The Effect of Gender Policies on Fertility: The Moderating Role of Education and Normative Context

In this paper, we aim to assess the extent to which individual-level completed fertility varies across contexts characterized by policies supporting different gender division of labor models. We examine key labor market and care policies that shape gender relations in households and in the public domain. We also consider the role of gender norms, which can act as both a moderator and a confounding factor for policy effects. We hypothesize that, by facilitating role compatibility and reducing the gendered costs of childrearing, policies that support gender equality lead to an increase in fertility levels and to a reduction in fertility differentials by the level of education. Using individual-level data from the European Union Survey on Income and Living Conditions for 16 countries, combined with country-level data, we analyze completed fertility through multilevel Poisson’s models. We find that the national level of childcare coverage is positively associated with fertility. Family allowances, prevalence of women’s part-time employment and length of paid leaves were also found to be positively associated with completed fertility, though the associations were not statistically significant. These variables show a significant positive pattern according to education. A high number of average working hours for men are negatively associated with completed fertility and show a strong negative pattern by educational level. The prevalence of gender-egalitarian norms is highly predictive of fertility levels, yet we found no consistent evidence of a weaker association of gender-equality policies in countries where egalitarian values are less prevalent

Anti-Pyretic Activity of two Varieties of Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis L.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis has been traditionally used by local communities to treat fever. However, there are only limited data have been published to support the antipyretic effects. The objective of this study is to investigate the antipyretic properties and possible mechanism of the ethanol extracts of Hibiscus rosa-sinensisL. (red colored flower) and Hibiscus rosa-sinensisvar. Alba (white colored flower). Phytochemical analysis, heavy metals screening and acute toxicity test were done to evaluate the safety of extracts. The first model ran induced fever in rats by injecting Brewer’s Yeast subcutaneously and then treated with 4 extracts at dosage 5 & 50 mg/ kg. The dosages used for the study were obtained by the acute toxicity test. Ibuprofen was used as a reference drug, with dose 100 mg/kg. Temperatures of rats were measured using a digital thermometer. The results were expressed as mean ± S.E.M. and analyzed using the SAS system. The results of the study showed that white flower extract 5mg/kg and 50 mg/kg significantly (p <0.05) reduced the total temperature when compared to positive control group. Therefore, this research suggests the probability for its therapeutic effectiveness as plant-based antipyretic agent as claimed by traditional medicine practitioners

Caudal epidural block instead of general anesthesia in an adult with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Shabana Z Shafy,1 Mohammed Hakim,1 Mauricio Arce Villalobos,1 Gregory D Pearson,2,3 Giorgio Veneziano,1 Joseph D Tobias1,4 1Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children&rsquo;s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA; 2Department of Plastic Surgery, Nationwide Children&rsquo;s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA; 3Department of Plastic Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA; 4Department of Anesthesiology &amp; Pain Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA Abstract: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), first described in 1834, is an X-linked dystrophinopathy, leading to early onset skeletal muscle weakness. Life expectancy is reduced to early adulthood as a result of involvement of voluntary skeletal muscles with respiratory failure, orthopedic deformities, and associated cardiomyopathy. Given its multisystem involvement, surgical intervention may be required to address the sequelae of the disease process. We present a 36-year-old adult with DMD, who required anesthetic care during surgical debridement of an ischial pressure sore. Given his significant respiratory muscle involvement, ultrasound-guided caudal epidural anesthesia was used instead of general during the surgical procedure. The technique and its applications are discussed, with particular emphasis on the feasibility and safety of using regional anesthetic techniques in patients with DMD. Keywords: Duchenne&rsquo;s muscular dystrophy, caudal epidural, regional anesthesi

Sleep-disordered breathing and reaction time in children

Mohammed Hakim,1 Shabana Zainab Shafy,1 Rebecca Miller,1 Kris R Jatana,2 Mark Splaingard,3 Dmitry Tumin,1 Joseph D Tobias,1,4 Vidya T Raman1,4 1Department of Anesthesiology &amp; Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children&rsquo;s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA; 2Department of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, Nationwide Children&rsquo;s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA; 3Department of Sleep Disorders Centre, Nationwide Children&rsquo;s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA; 4Department of Anesthesiology &amp; Pain Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA Background: The incidence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children exceeds the availability of polysomnography (PSG) to definitively diagnose OSA and identify children at higher risk of perioperative complications. As sleep deficits are associated with slower reaction times (RTs), measuring RT may be a cost-effective approach to objectively identify SDB symptoms. Aim: The aim of this study is to compare RT on a standard 10-minute psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) based on children&rsquo;s history of OSA/SDB. Methods : Children, 6&ndash;11 years of age, were enrolled from two different clinical groups. The SDB group included children undergoing adenotonsillectomy with a clinical history of SDB, OSA, or snoring. The control group included children with no history of SDB, OSA, or snoring who were scheduled for surgery other than adenotonsillectomy. RT was measured via 10-minute PVT (Ambulatory Monitoring Inc., Ardsley, NY, USA). Median RT was calculated for each patient based on all responses to stimuli during the PVT assessment and was compared to published age-sex-specific norms. The proportion of children exceeding RT norms was compared between study groups. Results: The study included 72 patients (36/36 male/female, median age 7 years), 46 with SDB and 26 without SDB. There was no difference in the RT between the two groups. Fifty-four percent of patients with SDB exceeded norms for median RT vs 42% of control patients (95% CI of difference: &ndash; 12, 36; P=0.326). Conclusion: Approximately half of the patients in both groups exceeded published norms for median RT on PVT. Despite its convenience, measurement of RT did not distinguish between patients with probable SDB/OSA for preoperative risk stratification. Keywords: psychomotor vigilance test, obstructive sleep apnea, anesthesia, polysomnography, sleep-disordered breathin

Hepatitis C virus genotypes in Pakistan: a systemic review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background and aim</p> <p>Phylogenetic analysis has led to the classification of hepatitis C virus (HCV) into 1-6 major genotypes. HCV genotypes have different biological properties, clinical outcome and response to antiviral treatment and provide important clues for studying the epidemiology, transmission and pathogenesis. This article deepens the current molecular information about the geographical distribution of HCV genotypes and subgenotypes in population of four provinces of Pakistan. 34 published papers (1996-2011) related to prevalence of HCV genotypes/serotypes and subgenotypes in Pakistan were searched.</p> <p>Result</p> <p>HCV genotype/s distribution from all 34 studies was observed in 28,400 HCV infected individuals in the following pattern: 1,999 (7.03%) cases of genotype 1; 1,085 (3.81%) cases of genotype 2; 22,429 (78.96%) cases of genotype 3; 453 (1.59%) cases of genotype 4; 29 (0.10%) cases of genotype 5; 37 (0.13%) cases of genotype 6; 1,429 (5.03%) cases of mixed genotypes, and 939 (3.30%) cases of untypeable genotypes. Overall, genotype 3a was the predominant genotype with a rate of 55.10%, followed by genotype 1a, 3b and mixed genotype with a rate of 10.25%, 8.20%, and 5.08%, respectively; and genotypes 4, 5 and 6 were rare. Genotype 3 occurred predominately in all the provinces of Pakistan. Second more frequently genotype was genotype 1 in Punjab province and untypeable genotypes in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.</p