Social Media Superpowers in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

This article encourages the obstetrician-gynecologists to use social media platforms to share their wealth of clinical expertise and experience with the public in an engaging and empowering way. Social media is a powerful tool that increases communication, education, and support that can be leveraged to increase comprehension of women's health topics and advocate for our patients, both inside and outside the examination room. Included are tips for physicians on how to harness their social media superpower to connect with patients on social media, build a brand, and network in a meaningful and authentic way.

Pelvic Floor Disorders.

Pelvic floor disorders commonly affect women and may cause distress and difficulty with daily functions and self-image. Urinary incontinence may present as stress incontinence, urgency incontinence, or in some combination (mixed incontinence). Symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse (POP) occurs when the patient is bothered by the sensation of a herniation of the pelvic organs through the vagina. Although POP is often distressing and embarrassing, it is not considered life-threatening unless the patient cannot urinate or defecate. There are numerous ways to treat these conditions, including conservative (including observation), medical, and surgical management.

In vitro biophysical strain model for understanding mechanisms of osteopathic manipulative treatment.

CONTEXT: Normal physiologic movement, pathologic conditions, and osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) are believed to produce effects on the shape and proliferation of human fibroblasts. Studies of biophysically strained fibroblasts would be useful in producing a model of the cellular mechanisms underlying OMT. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of acyclic in vitro biophysical strain on normal human dermal fibroblasts and observe potential changes in cellular shape and proliferation, as well as potential changes in cellular production of nitric oxide, interleukin (IL) 1beta, and IL-6. DESIGN AND METHODS: Randomized controlled trial. Human fibroblasts were subjected in vitro to control conditions (no strain) or biophysical strain of various magnitudes (10%-30% beyond resting length) and durations (12-72 hours). After control or strain stimuli, fibroblasts were analyzed for potential changes in cell shape, proliferative capacity, nitric oxide secretion, and cytokine (IL-1beta, IL-6) secretion. RESULTS: Low strain magnitudes (<20%) induced mild cellular rounding and pseudopodia truncation. High strain magnitudes (>20%) decreased overall cell viability and the mitogenic response, and induced cell membrane decomposition and pseudopodia loss. No basal or strain-induced secretion of IL-1beta was observed. Interleukin 6 concentrations increased two-fold, while nitric oxide levels increased three-fold, in cells strained at 10% magnitude for 72 hours (P<.05). CONCLUSION: Human fibroblasts respond to in vitro strain by secreting inflammatory cytokines, undergoing hyperplasia, and altering cell shape and alignment. The in vitro biophysical strain model developed by the authors is useful for simulating a variety of injuries, determining in vivo mediators of somatic dysfunction, and investigating the underlying mechanisms of OMT.