Adiposity and weight change in mid-life in relation to healthy survival after age 70 in women: prospective cohort study

Objective: To examine the hypothesis that mid-life adiposity is associated with a reduced probability of maintaining an optimal health status among those who survive to older ages. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: The Nurses’ Health Study, United States. Participants: 17 065 women who survived until at least the age of 70, provided information on occurrence of chronic disease, cognitive function, physical function, and mental health at older ages, and were free from major chronic diseases at mid-life (mean age was 50 at baseline in 1976). Main outcome measures: Healthy survival to age 70 and over was defined as having no history of 11 major chronic diseases and having no substantial cognitive, physical, or mental limitations. Results: Of the women who survived until at least age 70, 1686 (9.9%) met our criteria for healthy survival. Increased body mass index (BMI) at baseline was significantly associated with linearly reduced odds of healthy survival compared with usual survival, after adjustment for various lifestyle and dietary variables (P<0.001 for trend). Compared with lean women (BMI 18.5-22.9), obese women (BMI ≥30) had 79% lower odds of healthy survival (odds ratio 0.21, 95% confidence interval 0.15 to 0.29). In addition, the more weight gained from age 18 until mid-life, the less likely was healthy survival after the age of 70. The lowest odds of healthy survival were among women who were overweight (BMI ≥25) at age 18 and gained ≥10 kg weight (0.18, 0.09 to 0.36), relative to women who were lean (BMI 18.5-22.9) and maintained a stable weight. Conclusions: These data provide evidence that adiposity in mid-life is strongly related to a reduced probability of healthy survival among women who live to older ages, and emphasise the importance of maintaining a healthy weight from early adulthood

Microbiological and chemical compositions of agbarati and ogiri Igbo, popular foods of south eastern Nigerians

The microbial and chemical compositions of two indigenous foods of South eastern Nigeria were investigated. The TAPC of ogiri Igbo ranged from 1.2 x 1010 to 2.4 x1011cfu/g, the coliform count was 2.8 x 102 to 7.0 x 106cfu/g, and fungal count was 1.0 x 108 to 3.3 x 1011cfu/g. Agbarati had a TAPC of 1.1 x 109 to 1.2 x 1011cfu/g, coliform count of 3.9 x 105 to 2.7 x 106cfu/g, and fungal count of 1.9 x 107 to 2.4 x 107cfu/g. Species of Bacillus, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, Geotrichum, Mucor, Rhizopus and Saccharomyces were prevalent in the samples. The chemical analysis of the food samples indicated the presence of saponin, tannin, alkaloid, flavonoid, oxalate and cyanide in varied amounts. The nutritional analysis revealed that agbarati and ogiri had moisture contents of 11.40 and 36.12%, Fat contents of 39.10 and 30.24 %, Fiber contents of 2.91 and 3.65%, Protein contents of 29.63 and 12.75%, Ash contents of 4.25 and 1.62% and Carbohydrate contents of 12.71 and 15.62, respectively. These traditional foods are good sources of nutrients however, their microbial loads above 106 tolerant limits and the presence of coliforms calls for concern, adequate hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) measure and effective good manufacturing practice (GMP) is imperative in the production of these local foods

Evaluation of Microbial and Nutritional Qualities of Aniga and Epiti Moin: Prestige Foods of South Eastern Nigeria

Investigation on the microbiological and nutritional qualities of aniga and epiti moin moin two cultural foods of South eastern Nigeria reveals that the TAPC of aniga ranged from 1.40 x 104 to 1.70 x108cfu/g, the coliform count was < 10 to 2.70 x 104cfu/g and fungal count was 1.60 x 103 to 1.90 x 108cfu/g. Epiti moin moin had a TAPC of 3.40 x 105 to 4.50 x 1010cfu/g, coliform count of 2.00 x 103 to 1.10 x 105cfu/g, and fungal count of 1.17 x 105 to 1.60 x 108cfu/g. The predominant bacterial and fungal isolates included species of Bacillus, Enterobacter, Aspergillus and Saccharomyces. However, species of Corynebacterium, Mucor, and Penicillium were also recovered from epiti moin moin. Varied concentrations of the phytochemicals saponin, tannin, alkaloid, flavonoid, oxalate and cyanide were detected and the proximate analysis shows that aniga and epiti moin moin had moisture contents of 68.55 and 68.41%, Carbohydrate contents of 23.17 and 21.61%, Protein contents of 5.08 and 5.67% and Fat contents of 1.73 and 2.87% respectively. Aniga and Epiti moin moin are rich in nutrients and phytochemicals; they are foods that could be used to augment the nutritional need of man. It is advanced that the application of good manufacturing practices (GMP) and effective hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) in the production of these foods will be necessary to curtail microbial contaminants, standardize the processing procedures and thus optimize the foods for wider consumer acceptabilit

Bidirectional Association Between Depression and Metabolic Syndrome

OBJECTIVE Epidemiological studies have repeatedly investigated the association between depression and metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, the results have been inconsistent. This meta-analysis aimed to summarize the current evidence from cross-sectional and prospective cohort studies that evaluated this association. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases were searched for articles published up to January 2012. Cross-sectional and cohort studies that reported an association between the two conditions in adults were included. Data on prevalence, incidence, unadjusted or adjusted odds ratio (OR), and 95% CI were extracted or provided by the authors. The pooled OR was calculated separately for cross-sectional and cohort studies using random-effects models. The I2 statistic was used to assess heterogeneity. RESULTS The search yielded 29 cross-sectional studies (n = 155,333): 27 studies reported unadjusted OR with a pooled estimate of 1.42 (95% CI 1.28–1.57; I2 = 55.1%); 11 studies reported adjusted OR with depression as the outcome (1.27 [1.07–1.57]; I2 = 60.9%), and 12 studies reported adjusted OR with MetS as the outcome (1.34 [1.18–1.51]; I2 = 0%). Eleven cohort studies were found (2 studies reported both directions): 9 studies (n = 26,936 with 2,316 new-onset depression case subjects) reported adjusted OR with depression as the outcome (1.49 [1.19–1.87]; I2 = 56.8%), 4 studies (n = 3,834 with 350 MetS case subjects) reported adjusted OR with MetS as the outcome (1.52 [1.20–1.91]; I2 = 0%). CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate a bidirectional association between depression and MetS. These results support early detection and management of depression among patients with MetS and vice versa

Dietary Fat Intake and Cognitive Decline in Women With Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE: Individuals with type 2 diabetes have high risk of late-life cognitive impairment, yet little is known about strategies to modify risk. Targeting insulin resistance and vascular complications—both associated with cognitive decline—may be a productive approach. We investigated whether dietary fat, which modulates glucose and lipid metabolism, might influence cognitive decline in older adults with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Beginning in 1995–1999, we evaluated cognitive function in 1,486 Nurses' Health Study participants, aged ≥70 years, with type 2 diabetes; second evaluations were conducted 2 years later. Dietary fat intake was assessed regularly beginning in 1980; we considered average intake from 1980 (at midlife) through initial cognitive interview and also after diabetes diagnosis. We used multivariate-adjusted linear regression models to obtain mean differences in cognitive decline across tertiles of fat intake. RESULTS: Higher intakes of saturated and trans fat since midlife, and lower polyunsaturated to saturated fat ratio, were each highly associated with worse cognitive decline in these women. On a global score averaging all six cognitive tests, mean decline among women in the highest trans fat tertile was 0.15 standard units worse than that among women in the lowest tertile (95% CI −0.24 to −0.06, P = 0.002); this mean difference was comparable with the difference we find in women 7 years apart in age. Results were similar when we analyzed diet after diabetes diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that lower intakes of saturated and trans fat and higher intake of polyunsaturated fat relative to saturated fat may reduce cognitive decline in individuals with type 2 diabetes.Statistic

Mapping academic literature on governing inclusive green growth in Africa: geographical biases and topical gaps

A strong indigenous capacity for credible, salient and legitimate knowledge production is crucial to support African countries in developing their economies and societies inclusively and sustainably. In this article, we aim to quantify the current and historic capacity for African knowledge production to support the green economy in Africa, and identify important topical gaps. With a focus on topics relating to Governing Inclusive Green Growth in Africa (GIGGA), our research mapped how much Africa-focused research is being produced, from where and which African countries have higher or lower supply; and the topical focus of the research, mapping it against the African GIGGA policy discourses visible in government strategies. To do this we undertook a systematic review using a two-stage process, mapping the literature for GIGGA. This resulted in 960 verified citations. Content analysis of core metadata and article abstracts enabled mapping of the research focus. The analysis revealed a significant role for South Africa as both the pre-eminent producer of GIGGA literature as well as the geographic focus of GIGGA research, with Nigeria, Ethiopia and Kenya representing emerging loci of credible, African-relevant knowledge production. Topically, there was a strong emphasis on development, policy and environment while topics important for growth that is inclusive in character were infrequent or absent. Overall the results reinforced the view that investment is needed in research on inclusive green growth, linked to capacity building for knowledge production systems in Africa. Furthermore, from a policy perspective, policy makers and academics need to actively explore best to collaborate to ensure that academic research informs government policy

Sustainable development and equity

International audienc

Sustainable development, poverty eradication and reducing inequalities

This chapter takes sustainable development as the starting point and focus for analysis. It considers the broad and multifaceted bi-directional interplay between sustainable development, including its focus on eradicating poverty and reducing inequality in their multidimensional aspects, and climate actions in a 1.5°C warmer world. These fundamental connections are embedded in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The chapter also examines synergies and trade-offs of adaptation and mitigation options with sustainable development and the SDGs and offers insights into possible pathways, especially climate-resilient development pathways towards a 1.5°C warmer world

Sunscreens - Which and what for?

It is well established that sun exposure is the main cause for the development of skin cancer. Chronic continuous UV radiation is believed to induce malignant melanoma, whereas intermittent high-dose UV exposure contributes to the occurrence of actinic keratosis as precursor lesions of squamous cell carcinoma as well as basal cell carcinoma. Not only photocarcinogenesis but also the mechanisms of photoaging have recently become apparent. In this respect the use of sunscreens seemed to prove to be more and more important and popular within the last decades. However, there is still inconsistency about the usefulness of sunscreens. Several studies show that inadequate use and incomplete UV spectrum efficacy may compromise protection more than previously expected. The sunscreen market is crowded by numerous products. Inorganic sunscreens such as zinc oxide and titanium oxide have a wide spectral range of activity compared to most of the organic sunscreen products. It is not uncommon for organic sunscreens to cause photocontact allergy, but their cosmetic acceptability is still superior to the one given by inorganic sunscreens. Recently, modern galenic approaches such as micronization and encapsulation allow the development of high-quality inorganic sunscreens. The potential systemic toxicity of organic sunscreens has lately primarily been discussed controversially in public, and several studies show contradictory results. Although a matter of debate, at present the sun protection factor (SPF) is the most reliable information for the consumer as a measure of sunscreen filter efficacy. In this context additional tests have been introduced for the evaluation of not only the protective effect against erythema but also protection against UV-induced immunological and mutational effects. Recently, combinations of UV filters with agents active in DNA repair have been introduced in order to improve photoprotection. This article reviews the efficacy of sunscreens in the prevention of epithelial and nonepithelial skin cancer, the effect on immunosuppression and the value of the SPF as well as new developments on the sunscreen market. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel