Colposcopy Standards: Guidelines for Endocervical Curettage at Colposcopy.

Objective: The most recent guidelines for colposcopy practice in the United States, the 2017 Colposcopy Standards Consensus Guidelines, did not include recommendations for endocervical curettage (ECC). This document provides updated guidelines for use of ECC among patients referred for colposcopy.

Methods: Consensus guidelines for the use of ECC were developed in 2012.

Neonatal outcomes of births in freestanding birth centers and hospitals in the United States, 2016-2019.

Background: Births in freestanding birth centers have more than doubled between 2007 and 2019. Although birthing centers, which are defined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists as ". .

The care of pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic - response of a large health system in metropolitan New York.

The rapid progression of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak presented extraordinary challenges to the US health care system, particularly straining resources in hard hit areas such as the New York metropolitan region. As a result, major changes in the delivery of obstetrical care were urgently needed, while maintaining patient safety on our maternity units. As the largest health system in the region, with 10 hospitals providing obstetrical services, and delivering over 30,000 babies annually, we needed to respond to this crisis in an organized, deliberate fashion.

Obesity and STING1 genotype associate with 23-valent pneumococcal vaccination efficacy.

BACKGROUNDObesity has been associated with attenuated vaccine responses and an increased risk of contracting pneumococcal pneumonia, but no study to our knowledge has assessed the impact of obesity and genetics on 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine (PPSV23) efficacy. We assessed the relationship of obesity (primary analysis) and stimulator of interferon genes (STING1) genotype (secondary analysis) on PPSV23 efficacy.METHODSNonobese (BMI 22-25 kg/m2) and obese participants (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) were given a single dose of PPSV23.

Guidelines for Cervical Cancer Screening in Immunosuppressed Women Without HIV Infection.

Executive Summary: The risk of cervical cancer (CC) among women immunosuppressed for a variety of reasons is well documented in the literature. Although there is improved organ function, quality of life and life expectancy gained through use of immunosuppressant therapy, there may be increased long-term risk of cervical neoplasia and cancer and the need for more intense screening, surveillance, and management. Although guidance for CC screening among HIV-infected women (see Table 1) has been supported by evidence from retrospective and prospective studies, recommendations for CC screening among non-HIV immunosuppressed women remains limited because quality evidence is lacking.

The Neonatal Microbiome and Its Partial Role in Mediating the Association between Birth by Cesarean Section and Adverse Pediatric Outcomes.

Background: Cesarean sections (CS) are among the most commonly performed surgical procedures in the world. Epidemiologic data has associated delivery by CS with an increased risk of certain adverse health outcomes in children, such as asthma and obesity.

Objective: To explore what is known about the effect of mode of delivery on the development of the infant microbiome and discuss the potentially mediating role of CS-related microbial dysbiosis in the development of adverse pediatric health outcomes.

What Are Optimal Cesarean Section Rates in the U.S. and How Do We Get There? A Review of Evidence-Based Recommendations and Interventions.

Cesarean sections (CSs) are the most commonly performed surgical procedures in the world today. Global epidemiological studies from the last decade suggest that the optimal CS rates in developed countries exist somewhere between 15% and 19%. Despite these findings, CS rates in the United States have remained stable at slightly over 32% over the past 10 years.

Clinical Utility of Molecular Biomarkers in Cervical Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions in a Young Adult Population.

Objective: Although human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is necessary for cervical squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL/CIN) and cancer to develop, exposure to HPV is not predictive of which women will develop SIL/CIN and cancer. This study examines mRNA expression of several potential biomarkers in exfoliated cervical cells collected from college-aged women.

Materials And Methods: Freshman female students were recruited into the Carolina Women's Care Study, which was designed to prospectively evaluate factors that contribute to persistent HPV infections.

Disparity in the persistence of high-risk human papillomavirus genotypes between African American and European American women of college age.

Background: Cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates are higher in African Americans than in European Americans (white, non-Hispanic of European ancestry). The reasons for this disparity are not known.

Methods: We recruited a population-based longitudinal cohort of 326 European American and 113 African American female college freshmen in Columbia, South Carolina, to compare clearance of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection between ethnicities.

Selection of contraceptive therapy for patients with thrombophilia: a review of the evidence.

Background: Awareness of the contributions of thrombophilia to thrombosis-related morbidity and mortality has been growing in the last few decades. Thrombophilia is especially concerning in females seeking contraception because some types of hormonal contraception have been associated with venous thromboembolism (VTE). Clinicians face a growing need for awareness of evidence-based contraception selection for this population.

HPV prevalence at enrollment and baseline results from the Carolina Women's Care Study, a longitudinal study of HPV persistence in women of college age.

Background: Cervical cancer, a rare outcome of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, disproportionately affects African American women, who are about twice more likely than European American women to die of the disease. Most cervical HPV infections clear in about one year. However, in some women HPV persists, posing a greater risk for cervical dysplasia and cancer.

Delaying Pap test screening in the adolescent population: an evidence-based approach.

Cervical cancer screening guidelines have evolved significantly over the past ten years in the adolescent population. The objective of this article is to review the cervical screening guidelines in the adolescent population as well as examine the evidence and studies that support delaying screening until 21 years old. Delaying HPV and Papanicolaou testing until 21 years old is safe and will not increase cervical cancer rates in the adolescent population.

Keratinizing squamous dysplasia pap test: a case for colposcopy.

Objective: This study characterized women with Pap tests showing keratinizing squamous dysplasia (KSD) and helped develop management strategies in these patients.

Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of women presenting to Palmetto Health Women's Center with KSD on a Pap test from 1999 to 2009. Data analysis was performed with standard statistical computer programming; null hypothesis was rejected for p values .

HPV high risk and protective behaviors: the effects of religious affiliation.

The majority of Americans identify themselves as belonging to some religious group. There is a mixed body of literature on whether or not religious affiliation has an influence on engaging in risky behaviors among young adults attending college. This study examined associations between religious affiliation, risky sexual practices, substance use, and family structure among a sample of predominantly white college females attending a southeastern university.

Graft-versus-host disease of the vulva and/or vagina: diagnosis and treatment.

We describe a series of women after allogeneic stem cell transplantation with vaginal graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) who were treated with topical cyclosporine, surgery, or both. We reviewed the medical charts of 11 women who presented with vaginal pain, discomfort, and vaginal scarring (inability to perform a Papanicolaou test or have vaginal intercourse because of pain). Vaginal symptoms develop an average of 10 months from bone marrow transplantation.

Direct binding of AP-1 (Fos/Jun) proteins to a SMAD binding element facilitates both gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)- and activin-mediated transcriptional activation of the mouse GnRH receptor gene.

The response of pituitary gonadotropes to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) correlates directly with the concentration of GnRH receptors (GnRHR) on the cell surface, which is mediated in part at the level of gene expression. Several factors are known to affect expression of the mouse GnRHR (mGnRHR) gene, including GnRH and activin. We have previously shown that activin augments GnRH-mediated transcriptional activation of mGnRHR gene, and that region -387/-308 appears to be necessary to mediate this effect.