reasons for living

Our aim was to examine the influence of BMI on the live-birth rate following IVF/ICSI and evaluate its specific contribution among other factors thus enabling accurate reproductive policy development. All patients that underwent IVF/ICSI at our center during January 2012-July 2015 were included in this retrospective study. A total of 1654 ICSI cycles were divided into four groups according to the patient's BMI (kg/m(2)): group I (normal weight): <25 (943 cycles); group II (overweight): 25-30 (403 cycles); group III (obese): 30-35 (212 cycles); group IV (morbid obesity): >35 (96 cycles)...

Background: Although preterm delivery and low birth weight (LBW) have been studied in India, findings may not be generalisable to rural areas such as the Marathwada region of Maharashtra state. There is limited information available on maternal and child health indicators from this region. We aimed to present some local estimates of preterm delivery and LBW in the Osmanabad district of Marathwada and assess available maternal risk factors. Methods: The study used routinely collected data on all in-hospital births in the maternity department of Halo Medical Foundation's hospital from 1 (st) January 2008 to 31 (st) December 2014...

BACKGROUND: Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) cause infections in the female genital tract, increasing susceptibility to and infectiousness of HIV. The objectives of the present study were to determine the prevalence and associated factors of CT and GC infection among HIV-infected women in Brazil. METHODS: Cross-sectional study conducted from March to December 2015, including HIV-infected women attending referral centers in nine states of Brazil, aged 18-49 years, nonpregnant...

OBJECTIVE: To measure sexual activity in a clinic population of partnered female cancer survivors, and to better understand reasons for sexual inactivity in this population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Partnered peri- or post-menopausal cancer survivors seen at a specialty clinic for menopause symptoms after cancer completed Fallowfield's Sexual Activity Questionnaire, quality of life measures (the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy General, Breast Cancer, and Endocrine Symptom Scales), and the Greene Climacteric Scale...

BACKGROUND: Effects following a hip fracture often lead to functional disabilities and increased dependence on others. Although persons sustaining a hip fracture constitute a heterogeneous group in Swedish health care, they tend to be treated as a homogenous one. AIM: The aim of this study was to reveal how previously healthy people, aged 65 years and older, described how they had adapted to daily life four months after a hip fracture. METHOD: The follow-up interviews were performed by the first author four months after the hip fracture...

BACKGROUND: fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders is a term used to describe a range of physical, cognitive and behavioural deficits in the offspring of women who drank alcohol during pregnancy. A growing body of evidence suggests alcohol consumption in the presence of poor maternal nutrition may increase the risk of harm to the developing fetus. OBJECTIVE: to investigate relationships between maternal dietary patterns and alcohol consumption, and explore which factors influence women's decisions about what to eat and drink during pregnancy...

OBJECTIVES: We explored the religious views and dilemmas of Polish women making the decision to terminate a pregnancy. The article discusses the highly restrictive legislation and significant influence of the Church on the lives of Polish citizens. METHODS: This study was designed to investigate the effect of religious and political beliefs, social and moral conditioning and professional support on the decision to abort a fetus. A 65-item questionnaire was administered to 60 participants at the time of their pregnancy termination...

BACKGROUND: Large randomised controlled trials have shown that early supplemental parenteral nutrition in patients admitted to adult and paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) is harmful. Overdosing of energy with too little protein was suggested as a potential reason for this. This study analysed which macronutrient was associated with harm caused by early supplemental parenteral nutrition in the Paediatric Early versus Late Parenteral Nutrition In Critical Illness (PEPaNIC) randomised trial...

BACKGROUND: A large number of nursing home residents with cognitive impairments (CI) suffer from chronic pain, which is also discussed as a reason for challenging behavior. To assess pain in people with severe CI, the use of an observational pain instrument is recommended; for people without or with mild CI the gold standard is a self-rating instrument. It is unknown whether in German nursing homes pain assessment in residents with severe CI is actually conducted using observational instruments and which instruments are used...

Animal remains that are unearthed during archaeological excavations often provide useful information about socio-cultural context, including human habits, beliefs, and ancestral relationships. In this report, we present pathologically altered equine first and second phalanges from an 11th century specimen that was excavated at Wrocław Cathedral Island, Poland. The results of gross examination, radiography, and computed tomography, indicate osteoarthritis of the proximal interphalangeal joint, with partial ankylosis...

In the setting of an overall decline in living organ donation and new questions about long-term safety, a better understanding of outcomes after living donation has become imperative. Adequate information on outcomes important to donors may take many years to ascertain and may only be evident by comparing large numbers of donors with suitable controls. Previous studies have been unable to fully answer critical questions, primarily due to lack of appropriate controls, inadequate sample size, and/or follow-up duration too short to allow detection of important risks attributable to donation...

BACKGROUND: Micronutrient deficiencies are common among adults living with HIV disease, particularly in low-income settings where the diet may be low in essential vitamins and minerals. Some micronutrients play critical roles in maintenance of the immune system, and routine supplementation could therefore be beneficial. This is an update of a Cochrane Review previously published in 2010. OBJECTIVES: To assess whether micronutrient supplements are effective and safe in reducing mortality and HIV-related morbidity of HIV-positive adults (excluding pregnant women)...

BACKGROUND: In Myanmar, postpartum haemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal mortality and contributes to around 30% of all maternal deaths. The World Health Organization recommends training and supporting auxiliary midwives to administer oral misoprostol for prevention of postpartum haemorrhage in resource-limited settings. However, use of misoprostol by auxiliary midwives has not formally been approved in Myanmar. Our study aimed to explore community and provider perspectives on the roles of auxiliary midwives and community-level provision of oral misoprostol by auxiliary midwives...

Having multiple plastic responses to a change in the environment, such as increased temperature, can be adaptive for two major reasons: synergy (the plastic responses perform better when expressed simultaneously) or complementarity (each plastic response provides a greater net benefit in a different environmental context). We investigated these hypotheses for two forms of temperature-induced plasticity of Battus philenor caterpillars in southern Arizona populations: color change (from black to red at high temperatures) and heat avoidance behavior (movement from host to elevated refuges at high host temperatures)...

We investigated the contribution of antenatal and postnatal care in reducing the risk of neonatal deaths in Bangladesh. The effects of these services were examined using adjusted Cox regression models and secondary data with 7,314 live-born infants. We observed that neonatal mortality was significantly decreased for newborns whose mothers' attended antenatal care services but postnatal care did not show any effect. Health promotion programmes offering antenatal care in Bangladesh and other low and lower-middle income countries may build awareness about these practices...

Departing from the conventional view of the reasons for the behavior of living systems, this research presents a radical and unique view of that behavior, as the observed side effects of a hierarchical set of simple, continuous, and dynamic negative feedback control systems, by way of an experimental model implemented on a real-world autonomous robotic rover. Rather than generating specific output from input, the systems control their perceptual inputs by varying output. The variables controlled do not exist in the environment, but are entirely internal perceptions constructed as a result of the layout and connections of the neural architecture...

This paper examines how people living in two socially contrasting areas of Stockton on Tees, North East England experience, explain, and understand the stark health inequalities in their town. Participants displayed opinions that fluctuated between a variety of converging and contrasting explanations. Three years of ethnographic observation in both areas (2014-2017) generated explanations which initially focused closely on behavioural and individualised factors, whilst 118 qualitative interviews subsequently revealed more nuanced justifications, which prioritised more structural, material and psychosocial influences...

BACKGROUND: There has been scientific interest in the Sardinia population for a number of years and for a variety of reasons, including its extreme longevity. This is especially prevalent in the central-eastern region of the island, where a blue zone region has been precisely delineated. AIMS: The present study examines the influence of leisure activities on psychological well-being and depressive symptoms in elderly individuals living in the blue zone region of inner Sardinia...

People living with HIV in England, as well as non-UK born and individuals without residency, can access free HIV care at any service in England. We investigated reasons for transfer of care to three London HIV units by asking all patients transferring to fill in a questionnaire exploring reasons for leaving their previous centre and reasons for choosing the new service. A total of 111 patients completed the questionnaire. The majority of patients transferred from abroad to London HIV units, compared to within the UK...

This article examines physiotherapists' lived experience of practicing physiotherapy in primary care, focusing on clinical reasoning and decision-making in the case of a patient we call Eva. The material presented derives from a larger study involving two women participants, both with a protracted history of neck and shoulder pain. A total of eight sessions, all of them conducted by the first author, a professional physiotherapist, in his own practice room, were videotaped, after which the first author transcribed the sessions and added reflective notes...