Does gender still matter in the pursuit of a career in anaesthesia?

A survey sent to fellows of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) aimed to document issues affecting gender equity in the anaesthesia workplace. A response rate of 38% was achieved, with women representing a greater proportion of respondents (64.2%). On average women worked fewer hours than men and spent a larger percentage of time in public practice; however, satisfaction rates were similar between genders. There was a gender pay gap which could not be explained by the number of hours worked or years since achieving fellowship. The rates of bullying and harassment were high among all genders and have not changed in 20 years since the first gender equity survey by Strange Khursandi in 1998. Women perceived that they were more likely to be discriminated against particularly in the presence of other sources of discrimination, and highlighted the importance of the need for diversity and inclusion in anaesthetic workplaces. Furthermore, women reported higher rates of caregiving and unpaid domestic responsibilities, confirming that anaesthetists are not immune to the factors affecting broader society despite our professional status. The overall effect was summarised by half of female respondents reporting that they felt their gender was a barrier to a career in anaesthesia. While unable to be included in statistics due to low numbers, non-binary gendered anaesthetists responded and must be included in all future work. The inequities documented here are evidence that ANZCA's gender equity subcommittee must continue promoting and implementing policies in workplaces across Australia and New Zealand.

Are common childhood or adolescent infections risk factors for schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders?

Postnatal infection may represent a preventable risk factor for onset of psychotic disorders in adolescence and early adulthood. The mechanism of action is likely to involve site-directed triggering of the brain's innate immune system, mediated principally through localised activation of microglial cells. This triggering may occur in response to systemic inflammatory stimuli, without direct involvement of the central nervous system. Microglial activation can represent a primary response or a secondary phenomenon at sites made vulnerable by prior injury; that is, areas containing previously activated microglia will respond more strongly to a new stimulus. The presence of activated microglia is indicative of a recent insult or active disease. It is not characteristic of long-established neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Activated microglia, acting through a variety of cytokine and other signal systems, have the capacity to significantly interfere with synaptic turnover and thus, over time, alter synaptic architecture and function. This pathophysiological path should be investigated more systematically as it may explain a novel "neuroprotective" mode of action for some existing antipsychotic compounds.