Water Insecurity, Water Borrowing, and Psychosocial Stress Among Daasanach Pastoralists in Northern Kenya.

This article quantifies Daasanach water insecurity experiences in Northern Kenya, examines how water insecurity is associated with water borrowing and psychosocial stress, and evaluates if water borrowing mitigates the stress from water insecurity. Of 133 households interviewed in 7 communities, 94% were water insecure and 74.4% borrowed water three or more times in the prior month. Regression analyses demonstrate water borrowing frequency moderates the relationship between water insecurity and psychosocial stress. Only those who rarely or never borrowed water reported greater stress with higher water insecurity. The coping mechanism of water borrowing may help blunt water insecurity-related stress.

Ventilatory Strategies in Infants with Established Severe Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: A Multicenter Point Prevalence Study.

We performed a point prevalence study on infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), collecting data on type and settings of ventilatory support; 187 infants, 51% of whom were on invasive positive-pressure ventilation (IPPV), from 15 centers were included. We found a significant center-specific variation in ventilator modes.

The co-occurrence of water insecurity and food insecurity among Daasanach pastoralists in northern Kenya.

OBJECTIVE: Water plays a critical role in the production of food and preparation of nutritious meals, yet few studies have examined the relationship between water and food insecurity. The primary objective of this study, therefore, was to examine how experiences of household water insecurity (HWI) relate to experiences of household food insecurity (HFI) among a pastoralist population living in an arid, water-stressed region of northern Kenya. DESIGN: We implemented the twelve-item Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HWISE, range 0-36) Scale and the nine-item Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS, range 0-27) in a cross-sectional survey to measure HWI and HFI, respectively. Data on socio-demographic characteristics and intake of meat and dairy in the prior week were collected as covariates of interest. SETTING: Northern Kenya, June-July 2019. PARTICIPANTS: Daasanach pastoralist households (n 136) from seven communities. RESULTS: In the prior 4 weeks, 93·4 % and 98·5 % of households had experienced moderate-to-severe HWI and HFI, respectively. Multiple linear regression analyses indicated a strong association between HWI and HFI. Each point higher HWISE score was associated with a 0·44-point (95 % CI: 0·22, 0·66, P = 0·003) higher HFIAS score adjusting for socio-economic status and other covariates. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate high prevalence and co-occurrence of HWI and HFI among Daasanach pastoralists in northern Kenya. This study highlights the need to address HWI and HFI simultaneously when developing policies and interventions to improve the nutritional well-being of populations whose subsistence is closely tied to water availability and access.

Operationalizing niche construction theory with stone tools.

One of the greatest difficulties with evolutionary approaches in the study of stone tools (lithics) has been finding a mechanism for tying culture and biology in a way that preserves human agency and operates at scales that are visible in the archaeological record. The concept of niche construction, whereby organisms actively construct their environments and change the conditions for selection, could provide a solution to this problem. In this review, we evaluate the utility of niche construction theory (NCT) for stone tool archaeology. We apply NCT to lithics both as part of the "extended phenotype" and as residuals or precipitates of other niche-constructing activities, suggesting ways in which archaeologists can employ niche construction feedbacks to generate testable hypotheses about stone tool use. Finally, we conclude that, as far as its applicability to lithic archaeology, NCT compares favorably to other prominent evolutionary approaches, such as human behavioral ecology and dual-inheritance theory.

Ecosystem engineering in the Quaternary of the West Coast of South Africa.

Despite advances in our understanding of the geographic and temporal scope of the Paleolithic record, we know remarkably little about the evolutionary and ecological consequences of changes in human behavior. Recent inquiries suggest that human evolution reflects a long history of interconnections between the behavior of humans and their surrounding ecosystems (e.g., niche construction). Developing expectations to identify such phenomena is remarkably difficult because it requires understanding the multi-generational impacts of changes in behavior. These long-term dynamics require insights into the emergent phenomena that alter selective pressures over longer time periods which are not possible to observe, and are also not intuitive based on observations derived from ethnographic time scales. Generative models show promise for probing these potentially unexpected consequences of human-environment interaction. Changes in the uses of landscapes may have long term implications for the environments that hominins occupied. We explore other potential proxies of behavior and examine how modeling may provide expectations for a variety of phenomena.

Mobility ideation due to water problems during historic 2022 drought associated with livestock wealth, water and food insecurity, and fingernail cortisol concentration in northern Kenya.

Climate change is triggering environmental mobility through chronic water problems and punctuated events. Thinking about moving locations, or "mobility ideation", is the precursor to migration intentionality and actual migration. Drawing on the embodiment construct, this study examines how the worst drought in recent history in the Horn of Africa affected water-related mobility ideation and, in turn, fingernail cortisol concentration (FCC), a chronic stress biomarker, among Daasanach semi-nomadic pastoralists in northern Kenya. To address these questions, we primarily draw on survey, anthropometric, water quality, and biomarker data among 175 adults living in seven communities in 2022. We used mixed-effects ordered logistic regression to test how livestock wealth, water insecurity, food insecurity, and anxiety/depression symptom scores were associated with household mobility ideation. We then used generalized linear models to test the association between mobility ideation on FCC. Thinking about moving at least once due to water problems increased from pre-drought in 2019 (55%) to during the drought in 2022 (92%), while actual mobility declined. Livestock wealth, while associated with actual mobility in the prior year, was protective against increased mobility ideation, while water insecurity, food insecurity, and anxiety/depression symptoms were associated with greater odds of thinking of leaving in 2022. Compared to adults who did not consider moving, those who considered moving rarely, sometimes, and often had FCC levels 18.1% higher (95% CI, 1.01-1.38; p = 0.039), 19.4% higher (1.01-1.41; p = 0.040), and 32.3% higher (1.01-1.73; p = 0.039), respectively, with results consistent in sensitivity analyses. Extreme climatic events in water scarce regions may increase mobility ideation through worsened experiential indicators of well-being and resource insecurity. Mobility ideation may capture measures of adversity suffered by pastoralists and signify climate distress. This research broadens understanding of how droughts get under the skin by leading to resource insecurity and triggering thoughts of moving, which increases chronic stress.

Impact of l-citrulline on nitric oxide signaling and arginase activity in hypoxic human pulmonary artery endothelial cells.

Impaired nitric oxide (NO) signaling contributes to the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH). The l-arginine precursor, l-citrulline, improves NO signaling and has therapeutic potential in PH. However, there is evidence that l-citrulline might increase arginase activity, which in turn, has been shown to contribute to PH. Our major purpose was to determine if l-citrulline increases arginase activity in hypoxic human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs). In addition, to avoid potential adverse effects from high dose l-citrulline monotherapy, we evaluated whether the effect on NO signaling is greater using co-treatment with l-citrulline and another agent that improves NO signaling, folic acid, than either alone. Arginase activity was measured in human PAECs cultured under hypoxic conditions in the presence of l-citrulline (0-1 mM). NO production and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) coupling, as assessed by eNOS dimer-to-monomer ratios, were measured in PAECs treated with l-citrulline and/or folic acid (0.2 µM). Arginase activity increased in hypoxic PAECs treated with 1 mM but not with either 0.05 or 0.1 mM l-citrulline. Co-treatment with folic acid and 0.1 mM l-citrulline increased NO production and eNOS dimer-to-monomer ratios more than treatment with either alone. The potential to increase arginase activity suggests that there might be plasma l-citrulline concentrations that should not be exceeded when using l-citrulline to treat PH. Rather than progressively increasing the dose of l-citrulline as a monotherapy, co-therapy with l-citrulline and folic acid merits consideration, due to the possibility of achieving efficacy at lower doses and minimizing side effects.

L-citrulline increases arginase II protein levels and arginase activity in hypoxic piglet pulmonary artery endothelial cells.

The L-arginine precursor, L-citrulline, re-couples endothelial nitric oxide synthase, increases nitric oxide production, and ameliorates chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in newborn pigs. L-arginine can induce arginase, which, in turn, may diminish nitric oxide production. Our major purpose was to determine if L-citrulline increases arginase activity in hypoxic piglet pulmonary arterial endothelial cells, and if so, concomitantly impacts the ability to increase endothelial nitric oxide synthase re-coupling and nitric oxide production. Piglet pulmonary arterial endothelial cells were cultured in hypoxic conditions with L-citrulline (0-3 mM) and/or the arginase inhibitor S-(2-boronoethyl)-L-cysteine. We measured arginase activity and nitric oxide production. We assessed endothelial nitric oxide synthase coupling by measuring endothelial nitric oxide synthase dimers and monomers. L-citrulline concentrations ≥0.5 mM increased arginase activity in hypoxic pulmonary arterial endothelial cells. L-citrulline concentrations ≥0.1 mM increased nitric oxide production and concentrations ≥0.5 mM elevated endothelial nitric oxide synthase dimer-to-monomer ratios. Co-treatment with L-citrulline and S-(2-boronoethyl)-L-cysteine elevated endothelial nitric oxide synthase dimer-to-monomer ratios more than sole treatment. Despite inducing arginase, L-citrulline increased nitric oxide production and endothelial nitric oxide synthase coupling in hypoxic piglet pulmonary arterial endothelial cells. However, these dose-dependent findings raise the possibility that there could be L-citrulline concentrations that elevate arginase to levels that negate improvements in endothelial nitric oxide synthase dysfunction. Moreover, our findings suggest that combining an arginase inhibitor with L-citrulline merits evaluation as a treatment for chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension.

Folic acid, either solely or combined with L-citrulline, improves NO signaling and ameliorates chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in newborn pigs.

Concomitant with developing pulmonary hypertension (PH), newborn piglets exposed to chronic hypoxia develop pulmonary vascular NO signaling impairments. PH is reduced and NO signaling is improved in chronically hypoxic piglets treated with the NO-arginine precursor, L-citrulline. Folic acid positively impacts NO signaling. We evaluated whether the effect on NO signaling and PH is greater using co-treatment with folic acid and L-citrulline than either alone. From day 3 to day 10 of hypoxia, piglets were treated solely with folic acid, solely with L-citrulline, or co-treated with both. Catheters were placed to measure in vivo hemodynamics. NO production was measured in vitro in dissected pulmonary arteries. Compared to normoxic piglets, pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) was elevated and NO production was reduced in untreated hypoxic piglets. Regardless of treatment strategy, PVR was less in all three treated groups of hypoxic piglets when compared to the untreated hypoxic group. In addition, for all three groups of treated hypoxic piglets, NO production was higher than the untreated group. Improvements in PVR and NO production did not differ between piglets co-treated with folic acid and L-citrulline and those treated solely with either. Thus, the impact on NO production and PVR was not augmented by combining folic acid and L-citrulline treatments. Nonetheless, treatment with folic acid, either singly or when combined with L-citrulline, increases NO production and inhibits PH in chronically hypoxic newborn piglets. Folic acid merits consideration as a therapy for PH in human infants with chronic heart and lung conditions that are associated with chronic hypoxia.

Drinking water salinity is associated with hypertension and hyperdilute urine among Daasanach pastoralists in Northern Kenya.

Water salinity is a growing global environmental health concern. However, little is known about the relation between water salinity and chronic health outcomes in non-coastal, lean populations. Daasanach pastoralists living in northern Kenya traditionally rely on milk, yet are experiencing socioecological changes and have expressed concerns about the saltiness of their drinking water. Therefore, this cross-sectional study conducted water quality analyses to examine how water salinity, along with lifestyle factors like milk intake, was associated with hypertension (blood pressure BP ≥140 mm Hg systolic or ≥90 mm Hg diastolic) and hyperdilute urine (urine specific gravity <1.003 g/mL, indicative of altered kidney function). We collected health biomarkers and survey data from 226 non-pregnant adults (46.9% male) aged 18+ from 134 households in 2019 along with participant observations in 2020. The salinity (total concentration of all dissolved salts) of reported drinking water from hand-dug wells in dry river beds, boreholes, and a pond ranged from 120 to 520 mg/L. Water from Lake Turkana and standpipes, which was only periodically used for consumption when no other drinking sources are available, ranged from 1100 to 2300 mg/L. Multiple logistic regression models with standard errors clustered on households indicate that each additional 100 mg/L of drinking water salinity was associated with 45% (95% CI: 1.09-1.93, P = 0.010) increased odds of hypertension and 33% (95% CI: 0.97-1.83, P = 0.075) increased odds of hyperdilute urine adjusted for confounders. Results were robust to multiple specifications of the models and sensitivity analyses. Daily milk consumption was associated with 61-63% (P < 0.01) lower odds of both outcomes. This considerable protective effect of milk intake may be due to the high potassium, magnesium, and calcium contents or the protective lifestyle considerations of moving with livestock. Our study results demonstrate that drinking water salinity may have critical health implications for blood pressure and kidney function even among lean, active pastoralists.

Aerobic exercise training improves whole muscle and single myofiber size and function in older women.

To comprehensively assess the influence of aerobic training on muscle size and function, we examined seven older women (71 +/- 2 yr) before and after 12 wk of cycle ergometer training. The training program increased (P < 0.05) aerobic capacity by 30 +/- 6%. Quadriceps muscle volume, determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), was 12 +/- 2% greater (P < 0.05) after training and knee extensor power increased 55 +/- 7% (P < 0.05). Muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis to determine size and contractile properties of individual slow (MHC I) and fast (MHC IIa) myofibers, myosin light chain (MLC) composition, and muscle protein concentration. Aerobic training increased (P < 0.05) MHC I fiber size 16 +/- 5%, while MHC IIa fiber size was unchanged. MHC I peak power was elevated 21 +/- 8% (P < 0.05) after training, while MHC IIa peak power was unaltered. Peak force (Po) was unchanged in both fiber types, while normalized force (Po/cross-sectional area) was 10% lower (P < 0.05) for both MHC I and MHC IIa fibers after training. The decrease in normalized force was likely related to a reduction (P < 0.05) in myofibrillar protein concentration after training. In the absence of an increase in Po, the increase in MHC I peak power was mediated through an increased (P < 0.05) maximum contraction velocity (Vo) of MHC I fibers only. The relative proportion of MLC(1s) (Pre: 0.62 +/- 0.01; Post: 0.58 +/- 0.01) was lower (P < 0.05) in MHC I myofibers after training, while no differences were present for MLC(2s) and MLC(3f) isoforms. These data indicate that aerobic exercise training improves muscle function through remodeling the contractile properties at the myofiber level, in addition to pronounced muscle hypertrophy. Progressive aerobic exercise training should be considered a viable exercise modality to combat sarcopenia in the elderly population.

Cerebellar ataxia in patients with mitochondrial DNA disease: a molecular clinicopathological study.

Cerebellar ataxia is a prominent clinical symptom in patients with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) disease. This is often progressive with onset in young adulthood. We performed a detailed neuropathologic investigation of the olivary-cerebellum in 14 genetically and clinically well-defined patients with mtDNA disease. Quantitative neuropathologic investigation showed varying levels of loss of Purkinje cells and neurons of the dentate nucleus and inferior olivary nuclei. Typically, focal Purkinje cell loss was present in patients with the m.3243A>G mutation caused by the presence of microinfarcts, with relative preservation of neuronal cell populations in the olivary and dentate nuclei. In contrast, patients with the m.8344A>G mutation or recessive POLG mutations showed extensive and global neuronal cell loss in all 3 olivary-cerebellum areas examined. Molecular analysis of mutated mtDNA heteroplasmy levels revealed that neuronal cell loss occurred independently of the level of mutated mtDNA present within surviving neurons. High levels of neuronal respiratory chain deficiency, particularly of complex I, were detected in surviving cells; levels of deficiency were greater in regions with extensive cell loss. We found a relationship between respiratory deficiency and neuronal cell density, indicating that neuronal cell death correlates with respiratory deficiency. These findings highlight the vulnerability of the olivary-cerebellum to mtDNA defects.

Molecular adaptations to aerobic exercise training in skeletal muscle of older women.

BACKGROUND: We have recently shown that 12 weeks of progressive aerobic exercise training improves whole-muscle size and function in older women. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate molecular markers that may be associated with muscle hypertrophy after aerobic training in aging skeletal muscle. METHODS: Muscle biopsies were obtained before and after 12 weeks of aerobic exercise training on a cycle ergometer in nine older women (70 ± 2 years) to determine basal levels of messenger RNA and protein content of select myogenic, proteolytic, and mitochondrial factors. RESULTS: The training program increased (p < .05) aerobic capacity 30 ± 9%, whole-muscle cross-sectional area 11 ± 2%, and whole-muscle force production 29 ± 8%. Basal messenger RNA levels of FOXO3A, myostatin, HSP70, and MRF4 were lower (p < .05) after aerobic training. FOXO3A, FOXO3A phosphorylation, and HSP70 protein content were unaltered after training. Mitochondrial protein COX IV was elevated (p < .05) 33 ± 7% after aerobic training, whereas PGC-1α protein content was 20 ± 5% lower (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that reductions in FOXO3A and myostatin messenger RNA are potentially associated with exercise-induced muscle hypertrophy. Additionally, it appears that mitochondrial biogenesis can occur with aerobic training in older women independent of increased PGC-1α protein. Aerobic exercise training alters molecular factors related to the regulation of skeletal muscle, which supports the beneficial role of aerobic training for improving muscle health in older women.