Trends In Women Research Articles

The relationship between color black and economic trends in Women's fashion

AbstractEconomic fluctuation is one of the important factors for fashion color planning. Black is a color that stands out especially when the economy stagnates. Although the correlations between different uses of the color black and economic trends have been long recognized by fashion professionals, it is difficult to find a meaningful empirical analysis of the difference in the use of black depending on the economic situation. The purpose of this study is not only to quantitatively analyze the different usages of the color black in relation to economic situation in the field of fashion, but also to prove whether black is in greater use during economic recession and to provide basic data for fashion color planning accordingly. In addition, this study analyzed the symbolism of black qualitatively along with quantitative data to explain the background of black as a representative color of depression. In this study, the economic outlook is classified from the viewpoint of comprehensive economy, consumers, and businessmen and the differences of how black was used in fashion are analyzed. As an indicator of economic fluctuation, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Composite Leading Index, OECD Consumer Confidence Index and OECD Business Confidence Index are used to categorize economic uptrend (positive mood) and economic downtrend (negative mood). The fashion colors collected from the 2001‐2010 New York collection were divided into S/S and F/W seasons. As a result of the analysis, there was no difference in the use of black according to the OECD Composite Leading Index and Consumer Confidence Index, both in the S/S and the F/W seasons. But the use of black increased in both the S/S and the F/W seasons when businessmen predicted recession. The analysis shows that black fashion merchandise volume is increased by 5% in the F/W season and 7% in the S/S season when businessmen expect the economy to be negative mood. The reason why black products are highlighted in the recession is because black is the symbol of will, charisma, and temperance, and is the basic color that occupies the largest proportion in the fashion collection. During economic recession there is more attention on business look, and black is an element of the androgynous look for the contemporary armor and of power‐dressing to complete the business look, as a color for the spirit and inner strength. Black is the color that is the most preferred color in the fashion field. At the time of recession when everything is uncertain from the standpoint of fashion merchandisers, black with its multifaceted attributes cannot be denied to be the best choice to appeal to consumers.

Microparticle miRNAs as Biomarkers of Vascular Function and Inflammation Response to Aerobic Exercise in Obesity?

This study aimed to explore the role of nine microRNAs (miRNAs) in microparticles (MPs) on the efficacy of aerobic exercise in the regulation of inflammation and vascular function in obesity. Sedentary women with normal weight (n = 6, BMI < 25 kg/m2 ) and women with obesity (n = 9, BMI > 30 kg/m2 ) were recruited at F. Hached Hospital (Sousse, Tunisia) and enrolled in an 8-week aerobic program. Vascular function was assessed using laser Doppler flowmetry/iontophoresis, circulating MPs by flow cytometry, miRNAs by real-time polymerase chain reaction, and inflammation by ELISA, before and after exercise. Women with obesity presented with high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and a higher circulating MP level compared with healthy subjects. The MP miRNA profile was significantly different in the two groups. Exercise reduced BMI and inflammation in both groups and significantly improved endothelial-dependent response (acetylcholine cutaneous vascular conductance) for healthy subjects, with a trend for women with obesity. Circulating MP level was increased after exercise, and miRNA expression was differentially modulated in both populations. Pearson analysis revealed a correlation between MPs miR-124a and miR150 and adiponectin, TNFα, or IL-6 levels. The relation between MPs and miRNA profile, inflammation, vascular function, and exercise is of particular interest for defining "miRNA biomarker signature" in patients with cardiovascular disease who are potentially susceptible to respond to exercise.

The Effect of the Australian National Firearms Agreement on Suicide and Homicide Mortality, 1978-2015.

To investigate the impact of the Australian National Firearms Agreement (NFA) on suicide and assault mortality. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional difference-in-difference study of the impact of the NFA on national mortality rates in the Australian population from 1961 to 2015. The NFA had no additional statistically observable impact on firearm-related suicides in women (P = .09) and was associated with a statistically significant increase in the trend in men (P < .001). Trends in non-firearm-related suicide deaths declined by 4.4% per year (95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.1%, 4.8%) in men after the introduction of the NFA and increased in women by 0.3% (95% CI = 0.1%, 0.7%). Trends in non-firearm-related homicides declined by 2.2% per year (95% CI = 1.5, 3.8%) in women and 2.9% per year (95% CI = 2.0%, 3.7%) in men after the introduction of the NFA, with a statistically significant improvement in trends for women (P = .04) but not for men (P = .80). The NFA had no statistically observable additional impact on suicide or assault mortality attributable to firearms in Australia.

Drivers of hospitalisation trends for non-valvular atrial fibrillation in Western Australia, 2000–2013

ObjectiveTo determine if increasing hospitalisations for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) in Western Australia (WA) was due to incident (first-ever) or repeat hospitalisations, an ageing population structure, changing procedural practice or a combination of these factors. MethodsWe conducted a longitudinal retrospective population study on all WA residents aged 25–94 years between 2000 and 2013, with a principal hospital discharge diagnosis of NVAF. Person-linked hospital morbidity and mortality records were used to measure annual rate ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in the total and incident NVAF (25–94 years) hospitalisations, further stratified by sex and by age-specific standardised groups (25–44, 45–64, 65–75, 75–84, 85–94 years). ResultsThere were 55,532 total hospitalisations for NVAF between 2000 and 2013, patient mean age 68.3 years, and 58% male. Annual age- and sex- standardised rates for total NVAF hospitalisation increased by 3.0%/year (RR 1.030; 95%CI; 1.028, 1.038), and in both men and women. The largest absolute increase in hospitalisation rate occurred in those aged 85–94 years (∆613/100,000 men and women combined). Incident NVAF hospitalisations showed a borderline decline of 0.5%/year (RR 0.99; 95%CI; 0.99, 1.0) with a statistically significant trend in women but not men. The rate of AF admissions associated with a catheter ablation increased by 13%/year (95%CI; 13.1%, 15.3%). ConclusionThe increasing rates of total hospitalisation for NVAF is driven more by repeat than incident admissions, escalating hospitalisations in the very elderly, and more frequent interventional procedures. These drivers have major economic and healthcare planning implications.

Prevalence of Participating in Physical Activity From 2 Korean Surveillance Systems: KNHANES and KCHS.

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and trends of participation in physical activity (PA) in Korean adults. The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES; 2009-2013) and the Korea Community Health Survey (KCHS; 2009-2013) were used to estimate the prevalence of PA. Age standardization was performed using population projections for Korea in 2005 as a standard population. Trends of the prevalence from 2009 to 2013 were assessed by joinpoint regression analysis. The age-standardized prevalence for achieving the recommended level of PA was 63.0% in KNHANES and 64.5% in KCHS for men, and 53.7% in KNHANES and 56.3% in KCHS for women. Decreasing trends were observed for the prevalence of achieving the recommended level of PA in the KNHANES and KCHS; however, only the trend for women in KNHANES was statistically significant. Approximately, 60% of adults participate in the recommended level of PA in Korea. The survey design and characteristics should be considered when interpreting the prevalence of PA from different databases.

Should we continue population-based cervical cancer screening programme in Poland? A statement in favour

Organised cervical cancer screening programme in Poland introduced in 2006/2007 has never been optimal, largely due to low participation rate. However, recent analysis of trends in the burden of cervical cancer mortality revealed an acceleration of the downward trends in women of the screening age 25–59 around the time of the introduction of the programme. Possible factors responsible for this phenomenon include dissemination of Pap testing (mainly in opportunistic screening) and attempts to assure higher quality of screening procedures, which accompanied the roll-out of the screening programme. Despite the obvious flaws and limitations of the programme, its discontinu­ation might result in adverse epidemiological, clinical and financial outcomes related to limiting the screening to the opportunistic mode only. Therefore the programme requires continuation and improvements. Unfavourable trends in the burden of the disease in older women require rising the upper age limit for screening to facilitate access to screening. Several strategies to raise participation need to be tested. The inevitable advent of more sensitive but less specific, molecular HPV screening requires pilot studies, evaluation of their outcomes and adjustments before full-scale introduction at the national level. According to European Guidelines, this may be executed only within an organised screening programme.

Trends in women's informal eldercare in China, 1991–2011: an age–period–cohort analysis

AbstractAlthough many studies have described society-wide changes in adult women's care-giving for ageing family members, few have examined how this informal eldercare has changed across care-givers’ lifecourse and the temporal changes across different time periods and birth cohorts. Using a hierarchical age–period–cohort model to disentangle the confounding effects of age, period and cohort, this study examines the lifecourse and temporal changes in women's informal eldercare in China that can be attributed to the processes of ageing and social transformation. It advances understanding of the extent to which urbanisation and education have affected women's care-giving over time. The results reveal positive age, period and cohort effects which, together, indicate that the tradition ofxiao(filial piety) is in a stable state or even resurgent. Higher education and urban residency are both positively related to women's care-giving behaviour. As women age, the gap between residency differences in eldercare decreases. This study supports the argument thatxiaoculture is resilient and resistant to change, and that education can function as an enabler to promote it.

A five-year prospective study of spinal radiographic progression and its predictors in men and women with ankylosing spondylitis

BackgroundKnowledge about predictors of new spinal bone formation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is limited. AS-related spinal alterations are more common in men; however, knowledge of whether predictors differ between sexes is lacking. Our objectives were to study spinal radiographic progression in patients with AS and investigate predictors of progression overall and by sex.MethodsSwedish patients with AS, age (mean ± SD) 50 ± 13 years, were included in a longitudinal study. At baseline and at 5-year follow up, spinal radiographs were graded according to the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine Score (mSASSS). Predictors were assessed by questionnaires, spinal mobility tests and blood samples.ResultsOf 204 patients included, 166 (81%) were re-examined and 54% were men. Men had significantly higher mean mSASSS at baseline and higher mean increase in mSASSS than women (1.9 ± 2.8 vs. 1.2 ± 3.3; p = 0.005) More men than women developed new syndesmophytes (30% vs. 12%; p = 0.007). Multivariate logistic regression analyses with progression ≥ 2 mSASSS units over 5 years or development of new syndesmophytes as the dependent variable showed that presence of baseline AS-related spinal radiographic alterations and obesity (OR 3.78, 95% CI 1.3 to 11.2) were independent predictors of spinal radiographic progression in both sexes. High C-reactive protein (CRP) was a significant predictor in men, with only a trend seen in women. Smoking predicted progression in men whereas high Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) and exposure to bisphosphonates during follow up (OR 4.78, 95% CI 1.1 to 20.1) predicted progression in women.ConclusionThis first report on sex-specific predictors of spinal radiographic progression shows that predictors may partly differ between the sexes. New predictors identified were obesity in both sexes and exposure to bisphosphonates in women. Among previously known predictors, baseline AS-related spinal radiographic alterations predicted radiographic progression in both sexes, high CRP was a predictor in men (with a trend in women) and smoking was a predictor only in men.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00858819. Registered on 9 March 2009. Last updated 28 May 2015.

Leading causes of death of women of reproductive age in the Republic of Georgia: findings from the National Reproductive Age Mortality Survey (2014).

PurposeAn understanding of women’s health problems during the reproductive years, based on reliable cause-of-death data, is of critical importance to avoid premature female mortality. This study aimed to investigate mortality levels, cause-specific patterns, and trends in women of reproductive age in Georgia.Materials and methodsThe National Reproductive Age Mortality Survey (2014) was conducted to identify all causes of death for women aged 15–49 years in 2012. The leading causes were compared with those in 2006, using directly age-standardized death rates (ASDRs). The accuracy of official cause-of-death data was assessed against verbal autopsy (VA) diagnoses, using kappa statistics, sensitivity, positive predictive value, and misclassification analyses.ResultsOf 913 eligible deaths, VAs were completed for 878 deaths. Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) were the dominant causes of death (69.6% or 53.1/100,000), with cancer taking a major toll (45.2% or 34.5/100,000), followed by injuries (18.6% or 14.2/100,000). Breast cancer (12.5%), road injuries (9.1%), cervical cancer (6.5%), cerebrovascular diseases (5.2%), uterine cancer (4.1%), brain cancer (3.4%), suicide (3.1%), stomach cancer (3.0%), maternal disorders (2.6%), and liver cirrhosis (2.2%) contributed to the 10 leading specific causes of death, with the majority being substantially underreported in official statistics. This was primarily due to a significantly higher proportion (84%, p<0.05) of deaths routinely assigned ill-defined codes. Since 2006, statistically significant changes in ASDRs, with declines, were observed only for undetermined causes (40%, p<0.05) and ovarian cancer (54%, p<0.05); ovarian cancer and tuberculosis were replaced by stomach cancer and liver cirrhosis in the top 10 cause-of-death list.ConclusionNCDs continue to be the major health threats for Georgian women of reproductive age. The VA method proved a feasible tool to yield essential cause-of-death information for this population. Further research is needed to inform national health promotion and disease prevention interventions to be focused on NCDs and reproductive health needs with an integrated approach.

El dibujo proyectual y publicista. La joyería femenina europea y su proceso creativo durante el siglo XVIII

At the beginning of the 18th century, a modernization process characterized by the continuous refinement of vernacular forms and customs in matters of appearance can be observed in the main European capitals; understand these as the clothing apparatus, furniture and the different patterns of behavior. Paris, recognized as a reference point for good taste among European courts, exports its models since the end of the 17th century. However, it is from 1750 when a remarkable acceleration of the process of diffusion of French fashion is perceived through prints, drawings, treaties and the already popular poupe de mode1 [1] [2]. We observe, therefore, from the second half of the century, an outstanding tendency towards the homogenization of European fashion. In this sense, analyzing the costume and jewelry of the eighteenth century means assisting the process of acculturation of some groups whose behavior will set the tone for the rest of the population (Molina and Vega, 2004, p.10). The objective of this study is the presentation of the different sistems of current trends in women's jewelery, as well as the analysis of the different social and technical factors that intervene in their creative production.

Disparity and trends in the incidence and mortality of lung cancer in the world

Background: Lung Cancer (LC) is one of the most common cancers in the international arena. The aim of this study was to investigate the geographical distribution of LC incidence and mortality in the world in 2012, as well as the trend of incidence and mortality of LC during 1975 to 2010 based on the gender.&#x0D; Methods: In the present study, we extracted the information on the incidence and mortality of LC in 184 countries from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (Project GLOBOCAN, 2012). The present study categorized and presented the information on the Age-Standardized Incidence Rate (ASIR) and Age Standardized Mortality Rate (ASMR) of LC based on the continents, world regions based on the development level and Human Development Index (HDI). ASIR and ASMR of LC expressed per 100,000 people.&#x0D; Results: The highest ASIR and ASMR of LC occurred in North America (ASIR=38.3 and ASMR=28.6), more developed regions (ASIR=30.8 and ASMR=24.2), and the WPRO region of the WHO (ASIR=32.8 and ASMR=28.5), and those regions with very high HDI (ASIR=31 and ASMR=23.9). Furthermore, the lowest ASIR and ASMR of LC occurred in Africa (ASIR=5 and ASMR=4.5), the less developed regions (ASIR=20 and ASMR=18), the AFRO region (ASIR=3.9 and ASMR=3.5), and regions with low HDI (ASIR=5.4 and ASMR=4.8).&#x0D; Conclusion: The highest ASIR and ASMR of LC occurred in North America, more developed regions, and the WPRO region of the WHO, and those regions with very high HDI. Most regions of the world had decreasing incidence and mortality of LC in men and increasing trend in women.

Analysis on the trend of cancer incidence and age change in cancer registry areas of China, 2000 to 2014

Objective: To analyze the trends of cancer incidence and age changes in China with using cancer registration data, and to provide evidence for the development of cancer prevention and control. Methods: Twenty-two cancer registries with continuous (2000-2014) data were selected. The incidence of different sex and regional population, the standardized incidence rate by Chinese population, the average annual change percentage (AAPC) and annual change percentage(APC) were calculated. Age-period-cohort model were used to analyze the changes of cancer incidence, age-adjusted mean ages. The age-standardized proportion of 2000 and 2014 with were compared. Results: The cancer incidence in China increased by 3.9% (95%CI: 3.7%-4.1%) from 2000 to 2014 in APC, and the age-standardized incidence rate increased by 1.2% (95%CI: 1.0%-1.4%) in AAPC. The age-specific incidence showed that each age groups increased significantly in female, ranged between 0.9% to 6.0%. The APC in male aged from 60 years old showed decline trend, the APC in 60-69, 70-79, ≥80 years old were -0.2, -0.3, -0.3, while in the population aged 0-29, 30-39 years old increased dramatically, APC were 3.5, 2.0. Female under 60 also increased, and APC in 0-29, 30-39, 40-49, 0-59 years old were 5.7, 6.0, 3.4, 2.9, respectively. The mean age of patients diagnosed with cancer were increased during the past 15 years, with about 0.11 years per year increased. However, the mean age of the patients diagnosed with cancer showed decreased trend by 0.13 years after age structure adjusted. Conclusion: The trend of mean age for cancer incidence in China were getting younger than before, and the trend in women is more obviously than in man.

Women on strike: mobilizing against reproductive injustice in Poland

ABSTRACTThe paper employs a lens of reproductive justice (RJ) to discuss the events of the 2016 mobilization against a total abortion ban proposal in Poland. By presenting the context of women’s rights in Poland, especially the abortion debates, we argue that the 2016 Women’s Strike showed that taking a stand for reproductive justice was countered by governmental actions. By using a case study approach, the paper analyzes the Strike as a tumultuous act of women’s solidarity while simultaneously assessing its implications for RJ issues. We discuss the aftermath and the socio-political reticence to acknowledge the complexities of women’s lives and reproductive choices. Further, we provide arguments for applying the RJ framework into discerning the notion of ideal citizens and gendered social control in Poland. This localized analysis has a global relevance by reflecting the impact of worldwide trends in women’s rights activism and RJ in the context of resurfacing nationalisms and populism.

Low anti-Müllerian hormone concentration is associated with increased risk of embryonic aneuploidy in women of advanced age.

Does an association exist between serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level, the marker of biological ovarian age, and embryonic aneuploidy risk in recurrent spontaneous miscarriage (RSM) patients of reproductive age? This retrospective study included a total of 422 IVF cycles of 394 unexplained RSM patients undergoing preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A), enrolled from January 2014 to December 2016. Subjects were divided into three groups according to the 25th (1.50 ng/ml) and 75th (5.60 ng/ml) percentiles of AMH level (Group 1: low AMH <1.50 ng/ml [N = 107], Group 2: normal AMH 1.50- < 5.60 ng/ml [N = 210] and Group 3: high AMH ≥ 5.60 ng/ml [N = 105]). There was a significant difference in embryonic aneuploid rate between AMH groups (66.7% versus 42.9% versus 50.0%, Groups 1 to 3, respectively, P = 0.006). It was significantly higher in the low AMH group (Group 1) compared with that in the normal AMH group (Group 2, P1vs2 = 0.002) and high AMH group (Group 3, P1vs3 = 0.015). After age stratification, embryonic aneuploidy rate was still significantly different among AMH groups with a similar trend in women ≥35 years old (68.2% versus 54.4% versus 51.0%, P = 0.038, P1vs2 = 0.025, P1vs3 = 0.035), but not in young subjects. These findings indicate that low AMH level was associated with increased risk of embryo aneuploidy only in women of advanced age. Maternal diminished ovarian reserve along with oocyte ageing may contribute to impaired chromosomal competence of the embryo.

Decline and Peripheral Redistribution of Fat Mass in Old Age - A Four-Year Prospective Study in 3018 Older Community-Living Adults.

It is widely recognized that fat will accumulate with ageing and is more prominent centrally. However, there were studies reported that fat might not gain either centrally or generally with ageing. The baseline, 2-year and 4-year total body fat mas, trunk fat mass and percentage fat mass, were measured by DXA in 3018 community-living Chinese older than 65 years. The respective 4-year trajectories of adiposity were analyzed by repeated measure ANOVA p-for-trend test. There was a trend of increase in total body fat mass in men and a decreasing trend in women but neither reached statistical significance. However, there was a significant increase in percent fat mass in both genders. Fat mass was relatively stable in the 2 young-old groups but it declined in the oldest group, aged 75 years or above. (men, p=0.017; women, p<0.001). On the contrary, a corresponding rise of percent fat mass was observed, which was steeper in the 2 younger age groups but did not change in the oldest group. For trunk fat mass, there was a statistically significant decreasing trend in women (p < 0.001) but it remained static in men (p = 0.092). The fat mass in upper limbs of both genders did not change but for the lower limbs, there was a statistically significant increase in both men (p < 0.001) and women (p < 0.02). Absolute total body fat mass does not accumulate in old age and in the contrary, in the oldest old group (75 years or above), it declined instead. With ageing, fat will redistribute from the central region to the lower limbs.

The dawn of a new ice age: social egg freezing.

Given the age-related decline in ovarian reserve and oocyte quality, it is unsurprising the global trend of deferring motherhood has resulted in increased levels of involuntary childlessness. The development of oocyte vitrification, with pregnancy and livebirth rates now comparable to using fresh oocytes, has provided an opportunity to cryopreserve oocytes electively for future use, empowering women with the capacity to delay their childbearing years. While it enhances reproductive autonomy, age-related obstetric complications, economic implications and the risk of unsuccessful future treatment make this a controversial therapeutic option. However, some women have no reasonable alternative, such as single women approaching their late thirties, in whom egg freezing, although not a guarantee against involuntary childlessness, offers hope by extending the window of opportunity to find a partner. Given the upward trend in women electively cryopreserving their eggs, it would appear that a new ice age, from a fertility perspective, is upon us.

Association of Oxidative Stress with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in Oman: A Case‐Control Study

BackgroundPrevious studies in Euro‐American populations have shown that women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) have increased levels of serum oxidative stress markers. In the Arab region, there is noticeable lack of research of the association between oxidative stress and PCOS.ObjectiveThis study aims to compare socio‐demographic, clinical characteristics and oxidative stress indices between women diagnosed with PCOS and non‐PCOS women.MethodsThis hospital based case‐control study was conducted among women aged 16–49 years. The study included 51 women diagnosed with PCOS (as per Rotterdam 2003 criteria) and 45 control women who were known not to have PCOS. Serum blood samples were collected to measure biomarkers of oxidative stress including glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) using commercially available kits.ResultsReduced GSH levels (P= 0.006) were significantly lower among PCOS women compared to non PCOS women. GR and GPx activity levels showed higher trends in women with PCOS compared to non PCOS women and the difference was significant for the GPx activity (P= 0.04). PCOS women also showed lower TAC levels (P= 0.08) than the control group with no significant difference between the two groups.ConclusionThe study provides a supportive evidence for the association between oxidative stress and PCOS among Omani women. Oxidative stress might play a role in pathogenesis of PCOS, so these parameters may be suggested as diagnostic markers for early diagnosis and screening of high risk groups.Support or Funding InformationSultan Qaboos UniversityThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Ten-Year Trend in Women's Reasons for Abstaining or Limiting Drinking: The 2000 and 2010 United States National Alcohol Surveys.

Data on individual and cultural factors contributing to drinking can inform screening and brief intervention in clinical practice. Our aims were to examine 10-year trends in women's reasons for abstaining/limiting drinking and to document changes in associations with drinking status for population subgroups defined by race/ethnicity and age. Using repeated cross-sectional data from White, Black and Hispanic women in the 2000 and 2010 United States National Alcohol Surveys (combined N = 5501), population-weighted multiple linear and multinomial logistic regression models assessed changes in three reasons for abstaining or limiting drinking (health concerns, religious prohibition, and upsetting family or friends) and drinking status (past-year abstainer, low-risk drinker, or at-risk drinker), and their associations over time. Adjusting for key demographics, reasons for limiting alcohol consumption declined in importance over time, with reductions in both health concerns and religious prohibition particularly noteworthy for older women of all three racial/ethnic backgrounds. Despite these reductions in importance, both health concerns and religious prohibition were most consistently associated with increased abstinence relative to low-risk drinking; these reasons were not strongly associated with at-risk drinking, however. It is essential for healthcare providers and others to disseminate accurate information about the risks of drinking to counter cultural shifts that suggest greater acceptance of moderate-to-heavy drinking by women aged 40 and older.

Programmatic vulnerability in leprosy control: gender-related patterns in Bahia State, Brazil

The aim of this study was to analyze operational indicators and time trends in leprosy control from a gender perspective in Bahia State, Brazil, from 2001 to 2014. This was a time series study based on epidemiological data on leprosy from the Brazilian National System of Diseases of Notification, using joinpoint Poisson and polynomial regression. Of the 40,054 new cases of leprosy, 47.1% of the recorded contacts were not examined, with a significant upward trend, especially in women (average annual percentage change - AAPC = 5.6; 95%CI: 3.5; 7.7) when compared to men (AAPC = 3.0; 95%CI: 0.5; 5.6). The proportion of cure in the 2003-2014 cohort was 85%, with a downward trend, especially in men (AAPC = -0.5; 95%CI: -0.9; 0.0), compared to women (AAPC = -0.4; 95%CI: -0.7; -0.1). Treatment dropout rate was 5.5%, with a more significant downward trend in women (AAPC = -4.9; 95%CI: -8.7; -1.1) than in men (AAPC = -2.7; 95%CI: -4.4; -1.0). Relapse was recorded in 3.8% of all the entries during the same period; women showed a significant downward trend (AAPC = -2.2; 95%CI: -3.3; -1.0) and men a significant upward trend (AAPC = 4.9; 95%CI: 2.9; 6.8). Polynomial regression analysis was consistent with joinpoint regression. Leprosy in Bahia State shows operational indicators with significant magnitude and time trends, especially in the male population. Health services' insufficient performance in conducting contact surveillance and longitudinal care reveal various dimensions of vulnerability.

Trends in prevalence of obesity and hypertension in an urban Congolese community

Objective: To assess trends over time in the prevalence of overweight/obesity and hypertension among adult Congolese people.Methods: Data from 1292 inhabitants of an urban Congolese community collected in 2007-8 were confronted to observations from a 1983-4 survey of 424 participants from the same location. Prevalence of overweight/obesity and hypertension was directly standardized for gender and age. We modeled the risk of hypertension in a multivariable logistic regression analysis including the participants from the two periods and a dummy variable (coded 0 for 1983-4, 1 for 2007-8).Results: Gender distribution was similar in 2007-8 and 1983-4 with women representing 56.6% and 55.2% of the participants, respectively. Age averaged 37±15 years in 2007-8 vs. 33±12 years in 1983-4 (P˂.0001). Crude prevalence of overweight/obesity (26.7 vs 42.3%; P&lt;.0001) and hypertension (21.5% vs. 30.9%; P=.0002) was higher in 2007-8. The 2007-8 prevalence of overweight/obesity was 15.6%, 14.2% and 16.8% higher respectively for all subjects, women and men. The respective differences were 9.4%, 16.7% and 0.3% for hypertension. Overweight/obesity predominated among women at both periods, hypertension among men in 1983-4 with a trend in women at the latter period. The gender-age directly standardized prevalence was higher in 2007-8 for overweight/obesity [28.4(24.1–32.7)% vs. 41.3(38.8–43.7)%] and borderline for hypertension [24.9(20–28.9)% vs. 29.7(27.4–31.9)%]. The 1983-4/2007-8 risk ratio was 0.69 for overweight/obesity (P&lt;.0001), 0.84 for hypertension (P=.054). Awareness, treatment and control of hypertension were higher in 2007-8 for all subjects and women, not for men. They were similar in both genders in 1983-4 but higher among women in 2007-8. In the logistic model including participants from both periods, the risk of hypertension increased with gender (OR for men vs women: 1.47 [95% CI:1.14–1.88]; P=.0029), age (for age ≥ 45 years: 5.62 [4.37–7.23]; P&lt;.0001), overweight/obesity (present vs absent; 2.27 [1.77–2.91]; P&lt;.0001) and pulse rate (for each 10 beats/min: 1.20 [1.08–1.32]; P=.0005); the risk was 35% higher in 2007-8 compared to 1983-4 (OR:1.35;95% CI:1.01–1.80; P=.0416).Conclusion: The data highlight the increment overtime in the prevalence of hypertension and overweight/obesity among adult urban Congolese dwellers whose global cardiovascular risk is rather high. Control of these features should be considered mandatory for prevention of cardiovascular diseases.