Jocelyn Fitzgerald, MD, Nicole Donnellan, MD, Grace Lim, MD, MS, and Susan George, PT, DPT, MS, OCS, WCS were awarded a $50,000 research grant from the Virginia Kaufman Pain Research Challenge.
The team’s project, “A Multidisciplinary, Multimodal Bundled Care Approach to Chronic Pelvic Pain,” evaluates intervention outcomes for women with chronic pelvic pain receiving bundled care in a multidisciplinary pain clinic. Dr. Fitzgerald leads the team as the project’s Principal Investigator.
Francesmary Modugno, MS, PhD, MPS, professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at Magee-Womens Research Institute and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, who led an international team of researchers, was senior author of the study.
Miguel Brieño-Enríquez, MD, PhD, assistant professor at Magee-Womens Research Institute and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, was lead author of a study published in Nature Communications that shed light on unique processes that bestow the rodents with what seems like eternal fertility, findings that could eventually point to new therapies for people.
Ronald Buckanovich, MD, professor of medicine at Pitt and co-director of the Women’s Cancer Research Center — a collaboration between UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and Magee-Womens Research Institute, was senior author of the study.
Predictions for Prenatal Care
Carl Hubel and colleagues found that both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers were elevated in obese pregnant individuals during the first and second trimester, who later developed preeclampsia (American Journal of Reproductive Immunology).
HIV Future is Tenofovir Film
Dr. Sravan Patel, Dr. Lisa Rohan, and their team used non-human primates to show the stability, safety, and efficient drug delivery of tenofovir films in the cervicovaginal compartments (Frontiers in Reproductive Health).
The Weight of Sleep
Dr. Francesca Facco conducted a study using secondary data analysis, exploring the connection between mid-pregnancy sleep health indicators and gestational weight gain (Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology).
Progress in Ovarian Cancer Research
Dr. Ron Buckanovich and team shed light on possible chemo-preventive agents for BRCA1/2 mutation carriers through ovarian cancer culture and organoid-based data (Gynecologic Oncology).
Fishy Phenomenon
Dr. Ron Buckanovich and PSB (Erie) colleagues combined environmental monitoring and pharmacokinetic modeling to estimate dietary fish polychlorinated biphenyls accumulation in humans, with a focus on site-specific and tissue-specific exposures (Environmental Pollution).
The Limits of Viability
Dr. Hy Simhan and colleagues provided a thought-provoking perspective on controversies related to fetal viability determination (Obstetrics and Gynecology).
Empowering Early Detection
Dr. Richard Guido and team shared recommendations for cervical and anal cancer screening and prevention, risk-based management of abnormal cervical cancer screening tests, and emerging treatment options for cervical dysplasia and early cervical cancer (Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology).
Preserving Fertility
Dr. Kyle Orwig and his team's work showcased the feasibility of inducing in vitro spermatogenesis from cryopreserved immature testicular tissue for up to 32 days. This approach led to the differentiation of primary spermatocytes (Frontiers in Endocrinology).
The Heart of Pregnancy Outcomes
Dr. Janet Catov and her colleagues delved into the intricate relationship between pregnancy outcomes and cardiovascular health. Their study revealed that among women with a history of adverse pregnancy outcomes, those with myocardial infarction (MI) tended to present earlier after pregnancy. Their research found that MI characteristics were similar between women with and without adverse pregnancy outcomes, shedding light on critical factors impacting women's heart health (JACC Advances).
Improving Diagnosis & Management
A team led by Dr. Sarah Napoe explored the causes of female urethral and periurethral masses. Their work provides an update on diagnosis and management, offering insights that can improve patient care and outcomes (Current Opinion in Obstetrics & Gynecology).
Halting Hemorrhages
Dr. Hyagriv Simhan and his colleagues conducted observational, multi-center trials to assess the effectiveness of an intrauterine vacuum-induced hemorrhage control device for postpartum hemorrhage. Their findings underscore the device's remarkable ability to staunch uterine bleeding following both vaginal and cesarean births (Obstetrics and Gynecology).
Assessing Neonatal Care
Dr. Steve Caritis and his team conducted a screening for genetic variants associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in extremely low birth weight infants. Their research pinpointed a genetic variant in SERPINE1 linked to cerebral palsy (CP) or death among infants, offering vital insights into neonatal care (American Journal of Perinatology).
Creating Intelligent Pregnancy Care
Dr. Yoel Sadovsky and his collaborators used an artificial intelligence (AI) based similarity network fusion technique to explore placental dysfunction. This approach integrated transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics data. Results revealed a correlation with histopathology (BMC Medicine).
