Specifying a target trial protocol to estimate the effect of preconception treatment of periodontitis on time-to-pregnancy: A commentary and applied example.

Background: The target trial framework was developed as a strategy to design and analyze observational epidemiologic studies with the aim of reducing bias due to analytic decisions. It involves designing a hypothetical randomized trial to answer a question of interest and systematically considering how to use observational data to emulate each trial component.

Aims: The primary aim of this paper is to provide a detailed example of the application of the target trial framework to a research question in oral epidemiology.

A call for sex-positive epidemiology.

The World Health Organization specifies that sexual health requires the potential for pleasurable and safe sexual experiences. Yet epidemiologic research into sexual pleasure and other positive sexual outcomes has been scant. In this commentary, we aim to support the development and adoption of sex-positive epidemiology, which we define as epidemiology that incorporates the study of pleasure and other positive features alongside sexually transmitted infections and other familiar negative outcomes.

Validity of individual self-report oral health measures in assessing periodontitis for causal research applications.

Background: Self-reported measures of periodontitis developed for use in population surveillance are increasingly used in causal research. Numerous studies evaluate the validity of these measures against clinical parameters of periodontitis, yet few include validation parameters outside of multivariable models. Individual item validity is necessary to adequately inform use of these measures in causal research.

Preconception Periodontitis and Risk of Spontaneous Abortion in a Prospective Cohort Study.

Few studies have evaluated the association between periodontitis and spontaneous abortion (SAB), and all had limitations. We used data from the Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), a prospective preconception cohort study of 3,444 pregnancy planners in the United States and Canada (2019-2022), to address this question. Participants provided self-reported data on periodontitis diagnosis, treatment, and symptoms of severity (i.

Perceived racism associated with declines in self-rated oral health among U.S. Black women.

Purpose: Racial disparities in oral health are well-documented. Stress has been associated with both perceived racism and oral health, yet little research has directly investigated the association between perceived racism and oral health.

Methods: We used data from the Black Women's Health Study, a longitudinal cohort study that includes a geographically diverse sample of Black women across the United States.

Sexual dysfunction, distress, and care-seeking among females during the preconception period.

Background: Despite the high prevalence of female sexual dysfunction in population-based studies and the importance of sexual functioning for mixed-sex couples attempting conception, little is known about female sexual function in the preconception period.

Objective: This descriptive study aimed to assess the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction, distress, and pain with intercourse in a preconception population of pregnancy planners. The study also explored the extent to which participants discussed their sex lives with a healthcare provider during a preconception visit.

Predictors of Non-Response to a Sexual Health Survey in a North American Preconception Cohort Study.

Background: Refusal to participate in studies related to sexual health can compromise the internal and external validity of findings. Research examining non-response to sexual health studies has primarily focused on predictors such as specific sexual attitudes and behaviors.

Aim: Evaluate predictors of non-response to a supplemental sexual health survey added to a web-based cohort study, focusing on predictors that may be important in epidemiologic studies of sexual health.

Periodontitis is associated with an increased hazard of mortality in a longitudinal cohort study over 50 years.

Aim: To evaluate the association between periodontal disease and all-cause mortality in a longitudinal cohort study over 50 years.

Materials And Methods: Participants (N = 1156) in the Veterans Affairs Dental Longitudinal Study, aged 25-85 years at enrollment in 1968, received comprehensive medical and oral exams approximately every 3 years through 2007. Periodontal status was defined using person-level, mean whole-mouth radiographic alveolar bone loss (ABL) scores using a five-point Schei ruler, each unit representing 20% increments of ABL.

Perceived experiences of racism linked to dental fear and anxiety among Black women.

Objectives: Dental fear and anxiety are known determinants of delaying or avoiding dental care and vary considerably based on factors such as age and gender. However, little is known about dental fear and anxiety in racial/ethnic minority populations, which bear a disproportionate burden of poor oral health outcomes. Structural and social pathways responsible for producing these disparities are also understudied.

Edentulism is associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality in adult men.

Background: Prior reports of positive associations between edentulism and all-cause mortality have been limited by onetime assessments of edentulism and inadequate control of known confounding variables. The authors aimed to assess the association between edentulism and mortality using a longitudinal clinical oral health cohort.

Methods: The authors used data from the Department of Veterans Affairs Dental Longitudinal Study, an ongoing, closed-panel cohort study from 1968 through 2019 (N = 1,229).

Menstrual Cycle Characteristics and Vulvodynia.

The menstrual cycle may influence vulvodynia through hormonal pathways or vulvar irritation due to menstruation or menstrual hygiene. We assessed menstrual cycle characteristics in those with and without clinically confirmed vulvodynia. Participants were recruited from the administrative database of a health care network serving ∼27% of Minneapolis-Saint Paul residents.

Care Seeking for Chronic Vulvar Pain Among a Large, Population-Based Sample of Reproductive-Aged Women.

Chronic vulvar pain is a prevalent but often misdiagnosed and undertreated condition that adversely impacts quality of life. A large proportion of women report not seeking care for chronic vulvar pain, but little is known about the factors that underlie care-seeking decisions. We used a large, population-based survey of women aged 18-40 years to assess a history of chronic vulvar burning, pain on contact, or itching that had lasted ≥3 months.

Potential for Selection Bias in Studies of the Association of Hormonal Contraception and Chronic Vulvar Pain.

Hormonal contraceptive use is common among reproductive-aged women, but research evaluating its etiological relationship to vulvodynia remains mixed. We sought to evaluate this association and examine the potential for bias due to care-seeking behavior. We conducted a case-control study of women recruited from a large health care network database from 2008 to 2011.

A measure development study of sugar-sweetened beverage-related knowledge, self-efficacy, and intention among urban, low-income adults.

Background: Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is an important behavior that can influence individuals' risk for diabetes, obesity, and other chronic diseases. Nonetheless, there is a lack of valid measures to assess SSB-related constructs. Reliable and valid measures can help evaluate the efficacy of interventions designed to curb SSB consumption.

Cost-Effectiveness of Brexanolone Versus Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors for the Treatment of Postpartum Depression in the United States.

Background: Brexanolone injection (BRX) was approved by the FDA in 2019 for the treatment of adult patients with postpartum depression (PPD), but its cost-effectiveness has not yet been evaluated.

Objective: To estimate the cost-effectiveness of BRX compared with treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for PPD.

Methods: We projected costs (2018 U.

National Patterns of Emergency Department Use for Women with Endometriosis, 2006-2015.

Endometriosis is a burdensome chronic condition for which conservative management is often recommended when indicated. Nonetheless, some women seek care for endometriosis in the emergency department (ED). We evaluated trends in ED visits for endometriosis from 2006 to 2015.

National trends in inpatient endometriosis admissions: Patients, procedures and outcomes, 2006-2015.

Introduction: Despite guidance towards minimally invasive, outpatient procedures for endometriosis, many patients nonetheless receive inpatient care. Our objective was to assess trends in patient and hospital characteristics, surgical complications and hospital charges for women with an endometriosis-related inpatient admission in the United States.

Methods: We conducted a pooled cross-sectional analysis of Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample data.

Residence change during the first trimester of pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes.

Background: There are few published studies evaluating the impact of perinatal residence change on infant outcomes and whether these associations differ by socioeconomic status.

Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study using Washington State birth certificate data from 2007 to 2014 to assess whether women who moved during the first trimester of pregnancy (n=28 011) had a higher risk of low birth weight, preterm birth and small for gestational age than women who did not move during the first trimester (n=112 367). 'Non-first-trimester movers' were frequency matched 4:1 to movers by year.

Recovering protein-protein and domain-domain interactions from aggregation of IP-MS proteomics of coregulator complexes.

Coregulator proteins (CoRegs) are part of multi-protein complexes that transiently assemble with transcription factors and chromatin modifiers to regulate gene expression. In this study we analyzed data from 3,290 immuno-precipitations (IP) followed by mass spectrometry (MS) applied to human cell lines aimed at identifying CoRegs complexes. Using the semi-quantitative spectral counts, we scored binary protein-protein and domain-domain associations with several equations.