Breastfeeding perceptions in communities in Mangochi district in Malawi

Aim: To investigate mothers’ perceptions of breastfeeding and influences from their social network. Methods: A cross‐sectional survey was carried out in Mangochi district, Malawi where questionnaire data from 157 rural and 192 semi‐urban mother–infant pairs were obtained. Results: The proportion of mothers who thought that exclusive breastfeeding should last for 6 months and those who reported to have actually exclusively breastfed were 40.1% and 7.5% respectively. Of those who reported practising exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, 77.5% stated that exclusive breastfeeding should last for 6 months. This opinion was independently associated with giving birth in a Baby‐Friendly facility, OR = 5.22; 95% CI (1.92–14.16). Among the mothers who thought that exclusive breastfeeding should last for less than 6 months, 43.9% reported having been influenced in their opinion by health workers. Infant crying was the most common (62.4%) reason for stopping exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusion: The findings illustrate the positive impact health workers can have, as well as the need to raise awareness of the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding among both health workers and mothers. Furthermore, continued counselling of mothers on how to deal with stressful infant behaviour such as crying may assist to prolong exclusive breastfeeding.     

Effects of Enteral Nutrition on the Barrier Function of the Intestinal Mucosa and Dopamine Receptor Expression in Rats With Traumatic Brain Injury

Background: Impaired intestinal mucosal barrier (IMB) function is common in traumatic brain injury (TBI), but dopamine receptors (DRs) change in intestinal mucosa after TBI, and effects of enteral nutrition (EN) and supplements on IMB function remain unclear. Our purpose was to study the effects of EN and supplements on intestinal mucosal permeability (IMPB) and the expression of DRs DRD1 and DRD2 in the intestinal mucosa of rats with TBI. Methods: Forty‐eight rats were divided into 8 groups; control, animals with TBI, dopamine group, animals with TBI treated with dopamine antagonist, EN alone, or EN combined with glutamine, probiotics, or a combination of probiotics and glutamine daily after TBI. Results: The IMPB was improved in the glutamine, probiotics, and combination groups. Including probiotics improved IMPB more than adding glutamine, and bacterial translocation in the intestines after TBI was reduced in the probiotics and combination groups (all Ps < .01). TBI led to elevated DRD1 and DRD2 mRNA and protein levels, which were reduced in the DA antagonist, glutamine, probiotics, and combination groups. DRD2 mRNA and protein levels in the probiotics and combination groups were decreased more than in the DA antagonist group (all Ps < .01). The increased IMPB after TBI correlated with increased DRD1 and DRD2 levels in the rat intestinal mucosa. Conclusion: EN supplemented with probiotics or combining glutamine and probiotics lowers the increased IMPB, bacterial translocation, and DRD1 and DRD2 mRNA and protein expression in rat intestinal mucosa caused by TBI.     

Application of a theoretical model to evaluate COPD disease management

Background  

Disease management programmes are heterogeneous in nature and often lack a theoretical basis. An evaluation model has been developed in which theoretically driven inquiries link disease management interventions to outcomes. The aim of this study is to methodically evaluate the impact of a disease management programme for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on process, intermediate and final outcomes of care in a general practice setting.     

Prevention of type 2 diabetes in adults with impaired glucose tolerance: the European Diabetes Prevention RCT in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Background  

Diabetes prevalence is increasing. The Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study (DPS) showed a 58% reduction in Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) incidence in adults with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). The European Diabetes Prevention Study (EDIPS) extends the DPS to different European populations, using the same study design. In the Newcastle arm of this study (EDIPS-Newcastle), we tested the hypothesis that T2D can be prevented by lifestyle intervention and explored secondary outcomes in relation to diabetes incidence.     

International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and New Zealand Physical Activity Questionnaire (NZPAQ): A doubly labelled water validation

Background  

Accurate measurement of physical activity is a pre-requisite for monitoring population health and for evaluating effective interventions. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) is used as a comparable and standardised self-report measure of habitual physical activity of populations from different countries and socio-cultural contexts. The IPAQ has been modified to produce a New Zealand physical activity questionnaire (NZPAQ). The aim of this study was to validate the IPAQ and NZPAQ against doubly labelled water (DLW). Method: Total energy expenditure (TEE) was measured over a 15-day period using DLW. Activity-related energy expenditure (AEE) was estimated by subtracting the energy expenditure from resting metabolic rate and thermic effect of feeding from TEE. The IPAQ (long form) and NZPAQ (short form) were completed at the end of each 7-day period. Activity-related energy expenditure (IPAQ_AEE and NZPAQ_AEE) was calculated from each questionnaire and compared to DLW_AEE.     

Lymphocyte Migration Inhibition Response in Trichuris muris Infected and Vaccinated Mice

Background

Immunological response of host and parasite play a key role in developing vaccination and immunization. The present study deals with the immune response and effecter mechanism, which was confirmed by migration inhibition factor (MIF).

Methods

The present work was conducted in Parasitological Lab of Postgraduate Department of Zoology, Government Holkar Science College, Indore (M.P.) during 2006–2007. For MIF assay, lymphocytes were separated from heparinized blood of experimental and control mice. Aliquots of cell suspension were placed in four wells cut in a preparation of agarose in a Petri dish. Two wells were filled with soluble test antigen, while rest two wells were filled with medium (control wells). Petri dish was incubated overnight at 37 °C in a humidified environment at 5% CO2 in air. Cells migrated under the agarose in a circle were fixed and stained. Diameters of the migration areas were measured with ocular micrometer.

Results

MIF reaction was maximum (44.2%) in the group IVEgESAg5 and minimum (10.8%) in the group IVASoAg1. The maximum MIF reaction was shown by eggs ES antigen and least by adult worm somatic antigen. The interesting observation was that migration inhibition increases as dose increased or we could say the reaction was dose dependent.

Conclusion

Increased value of MIF response in vaccinated mice suggested the involvement of lymphocytes in cell-mediated immunity. This study also proves that excretory-secretory (ES) antigen of eggs from Trichuris muris was more effective in imparting immunity in mice.     

Seroprevalence of Neospora spp. in Horses in North East of Iran

Background

Neospora caninum, an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, is recognized as a major cause of abortion in cattle, while limited information is presently available on the seroprevalence of Neospora antibodies in horses’ worldwide. The aim of the present study was to determine serologic prevalence of Neospora infection in horses in Iran.

Methods

Sera from 150 horses from Mashhad suburb in Razavi Khorasan Province, northeast Iran were examined for antibodies to Neospora spp. using Neospora modified direct agglutination test (N-MAT).

Results

Antibodies to this parasite were detected in 45 (30%) of the examined serum samples. Thirty four percent of the samples had titer of 1:40 while then reduced to 30% when 1:80 serum dilution was applied as significant cut off titer.

Conclusion

This study is the first investigation carried out on the Neospora in horses in Iran and indicates that horses in Iran are exposed to this parasite.     

Prophylactic effect of lamivudine on chemotherapy‐induced hepatitis B virus reactivation in patients with solid tumour: A meta‐analysis

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation is a remarkable risk during the chemotherapy for solid tumour patients. Nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) are recommended as prophylaxis for the reactivation of HBV infection in some cancer patients prior to systemic chemotherapy. Therefore, we performed a meta‐analysis aiming to determine the efficacy of prophylactic lamivudine on prevention of HBV reactivation and its related negative outcomes among solid tumour patients with chronic HBV infection receiving systemic chemotherapy. The primary outcome was HBV reactivation, and the secondary outcomes were HBV‐related hepatitis, chemotherapy disruption, mortality and tyrosine‐methio‐nine‐aspartate‐aspartate (YMDD) mutations. Twelve original researches involving 1,101 patients were analysed in this study. The relative risk of HBV reactivation in patients with lamivudine prophylaxis was significantly lower than that without prophylaxis (RR = 0.17, 95% CL: 0.10‐0.29, p < .00001). Lamivudine prophylaxis reduced the relative risk of hepatitis (p < .00001), chemotherapy disruptions (p = .01) and mortality (p = .08) due to HBV reactivation. Lamivudine prophylaxis is effective in reducing HBV reactivation and its related negative outcomes, such as hepatitis and chemotherapy disruption and mortality among chemotherapeutic solid tumour patients with chronic HBV infection. Future studies should lay more emphasis on the early HBV screening, mode of treatment and duration of NAs prophylaxis among solid tumour patients receiving chemotherapy.     

Electron microscopic localization of cholinesterase activity in Alzheimer brain tissue

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity was localized by electron microscopic enzyme cytochemistry in cortex from Alzheimer brains and brains from non-demented cases. In the tangle-rich medial temporal cortex of the Alzheimer brain, most of the neuronal AChE was associated with neurofibrillary tangles. These structures also contained BChE activity. In normal neurons AChE activity was found in the rough endoplasmic reticulum, nuclear envelope and Golgi apparatus. Little BChE activity was noted in normal cortex. In neuritic plaques, AChE and BChE activity was associated mostly with the amyloid, but also with the neuritic component.