Sex-disaggregated data matters: tracking the impact of COVID-19 on the health of women and men

Sex and gender matter to health outcomes, but despite repeated commitments to sex-disaggregate data in health policies and programmes, a persistent and substantial absence of such data remains especially in lower-income countries. This represents a missed opportunity for monitoring and identifying gender-responsive, evidence-informed solutions to address a key driver of the pandemic. In this paper we review the availability of national sex-disaggregated surveillance data on COVID-19 and examine trends on the testing-to-outcome pathway. We further analyse the availability of data according to the economic status of the country and investigate the determinants of sex differences, including the national gender inequality status (according to a global index) in each country. Results are drawn from 18 months of global data collection from over 200 countries. We find differences in COVID-19 prevention behaviours and illness outcomes by sex, with lower uptake of vaccination and testing plus an elevated risk of severe disease and death among men. Supporting and maintaining the collection, collation, interpretation and presentation of sex-disaggregated data requires commitment and resources at subnational, national and global levels, but provides an opportunity for identifying and taking gender-responsive action on health inequities. As a first step the global health community should recognise, value and support the importance of sex-disaggregated data for identifying and tackling an inequitable pandemic

Composite foams made from biodegradable polymers for food packaging applications

Polymeric foams are cell structures (porous microstructures) that have been frequently made from synthetic polymers for use in the development of food packaging. Due to the problems concerning the environmental impact caused by polymers from the petrochemical industry, the foams have been more recently studied from biodegradable polymers. However, the polymer materials obtained are usually susceptible to moisture, thus conditioning the collapse of the porous structure of the material. As an alternative, the composite foams have been investigated from nanofillers such as clays, cellulose, nanoparticles, among others. This chapter aims to analyze the recent advances in the studies of composite foams.Fil: Araque Moreno, Luis Miguel. Federal University Of Piauí; BrasilFil: Alvarez, Vera Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; ArgentinaFil: Gutiérrez Carmona, Tomy José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; Argentin

Like Mother(-in-Law) Like Daughter? Influence of the Older Generation’s Fertility Behaviours on Women’s Desired Family Size in Bihar, India

This paper investigates the associations between preferred family size of women in rural Bihar, India and the fertility behaviours of their mother and mother-in-law. Scheduled interviews of 440 pairs of married women aged 16–34 years and their mothers-in-law were conducted in 2011. Preferred family size is first measured by Coombs scale, allowing us to capture latent desired number of children and then categorized into three categories (low, medium and high). Women’s preferred family size is estimated using ordered logistic regression. We find that the family size preferences are not associated with mother’s fertility but with mother’s education. Mother-in-law’s desired number of grandchildren is positively associated with women’s preferred family size. However, when the woman has higher education than her mother-in-law, her preferred family size gets smaller, suggesting that education provides women with greater autonomy in their decision-making on childbearing

Inhibitors of trypanosoma cruzi Sir2 related protein 1 as potential drugs against Chagas disease.

Chagas disease remains one of the most neglected diseases in the world despite being the most important parasitic disease in Latin America. The characteristic chronic manifestation of chagasic cardiomyopathy is the region's leading cause of heart-related illness, causing significant mortality and morbidity. Due to the limited available therapeutic options, new drugs are urgently needed to control the disease. Sirtuins, also called Silent information regulator 2 (Sir2) proteins have long been suggested as interesting targets to treat different diseases, including parasitic infections. Recent studies on Trypanosoma cruzi sirtuins have hinted at the possibility to exploit these enzymes as a possible drug targets. In the present work, the T. cruzi Sir2 related protein 1 (TcSir2rp1) is genetically validated as a drug target and biochemically characterized for its NAD+-dependent deacetylase activity and its inhibition by the classic sirtuin inhibitor nicotinamide, as well as by bisnaphthalimidopropyl (BNIP) derivatives, a class of parasite sirtuin inhibitors. BNIPs ability to inhibit TcSir2rp1, and anti-parasitic activity against T. cruzi amastigotes in vitro were investigated. The compound BNIP Spermidine (BNIPSpd) (9), was found to be the most potent inhibitor of TcSir2rp1. Moreover, this compound showed altered trypanocidal activity against TcSir2rp1 overexpressing epimastigotes and anti-parasitic activity similar to the reference drug benznidazole against the medically important amastigotes, while having the highest selectivity index amongst the compounds tested. Unfortunately, BNIPSpd failed to treat a mouse model of Chagas disease, possibly due to its pharmacokinetic profile. Medicinal chemistry modifications of the compound, as well as alternative formulations may improve activity and pharmacokinetics in the future. Additionally, an initial TcSIR2rp1 model in complex with p53 peptide substrate was obtained from low resolution X-ray data (3.5 Å) to gain insight into the potential specificity of the interaction with the BNIP compounds. In conclusion, the search for TcSir2rp1 specific inhibitors may represent a valuable strategy for drug discovery against T. cruzi

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Not AvailableA total of 90 animals each of both Tho-Tho and cross bred cattle were screened for the presence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites in and around the locality of Nagaland during the year of 2012-13. Among strongyle parasites, recorded parasites were Trichostrongylus, Haemonchus, Oesophagostomum and Cooperia species in both Tho-Tho cattle as well as cross bred. However, occurrence of Toxocara vitulorum and Bunostomum and Eimerian species were also recorded from calves. Among tapeworm infestation, M. benedeni was recorded in Tho-Tho and M. expansa was recorded in cross bred. As a whole, there was low level of subclinical infestation due to peculiar topography and climate of this region.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableNagaland is the part of Indo Myanmar bio-diversity hotspot, Twenty ve recognized global biodiversity hotspot provides a unique profusion of habitats and diverse biota. Nagaland Long Hair Goat (NLHG) is an example of this unique biodiversity. This goat is distributed in a few pockets Zunheboto, Tuensang and Kiphire districts of Nagaland and has very distinctive features. As per crude estimate total population of this goat is about 1200, which is declining rapidly. The present data were collected from two the different villages i.e., Xuivhi and Aghunato of Zunheboto District of Nagaland. Phenotypic Data was collected from 60 adult goats (30 males and 30 females) of approximately 12 to 24 months of age. The animals are medium sized and their coat colour is either white or jet black in general, but animals with patches of black on white are also not uncommon. The average measurements of the body weight (kg), body length (cm), height at wither (cm), and hair length (cm) have been found to be 37.52±0.96, 112.54±1.91, 105.78±1.89 and 27.84±0.46 and 30.77±0.54, 90.63±0.83, 76.96±0.74, 14.59±0.49, respectively male and female. The numbers of offspring per kidding and milk production (g/day) have been found to be 1.67±0.11 and 343.33±18.37, respectively. The males are bigger in size, heavier in weight and bear long course hair compared to female. These goats are basically reared for meat and their hairs are at times used for making head gears and other cultural items.Not Availabl

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Not AvailablePresent study was conducted to determine the prevalence of fasciolosis in Mithun in different rearing conditions. The serum samples were collected from different geographical locations of Nagaland and Mizoram in free range conditions of rearing and from institute farm, serum sample were collected in semi intensive conditions. In the present study, no ova of Fasciola gigantica were recovered on faecal examination but attempts were made for studying the sero-prevalence of this parasitic infection in mithun. Seroprevalence of fasciolosis in mithun was recorded in free range conditions as well as in semi intensive conditions. Out of 156 animals tested, sera of 30 animals were found to be reactive in ELISA which yielded a percentage of 19.23%. Out of this 25.84% were recorded from free range conditions and 10.44% were recorded from semi intensive conditions. The lower prevalence in semi-intensive system may be due to the practice of regular deworming and better system of management. However, in free range condition, there is open access to metacercariae in natural grazing area of forest. The peculiar geography of north eastern hilly region and climatic conditions are mainly responsible for low prevalence of this infection in this region.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableAn investigation was carried out to study the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in the local pigs of different villages in Phek district of Nagaland. The faecal sampling was done randomly from four villages of Phek district of Nagaland and a total of 80 animals were screened to find out presence of parasites in indigenous local pigs of this region. The recorded parasites were Ascaris suum (28.75%) followed by Eimerian spp. (16.25%), Strongyloides ransomi (10.00%), Strongyles (6.25%), Trichuris suis (6.25%), and Capillaria spp. (1.25%) respectively. Among the three age groups of pigs considered, there were significant differences (p<0.05) between these groups as well as among different species of parasites. However, in comparison to sex, there was no significant difference in occurrence between male and female.Not Availabl