A Patient Interview-Based Needs Assessment and Evaluation of Experiences with Periviable Pregnancies.

Given the complex ethical and emotional nature of births during the periviable period for both health care providers and families, this investigation sought to identify strategies for improved counseling of pregnant patients facing preterm birth at the cusp of viability at a tertiary care center in Hawai'i. As part of a larger quality improvement project on periviability counseling, 10 patients were interviewed during either individual or small focus groups using a progression of hypothetical scenarios. Interviews were analyzed independently by 3 investigators to identify themes of patient experience and potential areas for improvement when counseling patients who are carrying periviable pregnancies.

Perceptions Regarding Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Training among Obstetrics and Gynecology Residents in Hawai'i.

A pediatric and adolescent gynecology curriculum was implemented for obstetrics/gynecology residents at a single institution in Hawai'i. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of this pediatric and adolescent gynecology (PAG) formal curriculum in improving knowledge. Twelve residents at the University of Hawai'i completed the curriculum during their second year of training.

Placentas delivered by pre-pregnant obese women have reduced abundance and diversity in the microbiome.

Maternal pre-pregnancy obesity may have an impact on both maternal and fetal health. We examined the microbiome recovered from placentas in a multi-ethnic maternal pre-pregnant obesity cohort, through an optimized microbiome protocol to enrich low bacterial biomass samples. We found that the microbiomes recovered from the placentas of obese pre-pregnant mothers are less abundant and less diverse when compared to those from mothers of normal pre-pregnancy weight.

Racial/Ethnic Representation in United States and Australian Obstetric Research.

Objective: To describe racial/ethnic representation in United States (US) and Australian obstetric research, represented by the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network (MFMU) and Australian Research Centre for Health of Women and Babies (ARCH) trials.

Methods: MFMU studies were identified through PubMed and ARCH studies through their online publication listing from 2011 to 2016. Observational and randomized cohorts and primary and secondary data analyses were included.

Prepregnant Obesity of Mothers in a Multiethnic Cohort Is Associated with Cord Blood Metabolomic Changes in Offspring.

Maternal obesity has become a growing global health concern that may predispose the offspring to medical conditions later in life. However, the metabolic link between maternal prepregnant obesity and healthy offspring has not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we conducted a case-control study using a coupled untargeted and targeted metabolomic approach from the newborn cord blood metabolomes associated with a matched maternal prepregnant obesity cohort of 28 cases and 29 controls.

Complications of operative vaginal delivery and provider volume and experience.

Objective: To evaluate associations between operative vaginal delivery complications and provider experience (operative vaginal delivery volume and time since residency).

Methods: We included all operative vaginal deliveries between 2008 and 2014 at a tertiary care teaching hospital, stratified into forceps-assisted and vacuum-assisted deliveries. Complications included severe perineal lacerations (3rd and 4th degree) and neonatal injuries (subgaleal/subdural/cerebral hemorrhage, facial nerve injury, and scalp injury), which were identified by International Classification Diagnosis-9 codes.

The Effect of a Targeted Educational Activity on Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident In-Training Examination Scores.

The objective of this study was to compare the examination scores before and after implementation of a study program based on high yield topics on the Council of Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (CREOG) In-Training Examination. This prospective cohort study compared scores from academic years 2012 to 2014 of University of Hawai'i obstetrics and gynecology residents who participated in a directed study program based on selected high yield topics from the CREOG Test Item Summary Booklet. Topics were considered high yield if more than 75% of the program residents answered the topic questions incorrectly during the immediately preceding CREOG In-Training Examination administration.

Impact of low concentrations of phthalates on the effects of 17β-estradiol in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Objective: To explore whether lower concentrations of phthalates interfere with the effects of 17β-estradiol on the growth of MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Materials And Methods: MCF-7 cells were treated with 17β-estradiol (E), phthalates, including butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), di(n-butyl) phthalate (DBP), and di(20ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), or with both E and phthalates, all at 10nM. After incubation for 48 hours, the cells were harvested and extracted for MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay.

Risk factor for first-incident hip fracture in Taiwanese postmenopausal women.

Objective: The variation in hip fracture risk between countries is greater than 10-fold. The present study aimed at identifying risk factors that resulted in the first occurrence of hip fracture in Taiwanese postmenopausal women.

Materials And Methods: A case-control study with a patient group of 50 postmenopausal women, who were admitted to Keelung Chang Gung Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan due to the first incident of accidental hip fracture, was used to examine potential risk factors, including bone mass.