The Impact of Feminist Activism on the UK Government's Policy Proposal on Domestic Violence- Actions Speak Louder than Words

Social movements have been argued to be important political actors because of their ability to apply pressure and mobilizing governments to take policy action on societal problems. In light of this, it is the aim of this thesis to investigate if a feminist movement in the UK, called the IC Change campaign, can serve as the explanation as to why the UK government put forward a new policy proposal on domestic violence. In turn, this legislative proposal was an important step towards the UK ratifying the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence- a groundbreaking legal framework aiming to eradicate gender-based violence that the government was stalling on to implement. By using theory-testing process tracing as a methodological tool and conducting interviews with actors who were present throughout the process, this case study uses social movement theory as a means of investigating if the IC Change Campaign and their strategic actions had an impact on the UK government’s decision to put forward a proposal of a more substantial legislation in the domestic violence area. As a result of my process tracing analysis, one of the main findings in this case study is that the IC Change Campaign managed to leverage the government to put forward the policy proposal by strategically making allies with supportive members of parliament (MP’s) from the Scottish National Party (SNP) within the UK parliament. At an overall level, this interaction neatly showcases how civil society mobilization combined with a strategic alliance with political actors inside democratic institutions, can have conducive effects in terms of making the government take action in a certain policy field where action is stalling

Reproductive hormone patterns in the female guinea-pig serum during the estrous cycle

A study on hormone levels in daily consecutive serum samples during the guinea-pig estrous cycle was performed. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) of immunoreactive LH, FSH and prolactin (IR—LH IR-FSH and lR-prolaetin) developed for determination of rat pituitary hormone was used as well as RIA systems for estradiol-17β and progesterone. In oophorectomized animals estradiol, progesterone and IR-prolactin were undetectable while mean IR- LH and IR-FSH levels were 1.23 ug/l and 1.47 ug/l respectively as expressed in terms of rat hormone references. Prolactin could not be detected in serum during the reproductive cycle. During estrous cycles progesterone showed a biphasic pattern with undetectable levels (< 0.6 nmol/l) around ovulation. Increased levels were observed at the time of implantation. Estradiol-17β concentrations at non-surge time ranged between 0 and 116 pmol/l and a preovulatory peak (mean peak value 142.2 pmol) was noted. Serum IR-LH levels were between 0.2 and 0.8 pg/l and a prcovulatory peak was noted. Furthermore, a preovulatory lR—FSH peak was found (mean peak value 72.7 pg/l). The results indicate a close resemblance to the human reproductive cycle and the guinea-pig is suggested to be the laboratory animal ofchoice for studies on reproduction

Serum biomarkers of brain injury after uncomplicated cardiac surgery: Secondary analysis from a randomized trial

BACKGROUND: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction is common after cardiac surgery. Postoperative measurements of brain injury biomarkers may identify brain damage and predict cognitive dysfunction. We describe the release patterns of five brain injury markers in serum and plasma after uncomplicated cardiac surgery. METHODS: Sixty-one elective cardiac surgery patients were randomized to undergo surgery with either a dextran-based prime or a crystalloid prime. Blood samples were taken immediately before surgery, and 2 and 24 hours after surgery. Concentrations of the brain injury biomarkers S100B, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), tau, neurofilament light (NfL) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE)) and the blood-brain barrier injury marker β-trace protein were analyzed. Concentrations of brain injury biomarkers were correlated to patients' age, operation time, and degree of hemolysis. RESULTS: No significant difference in brain injury biomarkers was observed between the prime groups. All brain injury biomarkers increased significantly after surgery (tau +456% (25th-75th percentile 327%-702%), NfL +57% (28%-87%), S100B +1145% (783%-2158%), GFAP +17% (-3%-43%), NSE +168% (106%-228%), while β-trace protein was reduced (-11% (-17-3%). Tau, S100B and NSE peaked at 2h, NfL and GFAP at 24h. Postoperative concentrations of brain injury markers correlated to age, operation time, and/or hemolysis. CONCLUSION: Uncomplicated cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with an increase in serum/plasma levels of all the studied injury markers, without signs of blood-brain barrier injury. The biomarkers differ markedly in their levels of release and time course. Further investigations are required to study associations between perioperative release of biomarkers, postoperative cognitive function and clinical outcome

Levosimendan versus Milrinone for Inotropic Support in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: Results from a Randomized Trial

Objective : We aimed to determine the differential effects of intra-operative administration of milrinone versus levosimendan on myocardial function after pediatric cardiac surgery. Transthoracic echocardiography was employed for myocardial function evaluation, utilizing biventricular longitudinal strain with two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in addition to conventional echocardiographic variables. Design : A secondary analysis of a randomized, prospective, double-blinded clinical drug trial Setting : Two pediatric tertiary university hospitals Participants : Infants between 1-12 months of age diagnosed with ventricular septal defect, complete atrioventricular septal defect, or tetralogy of Fallot who were scheduled for corrective surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Interventions : The patients were randomized to receive an infusion of milrinone or levosimendan at the start of cardiopulmonary bypass and for 26 consecutive hours. Measurements and main results : Biventricular longitudinal strain and conventional echocardiographic variables were measured preoperatively, on the first postoperative morning and prior to hospital discharge. The association between perioperative parameters and postoperative myocardial function was also investigated. Images were analyzed for left ventricular (n=67) and right ventricular (n=44) function. The day after surgery, left ventricular longitudinal strain was deteriorated in both the milrinone and levosimendan groups; 33% and 39%, respectively. The difference was not significant. The corresponding deterioration in right ventricular longitudinal strain was 42% and 50% (non-significant difference). For both groups, biventricular longitudinal strain approached their preoperative values at hospital discharge. Preoperative N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide could predict the left ventricular strain on postoperative day one (p=0.014). Conclusions : Levosimendan was comparable to milrinone for left and right ventricular inotropic support in pediatric cardiac surgery.Peer reviewe

Fractional spinal anesthesia and systemic hemodynamics in frail elderly hip fracture patients [version 3; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]

Background: Systemic haemodynamic effects of intrathecal anaesthesia in an aging and frail population has not been well investigated. We examined the systemic haemodynamics of fractional spinal anaesthesia following intermittent microdosing of a local anaesthetic and an opioid. Methods: We included 15 patients aged over 65 with significant comorbidities, planned for hip fracture repair. Patients received a spinal catheter and cardiac output monitoring using the LiDCOplus system. All measurements were performed prior to start of surgery. Invasive mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac index (CI), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), heart rate and stroke volume index (SVI) were registered. Two doses of bupivacaine 2.25 mg and fentanyl 15 µg were administered with 25-minute intervals. Hypotension was defined as a fall in MAP by >30% or a MAP <65 mmHg. Results: The incidence of hypotension was 30%. Hypotensive patients (n=5) were treated with low doses of norepinephrine (0.01-0.12 µg/kg/min). MAP showed a maximum reduction of 17% at 10 minutes following the first dose. CI, systemic vascular resistance index and stroke volume index decreased by 10%, 6%, and 7%, respectively, while heart rate was unchanged over time. After the second dose, none of the systemic haemodynamic variables were affected. Conclusions: Fractional spinal anaesthesia administered prior to surgery induced a minor to moderate fall in MAP, mainly caused by a reduction in cardiac output, induced by systemic venodilation, causing a fall in venous return. Our results are contrary to the widely held belief that hypotension is mainly the result of a reduction of systemic vascular resistance

Доктор, у меня повышен Д-димер!

БЕРЕМЕННОСТЬД-ДИМЕРБЕРЕМЕННОСТИ ОСЛОЖНЕНИЯГЕМОСТАЗПОСЛЕРОДОВОЙ ПЕРИОДБИОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ МАРКЕРЫПРОГНОЗИРОВАНИЕПРЕНАТАЛЬНАЯ ДИАГНОСТИКАД-димер является важным показателем активации системы гемостаза, увеличивающимся в течение физиологически протекающей беременности. В статье рассматриваются вопросы референсных значений Д-димера при беременности и в послеродовом периоде