Does the Internet represent a sexual health risk environment for young people?

This study examined sexual risk behaviors/outcomes among college students with online partners only, offline partners only, and both online/offline partners. Students with both online/offline partners were more likely to report sexually transmitted diseases, unintended pregnancy, and more vaginal/oral sex partners. Sex with online partners was not riskier than sex with offline partners.     

Leishmania donovani mitochondrial iron superoxide dismutase A is released into the cytosol during miltefosine induced programmed cell death

The oxidative phosphorylation process is the main source of endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide in mitochondria. In mammals, manganese superoxide dismutase plays an important role in detoxification of superoxide before it interferes with mitochondrial function and causes programmed cell death. Here, we investigated the role of Leishmania donovani mitochondrial iron superoxide dismutase-A (LdFeSODA) in protecting the parasite from oxidative stress and in the control of programmed cell death events. We have shown that overexpression of LdFeSODA protects Leishmania donovani from miltefosine induced cytotoxicity and reduced mitochondrial-derived superoxide generation. Furthermore, parasites overexpressing LdFeSODA showed (i) lower level of phosphatidylserine exposure as measured by flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy; and (ii) reduced level of TUNEL staining of parasites compared to the control parasites. Finally, prolonged incubation of the parasites with miltefosine induced the release of both cytochrome C and LdFeSODA into the cytosol as demonstrated by Western blotting and fluorescence microscopy indicating programmed cell death. The results indicate that LdFeSODA protects the mitochondria of Leishmania from oxidative stress thereby inhibiting programmed cell death.     

Within-Group Differences Between Native-Born and Foreign-Born Black Men on Prostate Cancer Risk Reduction and Early Detection Practices

To better address prostate cancer disparities, we investigated the differences among US-born, African-born, and Caribbean-born Black men on prostate cancer risk reduction and early detection behaviors. Data were collected from over 3,400 Black men in five cities in Florida. One-way analysis of variance was used to explore the ethnic variations among the three study groups. We found that there were significant differences among the three groups. The US-born Black men had the highest knowledge, were most likely to have health insurance, and consume the most meat compared to African-born, and Caribbean-born Black men. African-born Black men were most likely to use chemoprevention products and discuss prostate cancer risk-reduction and early detection with a physician. Given the significant number of foreign-born Blacks in the US, it is important to disaggregate the data of US-born and foreign-born Blacks to develop effective programs and policies to address the needs of each group.     

Basal ganglia calcification with hypoparathyroidism: a case report

Basal ganglia calcification is rare before forty years. The causes for calcification are too many. If it occurs before forty years of age, it should be considered as pathological unless proved otherwise. In this case report, we will present a seventeen year boy who has pathological calcification in the basal ganglia with hypoparathyroidism.     

Antidepressant-like effects of nicotine and reduced nicotinic receptor binding in the Fawn-Hooded rat, an animal model of co-morbid depression and alcoholism

A strong positive association between depression and alcoholism is evident in epidemiological studies. Curiously, the incidence of smoking (nicotine intake) is also very high among depressed individuals. Because neuronal nicotinic receptors have been implicated in mood regulation as well as in reinforcing effects of alcohol, it was of interest to determine whether inherent changes in these receptors may be manifested in an animal model that expresses both depressive-like characteristics and high alcohol intake. Thus, Fawn-Hooded (FH) rats along with their control ACI rats were used to measure the density of the high affinity nicotinic receptor in discrete brain regions. Furthermore, the effects of acute and chronic nicotine on depressive-like characteristics of FH rats were also evaluated. Measurements of [(3)H]cytisine binding (selective for alpha4beta2 nicotinic receptor subtype) revealed a reduction in these receptors only in the striatum of FH rats, a result very similar to that observed in selectively-bred alcohol-preferring (P) rats. Administration of nicotine acutely (0.4 mg/kg, sc) resulted in a significant reduction of immobility in the forced swim test (FST) in FH rats only, implying an antidepressant-like effect of nicotine. Another group of FH rats were administered 0.4 mg/kg nicotine (daily, sc) for 14 days and their behavior in the FST was evaluated 22-24 h after the last injection. In this case, nicotine also had a significant antidepressant-like effect in FH rats suggesting no tolerance to nicotine had occurred. The effects of nicotine on FST behavior are very similar to those observed in Flinders Sensitive Line rats, a putative animal model of depression. Together, these findings provide additional evidence for antidepressant-like effects of nicotine and strengthen the postulated association between striatal nicotinic receptors and high alcohol intake. Thus, nicotinic receptors could be suitable targets for the development of novel pharmacotherapy for treatment of depression and possibly alcoholism.     

Effect of enhanced nutrition services with community-based nutrition services on the diet quality of young children in Ethiopia

Poor diet quality related to inadequate complementary feeding is a major public health problem in low and middle-income countries including Ethiopia. Low dietary diversity has been linked to negative health outcomes in children. To provide a package of interventions to close nutritional gaps through agriculture, the Sustainable Undernutrition Reduction in Ethiopia (SURE) programme was set up as a multi-sectoral initiative and the results of combined effects of community-based and enhanced nutrition services, compared to community-based alone, on diet diversity and diet quality of complementary feeding of young children are presented. The study used pre- and post-intervention design. Baseline (n = 4980) data were collected from May to July 2016, and follow-up (n = 2419) data from December 2020 to January 2021. From 51 intervention districts having the SURE programme, 36 intervention districts were randomly selected for baseline and 31 for the follow-up survey. The primary outcome was diet quality: minimum dietary diversity (MDD), minimum meal frequency (MMF) and minimum acceptable diet (MAD). Comparing endline to baseline over the 4.5-year intervention, the use of standard community-based nutrition services of growth monitoring and promotion increased (16%–46%), as did enhanced nutrition services of infant and young child feeding counselling, and agricultural advising (62%–77%). Women involved in home gardening significantly increased (73%–93%); however, household production of food decreased yet consumption of most own-grown foods increased. Importantly, MAD and MDD increased four-fold. The SURE intervention programme was associated with improvements in complementary feeding and diet quality through enhanced nutrition services. This suggests programmes targeted at nutrition-sensitive practices can improve child feeding in young children.