Traumatic physical health consequences of intimate partner violence against women: what is the role of community-level factors?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a serious public health issue with recognizable direct health consequences. This study assessed the association between IPV and traumatic physical health consequences on women in Nigeria, given that communities exert significant influence on the individuals that are embedded within them, with the nature of influence varying between communities.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cross-sectional nationally-representative data of women aged 15 - 49 years in the 2008 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey was used in this study. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between IPV and several forms of physical health consequences.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Bruises were the most common form of traumatic physical health consequences. In the adjusted models, the likelihood of sustaining bruises (OR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.05 - 3.46), wounds (OR = 2.54, 95% CI = 1.31 - 4.95), and severe burns (OR = 3.20, 95% CI = 1.63 - 6.28) was significantly higher for women exposed to IPV compared to those not exposed to IPV. However, after adjusting for individual- and community-level factors, women with husbands/partners with controlling behavior, those with primary or no education, and those resident in communities with high tolerance for wife beating had a higher likelihood of experiencing IPV, whilst mean community-level education and women 24 years or younger were at lower likelihood of experiencing IPV.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Evidence from this study shows that exposure to IPV is associated with increased likelihood of traumatic physical consequences for women in Nigeria. Education and justification of wife beating were significant community-level factors associated with traumatic physical consequences, suggesting the importance of increasing women's levels of education and changing community norms that justify controlling behavior and IPV.</p

20-Year Risks of Breast-Cancer Recurrence after Stopping Endocrine Therapy at 5 Years

The administration of endocrine therapy for 5 years substantially reduces recurrence rates during and after treatment in women with early-stage, estrogen-receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer. Extending such therapy beyond 5 years offers further protection but has additional side effects. Obtaining data on the absolute risk of subsequent distant recurrence if therapy stops at 5 years could help determine whether to extend treatment

Altered brain ion gradients following compensation for elevated CO2 are linked to behavioural alterations in a coral reef fish

Neurosensory and behavioural disruptions are some of the most consistently reported responses upon exposure to ocean acidification-relevant CO(2) levels, especially in coral reef fishes. The underlying cause of these disruptions is thought to be altered current across the GABA(A) receptor in neuronal cells due to changes in ion gradients (HCO(3)(−) and/or Cl(−)) that occur in the body following compensation for elevated ambient CO(2). Despite these widely-documented behavioural disruptions, the present study is the first to pair a behavioural assay with measurements of relevant intracellular and extracellular acid-base parameters in a coral reef fish exposed to elevated CO(2). Spiny damselfish (Acanthochromis polyacanthus) exposed to 1900 μatm CO(2) for 4 days exhibited significantly increased intracellular and extracellular HCO(3)(−) concentrations and elevated brain pH(i) compared to control fish, providing evidence of CO(2) compensation. As expected, high CO(2) exposed damselfish spent significantly more time in a chemical alarm cue (CAC) than control fish, supporting a potential link between behavioural disruption and CO(2) compensation. Using HCO(3)(−) measurements from the damselfish, the reversal potential for GABA(A) (E(GABA)) was calculated, illustrating that biophysical properties of the brain during CO(2) compensation could change GABA(A) receptor function and account for the behavioural disturbances noted during exposure to elevated CO(2)

MCL-1 is modulated in Crohn's disease fibrosis by miR-29b via IL-6 and IL-8

Crohn’s & Colitis UK (formerly the National Association of Crohn’s and Colitis) [grant number M/10/03]