Traumatic Brain Injuries among adolescent inmates in Rikers Island, NYC Jail: A mixed methods study

There is a higher prevalence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) among incarcerated population than in the general population. It is possible that head injuries can lead to behavioral difficulties, increasing the risk of criminal justice involvement and custodial difficulties. Principles of bio-social criminology put forth that the interaction between people\u27s environment and their biological makeup that can lead to maladaptive behaviors. One of the main domains within the bio-social criminology approach is neurocriminology; neurocriminology uses principles of neuroscience to better understand delinquent and antisocial behaviours and suggests that brain injury can interact with environmental factors to produce seemingly aggressive and antisocial behaviors. Using this theoretical framework, the current study set out to investigate neurological anomalies related to TBIs and custodial challenges among adolescents in Rikers Island, New York City Jail. Goals of the study included establishing the prevalence of TBI in this population; exploring and characterizing TBI as a predictor of custodial arguments, fights, injuries, and sentences to punitive segregation; and examining TBI as a predictor of recidivism and perceived challenges with reentering the community. A mixed methods approach attained these goals through two major objectives: Quantitative analysis of survey, clinical, demographic and criminal history data collected from 262 detainees; and 2) Qualitative analysis of in depth semi-structured interviews with 20 detainees. Subjects included 16-18 year old males. In the quantitative phase, secondary data analyses was conducted using an existing data set compiled by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene from participants (N=262) who were screened for TBI using the Traumatic Brain Injury Questionnaire (TBIQ). Binary logistic regressions and survival Cox regression analyses discovered that in this sample, TBI was not a predictor of injuries, punitive segregation terms or recidivism, while controlling for demographic, socioeconomic, and other risk factors. However, mental health service utilization was a strong predictor of all outcomes and was highly correlated with TBI. Structural equational modelling suggested that TBI had an indirect effect on all outcome variables through mental health service utilization. It is possible that those who were involved in arguments, fights, infractions, punitive segregation, and who recidivated had accessed mental health services in Rikers due to TBI-related difficulties. These difficulties could have predisposed them to custodial and reentry challenges. The qualitative phase involved in depth semi-structured interviews with 20 detained adolescents. Participants were screened for TBI using the TBIQ, and then asked open ended questions about custodial arguments, fights, and injuries, as well as about their experiences with punitive segregation and perceived challenges upon their release from Rikers. Interviews were transcribed, and organizational and substantive categories were developed to facilitate open coding. Comparative analyses were made between participants with and without TBI, and emergent themes were presented. Findings suggest that participants with TBI experienced unique challenges in relation to verbal arguments and physical fights with other inmates, rapidly escalating physical altercations with corrections officers, weapons-related infractions, punitive segregation, and associated difficulties with coping mechanisms such as self-injury and attempted suicide, and feelings of hopelessness about their reentry into the community. Five themes emerged and detail how what participants with TBI experience in the facility were transferred into their daily activities. Themes included inmates experiencing the following: (a) violence as a norm, (b) the need to survive by all means, (c) a life of ongoing trauma, (d) punitive deprivation and shame, and (e) hopelessness. In converging results from both methods, findings suggest that some inmates with TBI are experiencing custodial challenges, and are being mislabelled as having a mental illness. In addition, many arguments, fights, and injuries were intentionally unreported and therefore undocumented. It is possible that this led to inconclusive findings in analyses of administrative data. Future research should seek to disaggregate the behavioral consequences of TBI and of mental illness, and should attempt to pursue more reliable measures of custodial fights and injuries. Education and training of correctional staff about TBI, its symptoms, and long-term consequences could improve correctional management of these inmates. Screening at intake and at multiple points in an inmate\u27s custodial stay, along with assessment of cognitive functioning can inform appropriate custodial therapy; keeping in mind that brain injury is not synonymous with mental illness, successful interventions will be social rather than medical. Information about TBI should also be considered before (e.g., courts) and after (e.g., reentry planning) an individual is placed in jail. Overall, increased community awareness is essential for prevention and adequate care of people who are suffering from TBIs

Engaging Youth In Creating A Healthy School Environment: A Photovoice Strategy

This study examined a pilot participatory needs assessment that was conducted with nine senior high school students from Port of Spain, Trinidad. Photovoice was used to engage these students in critical dialogue about their perceptions of issues affecting their health. Trained graduate students facilitated a 3-day training session in photovoice technique/ethics, writing narratives, critical reflection and dialogue with these students. Once trained, they were given disposable cameras and asked to photograph their school environment and document their thoughts on what they had photographed. After collation of photos and dialogue, seven health themes emerged. The most recurring themes included quality of the food served at schools, need for safe, clean and well-maintained school facilities, and role modeling by teachers, parents and community. Recommendations to address the concerns identified were discussed by the participants. The study concluded that conducting needs assessment, which concentrates on the voices of those affected, can be a first step in creating successful and cost-efficient programs and interventions tailored to specific groups. A needs assessment using photovoice should be a technique considered by school staff, government leaders, health professionals, and NGOs

A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION TO THE POSSIBLE IMPACT OF EL NINO/SOUTHERN OSCILLATION (ENSO) PHENOMENA ON THE CLIMATE OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO USING REMOTELY SENSED DATA

Abstract Trinidad and Tobago like most other small developing island states is quite vulnerable to changes in Climate and Sea Surface Temperature (SST). Climate changes can affect the rainfall regimes, air temperature, soil moisture budgets, water resources and arable land usage. While changes in air and sea surface temperature can adversely affect coral reefs, mangroves, sea grass bed communities and fishery populations that depend on them for habitat and breeding grounds. Analysis of the temporal and spatial changes of SST over the years is an important way of understanding the present variability in the climate. This will then allow for an improved assessment of the susceptibility, vulnerability and risk that both humans and natural ecosystems may face because of the changes in the coupling interaction of the various components of the Earth's environmental system. However, decision-making, management and developing environmental policies in this regard is seriously compromised due information poverty, i.e. the lack of data of effective and reliable information base. This paper advances a methodology to endure information poverty and to obtain and analyse the SST patterns utilising it as a proxy for determining the climate variability of Trinidad and Tobago. The methodology is based on obtaining, using and analysing available remotely sensed SST from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) via the Internet. As well as using available rainfall data. In the case of Trinidad and Tobago, the SST and rainfall data was obtained for the last 16 years. Mean monthly values of SST and rainfall for the period 1986-1999 were then derived. The results indicate that variability in the climate is occurring. Furthermore, it shows that during the El Niño years 1986-87 and 1997-98, the SST were at a maximum while the rainfall fell to minimum. The preliminary results indicated the possibility of developing statistical associations between SST and land precipitation as well as the association between the SST-land precipitation pattern and external events such as the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon. These ideas in turn can lead to investigating the association between the variability in SST and land precipitation on water resources and land use patterns that might lead to the possible prediction of the land precipitation patterns based on SST analysis

Podoconiosis and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs): double burden of neglected tropical diseases in Wolaita zone, rural southern Ethiopia

Background Both podoconiosis and soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections occur among barefoot people in areas of extreme poverty; however, their co-morbidity has not previously been investigated. We explored the overlap of STH infection and podoconiosis in Southern Ethiopia and quantified their separate and combined effects on prevalent anemia and hemoglobin levels in podoconiosis patients and health controls from the same area. Methods and Principal Findings A two-part comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in Wolaita zone, southern Ethiopia. Data were collected from adult patients presenting with clinically confirmed podoconiosis, and unmatched adult neighborhood controls living in the same administrative area. Information on demographic and selected lifestyle factors was collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Stool samples were collected and examined qualitatively using the modified formalin-ether sedimentation method. Hemoglobin level was determined using two different methods: hemoglobinometer and automated hematology analyzer. A total of 913 study subjects (677 podoconiosis patients and 236 controls) participated. The prevalence of any STH infection was 47.6% among patients and 33.1% among controls (p<0.001). The prevalence of both hookworm and Trichuris trichiura infections was significantly higher in podoconiosis patients than in controls (AOR 1.74, 95% CI 1.25 to2.42, AOR 6.53, 95% CI 2.34 to 18.22, respectively). Not wearing shoes and being a farmer remained significant independent predictors of infection with any STH. There was a significant interaction between STH infection and podoconiosis on reduction of hemoglobin level (interaction p value = 0.002). Conclusions Prevalence of any STH and hookworm infection was higher among podoconiosis patients than among controls. A significant reduction in hemoglobin level was observed among podoconiosis patients co-infected with hookworm and ‘non-hookworm STH’. Promotion of consistent shoe-wearing practices may have double advantages in controlling both podoconiosis and hookworm infection in the study area

The double burden of COVID-19 and a major volcanic eruption on local food production and food security in a Small Island Developing State

IntroductionSmall Island Developing States have disproportionately high food insecurity rates, related to complex challenges and vulnerabilities. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted that within these settings, crises often overlap. We aimed to assess the impact of the concurrent COVID-19 pandemic and volcanic eruption on food production and security in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).MethodsAn interpretive mixed-methods study was conducted among a convenience sample of consenting adults ≥18 years from 100 households in SVG through a cross-sectional survey and participant interviews (10 households) between September 2021 and March 2022. Food insecurity prevalence over the past year was assessed using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES; Rasch modeling) and impacts to livelihoods from the pandemic and volcanic eruption was assessed using an adapted Caribbean COVID-19 Food Security and Livelihoods Impact Survey (Caribbean COVID-19 FS&amp;L Survey). Data were analyzed using logistic regression.ResultsDuring the pandemic, 59% of the participants reported decreased income, 63% had no access to markets, 81% had no access to food aid; 34% of the participants had a change in food sources, and 81% reported that food production was negatively impacted by the volcanic eruptions, of which 68% reported decreased food production. The interviews highlighted that access to markets were restricted by fear of leaving home and contracting the COVID-19 virus, and participants who received food aid stated that the number of items were not sufficient for larger families. Almost half of the participants were severely food insecure [48% (95% C.I. 31.2,57.8)]; almost two thirds were moderately to severely food insecure [64% (95% C.I. 50.0, 74.2)]; mean FIES score 5.31 (95% C.I. 5.0,5.6). After adjusting for gender, age, education, and household size, moderate to severe food insecurity was associated with no access to food aid during the pandemic and post-eruptions (odds ratio 3.7; 95% confidence interval 1.5, 9.1; p = 0.004).ConclusionFood insecurity rates were high during the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbated by volcanic eruptions and insufficient access to food aid. Our results suggest the need for the development of strategies and interventions aimed at increasing the resilience of food systems to mitigate the effects of future disasters

Effect of Pulse Flours on the Physiochemical Characteristics and Sensory Acceptance of Baked Crackers.

Pulse flours offer nutritional alternatives to wheat flour in the production of baked snacks due to their high protein and fibre levels and low glycaemic index. In this study, broad-bean (Vicia faba), yellow-pea and green-pea (Pisum sativum) flours were each blended with wheat flour at 40% in the formulation of chemically leavened crackers. The effects of flour type and baking time on the physiochemical properties, sensory acceptability, nutritional composition and antioxidant activity of the crackers were observed in comparison with 100% wheat crackers. Broad-bean crackers had the highest protein content and antioxidant activity (13 g per 100 g DM and 38.8 mgAAE per 100 g DM, respectively). Yellow-pea crackers had the highest fibre content (12 g per 100 g DM). Physical dimensions and colour attributes were significantly affected by pulse-flour substitution. Yellow-pea and broad-bean crackers were significantly preferred by consumers compared to the control, demonstrating the potential application of these flours to improve the eating quality and nutritional profile of crackers

Incorporating a Rapid-Impact Package for Neglected Tropical Diseases with Programs for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria: A comprehensive pro-poor health policy and strategy for the developing world

Hotez et al. argue that achieving success in the global fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria may well require a concurrent attack on the neglected tropical diseases

The Synergistic Effect of Concomitant Schistosomiasis, Hookworm, and Trichuris Infections on Children's Anemia Burden

Polyparasitic infections have been recognized as the norm in many tropical developing countries, but the significance of this phenomenon for helminth-associated morbidities is largely unexplored. Earlier studies have suggested that multi-species, low-intensity parasitic infections were associated with higher odds of anemia among school-age children relative to their uninfected counterparts or those with one low-intensity infection. However, specific studies of the nature of interactions between helminth species in the mediation of helminth-associated morbidities are lacking. This study quantifies the extent to which polyparasitic infections have more than the sum of adverse effects associated with individual infections in the context of childhood anemia. This study found that the risk of anemia is amplified beyond the sum of risks for individual infections in children simultaneously exposed to 1) hookworm and schistosomiasis, and 2) hookworm and trichuris, and suggests that combined treatment for some geohelminth species and schistosomiasis could yield greater than additive benefits for the reduction of childhood anemia in helminth-endemic areas. However, more studies to understand the full range of interactions between parasitic species in their joint effects on helminth-associated morbidities will be necessary to better predict the impact of any future public health intervention

Antioxidant and oxidative stress: a mutual interplay in age-related diseases

Aging is the progressive loss of organ and tissue function over time. Growing older is positively linked to cognitive and biological degeneration such as physical frailty, psychological impairment, and cognitive decline. Oxidative stress is considered as an imbalance between pro- and antioxidant species, which results in molecular and cellular damage. Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development of age-related diseases. Emerging research evidence has suggested that antioxidant can control the autoxidation by interrupting the propagation of free radicals or by inhibiting the formation of free radicals and subsequently reduce oxidative stress, improve immune function, and increase healthy longevity. Indeed, oxidation damage is highly dependent on the inherited or acquired defects in enzymes involved in the redox-mediated signaling pathways. Therefore, the role of molecules with antioxidant activity that promote healthy aging and counteract oxidative stress is worth to discuss further. Of particular interest in this article, we highlighted the molecular mechanisms of antioxidants involved in the prevention of age-related diseases. Taken together, a better understanding of the role of antioxidants involved in redox modulation of inflammation would provide a useful approach for potential interventions, and subsequently promoting healthy longevity