Use of Theoretical Frameworks in the Development and Testing of Palliative Care Interventions.

Context: Palliative care (PC) research has grown over the last 20 years. Yet, the causal components and pathways of PC interventions remain unclear.

Objectives: To document the prevalence and application of theoretical frameworks in developing and testing PC interventions.

Association of personal exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields with pregnancy outcomes among women seeking fertility treatment in a longitudinal cohort study.

Objective: To assess for the first time the potential relationships of personal exposure to magnetic fields (MF) with pregnancy outcomes among a cohort of women from a fertility clinic, addressing, through study design, some of the primary limitations of previous studies on this topic.

Design: Longitudinal preconception prospective cohort.

Setting: Fertility center.

Reproductive outcomes associated with flame retardants among couples seeking fertility treatment: A paternal perspective.

Background: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been phased out of production for nearly a decade yet are still frequently detected in serum of U.S. adults.

Exploring reproductive associations of serum polybrominated diphenyl ether and hydroxylated brominated diphenyl ether concentrations among women undergoing in vitro fertilization.

Study Question: Are serum concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hydroxylated brominated diphenyl ethers (OH-BDEs) associated with IVF endpoints?

Summary Answer: Positive associations were observed for BDE153 and several OH-BDEs with IVF endpoints.

What Is Known Already: PBDEs have been voluntarily phased out of production in the USA and EU due to their persistence and toxicity to humans and ecosystems. PBDEs have been associated with implantation failure among women undergoing IVF, yet some animal studies suggest greater toxicity from their metabolites, OH-BDEs.

An exploratory analysis of urinary organophosphate ester metabolites and oxidative stress among pregnant women in Puerto Rico.

Background: Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are used as flame retardants and plasticizers. Oxidative stress, the imbalance of reactive oxygen species and antioxidants, measured prenatally has been associated with adverse birth outcomes including preeclampsia and preterm birth. We are the first study to investigate the relationship between OPEs and oxidative stress among pregnant women.

The association of urinary organophosphate ester metabolites and self-reported personal care and household product use among pregnant women in Puerto Rico.

Background: Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are widely detected among U.S. pregnant women.

The association of urinary phosphorous-containing flame retardant metabolites and self-reported personal care and household product use among couples seeking fertility treatment.

Background: Phosphorous-containing flame-retardants (PFRs) are widely detected. They are used both as a flame retardant as well as plasticizer.

Methods: A subset of 230 women and 229 men were recruited from Massachusetts General Hospital fertility clinic between 2005 and 2015.

First trimester maternal exposures to endocrine disrupting chemicals and metals and fetal size in the Michigan Mother-Infant Pairs study.

Exposures to endocrine disrupting chemicals and metals are near ubiquitous worldwide, and their potential impact on children is a major public health concern. This pilot study was designed to characterize exposures to phthalates, phenols and metals among pregnant women in the first trimester, and to examine associations with fetal biometrics and birth weight. A total of 41 chemicals and elements were analyzed in urine from 56 mothers with full-term newborns from the Michigan Mother-Infant Pairs study.

The association between urinary concentrations of phosphorous-containing flame retardant metabolites and semen parameters among men from a fertility clinic.

Background: The use of PFRs has steadily increased as brominated compounds have been or are being phased out. Human exposure is widespread and animal studies have shown adverse impacts on male reproduction, but human data are lacking.

Objective: To study the associations between urinary concentrations of phosphorous-containing flame retardant (PFR) metabolites and semen parameters.

Associations between IVF outcomes and essential trace elements measured in follicular fluid and urine: a pilot study.

Purpose: A hypothesis-generating pilot study exploring associations between essential trace elements measured in follicular fluid (FF) and urine and in vitro fertilization (IVF) endpoints.

Methods: We recruited 58 women undergoing IVF between 2007 and 2008, and measured cobalt, chromium, copper, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc in FF (n = 46) and urine (n = 45) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). We used multivariable regression models to assess the impact of FF and urine trace elements on IVF outcomes, adjusted for age, body mass index, race, and cigarette smoking.

Reach, usage, and effectiveness of a Medicaid patient navigator intervention to increase colorectal cancer screening, Cape Fear, North Carolina, 2011.

Introduction: Screening for colorectal cancer can reduce incidence and death, but screening is underused, especially among vulnerable groups such as Medicaid patients. Effective interventions are needed to increase screening frequency. Our study consisted of a controlled trial of an intervention designed to improve colorectal cancer screening among Medicaid patients in North Carolina.