The Consequences of Early Menopause and Menopause Symptoms for Labour Market Participation

Using a difference-in-difference estimator we identify the causal impact of early menopause and menopause symptoms on the time women spend in employment through to their mid-50s. We find the onset of early natural menopause (before age 45) reduces months spent in employment by 9 percentage points once women enter their 50s compared with women who do not experience early menopause. Early menopause is not associated with a difference in full-time employment rates. The number of menopause symptoms women face at age 50 is associated with lower employment rates: each additional symptom lowers employment rates and full-time employment rates by around half a percentage point. But not all symptoms have the same effects. Vasomotor symptoms tend not to be associated with lower employment rates, whereas the employment of women who suffer psychological problems due to menopause is adversely affected. Every additional psychological problem associated with menopause reduces employment and full-time employment rates by 1-2 percentage points, rising to 2-4 percentage points when those symptoms are reported as particularly bothersome

Climate change and healthy ageing: An assessment of the impact of climate hazards on older people

Copyright \ua9 2024 by the Journal of Global Health. All rights reserved. Background: Climate change not only directly impacts older people\u27s longevity but also healthy ageing, which is the process of maintaining physical and mental capacities while optimising functional abilities. The urgency to address both population ageing and climate change necessitates a rethink and assessment of the impact of climate change on older people. This includes identifying what can be done to anticipate, mitigate and adapt to climate change and engage older persons. Methods: A review of climate change and healthy ageing forms the basis of evidence in this report. We developed a comprehensive search to assess current literature, combining terms related to ageing and climate change across four major data sets and assessing articles published up to the end of 2021. Results: We summarised the current and future impact of climate change on older people and developed a framework identifying climate change impacts on older persons, recognising social and environmental determinants of healthy ageing. Major hazards and some key exposure pathways include extreme temperatures, wildfire, drought, flooding, storm and sea level rise, air quality, climate-sensitive infectious diseases, food and water insecurities, health and social care system displacement, migration, and relocation. Strategies to address climate change require interventions to improve systems and infrastructure to reduce vulnerability and increase resilience. As a heterogeneous group, older people\u27s perceptions of climate change should be integrated into climate activism. Increasing climate change literacy among older people and enabling them to promote intergenerational dialogue will drive the development and implementation of equitable solutions. Pathways may operate via direct or indirect exposures, requiring longitudinal studies that enable assessment of exposures and outcomes at multiple time points, and analyses of cumulative impacts of hazards across the life course. Conclusions: The lack of systematic reviews and primary research on the impact of most climate hazards, except for heat, on older people is apparent. Future research should include outcomes beyond mortality and morbidity and assess how older people interact with their environment by focusing on their capacities and optimising abilities for being and doing what they value

Biphasic pulses enhance bleomycin efficacy in a spontaneous canine genital tumor model of chemoresistance: Sticker sarcoma

Sticker's sarcoma (also known as transmissible venereal tumor) is a horizontally transmitted neoplasm of the dog, that is passed with coitus. It is a locally aggressive tumor with a low tendency to metastatic spread. The most common locations are the genitals, the nose, the perianal area. Standard treatment consists with chemotherapy with vincristine, however other therapies such as, cryotherapy, immunotherapy or, in selected cases, radiation therapy, have been reported. In this article we describe the outcome of a small cohort of canine patients, with chemotherapy resistant transmissible venereal tumor (TVT), treated with bleomycin selectively driven by trains of biphasic pulses (electrochemotherapy). Three canine patients, with refractory TVT, entered the study and received two sessions of ECT under sedation. The pets had local injection of bleomycin at the concentration of 1.5 mg/ml and five minutes after the chemotherapy, trains of 8 biphasic electric pulses lasting 50 + 50 μs each, with 1 ms interpulse intervals, were delivered by means of modified caliper or, for difficult districts, through paired needle electrode. All the patients responded to the treatment and are still in remission at different times. Electrochemotherapy appears as a safe and efficacious modality for the treatment of TVT and warrants further investigations

Proximate composition, lipid quality and heavy metals content in the muscle of two carp species

Abstract. The aim of the presented study was to characterize the quality of edible tissue of freshwater common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis), based on their proximate and lipid composition (lipid classes, fatty acid profile, fat soluble vitamins, carotenoids and cholesterol). Health risk assessment was evaluated based on the analysis of some toxic elements (As, Cd, Ni, Pb and total Hg). Proximate composition (moisture, crude protein and total lipid) was determined using standard procedures. Lipids were subsequently separated into neutral (NL) and polar lipids: Phospho- (PL) and Glycolipids (GL) by means of column and thin-layer chromatography. Lipid classes were derivatized into fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) which were analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Vitamins A, D and E, beta-carotene, astaxanthin and cholesterol were analysed simultaneously using high 3 performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Heavy metals (As, Pb, Cd, Hg and Ni) were determined by optical emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-OES) following a microwave digestion procedure. Protein content was higher in bighead carp (18.5%) and lower for common carp (15.5%), whereas lipid content showed opposite trend. Similarities in lipid classes distribution were observed for both species: NL>GL>PL. Neutral lipids constituted approximately 70% of TL in both species, as FAs profile was dominated by monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), whereas polyunsaturated FAs (PUFA) -1 prevailed in polar fractions. Omega-3 PUFAs were higher in all lipid classes compared to omega-6 PUFAs. Cholesterol content was low (17-24mg.100 g ww). Astaxanthin was detected only in bighead carp, whereas beta-carotene, vitamin D and vitamin A showed similar concentrations in both samples. Vitamin E 3 -1 -1 content was higher in bighead carp (10.4 mg.100 g w.w.). Trace elements content was higher in bighead carp showing a maximum value of As (0.312 mg.kg w.w). All determined toxic elements were found below the recommended value in carp muscle. The results of the present study confirmed the high quality and safety of common carp and bighead carp meat. These freshwater species are valuable sources of essential nutrients such as proteins, vitamin D and long 3 chain omega-3 PUFAs. Together with the nutrients, the information for low concentrations of toxic elements makes them valuable components of a healthy human diet

Systematic review of strategies for improving attendance in health and mental health interventions for children and adolescents in LMICs: Implications for mental health interventions

This review synthesises the evidence base for promoting and maintaining attendance in mental health and health interventions for children and adolescents in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) and identifies strategies that can be employed for mental health interventions in those contexts. This is achieved through systematically searching relevant peer-reviewed literature in PubMed, Embase, PsychINFO and Global Health. Retrieved studies are screened by title and abstract, and subsequently the relevant papers undergo a full-text screening. The quality of the included studies is assessed using validated quality appraisal tools, namely the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist and the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, and key data is extracted from each of the included studies. Fifteen studies from twelve different countries meet the eligibility criteria. The mean age of the participants in each study falls between 9 and 18 years. Only one study focuses on a mental health intervention, while the majority test strategies for health interventions. Six distinct categories of attendance promotion strategies are identified: (i) service improvement, (ii) health education and (iii) peer-support are the three most utilised strategies, followed by (iv) community engagement, (v) counselling, and (vi) cash-based approaches. Ten out of the fifteen studies (66.7%) yield statistically significant results for the improvement of attendance outcomes, one (6.7%) does not find any statistical significance and four (26.7%) do not test effectiveness of the strategies. While these results highlight a need for further studies with rigorous methodologies focusing on testing the effectiveness of strategies, service improvement and community engagement were noted as particularly effective. The findings identify several promising strategies from the global health literature, which can be translated to mental health interventions for children and adolescents in LMICs. Nevertheless, further research is necessary to establish their appropriateness in addressing the barriers to attendance in mental health interventions

Can Fish and Shellfish Species from the Black Sea Supply Health Beneficial Amounts of Bioactive Fatty Acids?

Fatty acids (FA) are among the most important natural biologically active compounds. A healthy diet involves the intake of different fatty acids especially from omega-3 (n-3) series. Seafood provides a very good source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), but in Bulgaria there is limited information regarding the n-3 PUFA contents in traditionally consumed seafood by the population. The aims of this study were to determine lipid content, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (EPA and DHA), and the recommended daily intake of eleven fish species, three bivalves, rapana, and shrimp harvested in the Western part of Black Sea, Bulgaria. Total lipids were extracted according to the method of Blight and Dyer and fatty acid composition was analyzed by GC/MS. Fatty acid profile showed differences among species. PUFA were found in high content among total lipids, especially in shellfish (60.67–68.9% of total lipids) compared to fish species (19.27–34.86% of total lipids). EPA was found in higher amounts in rapana (0.16 g/100 g ww) and two of pelagic species (up to 0.29 g/100 g ww), whereas DHA prevailed in demersal and the most of pelagic fish (0.16–1.92 g/100 g ww) and bivalves (0.16–1.92 g/100 g ww). The health beneficial n3/n6 and PUFA/SFA ratios were found in all analyzed species. The lower values of the lipid nutritional quality indices (AI < 1, TI < 1) and higher for h/H index (0.8–1.78 for fish and 1.52 to 4.67 for bivalves and shrimp) confirm that the commonly consumed Black Sea fish and shellfish may provide health benefits for local populations. This study shows the seafood amounts that can provide the minimum recommended intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

Oral Microbial Flora in Bulgarian Adolescents with Moderate Plaque-induced Gingivitis

Introduction: In children and adolescents, the most common periodontal disease is the plaque-induced gingivitis.Aim: The aim of this study was to reveal the bacterial species associated with supragingival plaque of Bulgarian adolescents diagnosed with plaque-induced gingivitis.Materials and methods: Supragingival plaque samples from 70 healthy subjects with moderate plaque-induced gingivitis (37 females and 33 males), aged 12-18 years, were obtained and examined microbiologically.Results: A total of 224 microorganisms were isolated. Gram-negative bacteria were predominant compared to Gram-positive [132 (59%) vs. 92 (41%), p<0.001]. Aerobic microorganisms were detected more often than anaerobic (151; 67.5% vs. 73; 32.5%, p<0.001). The Streptococcus mutans group and Neisseria spp. were isolated from all adolescents. The frequency of isolation of C. albicans was relatively lower – 11 (15.7%). The anaerobes showed much greater microbial diversity (12 pathogen groups were isolated). Gram-negative rods were isolated from 57 of the adolescents (isolation frequency 81.4%). F. varium, P. melaninogenica, P. intermedia and P. assacharolyticus were detected respectively in 12 (16%), 9 (12%), 8 (11%) and 7 (10%) samples. The less frequently isolated anaerobes were Gram-positive cocci, Gram-negative cocci, Bacteroides uniformis and Bifidobacterium spp. together.Conclusion: The most frequently isolated microbiota in our study is part of the normal oral bacterial flora. The presence of anaerobes such as Prevotella, Fusobacterium, Bacteroides and Porphyromonas reflects the gradual change of the flora to more complex one. The results of quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the plaque of adolescents with moderate plaque-induced gingivitis may contribute to the selection of the prevention and treatment of this disease

Prediction in the face of uncertainty: a Monte Carlo-based approach for systems biology of cancer treatment

Cancer is known to be a complex disease and its therapy is difficult. Much information is available on molecules and pathways involved in cancer onset and progression and this data provides a valuable resource for the development of predictive computer models that can help to identify new potential drug targets or to improve therapies. Modeling cancer treatment has to take into account many cellular pathways usually leading to the construction of large mathematical models. The development of such models is complicated by the fact that relevant parameters are either completely unknown, or can at best be measured under highly artificial conditions. Here we propose an approach for constructing predictive models of such complex biological networks in the absence of accurate knowledge on parameter values, and apply this strategy to predict the effects of perturbations induced by anti-cancer drug target inhibitions on an epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling network. The strategy is based on a Monte Carlo approach, in which the kinetic parameters are repeatedly sampled from specific probability distributions and used for multiple parallel simulations. Simulation results from different forms of the model (e.g., a model that expresses a certain mutation or mutation pattern or the treatment by a certain drug or drug combination) can be compared with the unperturbed control model and used for the prediction of the perturbation effects. This framework opens the way to experiment with complex biological networks in the computer, likely to save costs in drug development and to improve patient therapy