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Background Maternal nutrition is crucial for health in pregnancy and across the generations. Experiencing food insecurity during pregnancy is a driver of inequalities in maternal diet with potential maternal and infant health consequences. This systematic review explored associations between food insecurity in pregnancy and maternal and infant health outcomes. Methods and findings Searches included 8 databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, PsychInfo, ASSIA, SSPC in ProQuest, and CINAHL), grey literature, forwards and backwards citation chaining, and contacting authors. Studies in high-income countries (HICs) reporting data on food insecurity in pregnancy and maternal or infant health, from January 1, 2008 to November 21, 2023 were included. Screening, data extraction, and quality assessment were carried out independently in duplicate. Random effects meta-analysis was performed when data were suitable for pooling, otherwise narrative synthesis was conducted. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022311669), reported with PRISMA checklist (S1 File). Searches identified 24,223 results and 25 studies (n = 93,871 women) were included: 23 from North America and 2 from Europe. Meta-analysis showed that food insecurity was associated with high stress level (OR 4.07, 95% CI [1.22, 13.55], I.sup.2 96.40%), mood disorder (OR 2.53, 95% CI [1.46, 4.39], I.sup.2 55.62%), gestational diabetes (OR 1.64, 95% CI [1.37, 1.95], I.sup.2 0.00%), but not cesarean delivery (OR 1.42, 95% CI [0.78, 2.60], I.sup.2 56.35%), birth weight (MD -58.26 g, 95% CI [-128.02, 11.50], I.sup.2 38.41%), small-for-gestational-age (OR 1.20, 95%, CI [0.88, 1.63], I.sup.2 44.66%), large-for-gestational-age (OR 0.88, 95% CI [0.70, 1.12] I.sup.2 11.93%), preterm delivery (OR 1.18, 95% CI [0.98, 1.42], I.sup.2 0.00%), or neonatal intensive care (OR 2.01, 95% CI [0.85, 4.78], I.sup.2 70.48%). Narrative synthesis showed food insecurity was significantly associated with dental problems, depression, anxiety, and maternal serum concentration of perfluoro-octane sulfonate. There were no significant associations with other organohalogen chemicals, assisted delivery, postpartum haemorrhage, hospital admissions, length of stay, congenital anomalies, or neonatal morbidity. Mixed associations were reported for preeclampsia, hypertension, and community/resilience measures. Conclusions Maternal food insecurity is associated with some adverse pregnancy outcomes, particularly mental health and gestational diabetes. Most included studies were conducted in North America, primarily the United States of America, highlighting a research gap across other contexts. Further research in other HICs is needed to understand these associations within varied contexts, such as those without embedded interventions in place, to help inform policy and care requirements., Author(s): Zoë Bell 1,2,*, Giang Nguyen 1,3,*, Gemma Andreae 1, Stephanie Scott 1,3, Letitia Sermin-Reed 1, Amelia A. Lake 3,4, Nicola Heslehurst 1,3 Introduction Food insecurity is 'the limited or [...]

The purpose of the Research Administration as a Profession (RAAAP) project was to obtain a snapshot of the research management and administration (RMA) profession around the world. This included collecting basic demographics, which is the focus of this paper. Here, we present the results of a worldwide survey of RMAs conducted in 2016. We compare and contrast the demographics of RMAs across different regions of the world. Findings from previous national surveys, such as those by Roberts & House (2005), and Shambrook et al (2015), are upheld and expanded in an international context--for example, that the profession is predominantly female. In addition, a high level of academic attainment is also reported, in line with findings from D'Agostino et al. (1991). There are some significant differences in responses between regions of the world which reflect the differential maturity of the profession. For example, the U.S. has by far the highest number of respondents with over 20 years' experience in research administration as compared to the other regions. The reasons for joining and staying in the profession are also explored, with positives including working with faculty, the challenging work, and the fun. The extensive datasets are not fully explored in this paper and others are invited to use them for their own research and analyses. Overall, we conclude that research administration is becoming a global profession and argue that in some regions it is more advanced than in others, as reflected in the composition of the workforce and the availability and uptake of certification.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage of loculated malignancy-related ascites has been reported in limited case series with success in achieving symptomatic relief. In this case report, we detail the successful drainage of a loculated paragastric ascites with insertion of a lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) in a patient diagnosed with metastatic ovarian cancer. Plain language summary: Draining fluid buildup using a specialized stent: a case study in cancer treatment This article discusses a specific procedure used to drain fluid buildup caused by cancer. The procedure involves using a special type of stent placed with the help of an ultrasound device. The case study shows how this method successfully relieved symptoms in a patient with advanced ovarian cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Food insecurity is a well‐established obesity driver. Less is known about food insecurity during pregnancy. This review (PROSPERO:CRD42022311669) aimed to explore associations between food insecurity, maternal obesity, gestational weight gain (GWG), and nutrition. Searches included seven databases, gray literature, references, citations, and contacting authors. Observational studies reporting data from January 1st, 2008 to 21 November 2023 in high‐income countries were included. Duplicate screening, data extraction, and quality assessments were performed. Random effects meta‐analysis estimated odds ratios (OR), mean difference (MD), and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Narrative synthesis was conducted when data could not be pooled. Database searches identified 22,272 results; 20 studies were included (n = 19 North America, n = 1 Europe; n = 32,803 women). Food insecurity significantly increased obesity (OR 1.53 95%CI 1.39, 1.66), but not underweight (OR 1.12 95%CI 0.89, 1.34) or overweight (OR 1.18 95%CI 0.90, 1.46). Food insecurity significantly reduced GWG (MD ‐0.42 kg 95%CI ‐0.62, −0.22) and increased inadequate GWG (OR 1.16 95%CI 1.05, 1.28), but not excessive GWG (OR 1.04 95%CI 0.96, 1.13). Diet outcomes were inconsistent, with some evidence of reduced vitamin E and diet quality and increased red/processed meat consumption. Further studies outside of North America are needed to inform practice and policy to support maternal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective digital strategy provides multifaceted benefits for firms of all sizes, including operational oversight, learning, and effective market interactions. Yet, despite the burgeoning evidence that digitalization provides essential resources for firms, disparate observations on the link between SME performance and digitalization across regions are noted in the literature. There remain concerns about whether SMEs enact effective digital strategies to reap the rewards, especially given that some SMEs have reported entirely forgoing digital activities due to resource constraints and exogenous forces in the market. In light of the varying global observations, it is crucial to understand how regional and multi-layered institutional settings influence SMEs to adopt, implement, and utilize digital resources to form solid policies and appropriate facilitative mechanisms. Therefore, this study compiled 11,485 observations of SME digital activities and performance from 88 distinctive institutional regions within Latin America and the Caribbean from 2006 to 2018. The study used data from the World Bank's Enterprise Survey (WBES) and World Development Indicators (WDI) to reveal various institutional factors influencing SMEs' adoption of technologies and subsequent performance via multilevel regressions. The findings suggest institutional barriers become insignificant when firms use digital technologies and suggest that it may insulate SMEs from exogenous shocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]