Solomon Islands: Western Province situation analysis

Aquatic agricultural systems (AAS) are places where farming and fishing in freshwater and/orscoastal ecosystems contribute significantly to household income and food security. Globally, theslivelihoods of many poor and vulnerable people are dependent on these systems. In recognitionsof the importance of AAS, the CGIAR Research Program (CRP) is undertaking a new generationsof global agricultural research programs on key issues affecting global food security and ruralsdevelopment. The overall goal of the research program is to improve the well-being of peoplesdependent on these systems. Solomon Islands is one of five priority countries in the AAS program,sled by WorldFish. In Solomon Islands, the AAS program operates in the Malaita Hub (MalaitasProvince) and the Western Hub (Western Province). This program and its scoping activities aressummarized in this report

Healthy aging in elderly cochlear implant recipients: a multinational observational study

Background: Given an increase in the aging population and its impact on healthcare systems, policy makers for provision of health and social services are aiming to keep older adults in good health for longer, in other words towards ‘healthy aging’. Our study objective is to show that rehabilitation with cochlear implant treatment in the elderly with hearing impairment improves the overall health-related quality of life and general well-being that translate into healthy aging. Methods: The multicentre, prospective, repeated measures, single-subject, clinical observational study will accrue 100 elderly, first-time, unilateral CI recipients (≥ 60 years) and analyze changes on specific measurement tools over ca. 20 months from preimplant to postimplant. Evaluations will consist of details collected through case history and interview questionnaires by clinicians, data logging, self-report questionnaires completed by the recipients and a series of commonly used audiometric measures and geriatric assessment tools. The primary indicator of changes in overall quality of life will be the HUI-3. Discussion: The protocol is designed to make use of measurement tools that have already been applied to the hearing-impaired population in order to compare effects of CI rehabilitation in adults immediately before their implantation, (pre-implant) and after gaining 1–1.5 years of experience (post-implant). The broad approach will lead to a greater understanding of how useful hearing impacts the quality of life in elderly individuals, and thus improves potentials for healthy aging. Outcomes will be described and analyzed in detail. Trial registration: This research has been registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/), 7 March 2017 under the n° NCT03072862

Selective estrogen receptor modulators inhibit the effects of insulin-like growth factors in hyperparathyroidism

Background. Primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) predominately affects perimenopausal women, leading to speculations that an estrogen imbalance may be liable. We have previously demonstrated the importance of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis in HPT. Because the antiestrogen tamoxifen has been shown to modulate the IGF axis, we examined the interactions of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) and IGF in HPT. Methods. Estrogen receptors were evaluated by Western immunoligand blotting. Sixteen parathyroid glands from 19 patients were included. After adhesion, the cells were treated with IGF (I or II) ± estrogen ± SERMs (tamoxifen, ICI 182,780) for 96 hours in serum-free media. Proliferation was assessed by measuring tritiated thymidine incorporation. Results. Both primary and secondary HPT express estrogen receptors α and β. Primary and secondary HPT had comparable responses to SERMs, they were analyzed together. Compared with control (100%), IGFs (I and II) induced a significant increase in DNA synthesis. Estradiol at 10−8 and 10−7 mol/L (physiologic range) had no significant effects on IGF (I and II, P > .05). Both tamoxifen and ICI 182,780 inhibited basal DNA synthesis (P < .05) and abolished the effects of both IGF I and II (P < .05). Conclusions. SERMs are capable of reducing basal and IGF-stimulated DNA synthesis. This reduction in proliferation has implications for cancer biology and therapeutic potential for SERMs in HPT