Consumption of animal source foods,especially fish,is associated with better nutritional status among women of reproductive age in rural Bangladesh

In rural Bangladesh, intake of nutrient-rich foods, such as animal source foods (ASFs), is generally suboptimal. Diets low in nutrients and lacking in diversity put women of reproductive age (WRA) at risk of malnutrition as well as adverse birth outcomes. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between maternal dietary diversity, consumption of specific food groups and markers of nutritional status, including underweight [body mass index (BMI) < 18.5 kg/m²], overweight (BMI ≥ 23 kg/m²) and anaemia (haemoglobin < 120 g/dl) among WRA in Bangladesh. This analysis used data from the third round of a longitudinal observational study, collected from February through May of 2017. Dietary data were collected with a questionnaire, and Women's Dietary Diversity Score (WDDS) was calculated. Associations between WDDS, food group consumption and markers of nutritional status were assessed with separate adjusted logistic regression models. Among WRA, the prevalence of underweight, overweight and anaemia was 13.38%, 40.94% and 39.99%, respectively. Women who consumed dark green leafy vegetables (DGLV) or eggs were less likely to be anaemic or underweight, respectively, and women who consumed ASFs, particularly fish, were less likely to be underweight compared with women who did not consume these foods. WDDS did not show any consistent relationship with WRA outcomes. Interventions that focus on promoting optimal nutritional status among WRA in Bangladesh should emphasise increasing consumption of specific nutrient-rich foods, including ASFs, DGLV and eggs, rather than solely focusing on improving diet diversity in general.     

Capacity for Freedom—A New Way of Measuring Poverty Amongst Australian Children

A little over 200 000 children and youths in Australia between the ages of 5 and 19 years were in Freedom poverty in 2003—they had low family income, and either poor health or an insufficient level of education. These individuals are some of the most disadvantaged in society due to their multiple capability restrictions. Current political rhetoric focused on increasing the education opportunities of children and youth to maximise their labour force participation in the future and thus improve their living standards may offer a means of improving the lives of these most disadvantaged children. However, half of these children have poor health and this may act as a barrier to their future labour force participation. It is shown that when looking at the health, education and labour force status of adults, amongst those with and without a disability those with a higher education had a greater likelihood of participating in the labour force—indicating policies to promote education amongst children are justified. However, it was also shown that regardless of education attainment those with a disability still had lower labour force participation rates than those without a disability. As such, efforts to increase children’s future labour force participation rates as a means of improving their living standards should also focus on improving childhood health, as well as education. Political promises to improve the lives of children should take a holistic view of the lives of individuals taking note in particular of how health may be restraining their quality of life.     

RNA viruses in community-acquired childhood pneumonia in semi-urban Nepal; a cross-sectional study

Background  

Pneumonia is among the main causes of illness and death in children <5 years of age. There is a need to better describe the epidemiology of viral community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in developing countries.     

Selective killing of cancer cells by leaf extract of Ashwagandha: identification of a tumor-inhibitory factor and the first molecular insights to its effect.

PURPOSE: Ashwagandha is regarded as a wonder shrub of India and is commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine and health tonics that claim its variety of health-promoting effects. Surprisingly, these claims are not well supported by adequate studies, and the molecular mechanisms of its action remain largely unexplored to date. We undertook a study to identify and characterize the antitumor activity of the leaf extract of ashwagandha. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Selective tumor-inhibitory activity of the leaf extract (i-Extract) was identified by in vivo tumor formation assays in nude mice and by in vitro growth assays of normal and human transformed cells. To investigate the cellular targets of i-Extract, we adopted a gene silencing approach using a selected small hairpin RNA library and found that p53 is required for the killing activity of i-Extract. RESULTS: By molecular analysis of p53 function in normal and a variety of tumor cells, we found that it is selectively activated in tumor cells, causing either their growth arrest or apoptosis. By fractionation, purification, and structural analysis of the i-Extract constituents, we have identified its p53-activating tumor-inhibiting factor as with a none. CONCLUSION: We provide the first molecular evidence that the leaf extract of ashwagandha selectively kills tumor cells and, thus, is a natural source for safe anticancer medicine.     

Prevalence of HBV infection among the healthy Nepalese males: a serological survey

Sera from 478 healthy Nepalese male population, inhabiting various districts of five development regions of Nepal were collected from October 1996 to March 1997 and examined for the presence of HBsAg by third generation ELISA and Latex agglutination test in the laboratory of Central Department of Microbiology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur. The surface antigen was detected by ELISA in 4.0% (19/478) of subjects studied. However, different results were obtained in Latex agglutination test. The correlation between the results obtained from these two different tests is statistically significant (chi2=85.11, P<0.05). The results obtained from ELISA showed the probability of Nepal to fall in WHO category of intermediate endemicity zone for hepatitis B infection. The percent positivity of HBsAg was found to increase steadily from Eastern (2%) to Far Western (6.2%) development regions. Among the districts studied, Kailali district gave characteristically high prevalence followed by Rukum and Kaski. Other, districts representing for the prevalence are Sankhuwasabha, Jhapa, Ramechhap, Sarlahi, Dhanusa, Baglung, Gulmi, Palpa and Dang. None of the samples represented from Kathmandu valley were positive for HBsAg. The age groups of 16-20 years and 36-40 years were found to be associated with the hepatitis B infection. Furthermore, various percent prevalence of the infection were encountered from 16 to 40 years subjects and a single case was also observed from 63 years old man. All the samples recorded positive for HBsAg from ELISA were assayed for the amount of ALT as a liver function test. Where, 15.8% (3/19) of the infected subjects had impaired liver function, hence it showed that, the subjects with high ALT to be the possible carrier of the HBV. Conversely, the remaining 84.2% (16/19) of the total HBsAg positive subjects were concluded to have the infection either at incubation or at prodrome period.     

The vulpius procedure for correction of equinus deformity in patients with hemiplegia

Spasm or contracture of gastrocnemius causes an equinus deformity of the ankle in both cerebral palsy and hemiplegia. Its release is therefore required in the treatment of those patients who do not respond to conservative measures. The Vulpius procedure is a simple and effective method for the release of gastrocnemius and is particularly indicated when long periods of immobilisation of the foot and ankle are not desirable. We have used this procedure with good results to correct an equinus deformity in 230 adults with a cerebrovascular accident and various associated medical conditions. It is not only effective in cerebral palsy, but should be considered at an early stage in all adult patients with deformity of the ankle and foot in whom spasm of gastrocnemius is the major cause.