The Young Age And Plant-Based Diet Hypothesis For Low Sars-Cov-2 Infection And Covid-19 Pandemic In Sub-Saharan Africa

Since the outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that caused the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), in December 2019, the infection has spread around the globe. Some of the risk factors include social distancing, mask wearing, hand washing with soap, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, asthma, cardiovascular disease, and dysbiosis. Evidence has shown the incidence of total infection and death rates to be lower in sub-Saharan Africa when compared with North Africa, Europe and North America and many other parts of the world. The higher the metabolic syndrome rate, the higher the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Africa has a lower rate of metabolic syndrome risk than many other continents. This paradox has puzzled several in the biomedical and scientific communities. Published results of research have demonstrated the exciting correlation that the combination of young age of the population coupled with their native plant-based diet has lowered their risk factors. The plant-based diet include whole grains (millet, sorghum), legumes (black-eye peas, dry beans, soybean), vegetables, potato, sweet potato, yams, squash, banana, pumpkin seeds, and moringa leaves, and lower consumption of meat. The plant-based diet results in a different gut microbiota than of most of the rest of the world. This has a significant impact on the survival rate of other populations. The plant-based diet results in lower rates of obesity, diabetes and dysbiosis, which could contribute to lower and less severe infections. However, these hypotheses need to be supported by more clinical and biostatistics data

Impact on adherence of a telephone follow up strategy in HIV-naïve patients who start antiretroviral therapy: cohort study

Antiretroviral therapy changed the prognosis of people living with HIV/AIDS. However, lack of adherence jeopardizes the success of antiretroviral therapy and enhances the development of treatment-resistant strains, treatment failure, and therefore it stands as a public health problem. The main goal of this study was to measure the impact on treatment discontinuations and lost to follow up, of a telephone follow-up strategy in naïve patients who start antiretroviral therapy. We conducted a single-site, cohort study during a 12-month period (May 2011–May 2012). A prospective cohort of naïve patients received the standard of care plus a specific telephone follow-up strategy. Results were compared with a retrospective cohort of naïve patients followed up at the same site, who started antiretroviral therapy receiving only the standard of care during a similar period (January–December 2009). We used descriptive statistics and Fisher exact test for the comparisons of variables. We enrolled 41 patients in the prospective cohort and 50 in the retrospective one. Both cohorts had similar general characteristics. We found a lower number of patients who were lost to follow up in the prospective cohort (intervention) consistent with lower rates of treatment abandonment, suspensions and a similar tendency for events, including death, even when none of these findings was statistically significant. Baseline characteristics and main results are shown in the table below. Further randomized studies should be conducted applying a telephone follow-up strategy to confirm these findings

Branch water uptake and redistribution in two conifers at the alpine treeline

During winter, conifers at the alpine treeline suffer dramatic losses of hydraulic conductivity, which are successfully recovered during late winter. Previous studies indicated branch water uptake to support hydraulic recovery. We analyzed water absorption and redistribution in Picea abies and Larix decidua growing at the treeline by in situ exposure of branches to δ2H-labelled water. Both species suffered high winter embolism rates (> 40–60% loss of conductivity) and recovered in late winter (< 20%). Isotopic analysis showed water to be absorbed over branches and redistributed within the crown during late winter. Labelled water was redistributed over 425 ± 5 cm within the axes system and shifted to the trunk, lower and higher branches (tree height 330 ± 40 cm). This demonstrated relevant branch water uptake and re-distribution in treeline conifers. The extent of water absorption and re-distribution was species-specific, with L. decidua showing higher rates. In natura, melting snow might be the prime source for absorbed and redistributed water, enabling embolism repair and restoration of water reservoirs prior to the vegetation period. Pronounced water uptake in the deciduous L. decidua indicated bark to participate in the process of water absorption

Antimicrobial effects of chemically functionalized and/or photo-heated nanoparticles

Antibiotic resistance refers to when microorganisms survive and grow in the presence of specific antibiotics, a phenomenon mainly related to the indiscriminate widespread use and abuse of antibiotics. In this framework, thanks to the design and fabrication of original functional nanomaterials, nanotechnology offers a powerful weapon against several diseases such as cancer and pathogenic illness. Smart nanomaterials, such as metallic nanoparticles and semiconductor nanocrystals, enable the realization of novel drug-free medical therapies for fighting against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In the light of the latest developments, we highlight the outstanding capabilities of several nanotechnology-inspired approaches to kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Chemically functionalized silver and titanium dioxide nanoparticles have been employed for their intrinsic toxicity, which enables them to exhibit an antimicrobial activity while, in a different approach, photo-thermal properties of metallic nanoparticles have been theoretically studied and experimentally tested against several temperature sensitive (mesophilic) bacteria. We also show that it is possible to combine a highly localized targeting with a plasmonic-based heating therapy by properly functionalizing nanoparticle surfaces with covalently linked antibodies. As a perspective, the utilization of properly engineered and chemically functionalized nanomaterials opens a new roads for realizing antibiotic free treatments against pathogens and related diseases

Granular Activated Carbons from Agricultural By-products: Process Description and Estimated Cost of Production (Bulletin #881)

This bulletin is a follow-up, in part, of Bulletin #869, “Granular Activated Carbons from Agricultural By-products: Preparation, Properties and Application in Cane Sugar Refining.” An estimation of production costs for these by product-based carbons was considered prudent because of the potential interest from both bagasse and shell producers and activated carbon manufacturers based on the use of these carbons in various applications compared to commercial carbons.https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/agcenter_bulletins/1034/thumbnail.jp