Solitary practices or social connections? : a comparative study of fathering and health experiences among white and African-Caribbean working class men

This study addresses the following research question: what are the implications of African- Caribbean and White working class men's experiences within social connections (within families, friendships, communities and workplaces), for fathering and health experiences? The purposes of this study were to undertake a primary piece of intensive qualitative research, and also to analyse, critically, the study's findings, in order to identify implications for theory, policy, practice and research. This investigation was critical, interpretative and exploratory, informed by the principles of phenomenology and ethnography. Six African-Caribbean and seven White working class men were recruited, using purposive sampling, for two semi-structured individual interviews. This enabled the exploration of the interactive effects and processes of structure and agency, in relation to social class, gender, and ethnicity. The study did not find major differences between the experiences of these two groups of men, although the assets and constraints related to African-Caribbean men's experiences of ethnicity and racism within social connections were evident. Study findings, for both groups of men, indicated that social connectedness within families, communities and workplaces was highly valued, but social connections, material and structural factors also influenced the health of the men interviewed. Furthermore, findings indicated that men's experiences of social connectedness have limitations. Specifically, men's limited insights into the links between social connectedness and health, men's perceived limitations with their communication skills, their solitary methods of dealing with perceived vulnerability, but also the uncertainty associated with their identities as men were significant findings. Indeed, men's experiences of both solitary discourses and practices and social connectedness, regarding fathering and health, were associated with discourses about masculinities. Implications for existing theory, for example Connell's (1995) work regarding masculinities, and Putnam's (1995) work regarding `social capital', are identified. In addition, implications for research, policy and practice are examined, with specific reference to the opportunities for mental health promotion with working class men who are fathers

Efeito da aplicação de produtos enológicos na eliminação de Aflatoxinas em vinho branco

As aflatoxinas, quimicamente definidas como difuranocumarinas, são metabolitos secundários produzidos principalmente pelas espécies Aspergillus flavus e Aspergillus parasiticus. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a ação de diferentes tipos de produtos enológicos na remoção de aflatoxinas (B1 e B2) presentes no vinho. A eficácia desses produtos na remoção das referidas micotoxinas foi avaliada utilizando vinho artificialmente contaminado com AFB1 e AFB2. O produto enológico que mostrou ser mais eficaz na remoção destas micotoxinas foi a bentonite, com percentagem de remoção de 100%. O caseinato de potássio também se mostrou eficaz, com percentagem de remoção na ordem dos 70 a 80%. Adicionalmente também se avaliou o impacto destes produtos enológicos sobre as características físico-químicas dos vinhos. Os resultados obtidos podem fornecer informações úteis para o sector vitivinícola, na seleção do produto enológico mais apropriado na remoção das aflatoxinas, reduzindo a toxicidade e melhorando simultaneamente a qualidade e segurança alimentar do vinho

Effect of the application of oenological products on fumonisin B2 (FB2) reduction/removal in contaminated red and white wines

ICFC 2017 - International Conference on Food Contaminants (Book of Abstracts)Fumonisins are mycotoxins produced by species of Fusarium, mainly F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum. Fumonisins have hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects in various animals and are also associated to human esophageal cancer [1] thus being classified by the IARC in Group 2 [2]. Chemically, fumonisins are characterized by a 19- or 20-carbon aminopolyhydroxyalkyl chain that is diesterified with propane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid groups [3]. Sharing a basic structure, several related groups of fumonisins have been isolated and identified (A, B, C and P). Fumonisins B (FBs) are the major forms found in most food products. Recently they were detected in grapes, musts and wines around the world. It was established an association between Aspergillus niger and the presence of FB2 in grape must and wine. WHO has recommended a maximum tolerable daily intake of 2 mg/kg of body weight to FB1, FB2 and FB3, alone or in combination [4], therefore it is important to prevent and control its occurrence, as well other mycotoxins, in wines [5]. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the ability of different oenological products on FB2 removal of white and red wines. For this purpose, ten commercial oenological fining agents (mineral, synthetic and organic - proteins of animal and vegetable origin) were studied to remove FB2 in white and red wines artificially contaminated with FB2. In addition to the FB2 removal, the effect of these products on wine physicochemical characteristics, namely, flavonoids, non-flavonoids and total phenolic compounds were evaluated. In red wine all products showed low reduction on FB2 removal, being the highest value (30%) achieved by calcium bentonite. The results obtained by the action of these products may be considered as a pioneer approach on wine FB2 reduction/removal, with relevance for wine industry, in order to select the best fining agent to reduce toxicity and consequently to improve wine quality and safety.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030