Food Insecurity,Dietary Diversity,and Coping Strategies in Jordan during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an emerging respiratory infection with severe impacts on the nutritional status of the worldwide population. This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the food insecurity, dietary diversity, and food-related coping strategies in Jordan during the pandemic using an online, self-administered questionnaire. Among the 740 adults who completed the survey, the prevalence of food security was 84.1%, whereas 2% and 13.9% were moderately and severely food-insecure, respectively. The determinants of food insecurity were educational level, monthly income, marital status, availability of health insurance, and type of residence. In addition, food insecurity was significantly higher among the participants who consumed two or fewer meals per day (p = 0.015). Moreover, an acceptable food consumption score was shown among 76.2% of the participants, and the remaining participants were at borderline (14.1%) or had poor scores (9.7%), with a significant association between food insecurity and food consumption scores (p < 0.001). The food-related coping strategies studied were significantly associated with food insecurity at both levels (p < 0.001) and were more evident in the severely food-insecure group. These findings highlight the adverse effects of COVID-19 restrictions on nutritional status, especially among food-insecure households, which might reduce food accessibility due to economic difficulties.     

The utility of cervical elastosonography in prediction of cervical insufficiency: cervical elastosonography and cervical insufficiency

Objective: To evaluate the utility of cervical elastosonography (ES) in prediction of cervical insufficiency (CI).

Methods: A total of 40 women, of which 20 who had previously received the diagnosis of CI and 20 healty women were included in the study. None of the women were pregnant. All subjects underwent sonographic evaluation including cervical length measurement and ES of uterine cervix. Adjacent muscular tissue was the reference point for elastosonography evaluation. Tissue strain ratio values were obtained from all the patients.

Results: The area around the internal cervical os of the group with CI was found to be significantly softer as compared to the control group (higher SR rate, p?<?0.05). Furthermore, the outer parts of the cervix (sites A and D) were also found harder in the group that had CI (lower SR rate, p?<?0.05).

Conclusions: According to our knowledge, this is preliminary study to evaluate the predictive value of cervical ES in CI and we concluded that ES can be used as reliable method to determine CI but it is necessary to be studied in different cohort groups.     

Metformin Eased Cognitive Impairment Induced by Chronic L-methionine Administration: Potential Role of Oxidative Stress

Chronic administration of L-methionine leads to memory impairment, which is attributed to increase in the level of oxidative stress in the brain. On the other hand, metformin is a commonly used antidiabetic drug with strong antioxidant properties. In the current study, we tested if chronic metformin administration prevents memory impairment induced by administration of L-methionine. In addition, a number of molecules related to the action of metformin on cognitive functions were examined. Both metformin and L-methionine were administered to animals by oral gavage. Testing of spatial learning and memory was carried out using radial arm water maze (RAWM). Additionally, hippocampal levels or activities of catalase, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and GSH/GSSG ratio were determined. Results showed that chronic L-methionine administration resulted in both short- and long- term memory impairment, whereas metformin treatment prevented such effect. Additionally, L-methionine treatment induced significant elevation in GSSG and TBARs, along with reduction in GSH/GSSG ratio and activities of catalase, and GPx. These effects were shown to be restored by metformin treatment. In conclusion, L-methionine induced memory impairment, and treatment with metformin prevented this impairment probably by normalizing oxidative stress in the hippocampus.     

Analytical strategy for the detection of ecdysterone and its metabolites in vivo in uPA(+/+)-SCID mice with humanized liver,human urine samples,and estimation of prevalence of its use in anti-doping samples

Ecdysteroids are of interest as potential sport performance enhancers, due to their anabolic effects. The current study aimed to analyze levels of the most abundant ecdysteroid, ecdysterone (20-hydroxyecdysone, 20-OHE) in easily available dietary supplements, and, outline an analytical strategy for its detection, and that, of its metabolites, (1) following administration of pure 20-OHE to uPA(+/+)-SCID mice with humanized liver, (2) in a human volunteer after ingestion of two supplements, one with a relatively low, and the other a high, concentration of 20-OHE, and, (3) to estimate the prevalence of use of 20-OHE in elite athletes (n = 1000). Of the 16 supplements tested, only five showed detectable levels of 20-OHE, with concentrations ranging from undetectable up to 2.3 mg per capsule. Urine of uPA(+/+)-SCID urine showed the presence of 20-OHE and its metabolite, 14 deoxy ecdysterone, within 24 hours (hr) of ingestion. In humans, both the parent and the metabolite were detectable within 2 to 5 hr of ingestion, with the metabolite being detectable for longer than the parent. After ingestion of a low dose supplement, the parent and metabolite were detectable for 70 and 48 hr, while following the higher dose it was 96 and 48 hr, respectively. Analysis of urines from athletes (n = 1000) confirmed four positives for 20-OHE, suggesting a prevalence of use of 0.4%. Prevalence of its use by elite athletes was relatively low, however, this needs to be confirmed in other populations, and with other related ecdysteroids.     

Effects of glyceryl trinitrate on endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxation and cyclic GMP levels in rat aorta and human coronary artery

The effects of glyceryl trinitrate-induced desensitization on relaxations and/or elevated cyclic GMP levels due to the nitrogen oxide-containing vasodilators (glyceryl trinitrate and sodium nitroprusside), the endothelium-dependent vasodilators (acetylcholine and the Ca2+ ionophore A23187), and the atrial peptides (atriopeptin II) were investigated in the rat thoracic aorta and human coronary artery. Prior exposure of rat thoracic aorta to glyceryl trinitrate decreased relaxations to glyceryl trinitrate, sodium nitroprusside, and acetylcholine, whereas relaxations to atriopeptin II and 8-bromo cyclic GMP remained unaltered. In human coronary artery, glyceryl trinitrate pretreatment inhibited relaxations to glyceryl trinitrate, sodium nitroprusside, and the Ca2+ ionophore A23187. Relaxation to glyceryl trinitrate was inhibited more than that to sodium nitroprusside in both tissues. Acetylcholine-induced relaxation in rat thoracic aorta was slightly inhibited, whereas relaxation to the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 in human coronary artery was markedly depressed. Pretreatment with glyceryl trinitrate decreased the elevated cyclic GMP levels due to glyceryl trinitrate and acetylcholine in rat thoracic aorta and to glyceryl trinitrate and the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 in human coronary artery. Removal of the endothelium abolished the increased cyclic GMP levels and relaxation due to the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 and decreased basal cyclic GMP levels in the human coronary artery. In contrast, atriopeptin II-induced increased cyclic GMP levels were unaltered by glyceryl trinitrate pretreatment in rat thoracic aorta. The present results suggest that: glyceryl trinitrate-induced desensitization inhibits relaxation to the nitrogen oxide-containing vasodilators and endothelium-dependent vasodilators in both the rat thoracic aorta and human coronary artery: the inhibition of relaxation is associated with decreased formation of cyclic GMP;(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Achieving high uptake of human papillomavirus vaccination in Malaysia through school-based vaccination programme

Background

In 2006, 4 years of planning was started by the Ministry of Health, Malaysia (MOH), to implement the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination programme. An inter-agency and multi-sectoral collaborations were developed for Malaysia’s HPV school-based immunisation programme. It was approved for nationwide school base implementation for 13-year-old girls or first year secondary students in 2010. This paper examines how the various strategies used in the implementation over the last 7?years (2010–2016) that unique to Malaysia were successful in achieving optimal coverage of the target population.

Methods

Free vaccination was offered to school girls in secondary school (year seven) in Malaysia, which is usually at the age of 13 in the index year. All recipients of the HPV vaccine were identified through school enrolments obtained from education departments from each district in Malaysia. A total of 242,638 girls aged between 12 to 13?years studying in year seven were approached during the launch of the program in 2010. Approximately 230,000 girls in secondary schools were offered HPV vaccine per year by 646 school health teams throughout the country from 2010 to 2016.

Results

Parental consent for their daughters to receive HPV vaccination at school was very high at 96–98% per year of the programme. Of those who provided consent, over 99% received the first dose each year and 98–99% completed the course per year. Estimated population coverage for the full vaccine course, considering also those not in school, is estimated at 83 to 91% per year. Rates of adverse events reports following HPV vaccination were low at around 2 per 100,000 and the majority was injection site reactions.

Conclusion

A multisectoral and integrated collaborative structure and process ensured that the Malaysia school-based HPV immunisation programme was successful and sustained through the programme design, planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation. This is a critical factor contributing to the success and sustainability of the school-based HPV immunisation programme with very high coverage.

     

Reasoning Abilities and Potential Correlates Among Jordanian School Children

Objectives To investigate factors related to reasoning skills in 434 school children aged 5–9 years. Methods The Leiter International Performance Scale-Revised was used to assess reasoning skills. Demographic, work and family income data, information on child’s daily behavior and school academic achievement were provided by the participating children’s parents. Results Reasoning scores increased by 4.56 points with increasing subject’s age, 1.71 points with increasing level of father’s occupation, 1.86 points with each increase in the subject’s GPA, 1.13 points with consumption of breakfast at home and 1.81 points when child slept more hours. Having a father who smoked and living in a rural area decreased scores in reasoning. Conclusions for Practice Screening of reasoning and associated factors is essential for a comprehensive and accurate understanding of the child’s abilities and limitations. Understanding the child’s reasoning abilities is critical for establishing intervention goals and planning therapeutic activities.     

Detailed per-oral small bowel examination vs. enteroclysis. Part II: Radiographic accuracy

Accuracy of the detailed per-oral small bowel series and enteroclysis was compared in 134 patients known to have (or not have) disease of the small bowel. Overall sensitivity of the per-oral examination was 92% and specificity 94%, compared to 94% and 89%, respectively, for enteroclysis. There was no difference between the two in Crohn disease, adhesions, and metastatic disease; however, enteroclysis was thought to be more effective in delineating peritoneal adhesions in patients with obstruction. The authors conclude that while the per-oral study and enteroclysis are equally valid methods of examining the small bowel, the per-oral study is preferable as a screening examination because it requires less time, has fewer side effects, and involves a lower radiation exposure.