Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Oct 2020
Cardiovascular Disease-Related Pregnancy Complications Are Associated with Increased Maternal Levels and Trajectories of Cardiovascular Disease Biomarkers During and After Pregnancy.
Background: Having a pregnancy complicated by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and/or having a small or preterm baby put a woman at risk for later cardiovascular disease (CVD). It is uncertain if higher maternal CVD risk factors (reflected by increased peripartum CVD biomarker levels) account for this risk, or if experiencing a complicated pregnancy itself increases a woman's CVD risk (reflected by an increase in biomarker trajectories from early pregnancy to postpartum). Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of an 8-week mindful eating and stress reduction intervention in 110 pregnant women. ⋯ Peripartum glucose and systolic BP trajectories were statistically greater in complicated versus normal pregnancies (p values were 0.008 and 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: We conclude that the experience of a complicated pregnancy in addition to elevated CVD risk factor levels may both increase a woman's risk of future CVD. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01307683.
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Journal of women's health · Oct 2020
Sex and Gender Analysis of Toxicity and Epidemiology Data on Environmental Chemicals in the Three Major Toxicology Databases.
Background: As sex and gender are important considerations in the assessment of toxic chemicals, we investigated whether sex and gender issues have been adequately considered in toxicological databases. Materials and Methods: A systemic review was conducted on the toxicity and epidemiology data of eight environmental chemicals (i.e., cadmium [Cd], lead [Pb], benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, and tetrachloroethylene [TCE], bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate [DEHP], and bisphenol A [BPA]) that appear in three toxicological databases (i.e., Hazardous Substances Data Bank, Integrated Risk Information System, and the European Chemicals Agency databases). Results: Systemic reviews on 4160 data entries pertaining to eight chemicals in three databases revealed that only 13.5% of these were sourced from male and female combined (MF) studies, whereas, 40.6% of the total number of examined entries was sourced from the study in which the sex of the subject was not mentioned. Conclusions: To accurately evaluate the hazardous effect of chemicals, toxicity tests should be designed and conducted for both sexes, and the corresponding endpoints should cover gender concerns. Therefore, databases listing toxicity data as part of the open source literature should select information from MF toxicity and epidemiology studies.
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Journal of women's health · Oct 2020
Gender Differences in the Associations Between Informal Caregiving and Wellbeing in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.
Background: Health risks among informal caregivers have received inadequate attention in low and middle income countries. We examined cross-sectional data from 28611 adults 18 years and older in Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia and South Africa in the WHO Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health (SAGE) to examine gender differences in informal caregiving and wellbeing. Methods: Wellbeing was measured by self-rated health, difficulties with tasks, self-reported and diagnosed depression and anxiety. ⋯ Even when women were not caregivers, having someone ill at home was associated with extreme difficulties with life tasks [ARRR = 2.32 (95% CI: 1.33, 4.04)]. Male caregivers, compared to no-one ill in the household, were more likely to report mild-moderate anxiety [ARRR = 1.8 (95% CI: 1.2, 3.7)] and severe-extreme anxiety [ARRR = 2.22 (95% CI: 1.07, 4.6)]. Conclusions: Caregiving for older adults results in greater health burdens, particularly mental health, for both women and men, though evidence shows that these burdens may be prominent and manifest in more diverse ways for women relative to men.
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Journal of women's health · Oct 2020
Representation of Women Among Invited Speakers for Grand Rounds.
Background: Grand rounds and named lectureships are forums in academic medicine for sharing research, scholarly achievements, and clinical expertise. An invitation to speak at grand rounds is regarded as an honor and is part of the pathway to academic promotion. We describe gender representation relative to the national academic medical workforce among invited speakers at departmental grand rounds and annual named lectures at a large academic medical center. Materials and Methods: Lists of external speakers for grand rounds from 2015 through 2017 were obtained from 18 departments and for annual named lectures from 2007 to 2017 from 7 departments. Results: Of the 783 invited speakers to the 25 speaker series, there were 178 women (22.7%). ⋯ The proportion of women who spoke at annual named lectures was significantly lower in two of seven lecture series and ranged from 0% to 21.2%. Three departments had no women speakers. Conclusions: The underrepresentation of women as speakers is a potential target to improve gender representation and role modeling and provide equitable opportunity for academic advancement. Solutions may include formal diversity and inclusion training, intentional overrepresentation of invited female speakers, and inclusion of women on grand rounds planning committees.
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Journal of women's health · Oct 2020
A Systematic Review of Somatic Symptoms in Women with Depression or Depressive Symptoms: Do Race or Ethnicity Matter?
Background: Racial and ethnic minority women in the United States have an elevated risk of depression or depressive symptoms compared with White women. There is evidence to suggest that these women are more likely to report somatic symptoms. The objective of this systematic review was to determine whether there are racial and ethnic differences in somatization in women with depression or depressive symptoms. ⋯ Conclusions: A pattern emerged with African American and Hispanic/Latina women with depression or depressive symptoms more likely to report somatic symptoms compared with White women. However, it is not clear whether differences were a function of culturally acceptable presentation of symptoms or if the stress of being depressed increased somatization in minority women. Future studies should assess how depression/depressive symptoms affect racial and ethnic minority women to identify mechanisms involved in increased somatization.