Seguridad alimentaria y calidad de vida de la población en la provincia Cusco / Food security and quality of life the population in the Cusco Province / Segurança alimentar e qualidade de vida da população na província de Cusco

La seguridad alimentaria es cuando toda persona en todo momento tiene acceso económico y físico a suficientes alimentos inocuos y nutritivos para satisfacer sus necesidades alimentarias y preferencias en cuanto alimentos a fin de llevar una vida sana y activa. Por lo que el objetivo evaluar seguridad alimentaria y calidad de vida de la población vulnerable en la provincia Cusco, Perú. Para lo que se aplicó metodología con enfoque cuantitativo, con un diseño no experimental de corte transversal, basada en cuestionarios aplicados y entrevistas a una muestra de estudio (249 pobladores), la misma que previo a su aplicación superó las pruebas de validez y confiabilidad. Se realizó pruebas de frecuencia a los resultados de la opinión de los encuestados y correlación de Sperman's. Se evidencia que en un 65,9% la percepción de la población es que existe una inadecuada seguridad alimentaria, asimismo en un 85,1% que existe una mala calidad de vida, y desde una perspectiva estadística entre las citadas variables se obtuvo una significancia de 0,000 con un Rho de Sperman de 0,442, lo que demuestra la vulnerabilidad que se encuentra la población de Cusco. Concluyendo que entre las dos variables de estudio existe una relación directamente proporcional y de nivel moderado, denotando que en la media que se mejora los aspectos asociados a las dimensiones de la seguridad alimentaria, por consecuencia se tendría una mejora calidad de vida de la población de la provincia de Cusco, lo que evidencia que en la medida que se refuerce los aspectos asociados a la seguridad alimentaria, el bienestar físico y psicológico aspecto relacionado a la salud de dichas personas tendrá la oportunidad de mejorar.

Food security is when everyone at all times has economic and physical access to sufficient safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for a healthy and active life. Therefore, the objective is to evaluate food security and quality of life of the vulnerable population in the province of Cusco, Peru. For which a methodology with a quantitative approach was applied, with a non-experimental cross-sectional design, based on questionnaires applied and interviews to a study sample (249 residents), which, prior to its application, passed the validity and reliability tests. Frequency tests were carried out on the results of the respondents' opinion and Sperman's correlation. It is evident that in 65.9% the perception of the population is that there is inadequate food security, also in 85.1% that there is a poor quality of life, and from a statistical perspective, a significance was obtained between the aforementioned variables of 0.000 with a Sperman's Rho of 0.442, which demonstrates the vulnerability of the population of Cusco. Concluding that between the two study variables there is a directly proportional relationship and of a moderate level, denoting that on average the aspects associated with the dimensions of food security are improved, consequently there would be an improved quality of life for the population of the province of Cusco, which shows that to the extent that the aspects associated with food security are reinforced, the physical and psychological well-being, an aspect related to the health of these people, will have the opportunity to improve

A segurança alimentar é quando todos têm, em todos os momentos, acesso económico e físico a alimentos seguros e nutritivos suficientes para satisfazer as suas necessidades dietéticas e preferências alimentares para levar uma vida saudável e activa. Portanto, o objetivo é avaliar a segurança alimentar e a qualidade de vida da população vulnerável na província de Cusco, Peru. Para o qual foi aplicada uma metodologia de abordagem quantitativa, com desenho transversal não experimental, baseada na aplicação de questionários e entrevistas a uma amostra do estudo (249 residentes), que, antes da sua aplicação, passou em testes de validade e fiabilidade. Foram realizados testes de frequência sobre os resultados das opiniões dos entrevistados e correlação de Spearman. Evidencia-se que em 65,9% a percepção da população é que há segurança alimentar inadequada, também em 85,1% que há má qualidade de vida, e do ponto de vista estatístico obteve-se significância entre as variáveis citadas de 0,000, com um Speman Rho de 0,442, o que demonstra a vulnerabilidade da população de Cusco. Concluindo que entre as duas variáveis do estudo existe uma relação diretamente proporcional e moderada, denotando que em média os aspectos associados às dimensões da segurança alimentar são melhorados, consequentemente haveria uma melhoria na qualidade de vida da população do província de Cusco, o que mostra que à medida que se reforçam os aspectos associados à segurança alimentar, o bem-estar físico e psicológico, aspecto relacionado à saúde dessas pessoas, terá a oportunidade de melhorar

Seguridad alimentaria y calidad de vida de la población en la provincia Cusco

La seguridad alimentaria es "cuando toda persona en todo momento tiene acceso económico y físico a suficientes alimentos inocuos y nutritivos para satisfacer sus necesidades alimentarias y preferencias en cuanto alimentos a fin de llevar una vida sana y activa". Por lo que el objetivo evaluar seguridad alimentaria y calidad de vida de la población vulnerable en la provincia Cusco, Perú. Para lo que se aplicó metodología con enfoque cuantitativo, con un diseño no experimental de corte transversal, basada en cuestionarios aplicados y entrevistas a una muestra de estudio (249 pobladores), la misma que previo a su aplicación superó las pruebas de validez y confiabilidad. Se realizó pruebas de frecuencia a los resultados de la opinión de los encuestados y correlación de Sperman's. Se evidencia que en un 65,9% la percepción de la población es que existe una inadecuada seguridad alimentaria, asimismo en un 85,1% que existe una mala calidad de vida, y desde una perspectiva estadística entre las citadas variables se obtuvo una significancia de 0,000 con un Rho de Sperman de 0,442, lo que demuestra la vulnerabilidad que se encuentra la población de Cusco. Concluyendo que entre las dos variables de estudio existe una relación directamente proporcional y de nivel moderado, denotando que en la media que se mejora los aspectos asociados a las dimensiones de la seguridad alimentaria, por consecuencia se tendría una mejora calidad de vida de la población de la provincia de Cusco, lo que evidencia que en la medida que se refuerce los aspectos asociados a la seguridad alimentaria, el bienestar físico y psicológico aspecto relacionado a la salud de dichas personas tendrá la oportunidad de mejorar.

Food security is "when everyone at all times has economic and physical access to sufficient safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for a healthy and active life." Therefore, the objective is to evaluate food security and quality of life of the vulnerable population in the province of Cusco, Peru. For which a methodology with a quantitative approach was applied, with a non-experimental cross-sectional design, based on questionnaires applied and interviews to a study sample (249 residents), which, prior to its application, passed the validity and reliability tests. Frequency tests were carried out on the results of the respondents' opinion and Sperman's correlation. It is evident that in 65.9% the perception of the population is that there is inadequate food security, also in 85.1% that there is a poor quality of life, and from a statistical perspective, a significance was obtained between the aforementioned variables of 0.000 with a Sperman's Rho of 0.442, which demonstrates the vulnerability of the population of Cusco. Concluding that between the two study variables there is a directly proportional relationship and of a moderate level, denoting that on average the aspects associated with the dimensions of food security are improved, consequently there would be an improved quality of life for the population of the province of Cusco, which shows that to the extent that the aspects associated with food security are reinforced, the physical and psychological well-being, an aspect related to the health of these people, will have the opportunity to improve.

A segurança alimentar é "quando todos têm, em todos os momentos, acesso económico e físico a alimentos seguros e nutritivos suficientes para satisfazer as suas necessidades dietéticas e preferências alimentares para levar uma vida saudável e activa". Portanto, o objetivo é avaliar a segurança alimentar e a qualidade de vida da população vulnerável na província de Cusco, Peru. Para o qual foi aplicada uma metodologia de abordagem quantitativa, com desenho transversal não experimental, baseada na aplicação de questionários e entrevistas a uma amostra do estudo (249 residentes), que, antes da sua aplicação, passou em testes de validade e fiabilidade. Foram realizados testes de frequência sobre os resultados das opiniões dos entrevistados e correlação de Spearman. Evidencia-se que em 65,9% a percepção da população é que há segurança alimentar inadequada, também em 85,1% que há má qualidade de vida, e do ponto de vista estatístico obteve-se significância entre as variáveis citadas de 0,000, com um Speman Rho de 0,442, o que demonstra a vulnerabilidade da população de Cusco. Concluindo que entre as duas variáveis do estudo existe uma relação diretamente proporcional e moderada, denotando que em média os aspectos associados às dimensões da segurança alimentar são melhorados, consequentemente haveria uma melhoria na qualidade de vida da população do província de Cusco, o que mostra que à medida que se reforçam os aspectos associados à segurança alimentar, o bem-estar físico e psicológico, aspecto relacionado à saúde dessas pessoas, terá a oportunidade de melhorar.

Nutritional and techno-functional properties of the brown seaweed Sargassum filipendula.

With the increasing need to promote healthy and sustainable diets, seaweeds emerge as an environmentally friendly food source, offering a promising alternative for food production. The aim of this study was to characterize the brown seaweed Sargassum filipendula from the coast of São Paulo, Brazil, regarding its nutritional and techno-functional properties using two dehydration methods, oven drying and lyophilized. A commercial dried sample was used as a control. Analyses of proximate composition, mineral determination, amino acid determination, antioxidant capacity, pH, color, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermal properties, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and techno-functional properties were performed. Seaweed flours showed significant differences in physicochemical composition, with dietary fiber content of seaweed flours exceeding 70 %. Glutamic and aspartic acids were the most abundant amino acids, with contents of 88.56 and 56.88 mg/g of protein in Sargassum oven drying. Both for antioxidant potential and bioactive compounds, Sargassum lyophilized flours showed the highest levels of compounds. Sargassum lyophilized exhibited lighter color compared to Sargassum oven drying and Sargassum commercial. Emulsion formation, foam formation capacity and stability were higher in Sargassum lyophilized, as well as water and oil absorption. The results suggest that seaweeds can be used to formulate a wide variety of food products, such as sausages, bread, cakes, soups, and sauces.

The Working Environment in Primary Healthcare Outpatient Facilities: Assessment of Physical Factors and Health Professionals' Perceptions of Working Environment Conditions.

The objectives of this study were to assess the adequacy of physical parameters/factors (temperature, relative humidity, noise, and illuminance levels) of the work environment in PHC facilities, to evaluate the association between the adequacy of these measured physical parameters and the physical characteristics of the PHC facilities and their surroundings and to assess the association between health professionals' perceptions about exposure to physical risks in the PHC work environment and the adequacy of physical parameters measured in the same facilities. The study monitored 23 PHC facilities in southern Brazil and interviewed 210 health professionals. Data analysis involved Pearson's chi-square, Fisher's exact test, Spearman's correlation, and multivariate linear regression analysis was used to control for confounding factors. The significance level was set at 5% (p ≤ 0.05). The combination of temperature and relative humidity presented thermal comfort levels outside the adopted criteria for adequacy in consultation (outdoor relative humidity, p = 0.013) and procedure rooms (front door open, p = 0.034). Inadequate sound comfort (noise) levels in the morning shift were found in the vaccination (front door open, p = 0.021) and consultation rooms (movement of people, p = 0.016). In PHC facilities where reception rooms had insufficient lighting, internal curtains were opened less frequently (p = 0.047). The analysis of health professionals' perceptions of physical factors demonstrated that physicians more frequently perceive the physical risk of temperature and humidity (p = 0.044). The higher the number of nurses (p = 0.004) and oral health technicians in the PHC facilities (p = 0.031), the greater the general percentage of adequacy of monitored physical parameters. It was also confirmed that the higher the perception of moderate or severe physical risk among health professionals, the lower the general percentage of the adequacy of the physical parameters of the work environment of the PHC facilities evaluated (rs = -0.450, p = 0.031). This study's evidence contributes to a better understanding of physical conditions and future occupational interventions to ensure the comfort, safety, and well-being of PHC workers.

Association between food insecurity and long COVID in adults from southern Brazil: findings of the PAMPA cohort.

BACKGROUND: Social and economic factors, such as food insecurity, contribute to long coronavirus disease (COVID). During the pandemic, a significant rise in food insecurity was observed, both in Brazil and worldwide. We aimed to investigate the association between food insecurity and long COVID in Brazilian adults. METHODS: Cross-sectional study nested within the Prospective study About Mental and Physical Health in Adults (PAMPA) Cohort. Participants completed an online questionnaire in June 2022. We assessed food insecurity using the Brazilian Scale of Food Insecurity. Long COVID was defined as any post-coronavirus disease 2019 symptoms that persisted for at least 3 months after infection. RESULTS: A total of 956 participants were included (74.0% female, median age 36 (Interquartile Range [IQR] (29-45.7). The prevalence of food insecurity was 29.4%, and 77.8% had long COVID. Food insecurity was associated with an increased probability of long COVID (prevalence ratio [PR]: 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-1.22). Participants in food insecurity situations had a higher likelihood of experiencing neurological (PR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.10-1.28), pulmonary (PR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.17-1.52) and gastrointestinal (PR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.31-1.88) symptoms after infection. CONCLUSIONS: Food insecurity was associated with long COVID. Governments must plan public policies to mitigate the effects of long COVID and food insecurity.

Unlocking the Potential of Insect-Based Proteins: Sustainable Solutions for Global Food Security and Nutrition.

The present review highlights the potential of insect-based proteins to address the growing need for sustainable and secure food systems. The key findings suggest that edible insects offer a viable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional livestock, requiring significantly less land, water, and feed while emitting lower levels of greenhouse gases. Insect farming can also reduce waste and recycle nutrients, supporting circular economy models. Nutritionally, insects provide high-quality protein, essential amino acids, and beneficial fats, making them valuable to human diets. Despite these benefits, this review emphasizes the need for comprehensive regulatory frameworks to ensure food safety, manage potential allergenicity, and mitigate contamination risks from pathogens and environmental toxins. Additionally, developing innovative processing technologies can enhance the palatability and marketability of insect-based products, promoting consumer acceptance. This review concludes that with appropriate regulatory support and technological advancements, insect-based proteins have the potential to significantly contribute to global food security and sustainability efforts.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Food Insecurity among Pregnant Women in an Important City of the Amazon Region: A Study of the Years 2021 and 2022.

INTRODUCTION: Food insecurity (FI) experienced during pregnancy represents a relevant public health problem, as it negatively affects maternal and child health. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of FI among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic and determine associated factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the period from 2021 to 2022, with a representative sample of 423 women resulting from a sample calculation based on the average (2912 births) that occurred in the years 2016 to 2020 in the only maternity hospital in the municipality. After analyzing the medical records, interviews were carried out with the postpartum women using a standardized questionnaire and the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to calculate prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals to measure associations. RESULTS: FI was observed in 57.0% of cases and was associated with age under 20 years (PR = 1.52; 95% CI 1.29; 1.79), receipt of government assistance (PR = 1.31; 95% CI 1.10; 1.55), loss of family employment (PR = 1.40; 95% CI 1.20; 1.64), greater number of residents (PR = 1.17; 95% CI 1.00; 1.37), and prenatal care in a public institution (PR = 1.53; 95% CI 1.04; 2.26). CONCLUSION: There was a high prevalence of FI cases, associated with socioeconomic, demographic, and prenatal care characteristics during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Food Insecurity and Sleep-Related Problems in Adolescents: Findings from the EHDLA Study.

PURPOSE: The current research aimed to investigate the connection between food insecurity and sleep issues among Spanish adolescents aged from 12 to 17 years from the Valle de Ricote (Region of Murcia, Spain). METHODS: Data from the Eating Healthy and Daily Life Activities Study, which included a sample of 836 adolescents (55.3% girls), were analyzed. Food insecurity was evaluated using the Child Food Security Survey Module in Spanish (CFSSM-S), while sleep-related problems were evaluated using the Bedtime problems, Excessive daytime sleepiness, Awakenings during the night, Regularity and duration of sleep, and Sleep-disordered breathing (BEARS) sleep screening tool. Generalized linear models were employed to explore the association between food insecurity and sleep-related issues. RESULTS: Compared with their counterparts with food security, adolescents with food insecurity had greater probabilities of bedtime problems (24.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 16.9% to 33.0%, p = 0.003), excessive daytime sleepiness (36.4%, 95% CI 27.5% to 46.3%, p < 0.001), awakenings during the night (16.7%, 95% CI 10.8% to 25.1%, p = 0.004), and any sleep-related problems (68.1%, 95% CI 57.5% to 77.1%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that food insecurity is related to greater sleep-related problems among adolescents. Implementing strategies to mitigate food insecurity may contribute to improved sleep health among adolescents, highlighting the importance of integrated public health interventions.

Food Insecurity at Tuberculosis Treatment Initiation Is Associated With Clinical Outcomes in Rural Haiti: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis is a leading cause of death worldwide, and food insecurity is known to negatively influence health outcomes through multiple pathways. Few studies have interrogated the relationship between food insecurity and tuberculosis outcomes, particularly independent of nutrition. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study of adults initiating first-line treatment for clinically suspected or microbiologically confirmed drug-sensitive tuberculosis at a rural referral center in Haiti. We administered a baseline questionnaire, collected clinical data, and analyzed laboratory samples. We used logistic regression models to estimate the relationship between household food insecurity (Household Hunger Scale) and treatment failure or death. We accounted for exclusion of patients lost to follow-up using inverse probability of censoring weighting and adjusted for measured confounders and nutritional status using inverse probability of treatment weighting. RESULTS: We enrolled 257 participants (37% female) between May 2020 and March 2023 with a median age (interquartile range) of 35 (25-45) years. Of these, 105 (41%) had no hunger in the household, 104 (40%) had moderate hunger in the household, and 48 (19%) had severe hunger in the household. Eleven participants (4%) died, and 6 (3%) had treatment failure. After adjustment, food insecurity was significantly associated with subsequent treatment failure or death (odds ratio 5.78 [95% confidence interval, 1.20-27.8]; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Household food insecurity at tuberculosis treatment initiation was significantly associated with death or treatment failure after accounting for loss to follow-up, measured confounders, and nutritional status. In addition to the known importance of undernutrition, our findings indicate that food insecurity independently affects tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Haiti.

Enhancing the Efficiency of a Cybersecurity Operations Center Using Biomimetic Algorithms Empowered by Deep Q-Learning.

In the complex and dynamic landscape of cyber threats, organizations require sophisticated strategies for managing Cybersecurity Operations Centers and deploying Security Information and Event Management systems. Our study enhances these strategies by integrating the precision of well-known biomimetic optimization algorithms-namely Particle Swarm Optimization, the Bat Algorithm, the Gray Wolf Optimizer, and the Orca Predator Algorithm-with the adaptability of Deep Q-Learning, a reinforcement learning technique that leverages deep neural networks to teach algorithms optimal actions through trial and error in complex environments. This hybrid methodology targets the efficient allocation and deployment of network intrusion detection sensors while balancing cost-effectiveness with essential network security imperatives. Comprehensive computational tests show that versions enhanced with Deep Q-Learning significantly outperform their native counterparts, especially in complex infrastructures. These results highlight the efficacy of integrating metaheuristics with reinforcement learning to tackle complex optimization challenges, underscoring Deep Q-Learning's potential to boost cybersecurity measures in rapidly evolving threat environments.

Ambiente alimentar em um território de vulnerabilidade social em Piraquara-PR / Food environment in a socially vulnerable territory in Piraquara-PR

RESUMO O ambiente alimentar é um conceito fundamental para compreender como o contexto social influencia os comportamentos alimentares. Ele se refere ao conjunto de fatores físicos, econômicos e sociais que afetam o acesso e a disponibilidade de alimentos em uma determinada região. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o ambiente alimentar em uma região de vulnerabilidade social no município de Piraquara, região metropolitana de Curitiba-PR. O ambiente alimentar foi mapeado a partir de busca ativa, virtual e no território, de todo e qualquer dos 122 estabelecimentos de venda de alimentos nas áreas de abrangência das unidades de saúde. Constatou-se a predominância de estabelecimentos de alimentos não saudáveis (62,2%), pequeno número de estabelecimentos que comercializam alimentos saudáveis (9,8%) e alta concentração de qualquer tipo de estabelecimento no entorno de duas das principais vias da região, deixando grandes áreas com maior dificuldade de acesso. Nesse contexto, destaca-se a importância da criação de equipamentos de Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional no município que promovam a garantia de acesso físico e econômico a uma alimentação adequada e saudável para as famílias, especialmente em áreas de vulnerabilidade socioeconômica.

ABSTRACT The concept of the food environment plays a crucial role in comprehending how the social context influences eating behaviors. It encompasses a combination of physical, economic, and social factors that impact food access and availability within a specific region. This study aimed to assess the food environment in a socially vulnerable area within the municipality of Piraquara, located in the metropolitan region of Curitiba-PR. The food environment was charted through an active virtual search within the territories covered by health units, leading to the identification of 122 establishments. The analysis revealed a prevalence of unhealthy food vendors in the region (62.2%), a limited number of establishments offering healthy food options (9.8%), and a notable concentration of various types of establishments around two main roads, creating significant access challenges in other areas. In this context, the significance of establishing Food and Nutrition Security facilities in the municipality is underscored. Such initiatives aim to ensure both physical and economic access to suitable and nutritious food, particularly for families residing in socioeconomically vulnerable regions.

Effect of Refractance Window™ and oven drying on physicochemical and sensory properties of peach (Prunus persica L.) surplus.

Currently, approximately 34% of fruit is lost and wasted in emerging economies due to inefficient post-harvest processes, technological shortcomings, lesser valorization of surpluses, and byproducts. Peach (Prunus persica L.) is a fruit with a good yearly growth rate but higher postharvest losses in Colombia. One way to take advantage of this type of product is through the application of drying processes that increase its shelf life and its inclusion in the food chain. Refractance Window Drying (RWD) is a fourth generation drying technique implemented by the food industry in the last few decades and has been applied to several dehydrated food products. This study compared the effects of different drying methods on the physical and sensory properties of peaches surplus. Treatments consisted of (i) peaches were sliced (1, 2, and 3 mm thickness) and dried using RWD at 86°C, (ii) peach pulp mixed with maltodextrin (MD) (0.12-0.33 kg of MD/kg of sample) and RWD (RWD-MD), and (iii) conventional oven drying (OD) at 60°C (3 mm thick) dried for 24 h. The study found that the drying method significantly (p < 0.05) affected the texture, color, and general taste of peaches. The results showed that processing treatments combined with different drying conditions affected the physical properties of the peach. RWD in slices reduced water content to 0.05 kg H2O/kg in 40 min, showing fewer effects on color attributes. A surface response analysis on RWD showed good correlations for water activity (R2 = 0.8652-0.9894) and moisture content (R2 = 0.7048-0.9826). A higher diffusion coefficient (1.63 × 10-6 m2 s-1) was observed for RWD in slices with 3 × 10-3 m of thickness; however, for RWD-MD, differences in diffusion coefficients were present for the lowest MD addition (0.12 kg/kg), vitamin C was not detected on the dried slices, and higher concentration of ß-carotene (175.88 µg/100 g) was found on the thinner slices. Principal component analysis showed that RWD in the slices was the most suitable drying process, followed by OD. Sensory analysis showed good acceptability for RWD slices after 30 days of storage.

Spatial Barriers to Transforming toward a Healthy Food System in the Noreste of Mexico.

In the past five decades, global food systems have undergone a notable transition, moving from predominantly rural settings to increasingly urban and industrialized environments, largely driven by processes of globalization and supply chain integration. However, this evolution has not adequately addressed equitable access to nutritious diets and food environments, resulting in adverse health outcomes. This study delves into the spatial and non-spatial barriers that impede the adoption of healthy diets in the Noreste of Mexico, particularly focusing on the challenges associated with accessing and cultivating plant-based foods. Through an examination of suitable areas for urban agriculture and an exploration of the socio-cultural factors influencing the adoption of plant-based diets, the research focuses on interventions aimed at promoting healthier and more sustainable eating practices in Monterrey. The findings of the study reveal significant disparities in food access across the Monterrey metropolitan area, with central urban zones exhibiting superior access to fresh foods compared to suburban and peripheral regions. This inequality disproportionately affects marginalized areas characterized by higher poverty rates, exacerbating issues of food insecurity. Nevertheless, traditional dietary practices could offer promising avenues for creating culturally significant and healthier dietary transitions, even amidst the ongoing process of urbanization.

How to complement traditional instruments to measure the economic dimension of food security in older people? An application for regions of Argentina.

Introduction: One of the dimensions of food security has to do with economic access to food. Aim: Propose a methodology that allows evaluating economic access to food in Argentina for the elderly population. Methods: Dietary guides for the Argentine population are used. Meanwhile, the food consumption patterns observed in the elderly population in Argentina are considered from a household expenditure survey, from which implicit food prices can also be obtained. Results: Six dietary plans corresponding to different regions of the country are designed and evaluated and it is found that they would be affordable only in two of the six regions analyzed. Conclusion: in the Metropolitan, Pampas, Cuyo, and Northeast regions the cost of the ideal basket is higher than food spending, fundamentally in the Northeast region where food spending should increase by 25%.

Total environment sentinels: Dragonflies as ambivalent/amphibiotic bioindicators of damage to soil and freshwater.

Discerning the impact of anthropogenic impacts requires the implementation of bioindicators that quantify the susceptibilities and vulnerabilities of natural terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems to perturbation and transformation. Although legal regulations in Brazil recognize the value of bioindicators in monitoring water quality, the depreciation of soil conditions has yet to receive adequate attention. Thus, our study aimed to evaluate the potential of odonates (dragonflies and damselflies) as amphibiotic bioindicators to reflect the correlation between the degradation of aquatic and terrestrial habitats in pasture-dominated landscapes. We assessed the relationship between the biotic indices of Odonata and the conservation status of preserved riparian landscapes adjacent to anthropogenically altered pastures in 40 streams in the Brazilian savannah. Our results support the hypothesis that Odonata species composition may be a surrogate indicator for soil and water integrity, making them promising sentinels for detecting environmental degradation and guiding conservation strategies in human-altered landscapes. Importantly, while the Zygoptera/Anisoptera species ratio is a useful bioindicator tool in Brazilian forest, it is less effective in the open savannah here, and so an alternative index is required. Importantly, while the Zygoptera/Anisoptera species ratio is a useful bioindicator tool in Brazilian forest, it is less effective in the open savannah here, and so an alternative index is required. On the other hand, our results showed the Dragonfly Biotic Index to be a suitable tool for assessing freshwater habitats in Brazilian savannah. We also identified certain bioindicator species at both ends of the environment intactness spectrum.

Estrogenic compounds in drinking water: A systematic review and risk analysis.

Estrogenic compounds are the endocrine disruptors that receive major attention because of their ability to imitate the natural female hormone, 17ß-estradiol and cause adverse effects on the reproductive system of animals. The presence of estrogenic compounds in drinking water is a warning to assess the risks to which human beings are exposed. The present work has the objectives of carrying out a systematic review of studies that investigated estrogenic compounds in drinking water around the world and estimate the human health and estrogenic activity risks, based on the concentrations of each compound reported. The systematic review returned 505 scientific papers from the Web of Science®, SCOPUS® and PubMED® databases and after careful analysis, 45 papers were accepted. Sixteen estrogenic compounds were identified in drinking water, from the classes of hormones, pharmaceutical drugs and personal care products, plasticizers, corrosion inhibitors, pesticides and surfactants. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was the compound found at the highest concentration, reaching a value of 1.43 mg/L. Non-carcinogenic human health risk was classified as high for 17α-ethynilestradiol and DEHP, medium for dibutyl phthalate, and low for bisphenol A. The estrogenic activity risks were negligible for all the compounds, except DEHP, with a low risk. None of the estrogenic compounds presented an unacceptable carcinogenic risk, due to estrogenic activity. However, the risk assessment did not evaluate the interactions between compounds, that occurs in drinking water and can increase the risks and adverse effects to human health. Nonetheless, this study demonstrates the need for improvement of drinking water treatment plants, with more efficient technologies for micropollutant removal.

Arsenic, Cadmium, and Lead Levels in School Meals and Their Risk Assessment in Municipalities in Bahia, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: School meals represent a significant supply of nutrients for children in Brazil, especially those in conditions of social vulnerability. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in meals served in public elementary schools in four municipalities in the state of Bahia, Brazil, and assess the risk posed to children's health. METHODS: Ninety-six samples were collected from 16 schools, freeze-dried, and subjected to microwave-assisted digestion. The As, Cd, and Pb levels were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The risk assessment was based on calculating each element's hazard quotient (HQ). RESULTS: None of the samples reached or exceeded the tolerable levels for the elements analyzed. Pb was the metal that obtained the most significant result, reaching maximum levels of 39-157 µg·kg-1. CONCLUSIONS: No element exceeded the PTWI proposed by JECFA; thus, the toxic metal content in school meals poses a negligible risk to children's health.

Longitudinal study of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on diet and physical activity among Latinos of Mexican ancestry.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic caused societal disruption in the United States and most of the world, affecting many aspects of life, including healthcare and health-related behaviors such as diet, food security, and physical activity. Communities with economic and health disparities may have been particularly affected. This study was undertaken to determine how conditions in the early pandemic (January, 2021-February, 2022) affected Latino patients of Mexican Ancestry at high risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus who participated in El Banco por Salud biobank project in Tucson, Arizona. METHODS: Baseline, prepandemic measurements were available in 17, 21, and 60 patients with normal hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes, respectively. RESULTS: People with healthy HbA1c were significantly younger, less obese, and had higher HDL cholesterol. HbA1c was unaffected by the pandemic in any group. Triglycerides, total and HDL cholesterol levels fell in all groups during the pandemic. Physical activity levels in all groups were remarkably low, with most reporting no engagement in any voluntary physical activity. Engagement in physical activity or its enjoyment was lower in patients with diabetes and prediabetes than in younger, less obese patients. Major diet differences were between men and women and were present before the pandemic. Women consumed significantly more vegetables, fruit, and salad than men. The only pandemic-related change in diet was a drop in egg consumption, possibly explaining the fall in total cholesterol. CONCLUSION: Societal disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic had minimal effects on adverse health-related behaviors, cardiometabolic risk, or changes in glycemic control in a Latino community with diabetes and healthcare disparities in the Southwest US.

Persistent Food Insecurity and Material Hardships: A Latent Class Analysis of Experiences among Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants in Urban Colombia.

The causes and conditions of displacement often increase the vulnerability of migrant and refugee populations to food insecurity, alongside other material hardships. We aimed to examine the multidimensional aspects and patterns of food insecurity and other material hardships in a cross-sectional sample of 6221 Venezuelan refugees and migrants in urban Colombia using a latent class analysis. Using multinomial and logistic regression models, we investigated the demographic and migratory experiences associated with identified classes and how class membership is associated with multiple health outcomes among Venezuelan refugees and migrants, respectively. Approximately two thirds of the sample was comprised cisgender women, and the participants had a median age of 32 years (IQR: 26-41). Four heterogeneous classes of food insecurity and material hardships emerged: Class 1-low food insecurity and material hardship; Class 2-high food insecurity and material hardship; Class 3-high income hardship with insufficient food intake; and Class 4-income hardship with food affordability challenges. Class 2 reflected the most severe food insecurity and material hardships and had the highest class membership; Venezuelans with an irregular migration status were almost 1.5 times more likely to belong to this class. Food insecurity and material hardship class membership was independently associated with self-rated health, mental health symptoms, and recent violence victimization and marginally associated with infectious disease outcomes (laboratory-confirmed HIV and/or syphilis infection). Social safety nets, social protection, and other interventions that reduce and prevent material hardships and food insecurity among refugees and migrants, alongside the host community, may improve public health, support development, and reduce healthcare costs. In the long term, regularization and social policies for migrants aimed at enhancing refugees' and migrants' social and economic inclusion may contribute to improving food security in this population.

Social vulnerability and cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Social vulnerability can influence in the development of cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents (CRF). For this reason, the objective of our study was to evaluate the presence of CRF in adolescents, according to social vulnerability. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with 517 adolescents of both sexes, from 10 to 19 years of age, classified into 2 groups by social vulnerability, according to socioeconomic characteristics collected by means of questionnaires, where adolescents who did not have access to drinking water, sewage network, and adequate per capita income were classified as vulnerable. Anthropometric, biochemical, and blood pressure data were evaluated. Level of physical activity was assessed by an adapted questionnaire, and food intake was assessed by a 3-day food record. Independent T, Mann-Whitney, and χ2 tests were used, according to the scale of measurement of the variables, on the statistical program SPSS, version 25, at a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: Adolescents had median age of 14 (11 to 15) years; 58.4% were female; 32.4% were overweight, and 52.4% were physically inactive in leisure. Mean consumption of ultra-processed food was observed to account for 45.0% of calorie intake. Adolescents classified as vulnerable had lower weight, body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, and neck circumference when compared to non-vulnerable adolescents. Both groups had cholesterol concentrations above the normal level. Non-vulnerable adolescents had higher triglyceride concentrations, higher alcohol consumption, and lower fiber intake compared to vulnerable adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with social vulnerability are less likely to have cardiovascular risk factors.