bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Endometriosis in African Women
Authors: Kyama Cleophas M , Mwenda Jason M , Machoki James , Mihalyi Attila , Simsa Peter , Chai Daniel C , D'Hooghe Thomas M
Published: February 2010

Endometriosis is a gynecological disorder characterized by the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Although the prevalence of endometriosis is well documented in women living in developed countries, studies on the prevalence of this disease among African women are still wanting. The current view is that endometriosis rarely affects women of African descent. However, in African-American women in the USA, endometriosis is one of the common indications for major gynecological surgery and hysterectomy and is associated with a long hospitalization and high hospital charges. Endometriosis may be more commonly found in infertile Caucasian or African–American women than in African–Indigenous women, but it is likely that the true prevalence of endometriosis in African–Indigenous women is under reported owing to inadequate facilities and demands of specialized skills for adequate assessment of the pelvis and recognition of the various types and appearances of the disease. Understanding the prevalence of endometriosis among African women will be instrumental in proper management of this disease in the African continent.
Baboon Model for the Study of Endometriosis
Authors: Kyama Cleophas M , Mihalyi Atilla , Chai Daniel , Simsa Peter , Mwenda Jason M , D'Hooghe Thomas M
Published: February 2010

Endometriosis is a benign, estrogen-dependent disease and is now recognized as an enigmatic disease owing to its various clinical manifestations and locations. The lack of a reliable and specific method for the early detection of endometriosis often results in delayed diagnosis. So far, research has born inadequate findings regarding understanding the basic etiology or pathophysiology of endometriosis. Animal models that accurately represent the cellular and molecular changes associated with the initiation and progression of human endometriosis have significant potential to facilitate the development of better methods for the early detection and treatment of endometriosis. A number of animal model systems have been developed for the study of this disease. These models replicate many of the known salient features of human endometriosis. This review provides an insight into the use of the baboon model for studies focused on understanding human endometriosis.
Hormone-Replacement Therapy, Dementia and Stroke
Authors: Billeci AMR , Caso V , Paciaroni M , Palmerini F , Agnelli G
Published: February 2010

Hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) has been used for more than 40 years to reduce perimenopausal symptoms. Estrogens may protect brain structures and functional systems affected by Alzheimer's disease, which suggests that maintaining high levels of hormones with HRT can protect against Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, high premenopausal estrogen concentrations are thought to be protective against stroke and, consequently, in the past, HRT was considered to be a potential protective agent against stroke. However, large clinical trials have failed to demonstrate a benefit from HRT on either cognitive performance or risk of dementia. In addition, although HRT has been associated with a reduction in the risk of heart disease in observational studies, results regarding stroke have been less clear. Recently, evidence has shown that HRT does not reduce but actually increases vascular risk. Here, the data from the most important studies are examined, concluding that HRT has no beneficial effect on dementia or stroke risk reduction in postmenopausal women.
Contraception in Women with Cardiac Disease
Authors: Hudsmith Lucy , Thorne Sara
Published: February 2010

Cardiac disease is the main cause of maternal mortality in the UK; therefore, accurate and appropriate contraceptive advice for women with cardiac disease is an essential part of any consultation. All females should be counseled regarding pregnancy and contraception before they become sexually active, with information tailored to their diagnosis and risks of a pregnancy. In this review, we discuss current clinical recommendations and practice in a number of different cardiac conditions, including congenital heart disease, as well as highlighting future developments and challenges with contraception in women with cardiac disease.
Gender-Specific Care of Diabetes
Authors: Szalat Auryan , Raz Itamar
Published: February 2010

Diabetic men have benefited in the last 30 years from a significant improvement in total and cardiovascular mortality, whereas diabetic women have had no improvement at all. Moreover, recent research focused on the role of sex hormones in glucose homeostasis, and might account for different pathophysiologic mechanisms in the development of diabetes-related complications. Thus, care of diabetic women is a challenge that requires particular attention. The available data regarding gender-specific care of diabetes mellitus are uneven, rich in some domains but very poor in others. The large prospective trials performed in the last 20 years have assumed that the natural history of diabetes mellitus in men and women, as well as the efficiency of glucose-lowering therapies and management of hyperglycemic-related complications, could be attributable without distinction to men and women. We propose in this paper to analyze the published medical literature according to the specific management of diabetes mellitus in women, and to try to distinguish some particular features. We found important distinctions between diabetic men and women regarding the patterns of abnormalities of glucose regulation, epidemiology, development of diabetes-related complications, ischemic heart disease, morbidity and mortality, impact of cardiovascular risk factors, development of the metabolic syndrome, depression and osteoporosis, as well as the impact of lifestyle modifications or primary and secondary preventions on cardiovascular risk factors, and finally medical therapeutics. Moreover, special considerations were given to some particular aspects of the medical life in diabetic women, such as the features of gestational diabetes mellitus and the management of pregnancy in pregestational diabetic women, use of contraception, hormone-replacement therapy and polycystic ovary syndrome.
Management of Uterine Fibroids in the Patient Pursuing Assisted Reproductive Technologies
Authors: Ezzati Mohammad , Norian John M , Segars James H
Published: February 2010

Uterine leiomyomas are present in 30–70% of women of reproductive age. In addition to causing menstrual disorders and pain, uterine fibroids negatively affect fertility and pregnancy outcome for patients pursuing assisted reproduction. The two questions that have to be addressed are: which fibroids should be treated and how should they be treated? Submucosal fibroids are associated with a 70% reduction in delivery rate. Intramural fibroids had a lesser effect and reduced the delivery rate by approximately 30%. By contrast, studies have demonstrated that subserosal fibroids did not negatively impact fertility. Furthermore, both submucosal and intramural fibroids were associated with an increased risk of spontaneous miscarriage. Myomectomy is considered the treatment of choice to alleviate these detrimental effects. Further research is needed before alternative treatments can be recommended.
Interventions for Cardiovascular Disease in Women
Authors: Grinfeld Liliana , Rolandi Florencia
Published: February 2010

Cardiovascular disease represents the main health problem for women as it is the leading cause of death and morbidity. In recent years, technological advances and experience gained by surgeons and cardiologists has resulted in a significant improvement of percutaneous coronary procedures, which has been demonstrated to be safe and effective for both men and women. However, gender disparities in the management of coronary artery disease, specifically in the rate of use of these interventional procedures, as well as in the incidence of cardiovascular events have been reported. Treatment inequalities may also impact on outcomes. Possible reasons for treatment bias include a patient's preferences, a physician's decisions, biological and pathophysiological gender differences and inadequate evidence-based medicine among women.
Breast Cancer Treatment and Cognitive Function: The Current State of Evidence, Underlying Mechanisms and Potential Treatments
Authors: Vodermaier Andrea
Published: February 2010

Within the last decade, several studies have investigated whether adjuvant treatment of breast cancer affects cognitive function. A number of prospective studies have demonstrated inconsistent results regarding whether chemotherapy affects cognitive function. Approximately half of the studies demonstrated subtle cognitive decline in a wide range of domains among some breast cancer patients following chemotherapy, and half did not. Concomitant changes in brain structure and function have been identified in neuroimaging and neurophysiologic studies. Estrogenic therapy has been specifically associated with deterioration in verbal memory and processing speed. However, evidence is mostly based on smaller studies with cross-sectional data. Breast cancer patients who underwent both chemotherapy and estrogenic therapy showed the most deterioration and the most persistant decline in cognitive function. Since cognitive impairment is subtle, if evident at all, discrepant findings are due to hormonal, physiological, psychological or temporal confounding variables and differences in study design. Neuropsychological training has been demonstrated to improve cognitive dysfunction experienced by breast cancer patients after chemotherapy. Future research may examine the unique impact of endocrine therapy on cognitive function with prospective, controlled trials, as well as the role of further confounding variables (e.g., menopausal status, cytokine deregulation, cortisol and concurrent medication).
Hereditary Ovarian Cancer: Biology, Response to Chemotherapy and Prognosis
Authors: Safra Tamar
Published: February 2010

Recent evidence has indicated that the prognosis of women with epithelial ovarian cancer who are BRCA-mutation carriers may be better than for noncarriers. Part of the explanation is a higher sensitivity to platinum and other chemotherapies, as was demonstrated in in vitro studies, as well as a possible different biology. BRCA genes are important in double-strand DNA break repair and in other important processes of the cell cycle. Mutation or reduced activity of BRCA genes leads to a higher vulnerability to DNA damage (caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy) compared with malignant tumors of noncarriers. New targeted drugs, such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 and −2 inhibitors, are currently under investigation, as are new biomarkers that will hopefully lead the way to better treatment and longer survival. Testing for the BRCA mutation should be carried out and used as a guide for therapy in most patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.
Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Older Adults with Breast Cancer: Making the Standard a Standard
Authors: Pal Sumanta Kumar , Mortimer Joanne
Published: February 2010

Muss HB, Berry DA, Cirrincione CT et al.: Adjuvant chemotherapy in older women with early-stage breast cancer. N. Engl. J. Med. 360, 2055–2065 (2009). To date, only two prospective trials evaluating adjuvant therapy for breast cancer in older adults have been published. The second and more recent trial, Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) 49907, provides substantial evidence supporting the use of standard adjuvant chemotherapy regimens (doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide or cyclophosphamide-methotrexate-5-fluorouracil) as opposed to simplified oral regimens (capecitabine). In this trial, both the risk of relapse (hazard ratio: 2.09; 95% CI: 1.38–3.17; p < 0.001) and the risk of death (hazard ratio: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.11–3.08; p = 0.02) were significantly higher with capecitabine compared with standard chemotherapy. The current review explores both the implications and potential caveats of this innovative trial. CALGB 49907 represents a paradigm for further studies of adjuvant cancer therapy in older adults.
Depression and Related Disorders during the Female Reproductive Cycle
Authors: Miller Laura J , Girgis Christina , Gupta Renu
Published: February 2010

For some women, times of reproductive transition represent times of high risk for the onset or exacerbation of depressive symptoms. In order to maintain emotional stability, the female brain must adapt to fluctuations in hormones that affect neurotransmitter functioning. Difficulty with this adaptation, along with stresses related to social role transitions, may confer heightened vulnerability to depression. In this review, we summarize data regarding the course, expression and risks of depression and related symptoms during puberty and menarche, the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, the perinatal period and perimenopause. We note treatment strategies that have been found to be effective for depressive symptoms during specific phases of the female reproductive cycle.
Fertility Issues in Women with Diabetes
Authors: Livshits Anna , Seidman Daniel S
Published: February 2010

Diabetes mellitus Type 1 and Type 2 should be considered in the differential diagnosis of menstrual abnormalities and infertility. The reproductive period of diabetic women may be reduced due to delayed menarche and premature menopause. During the reproductive years, diabetes has been associated with menstrual abnormalities, such as oligomenorrhea and secondary amenorrhea. It was found that better glycemic control and prevention of diabetic complications improves these irregularities and increases fertility rates close to those that are seen in the general population. Women with persistent menstrual abnormalities despite adequate treatment need to be approached by broader evaluation, which will include the examination of the hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian axis and the hormonal status, presence of autoimmune thyroid disease and antiovarian autoantibodies, and hyperandrogenism.
Report on the 8th European Congress on Menopause
Authors: Eglinton Elizabeth , Al-Azzawi Farook
Published: February 2010

The 8th European Congress on Menopause (EMAS), held 16–19 May 2009 in London, UK, was organized by the European Menopause and Andropause Society and hosted by the British Menopause Society (BMS). The Congress invited speakers from a range of European countries as well as some from the USA, Ecuador, Chile, Australia and South Africa, and attracted 1470 participants from over 70 countries as far a field as the Americas and East Asia.
Heart Failure in Women: Epidemiology, Biology and Treatment
Authors: Shah Rashmee U , Klein Liviu , Lloyd-Jones Donald M
Published: February 2010

Although women account for a significant proportion of the growing heart failure epidemic, they have been poorly represented in clinical trials. As emerging epidemiologic data reveal a growing prevalence and burden of disease among women, it is increasingly important that treating physicians and researchers recognize sex-based differences. Despite the overall incidence of heart failure being lower in women compared with men, the magnitude of improvement in survival over the last several decades has been less apparent in women. Women with heart failure are more likely to be older, have preserved systolic function and nonischemic cardiomyopathy. While clinical trials have demonstrated improved outcomes among heart failure patients, they have predominantly included men, yielding results that are sometimes inadequately powered to detect a benefit for women. Without adequate representation of women in clinical trials, one cannot assume that the same level of therapeutic evidence also applies to women. Nonetheless, it appears that β-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors provide the same survival benefits in women with systolic dysfunction as in men. In addition, some studies suggest that angiotensin-receptor blockers may lead to a better survival in women when compared with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Focused research is needed to understand and guide the management of women with heart failure.
Long-Term Prevention with Hormone-Replacement Therapy after the Menopause: Which Women should be Targeted?
Authors: Alexandersen Peter , Karsdal Morten A , Christiansen Claus
Published: February 2010

For decades, hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) was considered safe and was the first choice in prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis induced by estrogen deficiency. Numerous experimental and epidemiological studies further supported a protective effect of exogenous female sex hormones on atherogenesis and coronary heart disease (CHD) in women after the menopause. However, the fact that these promising results were not translated into lower incidences of CHD events in hormone-treated women compared with placebo in subsequent, large, randomized studies of healthy subjects as well as women with known CHD raised a very intense debate concerning the safety of HRT in terms of cardiovascular risk. A critical mass of data points toward a protective influence of HRT on cardiovascular disease end points in early postmenopausal women, but increased harm in elderly women, especially those with abdominal adiposity or metabolic syndrome. Once the quasi-hysterical reaction to the largest of the randomized studies (the Women's Health Initiative) has abated, a future strategy should be to concentrate on identifying those relatively few individuals who are not suitable for HRT, as HRT still remains the most thoroughly investigated pharmacological prevention strategy of osteoporosis.
Broken-Hearted Women: The Complex Relationship between Depression and Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Hayes Sharonne N
Published: February 2010

The importance of mind–body health relationships has been recognized for decades, but only recently has the wider medical and cardiovascular community become engaged in understanding and addressing the complex, bidirectional risk relationship between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and depression. Furthermore, it has become increasingly clear that there are incompletely understood sex differences in incidence and outcomes for both conditions that should guide treatment and future research efforts. This review will explore the role of depression in women as a risk factor for incident CVD, its impact on women already suffering from CVD, proposed psychobiologic mechanisms and links, and the implications of sex differences on diagnosis and treatment.
Effectiveness of Cervical Cancer Screening at Different Ages
Authors: Tota Joseph , Franco Eduardo L
Published: February 2010

Evaluation of: Sasieni P, Castanon A, Cuzick J: Effectiveness of cervical screening with age: population based case–control study of prospectively recorded data. BMJ 339, B2968 (2009). In a large case–control study with cases identified from centers across the UK and using data from the NHS database (collected between 1990 and 2008), investigators evaluated the effectiveness of cervical screening with Pap tests, with a particular focus on women aged 20–24 years. Screening of these young women had little or no effect on the rates of invasive cervical cancer up to 30 years of age. However, screening older women (aged 35–64 years) was shown to reduce cervical cancer risk by approximately 60–80%. This study suggests that the screening age can be safely raised to 25 years without causing harm. Along with the information from this study, policymakers should consider the harms of screening at different ages as well as the absolute rate of cervical cancer in screened and unscreened women of different ages.
Frequency of Migraine and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease for Women: Limited Evidence of an Association
Authors: Anna Vibeke , Woodward Mark
Published: February 2010

Evaluation of: Kurth T, Schurks M, Logroscino G et al. Migraine frequency and risk of cardiovascular disease in women. Neurology 73, 581–588 (2009). There is substantial evidence that migraine with aura (MA) is associated with ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction in women. The mechanisms of this association are poorly understood. Analysis of data from the Women's Health Study, from 27,798 women over 45 years of age who were initially free of cardiovascular disease, found that women with baseline MA at a frequency of less than monthly had increased risk of major cardiovascular disease (HR: 2.28; 95% CI: 1.70–3.07) relative to women without migraine, and those who reported MA with a frequency of more than weekly had more than four-times the risk of ischemic stroke (HR: 4.25; 95% CI: 1.36–13.29) compared with those without migraine. Low numbers of outcome events in each of the frequency categories and lack of information on migraine frequency during follow-up limit the interpretation of these findings, but they suggest that frequency of migraine may be a moderating factor in the link between MA and cardiovascular disease.
Nutrition and Bone: It is More than Calcium and Vitamin D
Authors: Morgan Sarah L
Published: February 2010

Unlike pharmacological agents that are taken for proscribed periods of time, food and nutrient intakes have the possibility of affecting bone health over the entire lifespan. While deficiencies or excesses of individual nutrients have been shown to affect bone, it is likely that individual foods or dietary patterns have important effects related to skeletal health. While biochemical mechanisms exist to relate a deficiency of vitamin K to altered bone metabolism, clinical trials related to supplementation of this nutrient have been confusing. It is likely that these disparate results are related to the fact that interactions of nutrients have not been considered or the possibility that suboptimal nutrient status is a marker of poor nutritional status. Vitamin A excess has been postulated to be related to high fracture risk; however, it is likely that retinol is not the best marker for the proposed interaction. Altering whole food patterns, such as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet, have demonstrated beneficial effects on bone metabolism. Individuals who select some vegetarian patterns may need to consider supplementation with nutrients such as calcium and protein. Future studies should center on whole food and dietary patterns and their relationship to bone metabolism and fracture risk.
Ovarian Cancer Screening and Early Detection
Authors: Joyner Andrea B , Runowicz Carolyn D
Published: February 2010

One of the most challenging issues in gynecologic oncology is the high mortality rate of ovarian cancer, largely due to detection of disease in advanced stages. Women with early-stage disease have a significantly improved survival rate and may not require chemotherapy. Thus, the issues to examine are whether there are methods to improve early detection, thereby resulting in a reduction in mortality. Several large, randomized, clinical trials have recently completed evaluating CA 125 and transvaginal sonography as effective strategies to accomplish this goal. These issues and the results of the recent trials will be reviewed in this article.
Should Routine Screening by Mammography be Replaced by a More Selective Service of Risk Assessment/Risk Management?
Authors: Baum Michael
Published: February 2010

The NHS screening program was launched 20 years ago and, until recently, has been accepted in an uncritical way. However, emerging data have suggested that the reduction in breast cancer mortality owing to screening is much less than it has been credited for. Furthermore, the harms from false-positive results and the overdiagnosis of indolent disease, which includes the detection of a cancer that is not destined to present clinically in that patient's lifetime, are now perceived as much greater than ever anticipated. This article suggests that it is complacent to continue with the program unchecked, a program that has so far denied women an informed choice. It is also suggested that a more efficient use of scarce resources that may reduce all-cause mortality might be to shift from a ‘one size fits all’ approach, to a risk assessment/risk management scheme.
Dienogest: A New Therapeutic Agent for the Treatment of Endometriosis
Authors: Harada Tasuku , Taniguchi Fuminori
Published: February 2010

Dienogest (DNG), a progestin of 19-nortestosterone derivative, has good oral bioavailability and is highly selective for progesterone receptors. Owing to its antiovulatory, antiproliferative activities in endometrial cells, and its inhibitory effects on the secretion of cytokines, DNG is expected to be an effective treatment for endometriosis. Progesterone receptor-binding affinity is higher for DNG than for progesterone. Several pilot studies demonstrated that after 24 weeks of DNG treatment, there was a significant decrease in terms of dysmenorrhea, premenstrual pain, dyspareunia and diffuse pelvic pain. Most of the cases of genital bleeding occurring in the DNG treatment were spotting or breakthrough bleeding, which decreased with continued treatment and resolved either during treatment or after the end of treatment. The therapeutic effects of DNG 2 mg/day and norethisterone acetate 10 mg/day for endometriotic symptoms during a period of 24 weeks were almost similar. The only disadvantage of DNG seems to be the irregular bleeding. Good efficacy and tolerability of DNG in patients with endometriosis have been demonstrated in an open, randomized European clinical trial as compared with norethisterone acetate. In Japan, a Phase III, randomized, double-blind, multicenter, controlled trial was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of DNG with intranasal buserelin acetate in patients with endometriosis. The study demonstrated that DNG is as effective as intranasal buserelin acetate in alleviating endometriosis symptoms, and causes less bone mineral density loss, resulting in the use on a commercial basis for endometriosis patients in Japan from 2008. This paper provides summarized data on this new promising drug for endometriosis.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Cognitive Function in Women
Authors: Robinson Jennifer G , Ijioma Nkechinyere , Harris William
Published: February 2010

Omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) could play an important role in maintaining cognitive function in aging individuals. The omega-3 FA docosahexaenoic acid is a major constituent of neuronal membranes and, along with the other long-chain omega-3 FAs from fish such as eicosapentaentoic acid, has been shown to have a wide variety of beneficial effects on neuronal functioning, inflammation, oxidation and cell death, as well as on the development of the characteristic pathology of Alzheimer's disease. Omega-3 FAs may prevent vascular dementia via salutary effects on lipids, inflammation, thrombosis and vascular function. Epidemiologic studies have generally supported a protective association between fish and omega-3 FA levels and cognitive decline. Some of the small, short-term, randomized trials of docosahexaenoic acid and/or eicosapentaentoic acid supplementation have found positive effects on some aspects of cognition in older adults who were cognitively intact or had mild cognitive impairment, although little effect was found in participants with Alzheimer's disease. Large, long-term trials in this area are needed.
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: An Opportunity to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease in Young Women
Authors: Di Cianni Graziano , Ghio Alessandra , Resi Veronica , Volpe Laura
Published: February 2010

In women with previous gestational diabetes (pGDM), the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes is greatly increased, to the point that GDM represents an early stage in the natural history of Type 2 diabetes. In addition, in the years following the index pregnancy, women with pGDM exhibit an increased cardiovascular risk profile and an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease. This paper will review current knowledge on the metabolic modifications that occur in normal pregnancy, underlining the mechanism responsible for GDM, the link between these alterations and the associated long-term maternal complications. In women with pGDM, accurate follow-up and prevention strategies (e.g., weight control and regular physical exercise) are needed to reduce the subsequent development of overt diabetes and other metabolic abnormalities related to cardiovascular disease. Therefore, our paper will provide arguments in favor of performing follow-up programs aimed at modifying risk factors involved in the pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Impact of Obesity on Gynecology
Authors: Pandey Shilpi , Bhattacharya Siladitya
Published: February 2010

Rising obesity rates around the world have had a profound impact on female reproductive health. Childhood obesity is associated with early onset of puberty, menstrual irregularities during adolescence and polycystic ovary syndrome. Women of reproductive age with high BMIs have a higher risk of ovulatory problems and tend to respond poorly to fertility treatment. Strategies for fertility control can also be complex since the efficacy and safety of hormonal contraceptives can be compromised by increased body weight. Obesity can aggravate symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse, stress urinary incontinence and increase the risk of endometrial polyps and symptomatic fibroids. Weight reduction enhances reproductive outcomes, diminishes symptoms of urinary incontinence and reduces morbidity following gynecological surgery. Sustained and substantial weight loss is difficult to achieve with the lifestyle and dietary measures that are currently available. A number of pharmacological treatment options are available, and there are emerging data on reproductive outcomes following surgical treatment for obesity.
Statewide Awareness Study on Personal Risks of Cardiovascular Disease in Women: A Go Red North Dakota Study
Authors: Mozumdar Arupendra , Liguori Gary
Published: February 2010

General awareness of cardiovascular disease (CVD) as the leading cause of death for women and knowledge of CVD risk factors have increased in the last 10 years. Whether this greater general awareness and knowledge leads to improved risk assessment on a personal level remains uncertain. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to measure the knowledge of CVD risk factors and determine the level of personal CVD risk-factor awareness among female public employees of North Dakota, ND, USA. A 30-item, pretested, standardized questionnaire was adapted from previous American Heart Association (AHA) nationwide surveys to measure awareness of the AHA's Go Red For Women movement and cardiovascular health. The online survey was completed by 1044 women, with most of the participants (∼90%) reported as being aware that heart disease was the leading cause of death for women in the USA, which is much higher than the national average. Nearly all the participants (97.3%) correctly recognized the Go Red ‘Red Dress’ symbol, and knew that it relates to women and heart disease. The prevalence of individual CVD risk awareness was high for blood pressure (82.2%) and moderately high for cholesterol (67%). Much lower rates of CVD awareness were reported for blood glucose (40.8%) and BMI (29.4%). Along with age and certain socioeconomic factors, awareness of any one CVD risk factor was strongly associated with awareness of other CVD risk factors. It is worth mentioning that the participants with favorable demographics and background characteristics and with a high general awareness may also have low personal awareness of certain CVD risk factors. This low personal awareness lessens one's perceived susceptibility to CVD, which in turn reduces the likelihood of adopting preventive action to decrease personal risk of CVD. Future awareness programs should concentrate on improving individual risk awareness, particularly of blood glucose and BMI, as a means of improving behavior towards better cardiovascular health.
Medical Waiting Periods: Imminence, Emotions and Coping
Authors: Bolvin Jacky , Lancastle Deborah
Published: February 2010

The diagnosis and treatment of various medical conditions requires patients to wait for results that are potentially threatening to their wellbeing (e.g., breast biopsy results, pregnancy test results after fertility treatment and genetic screening outcomes). Little research has been carried out to document the psychological processes that unfold during such waiting periods. The aim of the present study was to document the course of anxiety, depression, positive affect and coping during the waiting period before a pregnancy test result in fertility treatment. Using a daily record-keeping chart designed for fertility treatment, 61 women undergoing IVF were monitored daily for emotional reactions (e.g., anxiety, depression and positive affect) and coping during 7 days of active treatment (stimulation), 7 days of waiting to find out whether a pregnancy was achieved (waiting) and 4 days of reacting to the pregnancy test results (outcome). The stimulation stage of treatment was characterized by positive affect with a lesser degree of anxiety, whereas the predominant emotions in the waiting stage were a combination of positive affect and anxiety symptoms versus depression. From the pregnancy test day onwards, the predominant emotion was depression. There was a significant increase in coping activity between the stimulation and waiting stages, with variable effects across coping strategies. It was concluded that whilst medical waiting periods have a clearly defined emotional trajectory, the coping pattern is less differentiated. This may explain why waiting for medical test results is so demanding. Healthcare professionals can assist their patients by facilitating coping strategies that better fit the demands of the waiting period and by offering support once outcomes are known.
Influence of Sex Hormones and Phytoestrogens on Heart Disease in Men and Women
Authors: Bhupathy Poornima , Haines Christopher Dean , Leinwand Leslie Anne
Published: February 2010

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of morbidity and mortality in men and women worldwide. According to the WHO, by 2015, almost 20 million people will die from CVD each year. It is well established that men and women differ not only in baseline cardiac parameters, but also in the clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment outcomes of CVD. Women tend to develop heart disease later in life than men. This difference has been attributed to the loss of estrogen during the menopausal transition; however, the biological explanations for the sexual dimorphism in CVD are more complex and seem unlikely to be due to estrogen alone. The current controversy that has arisen regarding the effects of HRT on CVD in women is a case in point. In this review, the sex-based differences in cardiac (patho-) physiology are discussed with emphasis on the impact of sex hormones, hormone receptors and diet on heart disease.
Gender Differences in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Caso Valeria , Paciaroni Maurizio , Agnelli Giancarlo , Corea Francesco , Ageno Walter , Alberti Andrea , Lanari Alessia , Micheli Sara , Bertolani Luca , Venti Michele , Palmerini Francesco , Billeci Antonia MR , Comi Giancarlo , Previdi Paolo , Silvestrelli Giorgio
Published: February 2010

Stroke has a greater effect on women than men owing to the fact that women have more stroke events and are less likely to recover. Age-specific stroke rates are higher in men; however, because of women's longer life expectancy and the much higher incidence of stroke at older ages, women have more stroke events than men overall. The aims of this prospective study in consecutive patients were to assess whether there are gender differences in stroke risk factors, treatment or outcome. Consecutive patients with ischemic stroke were included in this prospective study at four study centers. Disability was assessed using a modified Rankin Scale score (≥3 indicating disabling stroke) in both genders at 90 days. Outcomes and risk factors in both genders were compared using the χ2 test. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify any independent predictors of outcome. A total of 1136 patients were included in this study; of these, 494 (46%) were female. Women were statistically older compared with men: 76.02 (± 12.93) and 72.68 (± 13.27) median years of age, respectively. At admission, females had higher NIH Stroke Scale scores compared with males (9.4 [± 6.94] vs 7.6 [± 6.28] for men; p = 0.0018). Furthermore, females tended to have more cardioembolic strokes (153 [30%] vs 147 [23%] for men; p = 0.004). Males had lacunar and atherosclerotic strokes more often (146 [29%] vs 249 [39%] for men; p = 0.002, and 68 [13%] vs 123 [19%] for men; p = 0.01, respectively). The mean modified Rankin Scale score at 3 months was also significantly different between genders, at 2.5 (± 2.05) for women and 2.1 (± 2.02) for men (p = 0.003). However, at multivariate analysis, female gender was not an indicator for negative outcome. It was concluded that female gender was not an independent factor for negative outcome. In addition, both genders demonstrated different stroke pathophysiologies. These findings should be taken into account when diagnostic workup and treatment are being planned.
Teaching for a strong, deliberative democracy
Authors: Thomas Nancy L.
Published: February 2010

Across the U.S.A, everyday citizens, civic leaders, policy makers, and educators are experimenting with inclusive, deliberative approaches to addressing social, economic, and political issues. Some academics and civic leaders describe this renewal in citizen engagement as a movement, a significant, transformative shift in the way we interact with each other to solve public problems, strengthen communities and 'do' democracy. Colleges and universities need to take stock of the movement towards a more deliberative democracy and adapt their programmes and activities to fit what democratic societies need today. Many campuses already offer programmes in inclusive dialogue, deliberative public reasoning, justice and other Constitutional values, democratic leadership and conflict management. Many faculty members use democratic teaching methods. These can serve as helpful models. For all colleges and universities, the challenge is to get to scale, to teach all students - not just a few in particular disciplines or co-curricular activities - to serve as effective citizens in an increasingly diverse, deliberative democracy.
Rehabilitating Information
Authors: Fuhrman Gary
Published: February 2010

In an early paper on logic, C.S. Peirce defined a concept of ‘information’ very different from the later conceptions which gave rise to ‘information science’, and indirectly to current problems such as an overload of ‘useless information’. A study of further developments in Peircean semiotics, and in related conceptual frameworks including the cybernetics of Bateson and the cybersemiotics of Brier, reveals deep relations between Peirce's concept of information and the irreducibly triadic nature of signs. Since all sciences, indeed all cognition and communication, are semiotic processes, the core semiotic principle implicit in the Peircean concept may clarify how our uses of language and other symbolic media can actually inform–and thus transform–the way we humans inhabit the biosphere.
Potential Risk Factors for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma include Oral Contraceptives: Results of a Nested Case-Control Study
Authors: Asgari Maryam M. , Efird Jimmy T. , Warton E. Margaret , Friedman Gary D.
Published: February 2010

Recently, a population-based case-control study observed a 60% increased odds ratio (OR) for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) among women who had ever used oral contraceptives (OCs) compared with non users (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.0–2.5). To further characterize the putative association between OC use and SCC risk, we conducted a nested case-control study using a large retrospective cohort of 111,521 Kaiser Permanente Northern California members. Multivariable conditional logistic regression was used to estimate ORs and CIs adjusting for known and hypothesized SCC risk factors. Pre-diagnostic OC use was associated with a statistically significant increased OR for SCC in univariate analysis (OR = 2.4, CI = 1.2–4.8), with borderline statistical significance in multivariable analysis (CI = 2.0, CI = 0.91–4.5). Given the high incidence of SCC in the general population and the prevalent use of OCs among women in the United States, there is a need for more large, carefully designed epidemiologic studies to determine whether the observed association between OC use and SCC can be replicated and to better understand the etiologic basis of an association if one exists.
The Measurement of Polymer Swelling Processes by an Interferometric Method and Evaluation of Diffusion Coefficients
Authors: Mráček Aleš
Published: February 2010

The amorphous polymer film swelling in a liquid solvent below the glass transition temperature was characterized by a few kinetic parameters (especially the mutual diffusion coefficient of swelling and its mean value) obtained by interference of monochromatic light in the wedge arrangement. This interferometric method allows one to determine the concentration field in the swollen surface layer and consequently to compute the concentration-dependent diffusion coefficient. A software system developed at the Department of Physics and Material Engineering at TBU in Zlin has been used for the evaluation of the main kinetic parameters of the swelling process. The software can be used for the on-line analyses of interferograms during the swelling process. The main application outputs are the computation of the concentration profile, the concentration gradient, the mutual diffusion coefficient of the swelling by the solvent and its mean value.
Porous Silicon—A Versatile Host Material
Authors: Granitzer Petra , Rumpf Klemens
Published: February 2010

This work reviews the use of porous silicon (PS) as a nanomaterial which is extensively investigated and utilized for various applications, e.g., in the fields of optics, sensor technology and biomedicine. Furthermore the combination of PS with one or more materials which are also nanostructured due to their deposition within the porous matrix is discussed. Such nanocompounds offer a broad avenue of new and interesting properties depending on the kind of involved materials as well as on their morphology. The filling of the pores performed by electroless or electrochemical deposition is described, whereas different morphologies, reaching from micro- to macro pores are utilized as host material which can be self-organized or fabricated by prestructuring. For metal-deposition within the porous structures, both ferromagnetic and non-magnetic metals are used. Emphasis will be put on self-arranged mesoporous silicon, offering a quasi-regular pore arrangement, employed as template for filling with ferromagnetic metals. By varying the deposition parameters the precipitation of the metal structures within the pores can be tuned in geometry and spatial distribution leading to samples with desired magnetic properties. The correlation between morphology and magnetic behaviour of such semiconducting/magnetic systems will be determined. Porous silicon and its combination with a variety of filling materials leads to nanocomposites with specific physical properties caused by the nanometric size and give rise to a multiplicity of potential applications in spintronics, magnetic and magneto-optic devices, nutritional food additives as well as drug delivery.
Renal Side Effects of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Neonates
Authors: Allegaert Karel , De Hoon Jan , Debeer Anne , Gewillig Marc
Published: February 2010

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or indomethacin are commonly prescribed drugs to induce pharmacologic closure of a patent ductus arteriosus in preterm neonates. Based on a recently published Cochrane meta-analysis, both drugs are equally effective to induce closure. Drug choice can therefore be based on differences in side effects or pharmaco-economic arguments. The current review quantifies the negative impact of either ibuprofen or indomethacin on renal function, including diuresis, glomerular filtration rate and renal tubular function. Both ibuprofen and indomethacin have a quantifiable impact on renal function. However, compared to ibuprofen, the negative impact of indomethacin is more pronounced.
Angiosperm wood structure: Global patterns in vessel anatomy and their relation to wood density and potential conductivity
Authors: Zanne Amy E. , Westoby Mark , Falster Daniel S. , Ackerly David D. , Loarie Scott R. , Arnold Sarah E. J. , Coomes David A.
Published: February 2010

Woody stems comprise a large biological carbon fraction and determine water transport between roots and leaves; their structure and function can influence both carbon and hydrological cycles. While angiosperm wood anatomy and density determine hydraulic conductivity and mechanical strength, little is known about interrelations across many species. We compiled a global data set comprising two anatomical traits for 3005 woody angiosperms: mean vessel lumen area (Ā) and number per unit area (N). From these, we calculated vessel lumen fraction (F = ĀN) and size to number ratio (S = Ā/N), a new vessel composition index. We examined the extent to which F and S influenced potential sapwood specific stem conductivity (KS) and wood density (D; dry mass/fresh volume). F and S varied essentially independently across angiosperms. Variation in KS was driven primarily by S, and variation in D was virtually unrelated to F and S. Tissue density outside vessel lumens (DN) must predominantly influence D. High S should confer faster KS but incur greater freeze–thaw embolism risk. F should also affect KS, and both F and DN should influence mechanical strength, capacitance, and construction costs. Improved theory and quantification are needed to better understand ecological costs and benefits of these three distinct dimensions.
Does polyembryony confer a competitive advantage to the invasive perennial vine Vincetoxicum rossicum (Apocynaceae)?
Authors: Blanchard Megan L. , Barney Jacob N. , Averill Kristine M. , Mohler Charles L. , DiTommaso Antonio
Published: February 2010

Determining which traits may allow some introduced plant species to become invasive in their new environment continues to be a key question in invasion biology. Vincetoxicum rossicum is an invasive, perennial vine colonizing natural and seminatural habitats primarily in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. More than half its seeds exhibit polyembryony, a relatively uncommon condition in which a single seed produces multiple seedlings. For evaluating the potential consequences of polyembryony on invasiveness, V. rossicum plants derived from seeds of three embryonic classes—singlets, doublets, and triplets (one, two, and three seedlings per seed, respectively)—were paired in all combinations intraspecifically and with the co‐occurring native herbs Solidago canadensis and Asclepias syriaca in a greenhouse study. Vincetoxicum rossicum biomass was 25–55% greater and follicle production 55–100% greater under intraspecific competition compared with interspecific competition. However, within a competitive environment, follicle production varied little. Regardless of competitive environment, V. rossicum originating from seeds with a greater number of embryos typically performed no better than plants arising from seed with fewer embryos (singlets = doublets = triplets)—except intraspecifically where doublets outperformed singlets, and with S. canadensis where triplets outperformed singlets. Our findings suggest that overall performance and fitness of V. rossicum is higher in monocultures than in mixed stands and that its ability to invade new habitats may not be attributable to the production of polyembryonic seeds.