Seasonal Variations in Energy Balance in Rural Indian Women

There have been relatively few studies performed in Third World countries which have examined the seasonal variation in food intake and the physiological adaptations made by those subjected to them; and gaps still remain in our knowledge of the energy and nutrient needs for these populations. Most of the studies that have been carried out involve the male population, or, if the female population is included, then more often than not the researchers examined only the effects of restricted energy intake on pregnancy and lactation. Hopefully, therefore, this study will give some insight into the situation for non-pregnant, non-lactating, hard-working women in southern India. The investigation was carried out in Edulabad, a village in the state of Andhra Pradesh, South India. A group of around 100 low-income female agricultural labourers were studied throughout two harvest and two lean seasons for changes in body composition by measuring their body weight, 5 skinfold thicknesses and 4 limb circumferences at 6 weekly intervals. A smaller group of 30 middle income housewives living in the same village were also measured at the same time as the working women, for comparison. These measurements were carried out in 1985 and repeated in 1986. Also in 1986, the variation of energy intake of 30 working women was measured in the harvert season, and the lean season. This was carried out using the individual weighted inventory method over a three day period, and the average of the three days intake was taken to represent the woman's daily intake for that season. The intake of 10 middle income housewives was also measured by the same method, for comparison. Using indirect calorimetry (Douglas Bag method) the basal metabolic rates of the same group of 30 working women were determined, again in the harvest and lean seasons. On the same days they performed a 3 level step test of increasing work intensity, to determine their aerobic capacity. Finally, the working women were followed for 3 days by a local observer who recorded their activities minute by minute. This was carried out twice, at the same time as the food intake measurements. The women's activities were divided into ten major categories: lying in bed; sitting activities; standing; standing activities; persona lneeds; housework; walking; manual work; field work. In summary the results showed that the working women in this study tended to lose weight after the harvest season when there was restricted food availability and when what was available was more expensive to buy ie they lost 0.5 kg - from 40.0 kg to 39.5 kg, and 0.4 kg - from 39.7 kg to 39.3 kg in 1985 and 1986 respectively. These working women fell below the FAO/WHO/UNU 1985 recommendations for desirable weight for height and body mass index. There was a small fall in total skinfold thicknesses from the harvest to the lean season, 1985. Similarly in 1986 where there was a bigger reduction in total skinfold thicknesses, from 43.3 mm to 40.8 mm in the harvest and lean season respectively. This was reflected in a significant drop in percentage body fat in 1986, from 21.4 to 20.1 per cent. These values obviously represent a population with very little body fat. Limb circumferences were reduced significantly in 1985 in the buttocks thigh and calf measurements, and also tended to decrease in 1986, but failed to reach significance. There were no significant differences between the sets of measurement on the middle income 'control' women between the seasons. This absence of difference may indicate that a greater reliability can be placed on the data for the working women which do exhibit seasonal changes. The middle income women were found to be 10 kg heavier than the working women, with a higher percentage body fat - around 30%. These women did fall into the FAO/WHO/UNU desirable ranges for weight for height, and BMI. There was found to be a significant difference in energy intake in the working women between seasons - 2030 Kcal/day in the harvest season and 1890 Kcal/day in the lean season. Therefore a situation seems to exist where food availability is decreased as an effect of the seasons. The middle income women had an intake much less that the working women, of 1760 Kcal/day, which would be expected since they were not involved in any manual labour. Comparing these results with the relative energy requirements of women of similar age and weight as given by FAO/WHO/UNU 1985, the middle income women fall into the low end of the range in level of activity, whereas the working women are classified as involved in "very heavy" activity. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.)

Factors driving inequality in prostate cancer survival: a population based study

As cancer control strategies have become more successful, issues around survival have become increasingly important to researchers and policy makers. The aim of this study was to examine the role of a range of clinical and socio-demographic variables in explaining variations in survival after a prostate cancer diagnosis, paying particular attention to the role of healthcare provider(s) i.e. private versus public status. Data were extracted from the National Cancer Registry Ireland, for patients diagnosed with prostate cancer from 1998-2009 (N = 26,183). A series of multivariate Cox and logistic regression models were used to examine the role of healthcare provider and socio-economic status (area-based deprivation) on survival, controlling for age, stage, Gleason grade, marital status and region of residence. Survival was based on all-cause mortality. Older individuals who were treated in a private care setting were more likely to have survived than those who had not, when other factors were controlled for. Differences were evident with respect to marital status, region of residence, clinical stage and Gleason grade. The effect of socio-economic status was modified by healthcare provider, such that risk of death was higher in those men of lower socio-economic status treated by public, but not private providers in the Cox models. The logistic models revealed a socio-economic gradient in risk of death overall; the gradient was larger for those treated by public providers compared to those treated by private providers when controlling for a range of other confounding factors. The role of healthcare provider and socio-economic status in survival of men with prostate cancer may give rise to concerns that warrant further investigation

Evaluation of an initiative providing omega-3 rich snacks to preschool children in a deprived area of Edinburgh

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Undesirable Neighbours: Eucalyptus and Protected Areas

Eucalyptus is the common name of a set of exotic species present in the Brazilian territory. They have a strong invasive potential which is detrimental to the preservation of native floral formations, particularly in protected areas. This research seeks to (i) understand the stage of eucalyptus invasion in the Brasilia National Park; (ii) identify the main vectors of the invasive populations and (iii) verify the possible role of the adjoining Brasília National Forest in the invasion and (iv) consider possible conflicts between the roles of these two different categories of protected areas. A set of phytosociological sample areas were defined inside the park to pinpoint different eucalyptus populations. Findings indicate that eucalyptus populations inside the park behave invasively, having advanced 186.30 meters from their point of origin over the span of 45 years. Among the possible contamination vectors are a neighbouring nursery run by the local government and eucalyptus plantations in the adjoining Brasília National Forest. Results indicate the need for management actions to avoid continual seed dispersal by examined populations. They also indicate that the distinct conservation goals of national forests and national parks must be considered, especially when they are neighbours

Comparison of the Effects of High versus Low-Polyphenol Dark Chocolate on Body Weight and Biochemical Markers: A Randomized Trial

Background: Dark chocolate (DC) has amongst the highest content of polyphenols in foods, but the chocolate processing methods may greatly reduce this amount. Few studies addressed the possible detrimental effects of low polyphenol DC on body weight, glucose metabolism and lipid levels, and the potential role of cocoa flavanols in body weight control. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of DC rich and DC low in polyphenols on BMI, fasting blood glucose, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and lipid levels in adults. Methods: Sixty-one participants took part in a randomized parallel trial. Volunteers randomly received 20g daily of either PRDC (polyphenol-rich DC) or of low polyphenol DC (LPDC) for four weeks. Anthropometric measures and blood samples were collected at baseline and after 4 weeks. Results: A significant net increase in BMI (0.17 ± 0.32 kg/m2, p = 0.007), fasting blood glucose (0.44 ± 1.08 mmol/l, p = 0.041) and triglycerides levels (0.13 ± 0.23 mmol/l, p = 0.008) was observed in the low polyphenol DC group following the 4 weeks intervention, while the levels of these parameters did not significantly change in the polyphenol-rich DC group. There was no significant change in hs-CRP levels in both groups. Conclusions: Results show that the intake of PRDC seems to be more metabolically healthy than LPDC intake, and this highlights the potential role of polyphenols in counteracting the negative effects of fat and energy intake in chocolate. The outcomes raise concerns about the polyphenol content and quality of DC products in the market. Further studies are needed to fully investigate the health benefits of dark chocolate intake, compare the effects of different types of chocolate and establish the necessary guidelines of the type and content of polyphenols in the chocolate preparations to ensure their favourable effect on health

Acute sleep deprivation induces a local brain transfer information increase in the frontal cortex in a widespread decrease context

Sleep deprivation (SD) has adverse effects on mental and physical health, affecting the cognitive abilities and emotional states. Specifically, cognitive functions and alertness are known to decrease after SD. The aim of this work was to identify the directional information transfer after SD on scalp EEG signals using transfer entropy (TE). Using a robust methodology based on EEG recordings of 18 volunteers deprived from sleep for 36 h, TE and spectral analysis were performed to characterize EEG data acquired every 2 h. Correlation between connectivity measures and subjective somnolence was assessed. In general, TE showed medium-and long-range significant decreases originated at the occipital areas and directed towards different regions, which could be interpreted as the transfer of predictive information from parieto-occipital activity to the rest of the head. Simultaneously, short-range increases were obtained for the frontal areas, following a consistent and robust time course with significant maps after 20 h of sleep deprivation. Changes during sleep deprivation in brain network were measured effectively by TE, which showed increased local connectivity and diminished global integration. TE is an objective measure that could be used as a potential measure of sleep pressure and somnolence with the additional property of directed relationships.Postprint (published version

Two Years Later: Journals Are Not Yet Enforcing the ARRIVE Guidelines on Reporting Standards for Pre-Clinical Animal Studies

There is growing concern that poor experimental design and lack of transparent reporting contribute to the frequent failure of pre-clinical animal studies to translate into treatments for human disease. In 2010, the Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) guidelines were introduced to help improve reporting standards. They were published in PLOS Biology and endorsed by funding agencies and publishers and their journals, including PLOS, Nature research journals, and other top-tier journals. Yet our analysis of papers published in PLOS and Nature journals indicates that there has been very little improvement in reporting standards since then. This suggests that authors, referees, and editors generally are ignoring guidelines, and the editorial endorsement is yet to be effectively implemented

Effect of Pomegranate Extract Consumption on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors, Stress Hormones, and Quality of Life in Human Volunteers: An Exploratory Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background: Pomegranate extract (PE) provides a rich and varied source of biophenols, which can act as powerful antioxidants. The most abundant being ellagitannins, anthocyanins, and ellagic and gallic acid derivatives.. Evidence suggests that pomegranate juice consumption may alleviate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. This exploratory study investigates the effect of PE consumption on blood pressure (BP), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), stress hormone levels (cortisol/cortisone) and quality of life in healthy human volunteers. Methods: Seven males and 22 females(n = 29) participated in a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled exploratory study (BMI: 25.05 3.91 kg/m_, age: 34.5 13.7 years). All participants consumed either one PE (Pomanox, Pomegreat) or a placebo capsule daily, after a meal, for 4 weeks. Dietary history and habits and the health related Quality of Life questionnaire (Rand 36) were recorded pre- and post-intervention. BP, salivary cortisol and cortisone levels (am, noon, and pm) were assessed by ELISAs, and fasting blood was obtained at baseline and after 4 weeks to compare glucose, insulin and insulin resistance parameters. Results: All participants randomised in the study completed the intervention. Systolic BP was significantly reduced following PE from 120.3 13.3 to 115.6 13.1 mmHg (P = 0.012). There was a reduction in the HOMA-IR levels from2.22 2.62 to 1.61 1.88 (P = 0.045), and glucose, insulin and uric acid all decreased from baseline. No significant changes were recorded in volunteers taking the placebo. PE consumption caused a significant drop of salivary cortisol levels (am; 39.5 19.6%, p < 0.001 and noon; 43.1 32.3%, p = 0.016). The salivary cortisol/cortisone ratio was also significantly reduced (am from 1.11 0.51 to 0.55 0.26, p < 0.001, noon 1.57 0.85 to 0.75 0.72, p < 0.001 and pm; 1.22 0.90 to 0.74 0.59, p = 0.011). Physical (p = 0.018) and social functioning (p = 0.021), pain (p = 0.003), general health (p = 0.008) and overall Quality of Life score (p = 0.007) were significantly improved in those taking the PE capsules. The intervention was delivered successfully with no withdrawals. Conclusions: These results suggest that PE intake rich in biophenols may ameliorate cardiovascular risk factors, reduce stress levels and improve perceived health related quality of life. The reduction in salivary cortisol levels may prove beneficial for people suffering from chronic stress. This exploratory study provides useful information required to conduct a definitive trial.sch_die2pub4144pub

Cost-effectiveness of financial incentives to promote adherence to depot antipsychotic medication: economic evaluation of a cluster-randomised controlled trial

Background: Offering a modest financial incentive to people with psychosis can promote adherence to depot antipsychotic medication, but the cost-effectiveness of this approach has not been examined. Methods: Economic evaluation within a pragmatic cluster-randomised controlled trial. 141 patients under the care of 73 teams (clusters) were randomised to intervention or control; 138 patients with diagnoses of schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder or bipolar disorder participated. Intervention participants received £15 per depot injection over 12 months, additional to usual acute, mental and community primary health services. The control group received usual health services. Main outcome measures: incremental cost per 20% increase in adherence to depot antipsychotic medication; incremental cost of ‘good’ adherence (defined as taking at least 95% of the prescribed number of depot medications over the intervention period). Findings: Economic and outcome data for baseline and 12-month follow-up were available for 117 participants. The adjusted difference in adherence between groups was 12.2% (73.4% control vs. 85.6% intervention); the adjusted costs difference was £598 (95% CI -£4 533, £5 730). The extra cost per patient to increase adherence to depot medications by 20% was £982 (95% CI -£8 020, £14 000). The extra cost per patient of achieving 'good' adherence was £2 950 (CI -£19 400, £27 800). Probability of cost-effectiveness exceeded 97.5%at willingness-to-pay values of £14 000 for a 20% increase in adherence and £27 800 for good adherence. Interpretation: Offering a modest financial incentive to people with psychosis is cost-effective in promoting adherence to depot antipsychotic medication. Direct healthcare costs (including costs of the financial incentive) are unlikely to be increased by this intervention. Trial Registration: ISRCTN.com 7776928