The purpose of this cross-sectional, correlational study was to validate the factors that are related to dysmenorrhea in Taiwanese adolescents. The specific aims were to describe the perceived dysmenorrhea pain symptom experience (SE), related self-care strategies (SCS), and perceived effectiveness of self-care strategies (PESS); to explore the relationships between SE, SCS, and PESS; and to explore the influence of contextual factors on SE, SCS, and PESS. A conceptual framework based on the revised Symptom Management Model was developed and guided this study. A nonprobability sample of 165 adolescent participants was recruited from a technology university located in southern Taiwan. Inclusion criteria for participants were: (1) Taiwanese female adolescent, (2) age 15-19 years old, and (3) willing to participate in this study. All participants and their parents completed the consent forms and completed the questionnaires in their classrooms during free studying time. Five instruments were used and data was analyzed by using the SPSS Version 14.0 including descriptive statistical techniques, Pearson’s correlations, ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis. The findings showed the prevalence of dysmenorrhea in this sample was 87.3%. There were 82.4% of participants who reported dysmenorrhea had influenced their daily activity, and 12.7% of participants who reported school absenteeism because of dysmenorrhea. Most of participants used self–care strategies for dysmenorrhea including avoiding cold food or drinks, drinking brown sugar and ginger soup, etc. The most frequently used self-care strategies and their effectiveness were described. Age, age of the first period, total menstrual years, eating cold food or drinks, self-care strategies, and mother’s perceived support of self-care strategies were significantly related to the log of symptom experience of dysmenorrhea. Total menstrual years and self-care strategies were identified as significant predictors of dysmenorrhea. This study added to the body of nursing science regarding dysmenorrhea in Taiwanese adolescents. In particular, the findings supported the existence of relationships between self-care strategies and perceived effectiveness of self-care strategies. Building on these findings, future research should be conducted to design interventions that reduce the pain associated with dysmenorrhea for this population. / text

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Context: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is complex disorder associated with many metabolic abnormalities. PCOS is one of the most common endocrine disorders occurring in women of reproductive age and affects about 6-7% of the population. Women with PCOS have insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, thus increasing their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and endometrial cancer Overall Objective: To compare anthropometric features (weight, BMI, WC, body fat percent), antral follicle count (AFC), fasting glucose and insulin levels, HOMA score, menstrual bleeding patterns, and abdominal adiposity before and after a dietary intervention. Materials and Methods: The work presented herein represents a subset of the data being analyzed in an ongoing study titled "Lifestyle Intervention for Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: The Role of a Pulse-Based Diet and Aerobic Exercise on Infertility Measures and Metabolic Syndrome Risk". PCOS was diagnosed by two of the three diagnostic criteria as defined by the Rotterdam consensus: a history of cycles >35 days in length, hyperandrogenism as defined by a Ferriman and Gallwey score of >6 or hyperandrogenemia, as well as polycystic ovaries (PCO), defined by >25 follicles visualized upon transvaginal ultrasonography (TVU). Participants were randomized to either a 16 week pulse-based diet or to a TLC diet for 16 weeks. All participants were asked to follow an exercise program for the 16 week duration of the intervention. Changes in demographic, anthropometric features AFC, fasting insulin levels, and intervals between menstrual cycles were assessed. Results: Twenty four women completed the 16 week dietary intervention to date (pulse n=13, TLC n=11). Participants were found to be similarly matched for age, weight, BMI, WC, and FAI. Weight (p=0.002) and body fat (p=0.0004) decreased significantly. No significant differences were detected in BMI and waist circumference. Antral follicle counts were decreased in the right ovary (p=0.04) but not the left ovary (p=0.11). There was no change in fasting glucose levels detected. There was a decrease in fasting insulin levels (p=0.02) and in HOMA score (p=0.02). No change in abdominal adiposity was detected (p=0.88). There was a tendency toward a change of fasting insulin levels and HOMA score due to the pulse-based diet. The average interval between menses decreased after the intervention (p=0.04). The longest length of time between menses also decreased after the intervention (p=0.01). Conclusions: Our hypothesis was partially supported. We observed significant decreases in weight, body fat percent, AFC in the right ovary, fasting insulin levels and intermenstrual intervals. In most women, the decreased intermenstrual interval translated into the resumption of menstrual cyclicity. However, the participants' BMI, WC, AFC in the left ovary, and abdominal adiposity were not affected. Consuming food of a lower glycemic index without a calorie restriction may help women with PCOS gain healthier anthropometric profiles, decrease serum insulin levels and insulin resistance, and increase the regularity of menstrual cycles. Further study involving weight reduction and dietary intervention with pulses may prove to be more successful than calorie reduction alone.

Women who use hormonal contraceptives have been shown to report more intense affective responses to partner infidelity than women with a natural cycle. Also, previous research suggests that female jealousy is sensitive to hormonal changes when naturally cycling, with a peak around ovulation, while women using hormonal contraceptives are less sensitive. This research is aimed at exploring women`s perception of couple conflicts in line with predictions derived from evolutionary theory. A factor analysis yielded four dimensions within 19 couple conflicts that were related to jealousy, emotional support, time and effort, and commitment. We tested the hypotheses that women who use hormonal contraceptives will react more strongly to jealousy-provoking scenarios and overall conflicts compared to women with a natural menstrual cycle. We also tested the hypotheses that naturally cycling women would show an increase in their emotional response to jealousy-provoking scenarios at days with high fertility risk. We expected that their emotional response to the scenarios infidelity, lack of emotional support, time and effort and lack of commitment, would increase if they perceived their partners as attractive. By using an online questionnaire, we followed women who were currently in a relationship with age ranging from 18 to 30 years weekly for 12 weeks. Results show a significant difference between women using hormonal contraceptives and naturally cycling women. Women using hormonal contraceptives responded to be more upset by scenarios indicating infidelity, than did naturally cycling women (p < .05), but not on the overall conflicts. However, some unexpected differences on the single scenarios where discovered. For the analysis concerning the fertility-effect, no significant main effect was found. However, our hypotheses were not supported (p > .001), Our results did, however, reveal a non-significant trending in the predicted direction indicating that the partner`s attractiveness interact with fertility status and affect how women respond to situations regarding Jealousy and couple conflicts.

Body fluid identification is an important aspect of forensic work, as it can help identify a suspect and provide information about the kind of criminal activity that took place. Blood is one of the most commonly found body fluids at a crime scene. While visually it is easily distinguishable from other fluids, an accurate method is needed to differentiate between peripheral blood and menstrual blood. This differentiation could provide critical evidence regarding consent in an alleged sexual assault. The presence of peripheral blood indicates a traumatic cause, whereas menstrual blood points towards a natural bleeding cause. Accurate detection of menstrual blood can also help with the reconstruction or corroboration of events. Menstruation is the shedding of the internal lining of the uterus that occurs on a monthly basis in women of a reproductive age group. Menstrual blood is different in composition from the peripheral blood flowing through arteries and veins. It consists of a mixture of vaginal and cervical secretions, epithelial cells, debris from the endometrial lining, blood and fibrinolytic products. The fibrinolytic products are associated with the prevention of blood clot formation. Several methods have been researched and used for the detection of menstrual blood. These include microscopy, identification of the lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme, detection of fibrinolytic products, and profiling of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and micro RNA (miRNA). Even though menstrual blood is encountered at crime scenes, a reliable routine procedure for its identification has not yet been incorporated in forensic laboratories. In this study, four methods of detection of menstrual blood were evaluated and compared with each other regarding efficacy. These methods are the LGC ParaDNA® Body Fluid ID Test, SERATEC® PMB Test, DIMERTEST® Latex Assay and Microscopic methods using Lugol’s Iodine and Dane’s staining method. The LGC ParaDNA® Body Fluid ID Test identifies menstrual blood by detecting the mRNA marker MMP10. The SERATEC® PMB Test and DIMERTEST® Latex Assay both detect D-dimers present in menstrual blood. In addition, the SERATEC® PMB Test can detect the presence of peripheral blood. Microscopic identification is performed by identifying vaginal epithelial cells present in the menstrual blood. Menstrual blood samples were self-collected from six anonymous donors on three consecutive days of menses on either a cotton swatch or a cotton swab. Samples from the earliest day were tested in triplicate using the first three methods. For the fourth method, Lugol’s Iodine and Dane’s stain were applied to various cell types to test the utility of the stains. The ParaDNA® Body Fluid ID Test, SERATEC® PMB test and the DIMERTEST® Latex Assay all show promise for the detection of menstrual blood in forensic samples. None of the tests showed a cross reactivity to the other body fluids tested, but some ParaDNA® and DIMERTEST® samples yielded a false negative result for menstrual blood or peripheral blood. The SERATEC® PMB Test outperformed the other methods, both in sensitivity and accuracy. It was accurate for all samples, with a short run time and minimal training required. Microscopic detection of menstrual blood via detection of vaginal epithelial cells could not be accurately investigated as Dane’s staining method could not be reproduced and the presence of blood obscured the results for the Lugol’s method.

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