnancy outcome.

Thiazolidinediones and the risk of incident congestive heart failure among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Clinical trials suggest that thiazolidinediones (TZDs) may increase the risk of congestive heart failure (CHF). However, their effect on the risk of incident CHF in unselected populations has not been thoroughly investigated.

Methods: Using data from the UK's General Practice Research Database, we conducted a case-control study within a population-based cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes.

The fertility quality of life (FertiQoL) tool: development and general psychometric properties.

Background: To develop the first international instrument to measure fertility quality of life (FertiQoL) in men and women experiencing fertility problems, to evaluate the preliminary psychometric properties of this new tool and to translate FertiQoL into multiple languages.

Method: We conducted a survey, both online and in fertility clinics in USA, Australia/New Zealand, Canada and UK. A total of 1414 people with fertility problems participated.

Residential trajectory and HIV high-risk behaviors among Montréal street youth--a reciprocal relationship.

Evidence has linked residential instability and engagement in high-risk behaviors. This paper longitudinally examines the relationship between changes in residential stability and changes in HIV risk behaviors among Montréal street youth (SY). Between April 2006 and May 2007, 419 SY (18-25 years old) were recruited in a cohort study.

The Fertility Quality of Life (FertiQoL) tool: development and general psychometric properties.

Objective: To develop the first international instrument to measure fertility quality of life, FertiQoL, in men and women experiencing fertility problems, to evaluate the preliminary psychometric properties of this new tool and to translate FertiQoL into multiple languages.

Design: Survey.

Setting: Online and fertility clinics in USA, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, and United Kingdom.

Age at first birth, mode of conception and psychological wellbeing in pregnancy: findings from the parental age and transition to parenthood Australia (PATPA) study.

Background: It is increasingly common for women in high-income countries to delay childbearing. We aimed to describe the context of pregnancy for first-time mothers of different ages and examine relationships among maternal age at first birth, mode of conception and psychosocial wellbeing in pregnancy.

Methods: Using stratified sampling, we recruited similar numbers of women conceiving through assisted reproductive technology (ART; n = 297) or spontaneously (n = 295) across three age groups: younger, ≤ 20-30 years; middle, 31-36 years; older, ≥ 37 years.