Early Childhood Experiences: Laying the Foundation for Health Across a Lifetime

Outlines current research on how factors such as parents' education, income, and race/ethnicity affect children's development and health throughout life, as well as how early childhood development programs can mitigate socioeconomic disadvantages

Where We Live Matters for Our Health: The Links Between Housing and Health

Explains how physical conditions within homes, conditions in the neighborhoods, and housing affordability affect physical and mental health. Looks at past initiatives and offers strategies for improving health through public and private housing policies

Use of in vitro gas production technique to evaluate the effects of microwave irradiation on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and wheat (Triticum sp.) nutritive values and fermentation characteristics

Effects of microwave irradiation (900 W) for 3, 5 and 7 min on the nutritive value of sorghum and wheat grains were evaluated by in vitro gas production technique. Gas volume was recorded at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96 h of incubation and kinetics of gas production were estimated using model: GP = A exp {– exp [1 + (be/A) (LAG – t)]}. Cumulative gas production at 24 h was used for estimation of metabolizable energy, net energy for lactation, short chain fatty acids, digestible organic matter and microbial protein. For sorghum grain, microwave irradiation increased cumulative gas production for most times of incubation linearly. Microwave treatments for 5 and 7 min increased the A fraction linearly in both cereal grain, whereas the maximum rate of gas production (b) decreased linearly only in wheat grain. Microwave treatments for 3, 5 and 7 min increased (P<0.05) metabolizable energy, net energy for lactation and short chain fatty acids content of sorghum grain, but not of wheat grain. It was concluded that microwave irradiation changed the gas production parameters resulting changed ruminal fermentation characteristics that can be considered in ration formulation

Myoring implantation alone versus corneal collagen cross-linking following myoring implantation for management of keratoconus: 1 year follow up

Purpose: To compare combined MyoRing implantation with previously corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL- MyoRing) versus MyoRing implantation alone in patients with keratoconus. Methods: This retrospective, comparative, cohort study included 33 eyes of 33 patients with keratoconus stage II and III according to Amsler-Krumeich classification. Two groups were performed for this study with 1 year follow up. The group 1 received MyoRing implantation and the group 2 received CXL approximately 12 months before MyoRing implantation. All patients had a complete pre and post-operative examination including visual, refractive and keratometry examinations. Results: In Group 1 at the end of follow up the mean UDVA and CDVA improved by 9 and 4 lines of logMAR. In Group 2 the mean UDVA and CDVA improved by 8 and 2 lines of logMAR. There was not observed a statistically significant difference between mean UDVA of two groups postoperatively (p = 0.142) whereas the mean CDVA in Group 2 was significantly better than mean Group 1 at the end of follow up (p= 0.018). Spherical equivalent error and refractive astigmatism were significantly reduced in both groups which no statistically significant differences was noted in these refractive parameters between two groups. The mean keratometric values also were reduced in both groups at the end of follow up which no statistically significant difference was observed between two groups. Conclusion: Both MyoRing implantation alone and combined MyoRing implantation with previously CXL were safe and effective methods for moderate and severe keratoconus and resulted in similar clinical outcomes after one year follow up. ExclusivelyMyoRing implantation alone demonstrated better outcome in mean CDVA

Epidemiological features of human brucellosis in central Iran, 2006-2011

Objectives: Brucellosis is still one of the most challenging issues for health and the economy in many developing countries such as Iran. This study investigated the epidemiological features of brucellosis in Isfahan province in central Iran. Study design: This retrospective descriptive study was planned to determine the epidemiological features of brucellosis in central Iran, as this is one of the most endemic areas in the country. Methods: Data collection was performed using epidemiological questionnaires from the private and public sectors over a 4-year period (2006-2009). Results: In total, 1996 cases of brucellosis were reported. The incidence of brucellosis decreased from 17.1/100,000 in 2006 to 8.2/100,000 in 2009. The male: female ratio was 2.1, and the disease was most common in individuals aged 15-20 years. Sixty-eight percent of cases were from rural areas, and the animal contact rate was 81% in rural cases and 61% in urban cases. Raw milk was the most commonly consumed dairy product, consumed by 37% of cases. Conclusions: Health-related interventions need to empower communities at risk, especially young men and adult women in the western districts of Isfahan province. Public health promotion is needed for control of risk factors in these areas. (C) 2012 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Predictability, Stability and Safety of MyoRing Implantation in Keratoconic Eyes During One Year Follow-Up

Purpose: To assess the stability of visual and refractive outcomes that was compared between three and 12 months after MyoRing implantation in moderate and severe keratoconus Methods: This study included 54 eyes of 50 patients (27 males and 23 females) with stage II and III keratoconus who underwent MyoRing (Dioptex GmbH) implantation. Clinical outcomes including uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), manifest refraction, spherical equivalent (SE) and mean keratometry (k)- readings were compared preoperatively and postoperatively (follow-up times were at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperation). Results: The mean age was 28.48±6.3. The mean UDVA (logMAR) and the mean CDVA (logMAR) improved significantly from 1.20±0.24 to 0.20±0.09 and from 0.58±0.22 to 0.14±0.06, respectively (p<0.001). Both SE and the maximum keratometry (k)-reading decreased significantly by six diopters (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in visual and refractive outcomes between three and 12 months postoperatively. Twelve months after MyoRig implantation the predictability was 47 eyes (87%) within ±1.00 D and 31 eyes (57%) within ±0.50 D of emmetropia. Conclusion: MyoRing implantation in keratoconic patients improves SE, UDVA and CDVA significantly. Additionally, the improvement in UDVA was remarkable (approximately 10 lines). The procedure was safe and effective in treatment of patients with moderate and severe keratoconus. The visual and refractive outcomes remained stable between three and 12 months postoperatively

Fluctuations in Well-Being Based on Position in Elite Young Soccer Players during a Full Season

The current study surveyed weekly and daily variations of well-being ratings relative to the Hooper Index (HI): fatigue (wFatigue), stress (wStress), delayed onset muscle soreness (wDOMS), and sleep quality (wSleep) during a soccer season based on players’ positions. The full-season was divided into three meso-cycles: Early season, week (W)1 to W7; Mid-season, W8 to W13, and Endseason, W14 to W20. Twenty-six young players participated in the study (age, 15.5 ± 0.2 years; height, 172.9 ± 4.2 cm; body mass, 61.4 ± 5.6 kg; body fat, 8.6 ± 2.9%; VO2max, 48.4 ± 2.4 mL.kg−1 ·min−1 ; maturity offset, 1.9 ± 0.3 years). Participants played in the same team and competed in Iran national under-16 competitions. Well-being status was monitored on training days using the HI questionnaire. The main result was a significant difference between well-being status 5 days before match day (MD) and 4 days before MD, compared to MD for all playing positions (p ≤ 0.001). The highest and lowest records occurred during End-season for wDOMS (strikers = 11.5 ± 8.4 arbitrary units (AU)), Early season (central defenders = 9.5 ± 0.7 AU) and for wFatigue (central midfielders = 11.4 ± 0.9 AU), and Early season (wide defenders = 9.7 ± 0.7 AU), respectively. Overall, the results showed a significant increase in wStress and wSleep for all players’ positions from Early- to End-season. The main application of this study is to make coaches aware of their players’ well-being fluctuations throughout the full season, especially in young elite soccer players, and to avoid injuries, overtraining, and overreaching as much as possible