Incidence trends and survival of cervical cancer: A population-based study on Thai Cancer registry database.

Testing whether established risk factors for future eating disorder onset predict future overweight/obesity onset: A prospective study.

Most young women who have survived childhood cancer express a desire to have children. Many of them are concerned about the potential adverse impact of pregnancy on their health, which has been affected by prior cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to determine whether motherhood increases the risk of developing subsequent malignant neoplasms. The study cohort consisted of 942 female childhood cancer survivors, median age at first cancer diagnosis 10.84 years (IQR 4.29-14.92), who had been treated at the Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Motol University Hospital, Prague, between 1965 and 2018. In this group, 363 women gave birth to 559 children. Seventy-three female childhood cancer survivors developed 80 subsequent malignant neoplasms. Of these, 40 subsequent malignant neoplasms occurred in women who had children. The median time from the end of primary cancer treatment to first subsequent malignant neoplasm development was 19.93 years (IQR 14.55-26.56). A comprehensive analysis revealed no difference in the risk of subsequent malignant neoplasms between mothers and "non-mothers". Only older age of the cancer survivors in follow-up and previous radiotherapy (p = 0.0133) were significant risk factors for subsequent malignant neoplasm development. This study revealed that motherhood does not increase the risk of subsequent malignant neoplasms. We confirmed a statistically significant increased risk of subsequent malignant neoplasms only for previous treatment modality, the length of follow-up and the age of the female childhood cancer survivors. These results are important for improving the quality of life of young cured women who are worried about a planned pregnancy. This study evaluated the long-term cancer risk among women treated for cancer during childhood, with particular focus on those who later gave birth. Among 942 participants, 363 had post-treatment pregnancies. Results indicate that childbearing does not increase the risk of subsequent malignant neoplasms in this population. Instead, elevated risk for subsequent malignant neoplasms was associated with older age at follow-up and prior exposure to radiotherapy. These findings provide evidence that pregnancy is safe for female childhood cancer survivors and support informed reproductive decision-making.

This article examines Alice Munro’s short story ‘Cortes Island’, focusing on the figure of Mr Gorrie, a sick, aged and partially paralysed man who emerges as an object of horror and a catalyst for a young woman’s transformation. The analysis argues that Munro employs the sick monstrous body as a metaphor for abjection and otherness, compelling the young narrator to confront her own fears. Special attention is given to the materiality of the body, since Munro’s narrative foregrounds the physical presence of Mr Gorrie’s body: its texture, weight and disruptive potential. Mr Gorrie’s body leaks, decays and resists containment, exposing the fragility of personal and domestic boundaries. Drawing on Julia Kristeva’s theory of the abject and Freud’s concept of the uncanny, the article explores how intimate encounters with the abject provoke psychic and emotional development, marking the narrator’s ambiguous passage into adulthood. Ultimately, the story is read as a subversive reworking of the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ motif, where the monstrous other remains unresolved, shaping female subjectivity through uneasy intimacy with vulnerability, decay and the insistent materiality of the human body.

Introduction: This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of colposcopic assessment and the effectiveness of large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) in the management of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) within a tertiary UK centre. Methodology: A retrospective review was conducted of 284 consecutive women who underwent colposcopy and LLETZ at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, between 1 January and 31 December 2023. Primary outcomes included adequacy of excision depth, histological margin status, and Test-of-Cure (TOC) outcomes. Depth adequacy was defined according to transformation zone (TZ) type (TZ1 ≥7 mm, TZ2 ≥10 mm, TZ3 ≥15 mm). Demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded. Results: Of the 284 LLETZ procedures, 87.7% were performed as a single excisional specimen, meeting national quality standards. TOC success was achieved in 89% of cases. The positive predictive value of colposcopy for detecting high-grade histology was 82.5% among women referred with highgrade cytology and 69% overall. Adequate excision depth was achieved in 59% of cases, with the highest adequacy observed in Type 1 transformation zones (64%). Complete excision with negative margins was achieved in 61.4% of cases, with lower rates observed in Type 2 and Type 3 transformation zones. Margin positivity was more frequent among younger women aged 25–34 years. Conclusion: Colposcopy and LLETZ demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy and effective disease clearance in this tertiary centre. While overall outcomes aligned with national standards, achieving adequate excision depth and negative margins-particularly in Type 3 transformation zones-remains challenging. A cautious, individualised surgical approach may help balance oncological safety with fertility preservation while maintaining high TOC success.

Despite growing advocacy for youth-led and inclusive physical activity provision, there remains limited evidence on how to effectively support underserved young women aged (16-25) and those from minoritised genders into Physical Activity leadership roles. We used a two-phase sequential design. Phase 1 involved systematic mapping of 53 PA leadership programmes in England to describe programme focus, target populations, delivery models and stated outcomes. Phase 2 comprised seven online focus groups with 41 practitioners involved in designing, delivering or overseeing such programmes. Mapping data were summarised using descriptive statistics and narrative synthesis; focus group data were analysed using hybrid inductive-deductive framework analysis informed by Critical Positive Youth Development and feminist-intersectional lenses. Only a minority of mapped programmes were explicitly designed for girls and young women from underserved groups. Programmes most commonly operated through school- or club-based delivery, using modular learning, mentoring and cascaded models, with fewer incorporating financial support, digital delivery or clearly defined progression routes. Practitioners described how recruitment frequently relied on institutional gatekeepers and digital communication, raising concerns about who is reached and who is missed. They emphasised the importance of relational and culturally grounded recruitment and support, care-oriented infrastructures, and broader conceptualisations of leadership that include advocacy, representation and community influence. Combining systematic mapping with practitioner insights provides an integrated descriptive and interpretive picture of current provision. The findings indicate uneven targeting of underserved girls and young women and variable support for their progression into leadership roles. Enhancing equity in PA leadership development will require attention to recruitment practices, relational support and progression pathways that recognise diverse forms of youth leadership.

ABSTRACT In early 2025, South Korea experienced a surge of mass mobilization after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law. Young women, queer identifying individuals, and other marginalized groups stood at the forefront of these protests, raising questions about how exclusion shapes democratic engagement. This study examines how perceived discrimination and participation in protest influence attitudes toward government responsiveness and the importance of voting. Using qualitative interviews with protest participants and nationally representative survey data, the analysis shows that discrimination is linked to political alienation, yet protest participation moderates this pattern. For those who experience exclusion, protest provides a context in which voting is reconsidered as a meaningful act rather than a formality. These findings suggest that protest can foster renewed democratic agency among structurally disadvantaged groups and highlight the conditions under which political voice is reconstituted in unequal and distrustful environments.

Vitamin D deficiency is a growing public health concern among young women. Despite its essential role in bone health and immune function, behavioral barriers limit supplementation. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a social marketing intervention based on the Social Marketing Assessment and Response Tool (SMART) model in improving vitamin D supplementation behavior and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) constructs in female students at Yasuj University of Medical Sciences (YUMS). A quasi-experimental mixed-methods study was conducted in 2024. In the qualitative phase, 17 participants (5 nutrition experts, 2 health education specialists, 10 students) were interviewed using semi-structured guides. Data saturation occurred after 15 interviews, followed by two confirmatory interviews. Directed content analysis identified barriers and facilitators. In the quantitative phase, 224 students (112 intervention, 112 control) were assessed at baseline and one-month post-intervention using TPB-based questionnaires. The intervention, designed using social marketing components (product, price, place, promotion), included free supplement distribution, educational sessions, webinars, and digital materials. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U and chi-square tests (P < 0.05). Qualitative analysis yielded 231 codes organized into 4 themes and 13 subthemes. At baseline, no significant differences existed between groups (P > 0.05). Post-intervention, all TPB construct scores were significantly higher with moderate to large effect sizes (r = 0.29-0.61, P < 0.0001). Regular supplementation increased to 92% (n = 103) versus 11.6% (n = 13) in controls (RR = 7.93, P < 0.0001). A SMART model-based social marketing intervention systematically addressing accessibility and facilitation barriers achieved substantial short-term improvements in vitamin D supplementation behavior. However, the study is limited by its one-month follow-up period and reliance on self-reported behavioral assessment. This theory-based, audience-centered approach provides a practical and replicable framework for promoting preventive health behaviors in university settings, though future research with objective biomarkers and extended follow-up is needed to confirm long-term sustainability.

An effective HIV vaccine could significantly reduce HIV incidence, but demand for future HIV vaccines will be affected by misinformation. We conducted an online survey (March-April 2024) to identify the misinformation claims most likely to deter young women in South Africa (n = 188) from receiving an HIV vaccine. Participants rated HIV-vaccine misinformation as most concerning (i.e. would make them not want to get vaccinated) and least concerning (i.e. would not change a decision to get vaccinated). From 54 misinformation claims found in peer-reviewed and grey literature (e.g., reports), participants viewed two sets of 9 randomly chosen claims. Within each set, they selected the 3 most concerning and 3 least concerning claims. Claims were ranked according to their likelihood of being selected as most or least concerning. Misinformation claims that were rated as most concerning were about HIV vaccine safety, particularly those suggesting severe adverse health effects (e.g. the vaccine "will kill you", selected 85% of times viewed). Also rated as concerning were claims that the vaccine was created to harm certain populations (e.g., "designed to sterilise Black women", 60% selected); that the vaccine increases rape and pregnancies (51% selected); and gives you HIV (50% selected). The least concerning misinformation related to the themes of stigma, vaccine efficacy, and the availability of other HIV prevention options. Misinformation that the HIV vaccine causes harm, increases risky behaviour, and gives recipients HIV may have the greatest impact on vaccination intentions. Research is needed to design and test interventions that build resistance to such misinformation.

To investigate the changes in hand morphology among young females, researchers employed 3D hand scanning to perform anthropometric measurement of 111 Chinese young women (20-26 years), enabling hand morphology classification for ergonomic applications. A total of 32 hand parts were measured and analyzed based on these models. The findings reveal that variables describing hand morphology are predominantly categorized into four types: finger width, finger circumference, finger length, and hand length. The typical indicators reflecting hand morphological characteristics include hand length, middle finger width, proximal circumference of the index finger, and ring finger length. Results revealed five distinct hand types: short/thin, short/wide, standard, long/thin, and long/wide. Compared to current national standards in China (GB/T 16252 - 1996), modern hand morphology showed significant increases in hand length (+ 3.3%) and metacarpal breadth (+ 8.3%). We propose a novel sizing system (5-size-5-fit) with 180/86 as the predominant type, optimized for ergonomic glove design. This study provides critical data references for the industrial design of hand appliances, while also offering potential implications for ergonomics and hand injury prevention.

Sex-related mortality differences in septic shock: A propensity score-matched study.

ABSTRACT This article critically analyses Audrey Diwan’s cinematic ‘aesthetics of abortion’ as affective sensations of sound and image in L’événement / Happening (2021). Engaging with breath in the film, the soundscape presents the voicelessness and disempowerment of the young female body. These sensations articulate the pressures placed upon young women against the contextual backdrop of the criminalisation of abortion in France in the 1960s. Combined with a proximate and immediate use of camera placement, the focus on the body presents a point of view where the spectator relates to the character of Anne as she experiences pain and suffering. Anne battles through this, advocating for the decriminalisation of abortion. The analysis of the sensations and the experiences—as communicated through the body and its breath—addresses individual experience as an ideological question posed to a nation that, at the time in which the film is set, holds conservative values at its core.

This study aimed to understand the preferences of a sample of younger women (30-39 years) for the attributes of models of service delivery for a breast cancer risk-prediction service to identify how best to design a service to optimise uptake. A discrete choice experiment was used to quantify the preferences of a purposive sample of younger women (aged 30-39) without prior knowledge of their risk of developing breast cancer. Respondents chose from a series of questions including two unlabelled alternatives, representing different models of a risk-prediction service, and an opt-out alternative. Data were analysed using random parameter logit and latent class models to explore potential heterogeneity in preferences for the intervention. The predicted uptake for a risk-prediction service ranged from 77 to 89%. Participants preferred a service with more flexible appointments which could be booked by the individual themselves. Latent class analysis suggested that around 7% of women would never have their risk predicted and for approximately 30% of women the choice would depend on the design of the service. Younger women would be likely to choose to have their breast cancer risk predicted, although some groups were sensitive to the design of the prediction service.

Plasma anti-FDX1 autoantibody as a potential biomarker for detection and diagnosis of breast cancer.

Declining fertility preferences are recognized as a key driver of fertility reduction in sub-Saharan Africa, emphasizing the need to understand their determinants and evolution. This study investigates how the relationship between gender attitudes and desired fertility has changed over time among young women aged 15-24. Using Demographic and Health Surveys from Ethiopia, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, and Zambia, we analyze country-specific associations between attitudes towards wife beating and ideal number of children across four consecutive surveys spanning approximately 15 years. A pooled cross-country model includes a context-specific education measure to assess its moderating effect on the association. Findings show that tolerance of wife beating is linked to higher desired fertility in all countries at one or more time points, though the strength and direction of this relationship vary over time and by context. As egalitarian gender attitudes spread, women endorsing gender equality begin to diverge from high-fertility norms, while those holding traditional attitudes remain pronatalist, widening the gap in fertility preferences between the two groups. This shift is more likely in countries where the national average of women's education is relatively high (more than 4.5 years), suggesting that rising education fosters both egalitarian attitudes and changing fertility ideals.

Objectives South Africa has one of the highest rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) globally, with adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) disproportionately affected due to intersecting biological, behavioral, structural, and social determinants. While HIV prevention receives sustained attention, other STIs remain under-addressed despite high prevalence and increased HIV transmission risk. This study explored STI- and vaginal infection-related knowledge, attitudes, experiences, and health-seeking behaviors among South African AGYW. Methods A convergent parallel mixed-methods approach integrated a household survey of 4932 AGYW aged 15–24 years with 68 qualitative interviews. Descriptive quantitative analyses and qualitative thematic analysis were performed. Results Only 16.1% (794/4932) of surveyed AGYW reported an STI diagnosis by a medical professional. Genital itching was the most common self-reported symptom (17.5%), but a further 22.5% of participants preferred not to disclose symptoms experienced in the past year. Among those reporting STI-related symptoms, most sought care from clinics/hospitals (57.1%), with older participants more likely to seek treatment. Qualitative findings revealed variation in STI knowledge, from complete unawareness to detailed understanding of transmission and symptoms, although inaccuracies persisted. Whilst school was the most common source of STI information, peers served as important information sources, albeit often inaccurate. Family members, particularly older women, were also sources of STI education, although discussions were limited by sexuality communication restrictions. Most participants had never discussed vaginal infections or STIs with anyone, illustrating communication gaps. Conclusions In examining knowledge, attitudes, experiences and health seeking behaviors of South African AGYW in relation to vaginal infections and STIs, our study found that persistent shame, stigma, and embarrassment act as key barriers to enacting preventative and health-seeking behaviors that could treat and prevent further infections. Findings underscore the need for comprehensive, accurate STI and vaginal health education and service provision for AGYW that addresses misconceptions, stigma and shame.

As recovery stories about eating disorders proliferate on social media, many individuals with lived experience are emerging as informal health influencers. While these online spaces can offer community and information, they also shape how individuals understand and perform their identities in recovery. This study examines how young women with clinically diagnosed eating disorders, at different stages of recovery, actively and intentionally document and share their recovery journeys on social media, and how they use these platforms not only to seek support, but also to construct, maintain, and sometimes step away from patient influencer identities. We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 19 women (mean age = 21.47) in the United States who actively documented their eating disorder recovery journeys on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), we explored how participants made sense of social media's role across different stages of their recovery. Findings reveal a U-shaped pattern of social media engagement. Participants initially used social media in ways that reinforced disordered behaviors, immersing themselves in content that emphasized dieting, body comparison, and perfectionism. During early recovery, many chose to withdraw from these platforms to protect their mental health and reduce triggers. Later, they re-engaged with social media more intentionally, seeking out pro-recovery communities, reliable health information, and opportunities to tell their stories. Through public storytelling, participants reconstructed their identities, found accountability, and connected deeply with peers. However, some eventually distanced themselves from eating disorder-centered content to grow beyond the patient influencer identity, reflecting the fluid, evolving nature of recovery and online self-presentation. By centering the voices of patient influencers, this study highlights how social media functions both as a risk and a resource in eating disorder recovery, simultaneously shaping psychological well-being, social support, and identity work. These insights underscore the need to view patients as active agents navigating digital spaces and call for treatment approaches that address the online environments where recovery, support, and stigma are continually negotiated.

What is valued as “fashion” has been historically structured through racial–colonial power, including within fashion studies. This article challenges the epistemological Eurocentrism of fashion scholarship through a decolonial research design. First, the project is co-led by a Muslim woman with expertise in counter-epistemologies, securing non-Eurocentric epistemic and interpretive authority within Muslim womanhood from project inception. Second, we undertake a theoretical reparation of Erving Goffman’s Eurocentric “body idiom,” reworking it through Black feminist intersectionality to develop the “intersectional body idiom”—a framework that renders Muslim women’s self-styling analytically legible beyond Eurocentric interpretive limits. Third, we deploy fashion as method, a participant-centered approach that fortifies participants’ interpretive authority. Drawing on visual and narrative material generated by nine young Muslim women in the UK, we identify three themes visible only through a decolonial research architecture: navigating intersectional embodiment, custodianship of precious and precarious dress heritages, and the joy of the dual wardrobe. We demonstrate what becomes knowable when epistemic sovereignty is designed into research, offering academia a decolonial architecture that restores authority to racialized publics usually studied by those insulated from racial–colonial harm.

Comparison of suboptimal versus adequate ovarian function suppression in premenopausal women with early breast cancer treated with adjuvant endocrine therapy: An exploratory analysis of two prospective studies.

Feminist counter-monuments on Mexico City’s Paseo de la Reforma transform commemoration into an ongoing practice of care, authorship, and resistance. Centering the Antimonumenta Vivas Nos Queremos—a grassroots installation created by Indigenous and feminist collectives, this study defines counter-monumentality as a feminist geography of persistence that reclaims urban space through embodied and affective labor. Methodologically, the project integrates rhetorical fieldwork, spatial discourse analysis, and feminist-decolonial interpretation to trace how color, inscription, and participation transform grief into public knowledge. The analysis unfolds across three modalities: first, it examines how practices of inscription and maintenance enact spatial justice by remapping colonial space into a participatory feminist cartography of care; second, it explores how linguistic and visual inscriptions generate grammars of resistance that transform writing into a material act of protest and relation; and third, it contrasts these vernacular practices with state-sanctioned monuments such as Tlalli and The Young Woman of Amajac, revealing how the rhetoric of coexistence often masks monologic power. Drawing from feminist rhetorical theory, decolonial geography, and scholarship on symbolic reparations, this paper contributes to feminist rhetorical studies by theorizing counter-monumentality as both method and critique—an embodied, affective practice through which marginalized publics reclaim authorship over memory and justice in space.