Profile Of Women Research Articles

Effect of calcium supplementation on lipid profile in overweight or obese Iranian women: a double-blind randomized clinical trial

There is some evidence that suggests a beneficial effect of calcium intake on serum lipid profile. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of 1000 mg calcium supplementation for 30 days on serum lipid profile in overweight or obese women. A double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted in 44 overweight or obese adult women (body mass index (BMI) >or=25 kg m(-2), age: 25+/-6y) receiving 1000 mg elemental calcium daily (n=24) or placebo (n=20). Serum lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins including triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol (HDLc), LDLc, VLDLc, ApoA-I and ApoB were obtained at baseline and after intervention. Dietary calcium and energy intake were estimated using 24 h dietary recall for 3 days. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software. No significant differences were observed in dietary, anthropometric and serum variables between groups at baseline. Although serum total, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides tended to increase in both groups, total cholesterol elevation was significant only in placebo group (P=0.01). Triglyceride and VLDLc increased significantly only in the calcium group (P=0.03). LDLc elevation was significant in both groups (P<0.05). HDLc decreased significantly in both groups (P<0.01). Apolipoproteins did not change significantly in any group. No significant differences were observed in serum variables between groups after intervention. No considerable beneficial effect due to short-term calcium supplementation in overweight or obese women's lipid profile was observed.

Hormonal Profile in Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome with or without Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels are increased in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), but it is not known whether other forms of hyperandrogenism, such as PCOS observed in women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1), are also associated with elevated AMH levels. Our objective was to compare AMH and steroid levels in women with PCOS with and without DM1. We compared the clinical, hormonal, and ultrasonographic characteristics of 17 women with PCOS and DM1 (DM1+PCOS), 20 women with PCOS without DM1 (PCOS), and 35 normal women (control) in a cross-sectional study. The Ferriman-Gallwey score, serum testosterone, free androgen index, 17OH-progesterone, and ovarian volume were elevated in both groups of PCOS women compared with controls. Serum androstenedione, LH/FSH ratio, and follicle number, however, were higher and SHBG was lower in PCOS compared with DM1+PCOS and controls. AMH levels were higher in PCOS (76.0 +/- 36.3 pmol/liter) than in DM1+PCOS (18.8 +/- 7.4 pmol/liter) and controls (13.9 +/- 8.3 pmol/liter). AMH levels correlated with follicle number in the three groups. Serum AMH/follicle number ratio was higher in PCOS than in DM1+PCOS and controls. Women with DM1+PCOS have normal levels of AMH, inhibin B, estradiol, SHBG, and LH/FSH, suggesting that the pathophysiology of hyperandrogenism in PCOS patients with DM1 appears to be different from that in PCOS without DM1. However, hirsutism score and androgen levels were similar in both groups of women with PCOS. We postulate that insulin treatment acts as a co-gonadotropin increasing follicle recruitment, hence not increasing AMH levels.

Factors affecting women's selection of a combined hormonal contraceptive method: the TEAM-06 Spanish cross-sectional study

Background Contraceptive efficacy and side effects are primary concerns of women when choosing a contraceptive method. Study Design This cross-sectional multicenter study was designed to assess the reasons for selecting the contraceptive pill, the skin patch or the vaginal ring in 9700 women, aged 18–49 years, who consulted their doctors for starting or re-initiating combined hormonal contraception. A self-administered questionnaire regarding the reasons for the selection made and for the refusal of the remaining two methods was completed. Results The vaginal ring showed the highest acceptance (46%) compared with the pill (39%) and the skin patch (15%), particularly in women aged 35–39 years. The ring and the skin patch were mainly preferred because of the lower probability of inadvertent omission (62% of cases), convenience, and monthly or weekly frequency of use. The pill was preferred because of its proven efficacy (60% of cases) and ease of use. The acceptance of the skin patch increased with age and the pill was mostly accepted only by women in the youngest age groups. Conclusions Convenience, frequency of use and lower probability of inadvertent omission were the primary determinants of contraceptive choice rather than the women's profile.

Análise de correspondência como estratégia para descrição do perfil da mulher vítima do parceiro atendida em serviço especializado

Domestic violence perpetrated against women by their live-in partners may be rated as a public health problem. Knowledge of battered women's profiles helps shape specific actions that curtail this type of aggression. This paper examines the links between violence groups, and the socio-demographic status of aggressors and their victims, using the Multiple Correspondence analysis technique in order to profile the women helped by the Integrated Women's Assistance Center (CIAM). The findings showed different profiles for women assaulted by their partners in terms of the severity of the violence. Victims with severe sexually-related injuries were associated with incomplete high school educations and more than three workers resident in the home. Victims with serious physical and psychological injuries were related to university educations and graduate studies, declared as heads of families. Victims with minor physical and psychological injuries were related to relationships lasting less than five years, with high school diplomas for the women and younger aggressors, employed, and with up to three workers resident in the home.

MMPI–2 Profiles of Women With Eating Disorders in a Dutch Day Treatment Sample

In this study, we examined the MMPI–2 (Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989) profiles of 324 Dutch patients with eating disorders at an eating disorder day treatment program. We studied the MMPI–2 profiles in 5 diagnostic eating disorder groups. All diagnostic subgroups showed high mean elevations of the T scores on the same 6 or 7 scales. Remarkable similarities existed between the mean profile configurations. The MMPI–2 distinguished especially in that patients with restricting anorexia nervosa scored lower on one Validity scale (F), two Clinical scales (1 and 2) and several Supplementary and Content scales of the MMPI–2 compared to the other groups. Only on the validity Scale L did they score higher. The MMPI–2 also distinguished patients with the bulimia nervosa purging type who scored higher on Scale 9 and different on several Content and Supplementary scales. We discuss results with regard to other studies of MMPI (Hathaway & McKinley, 1983) and MMPI–2 profiles of women with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and eating disorder not otherwise specified in inpatient and outpatient settings.

L’annonce du diagnostic en sénologie : en fonction de la classification BIRAD

Clinical practice guidelines for psychological care and examples of announcing results are proposed for different categories of Breast Imaging Reporting and Data system (BI-RADS) of the American College of Radiology (ACR).Interpretation and recontextualization are explained for lesions category 2, management of paradox and doubt (probably benign and surveillance) for category 3, acceptance and emotions of patients for the category 4 or 5, psychological distress for the category 6.These models of exchange in doctor-patient relationship have to be modulated and adjusted to the women's profile and attitudes.A meaningful communication is necessary for the comprehension of information, for mammography adherence, for patient satisfactions and in the short and long term, it allows an adapted psychological adjustment for breast cancer.

The predictive value of medical history taking and Chlamydia IgG ELISA antibody testing (CAT) in the selection of subfertile women for diagnostic laparoscopy: a clinical prediction model approach

Medical history taking as well as Chlamydia antibody titre (CAT) testing are currently used in the selection of patients for diagnostic laparoscopy with tubal patency testing. Most research has focused on the predictive value of CAT in isolation from medical history. We assessed therefore whether the combination of medical history and CAT improves the efficiency of selecting patients for laparoscopy as compared to the use of either medical history or CAT. Data of 207 consecutive subfertile women were used to create multivariable logistic regression models for the prediction of tubal disease as diagnosed by diagnostic laparoscopy. The model with data of medical history only had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.65 (95% CI 0.56-0.74). Addition of CAT increased the AUC to 0.70 (95% CI 0.62-0.78) (P = 0.065). CAT was positive in 40 women and showed a sensitivity of 0.37 (95% CI 0.26-0.49) for a specificity of 0.88 (95% CI 0.82-0.93). In CAT positive women, a blank medical history did not decrease the probability of tubal disease. Of the 167 women tested CAT negative, 23 (14%) still had a high probability of disease due to their medical history and 11 of them (48%) showed tubal abnormalities on diagnostic laparoscopy. CAT testing adds valuable information to a woman's risk profile based on her medical history. The combination of medical history taking and CAT testing has a better yield for diagnosing tubal disease than either of these alone.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Profile for Women With Ectopic Pregnancy

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Profile for Women With Ectopic Pregnancy

Impulsive-Aggression, Antisocial Behaviour and Subclinical Psychopathy: Preliminary Findings From an Undergraduate Female Sample

Impulsive-aggression was investigated in a female university sample (N = 686). Four groups (impulsive-aggressive, n = 23; aggressive, n = 24; impulsive, n = 33; and control, n = 119) were selected on the basis of impulsivity scores and aggression scores. In comparison to other groups, the impulsive-aggressive women were more physically aggressive and had a greater tendency to fight or argue. They were also more likely to report a drug problem, were more sexually active, and were more likely to have faced charges as a result of antisocial activity. Due to prominent antisocial features of the impulsive-aggressive women's profile, subsequent investigation of psychopathic traits was conducted. Women from the impulsive-aggressive (n = 11), aggressive (n = 9), impulsive (n = 7), and control (n = 11) groups were individually interviewed and rated using the P-Scan (Hare & Herve, 1999). The impulsive-aggressive group (M = 6.33, SD = 3.48) scored significantly higher than all other groups (Ms < 1.70, SDs < 1.90) on total P-Scan psychopathy ratings and on the three facets of the P-Scan. Current findings suggest the use of self-report measures of impulsivity and aggressiveness may be an effective method of screening for subthreshold psychopathic traits in non-forensic samples.

Nutritional risk and the metabolic syndrome in women: opportunities for preventive intervention from the Framingham Nutrition Study1–3

Diet is recognized as a key factor in the cause and management of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, policies to guide preventive clinical nutrition interventions of the condition are limited. We examined the relation between dietary quality and incident MetS in adult women and identified foci for preventive nutrition interventions. This was a prospective study of 300 healthy women (aged 30-69 y) in the Framingham Offspring-Spouse study who were free of MetS risk factors at baseline. The development of individual MetS traits and overall MetS status during 12 y of follow-up were compared in women by tertile of nutritional risk, based on intake of 19 nutrients. Multivariate logistic regression models considered age, smoking, physical activity, and menopausal status. Baseline age-adjusted mean nutrient intake and ischemic heart disease risk profiles differed by tertile of nutritional risk. Women with higher nutritional risk profiles consumed more dietary lipids (total, saturated, and monounsaturated fats) and alcohol and less fiber and micronutrients; they had higher cigarette use and waist circumferences. Compared with women with the lowest nutritional risk, those in the highest tertile had a 2- to 3-fold risk of the development of abdominal obesity and overall MetS during 12 y of follow-up [odds ratio: 2.3 (95% CI: 1.2, 4.3) and 3.0 (95% CI: 1.2, 7.6), respectively]. Higher composite nutritional risk predicts the development of abdominal obesity and MetS during long-term follow-up in healthy women, independent of lifestyle and ischemic heart disease risk factors. Preventive nutrition interventions for obesity and MetS risk reduction should focus on the overall nutritional quality of women's dietary profiles.

Changes in women's hours of market work: The role of returns to experience

Over the past several decades, married women's hours of market work increased significantly in the US. I argue that changes in behavior by married women with children account for much of this change. In particular, the pattern of married women's work hours has changed substantially over the life cycle. In the past, married women in childbearing age tended to specialize in childrearing and home production activities at the expense of engaging in market work. Now they do not curb the hours they work in the market. What factors contribute to this change in behavior? In this paper, I focus on relative changes in returns to experience as an explanation. I use PSID data for the 1970s and the 1990s to estimate the extent to which relative returns to experience have changed. I then use a life-cycle model with human capital accumulation and home production to quantitatively assess the consequences of this increase for married women's hours of work over the life cycle. The estimates of the human capital production function show that women's marginal returns to experience increased by 25% across decades, whereas men's increased by only 6%. I show that this relative change accounts for 96% of the observed variation in married women's hours of work. Moreover, according to the model, the increase in returns to experience accounts for roughly half of the increase in the female/male wage ratio that is found in the data. I also show that a decline in the gender wage gap, holding returns to experience constant, accounts for only 18% of the total increase in hours of work. As a consequence, it cannot explain the change in the shape of women's life-cycle profiles. Although the focus of the analysis is the labor supply behavior of women, the model also allows predictions about the behavior of men and single women. These predictions are consistent with the data.

Gene Expression Profiling of Women with Varying Degrees of Cervical Dysplasia

Gene Expression Profiling of Women with Varying Degrees of Cervical Dysplasia

A Model for Postpartum Smoking Resumption Prevention for Women Who Stop Smoking While Pregnant

Behavior change models and theories have been useful in our efforts to help people stop smoking. However, models that were developed for the general population do not always fit special populations such as pregnant women. Many women stop smoking while pregnant, but most resume smoking after giving birth. To help women who stop smoking while pregnant to stay smoke-free, a model for tailoring a smoking resumption-prevention intervention to the special needs of pregnant and postpartum women is proposed. The intervention begins during pregnancy, continues postpartum, and addresses pregnancy and parenting contextual factors in women's lives. The model is based on motivational theory and includes conducting patient assessments, developing risk profiles, triaging women to different levels of intervention intensity, and matching intervention strategies to women's risk profiles.

The Impact of Dydrogesterone Supplementation on Serum Cytokine Profile in Women with Threatened Abortion

The role of increased Th1 cytokine expression in pregnancy failure has been questioned recently. The therapeutic value of progestogens in threatened abortion (TA) is still debated. The aim of this prospective study was to compare serum cytokine [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-10] concentrations in women with TA to those in women with normal pregnancy and to evaluate the impact of dydrogesterone supplementation in the former group on cytokine concentration. Twenty-seven threatened aborters were treated for 10 days with dydrogesterone (30-40 mg/day). Sixteen healthy pregnant controls received no treatment. Serum cytokine concentrations were measured twice in both groups by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Mean serum concentrations of Th1- and Th2-type cytokines in women with TA did not differ from those in women with normal pregnancy at first and second sampling. After dydrogesterone supplementation, mean TNF-alpha/IL-10 ratio changed from 1.08 to 1.75 while IL-12/IL-10 ratio remained almost the same (0.56-0.61) in the threatened aborters group and did not differ from those in healthy women. The results of this study indicate that peripheral cytokine production in threatened aborters does not differ from that observed among healthy pregnant women. The protective effect of dydrogesterone supplementation in threatened aborters is manifested via restoring progesterone-induced blocking factor concentration rather than controlling cytokine production.

The Narrowing of the U.S. Gender Earnings Gap, 1959-1999: A Cohort-Based Analysis

Using Census and Current Population Survey data spanning 1959 through 1999, we assess the relative contributions of two factors to the decline in the gender wage gap: changes across cohorts in the relative slopes of men's and women's age-earnings profiles, versus changes in relative earnings levels at labor market entry. We find that changes in relative slopes account for about one-third of the narrowing of the gender wage gap over the past 40 years. Under quite general conditions, we argue that this provides an upper bound estimate of the contribution of changes in work experience and other post-school investments (PSIs) to the decline of the gender wage gap.

Déterminants socioculturels du retard de la 1re consultation prénatale dans un district sanitaire au Sénégal

to evaluate the socio-cultural determinants of the delay in having the first pre-natal exam (CPN) in order to make recommendations which aim to reduce maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality in the Richard-Toll health district in Senegal. the study was cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical, and was conducted on the entire population of pregnant women who came in for a CPN between March 1st and April 30th, 2003. A questionnaire which was developed on the basis of studied variables steered the interview process which was carried out upon completion of each pregnant woman's CPN in 15 different health facilities. Data were recorded and analysed using Epi Info 6.04d software. The sample population studied included 351 pregnant women. The cultural environment over the unexpected nature of the pregnancy, the discretion surrounding the pregnancy, the ignorance of the risks, and the refusal to be examined by male health workers all have a statistically significant influence on the tardiness of the first CPN. Similarly, the late CPN has a statistically strong link with three distinctive elements of the pregnant woman's social profile: namely, illiteracy, at risk age (< 18 or > 34 years old), and total number of deliveries (> 3 births). Illiteracy has a statistically significant link with the refusal to be examined by a male health worker, ignorance of the risks, unexpected pregnancies, and trying to hide one's pregnancy, which has an additional link with the age at risk. the social profile of the pregnant women studied is quite similar to that of greater population from which they come. The early CPN allows the care provider to forecast the delivery date with greater presicion and to estimate the delivery conditions more accurately at the time of the fourth CPN at which time the risk for potential complications which may necessitate a Ceasarean section is thoroughly assessed (DRS). Thus, the delay of the first CPN constitutes a limiting factor in the correct monitoring and surveillance of the pregnancy. The various social and cultural factors are intricately intertwined, and this interaction supports the need for multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary actions which are generally necessary for the resolution of public health problems. Three recommendations are proposed which aim to improve the frequency of the early CPN. the influence of socio-cultural factors on the CPN requires that the CPN be fully integrated into a more advanced strategy and that a behaviour change within the community be influenced and take place through health education.

Men's preferences for women's profile waist-to-hip ratio in two societies

Women's waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) varies with age, and a lower WHR is associated with a higher estrogen-to-androgen ratio and possibly higher fecundity, at least in some populations. Consequently, it has been argued that selection has favored a universal male preference for a low female WHR. In previous studies using frontal pictures, men in the United States preferred a low WHR of 0.7, but men among Hadza hunter–gatherers and a few other small-scale societies preferred higher ratios. Unlike the actual WHR of women, measured with a tape around the waist and the hips and buttocks, the WHR in frontal pictures excludes the buttocks. Because frontal WHR gives only a partial picture, we used profile views of women to measure men's preferences for the profile WHR. Hadza men preferred a lower profile WHR (more protruding buttocks) than American men. Since Hadza men preferred higher frontal WHR but lower profile WHR, and since both contribute to the actual WHR, these results imply there is less disparity between American and Hadza preferences for the actual WHR of real women. We suggest men's preferences vary with the geographic variation in the shape of women who have wider hips in some populations and more protruding buttocks in others.

Simvastatin Improves Hyperandrogenism, Hyperandrogenemia, LH and Lipid Profile in Women With PCOS: A Randomized, Cross-over Study

Simvastatin Improves Hyperandrogenism, Hyperandrogenemia, LH and Lipid Profile in Women With PCOS: A Randomized, Cross-over Study

Battered Women's Profiles Associated with Service Help-Seeking Efforts: Illuminating Opportunities for Intervention.

Knowledge about where battered women present for services and the violence, biopsychosocial, and demographic factors associated with their help seeking can provide social workers with guidance in anticipating needs among this portion of their clientele. The authors examined the service contact patterns of a sample of battered women (N = 448) following an incident of partner violence that triggered legal involvement. Significant group differences, tested with t tests and chi squares, between women who sought compared with those who did not seek services were found on partner violence exposure and biopsychosocial factors. Correlations and regression analyses of relationships among partner violence and biopsychosocial and demographic factors with help-seeking indices show how battered women's needs differentially relate across a range of service types. Results show distinctive profiles of needs and resources among battered women who seek violence, legal, health, economic, substance abuse, and religious helping services.

Serum Bile Acid Profile in Women During Pregnancy and Childbed

Oestrogens produce cholestasis by inhibition of bile acid (BA) transport as well as by inhibition of BA synthesis in the liver. The present work was done to clarify the relevance of altered serum BA profile in 28 healthy pregnant women from the 15th to the 40th weeks of pregnancy with increasing oestrogen serum concentrations in comparison to 6 to 8 weeks after delivery with normalized oestrogen status. For the first time 6 free and 10 taurine- and glycine-conjugated BAs were analysed during the normal pregnancy by HPLC with postcolumn derivatisation and fluorescence detection. The primary BAs cholic (CA) and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) as well as their glycine (G-) and taurine (T-) conjugates amount to nearly 70 % of total BAs in serum and were not changed from the 15th to the 40th weeks of pregnancy, but free and G-CDCA increased significantly after delivery. Among the secondary BAs, which were produced in the intestine by bacteria due to dehydroxylation of the primary bile acids CA and CDCA, only taurine-conjugated deoxycholic acid (T-DCA) decreased significantly after delivery. The free BAs, produced by bacteria in the intestine due to deconjugation, were not changed during pregnancy but had doubled in childbed. Some BAs occurred seldom and in small amounts in the serum, but during pregnancy not more frequent than after delivery. Contrary to expectation the increasing oestrogen concentrations did neither enhance total serum bile acids nor change bile acid profile during pregnancy.