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The median visual analog scale scores for tampon use and invasive endometrial sampling were 0 (range, 0-10) and 5.5 (range, 1-10) (p  less then  0.001). None of the tampon samples analyzed by cytology showed endometrial cells, but they did contain vital squamous cells and granulocytes. read more By contrast, 18 (78%) of the invasive endometrial samples contained enough endometrial tissue for analysis. No endometrial abnormalities were found by endometrial sampling. CONCLUSIONS Tampon-based endometrial surveillance was a well-accepted and non-painful procedure, and although tampons contained vital cells, they did not provide endometrial cells. However, this study was limited to asymptomatic women with Lynch syndrome (no endometrial pathology), indicating that research is needed to evaluate whether the tampon method has any utility for endometrial surveillance in women with Lynch syndrome.BACKGROUND Children with juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM), the most common inflammatory myopathy of childhood, may be at increased risk of premature atherosclerosis given a host of traditional and non-traditional risk factors. The primary aim of this study was to determine the underlying frequency of premature atherosclerosis in children with JDM compared to pediatric controls using flow-mediated dilation as a measure of endothelial function. METHODS Children and adolescents with and without JDM were evaluated for traditional atherosclerotic risk factors and assessment of endothelial function, using Endothelial Pulse Amplitude Testing (Endo-PAT). RESULTS In this study, 75% of pediatric controls were of Black or Hispanic descent (compared to 55% in the JDM group) and 70% were found to live in a household with a medium income less than $50,000/year (compared to 45% in the JDM group). Among traditional atherogenic risk factors, lipoprotein A appeared to be different between controls and JDM patients (66 nmol/L and 16.5 nmol/L, respectively). Using a reactive hyperemia index (RHI)  less then  1.67 as evidence of endothelial dysfunction, 75% of controls were defined as having endothelial dysfunction compared to 50% in JDM group. When controlled for lipoprotein A as an atherogenic confounder, JDM patients were found to have a 41% increase in RHI, thus indicating less endothelial dysfunction compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we have shown that atherogenic risk factors are present in the pediatric population and may be associated with endothelial dysfunction, even at very young ages. Despite increasing concerns that children with rheumatologic disorders may be at increased risk of developing premature atherosclerosis, traditional and sociodemographic features may play a greater role in the ultimate development of cardiovascular disease.BACKGROUND Despite numerous campaigns and interventions to end female genital mutilation (FGM), the practice persists across the world, including the European Union (EU). Previous interventions have focused mainly on awareness raising and legislation aimed at criminalizing the practice. Limited evidence exists on the effectiveness of interventions due in part to the lack of systematic evaluation of projects. This paper presents an evaluation of the REPLACE Approach, which is a new methodology for tackling FGM based on community-based behaviour change and intervention evaluation. METHODS We developed, trialed and evaluated the REPLACE Approach through extensive engagement with eight FGM affected African diaspora communities in five EU countries. We employed qualitative and quantitative tools to obtain data to inform the development, implementation and evaluation of the Approach. These included community-based participatory action research, questionnaires and community readiness assessments. The research took ps, in building the capacity and motivation of community members to undertake change, in recognising contextual differences in the barriers and enablers of FGM practice and in tailoring interventions to local community readiness to change, and then evaluating interventions to re-inform implementation. The next steps would therefore be to implement the Approach over a longer time frame to assess if it results in measurable change in behaviour.PURPOSE To translate, culturally adapt and conduct a psychometric evaluation of the Yoruba version of the Back Beliefs Questionnaire (BBQ) among patients with chronic low-back pain. METHODS The English version of the BBQ was translated into the Yoruba language through a process of forward-backward translation, reconciliation and harmonization of the reconciled items sequentially. Thereafter, Cronbach's Alpha, Intra-Class Correlation (ICC), Bland-Altman's analysis were used to determine the internal consistency, test-retest reliability and limits of agreement of the Yoruba version of the BBQ (BBQ-Y). Other psychometric properties of the BBQ-Y explored comprised acceptability, standard error of measurement (SEM), minimal detectable change (MDC), convergent validity and floor and ceiling effects. While 119 respondents participated in the validity testing, only 51 of them were involved in the reliability testing of the BBQ-Y. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Alpha level was set at p  less then  0.05. RESULTS The mean age of the respondents all the respondents was 56.8 ± 8.5 years. The BBQ-Y had excellent acceptability with a global Cronbach Alpha score of 0.71. The SEM and MDC of the BBQ-Y were 2.3 and 6.4. The BBQ-Y ICC score for test-retest was 0.89, while the Bland-Altman analysis showing limits of agreements for the test-retest reliability were - 6.84 and 5.70. The convergent validity of the BBQ-Y showed a weak correlation (r = 0.273, p = 0.001) with pain intensity using the visual analogue scale. CONCLUSION This is the first study to culturally adapt the BBY-Y and determined its psychometric properties. The BBQ-Y has adequate psychometric properties and it is an appropriate outcome measure for use among Yoruba speaking patients with chronic low-back pain.BACKGROUND Molecular analyses of vitamin D in a typical cycling endometrium has received minimal research attention in the reproductive field. This study was designed to assess how expression of the endometrial vitamin D receptor (VDR) and CYP27B1, a vitamin D metabolizing enzyme, change during the menstrual cycle in women of reproductive age. In addition, this study explores the association between expression of vitamin D-VDR system and endometrial receptivity during the implantation window. METHODS Sixteen patients underwent standardized in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment and freeze-all techniques. Before embryo transfer, total serum 25(OH) D levels were determined through blood samples and VDR, CYP27B1, HOXA10, and CYP19 expression were determined through endometrial samples. Endometrial receptivity was also assessed using an electron microscope. RESULTS We found that VDR protein expression was significantly lower throughout the endometrial secretory phase compared to the proliferative phase, while CYP27B1 expression remained constant during the menstrual cycle.