Intestinal antimicrobial gene expression: impact of micronutrients in malnourished adults during a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Because both micronutrients and antimicrobial peptides protect against diarrhea, we looked for an effect on intestinal antimicrobial peptide gene expression during a randomized controlled trial of multiple micronutrient (MM) supplementation. METHODS: Consenting adults (n=287) in Lusaka, Zambia, were randomized to receive a daily MM supplement or placebo and were followed up for 3.3 years, with a crossover after 2 years. Intestinal biopsy samples were obtained at annual intervals, and messenger RNA of the intestinal antimicrobial peptides human alpha defensin (HD) 5, HD6, human beta-defensin (hBD) 1, hBD2, and LL-37 were quantified by real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Samples were also obtained during diarrhea episodes and after convalescence. RESULTS: There was no effect overall of treatment allocation. However, in malnourished adults (body mass index < or =18.5), HD5 mRNA was increased by 0.8 log transcripts/microg total RNA in MM recipients, compared with HD5 mRNA in placebo recipients (P=.007). During diarrhea, HD5 expression was reduced by 0.8 log transcripts in placebo recipients (P=.02) but was not reduced in MM recipients, nor was it reduced after the crossover. Correlations between HD5 and nutritional status were found that were sex-specific but not explained by serum leptin or adiponectin concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Micronutrient supplementation was associated with up-regulation of HD5 only in malnourished adults. Interactions between antimicrobial gene expression and nutritional status may help to explain the increased risk of infection in individuals with malnutrition

Systematics of local pion optical model parameters

A simple six-parameter local optical potential has been used to fit the global supply of pion-nucleus elastic scattering data, with good success. The resulting real and imaginary well-depths show a striking resonant structure, derived from the underlying pion-nucleon resonances

AN INNOVATIVE METHOD DEVELOPMENT AND FORCED DEGRADATION STUDIES FOR SIMULTANEOUS ESTIMATION OF SOFOSBUVIR AND LEDIPASVIR BY RP HPLC

Objective: To develop an innovative, rapid, simple, cost-effective, stability indicating reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method for simultaneous estimation of ledipasvir (LP) and sofosbuvir (SB) in combination pill dosage form. Methods: The method was developed using C8 column, 250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 mm using mobile section comprising of 0.1% (v/v) orthophosphoric acid buffer at pH 2.2 and acetonitrile in the ratio of 45:55 that was pumped through the column at a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min. Temperature was maintained at 30 °C, the effluents were monitored at 260 nm with the help of usage of PDA detector. Results: The retention time of LP and SB were found to be 2.246 min and 3.502 min. The approach was found to be linear with the variety of 9-36 µg/ml and 40-240 μg/ml for LP and SB respectively, the assay of estimated compounds were found to be 99.65% and 99.73% w/v for LP and SB respectively. Conclusion: The pressured samples changed into analyzed and this proposed a technique turned into determined to be particular and stability indicating as no interfering peaks of decay compound and excipients were observed. Hence, the approach was easy and economical that may be efficiently applied for simultaneous estimation of both LP and SB in bulk and combination tablet system

Parental supply of alcohol in childhood and risky drinking in adolescence: Systematic review and meta-analysis

© 2017 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Whether parental supply of alcohol affects the likelihood of later adolescent risky drinking remains unclear. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to synthesize findings from longitudinal studies investigating this association. We searched eight electronic databases up to 10 September 2016 for relevant terms and included only original English language peer-reviewed journal articles with a prospective design. Two reviewers independently screened articles, extracted data and assessed risk of bias. Seven articles met inclusion criteria, six of which used analytic methods allowing for meta-analysis. In all seven studies, the follow-up period was ≥12 months and attrition ranged from 3% to 15%. Parental supply of alcohol was associated with subsequent risky drinking (odds ratio = 2.00, 95% confidence interval = 1.72, 2.32); however, there was substantial risk of confounding bias and publication bias. In all studies, measurement of exposure was problematic given the lack of distinction between parental supply of sips of alcohol versus whole drinks. In conclusion, parental supply of alcohol in childhood is associated with an increased likelihood of risky drinking later in adolescence. However, methodological limitations preclude a causal inference. More robust longitudinal studies are needed, with particular attention to distinguishing sips from whole drinks, measurement of likely confounders, and multivariable adjustment

Exploring the link between adult literacy and textese: a multi-method approach

The research study aims to find the relationship between textese (using text messaging as a way of communication) and adult literacy. The study was mixed method in nature and was conducted on 60 participants from three different countries – the UK, Uganda, and Bangladesh. Participants of this study were selected conveniently from private and public HE institutions, whereas the countries were selected purposively. Past research on literacy and textese was based on English-speaking countries and school-aged children. This study thus focused on comparing adult participants from both English and non-English-speaking countries to test the hypotheses of the relationship between textese and adult literacy. The data was collected primarily through the survey (a questionnaire) in a quantitative phase, which was followed by a qualitative phase (semi-structured interviews) with 18 participants (6 participants from each country) from the 60 participants. The findings showed that a high rate of textese improves English speaking. However, over 63% of the non-English speaking participants’ scores on the two spelling tests (taken one week apart) declined due to exposure to textese. Textese has been shown to impact spelling, leading to poor writing skills for both English and non-English participants. However, the rise of textese with the utilisation of informative content has been accompanied by a comparative increment in related slang, images, and shorthand text during communication. Consequently, this consideration explores the relationship between textese, content informing, and grown-up education through the present media’s rumour

Changes in loneliness prevalence and its associated factors among Bangladeshi older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

Aims Worldwide, loneliness is one of the most common psychological phenomena among older adults, adversely affecting their physical and mental health conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to assess changes in the prevalence of loneliness in the two timeframes (first and second waves of COVID-19 in Bangladesh) and identify its correlates in pooled data. Methods This repeated cross-sectional study was conducted on two successive occasions (October 2020 and September 2021), overlapping with the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. The survey was conducted remotely through telephone interviews among 2077 (1032 in the 2020-survey and 1045 in the 2021-survey) older Bangladeshi adults aged 60 years and above. Loneliness was measured using the 3-item UCLA Loneliness scale. The binary logistic regression model was used to identify the factors associated with loneliness in pooled data. Results We found a decline in the loneliness prevalence among the participants in two survey rounds (51.5% in 2021 versus 45.7% in 2020; P = 0.008), corresponding to 33% lower odds in the 2021-survey (AOR 0.67, 95% CI 0.54-0.84). Still, nearly half of the participants were found to be lonely in the latest survey. We also found that, compared to their respective counterparts, the odds of loneliness were significantly higher among the participants without a partner (AOR 1.58, 95% CI 1.20-2.08), with a monthly family income less than 5000 BDT (AOR 2.34, 95% CI 1.58-3.47), who lived alone (AOR 2.17, 95% CI 1.34-3.51), with poor memory or concentration (AOR 1.58, 95% CI 1.23-2.03), and suffering from non-communicable chronic conditions (AOR 1.55, 95% CI 1.23-1.95). Various COVID-19-related characteristics, such as concern about COVID-19 (AOR 1.28, 95% CI 0.94-1.73), overwhelm by COVID-19 (AOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.14-2.06), difficulty earning (AOR 2.00, 95% CI 1.54-2.59), and receiving routine medical care during COVID-19 (AOR 2.08, 95% CI 1.61-2.68), and perception that the participants required additional care during the pandemic (AOR 2.93, 95% CI 2.27-3.79) were also associated with significantly higher odds of loneliness. However, the odds of loneliness were significantly lower among the participants with formal schooling (AOR 0.71, 95% CI 0.57-0.89) and with a family of more than four members (AOR 0.76, 95% CI 0.60-0.96). Conclusions The current study found a decreased prevalence of loneliness among Bangladeshi older adults during the ongoing pandemic. However, the prevalence is still very high. The findings suggest the need for mental health interventions that may include improving social interactions increasing opportunities for meaningful social connections with family and community members and providing psychosocial support to the vulnerable population including older adults during the pandemic. It also suggests that policymakers and public health practitioners should emphasise providing mental health services at the peripheral level where the majority of older adults reside

Prospective study on quality of newborn care

Background:&nbsp;Quality of services provided by health care provider, the closest health functionary to the community has impact on neonatal mortality.&nbsp;Aims:&nbsp;Study on quality of newborn care in rural areas. &nbsp;Settings and Design:&nbsp;This is a prospective study in the field practice areas of J.N. Medical College and areas under primary health centre of public health care system in Wardha district. &nbsp;Methods and Material:&nbsp;Modified quality check list on the basis of PHC MAP module guidelines for assessing the quality of service-module 6-user’s guide was prepared. Face to face interview with 205 (group-A/104 nos + group-B/101 nos) mother of newborn was method to collected information in three postnatal visits. &nbsp;Statistical analysis:&nbsp;Quality (verbal response) of each service was quantified as acceptable, average and worst.&nbsp; Quality of both the groups was compared by calculating P-value after utilizing Z-test. &nbsp;Results:&nbsp;Over all acceptable quality of medical history was 30.03%, physical examination was 21.73%, preventive service was 91.17% and counseling was 24.83%. Significant difference between two groups were found on history taking for (cry, breathing and body movement of baby), recording weight and counseling regarding exclusive breast feeding for first 6 month of life. Worst quality in this study were observed in history for anything applying to eyes, umbilical cord stump and complication of baby for which appropriate management was taken. Except for weight recording and examination of head and fontanels all other variables under physical examination were not acceptable. Counseling regarding high risk condition of baby was only 13.66%.&nbsp;Conclusion:&nbsp;Existing newborn services except immunization is inadequate and needs to be strengthened especially physical examination and counseling services

Association of maternal prenatal copper concentration with gestational duration and preterm birth: a multicountry meta-analysis Author links open overlay panel.

Background: Copper (Cu), an essential trace mineral regulating multiple actions of inflammation and oxidative stress, has been implicated in risk for preterm birth (PTB). Objectives: This study aimed to determine the association of maternal Cu concentration during pregnancy with PTB risk and gestational duration in a large multicohort study including diverse populations. Methods: Maternal plasma or serum samples of 10,449 singleton live births were obtained from 18 geographically diverse study cohorts. Maternal Cu concentrations were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The associations of maternal Cu with PTB and gestational duration were analyzed using logistic and linear regressions for each cohort. The estimates were then combined using meta-analysis. Associations between maternal Cu and acute-phase reactants (APRs) and infection status were analyzed in 1239 samples from the Malawi cohort. Results: The maternal prenatal Cu concentration in our study samples followed normal distribution with mean of 1.92 μg/mL and standard deviation of 0.43 μg/mL, and Cu concentrations increased with gestational age up to 20 wk. The random-effect meta-analysis across 18 cohorts revealed that 1 μg/mL increase in maternal Cu concentration was associated with higher risk of PTB with odds ratio of 1.30 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08, 1.57) and shorter gestational duration of 1.64 d (95% CI: 0.56, 2.73). In the Malawi cohort, higher maternal Cu concentration, concentrations of multiple APRs, and infections (malaria and HIV) were correlated and associated with greater risk of PTB and shorter gestational duration. Conclusions: Our study supports robust negative association between maternal Cu and gestational duration and positive association with risk for PTB. Cu concentration was strongly correlated with APRs and infection status suggesting its potential role in inflammation, a pathway implicated in the mechanisms of PTB. Therefore, maternal Cu could be used as potential marker of integrated inflammatory pathways during pregnancy and risk for PTB

The impact of penalty and subsidy mechanisms on the decisions of the government, businesses, and consumers during COVID-19 — Tripartite evolutionary game theory analysis

Purpose: Based on the fact that punishment and subsidy mechanisms affect the anti-epidemic incentives of major participants in a society, the issue of this paper is how the penalty and subsidy mechanisms affect the decisions of governments, businesses, and consumers during Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Design/Methodology/approach: This paper proposes a tripartite evolutionary game theory, involving governments, businesses, and consumers, to analyze the evolutionary stable strategies and the impact of penalty and subsidy mechanism on their strategy selection during COVID-19. We then uses numerical analysis to simulate the strategy formation process of governments, businesses, and consumers for the results of tripartite evolutionary game theory. Findings: This paper suggests that there are four evolutionary stable strategies corresponding to the actual anti-epidemic situations. We find that different subsidy and penalty mechanisms lead to different evolutionary stable strategies. High penalties for businesses and consumers can prompt them to choose active prevention strategies no matter what the subsidy mechanism is. For the government, the penalty mechanism is better than the subsidy mechanism, because the excessive subsidy mechanism will raise the government expenditure. The punishment mechanism is more effective than the subsidy mechanism in realizing the tripartite joint prevention of the COVID-19. Therefore, the implementation of strict punishment mechanism should be a major government measure under COVID-19. Originality/value: Our paper extends the existing theoretical work. We use political economy to make the preference hypothesis, and we explicitly state the effect of subsidy and penalty mechanisms on the decision making of participants and compare their applicability. This is the work that the existing literature did not complete before. Our findings can provide an important theoretical and decision-making basis for COVID-19 prevention and control