Food Insecurity and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in U.S. Adolescents

Introduction: Disparities in cardiovascular diseases are one of today’s most important public health challenges. Pathological processes related to modifiable cardiovascular risk factors have shown to begin in childhood and disparities in these risk factors have been reported in adolescence. Food insecurity is significantly associated with cardiovascular risk factors in adults; however, little is known about cardiovascular risk in food insecure adolescents. Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between food insecurity and cardiovascular risk factors in U.S. adolescents aged 12-17 years. Methods: Using cross-sectional data on 1,853 adolescents aged 12-17 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2012, we examined the association between food insecurity and cardiovascular risk factors. Food security status was measured using the validated 18-item Household Food Security Survey Module. Cardiovascular risk was measured based on American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7 factors (LS7; tobacco smoke exposure, diet quality, physical activity, body mass index, blood pressure, total cholesterol, blood glucose levels). Results: Nearly 10.0% of U.S. adolescents were food insecure. A total of 26.1% of adolescents failed to attain ideal scores on more than 5 LS7 components. In bivariate analyses, food secure, in comparison to food insecure adolescents, were more likely to have ideal scores on 5-7 LS7 components (75.1% vs. 63.0%, p = 0.0089). In multivariate models adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, health, and health care access factors, food insecurity was not significantly associated with cardiovascular risk in adolescents. However, food insecure adolescents had significantly lower odds of attaining ideal levels of tobacco smoke exposure ([OR] = 0.54 [95% CI 0.31, 0. 94]) than food secure adolescents. Adolescents living in families with incomes below the Federal Poverty Level (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.59 [95% CI 0.40,0.86]) had significantly lower odds of having ideal LS7 scores and lower odds of attaining ideal scores on tobacco smoke exposure ([OR] = 0.25 [95% CI 0.13, 0.49]) and physical activity ([OR] = 0.60 [95% CI 0.38, 0.95]). Conclusion: Although cardiovascular risk is not more pronounced in food insecure adolescents than their counterparts, adolescents from low SES households may be at particular risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Multifaceted and tailored strategies inclusive of nutrition assistance are needed to facilitate effective cardiovascular risk prevention as these vulnerable populations transition into early adulthood

First reported case of Alcaligenes faecalis isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage in a patient with dengue hemorrhagic fever

Bacterial co-infections have been reported in association with dengue fever (DF) and can exacerbate dengue infections. However, DF with acute respiratory distress syndrome and co-infection with Alcaligenes faecalis (A. faecalis) has not been reported earlier. Most infections caused by A. faecalis are opportunistic. Urinary tract infection, bacterial keratitis, postoperative endophthalmitis, skin and soft tissue infections, bacteremia, meningitis, wound infections, and peritonitis in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis have been described in association with A. faecalis. A. faecalis, a Gram-negative environmental organism rarely cause significant infections. Treatment can be difficult in some cases due to the high level of resistance to commonly used antibiotics. We report a case of fatal bronchopneumonia caused by extensively drug resistance A. faecalis in a patient of dengue hemorrhagic fever

TERI advanced oxidation technology (TADOX®) for treatment and rejuvenation of open drains and surface water bodies: making habitats sustainable

Open drains contain sewage waste and find route to surface water bodies mainly due to the absence of dedicated conveyance of wastewater to centralized wastewater treatment facilities. This poses severe environmental, public health and occupational health hazard and there is an urgent need for onsite treatment of open drains. TADOX® (TERI Advanced Oxidation Technology) from TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute, New Delhi) is an advanced approach treat drains using photocatalysis as an advanced oxidation process. This paper presents a case study of an open drain, which when treated with TADOX® Technology, improved water quality parameters meeting the regulatory norms. The untreated open drain did not meet Class E of the Water Quality Criteria laid down by the regulatory body, and attained Class A Water Quality Criteria after end-to-end treatment within 5 h. TADOX® treatment resulted in the removal of 63.5% chemical oxygen demand, 99% biochemical oxygen demand, 96% phosphate, 61% nitrogen, 3 log reduction in E. coli and 4 log reduction in total coliform values with a doubling in dissolved oxygen levels. Micropollutant load reduction of 93.5% in acetaminophen, 96% in sulfamethoxazole, 96% in ibuprofen and 89% in caffeine was also recorded in the study. HIGHLIGHTS TADOX treatment of open drain bypassed biological treatment and resultant treated water complied with Class A of Designated water reuse criteria defined by CPCB, India.; The overall 5-hour end-to-end treatment resulted in significant removal of primary pollutants like 63.5% COD, 99% BOD, 96% phosphate and 61% TKN.; 3 log reduction in E. coli and 4 log reduction in total coliform values.

Integration of TADOX® technology to improve water reuse efficiency of constructed wetland-treated water

Constructed wetland (CW) is an effective and economical decentralized wastewater treatment (DWWT) method implemented in various developing nations. Such CW-treated water may be good for meeting discharge norms but when it comes to high-end reuse, it requires polishing and integration with advanced oxidation process (AOP)-based treatment. In this pursuit, TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) Advanced Oxidation Technology (TADOX®) may be able to polish such streams and make the CW-treated water reusable. TADOX utilizes UV-TiO2 Photocatalysis (PC) as a secondary treatment followed by nanomaterial recovery. This study aims at evaluating TADOX treatment to polish treated water from a root zone treatment (RZT) plant. Performance evaluation of the treatments is evaluated based on key parameters for treated sewage water such as chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), suspended solids, color, pathogens (total and thermotolerant coliforms), and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as caffeine, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and diclofenac. HIGHLIGHTS Root zone treatment (RZT) technology removed 75% COD, 13% BOD, and 67% phosphates.; TADOX® treatment of RZT-treated water led to BOD, COD, NO3-N, and PO4-P % removal as 94, 50, 66, and 100.; TADOX® was effective to remove micropollutants in the range of 79–88%.

Implications of oxidative stress in chronic kidney disease: a review on current concepts and therapies

Moderate levels of endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important for various cellular activities, but high levels lead to toxicity and are associated with various diseases. Levels of ROS are maintained as a balance between oxidants and antioxidants. Accumulating data suggest that oxidative stress is a major factor in deterioration of renal function. In this review, we highlight the possible mechanism by which oxidative stress can lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD). This review also describes therapies that counter the effect of oxidative stress in CKD patients. Numerous factors such as upregulation of genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation and ROS generation, chronic inflammation, vitamin D deficiency, and a compromised antioxidant defense mechanism system cause progressive detrimental effects on renal function that eventually lead to loss of kidney function. Patients with renal dysfunction are highly susceptible to oxidative stress, as risk factors such as diabetes, renal hypertension, dietary restrictions, hemodialysis, and old age predispose them to increased levels of ROS. Biomolecular adducts (DNA, proteins, and lipids) formed due to reaction with ROS can be used to determine oxidative stress levels. Based on the strong correlation between oxidative stress and CKD, reversal of oxidative stress is being explored as a major therapeutic option. Xanthine oxidase inhibitors, dietary antioxidants, and other agents that scavenge free radicals are gaining interest as treatment modalities in CKD patients

The US Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education improves nutrition-related behaviors

The aim of this study was to measure whether participating in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Education (SNAP-Ed) interventions is associated with changes in meeting recommendations for healthy eating and food resource management behaviours, such as shopping, among low-income children, adolescents, and adults in eight states in the US Southeast. The study used a one-group pre-test post-test design, analysing aggregate data on nutrition and shopping behaviours collected during Federal Fiscal Year 17 from SNAP-Ed direct education in community settings. Twenty-five implementing agencies in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee provided aggregated data on program participants. Because survey questions differed, agencies followed standard recoding guidelines. The number of participants varied depending on the indicator; the maximum number was n 43 303 pre-tests, n 43 256 post-test. Participants were significantly more likely to consume more than one kind of fruit (pooled relative risk (RR), 1⋅10; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1⋅09-1⋅11) and more than one kind of vegetable (pooled RR, 1⋅14; 95% CI, 1⋅12-1⋅15) after the intervention than before. On average, participants consumed 0⋅34 cups more of fruit per day (95% CI, 0⋅31-0⋅37), and 0⋅22 cups more of vegetables per day (95% CI, 0⋅19-0⋅25) after the intervention, compared to before. About 701 policy, systems, and environmental changes for nutrition supports were reported. This study suggests that SNAP-Ed direct education is associated with positive behaviour changes in the US Southeast. It provides a methodology that can inform data aggregation efforts across unique SNAP-Ed programs or other similar nutrition education programs to report on the collective impact