Community Perceptions of Zinc Biofortified Flour during an Intervention Study in Pakistan

Zinc-biofortified flour may be a cost-effective approach to improve zinc status of populations in low-resource settings. The success of biofortification programmes is subject to acceptability and uptake by consumers. This study explored community leaders’ and community members’ (n = 72) experiences and attitudes towards the flour provided during a cluster randomised controlled trial of zinc biofortified wheat in rural Pakistan (BiZiFED2). Focus group discussions (n = 12) were conducted and thematic analysis applied using an inductive, semantic, contextualist approach. Five themes were identified: (1) Contribution to food security; (2) Better sensory and baking properties than local flour; (3) Perceived health benefits; (4) Willingness to pay for the flour; and (5) Importance of trusted promoters/suppliers. Although the participants were blind to whether they had received control or biofortified flour, referred to collectively as “study flour”, the results indicated that the study flour performed well in terms of its taste and bread making qualities, with no adverse reports from participants in either arm of the BIZIFED2 RCT. Participants suggested that they would buy the biofortified wheat if this was available at a fair price due to perceived health benefits, reporting positive sensory characteristics and cooking attributes when compared to the flour available in the local markets. Overall, there was a positive reception of the programme and flour among the participants, and members of the community hoped for its continuation and expansion.     

Reducing the risks related to the handling and disposal of health-care waste

Guidelines on the management of hospital waste aim not only to minimise the risks posed to staff at all levels but also to contain potential environmental hazards, such as infection and sharps injuries. It is therefore important for all personnel to be vigilant and to ensure that they dispose of clinical waste safety and appropriately.     

Evaluation of 2 indicators for the presence of toxic substances in land used as unauthorized dumpsites

The aim of this study was to experiment with simple, low cost tests which are able to detect the presence of compounds and/or toxic substances in soil. Their genotoxic potential was evaluated using the Ames and Tradescantia Micronuclei tests. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were also performed to assess the presence of edaphic micro and macro fauna in soil samples collected from both the contaminated and adjacent areas. Our results show that these tests are a useful screening method to check for the presence of harmful, toxic substances affecting the quality of soil and the surrounding ecosystem.     

Double-blind crossover study of acarbose in type 1 diabetic patients.

The addition of acarbose to insulin treatment was evaluated in 14 Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients assessed conventionally (blood glucose profile and HbA1c measurement) and with an artificial B-cell. Their metabolic control was poor, fasting blood glucose 10.7 +/- 0.3 (+/- SE) mmol l-1, mean daily blood glucose 9.7 +/- 0.3 mmol l-1, and HbA1c 9.6 +/- 0.2% (normal range 5.0-6.1%). They were of normal body weight (body mass index 22.5 +/- 0.3 kg m-2), and were C-peptide deficient (fasting 0.08 +/- 0.02 nmol l-1). In addition to their usual insulin therapy (46.9 +/- 3.5 U day-1 in three pre-meal injections), they received 100 mg acarbose or placebo three times a day for 6 weeks in a randomized double-blind crossover design. On the last day of either acarbose or placebo treatment, the usual insulin therapy was discontinued and an artificial B-cell was used for insulin delivery, programmed for euglycaemia. Placebo or acarbose was continued before meals. Acarbose reduced mean daily blood glucose concentrations (8.5 +/- 0.3 vs 9.7 +/- 0.3 mmol l-1, p = 0.002) and HbA1c levels (8.3 +/- 0.1 vs 9.6 +/- 0.2%, p less than 0.001). A significant reduction in insulin requirement after meals was found with the artificial B-cell, 25.1 +/- 2.5 (first treatment acarbose) and 24.1 +/- 2.9 U (first treatment placebo) with acarbose and 40.0 +/- 2.5 and 35.6 +/- 2.9 U with placebo (p less than 0.001). These results suggest that acarbose could usefully be administered to Type 1 diabetic patients to ameliorate glucose control and reduce insulin requirement.     

Diet therapy in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM)

The main approach in NIDDM therapy is diet. Most patients present insulin resistance characterized by overweight, VLDL increase, minimal increase of LDL, decrease of HDL cholesterol, and hypertension. The overall goals of nutrition therapy are the maintenance of near normal glucose levels, and the achievement of optimal serum lipid levels with adequate calories for maintaining or attaining a reasonable body weight. In presence of obesity and hypertension even a slightly weight loss could achieve an improvement in metabolic control and in hypertension with a better life expectance. General-ly carbohydrate intake would represent the 50-60% of total caloric amount (with preference to those with low glycemic index), and lipids no more than 35% (less than 10% of these 10-15% from monounsaturated fats with less than 300 mg/day of cholesterol). If elevated very low density lipoproteins level is the primary problem, a beneficial approach is 10% of total caloric intake from saturated fats, 10% from polyunsaturated, and 15-20% from monounsaturated fats with less than 200 mg/day of cholesterol and 40% of carbohydrates. A large amount of fructose (20% of calories) may increase LDL levels but sweeteners as saccarine or aspartame are approved and determine a better diet compliance. Daily consumpion of 20-35 g of dietary fibres from food sources is recommended for metabolic control. Protein intake would be of about 10% of total caloric amount especially in presence of diabetic nepropathy. Alcohol would not exceed 30 g/day for men and 20 g/day for women keeping in mild that alcohol may worsen metabolic control, diet compliance, and may be dangerous itself. For people with hypertension a decrease of dietary sodium intake is recommended. Nutritional recommendations are developed to meet treatment goals and desired outcomes. Monitoring metabolic parameters, blood pressure, and body weight is very important to ensure successful outcomes.     

Mail Versus Telephone Administration of the Oxford Knee and Hip Scores

Telephone and postal methods of administration of the Oxford Knee Score (OKS) and the Oxford Hip Score (OHS) were compared on 85 and 61 patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA), respectively. The test for equivalence was significant for both the knee (P < 0.001) and hip participants (P < 0.001) indicating that the modes of administration yielded similar results. The ICCs of the OKS and OHS were 0.79 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.70, 0.86) and 0.87 (0.79, 0.92) respectively. The 95% limits of agreement were wide for both scores (OKS LOA, − 8.6, 8.2; OHS LOA, − 7.7, 5.3). The two modes of administration of the OKS and OHS produce equivalent survey responses at a group level but the same method of administration should be constant for individual monitoring in a clinical setting.     

Lymphocyte Na,K-ATPase is reduced in aged people

Na,K-ATPase-dependent 86Rb uptake, maximum velocity (Vmax), Michaelis constant (Km) of the uptake, and [3H]-ouabain binding were investigated in the lymphocytes of 10 elderly subjects (age greater than 60 years), and in 10 middle-aged (41 to 60 years) and 10 young controls (age less than or equal to 40 years). 86Rb uptake was reduced in elderly versus both middle-aged and young subjects (20.14 +/- 3.30 v 35.60 +/- 2.67, P = .002, and v 36.53 +/- 4.49 nmol, P = .012), as was the number of [3H]-ouabain binding sites per cell (32,662 +/- 2,215 v 40,420 +/- 1,184, P = .011, and v 40,596 +/- 1,349, P = .014). Vmax was reduced in elderly v young subjects (1.20 +/- 0.10 v 1.64 +/- 0.13, P = .034), but not versus the middle-age group (1.20 +/- 0.10 v 1.54 +/- 0.12 nmol.min-1, NS). Km was no different among the three groups. No differences were found between middle-aged and young subjects. Significant correlations were observed between age and Na,K-ATPase-dependent 86Rb uptake (r = -.620, P = .00009), Vmax (r = -.439, P = .024), and [3H]-ouabain binding sites (r = -.648, P = .002). Moreover, the site number was positively correlated with both uptake (r = .635, P = .002) and Vmax (r = .554, P = .011). These differences were observed both in women and men. We conclude that there is an age-dependent reduction in lymphocyte Na,K-ATPase activity, which is fully manifested over 60 years, and that this alteration is probably due to the reduced number of functional units of Na,K-ATPase in advancing age.     

Hypergammaglobulinemia and corneal opacities in patients with human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type-1

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between serum immunoglobulin levels and corneal opacities in a cohort of patients with human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type-1 (HTLV-1). DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Complete ophthalmologic examination was performed on 44 patients with HTLV-1 infection (25 patients with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma [ATL], 18 patients with HTLV-1 that was associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis [HAM/TSP], and one patient who was asymptomatic). Corneal opacities were described by shape, size, color, and location. Serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels (IgG, IgM, and IgA) were measured by nephelometry. RESULTS: Corneal opacities were identified in 15 of 25 patients (60%) with ATL and five of 18 patients (28%) with HAM/TSP. The prevalence of corneal opacities was associated statistically with elevated IgG level (P = .023) in patients with ATL, but not in patients with HAM/TSP (P > .99). CONCLUSION: Although the mechanism remains unclear, hypergammaglobulinemia is associated with the development of the corneal opacities in patients of African descent with ATL.