Women's Health Commons^™

Phase Ii Trial Of Nelipepimut-S Peptide Vaccine In Women With Ductal Carcinoma In Situ, Anne E O'Shea, Guy T Clifton, Na Qiao, Brandy M Heckman-Stoddard, Malgorzata Wojtowicz, Eileen Dimond, Isabelle Bedrosian, Diane Weber, Judy E Garber, Alexander Husband, Ricardo Pastorello, J Jack Lee, Mike Hernandez, Diane D Liu, Lana A Vornik, Powel H Brown, Gheath Alatrash, George E Peoples, Elizabeth A Mittendorf

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

UNLABELLED: NeuVax is a vaccine comprised of the HER2-derived MHC class I peptide E75 (nelipepimut-S, NPS) combined with GM-CSF. We completed a randomized trial of preoperative vaccination with NeuVax versus GM-CSF alone in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The primary objective was to evaluate for NPS-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses. Patients with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2-positive DCIS were enrolled and randomized 2:1 to NeuVax versus GM-CSF alone and received two inoculations prior to surgery. The number of NPS-specific CTL was measured pre-vaccination, at surgery, and 1 and 3 to 6 months post-operation by dextramer assay. Differences in …

The Vitamin D Serum Levels In Pregnant Women Affected By Covid-19: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Luiza Szarpak, Stepan Feduniw, Michal Pruc, Michal Ciebiera, Basar Cander, Mansur Rahnama-Hezavah, Łukasz Szarpak

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Vitamin D can modulate immune responses, and its deficiency is linked to increased autoimmunity and susceptibility to infection. In the general population, it has been observed that serum vitamin D levels are connected with the risk of COVID-19 and its severity. Our study aims to examine reported findings on the effect of vitamin D serum levels on infection of COVID-19 during pregnancy. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched for relevant studies. Serum vitamin D serum levels in COVID-19-positive and COVID-19-negative pregnant women were 24.61 ± 20.86 ng/mL and 24.12 ± 17.33 ng/mL, respectively. In mild vs. …

A Systematic Literature Review Of Telehealth For Health Equity In Pediatric And Women's Health Care: Promise Vs Reality, Sharanya Chandu

Honors Scholar Theses

Background: Telehealth interventions can transform the healthcare system to improve accessibility, quality of care, and outcomes for women’s obstetric health.

Objective: This literature review seeks to summarize current research to understand the effect of telehealth on women’s obstetrics and gynecology outcomes.

Methods: A literature review was conducted following the PRISMA methodology to identify a set of papers containing information related to obstetrics and maternal health. The search terms used identified telehealth or telemedicine interventions used for obstetric, maternal, or prenatal care from the period 2013-2023. 19 articles were identified and reviewed.

Results: The literature review considered three primary aspects from …

Improving Access To Community Resources For Mothers In Southern New Jersey, Ariana Blake, Josalynn Maree, Nayarith Lopez, Vanessa Pizutelli

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Maternal mortality rates have skyrocketed across the nation. New Jersey specifically has one of the highest rates across all 50 states. According to the New Jersey Maternal Health Report, southern New Jersey has the highest maternal mortality ratio, with 91% of the maternal deaths throughout New Jersey between 2016-2018 being preventable. It is crucial that families are receiving support during pregnancy and postpartum from the health care system and their community in order to reduce this trend. Acenda Integrated Health’s Connecting NJ aims to provide community support by connecting expectant mothers and families with children under the age of 3 …

Sexual Education In Adolescence: Contraception Education For Adolescents Leads To Improved Sexual Practices, Marie Poellinger, Erica Jade Fong

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Adolescents of low socioeconomic status from 13-18 years of age face many challenges when it comes to maintaining safe sexual health practices, leading to unwanted pregnancies and exposure to sexually transmitted diseases (STI’s). Challenges include:

• economic barriers → limited access to health care or lack of health insurance

• lack of proper sex education and therefore limited knowledge around contraceptive

Addressing these challenges is crucial for better sexual health outcomes. The nurse’s role is essential in providing education about contraceptive options, access to local resources, and guidance pertaining to safe sexual health practices (Dixon, 2014)

A Process Evaluation Of The Green Period Pantry Project, Gabi Wiggill

Honors College Theses

Introduction: The Green Period Pantry (GPP) was a health promotion initiative that was implemented in collaboration with the Office of Student Wellness and Health Promotion. It was created using $48,000 in grant money applied for and received from Sustain Southern as part of the Sustainability Fee Grants at Georgia Southern University. The purpose of the project was to supply students who experienced menstruation with reusable menstrual hygiene products. Another purpose was to describe the process from idea inception to implementation through collaboration with the Office of Student Wellness and Health Promotion. Results: A total of 3,506 units of reusable Menstrual …

The Intersectionality Of Race And Rurality In Polysubstance Use During Pregnancy In The United States: A Study Of National Survey On Drug Use And Health, Sophia Tavakol

Senior Theses

Importance: Though detrimental consequences, many pregnant individuals are still binging alcohol, smoking, and/or using illicit drug. Yet, little is known regarding variations in such behaviors across pregnant people in the United States.

Objective: To examine alcohol, tobacco, and drug use during pregnancy in 2015-2020 and assess their racial, ethnic, and rural disparities.

Design: This cross-sectional descriptive study derived maternal characteristics and self-reported prenatal substance use data from 2015 and 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, considering the complex sampling weight per participant per year produced by NSDUH.

Setting: United States.

Participants: A scientific random sample of non-institutionalized residents …

The Role Of Vigorous And High Intensity Interval Training Physical Activity Counseling In Prenatal Care, Emily Lau, Brendan T. Lynch, Sonia Hassan

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background: Physical activity is becoming a more common component of preventative medicine and patient counseling; however, the prevalence of physical activity counseling and specific social determinants of health have prevented women, namely prenatal patients, from receiving this counseling from their providers¹. Physical activity, including high intensity interval training (HIIT), has been shown to be feasible for implementation in patient counseling³ and shown to be safe for pregnant women, even into the third trimester². We hypothesize that the current percentage of patients, including prenatal patients, being counseled on physical activity is lacking. In addition, we hypothesize …

Role Of Biomarkers (Sflt-1/Plgf) In Cases Of Covid-19 For Distinguishing Preeclampsia And Guiding Clinical Management, Guilherme M Nobrega, Jose P Guida, Juliana M Novaes, Larissa M Solda, Luciana Pietro, Adriana G Luz, Giuliane J Lajos, Carolina C Ribeiro-Do-Valle, Renato T Souza, Jose G Cecatti, Indira U Mysorekar, Tabata Z Dias, Maria Laura Costa

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVES: To analyze soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) and placental growth factors (PlGF) concentrations and their ratio in pregnant and postpartum women with suspected COVID-19, and further investigate conditions associated with an increased ratio (sFlt-1/PlGF > 38), including preeclampsia (PE) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

STUDY DESIGN: The present study is a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort. Blood samples were collected at time of COVID-19 investigation and the serum measurements of sFlt-1 and PlGF were performed. Clinical background, SARS-CoV-2 infection characteristics, maternal and perinatal outcomes were further analyzed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum measurements of sFlt-1 and PlGF; obstetrics …

What You Need To Know As A Person With A Disability: Cervical And Breast Cancer Screenings, Rachel Byers, Timothy Keady

All Current Publications

Research demonstrates that people with disabilities are at greater risk for cervical and breast cancer than people without disabilities. People with disabilities are also less likely to be screened for these cancers compared to people without disabilities. Individuals with disabilities have the right to receive cancer screenings in a timely manner and have the right to reasonable accommodations as outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Early Marriage And Reproductive Health Outcomes Among Women In South Asia, Sameen Kazmi

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Race, Gender, Physical Activity, And Cancer: A Quantitative Investigation, Shawna A. Townsend

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Black women are more likely to die from cancer than any other population in the United States. Physical activity is known to be associated with preventing and reducing cancer burden. However, Black women are less physically active than their White counterparts and have a higher prevalence of diseases related to lack of physical activity than any other female group. To better understand these issues, this study employed the self-and-family management framework and intersectionality as theoretical frameworks through a secondary analysis of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) dataset and hierarchical regression modeling to examine the relative impact of (a.) …

Age And Racial Disparities In The Utilization Of Anticancer, Antihypertension, And Anti-Diabetes Therapies, And In Mortality In A Large Population-Based Cohort Of Older Women With Breast Cancer, Xianglin L Du, Lulu Song

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the receipt of therapies for cancer, hypertension, and diabetes in association with age and racial disparities in mortality among women with breast cancer.

METHODS: This study identified 92,829 women diagnosed with breast cancer at age ≥ 65 years in 2007-2015 with follow-up to 2016 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked database.

RESULTS: There were substantial age and racial disparities in the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes, which was higher in women ≥ 75 (86.3% and 32.0%) than younger women 65-74 (72.8% and 29.3%), and the highest in Black women (91.1% and 49.1%), followed …

Phase I Dose Escalation Study Of Topical Bexarotene In Women At High Risk For Breast Cancer, Parijatham S Thomas, Anisha B Patel, J Jack Lee, Diane D Liu, Mike Hernandez, Miguel Muzzio, Alejandro Contreras, Valerie Sepeda, Carrie Mays, Diane Weber, Lana A Vornik, Seema A Khan, Eileen Dimond, Brandy M Heckman-Stoddard, Marjorie Perloff, Powel H Brown

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Bexarotene is a rexinoid that has been shown to prevent mammary tumors in mouse models but oral dosing has toxicities. This phase I study evaluates topical bexarotene, as a potential chemoprevention agent, for safety and toxicity in high-risk women for breast cancer.

A Lifestyle Management Coaching Intervention For Fear Of Cancer Recurrence In Young Breast Cancer Survivors, Lisa R. Murphy

DNP Research Projects

Abstract

Objective: A significant challenge facing young breast cancer (BC) survivors is learning how to manage fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) during survivorship. Limited tailored FCR interventions and age-appropriate support exist. This Doctor of Nursing (DNP) project, based upon best practice guidelines, aimed to evaluate how a Lifestyle Management Coaching Intervention (LMCI) could help young female BC survivors learn how to decrease and manage their FCR more effectively and experience improved health outcomes.

Method: Eligible participants were female BC survivors aged 18-59 with Stage I-III BC demonstrating elevated baseline FCR screening scores during the extended survival period recruited from the …

Assessment Of The Utilization Of Healthcare Services Specific To Pregnancy-Related Complications In Rural And Medically Underserved Georgia, Diana L. Aguirre

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Maternal mortality is a continuing issue, with rates for the state of Georgia (3.7 per 100,000 live births) are higher than that of the US rates (2.9 per 100,000 per live births) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, n.d., 2023). However, maternal mortality may not account for health disparity factors, apart from access to quality care and physiological issues, which is a factor in pregnancy-related deaths, Pregnancy-related death, as defined by the US Centers for Disease and Control (CDC), is a death of a woman that occurs during or within one year of pregnancy that …

Addressing Breast Health Disparities Among Recent, Established African-Born Immigrant Women And Second-Generation Americans In Prince George County, Maryland, Omolola Okunromade

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Background: Breast health disparities and underutilization of screening methods are major concerns in the United States (US), particularly affecting Black women who experience lower survival rates and advanced diagnoses. Despite the rapid growth of the African-born immigrant population, breast health among this group in the US is notably under-examined. This study aims to investigate the breast health knowledge and practices of first-generation African-born immigrants and second-generation immigrant women of African descent, aiming to understand the distinctive attributes of this group and the impact of acculturation on this public health issue.

Methods: Interviews were conducted among First Generation African immigrants and …

Factors Associated With Patient Portal Utilization, Preventive Services Utilization, And Health Promoting Behaviors Among Adults In The United States, Elizabeth Ayangunna

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Background: Nearly 60% of adults in the United States are estimated to have one or more chronic conditions, necessitating strategies to improve the health status of persons with chronic disease. Given that health information technology (HIT) is considered highly valuable for superior disease management, it is imperative to examine how HIT use can improve health behaviors, which can in turn improve health status. This study aimed to examine if there was an association between patient portal utilization and the use of preventive services & health-promoting behaviors. Also, this study examined the influence of self-efficacy on preventive health behaviors among adults …

Physical Inactivity And Single-Female Caregivers, Johanna Hoch, Rachel Hogg-Graham Dr., John Lyons Dr., Maureen Jones Dr.

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Physical activity is vital for human health. However, many adults in the United States and beyond do not reach the pre-determined recommended levels of activity needed for health benefits. Single-female caregivers present a unique and vulnerable population that is often more inactive than their partnered peers or single-male caregivers. The primary purpose of this cross-sectional investigation was to identify the prevalence of physical inactivity in single-family, female-led households and determine differences in personal factors and social determinants of health between single-female caregivers who indicated they were physically active compared to single-female caregivers who indicated they were not physically active. A …

Gender Differences In Administration Of Tpa In Treatment Of Ischemic Stroke, Christina Annerino

CURE Proceedings

As medicine and pharmacology advance through the years, new life-saving treatments are studied or discovered every day, and a medical emergency is no longer a death sentence. Even with conditions as serious as ischemic stroke, there is hope for survival and rehabilitation with the ‘clot-busting’ drug, tissue plasminogen activator, colloquially known as ‘tPA’. tPA is a thrombolytic agent, a substance that acts on fibrin in clots to dissolve them so they can no longer cause ischemia in blood vessels that results in a stroke. (Vega, 2022). tPA is an extremely effective treatment for ischemic stroke, demonstrated in 2013 by a …

The Role Of Porn Literacy In Comprehensive Sex Education To Reduce Endorsements Of Gendered Sexual Violence And Support Healthy Adolescent Development, Kiana Harnish

Scripps Senior Theses

Due to stigmatization of sex and insufficient sexual education, modern-day adolescents rely on free online pornography as a source of education about sex and relationships. This thesis provides a review of the connections between adolescent porn use and the socialization of sexual violence (SV) and coercion against women, comprehensive sex education (CSE) and healthy adolescent sexual development, and porn literacy (PL) and sexual attitude or behavior changes. Porn literacy aims to equip adolescents with tools to critically analyze sexualied media and messages, to empower them to make informed decisions to engage or disengage with porn and their sexuality in a …

The Promis Women Education Program: Promoting Cervical Cancer Prevention Methods Among Muslim Women In Virginia, Asmaa M. Namoos

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Purpose: US Muslim women have suboptimal participation in cervical cancer screening and prevention services. This is due in part to a lack of access to culturally relevant education programs. To address this issue three aims were identified: Aim 1. Adapt existing evidence- based educational materials for a religious and culturally appropriate intervention; Aim 2. Test the preliminary efficacy of the intervention and Aim 3. Assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and materials.

Methods: The ORBIT model for developing behavioral interventions guided intervention design, refinement (Phase I), and preliminary testing (Phase II). Focus groups and interviews were conducted …

Relationships Among Pregnancy, Substance Use, Social Determinants Of Health And Assessment, Referral, And Utilization Of Treatment: A Secondary Analysis Of Nsduh Data, Heather Lynn Coddington

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

Relationships Among Pregnancy, Substance Use, Social Determinants of Health and Assessment, Referral, and Utilization of Treatment: A Secondary Analysis of NSDUH Data

Heather Coddington

Background: Assessment and referral for substance use disorder during pregnancy is crucial to improving outcomes for mothers and newborns during the antepartum and postpartum period. Healthcare professionals are essential during the entirety of the pregnancy during each trimester to provide effective communication when assessing for substance use early and throughout each trimester of pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between assessment, referral, and utilization of treatment …

Gambaran Tingkat Kecukupan Energi Dan Tingkat Kecukupan Protein Ibu Hamil Di Kota Malang, Rany Ekawati, Windi Chusniah Rahmawati, Farah Paramita, Dini Elita Berliana, Alfinadelasari Putri Fariadi

Preventia: The Indonesian Journal of Public Health

Chronic energy deficiency (CED) in pregnant women is still a nutritional problem in Indonesia. CED in pregnant women is caused by low energy and protein intake in pregnant women. The low energy and protein intake in pregnant women can cause disturbances in pregnancy and the baby in the womb. This research objective is to provide an overview of the level of energy and protein adequacy of pregnant women in the city of Malang. This study is a quantitative study with a cross-sectional design. The sample in this study was 64 pregnant women. The variables of energy adequacy and protein adequacy …

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices (Kap) Towards Covid-19 Pandemic Among Pregnant Women In A Tertiary Hospital In Karachi, Pakistan, Sumaira Naz, Syeda Dur E Shawar, Shamila Saleem, Ayesha Malik, Amir Raza

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of the pregnant population during the COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary care hospital.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. KAP towards COVID-19 was assessed using 21-item questionnaires. A score for each category was calculated and points were summed. The outcome variables of KAP were compared with demographic characteristics. Data were analyzed by using SPSS 19.
Results: A total of 377 patients participated in the study. The majority of the patients were multiparous (36.8%) in the age group of …

Resilience And Prenatal Mental Health In Pakistan: A Qualitative Inquiry, Shireen Shehzad, David Arthur, An-Sofie Van Parys, Nicole Letourneau, Gail Wagnild, Shahirose Sadrudin Premji, Nargis Asad, Olivier Degomme

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Background: Women in Pakistan suffer from a high rate of depression. The stress of low-income, illiteracy, exposure to violence and living in a patriarchal society are predisposing vulnerabilities for depression, particularly during and following pregnancy. The resilience of an individual plays a significant role in promoting prenatal mental health, but this has yet to be thoroughly researched. In this article, our objective is to identify the core characteristics of resilience among pregnant women, which will then help us in developing an intervention.
Methods: The exploratory-descriptive study was conducted over 6 months in five different antenatal hospitals in Sindh, Pakistan. A …

An Interprofessional Public Library-Academic Partnership For Community Outreach On Women's Health, Lyndonna Marrast, Eun Ji Kim, Danielle Ezzo, Joseph Conigliaro

Urban Library Journal

This article describes a collaboration between a branch of the Queens Public Library in NY and an academic medical center that delivered a women’s health educational program with an interprofessional team of faculty, trainees, and students. The team delivered interactive 1-hour long monthly sessions in a Question and Answer format guided by a Powerpoint presentation. The overall goal was to deliver health education workshops on common medical conditions (i.e. diabetes, heart disease) and concerns of interest to women across the lifespan (i.e. infertility, dementia) to improve the health literacy of local community members. We outlined the steps in establishing this …

The Causes Of Preterm Neonatal Deaths In India And Pakistan (Purpose): A Prospective Cohort Study, Sangappa M. Dhaded, Sarah Saleem, Shivaprasad S. Goudar, Shiyam Sunder Tikmani, Kay Hwang, Gowdar Guruprasad, Gayathri H. Aradhya, Varun B. Kusagur, Sana Roujani, Sayyeda Reza

Community Health Sciences

Background: Preterm birth remains the major cause of neonatal death worldwide. South Asia contributes disproportionately to deaths among preterm births worldwide, yet few population-based studies have assessed the underlying causes of deaths. Novel evaluations, including histological and bacteriological assessments of placental and fetal tissues, facilitate more precise determination of the underlying causes of preterm deaths. We sought to assess underlying and contributing causes of preterm neonatal deaths in India and Pakistan.
Methods: The project to understand and research preterm pregnancy outcomes and stillbirths in South Asia (PURPOSe) was a prospective cohort study done in three hospitals in Davangere, India, and …

Breast Surgery Super-Specialization: Impact On Advanced Surgical Training And Research, Danish Ali, Sana Zeeshan, Nifasat Farooqi, Lubna Vohra

Medical College Documents

The earliest records of breast cancer (BC) date back to 3,000 - 2,500 B.C., ever since multiple curative options have been explored. First known wide margin excision was performed around 1st Century AD and a prototype of the modern-day BC surgery, Halsted radical mastectomy, was performed in the 20th Century. BC is the most common cancer in Pakistan accounting for up to 14.5% of the total cancer incidences. Accredited breast surgery fellowships were established in the UK and USA in 2002 and 2003, respectively. In Pakistan, the movement was delayed and the two-year College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) …

Neurodevelopment Assessment Of Small For Gestational Age Children In A Community-Based Cohort From Pakistan, Sabahat Naz, Zahra Hoodbhoy, Ali Jaffar, Sidra Kaleem Jafri, Babar Hasan, Devyani Chowdhury, Melissa Gladstone

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Children born small for gestational age (SGA) may experience more long-term neurodevelopmental issues than those born appropriate for gestational age (AGA). This study aimed to assess differences in the neurodevelopment of children born SGA or AGA within a periurban community in Pakistan.
Methods: This was a prospective cohort study in which study participants were followed from the pilot Doppler cohort study conducted in 2018. This pilot study aimed to develop a pregnancy risk stratification model using machine learning on fetal Dopplers. This project identified 119 newborns who were born SGA (2.4±0.4 kg) based on International Fetal and Newborn Growth …