Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Jun 2012
Comparative StudyGender differences in health service utilization among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.
Little is known about gender differences in healthcare use among newly returning veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We investigated gender differences in Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center health service use among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with PTSD with and without comorbid depression and alcohol use disorders (AUD). ⋯ Women with PTSD had higher use than men in almost all areas, as did all veterans with comorbid PTSD and depression and comorbid PTSD and AUD, regardless of gender. Better understanding these health service use differences will allow for targeted evaluation and integrated treatment interventions in veterans with PTSD.
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Journal of women's health · Jun 2012
Comparative StudyInflammation and cardiovascular risk in women with preterm labor.
Women with a history of preterm delivery have about twice the normal risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Mechanisms underlying this association are not well understood. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationships between selected metabolic CVD risk factors and markers of both systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in women with spontaneous preterm labor (sPL). ⋯ A combination of low maternal BMI, low cholesterol levels, and high total cholesterol/HDL-C ratio is present in women with sPL and is related to inflammation.
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Journal of women's health · Jun 2012
Racial differences in the association between gestational diabetes mellitus and risk of type 2 diabetes.
It is recognized that a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) predicts incident type 2 diabetes in women. However, it is unclear if there is a racial disparity between the association of GDM and type 2 diabetes. ⋯ A history of GDM is a strong predictor of subsequent type 2 diabetes among Louisiana women, especially among African American women.
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Journal of women's health · Jun 2012
Mediators of adverse birth outcomes among socially disadvantaged women.
Numerous studies find that socially disadvantaged women are more likely than socially advantaged women to deliver infants that weigh less than normal and/or are born weeks prior to their due date. However, little is known about the pathways that link maternal social disadvantage to birth outcomes. Using data from a prospective cohort study, we examined whether antenatal psychosocial stress, substance use, and maternal health conditions in pregnancy mediated the pathway between maternal social disadvantage and birth outcomes. ⋯ The findings demonstrate that maternal social disadvantage is associated with poor health status in pregnancy, which in turn adversely affects birth outcomes. Results argue for more systematic attention to the roles of social disadvantage, including life course perspectives that trace social disadvantage prior to and through pregnancy.
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Journal of women's health · Jun 2012
Comparative StudyIncreased breast cancer prevalence among female orthopedic surgeons.
As a result of low-dose ionizing radiation exposure during clinical practice, female orthopaedic surgeons may be at increased risk for breast cancer. ⋯ Our findings confirm that breast cancer prevalence is elevated among female orthopaedic surgeons. Although further research is needed to determine the factors behind this population's hypothesized increased risk, taken together, our results and others suggest that the orthopaedic community consider educating current practitioners of the use of protective shielding and other modifiable breast cancer risk factors.