Publications by authors named "Levine L"

Background: Postpartum hypertension is a key factor in racial-ethnic inequities in maternal mortality. Emerging evidence suggests that experiences of racism, both structural and interpersonal, may contribute to disparities. We examined associations between gendered racial microaggressions (GRMs) during obstetric care with postpartum blood pressure (BP).

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Background: Individual health behaviors are associated with pregnancy outcomes, but their joint effects are rarely considered. We aimed to examine associations between combinations of first trimester health behaviors and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), normotensive adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs), and blood pressure (BP) 2-7 years after delivery.

Methods: Participants in the nuMoM2b and follow-up Heart Health Study were included.

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Background: Studies have demonstrated that standardizing labor induction (IOL), often with the use of protocols, may reduce racial inequities in obstetrics. IOL protocols are complex, multi-component interventions. To target identified implementation barriers, audit and feedback (A&F) was selected as an implementation strategy.

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Background: Cesarean delivery remains the most common obstetrical procedure with more than 250,000 patients in the US undergoing cesarean following labor induction annually. Here, we evaluated the impact of prospectively implementing a standardized labor induction protocol on cesarean delivery rates.

Methods: This multi-site type I hybrid effectiveness-implementation study compared 2 years before (PRE) and 2 years after (POST) implementation of a standardized labor induction protocol at two hospitals within the University of Pennsylvania Health System (2018-2022).

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Background: Given the risks associated with congenital heart disease in the postpartum period, epidemiologic data identifying risk factors and timing of complications may be useful in improving postpartum care.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the timing of, risk factors for, and complications associated with 60-day postpartum readmissions following deliveries with maternal congenital heart disease.

Study Design: The 2010-2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database was used for this retrospective cohort study.

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  • A study examined how inflammatory diets impact cardiovascular health, particularly in relation to adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) like preterm birth and gestational diabetes.
  • Data from over 3,200 pregnant individuals showed that higher inflammatory diet scores correlated with increased body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, triglycerides, and insulin levels, along with lower good cholesterol levels.
  • The study found that the negative impact of inflammatory diets on cardiometabolic health was more pronounced in individuals who experienced APOs during pregnancy.
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Objective: Many patients with melanoma treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) do not derive response. Preclinical and retrospective studies identified that inhibition of the cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway may improve response to ICI treatment.

Methods: This prospective single site phase II trial accrued patients with advanced/metastatic melanoma.

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Study Objective: To evaluate patient-level differences and decision making surrounding subsequent pregnancies (SSP) after peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM).

Design: Mixed methods approach to evaluate quantitative demographic and clinical differences between patients with and without a SSP and to qualitatively describe the decision-making regarding a SSP with a survey component.

Setting/participants: 220 PPCM cases within the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

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Background: Infection remains a significant concern following penile prosthesis (PP) implantation surgery. Published guidelines have indicated the use of pre-operative intravenous (IV) antibiotics but have not provided specific recommendations regarding intra-operative irrigation. For long in our practice, we have been using a combination of antibiotics for irrigation (rifampin 600 mg/L of sterile water, gentamicin 80 mg/L of sterile water).

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Background: Racial disparities in maternal pregnancy outcomes, specifically in morbidity and mortality, are persistent in the U.S., and a multifaceted approach to mitigating these disparate outcomes is critical.

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  • The Penuma implant is a silicone device designed to enhance the appearance of the flaccid penis in men who can achieve normal erections, with a focus on patient satisfaction and post-surgery complications after at least 6 months.
  • A study analyzed outcomes from 92 cases, finding an average increase in flaccid length of 2.5 cm and girth of 3.1 cm, with a patient satisfaction rate of 82% and a majority willing to repeat the surgery.
  • The research indicated that the lateral scrotal incision approach resulted in fewer complications and lower revision rates compared to the traditional infrapubic method, suggesting it might be the preferred surgical technique.
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  • - The study examined how the timing of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) diagnosis affects postpartum blood pressure outcomes by analyzing data from 384 patients.
  • - Results indicated that those diagnosed with HDP during labor or the first day postpartum had a quicker resolution of hypertension, averaging 5.5 days, compared to 6.5 days for antepartum diagnoses.
  • - These findings suggest that diagnosing HDP later (peripartum) could lead to faster recovery of blood pressure and might enhance treatment strategies for postpartum hypertension and related cardiovascular issues.
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Objective:  Implementation of standardized protocols for antepartum anemia increases intravenous iron (IVFe) use and improves predelivery hemoglobin (Hb). However, this condition is often overlooked and inadequately treated in postpartum care settings. We aimed to determine if implementation of a standardized protocol for postpartum anemia increases postpartum IVFe use and affects clinical outcomes.

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  • The study investigated the relationship between ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) among women using data from a national health survey conducted between 2007 and 2018.
  • Researchers measured ideal CVH using Life's Simple 7 metrics, scoring women's health from 0 (non-ideal) to 7 (ideal), and found that higher CVH scores were linked to significantly lower odds of a GDM history.
  • The findings highlight that women with better cardiovascular health are less likely to have a history of GDM, emphasizing the need to improve cardiometabolic health in women at risk.
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Background: Activity restriction is a common recommendation given to patients during pregnancy for various indications, despite lack of definitive data showing improvements in pregnancy outcomes.

Objective: To determine if activity restriction (AR) in pregnancy is associated with decreased odds of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs).

Study Design: Secondary analysis of the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-Be (nuMoM2b) prospective cohort.

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Scalability of the cooling die unit operation is critical to lowering the manufacturing cost of high moisture meat analogs(HMMA), but it is unclear what scale-up criteria are important. An experiment consisting of two cooling die cross-section geometries (tall and narrow or short and wide), two production rates (2.7 or 4.

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  • - Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) increase the risk of future cardiovascular disease (CVD), making postpartum care crucial for managing long-term health.
  • - Obstetricians have a key role in CVD prevention by facilitating care transitions and using risk calculators to tailor treatment intensity for postpartum women and birthing individuals with HDP.
  • - Postpartum patients should receive guidance on lifestyle changes, blood pressure control, lipid assessment, and diabetes evaluation to minimize their CVD risk after experiencing HDP.
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Background: Priapism is a urological condition characterized by a persistent erection. The management varies based on its subclassifications. Despite established clinical guidelines for ischemic priapism, there is a lack of large-scale research focused on patient characteristics and management strategies.

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In the United States, maternal health inequities disproportionately affect Global Majority (e.g., Asian, Black, and Hispanic) populations.

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Background: Induction of labor (IOL) is recommended following prelabor rupture of membranes (PROM). The optimal method for IOL and need for cervical ripening in those with PROM and an unfavorable cervical examination is unclear.

Objective: To determine if oxytocin or oral misoprostol results in a shorter time to delivery among nulliparous patients with an unfavorable cervical examination and PROM diagnosis and to evaluate patient satisfaction with both methods.

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The Additive Manufacturing Benchmark Series (AM Bench) is a NIST-led organization that provides a continuing series of additive manufacturing benchmark measurements, challenge problems, and conferences with the primary goal of enabling modelers to test their simulations against rigorous, highly controlled additive manufacturing benchmark measurement data. To this end, single-track (1D) and pad (2D) scans on bare plate nickel alloy 718 were completed with thermography, cross-sectional grain orientation and local chemical composition maps, and cross-sectional melt pool size measurements. The laser power, scan speed, and laser spot size were varied for single tracks, and the scan direction was varied for pads.

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Objective:  In the era of group B (GBS) screening and intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP), GBS colonization has been associated with a lower risk of chorioamnionitis, possibly due to a protective effect of IAP. We sought to confirm this finding and assess whether this association varies by gestational week at delivery.

Study Design:  We performed a retrospective cohort study of term (37.

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Political polarisation in the United States offers opportunities to explore how beliefs about candidates - that they could save or destroy American society - impact people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviour. Participants forecast their future emotional responses to the contentious 2020 U.S.

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