Factors affecting asthma control in pregnancy: A cross-sectional study.

Background and Objective: Asthma control in pregnant women remains of utmost importance; suboptimal control can have adverse repercussions on both fetal and maternal health. The objective was to identify the factors that affect asthma control in pregnant Pakistani women presenting to a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional research was conducted at KRL General Hospital between 1st November 2022 to 30th April 2023. Non-probability technique was used to sample one hundred and forty-five pregnant women with confirmed bronchial asthma irrespective of their trimester presented. Data regarding demographics and factors affecting asthma control was collected. Results: The mean age was 30.39 ± 4.33 years, with two-thirds (65%) being multiparous. Approximately 48% of participants were non-compliant with treatment, and less than 40% achieved adequate asthma control. A chi-squared test applied showed that multiparity (p = 0.003), treatment compliance (p < 0.001), BMI (p < 0.001), and proper inhaler technique (p < 0.001) were statistically significant factors affecting asthma control in pregnant women while, the level of education and household income did not exhibit a significant association. Multiple regression analysis qualified higher BMI, multiparity, treatment compliance, and inhaler technique as significant predictors of asthma control amongst pregnant women. Conclusion: Ensuring asthma control during pregnancy is important. This study identified BMI, multiparity, inhaler technique, and treatment compliance as factors that affect asthma control in pregnant women. Addressing these factors through regular antenatal check-ups can significantly mitigate risks and promote the optimal health of both maternal and fetal lives.

Associations of parity and cognitive decline, depression, and chronic comorbidity in West China: Results from WCHAT study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations between parity (the number of offspring a female has borne) and cognitive function, depression, and chronic comorbidity in Western China. METHODS: A total of 846 women aged 50-55 years were included in the current analysis. Cognitive status was measured using a 10-item short portable mental status questionnaire (SPMSQ). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 15-item geriatric depression scale (GDS-15). Other characteristics were self-reported. The associations between parity and cognitive decline, depression, and chronic comorbidity were analyzed using univariable and multivariable models. Multivariable models were adjusted for age, ethnic group, occupation, marital status, educational level, lifestyle factors, and sleeping time. RESULTS: Among the enrolled women, 26.71% were either childless or had one child, 47.40% had two children, 18.32% had three children, and 7.57% had ≥4 children. Compared to women with low parity, women with two or more children exhibited a higher risk of cognitive decline. Moreover, having four or more children was significantly associated with depression and chronic comorbidity. After adjusting covariates, women with three or more children exhibited a higher risk of cognitive decline than those with low parity. However, high parity was not significantly associated with depression or chronic comorbidity after adjustment for covariates. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that ≥3 children was associated with cognitive decline in women. Longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate this conclusion and to investigate the mechanisms involved. More importantly, families and societies should pay more attention to women's long-term health outcomes related to fertility.

Is Vaginal Laxity Associated with Vaginal Parity and Mode of Delivery?

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Vaginal laxity (VL) is a common symptom of pelvic floor dysfunction. Although VL has become a frequent topic for research in the last decade, its pathogenesis is still not well understood. The objective was to determine whether vaginal parity or mode of delivery is associated with vaginal laxity. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study involving women seen in a tertiary urogynecology clinic between May 2016 and November 2018 with symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction. Patients underwent a standardized interview, clinical examination (POP-Q), and four-dimensional (4D) pelvic floor ultrasound (PFUS). Data regarding vaginal parity and the mode of delivery were based on patient-reported information. Archived 4D-PFUS volumes were analyzed offline to evaluate levator hiatal area on Valsalva. RESULTS: Data from 1,051 patients were analyzed. VL was reported by 236 women (23%) who were younger on average (mean age 54 vs 59 years, p < 0.001) and less likely to be menopausal (530 out of 815 [65.0%] vs.129 out of 236 [54.7%]), p = 0.004]. Symptoms of prolapse were much more common in the VL group (214 out of 236 [91%] vs 316 out of 815 [39%], p = < 0.001) and on imaging mean levator hiatal area (HA) on Valsalva was larger (31 vs 26 cm2, p = 0.01). Vaginal parity was associated with VL symptoms (235 out of 236 [99%] vs 767 out of 815 [94%], p = 0.008), but neither VL prevalence nor bother increased with higher parity. Women who delivered vaginally were three times more likely to complain of VL than those who delivered only by cesarean section. CONCLUSIONS: Vaginal laxity was found to be more prevalent in vaginally parous women. This effect seems to be largely attributable to the first delivery. Instrumental delivery was not shown to increase association with VL compared with normal vaginal delivery.

Unmutated RRAS2 emerges as a key oncogene in post-partum-associated triple negative breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women, with triple negative BC (TNBC) accounting for 20% of cases. While early detection and targeted therapies have improved overall life expectancy, TNBC remains resistant to current treatments. Although parity reduces the lifetime risk of developing BC, pregnancy increases the risk of developing TNBC for years after childbirth. Although numerous gene mutations have been associated with BC, no single gene alteration has been identified as a universal driver. RRAS2 is a RAS-related GTPase rarely found mutated in cancer. METHODS: Conditional knock-in mice were generated to overexpress wild type human RRAS2 in mammary epithelial cells. A human sample cohort was analyzed by RT-qPCR to measure RRAS2 transcriptional expression and to determine the frequency of both a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP rs8570) in the 3'UTR region of RRAS2 and of genomic DNA amplification in tumoral and non-tumoral human BC samples. RESULTS: Here we show that overexpression of wild-type RRAS2 in mice is sufficient to develop TNBC in 100% of females in a pregnancy-dependent manner. In human BC, wild-type RRAS2 is overexpressed in 68% of tumors across grade, location, and molecular type, surpassing the prevalence of any previously implicated alteration. Still, RRAS2 overexpression is notably higher and more frequent in TNBC and young parous patients. The increased prevalence of the alternate C allele at the SNP position in tumor samples, along with frequent RRAS2 gene amplification in both tumors and blood of BC patients, suggests a cause-and-effect relationship between RRAS2 overexpression and breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Higher than normal expression of RRAS2 not bearing activating mutations is a key driver in the majority of breast cancers, especially those of the triple-negative type and those linked to pregnancy.

Maternal APOE ε2 as a possible risk factor for elevated prenatal Pb levels.

Lead (Pb) is a global contaminant associated with multiple adverse health effects. Humans are especially vulnerable during critical developmental stages. During pregnancy, exposure to Pb can occur through diet and release from maternal bones. Apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) variants (ɛ2, ɛ3, ɛ4 alleles) may influence sex steroid hormones, bone metabolism, and Pb kinetics. We examined the interplay among maternal APOE (mAPOE) genotypes, fetal sex, parity, and Pb in maternal and cord blood (mB-Pb, CB-Pb) using linear regression models. Our study involved 817 pregnant women and 772 newborns with measured adequate levels of zinc and selenium. We compared carriers of the ε2 and ε4 alleles to those with the ε3/ε3 genotype. The geometric means (range) of mB-Pb and CB-Pb were 11.1 (3.58-87.6) and 9.31 (1.82-47.0) ng/g, respectively. In cases with female fetuses, the maternal mAPOE ε2 allele was associated with higher, while the mAPOE ε4 allele was associated with lower mB-Pb and CB-Pb levels. Nulliparity increased the strength of the observed associations. These findings highlight the significance of mAPOE genetics, fetal sex, and parity in prenatal Pb kinetics. Notably, the maternal ε2 allele may increase the risk of Pb exposure.

Perinatal outcomes in grand multiparous women stratified by parity- A large multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of each additional delivery among grand multiparous (GMP) women on maternal and neonatal outcomes. METHODS: A multi-center retrospective cohort study that examined maternal and neonatal outcomes of GMP women (parity 5-10, analyzed separately for each parity level) compared to a reference group of multiparous women (parity 2-4). The study population included grand multiparous women with singleton gestation who delivered in one of four university-affiliated obstetrical centers in a single geographic area, between 2003 and 2021. We excluded nulliparous, those with parity > 10 (due to small sample sizes), women with previous cesarean deliveries (CDs), multifetal gestations, and out-of-hospital deliveries. The primary outcome of this study was postpartum hemorrhage (PPH, estimated blood loss exceeding 1000 ml, and/or requiring blood product transfusion, and/or a hemoglobin drop > 3 g/Dl). Secondary outcomes included unplanned cesarean deliveries, preterm delivery, along with other adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Univariate analysis was followed by multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: During the study period, 251,786 deliveries of 120,793 patients met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Of those, 173,113 (69%) were of parity 2-4 (reference group), 27,894 (11%) were of parity five, 19,146 (8%) were of parity six, 13,115 (5%) were of parity seven, 8903 (4%) were of parity eight, 5802 (2%) were of parity nine and 3813 (2%) were of parity ten. GMP women exhibited significantly higher rates of PPH starting from parity eight. The adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were 1.19 (95 % CI: 1.06-1.34) for parity 8, 1.17 (95 % CI: 1.01-1.36) for parity 9, and 1.39 (95 % CI: 1.18-1.65) for parity 10. Additionally, they showed elevated rates of several maternal and neonatal outcomes, including placental abruption, large-for-gestational age (LGA) neonates, neonatal hypoglycemia, and neonatal seizures. Conversely, they exhibited decreased risk for other adverse maternal outcomes, including preterm deliveries, unplanned cesarean deliveries (CDs), vacuum-assisted delivery, and third- or fourth-degree perineal tears and small-for-gestational age (SGA) neonates. The associations with neonatal hypoglycemia, and neonatal seizure were correlated with the number of deliveries in a dose-dependent manner, demonstrating that each additional delivery was associated with an additional, significant impact on obstetrical complications. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that parity 8-10 is associated with a significantly increased risk of PPH. Parity level > 5 correlated with increased odds of placental abruption, LGA neonates, neonatal hypoglycemia, and neonatal seizures. However, GMP women also demonstrated a reduced likelihood of certain adverse maternal outcomes, including unplanned cesarean, preterm deliveries, vacuum-assisted deliveries, SGA neonates, and severe perineal tears. These findings highlight the importance of tailored obstetrical care for GMP women to mitigate the elevated risks associated with higher parity.

Parity, infertility, age at first birth and risk of atrial fibrillation: data from the HUNT study.

AIMS: Although parity, infertility, and age at first birth are important for later development of cardiovascular disease, research on their association with atrial fibrillation (AF) is limited. METHODS: We linked data from the population-based HUNT study, the Medical Birth Registry of Norway (MBRN) and validated medical records from local hospitals. A total of 24,015 women aged 45 years or older were followed for verified incident AF. Parity and age at first birth were retrieved from the MBRN or from self-reported questionnaires in the HUNT. History of infertility was self-reported on the HUNT questionnaire. Cox-proportional hazard models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) for the multivariable-adjusted associations of parity, infertility, and age at first birth with risk of AF. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 12.8 years, 1,448 (6.0%) participants developed AF. Women with higher parity (four or more births vs. two births) were at 21% higher risk of AF (HR 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05-1.39). History of infertility was also associated with risk of AF (HR 1.20, 95% CI, 1.02-1.42). Among parous women, younger age at first birth (<20 years vs. 20-29 years) was associated with a 20% higher risk of AF (HR 1.20, 95% CI, 1.03-1.40). CONCLUSION: Women with four or more births, or a history of infertility, or younger age at first birth have approximately a 20% higher risk of AF among women over 45 years old.

A higher number of births and younger age at first birth are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, there is limited evidence on the associations between parity, age at first birth and atrial fibrillation (AF). Moreover, the association between infertility and AF remains largely unexplored. We have investigated the association between parity, infertility, age at first birth and AF in the population-based cohort from Norway (the HUNT study) among women over 45 years old. Our findings reveal that women with four or more births, or a history of infertility, or younger age at first birth have approximately a 20% higher risk of AF.

Reproductive factors and their association with physical and comprehensive frailty in middle-aged and older women: a large-scale population-based study.

STUDY QUESTION: Are women's reproductive factors associated with physical frailty and comprehensive frailty in middle-age and later life? SUMMARY ANSWER: Early menarche at <13 years, age at menopause <45 years, surgical menopause, experiencing miscarriage and a shorter reproductive period of <35 years were associated with increased odds of frailty, while having two or three children was related to decreased likelihood of frailty. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Evidence has shown that women are frailer than men in all age groups and across different populations, although women have longer lifespans. Female-specific reproductive factors may be related to risk of frailty in women. STUDY DESIGN SIZE DURATION: A population-based cross-sectional study involved 189 898 women from the UK Biobank. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS SETTING METHODS: Frailty phenotype and frailty index were used to assess physical frailty and comprehensive frailty (assessed using 38 health indicators for physical and mental wellbeing), respectively. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CI between reproductive factors and likelihood of physical frailty and comprehensive frailty. Restricted cubic spline models were used to test the non-linear associations between them. In addition, we examined the combined effect of categorized age at menopause and menopause hormone therapy (MHT) on frailty. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: There was a J-shape relationship between age at menarche, reproductive period, and frailty; age at menarche <13 years and >16 years, and reproductive period <35 years or >40 years were all associated with increased odds of frailty. There was a negative linear relationship between menopausal age (either natural or surgical) and odds of frailty. Surgical menopause was associated with 30% higher odds of physical frailty (1.34, 1.27-1.43) and 30% higher odds of comprehensive frailty (1.30, 1.25-1.35). Having two or three children was linked to the lowest likelihood of physical frailty (0.48, 0.38-0.59) and comprehensive frailty (0.72, 0.64-0.81). Experiencing a miscarriage increased the odds of frailty. MHT use was linked to increased odds of physical frailty in women with normal age at natural menopause (after 45 years), while no elevated likelihood was observed in women with early natural menopause taking MHT. LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION: The reproductive factors were self-reported and the data might be subject to recall bias. We lacked information on the types and initiation time of MHT, could not identify infertile women who later became pregnant, and the number of infertile women may be underestimated. Individuals participating in the UK Biobank are not representative of the general UK population, limiting the generalization of our findings. WIDER IMPLICATION OF THE FINDINGS: The reproductive factors experienced by women throughout their life course can potentially predict frailty in middle and old age. Identifying these reproductive factors as potential predictors of frailty can inform healthcare providers and policymakers about the importance of considering a woman's reproductive history when assessing their risk for frailty. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFC2703800), National Natural Science Foundation of China (82273702), Science Fund Program for Excellent Young Scholars of Shandong Province (Overseas) (2022HWYQ-030), Taishan Scholars Project Special Fund (No. tsqnz20221103), and the Qilu Young Scholar (Tier-1) Program (202099000066). All authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

New quantum LDPC codes based on projective geometry.

With the progress in techniques for correcting errors in quantum computing, quantum low density parity check (QLDPC) codes have gained increasing significance within the field of quantum error correction. This paper focuses on different strategies for the construction of QLDPC codes, which are based on all points and lines as well as partial points and lines from projective geometry. Finally, a series of simulation analyses are presented.

Characterization of Removal Reasons for Nurse Sows and the Associated Removal Due to Their Extended Lactation Length in Hyperprolific Farrow-Wean Herds.

This study aimed to characterize and quantify reasons for the removal of nurse sows and identify the removal associated with their extended lactation length (ELL). A total of 100,756 removed nurse sows within a period of 2016-2022 from 53 sow herds in the Midwest USA were analyzed. Reproductive failure was the most common removal reason (χ2 = 8748.421, p < 0.001) affecting P1, P2, and P3 nurse sows. Failure to conceive and absence of estrus were the main causes of reproductive failure (χ2 = 352.480, p < 0.001) affecting P1 and P2 nurse sows and P1 and P5 nurse sows, respectively. When P2 and P6 nurse sows had an ELL of 0-7 d, they faced a high chance (χ2 = 13.312, p = 0.021) of removal due to conception failure and failure to return to heat, respectively. When P2 and P5 nurse sows had an ELL of 8-14 d, they were highly vulnerable (χ2 = 59.847, p < 0.001) to removal due to failure to conceive and showing heat, respectively. Finally, when ELL was at 15-21 days, P4 and P5 nurse sows were more likely (χ2 = 41.751, p < 0.001) to be removed due to failure to express heat, whereas at the same time, P2 and P3 nurse sows experienced the same removal threat due to failing to conceive. These results could help producers manage nurse sow systems.

A Narrative Review of the Role of Estrogen (Receptors) in Melanoma.

In this narrative review, we attempt to provide an overview of the evidence regarding the role of estrogen (receptors) in cutaneous melanoma (CM). We reviewed 68 studies and 4 systematic reviews and meta-analyses published from 2002 up to and including 2022. The prevailing presence of estrogen receptor ß (ERß) instead of estrogen receptor α (ERα) in CM is notable, with ERß potentially playing a protective role and being less frequently detected in progressive cases. While men with CM generally experience a less favorable prognosis, this distinction may become negligible with advancing age. The role of oral contraceptives (OC) and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in CM remains controversial. However, recent studies tend to associate the use of these exogenous hormones with a heightened risk of CM, mostly only when using estrogen therapy and not in combination with progesterone. On the contrary, the majority of studies find no substantial influence of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment on CM risk. Reproductive factors, including younger age at first childbirth, higher parity, and shorter reproductive life, show conflicting evidence, with some studies suggesting a lower CM risk. We suggest an important role for estrogens in CM. More research is needed, but the integration of estrogens and targeting the estrogen receptors in melanoma therapy holds promise for future developments in the field.

The Interplay between Tunneling and Parity Violation in Chiral Molecules.

In this review, the concepts of quantum tunneling and parity violation are introduced in the context of chiral molecules. A particle moving in a double well potential provides a good model to study the behavior of chiral molecules, where the left well and right well represent the L and R enantiomers, respectively. If the model considers the quantum behavior of matter, the concept of quantum tunneling emerges, giving place to stereomutation dynamics between left- and right-handed chiral molecules. Parity-violating interactions, like the electroweak one, can be also considered, making possible the existence of an energy difference between the L and R enantiomers, the so-called parity-violating energy difference (PVED). Here we provide a brief account of some theoretical methods usually employed to calculate this PVED, also commenting on relevant experiments devoted to experimentally detect the aforementioned PVED in chiral molecules. Finally, we comment on some ways of solving the so-called Hund's paradox, with emphasis on mean-field theory and decoherence.

Variations in colostrum metabolite profiles in association with sow parity.

Information about the full spectrum of metabolites present in porcine colostrum and factors that influence metabolite abundances is still incomplete. Parity number appears to modulate the concentration of single metabolites in colostrum. This study aimed to 1) characterize the metabolome composition and 2) assess the effect of parity on metabolite profiles in porcine colostrum. Sows (n = 20) were divided into three parity groups: A) sows in parity 1 and 2 (n = 8), B) sows in parity 3 and 4 (n = 6), and C) sows in parity 5 and 6 (n = 6). Colostrum was collected within 12 h after parturition. A total of 125 metabolites were identified using targeted reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and anion-exchange chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. Gas chromatography additionally identified 19 fatty acids (FAs). Across parities, colostrum was rich in creatine and creatinine, 1,3-dioleyl-2-palmitatoylglycerol, 1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-oleoylglycerol, and sialyllactose. Alterations in colostrum concentrations were found for eight metabolites among parity groups (P < 0.05) but the effects were not linear. For instance, colostrum from parity group C comprised 75.4% more valine but 15.7%, 34.1%, and 47.9% less citric, pyruvic, and pyroglutamic acid, respectively, compared to group A (P < 0.05). By contrast, colostrum from parity group B contained 39.5% more spermidine than from group A (P < 0.05). Of the FAs, C18:1, C16:0, and C18:2 n6 were the main FAs across parities. Parity affected four FAs (C18:3n3, C14:1, C17:0ai, and C17:1), including 43.1% less α-linolenic acid (C18:3n3) in colostrum from parity group C compared to groups A and B (P < 0.05). Signature feature ranking identified 1-stearoyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine and the secondary bile acid hyodeoxycholic acid as the most discriminative metabolites, showing a higher variable importance in the projection score in colostrum from parity group A than from groups B and C. Overall, results provided a comprehensive overview about the metabolome composition of sow colostrum. The consequences of the changes in colostrum metabolites with increasing parity for the nutrient supply of the piglets should be investigated in the future. The knowledge gained in this study could be used to optimize feeding strategies for sows.

Association between Age at First Birth and Long-Term Dental Caries Experience among Women in the United States.

Background: Pregnant women are at a higher risk of caries compared to nonpregnant women, and higher parity is a risk factor for untreated caries and tooth loss. However, it is unknown whether the timing of birth is associated with dental caries experience over time. Materials and Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2011-2018. The study population included nonpregnant women 20 years of age or older, who had available data on the oral health examination and age at first birth (AFB). Dental caries experience was defined as the DMFT score (sum of the number of decayed, missing due to caries, and filled permanent teeth). The associations between AFB and DMFT scores were assessed using Poisson regression to compute incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and the associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: This study included 6,553 women (mean age 53.4 years, SD 15.7). The mean DMFT index score was 13.1 ± 7.4, with younger AFB groups generally having higher mean scores. After adjusting for sociodemographic variables, time since last dental visit, and reproductive health factors, women with an AFB of <18 years (IRR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01-1.21) or 18-20 years (IRR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.01-1.21) had significantly higher DMFT index scores compared to those with an AFB of 30-32 years. Conclusions: This study suggests that younger maternal AFB may be associated with greater dental caries experience. More rigorous studies are necessary to determine how to improve oral health outcomes during pregnancy and postpartum.

The impact of providing care for physical health in severe mental illness on informal carers: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: People with severe mental illness (SMI) such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are at a substantially higher risk of premature death in that they die between 10 and 20 years earlier than the general population. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes are the main potentially avoidable contributors to early death. Research that explores the experiences of people with SMI highlights their struggles in engaging with health professionals and accessing effective and timely interventions for physical health conditions. A consequence of such struggles to navigate and access physical healthcare results in many people with SMI relying heavily on support provided by informal carers (e.g., family members, close friends). Despite this, the experiences of informal carers, and the roles they undertake in relation to supporting the physical health and psychotropic medication use of people with SMI, remains under-researched. AIMS: To explore the impacts of providing care for physical health in severe mental illness on informal carers. METHOD: Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with eight informal carers of people with SMI in United Kingdom (UK) national health services. RESULTS: Informal carers played an active part in the management of the patient's conditions and shared their illness experience. Involvement of informal carers was both emotional and practical and informal carers' own lives were affected in ways that were sometimes deeply profound. Informal carers were involved in both 'looking after' the patient from the perspective of doing practical tasks such as collecting dispensed medication from a community pharmacy (caring for) and managing feelings and emotions (caring about). CONCLUSIONS: Providing care for the physical health of someone with SMI can be understood as having two dimensions - 'caring for' and 'caring about'. The findings suggest a bidirectional relationship between these two dimensions, and both have a cost for the informal carer. With appropriate support informal carers could be more actively involved at all stages of care without increasing their burden. This should be with an awareness that carers may minimise the information they share about their own needs and impacts of their role to spare the person they care and themselves any distress.

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.

Identifying conceptual neural responses to symbolic numerals.

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.

Gender Disparity in Leading Authorship of Critical Care Clinical Trials: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

In critical care medicine, research trials serve as crucial avenues for disseminating knowledge, influencing clinical practices, and fostering innovation. Notably, a significant gender imbalance exists within this field, potentially mirrored in the authorship of critical care research. This study aimed to investigate an exploration to ascertain the presence and extent of female representation in first and senior authorship roles within critical care literature. To this end, a systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases for original articles published up to February 2024, coupled with a methodological quality assessment via the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and statistical analyses through Review Manager software (RevMan, version 5.4.1, The Cochrane Collaboration, 2020). The study's findings, distilled from seven studies included in the final analysis, reveal a pronounced gender disparity. Specifically, in critical care literature examining mixed populations, female first authors were significantly less common than their male counterparts, with an odds ratio (OR) of 4.25 (95% confidence interval (CI): 3.18-5.68; p < 0.00001). Conversely, pediatric critical care studies did not show a significant difference in gender distribution among first authors (OR: 1.37; 95% CI: 0.31-6.10; p = 0.68). The investigation also highlighted a stark underrepresentation of female senior authors in critical care research across both mixed (OR: 11.67; 95% CI: 7.76-17.56; p < 0.00001) and pediatric populations (OR: 5.41; 95% CI: 1.88-15.56; p = 0.002). These findings underscore the persistent underrepresentation of women in critical care literature authorship and their slow progression into leadership roles, as evidenced by the disproportionately low number of female senior authors.

Effects of Parity and Somatic Cell Count Threshold on Udder Morphology, Milkability Traits, and Milk Quality in Canarian Goats.

The effects of parity and somatic cell count in milk (SCC) threshold on the udder morphology, milkability traits, and milk composition was evaluated in 41 Canarian goats in mid-lactation. The animals were divided according to parity (1st, 2nd, and 3rd), and a SCC threshold of 2000 × 103 cells/mL in milk was set to evaluate the effect of this factor on the different measured parameters. Results showed that primiparous goats had the udder smaller and less distended than multiparous goats, but no differences were detected on milk flow parameters. Furthermore, SCC and total bacterial count (TBC) tended to be higher when the parity increased. On the other hand, goats with SCC ≤ 2000 × 103 had higher cistern-floor distance (CF) and lower TBC values compared with those goats with a count above the predetermined threshold. The results suggest that a reduction in SCC can be achieved by a selection of udder morphological traits. Moreover, milk flow parameters do not seem to be a tool to determine the udder health status in Canarian goats, but long-term studies are needed to verify it.

Pregnancy-induced oxidative stress and inflammation are not associated with impaired maternal neuronal activity or memory function.

Pregnancy is associated with neural and behavioral plasticity, systemic inflammation, and oxidative stress, yet the impact of inflammation and oxidative stress on maternal neural and behavioral plasticity during pregnancy is unclear. We hypothesized that healthy pregnancy transiently reduces learning and memory and these deficits are associated with pregnancy-induced elevations in inflammation and oxidative stress. Cognitive performance was tested with novel object recognition (recollective memory), Morris water maze (spatial memory), and open field (anxiety-like) behavior tasks in female Sprague-Dawley rats of varying reproductive states [nonpregnant (nulliparous), pregnant (near term), and 1-2 mo after pregnancy (primiparous); n = 7 or 8/group]. Plasma and CA1 proinflammatory cytokines were measured with a MILLIPLEX magnetic bead assay. Plasma oxidative stress was measured via advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) assay. CA1 markers of oxidative stress, neuronal activity, and apoptosis were quantified via Western blot analysis. Our results demonstrate that CA1 oxidative stress-associated markers were elevated in pregnant compared with nulliparous rats (P ≤ 0.017) but there were equivalent levels in pregnant and primiparous rats. In contrast, reproductive state did not impact CA1 inflammatory cytokines, neuronal activity, or apoptosis. Likewise, there was no effect of reproductive state on recollective or spatial memory. Even so, spatial learning was impaired (P ≤ 0.007) whereas anxiety-like behavior (P ≤ 0.034) was reduced in primiparous rats. Overall, our data suggest that maternal hippocampal CA1 is protected from systemic inflammation but vulnerable to peripartum oxidative stress. Peripartum oxidative stress elevations, such as in pregnancy complications, may contribute to peripartum neural and behavioral plasticity.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Healthy pregnancy is associated with elevated maternal systemic and brain oxidative stress. During postpregnancy, brain oxidative stress remains elevated whereas systemic oxidative stress is resolved. This sustained maternal brain oxidative stress is associated with learning impairments and decreased anxiety-like behavior during the postpregnancy period.