International Women’s Day 2024, Health Sciences Free Virtual Issue

7 March 2023
8 March 2024

In this International Women’s Day Virtual Issue, all articles featured are free to read giving you immediate access to key content.

Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica

Open Access

Pregnancy complications and later life women's health

Pregnancy complications and later life women's health

Pregnancy complications are associated with increased risk of chronic disease, particularly cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. This review summarizes associations between hypertensive pregnancy, gestational diabetes, placental abruption, low birth weight, stillbirth, miscarriage and later health problems.

Open Access

Oral and periodontal assessment at the first trimester of pregnancy: The PERISCOPE longitudinal study

Oral and periodontal assessment at the first trimester of pregnancy: The PERISCOPE longitudinal study

Periodontitis can affect the course and outcome of pregnancy by increasing the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Beware of periodontitis in pregnant women presenting discreet and isolated inflammatory signs.

Open Access

Natural progression of deep pelvic endometriosis in women who opt for expectant management

Natural progression of deep pelvic endometriosis in women who opt for expectant management

In the majority of asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic women with deep endometriosis, who are managed expectantly, the condition is static. In view of that, active management should be primarily governed by clinical symptoms.

Aging Medicine

Open Access

Ovarian recovery via autologous platelet-rich plasma: New benchmarks for condensed cytokine applications to reverse reproductive aging

Ovarian recovery via autologous platelet-rich plasma: New benchmarks for condensed cytokine applications to reverse reproductive aging

Representative technique for intraovarian insertion of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or enriched plasma cytokines. A sample from peripheral venipuncture (a) is processed to separate and activate fresh autologous platelets (b), which may be further incubated to yield enriched platelet factors (EPFs) as a cell-free condensate (b′). Relevant mediators in either PLT releasate preparation include platelet factor 4 (PF4) involved in PLT aggregation; interleukin-1β (IL-1β) a central inflammatory signal directing cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis; and IL-8, which coordinates angiogenesis. Under direct ultrasound guidance, either activated PRP or EPF is injected into ovarian tissue via 19G single-lumen in vitro fertilization needle. Periodic assessment of serum anti-Mullerian hormone provides documentation of ovarian reserve response after treatment, including return of menses and follicular development.

ANZ Journal of Surgery

Women in surgery: trends in nine surgical specialties

Women in surgery: trends in nine surgical specialties

Gender disparity in surgery remains an issue worldwide. We analyse the trends in gender distribution in surgical specialties in Australia New Zealand over the last eight years, and calculate prediction times to parity for each specialty.

Cancer

Free Access

Conception and pregnancy among women with a live birth after breast cancer treatment: A survey study of young breast cancer survivors

  • First Published: 25 October 2023

In a cohort of 94 women surveyed with one or more live birth(s) after breast cancer treatment, although most conceived naturally, observations suggest potential gaps in counseling related to use of artificial reproductive technology and future childbearing when planning endocrine therapy. History of breast cancer did not appear to negatively impact pregnancy complications, though a higher rate of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was observed compared with prior studies of breast cancer survivors, requiring further investigation.

Free Access

Top advances of the year: Ovarian cancer

  • First Published: 15 December 2023

Recent advances in systemic therapies have prolonged survival for women with ovarian cancer, and 2022 brought accelerated US Food and Drug Administration approval for the first antibody–drug conjugate for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and the first data establishing an overall survival benefit from poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor maintenance. However, several trials failed to demonstrate meaningful benefit, and this leaves the open question of how to further optimize systemic therapy for advanced ovarian carcinoma.

Free Access

Sexual Health Assessment in Women with Lung Cancer study: Sexual health assessment in women with lung cancer

  • First Published: 16 October 2023

Most women with a lung cancer diagnosis in the past 10 years reported having little to no interest in sexual activity and recent minimal satisfaction with their sex life. Common reasons for lack of recent sexual activity included lack of interest and vaginal dryness or pain.

Cancer Cytopathology

Free Access

Efficacy of Cobas HPV testing for predicting grade 2+ cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in a cancer prevention center and a gynecologic oncology clinic: A single-institution experience

The Cobas human papillomavirus (HPV) assay is highly efficacious for predicting high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2+) in a population at low risk of cervical cancer, which supports the use of primary HPV testing as a screening strategy. However, HPV/Papanicolaou cytology cotesting may still be necessary for patients with a history of CIN2+ or cervical cancer.

Cancer Science

Open Access

Human papillomavirus vaccine impact on invasive cervical cancer in Japan: Preliminary results from cancer statistics and the MINT study

Human papillomavirus vaccine impact on invasive cervical cancer in Japan: Preliminary results from cancer statistics and the MINT study

Using data from nationwide cancer registries, we showed the declining trends in newly diagnosed cervical cancer cases among Japanese women aged 20–29 years after the introduction of the HPV vaccination program; no similar trend was observed for older age groups. In addition, attribution of vaccine types HPV16 and HPV18 to invasive cervical cancer was reduced only among young women aged 20–29 years. This is the first report to suggest population-level effects of HPV vaccination on invasive cervical cancer in Japan.

Open Access

Effectiveness of human papillomavirus vaccine against cervical precancer in Japan: Multivariate analyses adjusted for sexual activity

Effectiveness of human papillomavirus vaccine against cervical precancer in Japan: Multivariate analyses adjusted for sexual activity

We found that among Japanese women aged 20-26 years, a high vaccine effectiveness (VE) of >90% was observed concerning HPV 16/18 infection and that VE was nearly 80% for HSIL+ cytological abnormalities in the group vaccinated prior to sexual debut using real-world data.

Open Access

Long-term effectiveness of HPV vaccination against HPV infection in young Japanese women: Real-world data

Long-term effectiveness of HPV vaccination against HPV infection in young Japanese women: Real-world data

HPV16/18 and HPV31/45/52 infection rates in the vaccinated group were significantly lower than those in the unvaccinated group. The long-term effectiveness of the bivalent vaccine against HPV infection was confirmed 9 years after the vaccination for the first time in Japan.

Clinical and Translational Discovery

Open Access

Short-term cyclosporin A treatment improves pregnancy outcomes in patients with unexplained pregnancy loss: A prospective, open-label, observational study

Short-term cyclosporin A treatment improves pregnancy outcomes in patients with unexplained pregnancy loss: A prospective, open-label, observational study

With 3–4 critical points (1 sentence per point, less than 60 words in total) as separate documentation for submission.

  • Short-term cyclosporin A treatment in the first trimester may improve the chance of live birth in women with a history of URPL.
  • Cyclosporin A is as effective as dydrogesterone without increasing the risks of maternal complications or congenital foetal anomalies.
  • Cyclosporin A could be a new therapeutic compound for women with unexplained pregnancy losses.

Open Access

microRNA-200c overexpression in cancer-associated fibroblasts reduces the invasive properties of breast tumour cells

microRNA-200c overexpression in cancer-associated fibroblasts reduces the invasive properties of breast tumour cells

Graphical Headlights

  • Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a great role in breast cancer progression.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the transformation of normal fibroblasts to CAF.
  • miRNA-200c overexpression decreases the invasive features of cancer cells.

Clinical and Translational Medicine

Open Access

Single-cell atlas of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from pregnant women

Single-cell atlas of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from pregnant women

We generated a single-cell atlas of PBMCs in pregnant women; Pregnancy activates interferon (IFN) responses versus non-pregnant control in NK/T cells; T-, B-cell activities attenuated significantly during gestation; Cell-type-specific model accurately predicts gestational age.

Open Access

Microbial and human transcriptome in vaginal fluid at midgestation: Association with spontaneous preterm delivery

Microbial and human transcriptome in vaginal fluid at midgestation: Association with spontaneous preterm delivery

Kallikreins (KLKs) and metallothioneins (MTs) mRNA are increased in vaginal fluid in gestational week 18-20 in women who subsequently deliver preterm. MTs are activated in response to cytokine-mediated inflammation and oxidative stress (1). MTs regulate metalloproteinases which degrades the extracellular matrix and have been associated with preterm prelabour rupture of foetal membranes (PPROM) (2). KLKs can be mechanistically involved in preterm delivery via degradation of the cervical mucus barrier (3), modulation of anti-microbial peptides (4) and preterm prelabour rupture of foetal membranes (PPROM) (5).

Geriatrics & Gerontology International

Perinatal low-fat dietary intervention affects glucose metabolism in female adult and aging offspring

Perinatal low-fat dietary intervention affects glucose metabolism in female adult and aging offspring

• In maternal high-fat-exposed female offspring, standard diet intake after weaning improved weight gain, serum total cholesterol level and glucose tolerance, but not insulin sensitivity, in 70-week-old offspring.

• Perinatal fat restriction during both gestation and lactation, followed by standard food intake for the rest of their life, provided adequate efficacy to restore insulin sensitivity in aging female progeny.

International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics

Open Access

Counseling in menopausal women: How to address the benefits and risks of menopause hormone therapy. A FIGO position paper

Synopsis

The increase in life expectancy has made post-reproductive health a global priority. Counseling on the benefits and risks of menopausal hormone therapy and lifestyle education is fundamental.

Open Access

Family planning saves maternal and newborn lives: Why universal access to contraception must be prioritized in national maternal and newborn health policies, financing, and programs

Synopsis

We highlight why integrating contraceptive services within maternal and newborn health programs is essential for improving outcomes. We offer effective, actionable recommendations that can be implemented easily.

Free Access

FIGO good practice recommendations on surgical techniques to improve safety and reduce complications during cesarean delivery

Synopsis

This article presents FIGO's good practice recommendations and evidence-based information for effective surgical techniques to reduce cesarean associated complications.

Journal of Diabetes

Open Access

Gestational diabetes mellitus in the COVID-19 pandemic: A retrospective study from Hangzhou, China
COVID-19 大流行中的妊娠糖尿病:中国杭州的一项回顾性研究

Gestational diabetes mellitus in the COVID-19 pandemic: A retrospective study from Hangzhou, China COVID-19 大流行中的妊娠糖尿病:中国杭州的一项回顾性研究

Highlights

  • The COVID-19 pandemic affected nonpregnant women who had oral glucose tolerance tests in outpatient clinics more than pregnant women.
  • After the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) increased at the height of the epidemic, but the overall prevalence of GDM decreased yearly from 2019 to 2021.
  • The risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with GDM after the COVID-19 pandemic did not differ from before the pandemic.

Journal of Digestive Diseases

Open Access

Pregnancy outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease: Data from a large cohort survey

Pregnancy outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease: Data from a large cohort survey

A survey was carried out to investigate the outcomes of pregnancy in women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) compared with a non-IBD control group. The risk of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), poor blood pressure control, and cesarean section were higher in IBD women. Since active disease and treat discontinuation at conception were risk factors for preterm delivery and urgent cesarean section, we underline the importance of achieving disease remission before considering pregnancy.

MedComm

Open Access

Cancer-specific survival after diagnosis in men versus women: A pan-cancer analysis

  • First Published: 30 June 2022
Cancer-specific survival after diagnosis in men versus women: A pan-cancer analysis

Comprehensive understanding of survival differences in gender after cancer diagnosis is critical for cancer prevention and treatment. We compared the gender differences of cancer-specific survival in lung, esophageal, liver, pancreatic, stomach, colorectal, kidney, and bladder cancer. Totally, gender seemed to be a significant factor influencing cancer-specific survival, and the prognosis of female patients was better than male patients.

Open Access

Whole-genome circulating tumor DNA methylation landscape reveals sensitive biomarkers of breast cancer

  • First Published: 17 June 2022
Whole-genome circulating tumor DNA methylation landscape reveals sensitive biomarkers of breast cancer

This study demonstrates the utility of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) methylation analysis in early detection and molecular subtyping for breast cancer. The improved ctDNA whole-genome bisulfite sequencing method was effective at developing novel sensitive and specific biomarkers for the diagnosis, early detection, and molecular subtyping of breast cancer. We anticipate that the method and diagnostic biomarkers of breast cancer have substantial clinical translation potential.

MedComm - Oncology

Open Access

Targeting human caseinolytic protease P (ClpP) as a novel therapeutic strategy in ovarian cancer

Targeting human caseinolytic protease P (ClpP) as a novel therapeutic strategy in ovarian cancer

This study demonstrated that 43-8F exhibited potent antiproliferation activity on ovarian cancer (OC) cells and improved inhibitory activity against the HsClpP and HsClpX complex (HsClpXP) protease compared with bortezomib. Also, treatment with 43-8F affected mitochondrial function and induced cell apoptosis and G2/M arrest. Moreover, it elevated the production of the SDHB and the level of ATF4 in a dose-dependent manner. In nude mice, high dose of 43-8F inhibited the growth of tumors. In addition, the body weight of nude mice from each group did not change significantly during the treatment. Our results suggest that 43-8F exerts an anti-OC effect by inhibiting the human caseinolytic protease P pathway and is a good lead for further investigation.

Open Access

New era for emerging therapeutic targeting human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER 3) in advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer and metastatic breast cancer

New era for emerging therapeutic targeting human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER 3) in advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer and metastatic breast cancer

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3) overexpression represents a negative prognostic biomarker associated with poor survival. Targeting HER3 has shown some promise in early phase trials in both nonsmall cell lung cancer and metastatic breast cancer in heavily pretreated patients with varying degrees of response. Identifying a predictive biomarker will aid to better select patients that will respond to treatment.

Medical Education

Open Access

His opportunity, her burden: A narrative critical review of why women decline academic opportunities

In this critical narrative review, the authors explore "reasons why one man's opportunity might be a woman's burden" in medical education to offer strategies that might help offset the power of stereotypes.

Open Access

Thinking organizationally and longitudinally to understand gender disparities in academic medicine

Blalock and Balmer demonstrate how using organizational theories and longitudinal qualitative research may enhance analysis of gender disparities in academic medicine and transform organizations into sites of possibilities for women.

Oral Diseases

Orthopaedic Surgery

Open Access

Dynamic Spine Hyperflexion Is Related to Vertebral Compression Fractures in Postmenopausal Women

Dynamic Spine Hyperflexion Is Related to Vertebral Compression Fractures in Postmenopausal Women

A neutral spine posture is relatively static and persistent (A). A dynamic and transient hyperflexion posture (B) under compression shows the stress process of most low-energy vertebral fractures. The TLHCobb is the key indicator for this process.

PCN Reports

Open Access

The subjective assessment of work and social adjustment impairments and associated psychopathologies in Japanese adult female patients with anorexia nervosa

The subjective assessment of work and social adjustment impairments and associated psychopathologies in Japanese adult female patients with anorexia nervosa

Japanese adult female patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) experience social difficulties, especially in social leisure. Some AN psychopathologies, such as impulse regulation, asceticism, and interoceptive awareness, may be related factors. Emotion regulation may be an important treatment realm not only for psychopathology but also for social functioning in patients with AN.

Open Access

Association between marital satisfaction of female patients with persistent depressive disorder, and their own and husbands’ autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder traits

Association between marital satisfaction of female patients with persistent depressive disorder, and their own and husbands’ autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder traits

Our data represent an investigation of the association between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) traits of patients and their husbands, and the marital satisfaction of female patients with persistent depressive disorder (PDD). Our findings suggest that patients’ ASD or ADHD traits exhibit a positive association with their marital relationship satisfaction and, by contrast, ADHD traits of the patients’ husbands play a negative role in the marital satisfaction of the female patients with PDD. Considering the importance of support for the PDD patients from their husbands based on healthy marital relationships, the implementation of interventions focused on ADHD traits of husbands of female PDD patients with low marital satisfaction (if the husband has ADHD traits) may be necessary.

Precision Medical Sciences

Open Access

Effects of preoperative walking on bowel function recovery for patients undergoing gynecological malignancy laparoscopy

Effects of preoperative walking on bowel function recovery for patients undergoing gynecological malignancy laparoscopy

  1. After intervention, the first postoperative exhaust time, first defecation time and bowel sound recovery time of the experimental group were shorter than those of the control group, with statistically significant differences (p < .01).
  2. The scores of nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, and abdominal pain at different time points of the two groups were analyzed by repeated measurement ANOVA. The data met the results of Mauchly's sphericity test (p > .05). The results of the analysis showed that the three symptom scores were statistically significant between the two groups (p < .001), and the three symptom scores were statistically significant within the different time groups (p < .001). The interaction between group and time was also statistically significant (p < .001).
  3. After the intervention, the incidence of postoperative intestinal obstruction in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (p < .001). There was no significant difference in the incidence of deep venous thrombosis, incision infection, and abdominal infection between the two groups (p < .001).

Open Access

Clinical analysis of immediate breast reconstruction using latissimus dorsi muscular flap in breast cancer

Clinical analysis of immediate breast reconstruction using latissimus dorsi muscular flap in breast cancer

The complications and high level of technical difficulty were the major obstacles to this surgical techniques that named immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) using the latissimus dorsi muscular flap (LDMF). We conducted a retrospective research to explore the clinical effect of IBR using LDMF in the Chinese population. Our study demonstrated that the practical application of IBR using LDMF is a safe and feasible way to improve breast cancer patient's physical and mental health.

Open Access

Gambogic acid inhibits epithelial–mesenchymal transition in breast cancer cells through upregulation of SIRT1 expression in vitro

Gambogic acid inhibits epithelial–mesenchymal transition in breast cancer cells through upregulation of SIRT1 expression in vitro

GA upregulated mRNA and protein expressions of SIRT1 in TGF-β1-breast cancer cells, we have demonstrated that the SIRT1 participates in anticancer effects on progressive phase of breast cancer.

Precision Radiation Oncology

Open Access

Radiotherapy of early-stage breast cancer

Radiotherapy of early-stage breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most prevalent disease for women. With the advances in breast cancer screening, most breast cancers are now diagnosed in the early stage. With the knowledge of different subtypes and their behavior, breast cancer treatment has become more individualized. Radiation therapy as one of the mainstays of breast cancer treatment has also been evolving. This review attempts to provide a summary of the most influential clinical studies that have driven the technological advances in radiation therapy for early stage breast cancer.

Respirology

Free Access

Leading women in respiratory medicine and research: Opportunities for international societies to support women with examples from the American Thoracic Society

Leading women in respiratory medicine and research: Opportunities for international societies to support women with examples from the American Thoracic Society

Special Series: Leading Women in Respiratory Medicine

Series Editors: Natasha Smallwood and Fanny Wai San Ko

See related editorial

The Clinical Teacher

The Cochrane Library

Perceptions and experiences of the prevention, detection, and management of postpartum haemorrhage: a qualitative evidence synthesis

Shahinoor Akter, Gillian Forbes, Martha Vazquez Corona, Suellen Miller, Fernando Althabe,Arri Coomarasamy, Ioannis D Gallos, Olufemi T Oladapo, Joshua P Vogel, Fabiana Lorencatto, Meghan A Bohren

Single‐incision sling operations for urinary incontinence in women

Emily Carter, Eugenie E Johnson, Madeleine Still, Aalya S Al-Assaf, Andrew Bryant, Patricia Aluko, Stephen T Jeffery, Arjun Nambiar

Interventions for heavy menstrual bleeding; overview of Cochrane reviews and network meta‐analysis

In May 2022, Cochrane published the first version of an overview and network meta-analysis of interventions for heavy menstrual bleeding, which can affect 20% to 50% of people who menstruate during their reproductive years. There are a variety of treatments available, each with its pros and cons, and the best treatment is likely to depend on several factors, including age, desire to have children, personal preferences and medical history.