#obgyn

"Engineers at the University of Pennsylvania have made a critical breakthrough that promises better outcomes for pregnancies threatened with pre-eclampsia, a condition that arises due to insufficient blood flow to the placenta, resulting in high maternal blood pressure and restricted blood flow to the fetus.

Pre-eclampsia is one of the leading causes of stillbirths and prematurity worldwide, and it occurs in 3 to 5% of pregnancies. Without a cure, options for these patients only treat symptoms, such as taking blood pressure medication, being on bed rest, or delivering prematurely—regardless of the viability of their baby.

Making a decision to treat pre-eclampsia in any manner can be a moral conundrum, to balance many personal health decisions with long-standing impacts—and for Kelsey Swingle, a doctoral student in the UPenn bioengineering lab, these options are not enough.

In previous research, she conducted a successful proof-of-concept study that examined a library of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs)—which are the delivery molecules that helped get the mRNA of the COVID vaccine into cells—and their ability to reach the placenta in pregnant mice.

In her latest study, published in Nature, Swingle examined 98 different LNPs and their ability to get to the placenta and decrease high blood pressure and increase vasodilation in pre-eclamptic pregnant mice.

Her work shows that the best LNP for the job was one that resulted in more than 100-fold greater mRNA delivery to the placenta in pregnant mice than an FDA-approved LNP formulation.

The drug worked.

“Our LNP was able to deliver an mRNA therapeutic that reduced maternal blood pressure through the end of gestation and improved fetal health and blood circulation in the placenta,” says Swingle.

“Additionally, at birth we saw an increase in litter weight of the pups, which indicates a healthy mom and healthy babies. I am very excited about this work and its current stage because it could offer a real treatment for pre-eclampsia in human patients in the very near future.”

While further developing this cure for pre-eclampsia and getting it to the market for human use is on the horizon for the research team, Swingle had to start from scratch to make this work possible. She first had to lay the groundwork to run experiments using pregnant mice and determine how to induce pre-eclampsia in this animal model, processes that are not as well studied.

But, by laying this groundwork, Swingle’s work has not only identified an avenue for curing pre-eclampsia, it also opens doors for research on LNP-mRNA therapeutics addressing other reproductive health challenges...

As Swingle thinks ahead for next steps in her research, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, she will also collaborate to further optimize the LNP to deliver the mRNA even more efficiently, as well as understanding the mechanisms of how it gets to the placenta, a question still not fully answered.

They are already in talks about creating a spin-off company and want to work on bringing this LNP-mRNA therapeutic to clinical trials and the market.

Swingle, who is currently finishing up her Ph.D. research, has not only successfully led this new series of studies advancing pre-eclampsia treatment at Penn, she has also inspired other early career researchers in the field as she continues to thrive while bringing women’s health into the spotlight."

pairing: cassie mckay x gn! obgyn! reader W.C: n/a content includes: smau, cassie referring to reader as "girl", mention of sex, goofy texts, brief cursing, brief mention of cassie's ex.

Two days ago. I sat down to try and make the appointment. I called my local hospital, the only place here with an OBGYN department, I get told because I am trans, I have to go through the trans clinic. Thats fine I understand, I get transferred to the Trans clinic. I explain my issue to the trans clinic, they transfer me back to the OBGYN department because what I am dealing with, is WITHIN their department. A different person answers from the first time. I again, explain my issue. I get sent to the Contraceptive and Women's wellness department, they HANG UP ON ME.

I have to repeat, this, because I was getting transferred, I have no idea what happened and what numbers to call. After 2 frustrating hours, and several phone call transfers to different departments. I finally am able to schedule my appointment, WITH THE OBGYN DEPARTMENT. THE FIRST PLACE I CALLED.

They would instantly transfer me because I would bring up I am a trans man.

I am going to my appointment because I need to, but I am, apprehensive on how I am going to be treated.

I shouldn't have to deal with this, why must i experience so much frustrations to simply make a fucking doctors appointment.

This is androqueerphobia.

This is asking realistically, who are you willing to have an ob/gyn appointment with? There's no "I'd prefer a trans/nonbinary ob/gyn but it's not a dealbreaker" option because there aren't enough trans/nonbinary doctors to make it a realistic choice for most people– imagine you're searching your local medical network for a new provider. The "will only go to a trans/nonbinary ob/gyn" option here means that if you can't find an ob/gyn who's trans or nonbinary, you simply won't go to one at all.

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