Long-term Effects of Cabergoline and Levodopa in Japanese Patients with Early Parkinson’s Disease: A 5-Year Prospective Study

Several international studies have suggested that treatment of early Parkinsonʼs disease (PD) with a dopamine agonist instead of levodopa delays the occurrence of motor complications. This 5-year prospective, open, multicenter randomized study aimed to compare the effects of cabergoline on the onset of motor complications with those of levodopa in Japanese patients with early PD. Patients who had never been treated with dopamine agonists or levodopa were enrolled in this study. Four of 45 patients in the cabergoline group and 11 of 46 patients in the levodopa group developed motor complications. The estimated cumulative incidence of motor complications in the cabergoline and levodopa groups was 17ｵ and 34ｵ (hazard ratio, 0.57;95ｵ confidence interval, 0.18‒1.81;p＝0.347). Thirty-five adverse events (AEs) were reported in 24 patients in the cabergoline group, while 16 AEs were reported in 13 patients in the levodopa group. Patients in the cabergoline group showed fewer motor complications than did those in the levodopa group, although the difference was not statistically significant. However, the hazard ratio found in this study was similar to those in previous reports

Long-term effects of pregnancy and childbirth on sleep satisfaction and duration of first-time and experienced mothers and fathers

Study Objectives To examine the changes in mothers’ and fathers’ sleep satisfaction and sleep duration across pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, and the postpartum period of up to six years after birth; it also sought to determine potential protective and risk factors for sleep during that time. Methods Participants in a large population-representative panel study from Germany reported sleep satisfaction and sleep duration in yearly interviews. During the observation period (2008–2015), 2,541 women and 2,118 men reported the birth of their first, second, or third child and provided longitudinal data for analysis. Fixed-effects regression models were used to analyze changes in sleep associated with childbirth. Results Sleep satisfaction and duration sharply declined with childbirth and reached a nadir during the first three months postpartum, with women more strongly affected (sleep satisfaction reduction compared with pre-pregnancy: women, 1.81 points on a 0 to 10 scale, d = 0.79 vs. men, 0.37 points, d = 0.16; sleep duration reduction compared with pre-pregnancy: women, 62 min, d = 0.90 vs. men, 13 min, d = 0.19). In both women and men, sleep satisfaction and duration did not fully recover for up to six years after the birth of their first child. Breastfeeding was associated with a slight decrease in maternal sleep satisfaction (0.72 points, d = 0.32) and duration (14 min, d = 0.21). Parental age, household income, and dual vs. single parenting were unrelated, or only very weakly related, to improved sleep. Conclusion Following the sharp decline in sleep satisfaction and duration in the first months postpartum, neither mothers’ nor fathers’ sleep fully recovers to pre-pregnancy levels up to six years after the birth of their first child

Child Abuse and Its Long Term Effects

This research project examined different types and frequencies of child abuse and their relationship to depression in adulthood. The sample for our research was Valparaiso University students (ages 18-22). Our sample included various genders, education levels, and occupations. We advertised in the Valparaiso University Counseling Center, in the Social Work department, through sending emails to VU students, and through word of mouth. Participants filled out a questionnaire that included various depression and child abuse questions. Correlations were used to examine the relationships. Findings from our research have implications on the interconnections of early and later life experiences and the needs for treatment as well as what that treatment might look like. Presenters for this research project are Rachel Egan, Lauren King, and Becky Lohse, all senior Social Work majors. The Faculty Sponsor for this research project was Professor Matthew Ringenberg (PhD) from the Valparaiso University Department of Social Work

Long-Term Effects of Unpaid Overtime

Why do people work unpaid overtime? We show that remarkable long-term labor earnings gains are associated with unpaid overtime in West Germany. A descriptive analysis suggests that over a 10-year period workers with unpaid overtime experience on average at least a 10 percentage points higher increase in real labor earnings than their co-workers. Applying panel data models this result generally holds. Furthermore, we find evidence for gender specific differences with respect to the effects of cumulative average unpaid overtime work. Our results point to the importance of investment in current working hours beyond the standard work week to enhance real earnings prospects.Overtime, Overtime Compensation, Labor Earnings, Linear Panel Data Models

Long-Term Effects of Class Size

This paper evaluates the long-term effects of class size in primary school. We use rich administrative data from Sweden and exploit variation in class size created by a maximum class size rule. Smaller classes in the last three years of primary school (age 10 to 13) are not only beneficial for cognitive test scores at age 13 but also for non-cognitive scores at that age, for cognitive test scores at ages 16 and 18, and for completed education and wages at age 27 to 42. The estimated effect on wages is much larger than any indirect (imputed) estimate of the wage effect, and is large enough to pass a cost-benefit test.educational attainment, non-cognitive skills, cognitive skills, regression discontinuity, class size, earnings

Long-Term Effects of Forced Migration

We study the long-term effects of human displacement using individual-level panel data on forced migrants and comparable non-migrants. After World War II, Finland ceded a tenth of its territory to the Soviet Union and resettled the entire population living in these areas in the remaining parts of the country. We find that displacement increased the long-term income of men, but had no effect on that of women. We attribute a large part of the effect to faster transition from traditional (rural) to modern (urban) occupations among the displaced.regional labor markets, displaced persons, migration

Adolescents’ perceptions of long-term effects of cycle skilltraining

Cycling to school is uncommon among adolescents in most developed countries. Development of cycling skills through cycle skills training (CST) can reduce cycling-related safety concerns. This study examined long-term effects of CST retrospectively by comparing adolescents’ perceptions of cycling to school and their confidence to cycle to school among those who participated in CST in primary and/or intermediate school with non-participants. Adolescents (n=1,260; 51% female; 12 schools) from Dunedin (New Zealand) completed an online survey at school. Adolescents self-reported transport modes to school, perceptions of cycling to school and CST, and previous participation in and perceived benefits of school-based CST programmes. Only 1-2% adolescents usually cycled to school. Overall, 42% agreed CST would make them safer in traffic (no significant difference between CST participants (n=512) and non-participants (n=748)). Among CST participants, 32% reported that CST increased their confidence to cycle to school and those adolescents had more favourable attitudes towards CST than participants who reported no effects. In a multivariable analysis, adolescents’ perceptions that CST increased their cycling confidence were positively associated with self-efficacy for cycling to school (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI)): 1.33 (1.07, 1.67)), perceived school support (1.51 (1.01, 2.25)), parental cycling-related safety concerns (1.84 (1.25, 2.69)) and being Māori (6.47 (2.36, 17.7)) or other ethnic origins (2.26 (1.00, 5.10); reference: New Zealand Europeans). Therefore, CST could be a useful strategy to support adolescents’ cycling to school, ideally (as suggested in the literature) in combination with appropriate infrastructure changes and speed management measures

Long Term Effects of Ovum Donation on Donors

Introduction: As infertility affects 17% of couples, IVF has become a key, increasingly prevalent option for couples with oocyte donors providing eggs to infertile women in ~13.7% of IVF cycles. Despite the growing prevalence of donation, there are no long-term follow up studies on the emotional and health effects of donation. We cannot appropriately counsel patients regarding the risks of the donation procedure without understanding its effects. Objective: This study sets out to identify the long-term effects of oocyte donation on donors’ mental state and physical health and how the attitudes and concerns of oocyte donors regarding their donation and towards their potential offspring evolve over a ten-year period. Methods: We have developed a standardized online questionnaire to evaluate participants for our longitudinal study. Three participants to pilot our online questionnaire were recruited at various collaborator donor sites at the time of their donation. Results: Overall, feedback from participants was positive and all participants found the survey easy to complete. Average time spent was 15 minutes. One respondent wished the survey had additional spaces to elaborate on responses. Response number was limited so individual analysis of responses cannot be done at this time. Discussion: We were able to adjust our survey to elicit donor responses for our longitudinal study. This survey will serve as a standardized measure to evaluate donors going forward. This pilot is our first step to developing a better understanding of how attitudes of donors evolve over time and the long-term mental and physical effects of donation

Long-term effects of class size

This paper evaluates the long-term effects of class size in primary school. We use rich administrative data from Sweden and exploit variation in class size created by a maximum class size rule. Smaller classes in the last three years of primary school (age 10 to 13) are not only beneficial for cognitive test scores at age 13 but also for non-cognitive scores at that age, for cognitive test scores at ages 16 and 18, and for completed education and wages at age 27 to 42. The estimated effect on wages is much larger than any indirect (imputed) estimate of the wage effect, and is large enough to pass a cost-benefit test.Class size; regression discontinuity; cognitive skills; non-cognitive skills; educational attainment; earnings

The Long-Term Effects of Africa's Slave Trades

Can part of Africa's current underdevelopment be explained by its slave trades? To explore this question, I use data from shipping records and historical documents reporting slave ethnicities to construct estimates of the number of slaves exported from each country during Africa's slave trades. I find a robust negative relationship between the number of slaves exported from a country and current economic performance. To better understand if the relationship is causal, I examine the historical evidence on selection into the slave trades, and use instrumental variables. Together the evidence suggests that the slave trades have had an adverse effect on economic development.