Trends in hair cortisol from preconception to the postpartum period.

Introduction: Cortisol is a biological marker of stress, and its levels reflect the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response to stress over time. Saliva, blood, and urine cortisol reflect acute stress, whereas assessment of hair cortisol is a better reflection of chronic stress. There is limited information on hair cortisol concentration (HCC) in the perinatal period, particularly, in the preconception and postpartum periods.

Depression in pregnant Hispanic women: Risk factors, pregnancy outcomes and plasma cytokines.

Background: Maternal depression is considered a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in pregnancy. A population at risk are U.S.

Premature Infant Gut Microbiome relationships with childhood behavioral scales: preliminary insights.

Introduction: Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) infants, born weighing less than 1,500 grams, are at risk for both gut dysbiosis and later neuropsychological developmental deficits. Behavioral effects, while related to neurodevelopment, are often more subtle and difficult to measure. The extent of later neurobehavioral consequences associated with such microbial dysbiosis has yet to be determined.

Diabetic Retinopathy during pregnancy in Hispanic women with latent Toxoplasma gondii infection.

Background: Retinal photography was performed in pregnancy and postpartum in pregnant Hispanic women with latent Toxoplasma gondii (TG) infection in order to screen for characteristic retinal lesions or the particular scars found in people with active T. gondii infection. A comparison group of TG negative women was included in the study but they did not have retinal photography.

Social Determinants of Health Among Pregnant Hispanic Women and Associated Psychological Outcomes.

Background: There has been a concerning surge in maternal mortality among Hispanic women in recent years. Compromised mental health is present in nearly half of all maternal deaths, and risk factors include poor social support and depression.

Objective: Among Hispanic women who were born in the USA versus those not born in the USA, we sought to describe and compare social determinants of health and maternal psychological outcomes.