Asociación entre seguridad alimentaria, indicadores de estado nutricional y de salud en poblaciones de Latinoamérica: una revisión de la literatura 2011-2021

The aim was to characterize the scientific production in Latin America on the relationship of food security (FS) with health and nutritional status indicators. A documentary review was carried out and studies were located in the electronic databases PubMed, Google Academic and SciELO. The words: "food" "security" "Latin" "America" were used. 39 articles were identified that addressed FS and its relationship with nutritional status and health through anthropometric variables and / or biomarkers. The results show heterogeneity in terms of the focus of the studies, the instruments used to measure FS and the relationship observed with the health and nutrition variables. The data reported point to different routes through which certain FS conditions differentially impact the biological processes of populations based on sex, age, stage of development and possibly the characteristics of the episodes of food insecurity in particular contexts.El objetivo fue caracterizar la producción científica en Latinoamérica sobre la relación de la seguridad alimentaria (SA) con indicadores de salud y estado nutricional. Se realizó una revisión documental y se localizaron estudios en las bases electrónicas PubMed, Google Académico y SciELO. Se emplearon los vocablos: “seguridad” “alimentaria” “América” “Latina”. Se identificaron 39 artículos que abordaron la SA y su relación con el estado nutricional y salud mediante variables antropométricas y/o biomarcadores. Los resultados muestran heterogeneidad en cuanto al enfoque de los trabajos, los instrumentos utilizados para la medición de la SA y la relación observada con las variables de salud y nutrición. Los datos reportados apuntan a diferentes rutas a través de las cuales, condiciones de SA determinadas impactan diferencialmente en los procesos biológicos de poblaciones en función del sexo, la edad, la etapa del desarrollo y posiblemente, las características de los episodios de inseguridad alimentaria de contextos particulares.O objetivo foi caracterizar a produção científica na América Latina sobre a relação da segurança alimentar (SA) com indicadores de saúde e estado nutricional. Foi realizada uma revisão documental e os estudos foram localizados nas bases de dados eletrônicas PubMed, Google Academic e SciELO. Foram utilizadas as palavras: "segurança" "alimentar" "América" ​​"Latina". Foram identificados 39 artigos que abordavam a SA e sua relação com o estado nutricional e saúde por meio de variáveis ​​antropométricas e / ou biomarcadores. Os resultados mostram heterogeneidade quanto ao foco dos estudos, aos instrumentos utilizados para mensurar a AE e à relação observada com as variáveis ​​de saúde e nutrição. Os dados reportados apontam para diferentes percursos através dos quais, determinadas condições de SA impactam diferencialmente os processos biológicos das populações com base no sexo, idade, fase de desenvolvimento e, possivelmente, nas características dos episódios de insegurança alimentar em contextos individuais

March Mammal Madness and the power of narrative in science outreach.

March Mammal Madness is a science outreach project that, over the course of several weeks in March, reaches hundreds of thousands of people in the United States every year. We combine four approaches to science outreach - gamification, social media platforms, community event(s), and creative products - to run a simulated tournament in which 64 animals compete to become the tournament champion. While the encounters between the animals are hypothetical, the outcomes rely on empirical evidence from the scientific literature. Players select their favored combatants beforehand, and during the tournament scientists translate the academic literature into gripping "play-by-play" narration on social media. To date ~1100 scholarly works, covering almost 400 taxa, have been transformed into science stories. March Mammal Madness is most typically used by high-school educators teaching life sciences, and we estimate that our materials reached ~1% of high-school students in the United States in 2019. Here we document the intentional design, public engagement, and magnitude of reach of the project. We further explain how human psychological and cognitive adaptations for shared experiences, social learning, narrative, and imagery contribute to the widespread use of March Mammal Madness

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

The effect of chewing betel nut on measurements of salivary progesterone and estradiol.

The measurement of steroids in saliva is both simple and non-invasive and has been widely used in field and clinical-based research. The observance of particular cultural practices by some populations, however, may hamper accurate hormonal analyses. The present study evaluated the effects of one such practice—the chewing of betel nut—on the accurate measurement of salivary progesterone and estradiol. A time series experiment was conducted among Bangladeshi women who are regular users of betel nut. Salivary steroids were analyzed by radioimmunoassay in samples collected prior to and then 30, 60, 120, and 240 min following betel quid use. Results show no significant difference between basal steroid levels and those obtained 60, 120, and 240 min after chewing betel nut. We conclude that with specific collection protocols that take into account time since chewing, salivary steroid analyses can be undertaken in populations among whom the practice of chewing betel nut is endemic

Biomasa microbiana y actividad ureasa del suelo en una pradera permanente pastoreada de Chile Soil microbial biomass and urease activity in a grazed permanent pasture from Chile

En los sistemas de pasturas; la productividad de la pradera puede estar influenciada por el manejo; debido a su impacto sobre los microorganismos del suelo y el reciclaje de nutrientes. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la biomasa microbiana (BM) del suelo asociada al nitrógeno (BMN); carbono (BMC) y la actividad ureasa (AU) en una pradera permanente del sur de Chile. Entre la primavera de 2005 y el invierno de 2006 fueron evaluados dos sistemas de pastoreo: pastoreo intenso (PI); pastoreo suave (PS) y un tratamiento control (C). El diseño fue en bloques al azar con tres repeticiones. En relación a los valores promedios medidos de las variables en pre y post pastoreo; se produjo un incremento en los contenidos de CB en un 21,8 y 8,6% para PI y PS; mientras que en el control fue sólo de 1,9%. Los contenidos de NB también fueron incrementados en un 16 y 19% para PI y PS; respectivamente en comparación con el control (4%). La actividad ureasa aumentó en 13 y 27% para PI y PS; respectivamente en comparación con el control (5%). El pastoreo; produce un flujo más alto de residuos orgánicos en el suelo; lo que estimula la actividad de la biomasa microbiana y; por tanto; aumentó la AU y los contenidos de CB y NB. Esto sugiere que; en los sistemas de pastoreo; se mejora la fertilidad biológica de los suelos y la disponibilidad de nutrientes.<br>In pasture systems, management practices can affect pasture productivity differently due to their impact on soil microorganisms and nutrient cycling. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between soil microbial biomass (MB) nitrogen (MBN), carbon (MBC) and urease activity (UA) in a permanent pasture in southern Chile. Two grazing systems were evaluated between spring 2005 and winter 2006 : heavy grazing (HG), light grazing (LG) and a control treatment (C). Treatments were arranged in a randomized block design with three replications. Concerning the average values of the variables measured at the beginning and at the end of grazing, there was an increase in the content of BC of 21.8 and 8.6% for HG and LG, while the control was only 1.9%. BN contents were also increased by 16 and 19% for HG and LG, respectively, compared with the control (4%). The urease activity increased by 13 and 27% for HG and LG, respectively, compared with the control (5%). Grazing produced a higher flow of organic residues in the soil, stimulating microbial biomass and therefore increasing the UA and the BC and BN content. Thus, soil biological fertility and nutrient availability s increase under grazing systems

The timing of adrenarche in Maya girls, Merida, Mexico

Aims: To investigate adrenarcheal age among Maya girls and its association with body composition and dietary variables. We hypothesized adrenarche would occur earlier given the current dual burden of nutrition in Mexico. Materials and Methods: 25 Maya girls aged 7 to 9 from Merida, Mexico using ELISAs to measure salivary DHEA‐S, standard anthropometry for height, weight, and skinfolds, bioelectrical impedance for body composition variables, as well as a food frequency questionnaire for dietary information. Results: Our hypothesis was rejected—adrenarche occurred close to 9 years. While no measures of body composition were significantly associated with adrenarcheal status, girls eating meat and dairy products more frequently had significantly higher DHEA‐S levels. Discussion: Like other populations living in ecologically challenging environments, adrenarche occurred relatively late among Maya girls. Adrenarche has been linked to measures of body composition, particularly, the adiposity or body mass index rebound, but no relevant anthropometric measures were associated, possibly because of the small sample. Conclusion: Further studies are required to illuminate how adrenarcheal variation relates to developmental plasticity, body composition, pubertal progression, and animal product consumption in other transitional populations

The timing of adrenarche in Maya girls, Merida, Mexico

BACKGROUND: Adrenarche involves maturation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and increased production of dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulfate ester, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S). It occurs at ages 6 to 8 in industrialized populations, marking the transition from childhood to juvenility and cognitive development at middle childhood. Studies in subsistence level populations indicate a later age (8-9) for adrenarche, but only two such studies currently exist for comparison. AIMS: To investigate adrenarcheal age among Maya girls and its association with body composition and dietary variables. We hypothesized adrenarche would occur earlier given the current dual burden of nutrition in Mexico. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 25 Maya girls aged 7 to 9 from Merida, Mexico using ELISAs to measure salivary DHEA-S, standard anthropometry for height, weight, and skinfolds, bioelectrical impedance for body composition variables, as well as a food frequency questionnaire for dietary information. RESULTS: Our hypothesis was rejected-adrenarche occurred close to 9 years. While no measures of body composition were significantly associated with adrenarcheal status, girls eating meat and dairy products more frequently had significantly higher DHEA-S levels. DISCUSSION: Like other populations living in ecologically challenging environments, adrenarche occurred relatively late among Maya girls. Adrenarche has been linked to measures of body composition, particularly, the adiposity or body mass index rebound, but no relevant anthropometric measures were associated, possibly because of the small sample. CONCLUSION: Further studies are required to illuminate how adrenarcheal variation relates to developmental plasticity, body composition, pubertal progression, and animal product consumption in other transitional populations