Microbial colonization of follicular fluid: alterations in cytokine expression and adverse assisted reproduction technology outcomes.

Background: Previous studies have measured cytokines expressed within follicular fluid and compared the profiles with the aetiology of infertility and/or successful or unsuccessful assisted reproduction technology (ART) outcomes.

Methods: In this study, 71 paired follicular fluid and vaginal secretions collected from ART patients were cultured to detect microorganisms and tested for the presence of cytokines. Patient specimens were selected for assay based on two criteria: whether the follicular fluid specimen was colonized (with microorganisms prior to oocyte retrieval) or contaminated by vaginal flora and; the aetiology of infertility.

The roles of healthcare professionals in implementing clinical prevention and population health.

Across the health disciplines, clinical prevention and population health activities increasingly are recognized as integral to the practice of their professions. Most of the major clinical health professions organizations have begun incorporating clinical prevention and population health activities and services into educational curricula, the accreditation process, and training to affect clinical practice. Students in each health profession need to understand the roles played by those in other health professions.

Using the Clinical Prevention and Population Health Curriculum Framework to encourage curricular change.

The Healthy People Curriculum Task Force was established in 2002 to encourage implementation of Healthy People 2010 Objective 1.7: "To increase the proportion of schools of medicine, schools of nursing and health professional training schools whose basic curriculum for healthcare providers includes the core competencies in health promotion and disease prevention." In 2004, the Task Force published a Clinical Prevention and Population Health Curriculum Framework ("Framework") to help each profession assess and develop more robust approaches to this content in their training.

Adopting narrative pedagogy to improve the student learning experience in a regional Australian university.

A growing body of work in the literature describes and explains narrative pedagogy within nursing and midwifery programs. This paper continues the conversation by explaining, with examples, how narrative pedagogy has been interpreted and applied within a new nursing faculty in Australia. The aims of our nursing and midwifery programs are to provide students with a clear professional identity and to prepare them for contemporary Australian nursing practice.

A systematic assessment of strategies to address the nursing faculty shortage, U.S.

This article provides an assessment of strategies implemented nationwide to counter the nursing faculty shortage, highlights those indicating most promise, and proposes a basis for evaluating outcomes. The deficit of educators is a key impediment to filling the growing demand for nurses generated by an aging population and a weak supply of new graduates, which has left up to 13% of hospital RN positions vacant. Educational institutions have adopted various approaches to expand faculty resources with the goal of increasing nursing student enrollment.

Maryland's agenda: moving the faculty shortage to the forefront.

As the United States faces an ever-increasing nursing and faculty shortage, Maryland has become a leader in finding innovative ways to address the faculty shortage crisis in an effort to increase the number of bedside nurses. Three years of diligent advocacy involving multiple stakeholders has finally garnered results. In December 2005, the Maryland Heath Care Cost Review Commission and Maryland's Higher Education Commission, with the support of the state government's executive and legislative branches, launched an unprecedented 10-year, $8.

Stages of change, processes of change, and social support for exercise and weight gain in postpartum women.

Objectives: To test the extent to which social support and variables included in the Transtheoretical Model were explanatory for exercise initiation and weight maintenance in postpartum women.

Design: A cross-sectional descriptive design.

Setting: Data were collected in the participant's homes.

Determining criteria for excellence in nurse practitioner education: use of the Delphi Technique.

Standards and guidelines are available to help nurse practitioner (NP) educators maintain quality in their programs. NP education is now at a juncture to develop criteria that extend beyond the basic standards to measurement of exemplary educational endeavors. In 2000, the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Task Force for Programs of Excellence was formed and given the charge of developing criteria for recognizing exemplary nurse practitioner programs.

Clinical Prevention and Population Health Curriculum Framework: the nursing perspective.

The Clinical Prevention and Population Health Curriculum Framework (Curriculum Framework) was developed by the Healthy People Curriculum Task Force comprised of representatives from allopathic and osteopathic medicine, dentistry, nursing and nurse practitioners, pharmacy and physicians assistants. This multidiscipline Task Force was covened to address the Healthy People 2010 objective of increasing the health promotion/prevention content in health professional education. A focus on clinical prevention and population health activities is central to the goal of improving the health status of the nation and offers the greatest potential to reduce many leading causes of death and improve quality of life across diverse populations.

Interaction of microbiology and pathology in women undergoing investigations for infertility.

Background: Cases of endometriosis with no tubal damage are associated with infertility, suggesting an immunological rather than mechanical barrier to reproduction. Laparoscopy and falloposcopy results of clinically asymptomatic women undergoing investigation of infertility were correlated with the outcomes of microbiological screening for Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Mycoplasma hominis, ureaplasma species, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Neisseria meningitidis and Chlamydia pneumoniae.

Methods: A total of 44 women presenting to a hospital IVF service for laparoscopic or laparoscopic/falloposcopic investigation of infertility provided endocervical swabs, fallopian tube washings, and peripheral whole blood for analysis.

Clinical prevention and population health: curriculum framework for health professions.

The Clinical Prevention and Population Health Curriculum Framework is the initial product of the Healthy People Curriculum Task Force convened by the Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine and the Association of Academic Health Centers. The Task Force includes representatives of allopathic and osteopathic medicine, nursing and nurse practitioners, dentistry, pharmacy, and physician assistants. The Task Force aims to accomplish the Healthy People 2010 goal of increasing the prevention content of clinical health professional education.

Ureaplasma parvum and Ureaplasma urealyticum are detected in semen after washing before assisted reproductive technology procedures.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of ureaplasmas in semen and washed semen and to explore their effect on semen andrology variables.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: In vitro fertilization (IVF) unit of a private hospital.

Immunopathogenesis of chlamydia trachomatis infections in women.

Objective: To develop a model of pathogenesis by which Chlamydia trachomatis progresses from acute to chronic infection, and finally serious disease (salpingitis, tubal occlusion).

Design: Review of current literature located through web-based Medline searches using key words: Chlamydia trachomatis, immunology, cytokines, heat shock protein, infertility.

Result(s): Cell-mediated immune mechanisms appear to be critical in determining whether acute infection is resolved or progresses into chronicity with pathological outcome.

Evaluation of Selected Behavior Change Theoretical Models Used in Weight Management Interventions.

Purpose: This paper evaluates selected behavior change theoretical models used in weight reduction interventions and presents recommendations for the use of theory in weight reduction research. Overweight and obesity are complex problems, requiring long-term behavioral change. Behavioral treatments for overweight and obesity are as varied as the elements of behavior, and the long-term efficacy of most approaches is poor.

Screening for postmenopausal osteoporosis: a review of the evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

Background: Although osteoporotic fractures present an enormous health burden, it is not clear whether screening to identify high-risk persons is appropriate.

Purpose: To examine evidence on the benefits and harms of screening postmenopausal women for osteoporosis.

Data Sources: MEDLINE (1966 to May 2001), HealthSTAR (1975 to May 2001), and Cochrane databases; reference lists; and experts.