Evaluation of erectile dysfunction among bicycle taxi (Boda boda) riders in Bungoma Town, Kenya

Background: Organic erectile dysfunction is common in elderly men but is not prevalent in men below 40 years of age. However, in addition to other known causes such as smoking, alcohol intake and diabetes mellitus, recent research has implicated bicycle riding as the cause of erectile dysfunction in much younger men. Even stationary bikes can cause trauma to the blood supply to the penis, resulting in Erectile Dysfunction.Objective: To evaluate the effects of long term bicycle riding on erectile function among bicycle taxi (bodaboda) riders in Bungoma town.Design: A cross-sectional comparative study.Setting: Bungoma County, Kenya.Subjects: Bicycle (boda boda) taxi riders in Bungoma TownResults: A total of 230 participants were enrolled in this study of whom 115 were sugarcane cutters and 115 were bicycle taxi riders. The overall prevalence of erectile dysfunction among bicycle taxi riders was 35.9% and 34.0% among sugarcane cutters, was not significantly different. The period of riding in months was not significantly associated with erectile dysfunction among bicycle taxi riders but the length of riding in hours per week was significantly associated with erectile dysfunction p< 0.01. The risk of erectile dysfunction increased as the hours of riding per week increased. None of those who rode for more than 60 hours per week had a normal erectile function. The type of bicycle used was significantly associated with the quality of erection p<0.05, hardness of erection score p<0.05. Those who used mechanical (none motorised) bicycles had an increased risk for erectile dysfunction.Conclusion: Longer hours of bicycle riding per week and use of non-motorised bicycles was associated with higher rates of erectile dysfunction among Boda boda taxi riders

A self-directed learning intervention for radiographers rating mammographic breast density

Purpose: Subjective methods of mammographic breast density (MBD) assessment are prone to inter-reader variability. This work aims to assess the impact of a short self-directed experiential learning intervention on radiographers’ reproducibility of MBD assessment. Method: The study used two sets of images (test and learning intervention) containing left craniocaudal and left mediolateral oblique views. The test set had MBD ratings from VolparaTM and radiologists using the fourth edition Breast Imaging and Data Systems (BI-RADS®). Seven radiographers rated the MBD of the test set before and after a self-directed learning intervention using the percentage descriptors in the fourth edition BI-RADS® Atlas. The inter-reader agreement, agreement between radiographers and VolparaTM as well as radiologist, was assessed using a Weighted Kappa (Kw). Results: Overall, radiographers’ inter-reader agreement (Kw) was substantial (0.79; 95%CI: 0.70–0.87) before the intervention and almost perfect (0.84; 95%CI: 0.77–0.90) after the intervention. Before the intervention, radiographers demonstrated fair agreement with radiologists (0.24; 95%CI:-0.46–0.61) and VolparaTM (0.24; 95% CI: -0.41–0.59). A fair but slightly improved agreement was also observed between radiographers and radiologists (0.31; 95% CI: -0.33 - 0.64) as well as VolparaTM (0.28; 95% CI: -0.34- 0.61) after the intervention. Conclusion: Findings demonstrate that a short duration self-directed experiential learning intervention reduces inter-reader differences in MBD classification, but has a negligible impact on improving the agreement between inexperienced and expert readers

Correlation between prevalence of erectile dysfunction and length of riding in hours/week among bicycle taxi riders in Bungoma ,Kenya

Background: Organic erectile dysfunction is common in elderly men but is not prevalent in men below 40 years of age (5). However, in addition to other known causes such as smoking, alcohol intake and diabetes mellitus, recent research has implicated bicycle riding as the cause of erectile dysfunction in much younger men (10). Even stationary bikes can cause trauma to the blood supply to the penis, resulting in erectile dysfunction (22).Objective: To evaluate the effects of long hours of bicycle riding/week on erectile function among bicycle taxi (boda boda) riders in Bungoma town.Design: A Cross-sectional survey.Setting: Bungoma town, part of western Kenya, bordering Uganda to the west.There are believed to be 1300 bicycle taxi riders in Bungoma.Subjects: Bicycle taxi riders aged below 40 years and married.Results: A total of 115 participants were enrolled in this study. The overall prevalence of erectile dysfunction among bicycle taxi riders was 35.9%. The period of riding in months was not significantly associated with erectile dysfunction among bicycle taxi riders but the length of riding in hours per week was significantly associated with erectile dysfunction p< 0.01. The risk of erectile dysfunction increased as the hours of riding per week increased. None of those who rode for more than 60 hours per week had a normal erectile function.Conclusion. Longer hours of bicycle riding per week, was associated with higher rates of erectile dysfunction among Boda boda taxi riders

Potential of \u3ci\u3eCroton megalocarpus\u3c/i\u3e Nut as an Alternative Protein Supplement for Feeding of Ruminants in the Tropics

Croton megalocarous is a tree native to the arid and semi-arid rangelands of East Africa that produces nuts reported to contain high crude protein (CP). However, they are often neglected as a potential feed due to lack of information on how best to utilize them. This study was conducted to evaluate the chemical composition and in sacco dry matter (DM) degradability of four forms of croton namely whole nut (WN), peeled nut (PN), De-husked nut (DhN) and Defatted seed (DfS). DM of all forms was above 89%, ash content was highest in WN (5.9%) and least in PN (2.2%). Crude fibre content was high in WN (52.2%) and PN (57.8%) while the DhN and DfS had the highest CP (15.7%) and (19.8%) respectively. Ether extract content was highest in DhN (36.2%) and least in DfS (11.2%). In sacco DM degradability was highest after 48 hours of incubation in all forms with highest degradability recorded for DhN (60.5%) and the least for PN (34.5%). The rapidly soluble fraction (a), potentially degradable fraction (a+b), index value (IV) and effective degradability (ED) were significantly high in DhN compared to the other forms. High DM was an indication of good keeping quality implying that nuts could be harvested and stored for future feeding while ash content reflected on potential as a source of minerals for livestock. The CP and IV of all the croton forms was above the 7% and 33% minimum required for optimum rumen function and to support sufficient feed intake, respectively. Processing of croton nut by de-husking and oil extraction enhanced the CP, soluble and potentially degradable fractions of croton nut. Subsequently, the two forms could satisfy the minimum of 15% CP required for lactation and growth in addition to provision of readily fermentable nutrients to boost intake of low-quality forages

Mainstreaming biodiversity for food and nutrition into policies and practice: methodologies and lessons learned from four countries

This paper outlines the methodology for mainstreaming biodiversity developed by the Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition Project (BFN), a multi-country initiative led by Brazil, Kenya, Sri Lanka and Turkey. BFN explored the nutritional properties of traditional and/or neglected native edible species, both wild and cultivated (including varieties and landraces), and used this knowledge to incorporate local agricultural biodiversity into national and global policy instruments that address food and nutrition security through the promotion of healthy, diversified and sustainable diets. Across the four countries, the project adopted a three-pillar approach for mainstreaming biodiversity for food and nutrition into policies and practices by: 1) Providing Evidence, 2) Influencing Policy, and 3) Raising Awareness. Case study examples from Brazil, Kenya, Turkey, and Sri Lanka demonstrate how the approach can be adapted to suit specific country contexts and how a multi-level, cross-sectoral partnership-based approach can create an enabling environment for mainstreaming biodiversity to improve nutrition

Biodiversity mainstreaming for healthy & sustainable food systems: A toolkit to support incorporating biodiversity into policies and programmes

The Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition Initiative (BFN Project) uses indigenous food biodiversity as a lens to address malnutrition, farmer livelihood resilience, and sustainability. Since 2012, the initiative has pioneered a cross-sectoral, partner-based approach to document and share information on 195 nutrient-rich, locally-adapted species ranging from African leafy vegetables to Amazonian fruits. Spearheaded by governments and research organizations in Brazil, Kenya, Sri Lanka, and Turkey, BFN developed a three-pronged methodology to ensure the conservation, revival, and promotion of these underutilised species. This toolkit is an open-access guide to mainstreaming biodiversity that draws on case studies across the four partner countries, outlining steps to 1) Provide Evidence; 2) Influence Policy, and 3) Raise Awareness. With an emphasis on both key focus areas and site-specific examples, the toolkit offers readers inspiration to adapt the work of BFN to other regions. Links to key resources collect additional information and contextualise the project methods, for example, in relation to the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Mainstreaming Biodiversity into Policies, Programmes and National and Regional Plans on Nutrition. Focus points within the toolkit include how to make use of: National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans, school feeding and procurement, green employment, cultural festivals, and business cases for mainstreaming biodiversity

Genetic parameters for weaning weight of Kenyan Boran cattle accounting for direct-maternal genetic covariances

Genetic parameters were estimated for weaning weight (WW) in Kenya Boran cattle using animal models that assumed non-zero direct-maternal genetic covariance. In addition to the direct and maternal genetic effects, maternal permanent environmental and sire by herd-year interaction effects were tested. Two datasets were used. Dataset 1 (DS1) included all animals while dataset 2 (DS2) constituted only records of animals with known paternity. Estimates of direct and maternal heritabilities from DS1 ranged from 0.61 to 0.64 and 0.25 to 0.27, respectively. Estimates of direct and maternal heritabilities from DS2 ranged from 0.07 to 0.31 and 0.16 to 0.23. Direct-maternal genetic correlations were large and negative but were lower in the analyses of DS2 than in DS1. Similarly, estimates of direct and maternal heritability were lower in the analyses of DS2 than in DS1 especially when the effect of sire by herd-year effect was fitted in the model. This study shows that WW is highly heritable and under the influence of maternal effects. Estimates of genetic parameters and direct-maternal genetic covariance are dependent on data size and structure and how direct and maternal effects have been accounted for. Keywords: Parameter estimates; data structure; sire by herd-year interaction South African Journal of Animal Science Vol. 36 (4) 2006: pp.275-28

Mainstreaming biodiversity conservation and utilization for improved nutrition in Kenya: The case of communities in Busia County, Kenya

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