COVID‑ 19 pandemic exacerbated food insecurity in South America countries

Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UABThe COVID-19 pandemic triggered unparalleled political, economic, and social ramifcations, exacerbating global food insecurity (FI). To understand the overall impact of the pandemic and how diferent socio-economic groups were afected, we assessed prevalence and severity of FI in a sample of 18,997 households across seven countries in South America. We employed the Food Insecurity Experience Scale developed by the FAO. Our results showed that pre-pandemic, 4.5% of the sampled population across the entire continent faced Moderate FI, while 0.6% experienced severe FI. During the pandemic, Moderate FI increased to 16.9% (+12.4%), and Severe FI to 2.7% (+2.1%). By country, pre-pandemic households in Venezuela had the highest prevalence of Moderate FI (9.7%), with Peru experiencing the highest Severe FI frequency (1.1%). Peru had the greatest rise in Moderate (+23.9%) and Severe FI (+4.6%) during the pandemic. Low-income households, defned as those earning<2 minimum wages per month, were most susceptible to FI. Uruguayan low-income families exhibited the most signifcant rise (+40.4%) in Moderate FI, while those in Peru experienced an increase of+9.1% in Severe FI. This study measures the profound and far-reaching impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on FI in South America. Our fndings also emphasise the critical importance of implementing efective public policy interventions to improve resilience against future shocks. This would enable policymakers to develop targeted strategies that address the immediate challenges posed by pandemics as well as laying the groundwork for a more resilient and sustainable food security landscape in the region

Risk of Bowel Obstruction in Patients Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for High-risk Colon Cancer

Objective: This study aimed to identify risk criteria available before the point of treatment initiation that can be used to stratify the risk of obstruction in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for high-risk colon cancer. Background: Global implementation of NAC for colon cancer, informed by the FOxTROT trial, may increase the risk of bowel obstruction. Methods: A case-control study, nested within an international randomized controlled trial (FOxTROT; ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00647530). Patients with high-risk operable colon cancer (radiologically staged T3-4 N0-2 M0) that were randomized to NAC and developed large bowel obstruction were identified. First, clinical outcomes were compared between patients receiving NAC in FOxTROT who did and did not develop obstruction. Second, obstructed patients (cases) were age-matched and sex-matched with patients who did not develop obstruction (controls) in a 1:3 ratio using random sampling. Bayesian conditional mixed-effects logistic regression modeling was used to explore clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features associated with obstruction. The absolute risk of obstruction based on the presence or absence of risk criteria was estimated for all patients receiving NAC. Results: Of 1053 patients randomized in FOxTROT, 699 received NAC, of whom 30 (4.3%) developed obstruction. Patients underwent care in European hospitals including 88 UK, 7 Danish, and 3 Swedish centers. There was more open surgery (65.4% vs 38.0%, P=0.01) and a higher pR1 rate in obstructed patients (12.0% vs 3.8%, P=0.004), but otherwise comparable postoperative outcomes. In the case-control–matched Bayesian model, 2 independent risk criteria were identified: (1) obstructing disease on endoscopy and/or being unable to pass through the tumor [adjusted odds ratio: 9.09, 95% credible interval: 2.34–39.66] and stricturing disease on radiology or endoscopy (odds ratio: 7.18, 95% CI: 1.84–32.34). Three risk groups were defined according to the presence or absence of these criteria: 63.4% (443/698) of patients were at very low risk (10%). Conclusions: Safe selection for NAC for colon cancer can be informed by using 2 features that are available before treatment initiation and identifying a small number of patients with a high risk of preoperative obstruction

Efeito da densidade de estocagem no desempenho de rã-touro (Rana catesbeiana) em recria Effects of stocking density on performance of bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) in the post-metamorphic phase

Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar quatro densidades de estocagem na recria de rã-touro em mini-baias. As densidades estudadas foram: D1: 75 rãs/m&sup2; (inicial) e 35 rãs/m&sup2; (final); D2: 105 rãs/m&sup2; (inicial) e 50 rãs/m&sup2; (final); D3: 125 rãs/m&sup2; (inicial) e 60 rãs/m&sup2; (final); e D4: 160 rãs/m&sup2; (inicial) e 75 rãs/m&sup2; (final). No ensaio de desempenho, foram utilizadas 558 rãs com peso médio de 26,80 g durante 56 dias, distribuídas em um delineamento em blocos casualizados, com seis repetições. Houve efeito das densidades sobre o ganho de peso, que foram inversamente proporcionais. Menores densidades resultaram em maior consumo de alimento, de modo que, com o uso das densidades iniciais de 75 e 105 rãs/m&sup2;, obteve-se maior consumo de alimento que o uso de 125 e 160 rãs/m&sup2;. A conversão alimentar aparente também variou; a densidade inicial de 160 rãs/m&sup2; proporcionou a pior média desse parâmetro. Os tratamentos foram avaliados economicamente, segundo os custos com alimentação, a receita bruta e a receita líquida parcial proporcionados. Concluiu-se que a densidade final de 50 rãs/m&sup2; aumentou a receita líquida parcial, proporcionando resultados mais adequados para produção de rãs.<br>This work was carried out with the objective of evaluate four stocking densities of bullfrog (post-metamorphic) in mini-stalls. The densities studied were D1: 75 bullfrogs/m&sup2; (initial) and 35 bullfrogs/m&sup2; (finishing); D2: 105 bullfrogs/m&sup2; (initial) and 50 bullfrogs/m&sup2; (finishing); D3: 125 bullfrogs/m&sup2; (initial) and 60 bullfrogs/m&sup2; (finishing); and D4: 160 bullfrogs/m&sup2; (initial) and 75 bullfrogs/m&sup2; (finishing). The performance trial was carried out with 558 bullfrogs averaging initial weight of 26.80 g, during 56 days, according to a completely randomized blocks design with six replicates. Inversely proportional effects of densities on weight gain were observed. Smaller densities resulted in greater values of feed intake, and the initial densities of 75 and 105 bullfrogs/m&sup2; resulted in higher values of feed intake than 125 and 160 bullfrogs/m&sup2;. The apparent feed conversion also varied , showing the worst average on initial density of 160 bullfrogs/m&sup2;. Economic analysis was performed with the costs with feeding, gross income and partial net income. It was concluded that the final density of 50 bullfrogs/m&sup2; increased the partial net income and was indicated for production of bullfrogs