Group B Streptococcus and the vaginal microbiome among pregnant women: a systematic review

Background Vaginal microbiome studies frequently report diversity metrics and communities of microbiomes associated with reproductive health outcomes. Reports of Streptococcus agalactiae (also known as Group B Streptococcus or GBS), the leading cause of neonatal infectious morbidity and mortality, are notably lacking from the studies of the vaginal microbiome, despite being a known contributor to preterm birth and other complications. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review was to explore the frequency of GBS reporting in vaginal microbiome literature pertaining to pregnancy and to examine methodological bias that contributes to differences in species and genus-level microbiome reporting. Lack of identification of GBS via sequencing-based approaches due to methodologic or reporting bias may result incomplete understanding of bacterial composition during pregnancy and subsequent birth outcomes. Methodology A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guideline. Three databases (PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science) were used to identify papers for review based on the search terms “vaginal microbiome”, “pregnancy”, and “16S rRNA sequencing”. Articles were evaluated for methods of DNA extraction and sequencing, 16S region, taxonomy classification database, number of participants or vaginal specimens, and pregnancy trimester. Results Forty-five research articles reported employing a metagenomic approach or 16S approach for vaginal microbiome analysis during pregnancy that explicitly reported taxonomic composition and were included in this review. Less than 30% of articles reported the presence of GBS (N = 13). No significant differences in methodology were identified between articles that reported versus did not report GBS. However, there was large variability across research methods used for vaginal microbiome analysis and species-level bacterial community reporting. Conclusion Considerable differences in study design and data formatting methods may contribute to underrepresentation of GBS, and other known pathogens, in existing vaginal microbiome literature. Previous studies have identified considerable variation in methodology across vaginal microbiome studies. This study adds to this body of work because in addition to laboratory or statistical methods, how results and data are shared (e.g., only analyzing genus level data or 20 most abundant microbes), may hinder reproducibility and limit our understanding of the influence of less abundant microbes. Sharing detailed methods, analysis code, and raw data may improve reproducibility and ability to more accurately compare microbial communities across studies.

Effect of Hair Coat Shedding Ability on Uterine Artery Hemodynamics in Angus Cattle

The objective of this study was to evaluate winter hair coat shedding ability and its association with uterine artery hemodynamics. Fall calving, artificially inseminated purebred Angus females (n = 29) were observed once monthly by two trained technicians for winter hair coat shedding and given a visual hair shedding score of 1 to 5 with 1 indicating 100% shed, 2 = 75%, 3 = 50%, 4 = 25%, and 5 indicating 0% shedding of winter hair coat. Month of first shedding (MFS) was determined once a female reached an average hair shedding score of ≤ 3.5 from March until July of 2019 and 2020. Uterine artery blood flow (ABF) was determined using color Doppler ultrasonography at d 150, 180, 210, and 240 of gestation. Total uterine artery (summation of ipsilateral and contralateral arteries) and ipsilateral uterine ABF, diameter, resistance and pulsatility index (PI) were analyzed using repeated measures of the MIXED procedure of SAS with significance declared at P ≤ 0.05. Fixed effects included MFS, day, year, and the respected interactions with covariates of dam body weight, ambient temperature and order of cows ultrasonography examination considered as a random effect. No significant MFS by day of gestation interaction (P > 0.32) was observed for total or ipsilateral ABF (P > 0.23). A MFS by day of gestation (P < 0.04) interaction was observed for both ipsilateral artery diameter and PI, in which females that shed by May had smaller artery diameter (0.74 vs. 0.85 cm) at day 180 of gestation and greater PI (P < 0.02; 1.48 vs. 1.03) at day 150 of gestation compared to June. Shedding ability had an effect on ipsilateral uterine artery development and pulsatility during gestation, possibly affecting the amount of nutrients distributed to the prenatal fetus and subsequent birth weight of the calf from females that shed by May.

Birth cohort-specific trends of sun-related behaviors among individuals from an international consortium of melanoma-prone families

Background Individuals from melanoma-prone families have similar or reduced sun-protective behaviors compared to the general population. Studies on trends in sun-related behaviors have been temporally and geographically limited. Methods Individuals from an international consortium of melanoma-prone families (GenoMEL) were retrospectively asked about sunscreen use, sun exposure (time spent outside), sunburns, and sunbed use at several timepoints over their lifetime. Generalized linear mixed models were used to examine the association between these outcomes and birth cohort defined by decade spans, after adjusting for covariates. Results A total of 2407 participants from 547 families across 17 centers were analyzed. Sunscreen use increased across subsequent birth cohorts, and although the likelihood of sunburns increased until the 1950s birth cohort, it decreased thereafter. Average sun exposure did not change across the birth cohorts, and the likelihood of sunbed use increased in more recent birth cohorts. We generally did not find any differences in sun-related behavior when comparing melanoma cases to non-cases. Melanoma cases had increased sunscreen use, decreased sun exposure, and decreased odds of sunburn and sunbed use after melanoma diagnosis compared to before diagnosis. Conclusions Although sunscreen use has increased and the likelihood of sunburns has decreased in more recent birth cohorts, individuals in melanoma-prone families have not reduced their overall sun exposure and had an increased likelihood of sunbed use in more recent birth cohorts. These observations demonstrate partial improvements in melanoma prevention and suggest that additional intervention strategies may be needed to achieve optimal sun-protective behavior in melanoma-prone families.

Power off-screen

This final chapter uses extrafilmic material, such as fan magazines, to explore the construction and development of Power’s off-screen image throughout his career. The careful manufacture of star images was a device used by studios to attract audiences to films, and ultimately sell tickets and Power received extensive publicity from early on, fan magazines depicting his off-screen life in ways that often resonated with his on-screen persona, particularly in the 1930s. This chapter explores the development of Power’s off-screen image in fan magazines from his bachelor days in the 1930s, his marriage to French actress Annabella and subsequent divorce when he returned from active war duty. His high-profile romance with Lana Turner preceded his marriage to Mexican actress Linda Christian and the birth of their two daughters, before another divorce and remarriage just before his death in 1958. Magazines then ran stories of his sudden death and subsequent birth of his only son, Tyrone Power Jr, a few months later for months to come. Additionally, while Power’s professional acting career began in the theatre in 1933, he returned to regular stage work in the 1950s in a move that was mostly well received by critics as the chapter discusses.

Pregnancy in the context of dyadic coping: a meta-analysis of foreign publications

In the present article the mediating role of dyadic coping is discussed in various aspects, which one way or another are related to the context of pregnancy and the subsequent birth of a child, through the meta-analysis of empirical foreign researches. These are such aspects as spouses adaptation, quality of life, adult romantic affection, parental confidence, parental stress and depression. The period of expecting a child is seen as a common stress factor for the partners. This corresponds to the concept of pregnancy and first postnatal year under the changing social and cultural context that was generally accepted by the foreign and Russian psychology. In addition, the article addresses many aspects of gender-based differences in the use of dyadic coping. It is noted that in close relationship ineffective dyadic coping can cause the risk of family problems and dysfunction of its members, in such a case the emphasis is placed not so much on the support provided but on its subjective perception. The article concludes that the dyadic coping internal mechanisms in the period of expecting a child would be useful to study on a Russian sample as one of the possible ways of therapeutic support of family under stress.

He said/She said; Shaming, Blaming … Reframing: Impacts and Implications of Childlessness on Relationships in an Ancient Text

Describing the terms of “shaming, blaming, naming, claiming, and reframing” as the possible changing dynamics in some human relationships to achieve a resolution, is a fairly recent insight. Through analyzing a short section of an ancient text, Biblical Antiquities, we show how those matters, although not named as dynamics, were recognized as stages in human interactions millennia ago. They were played out in the announcement and subsequent birth of the biblical judge Samson.

Subsequent childbirth after previous traumatic birth experience: women's choices and evaluations

Background After a traumatic childbirth experience, women are often afraid of future pregnancies, and may be at risk for also experiencing their subsequent childbirth as traumatic. Aims Two questions were investigated regarding women's experience of their subsequent childbirth after a previous traumatic birth: (1) which factors in the previous traumatic birth are associated with the subsequent childbirth experience, and (2) fear of childbirth and coping behaviour during the subsequent pregnancy associated with the subsequent birth experience. Methods A total 474 Dutch women (mean age during traumatic childbirth=28.9 years; SD=3.9) answered an online survey about their previous traumatic and subsequent birth experience. Findings Making a birth plan, choosing a home birth in a high-risk pregnancy, and having a planned caesarean section emerged as statistically significant correlates of positive subsequent birth experience. Conclusion Experiencing control over the subsequent birth might underlie practices associated with more positive subsequent childbirth experience among women with a traumatic childbirth history.