African swine fever risk and plant-based feed ingredients: Canada's approach to risk management of imported feed products

As a result of unprecedented spread of African swine fever (ASF) since 2018, Canada has taken additional steps to prevent introduction of the virus. While the role of plant-based feed in the transmission of ASF is not completely understood, it was identified that no mitigation measures were in place to address this uncertain risk. A risk analysis process was conducted with collaboration between government and industry, including an assessment of the costs and benefits of various risk mitigation options. Using existing legislative tools, requirements must now be met before the importation of plant-based feed ingredients of concern is permitted. Even with an uncertain risk, countries such as Canada that would suffer severe consequences should ASF be introduced, need to consider appropriate, risk-based mitigation measures.     

Acute psycho-physiological responses to perceptually regulated hypoxic and normoxic interval walks in overweight-to-obese adults

ObjectivesWe investigated psycho-physiological responses to perceptually regulated interval walks in hypoxia versus normoxia in obese individuals.DesignWithin-participants repeated measures.MethodsTen obese adults (BMI = 32 ± 3 kg/m^?2) completed a 60-min interval session (15 × 2 min walking at a rating of perceived exertion of 14 on the 6–20 Borg scale with 2 min of rest) either in hypoxia (FiO₂ = 13.0%, HYP) or normoxia (NOR). A third trial replicating the HYP speed pattern was carried out in normoxia as a control (CON). Exercise responses were analysed comparing the average of 1st to 3rd exercise bouts to those of the 4th–6th, 7th–9th, 10th–12th and 13th–15th exercise bouts (block 1 versus 2, 3, 4 and 5).ResultsTreadmill speed was slower during block 4 (6.14 ± 0.67 versus 6.24 ± 0.73 km/h^?1) and block 5 (6.12 ± 0.64 versus 6.25 ± 0.75 km/h^?1) in HYP compared to NOR or CON (p = 0.009). Compared to NOR and CON, heart rate was +6–10% higher (p = 0.001), whilst arterial oxygen saturation (?12–13%) was lower (p < 0.001) in HYP. Perceived limb discomfort was lower in HYP and CON versus NOR (?21 ± 4% and ?34 ± 6%; p = 0.004).ConclusionsIn overweight-to-obese adults, perceptually regulated interval walks in hypoxia versus normoxia leads to progressively slower speeds along with lower limb discomfort and larger physiological stress than normoxia. Walking at the speed adopted in hypoxia produces similar psycho-physiological responses at the same absolute intensity in normoxia.     

Tanzania IR Initiative: Training the First Generation of Interventional Radiologists

Despite a population of nearly 60 million, there is currently not a single interventional radiologist in Tanzania. Based on an Interventional Radiology (IR) Readiness Assessment, the key obstacles to establishing IR in Tanzania are the lack of training opportunities and limited availability of disposable equipment. An IR training program was designed and initiated, which relies on US-based volunteer teams of IR physicians, nurses, and technologists to locally train radiology residents, nurses, and technologists. Preliminary results support this strategy for addressing the lack of training opportunities and provide a model for introducing IR to other resource-limited settings.