Associations Between Sexual Trauma and Sexual Relationship Power Among Latina Immigrant Farmworkers: The Moderating Role of Gender Norms

Sexual trauma is a national public health concern due to the alarming rates at which it occurs and decades of research supporting its long-term deleterious effects on health outcomes. We assessed the impact of gender norms and sexual trauma on power within sexual relationships among Latina immigrant farmworkers. At baseline, participants (N  = 175) completed a survey examining demographic information, sexual trauma history, and gender norms; a follow-up was administered 6 months later. Past sexual trauma was associated with less power in sexual relationships, r  = −.25, p < .001, as was endorsement of traditional Latina gender norms (i.e., marianismo): sexual relationship control, r  = −.38, p < .001; sexual decision-making dominance, r  = −.21, p  = .005. In contrast, egalitarian gender norm endorsement was associated with higher levels of sexual relationship control, r  = .37, p < .001, and sexual decision-making dominance, r  = .17, p  = .023. Gender norms moderated the association between sexual trauma and sexual relationship power. Specifically, women who subscribed more to marianismo and reported sexual trauma had less decision-making dominance in sexual relationships, whereas those with lower ratings of marianismo reported higher levels of decision-making dominance despite sexual trauma, R²  = .03, p  = .022. Sexual trauma history coupled with higher ratings of egalitarian gender norms was associated with higher levels of sexual relationship control, DR²  = .02, p  = .023. These results highlight the importance of culturally informed research to increase the sexual and overall health of vulnerable populations (e.g., Latina immigrant farmworkers).     

Balloon Cinch Deformity during Angioplasty Procedures: An Indication for Impending Rupture

Percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTA) is a commonly performed procedure for hemodialysis vascular access dysfunction including thrombosis. While PTA is generally safe, balloon rupture during the procedure is a potential complication. Because such a rupture can cause damage to the blood vessel, indication of an imminent balloon rupture might help avoid such a complication. This analysis reports on six PTA procedures that were complicated by balloon rupture. All cases demonstrated terminal (caudal/cranial) cinch deformation. There was a loss of sharp terminal tapering and its replacement with banana silhouette before the balloon rupture. Importantly, the contour deformation and balloon rupture occurred at a pressure that was lower than the rated burst pressure. The cinch deformity can be used as an indication for impending balloon rupture. We suggest deflation of balloons that demonstrate shape deformations to avoid vascular injury.     

Use of a fibrin-based system for enhancing angiogenesis and modulating inflammation in the treatment of hyperglycemic wounds

The complex pathophysiology of chronic ulceration in diabetic patients is poorly understood; diabetes-related lower limb amputation is a major health issue, which has limited effective treatment regimes in the clinic. This study attempted to understand the complex pathology of hyperglycemic wound healing by showing profound changes in gene expression profiles in wounded human keratinocytes in hyperglycemic conditions compared to normal glucose conditions. In the hyper-secretory wound microenvironment of hyperglycemia, Rab18, a secretory control molecule, was found to be significantly downregulated. Using a biomaterial platform for dual therapy targeting the two distinct pathways, this study aimed to resolve the major dysregulated pathways in hyperglycemic wound healing. To complement Rab18, and promote angiogenesis eNOS was also targeted, and this novel Rab18-eNOS therapy via a dynamically controlled ‘fibrin-in-fibrin’ delivery system, demonstrated enhanced wound closure, by increasing functional angiogenesis and reducing inflammation, in an alloxan-induced hyperglycemic preclinical ear ulcer model of compromised wound healing.     

Representativeness of obstetric patients who participate in perinatal depression research: findings from the Women's Mental Health and Infants Program (WMHIP) integrated dataset

The aims of this study were to evaluate the feasibility of integrating archival datasets from depression projects involving pregnant women recruited from obstetric clinics and then assess the representativeness of the integrated dataset. Datasets from six studies were standardized and integrated. Chi-square, t-, and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used to compare characteristics between women who completed a depression screening questionnaire (DSQ) and were (1) eligible and ineligible for research participation and (2) eligible women who accepted and declined participation. The integrated dataset comprises 9,112 pregnant women, of whom 71.0 % (n?=?6,472) were ineligible for participation because their DSQ scores indicated no-to-minimal depressive symptoms (NDS). Among the 23.9 % (2,176) of women identified as eligible, in part, because their DSQ scores indicated elevated levels of depressive symptoms (EDS), 29.6 % (644) of women participated (P-EDS) and 47.6 % (1,036) of women did not participate (D-EDS). While the NDS and EDS groups were significantly different on almost all variables, the P-EDS and D-EDS groups were significantly different on only a few variables. Compared to the D-EDS group, the P-EDS group was earlier in pregnancy and, on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Screen, was more likely to endorse impaired “ability to laugh” and “enjoy oneself”, and endorse at greater severity “ability to laugh.” It is a reasonable and feasible strategy to integrate thematically similar datasets to increase statistical power. Additionally, typical recruitment strategies for minimal risk perinatal depression research at obstetric clinics, during routine prenatal care visits, appear to produce an externally valid study cohort.     

河北省儿童医院住院患儿EB病毒感染流行病学特征

目的了解河北省儿童医院住院患儿EB病毒(EBV)感染的流行病学特征,为儿童EBV感染的诊断和预防提供科学依据。方法收集2017年1—12月河北省儿童医院0~14岁EBV感染住院患儿的全血样本,采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测其EBV衣壳抗原(VCA)IgG及IgM抗体,抗早期抗原(EA)IgG抗体和抗核抗原1(NA1)IgG抗体,以检测结果为研究样本的抗体谱。根据4种EBV抗体的检测结果分为现症感染(抗VCA-IgM抗体阳性,抗NA1-IgG抗体阴性、抗VCA-IgG抗体、抗EA-IgG抗体阳性或阴性)、亚急性感染(抗VCA-IgG抗体阳性,抗VCA-IgM抗体、抗NA1-IgG抗体、抗EA-IgG抗体阳性或阴性)、既往感染(抗NA1-IgG抗体阳性,抗VCA-IgG抗体阳性或阴性,其他抗体均为阴性)和未感染(4种抗体均阴性)。按照患儿年龄、检出月份和性别分析各组的阳性率。结果共纳入符合要求的样本4 451例,其中3 257例(73.17%)抗体谱提示EBV感染,包括现症感染380例(8.54%)、亚急性感染616例(13.84%)、既往感染2 261例(50.80%)。不同年龄组原发阳性检出率差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),其中学龄前(>3岁)组的阳性检出率最高(P<0.05);不同检出月份组阳性检出率差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),7月份阳性检出率高于其他月份(P<0.05);男性患儿与女性患儿EBV感染率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。380例现症感染患儿的疾病谱以血液系统疾病[传染性单核细胞增多症、急性粒细胞缺乏症、血小板减少性紫癜、EBV相关嗜血细胞综合征]为主,其中传染性单核细胞增多症为临床常见疾病;其次是呼吸系统疾病(急性支气管炎、疱疹性咽峡炎、急性扁桃体炎);其他疾病谱包括神经系统疾病及血流感染、肾病综合征、川崎病。结论河北省儿童医院住院患儿EBV阳性检出率有年龄和检出月份差异,现症感染以血液系统疾病患儿为主,医院应根据流学病学特征制定相应预防措施。     

Understanding feeding practices of Latinx mothers of infants and toddlers at risk for childhood obesity: A qualitative study

Infancy and toddlerhood are critical stages for the development of habits that can lead to future obesity, and caregivers have an important influence on these habits. We conducted this qualitative semistructured interview study to explore the feeding practices of Latinx mothers of young children who are at risk for childhood obesity in order to identify targets for obesity prevention. We interviewed Latinx mothers (N = 14) of a child ages 6–18 months with a weight‐for‐length ratio > 85th percentile at the time of recruitment. Two researchers independently read through the interviews, identified sections of the interviews pertaining to feeding, and used constant comparative methods to identify the following common themes: mothers overwhelmingly reported permissive feeding styles, driving overfeeding and frequent night‐time feeding. Mothers expressed some difficulty with transitioning to solid foods and reported desiring to feed their child healthy foods by minimizing juice and giving vegetables. Paediatricians and WIC staff were viewed by mothers as trustworthy sources of nutrition information. Most identified a connection between their child's weight and diet, but many lacked the insight or capacity to change their current practices. The mothers in our study provide insight into factors that may predispose young children to obesity and thus potential avenues to support these families. Healthcare providers can better serve them by giving clear, actionable advice on healthy feeding practices for their child, while understanding constraints that may make healthy habits difficult to implement. Paediatricians should be honest about their child's weight status early on to allow time for intervention.