Impact of COVID-19 inequalities on children: An intersectional analysis

Societal concerns about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have largely focussed on the social groups most directly affected, such as the elderly and health workers. However, less focus has been placed on understanding the effects on other collectives, such as children. While children’s physical health appears to be less affected than the adult population, their mental health, learning and wellbeing is likely to have been significantly negatively affected during the pandemic due to the varying policy restrictions, such as withdrawal from face to face schooling, limited peer-to-peer interactions and mobility and increased exposure to the digital world amongst other things. Children from vulnerable social backgrounds, and especially girls, will be most negatively affected by the impact of COVID-19, given their different intersecting realities and the power structures already negatively affecting them. To strengthen the understanding of the social determinants of the COVID-19 crisis that unequally influence children’s health and wellbeing, this article presents a conceptual framework that considers the multiple axes of inequalities and power relations. This understanding can then be used to inform analyses and impact assessments, and in turn inform the development of effective and equitable mitigation strategies as well as assist to be better prepared for future pandemics.     

Total fluid intake of children and adolescents: cross-sectional surveys in 13 countries worldwide

Purpose

To describe total fluid intake (TFI) according to socio-demographic characteristics in children and adolescents worldwide.

Methods

Data of 3611 children (4–9 years) and 8109 adolescents (10–18 years) were retrieved from 13 cross-sectional surveys (47 % males). In three countries, school classes were randomly recruited with stratified cluster sampling design. In the other countries, participants were randomly recruited based on a quota method. TFI (drinking water and beverages of all kinds) was obtained with a fluid-specific record over 7 consecutive days. Adequacy was assessed by comparing TFI to 80 % of adequate intake (AI) for total water intake set by European Food Safety Authority. Data on height, weight and socio-economic level were collected in most countries.

Results

The mean (SD) TFI ranged from [1.32 (0.68)] to [1.35 (0.71)] L/day. Non-adherence to AIs for fluids ranged from 10 % (Uruguay) to >90 % (Belgium). Females were more likely to meet the AIs for fluids than males (4–9 years: 28 %, OR 0.72, p = 0.002; 10–18 years: 20 %, OR 0.80, p = 0.001), while adolescents were less likely to meet the AI than children (OR 1.645, p < 0.001 in males and OR 1.625, p < 0.001 in females).

Conclusions

A high proportion of children and adolescents are at risk of an inadequate fluid intake. This risk is especially high in males and adolescents when compared with females or children categories. This highlights water intake among young populations as an issue of global concern.

     

Body image,body dissatisfaction and weight status in south asian children: a cross-sectional study

Background  

Childhood obesity is a continuing problem in the UK and South Asian children represent a group that are particularly vulnerable to its health consequences. The relationship between body dissatisfaction and obesity is well documented in older children and adults, but is less clear in young children, particularly South Asians. A better understanding of this relationship in young South Asian children will inform the design and delivery of obesity intervention programmes. The aim of this study is to describe body image size perception and dissatisfaction, and their relationship to weight status in primary school aged UK South Asian children.     

Plasma carotenoids are associated with socioeconomic status in an urban Indigenous population: an observational study

Background  

Indigenous Australians experience poorer health than other Australians. Poor diet may contribute to this, and be related to their generally lower socioeconomic status (SES). Even within Indigenous populations, SES may be important. Our aim was to identify factors associated with plasma carotenoids as a marker of fruit and vegetable intake among urban dwelling Indigenous Australians, with a particular focus on SES.     

Management of pressure ulcers.

PURPOSE: Wound healing, the epidemiology and staging of pressure ulcers, and pressure ulcer prevention and treatment are discussed. SUMMARY: The principal event leading to the formation of pressure ulcers appears to be a consistent interruption in blood supply to the skin. Several known risk factors exist and can be attributed to patient-specific variables and wound-specific conditions. Initial management should include removal of the source of pressure, a comprehensive assessment of the patient, and proper staging of the ulcer. Preparation of the wound for treatment is essential and can have a significant impact on healing. While the patient's nutritional status is thought to affect wound healing, only an increased protein content in the diet has been demonstrated to have a benefit. Specialized wound dressings are available for pressure ulcers of all stages and drainage characteristics. With wide variation in cost and in application regimens, a direct cost-effectiveness comparison of commercially available dressing products is difficult. Many of the growth factors commonly present in healing wounds have been synthesized and evaluated as treatments. Although topical platelet-derived growth factor has demonstrated benefit in some studies, its use remains controversial. To date, no topical growth factors carry FDA-approved labeling for use in the treatment of pressure ulcers. Human skin equivalents mark the latest advancement in therapy. Certain species of bacteria have been associated with poorly healing ulcers and may warrant intervention with either local or systemic antibiotic therapy. CONCLUSION: No pharmacologic intervention has been conclusively shown to be effective for pressure ulcers. The cornerstones of therapy remain elimination of the source of pressure or friction and appropriate wound care. usa.     

Interaction of nucleoside analogues with nucleoside transporters in rat brain endothelial cells

A number of nucleoside analogues, consisting of antiviral compounds and agents designed as adenosine A1 receptor agonists, were examined for nucleoside transporter affinity using an in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), the rat brain endothelial cell line, RBE4. Structure-activity relationships (SAR) were also performed to identify the key structural requirements for transporter recognition and the suitability of these systems for carrier-mediated strategies to deliver therapeutics across the BBB. Adenosine receptor agonists did not show transport affinity for concentrative nucleoside carriers, but exhibited affinity for equilibrative systems (Ki=10.8-97.9 microM) within the range of Kms for natural substrates. However, none of the antiviral compounds tested in this study showed affinity for either class of nucleoside transporter. SAR studies suggest that the hydroxyl group located at the 3'-position of the ribose moiety is an essential requirement for transporter recognition. This may explain the inability of nucleoside derived anti-viral compounds to use these systems despite the significant structural homology with naturally occurring nucleosides. Sites have also been identified which accommodate structural additions with retention of carrier affinity, suggesting that compounds which fail to penetrate the BBB could be attached to these sites for carrier-mediated delivery using a prodrug strategy.     

Effect of tetracalcium dimagnesium phytate on bone characteristics in ovariectomized rats

The aim was to evaluate the influence of dietary Ca-Mg-phytate consumption on the bone characteristics of ovariectomized rats, an animal model for postmenopausal osteoporosis. Twenty ovariectomized female Wistar rats were randomly assigned to two groups fed, respectively, with a non-phytate diet (AIN-76A) or the same diet enriched with 1% phytate (as the calcium magnesium salt, phytin). After 12 weeks of feeding the rats were sacrificed, and both femoral bones and L4 vertebra were removed from each rat. Bone mass, length, width, volume, and mineral density were measured, and the phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and zinc contents of bones were determined. Deoxypyridinoline (a bone resorption marker) was measured in urine, and osteocalcin (a bone formation marker) was measured in serum. The calcium and phosphorus contents and bone mineral density were significantly higher in both femoral bones and L4 vertebra for phytate-treated rats in comparison to rats in the non-phytate group. Deoxypyridinoline was significantly increased in rats in the non-phytate treatment group. Ca-Mg-phytate consumption reduces bone mineral density loss due to estrogen deficiency. Thus, phytate exhibits effects similar to those of bisphosphonates on bone resorption and may be of use in the primary prevention of osteoporosis if larger studies in humans confirm these findings.     

Acculturation and self-reported health among Hispanics using a socio-behavioral model: the North Texas Healthy Heart Study

Background  

Acculturation is a continuous, firsthand contact with other cultures functioning at both group and individual levels and is reflected in our culturally diverse society, calling for a greater understanding of the environmental and cultural impact on health. Self-reported health (SRH), a robust and well validated predictor of future mortality for all racial/ethnic groups, has been differentially reported by Hispanics compared to whites, especially based on their acculturation status. This study investigated the relationship between acculturation and SRH among Hispanics. An adapted Andersen framework was used to develop logistic regression models to assess for an association between acculturation and general health status.