Women's Health Commons^™

Metagenomes Of Rectal Swabs In Larger, Advanced Stage Cervical Cancers Have Enhanced Mucus Degrading Functionalities And Distinct Taxonomic Structure, Tatiana V Karpinets, Xiaogang Wu, Travis Solley, Molly B El Alam, Travis T Sims, Kyoko Yoshida-Court, Erica Lynn, Mustapha Ahmed-Kaddar, Greyson Biegert, Jingyan Yue, Xingzhi Song, Huandong Sun, Joseph F Petrosino, Melissa P Mezzari, Pablo Okhuysen, Patricia J Eifel, Anuja Jhingran, Lilie L Lin, Kathleen M Schmeler, Lois Ramondetta, Nadim Ajami, Robert R Jenq, Andrew Futreal, Jianhua Zhang, Ann H Klopp, Lauren E Colbert

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Gut microbiome community composition differs between cervical cancer (CC) patients and healthy controls, and increased gut diversity is associated with improved outcomes after treatment. We proposed that functions of specific microbial species adjoining the mucus layer may directly impact the biology of CC.

METHOD: Metagenomes of rectal swabs in 41 CC patients were examined by whole-genome shotgun sequencing to link taxonomic structures, molecular functions, and metabolic pathway to patient's clinical characteristics.

RESULTS: Significant association of molecular functions encoded by the metagenomes was found with initial tumor size and stage. Profiling of the molecular function abundances and their distributions identified …

Barriers And Facilitators To Exclusive Breastfeeding In Rural Pakistan: A Qualitative Exploratory Study, Atif Riaz, Shelina Bhamani, Sheraz Ahmed, Fayyaz Umrani, Sadaf Jakhro, Abdul Khaliq Qureshi, Syed Asad Ali

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) of children until six months of age is considered one of the most critical interventions in tackling childhood undernutrition. EBF rates are suboptimal in Pakistan, particularly in rural areas where child undernutrition is most prevalent. This study aimed to explore barriers to EBF in a rural context of Pakistan.
Methods: The study was conducted in the rural district Matiari of Sindh, Pakistan, during Jan-March 2020. We used a qualitative exploratory study design and conducted 36 focus group discussions (FGDs). Participants were purposively selected mothers who had not practiced EBF during their previous childbirth, their spouses and …

Standardizing Perinatal Mental Health Interventions: A Guide For The U.S., Maile Lauren Robles

Master's Projects and Capstones

The term perinatal individual refers to women and other individuals who are pregnant or who have been pregnant within the last 12 months. Every year, in the United States there are 700 pregnancy-related deaths and 10% are due to mental health causes including death by suicide. Mental health conditions including but not limited to anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder affect one in five perinatal individuals throughout the United States. This increases perinatal morbidity, hospitalization costs, and economic burden nationwide.

After 43 days postpartum, mental health conditions are the second leading cause of death. The United States …

Poziotinib Inhibits Her2-Mutant-Driven Therapeutic Resistance And Multiorgan Metastasis In Breast Cancer, Rashi Kalra, Ching Hui Chen, Junkai Wang, Ahmad Bin Salam, Lacey E Dobrolecki, Alaina Lewis, Christina Sallas, Clayton C Yates, Carolina Gutierrez, Balasubramanyam Karanam, Meenakshi Anurag, Bora Lim, Matthew J Ellis, Shyam M Kavuri

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The pan-HER tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) neratinib is therapeutically active against metastatic breast cancers harboring activating HER2 mutations, but responses are variable and often not durable. Here we demonstrate that recurrent HER2 mutations have differential effects on endocrine therapy responsiveness, metastasis, and pan-HER TKI therapeutic sensitivity. The prevalence and prognostic significance may also depend on whether the HER2 mutant has arisen in the context of lobular versus ductal histology. The most highly recurrent HER2 mutant, L755S, was particularly resistant to neratinib but sensitive to the pan-HER TKI poziotinib, alone or in combination with fulvestrant. Poziotinib reduced tumor growth, diminished multiorgan …

The Global Network Socioeconomic Status Index As A Predictor Of Stillbirths, Perinatal Mortality, And Neonatal Mortality In Rural Communities In Low And Lower Middle Income Country Sites Of The Global Network For Women's And Children's Health Research, Archana B. Patel, Carla M. Bann, Cherryl S. Kolhe, Adrien Lokangaka, Antoinette Tshefu, Melissa Bauserman, Lester Figueroa, Nancy F. Krebs, Fabian Esamai, Sarah Saleem

Community Health Sciences

Background: Globally, socioeconomic status (SES) is an important health determinant across a range of health conditions and diseases. However, measuring SES within low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) can be particularly challenging given the variation and diversity of LMIC populations.
Objective: The current study investigates whether maternal SES as assessed by the newly developed Global Network-SES Index is associated with pregnancy outcomes (stillbirths, perinatal mortality, and neonatal mortality) in six LMICs: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Pakistan, and Zambia.
Methods: The analysis included data from 87,923 women enrolled in the Maternal and Newborn Health Registry of the NICHD-funded …

No One Should Have To Give Birth Alone: An Analysis Of The Efficacy Of Community-Based Doula Programs Serving Ethnic Minorities In San Francisco, Maria Margaret Nelson

Master's Projects and Capstones

Adverse birth outcomes for both the parent and the child disproportionately affect people of color. Evidence demonstrates that one of the ways to mitigate these negative consequences is through the utilization of a doula, a trained birth companion that is not a medical provider but whose role it is to physically and emotionally support the patient through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Community-based doula programs, where the doula is of the same cultural background as the client, are particularly effective in improving birth outcomes in communities of color by providing culturally competent care and helping to navigate a healthcare system that …

Hellp Syndrome: Hemolysis, Elevated Liver Enzymes, Low Platelets, Kimberly Roman

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

The research provided was to understand a rare, life-threatening condition that occurs in pregnant women or recently postpartum women. The topic searched was HELLP Syndrome, an acronym for Hemolysis, Elevated Liver Enzymes, and Low Platelets. This syndrome is named this due to the underlying conditions in women who experience this disorder. Women can recover from HELLP Syndrome if detected early and treated appropriately, but symptoms are vague and difficult to diagnose. The best way to understand and detect this disorder is by promoting awareness and understanding the mechanisms and treatment involved. A search was conducted about the topic through research …

Mechanism Of Neonatal Hypoglycemia After Late Preterm Steroids: Are Fetal Metabolic Effects Responsible?, Ashley N Battarbee, Grecio J Sandoval, Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, Sean C Blackwell, Alan T N Tita, Uma M Reddy, Lucky Jain

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE:

Betamethasone administration in the late preterm period(340/7–365/7 weeks’ gestation) not only reduces neonatal respiratory morbidity but also increases neonatal hypoglycemia through an uncertain mechanism.¹ Based on data from pregnant individuals with diabetes, excessive amounts of maternal glucose can cross the placenta and cause fetal hyperinsulinemia, which can cause neonatal hypoglycemia at birth.² Given that betamethasone can also increase maternal glucose levels,³ our objective was to explore the potential mechanisms for late preterm steroid-induced neonatal hypoglycemia by measuring the fetal metabolic effects of antenatal late preterm betamethasone and assessing the relationship of the fetal metabolic effects with …

An Unexpected Cause Of Vaginal Hemorrhage, Adeola Kosoko, Mutinta Chisowa

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Longitudinal Reduction In Diversity Of Maternal Gut Microbiota During Pregnancy Is Observed In Multiple Low-Resource Settings: Results From The Women First Trial, Minghua Tang, Nicholas E. Weaver, Daniel N. Frank, Diana Ir, Charles E. Robertson, Jennifer F. Kemp, Jamie Westcott, Kartik Shankar, Sumera Aziz Ali, Sarah Saleem

Community Health Sciences

Objective: To characterize the changes in gut microbiota during pregnancy and determine the effects of nutritional intervention on gut microbiota in women from sub-Saharan Africa (the Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC), South Asia (India and Pakistan), and Central America (Guatemala).
Methods: Pregnant women in the Women First (WF) Preconception Maternal Nutrition Trial were included in this analysis. Participants were randomized to receive a lipid-based micronutrient supplement either ≥3 months before pregnancy (Arm 1); started the same intervention late in the first trimester (Arm 2); or received no nutrition supplements besides those self-administered or prescribed through local health services (Arm …

Preliminary Findings From The Gulf War Women’S Cohort: Reproductive And Children’S Health Outcomes Among Women Veterans, Alexa Friedman, Patricia A Janulewicz Lloyd, Jeffrey Carlson, Emily Quinn, Dylan Keating, Rosemary Toomey, Timothy Heeren, Steven S Coughlin, Glenn Markenson, Maxine Krengel, Kimberly Sullivan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Reproductive outcomes, such as preterm birth, miscarriage/stillbirth, and pre-eclampsia, are understudied in veterans, particularly among Gulf War veterans (GWVs). During deployment, women GWVs were exposed to toxicant and nontoxicant exposures that may be associated with adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes. The data come from a survey of 239 participants from northeastern and southern U.S. cohorts of women veterans. The questionnaire collected information about the service history, current and past general health, reproductive and family health, demographic information, and deployment exposures. Odds ratios were computed with 95% confidence intervals between exposures in theater and reproductive/children's health outcomes. GWVs experienced adverse reproductive …

A Comparison Of American Women's Experiences With Both Gestational Surrogate Pregnancies And Spontaneous Pregnancies, Jennifer Lahl, Kallie Fell, Kate Bassett, Frances H. Broghammer, William M. Briggs

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

This article evaluates the pregnancy experiences of American women by comparing their spontaneous or non-surrogate pregnancies with their gestational surrogate pregnancies. Data were collected through structured interviews using an online video platform. In total, 96 interviews were conducted. Data revealed that a woman was more likely to have a pregnancy that was high-risk during a surrogate pregnancy than during a non-surrogate pregnancy, independent of maternal age or gravidity (OR 11.4, 3.5-36.6; p<.0001). A surrogate pregnancy had three times higher odds of resulting in a cesarean section (p<.0001) and was five times more likely to deliver at an earlier gestational age (p<.0001). Women in this study were significantly more likely to experience postpartum depression following the delivery of surrogate children than after delivering their non-surrogate children (p=.01), and overall, they were more likely to have adverse outcomes during a surrogate pregnancy. The rate of new post-surrogacy chronic health issues for women of color was significantly higher than for women identified as white (p<.0001). We found that women’s economic disadvantage was a major contributor to the decision to proceed with surrogacy. This study confirms that health disparities exist for women with surrogate pregnancies compared to non-surrogate pregnancies, which can lead to long-term complications after a surrogate pregnancy. In terms of biomedical ethics, it raises important social, economic, and political issues related to surrogacy, all requiring further exploration. Future research will build on the present work in further helping us to understand the circumstances and consequences involved for women in surrogacy.

Hypertension In Pregnancy And Adverse Outcomes Among Low-Risk Nulliparous People Expectantly Managed At Or After 39 Weeks: A Secondary Analysis Of A Randomized Controlled Trial, Michal Fishel Bartal, Ashish Premkumar, Madeline Murguia Rice, Uma M Reddy, Alan T N Tita, Robert M Silver, Yasser Y El-Sayed, Ronald J Wapner, Dwight J Rouse, George R Saade, John M Thorp, Maged M Costantine, Edward K Chien, Brian M Casey, Sindhu K Srinivas, Geeta K Swamy, Hyagriv N Simhan, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Of Child Health And Human Development (Nichd) Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (Mfmu) Network

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) among low-risk nulliparous women expectantly managed at or after 39 weeks of gestation are associated with adverse outcomes.

DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a randomised trial.

SETTING: Multicentre, USA.

POPULATION: Individuals in the expectantly managed group who delivered on or after 39 weeks.

METHODS: Multivariable analysis to estimate adjusted relative risks (aRR) for binomial outcomes, adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for multinomial outcomes and 95% CI.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Composite adverse maternal outcome including placental abruption, pulmonary oedema, postpartum haemorrhage, postpartum infection, venous thromboembolism or intensive care unit admission. Secondary outcomes included a …

Efficacy Of Niraparib By Time Of Surgery And Postoperative Residual Disease Status: A Post Hoc Analysis Of Patients In The Prima/Engot-Ov26/Gog-3012 Study, Roisin E O'Cearbhaill, Jose-Alejandro Pérez-Fidalgo, Bradley J Monk, Ignacio Tusquets, Colleen Mccormick, Jose Fuentes, Richard G Moore, Christof Vulsteke, Mark S Shahin, Frédéric Forget, William H Bradley, Sakari Hietanen, David M O'Malley, Anne Dørum, Brian M Slomovitz, Klaus Baumann, Frédéric Selle, Paula M Calvert, Grazia Artioli, Tally Levy, Aalok Kumar, Izabela A Malinowska, Yong Li, Divya Gupta, Antonio González-Martín

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between surgical timing and postoperative residual disease status on the efficacy of niraparib first-line maintenance therapy in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer at high risk of recurrence.

METHODS: Post hoc analysis of the phase 3 PRIMA/ENGOT-OV26/GOG-3012 (NCT02655016) study of niraparib in patients with newly diagnosed primary advanced ovarian, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube cancer with a complete/partial response to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Progression-free survival (PFS) was assessed by surgical status (primary debulking surgery [PDS] vs neoadjuvant chemotherapy/interval debulking surgery [NACT/IDS]) and postoperative residual disease status (no visible residual disease [NVRD] vs visible residual …

Michigan Plan For Appropriate Tailored Healthcare In Pregnancy Prenatal Care Recommendations: A Practical Guide For Maternity Care Clinicians, Alex Friedman Peahl, Mark Turrentine, Wanda Barfield, Sean C Blackwell, Christopher M Zahn

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Prenatal care is an important preventive service designed to improve the health of pregnant patients and their infants. Prenatal care delivery recommendations have remained unchanged since 1930, when the 12-14 in-person visit schedule was first established to detect preeclampsia. In 2020, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, in collaboration with the University of Michigan, convened a panel of maternity care experts to determine new prenatal care delivery recommendations. The panel recognized the need to include emerging evidence and experience, including significant changes in prenatal care delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic, pre-existing knowledge of the importance of individualized care plans, …

Discharged Against Medical Advice In The Postpartum Period: Why Should We Care?, Gurbani Bedi Bs, Mariam Ayyash Md, Mscr, Monique Swain Md

Medical Student Research Symposium

Objective: To understand reasons and events surrounding postpartum discharges against medical advice (AMA) in an urban population in Detroit, Michigan.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted looking at women who left AMA in the postpartum period from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan between 2013 and 2021.

Results: 111 women (0.18%) left AMA in the postpartum period between 2013 and 2021. 35.1% of women were Black, 53% were White, 11.7% were of other races. 4.5% of women had home births and were brought in by EMS shortly after delivery. 44.1% of women had preterm births. 35.1% delivered via cesarean …

Language Preference Impact On The Outcomes Of Those Lost To Follow-Up After A Diagnosis Of Pregnancy Of Unknown Location, Erin A. Leestma, Mayra A. Shafique, Megan Mcnitt, Annmarie Vilkins

Medical Student Research Symposium

Pregnancy of unknown location (PUL) is a temporary diagnosis when there is a positive pregnancy test but an intrauterine gestational sac and/or fetal pole are not visualized with ultrasonography. The three potential outcomes for such a pregnancy are failed pregnancy, an early intrauterine pregnancy or an ectopic/abnormal pregnancy. Given the serious associated morbidity of ectopic pregnancy, these PUL require strict follow up of bHCG levels to help the clinician determine the likely outcome of the PUL (failed vs early vs ectopic) and choose the best intervention (expectant management, surgical management or medical management). One potential barrier to follow-up identified in …

Utilizing Training And Educational Materials To Increase Hand Hygiene Compliance Of Healthcare Providers Participating In Cesarean Sections, Christopher Natividad

Master's Projects and Capstones

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are one of the most common complications of Cesarean section (C-section) procedures. The incidence of SSIs after C-section procedures at Hospital X has increased in each of the past three years. The Labor and Delivery (L&D) unit at Hospital X performs approximately 4,500 C-sections each year. Observation of these procedures illustrated a lack of adhesion to hand hygiene policies and protocols. This quality improvement project involved informing staff members of the poor hand hygiene compliance rates, and re-educating them regarding proper hand hygiene behavior using flyers, emails, and addressing them at shift change. Data collection focused …

A Two-Step Approach To Increase Breastfeeding Adherence In Mothers With Preterm Infants, Jessica J. Glinski

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Breastfeeding provides multiple benefits for mothers and infants. An overwhelming amount of evidence indicates that breastmilk optimizes infant growth and develops the immune system (Yu et al., 2018). Apart from the health benefits for infants, the immediate effects of breastfeeding for mothers include a decreased risk for hemorrhage, stress, and postpartum depression (Flemming, 2021). A mother’s psychological state impacts lactation success, mainly by affecting milk ejection (Dabas et al., 2019). Despite evidence suggesting that relaxation techniques are beneficial for all human beings, it is one of the least commonly used approaches for postpartum mothers (Joseph et al., 2019). The PICOT …

Platelets Increase The Expression Of Pd-L1 In Ovarian Cancer, Min Soon Cho, Hani Lee, Ricardo Gonzalez-Delgado, Dan Li, Tomoyuki Sasano, Wendolyn Carlos-Alcalde, Qing Ma, Jinsong Liu, Anil K Sood, Vahid Afshar-Kharghan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The interactions between platelets and cancer cells activate platelets and enhance tumor growth. Platelets increase proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cancer cells, inhibit anoikis, enhance the extravasation of cancer cells, and protect circulating tumor cells against natural killer cells. Here, we have identified another mechanism by which platelets dampen the immune attack on cancer cells. We found that platelets can blunt the antitumor immune response by increasing the expression of inhibitory immune checkpoint (PD-L1) on ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Platelets increased PD-L1 in cancer cells via contact-dependent (through NF-κB signaling) and contact-independent (through TFGβR1/Smad signaling) pathways. …

Effect Of Covid On Postpartum Depression (Ppd), Reshma Thomas, Karen Krieg, Joanna Petrides

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Purpose:

1. To determine if the rates of postpartum depression have changed during COVID
2. To identify differences in characteristics of women with postpartum depression during COVID

Foci Of Idc In Phyllodes Tumors: Should We Be Worried?: A Systematic Review Of The Literature, Kathryn Eckert, Victoria Tiedemann, Linda Szczurek

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Phyllodes tumors are rare, fast growing fibroepithelial tumors of the breast that account for less than 1% of all breast tumors globally. They were first characterized by Johannes Muller in 1838 and most often present in the 5th decade of life. Phyllodes tumors are histologically composed of a stromal component and an epithelial component. The stromal component has a widely accepted malignant potential in up to 30% of cases. Grading of the stromal malignant potential of phyllodes tumors has been defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as benign, borderline, or malignant based on the presence and degree of stromal …

The Effects Of Hormonal Contraceptive Use On Perceptions Of Social Stress In Women, Ashton Jones

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Hormonal contraceptives are widely used due to their efficiency in preventing pregnancy. Although women are often informed of the physical effects of hormonal contraceptives, there is little emphasis on mental effects, such as increased rates of depression and changes in social perception. The current study examined perceptions of social stress among women before beginning hormonal contraceptives, and two months after using hormonal contraceptives. I hypothesized that women would experience increased social stress after beginning hormonal contraceptives, compared to a control group of women who were also assessed twice. Results did not support this hypothesis; there was no difference in interpersonal …

An Evaluation Of Seasonal Maternal-Neonatal Morbidity Related To Trainee Cycles, Ayamo Oben, Paula Mcgee, William A Grobman, Jennifer L Bailit, Ronald J Wapner, Michael W Varner, John M Thorp, Steve N Caritis, Mona Prasad, George R Saade, Dwight J Rouse, Sean C Blackwell, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Of Child Health And Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND:

The existence of the “July phenomenon” (worse outcomes related to the presence of new physician trainees in teaching hospitals) has been debated in the literature and media. Previous studies of the phenomenon in obstetrics are limited by the quality and detail of data.

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate whether the months of June to August, when transitions in trainees occur, are associated with increased maternal and neonatal morbidity.

STUDY DESIGN:

Secondary analysis of an observational cohort of 115,502 mother–infant pairs that delivered at 25 hospitals from March 2008 to February 2011. Inclusion criteria were an individual who had a singleton, nonanomalous …

Predictive Performance Of Newborn Small For Gestational Age By A Us Intrauterine Versus Birth Weight-Derived Standard For Short-Term Neonatal Morbidity And Mortality, Nathan R Blue, Lisa Mele, William A Grobman, Jennifer L Bailit, Ronald J Wapner, John M Thorp, Steve N Caritis, Mona Prasad, Alan T N Tita, George R Saade, Dwight J Rouse, Sean C Blackwell, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Of Child Health And Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (Mfmu) Network

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective:

The use of birth weight standards to define small for gestational age (SGA) may fail to identify neonates affected by poor fetal growth since they include births associated with sub-optimal fetal growth. Our objective was to compare intrauterine versus birth weight-derived standards to define newborn SGA to predict neonatal morbidity and mortality.

Study Design:

This was a secondary analysis of a multi-center observational study of 118,422 births. Liveborn singleton, non-anomalous newborns born at 23–41 weeks were included. Those with missing gestational age estimation or without a 1^st or 2^nd trimester ultrasound to confirm dating, birth weight, or …

Protecting A Woman’S Right To Abortion During A Public Health Crisis, San Juanita Gonzalez

The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice

As COVID-19 infected our nation, states were quick to issue executive orders restricting various aspects of daily life under the pretense of public safety. It was clear at the outset that certain civil liberties were going to be tested. Among them, the constitutional right to an abortion.

This comment explores Texas’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the limitations it imposed on abortion access. It will attempt to address the legitimacy of the “public health concerns” listed in executive orders issued throughout numerous states and will discuss the pertinent legal framework and judicial scrutiny to apply.

According to the Fifth …

Improving Postpartum Hypertension Discharge Education: A Pilot Project, Kathryn Barth

Dissertations

Problem: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are a leading cause of maternal morbidity, mortality, and postpartum readmission. Several evidence-based algorithms and protocols have been implemented in the inpatient setting to treat severe blood pressure and prevent complications. However, there remains an opportunity to improve the postpartum care transition and discharge education for patients with these conditions in an attempt to decrease 30-day postpartum hypertension readmissions.

Methods: This pilot project utilized a descriptive design and took place on a postpartum unit at a Midwest metropolitan high-risk obstetrical teaching hospital. Interventions included patient-specific discharge education, distribution of a home blood pressure …

The Efficacy Of Low-Dose Aspirin In Pregnancy Among Women In Malaria-Endemic Countries, Melissa Bauserman, Sequoia I. Leuba, Jennifer Hemingway-Foday, Tracy L. Nolen, Janet Moore, Elizabeth M. Mcclure, Adrien Lokangaka, Antoinette Tsehfu, Sarah Saleem, Saleem Jessani

Community Health Sciences

Background: Low dose aspirin (LDA) is an effective strategy to reduce preterm birth. However, LDA might have differential effects globally, based on the etiology of preterm birth. In some regions, malaria in pregnancy could be an important modifier of LDA on birth outcomes and anemia.
Methods: This is a sub-study of the ASPIRIN trial, a multi-national, randomized, placebo controlled trial evaluating LDA effect on preterm birth. We enrolled a convenience sample of women in the ASPIRIN trial from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya and Zambia. We used quantitative polymerase chain reaction to detect malaria. We calculated crude prevalence …

Gestational Age Variation In Human Placental Drug Transporters, Laura Goetzl, Nune Darbinian, Nana Merabova, Lindsay C Devane, Sammanda Ramamoorthy

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Patient and providers' fear of fetal exposure to medications may lead to discontinuation of treatment, disease relapse, and maternal morbidity. Placental drug transporters play a critical role in fetal exposure through active transport but the majority of data are limited to the 3rd trimester, when the majority of organogenesis has already occurred. Our objective was to define gestational age (GA) dependent changes in protein activity, expression and modifications of five major placental drug transporters: SERT, P-gp, NET, BCRP and MRP3. Apical brush border membrane fractions were prepared from fresh 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester human placentas collected following elective pregnancy …

Pgc1Α/Β Expression Predicts Therapeutic Response To Oxidative Phosphorylation Inhibition In Ovarian Cancer, Carmen Ghilardi, Catarina Moreira-Barbosa, Laura Brunelli, Paola Ostano, Nicolò Panini, Monica Lupi, Alessia Anastasia, Fabio Fiordaliso, Monica Salio, Laura Formenti, Massimo Russo, Edoardo Arrigoni, Ferdinando Chiaradonna, Giovanna Chiorino, Giulio Draetta, Joseph R Marszalek, Christopher P Vellano, Roberta Pastorelli, Mariarosa Bani, Alessandra Decio, Raffaella Giavazzi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecologic cancer, and novel therapeutic options are crucial to improve overall survival. Here we provide evidence that impairment of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) can help control ovarian cancer progression, and this benefit correlates with expression of the two mitochondrial master regulators PGC1α and PGC1β. In orthotopic patient-derived ovarian cancer xenografts (OC-PDX), concomitant high expression of PGC1α and PGC1β (PGC1α/β) fostered a unique transcriptional signature, leading to increased mitochondrial abundance, enhanced tricarboxylic acid cycling, and elevated cellular respiration that ultimately conferred vulnerability to OXPHOS inhibition. Treatment with the respiratory chain complex I inhibitor IACS-010759 caused mitochondrial swelling …