Implementing Routine HIV Screening in Three Chicago Hospitals: Lessons Learned.

Objective: This study describes routine HIV screening implementation and outcomes in three hospitals in Chicago, Illinois.

Methods: Retrospective data from three hospitals were examined, and routine testing procedures, testing volume, reactive test results, and linkage-to-care outcomes were documented.

Results: From January 2012 through March 2014, 40,788 HIV tests were administered at the three hospitals: 18,603 (46%) in the emergency department (ED), 7,546 (19%) in the inpatient departments, and 14,639 (36%) in outpatient clinics.

Uterine fibroids: clinical manifestations and contemporary management.

Uterine fibroids (leiomyomata) are extremely common lesions that are associated with detrimental effects including infertility and abnormal uterine bleeding. Fibroids cause molecular changes at the level of endometrium. Abnormal regulation of growth factors and cytokines in fibroid cells may contribute to negative endometrial effects.

Leiomyoma simultaneously impair endometrial BMP-2-mediated decidualization and anticoagulant expression through secretion of TGF-β3.

Context: Uterine leiomyomas occur in 30-70% of reproductive-age women. Leiomyoma reduce implantation, increase miscarriage risk, and increase menstrual bleeding. We hypothesized that endometrial defects induced by leiomyoma result in menorrhagia and reproductive dysfunction.

Fertility outcomes following myomectomy in an urban hospital setting.

Objective: Infertility is rarely a consequence of myomas. However, a causal relationship may be suspected when other causes of infertility have been excluded. Uterine myomas have been reported in 27% of infertile women; 50% of women with unexplained infertility become pregnant after myomectomy.

What influences a woman to choose vaginal birth after cesarean?

Objective: To discover what influences women in the decision to deliver via vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC).

Design: Descriptive and qualitative, influenced by principles of phenomenology and using content analysis to describe the lived experiences of women who choose VBAC.

Setting: Women were recruited from a postpartum unit in a hospital in the rural southeastern United States.