Staple crops biofortified with increased vitamins and minerals : considerations for a public health strategy

Biofortification of staple crops has been proposed as a strategy to address micronutrient malnutrition, particularly with respect to insufficient intake of vitamin A, iron, zinc, and folate. The World Health Organization, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science at the New York Academy of Sciences, convened a technical consultation entitled "Staple Crops Biofortified with Vitamins and Minerals: Considerations for a Public Health Strategy" in April 2016. Participants of the consultation reviewed the definition of biofortification of staple crops, patterns of crops production, processing, consumption, seed varieties, and micronutrient stability and bioavailability, as well as farmers' adoption and acceptability of the modified crops. Also discussed were economic, environmental, safety, and equity aspects of biofortified crops, as well as legal, policy, regulatory, and ethical issues for the implementation of biofortification strategies in agriculture and nutrition. Consultation working groups identified important and emerging technical issues, lessons learned, and research priorities to better support the evidence of improved nutrition and unintended adverse effects of biofortification. This paper provides the background and rationale of the technical consultation, synopsizes the presentations, and provides a summary of the main considerations proposed by the working groups

Temporal lobe surface anatomy and the bony relieves in the middle cranial fossa. The case of the El Sidrón (Spain) Neandertal sample

Resumen del póster presentado en: 3rd Annual Meeting of the European Society for the study of Human Evolution, 19-21 September 2013, Vienna/AustriaCGL 2012-36682 and CGL 2012-37279 (MINECO, Spain). Field work is supported by Consejería de Cultura del Principado de Asturias, Grant sponsor: Convenio Universidad de Oviedo-CSIC, Grant number: 060501040023Peer reviewe

Influencia de la cultura tributaria en el pago del impuesto predial en la Municipalidad Provincial de Huancabamba, Piura, primer semestre de los años 2022-2023

La presente investigación tiene por objetivo determinar el nivel de cultura tributaria y su influencia en el pago del impuesto predial en la Municipalidad Provincial de Huancabamba, Piura, primer semestre de los años 2022-2023. La metodología de investigación fue de enfoque cuantitativo y diseño descriptivo correlacional, la muestra estuvo conformada por 246 contribuyentes, se utilizó como instrumento la hoja de registro de datos y el cuestionario para las variables de estudio. El resultado indica que en el primer semestre 2022, los contribuyentes contaban con un nivel de conocimiento deficiente de 33% con un pago de 13,409.11 soles, y en el primer semestre 2023 se obtuvo un nivel de conocimiento deficiente de 4%, logrando un nivel bueno y excelente de 83%, alcanzando un pago de 57,419.10 soles; determinando que el nivel de cultura tributaria influye significativamente en 62% incrementando el pago del impuesto predial en 44,009.99 soles. Además, en relación con la prueba estadística T-Student para el coeficiente de correlación entre porcentajes de nivel de cultura tributaria y montos pagados, se obtuvo valores de P=0,28 en el semestre 2022, existiendo una relación de 44% y P=0,12 en el semestre 2023, afirmando una relación de 55%, lo que demuestra que hubo una mejora considerable en el pago del impuesto predialThe purpose of this research is to determine the level of tax culture and its influence on the payment of property tax in the Provincial Municipality of Huancabamba, Piura, first semester of the years 2022-2023. The research methodology was of a quantitative approach and a descriptive correlational design, the sample consisted of 246 taxpayers, the data registration sheet and the questionnaire for the study variables were used as an instrument. The result indicates that in the first semester of 2022, the taxpayers had a deficient knowledge level of 33% with a payment of 13,409.11 soles, and in the first semester of 2023 a deficient knowledge level of 4% was obtained, achieving a good level. and excellent of 83%, reaching a payment of 57,419.10 soles; Determining that the level of tax culture significantly influences 62%, increasing the payment of property tax by 44,009.99 soles. In addition, in relation to the T-Student statistical test for the correlation coefficient between percentages of tax culture level and amounts paid, values of P=0.28 were obtained in the 2022 semester, with a relationship of 44% and P= 0.12 in the semester 2023, affirming a relationship of 55%, which shows that there was a considerable improvement in the payment of the property taxTesi

Completeness of reporting of setting and health worker cadre among trials on antenatal iron and folic acid supplementation in pregnancy: an assessment based on two Cochrane reviews

Abstract Background Poor reporting of medical trials has triggered the development of trial reporting standards within the scientific community. In addition to a description of the proposed intervention, adequate information about the trial setting and the group of health workers (cadre) delivering the intervention would allow a better understanding of the generalizability of the trial findings, facilitate replication of trial interventions and assist with assessment of trials for inclusion in systematic reviews. This study aims to determine the completeness of reporting for trial setting and cadre among trials included in two Cochrane reviews on iron and folic acid supplementation for women during pregnancy. Methods From the 81 trials included in the two Cochrane reviews, we extracted data on the trial setting, including the facility type and geographic location, facility descriptors (i.e. level of care) and population descriptors (i.e. socioeconomic status); and the cadre, including professional qualifications, training and supervision. Results Almost all studies reported the facility type and location (96%). However, only 68% included this information in the “methods” section of the report. Facility descriptors and population descriptors were less commonly reported (26% and 54% respectively). For 34% of the trials, we found some account of the type of health worker that delivered the intervention. Only 4% of the trials reported any training procedures. Conclusions Currently, complete reporting of setting and health worker cadre in iron and folic acid supplementation in pregnancy trials remains far from ideal, limiting assessments of the applicability of the trial findings. Trialists and journals need to ensure that this information is included in trial reports by adhering to and improving current reporting standards and by not making assumptions regarding readers’ knowledge of the context and of the intervention delivery mechanism

Performance and comparability of laboratory methods for measuring ferritin concentrations in human serum or plasma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Different laboratory methods are used to quantify ferritin concentrations as a marker of iron status. A systematic review was undertaken to assess the accuracy and comparability of the most used methods for ferritin detection. Methods and findings National and regional databases were searched for prospective, retrospective, sectional, longitudinal and case-control studies containing the characteristics and performance of at least one method for serum/plasma ferritin determinations in humans published to date. The analysis included the comparison between at least 2 methods detailing: sensitivity, precision, accuracy, predictive values, inter-methods adjustment, and use of international reference materials. Pooled method performance was analyzed for each method and across methods. Outcomes Search strategy identified 11893 records. After de-duplication and screening 252 studies were assessed, including 187 studies in the qualitative analysis and 148 in the meta-analysis. The most used methods included radiometric, nonradiometric and agglutination assays. The overall within-run imprecision for the most reported ferritin methods was 6.2±3.4% (CI 5.69–6.70%; n = 171), between-run imprecision 8.9±8.7% (CI 7.44–10.35%; n = 136), and recovery rate 95.6% (CI 91.5–99.7%; n = 94). The pooled regression coefficient was 0.985 among all methods analyzed, and 0.984 when comparing nonradiometric and radiometric methods, without statistical differences in ferritin concentration ranging from 2.3 to 1454 µµg/L. Conclusion The laboratory methods most used to determine ferritin concentrations have comparable accuracy and performance. Registered in PROSPERO CRD42016036222

Effect of confinement by SARS-CoV-2 on the degree of steatohepatitis in university students from Reynosa, Tamaulipas

Introduction: Healthy lifestyles are relevant for several diseases, steatohepatitis, although little known, is common in young people. There are reasons to be concerned about homebound college youth who are at risk for steatohepatitis. By restricting the mobility of the population, the risk factors for weight gain and the intake of calorie-dense foods increase, which are elements associated with steatohepatitis. Objective: To determine the effect of confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic on the degree of steatohepatitis by comparing transient elastography results taken before and after confinement. Method: Longitudinal study. A sample of 114 young university students of random sex was included. The transient elastography technique (FibroScan) was implemented, determining the degrees of steatosis and hepatic fibrosis by performing the test before and after the confinement of the participants. Student´s t-test was used to analyse the differences in the degrees of steatohepatitis before and after confinement. Results: the degrees of steatosis during the first sampling were S0 (52.6%), S1 (14.9%), S2 (5.3%) and S3 (27.2%) (m = 250.89, DE= ± 56.91), in the second sampling were presented S0 (56.1%), S1 (13.2%), S2 (5.3%) and S3 (5.4%) (m = 243.81, DE = ± 52.330), the relation of both samples was (p = 0.131). The results in the degrees of fibrosis in the first sampling were F0 (91.4%), F1 (6.1%). F2 (2.6%) (m= 4.80, DE = ±1.11), in the second F1 (95.6%), F2 (3.5) and F2 (0.9%) (m = 4.33, DE = ±1.16) and the relation of the two sampling was (p= 0.000). Conclusions: The degrees of hepatic fibrosis presented significant changes, on the other hand, steatosis tends to decrease, but the change is not significant, however, it is necessary to investigate with third variables to detect other factors involved in the changes

Calcium‐fortified foods in public health programs: considerations for implementation

Low calcium intake is common worldwide and can result in nutritional rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Calcium-fortified foods could improve calcium intake. However, there is limited calcium fortification experience, with technical and practical issues that may hamper its adoption. The objective of this landscape review is to summarize these issues to help policymakers guide the planning and design of calcium fortification as a public health strategy. One challenge is the low bioavailability of calcium salts (∼20–40%); thus, large amounts need to be added to food to have a meaningful impact. Solubility is important when fortifying liquids and acidic foods. Calcium salts could change the flavor, color, and appearance of the food and may account for 70–90% of the total fortification cost. Safety is key to avoid exceeding the recommended intake; so the amount of added calcium should be based on the target calcium intake and the gap between inadequate and adequate levels. Monitoring includes the quality of the fortified food and population calcium intake using dietary assessment methods. Calcium fortification should follow regulations, implemented in an intersectorial way, and be informed by the right to health and equity. This information may help guide and plan this public health strategy.Fil: Palacios, Cristina. Florida International University; Estados UnidosFil: Cormick, Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Centro de Investigaciones en Epidemiología y Salud Pública. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria. Centro de Investigaciones en Epidemiología y Salud Pública; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Matanza; ArgentinaFil: Hofmeyr, G. Justus. No especifíca;Fil: Garcia Casal, Maria Nieves. World Health Organization; SuizaFil: Peña Rosas, Juan Pablo. World Health Organization; SuizaFil: Betrán, Ana Pilar. World Health Organization; Suiz