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Study shows hormone therapy not associated with an increased risk of developing dementia

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New research, led by experts at the University of Nottingham, shows that the use of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT – also known as hormone replacement therapy, HRT) is not linked to an increased risk of developing dementia.

The study, which was led by Dr Yana Vinogradova from the School of Medicine at the University and is published today in the BMJ, provides the most comprehensive and reliable risk estimates to date, and the findings should reassure women in need of MHT.

The large UK study, based on clinical records over many years of women representative of the general population, has shown that this is true regardless of hormone type, dose, or duration of use. [Read more…] about Study shows hormone therapy not associated with an increased risk of developing dementia

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    Light therapy helps burn injuries heal faster by triggering growth proteinLight therapy may accelerate the healing of burns, according to a University at Buffalo-led study. The research, published in Scientific Reports, found that photobiomodulation therapy – a form of low-dose light therapy capable of relieving pain and promoting healing and tissue regeneration – sped up recovery from burns and reduced inflammation…
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Leader effectiveness may depend on emotional expression

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Women leaders must often battle sexist stereotypes that label them “too emotional” for effective leadership. A surprising new study shows that when they express calm, happy emotions, however, women are perceived as more effective leaders than men. The effect is most pronounced for leaders in top positions in an organization.

The study, conducted by psychology professor Thomas Sy at UC Riverside and management professor Daan van Knippenberg at Drexel University, is the first to examine prototypes for the types of emotions displayed by leaders and concludes that people use implicit theories of leadership emotions when evaluating leader effectiveness.

Cognitive leadership prototypes, known as implicit theories of leadership, have been well-studied. Research consistently finds that effective leaders are seen as intelligent, dynamic, and charismatic, among other qualities. Men are also thought to be seen as possessing more of these qualities than women. [Read more…] about Leader effectiveness may depend on emotional expression

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    US outlines strategies for promoting American seafoodThe "Executive Order on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth," issued by the Trump administration in May 2020, lays out a plan to expand the US seafood industry, especially aquaculture, and enhance American seafood competitiveness in the global market. The goals of the directive are focused largely on growth…
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Weight-loss surgery lowers many pregnancy complications, raises others

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Weight loss surgery can be a double-edged sword for obese women who want to lose weight before they become pregnant. New studies show that the risk of some complications is reduced, but the risk of other complications may be increased.

Investigators tracked more than 20,000 women in California who became pregnant between 2007 and 2018. Of these, 9.3% underwent weight loss surgery before pregnancy.

Weight loss surgery was associated with: The risk of pre-eclampsia (blood pressure problems during pregnancy) was reduced by 47%. And 40% reduction in risk Gestational diabetes. The risk of having a baby much larger than the average gestational age has been reduced by 76%. The risk of fluid and membrane infections surrounding the baby in the womb has been reduced by 55% and the risk of caesarean section has been reduced by 35% [Read more…] about Weight-loss surgery lowers many pregnancy complications, raises others

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  • Drinking any type of coffee associated with reduced risk of chronic liver disease
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    Drinking any type of coffee associated with reduced risk of chronic liver diseaseDrinking coffee that is caffeinated (ground or instant) or decaffeinated is associated with a reduced risk of developing chronic liver disease and related liver conditions, according to a study published in the open access journal BMC Public Health. Researchers at the Universities of Southampton and Edinburgh, UK, found that drinking…
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  • Keeping weight off is up to your brain, not just willpower, Ben-Gurion U researchers discover
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    Keeping weight off is up to your brain, not just willpower, Ben-Gurion U researchers discoverWhat if an MRI scan could determine whether a weight loss program was likely to be effective? Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers have discovered a neural subnetwork of connected regions between the brain and gastric basal electric frequency that correlates with future weight loss based on connectivity patterns.…
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  • Déjà brew? Another shot for lovers of coffee
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    Déjà brew? Another shot for lovers of coffeeLong black, espresso, or latte, whatever your coffee preference, drink too much and you could be in hot water, especially when it comes to heart health. In a world first genetic study, researchers from the Australian Centre for Precision Health at the University of South Australia found that that long-term,…
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Not enough women and minorities apply for a job? Change the recruitment committee

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Amid calls for racial and social justice nationwide, businesses and educational institutions are grappling with how to adopt more inclusive organizational practices, including more diversified hiring.

However, recruitment teams and strategic leaders often blame their lack of a diverse workforce on a lack of diverse applicants.

A large study of recruitment data suggests a simple and efficient way of increasing diversity in applicant pools: have more diverse recruitment committees and leadership teams. [Read more…] about Not enough women and minorities apply for a job? Change the recruitment committee

Men make more extreme choices and decisions, find scientists

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This is the main finding of new research involving more than 50,000 participants in 97 samples, published in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS).

The findings show that the more extreme choices and decisions of men can be both positive and negative.

“The question of whether men and women make systematically different choices and decisions is one on the most fundamental (and controversial) questions in psychological research,” Associate Professor Stefan Volk from the University of Sydney Business School said. [Read more…] about Men make more extreme choices and decisions, find scientists

Role of women highlighted in study focused on the benefits of good farmer seed production

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A new study looking at the benefits of good farmer seed production suggests women need more support to participate in contract farming – to the same extent as their male counterparts – and have more equality along the whole food value chain. 

The CABI-led research – which sought to assess the benefits of good farmer seed production through a case study of the Good Seed Initiative in Tanzania – reveals that while around 70% of the labour to grow African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) is provided by women only 10 to 30% are contract farmers who own the fields, make decisions on sales and control revenues.

The paper, led by Dr Monica Kansiime and published in the journal Agriculture and Food Security, argues that the adoption of gender-inclusive approaches in contract farming arrangements is “paramount” and can have multiple benefits including shared decision-making amongst men and women. [Read more…] about Role of women highlighted in study focused on the benefits of good farmer seed production

Sexual attraction preferences vary between men and women and across different ages

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A new analysis suggests that men and women have broadly similar priorities in their sexual attraction preferences, but vary in degree of preference for certain traits. Preferences also appear to shift with age.

Stephen Whyte of Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia, and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on May 19, 2021.

People’s sexual attraction preferences lead them to make decisions about sex, relationships, and reproduction that ultimately influence other facets of society, such as gender roles, gender equity, fertility rates, politics, and more. [Read more…] about Sexual attraction preferences vary between men and women and across different ages

Study helps unravel why pregnant women develop heart failure similar to older patients

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Researchers at Penn Medicine have identified more genetic mutations that strongly predispose younger, otherwise healthy women to peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), a rare condition characterized by weakness of the heart muscle that begins sometime during the final month of pregnancy through five months after delivery.

PPCM can cause severe heart failure and often leads to lifelong heart failure and even death. The study is published today in Circulation.

PPCM affects women in one out of every 2,000 deliveries worldwide, with about a third of those women developing heart failure for life, and about five percent of them dying within a few years. [Read more…] about Study helps unravel why pregnant women develop heart failure similar to older patients

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Experimental treatment offers hope of fertility for early menopausal women

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Menopause typically signals the end of a woman’s ability to become pregnant. However, in a small new study, a novel approach of administering platelet-rich plasma and gonadotropins near the ovarian follicles is showing promise in restoring ovarian function.

Study results are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS).

As more women look to build their careers before pursuing motherhood, the average age of conceiving a child continues to be pushed back. [Read more…] about Experimental treatment offers hope of fertility for early menopausal women

New research highlights impact of the digital divide

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The coronavirus pandemic has drawn new attention to the digital divide, as the need for online schooling and working from home has disproportionately hurt those without computer equipment and skills.

Research by Paul A. Pavlou, dean of the C. T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston, found that people with basic Information Technology (IT) skills – including the ability to use email, copy and paste files and work with an Excel spreadsheet – are more likely to be employed, even in jobs that aren’t explicitly tied to those skills.

People with more advanced IT skills generally earned higher salaries, the researchers found. The work is described in Information Systems Research. [Read more…] about New research highlights impact of the digital divide