Search Results (840)

Maternal TORCH-related infections remain a major cause of adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes despite advances in prenatal diagnosis and prevention. We conducted a retrospective observational study of 71 HIV-negative pregnant women referred to the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit of a tertiary referral center in Palermo, Italy, between June 2020 and December 2024 for suspected maternal TORCH infections. Demographic, microbiological, clinical, therapeutic, and neonatal data were retrospectively collected to characterize referral patterns, diagnostic pathways, treatment uptake, and pregnancy outcomes. Overall, 43 women (60.6%) had a confirmed maternal infection; cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Toxoplasma gondii accounted for most confirmed maternal infections. Maternal treatment was administered to 12/23 (52.2%) women with confirmed CMV infection and to all women with confirmed toxoplasmosis (17/17, 100%), corresponding to significantly greater treatment uptake for toxoplasmosis (p = 0.0008). Maternal demographic characteristics, obstetric history, treatment, and neonatal outcomes showed no significant association with trimester at referral. Three newborns were diagnosed with congenital CMV infection. Most referrals followed uncertain serological findings rather than clinically apparent maternal disease. These findings highlight the role of specialist assessment in clarifying maternal infection status, counseling patients, and informing pathogen-specific prenatal management; prospective multicenter studies are required to assess its effects on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Full article

Background: Oral symptoms and preventive dental-care practices during pregnancy remain insufficiently characterized in Romania. This study described self-reported oral manifestations, oral-hygiene practices, and dental attendance and explored their cross-sectional associations with gingival bleeding, dental pain, and perceived oral-health impact. Methods: This single-center cross-sectional study included 101 pregnant women recruited at the Ginecho Clinic, Craiova, Romania, between October 2025 and July 2026. Participants completed a 21-item electronic questionnaire in the clinic with clarification available from the medical team. Oral conditions were self-reported/perceived rather than clinically diagnosed. Prevalence ratios (PRs) were estimated using Poisson regression with robust variance; multivariable models simultaneously included preventive behaviors, maternal age, parity, and trimester. Results: Gingival bleeding (68.3%), gingival swelling (66.3%), and salivary-flow alterations (57.4%) were frequently reported. Most participants brushed once daily (66.3%), never used interdental cleaning (68.3%), and had not attended a dental visit during pregnancy (81.2%). In adjusted models, brushing at least twice daily was associated with lower prevalence of gingival bleeding (aPR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.32–0.97) and higher perceived oral-health impact (aPR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.23–0.99). No preventive behavior was significantly associated with dental pain after simultaneous adjustment. Conclusions: Self-reported oral manifestations were common and preventive practices were limited in this convenience sample. These exploratory associations do not establish temporality or causality and require confirmation in prospective studies using validated instruments and clinical oral examinations. Full article

Pregnancy intention is widely used in sexual and reproductive health research and practice, yet its conceptual boundaries remain insufficiently defined. This imprecision limits consistent interpretation and shapes how nurses and other health professionals assess and support women’s reproductive decision-making across the reproductive continuum. Objective: to clarify the concept of pregnancy intention and to propose a conceptual definition applicable to nursing practice, sexual and reproductive health care, and health promotion. Methods: A concept analysis was conducted using Walker and Avant’s eight-step method. A structured search of the literature published between 2014 and 2025 in English, Spanish, and Portuguese was carried out in PubMed, Web of Science, SAGE, ScienceDirect, SciELO, and Dimensions, complemented by lexicographic sources and grey literature. Data were extracted and analyzed to identify the concept’s uses, defining attributes, antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents. Results: Pregnancy intention emerged as a multidimensional concept defined by three attributes: temporal orientation toward a future pregnancy, conscious deliberation about conceiving, and contextual appraisal of readiness. It is defined as a woman’s conscious and prospective disposition toward a future pregnancy, involving deliberation about conceiving and contextual appraisal of her readiness in relation to the personal, relational, socioeconomic, and health-related circumstances she considers relevant to the decision. Conclusions: The proposed definition provides a theoretically coherent basis for reproductive assessment, preconception care, and woman-centered health promotion. By recognizing the personal, social, and structural conditions relevant to women’s health, including socioeconomic conditions that may contribute to broader social determinants of health, it also supports a health-equity perspective and provides a basis for future prospective measurement that reflects women’s reproductive experiences. Full article

Background/Objectives: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with increased short- and long-term risks for both mother and child. Screening and treatment between 24 and 30 weeks’ gestation reduces adverse pregnancy outcomes, while emerging evidence suggests that earlier diagnosis and treatment (<20 weeks’) in high-risk populations may further improve neonatal outcomes. Currently, self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) remains the standard of care for management but provides only intermittent glycemic data and limited insight into overall glucose patterns. Real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rt-CGM) has transformed management in pregnancies complicated by type 1 diabetes but has shown conflicting results in GDM; it is thus unclear whether similar benefits may extend to women with GDM, including women with early GDM. Methods: The Continuous Glucose Monitoring for Women With Gestational Diabetes (CORDELIA) study is an ongoing, large, open-label, multicenter randomized controlled trial conducted across 14 centers in Belgium and two centers in Australia. Women diagnosed with GDM are randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either rt-CGM (intervention group) or standard care with SMBG (control group). Both women with early GDM diagnosed before 20 weeks’ gestation and those diagnosed between 24.0 and 29.6 weeks’ gestation are included. Participants attend the following visits: baseline visit at GDM diagnosis, an additional visit at 20.0–23.9 weeks’ (if early GDM), 31.0–33.6 weeks’ and 36.0–38.6 weeks’, and a postpartum oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) assessment (6.0–23.6 weeks after delivery). At each visit, clinical assessment, HbA1c, and (blinded) CGM are evaluated, alongside validated patient-reported outcome questionnaires. The primary objective is to compare the incidence of a composite of adverse pregnancy outcomes between the rt-CGM and SMBG groups. The primary outcome is a composite of adverse pregnancy outcomes including preterm delivery <37 weeks, LGA [customized percentiles according to Gestation Related Optimal Weight chart (GROW)], neonatal hypoglycemia requiring intravenous dextrose, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission > 24 h, neonatal respiratory distress, stillbirth or neonatal death, phototherapy, birth trauma, and shoulder dystocia. Secondary outcomes include maternal glycemia, insulin use, pregnancy and neonatal outcomes, glycemic variability, patient-reported outcomes, and prespecified secondary analyses according to timing of GDM diagnosis and maternal BMI. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06310356. First posted: 15 March 2024. Full article

Background: Head trauma in patients receiving direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) presents a clinical dilemma because of concern for delayed intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). Although some emergency departments (EDs) routinely perform repeat head CT after an initially negative scan, the clinical value of this practice remains uncertain. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational cohort study at Hadassah Mount Scopus University Hospital Emergency Department (ED), a level 3 trauma center with approximately 70,000 visits per year, spanning January 2019 to December 2022. Adult patients receiving DOAC therapy who sustained blunt head trauma and underwent both an initial and repeat head CT according to institutional protocol were included. Demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, type of DOAC, and CT findings were recorded. Exclusion criteria included: penetrating trauma, multi trauma, identified intracranial hemorrhage on the first scan, age < 18 years, and pregnancy status. Results: A total of 421 patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 80.1 years, and 236 patients (56%) were female. Apixaban was the most prescribed DOAC (364 patients, 86%), followed by rivaroxaban (39 patients, 9.5%) and dabigatran (18 patients, 4.5%). Glasgow Coma Scale was 15 in 399 patients (94.7%) on presentation. Five patients (1.2%,95% CI: 0.5–2.8%) had delayed ICH on repeat CT after an initially negative scan. All five patients were older than 75 years and had visible evidence of blunt head trauma, and one required neurosurgical intervention. Conclusions: Delayed ICH after blunt head trauma in DOAC-treated patients with an initially negative CT was uncommon. These findings support that routine repeat CT scanning for all patients may be unnecessary, and a more focused subsequent CT scan strategy could ultimately optimize hospital resources without compromising patient safety—specifically among elderly patients, those with a low GCS, or showing evidence of trauma. Future research should also evaluate whether emerging blood-based biomarkers can help identify DOAC-treated patients at risk for delayed intracranial hemorrhage despite an initially negative CT scan. Full article

Background/Objectives: The clinical significance of isolated oligohydramnios at term may depend on the measurement method used. We assessed whether isolated oligohydramnios at term, defined by a single deepest vertical pocket (SDVP) below 2 cm, is associated with labor management, primary cesarean delivery, and short-term neonatal outcomes. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 328 singleton pregnancies delivered at 37 + 0 to 41 + 6 weeks at a tertiary center between January 2023 and May 2026. All 128 exposed pregnancies met SDVP < 2 cm; 72 AFI-only cases with SDVP ≥ 2 cm were excluded from the primary analysis. The control group comprised 200 low-risk term pregnancies with SDVP ≥ 2 cm. Primary cesarean outcomes were evaluated among women without a previous cesarean delivery. Multivariable logistic regression estimated adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Labor induction was more frequent with SDVP-defined isolated oligohydramnios than with normal fluid (75.0% vs. 29.0%; p < 0.001). Among induced women, admission Bishop score, labor duration, and failed-induction rate were similar (6.3% vs. 5.2%; p = 1.000). Overall cesarean delivery, including repeat procedures, occurred in 30.5% versus 19.0% (p = 0.017). Primary cesarean delivery occurred in 25.8% and 18.5% (aOR, 1.67; 95% CI, 0.94–2.99), whereas primary cesarean delivery for fetal distress was more frequent (14.2% vs. 5.6%; aOR, 2.50; 95% CI, 1.05–5.94). Composite neonatal morbidity did not differ significantly (12.5% vs. 9.0%; aOR, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.61–2.78), nor did neonatal intensive care unit admission, cord pH, or neonatal death. Conclusions: At term, SDVP-defined isolated oligohydramnios was associated with more labor induction, a higher crude overall cesarean rate, and more primary cesarean delivery for fetal distress. No statistically significant adjusted association was detected for primary cesarean delivery or composite neonatal morbidity; the confidence intervals do not establish equivalence or exclude clinically important differences. Full article

Background and Objectives: To evaluate the association between the newly defined cerebroplacental–renal ratio (CPRR) and adverse perinatal outcome (APO) in pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), and to compare its discriminative performance with the cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) and cerebroplacental–uterine ratio (CPUR). Materials and Methods: This prospective, single-center cohort study included 105 women with PIH (preeclampsia, n = 63; gestational hypertension, n = 42). Doppler assessment was performed at ≥34 + 0 weeks and within 7 days before delivery. CPR was calculated as middle cerebral artery pulsatility index (PI)/umbilical artery PI, CPUR as CPR/mean uterine artery PI, and CPRR as CPR/right renal artery PI. APO was defined by the presence of any of the following: non-reassuring fetal status, a 5 min Apgar score <7, neonatal intensive care unit admission, or neonatal death. Receiver operating characteristic analysis and multivariable logistic regression adjusted for gestational age at ultrasound assessment and diagnosis group were performed. Results: APO occurred in 37 pregnancies (35.2%). CPUR and CPRR were significantly lower in the APO group, whereas CPR did not differ significantly. CPRR showed a higher apparent AUC for APO than CPR and CPUR (AUC 0.786, 95% CI 0.698–0.875), with significantly higher AUCs on pairwise DeLong comparisons. After adjustment, CPRR was the only Doppler index independently associated with APO (adjusted OR 1.423 per 0.1-unit decrease; 95% CI 1.162–1.743; p = 0.001). Conclusions: CPRR was independently associated with APO in PIH and showed higher discriminative performance than CPR and CPUR; however, these findings require validation in independent, multicenter studies before clinical application. Full article

Background: Asthma during pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Nursing education, self-management support, and mobile health (mHealth) technologies may support asthma management during pregnancy. Aim: This study evaluated the effect of a structured nursing intervention supported by an mHealth application on asthma control, treatment adherence, and self-monitoring, and maternal and neonatal outcomes among pregnant women with asthma. Design and Setting: A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group was conducted at two Maternal and Child Health Centers in Shebin El-Kom, Menoufia Governorate, Egypt. Participants: A convenience sample of 140 pregnant women with physician-diagnosed asthma was recruited and allocated non-randomly according to the center attended to a study group (n = 70) and a control group (n = 70). The sample size was calculated a priori based on a previous study using a 5% significance level and 80% statistical power, with a 1:1 allocation ratio, resulting in a required sample of 70 participants per group. All recruited participants completed the study, with no withdrawals or loss to follow-up. Intervention: The study group received routine antenatal care plus an eight-week structured nursing intervention consisting of four individualized weekly educational sessions (60–90 min each) addressing asthma management, medication adherence, self-monitoring, trigger avoidance, warning signs, inhaler technique, lifestyle modification, and rhythmic breathing exercises. Participants were trained to use the Airlyn mHealth application for guided breathing exercises, practiced 2–3 times daily, and received telephone/WhatsApp follow-up during weeks 6–8. The control group received routine antenatal care according to usual MCH center procedures. Measures: Asthma control was assessed using the Asthma Control Test (ACT). Treatment adherence and self-monitoring were assessed using the Asthma Adherence and Self-Monitoring Questionnaire. Maternal outcomes included hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes, infections, preterm labor/PPROM, hemorrhage, and mode of delivery. Neonatal outcomes included birth weight, Apgar scores, respiratory distress and respiratory support, NICU admission and length of stay, and condition at discharge. The researcher-developed instruments underwent expert assessment of content validity and assessment of internal consistency before use. Results: Baseline ACT scores were comparable between the study and control groups (14.5 ± 4.2 vs. 14.1 ± 4.3; mean difference = 0.4; p = 0.580). Following the intervention, ACT scores were higher in the study group than in the control group (19.7 ± 3.6 vs. 15.2 ± 4.2; mean difference = 4.5; 95% CI: 3.189–5.811; p < 0.001; Cohen’s d = 1.147). Well-controlled asthma was observed in 75.7% of the study group compared with 17.1% of the control group (p < 0.001). Treatment adherence and self-monitoring scores were also better in the study group (5.6 ± 2.7 vs. 9.1 ± 3.1; mean difference = −3.5; 95% CI: −4.476 to −2.524; p < 0.001; Cohen’s d = 1.199). The overall maternal outcome score was more favorable in the study group (3.5 ± 1.7 vs. 6.1 ± 2.6; mean difference = −2.6; 95% CI: −3.340 to −1.860; p < 0.001; Cohen’s d = 1.174), as was the overall neonatal outcome score (7.7 ± 2.2 vs. 5.5 ± 2.1; mean difference = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.480–2.920; p < 0.001; Cohen’s d = 1.022). Significant between-group differences were also observed in birth weight, Apgar scores, respiratory distress, and NICU admission. Conclusions: Participants who received the structured nursing intervention supported by the Airlyn mHealth application were associated with improved asthma control, treatment adherence, and self-monitoring, as well as more favorable maternal and neonatal outcomes, compared with those receiving routine antenatal care. However, the quasi-experimental design, convenience sampling, and non-randomized allocation limit causal interpretation and the generalizability of the findings. Therefore, the findings should be interpreted cautiously. Recommendations: Larger randomized controlled trials with standardized protocols, adequate sample sizes to evaluate maternal and neonatal outcomes, and longer follow-up periods are recommended to confirm these findings and further assess their clinical relevance. Full article

Background: We developed and externally validated a model for estimating the probability of clinical pregnancy after in vitro fertilization and fresh embryo transfer using routinely available laboratory and multimodal ultrasonographic measures. Methods: This two-center retrospective study included 451 women in the development cohort and 229 women in the external validation cohort. Eleven candidate predictors were evaluated using Group LASSO-penalized logistic regression with stratified 10-fold cross-validation. Continuous predictors were assessed for nonlinearity using restricted cubic splines, and the complete model-development procedure was repeated in 1000 bootstrap resamples. Model performance was assessed by discrimination, calibration, overall prediction error, and decision curve analysis. Results: The final model included female age, serum anti-müllerian hormone (AMH), endometrial thickness, endometrial volume, and vascularization flow index (VFI). The apparent area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.864 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.826–0.898) in the development cohort; the optimism-corrected AUC was 0.842. The optimism-corrected calibration intercept, calibration slope, Brier score, and maximum absolute calibration error (Emax) were 0.002, 1.051, 0.163, and 0.045, respectively. In external validation, the AUC was 0.810 (95% CI, 0.750–0.868), the calibration intercept was −0.106, the calibration slope was 0.900, the Brier score was 0.177, and Emax was 0.070. Decision curve analysis indicated net benefit over selected threshold probabilities. Conclusions: The model showed good discrimination and generally satisfactory calibration. It may support individualized counseling before fresh embryo transfer, but prospective validation in larger and more diverse populations is required. Full article

Background and Objectives: Augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), computer vision, artificial intelligence (AI), and three-dimensional (3D) modeling may be particularly relevant in fertility-preserving gynecologic surgery, where disease must be treated while uterine architecture, reproductive anatomy, and future fertility potential are preserved. This scoping review mapped and appraised the current evidence, with emphasis on myomectomy, adenomyomectomy, and endometriosis surgery. Materials and Methods: A scoping review with narrative synthesis was conducted and reported according to the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched from database inception to 16 May 2026. Records were appraised with design-appropriate instruments: Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) principles, Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I), randomized-trial risk-of-bias domains, and structured feasibility criteria. Results: Of 528 records identified, 20 were included. Eleven involved application of the technology in the care of patients; of these, only two were comparative—one retrospective matched case–control study of AR-assisted myomectomy and adenomyomectomy, and one single-center randomized controlled trial of 3D-printed model-assisted myomectomy. The remaining nine were enabling technologies validated on image datasets, operative video, ex vivo models, or animal models. Only one study reported a reproductive outcome—pregnancy rates in a retrospective matched series of 34 patients, which did not differ between groups—and no study reported live birth, obstetric, or long-term reproductive-safety outcomes. Conclusions: Current evidence supports technical feasibility and preoperative planning value but does not demonstrate improvement in reproductive outcomes; here “fertility-preserving” denotes the clinical context of the surgery rather than a demonstrated reproductive benefit. Adequately powered controlled studies reporting fertility-relevant endpoints are required. Full article

Objective: Non-cavity-distorting intramural fibroids have been linked to poorer reproductive outcomes in assisted reproduction, yet strategies to counteract this effect remain underexplored. This study examined whether a hyaluronan-enriched transfer medium (EmbryoGlue^®) is associated with clinical pregnancy and live birth in women with such fibroids undergoing frozen-thawed single blastocyst transfer, and whether any such association depends on fibroid size. Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort analysis of 515 women, aged 20–37 years, carrying the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) type 3–5 non-cavity-distorting intramural fibroids, who underwent frozen-thawed single blastocyst transfer between January 2021 and December 2025. Of these, 232 received a hyaluronan-enriched transfer medium and 283 received a standard medium. Clinical pregnancy served as the primary endpoint; positive pregnancy test, live birth, and early pregnancy loss were secondary endpoints. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of clinical pregnancy and live birth and to test for an interaction between EmbryoGlue use and fibroid size. Results: Women who received EmbryoGlue had higher rates of positive pregnancy test (50.0% vs. 32.9%; p < 0.001), clinical pregnancy (40.5% vs. 26.9%; p = 0.001), and live birth (30.2% vs. 19.1%; p = 0.003) than those in the control group. After adjustment, and taking a fibroid size of 3 cm as the reference point, EmbryoGlue use remained associated with greater odds of clinical pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.05, 95% CI 1.20–3.50; p = 0.008). A significant interaction between EmbryoGlue use and fibroid size emerged for both clinical pregnancy (aOR 1.74, 95% CI 1.13–2.68; p = 0.011) and live birth (aOR 1.68, 95% CI 1.06–2.67; p = 0.028): the association between EmbryoGlue and reproductive outcomes was not uniform but depended on fibroid size, with the widest gap between groups seen among women with fibroids exceeding 4 cm. Conclusions: Among women with non-cavity-distorting intramural fibroids undergoing frozen-thawed single blastocyst transfer, EmbryoGlue use was linked to more favorable reproductive outcomes overall, an association that varied by fibroid size and was most pronounced above 4 cm. These findings warrant confirmation through prospective randomized trials before influencing clinical practice. Full article

Background/Objectives: Maternal systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with preterm birth, but whether maternal disease activity influences early neonatal hematologic profiles beyond developmental immaturity remains unclear. We compared hematologic parameters between SLE-exposed preterm infants and maturity-matched controls and explored findings according to maternal SLE flare during pregnancy. Methods: This single-center retrospective matched-cohort study included 13 SLE-exposed preterm infants and 39 controls matched 1:3 by gestational age, birth weight, and sex. White blood cell (WBC) count, absolute neutrophil count (ANC), hemoglobin concentration, and platelet count were assessed at birth, around postnatal day 5, and at their nadir during hospitalization. Group differences were estimated using linear regression models including matched-set identifiers as fixed effects. Flare-stratified and hepatic analyses were exploratory, without adjustment for multiple comparisons. Results: Overall matched-set analyses showed no clear differences in WBC count, ANC, hemoglobin, or platelet values between SLE-exposed infants and controls. The estimated difference in nadir ANC was −405/μL (95% confidence interval [CI], −985 to 174/μL; p = 0.164). In the maternal-flare subgroup, nadir WBC count was lower than in its matched controls (difference, −2.31 × 10³/μL; 95% CI, −3.96 to −0.65 × 10³/μL; p = 0.009), as was nadir ANC (difference, −672/μL; 95% CI, −1260 to −85/μL; p = 0.028). Corresponding matched-set differences were not evident at birth or around postnatal day 5. The non-flare subgroup did not show a consistent pattern of leukocyte suppression. Conclusions: Maternal SLE exposure was not clearly associated with an overall difference in neonatal hematologic profiles within matched sets. Maternal SLE flare may identify a subgroup with lower WBC and neutrophil nadirs, but this exploratory finding requires confirmation in larger studies. Full article

Fetal electroencephalogram (fEEG) recording could address the gap of functional fetal brain testing and enable direct assessment of fetal brain status during pregnancy and labor. However, the fetal EEG signal (~1 µV) is masked by roughly 80 dB (about 10,000×) of maternal ECG and other bioelectric interferences. This synthetic-data feasibility study presents whether the fetal EEG can be recovered from the maternal abdomen surface by using the following three sensing architectures on physiologically scaled synthetic data: single electrode, dual electrode, and a concentric 28-electrode array centered over the fetal head. We show that exploiting a known geometric attenuation steering vector with a minimum-variance distortionless-response (MVDR) beamformer raises recovery correlation from ~0 to ~0.28 and improves signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by ~67 dB. A follow-up validation replaces the synthetic EEG generator with actual neonatal EEGs recorded from the scalp, obtained from OpenNeuro ds004577 and the Helsinki Zenodo corpus. Comparable recovery performance across both datasets confirms that the synthetic feasibility conclusion generalizes to real neonatal EEG composition and behavioral characteristics. The primary evaluation is based on waveform-level engineering metrics (correlation, SNR, and RMSE), while exploratory secondary analyses assess aEEG envelopes, band-power trends, and burst detection. These analyses are not intended as clinical validation. Independent per-electrode sensor noise remains the dominant residual limiter under the homogeneous geometric model. The reported r ≈ 0.28 should not be interpreted as expected in vivo performance at all gestational ages: an intact vernix layer can add approximately 35 dB of attenuation and makes the required noise floor substantially more stringent. This analysis adds a five-layer volume-conductor analysis, misalignment, depth and impedance-drift stress tests, recording-level statistics, comparisons with classical extraction families (PCA, ICA, adaptive cancelation, and multichannel Wiener filtering), an interference-alignment sensitivity analysis, and exploratory biomarker-level analyses, which together bound the idealizations of the forward model. Full article

Background/Objectives: Stroke during pregnancy, childbirth, or the postpartum period is uncommon but may substantially affect women’s everyday functioning and maternal roles. This study aimed to characterize functional independence, occupational performance and satisfaction, and quality of life in women who had a stroke during these periods and to explore their lived experiences of motherhood. Methods: An exploratory mixed-methods study used sequential complementary quantitative and qualitative components. Eleven women completed quantitative assessments of functional independence, occupational performance and satisfaction, and quality of life. Six women participated in semi-structured interviews. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically by three researchers, and findings were integrated during interpretation. Results: Participants showed relatively high functional independence, with a median Functional Independence Measure total score of 111 (interquartile range = 8). Qualitative findings revealed disruption and gradual redefinition of the maternal role, difficulties in mother–child bonding and childcare, physical, cognitive, and emotional sequelae, reliance on family support, and perceived gaps between stroke-related care and motherhood-related needs. Integration of the findings showed that relatively preserved basic independence could coexist with substantial difficulties in maternal activities, while occupational priorities frequently related to childcare and family life. Conclusions: Motherhood after stroke involves challenges that may not be adequately captured by general measures of independence. The findings identify meaningful maternal occupations and the integration of stroke-related and motherhood-related needs as areas warranting further investigation within person-centered rehabilitation. Full article

In the U.S., youth face barriers to high-quality culture-centered health education and healthcare, leading to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. This health burden falls disproportionately on youth of color in Southern states. Researchers partnered with Fact Forward to design, implement, and evaluate the “Chat About It: We’re in your corner” 10-week health communication campaign. The culture-centered health communication campaign aimed to increase awareness and use of sexual health services with a focus on youth of color in South Carolina. The study implemented a campaign evaluation pretest–posttest web-based survey among young people (ages 18–24) in South Carolina. The campaign resulted in over one million total impressions. Over two-thirds of respondents who saw the campaign indicated that it prompted them to perform a positive health behavior, with the most common behavior being discussing sexual health with a partner. Respondents with a higher PME score were over seven times more likely to seek sexual health services after seeing messages from the campaign. Findings highlight the importance of formative audience research and message testing in campaign design. By developing health communication campaigns in partnership with the target audience, health communicators can enhance engagement and improve perceived message effectiveness and campaign acceptability. Health communication campaigns may help address knowledge gaps in sexual health education. Full article