A qualitative investigation of the impact of peer to peer online support for women living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Background: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a common, chronic condition which affects women living with the condition both physically and psychologically. Social support may be beneficial to sufferers in coping with chronic conditions and the Internet is becoming a common place for accessing social support and information. The aim of this study was to consider the experiences of women living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome who access and participate in an online support group discussion forum dedicated to issues surrounding this condition. Methods: Fifty participants responded to a series of open-ended questions via an online survey. Results: Thematic analysis revealed a number of empowering and disempowering experiences associated with online support group participation. The empowering processes reported by members of the group included: Connecting with others who understand; Access to information and advice; Interaction with healthcare professionals; Treatment-related decision making; Improved adjustment and management. In terms disempowering processes, only two were described by group participants: Reading about the negative experiences of others and Feeling like an outsider. Conclusions: For women living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, participation within an online support group may help to empower them in a range of important ways however, there may be some disempowering consequences

Expectations in the field of the Internet and health: an analysis of claims about social networking sites in clinical literature

This article adopts a critical sociological perspective to examine the expectations surrounding the uses of social networking sites (SNSs) articulated in the domain of clinical literature. This emerging body of articles and commentaries responds to the recent significant growth in SNS use, and constitutes a venue in which the meanings of SNSs and their relation to health are negotiated. Our analysis indicates how clinical writing configures the role of SNSs in health care through a range of metaphorical constructions that frame SNSs as a tool, a conduit for information and a traversable space. The use of such metaphors serves not only to describe the new affordances offered by SNSs but also posits distinct lay and professional practices, while reviving a range of celebratory claims about the Internet and health critiqued in sociological literature. These metaphorical descriptions characterise SNS content as essentially controllable by autonomous users while reiterating existing arguments that e-health is both inherently empowering and risky. Our analysis calls for a close attention to these understandings of SNSs as they have the potential to shape future online initiatives, most notably by anticipating successful professional interventions while marginalising the factors that influence users’ online and offline practices and contexts

Maternal hyperleptinemia is associated with male offspring’s altered vascular function and structure in mice

Children of mothers with gestational diabetes have greater risk of developing hypertension but little is known about the mechanisms by which this occurs. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that high maternal concentrations of leptin during pregnancy, which are present in mothers with gestational diabetes and/or obesity, alter blood pressure, vascular structure and vascular function in offspring. Wildtype (WT) offspring of hyperleptinemic, normoglycemic, Lepr db/+ dams were compared to genotype matched offspring of WT-control dams. Vascular function was assessed in male offspring at 6, and at 31 weeks of age after half the offspring had been fed a high fat, high sucrose diet (HFD) for 6 weeks. Blood pressure was increased by HFD but not affected by maternal hyperleptinemia. On a standard diet, offspring of hyperleptinemic dams had outwardly remodeled mesenteric arteries and an enhanced vasodilatory response to insulin. In offspring of WT but not Leprdb/+ dams, HFD induced vessel hypertrophy and enhanced vasodilatory responses to acetylcholine, while HFD reduced insulin responsiveness in offspring of hyperleptinemic dams. Offspring of hyperleptinemic dams had stiffer arteries regardless of diet. Therefore, while maternal hyperleptinemia was largely beneficial to offspring vascular health under astandard diet, it had detrimental effects in offspring fed HFD. These results suggest that circulating maternal leptin concentrations may interact with other factors in the pre- and post-natal environments to contribute to altered vascular function in offspring of diabetic pregnancie

The role of leptin and syncytin upon the placenta function

Aim: i) to study the effect of leptin upon proteins involved in the transportation of fatty acids throught the human placenta (FAT/ CD36 και cFABPs) ii) to study the expression of syncytin 1 and 2 and inter- correlate their expression γ) to study the effect of leptin upon expression of syncytin 1 and 2. Materials and methods: a total of 77 samples of trophoblastic tissue were used after chorionic villous sampling (CVS). Mean gestational age at sampling was 12+5 weeks (min= 11+0 weeks, max= 14+1 weeks, stdev= 0.89). The specimens were either used promptly after sampling or cultured to isolate total RNA or proteins. In a number of specimens forskolin (a substance that induces the differentiation of cytotrophoblasts in syncytiotrophoblasts) was added and the expression of the probed molecules was evaluated. Results: Main results (concisely presented) include i) when leptin was added in trophoblastic cell cultures, there was a statistically significant increase at the expression of RNA transcripts of the short form of leptin receptor (Ob- Ra), ii) when leptin was added in trophoblastic cell cultures, there was a statistically significant decrease at the expression of RNA transcripts of the long form of leptin receptor (Ob- Rb), iii) despite the presence of RNA transcripts, no expression of the H- FABP protein was noted, iv) no protein or RNA transcripts expression was noted for L-FABP, v) leptin, when added in trophoblastic cell cultures, increases statistically significantly the expression of the FAT/CD36 protein, vi) in fresh trophoblastic tissue, a cytoplasmic pool of FAT/CD36 mebrane protein was noted, vii) when added in trophoblastic cell cultures, forskolin causes an increase in the expression of RNA transcripts of syncytin 1, viii) when added in trophoblastic cell cultures, forskolin causes a decrease in the expression of RNA transcripts of syncytin 2, ix) when added in trophoblastic cell cultures, leptin causes an increase in the expression of RNA transcripts of syncytin 1, viii) when added in trophoblastic cell cultures, leptin causes a decrease in the expression of RNA transcripts of syncytin 2. Conclusions: leptin effect upon proteins involved in fatty acids transportation through the placenta was noted. Moreover, the presence of a cytoplasmic pool of FAT/CD36 was demonstrated, similarly to other tissues such as the muscular where it serves in case of an acute need of fatty acids transportation. Despite published results, we failed to demonstrate the expression of cytoplasmic fatty acids binding proteins. Differentiation of cytotrophoblast to syncytiotrophoblast increases syncytin 1 but decreases syncytin 2, thus making possible a theory of interplaying of syncytin 1 and 2 during placentation phenomena. Leptin has a similar effect upon syncytin biomolecules, thus pointing to its possible participation in the regulatory mechanism

The Corporate Identity through the CSR's Paths

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is about how the policies, which have been adopted by CSR's factors, affect the identity of a corporation, the sensitivities of the organizations upon social matters, the critical decisions of the management regarding social matters, how those can be a significant advantage for the market and in the same time how CSR affect's the corporate identity after its implementation, how the corporate identity is formulating through the strategic decision who are irrelevant with the CSR's policies, in sales, the profitability and the liquidity, the impact on the strategic planning and how the stakeholder engagement affect the identity of an organization. We have to find from which point the CSR strategies, which have been adopted from an organization, is not just a Public Relationship matter, but also infiltrates into the basic construction and initiates changes that affect the culture and in the end, change or formulate the identity of the same corporation

Preterm birth seasonality in Greece: An epidemiological study

Objective: Seasonality of preterm birth has been noted, although not conclusively studied. Weather is also thought to play a role. We sought preterm birth seasonality and additionally studied the effect of weather parameters in the preterm birth pattern. Methods: Vital statistics from the Hellenic Statistical Authority were retrieved, covering the years from 1980 to 2008. Additionally, weather data were retrieved for the years of the study. Time series analysis was used to create various statistical models that would be compared to each other for their accuracy to predict preterm birth. Factors used in the modeling included month of birth, gender and weather factors. Results: Preterm birth seasonality was exhibited. Two peaks of higher risk of preterm birth were noted: One during summer and one during winter. Males were more influenced by seasonality and exhibited slightly different seasonal patterns than females, although no higher risk for preterm birth was noted. The best model that described seasonal pattern of preterm birth was the one that included meteorological factors. Notably, extreme (hotter or colder) weather was accompanied by an increase in preterm birth. Conclusions: Evidence for seasonality of preterm birth was shown and extreme weather was associated with a higher incidence of it. © 2012 Informa UK, Ltd

Preterm birth trends in Greece, 1980-2008: A rising concern

Objective To identify preterm birth trends in Greece. Design Retrospective epidemiological study. Setting Women giving birth in Greece from 1980 to 2008. Population Live births beyond the 24th gestational week. Methods Data acquisition from the Hellenic Vital Statistics records. Statistical analysis of preterm birth rate among neonates estimated for each year. Main outcome measures Total number of births and preterm births, as well as rate of preterm birth by gestational week. Stillbirth rates by gestational age. Results 3 218 463 births occurred during the period under study, 151 594 (4.7%) of which were preterm. A steep rise in preterm births was noted during the final years of the study, reaching 9.6% in 2008. This was mainly due to the "late preterm" sub-group (34+0-36+6 gestational weeks). The rates of stillbirth fell in a constant way regardless of the maturity index. Conclusions Although preterm birth etiology is multifactorial, the selective rise in the "late preterm" group possibly was due to an increase in medical reasons necessitating a preterm delivery, changes in obstetric practice, or both. Further studies are needed to estimate the precise effect of each contributing factor. © 2013 The Authors Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica © 2013 Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Evidence for a manifold role of selenium in infertility

This review aimed to assess the evidence from observational and interventional studies in humans and animals regarding the role of selenium (Se) in male and female infertility. As oxidative stress can seriously impair male, and possibly also female, reproductive functions, it can be speculated that the antioxidant properties of Se could constitute one of the pathways by which this element is involved in fertility. Specifically, there are strong indications that Se influences the growth, maturation, and replication of oocytes, though the precise mechanisms have not as yet been fully elucidated. Given that it is not clear at present which tissue sample (blood, serum, seminal plasma, sperm, or follicular fluid) renders the most accurate picture of Se concentration in terms of its role in reproduction, the data are still insufficient to recommend routine assessment of Se status in men and women seeking fertility. Nevertheless, the existing evidence, despite being of limited quantity and somewhat low quality, suggests that Se supplementation (< 200 μg/d) is possibly beneficial in men through its improvement of sperm motility. Well-designed, randomized control studies are needed to reveal the seemingly diverse protective/positive role of Se supplementation in men and women seeking fertility treatment. © 2019, Hellenic Endocrine Society

Maternal age as a predictive factor of pre-term birth. An epidemiological study from 1999 to 2008 in Greece

The aim of the study was to estimate the risk of pre-term birth in women giving birth in Greece in different age groups. Data about women giving birth in Greece were retrieved from the Hellenic Vital Statistics covering the years from 1999 to 2008. Relative risk using χ2 contingency tables was estimated among maternal age groups formed. These groups included mothers < 15 years of age, 15-19, 20-34 (used as a control group) and women > 34 (35-39, 40-44, 45-49 and ≥ 50) years of age. Relative risk of each age group was compared with mothers 20-34 years of age. A total of 1,069,413 valid births were included in the study and 72,156 of them were pre-term (6.75% of total count). Results exhibit a 'U'-shaped distribution of risk. Higher risk of pre-term birth is noted in the groups of < 15 years (Pearson χ2 = 14.964, p < 0.001, risk = 1.569, CI = 1.249-1.970) and above 34 years of age (Pearson χ2 = 2991.26, p < 0.001, risk = 1.572, CI = 1.546-1.597). For older women, a steep rise in the relative risk for pre-term birth was noted beyond the 40-44 years of age group. Finally, of interest is the fact that 'late' pre-terms (34-36 gestational weeks) account for most of the pre-term birth in mothers beyond 34 years of age. © 2013 Informa UK, Ltd