Experiences with family planning and abortion services during the Covid-19 pandemic: a qualitative study in Bangladesh, Iran and Netherlands.

Objective: Access to family planning services is a human right that plays an essential role in society's health, particularly women's health. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of human life including access to family planning services. Accordingly, the main goal of this study was to explore the experiences of women and service providers from the main challenges and obstacles of access to family planning services and abortion services in Bangladesh, Iran, and the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Evaluation of the Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care training in Gondar, Ethiopia; a mixed methods study.

In Ethiopia maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality remains high. Timely access to quality emergency obstetric and neonatal care is essential for the prevention of adverse outcomes. Training healthcare providers can play an important role in improving quality of care, thereby reducing maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity.

Patterns and predictors of site-specific recurrence in cervical cancer after radical hysterectomy.

Aim: This study examines patterns and predictors of site-specific recurrence to explore the causes of local recurrence of cervical cancer.

Methods: Radical hysterectomy was performed in 121 patients (stage IB-IIB). Nerve-sparing was performed whenever possible.

A systematic review of chiropractic care for fall prevention: rationale, state of the evidence, and recommendations for future research.

Background: Falls in older adults are a significant and growing public health concern. There are multiple risk factors associated with falls that may be addressed within the scope of chiropractic training and licensure. Few attempts have been made to summarize existing evidence on multimodal chiropractic care and fall risk mitigation.

Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Isoform Variants and Their Inhibitory Phosphorylation in Human Testes and Spermatozoa.

Purpose: To clarify (phospho-) glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) isoform variants in the germline and soma of human testes and spermatozoa.

Materials And Methods: GSK3 isoform variants in normospermatogenic and Sertoli cell-only (SCO) testicular biopsies and spermatozoa were examined.

Results: In normospermatogenic testes, GSK3α and GSK3β variants 1 and 2 different in low complexity region (LCR) were expressed and their levels were decreased in SCO testes.

Evaluation of partial genotyping with HPV16/18 for triage of HPV positive, cytology negative women in the COMPACT study.

Objective: While cytology-based screening programs have significantly reduced mortality and morbidity from cervical cancer, the global consensus is that primary human papillomavirus (HPV) testing increases detection of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and invasive cancer. However, the optimal triage strategy for HPV+ women to avoid over-referral to colposcopy may be setting specific. We compared absolute and relative risk (RR) of >CIN2/3 within 12 months of a negative cytologic result in women HPV16/18+ compared to those with a 12-other high-risk HPV (hrHPV) genotype to identify women at greatest risk of high-grade disease and permit less aggressive management of women with other hrHPV infections.

Association between atypical endometriosis and ovarian malignancies in the real world.

Background: To evaluate the clinical outcome of atypical endometriosis and its association with ovarian malignancy.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients diagnosed with atypical endometriosis between January 2001 and December 2017. All patients had received surgical treatment for ovarian tumor.

Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy for Node-Negative Breast Cancer of 5 cm or Larger Tumors: A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis (KROG 20-03).

Purpose: To evaluate the role of postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) in patients with node-negative breast cancer of 5cm or larger tumors undergoing mastectomy.

Materials And Methods: Medical records of 274 patients from 18 institutions treated with mastectomy between January 2000 and December 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Among these, 202 patients underwent PMRT, while 72 did not.

Five-year changes in ovarian function restoration in premenopausal patients with breast cancer taking tamoxifen after chemotherapy: An ASTRRA study report.

Background: Adding ovarian function suppression (OFS) after chemotherapy improves survival in young women with moderate- and high-risk breast cancer. Assessment of ovarian function restoration after chemotherapy becomes critical for subsequent endocrine treatment and addressing fertility issues.

Patients And Methods: In the adding OFS after chemotherapy trial, patients who resumed ovarian function up to 2 years after chemotherapy were randomised to receive either 5 years of tamoxifen or adding 2 years of OFS with tamoxifen.

Glyphosate escalates horizontal transfer of conjugative plasmid harboring antibiotic resistance genes.

Glyphosate has been frequently detected in water environments because of the wide use for controlling weed in farm lands and urban areas. Presently, the focus of the majority of studies is placed on the toxicity of glyphosate on humans and animals. However, the effects of glyphosate on horizontal transfer of conjugative plasmid carrying antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) are largely unknown.

The influence of quality and respectful care on the uptake of skilled birth attendance in Tanzania.

Background: An increase in the uptake of skilled birth attendance is expected to reduce maternal mortality in low- and middle-income countries. In Tanzania, the proportion of deliveries assisted by a skilled birth attendant is only 64% and the maternal mortality ratio is still 398/100.000 live births.

Factors associated with disease upgrading in patients with papillary breast lesion in core-needle biopsy.

Background: Traditionally, surgical excision is recommended for benign papillary lesions in core-needle biopsy (CNB) because of their malignant potency. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with disease upgrading to malignancy in patients with benign papillary lesions in CNB.

Methods: A total of 179 female patients were evaluated retrospectively who were diagnosed as having a benign papillary lesion in CNB and underwent a subsequent surgical excision between January 2007 and December 2016.

Changes of vaginal microbiota during cervical carcinogenesis in women with human papillomavirus infection.

Objective: To evaluate the changes of vaginal microbiota during cervical carcinogenesis in women with high-risk human papillomavirus infection.

Materials And Methods: Vaginal microbiota was analyzed using next-generation sequencing in women with normal, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), or cervical cancer.

Results: A marked decrease of Lactobacillus crispatus was found in the CIN/cancer groups compared with that in the normal group.

Epigenome-wide DNA methylation profiling of preeclamptic placenta according to severe features.

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is an obstetric disorder with significant morbidities for both the mother and fetus possibly caused by a failure of the placental trophoblast invasion. However, its pathophysiology largely remains unclear. Here, we performed DNA methylation profiling to determine whether differential patterns of DNA methylation correlate with PE and severe features of PE.

Clinical Characteristics and Prevalence of Comorbidities according to Metformin Use in Korean Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Methods: This cross-sectional study based on the Korean National Diabetes Program 2 registry used its baseline clinical data collected from seven participating university hospitals in Korea. Patients with no significant changes in their oral hypoglycemic agents and no diabetes-related complications within the year prior to participation were enrolled. Patients' clinical characteristics according to metformin use were analyzed.

Maternal total cell-free DNA in preeclampsia with and without intrauterine growth restriction.

Elevation of total cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in patients with preeclampsia is well-known; however, whether this change precedes the onset of symptoms remains inconclusive. Here, we conducted a nested case-control study to determine the elevation of cfDNA levels in women who subsequently developed preeclampsia. Methylated HYP2 (m-HYP2) levels were determined in 68 blood samples collected from women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, along with 136 control samples, using real-time quantitative PCR.

Elevated Alanine Aminotransferase in Early Pregnancy and Subsequent Development of Gestational Diabetes and Preeclampsia.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now considered as a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome and elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is commonly related to NAFLD in the absence of viral hepatitis or alcohol abuse. Previous studies have indicated that elevated ALT is associated with diabetes or metabolic syndrome in adults, but the clinical significance of ALT or NAFLD in pregnancy has not been well determined. The objective of this study was to determine the association between elevated ALT in early pregnancy and the development of gestational diabetes or preeclampsia in late pregnancy.

Korean Translation and Linguistic Validation of Urgency and Overactive Bladder Questionnaires.

Purpose: Given the importance of evaluating the severity of overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms and outcomes after treatment, several questionnaires have been developed to evaluate OAB patients. However, only limited questionnaires are available in Korea for use with Korean patients. Therefore, this study aimed to develop Korean versions of OAB questionnaires through a rigorous linguistic validation process.

Oleanolic acid 3-acetate, a minor element of ginsenosides, induces apoptotic cell death in ovarian carcinoma and endometrial carcinoma cells via the involvement of a reactive oxygen species-independent mitochondrial pathway.

Objectives: Oleanolic acid, a minor element of ginsenosides, and its derivatives have been shown to have cytotoxicity against some tumor cells. The impact of cytotoxic effect of oleanolic acid 3-acetate on ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells and endometrial cancer HEC-1A cells were examined both and to explore the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Cytotoxic effects of oleanolic acid 3-acetate were assessed by cell viability, phosphatidylserine exposure on the cell surface, mitochondrial release of cytochrome C, nuclear translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor, depolarization of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨ), and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Reliability of strain elastography using in vivo compression in the assessment of the uterine cervix during pregnancy.

Objective To determine the reproducibility of the mean strain value in various cervical areas and new elastographic parameters for measuring cervical stiffness evaluated by strain elastography using in vivo compression generated by internal organ movement. Methods A prospective observational study (140 singleton pregnant women; 15-33 weeks of gestation) was performed at two tertiary centers. Cervical strain was evaluated using E-cervix™ elastography.

Hemodynamic stability during adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma: A case control study of posterior retroperitoneal vs lateral transperitoneal approaches.

Hemodynamic stability is one of the most critical aspects of adrenal surgery for pheochromocytoma. Few articles have evaluated the hemodynamic status of patients undergoing posterior retroperitoneal adrenalectomy (PRA) for pheochromocytoma. The aim of this study is to compare the intraoperative hemodynamic parameters between lateral transperitoneal adrenalectomy (TPA) and PRA in this groups of patients.

Genome-wide interaction study of single-nucleotide polymorphisms and alcohol consumption on blood pressure: The Ansan and Ansung study of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES).

Hypertension is a common disease worldwide. Alcohol consumption is one of the risk factors for hypertension, however, it is unclear how alcohol consumption elevates blood pressure. Blood pressure could be affected by interactions between genetic variations and alcohol consumption.