Women In Phase Research Articles

Induced ruminative and mindful self-focus in daily life across the menstrual cycle in women with and without premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Rumination and mindfulness are transdiagnostic risk and protective factors while their role in Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is unclear. Thus, we aimed to investigate the cycle-phase-specific effects of rumination and mindful self-focus on momentary mood and cognitions in women with and without PMDD. This study involved brief ambulatory inductions of ruminative and mindful self-focus along with ambulatory assessments of negative (NA) and positive affect (PA), and rumination, present-moment-awareness (PMA) and self-acceptance on two days during both the follicular and late luteal phase in women with and without PMDD (n = 60 each). Compared to healthy controls, women with PMDD showed stronger increases in PA in response to mindful self-focus inductions during the late luteal phase, whereas no such group differences were identified during the follicular phase. Independent of clinical status and cycle phase, induced ruminative self-focus immediately increased momentary NA and rumination and decreased PMA, whereas induced mindful self-focus inductions increased momentary self-acceptance. Overall, higher PA-reactivity toward mindful self-focusing during late luteal phase in women with PMDD points to the potential of cycle-phase-specific mindfulness interventions for PMDD. Irrespective of cycle phase, rumination and mindfulness appear to represent targets for brief prevention and intervention measures for both non-clinical and clinical groups.

Pengaruh Aromaterapi Ylang-Ylang terhadap Insomnia Ibu Hamil Trimester III di UPTD. Puskesmas Kuta II

Intoduction: Pregnancy is a sensitive phase in women's lives. Pregnant women have insomnia due to hormonal changes caused by adapting to the fetus's growth and development in the womb. To reduce the incidence of insomnia in pregnant women, non-pharmacological therapy is used, specifically ylang-ylang aromatherapy. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of ylang-ylang aromatherapy on insomnia in third-trimester pregnant women. Metohds: This study used a quasi-experimental research methodology with a Non-Equivalent Control Group design and accidental sampling, with 34 pregnant women separated into two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The level of insomnia was measured using the PSQI questionnaire, then data analysis was carried out using Mann Whitney. Result: The results showed that there was a difference in the level of insomnia of TM III pregnant women in the experimental group after being given the intervention where the p-value was 0.00 < 0.05. Meanwhile, in the control group, the post-test p-value was 1,000 > 0.05, which means that there was no difference in the level of insomnia in the control group. Analysis using Mann Whitney found that there was a significant effect of giving ylang-ylang aromatherapy on insomnia in TM III pregnant women where the p-value was 0.00 < 0.05. Suggestion: From It is hoped that ylang-ylang aromatherapy will be employed as part of comprehensive midwifery care for TM III pregnant women to lower the occurrence of insomnia.

Meaningfulness and Experience of Perimenopausal Women During the Pandemic in India: A Mixed-Method Study

The perimenopausal transition marks a significant phase in women’s lives, and the unforeseen challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic added complexity to this already intricate period. We investigated the mediating role of satisfaction with life between meaning in life and quality of life and adaptive strategies employed by perimenopausal women during the pandemic in India. Findings showed satisfaction with life as a strong mediator between meaning in life and quality of life. Thematic analysis identified a global theme of meaning in uncertainty and organizing themes: finding solace in self and actionable insights. The study emphasizes the need for understanding the meaning-making processes and adaptive strategies employed by women navigating perimenopause in the face of unprecedented global challenges.

Exploring menopausal dynamics: a cross-sectional analysis of age, symptomatology, and sociodemographic influences in a developing population of women aged 40-60

Objectives: Menopause, a biological milestone, marks a pivotal phase in women's lives characterized by ovarian function cessation and age-related changes. Our objective was to investigate menopausal symptoms and knowledge among women aged 40-60 years. Methods: This cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted between June 1 and September 30, 2005, in the Nilufer Public Health Education and Research Area (NPHERA) region, aimed to assess menopausal symptoms and their correlates among 1013 women aged 40-60. The individuals included in the study were selected through a systematic sampling method, stratified by neighborhood weights and age groups based on the NPHERA 2004 Work Report and regional data, as well as information from the Health Centers Information System (HCIS), where the Electronic Health Records (EHR) are registered. Results: The mean age of natural menopause was found to be 46.7±4.8 years, showcasing sociodemographic factors' influence. Postmenopausal women experienced higher rates of symptoms, with physical and mental exhaustion (82.8%), irritability (78.4%), and depressive mood (76.4%) prevailing. Logistic regression revealed that employment status significantly influenced menopausal status. Moreover, the age at menopause correlated positively with the age of the woman's mother. Conclusion: This study contributes insights into menopausal experiences in developing countries, emphasizing the need for tailored healthcare approaches. Longitudinal investigations are warranted to comprehensively understand these associations and enhance women's quality of life during menopause.

Diagnostic value of voiding scores of the "International prostate symptom score" and the "Bristol female lower urinary system symptoms-short form" questionnaires in women with voiding dysfunction.

We aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of International Prostate Symptom Score voiding symptom score (IPSS-VS) and Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms-short form voiding score (BFLUTS-VS) in female patients with urodynamically diagnosed voiding dysfunction. The medical records of female patients who underwent urodynamic examination between May 2007 and November 2021 for lower urinary tract complaints were retrospectively evaluated. A total of 1858 female patients were included in the study. Patients investigated between 2007 and 2014 were asked to fill the IPSS, and patients investigated after 2015 were asked to fill the BFLUTS-SF. The mean age of the patients was 49.06 ± 0.33 in the IPSS group and 50.02 ± 0.47 in the BFLUTS group. On the pressure flow study, voiding dysfunction was found in 14.8% (n = 95) in the IPSS group and 15.1% (n = 183) in the BFLUTS group. The area under curve value was found to be 0.58 for IPSS and 0.64 for BFLUTS. Threshold values were found as >9 for IPSS-VS and >4 for BFLUTS-VS. The sensitivity, specificity, false negative, and false positive rates for IPSS-VS were 33.3%, 78.8%, 66.7%, and 21.2%, respectively. The same parameters were 45.5%, 78.9%, 54.5%, and 21.1% for BFLUTS-VS, respectively. The diagnostic performance of both the questionnaires was found to be low for diagnosing voiding dysfunction in female patients according to our data. Therefore, the assessment of the voiding phase in women should not solely rely on the current questionnaires. However, further studies using questionnaires including all voiding symptoms are required.

Visuospatial Function in Women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.

Background/Objectives: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is an understudied psychiatric condition affecting reproductive-age women who experience negative mood in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Cognitive functions in PMDD are not well understood as patients have been tested in the luteal phase. This may confound study results due to noted emotional interferences, as well as the potential opposing effects of the sex hormones estradiol and progesterone. In the present study, we evaluated visuospatial function in the follicular phase in women with PMDD and healthy controls, and further examined the effect of estradiol as research into the hormonal mediation of visuospatial function in reproductive-age women has produced mixed results. Methods: To this end, we analyzed estradiol concentrations using the gold standard mass spectrometry. Serum samples were collected in the early follicular and mid/late follicular subphases when estradiol is low and high, respectively, while progesterone is low and steady. We assessed visuospatial function using the classic mental rotation task. Results: Women with PMDD had a higher mental rotation total score (t = 2.17; p < 0.05). The addition of six demographic, biological, and anthropomorphic variables in a hierarchical fashion accounted for 45.3% of the total variance in the final model with diagnosis remaining statistically significant (t = 4.36; p < 0.001). Estradiol did not mediate the group difference and was not significantly associated with visuospatial function. Conclusions: The present results provide support for new research directions into the potential biological mechanisms that underlie the pathophysiology of PMDD, represented as enhanced visuospatial ability in women with PMDD in the follicular phase. We review the theory that PMDD is a disorder of the enhanced excitation-to-inhibition ratio, with a focus on findings to date from brain imaging research.

Comparison of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) Risk and Nutritional Status According to Menopause Age and the Impact of Socioeconomic Status on MetS Prevalence in Postmenopausal Women: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).

The increased life expectancy and the occurrence of premature menopause prolong the mean postmenopausal phase in women's lifespans. Although the roles of poor socioeconomic status (SES), anthropometric characteristics, and nutritional status in premature menopause and the health of postmenopausal women are well understood, the differences in nutritional status and metabolic syndrome (MetS) prevalence in postmenopausal women depending on their menopause age are less explored. Furthermore, the association between SES and MetS risk in postmenopausal women is not studied. Thus, this study aimed to compare distinct nutritional status and MetS risk between women with premature menopause and natural menopause. Additionally, the association among SES, health-related lifestyle behaviors (HLBs), and MetS risk in postmenopausal women was studied. This study included 31,799 postmenopausal women from the 8th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The relationship between disease prevalence and nutrient intake of the subjects was analyzed using analysis of variance (GLM), and Scheffé test was performed. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association among SES, HLBs, and MetS as well as premature menopause. Women with premature menopause showed poor SES, anthropometric characteristics, and HLBs compared with women with natural menopause. Additionally, premature menopausal women had markedly lower intakes of protein, polyunsaturated fatty acid, n-3 fatty acid, and β-carotene, but higher intakes of energy, carbohydrate, saturated fatty acid, and sugar than women with natural menopause (p < 0.0001). Premature menopausal women showed significantly higher MetS prevalence by having hypertriglyceridemia (p < 0.0001), hypertension (p = 0.0145), and reduced HDL cholesterol levels (p < 0.0001) relative to natural menopausal women. Furthermore, our findings indicate a substantial link among SES, HLBs, and the risk of premature menopause. In postmenopausal women, deteriorating SES and HLBs appear to influence the prevalence of MetS. Notably, our study reveals that higher intakes of protein, calcium, phosphate, and iron are correlated with a lower risk of developing MetS. These observations suggest that proactive nutritional education for premature menopausal women is necessary to improve MetS risk and their nutritional status. Also, SES-dependent interventions regarding nutrition and HLBs in postmenopausal women will be significant to lower MetS risk, MetS-derived chronic disease, and mortality in postmenopausal women.

The Effect of Giving Ginseng Tea on Anxiety During Premenopause in the Mekarjaya Village Area, Purwakarta Regency, Indonesia

Premenopause is a natural transition phase in women marked by hormonal changes that can cause a variety of symptoms, including anxiety. Ginseng is an herbal plant that has long been used to treat various diseases, including anxiety. This study aims to determine the effect of giving ginseng tea on anxiety during premenopause in the Mekarjaya Village area, Purwakarta Regency, Indonesia. This research uses a pre-experimental research design, with a one group pretest-posttest design. The research population was all premenopausal women in Mekarjaya Village, Purwakarta Regency, Indonesia. The research sample was 20 people, taken using purposive sampling technique. The measuring tool used is the Hamilton Anxiety Scale Questionnaire (HAMA). The results of the study showed that there was an effect of giving ginseng tea on reducing anxiety during premenopause. This can be seen from the results of the Wilcoxon test with p-value &lt;0.05. The average HAMA score before giving ginseng tea was 25.45, while after giving ginseng tea it was 18.55. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that giving ginseng tea can reduce anxiety during premenopause.

Ab. No. 68 Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Menopause Symptoms in Perimenopausal Housewives

Introduction: To find effect of four weeks of aerobic exercise on Menopausal Symptoms using Menopausal Rating Scale (MRS) in perimenopausal housewives. Women during perimenopause suffer from hot flashes, fatigue, and mood swings due to hormonal changes. These symptoms can disrupt daily life, work, and well-being. Housewives may have limited access to health information leading to a lack of awareness of symptoms, resulting in increased suffering and a lack of understanding of how to manage. Aerobic exercise, like walking, has been shown to reduce these symptoms and improve overall well-being in perimenopausal women. Method: 36 housewives aged between 40-55years with perimenopausal symptoms were randomized into an intervention group A or a control group B. Women with known conditions which affected walking, taking drugs to relieve perimenopausal symptoms, women with surgical menopause, and receiving any hormone therapy were excluded. An experimental study was conducted in community of Ahmedabad. Women in the intervention group were asked to perform walking at 11-13 RPE for 150 minutes/week with warm up and cool down, five times a week. Those in control group continued their usual routine. Outcome used was menopausal rating scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSSv.20. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used for within group analysis and Mann-Whitney U test for between group analyses. Level of Significance was 5%. Results: Study is ongoing. Within group analysis for group A(z=-3.187,p=0.001) and for group B(z=-1.890, p=0.059). Between group analysis U=13, p=0.0001. Conclusion: Aerobic exercise like walking reduces menopausal symptoms in perimenopausal housewives. Implication: Aerobic exercise has benefits on physical and mental health, including reduced hot flashes, improved sleep, and decreased depression, significantly contributing to improving quality of life and well-being during the perimenopausal phase in women undergoing the menopause transition. Housewives who may have reduced social peers to discuss these symptoms can benefit from structured walking programs.

DEPICTING THE MOROCCAN MUSLIM WOMAN'S STRUGGLE AGAINST THE PATRIARCHAL AFRICAN-MUSLIM CONTEXT IN THE POSTCOLONIAL MOROCCO

This essay aims to show how much Leila Abouzeid, the author of the novel Year of Elephant, has developed her own discursive space in order to express the unspoken and depict the abrupt trauma of postcolonial Morocco from a postcolonial feminist perspective. The concept of "the Future" or "l'Avenir" of Jacques Derrida should unquestionably be implied in the aftermath of postcolonial Morocco. In this setting, Morocco's post-colonial fallout is obvious and predictable. The marriage, education, and administrative institutions have all been severely corrupted. Women who gave their lives in the armed resistance are now abruptly subject to patriarchy, mistreated by customs, and shunned by the law. Through qualitative description, this paper claims that the experiences of women in colonialism are celebrated. Using feminist research, experiences of women from postcolonial Morocco have been voiced and the novel portrays a woman’s spiritual journey, and it is an event of cross-cultural literary history. Published in 1989, Year of the Elephant has had a great impact on promoting Moroccan women’s legal situation in contemporary Morocco. The new millennium has signaled a new phase for women’s legal triumph.

The Relationship Between Mood and Sleep in Different Female Reproductive States.

Mood and sleep are tightly interrelated. Mood and sleep symptoms and disorders are more common in women than in men and often associated with reproductive events. This article reviews the current literature on the reciprocal relationships between mood and sleep across reproductive phases in women, such as menstrual cycle and related disorders, pregnancy, climacteric, and use of hormonal contraception and hormone replacement therapy. Mood and sleep symptoms seem to covary in relation to physiologic and pathologic reproductive conditions, although the relationship seems more clear for subjective than objective sleep.

Decreased CD56+CD16‐CD94+uNK cells in the mid‐luteal phase in women with recurrent implantation failure are associated with IL‐15 deficiency

AbstractProblemWhether the abnormal development of uterine natural killer (uNK) cells contributes to women with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) remains unclear.Method of studyWe characterized the development of uNK cells and peripheral blood NK cells (pbNK) in the mid‐luteal phase in women with RIF (n = 31) and controls (n = 14) by flow cytometry. Endometrial IL‐15 mRNA expression was studied by quantitative reverse transcription‐PCR. The GSE58144 dataset was used to validate the correlation results.ResultsWe found decreased proportions of stage 4 CD56+CD16‐CD94+ uNK cells (median: 9.56% vs. 17.78%, P .014) and increased proportions of stage 6 CD56+CD16+CD57+ uNK cells (median: 1.54% vs. 0.74%, P = .020) in the mid‐luteal endometrium of women with RIF compared to fertile women. We also found that there was no quantitative correlation between uNK cells and the corresponding pbNK cell subpopulations (P &gt; .05). In addition, IL‐15 mRNA levels in the mid‐luteal endometrium were positively correlated with the proportion of CD56+ uNK cells (r = .392, P = .008), especially with stage 4 uNK cell populations (r = .408, P = .005).ConclusionsWe showed that the proportion of stage 4 uNK cells decreased in the RIF group compared to controls, and the decrease in stage 4 uNK cells correlated positively with low IL‐15 mRNA expression. We suggest that the reduced stage 4 uNK cells in women with RIF are associated with IL‐15 deficiency.

Relationship Between Steroid Hormone Profile and Premenstrual Syndrome in Women Consulting for Infertility or Recurrent Miscarriage

To determine the relationships between luteal-phase steroidal hormonal profile and PMS for a large number of women attending a dedicated fertility clinic. This was a retrospective cross-sectional study on women attending a hospital-based clinic for fertility concerns and/or recurrent miscarriage. All participants were assessed with a women’s health questionnaire which also included evaluation of premenstrual symptoms. Day of ovulation was identified based on the peak mucus symptom assessed by the woman after instruction in a fertility awareness-based method (FABM). This enabled reliable timing of luteal-phase serum hormone levels to be taken and analysed. Between 2011 and 2021, 894 of the 2666 women undertaking the women’s health assessment had at least one evaluable serum luteal hormone test. Serum progesterone levels were up to 10 nmol/L lower for symptomatic women compared with asymptomatic women. This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05) for the majority of PMS symptoms at ≥ 9 days after the peak mucus symptom. A similar trend was observed for oestradiol but differences were generally not statistically significant. ROC curves demonstrated that steroid levels during the luteal phase were not discriminating in identifying the presence of PMS symptoms. Blood levels for progesterone were lower throughout the luteal phase in women with PMS, with the greatest effect seen late in the luteal phase.

FRI424 Allopregnanolone Levels Are Elevated in the Follicular Phase and Predict Premenstrual Depression and Anxiety Symptom Severity in Women with Menstrually Related Mood Disorder

Abstract Disclosure: A. Kimball: None. J. Bourassa: None. M. Chicote: None. A.V. Gerweck: None. L.E. Dichtel: Other; Self; Dr. Dichtel is a Mass General Brigham (MGB) Innovation Fellow hosted by Third Rock Ventures. Financial interests were reviewed and are managed by MGH and MGB in accordance with their COI policies. K.K. Miller: None. Menstrually related mood disorder (MRMD), which includes premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and subthreshold PMDD, is marked by severe psychiatric impairment in the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, but little is known about the mechanisms responsible. Allopregnanolone is a neuroactive metabolite of progesterone and a potent GABAA receptor allosteric activator with antidepressant and anxiolytic properties. We have shown that allopregnanolone levels increase, while the allopregnanolone/progesterone ratio decreases, from the follicular to luteal phase in healthy women. We hypothesized that allopregnanolone levels would decrease in association with the increase in depression severity experienced in the late luteal phase by women with MRMD. We studied 23 women with regular menses [MRMD (n=9) and healthy controls with no premenstrual symptoms or psychiatric history (HC) (n=14)] in the mid-follicular (cycle day 6-10), mid-luteal (5-9 days after LH surge), and late luteal (9-13 days after LH surge) phases. No subjects took gonadal steroids or psychotropic medications. The Daily Record of Severity of Problems was used to diagnosed PMDD (≥5 symptoms) and subthreshold PMDD (1-4 symptoms). Depression and anxiety symptom severity were assessed using the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale, respectively. Fasting plasma hormone levels were measured by GC/MS. Data are presented as median(95% CI). Normal ranges were calculated as the 95% CI of HC. Median age [30(28,33) years] and BMI [23.8(22.9,29.0) kg/m2] were similar between groups. Depression severity was greater in MRMD vs HC [7(3,13) vs 2(1,4), p=0.005) in the late luteal phase only, as expected. In the follicular phase, the median allopregnanolone level was higher in MRMD vs HC [86(40,148) vs 29(24,73) pg/mL, p=0.05] and frankly elevated in 6 of 9 (67%) MRMD women. The median allopregnanolone/progesterone ratio in the follicular phase was higher in MRMD vs HC [0.8(0.4,2.2) vs 0.4 (0.3,0.8), p=0.03] and elevated in 4 of 9 (44%) MRMD women. There were no differences in neuroactive steroid levels between groups during the luteal phase. Higher allopregnanolone levels in the follicular phase were associated with greater depression severity in the mid-luteal (r=0.51, p=0.01) and late luteal (r=0.54, p=0.007) phase and greater anxiety severity in the late luteal phase (r=0.41, p=0.05). Conclusion: Contrary to our hypothesis, we found that levels of neuroactive steroids, which have antidepressant effects, were higher in the follicular phase in women with MRMD – who experience depression in the late luteal phase – compared with HC. This suggests that increased conversion of progesterone to allopregnanolone in the follicular phase, resulting in elevated allopregnanolone levels, may be a compensatory response to premenstrual depression and anxiety in some women with MRMD. Presentation Date: Friday, June 16, 2023

A pilot study of light exposure as a countermeasure for menstrual phase-dependent neurobehavioral performance impairment in women

ObjectiveTo examine effects of menstrual phase and nighttime light exposure on subjective sleepiness and auditory Psychomotor Vigilance Task performance. MethodsTwenty-nine premenopausal women (12 =Follicular; 17 =Luteal) completed a 6.5-hour nighttime monochromatic light exposure with varying wavelengths (420-620 nm) and irradiances (1.03-14.12 µW/cm2). Subjective sleepiness, reaction time, and attentional lapses were compared between menstrual phases in women with minimal (<33%) or substantial (≥33%) light-induced melatonin suppression. ResultsWhen melatonin was not suppressed, women in the follicular phase had significantly worse reaction time (mean difference=145.1 ms, 95% CI 51.8-238.3, p < .001, Cohen’s D=1.9) and lapses (mean difference=12.9 lapses, 95% CI 4.37-21.41, p < .001, Cohen’s D=1.7) compared to women in the luteal phase. When melatonin was suppressed, women in the follicular phase had significantly better reaction time (mean difference=152.1 ms, 95% CI 43.88-260.3, p < .001, Cohen’s D=1.7) and lapses (mean difference=12.3 lapses, 95% CI 1.14-25.6, p < .01, Cohen’s D=1.6) compared to when melatonin was not suppressed, such that their performance was not different (p > .9) from women in the luteal phase. Subjective sleepiness did not differ by menstrual phase (mean difference=0.6, p > .08) or melatonin suppression (mean difference=0.2, p > .4). ConclusionsNighttime light exposure sufficient to suppress melatonin can also mitigate neurobehavioral performance deficits associated with the follicular phase. Despite the relatively small sample size, these data suggest that nighttime light may be a valuable strategy to help reduce errors and accidents in female shift workers.

ROLE OF YONI VARTI IN SHLESHMAJA YONIVYAPADA W.S.R NON-SPECIFIC VULVOVAGINITIS

Ayurveda is one of the oldest holistic healing systems. Ayurveda not only gives us the knowledge of life but also the knowledge of healthy living. Healthy women are a promise of healthy family. In different phase of women’s life, from puberty to menopause the concept of healthy yoni has been mentioned in Ayurveda as well as in modern medicine. In ayurveda text, most of the gynecological disorders are described under Yonivyapada. Yoni Varti is considered as a modified form of Vati kalpana, made to be specially used in Yoni Pradesh. A Vaginal Suppository is a drug delivery system, it dissolves or melts &amp; absorbed in deeper tissues. The drug possesses qualities like hygroscopic, antiseptic &amp; wound healing i.e., Shodhana karma. Shleshmaja yonivyapada is described as a condition where symptoms of picchila and Sheetala discharge from female genital tract (Yoni) occurs with kandu and manda ruja along with Artavadushti and pandu. Varti prayoga is one such intervention among which “Shodhani” varti has been specifically mentioned in the context of Sleshmaja Yonivyapada. Arkadi Varti &amp; Pippalyadi varti have been explained under the same. The symptoms which are seen in vulvovaginitis conditions need effective treatment procedures. Varti has Teekshna, Ushna properties and are also Kaphahar in nature. All of these drugs have potent antimicrobial actions and the use of a topical medicine like Varti will act directly on the vaginal mucosa and enable easier and target specific action. Therefore, it helps to combat the local disease-causing agent and simultaneously strengthen the vagina as well as prevent recurrence.

Impact of menopause on relapse rate and disability level in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS): a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundMenopause is a physiologic phase in women’s lives. Findings regarding multiple sclerosis (MS) course through menopause are diverse. So, we designed this systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the impact of menopause on relapse rate, and disability status in women with MS.MethodsPubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and google scholar were systematically searched by two independent researchers on January 1st, 2023. They also evaluated conference abstracts, and references of the included studies. In addition, data regarding the total number of participants, name of the first author of the publication, publication year, country of origin, disease duration, disease type, annual relapse rate, and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) before and after menopause were recorded.ResultsA literature search revealed 1024 records. Twenty-one full texts were evaluated, and finally, four studies were included for meta-analysis. Mean ARR before menopause ranged between 0.21 and 0.37, and after menopause ranged between 0.13 and 0.08. The SMD of mean ARR ranged between − 1.04, and − 0.29, while the pooled SMD was estimated as -0.52(95% CI: -0.88, -0.15) (I2 = 73.6%, P = 0.02). The mean EDSS before menopause ranged between 1.5 and 2, and after menopause ranged between 2 and 3.1. The SMD of EDSS ranged between 0.46, and 0.71. The pooled SMD of EDSS change (after menopause-before menopause) estimated as 0.56(95% CI: 0.38, 0.73)(I2 = 0, P = 0.4).ConclusionThe result of this systematic review and meta-analysis show that menopause can be associated with relapse rate reduction, unlike increase in disease-related disability in women with MS.

Preparation and Standardization of Siddha Herbal Formulation Bhavana Panchankula Thailam

Introduction: Antenatal period is an important phase in women’s life. Antenatal care is significant to ensure the pregnant women and her foetus are in good health. Certain food and behaviour may affect her pregnancy. Siddha system of medicine assures good antenatal care. According to Siddha literature Theraiyar Thaila Varga Churukkam, have quoted many thailam preparations for both internal and external use. Bhavana Panchankula Thailam which is one among them is specially indicated for antenatal care and also for various other diseases like Ganachudu, Karupachudu, Siruneer Paathai Thabitham, Sarrira Varatchi, Marunthugalin Ushnam and Malachikal The aim of the study is to standardize the components of Bhavana Panchankula Thailam Aim: To validate the components of Bhavana Panchankula Thailam and interpret the components with possible medical roles. Materials and methods: Bhavana Panchankula Thailam was prepared as per Siddha literature. The oil was analyzed by using physico-chemical analysis, FT-IR, ICP-OES, and GC-MS. Result and Conclusion: Characterization plays a major role to identify the nature of the drug by physico-chemical analysis, FT-IR analysis shows the presence of functional groups, ICP-OES for presence of heavy metals. The instrumental analysis GC-MS study for “Bhavana Panchankula Thailam “shows the presence of Free Fatty Acids. Keywords: Bhavana Panchankula Thailam, GC-MS, Free Fatty Acids, physico-chemical analysis, FT-IR, ICP-OES.

The History and Impact of Women in the Parliament of Western Australia: From Golden Age to Disappointment

ABSTRACT Despite their significant contributions to parliament and the Western Australian community, the role of women in the WA public sphere has historically been overlooked due to cultural and structural prejudice. To remedy this erasure, this article assesses the body of scholarly work that has focused on women serving as members in the Parliament of WA. Finding that the literature identifies three phases of women’s engagement with the Parliament of WA, these phases can be periodised as follows: the first is the ‘age of individuals’ where a select few pioneering women entered the parliament due to a variety of historical specificities. The second we term the ‘age of Labor women’, as the literature widely acknowledges that the 1983 Burke government adopted affirmative action policies that saw a significant increase of women MPs hailing from the Labor Party. The third we label the ‘age of disappointment’, as the literature underscores the bipartisan deprioritising of women’s policy issues in the 1990s–2000s, alongside the existence of continuing barriers to gender equality in Australian parliamentary politics. Suggestions for further research are also identified, including the impact of neoliberalism on women’s representation, and the emergence of intersectionality as a key paradigm in women’s studies. .

Hyperpigmentation after sclerotherapy: modern possibilities for prevention and treatment

Sclerotherapy is one of the most popular and most common techniques for the removal of delated reticular veins and telangiectasias on the lower limbs. Despite the vast pooled experience, this procedure can be accompanied by a number of undesirable side effects, of which post-injection hyperpigmentation, which frequency reaches 80%, is the most unpleasant one. The development of postsclerotherapy hyperpigmentation (PSHP) is associated with extravasation and destruction of red blood cells, which results in transformation of haemoglobin into hemosiderin pigment. PSHP is, by definition, a variant of post-traumatic hemosiderin pigmentation. The likelihood of occurrence and persistence of PSHP is determined by a number of hard controllable factors, including the calibre and location of the target veins, the type, concentration and physical form of the sclerosing agent, the sclerotherapy technique, the method and duration of post-procedural compression, patients’ ethnicity, iron metabolism disorders, concomitant use of a number of drugs, a menstrual cycle phase in women, etc. Hyperpigmentation significantly decreases the patients’ quality of life, which determines the need for the prevention and treatment of this undesirable side effect of phlebosclerosing treatment. Recommendations for prevention of PSHP include a detailed history taking aimed at identifying potential risk factors, in the presence of which it is advisable to use various systemic and topical drugs in the post-procedural period in order to prevent the skin hemosiderin deposition, as well as to apply the extended-cycle compression. In the case of PSHP, procedures aimed at the destruction and utilization of hemosiderin, such as Q-Switched laser and IPL therapy, as well as various peeling options intended to speed up the replacement of pigmented skin with normal, can be applied. For the PSHP prevention and treatment, the use of Contractubex containing cepalin onion extract in combination with allantoin and heparin is a matter of interest. Contractubex is a drug originally intended to optimize wound healing and prevent the formation of hypertrophic scars. At the same time, there is ample publications discussing the possible use of this drug for the management of post-traumatic hyperpigmentation due to the combined action of its components. Our clinical experience confirms the effectiveness of Contractubex in the treatment of PSHP, which determines the feasibility of conducting full-fledged clinical trials and accumulating more pooled experience in this area.