Serving Homebound Seniors: In-Home Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Enrollment and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Home Delivery for Homebound Seniors in Central New Jersey

Low-income, homebound seniors may encounter affordability and accessibility-related barriers to consuming enough fresh fruits and vegetables (FV). This paper describes a two-stage pilot intervention to improve fresh FV affordability and access for home-delivered meal (HDM) program clients in Central New Jersey. The first stage of the intervention offered in-home Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) enrollment assistance to low-income HDM program clients, with 13 clients successfully enrolling in SFMNP. The second stage of the intervention offered fresh FV home deliveries to all 64 HDM program clients at no cost to clients. We sourced fresh FV from a farmers’ market run in partnership with a Cooperative Extension program affiliated with a large public research university. We carried out a post-intervention evaluation by conducting semi-structured interviews with 17 clients. Interviews addressed themes of farmers’ market access, SFMNP awareness, perceived changes to FV intake, and home delivery satisfaction. Evaluation results suggest that this short-term pilot intervention was well-received and effective in reducing barriers to FV access and affordability for a vulnerable senior population

Acute toxicity, brine shrimp cytotoxicity and relaxant activity of fruits of callistemon citrinus curtis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Callistemon citrinus </it>Curtis belongs to family Myrtaceae that has a great medicinal importance. In our previous work, fruits of <it>Callistemon citrinus </it>were reported to have relaxant (antispasmodic) activity. The current work describes the screening of fractions of the crude methanol extract for tracing spasmolytic constituents so that it shall help us for isolation of bioactive compounds. Acute toxicity and brine shrimp cytotoxicity of crude methanol extract are also performed to standardize it.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The crude methanol extract was obtained by maceration with distilled water (500 ml) three times and fractionated successively with <it>n-</it>hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and <it>n-</it>butanol (300 ml of each solvent). Phytochemical analysis for crude methanol extract was performed. Acute toxicity studies were performed in mice. Brine shrimp cytotoxicity studies were performed to determine its cytotoxicity and standardize it. In other series of experiments, rabbits' jejunum preparations were used in screening for possible relaxant activities of various fractions. They were applied in concentrations of 0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1.0, 3.0, 5.0 and 10.0 mg/ml on spontaneous rabbits' jejunum preparations. In similar fashion, fractions were also tested on KCl (80 mM) -induced contractions. Calcium chloride curves were constructed in K-rich Tyrode's solution. The effects of various fractions were tested on calcium chloride curves at concentrations 1.0, 3.0, 5.0 and 10.0 mg/ml. Curves of verapamil used as reference drug at concentration 0.1 μM and 0.3 μM were also constructed. The curves were compared with their respective controls for possible right shift.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Methanol extract tested strongly positive for saponins and tannins. However, it tested mild positive for presence of proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates and phenolic compounds. LD₅₀value for crude methanol extract is 476.25 ± 10.3 (470-481, n = 4) mg/ml. Similarly, EC₅₀value for brine shrimp cytotoxicity is 65.5 ± 7.28 (60.8- 69.4, n = 4) mg/ml. All the fractions relaxed the spontaneous and KCl-induced contractions. EC₅₀values (mg/ml) for effects of ethyl acetate fraction on spontaneous and KCl induced contractions are 2.62 ± 0.78 (2.15-3.0, n = 4) and 3.72 ± 0.86 (3.38-4.28, n = 4) respectively. Respective EC₅₀values (mg/ml) for <it>n-</it>butanol fraction are 3.59 ± 0.2(3.07-3.9, n = 4) for spontaneous, and 5.57 ± 0.2 (5.07-6.11, n = 4) for KCl- induced contractions. EC₅₀value for control calcium chloride curve (without extract) is -2.73 ± 0.19 (-2.6 - -2.81, n = 4) while EC₅₀for curves treated with 5.0 mg/ml of chloroform is -2.22 ± 0.02 (-2.16 - -2.3, n = 4). EC₅₀value for ethyl acetate treated (1.0 mg/ml) tissues is -1.95 ± 0.10 (-1.88 - -2.0, n = 4) <it>vs</it>. control EC₅₀= -2.71 ± 0.08 (-2.66 - -2.76, n = 4). All the fractions, except <it>n-</it>hexane, showed a right shift like that of verapamil (EC₅₀= -1.72 ± 0.15 (-1.62 - -1.8, n = 4) vs. Control EC₅₀= -2.41 ± 0.06 (-2.38 - - 2.44, n = 4), a standard drug that blocks voltage operated calcium channels.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Relaxant constituents were more concentrated in ethylacetate fraction followed by chloroform, <it>n -</it>butanol and aqueous fractions that warrant for its isolation. The crude methanol extract is safe at concentration 250 mg/ml or below and results of brine shrimp cytotoxicity assay imply the plant specie may be a source of cytotoxic agents.</p

Identification of unique neoantigen qualities in long-term survivors of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is a lethal cancer with fewer than 7% of patients surviving past 5 years. T-cell immunity has been linked to the exceptional outcome of the few long-term survivors1,2, yet the relevant antigens remain unknown. Here we use genetic, immunohistochemical and transcriptional immunoprofiling, computational biophysics, and functional assays to identify T-cell antigens in long-term survivors of pancreatic cancer. Using whole-exome sequencing and in silico neoantigen prediction, we found that tumours with both the highest neoantigen number and the most abundant CD8+ T-cell infiltrates, but neither alone, stratified patients with the longest survival. Investigating the specific neoantigen qualities promoting T-cell activation in long-term survivors, we discovered that these individuals were enriched in neoantigen qualities defined by a fitness model, and neoantigens in the tumour antigen MUC16 (also known as CA125). A neoantigen quality fitness model conferring greater immunogenicity to neoantigens with differential presentation and homology to infectious disease-derived peptides identified long-term survivors in two independent datasets, whereas a neoantigen quantity model ascribing greater immunogenicity to increasing neoantigen number alone did not. We detected intratumoural and lasting circulating T-cell reactivity to both high-quality and MUC16 neoantigens in long-term survivors of pancreatic cancer, including clones with specificity to both high-quality neoantigens and predicted cross-reactive microbial epitopes, consistent with neoantigen molecular mimicry. Notably, we observed selective loss of high-quality and MUC16 neoantigenic clones on metastatic progression, suggesting neoantigen immunoediting. Our results identify neoantigens with unique qualities as T-cell targets in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. More broadly, we identify neoantigen quality as a biomarker for immunogenic tumours that may guide the application of immunotherapies

Accuracy of tuffier\u27s line identification by palpation method: Cross-sectional comparative study among obese, pregnant and control groups

Objective: Performance of safe central neuraxial blocks requires identification of accurate vertebral interspace. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of palpation method by confirmation with ultrasound in high-risk groups like obesity and pregnancy.Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted after approval from the hospital ethics committee and written informed consent from participants. Participants were enrolled into four groups: normal weight non-pregnant (N), full-term pregnant (P), obese (O) and obese full-term pregnant (PO). Tuffier\u27s line at L4-L5 interspace was determined by palpation method and marked as P-line. Another examiner blinded to the marking done by palpation method confirmed it by ultrasound. The primary endpoint was to determine the accuracy of the palpation method, defined as true identification of Tuffier\u27s line at the L4-L5 interspace by confirming it with ultrasound among four groups. Proportion and percentage were computed and analysed the true identification of Tuffier\u27s line at L4-L5 by chi-square test at 0.008 adjusted level of significance for multiple comparisons.Results: Tuffier\u27s line identification by palpation method was confirmed by ultrasound scanning at L4-L5 interspace in 75.3% (226/300) of participants. Proportion difference of true identification of Tuffier\u27s line at L4-L5 by palpation and ultrasound was statistically significant among the groups (p=0.0005). True identification was significantly lower in group PO [36.4%; p=0.0005\u3c0.008] and group O [34%; p=0.0005\u3c0.008] as compared to that in group N.Conclusion: Palpation method was found to be the inaccurate surrogate for the L4-L5 vertebral interspace for obesity with or without pregnancy

اُردو شاعری کا ایک معتبر حوالہ ثقلین جعفری

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Association study of NAT2 gene polymorphism and risk of oral cancer in Southern Punjab, Pakistan

Published in August 202

Exploring the interplay between kidney health, vitamin D levels, and mineral/bone disorders in chronic kidney disease (CKD)

Introduction: CKD is associated with a number of problems of mineral and bone metabolism, including vitamin D deficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism. The relationships between a lack of vitamin D, circulating indicators of mineral and bone diseases (MBD), and renal function in CKD are not well understood.&nbsp; This cross-sectional research included 1,060 individuals with CKD stages 2 to 5 from the Institute of Kidney Disease (IKD), Peshawar. In addition to other indicators of bone metabolism, we evaluated the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), blood levels of Calcifediol, calcium, phosphate, and intact parathyroid hormone (PTH). The results of interest were blood calcium, phosphate, and PTH levels as well as other indicators of bone metabolism. These markers also included circulating markers of MBD. Results: Higher blood Parathyroid Hormones levels, in addition to lower levels of blood calcium and phosphate, were all associated with vitamin D deficiency and decreased eGFR. Additionally, vitamin D deficiency has been independently linked to lower levels of other bone metabolism indicators, including tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase.&nbsp; In patients with CKD, abnormalities in mineral and bone metabolism, including greater PTH levels and lower calcium and phosphate levels, are independently correlated with reduced eGFR and vitamin D insufficiency