A single nucleotide polymorphism in OPRM1(rs483481) and risk for heroin use disorder.

Opioid receptor mu1 (OPRM1) is the target of many opioid drugs, and it is known to have affinity toward both endogenous and exogenous opioids, opiate and opioid analgesic drugs. The present study was undertaken to explore association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the OPRM1 gene with heroin use disorder. Ten OPRM1 polymorphisms were analyzed in 132 cases and 147 healthy controls. The SNP rs483481 showed significant allelic, genotypic and haplotypic association (Allelic: p-value = 0.003, OR = 1.75, CI = 1.21-2.55) (Genotypic: p-value = 0.003, OR = 1.72, CI = 1.08-2.75) with heroin use disorder. Allelic and genotypic association remained significant even after multiple testing corrections with 1000 permutations. A significant positive correlation between 'Number of times drug abstained' and 'rs483481-AA genotype' (p-value = 0.002; Pearson correlation = 0.265) was also observed. One-way ANOVA analysis demonstrated significant association of rs483481 with 'number of times drug abstained' (F = 4.86, p-value =0.009). 'A' allele and 'AA' genotype of marker rs483481 seem to confer protective effect while 'G' allele and 'GG' genotype potentiates risk for heroin use disorder. OPRM1 is found to be associated with heroin use disorder in the studied Manipuri cohort. The study suggests that individuals with G allele and GG genotypes at rs483481 could be more vulnerable to heroin dependence, and it could be taken into consideration in prevention and intervention programs.

Prevention of malnutrition among young children in rural Bangladesh by a food-health-care educational intervention: a randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: As a result of inappropriate feeding, poor health and hygiene, and poor caring practices, the nutritional status of many young infants deteriorates with advancing age. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness of a nutrition education package to prevent malnutrition among young children. METHODS: A community-based, randomized, controlled trial was conducted among 605 normal and mildly malnourished children aged 6 to 9 months in 121 Community Nutrition Centers (CNCs) of the Bangladesh Integrated Nutrition Project (BINP) in four regions of Bangladesh from 2000 to 2002. The intervention group received weekly nutrition education based on the nutrition triangle concept of UNICEF for 6 months, whereas the control group received regular BINP services. Both groups were observed for a further 6 months to assess the sustainability of the effects. Information on socioeconomic status, feeding patterns, morbidity, and anthropometric features was collected. RESULTS: A significant increase in the frequency of complementary feeding was observed in the intervention group as compared with the control group, and the increase was sustained throughout the observation period. The intervention group had a higher weight gain than the control group after the end of the intervention (0.86 vs. 0.77 kg, p = 0.053) and after the end of the observation period (1.81 vs. 1.39 kg, p < .001). The proportion of normal and mildly malnourished children was greater in the intervention group than in the control group after the end of the observations (88.9% vs. 61.5%, p < .001). Nutrition education successfully prevented malnutrition in all the areas. Variation in the outcome of nutrition education among the regions was observed. CONCLUSIONS: This culturally appropriate nutrition education package based on the nutrition triangle model effectively prevented growth faltering and malnutrition among young children.

Intensive nutrition education with or without supplementary feeding improves the nutritional status of moderately-malnourished children in Bangladesh.

This prospective randomized trial was carried out to test the efficacy of a specific intervention for reducing the extent of their malnutrition and to change behaviour of mothers relating to child-feeding practices, care-giving, and health-seeking practices under the Bangladesh Integrated Nutrition Project (BINP). The study was conducted in rural Bangladesh among 282 moderately-malnourished (weight-for-age between 61% and 75% of median of the National Center for Health Statistics standard) children aged 6-24 months. Mothers of the first intervention group received intensive nutrition education (INE group) twice a week for three months. The second intervention group received the same nutrition education, and their children received additional supplementary feeding (INE+SF group). The comparison group received nutrition education from the community nutrition promoters twice a month according to the standard routine service of BINP. The children were observed for a further six months. After three months of interventions, a significantly higher proportion of children in the INE and INE+SF groups improved (37% and 47% respectively) from moderate to mild or normal nutrition compared to the comparison group (18%) (p < 0.001). At the end of six months of observation, the nutritional status of children in the intervention groups improved further from moderate to mild or normal nutrition compared to the comparison group (59% and 86% vs 30%, p < 0.0001). As the intensive nutrition education and supplementation given were highly effective, more children improved from moderate malnutrition to mild or normal nutritional status despite a higher incidence of morbidity. The frequency of child feeding and home-based complementary feeding improved significantly (p < 0.001) in both the intervention groups after three months of interventions and six months of observation. Body-weight gain was positively associated with age, length-for-age, weight-for-length, frequency of feeding of khichuri, egg, and potato (p < 0.05). Ability of mothers to identify malnutrition improved from 15% to 99% in the INE group and from 15% to 100% in the INE+SF group, but reduced from 24% to 21% in the comparison group. Use of separate feed pots, frequency of feeding, and cooking of additional complementary feeds improved significantly in the INE and INE+SF groups compared to the comparison group after three months of interventions and six months of observation. It can be concluded from the findings of the study that intensive nutrition education significantly improves the status of moderately-malnourished children with or without supplementary feeding.