Association between maternal cigarette smoking cessation and risk of preterm birth in Western New York.

Background: Although many studies suggested the benefit of smoking cessation among pregnant women in reducing the risk of preterm birth (PTB), the timing of the effect of the cessation remains inconclusive.

Objectives: To examine the association of trimester-specific smoking cessation behaviours with PTB risk.

Methods: We included 199,453 live births in Western New York between 2004 and 2018.

Association of prenatal exposure to PM and NO with gestational diabetes in Western New York.

Background: Although many studies have examined the association between prenatal air pollution exposure and gestational diabetes (GDM), the relevant exposure windows remain inconclusive. We aim to examine the association between preconception and trimester-specific exposure to PM and NO and GDM risk and explore modifying effects of maternal age, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), smoking, exercise during pregnancy, race and ethnicity, and neighborhood disadvantage.

Methods: Analyses included 192,508 birth records of singletons born to women without pre-existing diabetes in Western New York, 2004-2016.

Adverse pregnancy outcomes and risk of type 2 diabetes in postmenopausal women.

Background: Although gestational diabetes mellitus and delivering high-birthweight infants are known to predict a higher risk of future type 2 diabetes mellitus, the association of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and other adverse pregnancy outcomes with type 2 diabetes mellitus is not well established.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the associations between different types of adverse pregnancy outcomes and incident type 2 diabetes mellitus among postmenopausal women.

Study Design: The Women's Health Initiative, a nationwide cohort of postmenopausal women, collected self-reported history of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including gestational diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preterm birth, and delivering low- birthweight (<2500 g) or high-birthweight (>4500 g) infants.

A pilot study of the association between maternal mid-pregnancy cholesterol and oxysterol concentrations and labor duration.

Background: Previous animal model studies have highlighted a role for cholesterol and its oxidized derivatives (oxysterols) in uterine contractile activity, however, a lipotoxic state associated with hypercholesterolemia may contribute to labor dystocia. Therefore, we investigated if maternal mid-pregnancy cholesterol and oxysterol concentrations were associated with labor duration in a human pregnancy cohort.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of serum samples and birth outcome data from healthy pregnant women (N = 25) with mid-pregnancy fasting serum samples collected at 22-28 weeks of gestation.

Associations of maternal lipoprotein particle distribution in mid-pregnancy with birth outcomes: a pilot study.

Background: An excessive rise in maternal lipids during pregnancy may have detrimental impacts on maternal and fetal health leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, knowledge gaps exist with respect to the association between lipid biomarkers and birth outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a secondary data analysis of healthy pregnant women (N = 25) with mid-pregnancy fasting serum samples collected at 22-28 weeks of gestation and birth outcome data.

Vulvodynia.

Vulvodynia is a heterogenous, chronic pain condition of unknown etiology that affects 7% to 15% of women. It affects sexual function and quality of life. Vulvodynia can be primary or secondary, localized or generalized, and spontaneous or provoked.

Estrogen metabolism in menopausal hormone users in the women's health initiative observational study: Does it differ between estrogen plus progestin and estrogen alone?

The WHI found an unexpected reduced breast cancer risk in women using CEE alone. We hypothesized CEE alone induces estrogen hydroxylation along the 2-pathway rather than the competing 16-pathway, a pattern linked to reduced postmenopausal breast cancer risk. One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four women in a WHIOS case-control study of estrogen metabolism and ovarian and endometrial cancer were studied of whom 609 were current E + P users (351 used CEE + MPA), while 272 used E alone (162 used CEE).

Sexual activity and vaginal symptoms in the postintervention phase of the Women's Health Initiative Hormone Therapy Trials.

Objective: To assess the impact of discontinuing oral hormone therapy (HT) on sexual activity, vaginal symptoms, and sexual activity components among participants in the estrogen-progestin therapy (EPT) and estrogen therapy (ET) trial of the Women's Health Initiative.

Methods: Surveys were sent postintervention to those who were still taking study pills and agreed to continue in the study when the trials were stopped. Comparisons between former HT and placebo users were accomplished with chi-square tests for categorical variables and t tests for continuous variables.

Surgical Competency for Robot-Assisted Hysterectomy: Development and Validation of a Robotic Hysterectomy Assessment Score (RHAS).

Study Objective: To develop and validate a procedure-specific scoring algorithm to objectively measure robotic surgical skills during robot-assisted hysterectomy and to facilitate robotic surgery training and education.

Design: (Canadian Task Force classification III).

Setting: A National Comprehensive Cancer Network-designated comprehensive cancer center.

Incidence of endometrial spotting or bleeding during continuous-combined estrogen-progestin therapy in postmenopausal women with and without hypertension.

Objective: Endometrial spotting or bleeding is a common adverse effect among women taking continuous-combined estrogen-progestin therapy. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system plays a major role in hypertension and is present in the endometrium. We hypothesized that postmenopausal women with hypertension would have a higher incidence of bleeding compared with postmenopausal women without hypertension.

Association of serum 17β-estradiol concentration, hormone therapy, and alveolar crest height in postmenopausal women.

Background: Declines in endogenous estrogen levels after menopause can lead to systemic bone loss, including loss of oral bone and alveolar crest height (ACH). However, few studies have assessed both serum 17β-estradiol (E2) and exogenous hormone therapy (HT) use in relation to oral bone loss.

Methods: This study examines the associations among serum E2, HT use, and ACH in 613 postmenopausal women from the Buffalo OsteoPerio study.

Prophylactic use of negative pressure wound therapy after cesarean delivery.

Objective: To evaluate the economic benefit of prophylactic negative pressure wound therapy on a closed laparotomy incision after cesarean delivery in comparison with standard postoperative dressing.

Methods: We designed a decision-analytic model from a third-party payer's perspective to determine the cost-benefit of prophylactic application of negative pressure wound therapy compared with standard postoperative dressing on a closed laparotomy incision after cesarean delivery. Our primary outcome measure was the expected value of the cost per strategy.

Patterns and predictors of sexual activity among women in the Hormone Therapy trials of the Women's Health Initiative.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the patterns and predictors of sexual activity in the Hormone Therapy (HT) Trials of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI).

Methods: Sexual activity questions were administered to 27,347 women ages 50 to 79 years at baseline and at year 1 and to a random 8.6% subsample at years 3 and 6.

Increased incident hip fractures in postmenopausal women with moderate to severe pelvic organ prolapse.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the association between fracture and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative Estrogen Plus Progestin trial.

Methods: POP was assessed as cystocele, rectocele, or uterine prolapse and was graded as either "absent to mild" or "moderate to severe." Cox proportional hazard analyses (adjusting for age, body mass index, race, asthma, emphysema, thyroid disease, family history of fracture, regular menses, age at menopause, nulliparity, history of hormone therapy [HT], history of falls, socioeconomic status, calcium, and vitamin D supplementation and physical activity) explored the relationships between moderate to severe POP and incident bone fractures.

Menopausal symptom experience before and after stopping estrogen therapy in the Women's Health Initiative randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess vasomotor and other menopausal symptoms before starting estrogens or placebo, 1 year later, again at trial closure, and after stopping estrogens or placebo. The role of baseline symptoms and age was examined, as was the frequency and determinants of hormone use and symptom management strategies after discontinuing conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) or placebo.

Methods: Intent-to-treat analyses of 10,739 postmenopausal women before and 1 year after randomization to CEE or placebo at 40 clinical centers and a cohort analysis of participants (n = 3,496) who continued taking assigned study pills up to trial closure and completed symptom surveys shortly before (mean, 7.

Factors associated with recurrent bacterial vaginosis.

Objective: To determine whether menstrual abnormalities, multiple personal behaviors and some contraceptive methods, all of which have been described as potential causes of single episodes of bacterial vaginosis (BV), are associated with recurrent bacterial vaginosis (RBV).

Study Design: This was a retrospective, case-controlled study performed in an urban setting. Women with RBV and matched controls were mailed a survey that included multiple questions about potential risk factors for BV.

Relation of demographic factors, menstrual history, reproduction and medication use to sex hormone levels in postmenopausal women.

In postmenopausal women, levels of estrogens, androgens, and perhaps prolactin have been related to risk of breast and other hormonal cancers in women. However, the determinants of these hormone concentrations have not been firmly established. Associations among various demographic, menstrual, and reproductive factors, medication use and endogenous sex hormone concentrations (estradiol, free estradiol, estrone, estrone sulfate, testosterone, free testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate (DHEAS), dihydrotestosterone, and prolactin) were evaluated in a cross-sectional analysis from a simple random sample of 274 postmenopausal women selected from the Women's Health Initiative Dietary Modification Trial.

Association of pelvic organ prolapse and fractures in postmenopausal women: analysis of baseline data from the Women's Health Initiative Estrogen Plus Progestin trial.

Objective: Testing a hypothesis that pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a focal manifestation of disordered connective tissue, we evaluated whether there is an association between POP and history of fracture.

Design: This was a case-control study. Baseline data were from postmenopausal women aged 60 years or older enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative Estrogen Plus Progestin trial.

The effects of a web-based tool on patient-provider communication and satisfaction with hormone therapy: a randomized evaluation.

Objective: To assess the effect of an Internet-based questionnaire used by a patient to generate customized data and questions about menopausal hormone therapy (HT) on patient-provider communication and satisfaction.

Methods: A controlled, randomized evaluation of the TalkToYourDoc (TTYD) website module for 288 women born between 1930 and 1960 and 26 healthcare providers in an academic, outpatient setting. Women were randomized after stratification by HT use to usual care or access to the website.

Postmenopausal hormone therapy and risk of cardiovascular disease by age and years since menopause.

Context: The timing of initiation of hormone therapy may influence its effect on cardiovascular disease.

Objective: To explore whether the effects of hormone therapy on risk of cardiovascular disease vary by age or years since menopause began.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Secondary analysis of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) randomized controlled trials of hormone therapy in which 10,739 postmenopausal women who had undergone a hysterectomy were randomized to conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) or placebo and 16,608 postmenopausal women who had not had a hysterectomy were randomized to CEE plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (CEE + MPA) or placebo.

Venous thrombosis and conjugated equine estrogen in women without a uterus.

Background: Postmenopausal hormone therapy has been associated with a 2- to 3-fold increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VT) (including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) in observational studies and secondary prevention clinical trials. Clinical trial data on the effects of estrogen alone on VT are limited.

Methods: The Women's Health Initiative estrogen trial enrolled 10 739 women aged 50 to 79 years without a uterus.

Symptom experience after discontinuing use of estrogen plus progestin.

Context: Little is known about women's experiences after stopping menopausal hormone therapy.

Objective: To describe women's symptoms and management strategies after stopping the intervention in a large estrogen plus progestin trial.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Cross-sectional survey of 8405 women (89.

Menopausal symptoms and treatment-related effects of estrogen and progestin in the Women's Health Initiative.

Objective: To estimate the effects of estrogen plus progestin (E+P) therapy on menopausal symptoms, vaginal bleeding, gynecologic surgery rates, and treatment-related adverse effects in postmenopausal women.

Methods: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 16,608 postmenopausal women, ages 50-79 (mean +/- standard deviation 63.3 +/- 7.