Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Clinical And Basic Research Investigations Into The Long‐Term Effects Of Prenatal Opioid Exposure On Brain Development, Taylor Boggess, W. Chris Risher

Biomedical Sciences

Coincident with the opioid epidemic in the United States has been a dramatic increase in the number of children born with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a form of withdrawal resulting from opioid exposure during pregnancy. Many research efforts on NAS have focused on short‐term care, including acute symptom treatment and weaning of the infants off their drug dependency prior to authorizing their release. However, investigations into the long‐term effects of prenatal opioid exposure (POE) on brain development, from the cellular to the behavioral level, have not been as frequent. Given the importance of the perinatal period for human brain development, …

Barriers And Facilitators To Opioid Use Treatment And Recovery Services During Pregnancy, Loralie Woods

Dissertations

Purpose: To identify barriers and facilitators to opioid use treatment and recovery services among pregnant and nonpregnant women who misuse opioids.

Background: Over 130 Americans die daily after overdosing on opioids. Women have not been immune from opioid use disorders (OUDs), with a 4-fold increase from 1999-2010. The prevalence of opioid use among pregnant women increased from 1.5 per 1,000 hospital deliveries to 6.5. Although the annual National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) has provided information on risk factors for OUD related to socioeconomic and demographic factors, no studies using this data have identified barriers to opioid use …

Non-Obstetrical Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery In Pregnancy: A Systematic Literature Review., Courtney Capella, Joseph Godovchik, Thenappan Chandrasekar, Huda B. Al-Kouatly

Department of Urology Faculty Papers

Urologic and gynecologic surgeons are the top utilizers of robotic surgery; however, non-obstetrical robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RALS) in pregnant patients is infrequent. A systematic literature review was performed to ascertain the frequency, indication and complications of RALS in pregnancy. Results showed thirty-eight pregnancies from eleven publications between 2008-2020. Five cases were for urologic indication and thirty-three for gynecologic indication. Minimal surgical alterations were required. Although no adverse maternal-fetal outcomes were reported, there are not enough cases published to determine safety. This review demonstrates the feasibility of RALS for the pregnant population in the hands of competent robotic surgeons.

Determining The Knowledge And Practices Of Obstetrics Healthcare Professionals Regarding Maternal Intrapartum Pertussis Vaccination Administration, Kristie Mattix

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project

Pertussis is a contagious respiratory disease that can occur in all age groups. Signs and symptoms of pertussis, however, are worse in infants and young children; likewise, the rates of severe cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are higher in this group as well. Vaccination against pertussis is the most effective way to combat this illness. In the last 15 years, there have been a number of changes in the recommendations regarding vaccination against pertussis. In order for these recommendations to be followed, healthcare professionals must be aware of the guidelines as well as be knowledgeable about the condition they are trying …

The Nightmare Before Delivery: A Study Of Nightmares, Depressive Symptoms, And Suicidality In Pregnant Women, Denise Frantz

Honors Theses

Pregnancy is notoriously a time of immense changes. Some of which are characterized by disturbances in sleep such as trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, waking after sleep onset, snoring, leg discomfort, and nightmares (Foley, Ancoli-Israel, Britz, and Walsh, 2004; Lee and Gay, 2004; Köthe & Pietrowsky, 2001). Nightmares specifically have been associated with depressive symptoms and suicidality in non-pregnant individuals (Cukrowicz et al., 2006; Tanskanen et al., 2001), but these relations are not as well understood in the pregnant population. The aim of this study was to assess any potential relation between nightmares and depressive symptoms and suicidality in …

An Examination Of The Association Between State Medicaid Perinatal Services And Birth Outcomes, Joy Morgan Myers

Honors Theses

This thesis investigated the connection between socioeconomic status, healthcare coverage, and birth outcomes. The research question that was posed specifically looked at twenty perinatal services that states covered under Medicaid to varying degrees to see their association, if any, with premature birth rates and low birthweight rates. State-level and Mississippi county-level data were compiled regarding preterm birth rates, low birthweight rates, presumptive eligibility adoption, and coverage of twenty different perinatal services. Using these data, the correlation between state Medicaid expansion status and birth outcomes was first calculated in order to determine if variation in birth outcomes was associated with expanded …

Socioeconomic Status And Symptoms Of Anxiety And Depression In Pregnant Women, Meagan Mandabach

Honors Theses

Pregnancy is a period of great change in a woman’s body as her baby develops. During this period, women commonly experience symptoms of anxiety (Dennis et al., 2017) and depression (Shidhaye & Giri, 2014). Literature has suggested that socioeconomic status (SES) can contribute to the severity at which pregnant women experience anxiety and depression (Arora & Aeri, 2019; Field et al., 2008; Shagufta & Shams, 2019), and women of low socioeconomic status may be more likely to experience symptoms of anxiety and depression during pregnancy (Field et al., 2008). The present study aimed to assess the relationships between household income …

The Autoimmune System: The Effect Of Physiological Stressors On Autoantibody Glycosylation And Fidelity Of Autoantibody Profiles, Rahil Kheirkhah

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Theses and Dissertations

The presence of thousands of autoantibodies (aABs) in the human sera is typical, and therefore it is possible to identify an aAB profile for each individual. In the first part of this thesis, we will show the cerebrospinal fluid also exhibits an extraordinarily complex immunoglobulin G aAB profile that is composed of thousands of aABs. We show that the pattern of expression of individual aABs in CSF closely mimics that in the blood, indicative of a blood-based origin for CSF aABs. In addition, using longitudinal serum samples obtained over a span of nine years, we show remarkable stability in aAB …

The Evil Twin: The Case Of Heterotopic Pregnancy, Rashmi Jadhav, Vegas Brown, Gabriel Cabrera

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2020

• Heterotopic pregnancy occurs in about 1 in 30,000 naturally conceived pregnancies (5). The risk rises 1-3% for pregnancies occurring through assisted reproductive technologies (ART) (1).
• Isolated ectopic pregnancy affects an average of 1 in every 150 live births (1).
• A known pre-existing intrauterine pregnancy (IUP) can be falsely reassuring and delay the diagnosis of a potentially life-threatening concurrent ectopic pregnancy.
• Presentation is vague and 45% of patients have no symptoms (5).
• Differential Diagnoses: endometritis, incomplete miscarriage, ruptured ovarian cyst, non-GYN cause (ie: appendicitis or UTI).
• Risk Factors: Infertility treatment, in vitro fertilization (IVF), prior ectopic, prior tubal surgery, use of …

Herpes Zoster In Pregnancy, Kimberly Svidal Rn

Nursing Capstones

No abstract provided.

Reflection And Literature Review On Loving Choices Pregnancy Center Internship, Madison Stave

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

This honors thesis involves a personal reflection and literature review of a nurse internship at Loving Choices Pregnancy Center in Fayetteville, AR. The purpose of this internship was to provide a learning experience in women’s and obstetrical health. Responsibilities included completing community resource projects and assisting staff and nurses in the Care Center and Pregnancy Clinic. To satisfy honors requirements, five learning objectives were created during the internship. These objectives were all met and reflected upon in the first part of this thesis. The second portion of this thesis involves a literature review of the socioeconomic and health-related risks of …

Availability Of & Access To Prenatal Care & The Effects On Maternal & Infant Mortality Rates: A Comparison Of Central American Countries, Costa Rica & Guatemala, Joanne Danae Youngblood

Theses and Dissertations

Costa Rica and Guatemala share similarities in history, culture, and a relatively congruous geopolitical philosophy. Yet despite these superficial parallels, access to prenatal care between the two countries is shockingly disparate. Costa Rican women have better access to prenatal care and both the maternal and infant mortality rates are comparable to more developed countries with significantly higher rates of economic development and higher spending on healthcare per capita. In juxtaposition, the lack of prenatal care within Guatemala’s health care system is a prime example of a country’s failure to implement protections and policies that promote and elevate the level of …

Validity And Reliability Of The Antepartum Gastrointestinal Symptom Assessment Instrument, Lisa Hanson, Leona Vandevusse, Mauricio Garnier-Villarreal, Donna O. Mccarthy, Teresa Jerofke-Owen, Emily Malloy, Heidi Paquette

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

To examine the psychometric properties of the nine-item Antepartum Gastrointestinal Symptom Assessment (AP-GI-SA) instrument.

Design

Single-group prospective design.

Setting

Urban prenatal clinic serving a diverse population.

Participants

Convenience sample of 45 pregnant women.

Methods

Participants completed the AP-GI-SA before a scheduled prenatal care appointment. We used Bayesian structural equation modeling to evaluate the construct validity of the scale and assessed known-groups validity. We assessed reliability through maximal reliability coefficient estimate and measured internal consistency with Cronbach’s alpha coefficient.

Results

Participants completed the instrument in 2 minutes or less. Construct validity was supported by confirmatory factor analysis (posterior predictive p …

Vitamin D Receptor Fokl Polymorphism Is A Determinant Of Both Maternal And Neonatal Vitamin D Concentrations At Birth, Spyridon N. Karras, Theocharis Koufakis, Vasiliki Antonopoulou, Dimitrios G. Goulis, Merve Alaylıoğlu, Erdinc Dursun, Duygu Gezen-Ak, Cedric Annweiler, Stefan Pilz, Hana Fakhoury, Fatme Al Anouti, Vikentia Harizopoulou, Declan P. Naughton, Pantelis Zebekakis, Kalliopi Kotsa

All Works

© 2019 Elsevier Ltd Maternal vitamin D deficiency is considered to be the key determinant of the development of neonatal vitamin D deficiency at birth and during early infancy. Specific vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms have been associated with adverse pregnancy and offspring outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of maternal and neonatal VDR polymorphisms (ApaI, TaqI, BsmI, FokI, Tru9I) on maternal and neonatal vitamin D status. VDR polymorphisms were genotyped in 70 mother-neonate pairs of Greek origin, and classified according to international thresholds for Vitamin D status. Mean neonatal and maternal 25-hydroxy-vitamin D …

Successful Completion Of Pregnancy After Mustard Procedure For Transposition Of Great Arteries: A Rare Case From The Developing World, Muhammad Kamran Younis Memon, Ayesha Malik, Saleem Akhtar

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Surgical repair of transposition of great arteries has undergone various evolutionary changes over the years. The initial of these treatment options was atrial septectomy followed by atrial switch and the current preferred treatment option is arterial switch operation worldwide. Due to various reasons, like lack of medical and surgical expertise atrial switch operation was commonly in practice in developing countries until few years back. Pregnancy in a patient with history of atrial switch operation poses a unique haemodynamic challenge. We report the case of a successful pregnancy in a 26 years old lady who had undergone Mustard repair surgery in …

The Precise (Pregnancy Care Integrating Translational Science, Everywhere) Database: Open-Access Data Collection In Maternal And Newborn Health, Laura A. Magee, Amber Strang, Larry Li, Domena Tu, Warancha Tumtaweetikul, Rachel Craik, Marina Daniele, Angela Koech, Umberto D’Alessandro, Marleen Temmerman

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

In less-resourced settings, adverse pregnancy outcome rates are unacceptably high. To effect improvement, we need accurate epidemiological data about rates of death and morbidity, as well as social determinants of health and processes of care, and from each country (or region) to contextualise strategies. The PRECISE database is a unique core infrastructure of a generic, unified data collection platform. It is built on previous work in data harmonisation, outcome and data field standardisation, open-access software (District Health Information System 2 and the Baobab Laboratory Information Management System), and clinical research networks. The database contains globally-recommended indicators included in Health Management …

The Precise (Pregnancy Care Integrating Translational Science, Everywhere) Network’S First Protocol: Deep Phenotyping In Three Sub-Saharan African Countries, Peter Von Dadelszen, Meriel Flint-O’Kane, Lucilla Poston, Rachel Craik, Donna Russell, Rachel M. Tribe, Umberto D’Alessandro, Marleen Temmerman, Angela Koech, Anna Roca

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background: The PRECISE (PREgnancy Care Integrating translational Science, Everywhere) Network is a new and broadly-based group of research scientists and health advocates based in the UK, Africa and North America.

Methods: This paper describes the protocol that underpins the clinical research activity of the Network, so that the investigators, and broader global health community, can have access to ‘deep phenotyping’ (social determinants of health, demographic and clinical parameters, placental biology and agnostic discovery biology) of women as they advance through pregnancy to the end of the puerperium, whether those pregnancies have normal outcomes or are complicated by one/more of the …

Harnessing The Precise Network As A Platform To Strengthen Global Capacity For Maternal And Child Health Research In Sub-Saharan Africa, Meriel Flint-O’Kane, Peter Von Dadelszen, Prestige Tatenda Makanga, Esperança Sevene, Anna Roca, Peter Dukes, Saba Hinrichs-Krapels, Rachel Craik, Laura A. Magee, Marleen Temmerman, Angela Koech, The Precise Network

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

It is widely acknowledged across the global health sector that research programmes need to be designed and implemented in a way that maximise opportunities for strengthening local capacity. This paper examines how the United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) Grand Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) funded PRECISE (PREgnancy Care Integrating translational Science, Everywhere) Network has been established as a platform to strengthen global capacity for research focused on the improvement of maternal, fetal and newborn health in subSaharan Africa. Best practice principles outlined in an ESSENCE on Health Research report have been considered in relation to the PRECISE Network capacity-building activities …

Robotic Adrenalectomy For Functional Adenoma In Second Trimester Treats Worsening Hypertension., Courtney E. Capella, Thenappan Chandrasekar, May Jean Counsilman, Christopher Sebastiano, Costas D. Lallas, Huda B. Al-Kouatly

Department of Urology Faculty Papers

A 33-year-old G6P3023 was found to have a 4.2 cm right adrenal incidentaloma during an admission for right pyelonephritis. Computed tomography (CT) was performed to rule out perinephric abscess in the setting of worsening leukocytosis while on antibiotics ( Fig. 1). Initial differential diagnosis from endocrinology included pheochromocytoma and primary aldosteronism. Due to the lack of typical physical exam stigmata, Cushing syndrome was initially of low concern. Of note, her past medical history included hypertension treated with amlodipine 10 mg and hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg. During admission, extensive endocrine laboratory workup demonstrated an elevated aldosterone:plasma renin activity, suppressed dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), normal …

Description Of The Attitudes, Knowledge And Beliefs On Marijuana In Undergraduate Students Compared To Nursing Undergraduate Students, Maifrak Sobrino

Honors Scholar Theses

Introduction: The use of marijuana has drastically increased over the years. Not only is marijuana being used to treat personal symptoms, but some women use marijuana to manage pregnancy-related symptoms.

Objective: To discover the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of marijuana in the undergraduate student population at the University of Connecticut.

Method: A cross sectional study conducted through Qualtrics using a 15-questions survey, including 5-point Likert scale questions and 5 yes/no questions.

Result: Forty-nine non-nursing students completed the survey. Non-nursing students in comparison to the population as a whole agreed that marijuana use was okay (M = 3.959, SD = …

Attitudes, Knowledge And Beliefs On Marijuana Use In Pregnant Women In Undergraduate Nursing Students, Jordyn Witkins

Honors Scholar Theses

Introduction: Due to the decriminalization of marijuana use by states in the United States, marijuana use has drastically increased in the general populations and in women who are pregnant. During prenatal care, nurses provide education about pregnancy and fetal development.

Objective: This study explore the attitudes, knowledge and beliefs of undergraduate nursing students on marijuana use for individuals and during pregnancy.

Method: The study design was cross-sectional survey with 15-question survey using Likert scale and yes/no questions. Nursing students and non-nursing undergraduate students responses were compared.

Results: Sixty-four nursing students (female, n=50) completed the survey. Nursing students in comparison to …

First Trimester Prenatal Screening: Parent Education, Madison Vandiver

Honors College Theses

The healthcare field is constantly evolving, and consequently the ways that medical procedures are done is always changing. Advancements in medicine have made it possible to screen for chromosomal abnormalities earlier and for the screening to be done more accurately than ever before. This is accomplished through a first trimester screening performed between 11- 13 weeks gestation of the pregnancy. With this screening becoming more integrated into routine prenatal care and being offered to various women with a range of risk factors, it is important to offer many educational opportunities about the screening procedure. Provision of education to patients interested …

Dancing During Labor: Social Media Trend Or Future Practice?, Caroline P. Toberna, Drew Horter, Kayla Heslin, Marie M. Forgie, Emily Malloy, Jessica J. F. Kram

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Over the past 30 years, medical interventions in pregnancy and childbirth have increased. Some pregnant women seek less invasive and nonpharmacological options to manage discomforts during labor. While exercise during pregnancy is recommended, less is known about exercise, specifically dancing, during labor. While anecdotal evidence is supportive, little is known about the implications of exercise and dance during the first stage of labor for pain reduction and labor progression. Some movements common in dance, such as expanding hip circles that loosen and relax muscles of the pelvic floor, may be beneficial to women during labor. Available evidence suggests that dancing …

High-Risk Pregnant Patients In The Third Trimester: Comparing Mental And Physical Health, Megan Maxwell

MSN Capstone Projects

The purpose of the paper is to compare physical and mental health in high-risk pregnant patients in their third trimester who are managed in an inpatient setting compared to an outpatient setting. This paper looks at specific high-risk pregnancy diagnoses.

“Save My Baby”: The Lived Experience Of Hospitalized Pregnant Women With A Threat Of Preterm Birth, Dua' Yousef Al-Maharma, Inaam A. Khalaf, Fathieh Abu-Moghli, Sajeda Alhamory

The Qualitative Report

Activity restriction in hospital to prevent preterm birth (PTB) is widely used as the first step of treatment. It is associated with adverse physiological and psychological effects on maternal and fetal health that might persist years after birth. A sample of 10 pregnant women who were hospitalized for being at risk for PTB were purposively recruited to describe their lived experience via semi-structured in-depth interview. Five themes were identified, the maternal role establishment and suspending responsibilities, the women's perception of fear of uncertainty and finding support, dissatisfaction of care, the change of routine life and family relationships, and the cultural …

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether (Pbde) And Poly- And Perfluoroalkyl Substance (Pfas) Exposures During Pregnancy And Maternal Depression, Ann M. Vuong, Kimberly Yolton, Joseph M. Braun, Andreas Sjodin, Antonia M. Calafat, Yingying Xu, Kim N. Dietrich, Bruce P. Lanphear, Aimin Chen

Environmental & Global Health Faculty Research

Background: Experimental studies in rodents suggest that polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may contribute to depressive symptoms. Few studies have examined the impact of these chemicals on depression in adults. Objective: To examine the associations between serum PBDE and PFAS concentrations during pregnancy and repeated measures of depressive symptoms in women assessed from pregnancy to 8 years postpartum. Methods: This study was based on 377 women from the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment Study, a birth cohort in Cincinnati, OH (USA). PBDEs (BDE-28, -47, -99, -100, -153, and ∑PBDEs) and PFAS (perfluorooctanoate [PFOA], …

Consciousness Level Determination Of Red Meat Consumption Of Pregnant Women, Giresun/Turkey Province, Duygu Balpetek Külcü, Özge Cağcağ Yolcu

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

In this study, meat consumption and the nutritional status of pregnant women living in Giresun province of Turkey were investigated. The study was carried out at Giresun University, the Maternity and Pediatrics Training and Research Hospital between February-March 2019. The study group consisted of 218 pregnant women aged 18 to 49 years, who benefited from polyclinic services and agreed to participate in the survey. A questionnaire consisting of 12 questions was used, and the findings were evaluated using SPSS to generate descriptive statistics and t-tests or ANOVAs. The majority of participants stated that red meat is beneficial during pregnancy (71.1%) …

Is Physical Activity During Late Pregnancy Related To Infant Body Composition At Birth?, Brenna Menke

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Exercise is typically regarded as having a positive impact on maternal and infant health. However, the relationship between maternal physical activity and infant body composition is unclear. The aim of this project was to determine how a physically active lifestyle during late pregnancy influences infant anthropometrics at birth. Pregnant women (34-39 weeks gestation) with low-risk pregnancies were given the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) and an accelerometer to wear on their non-dominant wrist for seven consecutive days. Approximately 24-48 hours after delivery, infant body composition was assessed utilizing air displacement plethysmography at the patients’ bedside. Fifty-five pregnant women participated (age: …

Factors Influencing Both Maternal And Infant Body Composition At Two Years Postpartum, Samantha Henry

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Maternal body composition (BC) and physical activity (PA) level during pregnancy both contribute to infant body composition; however, few studies follow children beyond the early weeks to determine the longer-term implications of maternal lifestyle on offspring health. The purpose of this study was threefold: 1) Determine the role of maternal obesity on offspring BC at 2 years of age; 2) Determine the role of PA during pregnancy on maternal and infant BC at two years postpartum; and 3) Determine whether BC at birth (assessed via air displacement plethysmography [PEA POD]) is related to BC at two years of age (assessed …

Relation Of Flt-1 And Endothelial Function In Women Soon After Delivery: Effect Of Physical Activity And Sedentary Behavior, Chloe W. Caudell

Senior Theses

Adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) are believed to be caused by poor placental formation. APOs can be characterized by elevated levels of a circulating Fms-like tyrosine kinase biomarker called Flt-1, produced by the placenta when its blood vessels are shallow or inadequately formed. Flt-1 acts directly on the maternal endothelium to impair vascular function during pregnancy and contributes to maternal features of APOs. This study aimed to evaluate the relation of Flt-1 and endothelial function in women soon after delivery. This study also aimed to evaluate the relation of Flt-1 and physical activity and sedentary behavior in women during and soon …