Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Dec 2013
Association between body mass index, sexually transmitted infections, and contraceptive compliance.
Recent studies have examined the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and sexual behaviors, but little information exists on this relationship among racially diverse, low-income women using objectively measured clinical data. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between BMI and sexual behaviors, rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancy, and contraceptive adherence among adolescent and young adult women. ⋯ STI history and contraceptive compliance did not vary by BMI. Therefore, all women should receive equal contraceptive counseling (including condoms) to reduce the risk of unplanned pregnancy and STIs.
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Journal of women's health · Dec 2013
Subclinical impairment of ovarian reserve in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with normal menstruation not using alkylating therapy.
Disease activity is a major factor in menstrual disorders in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients not receiving alkylating therapy. However, the ovarian reserve of SLE women with normal menstruation is still unclear. ⋯ SLE patients not receiving alkylating therapy who had normal menstruation and short illness duration still had an impaired ovarian reserve.
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Journal of women's health · Dec 2013
Absence of gender-based differences in outcome of patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia.
The objective of this analysis was to evaluate the association between gender and clinical outcomes in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) since data thus far are controversial. ⋯ In ICU patients with pneumonia, female gender was not associated with worse outcomes or increased resource utilization compared to male gender. Further studies are needed to evaluate menopausal status and outcomes in women with pneumonia.
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Journal of women's health · Dec 2013
Glycemic control and urinary incontinence in women with diabetes mellitus.
Although many studies have shown that diabetes increases the risk for urinary incontinence, it is unclear whether poor glycemic control in women with diabetes is associated with incontinence. This study aims to determine the relationship between the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level and urinary incontinence in a large, diverse cohort of older women. ⋯ In this cross-sectional analysis, HbA1c level is not associated with the presence or absence of incontinence. However, for women with incontinence, poor glycemic control (HbA1c ≥9%) is associated with more limitations in daily activities due to incontinence. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether improving glycemic control to HbA1c <9% leads to fewer limitations in daily activities due to incontinence.
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Journal of women's health · Dec 2013
Endogenous estradiol is not associated with poor physical health in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors.
Among postmenopausal breast cancer survivors, poor physical health has been associated with higher risks of breast cancer events. Obesity and physical inactivity are known risk factors for poor physical health, while circulating estrogen is an additional potential risk factor. We tested the hypothesis that the relationship between poor physical health and worse breast cancer outcomes is mediated by higher estrogen concentrations associated with body size and physical inactivity. ⋯ These findings indicate that estradiol is related to poor physical health, but is not an independent risk factor from body size or inactivity. While obesity and physical activity in survivorship are potential targets for improving physical health, other biological processes that impact physical health, e.g. inflammation, remain to be identified.