Pre-conception blood pressure and evidence of placental malperfusion.

Background: Evidence of placental maternal vascular malperfusion is associated with significant perinatal outcomes such as preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction and preterm birth. Elevations in pre-pregnancy blood pressure increase the risk for poor perinatal outcomes; however, the evidence linking pre-pregnancy blood pressure and placental malperfusion is sparse.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective case-control study of women with singleton gestations with placental evaluations who delivered at Magee-Womens Hospital in 2012.

Fertility Preservation Outcomes in Adolescent and Young Adult Feminizing Transgender Patients.

Background: Fertility preservation enables patients undergoing gonadotoxic therapies to retain the potential for biological children and now has broader implications in the care of transgender individuals. Multiple medical societies recommend counseling on fertility preservation before initiating therapy for gender dysphoria; however, outcome data pre- and posttreatment are limited in feminizing transgender adolescents and young adults.

Methods: The University of Pittsburgh Institutional Research Board approved this study.

Conception rates and contraceptive use after bariatric surgery among women with infertility: Evidence from a prospective multicenter cohort study.

Background: Lack of prospective trials have resulted in a dearth of information regarding postbariatric surgery conception rates in women with a preoperative history of infertility.

Objective: To examine associations between preoperative history of infertility and postbariatric surgery conception.

Setting: A multicenter cohort study at 10 United States hospitals (2006-2009).

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Fertility: Considerations for Couples Trying to Conceive.

Background: Depression and anxiety are prevalent disorders and are often treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Infertility is also common among couples, and rates of depression and anxiety are elevated in this population, but the impact of SSRIs on fertility has received modest attention. This review explores the literature available on SSRIs, fertility, and infertility-treatment outcomes to assist clinicians in better counseling their patients.

Contraception and Conception After Bariatric Surgery.

Objective: To examine contraceptive practices and conception rates after bariatric surgery.

Methods: The Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery-2 is a multicenter, prospective cohort study of adults undergoing first-time bariatric surgery as part of routine clinical care at 10 U.S.

Geographic access to assisted reproductive technology health care in the United States: a population-based cross-sectional study.

Objective: To evaluate the geographic distribution of assisted reproductive technology (ART) clinics and the number of ART clinics within U.S. Census metropolitan areas and to estimate the number of reproductive-age women who have geographic access to ART services in the United States.

Impact of Reduced ATGL-Mediated Adipocyte Lipolysis on Obesity-Associated Insulin Resistance and Inflammation in Male Mice.

Emerging evidence suggests that impaired regulation of adipocyte lipolysis contributes to the proinflammatory immune cell infiltration of metabolic tissues in obesity, a process that is proposed to contribute to the development and exacerbation of insulin resistance. To test this hypothesis in vivo, we generated mice with adipocyte-specific deletion of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), the rate-limiting enzyme catalyzing triacylglycerol hydrolysis. In contrast to previous models, adiponectin-driven Cre expression was used for targeted ATGL deletion.

A retrospective analysis of the utility of an artificial neural network to predict ED volume.

Objective: The objectives of this study are to design an artificial neural network (ANN) and to test it retrospectively to determine if it may be used to predict emergency department (ED) volume.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patient registry data from February 4, 2007, to December 31, 2009, from an inner city, tertiary care hospital. We harvested data regarding weather, days of week, air quality, and special events to train the ANN.

Aromatase inhibition causes increased amplitude, but not frequency, of hypothalamic-pituitary output in normal women.

Objective: To better understand the site and mode of action of aromatase inhibitors.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Academic research environment.

Biologic therapeutics and molecular profiling to optimize wound healing.

Non-healing wounds represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality for a large portion of the adult population. Wounds that fail to heal are entrapped in a self-sustaining cycle of chronic inflammation leading to the destruction of the extracellular matrix. Among cancer patients, malnutrition, radiation, physical dehabilitation, chemotherapy, and the malignancy itself increase the likelihood of chronic wound formation, and these co-morbidity factors inhibit the normal wound healing process.

Genetic approaches to polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Purpose Of Review: This review clarifies the challenges facing investigators in the search for polycystic ovarian syndrome candidate genes.

Recent Findings: Evidence for fibillin 3 has emerged as a polycystic ovarian syndrome candidate gene. The sex hormone binding gene also shows promise, as does evidence for fetal programming and X-chromosome inactivation.