Multilevel Barriers to Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptive Uptake: A Narrative Review.

Unintended pregnancies, which occur in almost half (45%) of all pregnancies in the United States, are associated with adverse health and social outcomes for the infant and the mother. The risk of unintended pregnancies is significantly reduced when women use long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), namely intrauterine devices and implants. Although LARCs are highly acceptable to women at risk of unintended pregnancies, barriers to accessing LARCs hinder its uptake.

The association between sugar-sweetened beverages intake, body mass index, and inflammation in US adults.

Objectives: This study aims to (1) assess the associations between sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) consumption and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and (2) evaluate the modifying effect of body mass index (BMI) on the association between SSB consumption and CRP levels.

Methods: A total of 6856 eligible adults were selected from the 2007-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Average quantity of SSB consumption was calculated from 2-day 24-h dietary recalls.

Asthma status moderates the relationship between neighbourhood disadvantage and obesity in African American adolescent females.

Introduction: Significant health disparities exist in asthma and obesity for African American youths. Successful interventions present an opportunity to address these disparities but require detailed study in order to ensure generalizability. This study investigated the intersection of obesity, neighbourhood disadvantage, and asthma.

Maternal pre-pregnancy weight status modifies the influence of PUFAs and inflammatory biomarkers in breastmilk on infant growth.

Background: Human breastmilk contains pro- and anti-inflammatory compounds and hormones that can influence infant growth. However, little is known about the specific interrelationships between these compounds and whether their effects on infant growth may be influenced by pre-pregnancy weight status.

Objective: The purpose of this novel, prospective cohort study was to assess the interrelationships between pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6), hormones (insulin, leptin) and PUFAs (n-6, n-3) in blood and breastmilk in early postpartum between women with normal BMI (Group 1, n = 18; 18.

Long-acting reversible contraceptive utilization after policy change increasing device reimbursement to wholesale acquisition cost in Louisiana.

Background: Unintended pregnancies, occurring in nearly 1 out of every 2 (45%) pregnancies in the United States, are associated with adverse health and social outcomes for the infant and the mother. The risk of unintended pregnancies is significantly reduced when women use long-acting reversible contraceptives, namely intrauterine devices and implants. Inadequate reimbursement for long-acting reversible contraceptive devices may be an access barrier to long-acting reversible contraceptive uptake.

Absence of Adolescent Obesity in Grenada: Is This a Generational Effect?

Low- and middle-income countries are affected disproportionately by the ongoing global obesity pandemic. Representing a middle income country, the high prevalence of obesity among Grenadian adults as compared to US adults is expected as part of global obesity trends. The objective of this study was to determine if Grenadian adolescents have a higher prevalence of overweight compared to their US counterparts, and if a disparity exists between urban and rural adolescents.

Racial differences in intracerebral haemorrhage outcomes in patients with obesity.

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the role of obesity and race in intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) outcomes.

Methods: The Get with the guideline-Stroke database was queried for all admitted patients with spontaneous ICH. Secondary causes of ICH were excluded.

Farmers' Market Utilization among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Recipients in New Orleans, Louisiana: Preliminary Findings.

Objective: Farmers' markets are increasingly being promoted as a means to provide fresh produce to poor and underserved communities. However, farmers' market (FM) use remains low among low-income patrons. The purpose of our study was to examine FM awareness and use, grocery shopping behaviors, and internet use among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients.

Parental Perceptions of the Social Environment Are Inversely Related to Constraint of Adolescents' Neighborhood Physical Activity.

Background: The current study examined relationships between the neighborhood social environment (parental perceived collective efficacy (PCE)), constrained behaviors (e.g., avoidance or defensive behaviors) and adolescent offspring neighborhood physical activity in low- versus high-incivility neighborhoods.

A Reliable, Feasible Method to Observe Neighborhoods at High Spatial Resolution.

Introduction: Systematic social observation (SSO) methods traditionally measure neighborhoods at street level and have been performed reliably using virtual applications to increase feasibility. Research indicates that collection at even higher spatial resolution may better elucidate the health impact of neighborhood factors, but whether virtual applications can reliably capture social determinants of health at the smallest geographic resolution (parcel level) remains uncertain. This paper presents a novel, parcel-level SSO methodology and assesses whether this new method can be collected reliably using Google Street View and is feasible.

Transfusing our lifeblood: Reframing research impact through inter-disciplinary collaboration between health geography and nurse education.

Geographers have long grappled with how their research can positively impact individuals, communities and society. Demonstrating research impact is an increasingly important aspect of academic life internationally. In this paper we argue that agendas for encouraging 'impact' would be well-served if impact through teaching was identified and stimulated more explicitly, and if academics better recognised and seized the opportunities that already exist for such impact.

Expression of VO2peak in Children and Youth, with Special Reference to Allometric Scaling.

The aim of this review was to highlight research that has focused on examining expressions of peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) in children and youth, with special reference to allometric scaling. VO2peak is considered the highest VO2 during an increasing workload treadmill or bicycle ergometer test until volitional termination. We have reviewed scholarly works identified from PubMed, One Search, EBSCOhost and Google Scholar that examined VO2peak in absolute units (L·min(-1)), relative units [body mass, fat-free mass (FFM)], and allometric expressions [mass, height, lean body mass (LBM) or LBM of the legs raised to a power function] through July 2015.

Prepubertal children exposed to concentrated disadvantage: An exploratory analysis of inflammation and metabolic dysfunction.

Objective: It is unclear whether physiologic and metabolic biomarkers are associated with chronic stressors evidenced during early childhood.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were obtained from a cohort of healthy, prepubertal (Tanner stage < 2) children (n = 96; age: 8.06 [7.

Incarcerated Black Women in the Southern USA: A Narrative Review of STI and HIV Risk and Implications for Future Public Health Research, Practice, and Policy.

Incarcerated black women in the southern USA are understudied despite the high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STI) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These incarceration and health disparities are rooted in centuries of historically inequitable treatment. Amidst the current dialogue on mass incarceration in the south and its relationship to the health of the black community, individual and environmental risk factors for STI/HIV transmission are seldom paired with discussions of evidence-based solutions.

Pre-school obesity is inversely associated with vegetable intake, grocery stores and outdoor play.

The study determined the association between body mass index (BMI) z score and fruit and vegetable intake, frequency and ratio of fast food outlets and grocery stores in concentric areas around the child's residence, outdoor play and total crime index. Data from 78 Louisiana pre-school children were analyzed using Pearson's correlation and multiple regression analysis. Parental-reported fruit intake was linearly associated with increased number of grocery store counts in concentric areas around the child's residence (P = 0.

Results from the United states' 2014 report card on physical activity for children and youth.

Background: The National Physical Activity Plan Alliance partnered with physical activity experts to develop a report card that provides a comprehensive assessment of physical activity among United States children and youth.

Methods: The 2014 U.S.

At the crossroad between obesity and gastric cancer.

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions worldwide with disproportionate prevalence in different communities and ethnic groups. Recently, the American Medical Association recognized obesity as a disease, which is a significant milestone that opens the possibilities of treating obesity under standardized health plans. Obesity is an inflammatory disease characterized by elevated levels of biomarkers associated with abnormal lipid profiles, glucose levels, and blood pressure that lead to the onset of metabolic syndrome.

Role of nicotine dependence on the relationship between variants in the nicotinic receptor genes and risk of lung adenocarcinoma.

Several variations in the nicotinic receptor genes have been identified to be associated with both lung cancer risk and smoking in the genome-wide association (GWA) studies. However, the relationships among these three factors (genetic variants, nicotine dependence, and lung cancer) remain unclear. In an attempt to elucidate these relationships, we applied mediation analysis to quantify the impact of nicotine dependence on the association between the nicotinic receptor genetic variants and lung adenocarcinoma risk.

Improving physical activity in daycare interventions.

Background: The aim of the study was to objectively determine whether the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC) program improved physical activity levels during the school day.

Methods: The study compared the physical activity levels of subjects from 26 daycare centers, randomized into treatment (N=13) and control (N=13) groups. The subjects were 3 to 5 year olds (N=209, 104 males and 105 females; age [years]=3.

Blood, sex and trust: The limits of the population-based risk management paradigm.

Blood screening is imperfect so Donor Health Check questionnaires (DHC) are used to defer those whose 'behaviour' suggests disproportionate risk of Blood Borne Infection (BBI). Taking the UK case, we compare deferment of three sub-populations with different HIV prevalence; Men-who-have-Sex-with-Men (4.7%), black-Africans (3.

Inverse correlation of serum inflammatory markers with metabolic parameters in healthy, Black and White prepubertal youth.

Objective: To examine for the first time the associations between pro-inflammatory cytokines and obesity-related metabolic biomarkers in, exclusively prepubertal, otherwise healthy obese and non-obese Black and White children, 7-9 years of age.

Design And Methods: Body mass index (BMI), homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance, visceral adipose tissue and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT (magnetic resonance imaging)); total body fat (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), ectopic, intrahepatic lipid (IHL) and intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) fat (proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy) and serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were measured in 40 obese and non-obese children. Relationships between inflammatory cytokines and obesity were assessed by analysis of variance and Spearman's rank correlation.

A cohort study evaluating the implications of biology, weight status and socioeconomic level on global self-esteem competence among female African-American adolescents.

The link between obesity and self-esteem among minority youth has received minimal empirical evaluation. This study aims to describe the magnitude of risk that body mass index, household income, and transitional age have on global self-esteem levels among African-American adolescents. These analyses were conducted on cross-sectional data obtained from 264 urban-dwelling African-American females between 14 and 18 years of age.

Elevated C-reactive protein in children from risky neighborhoods: evidence for a stress pathway linking neighborhoods and inflammation in children.

Background: Childhood socioeconomic status is linked to adult cardiovascular disease and disease risk. One proposed pathway involves inflammation due to exposure to a stress-inducing neighborhood environment. Whether CRP, a marker of systemic inflammation, is associated with stressful neighborhood conditions among children is unknown.

You, too, can be an international medical traveler: reading medical travel guidebooks.

Drawing on literature on self-help and travel guide writing, this paper interrogates five international medical travel guidebooks aimed at encouraging American and British audiences to travel abroad to purchase medical care. These guidebooks articulate a three-step self-help "program" to produce a "savvy" international medical traveler. First, readers are encouraged to view their home healthcare system as dysfunctional.