Publications by authors named "N J Shaw"

Study Objective: The aim of this paper is to review our understanding of the vaginal microbiome (VM), the internal and external factors that influence its composition, and how it relates to adult and adolescent reproductive health.

Methods: A literature review was conducted in March 2024 using Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar.

Results: The majority of studies focused on the VM in healthy adult women and demonstrated that the VM changes across the menstrual cycle, with the greatest species diversity during menses.

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Purpose:  Fusional vergence ranges (FVR) quantify the oculomotor system's ability to overcome heterophoria, playing a critical role in diagnosis and treatment. This study investigated the effect of prism order on near vertical FVR using the smooth and step methods.

Methods:  Normal participants were randomly assigned to either the smooth or step testing method and to Base-Up (BU, infravergence) first or Base Down (BD, supravergence) first prism type.

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Background: Exstrophy-epispadias complex (EEC) classically presents as bladder exstrophy (BE) and requires lifetime urologic care. As men and women with BE age, there is an often difficult period of transition to adulthood in terms of addressing urologic and general health challenges. BE can lead to many urinary and sexual health issues as these patients age, which is often made more complex given their past surgical history and anatomy.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to explore the natural history of menstrual pain in young girls without pelvic issues, focusing on the role of progesterone and various risk factors over time.
  • Participants provided urine samples and filled out menstrual diaries to assess pain and hormonal levels.
  • Results indicated that older gynecologic age and higher progesterone levels were linked to increased menstrual pain, suggesting that progesterone may play a significant role in this condition.*
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Article Synopsis
  • - The study examines antibiotic overuse in walk-in clinics, focusing on the effectiveness of a specific metric that tracks antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract diagnoses (RTDs) while excluding complicating factors.
  • - Data from 331,496 clinic visits between 2018-2022 revealed that 36.5% met RTD criteria, with 36.7% of those receiving antibiotics; factors like patient age and comorbidities influenced prescribing rates.
  • - Provider interviews indicated that the RTD metric is acceptable for assessing antibiotic prescribing practices, suggesting it has validity, but further research is needed to evaluate its effectiveness as a feedback tool.
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