Culturally specific maternity care in Wisconsin.

There are significant health disparities in maternity care in the United States. One way to decrease these disparities may be to improve prenatal care among underserved minority women. This article reviews cultural and ethnic issues that may impact maternity care within 5 different groups of women commonly seen by maternity care providers in Wisconsin: African American, Latina, Hmong, Amish, and immigrant women.

An introduction to clinical research in osteopathic medicine.

Osteopathic medicine is a profession that has existed for more than 130 years. However, the profession is poorly understood by many health care professionals. This article introduces osteopathic medicine, including similarities and differences between osteopathic physicians (DOs) and allopathic physicians (MDs).

Sexual assault of women.

Sexual violence affects up to one third of women during their lifetime. Sexual assault is underreported, and more than one half of assaults are committed by someone known to the survivor. Although both men and women can be sexually assaulted, women are at greatest risk.

Expert panel on weight loss surgery: executive report update.

Rapid shifts in the demographics and techniques of weight loss surgery (WLS) have led to new issues, new data, new concerns, and new challenges. In 2004, this journal published comprehensive evidence-based guidelines on WLS. In this issue, we've updated those guidelines to assure patient safety in this fast-changing field.