Application of Factor Analysis to Identify Dietary Patterns and Use of Factor Scores to Study Their Relationship with Nutritional Status of Adult Rural Populations

The prevalence of chronic energy deficiency (CED) among one-third of the Indian population is attributed to inadequacy of consumption of nutrients. However, considering the complexity of diets among Indians, the relationship between a particular dietary pattern and the nutritional status of the population has not been established so far. A community-based cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess estimates, at district level, of diet and nutritional status in Orissa State, India. Factor analysis was used for exploring the existence of consumption pattern of food and nutrients and their relationship with the nutritional status of rural adult population. Data on 2,864 adult men and 3,525 adult women in Orissa state revealed that there exists six patterns among food-groups explaining 59% of the total variation and three patterns among nutrients that explain 73% of the total variation among both adult men and women. The discriminant function analysis revealed that, overall, 53% of the men were correctly classified as either with chronic energy deficiency (CED) or without CED. Similarly, overall, 54% of the women were correctly classified as either with CED or without CED. The sensitivity of the model was 65% for both men and women, and the specificity was 46% and 41% respectively for men and women. In the case of classification of overweight/obesity, the prediction of the model was about 75% among both men and women, along with high sensitivity. Using factor analysis, the dietary patterns were identified from the food and nutrient intake data. There exists a strong relationship between the dietary patterns and the nutritional status of rural adults. These results will help identify the community people with CED and help planners formulate nutritional interventions accordingly

Application of Factor Analysis to Identify Dietary Patterns and Use of Factor Scores to Study Their Relationship with Nutritional Status of Adult Rural Populations

The prevalence of chronic energy deficiency (CED) among one-third of the Indian population is attributed to inadequacy of consumption of nutrients. However, considering the complexity of diets among Indians, the relationship between a particular dietary pattern and the nutritional status of the population has not been established so far. A community-based cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess estimates, at district level, of diet and nutritional status in Orissa State, India. Factor analysis was used for exploring the existence of consumption pattern of food and nutrients and their relationship with the nutritional status of rural adult population. Data on 2,864 adult men and 3,525 adult women in Orissa state revealed that there exists six patterns among food-groups explaining 59% of the total variation and three patterns among nutrients that explain 73% of the total variation among both adult men and women. The discriminant function analysis revealed that, overall, 53% of the men were correctly classified as either with chronic energy deficiency (CED) or without CED. Similarly, overall, 54% of the women were correctly classified as either with CED or without CED. The sensitivity of the model was 65% for both men and women, and the specificity was 46% and 41% respectively for men and women. In the case of classification of overweight/ obesity, the prediction of the model was about 75% among both men and women, along with high sensitivity. Using factor analysis, the dietary patterns were identified from the food and nutrient intake data. There exists a strong relationship between the dietary patterns and the nutritional status of rural adults. These results will help identify the community people with CED and help planners formulate nutritional interventions accordingly

Impairment in biochemical indices in sprayers exposed to commonly used organophosphorus and pyrethroids: A case study

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of spraying organophosphate, carbamate and synthetic pyrethroid pesticides on biochemical parameters viz., red blood cell (RBC) acetylcholine esterase (AchE) and plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activities, oxidative stress parameters viz., plasma T-BARs, catalase activity and antioxidant levels such as reduced glutathione, and α-tocopherol and pesticide residues (analysed using the GC/LC-MS/MS) in sprayers cultivating cotton, chilly and paddy crops in Guntur district for a period of >10 years. The study population included sprayers (120) with a mean age of 37.8 ± 10.8 years and controls (60) with a mean age of 37.3 ± 12.2 years. A significant difference was observed for AchE, BChE activities, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs), catalase activity, reduced glutathione and the concentration of pesticide residues in the sprayers cultivating different crops for a period of >10 years as compared to the controls. However, there is no such significant difference observed for α-tocopherol.Key words: Pesticide residues, chronic exposure, biochemical indices,  sprayers running head, biochemical indices, pesticide residues in sprayer

Development of composite index and ranking the districts using nutrition survey data in Madhya Pradesh, India

Introduction: Level of development in health and nutrition at district level is useful for planning intervention in less developed districts. Aims & Objectives: to develop composite index based on 12 variables to compare development within districts in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Material & Methods: Data collected by National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad during 2010-11 on nutritional status of rural children at district level in Madhya Pradesh was used. A total of 22,895 children (Boys: 12379, Girls: 10516), were covered. Results: It was observed that Indore district rank 1st as per composite index and Singrauli rank last in the district ranking. Three categories of districts were done based on percentile of composite index i.e less developed, developing and developed districts. It was observed that there was significant (p<0.01) trend in the prevalence of undernutrition among three set of districts. Similarly, significant (p<0.01) trend was observed in proportion of children participating regularly in ICDS supplementary feeding programme, use of sanitary latrine and iodized cooking salt among three sets of districts. Conclusions: Widespread disparity in health and nutrition was observed among the districts. It is quite important to examine the extent of improvements needed in different developmental indicators for enhancing the level of development of low developed districts. This will help the planners and administrators to readjust the resources for bringing about uniform development in the state

Assessment of an Integrated Nutrition Communication Approach to Educate the School Going Adolescent Girls Living In Urban Slums of Hyderabad, Telangana State, India

Purpose: Consumption of right diet during the adolescent phase is a critical issue among the adolescent population as their eating behavior is significantly influenced by the peers. Therefore, a study was carried out to educate the School going adolescent girls living in urban slums of Hyderabad, Telangana, India on right nutrition. Methods –The study was carried out in two randomly selected government schools after obtaining approval from the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC). About 200 girls each from eighth and ninth standards were recruited as study subjects. The age of the participants ranged from 13-15 years. After obtaining baseline data, intervention was carried out on 8 focal themes related to nutrition, health and family life education, by using well designed educational material. Results: A significant increment in the knowledge levels on all the focal themes was observed among the adolescent girls in the experimental school. After completion of the study, considering the ethical issues, the control group was also given education on 8 focal themes. Conclusions and Implications: It was observed that an integrated approach in communication methods such as combining print media like charts, folders with electronic media, using CD alongside interpersonal communication significantly improved the knowledge levels of these girls on nutrition and family-life education

Impact of dietary patterns, individual and workplace characteristics on blood pressure status among civil servants in Bida and Wushishi communities of Niger State, Nigeria

The global burden estimate of hypertension is alarming and results in several million deaths annually. A high incidence of sudden deaths from cardiovascular diseases in the civil workforce in Nigeria is often reported. However, the associations between Dietary Patterns (DPs), individual, and workplace characteristics of hypertension among this workforce have not been fully explored. This study aimed to identify DP in the Bida and Wushishi Communities of Niger State and establish its relationship with hypertension along with other individual and workplace characteristics. Factor analysis was used to establish DP, Chi-square test to identify their relationships with hypertension, and logistic regression to determine the predictor risk factors. The prevalence of hypertension was 43.7%; mean weight, height, and body fat were: 72.8±15 kg, 166±8.9 mm and 30.4%, respectively. Three DPs: “Efficient Diet,” “Local diet,” and “Energy Boost Diet” were identified. The factor loading scores for these factors were divided into quintiles Q1–Q5; none of them had a significant effect on hypertension status. Conversely, increase in age, the Ministry, Department, and Agency (MDA) of employment, frequency of eating in restaurants, and obesity were identified as significant risk factors. After adjusting for confounders (age, body mass index, MDA, and eating habits), a high score (Q5) in “efficient diet pattern” was significantly related to a lower likelihood of hypertension than a low score (Q1). The prevalence of hypertension among the participants was relatively very high. An increase in age and working in educational sector were risk factors associated with hypertension. Therefore, it is recommended that civil servants engage in frequent exercise and undergo regular medical checkups, especially as they get older. These findings highlight the need for large-scale assessment of the impact of variables considered in this study on hypertension, among the civil workforce across Niger state and Nigeria

Myosin II Motor Proteins with Different Functions Determine the Fate of Lamellipodia Extension during Cell Spreading

Non-muscle cells express multiple myosin-II motor proteins myosin IIA, myosin IIB and myosin IIC transcribed from different loci in the human genome. Due to a significant homology in their sequences, these ubiquitously expressed myosin II motor proteins are believed to have overlapping cellular functions, but the mechanistic details are not elucidated. The present study uncovered a mechanism that coordinates the distinctly localized myosin IIA and myosin IIB with unexpected opposite mechanical roles in maneuvering lamellipodia extension, a critical step in the initiation of cell invasion, spreading, and migration. Myosin IIB motor protein by localizing at the front drives lamellipodia extension during cell spreading. On the other hand, myosin IIA localizes next to myosin IIB and attenuates or retracts lamellipodia extension. Myosin IIA and IIB increase cell adhesion by regulating focal contacts formation in the spreading margins and central part of the spreading cell, respectively. Spreading cells expressing both myosin IIA and myosin IIB motor proteins display an organized actin network consisting of retrograde filaments, arcs and central filaments attached to focal contacts. This organized actin network especially arcs and focal contacts formation in the spreading margins were lost in myosin IIÂ cells. Surprisingly, myosin IIB̂ cells displayed long parallel actin filaments connected to focal contacts in the spreading margins. Thus, with different roles in the regulation of the actin network and focal contacts formation, both myosin IIA and IIB determine the fate of lamellipodia extension during cell spreading