scholarly journals Yawning Is More Contagious in Pregnant Than Nulliparous Women

Human Nature ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Norscia ◽  
Lucia Agostini ◽  
Alessia Moroni ◽  
Marta Caselli ◽  
Margherita Micheletti-Cremasco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Emotional Contagion ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Emotional Attachment ◽  
Contagious Yawning ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
Social Species ◽  
Nulliparous Women ◽  
Social Variation ◽  
The Social

AbstractContrary to spontaneous yawning, which is widespread in vertebrates and probably evolutionary ancient, contagious yawning—yawning triggered by others’ yawns—is considered an evolutionarily recent phenomenon, found in species characterized by complex sociality. Whether the social asymmetry observed in the occurrence of contagious yawning is related to social and emotional attachment and may therefore reflect emotional contagion is a subject of debate. In this study we assessed whether yawn contagion was enhanced in pregnant women, a cohort of subjects who develop prenatal emotional attachment in preparation for parental care, via hormonal and neurobiological changes. We predicted that if yawn contagion underlies social and emotional attachment, pregnant women would be more likely to contagiously yawn than nonpregnant, nulliparous women of reproductive age. We gathered data in two different settings. In the experimental setting, 49 women were exposed to video stimuli of newborns either yawning or moving their mouth (control) and we video-recorded the women during repeated trials to measure their yawning response. In the naturalistic setting, 131 women were observed in a social environment and their yawning response was recorded. We tested the factors influencing the yawning response, including the reproductive status (pregnant vs. not pregnant). In both settings, yawn contagion occurred significantly more in pregnant than nonpregnant women. By showing that pregnant women were most likely to respond to others’ yawns, our results support the hypothesis that the social variation observed in yawn contagion may be influenced by emotional attachment and that yawning in highly social species might have been coopted for emotional contagion during evolution.

scholarly journals 0868 How Do Sleep Morbidities Differ Amongst Pregnant Women, Women Who Are Intending To Conceive, And Women Who Are Not Intending To Conceive?

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A331-A331
Author(s):  
A R Hartman ◽  
P A Geller ◽  
K Morales ◽  
K Lee ◽  
J Kloss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Disturbance ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Sleep Disorders ◽  
Sleep Disorder ◽  
Child Outcomes ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Periodic Limb Movement Disorder ◽  
Maternal Sleep ◽  
Nulliparous Women ◽  
Reproductive Aged Women

Abstract Introduction Maternal sleep disturbance is common during pregnancy and is associated with adverse maternal and child outcomes, such as postpartum depression and preterm birth. The extent to which sleep disorder symptoms are normative among women of reproductive age, however, is largely unknown. The present study’s primary aim was to explore cumulative sleep morbidity and the incidence of disorder-specific symptoms among reproductive-aged women of different childbearing statuses. Methods Sleep morbidity variables were examined cross-sectionally among three groups of reproductive-aged nulliparous women: those 1) currently pregnant (n=148), 2) currently intending to conceive (n=233), and 3) not currently intending to conceive (n=379). All subjects self-reported sleep disorder symptoms at baseline using the Sleep Disorders Symptom Checklist-25 (SDS-CL-25). This instrument measures symptoms related to 13 sleep disorders scaled 0 (never) to 4 (> 5 days per week). Average scores were calculated for each item, each of 13 sleep disorders, and for the whole instrument (0-100). Results Initial results indicated that pregnant women (M=22.80, SD=11.49) had a higher rate of cumulative sleep morbidity than women who were intending to conceive (M=20.33, SD=11.14) and women who were not intending to conceive (M=20.15, SD=12.03) (p=.05). Pregnant women also had increased rates of insomnia (M pregnant=8.38, SD=3.77; M intending=6.86, SD=3.60; M not intending=6.53, SD=3.47; p<.001) and restless legs syndrome/periodic limb movement disorder (M pregnant=2.77, SD=3.05; M intending=2.02, SD=2.28; M not intending=1.99, SD=2.43; p= .004) as compared to non-pregnant women. Conclusion These data suggest, as is widely held, that pregnant women have greater levels of sleep disturbance than women of a common reproductive age who are currently intending to conceive or who are not currently intending to conceive. The observed sleep disturbance appears to be limited to sleep initiation and maintenance and RLS/PLMs symptomatology. Additional analyses are ongoing. Support Perlis & Kloss: R21HD083628; Perlis K24AG055602

scholarly journals THE SOCIAL AND CLINICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF PATIENTS WITH THE ISOLATED GENITAL TUBERCULOSIS ASSOCIATED WITH INFERTILITY, THE ACTIVE AND CLINICALLY CURED TUBERCULOSIS OF RESPIRATORY ORGANS IN COMBINATION WITH PREGNANCY

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 48-53
Author(s):  
A. V. Mordyk ◽  
G. A. Valeyeva ◽  
A. A. Yakovleva ◽  
L. V. Puzyreva
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Active Tuberculosis ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Women Of Reproductive Age ◽  
Venereal Diseases ◽  
Genital Tuberculosis ◽  
The Social ◽  
High Incidence ◽  
Clinical Characteristic

Due to the high incidence of tuberculosis of women of reproductive age research at 270 patients was conducted. The group of research included women with infertility and genital tuberculosis, pregnant women with active tuberculosis of lungs, pregnant women with clinically cured tuberculosis of respiratory organs. Pregnant women with tuberculosis of lungs were more often from sociopathic families, had venereal diseases, HIV infection, hepatitises.

scholarly journals Clinical and epidemiological factors of internal diseases in females of reproductive age

2014 ◽  
Vol 95 (6) ◽  
pp. 848-852
Author(s):  
N A Konyshko
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Fat Body ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Nulliparous Women ◽  
Essential Arterial Hypertension

Aim. To identify the factors of internal and nutrition-related diseases in females of reproductive age. Methods. A comprehensive general physical examination of 383 pregnant women aged 16 to 46 years old with the following internal diseases at pregnancy: gestational arterial hypertension (n=183), essential arterial hypertension (n=66), obesity (n=134) was conducted. Control group consisted of 153 pregnant women without any signs of internal diseases. Results. Combination of social and demographic, psychosomatic and inherited factors may define the risk of neurohormonal mechanisms deregulation, obesity, and type of arterial hypertension. Females with internal diseases had significantly lower level of physical activity compared to females of the control group. The largest number of long-term and heavy smokers was revealed in groups of female patients with gestational and essential arterial hypertension, patients with obesity and mature nulliparous women. Multivariate analysis showed that income level and physical activity of pregnant women have a significant impact on excessive fat body mass in pregnant women during gestation and before it. No statistically significant relationships between educational level and body mass index before pregnancy and at gestation were found. Conclusion. Factors influencing the risk for internal and nutrition-related diseases in females of reproductive age were: (1) the increased demand for nutrients and energy in developing placenta-fetus system, leading to irrational nourishment; (2) decreased body reserves, caused by repeated pregnancies and childbirth; (3) smoking; (4) social and economic status; (5) living area; (6) hereditary factors and constitutional features.

Inadequate Dietary Intakes: Among Pregnant Women

2012 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 72-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer K. Fowler ◽  
Susan E. Evers ◽  
M. Karen Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Food Group ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Dietary Intakes ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Eating Behaviours ◽  
Prenatal Health ◽  
Canadian City ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
Health Project

Purpose: Eating behaviours were assessed among pregnant women in a mid-sized Canadian city. Methods: As part of the Prenatal Health Project, we interviewed 2313 pregnant women in London, Ontario. Subjects also completed a food frequency questionnaire. Recruitment took place in ultrasound clinics at 10 to 22 weeks of gestation. The main outcome measures were number of daily servings for each food group, measured against the minimum number recommended by the 2007 Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide (CFG), the proportion of women consuming the recommended number of servings for each and all of the four food groups, and factors associated with adequate consumption. We also determined the number of servings of “other foods.” Analysis included descriptive statistics and logistic regression, all at p<0.05. Results: A total of 3.5% of women consumed the recommended number of servings for all four food groups; 15.3% did not consume the minimum number of servings of foods for any of the four food groups. Women for whom this was their first pregnancy were less likely to consume the recommended number of servings from all four food groups (odds ratio=0.41; confidence interval=0.23, 0.74). Conclusions: Very few pregnant women consumed food group servings consistent with the 2007 recommendations. Strategies to improve dietary behaviours must focus on the establishment of healthy eating behaviours among women of reproductive age.

It Is More Than Language

2020 ◽  
pp. 79-98
Author(s):  
Dianne Toe ◽  
Louise Paatsch ◽  
Amy Szarkowski
Keyword(s):  
Specific Area ◽  
Cooperative Interaction ◽  
Social And Emotional Development ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
The Social ◽  
Pragmatic Skills ◽  
Social Use ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Shed Light

Deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) children who use spoken language face unique challenges when communicating with others who have typical hearing, particularly their peers. In such contexts, the social use of language has been recognized as an area of vulnerability among individuals in this population and has become a focus for research and intervention. The development of pragmatic skills intersects with many aspects of child development, including emotional intelligence and executive function, as well as social and emotional development. While all these areas are important, they are beyond the scope of this chapter, which highlights the impact of pragmatics on the specific area of cognition. Cognitive pragmatics is broadly defined as the study of the mental processes involved in the understanding of meaning in the context of a cooperative interaction. This chapter explores how DHH children and young people construe meaning in the context of conversations and expository interactions with their peers. The chapter aims to examine the role played by the cognitive processes of making inferences and comprehending implicature, within the overall display of pragmatic skills. Further, the authors use this lens in the analysis of interactions between DHH children and their peers in order to shed light on the development of pragmatic skills in children who are DHH.

scholarly journals High burden of anemia among pregnant women in Tanzania: a call to address its determinants

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno F. Sunguya ◽  
Yue Ge ◽  
Linda Mlunde ◽  
Rose Mpembeni ◽  
Germana Leyna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Gis Mapping ◽  
Demographic And Health Surveys ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Nutritional Knowledge ◽  
Women Of Reproductive Age ◽  
Anemia In Pregnancy ◽  
In Pregnancy

Abstract Background Anemia in pregnancy is behind a significant burden of maternal mortality and poor birth outcomes globally. Efforts to address it need evidence on trends and its pertinent factors as they vary from one area to another. Methods We pooled data of 23,203 women of reproductive age whose hemoglobin levels were measured from two Tanzania Demographic and Health Surveys (TDHS). Of them, 2,194 women were pregnant. Analyses employed descriptive analyses to determine the burden of anemia, its characteristics, and severity; GIS mapping to determine the regional changes of anemia between 2005 and 2015; and logistic regression to determine the remaining determinants of anemia among pregnant women using Stata 15. Results The burden of anemia among pregnant women in Tanzania has remained unprecedently high, and varies between regions. There was no significant decline of anemia in general between the two periods after adjusting for individual, households, reproductive, and child characteristics [AOR = 0.964, 95% CI = 0.774–1.202, p = 0.747). Anemia is currently prevalent in 57% of pregnant women in Tanzania. The prevalence is more likely to be higher among women aged 15–19 years than those aged between 20–34 years. It is more likely to be prevalent among those within large families, with no formal education, food insecurity, lack of health insurance, had no antimalaria during pregnancy, and had low frequency of ANC attendance. On the other hand, delivery in a health facility may be potentially protective against anemia. Conclusions Anemia in pregnancy remained persistently high and prevalent among 57% of pregnant women in Tanzania. Efforts to address anemia are crucial and need to be focused in regions with increasing burden of anemia among pregnant women. It is imperative to address important risk factors such as food insecurity, strengthening universal health coverage, empowering women of reproductive age with education and especially nutritional knowledge and advocating for early antenatal booking, attendance, and facility delivery.

scholarly journals Experimental evidence for yawn contagion in orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus)

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Evy van Berlo ◽  
Alejandra P. Díaz-Loyo ◽  
Oscar E. Juárez-Mora ◽  
Mariska E. Kret ◽  
Jorg J. M. Massen
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Evidence ◽  
Common Ancestor ◽  
Great Apes ◽  
Pongo Pygmaeus ◽  
Last Common Ancestor ◽  
Contagious Yawning ◽  
Proximate Mechanism ◽  
Social Species ◽  
Ultimate Causation

AbstractYawning is highly contagious, yet both its proximate mechanism(s) and its ultimate causation remain poorly understood. Scholars have suggested a link between contagious yawning (CY) and sociality due to its appearance in mostly social species. Nevertheless, as findings are inconsistent, CY’s function and evolution remains heavily debated. One way to understand the evolution of CY is by studying it in hominids. Although CY has been found in chimpanzees and bonobos, but is absent in gorillas, data on orangutans are missing despite them being the least social hominid. Orangutans are thus interesting for understanding CY’s phylogeny. Here, we experimentally tested whether orangutans yawn contagiously in response to videos of conspecifics yawning. Furthermore, we investigated whether CY was affected by familiarity with the yawning individual (i.e. a familiar or unfamiliar conspecific and a 3D orangutan avatar). In 700 trials across 8 individuals, we found that orangutans are more likely to yawn in response to yawn videos compared to control videos of conspecifics, but not to yawn videos of the avatar. Interestingly, CY occurred regardless of whether a conspecific was familiar or unfamiliar. We conclude that CY was likely already present in the last common ancestor of humans and great apes, though more converging evidence is needed.

scholarly journals Vaginal, Cervical and Uterine pH in Women with Normal and Abnormal Vaginal Microbiota

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 90
Author(s):  
Malene Risager Lykke ◽  
Naja Becher ◽  
Thor Haahr ◽  
Ebbe Boedtkjer ◽  
Jørgen Skov Jensen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Genital Tract ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Female Genital Tract ◽  
Uterine Cavity ◽  
Vaginal Microbiota ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Ph Gradient ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Female Genital

Introduction: Healthy women of reproductive age have a vaginal pH around 4.5, whereas little is known about pH in the upper genital tract. A shift in the vaginal microbiota may result in an elevated pH in the upper genital tract. This might contribute to decreased fertility and increased risk of preterm birth. Therefore, we aimed to measure pH in different compartments of the female genital tract in both nonpregnant and pregnant women, stratifying into a normal and abnormal vaginal microbiota. Material and methods: In this descriptive study, we included 6 nonpregnant, 12 early-pregnant, and 8 term-pregnant women. A pH gradient was recorded with a flexible pH probe. An abnormal vaginal microbiota was diagnosed by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique for Atopobium vaginae; Sneathia sanguinegens; Leptotrichia amnionii; bacterial vaginosis-associated bacterium 1, 2, 3, and TM7; and Prevotella spp. among others. Results: In all participants we found the pH gradient in the lower reproductive canal to be most acidic in the lower vagina and most alkaline in the upper uterine cavity. Women with an abnormal vaginal microbiota had an increased pH in the lower vagina compared to the other groups. Conclusions: There is a pronounced pH gradient within the female genital tract. This gradient is not disrupted in women with an abnormal vaginal microbiota.

scholarly journals Individual behavioural traits not social context affects learning about novel objects in archerfish

2021 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick A. R. Jones ◽  
Helen C. Spence-Jones ◽  
Mike Webster ◽  
Luke Rendell
Keyword(s):  
Social Context ◽  
Social Environment ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Behavioural Phenotype ◽  
Social Species ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Animals ◽  
Novel Objects ◽  
The Individual

Abstract Learning can enable rapid behavioural responses to changing conditions but can depend on the social context and behavioural phenotype of the individual. Learning rates have been linked to consistent individual differences in behavioural traits, especially in situations which require engaging with novelty, but the social environment can also play an important role. The presence of others can modulate the effects of individual behavioural traits and afford access to social information that can reduce the need for ‘risky’ asocial learning. Most studies of social effects on learning are focused on more social species; however, such factors can be important even for less-social animals, including non-grouping or facultatively social species which may still derive benefit from social conditions. Using archerfish, Toxotes chatareus, which exhibit high levels of intra-specific competition and do not show a strong preference for grouping, we explored the effect of social contexts on learning. Individually housed fish were assayed in an ‘open-field’ test and then trained to criterion in a task where fish learnt to shoot a novel cue for a food reward—with a conspecific neighbour visible either during training, outside of training or never (full, partial or no visible presence). Time to learn to shoot the novel cue differed across individuals but not across social context. This suggests that social context does not have a strong effect on learning in this non-obligatory social species; instead, it further highlights the importance that inter-individual variation in behavioural traits can have on learning. Significance statement Some individuals learn faster than others. Many factors can affect an animal’s learning rate—for example, its behavioural phenotype may make it more or less likely to engage with novel objects. The social environment can play a big role too—affecting learning directly and modifying the effects of an individual’s traits. Effects of social context on learning mostly come from highly social species, but recent research has focused on less-social animals. Archerfish display high intra-specific competition, and our study suggests that social context has no strong effect on their learning to shoot novel objects for rewards. Our results may have some relevance for social enrichment and welfare of this increasingly studied species, suggesting there are no negative effects of short- to medium-term isolation of this species—at least with regards to behavioural performance and learning tasks.

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