Childbirth in aristocratic households of Heian Japan

This paper focuses on childbirth in Japan’s aristocratic households during the Heian period (794-1185). Drawing on various sources, including court diaries, visual sources, literary records, and Japan’s first medical collection, with its assortment of gynaecological and obstetric prescriptions, as well as Buddhist and other ritual texts, this short excursion into the cultural history of childbirth offers an insight into how childbirth was experienced and managed in Heian Japan. In particular, it addresses the variety of ideas, knowledge systems and professionals involved in framing and supporting the process of childbirth in elite households. In so doing, it casts light on the complex background of early Japanese medicine and healthcare for women

Childbirth and women's healthcare in pre-modern societies : an assessment

That childbirth plays a preeminent role in the life of all human groups, communities and societies is obvious to even the casual observer. Few phenomena can be considered so intrinsically fundamental to the ebb and flow of personal and societal life, so universally shared (in the case of infertility, this constitutes yet another thread to the story), and at the same time transcending cultural and geographical borders. Conception, pregnancy and childbirth have not only become an object of study within multiple disciplines, ranging from historical inquiries and the humanities to natural sciences, but they also remain at the forefront of a variety of social, medical and ethical concerns and debates, some of which continue to be political and at times divisive. From this it is clear that although universal, this self-evident human reality and experience does not necessarily account for the variety of cultural and historical interpretations the biological act of childbirth appears to be embedded within

A tool of qualification coadaptation

A tool of qualification coadaptation is proposed to solve the problems of professional standards’ implementation. The article describes its technique and some experience in implementing.peer-reviewe

The Banging of the Shoe: Recontextualizing Krushchev

When Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev set sail for the United States from Kaliningrad on September 9, 1960, along with other representatives of many other European socialist republics, nobody in the Soviet Union could imagine that two weeks later the leader they so much adored would be banging his shoe on the podium. Such conduct gave rise to absolutely controversial reactions around the world ranging from bewildered condemnation to thrilling delight and put the Soviet vozhd, the Russian word for leader or chieftain, in the center of international politics. Needless to say that the first kind of attitude was significantly more wide-spread than the latter, and even the Russians did not appreciate this behavior

The Role and Position of Pharmacists in the Comprehensive Care of Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis (Bechterew's Disease)

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), also known as Bechterew's Disease, is a chronic, progressive rheumatologic condition primarily affecting the sacroiliac and axial joints. The disease is characterized by inflammatory back pain, which gradually worsens and can lead to severe functional limitations if not treated in a timely manner. Given its disabling nature and its onset in individuals under 30 years old, AS has significant social implications. Management of AS requires long-term treatment with analgesics and disease-modifying drugs, with the added complexity of managing comorbid conditions. This comprehensive therapeutic approach increases the risk of medication-related problems, such as adverse drug reactions, interactions, and non-adherence.Pharmacists, as key healthcare professionals, play a crucial role in bridging the gap between patients and physicians, ensuring effective therapy adherence, optimizing pharmacotherapy, and providing patient education. They are equipped to identify potential drug-related issues, counsel patients on medication use, and assist in the early screening of undiagnosed patients who may have AS, thereby contributing to timely referrals and appropriate management.This article explores the evolving role of pharmacists from mere dispensers of medication to active participants in the healthcare team, providing personalized pharmaceutical care to improve treatment outcomes in AS patients. By leveraging their expertise in medications, pharmacists can enhance patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and improve the quality of life for those living with AS. The integration of pharmacists into the comprehensive care team is essential for the successful management of this chronic condition

Pharmacist Attitudes Towards Providing Pharmaceutical Care for Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis – A Pilot Study

The pharmacist in community pharmacies, as an accessible and reliable source of health information, could play an important role in the comprehensive care of patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis (Bechterew's disease). This can begin at the prevention stage through effective early screening of potential patients with back pain and continue with diagnosed AS patients by implementing the concept of Pharmaceutical Care, which is fundamental to the principles of Good Pharmacy Practice.The goal of this pilot study is to explore pharmacists' attitudes toward providing pharmaceutical care for patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis. The results show that most pharmacists are familiar with the concept of Pharmaceutical Care and are willing to implement it, but they face several challenges and barriers, such as lack of time, lack of designated space, insufficient knowledge about the pharmaceutical care algorithm for this specific condition, and others.Pharmacists recognize the importance and value of pharmaceutical care, especially for patients with chronic diseases like Ankylosing Spondylitis. Moreover, the willingness to provide pharmaceutical care and attitudes towards it may be influenced by factors such as the pharmacist's age, level of education, and years of work experience.The results of the study will be useful in identifying and overcoming the barriers that pharmacists face in applying pharmaceutical care to patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis, thereby achieving optimal treatment outcomes in collaboration with other healthcare professionals

Gender discrimination in algorithmic decision-making

Resumen de la ponencia[EN] Most countries prohibit the use of Gender when deciding whether to give credit to prospective borrowers or not. The increasing application of automated algorithmic-based decision-making raises series of questions as to how the discrimination may arise and how it can be avoided. In this paper we analyse a unique proprietary dataset on car loans from an EU bank with the objective to understand if the minority status of females amplifies gender bias, and if there are ways to mitigate it. The initial results show that Gender is statistically significant, and women show lower probability of default. However, if Gender is excluded from the model, women have lower chances to be accepted for credit as compared to the situation when it is included. Women constitute only a quarter of the sample, and we investigate if this may lead to a representation bias which could amplify the discrimination. We experiment with under- and over-sampling and explore the effect of balancing the training set on mitigating discrimination. Logistic regression is used as a benchmark with further plans to include random forests. The results are applicable to other situations where predictive models based on historical data are used for decision-making. The presentation will discuss initial results and work in progress.Andreeva, G.; Matuszyk, A. (2018). Gender discrimination in algorithmic decision-making. En 2nd International Conference on Advanced Reserach Methods and Analytics (CARMA 2018). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 251-251. https://doi.org/10.4995/CARMA2018.2018.8312OCS25125