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The article delves into the complexities of altruistic surrogacy in Falguni Kothari's novel, "The Object of Your Affections," examining themes of kinship, societal expectations, and individual aspirations. It challenges the distinction between altruistic and commercial surrogacy, highlighting blurred boundaries and critiquing societal emphasis on heterosexual reproduction. The analysis is grounded in theoretical frameworks of gift exchange and reciprocity, shedding light on the intricate dynamics of surrogacy arrangements. The narrative explores tensions between personal desires and societal pressures, emphasizing ethical dilemmas and emotional struggles inherent in surrogacy, both commercial and altruistic. [Extracted from the article]

The text discusses political developments in Victoria from January to June 2024, following the resignation of long-time Labor Premier Daniel Andrews. The new Premier, Jacinta Allan, faced challenges such as debates over the Lord's Prayer in parliament, cancellation of the annual Iftar dinner, and decisions on issues like duck hunting and a supervised drug injecting facility. The text also covers the Dunkley by-election, electoral redistribution, the state budget, changes in parliamentary secretary roles, and Labor MPs leaving the party. Additionally, it highlights the opposition's stance on a potential treaty with First Nations people and shifts in public opinion against Labor. [Extracted from the article]

The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. Breastfeeding by mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been shown to reduce maternal insulin demands and diminish the risks of diabetes in infants, leading to improved long-term health outcomes. Milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) proteins play a crucial role in influencing the immunity and cognitive development of infants. Understanding the alterations in MFGM proteins in breast milk from mothers with GDM is essential for enhancing their self-efficacy and increase breastfeeding rates. The objective of this study is to investigate and compare MFGM proteins in milk from mothers with and without GDM based on tandem mass tag (TMT) labeling and liquid chromatography–tandem MS techniques. A total of 5,402 proteins were identified, including 4 upregulated proteins and 24 downregulated proteins. These significantly altered proteins were found to be associated with human diseases, cellular processes, and metabolism pathways. Additionally, the oxidative phosphorylation pathway emerged as the predominant pathway through Gene Set Enrichment Analysis involving all genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: With the increasing number of cesarean sections worldwide, the need to determine the gestational age for scheduled cesarean sections has increased. The literature needs clear information, especially about cesarean sections four or more times. Our study aims to determine the ideal gestational week for mothers and babies in patients who are not in labor and who will have four or more cesarean sections. Methods: In our retrospective study, the records of 2318 pregnant women were accessed, and those with singleton pregnancies, without medication use during pregnancy, and without any complicated pregnancies, such as newly defined preeclampsia, diabetes, and thyroid disease, and those over 18 years of age were included. All of the cesarean sections were under scheduled conditions (no beginning of labor and no pain/contraction). The exclusion criteria were patients with vaginal dilatation and effacement, a history of uterine rupture, and a diagnosis of placental adhesion spectrum disorder. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were evaluated. Results: Although there was no significant difference in neonatal outcomes according to gestational week, regardless of the number of cesarean sections, transient tachypnea of the newborn increased significantly in scheduled cesareans performed at the 37th week compared with other weeks (p < 0.01). The results can be expected at 39 weeks and above. Conclusion: As a result, patients should not undergo cesarean section before 39 weeks unless they are in labor, and it seems safe to wait until 39 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the changing landscape of transnational surrogacy, the industry has introduced flexible business models requiring women to move within and across borders to act as surrogate mothers. However, knowledge about their experiences remain vague, particularly concerning women traveling abroad under illegal conditions. Building upon interviews with Thai surrogate mothers, I demonstrate how their im/mobility reveals critical insights into labor conditions and power relations and is formed within the global reproductive industry as well as the specific national context. I also argue that the women’s im/mobility and flexibility are central when making themselves bioavailable for the global surrogacy market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Minipuberty is the second phase of physiological activation of the reproductive axis, playing a role in the postnatal development of sexual organs. The course of female minipuberty was found to be affected by low maternal vitamin D status and hypothyroidism during pregnancy. The aim of the current study was to assess the hormonal profile and the size of sexual organs in daughters of mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus. The study included three matched groups of infant girls: daughters of healthy women without metabolic disorders during pregnancy (group 1), daughters of women with poorly controlled gestational diabetes mellitus (group 2), and daughters of women with gestational diabetes mellitus adequately controlled during pregnancy (group 3). Urinary levels of gonadotropins, salivary levels of estradiol, testosterone, DHEA-S and progesterone, ovarian volume, uterine length and breast diameter were measured from postnatal month 1 to postnatal month 18. Concentrations of FSH, LH and estradiol were higher, while concentration of progesterone was lower in group 2 than in the remaining groups. There were no between-group differences in concentrations of testosterone and DHEA-S. Levels of LH, FSH, estradiol and progesterone correlated with maternal whole-blood levels of glycated hemoglobin. Group 2 was also characterized by the longest detection periods for LH and estradiol. Ovarian volume, uterine length and breast diameter were greater in group 1 than in the remaining two groups. Over the entire observation period, there were no differences in hormone levels and sizes of the sexual organs between groups 1 and 3. The obtained results suggest that poorly controlled, but not well controlled, gestational diabetes mellitus affects the course of female minipuberty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY QUESTION Which decision-making factors influence family building among permanently infertile couples? SUMMARY ANSWER Ethical, legal, and financial considerations outweigh genetic relatedness in decision-making, favouring domestic gestational surrogacy, if this were possible, over international options. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Permanent infertility affects 4–5% of people in the fertile age. Their family-building options include adoption, surrogacy, uterus transplantation, foster care, and intentional multiple parenthood. However, in most countries, including Denmark, legal barriers constrain these methods due to surrogacy restrictions, suspended international adoptions, and the experimental status of uterus transplantation. Despite existing research on surrogacy, adoption, and specific causes of permanent infertility, a significant gap remains in our understanding of how couples with permanent infertility make family-building decisions within these limited frameworks. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This cross-sectional study with 150 permanently infertile Danish participants was conducted from June to November 2023 using an online questionnaire. Multiple strategies, such as online forums, fertility clinics, hospital departments, and snowballing, were used to recruit a diverse sample. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS The study included couples aged 26–50 years facing permanent infertility due to the following primary causes: women without a uterus (15%), women with a non-functional uterus (47%) or women for whom pregnancy would be life-threatening (9%), male couples (16%), transgender partner couples (2%), and other causes (11%). The survey collected data on demographics, reproductive history, family-building choices, and communication strategies. Closed questions were analysed using descriptive statistics. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Among 150 respondents, 41% had used transnational surrogacy, 27% adoption, 14% chose to remain childless, and 19% were undecided. Critical factors on family-building decisions were ethical, legal, and financial concerns which ranked higher than genetic relatedness. Despite the complexity of family building, most participants were open about their child's origin and received social support. If all family-building methods were legal and available in Denmark, domestic gestational surrogacy would be the preferred method, with uterus transplantation and remaining childless being least popular. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The sample size is relatively small, despite the use of a variety of recruitment strategies. Nevertheless, this has ensured a diverse cohort representing the different reasons for infertility and family-building choices. It is important to note that the strategies may have favoured individuals achieving parenthood. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The finding of our study reveals a notable gap between available family-building options in Denmark and the preferences of couples facing permanent infertility. These insights could be instrumental for organizations reviewing and developing family-building frameworks. Furthermore, for healthcare professionals guiding couples experiencing infertility issues in their attempts to build a family, an understanding of these preferences is essential to facilitate informed decisions about their future family plans. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) The project was financed by the Independent Research Fund Denmark. The authors have no conflict of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the early 2000s, India has been a world leading hub for cross border reproductive treatments, in particular surrogacy, with the nation positioning itself as the "mother destination" for transnational commercial surrogacy, offering "First world services at Third world prices". State policies, lack of legal regulation, state of the art medical infrastructure and a steady supply of women ready to take on the role as surrogate mothers against meager remuneration have been key factors behind the Indian success story. Yet, a gradual process of regulation in recent years, culminating in the introduction of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill 2020, has forced the industry to reinvent itself in order to maintain its role as a market leader in a booming global bioeconomy. This article takes the 2020 bill as a starting point for an exploration of the key trajectories that the Indian reproductive industry has taken since. This includes moving into new market segments, such as the unregulated practice of oocyte donation, and expanding globally into new geo-political contexts. Through these practices, India has successfully rebranded itself as a world leading "pre-conception assemblage hub" where embryos are assembled and implanted into surrogates who carry their pregnancies to term in countries with no protective legislation. The article begins to map the emerging links between the reproductive industry in India and East Africa - where diasporic networks are mobilized in the creation of new reproductive markets, dominated by Indian IVF providers. In particular, we discuss the current expansion in Kenya, which we situate against the backdrop of the colonial entanglements between the two countries. While the ART industry in Kenya is still young, we suggest that these emerging developments illuminate the effect of the ban on commercial surrogacy in India, which appears to have resulted in a partial relocation to countries that lack regulation, shifting the precarious conditions of surrogates in India to other women, elsewhere, in ways that rearticulate colonial racial hierarchies and migration patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Background: Anaemia in pregnancy is defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a haemoglobin concentration of less than 11 g/dl in venous blood. The prevalence of anaemia among ante-natal mothers in India is 50.3%[ 3 ]. The government of India supplies ferrous sulphate for prophylaxis and treatment of anaemia among ante-natal mothers for free through the reproductive maternal neonatal and child health + adolescent (RMNCH+A) programme. However, patient compliance is poor due to gastrointestinal disturbances (of all registered pregnancies, less than 1/3 consumed a full course of ferrous sulphate). Previous studies in different settings have shown increased compliance and higher mean haemoglobin levels with ferrous ascorbate, which is more affordable than other commercially available compounds. Objective: Hence, the current study was done to compare the effectiveness of ferrous ascorbate with ferrous sulphate in improving haemoglobin percentage among ante-natal mothers in a rural field practice area of a medical college. Methods: An interventional community-based study was conducted in the rural field practice area of Andhra Medical College. The study was done among 76 registered (registered at Rural Primary Health Centre Simhachalam) ante-natal mothers in gestational age 13–17 weeks with haemoglobin concentration of 7–10.9 g/dl (mild to moderate anaemia) after taking informed consent. The study was performed for two years. Ante-natal mothers who were registered but unavailable during the study period, with a medical history of haematological disorders, chronic cardiac and kidney diseases, known or suspected to have sensitivity to iron compounds, with known thyroid dysfunction or mental illness were excluded from the study. Results: There was a rise in haemoglobin among the entire study population, which was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). There was a higher rise in haemoglobin among the antenatal women who took ferrous ascorbate than among those who took ferrous sulphate (mean difference = 0.344 gm/dl) after 12 weeks of follow-up, which was statistically significant (P = 0.014). Conclusion: The study compared the effectiveness of ferrous ascorbate with ferrous sulphate in improving haemoglobin percentage among antenatal mothers in a medical college's rural field practice area. There was a significant rise in haemoglobin percentage among the study group, which was on ferrous ascorbate with better compliance and fewer gastrointestinal side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surrogacy is increasing in African countries such as Nigeria as more people who are unable to have children rely on this practice to become parents. The unregulated nature of surrogacy in Nigeria has resulted in several cases of human rights violations due to the lack of legal frameworks to oversee the practice, as well as significant problems related to the well-being of surrogates owing to the associated reproductive risks. It is imperative to regulate surrogacy and establish legal frameworks that protect the rights and interests of all parties involved, especially surrogate mothers. Although the mere existence of laws regulating surrogacy does not guarantee widespread compliance, these laws can serve as a reference point for the protection of women's human rights. Regulating surrogacy in Nigeria will improve standards of practice and monitor agencies' activities, thereby protecting the rights and interests of all participants. This article argues that legislation is the only way to address issues of informed consent and legal representation in human reproduction. Surrogacy agreements should include mechanisms to ensure that surrogate mothers have adequate legal representation and receive the necessary information to make informed decisions and consider potential psychosocial vulnerabilities. By addressing surrogates' vulnerability, legislation can protect them from being unfairly exploited and subjected to health risks, in addition to fostering thoughtful and insightful policymaking in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the interplay of queer reproduction and private assisted reproductive technologies (ART) companies in urban China. While same-sex marriage has not gained legal recognition in mainland China and childbirth outside heterosexual marriage has been restricted, queer parents who have children through ART have gradually become visible. ART has emerged as an ideal way for Chinese queer citizens to have children, though they are not legally permitted to use ART services in domestic hospitals. Consequently, an increasing number of queer intended parents turned to underground ART businesses, with some of them becoming salespeople or business owners themselves. My ethnographic analysis comes from fieldworks conducted in Guangdong province, China, from 2018 to 2021. This paper shows that the legal and moral debates brought by queer people's use of ART are perceived differently among diverse gender and sexual groups in Chinese society. It founds that queer parents' participation in the ART industry has demonstrated the potential for queer forms of parenthood and family, while reinforcing stratified reproduction and gender inequalities. The tendency to reduce IVF/surrogacy to "womb-for-rent" business among Chinese ART businesses continues to impact queer people's reproductive and parenting rights. This paper hopes to offer insights into queer reproductive justice and reproductive technologies across the globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Naomi Goldenberg, a professor of religious studies, is a pioneer in the field of women and religion. In an interview, she discusses her early publications on feminist creativity and the connection between contemporary witchcraft and goddess worship. She also shares her views on Freud and Jung, acknowledging their sexism but finding value in their insights into psychology and culture. Later in her career, Goldenberg explores the intersection of psychoanalysis and popular culture, particularly in relation to gender and religion. She develops "vestigial state theory," which examines how religion perpetuates male hegemony in society. Goldenberg argues that the category of "religion" is a mechanism of statecraft used by dominant states to control marginalized groups, and she suggests that feminist scholars should deconstruct the concept of religion and focus on dismantling male hegemony. [Extracted from the article]

Some feminists hold that surrogacy contracts should be unenforceable or illegal because they contribute to and perpetuate unjust gender inequalities. I argue that in developed countries, surrogacy contracts either wouldn't have these negative effects or that these effects could be mitigated via regulation. Furthermore, the existence of a regulated surrogacy market is preferable on consequentialist grounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gestational surrogacy is ethically complex, generating very different responses in law and policy worldwide. This paper argues that contemporary surrogacy law and policy, across many jurisdictions, fail to give sufficient attention to the significance of the relationship between the child and the gestational surrogate. This failure risks repeating the mistakes of historical, discredited approaches to adoption and donor‐assisted conception. This paper argues that proper recognition of the significance of gestation must be an organising principle in surrogacy law and policy. The paper begins by pointing to examples of surrogacy law and practice where the role of the gestator is unacceptably minimised, most notably the framing of the surrogate as a mere 'carrier'. It goes on to examine the nature of gestation, including consideration of contemporary scholarship on the metaphysics of pregnancy and emerging work in epigenetics, and argues that current evidence supports the view that the gestational relationship must be taken more seriously than it currently is. The paper then draws analogies with parenthood in donor‐assisted conception and adoption to argue that approaches to parental status in novel family formations that fail to promote transparency and seek to deny the truth of familial relationships are doomed to fail. The paper concludes by suggesting some implications for law and policy that flow from placing sufficient emphasis on the gestational role. The overarching thesis of this paper is that gestational surrogacy is ethically permissible when these fundamental requirements are adhered to, and that surrogacy law should proceed on this basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike natural conception and other assisted reproductive technologies, surrogacy involves three crucial factors: family legislation, family ethics, and reproductive technology. This makes the determination of parentage in surrogacy more complex. In China, surrogacy is completely prohibited by law. However, this prohibition has not diminished the interest in discussions around the family ethics, order, and relationships affected by surrogacy. In practice, disputes over parentage and child custody arising from surrogacy urgently need resolution through judicial practice. The current legal framework in China lacks clear regulations to address the complexities of surrogacy, leading to numerous unresolved disputes. To address this issue, it is advisable for China to enact clear legislative measures to govern parent-child relationships in surrogacy cases. This paper presents legislative recommendations for regulating surrogacy in China, with the hope that the judicial interpretations of the Supreme People's Court of China can provide clear legal regulations on surrogacy during revisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women with a history of Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have a high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in their future life. Lifestyle interventions are known to reduce this progression. The success of a lifestyle intervention mainly depends on its feasibility. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a lifestyle intervention programme aimed to attenuate the development of T2DM in mothers with a history of GDM. This qualitative phenomenological study was carried out in selected Medical offices of Health (MOH) areas in Sri Lanka. Postpartum mothers with a history of GDM who have undergone a comprehensive, supervised lifestyle intervention program for 1 year, their family members, and public health midwives (PHM) were recruited for this study. Focus group discussions (FGD) were carried out with mothers and PHM while In-depth interviews (IDI) were conducted with family members. Framework analysis was used for the analysis of data. A total of 94 participants (45 mothers, 40 healthcare workers, and 9 family members) participated in FGDs and IDIs to provide feedback regarding the lifestyle intervention. Sixteen sub-themes emerged under the following four domains; (1) Feelings and experiences about the lifestyle intervention programme for postpartum mothers with a history of GDM (2) Facilitating factors (3) Barriers to implementation and (4) Suggestions for improvement. Spouse support and continued follow-up were major facilitating factors. The negative influence of healthcare workers was identified as a major barrier to appropriate implementation. All participants suggested introducing continuing education programmes to healthcare workers to update their knowledge. The spouse's support and follow-ups played a pivotal role in terms of the success of the programme. Enhancing awareness of the healthcare workers is also essential to enhance the effectiveness of the programme. It is imperative to introduce a formal intervention programme for the postpartum management of mothers with a history of GDM. It is recommended that the GDM mothers should be followed up in the postpartum period and this should be included in the national postpartum care guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surrogate motherhood raises a variety of ethical, legal, theological, and sociological questions. Discussions on this topic often become heated, particularly when considering the use of a woman's body to carry a pregnancy on behalf of another individual--married or unmarried, male or female--with an ovum that, in most cases, has no biological connection to her and is legally recognized as belonging to the commissioning party or parties post-birth. On one side, issues of self-determination, solidarity, and compassion are debated, while on the other, dignity, the sanctity of life, commodification, and exploitation are concerns. This article, without overlooking these significant issues, attempts an interreligious examination of surrogate motherhood to elucidate how the three major monotheistic religions, along with Hinduism and Buddhism, assess, interpret, and understand this practice. The aim is to highlight both converging and diverging positions across different views and to more fully comprehend the various theological and cultural dimensions that shape the contemporary bioethical understanding of this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a 12‐month early postnatal lifestyle intervention program in women with gestational diabetes in a recent pregnancy. Methods: This study was a prospective randomized intervention study conducted at a diabetes center in Hong Kong. Chinese women aged 18–45 years, who developed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in their most recent pregnancy, were invited. Eligible women were randomized in 1:1 ratio at baseline (6–12 weeks postpartum), to standard care or lifestyle intervention (diet and physical activity) groups for 12 months. A standardized biochemistry assessment including oral glucose tolerance test, blood lipids, complete blood count, renal and liver functions, were measured at baseline and at 12‐month. Anthropometry assessment and lifestyle questionnaire were performed at various timepoints. Results: A total of 103 women were randomized at baseline and a total of 79 women (standard care, n = 39, intervention, n = 40) completed the assessment. After the 12‐month study period, women in the intervention group had significantly lower energy intake (intervention, −497.6 ± 488.3 kcal; standard, −222.0 ± 390.0 kcal, P < 0.01) compared to the standard care group, and a trend towards greater weight reduction (intervention, −0.93 ± 4.68 kg; standard, −0.01 ± 3.12 kg, P = 0.36). Conclusion: The lifestyle intervention implemented within 3 months postpartum appeared to promote postpartum weight loss. The early postnatal lifestyle intervention program may provide an opportunity to reduce the long‐term risk of diabetes in this high‐risk population. Synopsis: The lifestyle intervention program implemented within 3 months postpartum was acceptable and appeared to promote postpartum weight loss for women with GDM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Susanna Marinelli 1, Francesca Negro 2, Maria Cristina Varone 2, Lina De Paola 2, Gabriele Napoletano 2, Alessandra Lopez 3, Simona Zaami 2*, Giuseppe Basile 4. • The article aims to shed a light on the unique complexities inherent in surrogacy and the legal-ethical challenges that currently exists even in many advanced democracies, which frequently result in uneven and ill-defined standards and processes. • The recent proposal of making surrogacy a "universal crime" has prompted us to better analyze the topic and its ethical and legal implications. • Legislative harmonization at the international level is essential to prevent the cross-border surrogacy trend. The "universal crime" draft bills appear to be difficult to enforce and too vague to be credible at the moment. The article aims to shed a light on the unique complexities inherent in surrogacy and the legal-ethical challenges that currently exists even in many advanced democracies, which frequently result in uneven and ill-defined standards and processes. The recent proposal of making surrogacy a "universal crime", meant to prevent cross-border surrogacy, i.e. travels by citizens from countries where it is illegal to countries where it is legal, has also been weighed, by exploring the current legislative state of affairs, trends and future horizons. Recent case-law has been analyzed and interpreted, with a close focus on Italian Supreme Court ruling n. 38162, issued on 30th December 2022 and European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) rulings issued over the past decade. Uncertainty and ill-defined norms and court rulings risk harming the rights of children, surrogate mothers and intended parents. So far, court decisions have somehow filled the legal vacuum, considering that cross-border surrogacy is not specifically regulated in many countries and the status of children born abroad is still controversial. The views and judgments of supranational courts on the issue need to be accounted for when drafting new specific legislation. It is of utmost importance to uphold the rights of children born through surrogacy abroad, whose best interests risk being damaged. Legislative harmonization at the international level is essential to prevent the cross-border surrogacy trend. The "universal crime" draft bills appear to be difficult to enforce and too vague to be credible at the moment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mothers with multiple sclerosis are at increased risk of preterm birth and small for gestational age infants. Both conditions pose a risk of morbidity, including early-life infections. Objective: This study aimed to assess the risk of infections in the first 3 years of life among children born preterm or small for gestational age to mothers with multiple sclerosis. Methods: We used Danish national health registers to establish the study cohort of all births by women with MS born from 1995 to 2023. In Cox regression models, we estimated hazard ratios (HRs) of infections in preterm or small for gestational age children. Results: Preterm children had an adjusted HR of 1.49 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.15–1.93) for hospital-diagnosed infection and 0.88 (95% CI 0.72–1.06) for antibiotic prescriptions. Small for gestational age children had an adjusted HR of 0.81 (95% CI 0.54–1.22) for hospital-diagnosed infection and 1.07 (95% CI 0.82–1.38) for antibiotic prescriptions. Conclusion: Children born preterm to mothers with multiple sclerosis had an increased risk of hospital-diagnosed infections in the first 3 years of life, but not of mild-to-moderate infections evaluated on prescriptions. Children born small for gestational age did not have an increased risk of infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: In Japan, cord blood transplantations exceed those done with adult‐sourced unrelated stem cells. This study analyses cord blood (CB) storage criteria to maintain high‐quality CB units. Materials and Methods: The Kanto‐Koshinetsu Cord Blood Bank received 29,795 units from 2014 to 2021, mostly >60 mL, and 5486 (18.4%) were stored as transplantable units. We investigated the mother's gestational period, CB volume, total nucleated cells (TNCs), CD34+ cells, total colony‐forming units (CFUs), time from collection to reception and cryopreservation, cell viability, and the reasons for not storing a unit. Results: The average time from collection to reception of 29,795 units was 18.0 h. The most common reason for not storing a CB unit was low cell numbers (pre‐processing TNC count <1.2 billion), accounting for 67.9% of the units received. There was no correlation between the CB volume and the CD34+ cell count. The shorter the gestational period, the lower the TNC count, but the higher the CD34+ cell count. There was no correlation between the time from collection to cryopreservation, within a 36‐h time limit, and the CD34+ cell recovery rate. Conclusion: We could accept units with a TNC count <1.2 billion and a CB volume <60 mL from a gestational period of 38 weeks or less if we did a pre‐processing CD34+ cell count. This would secure more units rich in CD34+ cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Disclosure of donor conception has been advocated in several jurisdictions in recent years, especially in those that practice identity-release donation. However, research on disclosure decisions has not been consolidated systematically in the last 10 years to review if parents are telling and what factors may be impacting their decisions. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE Are parents disclosing to their donor-conceived children, and what factors have influenced their disclosure decisions across different contexts and family forms in the last 10 years? SEARCH METHODS A bibliographic search of English-language, peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2012 and 2022 from seven databases was undertaken. References cited in included articles were manually scrutinized to identify additional references and references that cited the included articles were also manually searched. Inclusion criteria were articles focused on parents (including heterosexual, single mothers by choice, same-sex couples, and transsexual) of donor-conceived persons in both jurisdictions with or without identity-release provisions. Studies focused solely on surrogacy, donors, donor-conceived persons, or medical/fertility staff were excluded as were studies where it was not possible to extract donor-recipient parents' data separately. Both quantitative and qualitative studies were included. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed and Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools for Systematic Reviews were used to assess article quality and bias. OUTCOMES Thirty-seven articles met the inclusion criteria representing 34 studies and 4248 parents (including heterosexual, single, same-sex, and transsexual parents although the majority were heterosexual) from countries with anonymous donation and those with identity-release provisions or who had subsequently enacted these provisions (Australia, Belgium, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Middle East, Spain, Sweden, the UK, and the USA) A general trend towards disclosure was noted across these groups of parents with most disclosing to their donor-conceived children before the age of 10 years. Further, the majority of those who had not yet told, reported planning to disclose, although delayed decisions were also associated with lower disclosure overall. Same-sex and single parents were more likely to disclose than heterosexual parents. There was recognition of disclosure as a process involving ongoing conversations and that decisions were impacted by multiple interacting intrapersonal, interpersonal, and external contextual and social factors. Methodological limitations, such as the different population groups and contexts from which participants were drawn (including that those parents who choose not to disclose may be less likely to participate in research), are acknowledged in integrating findings. WIDER IMPLICATIONS This review has reinforced the need for a theoretical model to explain parents' disclosure decisions and research exploring the role of legislative provisions, culture, and donor/family type in decision-making. Greater ongoing access to psychological support around disclosure may be important to promote parent and family well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An association between maternal thyroid dysfunction throughout pregnancy and the subsequent risk of neurodevelopmental abnormalities in offspring has been demonstrated. However, the potential effects of maternal thyroid autoimmunity on neurodevelopment in the absence of maternal hypothyroidism remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, we explored the association between maternal thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) positivity and cognitive development in preschool children. Methods: A total of 1849 mother-child pairs were recruited from the Ma'anshan Birth Cohort (MABC) Study. During the follow-up period, an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay was used to retrospectively measure serum TPOAb levels in pregnant women. The cognitive development of preschool children was evaluated by using the Chinese version of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV). A growth mixture model was used to fit the trajectory of TPOAb. Multiple linear regression and logistic regression models were used to explore the associations between the developmental trajectory of TPOAb-positivity at different gestational periods and the cognitive development of preschool children by sex. Results: A total of 1849 mother—child pairs (mean [SD] age: 26.7 [3.6] years) were enrolled in the final study. Maternal TPOAb positivity in the first trimester was associated with a risk of below-average processing speed index in girls (OR: 2.07; 95% CI 1.06 to 4.01) and below-average full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) in boys (OR: 2.36; 95% CI: 1.10 to 5.05). Maternal TPOAb positivity in the third trimester (T3) was associated with below-average working memory index (WMI) (OR: 2.51; 95% CI: 1.02 to 6.20) in girls. In girls, the WMI (β = −3.17, 95% CI: −5.82 to −0.52), fluid reasoning index (FRI) (β = −4.49, 95% CI: −7.18 to −1.80), and FSIQ score (β = −2.43, 95% CI: −4.77 to −0.08) decreased, whereas in mothers, the level of log-transformed thyroid peroxidase antibody (lgTPOAb) increased during pregnancy. Conclusions: Positive maternal TPOAb levels during pregnancy may be associated with poorer cognitive development in preschool children. These findings require independent confirmation in other populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between gestational glucose intolerance (GGI) and neonatal hypoglycemia. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This was a secondary analysis of 8,262 mother-infant dyads, with delivery at two hospitals between 2014 and 2023. We categorized maternal glycemic status as normal glucose tolerance (NGT), GGI, or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We defined NGT according to a normal glucose load test result, GGI according to an abnormal glucose load test result with zero (GGI-0) or one (GGI-1) abnormal value on the 100-g oral glucose tolerance test, and GDM according to an abnormal glucose load test result with two or more abnormal values on the glucose tolerance test. Neonatal hypoglycemia was defined according to blood glucose <45 mg/dL or ICD-9 or ICD-10 diagnosis of neonatal hypoglycemia. We used logistic regression analysis to determine associations between maternal glucose tolerance category and neonatal hypoglycemia and conducted a sensitivity analysis using Δ-adjusted multiple imputation, assuming for unscreened infants a rate of neonatal hypoglycemia as high as 33%. RESULTS Of infants, 12% had neonatal hypoglycemia. In adjusted models, infants born to mothers with GGI-0 had 1.28 (95% 1.12, 1.65), GGI-1 1.58 (95% CI 1.11, 2.25), and GDM 4.90 (95% CI 3.81, 6.29) times higher odds of neonatal hypoglycemia in comparison with infants born to mothers with NGT. Associations in sensitivity analyses were consistent with the primary analysis. CONCLUSIONS GGI is associated with increased risk of neonatal hypoglycemia. Future research should include examination of these associations in a cohort with more complete neonatal blood glucose ascertainment and determination of the clinical significance of these findings on long-term child health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a chronic and progressive disease characterised by changes in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins, leading to glucose intolerance. The foetal heart in GDM is affected throughout the gestational period, which may result in hyperplasia and hypertrophy of myocardial cells. Aim: To determine the cardiac function and structural changes in infants of gestational diabetic mothers using Dopplerechocardiographic data. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 30 infants of mothers with GDM and 30 infants of non diabetic mothers at the Department of Physiology, R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, in collaboration with the Departments of Paediatric Medicine and Cardiology from January 2023 to August 2023. Neonatal screening echocardiography was performed by a cardiologist using a Philips Echocardiograph machine, Model: EPIQ 7C, Software Version: 4.0.2, with a linear convex probe of S8-3 MHz frequency to assess cardiac structure and function using 2D, M mode, and Conventional Doppler. The parameters studied included aortic root diameter (mm), left atrial diameter (mm), Interventricular Septal (IVS) in diastole (mm), left ventricular posterior wall thickness in diastole (mm), left ventricular internal diameter in diastole (mm), left ventricular internal diameter in end systole (mm), left ventricular fractional shortening (%), and left ventricular ejection fraction (%). Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version-20.0 with an Independent Student’s t-test. Results: The mean gestational age for the cases was 38.50±2.57 weeks and 39.30±1.97 weeks for controls. The mean maternal age for cases was 25±4.37 years and for controls was 27±5.03 years. The left atrial diameter in cases (12.83±2.14 mm) was significantly smaller than that of the control (14.20±0.55 mm). The left ventricular posterior wall diameter in diastole was significantly increased in cases (4.53±0.50 mm) compared to controls (3.87±0.35 mm). Significant differences were observed in the interventricular septum in diastole {cases: 4.73±0.45 mm, control: 3.97±0.32 mm} and in the left ventricular internal diameter in end systole {cases: 12.30±1.84 mm, control: 13.83±1.02 mm} between cases and controls. Aortic root diameter was increased in 13.3% of cases. The percentage of left ventricular fractional shortening (cases: 35.47±3.74%, Control: 38.53±2.43%), Left Ventricular Ejection fraction (cases: 67.63±4.52%, control: 72.17±4.89%) were significantly decreased in cases compared to control. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated the development of ventricular hypertrophy and compromised myocardial contractility in infants of diabetic mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

So far, the Italian literature on the genesis and development of anti-gender mobilisation has focussed on right-wing and Vatican strategies, discourses, and alliances. However, in recent years debates around "gender theory" have prompted political and cultural conflicts inside Italian feminist, lesbian and secular left-wing movements and parties. These political fractures – mirrored also in the debate on TERF and "gender-critical" feminism - have become visible in the Italian public debate on the Zan Bill (an anti-homophobia provision rejected by Italian Parliament in 2021). Although "gender critical" feminists do not belong to the anti-gender movement - in Italy largely monopolised by right-wing and Catholic activists - I argue that the unexpected convergences towards the fight against "gender ideology" are relevant for, at least, two reasons. On one side, the idea of "gender theory" has reinforced its role as a keyword orienting Italian public discourse on sexual rights. On the other hand, criticism of various (although inconsistent) definitions of "gender theory" has broadened their cultural circulation outside conservative or religious groups, in both cases associated with processes of ideological colonisation. These two shifts can be considered to enact a relevant normalisation of anti-gender narratives within Italian public and political discourse fostered by media vulgarisation and popular understandings of the meaning of "gender". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being socially excluded seriously threatens individuals' need to belong and emotional well-being. This article investigates to what extent different coping strategies help overcome these detrimental effects: thinking about real-life friends/enemies (i.e. orthosocial relationships, OSRs) and thinking about (dis)liked media characters (i.e. parasocial relationships, PSRs). Across three experiments (N Pilot = 129, N Study1 = 132, N Study2 = 855), we first induced social exclusion using a virtual ball-tossing game. Afterward, we manipulated different relationship types and valences and compared them to non- or less-relational control conditions. As hypothesized, belongingness and emotional well-being increased from pre- to post-coping. This effect was fully mediated by perceived relationship closeness to the respective person(a). Highlighting that PSRs represent more than surrogates (i.e. secondary replacements of OSR), both relationship types did not differ in coping effectiveness. Moreover, positive relationships were more effective in fulfilling both coping goals than negative ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The number of women who present this perineal loss is high. Identifying the existing knowledge about the women's experiences and perceptions of pregnancy loss is essential to understand the impact of the phenomenon on women. This identification is also crucial to adapt and improve the healthcare provided. Subjects and Methods: A systematic literature review, meta-synthesis, of qualitative studies will be developed with the goal of obtaining a comprehensive understanding of mothers' perception of pregnancy loss and identifying their specific support needs. Inclusion Criteria: This review will consider qualitative investigations that study the perceptions or experiences of adult women who have suffered prenatal loss. All studies published in English, Spanish or Portuguese between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2022 will be considered. This systematic review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute statement for systematic reviews of qualitative design. The Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, Scopus, CINAHL®, MEDLINE® and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDRS) databases will be utilized for research. Data extraction will be performed in-peers by the researchers, using the Joanna Briggs Institute model. Finally, the available data will be analysed using a meta-aggregation approach. Conclusion: A better understanding of this phenomenon will be useful, identifying, on the one hand, the support needs of women who have suffered fetal loss and, on the other hand, also identifying the support and interventions that can be implemented by health professionals. Systematic Review Registration Number: PROSPERO® (CRD42023407314). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, while aiming to protect surrogate mothers, presents significant shortcomings in its maintenance provisions. The Act permits only altruistic surrogacy, restricting financial compensation to medical expenses and insurance, which can impose undue financial hardships on surrogate mothers who may face loss of income and other economic challenges during and post pregnancy. The absence of any specific provision for the surrogate mother under The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, which only talks about "commissioning mother" (means a biological mother who uses her egg to create an embryo 1 implanted in any other woman) is a blatant negligence on part of legislature as it is unclear as to the extent of such leaves post-partum, which needs to be taken into consideration. Furthermore, to ensure surrogate mothers' holistic protection from potential abuse during or after surrogacy process, it is proposed that their rights be fortified under The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. By recognizing the surrogate mother within the scope of "domestic relationship", the Act can provide a robust legal framework to shield her from any form of abuse, coercion, or exploitation, thereby addressing both economic and personal security comprehensively. The paper argues that absence of any maternity leaves and benefits to the surrogate mother under the law in force warrants a comprehensive analysis; the rights of surrogate mother under Article 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India should be discussed by policy makers. Integrating these protective measures is crucial for safeguarding the dignity, autonomy, and well-being of surrogate mothers in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Erciyes Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Erciyes University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Self-determination means the autonomy of a self-actualized person in an independent of environment. The right to selfdetermination is the right to make decisions on one's own, provided that the behavior does not infringe the rights of others and is only in one's private matters related to his / her own personality development. In doctor-patient relationship, doctors need to provide correct and sufficient information about medical treatment to the patients, and they must explain carefully in a way that the patients can understand, so as to ensure that the patient can make the best decision in an independent environment. The principle of "informed consent" is a continuous interaction process between doctors and patients, in which the patients can understand well and then make an independent decision. This article firstly introduces the meaning of the selfdetermination right and the physician's violation of the legal obligation, and then discusses the dual meaning of principle of informed consent, on which patients can protect the selfdetermination right, and on the other hand, it can serves as an object of tort liability. This article also discusses the legal effects of a physician's violation of the legal duty to disclose medical Information, including. the concept, the constituent elements and illegality of tort liability. Finally this article discusses the participation in medical decisions of the patients' surrogate, and analyze the current judicial judgment on this "A case of Intubation Refusal by Patients' family". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the constitutional perspective of surrogacy in Colombia and identifies four key elements relevant to its analysis. It analyzes the autonomy of will as the basis of the surrogacy agreement; incorporation of the international principle of the child's best interests in surrogacy; guarantee of the fundamental rights of the participants in the surrogacy agreement, especially sexual and reproductive rights; and impact of surrogacy in the constitutional idea of family. Finally, the paper considers the situations wherein the constitutional elements may come into dispute. The potential legal regulation of surrogate motherhood represents a challenge for the legal system, as it involves various constitutional values, principles, and rights that may contradict each other in the practical development of the concept. This paper reveals what these values, principles, and rights entail and how they are defined within the framework of surrogacy, thereby contributing to the debate on the optimal legal framework of the full validity of these values, principles, and rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The perinatal mortality rate of Neonates of Diabetic Mothers (NDMs) over the years showed a reducing trend. Polycythaemia is common in NDMs, and such neonates have a risk of hyperviscosity, renal vein thrombosis, cardiac failure, metabolic abnormalities, and necrotising enterocolitis. Aim: To assess the association between cord blood haematocrit and neonatal outcomes among NDMs. Materials and Methods: The present study was a cohort study that included 130 neonates, which was conducted at Amala Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), Thrissur, Kerala, India, from December 2019 to June 2021. The primary inclusion criteria were singleton neonates of Gestational Diabetic Mothers (GDM) (diabetes detected after 20 weeks of gestation) and Overt Diabetes Mellitus (ODM) defined under White's classification (known to be diabetic before the onset of pregnancy or detected in the initial visits). The parameters assessed were the frequency of distribution of hypoglycaemia, hypocalcaemia, and hyperbilirubinemia among the neonates of DM. Statistical analysis was done using Fisher's exact test and Student's t-test. Results: Among the 130 neonates, the majority of the mothers had GDM 111 (85.4%) than ODM 19 (14.6%). The majority were delivered by normal vaginal delivery 67 (51.5%). 10 (7.7%) of NDMs had a birth weight > 4000 g. Significant associations were noted between cord Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and the presence of hypoglycaemia (p-value=0.003), hypocalcaemia (p-value=0.0001), and Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia (NNH) (p-value=0.0001) among NDMs. Conclusion: Hypoglycaemia, hyperbilirubinemia, and hypocalcaemia were common complications noted in NDMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The approval by the Portuguese Parliament, in December 2021, of the law applicable to Surrogate Pregnancy, raises reflection on the practical aspects in which the scheme will be implemented and the necessary guidelines for health professionals involved. For this reason, the following objectives were defined: to analyze a set of recommendations for clinical practice in surrogacy in countries with experience in the procedure and to promote a discussion with experts in Medically Assisted Reproduction. Material and Methods: A documental analysis of publications and official documents on the theme was conducted. This served as a basis for the qualitative design study based on focus groups with different professionals --physicians, and psychologists-- with experience in Medically Assisted Reproduction. The discussion was realized through sessions via Zoom®, held separately with the two focus groups. Results: In the debate, the experts made their appreciation and proposals for improvement concerning the initial version of the document resulting from the document analysis. Conclusion: A consolidated version of the set of guidelines for health professionals was obtained with the dimensions to evaluate and follow up with the surrogate and beneficiaries in Surrogacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article sheds light on the normative dimension of birth registration and explores how birth registration practices intertwine with traditional notions of child care. It shows that, while birth registration may appear a straightforward and factual procedure, it actually rests upon and perpetuates the notion that care 'naturally' stems from gestation and birth, and is by definition maternal. This normative dimension of birth registration becomes especially apparent when trans families and families created through surrogacy are denied registration in line with their lived experience. By delving into two case studies, namely the Swiss Federal Supreme Court's latest case-law on surrogacy and recent cases involving trans birthing men, this article shows that birth registration practices fail to recognise caring relationships in non-traditional families on their own terms. In the context of surrogacy, the understanding of care as 'naturally' arising from gestation and birth downgrades the relationship between the child and the intended mother by requiring her to pursue step-child adoption, despite having cared for the child since birth and sometimes being genetically connected. In a similar vein, birth registration practices tend to (mis)classify a caring relationship between a trans birthing man and his child as 'mother-child', thus rendering trans male care invisible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The goal was to analyze serums of GDM patients and healthy pregnant women using HPLC-MS and preliminarily screen differential metabolites by metabolomics. Method: Sixty pregnant women who underwent elective cesarean section at term in Dongguan Dalang Hospital from January 2023 to April 2023 were selected and divided into the GDM group and healthy pregnancy group. Pre-pregnancy and pregnancy examination information, such as age, BMI, OGTT results, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and other clinical data were collected for statistical analysis. Non-targeted metabolomics of serum from 30 GDM patients and 30 healthy pregnant women were studied by HPLC-MS, and different ions were searched. The structures of differential metabolites were identified by HMDB database. The metabolic pathways of differential metabolites were analyzed by KEGG database. Results: The OGTT result, pCO2, pO2, HCO3, BE, Apgar score, and bilirubin levels in the GDM group were higher than those in the healthy pregnancy group (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in age, triglyceride, total cholesterol, newborn birth weight, newborn birth blood glucose, and blood gas pH between the two groups (all p > 0.05). Using p < 0.05 as the screening standard, 55 differential metabolites were identified in serum, mainly including fatty acyl, carboxylic acids and their derivatives, steroids and their derivatives, ketoacids and their derivatives, and pyrimidine nucleosides, etc., all of which were up-regulated or down-regulated to varying degrees. The 55 metabolites were mainly involved in the metabolism of pyrimidine, pyruvate, alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and arachidonic acid, glycolysis, and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids. Conclusions: The discovery of these metabolites provides a theoretical basis for an in-depth understanding of GDM pathogenesis. Non-targeted metabonomics analysis of blood metabonomics research technology has shown great potential value in the early diagnosis of obstetric diseases and the study of disease mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the period of political repression up to the revolution of 1848–1849, private societies (Vereine) functioned as a surrogate for public life. The Gustav-Adolf-Verein, created to support diaspora communities, united protestants of different convictions, including clergy and believers who considered the traditional structures of the Prussian church insufficient to answer the needs of modern society. Among them were rationalists deemed heretics by King Friedrich Wilhelm IV. By means of his Patent of Toleration issued in 1847, the king attempted to squeeze the rationalists, called 'Lichtfreunde', out of his church, arguing that they were free to form new congregations (freie Gemeinden). Their training in public debate made several of the rationalist clergymen obvious candidates for the parliamentary bodies that came into life during the revolution of 1848–1849. Most of them were considered to be "democrats". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ebola virus (EBOV) is a member of the Orthoebolavirus genus, Filoviridae family, which causes severe hemorrhagic diseases in humans and non-human primates (NHPs), with a case fatality rate of up to 90%. The development of countermeasures against EBOV has been hindered by the lack of ideal animal models, as EBOV requires handling in biosafety level (BSL)-4 facilities. Therefore, accessible and convenient animal models are urgently needed to promote prophylactic and therapeutic approaches against EBOV. In this study, a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus expressing Ebola virus glycoprotein (VSV-EBOV/GP) was constructed and applied as a surrogate virus, establishing a lethal infection in hamsters. Following infection with VSV-EBOV/GP, 3-week-old female Syrian hamsters exhibited disease signs such as weight loss, multi-organ failure, severe uveitis, high viral loads, and developed severe systemic diseases similar to those observed in human EBOV patients. All animals succumbed at 2-3 days post-infection (dpi). Histopathological changes indicated that VSV-EBOV/GP targeted liver cells, suggesting that the tissue tropism of VSV-EBOV/GP was comparable to wild-type EBOV (WT EBOV). Notably, the pathogenicity of the VSV-EBOV/GP was found to be species-specific, age-related, gender-associated, and challenge route-dependent. Subsequently, equine anti-EBOV immunoglobulins and a subunit vaccine were validated using this model. Overall, this surrogate model represents a safe, effective, and economical tool for rapid preclinical evaluation of medical countermeasures against EBOV under BSL-2 conditions, which would accelerate technological advances and breakthroughs in confronting Ebola virus disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of alienation has been extensively discussed in the history of modern thought, emphasizing the estrangement of individuals from intrinsic elements of their environments. This concept has been expressed in various forms by prominent Western philosophers. Those of them who have spoken about alienation do not agree on the nature of human essence. For example, Saint Augustine considered alienation as the separation of humans from the kingdom of God and saw the way back to it in obeying the commandments of the Church, while thinkers such as Feuerbach or Nietzsche saw Christian doctrine as the cause of human alienation from their own presence or nature. Nevertheless, all these philosophers agree on the point that humans have an essence and have fallen away from that essence. Jacques Lacan considered alienation as a necessary condition for the subject's entry into symbolic order. According to Lacan, Cartesian duality cannot reveal all that the subject is, because the Descartes skeptic, who realizes his own existence through his thinking, only informs about a conscious subject, while Lacan considers the nature of the subject to be unconscious and made by language. Lacan, in his psychoanalytical perspective, posited that individuals become alienated from themselves upon acquiring the ability to speak, allowing others to confine their desires within the bounds of signification through language. While the Other's desire is manifested in language, Lacan believes that man's desire is the desire of the Other. This study focuses on the manifestation of alienation in the films of contemporary American director Paul Thomas Anderson by employing an interdisciplinary approach, encompassing cinema, psychoanalysis and philosophy. Using a descriptive analytical method, this research aims to prove the hypothesis that the concept of alienation is the main theme in Andersen's cinema, which is manifested as a leitmotif in all of his films. Throughout Anderson's films, the protagonist resembles a Lacanian alienated subject compelled to embrace the Other's language in the pursuit of meaning. The big Other in Anderson's films is a metaphor of capitalism that presents American cultures and subcultures through surrogate relationships. The "surrogate family" and at the head of it the surrogate father turns Andersen's characters into subjects who renounce freedom in the dangerous world of The Real in favor of escaping loneliness and finding identity in the symbolic world. In this symbolic world, Andersen's heroes are in a situation similar to the situation of the unconscious subject described by Lacan. The protagonists in Anderson's works are intricately bound to the signifiers established within these surrogate relationships. Ultimately, this study reveals that Anderson's primary preoccupation in his films is human identity, one whose desires are limited within the framework set by paternal law. As Lacan considers the neurotic as the most common position of the subject, Andersen's characters are generally Neurotics who accept the Other's rules. However, the hysteric subject in The Master, the psychotic character in Inherent Vice, and the pervert subject in Phantom Thread define the different position of the subject in the face of the Other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The number of males with CF (mwCF) who are becoming fathers is increasing. • Safety of modulator use by mwCF during conception and partner pregnancy is unknown. • For exposed fetuses, miscarriage rates were consistent with US population rates. • No congenital anomalies were reported for exposed infants. • A prospective study is needed to study modulator use by mwCF during reproduction. Most males with cystic fibrosis (mwCF) are infertile but with CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator-conferred benefits, more are utilizing assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Administration of normal human doses of modulators in animal reproductive models caused no genotoxicity; no human data exists. Potential health decline following modulator discontinuation makes the decision to withhold therapy during reproduction challenging. From August-October 2021, international CF clinicians completed an anonymous questionnaire regarding mwCF who used modulators during reproduction. We received 42 surveys for mwCF with partner pregnancies. Forty of 42 mwCF utilized ART; 35 continued modulators during sperm retrieval and 40/42 during partner pregnancy. One of four males who discontinued modulators experienced clinical deterioration. First trimester miscarriages occurred in 11.9 % of partner pregnancies. No congenital anomalies were reported. Use of CFTR modulators during reproduction and partner pregnancy in mwCF did not result in a higher-than-expected miscarriage rate nor congenital anomalies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Neurological consequences of preterm infants born to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are unclear. In this pilot study, we investigated the effect of GDM on brain activity in very preterm infants. Methods: Preterm infants <32 gestational weeks of mothers with GDM compared to gestational age- and sex-matched controls born between 2011 and 2018 were included. Amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) was assessed for total maturation and individual component scores according to Burdjalov and colleagues, the dominating visual background, and the presence of sleep-wake cycles per hour in the first 72 h of life and weekly at days 7, 14, 21, and 28. Results: We included 47 infants of mothers with GDM and 94 control infants. Both the aEEG total maturation score and its individual component scores, as well as the percentage of continuous background pattern, increased equally during the first 4 weeks after birth in both groups. GDM-exposed infants showed a slightly but significantly higher number of sleep-wake cycles per hour. Conclusion: We found normal maturation of brain activity in the first 4 weeks after birth in very preterm infants born to mothers with GDM, not differing from a very preterm control group. The higher number of sleep-wake cycles per hour in GDM-exposed infants could indicate transiently enhanced maturation. Further studies on brain activity and brain development in very preterm infants of mothers with GDM are needed to validate our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past two decades, recognition of same-sex relationships and non-normative families has increased alongside greater access to reproductive technologies. Despite this progress, surrogacy, a potential path to parenthood for gay couples, remains banned in many countries. Research indicates that gay couples, facing legal restrictions, often seek reproductive services abroad, navigating complex legal, political and sociocultural contexts in both their home and destination countries. However, existing research lacks cross-country comparisons that explore how different contexts shape gay couples' reproductive practices. This study enhances our theoretical understanding of the intricate interplay between social structure and social interactions. It explores how normative family conceptions, ingrained in legal frameworks, societal norms and cultural values at the macro level, profoundly influence the (normalising) practices of couples at the micro level. Empirically, this study compares Germany and Israel, where gay couples face starkly different challenges. Germany universally prohibits surrogacy, while Israel permits it, although not for gay men during my interviews. Drawing on interviews with couples from both countries who engaged surrogates abroad, this study analyses their struggles for legal recognition and social visibility as 'gay father families'. In both countries, couples navigate legal, political and sociocultural contexts differently, encapsulated in a process termed 'becoming a gay father family', involving concealing surrogacy and appropriating heteronormative family narratives. The data indicate that the couples' social interactions reflect and reinforce a discernible normative shift from heteronormativity to repronormativity in the context of assisted reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Maternal obesity, a health condition increasingly prevalent worldwide, has been suggested to be associated with a higher risk of birth defects in offspring, whereas evidence from population‐based data from China was largely lacking. Additionally, the role of gestational diabetes in the association between maternal obesity and birth defects remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association of maternal pre‐pregnancy overweight or obesity with any and different types of birth defects in offspring and the interaction between pre‐pregnancy overweight or obesity and gestational diabetes. Material and methods: We conducted a population‐based cohort study including 257 107 singletons born between 2015 and 2021 in Longgang District, Shenzhen, China, using data from the Shenzhen Maternal and Child Health Management System. Poisson regression was conducted to estimate the associations of maternal pre‐pregnancy overweight or obesity, as well as the interaction between pre‐pregnancy overweight or obesity and gestational diabetes, with the risk of birth defects. Models were adjusted for maternal age at delivery, educational level, type of household registration, and gravidity. Results: Maternal pre‐pregnancy overweight was associated with a higher risk of any birth defect (risk ratio [RR] 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12 to 1.31) as well as of congenital malformations of the circulatory system (RR 1.26, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.41), eye/ear/face/neck (RR 1.42, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.94), and musculoskeletal system (RR 1.21, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.44). Maternal pre‐pregnancy obesity was associated with a higher risk of any birth defect (RR 1.38, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.63) and congenital malformations of the circulatory system (RR 1.61, 95% CI 1.30 to 1.98). Infants born to overweight or obese mothers with gestational diabetes had a higher risk of congenital malformations of the circulatory system than infants born to overweight or obese mothers without gestational diabetes. Conclusions: Maternal pre‐pregnancy overweight or obesity was associated with a higher risk of birth defects, particularly congenital malformations of the circulatory system, in offspring. Gestational diabetes interacts additively with pre‐pregnancy overweight or obesity on modifying the risk of congenital malformations of the circulatory system. The importance of improving weight management and assessment of glucose and metabolic functions was emphasized among women planning for pregnancy who are overweight or obese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]