The Impact of Neural Stem Cell Biology on CNS Carcinogenesis and Tumor Types

The incidence of gliomas is on the increase, according to epidemiological data. This increase is a conundrum because the brain is in a privileged protected site behind the blood-brain barrier, and therefore partially buffered from environmental factors. In addition the brain also has a very low proliferative potential compared with other parts of the body. Recent advances in neural stem cell biology have impacted on our understanding of CNS carcinogenesis and tumor types. This article considers the cancer stem cell theory with regard to CNS cancers, whether CNS tumors arise from human neural stem cells and whether glioma stem cells can be reprogrammed

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in U.S. Older Women: Findings from Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, 2003 & 2004

The purpose of this study was to examine racial and ethnic variations in the modifiable CVD risk factors in older women (65 years and older). The study data was drawn from the merged 2003 and 2004 national Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS). Multinomial regression analyses for indicator outcome and multiple logistic regression analyses for binary outcomes were performed to determine the relationship between each of the six dependent variable and the independent variables. Compared to older white women, older black women had significantly higher odds of hypertension, diabetes and obesity. No significant association was found between Hispanics and hypertension. However Hispanics were found to be more likely to have diabetes and no leisure-time physical activity compared to whites. Hispanics were also found to have lower odds of smoking compared to whites. American Indian and Alaskan Native (AIAN) s were found to have significantly higher odds of diabetes and obesity compared to whites. No significant association between AIANs and smoking was found. Overall, there are striking racial and ethnic differences in the CVD risk factors among older U.S women after controlling for socio-economic status. It is evident from these findings that in designing interventions to reduce cardiovascular risks for elderly women, clearly “one size does not fit all.” These findings highlight the need for development and implementation of appropriate public health programs aimed at these various target communities

An Exploratory Study to Assess the Knowledge, Perception, Practice and Factors Influencing Non-adherence to Regular Exercise Regime among Elderly Women in Selected Community of Delhi

Introduction: The profound shift in the proportion of older or elderly Indians, taking place in the context of changing family relationships and limited social support system will bring with it a variety of social, economic and health care policy challenges.Objectives: The primary objective of the study was to assess the Knowledge, Perception and Practice of regular exercise regime among elderly women and to determine the factors influencing regular exercise regime among elderly women.Methods: The quantitative research approach with an exploratory survey research design was selected. 100 elderly women belonging to age group of 60-80 years were selected using purposive sampling technique from Tughlakabad extension, an urban area of Delhi. A structured interview schedule was used to collect the data. The data obtained was tabulated in Microsoft Excel Spread Sheet and was analyzed in terms of objective of the study using descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: The findings revealed that majority of the women were having average knowledge (80%) and good perception (89%) but almost half of them (48%) were having poor practice of regular exercise. The most common reasons for non-adherence to regular exercise regime were that exercise can be replaced with house hold works (71%) and difficulty to find time from busy schedule (67%). Knowledge and perception, knowledge and practice were found to be significantly related. A significant association was observed with knowledge regarding exercise regime and educational status of women whereas practice was found significantly associated with their family income, education and working status.Conclusion: The study findings revealed that although the elderly women had good perception and average knowledge about the regular exercise regime, their practice for the same was poor. It was observed that elderly women had access to public amenities like parks for walking and open gym for practicing different exercises so there is a need for motivation, encouragement and support from the family members and society so that they can utilize these facilities

Persistent Patriarchy: Women Workers on Sri Lankan Plantations

__Abstract__ The early suffragists in the United States had decried the “prolonged slavery of woman” as the “darkest page in human history” with one of the leaders, Susan B. Anthony, stating on Independence Day in 1876 that “Universal manhood suffrage, by establishing an aristocracy of sex, imposes upon the women of this nation a more absolute and cruel despotism than monarchy; in that, woman finds a political master in her father, husband, brother, son” (Stanton et al 1887). While countries all over the world have witnessed progress in gender equality and gender rights since that period, the recent UNDP Human Development Report of 2014 has acknowledged that there is still “no country with perfect gender equality”.1 In Sri Lanka, women on plantations experience much gender discrimination and many gender disadvantages, being ‘slaves’ to men who themselves are ‘slaves’

Study of abnormal liver function tests in pregnancy in a tertiary centre in North Kerala

Background: Abnormal liver function tests in pregnancy require proper evaluation and diagnosis. The underlying disorder can have a significant effect on the outcome of both mother and fetus. The present study was done with the objective to study the clinical profile, incidence and possible causes of derangements of liver function tests.Methods: The pregnant women with abnormal liver function were studied prospectively. All the liver function tests values were studied along with other required tests to identify the cause. The fetal and maternal outcome were also noted.Results: The incidence of abnormal liver function tests was 6.7%. Among these 96% were due to pregnancy specific liver dysfunction mainly due to hypertensive disorders. The mean value of bilirubin was more in infective hepatitis. There were 4 cases of intra uterine deaths and no maternal death.Conclusions: Pregnancy specific disorders are the major cause of abnormal liver function tests in pregnancy especially in the third trimester

Plantation Patriarchy and Structural Violence: Women Workers in Sri Lanka

__Abstract__ Plantation production began in Sri Lanka in the early 19th century under British colonial rule, when the government provided financial incentives and infrastructural support for the commercialisation and export of agricultural crops in line with promoting laissez-faire capitalism. Motivated by the possibility of making high profits, British entrepreneurs, including several officials, took up the large-scale cultivation of initially coffee, and then subsequently, tea, rubber and coconut. Keen to minimise their costs of labour, the planters recruited workers from neighbouring districts of the Madras Presidency in south India where there were large numbers badly affected by the widespread famine and indebtedness in the region. The spread of plantation production in the 19th and 20th centuries resulted in a more permanent workforce, constituting the single largest and organised segment of the working class in the country. While women formed a small proportion of the early pattern of migration, their numbers subsequently increased and, by the 20th century, they comprised half the now permanent workforce on the plantations