Navigating food price shocks in a pandemic: Food insecurity and coping mechanisms in Burkina Faso.

Global food prices rose substantially after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper examines the impact of rising food prices during the pandemic on food security in Burkina Faso. We aim to answer two primary questions. First, how do food price shocks affect household food insecurity? Second, what coping strategies do households adopt in response to these price shocks? Leveraging country-wide high-frequency longitudinal data, we employ household fixed effect models to examine the effects. In the absence of direct information on local food prices, we use household-reported price shocks to capture province-level price increases and show that the results are consistent with national-level price increases. We find significant and immediate increases in food insecurity following the price shocks, and this effect persists for at least two months. The price shocks most acutely affected the poorest households. Furthermore, food insecurity increased more in rural areas than in urban areas. The higher proportion of poorer households in rural areas explains part of this difference. We find that households primarily cope with the shock by relying on increased assistance from relatives in Burkina Faso and abroad. This study is the first to use panel data with household fixed effects to examine the repercussions of the rise in food prices during the pandemic on food insecurity in a developing country and to examine the coping mechanisms employed by households. Given that food prices are likely to remain high globally for an extended period, our findings carry implications for the broader developing world. Furthermore, given the disproportionate effect on the poorest and those living in rural areas, the findings highlight the need for policies to mitigate the negative impacts of the price shocks and enhance overall food security in countries like Burkina Faso.

Comparison between anterolateral thigh free flap and jejunal flap for tissue reconstruction in patients underwent resection of pharyngoesophageal squamous cell carcinoma after radiotherapy failure: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap and jejunal flap (JF) were commonly used in tissue reconstruction for pharyngoesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (PESCC) with worsening tissue adhesion and necrosis after radiotherapy failure. However, the results of tissue reconstruction and postoperative complications of these two flaps are controversial. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes between group ALT free flap and group JF in PESCC after radiotherapy failure. METHODS: Intraoperative information and postoperative outcomes of patients with PESCC after radiotherapy failure who underwent ALT and JF reconstruction from January 2005 to December 2019 were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: The defect size of ALT (Numbers, 34) and JF (Numbers, 31) was 36.19 ± 11.35 cm2 and 35.58 ± 14.32 cm2 (p = 0.884), respectively. ALT and JF showed no significant difference in operation time (p = 0.683) and blood loss (p = 0.198). For postoperative outcomes within 30 days both in recipient site and donor site including wound bleeding, wound dehiscence, wound infection, and pharyngocutaneous fistula, ALT free flap and JF showed similar results. Flap compromise (Numbers, 2 VS.3, p = 0.663), flap take backs (Numbers, 1 VS.1, p = 1.000), partial flap failures (Numbers, 4 VS.2, p = 0.674), and total flap failures (Numbers, 0 VS.0, p = 1.000) showed no difference between the two groups. In addition, no significance was found in hypoproteinemia between the two groups (Numbers, 4 VS.2, p = 0.674). ALT free flap was not statistically different from JF in the incidence of dysphagia at the postoperative 6 months (Numbers of liquid diet, 5VS.5; Numbers of partial tube feeding, 6VS.7; Numbers of total tube feeding, 3VS.1, p = 0.790) and 12 months (Numbers of liquid diet, 8VS.7; Numbers of partial tube feeding, 8VS.7; Numbers of total tube feeding, 5VS.5, p = 0.998). The cause of dysphagia not found to differ between the two groups both in postoperative 6 months (p = 0.814) and 12 months (p = 0.845). CONCLUSION: Compared with JF, ALT free flap for PESCC patients after radiotherapy failure showed similar results in postoperative outcomes. ALT free flap may serve as a safe and feasible alternative for PESCC patients after radiotherapy failure.

Effect of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Versus Plasma Radiofrequency Ablation on Recurrent Allergic Rhinitis.

BACKGROUND High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and plasma radiofrequency ablation (PRA) have been used to treat recurrent allergic rhinitis (AR); however, there is a lack of literature comparing the efficacy of these 2 methods. We assessed and compared the therapeutic effects of HIFU and PRA on recurrent AR. MATERIAL AND METHODS We enrolled 66 patients with recurrent AR at West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Visual analogue score (VAS), pain score, rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ), and nasal endoscopy were performed to evaluate the therapeutic effect. RESULTS Nasal endoscopy showed that HIFU and PAR reduced the volume of the inferior turbinate, whereas HIFU reduced the amount of nasal secretions in patients. VAS scores showed that HIFU and PRA nasal congestion symptoms were significantly reduced (P<0.05). The preoperative VAS scores for nasal fluid and sneezing were significantly lower in patients receiving HIFU (P<0.05) than in those receiving PRA (P>0.05). HIFU-treated patients had significantly lower postoperative pain scores than those in the PRA group (P<0.05). RQLQ showed activity, sleep, and non-nasal or ocular symptoms, and both HIFU and PRA patients had significantly lower scores (P<0.05). Nasal symptom scores, actual problems, and mood in the HIFU group were significantly worse than those in the PRA group (P<0.05). However, neither treatment had a significant effect on ocular symptoms (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Compared with PRA, HIFU can significantly reduce the nasal symptoms of AR patients, improve the quality of life, and can be used as an adjuvant therapy with better therapeutic effect.

Application of high expansion degradable cotton in nasal bleeding model of dog.

BACKGROUND: The discomfort and complications have always been problems for nasal packing materials. This study provided a new nasal packing material called high expansion degradable cotton (HEDC). METHODS: Nasal endoscopic surgery was used to establish a dog model of nasal bleeding, and wound surfaces were filled with Merocel, Nasopore and HEDC, respectively. Intraoperative and postoperative bleeding of 24 h was calculated. We evaluate the absorbability score, adhesion score, infection sore and nasal mucosal epithelium in postoperative 3, 7, 14 and 28 days. HE staining and electron microscopy were used to evaluate the recovery of nasal mucosa. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in nasal bleeding between HEDC, Merocel and Nasopore. Nasal endoscopic examination revealed HEDC absorbability of score, adhesion score, infection score were significantly lower than Merocel and Nasopore. The epithelialization time of HEDC was significantly shorter than that of Merocel and Nasopore. HE staining showed that HEDC and Nasopore could significantly reduce scar hyperplasia on the wound surface. The results of electron microscopy suggested that HEDC could protect the edge cilia of the wound. CONCLUSION: HEDC could be used as new choice for hemostasis after nasal endoscopic surgery, which could reduce nasal epithelialization time, and protect wound edge cilia.

[The Research Advancement and Conception of the Deep-underground Medicine].

The 21th century is the century of exploring and utilizing the underground space. In the future, more and more people will spend more and more time living or/and working in the underground space. However,we know little about the effect on the health of human caused by the underground environment. Herein,we systematically put forward the strategic conception of the deep-underground medicine,in order to reveal relative effects and mechanism of the potential factors in the deep underground space on human's physiological and psychological healthy,and to work out the corresponding countermeasures. The original deep-underground medicine includes the following items. ①To model different depth of underground environment according to various parameters (such as temperature,radiation,air pressure, rock,microorganism), and to explore their quantitative character and effects on human health and mechanism. ② To study the psychological change, maintenance of homeostasis and biothythm of organism in the deep underground space. ③ To learn the association between psychological healthy of human and the depth, structure, physical environment and working time of underground space. ④ To investigate the effect of different terrane and lithology on healthy of human and to deliberate their contribution on organism growth. ⑤ To research the character and their mechanism of growth,metabolism,exchange of energy,response of growth, aging and adaptation of cells living in deep underground space. ⑥ To explore the physiological feature,growth of microbiome and it's interaction with host in the deep underground space. ⑦ To develop deep-underground simulation space, the biologically medical technology and equipments. As a research basis,a deep-underground medical lab under a rock thickness of about 1 470 m has been built,which aims to operate the research of the effect on living organism caused by different depth of underground environment.

Anisucoumaramide, a Bioactive Coumarin from Clausena anisum-olens.

A new coumarin, anisucoumaramide (1), and a new δ-truxinate derivative, anisumic acid (2), were isolated from Clausena anisum-olens. Their structures were elucidated from extensive NMR and MS data. The absolute configurations of the coumarins were assigned using the experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism data. Anisucoumaramide (1) represents the first example of a naturally occurring coumarin of which the terpenoidal side chain does not comply with the biosynthesis isoprene rule due to the presence of an unprecedented acetamido motif directly connected with the terpenoidal side chain. The δ-truxinate derivative was isolated from Clausena species for the first time. Compound 1 showed high selectivity for the MAO-B isoenzyme and inhibitory activity in the nanomolar range. Putative biosynthesis pathways toward 1 and 2 are proposed.

Occupational and environmental risk factors for chronic rhinosinusitis in China: a multicentre cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is defined as a condition of inflammation in the paranasal sinus mucosa persisting for more than 12 weeks. We previously reported that the prevalence of CRS was about 8 % in China. Here, we aim to investigate the occupational and environmental risk factors associated with CRS. METHODS: Data were collected from seven Chinese cities: Urumqi, Changchun, Beijing, Wuhan, Chengdu, Huaian and Guangzhou. CRS was diagnosed according to the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps (EP(3)OS) document. Participants were asked to complete a standardized questionnaire, which was developed by the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA(2)LEN) project and covered sociodemographic characteristics, CRS-related symptoms and occupational and environmental exposures. We evaluated the association between CRS and various occupational and environmental factors using odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CIs). RESULTS: The total study population consisted of 10,633 subjects, 850 (7.99 %) of whom were defined as having CRS according to the EP(3)OS criteria. We found that there were significant associations between occupational and environmental factors and CRS. Specifically, having a clearance-related job, occupational exposure to dust, occupational exposure to poisonous gas, a pet at home or carpet at home or at the workplace were risk factors for CRS. Additionally, the method used to keep warm in winter, the duration of time spent using air conditioning in summer and the frequency of exposure to mouldy or damp environments were significantly different in subjects with and without CRS. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed that some occupational and environmental exposures are strongly associated with CRS, which aids in understanding the epidemiology of CRS.

A rare benign parotid gland tumor: angiomyolipoma.

Angiomyolipomas are benign neoplasms composed of smooth muscle, vasculature, and mature adipose tissue, which most commonly occur in the kidney and located in the head and neck region. A very rare neoplasm, there are only 3 cases of angiomyolipoma in the parotid gland that have been reported to date. Here, we report a case of a 38-year-old man who had a slow-growing mass in the parotid gland for the past 7 years. The results of a physical examination revealed a rubbery mass that was 2.5 cm in diameter in the below superficial lobe of the left parotid gland. A computed tomographic scan showed a heterogeneous and lobulated nodule with a well-defined margin, which was resected through partial parotidectomy with preservation of the facial nerve. A histologic finding revealed an angiomyolipoma of the parotid gland. In conclusion, angiomyolipoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of rubbery parotid gland masses.

The long-term follow-up of 61 horizontal canal BPPV after Gufoni and Barbecue maneuver: a prospective study.

Background: Horizontal canal BPPV (HC-BPPV) has a higher recurrence rate than PC-BPPV. Which maneuver is better for its prognosis is still uncertain.Objective: To compare the long-term recurrence rate after Gufoni and Barbecue maneuver.Materials and methods: We prospectively collected 61 cases of HC-BPPV which were initially diagnosed in our hospital from the first episode, and had already ruled out other diseases. Roll them into Gufoni group and Barbecue group alternatively. After the maneuver, we followed them up until December 2016. Mean follow-up time was 49.25 months.Results: The recurrence rate is 18.0% in the first year, 14.8% after the first year, and 31.1% overall. There is no statistically significant difference between Gufoni group and Barbecue group (p > .05). Age is statistically significant as a risk factor of recurrence (p<.05).Conclusions and significance: Barbecue maneuver is as good as Gufoni maneuver. The recurrence rate is only related to age. We suggest the disease relapsed within the 1st year as recurrence rather than a new disease.

Intraoperative Repair of Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea in Skull Base Tumor Resection: A Retrospective Study of Acellular Dermal Matrix Versus Turbinate Flap.

BACKGROUND: The acellular dermal matrix (ADM) and turbinate flap (TF) have been widely used in the reconstruction of skull base defects. However, owing to the lack of reported data, the therapeutic effects have been controversial. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effect of the ADM and TF on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea after nasal endoscopic resection of a skull base tumor. METHODS: The data from 46 patients who had undergone nasal endoscopic resection of a skull base tumor and repair of CSF rhinorrhea were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into ADM and TF groups according to the difference in repair materials used. We compared and analyzed the intraoperative information and postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: The operation time, blood loss, defect area, and need for blood transfusion were not significantly different between the ALT and TF groups. The postoperative length of hospital stay (14.33 ± 3.66 vs. 16.76 ± 5.51 days; P = 0.669) and the incidence of complications, including wound infection (1 vs. 0; P = 0.270), intracranial infection (1 vs. 1; P = 0.900), hemorrhage (2 vs. 3; P = 0.788), 15-day CSF leak (1 vs. 2; P = 0.658), and respiratory infection (2 vs. 1; P = 0.450) were comparable between the 2 groups. The 6-month (0 vs. 0; P = 1.000) and 12-month (0 vs. 0; P = 1.000) incidence of recurrence also showed no significant differences. CONCLUSION: The use of the ADM for patients with CSF rhinorrhea showed comparable results in terms of postoperative outcomes compared with the use of TF. ADM could serve as a safe and feasible alternative for endoscopic repair of CSF rhinorrhea after nasal endoscopic resection of skull base tumors.

Penctrimertone, a bioactive citrinin dimer from the endophytic fungus Penicillium sp. T2-11.

Penctrimertone (1), a novel citrinin dimer bearing a 6/6/6/6 tetracyclic ring scaffold, along with two known compounds xerucitrinic acid A (2) and citrinin (3) were isolated from the endophytic fungus Penicillium sp. T2-11. Their structures were unequivocally established by a comprehensive interpretation of the spectroscopic data, with the stereochemistry for 1 was defined by a combination of TDDFT-ECD calculations and the DP4+ probability analysis based on NMR chemical shift calculations. Bioassays revealed that compound 1 exhibited noticeable antimicrobial activities and moderate cytotoxicity. A plausible biosynthetic pathway of 1 was also proposed.

Acellular dermal matrix contributes to epithelialization in patients with chronic sinusitis.

BACKGROUND: Nasal endoscopic surgery is widely used for nasal diseases, including sinusitis and tumors. However, scar hyperplasia, nasal irritation, scab, and nasal obstruction delay nasal mucosal recovery, with prolonged cleaning exacerbating the patient's financial burden. Here, we presented a novel approach for the treatment of nasal mucosal defects, termed acellular dermal matrix. METHODS: A total of 31 patients with bilateral chronic sinusitis (maxillary sinusitis and ethmoid sinusitis) underwent nasal surgery and nasal mucosal repair in September-October 2016. We divided the nasal cavities of each patient into control and acellular dermal matrix groups, randomly selected one side for nasal mucosal repair by surgery. A suitable acellular dermal matrix size was selected according to the defect in each patient. After pruning, the acellular dermal matrix was placed on the wound surface and filled with gelatin sponge. All patients were followed up for 14 weeks to compare nasal mucosal epithelialization between the control and acellular dermal matrix groups. Results：No obvious complications and adverse reactions were observed after nasal surgery. Lund-Kennedy scores in the acellular dermal matrix group were significantly decreased compared with the control group at 8 (0 (0, 1) vs. 2 (2, 4); P<0.05) weeks. Epithelialization time of eight weeks in the acellular dermal matrix groups was significantly decreased than the control group of 14 weeks. CONCLUSION: Acellular dermal matrix provides a growth framework for the healthy mucosa on the wounded surface and reduces postoperative epithelialization time.

Prognostic Value Of The Preoperative Neutrophil To Lymphocyte Ratio In Patients With Sinonasal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: This study explored the effectiveness of a new inflammatory prognostic system, using preoperative neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) to predict the postoperative survival rate of patients with sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SSCC). METHODS: Patients diagnosed with SSCC who undergone surgically treated without neoadjuvant therapy were included in the study between May 2008 and October 2017. Preoperative NLR is defined as: preoperative neutrophil/postoperative lymphocyte ratio. The prognostic value was uncovered by univariate and multivariate Cox hazards analysis. RESULTS: A total of 147 patients were included in this study. Through the multivariate analysis, pathological T stage (hazard ratio [HR] 1.719, confidence interval [CI] 1.277-3.642, p<0.001), pathological N stage (HR 1.344, 95% CI 1.015-2.776, p<0.001), and preoperative NLR (HR 1.579, 95% CI 1.217-3.092, p=0.002) were independent risk factor for overall survival (OS). Pathological T stage (HR 1.835, 95% CI 1.141-3.132, <0.001), pathological N stage (HR 1.281, 95% CI 1.169-2.476, p<0.001), and preoperative NLR (HR 1.688, 95% CI 1.162-3.363, p p<0.001) were also independently associated with disease-free survival (DFS). Pathological T stage (HR p<0.001, 95% CI 1.537-3.021, p<0.001), pathological N stage (HR1.571, 95% CI 1.157-2.258, p<0.001), and preoperative NLR (HR 1.509, 95% CI 1.153-3.104, p=0.001) were independent risk factors for disease-specific survival (DSS). CONCLUSION: The preoperative NLR is considered to be a useful predictor of postoperative survival in SSCC patients.

Correction: May the change of platelet to lymphocyte ratio be a prognostic factor for T3-T4 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: A retrospective study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210033.].

A hydrogel directly assembled from a copper metal-organic polyhedron for antimicrobial application.

Here, we report the first example of a hydrogel directly assembled from a copper MOP by a facile ultrasonic procedure, and it exhibited excellent antibacterial activity towards Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.

A disulfur ligand stabilization approach to construct a silver(i)-cluster-based porous framework as a sensitive SERS substrate.

An atomically-precise silver(i)-cluster-based three-dimensional (3D) framework (UJN-1) stabilized by a ditiocarb (diethyldithiocarbamate) ligand has been unveiled for the first time by self-assembly. UJN-1 is composed of both Ag9 clusters and Ag5 subunits, of which the Ag9 clusters are bonded with Ag5 subunits by sharing the ditiocarb ligand to form a microporous 3,4-connected topological framework. The chemically reduced nano-sized derivative of UJN-1 exhibits highly sensitive surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) towards 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA) signal molecules, which is ascribed to the porosity as well as the distribution of abundant crystalline Ag0 active sites. This work sheds light on a new bottom-up approach to construct SERS-active silver(i)-cluster-based 3D materials by disulfur ligand stabilization.

Induction of Antiphytopathogenic Metabolite and Squalene Production and Phytotoxin Elimination by Adjustment of the Mode of Fermentation in Cocultures of Phytopathogenic Nigrospora oryzae and Irpex lacteus.

The investigation of the metabolites from different cocultures of Nigrospora oryzae and Irpex lacteus in solid medium revealed two new squalenes (1 and 2); one new azaphilone (3); two new tremulane sesquiterpenes (4 and 5); and three known compounds, conocenol B (6), conocenol C (7), and 4-(4-dihydroxymethylphenoxy)benzaldehyde (8). The antagonistic relationship was examined by studying metabolite production. The production of compounds 6 and 8 by I. lacteus after the induction of coculture indicated significant selectivity for antifungal activity against phytopathogenic N. oryzae, with MICs of 16 µg/mL; compounds 6 and 8 also exhibited antifungal activities in vivo against Cerasus cerasoides infected by N. oryzae at concentrations of 100 µg/mL. New compounds 2 and 4 showed antifungal activities against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, with MICs of 8 µg/mL, and compound 4 showed antifungal activity against Didymella glomerata with an MIC of 1 µg/mL. These results indicate that the mutually antagonistic relationship in the coculture of the phytopathogen and the endophyte can result in antibiotics that inhibit the phytopathogen and downregulate the production of phytotoxins by phytopathogenic N. oryzae. New compound 5 from I. lacteus showed weak activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), with an inhibition ratio of 16% at a concentration of 50 µM.

[Traffic-related air pollution and allergic rhinitis].

Exposure to traffic-related air pollutants(TRAP)has been implicated in airway allergic diseases.Recent findings include epidemiologic and mechanistic studies that shed new light on the impact of TRAP on allergic rhinitis(AR)and the biology underlying this impact.These studies have found that oxidative stress induced by TRAP could affect the axis of epithelial cell-dendritic cell-T cell towards a T-helper 2 immune response,which is the major mechanism between TRAP and AR.Further,epigenetics and microRNA might be involved in this process.Our review will summarize the most recent findings in each of these areas.

May the change of platelet to lymphocyte ratio be a prognostic factor for T3-T4 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Many blood markers have been shown to predict the recurrence and survival of various malignancies, but the effects of surgery on the body's inflammatory levels may cause changes in these inflammatory markers. Therefore, in this study, we assessed the relationship between changes in platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and survival and recurrence in patients with T3-T4 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). METHODS: Data of patients with T3-T4 HSCC were reviewed. Continuous variables were expressed as mean ± SD and were compared using t test or Mann-Whitney U test. The covariate distributions were compared by Chi-square test. Survival curve was estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis, and Log-Rank test were performed to estimate the survival curve and significance of the difference in survival distribution between groups, respectively. The prognostic value was uncovered by univariate and multivariate Cox hazards analysis. RESULTS: The 413 consecutive patients with LSCC were reviewed. Of these, 362 patients who met the criteria were selected, multi-factor analysis found that pathological T classification(hazard ratio [HR] = 1.878; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.342-3.023; P<0.001), pathological N classification (HR = 1.212; 95% CI = 0.867-2.125; P< 0.001) and change of PLR (HR = 2.158; 95% CI = 1.332-2.889; P = 0.004) associated with postoperative recurrence of T3-T4 LSCC. In addition, the pathological T classification (HR = 1.901; 95% CI = 1.255-2.999; P<0.001), pathological N classification (HR = 1.244; 95% CI = 0.810-2.212; P<0.001) and change of PLR (HR = 2.011; 95% CI = 1.354-2.753; P = 0.001) associated with postoperative survival in patients with T3-T4 LSCC. CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrate that change in PLR may serve as a useful prognostic predictor for patients with T3-T4 LSCC.

Neo-clerodane and abietane diterpenoids with neurotrophic activities from the aerial parts of Salvia leucantha Cav.

Four new neoclerodane diterpenoids, leucansalvialins FI (1-4), and one rare 18(4 → 3)-abeo-abietane diterpenoid, leucansalvialin J (5), were isolated from the aerial part of Salvia leucantha Cav., along with 14 known analogues. Leucansalvialin F (1) represents the first rearranged salvigenane type clerodane-17,12:18,6-diolide. Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data analysis, and the absolute configurations of 1, 2, 3, and 5 were determinded by X-ray diffraction crystal analysis and the ECD technique. All of the isolated components were evaluated for their neurotrophic activities on PC12 cells and all new compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against five human cancer cell lines (HL-60, A-549, SMMC-7721, MCF-7, and SW480). Compounds 2 and 5 showed moderate neuroprotective effects in an in vitro assay.