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Proceedings. Biological Sciences Jun 2024The goal of measuring conceptual processing in numerical cognition is distanced by the possibility that neural responses to symbolic numerals are influenced by physical...
The goal of measuring conceptual processing in numerical cognition is distanced by the possibility that neural responses to symbolic numerals are influenced by physical stimulus confounds. Here, we targeted conceptual responses to parity (even versus odd), using electroencephalogram (EEG) frequency-tagging with a symmetry/asymmetry design. Arabic numerals (2-9) were presented at 7.5 Hz in 50 s sequences; odd and even numbers were alternated to target differential, 'asymmetry' responses to parity at 3.75 Hz (7.5 Hz/2). Parity responses were probed with four different stimulus sets, increasing in intra-numeral stimulus variability, and with two control conditions composed of non-conceptual numeral alternations. Significant asymmetry responses were found over the occipitotemporal cortex to all conditions, even for the arbitrary controls. The large physical-differences control condition elicited the largest response in the stimulus set with the lowest variability (one font). Only in the stimulus set with the highest variability (20 drawn, coloured exemplars/numeral) did the response to parity surpass both control conditions. These findings show that physical differences across small sets of Arabic numerals can strongly influence, and even account for, automatic brain responses. However, carefully designed control conditions and highly variable stimulus sets may be used towards identifying truly conceptual neural responses.
Topics: Humans; Electroencephalography; Male; Female; Adult; Young Adult; Cognition; Mathematics; Photic Stimulation; Brain
PubMed: 38919064
DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0589 -
PloS One 2024Advanced maternal-age pregnancy has become a serious public health problem in both developed and developing countries due to adverse birth outcomes for the mother,...
BACKGROUND
Advanced maternal-age pregnancy has become a serious public health problem in both developed and developing countries due to adverse birth outcomes for the mother, fetus, or newborn. However, there are limited studies conducted to identify determinants of advanced-age pregnancy in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess individual and community-level determinants of advanced age pregnancy in Ethiopia.
METHODS
This study was based on 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey data. Three thousand two hundred ninety-two weighted samples of pregnant women were included in this analysis. A multilevel logistic regression model was conducted to assess the determinants of advanced-age pregnancy among the study participants in Ethiopia.
RESULTS
maternal age at first birth (AOR = 4.05, 95% CI: 1.77-9.22), level of maternal education [primary education 2.72 times (AOR = 2.27, 95 CI: 1.55-4.76) and secondary and above education (AOR = 5.65, 95% CI: 1.77-17.70)], having a history of alcohol (AOR = 11.8, 95% CI: 5.71-24.42), parity (AOR = 3.22, 95% CI: 2.69-3.84), number of household member (AOR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.05-1.41), family planning unmet need for spacing of pregnancy (AOR = 4.79, 95% CI: 2.63-8.74), having sons/daughters elsewhere (AOR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.22-2.94), had higher community poverty level (AOR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.16-4.85), those had higher community unmet need for family planning (AOR = 5.19, 95% CI: 2.72-9.92) were more likely to have advanced age pregnancy. Whereas Living in an Emerging region (AOR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.14-0.59) and living in a metropolitan city (AOR = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.03-0.38), were less likely to have advanced age pregnancy.
CONCLUSIONS
increased Maternal age at first birth, level of maternal education, history of alcohol drinking, increased number of parity and household members, family planning unmet need for spacing, had sons/daughters elsewhere, had higher community poverty level, those had higher community unmet need for family planning positively, whereas living in the emerging region and living in metropolitan's city was negatively affect advanced age pregnancy. Help women to have informed decision-making and create platforms to women have special care during this age of pregnancy. Empower women on family planning and socioeconomic status.
Topics: Humans; Female; Ethiopia; Pregnancy; Adult; Maternal Age; Health Surveys; Young Adult; Adolescent; Middle Aged; Socioeconomic Factors; Educational Status; Demography; Logistic Models; Parity
PubMed: 38917226
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304954 -
Military Medicine Jun 2024Human milk is associated with positive short- and long-term health outcomes. Women's choice to breastfeed is influenced by personal, social, health, and economic...
INTRODUCTION
Human milk is associated with positive short- and long-term health outcomes. Women's choice to breastfeed is influenced by personal, social, health, and economic factors. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted health care delivery, non-emergent health care services, and family lifestyles, primarily in the early months of 2020. The aim of this study was to determine if breastfeeding initiation rates differed during a global pandemic among women in the military health care system.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This was a cross-sectional chart review study. We compiled all birthing event health records from March to August in 2019 and 2020 from a single military medical center. Of the 2,737 maternal-infant dyads available, 1,463 met complete inclusion criteria and were analyzed to determine associations between delivery year, maternal and infant characteristics, and initial feeding methods. Institutional research approvals were obtained from the university and medical center institutional review boards.
RESULTS
There was no significant association between breastfeeding initiation rates and delivery year (X2(1) = 2.898, P = .089). Some maternal and infant characteristics significantly associated with the feeding method in the logistic regression model and differed by delivery year. Black women were 1.9 times less likely to initiate breastfeeding compared to White women; this disparity became more pronounced in 2020. Multiparous mothers, those who gave birth via cesarean section, and those at earlier gestational ages (32-37 weeks) were less likely to initiate breastfeeding. Models differed by delivery year, with only Black race and cesarean birth significantly impacting the overall model in 2020. Maternal age, military status, military rank, marital status, birth complications, and infant gender were not associated with the feeding method.
CONCLUSIONS
Overall breastfeeding initiation rates did not differ during the COVID-19 pandemic when rates in 2020 were compared to those in the year prior. Race, birth method, parity, and gestational age were associated with breastfeeding initiation rates in women cared for at military centers.
PubMed: 38916937
DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usae321 -
Telemedicine Journal and E-health : the... Jun 2024Strabismus is a common ocular condition requiring precise quantification of gaze deviation and qualification of strabismus category. Telemedicine refers to the use of... (Review)
Review
Strabismus is a common ocular condition requiring precise quantification of gaze deviation and qualification of strabismus category. Telemedicine refers to the use of technology to remotely diagnose and treat medical conditions. This narrative review aimed to assess the efficacy of a variety of telemedicine modalities for the assessment of strabismus. A secondary objective was to quantify overall accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of automated methods using meta-analysis of available data. A literature search was conducted using the Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library data libraries. Keywords, including "strabismus," "phoria," "telemed*," and "telehealth," were used to locate relevant studies, with Medical Subject Headings terms, free text, and synonyms. No year restrictions were applied. Studies not in English were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. Thirty-four studies were included. All outcomes relating to accuracy and reliability of telemedicine versus a reference standard were extracted, as well as qualitative observations. High sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and agreement were consistently shown across studies. Meta-analysis of two subsets featuring automated methods, for which relevant data were available, revealed a pooled accuracy of 0.877 (0.806-0.949), sensitivity of 0.856 (0.805-0.907), and specificity of 0.900 (0.845-0.954). Subcategories "remote standard assessment," "digital image analysis," "wearable devices," "mobile health (mHealth)," and "artificial intelligence" were independently examined. The majority of systems achieved parity with standard physician assessment, with the added benefit of eliminating subjectivity. Meta-analysis results suggest potential introduction of remote automated assessment where conventional assessment is unavailable, although accuracy of current technologies remains limited compared to in-person examination. Telemedicine modalities described offer convenience for patients, shorter examination times, and the potential to go beyond in-person assessments. The evidence gathered in this review supports the beginning of telemedicine integration into the world of strabismus diagnosis.
PubMed: 38916770
DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2024.0115 -
African Journal of Reproductive Health May 2024The incidence of new cases of thyroid cancer worldwide is around 10.1/100.000 in woman dan 3.1/100.000 in men. Women with thyroid cancer are advised to avoid pregnancy...
The incidence of new cases of thyroid cancer worldwide is around 10.1/100.000 in woman dan 3.1/100.000 in men. Women with thyroid cancer are advised to avoid pregnancy while undergoing radioablation due to teratogenicity. Therefore, it is crucial to utilize contraception to avoid pregnancy during treatment. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of contraceptive use patterns in women with thyroid cancer of reproductive age who underwent radioablation at Hasan Sadikin Hospital Bandung.Cross-sectional study conducted at Hasan Sadikin Hospital Bandung in May 2023. The research sample was all female thyroid cancer of reproductive age who underwent radioablation at the Nuclear Medicine polyclinic of Dr. Hasan Sadikin Bandung in January-December 2022 by purposive sampling. Data obtained from patient medical records and primary data from patients. A total of 450 patients fulfilled inclusion criteria, but only 329 analyzed with complete data. Majority of the patient was in age group 35-49 years (58.1%), parity >1 (55.9%), last education high school (39.2%), married (81.8%), type of papillary thyroid carcinoma (79.9%), sources of information about contraception from doctors (71.7%), and 75.4% use contraception. The most widely used type of contraception was intrauterine device (IUD), accounting for 28.6% patients. Approximately 75.4% patient use contraception. The most widely used type of contraception is the IUD. Contraception counselling is important for increasing contraceptive use rates among women with thyroid cancer. Further research in the form of analytical research is needed to assess the factors that influence contraceptive use in women with thyroid cancer of reproductive age.
Topics: Humans; Female; Thyroid Neoplasms; Cross-Sectional Studies; Adult; Middle Aged; Iodine Radioisotopes; Contraception; Contraception Behavior; Pregnancy; Young Adult
PubMed: 38916057
DOI: 10.29063/ajrh2024/v28i5.5 -
Frontiers in Neurology 2024Women can experience various reproductive events, such as pregnancy, childbirth, lactation, and contraception, which cause long-term changes in female hormones. In...
The influence of factors associated with past reproductive histories on migraines in middle-aged premenopausal women: a nationwide population-based study in Republic of Korea.
INTRODUCTION
Women can experience various reproductive events, such as pregnancy, childbirth, lactation, and contraception, which cause long-term changes in female hormones. In middle-aged women, the prevalence of migraine is high, and a clear gender difference is evident. This study investigated the effects of factors associated with past reproductive events on the risk of new migraine in middle-aged premenopausal women.
METHODS
The influence of reproductive factors on migraine in middle-aged women was investigated using the Korean National Health Insurance Service (KNHIS) and Korean Health Examination (KHE) databases. The reproductive factors of interest were parity, breastfeeding, and oral contraceptive (OC) use. The study included 949,704 middle-aged premenopausal women 40-60 years of age. The study population was divided into two groups based on new diagnosis of migraine during the follow-up period (2009-2018).
RESULTS
The risk of new migraine tended to increase in the primiparous (hazard ratio, HR: 1.179; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.137-1.221) and multiparous groups (HR: 1.181; 95% CI: 1.142-1.221) compared with the nulliparous group. The breastfeeding ≥12 months group (HR: 1.071; 95% CI: 1.052-1.091) showed a significantly increased risk of new migraine compared with the non-breastfeeding group. All women in the OC groups (< 1 year, HR: 1.048; 95% CI: 1.028-1.069 and ≥ 1 year, HR: 1.100; 95% CI: 1.067-1.134) showed a higher risk of new migraine than those in the non-OC group.
CONCLUSION
The results of the current study indicate that childbirth, longer breastfeeding, and OC use may be associated with a higher risk of new migraine in middle-aged premenopausal women.
PubMed: 38915802
DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1406443 -
Human Resources For Health Jun 2024Physicians and associate (non-physician) clinicians conduct cesarean sections in Tanzania and Malawi. Urogenital fistulas may occur as complications of cesarean section....
BACKGROUND
Physicians and associate (non-physician) clinicians conduct cesarean sections in Tanzania and Malawi. Urogenital fistulas may occur as complications of cesarean section. Location and circumstances can indicate iatrogenic origin as opposed to ischemic injury following prolonged, obstructed labor.
METHODS
This retrospective review assessed the frequency of iatrogenic urogenital fistulas following cesarean sections conducted by either associate clinicians or physicians in Tanzania and Malawi. It focuses on 325 women with iatrogenic fistulas among 1290 women who had fistulas after cesarean birth in Tanzania and Malawi between 1994 and 2017. An equivalence test compared the proportion of iatrogenic fistulas after cesarean sections performed by associate clinicians and physicians (equivalence margin = 0.135). Logistic regression was used to model the occurrence of iatrogenic fistula after cesarean section, controlling for cadre, date, maternal age, previous abdominal surgery and parity.
RESULTS
Associate clinicians attended 1119/1290 (86.7%) cesarean births leading to fistulas, while physicians attended 171/1290 (13.3%). Iatrogenic fistulas occurred in 275/1119 (24.6%) cesarean births by associate clinicians and in 50/171 (29.2%) cesarean births by physicians. The risk difference and 90% confidence interval were entirely contained within an equivalence margin of 13.5%, supporting a conclusion of equivalence between the two cadres. The odds of iatrogenic fistula after cesarean section were not statistically significantly different between associate clinicians and physicians (aOR 0.90; 95% CI 0.61-1.33).
CONCLUSIONS
Associate clinicians appear equivalent to physicians performing cesarean sections in terms of iatrogenic fistula risk. Lower iatrogenic proportions for associate clinicians could reflect different caseloads. The occurrence of iatrogenic fistulas illustrates the importance of appropriate labor management and cesarean section decision-making, irrespective of health provider cadre. Given the noninferior performance and lower costs of employing associate clinicians, other countries with insufficient and/or unequally distributed health workforces could consider task-shifting cesarean sections to associate clinicians.
Topics: Humans; Female; Cesarean Section; Malawi; Tanzania; Retrospective Studies; Pregnancy; Adult; Iatrogenic Disease; Physicians; Young Adult; Fistula
PubMed: 38915096
DOI: 10.1186/s12960-024-00927-8 -
BMC Primary Care Jun 2024Early post-discharge assessments for newborns are recommended. Virtual care has become more prevalent during the pandemic, providing an opportunity to better understand...
BACKGROUND
Early post-discharge assessments for newborns are recommended. Virtual care has become more prevalent during the pandemic, providing an opportunity to better understand its impact on the quality of post-discharge newborn care. The objective of this study was to understand whether primary care visit modality (in-person vs. virtual) is associated with early newborn hospital readmissions and emergency department (ED) visits.
METHODS
We conducted a population-based, case-control study using linked health administrative databases between September 1, 2020 and March 31, 2022 in Ontario, Canada. We compared the modality of primary care visits among cases (hospital readmission within 14 days of life) and controls (newborns without a readmission), matched on infant sex, gestational age, and maternal parity. We included an alternative definition of cases as a composite of either a newborn hospital readmission or emergency department (ED) visit or in-hospital death within the first 14 days of life. Conditional logistic regression models were used to model odds ratios (ORs), comparing those exposed to a virtual visit versus in-person visit, adjusting for infant birth weight, birth hospitalization length of stay, neighbourhood level material deprivation, rurality and presence of active maternal comorbidities.
RESULTS
Among 73,324 eligible newborns, 2,220 experienced a hospital readmission within 14 days of life and were matched to 8,880 controls. Jaundice was the primary reason for readmission (75% of readmissions). Compared to newborns who were seen in-person post-discharge, newborns who were seen virtually had higher odds of hospital readmission (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.41 (95% CI 1.09, 1.83); the magnitude of effect was not different using the composite outcome (aOR 1.35, 95% CI 1.05, 1.75).
CONCLUSIONS
Newborns who receive a virtual post-discharge visit are more likely than those who receive an in-person visit to require hospital readmission.
Topics: Humans; Patient Readmission; Infant, Newborn; Case-Control Studies; Female; Male; Ontario; Primary Health Care; Emergency Service, Hospital; Telemedicine; Patient Discharge
PubMed: 38914962
DOI: 10.1186/s12875-024-02478-2 -
Journal of Exposure Science &... Jun 2024Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are endocrine-disrupting chemicals used in commercial and consumer products.
BACKGROUND
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are endocrine-disrupting chemicals used in commercial and consumer products.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated PFAS exposure in relation to incidence and growth of uterine leiomyomata (UL), hormone-dependent neoplasms that are associated with severe gynecologic morbidity.
METHODS
We studied 1158 participants in the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids, a Detroit-based prospective cohort study of Black females aged 23-35 years at enrollment (2010-2012). At enrollment and four subsequent visits during 10 years of follow-up, participants attended in-person clinic visits, completed questionnaires, provided non-fasting blood samples, and underwent ultrasound for UL detection. We quantified 7 PFAS in baseline plasma samples using mass spectrometry. We used Cox regression and probit Bayesian kernel machine regression to estimate individual and joint effects of PFAS on UL incidence. We fit linear mixed models to estimate effects of individual PFAS on UL growth. We stratified by parity, an important route of PFAS elimination and determinant of UL.
RESULTS
In individual PFAS analyses, we observed inverse associations for perfluorodecanoate (PFDA; ≥0.3 vs. <0.2 ng/ml: hazard ratio [HR] = 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.54-1.00) and perfluoroundecanoate (detected vs. non-detected: HR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.61-1.01) and a weak positive association for perfluorohexane sulfonate (≥1 vs. <0.6 ng/ml: HR = 1.17; 95% CI: 0.85-1.61), while perfluorooctane sulfonate, perfluorooctanoate, perfluorononanoate (PFNA), and 2-N-methyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetate (MeFOSAA) showed little association with UL incidence. The PFAS mixture was inversely associated with UL incidence, a finding driven by MeFOSAA and PFDA; however, PFNA was positively associated with UL incidence. The inverse association for PFDA and positive association for PFNA were stronger among nulliparous participants. Most PFAS showed slight inverse associations with UL growth.
IMPACT STATEMENT
In this prospective ultrasound study of 1158 Black females aged 23-35 years at enrollment, we conducted a mixtures analysis to account for co-pollutant confounding and interaction. MeFOSAA and PFDA concentrations were inversely associated with UL incidence, while PFNA concentrations were positively associated with UL incidence. Concentrations of most PFAS were associated with decreased UL growth. This study contributes data to the sparse literature on PFAS exposure and UL development.
PubMed: 38914782
DOI: 10.1038/s41370-024-00698-3 -
Translational Animal Science 2024The goal of this project was to determine the effects of a supraphysiological dose of oxytocin given to gilts or multiparous sows 8 to 12 h after the end of farrowing...
The goal of this project was to determine the effects of a supraphysiological dose of oxytocin given to gilts or multiparous sows 8 to 12 h after the end of farrowing on the performance of their progeny. Sows from three parity groups (1 = parity 1; 2 = parities 2, 3, and 4; 3 = parities 5 to 14) received no injection (CTL, controls; = 17, 27, and 23 for parity groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively) or one intramuscular injection of 75 IU of oxytocin (OXY, = 17, 24, and 26 for parity groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively) 8 to 12 h after birth of the last piglet. Colostrum samples were obtained 8 h after oxytocin injection in 18 sows from parity group 2 (CTL, = 10; OXY, = 8). Standard milk composition was measured as well as the Na/K ratio, and IGF-1, IgG, and IgA concentrations. The same sows were used to obtain blood samples from four male piglets of average litter body weight (BW) 8 h post-treatment to measure concentrations of IGF-1, IgG, and IgA. Piglets and sows were weighed at farrowing and weaning (day 21) and sow feed intake and piglet mortality were recorded. There was no effect of OXY on sow or piglet BW at any measured times and percent preweaning piglet mortality was not affected by OXY or parity. First-parity sows had lower BW than multiparous sows at both times (< 0.001), and piglet average daily gain from birth to weaning was greater in parity group 2 compared with first-parity litters (< 0.05). Average daily sow feed intake over the first week of lactation tended to be greater in OXY vs CTL sows ( = 0.07), and multiparous sows consumed more feed than first-parity sows on all weeks of lactation (< 0.001). Eight hours after treatment, there was a tendency for colostral Na to be greater in OXY vs CTL sows (= 0.06), and none of the measured variables in piglet blood were affected by treatment. In conclusion, injecting 75 IU of oxytocin 8 to 12 h after the birth of the last piglet did not prolong the period of colostrogenesis or improve the growth or survival of piglets and this was consistent across parities.
PubMed: 38912414
DOI: 10.1093/tas/txae091