Framing Male Circumcision to Promote its Adoption in Different Settings

The effectiveness of male circumcision in preventing transmission of HIV from females to males has been established. Those who are now advocating its widespread use face many challenges in convincing policy-makers and the public of circumcision’s value. We suggest that frames are a useful lens for communicating public health messages that may help promote adoption of circumcision. Frames relate to how individuals and societies perceive and understand the world. Existing frames are often hard to shift, and should be borne in mind by advocates and program implementers as they attempt to promote male circumcision by invoking new frames. Frames differ across and within societies, and advocates must find ways of delivering resonant messages that take into account prior perceptions and use the most appropriate means of communicating the benefits and value of male circumcision to different audiences

Male Circumcision and HIV Prevention: Looking to the Future

Now that male circumcision has been shown to have a protective effect for men against HIV infection when engaging in vaginal intercourse with HIV-infected women, the research focus needs to shift towards the operational studies that can pave the way for effective implementation of circumcision programs. Behavioral research is needed to find out how people perceive the procedure and the barriers to and facilitators of uptake. It should also assess the risk of an increase in unsafe sex after circumcision. Social research must examine cultural perceptions of the practice, in Africa and beyond, including how likely uncircumcised communities are to access surgery and what messages are needed to persuade them. Advocates of male circumcision would benefit from research on how to influence health policy-makers, how best to communicate the benefits to the public, and how to design effective delivery models

Defending the genome from the enemy within:mechanisms of retrotransposon suppression in the mouse germline

The viability of any species requires that the genome is kept stable as it is transmitted from generation to generation by the germ cells. One of the challenges to transgenerational genome stability is the potential mutagenic activity of transposable genetic elements, particularly retrotransposons. There are many different types of retrotransposon in mammalian genomes, and these target different points in germline development to amplify and integrate into new genomic locations. Germ cells, and their pluripotent developmental precursors, have evolved a variety of genome defence mechanisms that suppress retrotransposon activity and maintain genome stability across the generations. Here, we review recent advances in understanding how retrotransposon activity is suppressed in the mammalian germline, how genes involved in germline genome defence mechanisms are regulated, and the consequences of mutating these genome defence genes for the developing germline

International Consensus Statement on Rhinology and Allergy: Rhinosinusitis

Background: The 5 years since the publication of the first International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis (ICAR‐RS) has witnessed foundational progress in our understanding and treatment of rhinologic disease. These advances are reflected within the more than 40 new topics covered within the ICAR‐RS‐2021 as well as updates to the original 140 topics. This executive summary consolidates the evidence‐based findings of the document. Methods: ICAR‐RS presents over 180 topics in the forms of evidence‐based reviews with recommendations (EBRRs), evidence‐based reviews, and literature reviews. The highest grade structured recommendations of the EBRR sections are summarized in this executive summary. Results: ICAR‐RS‐2021 covers 22 topics regarding the medical management of RS, which are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Additionally, 4 topics regarding the surgical management of RS are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Finally, a comprehensive evidence‐based management algorithm is provided. Conclusion: This ICAR‐RS‐2021 executive summary provides a compilation of the evidence‐based recommendations for medical and surgical treatment of the most common forms of RS

Physicochemical characters of oilseeds from selected mustard genotypes

To evaluate the physicochemical characteristics of oilseeds, three varieties of mustard oilseeds were studied their seed weight, moisture, ash, carbohydrate, protein, fat, total energy and minerals composition of oil and cake. Among the varieties the highest thousand grain weight was found in BARI Sarisha-17 (4.24 g) and the lowest thousand grain weight was found in BARI Sarisha-15 (3.17 g). The highest moisture content was observed from BARI Sarisha-15 (4.52%); whereas the lowest moisture content was found in BARI Sarisha-17 (4.10%). The variety BARI Sarisha-17 contained significantly highest amount of oil (41.98%) whereas the variety BARI Sarisha-16 contained lowest amount of oil (40.95%). BARI Sarisha-16 contained highest amount of ash (14.20%). Significantly highest amount of protein was obtained from BARI Sarisha-15 (28.00%) and the lowest amount of protein obtained from BARI Sarisha-17 (22.57%). BARI Sarisha-17 contained highest amount of carbohydrate (18.85%), whereas BARI Sarisha-15 contained the lowest amount of carbohydrate (13.73%). BARI Sarisha-16 contained highest amount of Ca (2.52%) and Zn (66.80%). BARI Sarisha-15 contained highest amounts Cu (13.40%) and Fe (170.30%). Mustard varieties contained erucic acid (51.35-50.67%). Highest amount of total saturated fatty acid (TSFA) contained in BARI Sarisha- 15 (9.02%) and the lowest amount contained BARI Sarisha-16 (8.28%). Highest amount of total unsaturated fatty acid (TUSFA) contained in BARI Sarisha-17 (90.26%) lowest amount contained in BARI Sarisha-16 (87.04%). The highest amount of gross energy found from BARI Sarisha-15 (543.60 kcal/g; while lowest amount of gross energy recorded from BARI Sarisha-16 (531.20 kcal/g). Highest saponification value found in BARI Sarisha-17 (159.40) and lowest saponification value was found in BARI Sarisha-15 (157.6). The result of this research work confirms the mustard varieties seed to be of good quality and can be used for food preparation. The knowledge of this study could be utilized for various food preparation and selection for breeding purpose

Obesity-Related Knowledge and Practice Among the Healthcare Professions Students in Saudi Arabia

Salah H Elsafi,1 Reem H Al-Dossari,1 Ruaa A Al-shaqi,1 Wateen E Fakirah,1 Rawan F Al-Dossari,1 Omniyyah J Al-sharif,1 Rawan M Maawadh,1 Lenah D Al Musallam,1 Abeer Alaohali,2 Abdulelah M Abu Hassan,3 Othman A Alfahad,4 Yaser A Al Naam,1 Eidan M Al Zahrani5 1Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; 2Dental and Oral Health Department, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; 3Faculty of Medicine, University of Almaarefa, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Biomedical Technology, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; 5College Deanship, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dhahran, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Salah H Elsafi, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 33048, Dhahran, 31932, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966138405448, Email [email protected]: The objectives of this study are to identify the prevalence and the factors behind overweight and obesity among the healthcare profession’s students.Methods: A well-structured and validated questionnaire was distributed to a heterogeneous purposive sample of the healthcare profession’s students in Saudi Arabia.Results: About 21.0% and 15.5% were overweight and obese, respectively. The average knowledge score was 70.6% and increased with age and among obese participants. The average attitude score was 74.8% with no variation within age, body mass index (BMI), and gender. The average practice score was only 36.7%. There was a significant variation of the practice within the different age groups (P = 0.021). There was a significant association between the participant’s knowledge and attitude, and practice.Conclusion: The average practice score was poor. Despite their good knowledge and positive attitude, the students are exposed to heavy junk food marketing, which encourages overconsumption by instilling positive emotional associations with the junk food. They are mostly physically inactive, anxious and sleep deprived, which can lead to poor eating habits. For this group, various strategies and motivators will likely be needed.Keywords: obesity prevention, awareness, practice, healthcare students, Saudi Arabi