The role of mycotoxins in pig reproduction : a review

Mycotoxins are commonly present in feed for farm animals. Sows and gilts are highly susceptible to mycotoxins. This article presents a review describing the main mycotoxins encountered in pig feed which have a negative impact on sow fertility and reproduction. Consumption of feed that is contaminated with these mycotoxins may cause a variety of symptoms, depending on the type of mycotoxin, quantity and duration of exposure, as well as the health status and condition of the animal at the time of exposure. Two types of fungi are recognized, field fungi and storage fungi. Field fungi such as Fusarium spp., Aspergillus spp. and Claviceps spp. may produce toxins that lead to disturbed reproductive performance. Storage fungi occur if the humidity during storage is too high. In daily practice, the symptoms related to mycotoxicosis can occur at toxin concentrations below the detection limit. Knowledge of the effects of mycotoxins is expanding rapidly. Mycotoxins may still be present in feedstuffs despite negative analytical findings and because of the presence of hot spots in feed and or feedstuffs. Clinical symptoms can be very pronounced, making the diagnosis for the practitioner quite easy but in many cases the symptoms are vague and not at all present at herd level on a regular basis. The practitioner is in the first line of raising awareness in all parties whenever the first indication exists of a possible mycotoxicosis problem causing reproductive failure in breeding pigs. The problems can be resolved only if all parties involved in pig herd health take the necessary preventive measures and actions. The main toxins causing reproductive failure discussed in this article are aflatoxins, ergot alkaloids, trichothecenes and zearalenone

Feasibility of a cognitive behavioural group intervention to reduce fear of falling and associated avoidance of activity in community-living older people: a process evaluation

BACKGROUND: Fear of falling and associated avoidance of activity are common among older people and may have negative consequences in terms of functional decline, quality of life and institutionalisation. We evaluated the effects of a cognitive behavioural group intervention to reduce fear of falling and associated avoidance of activity among older persons. This intervention showed favourable effects on fear of falling, avoidance of activity, daily activity, and several secondary outcomes. The aim of the present study is to assess the feasibility of this cognitive behavioural group intervention for participants and facilitators. METHODS: The intervention consisted of eight weekly group sessions lasting two hours each and a booster session after six months. Self-administered questionnaires, registration forms and interviews were used to collect data from participants (n = 168) and facilitators (n = 6) on the extent to which the intervention was performed according to protocol, participant attendance, participant adherence, and participants' and facilitators' opinion of the intervention. Quantitative data from the questionnaires and registration forms were analysed by means of descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were categorised based on matching contents of the answers. RESULTS: Facilitators reported no major protocol deviations. Twenty-six percent of the participants withdrew before the start of the programme. Of the persons who started the programme, 84% actually completed it. The participants reported their adherence as good, but facilitators had a less favourable opinion of this. The majority of participants still reported substantial benefits from the programme after six and twelve months of follow-up (71% and 61% respectively). Both participants and facilitators provided suggestions for improvement of the intervention. CONCLUSION: Results of this study show that the current cognitive behavioural group intervention is feasible for both participants and facilitators and fits in well with regular care. Minor refinement of the intervention, however, is warranted to further improve intervention effectiveness and efficiency. Based on these positive findings, we recommend implementing a refined version of this effective and feasible intervention in regular care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN43792817

Mobility and the risk of falls among elderly people of the community of São Carlos

The scope of this study was to assess the mobility and risk of falls among elderly people living within the Family Health Strategy area in São Carlos and identify some factors that have been associated with risks of falls. This is a cross-sectional study that presents data from 739 elderly people (mean age of 69.9 ± 7.2 years old) registered in the Health and Aging Research Group. Data related to sex, age, falls in the last year, mobility using the Timed Up & Go (TUG) test and cognitive impairment by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), were analyzed. Statistical analyses were performed using Chi-square test and Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA and Mann-Whitney U non-parametric tests. The level of significance used for all comparisons was 5% (p < 0.05). Fallers present worse performance to TUG than non-fallers (p < 0.001). A higher prevalence of fallers was found among women (p < 0.001). No significant association was found between elderly fallers and cognitive impairment by MMSE (p = 0.11). Performance in TUG revealed a significant difference between the different age groups (p < 0.001). Elderly people from São Carlos had lower mobility and higher risk of falls in comparison with healthy people without chronic disorders and independent for daily living activities.Avaliar a mobilidade e o risco de quedas, da população idosa da área de abrangência da Estratégia Saúde da Família (EsSF) de São Carlos, e identificar alguns fatores associados ao risco de quedas. Estudo transversal que apresenta dados de 739 idosos (idade média 69,90 ± 7,20) cadastrados no banco de dados do Grupo de Pesquisa Saúde e Envelhecimento. Dados relacionados a sexo, idade, ocorrência de quedas no ano anterior; mobilidade, por meio do teste Timed Up & Go (TUG) e alterações cognitivas pelo Mini-Exame do Estado Mental (MEEM) foram analisados. Foram utilizados os testes Qui-quadrado e não paramétricos ANOVA de Kruskal-Wallis e Mann-Whitney U. Foi adotado um nível de significância de 5%. O grupo de caidores apresentou um desempenho pior no TUG em comparação ao grupo de não-caidores (p < 0,001). Foi encontrada uma maior prevalência de mulheres entre os caidores (p < 0,001). Não houve associação significativa entre idosos caidores e status cognitivo, avaliado pelo MEEM (p = 0,11). O desempenho no TUG apresentou diferença significativa entre as diferentes faixas etárias (p < 0,001). A população idosa da área de abrangência da EsSF São Carlos apresentou menor mobilidade e maior risco de quedas em comparação a uma população idosa sem doenças em estágios limitantes e independente para as atividades de vida diária.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Ciências do Movimento HumanoUniversidade Federal de São Carlos Departamento de FisioterapiaUniversidade Federal de São Carlos Departamento de PsicologiaUniversidade Federal de São Carlos Departamento de EnfermagemUniversidade Federal de São Carlos Departamento de EstatísticaUNIFESP, Depto. de Ciências do Movimento HumanoSciEL

Transforming Lives: An Evaluation of CRS Integrated Watershed Management Programs in Ethiopia

This is an evaluation of Catholic Relief Services' (CRS) Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) activities in Ethiopia. WASH was integral to these projects, though it was not the only focus. The six major components of the IWM projects were natural resource management; agricultural support and agro-enterprise development; multiple uses of water; sanitation, hygiene and health education and disease prevention; savings and internal lending communities and income generation activities; and gender and partnership arrangements. The evaluation finds that the program made significant positive changes in the lives and livelihoods of rural households. However, budgeting, beneficiary targeting, and planning for sustainability and phase-out could have been improved

Risks Associated with Drug Treatments for Kidney Stones

Introduction: Renal stones are one of the most painful medical conditions patients experience. For many they are also a recurrent problem. Fortunately, there are a number of drug therapies available to treat symptoms as well as prevent future stone formation. Areas covered: Herein, we review the most common drugs used in the treatment of renal stones, explaining the mechanism of action and potential side effects. Search of the Medline databases and relevant textbooks was conducted to obtain the relevant information. Further details were sourced from drug prescribing manuals. Recent studies of drug effectiveness are included as appropriate. Expert opinion: Recent controversies include medical expulsive therapy trials and complex role of urinary citrate in stone disease. Future directions in research will involve new medical therapies for stone prevention, for example new drugs for hyperoxaluria

Developing a framework for prevention of childhood burn in a low-income country perspective : epidemiological appraisals

Childhood burn is a major issue in children's health in Bangladesh however it was not studies and documented systematically earlier. A comprehensive prevention programme is necessary to address this child health issue. Designing a community based prevention programme with adequate information about epidemiology, risk factors, social, cultural and economic factors and people's perception about the problem is necessary. This thesis attempted to determine the epidemiological features, the social and economic consequences and risk factors of childhood burn. It also explored the health seeking behaviour of parents and people's perception concerning burn and the issue of prevention. Six studies were carried out in this dissertation, four of which included a qualitative study using the data of the Bangladesh Health and Injury Survey (BHIS). A nested case control study was conducted by using the existing injury surveillance system of Centre for Injury Prevention and Research Bangladesh. Finally a framework for a childhood burn prevention programme for rural Bangladesh was designed based on the findings of both quantitative and qualitative studies. The first study enabled us to calculate the incidence of childhood burn and it's relation with age, sex and place of residence. The incidence of burn among children less than 18 years was 288,1 per 100,000 children with the highest rate among the 1 to 4 years age group at 782.1 per 100,000 children. This study also revealed the place of occurrence, time and cause of childhood burn in Bangladesh. The second study enabled us to learn social and economic consequences of childhood burn. It explored the hospitalization rate, hospital stay, workdays lost/scholl days lost and permanent disability due to childhood burn injury. The rate of permanent disability was found to be 5.7 per 100,000 population year. The average direct expenditure incurred by a family for treatment of severe burn was determined to be USD462 which was more than their annual income. The third study illustrated how the parents seek health care for their children after a burn injury and how health seeking behaviour varies with the economic condition of the family, parents' education, family size, birth order of children and gender of the children. About 60% of parents seek health care from unqualified service providers for their children during a childhood burn injury. The fourth study determined the relationsships of childhood burn with the type of cooking area at home, use of traditional kerosene lamp and type of family. Children were at significantly higher risk of burn in families who did not have a separate kitchen in their home. The fifth study looked into people's beliefs, emotions and judgements about childhood burn injuries, people's perception about place, time and cause and prevention of childhood burn. Finally, the sixth study provided a framework for a childhood burn prevention programme for rural Bangladesh. In conclusion the thesis illustrated the high incidence of childhood burn in Bangladesh. The thesis demonstrated consequences, risk factors and characteristics of childhood burn. It explored the health seeking behaviour of parents and people's perception about child burn and its preventive issues. Finally considering all this information a frame-work for childhood burn prevention programme was developed for rural Bangladesh, which can be replicated in countries with similar socio-cultural conditions

Utilization of the chirp stimulus in auditory brainstem response measurements

Välittömästi äänistimulusta seuraavaa, aivorungosta lähtöisin olevaa sähköistä aktiviteettia kutsutaan auditoriseksi aivorunkovasteeksi (ABR, auditory brainstem response). ABR:ää käytetään laajalti kuulon objektiiviseen testaamiseen. Siinä missä perinteisessä äänesaudiometriassa koehenkilön tulee vastata testiääniin ennalta määrätyllä tavalla, ABR voidaan mitata ilman koehenkilön aktiivista osallistumista. Hiljattain ABR-mittauksia varten on kehitetty uudenlainen stimulus: chirp. Chirpin tarkoituksena on tuottaa suurempi ABR-amplitudi lisäämällä sisäkorvan karvasolujen aktiviteetin yhtäaikaisuutta. 1,5 - 2-kertaisia parannuksia onkin raportoitu verrattuna perinteisiin stimuluksiin. Tässä työssä perinteisiä click- ja tone burst -stimuluksia on vertailtu vastaaviin laajakaistaiseen chirpiin ja taajuusspesifeihin kapeakaistaisiin chirpeihin. ABR-kynnystasoja vertailtiin myös toisella objektiivisella metodilla, ASSR:llä saatuihin kynnystasoihin. Vasteet mitattiin kuudelta normaalikuuloiselta ja viideltä huonokuuloiselta koehenkilöltä Interacousticsin Eclipse-järjestelmällä. Perinteisten ja chirp-stimulusten eroja tutkittiin vertailemalla normaalikuuloisilta mitattujen vasteiden amplitudeja. Myös kaikilta koehenkilöiltä mitattuja kynnysarvoja verrattiin äänesaudiometrialla määriteltyihin kuulokynnyksiin. Tulosten perusteella perinteisten stimulusten ja vastaavien chirp stimulusten välillä ei löytynyt tilastollisesti merkitseviä eroja. ASSR- ja ABR-kynnysarvojen luotettava vertailu ei myöskään ollut mahdollista johtuen saatujen kynnysarvojen pienestä määrästä. Johtopäätöksissä todettiin, että tuloksiin on todennäköisesti vaikuttanut tutkimuksessa käytettyjen kuulokkeiden tyyppi. Aiemmissa, chirpin paremmuuden kannalla olleissa tutkimuksissa, mittaukset tehtiin käyttäen toista kuulokemallia. Myös kuulonaleneman vaikutukset chirp stimuluksella suoritettuihin ABR-mittauksiin ovat huonosti tunnettuja, antaen aihetta jatkotutkimuksille.The electrical activity originating from the auditory structures of the brainstem is called the auditory brainstem response (ABR). The ABR is used widely for objective assessment of the hearing system. Whereas traditional pure tone audiometry requires the test subject to respond to probe tones in a predefined manner, the ABR can be recorded without any active participation of the subject. Recently, a new kind of stimulus has been developed for ABR measurements. This stimulus, called chirp, aims at increasing the ABR amplitude by promoting synchronous firing of the hair cells in the inner ear. 1,5 - 2 times higher ABR amplitudes have indeed been recorded using the chirp when compared to traditional stimuli. In this thesis, traditional click and tone burst stimuli were compared to corresponding chirp variants; the broadband chirp and frequency-specific narrowband chirps. Also, the ABR results were compared to those obtained by another objective method, the auditory steady-state response (ASSR). Responses were obtained from six normal-hearing subjects and five hard-of-hearing subjects using the Eclipse platform from Interacoustics. In normal-hearing subjects, the ABR amplitudes were compared between traditional and chirp stimuli. In all subjects, ABR and ASSR thresholds were compared to the behavioral thresholds. Results failed to show significant differences between traditional stimuli and corresponding chirp variants. Also, comparison of and ASSR thresholds could not be done reliably because of the small number of obtained thresholds. It was concluded that the results were influenced by the type of the insert earphones used in this study. Previous results in favour of the chirp have been obtained using a different type of earphones. Also, it was suggested that the influence of hearing loss on chirp-elicited ABRs be investigated in the future

DSLR Friday update

CDC\u2019s Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) program is a critical source of funding, guidance, and technical assistance for state, local, and territorial public health departments to strengthen their public health preparedness capabilities and improve their response readiness. The Division of State and Local Readiness (DSLR) Friday Update provides information and resources for PHEP recipients and other preparedness planners.2020.10.30_DSLR-Friday-Update_508Compliant.pd