390 research outputs found

    Features of designing of social and economic development of municipal formations on the basis of semantic-cognitive modeling

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    In the article features of social and economic development of municipal formations are allocated. It is noted that most of the municipalities on the territory of the Russian Federation are rural settlements. It was concluded that it is difficult to construct an adequate model of socio-economic development with the help of traditional approaches. It is proposed to use semantic modeling to represent the socio economic development of rural settlements, as well as cognitive mapping to identify the many dependencies that arise between indicators that directly affect the socio-economic development of rural settlements

    Recovery of menses after functional hypothalamic amenorrhoea: if, when and why

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    BACKGROUND Prolonged amenorrhoea occurs as a consequence of functional hypothalamic amenorrhoea (FHA) which is most often induced by weight loss, vigorous exercise or emotional stress. Unfortunately, removal of these triggers does not always result in the return of menses. The prevalence and conditions underlying the timing of return of menses vary strongly and some women report amenorrhoea several years after having achieved and maintained normal weight and/or energy balance. A better understanding of these factors would also allow improved counselling in the context of infertility. Although BMI, percentage body fat and hormonal parameters are known to be involved in the initiation of the menstrual cycle, their role in the physiology of return of menses is currently poorly understood. We summarise here the current knowledge on the epidemiology and physiology of return of menses. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE The aim of this review was to provide an overview of (i) factors determining the recovery of menses and its timing, (ii) how such factors may exert their physiological effects and (iii) whether there are useful therapeutic options to induce recovery. SEARCH METHODS We searched articles published in English, French or German language containing keywords related to return of menses after FHA published in PubMed between 1966 and February 2020. Manuscripts reporting data on either the epidemiology or the physiology of recovery of menses were included and bibliographies were reviewed for further relevant literature. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) criteria served to assess quality of observational studies. OUTCOMES Few studies investigate return of menses and most of them have serious qualitative and methodological limitations. These include (i) the lack of precise definitions for FHA or resumption of menses, (ii) the use of short observation periods with unsatisfactory descriptions and (iii) the inclusion of poorly characterised small study groups. The comparison of studies is further hampered by very inhomogeneous study designs. Consequently, the exact prevalence of resumption of menses after FHA is unknown. Also, the timepoint of return of menses varies strongly and reliable prediction models are lacking. While weight, body fat and energy availability are associated with the return of menses, psychological factors also have a strong impact on the menstrual cycle and on behaviour known to increase the risk of FHA. Drug therapies with metreleptin or naltrexone might represent further opportunities to increase the chances of return of menses, but these require further evaluation

    Respiratory and cardiac monitoring at night using a wrist wearable optical system

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    Sleep monitoring provides valuable insights into the general health of an individual and helps in the diagnostic of sleep-derived illnesses. Polysomnography, is considered the gold standard for such task. However, it is very unwieldy and therefore not suitable for long-term analysis. Here, we present a non-intrusive wearable system that, by using photoplethysmography, it can estimate beat-to-beat intervals, pulse rate, and breathing rate reliably during the night. The performance of the proposed approach was evaluated empirically in the Department of Psychology at the University of Fribourg. Each participant was wearing two smart-bracelets from Ava as well as a complete polysomnographic setup as reference. The resulting mean absolute errors are 17.4 ms (MAPE 1.8%) for the beat-to-beat intervals, 0.13 beats-per-minute (MAPE 0.20%) for the pulse rate, and 0.9 breaths-per-minute (MAPE 6.7%) for the breath rate.Comment: Submitted to the 40th International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC

    Breast-feeding in women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy

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    Aims: Breast feeding is particularly important and difficult in children born prematurely, especially after hypertensive diseases in pregnancies (HDP). Therefore, we aimed to investigate breast feeding in women who developed HDP. Methods: Data on breast-feeding was collected within a nationwide research project on psychosocial factors in HDP. A self-administered questionnaire was given to 2600 women with a suspected history of HDP and 1233 controls. After matching and confirming diagnosis according to ISSHP criteria, 877 women with HDP and 623 controls were included into the study. Results: Control women initiated (48.9/39.2%; P<0.001) and continued (42.2/37.2%; P<0.005) breast-feeding significantly more often than women with HDP. This holds particularly for women who developed HELLP syndrome (48.9/34.7%; P<0.0001, 42.2/33.5%; P<0.0001). A delivery before the 32nd gestational week (19.5/81.8%; P<0.0001) and a birth weight of less than 1500g (18.8/75%; P<0.0001) were associated with the decision not to breast-feed. Conclusions: Women affected by HDP breast fed significantly less often than control women. This effect is at least partly caused by the increased rate of prematurity. Encouraging and supporting these women in breast-feeding is important to improve neonatal physical and mental developmen

    Micro-RNA193a-3p Inhibits Breast Cancer Cell Driven Growth of Vascular Endothelial Cells by Altering Secretome and Inhibiting Mitogenesis: Transcriptomic and Functional Evidence

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    Breast cancer (BC) cell secretome in the tumor microenvironment (TME) facilitates neo-angiogenesis by promoting vascular endothelial cell (VEC) growth. Drugs that block BC cell growth or angiogenesis can restrict tumor growth and are of clinical relevance. Molecules that can target both BC cell and VEC growth as well as BC secretome may be more effective in treating BC. Since small non-coding microRNAs (miRs) regulate cell growth and miR193a-3p has onco-suppressor activity, we investigated whether miR193a-3p inhibits MCF-7-driven growth (proliferation, migration, capillary formation, signal transduction) of VECs. Using BC cells and VECs grown in monolayers or 3D spheroids and gene microarrays, we demonstrate that: pro-growth effects of MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 conditioned medium (CM) are lost in CM collected from MCF-7/MDA-MB231 cells pre-transfected with miR193a-3p (miR193a-CM). Moreover, miR193a-CM inhibited MAPK and Akt phosphorylation in VECs. In microarray gene expression studies, miR193a-CM upregulated 553 genes and downregulated 543 genes in VECs. Transcriptomic and pathway enrichment analysis of differentially regulated genes revealed downregulation of interferon-associated genes and pathways that induce angiogenesis and BC/tumor growth. An angiogenesis proteome array confirmed the downregulation of 20 pro-angiogenesis proteins by miR193a-CM in VECs. Additionally, in MCF-7 cells and VECs, estradiol (E2) downregulated miR193a-3p expression and induced growth. Ectopic expression of miR193a-3p abrogated the growth stimulatory effects of estradiol E2 and serum in MCF-7 cells and VECs, as well as in MCF-7 and MCF-7+VEC 3D spheroids. Immunostaining of MCF-7+VEC spheroid sections with ki67 showed miR193a-3p inhibits cell proliferation. Taken together, our findings provide first evidence that miR193a-3p abrogates MCF-7-driven growth of VECs by altering MCF-7 secretome and downregulating pro-growth interferon signals and proangiogenic proteins. Additionally, miR193a-3p inhibits serum and E2-induced growth of MCF-7, VECs, and MCF-7+VEC spheroids. In conclusion, miRNA193a-3p can potentially target/inhibit BC tumor angiogenesis via a dual mechanism: (1) altering proangiogenic BC secretome/TME and (2) inhibiting VEC growth. It may represent a therapeutic molecule to target breast tumor growth

    Risk factors for unfavorable pregnancy outcome in women with adverse childhood experiences

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    Aims: To explore the association between childhood sexual abuse (CSA), physical abuse, as well as other adverse childhood experiences (ACE), and different obstetrical risk factors/behaviors. Methods: In this cohort study, obstetrical risk factors and perinatal outcome in 85 women exposed to CSA were compared to 170 matched unexposed women. CSA, physical abuse, and ACE were explored by face-to-face interviews and by questionnaire. Data on perinatal outcome were extracted from medical charts. Fisher's exact, χ2-test, and multiple logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. Results: During pregnancy women with CSA experiences were significantly more often smoking (31.7%/9.4%; P<0.0001), had partners abusing drugs (10.6%/1.2%; P<0.0005), experienced physical (16.5%/0; P<0.0001), sexual (12.9%/0; P<0.0001), and emotional abuse (44.7%/1.7%; P<0.0001), reported depression (24.7%/1.8%; P<0.0001), and suicidal ideation (10.6%/0; P<0.0001) than women without CSA experiences. Differences in risk factors were more often correlated with physical than with sexual abuse during childhood. The probability for premature delivery was associated with CSA, physical abuse and ACE as well as with several of the risk factors investigated. Conclusion: Women with CSA, physical, and ACE present with a variety of abuse-associated obstetrical risk factors and an increased risk for premature delivery. Therefore, all types of abusive and other ACE should be considered in prenatal car

    Transcriptomic and Functional Evidence for Differential Effects of MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell-Secretome on Vascular and Lymphatic Endothelial Cell Growth

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    Vascular and lymphatic vessels drive breast cancer (BC) growth and metastasis. We assessed the cell growth (proliferation, migration, and capillary formation), gene-, and protein-expression profiles of Vascular Endothelial Cells (VECs) and Lymphatic Endothelial Cells (LECs) exposed to a conditioned medium (CM) from estrogen receptor-positive BC cells (MCF-7) in the presence or absence of Estradiol. We demonstrated that MCF-7-CM stimulated growth and capillary formation in VECs but inhibited LEC growth. Consistently, MCF-7-CM induced ERK1/2 and Akt phosphorylation in VECs and inhibited them in LECs. Gene expression analysis revealed that the LECs were overall (≈10-fold) more sensitive to MCF-7-CM exposure than VECs. Growth/angiogenesis and cell cycle pathways were upregulated in VECs but downregulated in LECs. An angiogenesis proteome array confirmed the upregulation of 23 pro-angiogenesis proteins in VECs. In LECs, the expression of genes related to ATP synthesis and the ATP content were reduced by MCF-7-CM, whereas MTHFD2 gene, involved in folate metabolism and immune evasion, was upregulated. The contrasting effect of MCF-7-CM on the growth of VECs and LECs was reversed by inhibiting the TGF-β signaling pathway. The effect of MCF-7-CM on VEC growth was also reversed by inhibiting the VEGF signaling pathway. In conclusion, BC secretome may facilitate cancer cell survival and tumor growth by simultaneously promoting vascular angiogenesis and inhibiting lymphatic growth. The differential effects of BC secretome on LECs and VECs may be of pathophysiological relevance in BC

    Organization of personnel management in oil and gas corporation "Petrovietnam"

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    The petroleum industry is one of the most vital industries in the development strategy of Vietnam. Prevailing in this industry is Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group,“Petrovietnam”, operating under the directions of Ministry of Industry and Trade and controlling the oil and gas industry. A significant part in the steady growth path and the operational efficiency increment of the Group is contributed by the human resource policies. As oil prices were sharply declining, which began in 2014, a certain workforce reduction was planned by “Petrovietnam”, not only to deal with the situation but also to improve the quality of its workforce. Thus, managing human resources is one of the strategic tools of “Petrovietnam” corporate group

    Changes in Heart Rate, Heart Rate Variability, Breathing Rate, and Skin Temperature throughout Pregnancy and the Impact of Emotions—A Longitudinal Evaluation Using a Sensor Bracelet

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    (1) Background: Basic vital signs change during normal pregnancy as they reflect the adaptation of maternal physiology. Electronic wearables like fitness bracelets have the potential to provide vital signs continuously in the home environment of pregnant women. (2) Methods: We performed a prospective observational study from November 2019 to November 2020 including healthy pregnant women, who recorded their wrist skin temperature, heart rate, heart rate variability, and breathing rate using an electronic wearable. In addition, eight emotions were assessed weekly using five-point Likert scales. Descriptive statistics and a multivariate model were applied to correlate the physiological parameters with maternal emotions. (3) Results: We analyzed data from 23 women using the electronic wearable during pregnancy. We calculated standard curves for each physiological parameter, which partially differed from the literature. We showed a significant association of several emotions like feeling stressed, tired, or happy with the course of physiological parameters. (4) Conclusions: Our data indicate that electronic wearables are helpful for closely observing vital signs in pregnancy and to establish modern curves for the physiological course of these parameters. In addition to physiological adaptation mechanisms and pregnancy disorders, emotions have the potential to influence the course of physiological parameters in pregnancy
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