Chest pain syndromes are associated with high rates of recidivism and costs in young United States Veterans.

Background: Recurrent chest pain is common in patients with and without coronary artery disease. The prevalence and burden of these symptoms on healthcare is unknown.

Objectives: To compare chest pain return visits (recidivism) in patients with unexplained chest pain (UCP) against reference group of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and estimate the annual cost of recurrent chest pain.

Personality and alcohol-related outcomes among mandated college students: descriptive norms, injunctive norms, and college-related alcohol beliefs as mediators.

The present study examined three alcohol-perception variables (descriptive norms, injunctive norms, and college-related alcohol beliefs) as mediators of the predictive effects of four personality traits (impulsivity, sensation seeking, anxiety sensitivity, and hopelessness) on alcohol use and alcohol-related consequences in a sample of mandated college students (n=875). Our findings replicated several findings of a previous study of incoming freshman college students (Hustad et al., in press) in that impulsivity and hopelessness had direct effects on alcohol-related problems, sensation seeking and impulsivity had indirect effects on alcohol-related outcomes via college-related alcohol beliefs, and college-related alcohol beliefs predicted both alcohol use and alcohol-related problems.

Phone-delivered brief motivational interventions for mandated college students delivered during the summer months.

Objective: Across the United States, tens of thousands of college students are mandated to receive an alcohol intervention following an alcohol policy violation. Telephone interventions may be an efficient method to provide mandated students with an intervention, especially when they are away from campus during summer vacation. However, little is known about the utility of telephone-delivered brief motivational interventions.

First birth Caesarean section and subsequent fertility: a population-based study in the USA, 2000-2008.

Study Question: Is first birth Caesarean delivery associated with a lower likelihood of subsequent childbearing when compared with first birth vaginal delivery?

Summary Answer: In this study of US women whose first delivery was in 2000, those who had a Caesarean delivery were less likely to have a subsequent live birth than those who delivered vaginally.

What Is Already Known: Some studies have reported lower birth rates subsequent to Caesarean delivery in comparison with vaginal delivery, while other studies have reported no difference.

Study Design, Size, Duration: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 52 498 women who had a first singleton live birth in the State of Pennsylvania, USA in 2000 and were followed to the end of 2008 via Pennsylvania birth certificate records to identify subsequent live births during the 8- to 9-year follow-up period.

Development and initial psychometric evaluation of the hepatitis C virus-patient-reported outcomes (HCV-PRO) instrument.

Background: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important public health issue owing to its worldwide prevalence and its profound effects on patients' well-being and function. We developed a new patient self-report tool, the HCV patient-reported outcomes (HCV-PRO) instrument, to assess patients' function and well-being reflecting both HCV disease and treatment burdens.

Methods: Items were developed through a qualitative phase including scientific literature review, expert appraisal, and semi-structured patient interviews.

Responses to a theoretically adapted clinical trial education session: faith-based sites versus rural work site dissemination.

The process for advancing biomedical knowledge depends upon recruiting an adequate and representative sample of individuals to voluntarily participate in research studies. A consistent personal barrier to cancer clinical trial participation is the lack of awareness and understanding related to trial availability, and the prevention and treatment roles participation represents. In particular, comprehensive community-based approaches to recruit and educate rural residents are needed.

Effect of previous miscarriage on the maternal birth experience in the First Baby Study.

Objective: To determine whether a history of miscarriage is related to birth experience and/or maternal fear of an adverse birth outcome for self or infant during a subsequent delivery.

Design: Secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study, the First Baby Study.

Sample: Women age 18 to 35 who were expecting to deliver their first live-born infants in Pennsylvania between January 2009 and April 2011.

State of the science of maternal-infant bonding: a principle-based concept analysis.

Objective: to provide a principle-based analysis of the concept of maternal-infant bonding.

Design: principle-based method of concept analysis for which the data set included 44 articles published in the last decade from Pubmed, CINAHL, and PyschINFO/PsychARTICLES.

Setting: literature inclusion criteria were English language, articles published in the last decade, peer-reviewed journal articles and commentary on published work, and human populations.

Adaptation of an evidence-based intervention for Appalachian women: new STEPS (Strength Through Education, Physical fitness and Support) for breast health.

Appalachia is characterized by a high prevalence of individual-level risks for breast cancer, including physical inactivity and postmenopausal obesity. The availability of local, evidence-based programs to improve physical fitness is limited. We adapted an evidence-based intervention, StrongWomen, to improve physical fitness and increase breast cancer knowledge among women 40 years and older in Appalachian Pennsylvania.

Modeling exposures to the oxidative potential of PM10.

Differences in the toxicity of ambient particulate matter (PM) due to varying particle composition across locations may contribute to variability in results from air pollution epidemiologic studies. Though most studies have used PM mass concentration as the exposure metric, an alternative which accounts for particle toxicity due to varying particle composition may better elucidate whether PM from specific sources is responsible for observed health effects. The oxidative potential (OP) of PM < 10 μm (PM(10)) was measured as the rate of depletion of the antioxidant reduced glutathione (GSH) in a model of human respiratory tract lining fluid.

A randomized trial of exercise on well-being and function following breast cancer surgery: the RESTORE trial.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of a moderate, tailored exercise program on health-related quality of life, physical function, and arm volume in women receiving treatment for nonmetastatic breast cancer.

Methods: Women who were within 4-12 weeks of surgery for stage I-III breast cancer were randomized to center-based exercise and lymphedema education intervention or patient education. Functional assessment of cancer therapy-breast cancer (FACT-B), 6-min walk, and arm volume were performed at 3-month intervals through 18 months.

Impact of incomplete revascularization on long-term mortality after coronary stenting.

Background: The impact of incomplete revascularization (IR) on adverse outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention remains inconclusive, and few studies have examined mortality during follow-ups longer than 5 years. The objective of this study is to test the hypothesis that IR is associated with higher risk of long-term (8-year) mortality after stenting for multivessel coronary disease.

Methods And Results: A total of 13 016 patients with multivessel disease who had undergone stenting procedures with bare metal stents in 1999 to 2000 were identified in the New York State's Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Reporting System.

Outcomes of thyroid cancer in African Americans.

Context: Thyroid cancer, the most common endocrine cancer, is on the rise. It is less common in the African American (AA) population in the United States. Few studies have looked at outcome disparities for different patient populations, particularly those involving race.

Development and validation of a scale measuring satisfaction with maternal and newborn health care following childbirth.

To demonstrate the validity and internal consistency of a multi-item scale measuring women's satisfaction with health care received in the weeks following childbirth for both themselves and their newborns. Data are from 1,154 women delivering healthy singletons or twins recruited for a randomized trial. Satisfaction with care items were selected from prior research, including the previously validated Primary Care Satisfaction Survey for Women (PCSSW) and studies of postpartum care.

VA health care utilization and costs among male and female veterans in the year after service in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The objective of this study was to compare the 1-year VA health care service use and costs between male and female Veterans returning from deployment in Afghanistan and Iraq. Using VA administrative data, measures of health care service use and costs were computed for male and female veterans in the year after last deployment. Service use and cost measures included inpatient care, outpatient care, prescription drugs, and fee basis care.

Systemic inflammation and circadian rhythm of cardiac autonomic modulation.

Systemic inflammation (SI) is associated with impairment of cardiac autonomic modulation (CAM), which is associated with cardiac disease. However, there is limited data about SI on CAM circadian pattern, which this study aimed to investigate in a middle-aged sample. C-reactive protein (CRP) was used as a SI marker.

The implications of cancer survivorship for spousal employment.

Background: The purpose of this research was to estimate employment effects for spouses of cancer survivors who were working at the time of the cancer diagnosis.

Methods: Spouses of cancer survivors were drawn from the Penn State Cancer Survivor Survey. Comparable spouses of individuals without cancer were drawn from the Panel Survey of Income Dynamics.

The transradial approach is associated with lower risk of adverse outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention: a single-center experience.

Objective: We sought to test the hypothesis that the transradial approach is associated with lower risk of adverse outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared to the transfemoral approach, and to examine whether the adoption of the transradial approach could result in improved quality of care for PCI in a single-center practice.

Background: Although previous research has suggested that the transradial approach is associated with lower risk of adverse outcomes following PCI, it is not widely used in the United States.

Methods: We identified 462 transradial and 625 transfemoral PCI cases that were treated at our center between January 2007 and March 2009.

Health care expenditures for children with autism spectrum disorders in Medicaid.

Objective: To study trends in health care expenditures associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in state Medicaid programs.

Method: Using Medicaid data from 42 states from 2000 to 2003, patients aged 17 years and under who were continuously enrolled in fee-for-service Medicaid were studied. Patients with claims related to autistic disorder (autism) were identified, as were patients with claims for any ASD other than autism.

Folic acid supplementation in younger and older nonpregnant women of reproductive age: findings from the Central Pennsylvania Women's Health Study (CePAWHS).

Introduction And Background: This study explores variables associated with daily folic acid supplementation among nonpregnant women ages 18-24, in comparison with women ages 25-45. Health-related behaviors, reproductive status, health care access, and sociodemographic variables are included.

Methods: Data are from a cross-sectional population-based survey of 2,002 women ages 18-45 in the Central Pennsylvania Women's Health Study.

Exploring knowledge and attitudes related to pregnancy and preconception health in women with chronic medical conditions.

Women with chronic medical conditions are at increased risk for pregnancy-related complications, yet little research has addressed how women with diabetes, hypertension, and obesity perceive their pregnancy-associated risks or make reproductive health decisions. Focus groups were conducted with 72 non-pregnant women stratified by chronic condition (diabetes, hypertension, obesity) and by previous live birth. Participants discussed their intention for future pregnancy, preconception health optimization, perceived risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, and contraceptive beliefs.

Changes in community socioeconomic status and racial distribution associated with gonorrhea rates: an analysis at the community level.

Background: Gonorrhea persists despite nationwide disease control measures. Research has not focused on the longitudinal impact of community characteristics on gonorrhea. The authors assessed the association between community demographic and socioeconomic changes and gonorrhea rates.

Preconception predictors of birth outcomes: prospective findings from the central Pennsylvania women's health study.

Objective: To examine maternal pre-pregnancy (preconception) predictors of birthweight and fetal growth for singleton live births occurring over a 2-year period in a prospective study.

Methods: Data are from a population-based cohort study of 1,420 women who were interviewed at baseline and 2-years later; self-report data and birth records were obtained for incident live births during the followup period. The analytic sample includes 116 singleton births.

Pregnancy intention and health behaviors: results from the Central Pennsylvania Women's Health Study cohort.

Objective: Our objective was to determine whether intention for future pregnancy affects selected preconception health behaviors that may impact pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: Analyses are based on data from a population-based cohort study of women ages 18-45 residing in Central Pennsylvania. A subsample of 847 non-pregnant women with reproductive capacity comprise the analytic sample.