Mammalian UPF3A and UPF3B can activate nonsense-mediated mRNA decay independently of their exon junction complex binding.

Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) is governed by the three conserved factors-UPF1, UPF2, and UPF3. While all three are required for NMD in yeast, UPF3B is dispensable for NMD in mammals, and its paralog UPF3A is suggested to only weakly activate or even repress NMD due to its weaker binding to the exon junction complex (EJC). Here, we characterize the UPF3A/B-dependence of NMD in human cell lines deleted of one or both UPF3 paralogs. We show that in human colorectal cancer HCT116 cells, NMD can operate in a UPF3B-dependent and -independent manner. While UPF3A is almost dispensable for NMD in wild-type cells, it strongly activates NMD in cells lacking UPF3B. Notably, NMD remains partially active in cells lacking both UPF3 paralogs. Complementation studies in these cells show that EJC-binding domain of UPF3 paralogs is dispensable for NMD. Instead, the conserved "mid" domain of UPF3 paralogs is consequential for their NMD activity. Altogether, our results demonstrate that the mammalian UPF3 proteins play a more active role in NMD than simply bridging the EJC and the UPF complex.

Alcohol outlet density and marketing in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

AIM: The physical availability of alcohol is a modifiable determinant of alcohol consumption and related harm. However, Nigeria currently does not have national regulations restricting the physical availability of alcohol. The study measured alcohol outlet density and marketing in Abeokuta, Nigeria. METHODS: A descriptive community design was employed. Seven wards in Abeokuta South local government were surveyed street by street for functional alcohol outlets and nearby public institutions (schools and worship centres). Outlet characteristics were documented, and the location of outlets and public institutions was geocoded using a global positioning system app. The density and proximity of outlets and public institutions were analysed using QGIS 3.22. RESULTS: Four hundred and seventy-six alcohol outlets and 194 public institutions (82 schools, 87 churches, and 25 mosques) were sampled across the 7 wards. The most common type of alcohol premises and outlets was on/off-premises and liquor/non-alcoholic drinks stores. Alcohol banners on liquor store lintels were the most prevalent marketing item. Alcohol outlet density ranged from 8.06 to 200 per km2. The smallest average distance between alcohol outlets was 28 m in Sodeke, while Ago Egun/Ijesa had the highest number of outlets and on/off premises. The shortest distance from an outlet to a school was 18.77 m in Ijaiye and 44 (14.7%) schools were located within ≤100 m of an outlet. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate high alcohol density, resulting in short distances between alcohol outlets and public institutions in Abeokuta South local government area. These results underscore the importance of implementing evidence-based alcohol availability policies in Nigeria.

Zebrafish rbm8a and magoh mutants reveal EJC developmental functions and new 3'UTR intron-containing NMD targets.

Many post-transcriptional mechanisms operate via mRNA 3'UTRs to regulate protein expression, and such controls are crucial for development. We show that homozygous mutations in two zebrafish exon junction complex (EJC) core genes rbm8a and magoh leads to muscle disorganization, neural cell death, and motor neuron outgrowth defects, as well as dysregulation of mRNAs subjected to nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) due to translation termination ≥ 50 nts upstream of the last exon-exon junction. Intriguingly, we find that EJC-dependent NMD also regulates a subset of transcripts that contain 3'UTR introns (3'UI) < 50 nts downstream of a stop codon. Some transcripts containing such stop codon-proximal 3'UI are also NMD-sensitive in cultured human cells and mouse embryonic stem cells. We identify 167 genes that contain a conserved proximal 3'UI in zebrafish, mouse and humans. foxo3b is one such proximal 3'UI-containing gene that is upregulated in zebrafish EJC mutant embryos, at both mRNA and protein levels, and loss of foxo3b function in EJC mutant embryos significantly rescues motor axon growth defects. These data are consistent with EJC-dependent NMD regulating foxo3b mRNA to control protein expression during zebrafish development. Our work shows that the EJC is critical for normal zebrafish development and suggests that proximal 3'UIs may serve gene regulatory function in vertebrates.

Chemical crosslinking enhances RNA immunoprecipitation for efficient identification of binding sites of proteins that photo-crosslink poorly with RNA.

In eukaryotic cells, proteins that associate with RNA regulate its activity to control cellular function. To fully illuminate the basis of RNA function, it is essential to identify such RNA-associated proteins, their mode of action on RNA, and their preferred RNA targets and binding sites. By analyzing catalogs of human RNA-associated proteins defined by ultraviolet light (UV)-dependent and -independent approaches, we classify these proteins into two major groups: (i) the widely recognized RNA binding proteins (RBPs), which bind RNA directly and UV-crosslink efficiently to RNA, and (ii) a new group of RBP-associated factors (RAFs), which bind RNA indirectly via RBPs and UV-crosslink poorly to RNA. As the UV crosslinking and immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (CLIP-seq) approach will be unsuitable to identify binding sites of RAFs, we show that formaldehyde crosslinking stabilizes RAFs within ribonucleoproteins to allow for their immunoprecipitation under stringent conditions. Using an RBP (CASC3) and an RAF (RNPS1) within the exon junction complex (EJC) as examples, we show that formaldehyde crosslinking combined with RNA immunoprecipitation in tandem followed by sequencing (xRIPiT-seq) far exceeds CLIP-seq to identify binding sites of RNPS1. xRIPiT-seq reveals that RNPS1 occupancy is increased on exons immediately upstream of strong recursively spliced exons, which depend on the EJC for their inclusion.

Psychosocial hazards, posttraumatic stress disorder, complex posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety in the U.K. rail industry: A cross-sectional study.

This study examined posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex PTSD, depression, and anxiety among U.K. rail workers. A cross-sectional survey examining exposure to seven psychosocial hazards (bullying/harassment; verbal abuse; physical and sexual assault; and hearing about, seeing the aftermath of, or witnessing a fatality), working conditions, physical health, and the impact of COVID-19 was administered to 3,912 participants. Outcome measures were the ITQ, PHQ-9, and GAD-7. Among trauma-exposed participants, 24.3% met the criteria for PTSD or CPTSD; 38.6% and 29.2% of all participants scored in the moderate-to-severe range on the PHQ-9 and GAD-7, respectively. Data were analyzed using logistic and linear regression. Bullying/harassment was positively associated with GAD-7 scores, f2 = .001, and PTSD and CPTSD, ORs = 1.83-2.02. Hearing about and witnessing a fatality were associated with PTSD and CPTSD, ORs = 1.77-2.10. Poorer ergonomics at work were positively associated with PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores, f2 = .001. Higher job satisfaction was associated with lower odds of PTSD and CPTSD, ORs = 0.87-0.91, and negatively associated with PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores, f2 = .008-.01. Work intensity was associated with PTSD and CPTSD, ORs = 1.79-1.83, and positively associated with PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores, f2 = .02-.03. Reporting more physical health problems was associated with PTSD, OR = 1.07, and positively associated with GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores, f2 = .008-.01. The results suggest bullying/harassment and work intensity are important variables in employee mental health and could drive future research and industry initiatives.

Exploring the role of psychological need fulfilment on stress, job satisfaction and turnover intention in support staff working in inpatient mental health hospitals in the NHS: a self-determination theory perspective.

BACKGROUND: Meeting psychological needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness as described by Self-Determination Theory (SDT) has been associated with increased well-being and job satisfaction in mental health staff and improved care outcomes for patients. AIMS: The study investigated whether psychological need satisfaction predicted stress, turnover intention and job satisfaction in health care assistants (HCA) working in inpatient mental health hospitals in the United Kingdom including full time (FT) and temporary agency worker (TAW) staff. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey explored need satisfaction between FT (n = 63) and TAW (n = 39) staff using the Work-Related Basic Need Satisfaction Scale. Multiple regression was used to explore whether satisfaction of the needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness predicted scores on measures of stress, job satisfaction and turnover intention. RESULTS: Results were comparable between FT and TAW staff. Autonomy was the need least satisfied, a need which predicted self-reported job satisfaction, stress and turnover intention. Relatedness also predicted job satisfaction and turnover intention. CONCLUSIONS: Recommendations are made to explore experiences of (and barriers to) autonomy and relatedness in inpatient HCA staff to target and improve autonomy and relatedness in this workforce. Implications of doing so are considered at a staffing, organisational and patient level.

Forage inclusion in calf starter has the best outcome when it is supplemented since 21 days after birth in Holstein calves.

To evaluate the optimum age of straw addition to starter diet on growth of calves, 40 Holstein calves (36.7 ± 4.96 kg) were assigned at 3 days of age to 1 of 4 treatments in a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments (% of dry matter) were as follows: control starter without any wheat straw (WS) inclusion until weaning (WS0); 90% calf starter concentrate (CSC) + 10% chopped WS offered from day 3 of age to weaning (WS3); 90% CSC + 10% chopped WS offered from day 21 of age to weaning (WS21); and 90% CSC + 10% chopped WS offered from day 40 of age to weaning (WS40). After weaning at 60 days of age, all calves received the same diet until finished at day 72 of age. Solid feed intake was affected by treatments whereby either pre- or post-weaning starter intake was greater for calves fed WS (P < 0.01), and WS3 fed calves had lower starter intake compared to WS21 and WS40 (P < 0.01). Weaning weight was the greatest for WS21 treatment compared to other groups (P < 0.01), although all forage fed calves were heavier than WS0 (P < 0.01). Accordingly, average daily gain also showed a similar pattern (P < 0.01). Without any difference at post-weaning, pre-weaning glucose was lowest in WS0 calves (P < 0.01). There were no effects of treatment on number of days that calves experienced a negative health criterion. In conclusion, we concluded that WS inclusion at d 21 of age is recommendable based on weaning and final BW.

Opportunistic screening for alcohol use problems in adolescents attending emergency departments: an evaluation of screening tools.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate and compare the optimal cut-off score of Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and AUDIT-C in identifying at-risk alcohol consumption, heavy episodic alcohol use, ICD-10 alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence in adolescents attending ED in England. DESIGN: Opportunistic cross-sectional survey. SETTING: 10 emergency departments across England. PARTICIPANTS: Adolescents (n = 5377) aged between their 10th and 18th birthday who attended emergency departments between December 2012 and May 2013. MEASURES: Scores on the AUDIT and AUDIT-C. At-risk alcohol consumption and monthly episodic alcohol consumption in the past 3 months were derived using the time-line follow back method. Alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence was assessed in accordance with ICD-10 criteria using the MINI-KID. FINDINGS: AUDIT-C with a score of 3 was more effective for at-risk alcohol use (AUC 0.81; sensitivity 87%, specificity 97%), heavy episodic use (0.84; 76%, 98%) and alcohol abuse (0.98; 91%, 90%). AUDIT with a score of 7 was more effective in identifying alcohol dependence (0.92; 96%, 94%). CONCLUSIONS: The 3-item AUDIT-C is more effective than AUDIT in screening adolescents for at-risk alcohol use, heavy episodic alcohol use and alcohol abuse. AUDIT is more effective than AUDIT-C for the identification of alcohol dependence.

A National Survey of Assertive Outreach Treatment Services for People Who Frequently Attend Hospital due to Alcohol-Related Reasons in England.

AIMS: To characterize England's alcohol assertive outreach treatment (AAOT) services for people who frequently attend hospital due to alcohol-related reasons according to their concordance with six core AAOT components. METHODS: A cross-sectional national survey using structured telephone interviews with health professionals examining 6 essential AAOT components. High-level AAOT services were those that delivered 5 or more components, mid-level 3 to 4 components, low-level AAOT services 2 or less. RESULTS: The analysis included 37 services that were classified according to their concordance with the 6 AAOT components. Six were identified as high-level AAOT services, 13 as mid-level AAOT services and 18 as low-level services. Extended support covering housing, mental and physical health over and above alcohol consumption was the most commonly delivered AAOT component provided. Having a multidisciplinary team was the least observed component, delivered in 33% high-level AAOT services and in 15% mid-level AAOT services. None of the low-level AAOT services had a multidisciplinary team. CONCLUSIONS: Access to AAOT services developed to support high-cost and high-needs frequent hospital attenders varies across the nation. Further research, service evaluation and AAOT implementation should focus on essential AAOT components rather than self-defined labels of AAOT. SHORT SUMMARY: The study investigated alcohol assertive outreach treatment (AAOT) services in England. The study found variability in service provision across AAOT services when measured against six essential AAOT components. Improvement of AAOT in England's hospitals should focus on the implementation of essential AAOT components.

Alcohol identification and intervention in English emergency departments.

AIMS: In the ED, alcohol identification and brief advice is an effective method of reducing consumption and related harms. Our objective was to conduct a national survey of English EDs to determine current practice regarding alcohol identification and provision of brief advice and to compare changes in activity to a previous National Survey conducted in 2011. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey of all consultant-led EDs in England. RESULTS: Of 180 departments, 147 (81.6%) responded. All departments may question adult patients about their alcohol consumption, with many (63.6%) asking all patients aged over 18 years as part routine care and using a formal screening tool (61.4%). The majority of departments asked young people (aged 11-17 years) about their consumption (83.8%), but only 11.6% did so as a part of routine practice. Compared with the 2011 survey, there have been significant increases in routine screening among adults (15.9%, CI 4.16% to 27.18%; p=0.006), general practitioners being informed about patients'alcohol-related presentations (10.2%, CI 0.64% to 19.58%; p=0.028) and access to an alcohol health worker or a clinical nurse specialist (13.4%, CI 3.64% to 22.91%, p=0.005). Modest (non-significant) changes were also found in access to training on brief advice (9.7%) and the use of formal screening questions on adult patients (9.7%). CONCLUSION: Alcohol screening together with referral or intervention is becoming part of routine practice in England. Compared with our previous national survey, increases in alcohol screening and intervention activity are demonstrated, with improvements in routine questioning (among adults), the number of general practitioners being informed about alcohol-related attendances, provision of training, access to specialist services and the use of formal screening tools.

Adiabatic Quantum Computation Applied to Deep Learning Networks.

Training deep learning networks is a difficult task due to computational complexity, and this is traditionally handled by simplifying network topology to enable parallel computation on graphical processing units (GPUs). However, the emergence of quantum devices allows reconsideration of complex topologies. We illustrate a particular network topology that can be trained to classify MNIST data (an image dataset of handwritten digits) and neutrino detection data using a restricted form of adiabatic quantum computation known as quantum annealing performed by a D-Wave processor. We provide a brief description of the hardware and how it solves Ising models, how we translate our data into the corresponding Ising models, and how we use available expanded topology options to explore potential performance improvements. Although we focus on the application of quantum annealing in this article, the work discussed here is just one of three approaches we explored as part of a larger project that considers alternative means for training deep learning networks. The other approaches involve using a high performance computing (HPC) environment to automatically find network topologies with good performance and using neuromorphic computing to find a low-power solution for training deep learning networks. Our results show that our quantum approach can find good network parameters in a reasonable time despite increased network topology complexity; that HPC can find good parameters for traditional, simplified network topologies; and that neuromorphic computers can use low power memristive hardware to represent complex topologies and parameters derived from other architecture choices.

Screening for At-Risk Alcohol Consumption in Primary Care: A Randomized Evaluation of Screening Approaches.

AIMS: The aim of the study was to explore the relative efficiency and effectiveness of targeted versus universal screening for at-risk alcohol use in a primary care population in the UK. METHODS: The study was a randomized evaluation of screening approach (targeted versus universal) for consecutive attendees at primary care aged 18 years or more. Targeted screening involved screening any patient attending with one of the targeted presentations, conditions associated with excessive alcohol consumption: mental health, gastrointestinal, hypertension, minor injuries or a new patient registration. In the universal arm of the study all presentations in the recruitment period were included. Universal screening included all patients presenting to allocated practices. RESULTS: A total of 3562 potential participants were approached. The odds ratio of being screen positive was higher for the targeted group versus the universal group. Yet the vast majority of those screening positive in the universal group of the study would have been missed by a targeted approach. A combination of age and gender was a more efficient approach than targeting by clinical condition or context. CONCLUSIONS: While screening targeted by age and gender is more efficient than universal screening, targeting by clinical condition or presentation is not. Further universal screening is more effective in identifying the full range of patients who could benefit from brief alcohol interventions, and would therefore have greater public health impact. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN06145674.

Temporal changes in milk fatty acid distribution due to feeding different levels of rolled safflower seeds to lactating Holstein cows.

The objective of this experiment was to follow the time-course changes of the milk fatty acids (FA) and particularly conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), n-3, and n-6 FA in response to feeding whole rolled safflower seed (SS). Eighteen cows were blocked by milk production, days in milk, and parity, and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 diets by replacing whole cottonseed with SS. The control diet contained no SS (SS0), whereas the other diets contained 3% of dry matter as SS (SS3) or 6% SS (SS6). The study was conducted for 8 wk. Cows fed SS produced more milk than SS0, with SS3 producing more milk than SS6, but without a change in milk fat yield or milk fat %. Except for C8:0 FA, changes in milk FA were not observed until the third week of SS feeding. The C8:0 began decreasing during wk 1 of SS feeding and continued to decline to wk 8. Short-chain FA (C6:0 to C11:0) and medium-chain FA (C12:0 to C16:1) concentrations decreased in milk when cows were fed SS, whereas long-chain FA (C18:0 and higher) increased after wk 3. The milk long-chain FA increased from wk 3 until wk 5 and then reached a plateau with little difference between SS3 and SS6, whereas the short-chain FA decreased more in milk from cows fed SS6 than SS3. Total CLA increased slightly less than 5× in milk from cows fed SS compared with SS0. Over the same time frame, n-3 FA declined and n-6 FA increased in the milk from cows fed SS, with no difference between SS3 and SS6. This study indicated that SS fed at 3 and 6% of DM had the potential to increase milk production and the CLA in milk, but with a corresponding increase in n-6 FA.

Prevalence of Hazardous Drinking Among UK 18-35 Year Olds; the Impact of a Revision to the AUDIT Cut Score.

AIM: Most published research utilizes an AUDIT score of >8 as the threshold for hazardous drinking. Recent research suggests that this limit should be amended for younger drinkers (aged 18-35 years). This study aimed to explore the effect of a revision to AUDIT cut scores. METHOD: Applying Foxcroft et al.'s [(2015) Accuracy of Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test for detecting problem drinking in 18-35 year-olds in England: method comparison study. Alcohol Alcohol 50, 244-50] suggested cut off scores of nine for males and four for females to the most recent Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (2007) data. RESULTS: This more than doubles the prevalence of female hazardous drinkers, and significantly increases the overall rate for that age group when compared with the standard threshold of >8. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hazardous drinking among females ages 18-30 may be significantly higher than current estimates.

Linked randomised controlled trials of face-to-face and electronic brief intervention methods to prevent alcohol related harm in young people aged 14-17 years presenting to Emergency Departments (SIPS junior).

BACKGROUND: Alcohol is a major global threat to public health. Although the main burden of chronic alcohol-related disease is in adults, its foundations often lie in adolescence. Alcohol consumption and related harm increase steeply from the age of 12 until 20 years. Several trials focusing upon young people have reported significant positive effects of brief interventions on a range of alcohol consumption outcomes. A recent review of reviews also suggests that electronic brief interventions (eBIs) using internet and smartphone technologies may markedly reduce alcohol consumption compared with minimal or no intervention controls. Interventions that target non-drinking youth are known to delay the onset of drinking behaviours. Web based alcohol interventions for adolescents also demonstrate significantly greater reductions in consumption and harm among 'high-risk' drinkers; however changes in risk status at follow-up for non-drinkers or low-risk drinkers have not been assessed in controlled trials of brief alcohol interventions. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study design comprises two linked randomised controlled trials to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of two intervention strategies compared with screening alone. One trial will focus on high-risk adolescent drinkers attending Emergency Departments (Eds) and the other will focus on those identified as low-risk drinkers or abstinent from alcohol but attending the same ED. Our primary (null) hypothesis is similar for both trials: Personalised Feedback and Brief Advice (PFBA) and Personalised Feedback plus electronic Brief Intervention (eBI) are no more effective than screening alone in alcohol consumed at 12 months after randomisation as measured by the Time-Line Follow-Back 28-day version. Our secondary (null) hypothesis relating to economics states that PFBA and eBI are no more cost-effective than screening alone. In total 1,500 participants will be recruited into the trials, 750 high-risk drinkers and 750 low-risk drinkers or abstainers. Participants will be randomised with equal probability, stratified by centre, to either a screening only control group or one of the two interventions: single session of PFBA or eBI. All participants will be eligible to receive treatment as usual in addition to any trial intervention. Individual participants will be followed up at 6 and 12 months after randomisation. DISCUSSION: The protocol represents an ambitious innovative programme of work addressing alcohol use in the adolescent population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN45300218. Registered 5th July 2014.

Alcohol screening and brief intervention for adolescents: the how, what and where of reducing alcohol consumption and related harm among young people.

AIM: The aim of the study was to explore the evidence base on alcohol screening and brief intervention for adolescents to determine age appropriate screening tools, effective brief interventions and appropriate locations to undertake these activities. METHODS: A review of existing reviews (2003-2013) and a systematic review of recent research not included in earlier reviews. RESULTS: The CRAFFT and AUDIT tools are recommended for identification of 'at risk' adolescents. Motivational interventions delivered over one or more sessions and based in health care or educational settings are effective at reducing levels of consumption and alcohol-related harm. CONCLUSION: Further research to develop age appropriate screening tools needs to be undertaken. Screening and brief intervention activity should be undertaken in settings where young people are likely to present; further assessment at such venues as paediatric emergency departments, sexual health clinics and youth offending teams should be evaluated. The use of electronic (web/smart-phone based) screening and intervention shows promise and should also be the focus of future research.

Alcohol screening and brief interventions for offenders in the probation setting (SIPS Trial): a pragmatic multicentre cluster randomized controlled trial.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of different brief intervention strategies at reducing hazardous or harmful drinking in the probation setting. Offender managers were randomized to three interventions, each of which built on the previous one: feedback on screening outcome and a client information leaflet control group, 5 min of structured brief advice and 20 min of brief lifestyle counselling. METHODS: A pragmatic multicentre factorial cluster randomized controlled trial. The primary outcome was self-reported hazardous or harmful drinking status measured by Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) at 6 months (negative status was a score of <8). Secondary outcomes were AUDIT status at 12 months, experience of alcohol-related problems, health utility, service utilization, readiness to change and reduction in conviction rates. RESULTS: Follow-up rates were 68% at 6 months and 60% at 12 months. At both time points, there was no significant advantage of more intensive interventions compared with the control group in terms of AUDIT status. Those in the brief advice and brief lifestyle counselling intervention groups were statistically significantly less likely to reoffend (36 and 38%, respectively) than those in the client information leaflet group (50%) in the year following intervention. CONCLUSION: Brief advice or brief lifestyle counselling provided no additional benefit in reducing hazardous or harmful drinking compared with feedback on screening outcome and a client information leaflet. The impact of more intensive brief intervention on reoffending warrants further research.

The effectiveness of electronic screening and brief intervention for reducing levels of alcohol consumption: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Electronic screening and brief intervention (eSBI) has been shown to reduce alcohol consumption, but its effectiveness over time has not been subject to meta-analysis. OBJECTIVE: The current study aims to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available literature to determine the effectiveness of eSBI over time in nontreatment-seeking hazardous/harmful drinkers. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of relevant studies identified through searching the electronic databases PsychINFO, Medline, and EMBASE in May 2013. Two members of the study team independently screened studies for inclusion criteria and extracted data. Studies reporting data that could be transformed into grams of ethanol per week were included in the meta-analysis. The mean difference in grams of ethanol per week between eSBI and control groups was weighted using the random-effects method based on the inverse-variance approach to control for differences in sample size between studies. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant mean difference in grams of ethanol consumed per week between those receiving an eSBI versus controls at up to 3 months (mean difference -32.74, 95% CI -56.80 to -8.68, z=2.67, P=.01), 3 to less than 6 months (mean difference -17.33, 95% CI -31.82 to -2.84, z=2.34, P=.02), and from 6 months to less than 12 months follow-up (mean difference -14.91, 95% CI -25.56 to -4.26, z=2.74, P=.01). No statistically significant difference was found at a follow-up period of 12 months or greater (mean difference -7.46, 95% CI -25.34 to 10.43, z=0.82, P=.41). CONCLUSIONS: A significant reduction in weekly alcohol consumption between intervention and control conditions was demonstrated between 3 months and less than 12 months follow-up indicating eSBI is an effective intervention.

Alcohol licensing legislation and licensing system in South-West Nigeria: Implications to regulate physical availability of alcohol.

INTRODUCTION: The proliferation of alcohol outlets has led to increased physical availability of alcohol, harmful alcohol consumption and related harm in Nigeria. This study explored alcohol licensing legislations and licensing systems across local government councils (LGC) in South-West, Nigeria. METHODS: Twenty-four LGCs across three states participated in the study. Data were generated from: (i) documents containing LGC liquor licensing legislations; and (ii) semi-structured interviews conducted with 50 LGC officials (16 legislative council clerks and 34 finance officers [director of finance, rate officers and revenue collectors]) were thematically analysed using NVivo. RESULTS: Nine of the sampled LGC enacted liquor licence bylaws. These mostly specified categories of liquor licences issued and licensing fees. None of the liquor licence bylaw contained regulations for controlling physical availability of alcohol and outlet density. Finance officials were licensing officers and there were no licensing committees across the LGCs. The LGC officials were unanimous in stating that generating revenue from licensing fees was the main objective for licensing alcohol outlets. The LGCs licensed alcohol outlets indiscriminately and failed to regulate outlet density. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The absence of regulations for controlling outlet density has implications for physical availability of alcohol in Nigeria. Our findings strongly suggest the need to develop national liquor licensing legislation with public health objectives and implementing regulations for controlling temporal and spatial availability of alcohol. Each LGC should inaugurate a licensing committee with clearly defined roles and responsibilities for licensing stakeholders such as LGC health officials, law enforcement agencies and community members.