Missing phosphorus legacy of the Anthropocene: Quantifying residual phosphorus in the biosphere.

A defining feature of the Anthropocene is the distortion of the biosphere phosphorus (P) cycle. A relatively sudden acceleration of input fluxes without a concomitant increase in output fluxes has led to net accumulation of P in the terrestrial-aquatic continuum. Over the past century, P has been mined from geological deposits to produce crop fertilizers. When P inputs are not fully removed with harvest of crop biomass, the remaining P accumulates in soils. This residual P is a uniquely anthropogenic pool of P, and its management is critical for agronomic and environmental sustainability. Managing residual P first requires its quantification-but measuring residual P is challenging. In this review, we synthesize approaches to quantifying residual P, with emphasis on advantages, disadvantages, and complementarity. Common approaches to estimate residual P are mass balances, long-term experiments, soil test P trends and chronosequences, with varying suitability or even limitations to distinct spatiotemporal scales. We demonstrate that individual quantification approaches are (i) constrained, (ii) often complementary, and (iii) may be feasible at only certain time-space scales. While some of these challenges are inherent to the quantification approach, in many cases there are surmountable challenges that can be addressed by unifying existing P pool and flux datasets, standardizing and synchronizing data collection on pools and fluxes, and quantifying uncertainty. Though defined as a magnitude, the distribution and speciation of residual P is relatively less understood but shapes its utilization and environmental impacts. The form of residual P will vary by agroecosystem context due to edaphoclimatic-specific transformation of the accumulated P, which has implications for management (e.g., crop usage) and future policies (e.g., lag times in P loading from non-point sources). Quantifying the uncertainty in measuring residual P holds value beyond scientific understanding, as it supports prioritization of monitoring and management resources and inform policy.

Compulsory Vaccination Coverage in 12 Sub-Saharan African Countries Two Years Following the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a global threat, challenging health services' provision and utilization. This study aimed to assess compulsory vaccination coverage in 12 Sub-Saharan African countries two years following the COVID-19 pandemic using the Health Belief Model. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from November 1 to December 15, 2022. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to identify the determinants of vaccination coverage. Among the 5032 respondents, 73.1% reported that their children received compulsory vaccination. The lowest coverage was observed in Ghana (36.5%), while the highest was in Burkina Faso and Congo (92.0%). Factors associated with non-vaccination included older mothers (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.04, 95%CI: 1.03-1.05), lower mothers' education, older children (AOR = 0.76, 95%CI: 0.60-0.96), children with chronic illnesses (AOR = 0.55, 95%CI: 0.45-0.66), and difficult accessibility to healthcare facilities (AOR = 11.27, 95%CI: 9.48-13.44). Low perceived risk, in which non-vaccinated children were believed to be at no higher risk for infectious diseases and the disease severity would not worsen among non-vaccinated children, increased the likelihood of non-vaccination (AOR = 2.29, 95%CI: 1.75-2.99 and AOR = 2.12, 95%CI: 1.64-2.73, respectively). Perceiving vaccines as unnecessary, and needless for breastfed babies increased the probability of non-vaccination (AOR = 1.38, 95%CI: 1.10-1.73 and AOR = 1.69, 95%CI: 1.31-2.19, respectively). Higher odds of non-vaccination were found when the provision of vaccine information did not motivate parents to vaccinate their children (AOR = 4.29, 95%CI: 3.15-5.85). Conversely, believing that vaccines were safe for children decreased the odds of non-vaccination (AOR = 0.72, 95%CI: 0.58-0.88). Parental perceptions and concerns should be considered in interventions aiming to increase compulsory vaccine acceptance and coverage.

Perspectives of Rural Older Women on the Determinants of Successful Ageing in Southeast Nigeria.

As the global population of older persons continues to increase, the need for improved quality of life and increased life satisfaction has made successful ageing a critical discourse. The concept of successful ageing is subject to socio-cultural interpretations; thus, our study delved into the perspectives of rural older women on the determinants of successful ageing. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 rural older women aged 65 years and above in Awgu Local Government Area, Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria. Data collected were analysed thematically, and findings revealed that positive social and spiritual relationships were the most critical determinants of successful ageing. Access to and utilisation of digital technology to maintain social ties were also recognised as crucial to the successful ageing of rural older women. Thus, interventions towards successful ageing should focus on improving healthy spirituality, positive social relations and improved connection with social ties through increased access to digital technology.

Efficacy of using walnuts as statin adjuvants in hypertension management.

BACKGROUND: Due to the widespread unorthodox use of nuts to improve cardiovascular health, this clinical trial was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of walnut as an adjuvant statin in hypertensive subjects. METHOD: A single-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial that lasted for 3 months. Forty-five screened hypertensive subjects on treatment, aged 45-65 years, were randomized into intervention and placebo groups according to their blood pressure defined by the American Heart Association criteria. Fifteen (15) normotensive subjects were also recruited for this study. The participants in the intervention group included daily 7 g of boiled walnut taken as snacks. The study was not controlled for type of diet and frequency of meals in a day. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) was the primary endpoint for this study. RESULTS: The mean LDLc levels of the intervention groups (84.6 mg/dl and 79.7 mg/dl, respectively) were significantly (p < .005) lower than the placebo (137.6 mg/dl). The high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) levels of the intervention groups were significantly higher than the placebo. The mean total cholesterol levels of the intervention groups were significantly lower than the placebo group. The intervention groups recorded a significantly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared to the placebo. The supplementation of walnut significantly decreased the apolipoprotein E (APOE), proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 (PCSK9), and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activities relative to the placebo. CONCLUSION: The use of walnut as a statin adjuvant during hypertension treatment reduced LDLc levels within 42.1% and improved HDL levels by 33.6%, and the LDLc decrease related to reduced PCSK9 and APOE activities while the HDLc increase related to reduced CETP activities.

An in-depth human health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in highly polluted riverine soils, Príbram (Czech Republic).

Environmental pollution by potentially toxic element (PTE) and the associated health risks in humans are increasingly becoming a global challenge. The current study is an in-depth assessment of PTEs including the often studied lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As) and the less-studied titanium (Ti), rubidium (Rb), strontium (Sr), zirconium (Zr), barium (Ba) and thorium (Th) in highly polluted floodplain topsoil samples from the Litavka River, Czech Republic. Soil chemical properties including carbon (Cox) and reaction (pH_H2O) together with iron (Fe) were assessed in the same soils. A portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (p-XRFS) (Delta Premium) was used to measure the PTEs and Fe contents of the soils. Soil organic carbon and reaction pH were determined following routine laboratory procedures. The concentration level of each PTE was compared against world average and crustal values, with the majority of elements exceeding the aforementioned geochemical background levels. Distributions of the PTEs were mapped. Two pollution assessment indices including enrichment factor (EF) and pollution index (PI) levels were calculated and their means for Zn (43.36, 55.54), As (33.23, 43.59) and Pb (81.08, 103.21) show that these elements were enriched. Zn, As and Pb accounted for the high pollution load index (PLI) levels observed in the study. The EF and PI distribution maps corresponded with the concentration distribution maps for each PTE. On health risk assessment, hazard quotients (HQ) in different human groups varied. Children had the highest HQs for all PTEs than adults (women and men). PTEs with high HQ levels in distinct human groups were As, Zr and Pb. Zirconium is a less likely element to pose a health risk in humans. Nonetheless, it should be kept in check despite its low pollution occurrence.

Comparison of Cubist models for soil organic carbon prediction via portable XRF measured data.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) tends to form complexes with most metallic ions within the soil system. Relatively few studies compare SOC predictions via portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) measured data coupled with the Cubist algorithm. The current study applied three different Cubist models to estimate SOC while using several pXRF measured data. Soil samples (n = 158) were collected from the Litavka floodplain area during two separate sampling campaigns in 2018. Thirteen pXRF data or predictors (K, Ca, Rb, Mn, Fe, As, Ba, Th, Pb, Sr, Ti, Zr, and Zn) were selected to develop the proposed models. Validation and comparison of the models applied the mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), and coefficient of determination (R2). The results revealed that Cubist 1, utilizing all the predictors yielded the best model outcome (MAE = 0.51%, RMSE = 0.68%, R2 = 0.78) followed by Cubist 2, using predictors with relatively high importance (VarImp. predictors) (MAE = 0.64%, RMSE = 0.82%, R2 = 0.68), and lastly Cubist 3 with predictors showing a significantly positive correlation (MAE = 0.69%, RMSE = 0.90%, R2 = 0.62). The Cubist 1 model was considered more promising for explaining the complex relationships between SOC and the pXRF data used. Moreover, for the estimation of SOC in temperate floodplain soils all the Cubist models gave an acceptable model. However, future research should focus on using other auxiliary data [e.g., soil properties, data from other sensors (e.g., FieldSpec)] as well as extend the study area to cover more soil types hence improve model robustness as well as parsimoniousness.

Cerebral blood flow rates in recent great apes are greater than in Australopithecus species that had equal or larger brains.

Brain metabolic rate (MR) is linked mainly to the cost of synaptic activity, so may be a better correlate of cognitive ability than brain size alone. Among primates, the sizes of arterial foramina in recent and fossil skulls can be used to evaluate brain blood flow rate, which is proportional to brain MR. We use this approach to calculate flow rate in the internal carotid arteries (Q˙ICA), which supply most of the primate cerebrum. Q˙ICA is up to two times higher in recent gorillas, chimpanzees and orangutans compared with 3-million-year-old australopithecine human relatives, which had equal or larger brains. The scaling relationships between Q˙ICA and brain volume (Vbr) show exponents of 1.03 across 44 species of living haplorhine primates and 1.41 across 12 species of fossil hominins. Thus, the evolutionary trajectory for brain perfusion is much steeper among ancestral hominins than would be predicted from living primates. Between 4.4-million-year-old Ardipithecus and Homo sapiens, Vbr increased 4.7-fold, but Q˙ICA increased 9.3-fold, indicating an approximate doubling of metabolic intensity of brain tissue. By contrast, Q˙ICA is proportional to Vbr among haplorhine primates, suggesting a constant volume-specific brain MR.

Anesthesia for a Patient with Base of Tongue Mass undergoing Transoral Robotic Surgery: A Case Report.

Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is a minimally invasive surgical technique that has recently gained popularity. This involves the use of a robotic system to access and operate on hard-to-reach areas of the body, such as the base of tongue and pharynx. General anesthesia is the technique of choice in TORS as this procedure poses unique challenges due to the patient's airway anatomy, the need for precise surgical movements, and the potential for postoperative complications. Awake fiberoptic intubation (AFOI) is the gold standard for an anticipated difficult airway. This case report describes the anesthetic management for a patient undergoing TORS for a tongue base mass.

The relationship between timing of onset of menarche and depressive symptoms from adolescence to adulthood.

AIMS: Girls who experience an earlier onset of menarche than their peers are at increased risk of depressive symptoms in mid-adolescence, but it is unclear if this association persists into adulthood. This study examines whether longitudinal patterns of depressive symptoms from adolescence to adulthood vary according to timing of menarche. METHODS: About 4,864 female participants in the UK Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children provided data on age at onset of menarche (assessed in repeated questionnaires from 8 to 17 years) and depressive symptoms across nine time points (13 to 26 years) using the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire. We compared patterns of depressive symptoms in girls with 'early' (<11.5 years), 'normative' (11.5 to 13.5 years) and 'late' (≥13.5 years) menarche using a linear spline multilevel growth curve model adjusted for indicators of socioeconomic position, father absence and body mass index. RESULTS: Early, compared with normative, menarche was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms at age 14 (imputed adjusted estimated difference = 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.44, 1.45), but the association attenuated at 24 years (0.24 [-0.72, 1.19]). Late menarche, compared with normative, was associated with a lower level of depressive symptoms at age 14 (-0.69 [-1.10, -0.29]), but this association also attenuated at 24 years (-0.15 [-0.92, 0.62]). CONCLUSIONS: This study did not find a persistent effect of early menarche, compared to normative, on depressive symptoms. However, our findings are consistent with the level of depressive symptoms increasing at the onset of menarche irrespective of timing. The late onset girls 'catch up' with their peers who experience menarche earlier in terms of depressive symptoms. Future studies should continue to assess the impact of timing of menarche further into adulthood.

[Interprofessional recommendations on behalf of Société française de radiothérapie oncologique for the prevention, protection and management of cyberattacks in radiation oncology]. / Prévention, protection, et gestion des cyberattaques en oncologie radiothérapie : recommandations interprofessionnelles au nom de la Société française de radiothérapie oncologique.

Cybersecurity is currently a major issue. Large hospitals are no longer the only main targets of attacks, but all healthcare organizations and establishments, without distinction of size or activities. The information system is defined as all the resources needed to collect images, store and process them with general distribution of multiple information within an organization. Systems are therefore crucial for the functioning of a medical department. Radiation oncology is one of the specialties most dependent on digital resources, for imaging, data transfer, dosimetry, treatment and so on.. Radiation oncology departments are therefore a prime target for ransomware attacks, which have increased significantly in recent years. Cybersecurity can be likened to a viral or bacterial attack. It is based on the two usual pillars of antimicrobial protection : hygiene and prophylaxis. In this article, we will detail by analogy the three classic levels of prevention of a bacillary attack: "primary prevention", which acts upstream of the infection; "secondary prevention", which acts at an early stage of its evolution; and "tertiary prevention", which acts on complications and risks of recurrence. This article is the result of an interprofessional group on behalf of SFRO, the French society of radiation oncology, with the aim of helping all teams to implement safety adapted to the specificities of a radiation oncology department in France.

A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Non-pharmacological Methods to Manipulate Experimentally Induced Secondary Hypersensitivity.

This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the effects of non-pharmacological manipulations on experimentally induced secondary hypersensitivity in pain-free humans. We investigated the magnitude (change/difference in follow-up ratings from pre-manipulation ratings) of secondary hypersensitivity (primary outcome), and surface area of secondary hypersensitivity (secondary outcome), in 27 studies representing 847 participants. Risk of bias assessment concluded most studies (23 of 27) had an unclear or high risk of performance and detection bias. Further, 2 (of 27) studies had a high risk of measurement bias. Datasets were pooled by the method of manipulation and outcome. The magnitude of secondary hypersensitivity was decreased by diverting attention, anodal transcranial direct current stimulation, or emotional disclosure; increased by directing attention toward the induction site, nicotine deprivation, or negative suggestion; and unaffected by cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation or thermal change. Area of secondary hypersensitivity was decreased by anodal transcranial direct current stimulation, emotional disclosure, cognitive behavioral therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, placebo analgesia, or spinal manipulation; increased by directing attention to the induction site, nicotine deprivation, or sleep disruption (in males only); and unaffected by cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation, thermal change, acupuncture, or electroacupuncture. Meta-analytical pooling was only appropriate for studies that used transcranial direct current stimulation or hyperbaric oxygen therapy, given the high clinical heterogeneity among the studies and unavailability of data. The evidence base for this question remains small. We discuss opportunities to improve methodological rigor including manipulation checks, structured blinding strategies, control conditions or time points, and public sharing of raw data. PERSPECTIVE: We described the effects of several non-pharmacological manipulations on experimentally induced secondary hypersensitivity in humans. By shedding light on the potential for non-pharmacological therapies to influence secondary hypersensitivity, it provides a foundation for the development and testing of targeted therapies for secondary hypersensitivity.

Association Between Depression and Anxiety Status With Uptake of Colorectal Cancer Screening Among US Adults: A Population-Level Study.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with different mental disorders tend to experience higher rates of colorectal cancer (CRC)-related mortality compared to the general population. Discrepancies in CRC screening behaviors have been suggested as a potential contributing factor to this difference in mortality. However, existing evidence on this topic has been inconclusive and conflicting. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the relationship between mental health status (specifically, depression and/or anxiety) and the uptake of CRC screening. To achieve this, a larger and nationally representative sample from the adult population of the United States was utilized. METHODS: We employed a cross-sectional approach using data from the 2019-2020 edition of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). The study examined disparities in CRC screening between individuals with self-reported history of depression diagnosis and the general population. Chi-square tests were used for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied to adjust for variables such as gender, age, education level, race, comorbidities, healthcare access, smoking status, household income, geographical residence, and insurance status. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. RESULTS: The findings of the study indicated that out of 5,398 eligible individuals, approximately 1,220 (weighted percentage: 22.8%) reported experiencing depression and/or anxiety, and approximately 4,154 (weighted percentage: 68.9%) reported adherence to colorectal cancer screening. In the bivariate analysis, there was no significant difference in participation in colorectal cancer screening between individuals with and without depression and/or anxiety (72.0% vs. 68.0%). Similarly, after adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related factors, the study found that the odds of participating in colorectal cancer screening did not vary based on an individual's depression status (OR 1.34, 95% CI 0.94-1.91, P = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Individuals with depression participate in colorectal cancer screening at comparable rates to the general population. The findings of this study suggest that factors beyond CRC screening may play significant roles in the higher CRC-associated mortality rate. Therefore, further research is needed to uncover the various mechanisms contributing to the increased cancer-related mortality rates among susceptible populations.

A Review of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) in the Pediatric Population: Evaluating Current Trends and Changes in Guidelines in the Past Decade.

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is a commonly diagnosed cancer in children. Despite technological advancements to improve treatment and survival rates, there has been a steady increase in the incidence of ALL and treatment failures. This paper discusses the pathogenic interaction between genetic and environmental factors leading to childhood ALL. It evaluates the current treatment guidelines and notable obstacles leading to resistance, relapse, and treatment toxicities. The review evaluates a 10-year trend in the management guidelines of pediatric ALL through a systematic literature review of records from 2012 to 2023. Findings show that improvement in the five-year survival rates, notwithstanding rates of relapse and incurable diseases, is still high. Furthermore, several risk factors, including an interplay between genetic and environmental factors, are largely contributory to the outcome of ALL treatments and its overall incidence. Moreover, huge financial costs have remained a significant challenge in outcomes. There remains a need to provide individualized treatment plans, shared decision-making, and goals of care as parts of the management guidelines for the best possible outcomes. We expect that future advancements will increase overall survival rates and disease-free years.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Among American Youth: A Comprehensive 20-Year Analysis of National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Data.

BACKGROUND: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that has a significant impact on the lives of children and adolescents. This study conducts a comprehensive 20-year analysis of data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) to investigate the prevalence of ADHD among American youth, as well as its demographic patterns and socioeconomic determinants. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of NCHS data spanning from 1997 to 2018 was carried out. The dataset included information on ADHD diagnoses, demographic characteristics (such as age, gender, and race/ethnicity), socioeconomic indicators (including poverty level and health insurance status), and temporal variables. A range of statistical analyses were performed, encompassing temporal trend analysis, demographic assessments, and socioeconomic examinations. RESULTS: It was consistently observed that boys had a higher prevalence of ADHD (12.93% compared to 5.61%), aligning with established trends. Among adolescents aged 10-17, the prevalence was the highest at 11.09%, while for the 5-9 age group, it stood at 6.57%. In terms of racial and ethnic groups, individuals identifying as two or more races exhibited the highest prevalence at 12.36%, followed by white (9.83%), black or African American (10.09%), Hispanic or Latino (5.36%), and non-Hispanic or Latino (10.64%). Socioeconomic disparities were evident, with a prevalence of 11.41% among those living below the poverty line, compared to 10.6% (100%-199% of the poverty line), 8.6% (200%-399%), and 8.39% (400% or more). Medicaid beneficiaries had the highest prevalence at 12.57%, followed by those with private insurance (9.65%), insured (8.11%), and uninsured (5.83%). CONCLUSION: These findings underscore the intricate relationship between ADHD prevalence and demographic and socioeconomic factors. It is imperative to address these disparities to ensure equitable assessment and intervention for ADHD, taking into account cultural influences, determinants of health tied to socioeconomic status, and access to healthcare for all children. This analysis by the NCHS provides essential insights into ADHD among American youth, emphasizing the necessity for tailored interventions, equitable healthcare access, and further research to comprehensively address this complex neurodevelopmental disorder.

Delay in health-seeking behaviour: Implication to yellow fever outcome in the 2019 outbreak in Nigeria.

Yellow fever is a vaccine-preventable acute viral disease that can rapidly spread and cause serious public health impact. Delay in seeking health care from health facilities is a potential risk of prolonged disease spread. Therefore, this study assessed the delay in health-seeking behaviour and implications for yellow fever outcomes in the 2019 outbreak in Nigeria. Furthermore, the study examined the factors associated with delayed yellow fever vaccine uptake. A retrospective study was conducted from January to December 2019 using 137 cases recorded in the WHO database. The data were analysed using descriptive (frequency and percentages) and the Chi-square test. The results were significant at p < 0.05. Results showed a low uptake of yellow fever vaccine (24.1%) among patients and a median total health-seeking delay of 7 [IQR 7, 9] days. The delay was more among the older age ≥40 years (12 [IQR 12, 29]), females (8 [IQR 8, 11], and rural inhabitants 7 [IQR7, 9], particularly in Izzi LGA (9 [IQR 9, 16] than the other subgroups. Patients' location or place of residence was significantly associated with the yellow fever vaccine uptake (p < 0.000*), and delay (p = 0.003*). Conclusively, the low vaccine uptake was due to the delay in health-seeking behaviour. Thus, the healthcare system in Nigeria needs to intensify mass participation in immunisation programmes. Interventions that promote behavioural change towards immunisation are required. Also, health promotion campaigns to educate rural people on desirable health-seeking behaviour are needed.

Bullying experience of pupils in Nigerian primary schools.

Childhood bullying leads to life-long scars and hinders adult development. Schoolchildren involved in bullying are at risk of developing behavioural difficulties, physical health problems and suicidal ideation. This research aimed to evaluate the bullying experience of pupils in Nigerian primary schools.The study is a cross-sectional analytic survey conducted from June to November 2019. A total of 1080 pupils in participated in the study. A self-report questionnaire containing 3 questions was used for collecting data. Analysis of the collected data was done using percentage and Chi-Squared at 0.05 probability level.Results indicate that 51.4% of the male pupils and 50.8% of females reported being victims of bullying. 51.8% of the males and 49.5% of females were found to be perpetrators of bullying. 39.6% of the males and 42.9% of the females were bystanders of bullying. 35.1% of the males and 34.1% of females have experienced any 2 of the categories while 11.2% of the males and 12.4% of the females have experienced all the categories of bullying. Results show a non-significant difference between male and female pupils on bullying victimization (χ = .036, P = .849), bullying perpetration (χ = .589, P = .443), and bullying bystander problem (χ = 1.194, P = .275).In conclusion, school bullying is an increasing problem among Nigerian schoolchildren. Initiatives must, therefore, be taken by the Nigerian government to further prevent and counter bullying problem in Nigerian primary schools. Interventions aimed at helping schools to develop effective policies to reduce bullying behaviour among pupils should be initiated.

Influence of parental education levels on eating habits of pupils in Nigerian primary schools.

This study investigated the eating habits of pupils in Nigerian primary schools based on the respective education levels of their parents.Data were obtained using the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ). Participants included a total of 144 pupils who were purposively selected from 6 primary schools. Based on responses, a cross-sectional analytic study design was implemented to investigate how parental education levels (PELs) influenced the eating habits of their children. Data assessment was performed using a one-way between-group analysis of variance at the .05 probability level.PELs significantly affected the eating habits of participants, respectively. Specifically, low PEL was associated with more satiety responsiveness to food (F [2, 141] = 14.251, P < .001), higher responsiveness to food (F [2, 141] = 36.943, P = <.001) greater food enjoyment (F [2, 141] = 93.322, P < .001), greater drinking desires (F [2, 141] = 23.677, P < .001), and the tendency for emotional over-eating (F [2, 141] = 13.428, P < .001), while high PEL was associated with slower eating (F [2, 141] = 11.665, P < .001), fussier responses to food (F [2, 141] = 14.865, P < .001), and a higher tendency for emotional under-eating (F [2, 141] = 5.137, P < .01).This study examined PELs in relation to the respective eating habits of their children, who were attending Nigerian primary schools. Data showed that children with parents who had high, middle, and low education levels tended to exhibit progressively worse eating habits, in descending order.

Efficacy of a cry1Ab Gene for Control of Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Cowpea (Fabales: Fabaceae).

Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp.] is an important staple legume in the diet of many households in sub-Saharan Africa. Its production, however, is negatively impacted by many insect pests including bean pod borer, Maruca vitrata F., which can cause 20-80% yield loss. Several genetically engineered cowpea events that contain a cry1Ab gene from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) for resistance against M. vitrata were evaluated in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Ghana (West Africa), where cowpea is commonly grown. As part of the regulatory safety package, these efficacy data were developed and evaluated by in-country scientists. The Bt-cowpea lines were planted in confined field trials under Insect-proof netting and artificially infested with up to 500 M. vitrata larvae per plant during bud formation and flowering periods. Bt-cowpea lines provided nearly complete pod and seed protection and in most cases resulted in significantly increased seed yield over non-Bt control lines. An integrated pest management strategy that includes use of Bt-cowpea augmented with minimal insecticide treatment for protection against other insects is recommended to control pod borer to enhance cowpea production. The insect resistance management plan is based on the high-dose refuge strategy where non-Bt-cowpea and natural refuges are expected to provide M. vitrata susceptible to Cry1Ab protein. In addition, there will be a limited release of this product until a two-toxin cowpea pyramid is released. Other than South African genetically engineered crops, Bt-cowpea is the first genetically engineered food crop developed by the public sector and approved for release in sub-Saharan Africa.

A systematic review of experimental methods to manipulate secondary hyperalgesia in humans: protocol.

BACKGROUND: Neuropathic pain affects 7-10% of people, but responds poorly to pharmacotherapy, indicating a need for better treatments. Mechanistic research on neuropathic pain frequently uses human surrogate models of the secondary hyperalgesia that is a common feature of neuropathic pain. Experimentally induced secondary hyperalgesia has been manipulated with pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods to clarify the relative contributions of different mechanisms to secondary hyperalgesia. However, this literature has not been systematically synthesised. The aim of this systematic review is to identify, describe, and compare methods that have been used to manipulate experimentally induced secondary hyperalgesia in healthy humans. METHODS: A systematic search strategy will be supplemented by reference list checks and direct contact with identified laboratories to maximise the identification of data reporting the experimental manipulation of experimentally induced secondary hyperalgesia in healthy humans. Duplicated screening, risk of bias assessment, and data extraction procedures will be used. Authors will be asked to provide data as necessary. Data will be pooled and meta-analyses conducted where possible, with subgrouping according to manipulation method. Manipulation methods will be ranked for potency and risk. DISCUSSION: The results of this review will provide a useful reference for researchers interested in using experimental methods to manipulate secondary hyperalgesia in humans and will help to clarify the relative contributions of different mechanisms to secondary hyperalgesia. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: This protocol will be registered on PROSPERO before the review begins. Review records will be updated on PROSPERO once the review is complete. This review is intended for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Analyses and scripts will be made publicly available.

Effects of a health education intervention on hypertension-related knowledge, prevention and self-care practices in Nigerian retirees: a quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Education is vital to increasing knowledge, improving prevention and self-care practices for hypertension in older adults. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a health education intervention in improving hypertension (HT) knowledge, prevention and self-care practices among retirees in Enugu State, South-east, Nigeria. METHODS: In this quasi-experimental study, we enrolled 400 participants in Enugu and Nsukka cities in Enugu State, south-east Nigeria. Participants were assigned to the treatment and control groups. Participants in the intervention/treatment group (T-group) received the intervention provided by public health experts and nurses and participants in the control group (C-group) received health talk without the intervention. Data collected at baseline (before intervention), 16 weeks (4th month) and follow-up (5th month) included demographic variables, knowledge about hypertension, prevention and self-care practices. We used paired samples t-test, Chi-square test and one-way ANOVA repeated measures for data analyses. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 65.9 (± 8.9) years, the mean SBP and DBP were 136.5 (± 13.3) and 87.9 (± 9.1) respectively. More than half of the participants were (50.3%) were males, and the mean BMI was 23.9 (± 5.1) kg/m2. The paired comparison analysis showed that the mean HT knowledge score significantly increased in the T-group between baseline and 1 month (4th month) post-intervention compared to those in the C-group (P < 0.0001). Also, PA (P = 0.007), sleep pattern and quality (P = 0.003), substance use abstinence (P = 0.000), healthy diet (P = 0.000), and medication adherence (P = 0.000) improved significantly in the T-group compared to the control between baseline and 1 month after intervention. The repeated measures analyses showed statistically significant effects (between-groups analysis) for all outcomes with small to large effect sizes. Similarly, the repeated measures ANOVA analyses showed significant time-by-group interaction effects (within-groups) for all the outcomes with small to large effect sizes. CONCLUSION: Community-based health education intervention targeted at older adults can increase HT knowledge, improve prevention and self-care practices of hypertension at the population level.