Phthalates and Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid in Human Amniotic Fluid: Temporal Trends and Timing of Amniocentesis in Pregnancy

Background: Measures of prenatal environmental exposures are important, and amniotic fluid levels may directly reflect fetal exposures during hypothesized windows of vulnerability

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Significance Communicating in ways that motivate engagement in social distancing remains a critical global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study tested motivational qualities of messages about social distancing (those that promoted choice and agency vs. those that were forceful and shaming) in 25,718 people in 89 countries. The autonomy-supportive message decreased feelings of defying social distancing recommendations relative to the controlling message, and the controlling message increased controlled motivation, a less effective form of motivation, relative to no message. Message type did not impact intentions to socially distance, but people’s existing motivations were related to intentions. Findings were generalizable across a geographically diverse sample and may inform public health communication strategies in this and future global health emergencies. Abstract Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges

Caesarean delivery through deliberate posterior hysterotomy in irreducible uterine torsion

Acta Biomed. 2010 Sep;81(2):141-3. Caesarean delivery through deliberate posterior hysterotomy in irreducible uterine torsion: case report. De Ioris A, Pezzuto C, Nardelli GB, Modena AB. SourceDepartment of Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology, University of Parma, Parma, Italy. [email protected] Abstract Gravid uterus rotation is a normal finding in the third trimester of pregnancy. However, a rotation greater than 45 degrees around the longitudinal axis of the uterus--uterine torsion--is a rare pathological condition in the obstetrical practice. We reporte the case of 180 degrees torsion of a myomatous uterus at preterm in which the foetus, in breech presentation, was delivered through a deliberate posterior hysterotomy. An emergency caesarean section was arranged after prolonged foetal bradycardia. Uterine torsion treatment depends on when the torsion occurs during the pregnancy. However, laparotomy is imperative in all cases. When derotation of the uterus is not possible, a transverse incision in the lower posterior uterine segment, if feasible, is a safe choice

Effect of soy-derived isoflavones on hot flashes, endometrial thickness, and the pulsatility index of the uterine and cerebral arteries

This study was conducted to identify clinical factors that are predictive of treatment choice for pelvic organ prolapse. One hundred forty-six women diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse were educated about their condition and possible treatments before being offered one of three different treatment choices: expectant management (any choice other than pessary or surgery, including pelvic muscle exercises), pessary, or surgery