30 research outputs found
Predicting the onset and persistence of episodes of depression in primary health care. The predictD-Spain study: Methodology
Background:
The effects of putative risk factors on the onset and/or persistence of depression remain unclear. We aim to develop comprehensive models to predict the onset and persistence of episodes of depression in primary care. Here we explain the general methodology of the predictD-Spain study and evaluate the reliability of the questionnaires used.
Methods:
This is a prospective cohort study. A systematic random sample of general practice attendees aged 18 to 75 has been recruited in seven Spanish provinces. Depression is being measured with the CIDI at baseline, and at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months. A set of individual, environmental, genetic, professional and organizational risk factors are to be assessed at each follow-up point. In a separate reliability study, a proportional random sample of 401 participants completed the test-retest (251 researcher-administered and 150 self-administered) between October 2005 and February 2006. We have also checked 118,398 items for data entry from a random sample of 480 patients stratified by province.
Results:
All items and questionnaires had good test-retest reliability for both methods of administration, except for the use of recreational drugs over the previous six months. Cronbach's alphas were good and their factorial analyses coherent for the three scales evaluated (social support from family and friends, dissatisfaction with paid work, and dissatisfaction with unpaid work). There were 191 (0.16%) data entry errors.
Conclusion:
The items and questionnaires were reliable and data quality control was excellent. When we eventually obtain our risk index for the onset and persistence of depression, we will be able to determine the individual risk of each patient evaluated in primary health car
Statement complementing the EFSA Scientific Opinion on application (EFSAâGMOâUKâ2006â34) for authorisation of food and feed containing, consisting of and produced from genetically modified maize 3272
Following a request from the European Commission, the GMO Panel assessed additional information related to the application for authorisation of food and feed containing, consisting of and produced from genetically modified (GM) maize 3272 (EFSAâGMOâUKâ2006â34). The applicant conducted new agronomic, phenotypic and compositional analysis studies on maize 3272 and assessed the allergenic potential of AMY797E protein, addressing elements that remained inconclusive from previous EFSA opinion issued in 2013. The GMO Panel is of the opinion that the agronomic and phenotypic characteristics as well as forage and grain composition of maize 3272 do not give rise to food and feed safety, and nutritional concerns when compared to nonâGM maize. Considering the scope of this application and the characteristics of the trait introduced in this GM maize, the effect of processing and potential safety implications of specific food or feed products remain to be further investigated. Regarding the allergenic potential of AMY797E protein and considering all possible food and feed uses of maize 3272, the Panel concludes that the information provided does not fully address the concerns previously raised by the Panel in 2013. Owing to the nature and the knowledge available on this protein family, it is still unclear whether under specific circumstances the alphaâamylase AMY797E has the capacity to sensitise certain individuals and to cause adverse effects. To further support the safety of specific products of maize 3272, the applicant provided thorough information relevant for the allergenicity assessment of dried distiller grains with solubles (DDGS), which is the main product of interest for importation into the EU. Having considered the information provided on this product, the Panel is of the opinion that under the specific conditions of use described by the applicant, DDGS produced from maize 3272 does not raise concerns when compared to DDGS from nonâGM maize
Assessment of genetically modified maize MON 87427 Ă MON 89034 Ă MIR162 Ă MON 87411 and subcombinations, for food and feed uses, under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 (application EFSAâGMOâNLâ2017â144)
Maize MON 87427 Ă MON 89034 Ă MIR162 Ă MON 87411 (fourâevent stack maize) was produced by conventional crossing to combine four single events: MON 87427, MON 89034, MIR162 and MON 87411. The genetically modified organism (GMO) Panel previously assessed the four single maize events and four of the subcombinations and did not identify safety concerns. No new data on the single maize events or the four subcombinations that could lead to modification of the original conclusions on their safety were identified. The molecular characterisation, comparative analysis (agronomic, phenotypic and compositional characteristics) and the outcome of the toxicological, allergenicity and nutritional assessment indicate that the combination of the single maize events and of the newly expressed proteins and dsRNA in the fourâevent stack maize does not give rise to food and feed safety and nutritional concerns. The GMO Panel concludes that the fourâevent stack maize, as described in this application, is as safe as and nutritionally equivalent to its nonâGM comparator and the nonâGM reference varieties tested. In the case of accidental release of viable grains of the fourâevent stack maize into the environment, this would not raise environmental safety concerns. The GMO Panel assessed the likelihood of interactions among the single events in the six maize subcombinations not previously assessed and concludes that these are expected to be as safe as and nutritionally equivalent to the single events, the previously assessed subcombinations and the fourâevent stack maize. The postâmarket environmental monitoring plan and reporting intervals are in line with the intended uses of the fourâevent stack maize. Postâmarket monitoring of food/feed is not considered necessary. The GMO Panel concludes that the fourâevent stack maize and its subcombinations are as safe as its nonâGM comparator and tested nonâGM reference varieties with respect to potential effects on human and animal health and the environment
Assessment of genetically modified soybean MON 87705 Ă MON 87708 Ă MON 89788, for food and feed uses, under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 (application EFSAâGMOâNLâ2015â126)
Soybean MON 87705 Ă MON 87708 Ă MON 89788 (threeâevent stack soybean) was produced by conventional crossing to combine three single soybean events: MON 87705, MON 87708 and MON 89788. This combination is intended to alter the fatty acid profile in the seed (in particular increasing the levels of oleic acid) and tolerance to glyphosateâbased and dicamba herbicides. The Genetically Modified Organisms Panel previously assessed the three single soybean events and did not identify safety concerns. No new data on the single soybean events, leading to modification of the original conclusions on their safety have been identified. The molecular characterisation, comparative analysis (agronomic, phenotypic and compositional characteristics) and the outcome of the toxicological, allergenicity and nutritional assessment indicate that the combination of the single soybean events and of the newly expressed proteins in the threeâevent stack soybean does not give rise to food and feed safety and nutritional concerns. In the case of accidental release of viable threeâevent stack soybean seeds into the environment, this would not raise environmental safety concerns. The postâmarket environmental monitoring plan and the reporting intervals are in line with the intended uses of soybean MON 87705 Ă MON 87708 Ă MON 89788. Considering the altered fatty acid profile of the threeâevent stack soybean, a proposal for postâmarket monitoring needs to be provided by the applicant. The GMO Panel notes that in the context of this application EFSAâGMOâNLâ2015â126 the applicant did not provide a 90âday study on MON 87705 soybean in line with the applicable legal requirements. Therefore, the GMO Panel is not in the position to finalise the risk assessment of soybean MON 87705 Ă MON 87708 Ă MON 89788 under the current regulatory frame
Assessment of genetically modified maize MZIR098 for food and feed uses, under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 (application EFSAâGMOâDEâ2017â142)
Maize MZIR098 was developed to confer tolerance to glufosinateâammoniumâcontaining herbicides and resistance to certain coleopteran pests. The molecular characterisation data and bioinformatic analyses do not identify issues requiring food/feed safety assessment. None of the identified differences in the agronomic/phenotypic and compositional characteristics tested between maize MZIR098 and its conventional counterpart needs further assessment, except for neutral detergent fibre (NDF) in grains, which does not raise nutritional and safety concerns. The GMO Panel does not identify safety concerns regarding the toxicity and allergenicity of the eCry3.1Ab, mCry3A and PAT proteins as expressed in maize MZIR098, and finds no evidence that the genetic modification would change the overall allergenicity of maize MZIR098. In the context of this application, the consumption of food and feed from maize MZIR098 does not represent a nutritional concern in humans and animals. The GMO Panel concludes that maize MZIR098 is as safe as the conventional counterpart and nonâGM maize reference varieties tested, and no postâmarket monitoring of food/feed is considered necessary. In the case of accidental release of viable maize MZIR098 grains into the environment, maize MZIR098 would not raise environmental safety concerns. The postâmarket environmental monitoring plan and reporting intervals are in line with the intended uses of maize MZIR098. In conclusion, the GMO Panel considers that maize MZIR098, as described in this application, is as safe as its conventional counterpart and the nonâGM maize reference varieties tested with respect to potential effects on human and animal health and the environment
Assessment of genetically modified oilseed rape MS11 for food and feed uses, import and processing, under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 (application EFSAâGMOâBEâ2016â138)
Oilseed rape MS11 has been developed to confer male sterility and tolerance to glufosinateâammoniumâcontaining herbicides. Based on the information provided in the application and in line with the scope of application EFSAâGMOâBEâ2016â138, the genetically modified organism (GMO) Panel concludes that the molecular characterisation data and bioinformatic analyses do not identify issues requiring food/feed safety assessment. None of the identified differences in the agronomic/phenotypic characteristics tested between oilseed rape MS11 and its conventional counterpart needs further assessment. No conclusions can be drawn for the compositional analysis due to the lack of an appropriate compositional data set. No toxicological or allergenicity concerns are identified for the Barnase, Barstar and PAT/bar proteins expressed in oilseed rape MS11. Owing to the incompleteness of the compositional analysis, the toxicological, allergenicity and nutritional assessment of oilseed rape MS11 cannot be completed. In the case of accidental release of viable oilseed rape MS11 seeds into the environment, oilseed rape MS11 would not raise environmental safety concerns. The postâmarket environmental monitoring plan and reporting intervals are in line with the scope of the application. Since oilseed rape MS11 is designed to be used only for the production of hybrid seed, it is not expected to be commercialised as a standâalone product for food/feed uses. Thus, seeds harvested from oilseed rape MS11 are not expected to enter the food/feed chain, except accidentally. In this context, the GMO Panel notes that, oilseed rape MS11 would not pose risk to humans and animals, while the scale of environmental exposure will be substantially reduced compared to a standâalone product
Assessment of genetically modified soybean MON 87751 Ă MON 87701 Ă MON 87708 Ă MON 89788 for food and feed uses, under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 (application EFSAâGMOâNLâ2016â128)
Soybean MON 87751 Ă MON 87701 Ă MON 87708 Ă MON 89788 (fourâevent stack soybean) was produced by conventional crossing to combine four single events: MON 87751, MON 87701, MON 87708 and MON 89788. The GMO Panel previously assessed the four single events and did not identify safety concerns. No new data on the single events have been identified that would lead to modification of the original conclusions on their safety. The molecular characterisation, comparative analysis (agronomic, phenotypic and compositional characteristics) and the outcome of the toxicological and allergenicity assessment indicate that the combination of the single soybean events and of the newly expressed proteins in the fourâevent stack soybean does not give rise to food and feed safety and nutritional concerns. The GMO Panel concludes that the fourâevent stack soybean, as described in this application, is as safe as and nutritionally equivalent to the nonâGM comparator and the nonâGM reference varieties tested. In the case of accidental release of viable seeds of the fourâevent stack soybean into the environment, this would not raise environmental safety concerns. The postâmarket environmental monitoring plan and reporting intervals are in line with the intended uses of the fourâevent stack soybean. Postâmarket monitoring of food/feed is not considered necessary. The GMO Panel concludes that the fourâevent stack soybean is as safe as the nonâGM comparator and the tested nonâGM reference varieties with respect to potential effects on human and animal health and the environment
Effects of an exercise program on hepatic metabolism, hepatic fat, and cardiovascular health in overweight/obese adolescents from BogotĂĄ, Colombia (the HEPAFIT study): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Background: A considerable proportion of contemporary youth have a high risk of obesity-related disorders such
as cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Although there is consistent
evidence for the positive effects of physical activity on several health aspects, most adolescents in Colombia are
sedentary. It is, therefore, important to implement strategies that generate changes in lifestyle. The HEPAFIT study
aims to examine whether a 6-month exercise program has benefits for hepatic fat content and cardiovascular health
outcomes among overweight/obese adolescents from BogotĂĄ, Colombia.
Methods/design: Altogether, 100 hundred overweight/obese, sedentary adolescents (aged 11â17 years) attending two
public schools in BogotĂĄ, Colombia, will be included in a parallel-group randomized controlled trial. Adolescents will be
randomly assigned to an intervention group following one of four curricula: (1) the standard physical education
curriculum (60 min per week of physical activity, n = 25) at low-to-moderate intensity; (2) a high-intensity physical
education curriculum (HIPE, n = 25), consisting of endurance and resistance games and non-competitive activities,
such as running, gymkhanas, lifting, pushing, wrestling, or hauling, for 60-min sessions, three times per week, with
an energy expenditure goal of 300 to 500 kcal/session at 75â85% maximum heart rate (HRmax); (3) a low-to-moderate
intensity physical education curriculum (LIPE, n = 25) consisting of endurance and resistance games and non-competitive
activities (e.g., chasing, sprinting, dribbling, or hopping) for 60-min sessions, three times per week with an energy
expenditure goal of 300 kcal/session at 55â75% HRmax; and (4) a combined HIPE and LIPE curriculum (n = 25).
The HIPE, LIPE, and combined interventions were performed in addition to the standard physical education curriculum.
The primary outcome for effectiveness is liver fat content, as measured by the controlled attenuation parameter 1
week after the end of the intervention program.
Discussion: The translational focus may be suitable for collecting new information in a school setting on the
possible effects of physical activity interventions to reduce liver fat content and to improve metabolic profiles
and the cardiometabolic health of overweight/obese adolescents. This may lead to the more efficient use of
school physical education resources.The HEPAFIT study was carried out with the financial support of Instituto
Colombiano para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y la TecnologĂa âFrancisco JosĂ©
de Caldasâ COLCIENCIAS (code 59700 and no 122277757900). Katherine
GonzĂĄlez-RuĂz receive a scholarship from Universidad del Rosario, Colombia,
Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, to do a Doctorate. This article
presents independent research commissioned by COLCIENCIAS under its
Program Grants for Applied Research funding scheme (Convocatoria 777â2017)
Medium of instruction ideologies: accommodation of multilingualism in the bilingual regime of Navarre
The management of bilingualism in the Spanish autonomous community of Navarre is a source of tension. The implementation of English medium of instruction in the public educational system has clashed with attempts to break with the linguistic territoriality regime by promoting Basque schooling. This paper brings together ideologies on English and minority languages and explores how political practice is intertwined with language policy and planning and language ideology. More specifically, it examines the institutionalization of language ideologies through language policy-making in education and, particularly, through medium of instruction. The paper begins with a description of the bilingual regime in Navarre and an examination of how ideologies have shaped and legitimized language policy in education. It then moves on to an analysis of both Basque and English medium of instruction ideologies that inform policy-making. This paper shows that the dynamics introduced by multilingualism in education have had a reinforcing effect on previous language ideologies on bilingualism and, ultimately, have aggravated the language dispute. Finally, it discusses how medium of instruction serves as a terrain for language competition and as part of a broader struggle for language policy and institutional power