Factors influencing Healthy Eating Habits among Low-Income African Americans in Tennessee

Introduction: Poor nutrition and diet are significant contributors to the development of chronic illnesses such as cancer and diabetes, particularly among individuals of lower socioeconomic status (SES).This study examined demographic and lifestyle factors that influenced decisions to engage in healthy eating behaviors among low-income African Americans in three urban Tennessee cities. Methods: As part of the Meharry Community Networks Program (CNP) needs assessment, a 123-item community survey was administered to assess demographic characteristics and eating behaviors among low-income African Americans. The total sample size was 1116. The primary outcome of interest was the healthy eating habits score which was calculated from a 13-item questionnaire that was part of the community survey. Results: Several statistically significant differences were observed between the mean healthy eating habits scores by sociodemographic variables such as marital status, age, education, and geographic location (P \u3c 0.05). Additionally, significant differences were observed by strategies used for maintaining weight including reducing fat and carbohydrate intake and exercising (P \u3c 0.05). There were also significant differences observed by obstacles to eating low fat foods including family habits and food preparation time (P \u3c 0.05). Discussion: Educational interventions aimed at weight-loss and improving healthy eating should incorporate information about obstacles and predictors to healthy eating

Formulation and Evaluation of Bilayer Tablet by Wet Granulation

ABSTRACT: The objective of this present study was to design bilayer tablet of two different drugs for separate release, evaluation of the same and comparison dry granulation formulation with minor changes in components. Both layer of bilayer tablets comprised control release. In wet granulation different type and amount of polymer were used for each layer. The formulated bilayer tablets were evaluated for pre compression as well as post compression parameters including invitro_dissolution_study were carried out. The results showed that wet granulation of formulated bilayer tablet carried out with different polymers viz. Gum acacia, Guar gum, Acrypol -971, HPMC_ K100M, eudragit_RSPO was carried out and based on its release retarding properties. Based on drug release and release kinetics study final formulation was selected that was further analysed for stability study. The accelerated stability study for 6 month showed affirmative result

HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF MAHONIA LESCHENAULTII TAKEDA. (ROOT WOOD AND ROOT BARK) ON COUNTRY MADE-LIQUOR (CML) INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN RATS

The hepatoprotective potential of Mahonia leschenaultii Takeda. (root wood and root bark) extract was evaluated in Country-Made Liquor (CML)-induced hepatotoxicity in Wister rats. The rats were made hepatotoxic by administering (CML) (3 ml/100g body weight/day in two divided doses) and corn oil (1 ml/100g body weight /day in a single dose) orally for 21 days. The administration of root wood and root bark of Mahonia leschenaultii Takeda. extract (200 mg/kg body weight) mixed with tween 80 (0.5% w/w) orally from day 15 to day 21 along with CML. The different biochemical parameters tested are ALAT, ASAT, ALP, LDH, TGL, total protein, total cholesterol, Albumin, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin. The results were compared with standard drugs i.e. Silymarin (70 mg/kg body weight) orally. The histopathological study was carried out and histopathological changes were observed and compared. The study showed that the extract of root wood and root bark of Mahonia leschenaultii Takeda. is definitely a hepatoprotective agent and help in reduction of liver damage.   Key words: Hepatoprotective, Mahonia leschenaultii Takeda. Country-Made Liquor, Root wood, and Root bark

PHARMACOGNOSTICAL, PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIBACTERIAL EVALUATION OF MAHONIA LESCHENAULTIA TAKEDA. (ROOT WOOD & ROOT BARK).

Objective: Pharmacognostical, Phytochemical and Antibacterial  evaluation of  Mahonia leschenaultii Takeda. (root wood, root bark, stem wood, stem bark and leaves.) Methods: The present study has been undertaken to evolve the Pharmacognostical, Phytochemical and Antibacterial standard. In Pharmacognostical study determination of ash values and extractive values were carried out. In Phytochemical study Extraction procedure and Fluorescence analysis were carried out. In Antibacterial study the antibacterial activity of different methanolic extracts (root wood, root bark, stem wood, stem bark and leaves extracts.) of different concentration (50 µg/ml, 100 µg/ml, 150 µg/ml and 200 µg/ml) and standard drug (Ampicillin trihydrate) at the concentration of 100 µg/ml were carried out by cylinder-plate method. Results and Discussion: Pharmacognostical studies such as ash values and extractive values were carried out to confirm the identity of plant and  to ascertain the quality and purity of crude drug. Phytochemical study such as Fluorescence analysis shows fluorescence compound in the extracts. The antibacterial study shows the moderate antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in comparison to standard drug (Ampicillin trihydrate). Conclusion: Pharmacognostical studies were carried out to confirm the identity and to ascertain the quality and purity of the crude drug. Phytochemical studies were carried out to confirm the presence, nature of the crude extracts. The extracts of (root wood, root bark, stem wood, stem bark and leaves) of different concentration (50 µg/ml, 100 µg/ml, 150 µg/ml and 200 µg/ml) evaluated for antibacterial activity and showed moderate antibacterial activity as compared to standard drug at the concentration of 100 µg/ml. The methanolic extract is more active against Escherichia coli in comparison to Staphylococcus aureus. Keywords: Mahonia leschenaultii Takeda. Root wood, Root bark, Stem wood, Stem bark and leaves, Ampicillin trihydrate.Â

Prostate Cancer: Social, Economic and Demographic Correlates of Non Use of Supplemental Diets among Black Men in Florida

Background: Epidemiologic data consistently show that Black men in the U.S. are disproportionately affected by prostate cancer. The incidence rate is 60% higher and death rate is 2.1 times more for Black men compared to Whites. There is growing evidence from literature that nutritional supplements, such as selenium, lycopene, vitamin A, vitamin D and soy may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. However, the level of knowledge and usage of these supplemental diets among Black men is low. Therefore, it is important to understand why Black men are low users of the supplemental diets and develop intervention programs to change the underlining conditions. Objectives: Data collected in the state of Florida on prostate cancer disparities show that large proportion of Black men living in the state are nonusers of the supplemental diets. The purpose of this study is to identify socio-economic characteristics of U.S. born and foreign born Black men who are nonusers of the supplemental diets. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on prostate cancer disparity among Black men in five major cities in the State of Florida. Three thousand four hundred and ten valid respondents were included in the analysis. The main outcomes were socio-economic status, access to health care and awareness among Black men in relation to the use of supplemental diets that reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Descriptive statistics and zero-inflated regression models were used for data analysis. Results: The odds of nonuse of the supplemental diets were the highest for African born (Vitamin A OR = 2.32, P-value = 0.0060), for those who pray or do nothing when sick (Vitamin A OR = 2.84, P-value = 0.0367), with no insurance (Selenium OR = 1.32, P-value = 0.0007), and with no regular doctor to visit for medical care (Vitamin A OR = 1.29, P-value = 0.0318). Conclusion: The study data indicates that the usage of supplemental diets among Black men in Florida is very low. The study further provides rich data with regard to demographic characteristics for U.S. born and foreign born Black men that might serve to inform the usage of supplemental diets that may reduce the risk of prostate cancer

Factors Influencing Breast Cancer Screening in Low-Income African Americans in Tennessee

This study examined demographic and lifestyle factors that influenced decisions and obstacles to being screened for breast cancer in low-income African Americans in three urban Tennessee cities. As part of the Meharry Community Networks Program (CNP) needs assessment, a 123-item community survey was administered to assess demographic characteristics, health care access and utilization, and screening practices for various cancers in low-income African Americans. For this study, only African American women 40 years and older (n = 334) were selected from the Meharry CNP community survey database. There were several predictors of breast cancer screening such as marital status and having health insurance (P \u3c .05). Additionally, there were associations between obstacles to screening and geographic region such as transportation and not having enough information about screenings (P \u3c .05). Educational interventions aimed at improving breast cancer knowledge and screening rates should incorporate information about obstacles and predictors to screening

A Community-Driven Intervention for Improving Biospecimen Donation in African American Communities

Introduction Human biospecimens are an invaluable resource for addressing cancers and other chronic diseases. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of an educational intervention on biospecimen knowledge and attitudes. Methods The participants consisted of 112 African Americans, 18 years and older, and who had not provided biospecimens for any health-related research in the past. A total of 55 participants received the educational brochure, and 57 received the educational video. The main outcomes of the study were knowledge and attitudes for biospecimen donation. This information was collected pre- and post-intervention. Results The average knowledge scores increased (p \u3c 0.0001) and the average attitude scores for biospecimen donation improved (p \u3c 0.0001) post-intervention for both the video and brochure conditions. There was an interaction between the intervention condition and knowledge where the participants who received the educational video showed a greater increase in knowledge pre-to-post compared to those who received the educational brochure (p = 0.0061). There were no significant interactions between the two intervention conditions for attitudes toward biospecimen donation. Discussion The results of this study demonstrated the feasibility and efficacy of an academic institution collaborating with the African American community in developing educational tools for biospecimen donation

An Antiviral Defense Role of AGO2 in Plants

Background: Argonaute (AGO) proteins bind to small-interfering (si)RNAs and micro (mi)RNAs to target RNA silencing against viruses, transgenes and in regulation of mRNAs. Plants encode multiple AGO proteins but, in Arabidopsis, only AGO1 is known to have an antiviral role. Methodology/Principal Findings: To uncover the roles of specific AGOs in limiting virus accumulation we inoculated turnip crinkle virus (TCV) to Arabidopsis plants that were mutant for each of the ten AGO genes. The viral symptoms on most of the plants were the same as on wild type plants although the ago2 mutants were markedly hyper-susceptible to this virus. ago2 plants were also hyper-susceptible to cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), confirming that the antiviral role of AGO2 is not specific to a single virus. For both viruses, this phenotype was associated with transient increase in virus accumulation. In wild type plants the AGO2 protein was induced by TCV and CMV infection. Conclusions/Significance: Based on these results we propose that there are multiple layers to RNA-mediated defense and counter-defense in the interactions between plants and their viruses. AGO1 represents a first layer. With some viruses, including TCV and CMV, this layer is overcome by viral suppressors of silencing that can target AGO1 and a second layer involving AGO2 limits virus accumulation. The second layer is activated when the first layer is suppressed because AGO2 is repressed by AGO1 via miR403. The activation of the second layer is therefore a direct consequence of the loss of the firs

Isolation of Angola-like Marburg virus from Egyptian rousette bats from West Africa.

Marburg virus (MARV) causes sporadic outbreaks of severe Marburg virus disease (MVD). Most MVD outbreaks originated in East Africa and field studies in East Africa, South Africa, Zambia, and Gabon identified the Egyptian rousette bat (ERB; Rousettus aegyptiacus) as a natural reservoir. However, the largest recorded MVD outbreak with the highest case-fatality ratio happened in 2005 in Angola, where direct spillover from bats was not  shown. Here, collaborative studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Njala University, University of California, Davis USAID-PREDICT, and the University of Makeni identify MARV circulating in ERBs in Sierra Leone. PCR, antibody and virus isolation data from 1755 bats of 42 species shows active MARV infection in approximately 2.5% of ERBs. Phylogenetic analysis identifies MARVs that are similar to the Angola strain. These results provide evidence of MARV circulation in West Africa and demonstrate the value of pathogen surveillance to identify previously undetected threats

SETD2 loss-of-function promotes renal cancer branched evolution through replication stress and impaired DNA repair

The research leading to these results is supported by Cancer Research UK (XYG, RAB, EG, PM, PE, SG, C Santos, AJR, NM, PAB, AS and C Swanton), Breast Cancer Research Foundation (C Swanton and NK), Medical Research Council (ID: G0902275 to MG and C Santos; ID: G0701935/2 to AJR and C Swanton), the Danish Cancer Society (AMM, J Bartkova and J Bartek), the Lundbeck Foundation (R93-A8990 to J Bartek), the Ministry of the interior of the Czech Republic (grant VG20102014001 to MM and J Bartek), the National Program of Sustainability (grant LO1304 to MM and J Bartek), the Danish Council for Independent Research (grant DFF-1331-00262 to J Bartek), NIHR RMH/ICR Biomedical Research Centre for Cancer (JL), the EC Framework 7 (PREDICT 259303 to XYG, EG, PM, MG, TJ and C Swanton; DDResponse 259892 to J Bartek and J Bartkova and RESPONSIFY ID:259303 to C Swanton), UCL Overseas Research Scholarship (SG). C Swanton is also supported by the European Research Council, Rosetrees Trust and The Prostate Cancer Foundation. This research is supported by the National Institute for Health Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre