Publications by authors named "Lee Shulman"
Introduction: Perimenopause is a time of transition in a woman's life that links her reproductive years to the cessation of ovulation, or menopause. For many women, this time is characterized by a variety of physiological and lifestyle changes, including increasing irregularity in menstrual bleeding, frequency and severity of vasomotor symptoms, etc. Therapies evaluated specifically for the perimenopausal women are very limited.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Available data regarding the safety and efficacy of sotrovimab in pregnant patients remain limited due to their exclusion from clinical trials.
Methods: The COVID-19 International Drug Pregnancy Registry (COVID-PR) was established to gather comprehensive safety data from pregnant women who have received monoclonal antibody (mAb) or antiviral treatments for mild, moderate, or severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during pregnancy. Participants actively contributed self-reported data concerning their COVID-19 symptoms, in addition to sociodemographic and health-related characteristics.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates whether dydrogesterone, when administered during the first trimester for pregnancy-related issues, increases the risk of congenital anomalies in newborns.
- Results indicate that dydrogesterone does not pose a significant additional risk for congenital anomalies, despite some past controversial claims.
- The research involved a systematic review of studies with strict inclusion criteria, focusing on patients undergoing treatments like ART and those experiencing miscarriage, comparing dydrogesterone use to alternatives.
Purpose: High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) is the most lethal epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and is often diagnosed at late stage. In women with a known pelvic mass, surgery followed by pathologic assessment is the most reliable way to diagnose EOC and there are still no effective screening tools in asymptomatic women. In the current study, we developed a cell-free DNA (cfDNA) methylation liquid biopsy for the risk assessment of early-stage HGSOC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNo data support the suggestion that first-trimester dydrogesterone use increases the risk of fetal abnormalities; however, two low-quality retrospective studies (one retracted by the journal) have suggested such a link. A scoping review and meta-analysis were carried out to address this discrepancy. The literature was reviewed but it was not possible to identify any evidence of a plausible mechanism for potential causality between dydrogesterone and fetal abnormalities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Iron deficiency (ID) is a common health problem around the world, especially in women, causing symptoms like tiredness, cravings for ice, and poor focus.
- In poorer countries, it's often due to not getting enough iron and infections, while in richer countries, it's usually from heavy bleeding and pregnancy.
- Treating ID often starts with pills, but they can cause stomach issues, so doctors are increasingly using IV iron, which doesn't have those side effects and works better for some women.
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the perspectives of infertility patients regarding genetic carrier screening, embryo sex selection, embryo research, and gene editing.
Methods: An anonymous 32-question survey was distributed electronically to all patients who seen at a single academic fertility center for at least one visit between June 2018 and September 2019. Survey questions evaluated patient perspectives on genetic carrier screening, embryo sex selection, embryo research, and gene editing.
Has the time come to implement gene therapy for sickle cell disease?
Arch Gynecol Obstet
December 2020
Article Synopsis
- The study looked at how well carrier screening for genetic diseases works when based on a person's ethnicity, which can sometimes be unclear or misunderstood.
- Researchers tested over 93,000 people and found that self-reported ethnicity didn’t always match their actual genetic ancestry, with 9% showing more than half of their ancestry from a different background.
- Because of this mismatch, many people who were at risk for genetic diseases were missed in the screening, which means not everyone gets fair access to reproductive health care.
Objective: Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) are associated with decreased memory performance and alterations in brain function. We conducted a preliminary examination of VMS and patterns of brain activity during a verbal memory task to provide insights into the VMS-related brain mechanisms that can contribute to memory problems in midlife women.
Methods: Fourteen postmenopausal women (mean age 53.
Background: To evaluate the efficacy of a succinate-based dietary supplement (SBDS; Amberen) in symptomatic menopausal women using a larger sample size derived by pooling data from two identical trials.
Methods: Raw randomized, multicenter, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, 90-day clinical trials. Women aged 42-60 years with mild to moderate vasomotor and psychosomatic menopausal symptoms were included (114 in the treatment group and 113 in the placebo group).
Purpose: There is clinical evidence that early cleavage timing parameters predictive of blastocyst development also correlate with embryo implantation potential. The aim of this study is to determine the developmental competency of embryos with delayed blastulation.
Methods: Retrospective study performed from 2015 to 2016 at the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Northwestern University.
Introduction: Adnexal or pelvic mass is a finding that commonly raises suspicion for malignancy, especially for ovarian cancer. Proper identification prior to surgery would permit appropriate referral to a specialty center in cases likely to be ovarian cancer, as optimal outcomes in such cases are obtained when surgical staging and treatment are provided at the time of initial surgery.
Methods: We compared the screening capabilities of two in vitro diagnostic multivariate index assays (IVDMIAs), a new IVDMIA (second-generation multivariate index assay: MIA2G) and a currently used triage algorithm (Risk of Ovarian Malignancy Assay: ROMA).
Late second trimester dilation and evacuation is a challenging subset of surgical abortion. Among the reasons for this is the degree of cervical dilation required to safely extricate fetal parts. Cervical dilation is traditionally achieved by placing multiple sets of osmotic dilators over two or more days prior to the evacuation procedure; however, there is interest in shortening cervical preparation time.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To investigate effects of ulipristal acetate on health-related quality of life (QOL) and symptom severity in women with symptomatic uterine leiomyomas and abnormal uterine bleeding.
Methods: Women were randomized to ulipristal (5 mg, 10 mg) or placebo in two phase 3, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (VENUS I and II). Health-related QOL and symptom severity were assessed at baseline, and over one (VENUS I and II) and two (VENUS II) 12-week treatment courses using the Uterine Fibroid Symptom Health-Related Quality of Life questionnaire.
Objective: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of ulipristal acetate, a selective progesterone receptor modulator, for treatment of symptomatic uterine leiomyomas.
Methods: This phase 3, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled trial randomized premenopausal women (18-50 years) with uterine leiomyomas and abnormal uterine bleeding to once-daily 5 mg ulipristal, 10 mg ulipristal, or placebo in two 12-week treatment courses separated by a drug-free interval of two menses. Coprimary end points were rates of and time to amenorrhea during course 1.
Article Synopsis
- This study looks at women who got pregnant through a special method called IVF with genetic testing called PGS and whether they did further testing for genetic problems early in their pregnancy.
- Many women (about 73.5%) chose to do a safer type of testing instead of more invasive ones like amniocentesis.
- The research showed that most women didn’t follow through with the recommended testing, and more studies are needed to understand why some decide not to do it, even after being informed about the risks and limitations.
Article Synopsis
- Effective birth control methods do more than just prevent pregnancy; they can also lower the risk of certain cancers in women.
- Hormonal and non-hormonal birth control can affect the chances of getting cancers like breast, colon, and female genital cancers.
- People sometimes worry about the safety of these birth control methods, but using them can actually help reduce the risk of some serious health issues for women.
Objectives: In a pilot randomized clinical trial of active stellate ganglion blockade (SGB) versus sham control, SGB significantly reduced the frequency of reported moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and the frequency of physiologic VMS measured using ambulatory skin conductance monitors. Here we examine secondary effects of SGB on verbal learning and memory.
Study Design: In a randomized, sham-controlled study, 36 women met eligibility criteria for cognitive assessments, of whom 17 were randomized to receive fluoroscopy-guided SGB and 19 to sham control.
Purpose: Mutations in the BRCA1/2 genes are associated with breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility. Recent studies have suggested that the BRCA mutation might be associated with occult primary ovarian insufficiency. To evaluate fertility, several studies have validated anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) as a direct biomarker for ovarian aging and it is considered a quantitative marker of ovarian reserve.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF