Higher Proportion Of Women Research Articles

Spatial regression analysis of political gender gap in Japan

AbstractInternationally, it has been repeatedly pointed out that the proportion of female members in the Diet and the local assemblies is extremely low in Japan. This is called a political gender gap. We analyzed the relationships between socioeconomic indicators and this political gender gap, and underlying causes using several spatial regression models. Prefectures are geographically connected; so, they can influence each other. Therefore, we incorporated geographical relationships between prefectures into the model. We found that a high proportion of women in a particular prefectural assembly was associated with a low proportion of women in adjacent prefectural assemblies. Thus, competition and repulsion exist between the adjacent prefectural assemblies. Furthermore, several series of analyses using spatial regression models showed that the impact of the political gender gap in a particular prefecture spread to adjacent prefectures, but not further. We found that considering prefectural spatial autocorrelations was important while examining the political gender gap, and previous studies that did not consider spatial autocorrelation might have been biased. However, here we were able to better explain the background of real-world phenomena occurring in the real world by applying spatial regression models.

Clinical and social characterization of patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbation using Machine Learning tools

Objective: This study aims to employ machine learning (ML) tools to cluster patients hospitalized for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) based on their diverse social and clinical characteristics. This clustering is intended to facilitate the subsequent analysis of differences in clinical outcomes.Methods: We analysed a cohort of patients with severe COPD from two Pulmonary Departments in north-western Spain using the k-prototypes algorithm, incorporating demographic, clinical, and social data. The resulting clusters were correlated with metrics such as readmissions, mortality, and place of death. Additionally, we developed an Intelligent Clinical Decision Support System (ICDSS) using a supervised ML model (Random Forest) to assign new patients to these clusters based on a reduced set of variables.Results: The cohort consisted of 524 patients, with an average age of 70.30 ± 9.35 years, 77.67% male, and an average FEV1 of 44.43 ± 15.4. Four distinct clusters (A-D) were identified with varying clinical-demographic and social profiles. Cluster D showed the highest levels of dependency, social isolation, and increased rates of readmissions and mortality. Cluster B was characterized by prevalent cardiovascular comorbidities. Cluster C included a younger demographic, with a higher proportion of women and significant psychosocial challenges. The ICDSS, using five key variables, achieved areas under the ROC curve of at least 0.91.Conclusions: ML tools effectively facilitate the social and clinical clustering of patients with severe COPD, closely related to resource utilization and prognostic profiles. The ICDSS enhances the ability to characterize new patients in clinical settings.

Impact of age on clinical characteristics and 1-year outcomes of non-disabling ischemic cerebrovascular events: A multicenter prospective cohort study

BackgroundThe exploration of age-related clinical features and adverse outcomes of non-disabling ischemic cerebrovascular disease (NICE) has been largely unaddressed in current research. This study aimed to analyze the differences in clinical characteristics and prognostic outcomes of NICE across various age groups, utilizing data from the Xi’an Stroke Registry Study in China.MethodsThe age distribution of NICE was categorized into four groups: age ≤ 54 years, age 55–64 years, age 65–74 years, and age ≥ 75 years. Multivariate Cox logistic regression analysis was employed to evaluate the 1-year risk of outcome events in each age group of patients with NICE. A subgroup analysis was conducted to explore interaction factors influencing age-dependent outcomes in patients with NICE.ResultsThis study included 1,121 patients with NICE aged between 23 and 96 years, with an average age of 63.7 ± 12.2 years. Patients aged ≥ 75 years had a higher proportion of women, lower education levels, and a greater likelihood of having urban employee medical insurance. Those aged < 55 years had a higher prevalence of smoking, while individuals aged > 65 years showed a higher prevalence of comorbidities. Furthermore, there was a significant decrease in body mass index among patients aged ≥ 75 years. Laboratory tests indicated well-controlled blood lipids, liver function, and inflammation across all age groups, but renal function was notably reduced in patients with NICE aged ≥ 75 years. Adjusting for potential confounding factors revealed a significant increase in the one-year risk of all-cause mortality and poor prognosis among patients aged ≥ 75 years compared to those aged < 55 years, with no significant gender difference observed. Subgroup analysis indicated that patients with NICE who consumed alcohol were more prone to experience all-cause mortality with advancing age.ConclusionsAge significantly influences the clinical characteristics and prognostic outcomes of NICE patients. Clinicians should consider age-specific characteristics when diagnosing, treating, and developing prevention strategies. Tailored prevention and treatment strategies for different age groups can enhance prognosis and reduce adverse outcomes in NICE patients.

The effects of the changes in the depression on suicidal ideation among older adults aged 75 and above before and after the COVID-19

BackgroundThe unprecedented pandemic situation of COVID-19 has had a negative impact on the mental health of many people, especially among the "old-old" older adults who are aged 75 or older. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the changes in depression among "old-old" older adults before and after the onset of COVID-19, and the extent to which depression affects suicidal ideations.MethodThe 12th to 16th Korea Welfare Panel Study(KoWePS) conducted from 2017 to 2021 was used for analysis. For this study, 771 older individuals with complete data to estimate the degree of change of depression were selected as the final analysis subjects.ResultA Growth Mixture Modeling(GMM) analysis was conducted, resulting in the classification of two groups: an increasing group and a decreasing group. The study findings showed that "old-old" older individuals with high levels of depression, specifically those in the decreasing group, may be more susceptible to suicidal ideation. Despite this steep change slope, the decreasing group still exhibited a higher level of depression in 2021 compared to the increasing group. As per characteristics, the decreasing group, which showed a higher prevalence of suicidal ideation, had a higher proportion of women and individuals with lower levels of education, those living alone, and a lower household income compared to the increasing group.ConclusionIt is important to note that although the study emphasized the need to prioritize intervention for the decreasing group with consistently high levels of depression, the majority of individuals belong to the increasing group, which exhibited a gradual increase in depression levels over time. Therefore, intervention plans should be developed concurrently for both groups. Also, it is crucial to implement proactive efforts targeting groups with understandings of these characteristics when establishing preventative measures for depression and suicidal ideation among "old-old" older adults.

Sexual function in women with unexplained infertility

Background. The problem of infertility, including unexplained infertility (UEI), does not lose its relevance. It is known that infertile women are prone to emotional disorders. Such psychological changes can contribute to the development of sexual dysfunction. Aim. To study the characteristics of sexual function in women with unexplained infertility. Materials and methods. A comparative study of sexual function was conducted in 60 women with UEI aged 20–40 years (group 1). Group 2 consisted of 75 fertile women with at least one living healthy child and no history of infertility. Group 3 included 75 healthy nulliparous women who do not plan pregnancy and do not have a diagnosis of “Infertility”. The questionnaire “Index of Female Sexual Function” (FSFI) was used to assess sexual function. The following parameters were assessed: “desire”, “arousal”, “lubrication”, “orgasm”, “satisfaction”, “pain”, and the final score. Results. The lowest values were in group 2. In this group, statistically significant differences were obtained with groups 1 and 3 in the parameters “Attraction”, “Arousal”, “Lubrication”, “Satisfaction”, “Orgasm”. In group 1, the final score was significantly higher than in groups 2 and 3 – 30.2 (26.3–31.7), 26.6 (23.7–28.8) and 28.3 (27.5–29.9); p0.001, respectively. The highest proportion of women with sexual dysfunction (FSFI26.55) was in group 2 – 37 (49.33%). In groups 1 and 3, the number of women with sexual dysfunction was 13 (21.66%) and 9 (12%), respectively (the differences between groups 1 and 3 were not significant). Conclusion. The quality of sexual function was not associated with reproductive disorders. The lowest rates were in group 2. This is probably due to psychological aspects and anatomical changes in the pelvic floor after childbirth. Many women, regardless of the presence of children, need therapeutic and preventive sexological care. In the case of sexual dysfunctions that impair a woman's quality of life, qualified sexological and psychological assistance should be provided regardless of her fertility.

Quantifying the use and potential benefits of artificial intelligence in scientific research.

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to reshape almost every line of work. Despite enormous efforts devoted to understanding AI's economic impacts, we lack a systematic understanding of the benefits to scientific research associated with the use of AI. Here we develop a measurement framework to estimate the direct use of AI and associated benefits in science. We find that the use and benefits of AI appear widespread throughout the sciences, growing especially rapidly since 2015. However, there is a substantial gap between AI education and its application in research, highlighting a misalignment between AI expertise supply and demand. Our analysis also reveals demographic disparities, with disciplines with higher proportions of women or Black scientists reaping fewer benefits from AI, potentially exacerbating existing inequalities in science. These findings have implications for the equity and sustainability of the research enterprise, especially as the integration of AI with science continues to deepen.

Identifying Veterans with a Higher Risk of Social Needs Using Cluster Analysis.

Many social need screening to advance population health and reduce health disparities, but barriers to screening remain. Improved knowledge of patient populations at risk for social needs based on administrative data could facilitate more targeted practices, and by extension, feasible social need screening and referral efforts. To illustrate the use of cluster analysis to identify patient population segments at risk for social needs. We used clustering analysis to identify population segments among Veterans (N=2010) who participated in a survey assessing nine social needs (food, housing, utility, financial, employment, social disconnection, legal, transportation, and neighborhood safety). Clusters were based on eight variables (age, race, gender, comorbidity, region, no-show rate, rurality, and VA priority group). We used weighted logistic regression to assess association of clusters with the risk of experiencing social needs. National random sample of Veterans with and at risk for cardiovascular disease who responded to a mail survey (N=2010). Self-reported social needs defined as the risk of endorsing (1) each individual social need, (2) one or more needs, and (3) a higher total count of needs. From the clustering analysis process with sensitivity analysis, we identified a consistent population segment of Veterans. From regression modeling, we found that this cluster, with lower average age and higher proportions of women and racial minorities, was at higher risk of experiencing ≥ 1 unmet need (OR 1.74, CI 1.17-2.56). This cluster was also at a higher risk for several individual needs, especially utility needs (OR 3.78, CI 2.11-6.78). The identification of characteristics associated with increased unmet social needs may provide opportunities for targeted screenings. As this cluster was also younger and had fewer comorbidities, they may be less likely to be identified as experiencing need through interactions with healthcare providers.

Multilevel and geographically weighted regression analysis of factors associated with full immunization among children aged 12–23 months in Ethiopia

Immunization is the process of building immunity or resistance to an infectious disease, typically through administering a vaccine. It is one of the most effective strategies for lowering child morbidity and death. It protects against more than 20 potentially fatal diseases, increasing longevity and health. Despite progress, Ethiopia failed to meet its vaccination coverage target. The magnitude of full immunization is different across areas. Therefore, conducting geographically weighted regression to identify the local factors and multilevel analysis to investigate and identify factors associated with full immunization coverage among children aged 12–23 months is necessary. The study was conducted using the 2019 Ethiopian Mini Demographic Health Survey dataset. A sample of 1028 weighted children aged 12–23 months were included in the analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to describe variables. For the spatial analysis, Arc-GIS version 10.8 statistical software was used. Spatial regression (geographically weighted regression) was done to identify factors associated with the proportion of full immunization, and model comparison was based on adjusted R2 and Akaike Information Criteria (AICc). Multilevel mixed-effect binary logistic regression models were fitted to identify factors associated with full immunization. The fitted models were compared based on log-likelihood, deviance, median odds ratio, and Proportional Change in Variance. Finally, statistically significant factors were reported using an adjusted odd ratio (AOR) with a 95% Confidence Interval for fixed effect. All variables with a p-value less than 0.05 in the final model were considered statistically significant factors. In Ethiopia, the overall full immunization coverage among children aged 12–23 months was 40.58%, with spatial variation across regions in Ethiopia. The significant spatial distribution of full immunization coverage among children aged 12–23 months was detected in northern Tigray, Addis Ababa, central Oromia, and southeastern Amhara regions. The proportion of rural residents,the proportion of women aged 35–44 years, the proportion of women who had ANC 4 and above andthe proportion of women who had PNC were local factors associated with the proportion of full immunization among children aged 12–23 months. Rural residence [AOR 0.27 (95% CI 0.10, 0.70)], family size 4 and above[AOR 0.41 (95% CI 0.17, 0.96)], never breastfeed [AOR 0.026(95% CI 0.003, 0.21)], 1–3 times ANC visit [AOR 0.45 (95% CI 0.23, 0.86)], being from Oromia region [AOR 0.23 (95% CI 0.05, 0.97)], Eastern pastoralist region [AOR 0.09 (95% CI 0.023, 0.35)], age 35–44 years [(AOR 6 (95% CI 1.57, 22.9)], and PNC [AOR 2.40 (95% CI 1.24, 4.8)] were significant factors associated with fully immunization in multilevel mixed effect analysis. Full immunization coverage in Ethiopia is below the global target with significant geographical variation. The high proportion of rural residents, the high proportion of women who had ANC 4 and above, mothers who had a high proportion of PNC, and the high proportion women age 35-44 years were local geographical factors for the proportion of full immunization among children age 12–23 months in Ethiopia. Women who had PNC, ANC visits four or more times, and increased maternal age were positively associated, whereas larger family size, no breastfeeding, rural residence, and being from Oromia and eastern pastoralist region were negatively associated with full immunization. Strengthening maternal and child health services, focusing on rural areas and low-coverage regions, is essential to increase immunization coverage in Ethiopia.

Trends and Changes in Treating Proximal Humeral Fractures in Italy: Is Arthroplasty an Increasingly Preferred Option? A Nation-Wide, Population-Based Study over a Period of 22 Years.

Background: Proximal humeral fractures (PHFs) are common, especially in the elderly, and account for 4% to 10% of all fractures, with women more often affected than men. Treatments include conservative methods, internal fixation and arthroplasty, with surgical approaches increasingly being used due to technological advancements. This study analyzes the evolution of PHF treatments in Italy from 2001 to 2022, using data from the Italian Hospital Discharge Records (HDRs) Database, and includes a stratified analysis by age and sex. Methods: Using HDR data from 2001 to 2022, records with ICD9-CM codes for proximal humeral fractures (812.0 and 812.1) among diagnoses were selected and categorized into three treatment groups: arthroplasty, fixation and conservative. Time series were analyzed with stratification by sex and age. Results: The extracted data included 486,368 records of PHFs, with 223,742 cases treated surgically (arthroplasty or internal fixation) and 262,626 treated conservatively; the average patient age was 66.6 years, with a higher proportion of women, especially among arthroplasty patients. Over time, the use of fixation and arthroplasty increased from 20% of treatments in 2001 to over 60% in 2022, with fixation becoming the most common treatment method by 2014 and arthroplasty significantly increasing among women, particularly in the 65-74 and 75-84 age groups. Conclusions: The study shows that in Italy, over the past two decades, treatment for PHFs has shifted from conservative methods to a preference for internal fixation and increasingly for arthroplasty, particularly among women and patients aged 65-84, reflecting evolving trends and technological improvements.

Use of Dietary Supplements Before, During and After Treatment for Ovarian Cancer: Results from the Ovarian Cancer Prognosis and Lifestyle (OPAL) Study

The use of dietary supplements by cancer patients is common but contentious, particularly during chemotherapy. Few studies have investigated this for ovarian cancer. In a prospective study of women with ovarian cancer, dietary supplement use was collected through questionnaires. Data on the use of supplements were available for 421 women before diagnosis, during chemotherapy, and after chemotherapy completion. Predictors of changes in supplement use were investigated using logistic regression. The use of ≥1 supplement pre-diagnosis, during, and after chemotherapy completion was reported by 72%, 57%, and 68% of women, respectively. Multivitamins, vitamin D, and fish oils were the most commonly used supplements at all time points. The supplements most commonly discontinued during treatment were fish oils (69% of pre-diagnosis users) and multivitamins (53% of users); while 9%–10% of pre-diagnosis non-users initiated vitamin D and multivitamins. Predictors of supplement initiation during chemotherapy included pre-diagnosis use of medications, such as statins (Odds Ratio, OR = 4.12, 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.28–13.3), antidepressants (5.39, 1.18–24.7), acetaminophen (3.13, 1.05–9.33), and NSAIDs (2.15, 0.81–5.72). Other factors included younger age, university education, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and/or experiencing fatigue during treatment, although not statistically significant. In conclusion, a high proportion of women with ovarian cancer reported using supplements at all time points.

Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs for Oral Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The aim of the present study was to investigate if there are differences in mitigation acute pain following oral surgery procedures within a hospital setting and regarding various medication regimens. A systematic literature search was performed between the years 2013 and 2023, including the databases PUBMED, Cochrane and Scopus, to identify the clinical trials investigating the prescription of non-steroidal (NSAID's) anti-inflammatory drugs before or after an oral surgery. A meta-analysis with meta-regression model was employed on the primary and secondary outcomes, such as pain, swelling and trismus. Thirty-six articles were included, 6 of them being retrospective and 30 prospective, with a higher proportion of women than men, at a ratio of 1.34:1 and an average age of 31.9 years. Drugs with medium duration of action demonstrated lower values for pain and swelling. Regarding these parameters, pain and swelling, propionic acid derivatives and acetic acid derivatives exhibited lower values respectively. The quality of evidence was low to very low- certainty. The meta-analysis suggests that postoperative pain, swelling and trismus following oral surgery management may be effectively treated with the following drugs: NSAID medium-duration action drugs; propionic acid derivatives for lower pain levels and acetic acid derivatives for lower swelling measures; and Ibuprofen 400mg every 8h for 3 days or less. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs are prescribed to prevent or treat dental pain. Ibuprofen 400mg was the most prescribed drug after or before an oral surgery procedure. However, the evidence is indirect and needs to be interpreted with caution.

Differences in Health Status between People with and without Disabilities in Ecuadorian Prisons

People with disabilities experience significant health inequalities and inequities compared to people without disabilities. However, there is little evidence on the frequency of health conditions and their association with disability in the prison context. The aim of this study was to compare the proportions and associations between various health conditions and different disability indicators. A secondary analysis of existing data from the Ecuador Prison Census 2022 was conducted. The variable of interest was based on three disability indicators from the six-item Washington Group Short Set on Functioning. A cross-tabulation was carried out to estimate the proportion of prisoners with different disability indicators by gender. These proportions were also calculated for different health conditions. Moreover, we analyzed the association between each of the three disability indicators and the different health conditions using multivariable logistic regression. A total of 30,612 incarcerated persons were included in the analysis, revealing that 8% had disabilities. According to gender, a higher proportion of women had disabilities (10.7% vs. 8.5%), some difficulty functioning (33.8% vs. 28.0%), and multiple disabilities (2.4% vs. 2.0%) compared to men. Furthermore, people with disabilities had a higher proportion of health conditions compared to those without a disability. Strong and very strong evidence of associations were found between different disability indicators and several health conditions, while a lower odds of drug use was observed in people with disabilities and multiple disabilities compared to their counterparts, and no evidence of association was found with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. Our results reflect the health inequalities and inequities experienced by prisoners with disabilities. This highlights the need to implement targeted policies within prisons and to include prisoners with disabilities in the country’s agenda.

High-risk factors for massive haemorrhage in medical abortion patients with missed miscarriage

BackgroundRecently, the incidence of missed miscarriage has gradually increased, and medical abortion is a common method to terminate a pregnancy. In the process of medical abortion, massive vaginal bleeding takes place, leading to emergency surgical haemostasis. Emergency surgery may produce infection and organ damage. Our study aimed to investigate the high-risk factors for massive haemorrhage during a medical abortion.MethodsA total of 1062 missed miscarriage patients who underwent medical abortion participated in this retrospective study. According to the amount of bleeding, the patients were divided into a massive haemorrhage group and a control group. By comparing the general conditions of the two groups, such as fertility history, uterine surgery history, uterine fibroids, etc., the high-risk factors for massive haemorrhage during medical abortion were identified.ResultsRelative to the control group, the massive haemorrhage group exhibited a higher proportion of patients with a previous artificial abortion (51.9% vs. 38.1%, P = 0.001). Additionally, the massive haemorrhage group had a lower percentage of first-time pregnant women (32.1% vs. 40.4%) and a higher proportion of women with shorter pregnancy intervals (44.9% vs. 33.1%, P = 0.03). Furthermore, there were notable differences between the two groups regarding maximum fibroid size, the duration of amenorrhea, and gestational week (P < 0.05).ConclusionIn this study, we determined that a history of artificial abortion and an amenorrhea duration of > 11 weeks represented high-risk factors for massive vaginal bleeding during medical abortion in missed miscarriage patients.

P143 IMPACT OF THE NUMBERS OF COMPONENTS OF CARDIO-RENO-METABOLIC SYNDROME PLUS OBESITY ON PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE WITH PRESERVED EJECTION FRACTION: A SUB-ANALYSIS OF THE ARFEY-PRESER REGISTRY

Background and Objectives: The primary objective was to evaluate whether the presence of combined cardio-reno-metabolic syndrome and obesity (CRM+O) in patients with heart failure with preserve ejection fraction (HFpEF) had a greater impact on cardiovascular disease (CVD). Materials and Methods: This prospective, multicentre observational registry enrolled outpatients or those discharged from hospitals, with prior informed consent. The study spanned from December 2022 to February 2024. Inclusion criteria were: 1) presence of current signs and symptoms of heart failure and LVEF ≥50%, 2) structural heart disease, 3) elevated natriuretic peptides. CRM+O was defined according with the number of components defined as: coronary artery disease (myocardial infarction, revascularization or ≥ 50% in one coronary artery), chronic renal disease (TFG ≤60 ml/min/1.72m2), diabetes mellitus and obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) Results: This sub study included 388 patients, and at least one component of CRM+O was identified in 333 (86.9%), with 1, 2, 3 and 4 components in 23.8%, 30.8%, 27.7% and 4.7%. Demographics and clinical profile comparison is presented in Table 1. With the increasing number of components of CRM+O there was a higher proportion of women, sedentarism (p=0.001), smoking (p&lt;0.001), OSA (p&lt;0.001), hypothyroidism (p=0.010), coronary artery disease on angiography (p&lt;0.001) and peripheral artery disease (p=0.010). Conclusions In patients with HFpEF, a high prevalence of combined components of CRM+O was observed, and 1 out of 3 presented at least three of them. A positive correlation between increasing in the severity and comorbidities was observed, except by inverse relationship with atrial fibrillation. These findings support the interaction among HFpEF and CRM+O syndrome and suggest the need of comprehensive, multidisciplinary management.

Prevalence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Rural Kenya-2023: Vihiga II.

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among adults in Vihiga County, Western Kenya. A cross-sectional population-based study was completed. Participants (n = 575) were selected at the household level using a systematic random sample, and sociodemographic, anthropometrical, clinical, and biochemical data were collected. The sample consisted of 71.8% women and 28.2% men. The prevalence of high blood pressure (BP) was 56.4%. A greater proportion of women (62.8%) had low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) compared with men (44.7%) (odds ratio [OR], 2.99; 95% CI, 1.59-5.64). High triglyceride levels were more prevalent in men (16.4%) compared with women (15.4%) (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.19-0.71). Based on average waist to hip ratio, abdominal obesity was significantly higher in women (55.4%) compared with men (27.6%) (OR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.52-4.49). Low levels of physical inactivity were prevalent in women (36.3%) at significantly higher proportions compared with men (22.7%) (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.02-2.92). Women used tobacco at significantly lower proportions (0.5%) compared with men (27.2%) (OR, 0.01; 95% CI, 0.00-0.06). A higher proportion of women (47.9%) rated their general health as poor compared with men (37.1%), a statistically significant difference (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.23-3.28). The prevalence of CVD risk factors, such as hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, low physical activity, and tobacco use indicates the urgent need for comprehensive health promotion programs to improve public health in rural areas of Kenya.

Gender inequality in the Nordic film industry: Exploring above-the-line positions in film production

Abstract In this article, we explore the enduring barriers to gender equality in the Nordic film industry, with a focus on positions of power and structural biases. Despite considerable efforts over the past decades to highlight gender inequality – resulting in more women in creative positions in Sweden, Denmark, and Finland – a significant gap remains. Our analysis of 1,070 films produced and released theatrically between 2010 and 2020 in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden shows men dominating directing, writing, and producing roles in 75 per cent of the cases, with women slightly more present in producing. The study finds a negative correlation between the dominance of men in producing roles and the presence of women in directing and writing roles. Factors such as the size of the creative team and co-production had less impact on the proportion of women in key creative positions than expected, whereas a higher proportion of women in managerial roles is linked to an increased presence of women in positions of directing (Sweden) and writing (Finland). These results indicate that while some progress has been made, structural barriers still significantly hinder gender equality in the industry.

Profile of female survivors of sexual violence in the first 6 months of the COVID-19 quarantine in the city of Campinas, Brazil: A cross-sectional retrospective study.

Describe the characteristics and changes in the profile of women who sought care after experiencing sexual violence (SV) during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic in a Brazilian city. This is a cross-sectional retrospective study. Data from emergency care and legal abortion requests of women assisted at the Women's Health Care Center Hospital (School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Brazil) due to SV experienced between March 23 and August 23, 2020 (Quarantine Group, QG), were collected and compared with data from the same period of the previous biennium (Comparison Group, CG). χ2 and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare groups; the significance level was 5%. Data for 236 women were analyzed; 70 women were included in the QG and 166 in the CG. In the QG, there was a restriction in the area of origin of women, with a higher proportion of women who lived in Campinas (P = 0.0007) and a higher frequency of chronic SV (P = 0,035). There were no rapes associated with the use of social media or apps in the QG, but 9.8% of women in the CG experienced rape associated with the use of social media or apps. There were higher rates of domestic violence (P = 0.022) and intimidation through physical force (P = 0.011) in the first two months. The COVID-19 quarantine affected the profile of women who sought care after experiencing SV. The quarantine resulted in changes in the area of origin of patients, hindering access to health services and leading to higher rates of chronic and domestic SV, particularly in the first 2 months of the pandemic.

Using a patient-reported outcome measure to assess quality of life at Western Sydney Sexual Health Centre.

Background Attaining a good quality of life (QOL) is a priority for people living with HIV (PLHIV). We explored the interaction between QOL and the associated demographic, behavioural and clinical factors for PLHIV attending an outer-metropolitan clinical setting in Western Sydney, Australia. The clinic's cohort of PLHIV is characterised by relatively high proportions of women, heterosexual men, and patients from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. Methods We assessed QOL using the PozQol tool that is specifically designed for PLHIV. QOL scores and de-identified socio-demographic and clinical data were extracted from the electronic and paper medical records of PLHIV who completed a PozQol tool (September 2020-March 2022). We performed descriptive analyses and logistic regression to identify associations. Results Among 188 patients, there were 77.7% men, 21.3% women, 1.1% transwomen; 67.0% were born overseas, 85.1% spoke English, 84.4% were Medicare-eligible, 85.9% were employed, 58.5% were diagnosed with HIV 6-20years ago, and 33.0% within the past 5years. Overall, 58.0% had a high or very high QOL. A low score in any domain was associated with Medicare-ineligibility. Low QOL scores in specific domains were associated with the following factors: health (being born overseas, having partners of both sexes), psychological (unemployment, having a mental health condition, having a viral load >20 copies/mL), social (unemployment), and functional (Medicare-eligibility, unemployment, having a viral load >20 copies/mL). Conclusions The PozQol tool has enhanced understanding of factors impacting on QOL for PLHIV attending our service in Western Sydney. Identifying patients with low QOL scores allows targeted clinical interventions to improve QOL, and re-alignment of clinical services to better support PLHIV.

Effects of polygenic risk score and sodium and potassium intake on hypertension in Asians: A nationwide prospective cohort study

Genetic factors, lifestyle, and diet have been shown to play important roles in the development of hypertension. Increased salt intake is an important risk factor for hypertension. However, research on the involvement of genetic factors in the relationship between salt intake and hypertension in Asians is lacking. We aimed to investigate the risk of hypertension in relation to sodium and potassium intake and the effects of genetic factors on their interactions. We used Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study data and calculated the polygenic risk score (PRS) for the effect of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP). We also conducted multivariable logistic modeling to evaluate associations among incident hypertension, PRSSBP, PRSDBP, and sodium and potassium intake. In total, 41,351 subjects were included in the test set. The top 10% PRSSBP group was the youngest of the three groups (bottom 10%, middle, top 10%), had the highest proportion of women, and had the highest body mass index, baseline BP, red meat intake, and alcohol consumption. The multivariable logistic regression model revealed the risk of hypertension was significantly associated with higher PRSSBP, higher sodium intake, and lower potassium intake. There was significant interaction between sodium intake and PRSSBP for incident hypertension especially in sodium intake ≥2.0 g/day and PRSSBP top 10% group (OR 1.27 (1.07–1.51), P = 0.007). Among patients at a high risk of incident hypertension due to sodium intake, lifestyle modifications and sodium restriction were especially important to prevent hypertension.

The diverse socioeconomic contributions of wildlife ranching

AbstractThe expansion of wildlife ranching has been broadly linked to conservation benefits, job creation, and economic contributions. However, a more nuanced understanding of the socioeconomic contributions of wildlife ranching accounting for the enterprise diversity in the sector remains a major limitation to assessing its potential to contribute to sustainable development. We assessed several important socioeconomic contributions of diverse wildlife‐based business models, defined by their main revenue‐generating activities, within the South African wildlife ranching industry, and the financial viability of these models. Owners and managers of privately‐owned wildlife ranches and conventional agricultural farms (for comparative purposes) were interviewed in the Eastern Cape (112 ranches; 24 farms) and Limpopo provinces (152 ranches; 4 farms). We used a hierarchical clustering analysis to delineate six wildlife ranching business models. These included three more specialized models: ecotourism, trophy hunting, and wildlife breeding, and three more mixed models: mixed hunting (i.e., both meat and trophy hunting), mixed wildlife‐agriculture, and trophy hunting‐game meat. In general, ecotourism‐focused ranches employed more people in total and per hectare (median = 23 jobs; 0.008/ha), and a higher proportion of women and skilled employees (41% and 45% of employees, respectively) than the other ranching models (median = 7–21 jobs; 0.002–0.005/ha) and conventional agriculture (median = 12 jobs; 0.004/ha). Trophy hunting‐focused ranches employed the second highest number of people per hectare (0.006) although on average, a third of these jobs were seasonal. Trophy hunting ranches tended to be more profitable (median profit margin = 33%) than ecotourism (−10%), wildlife breeding (0%) and mixed‐hunting (12%) ranches, though ecotourism ranches showed very high variability (interquartile range = −32% to 14%). These findings advance our understanding of the distinct socioeconomic contributions of diverse wildlife ranches, which benefits policy discourse and implementation surrounding the industry, promoting improved industry sustainability and inclusive growth.