Adverse Health Conditions Research Articles

Formaldehyde as Preservative for Fish and Seafood: A Boon or a Bane

ABSTRACTThree billion people globally rely on fish and other seafood as a significant source of animal protein. Despite being deemed illegal due to its ability to cause cancer, mutagenesis, and tumor development, formaldehyde is still in use to extend the shelf life of different fish and shellfish, which indicates the failure of awareness among people. Formaldehyde is categorized by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a Group‐I human carcinogen. Therefore, we try to summarize the chemistry of formaldehyde, its illegal addition in various food materials leading to adverse health conditions followed by its evaluation at physiological and histological levels in our review with the help of data collected from various research papers, newspaper articles, and online data. We have also highlighted on various environmental factors that play a role in altering the levels of formaldehyde in various food materials. This review also gives an insight into various rules and regulations made to limit the usage of formaldehyde in fish and other seafood at both national and international levels. Our review will help to generate awareness among common people, the establishment of much stronger rules, and regulations on usage of formaldehyde, and finding an alternative for preservation of fish and other food materials.

Saturated Fats: Time to Assess Their Beneficial Role in a Healthful Diet

Saturated fats are widely seen as undesirable components of a healthy diet, as a result of their illusory association with elevated serum cholesterol. The regulation of serum cholesterol is now better understood and a lack of polyunsaturated fatty acids, rather than an abundance of saturated fatty acids, is responsible. Palmitic acid was shown to incite inflammation at unnaturally high concentrations in tissue culture, but later was found to play an auxiliary role as a precursor to ceramide biosynthesis and possibly in the palmitoylation of membrane receptors involved in the initiation of inflammation. Studies of arthritic inflammation in lab animals showed that dietary saturated fats are anti-inflammatory, whereas polyunsaturated oils are pro-inflammatory. Inflammation plays a role in numerous metabolic diseases, including insulin resistance, fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome, among others. Fat, as triglycerides in adipose tissue, is an efficient way for living organisms to store energy and reduce the toxicity of other macronutrients. Macronutrients, such as excess carbohydrates and polyunsaturated fatty acids, are converted to saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids for storage as triglycerides in adipose tissue. Fatty acids are released from adipose tissue during fasting and as a result of some metabolic disorders, where elevated levels of nonesterified fatty acids in blood can lead to hepatic lipid accumulation, inflammation and insulin resistance. Although most serum nonesterified fatty acids may be saturated fatty acids, they are not necessarily derived from the diet. This paper will attempt to clarify the role of saturated fatty acids, and palmitic acid in particular, with regard to certain adverse health conditions.

Interaction of polychlorinated biphenyls exposure, lifestyle and genetic risk in dyslipidemia

Abstract Background Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that have been associated with various adverse health conditions. However, the interaction effects between PCBs, lifestyle, and/or genetic susceptibility on dyslipidemias are still unknown. Methods Six serum PCBs including PCB-28, 101, 118, 138, 153, and 180 were determined in 3,845 participants from the Wuhan-Zhuhai cohort. Dyslipidemias, including hyper-total cholesterol (HyperTC), hyper-triglyceride (HyperTG), hyper-low density lipoprotein cholesterol (HyperLDL-C), and hypo-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HypoHDL-C) were classified based on serum lipids levels, which were examined by an automatic biochemical analyzer. Besides, we constructed lipid-specific polygenic risk scores (PRS) and healthy lifestyle scores, and used Logistic regression models to explore the relationships of serum PCBs, lifestyle, and PRS with dyslipidemias. Results We observed that all six PCB congeners were positively associated with the prevalence of dyslipidemias to varying degrees. In particular, dose-response manners were observed between ΣPCB levels and odds ratios (ORs) of HyperTC, HyperTG, and HyperLDL-C, respectively. Besides, we found that PRSs and unhealthy lifestyles were both positively associated with dyslipidemias. For the combined effect of ΣPCB, lifestyle, and PRS, participants with high ΣPCB, unfavorable lifestyle, and high genetic risk had the highest odds of HyperTC (2.285; 1.533, 3.417), HyperTG (7.944; 5.169, 12.329), and HyperLDL-C (3.523; 2.311, 5.394) when compared with those with low ΣPCB, healthy lifestyle, and low genetic risk. Conclusions Our study provided evidence that PCB exposure potentially increases the prevalence of dyslipidemias, which may be exacerbated by genetic susceptibility and unhealthy lifestyles. Key messages • Our results highlighted the importance of reducing PCB exposure, adopting healthy lifestyles for the prevention of dyslipidemia. • Our work might facilitate the emergence of reducing or regulating PCB pollution to control blood lipids and the resultant dyslipidemia epidemic.

Investigating the prevalence and associated factors of depression, anxiety, and loneliness among people with type-2 diabetes in Bangladesh: a community-based study

Diabetes mellitus is a major worldwide health concern. Diabetes has been associated with a number of adverse mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, and loneliness that can negatively impact diabetes outcomes. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with depression, anxiety, and loneliness in people, in the community, suffering with diabetes in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 600 people with type-2 diabetes (54.83% females; mean age: 52.70 ± 11.56 years) between July and September 2022. Purposive sampling method was used to recruit the participants. A validated semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic and other data. Depression, anxiety, and loneliness were measured using the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and UCLA Loneliness scale, respectively. Bivariate and multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted to ascertain factors that were significantly associated with these mental health conditions. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and loneliness was 31.17%, 21.83%, and 28.00%, respectively. A lack of formal education, and not taking part in physical activities were significantly associated with all three mental health states. Duration of diabetes and being on medication for high cholesterol were also associated with depression and anxiety. Older age and being widowed were significantly associated with loneliness. This study found that depression, anxiety, and loneliness are prevalent among Bangladeshi people with diabetes, with certain sociodemographic and diabetes-related factors associated with increased risk. The findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions to people within the communities, at grassroot levels in order to improve reduce health inequality, and improve the mental health of people living with diabetes.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Health Conditions and Risk Behaviors Among High School Students - Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2023.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are preventable, potentially traumatic events occurring before age 18 years. Data on ACEs among adolescents in the United States have primarily been collected through parent report and have not included important violence-related ACEs, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. This report presents the first national prevalence of self-reported ACEs among U.S. high school students aged <18 years, estimates associations between ACEs and 16 health conditions and risk behaviors, and calculates population-attributable fractions of ACEs with these conditions and behaviors using cross-sectional, nationally representative 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data. Exposures were lifetime prevalence of individual (emotional, physical, and sexual abuse; physical neglect; witnessed intimate partner violence; household substance use; household poor mental health; and incarcerated or detained parent or guardian) ACEs and cumulative ACEs count (zero, one, two or three, or four or more). Health conditions and risk behaviors included violence risk factors, substance use, sexual behaviors, weight and weight perceptions, mental health, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Bivariate analyses assessed associations between individual and cumulative ACEs and demographics. Adjusted prevalence ratios assessed associations between cumulative ACEs and health conditions and risk behaviors, accounting for demographics. Population-attributable fractions were calculated to determine the potential reduction in health conditions and risk behaviors associated with preventing ACEs. ACEs were common, with approximately three in four students (76.1%) experiencing one or more ACEs and approximately one in five students (18.5%) experiencing four or more ACEs. The most common ACEs were emotional abuse (61.5%), physical abuse (31.8%), and household poor mental health (28.4%). Students who identified as female; American Indian or Alaska Native; multiracial; or gay or lesbian, bisexual, questioning, or who describe their sexual identity in some other way experienced the highest number of ACEs. Population-attributable fractions associated with experiencing ACEs were highest for suicide attempts (89.4%), seriously considering attempting suicide (85.4%), and prescription opioid misuse (84.3%). ACEs are prevalent among students and contribute substantially to numerous health conditions and risk behaviors in adolescence. Policymakers and public health professionals can use these findings to understand the potential public health impact of ACEs prevention to reduce adolescent suicidal behaviors, substance use, sexual risk behaviors, and other negative health conditions and risk behaviors and to understand current effects of ACEs among U.S. high school students.

The Burden of Glucocorticoids: Patterns of Use, Adverse Health Conditions, and Health Care Use in Two Cohorts With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) can be beneficial from both clinical and patient perspectives, but side effects are well documented. We examined patterns of GC use over 15 years (2006-2021) and occurrence of adverse health conditions (AHCs) and health care use by GC exposure in two longitudinal cohorts with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Data from the Lupus Outcomes Study (LOS; 2003-2015) and FORWARD cohort (2015-2021) were used. AHCs examined were diabetes, osteoporosis, nontraumatic fractures, cataracts, and infections. Health care use measures examined were the number of rheumatology and other provider visits, hospitalizations, and specific diagnostic tests. Kaplan-Meier analyses examined time to occurrence of each AHC. Cox regression analyses estimated the risk of occurrence of AHCs, controlling for covariates by GC use and by GC dose (0, 1-5, 5-7.5, and ≥7.5 mg). GC use was relatively consistent over time. At baseline, individuals who used GCs in the LOS were more likely to report osteoporosis (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-2.6) and cataracts (aOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.04-2.6); individuals who used GCs in the FORWARD cohort were more likely to report diabetes (aOR 5.1, 95% CI 2.2-12.0), osteoporosis (aOR 4.5, 95% CI 2.6-8.0), and fractures (aOR 6.5, 95% CI 3.8-11.1). Individuals who used high doses of GCs in the LOS had greater incidence of osteoporosis, fracture, and cataracts. In the FORWARD cohort, a significant difference in incidence was noted only for infections. In both cohorts, individuals who used GCs had more rheumatology and other physician visits, and greater risk of hospitalization. Despite recommendations on steroid sparing, a large portion of people with SLE appear to remain on steroids. These analyses provide additional evidence of the potential health and health care burden of GC use, underscoring the need for other effective treatments for individuals with SLE.

Coeliac Disease in Children—A Clinical Review Including Novel Treatment Agents

Coeliac disease (CD) affects almost of 1% of the population, yet remains undiagnosed in the majority. Though the demonstration of enteropathy in duodenal biopsy was traditionally the essential criterion for the diagnosis of coeliac disease, the guidelines published by the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) in 2012, and revised in 2020, paved the way to a no-biopsy approach to diagnosis. In a select group of children meeting certain criteria, a definitive diagnosis of CD can now be made without the need for duodenal biopsies. This is being increasingly applied in clinical practice. It is well established that untreated coeliac disease is associated with several chronic adverse health conditions. At present, a strict gluten-free diet remains the only effective treatment for CD. The advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of CD have led to a search for alternative treatment agents. Several investigational agents are in various phases of clinical trials at present. In this review, we outline the clinical aspects of coeliac disease and summarise various investigational treatment agents.

Effect of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus on Newborn Hearing: A Systematic Review.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with several adverse health conditions in newborns such as preterm birth, hyperbilirubinemia, macrosomia, respiratory distress. However, the effect of GDM on the hearing sensitivity of newborns is still unclear. The study aimed to explore the effect of GDM on newborn hearing. The study aimed to explore the effect of GDM on newborn hearing. A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and CHINAL databases. Keywords like "gestational diabetes," "diabetic pregnancies," "hearing loss," "hearing impairment," and "hearing disorder" were used to form a search string. The Rayyan software was used for screening procedure. The full-length articles were shortlisted, extracted, and appraised. The 7 articles were included in the review. Findings suggest that hearing loss is more prevalent in newborns with GDM pregnancies than in non-GDM pregnancies. In addition, OAE findings were "referred during the first hearing screening of newborns with GDM pregnancies." The refer rate of the first bilateral hearing screening was higher for newborns with GDM pregnancies. Furthermore, children of diabetic pregnancies were found to be at risk of bilateral hearing loss, particularly sensorineural in nature. The present systematic review suggests an association between GDM and a higher refer rate in hearing screening. A multidisciplinary collaboration between gynecologists, pediatricians, and audiologists can smoothen the early detection of hearing loss in newborns with GDM pregnancies, leading to early intervention and better clinical outcomes to improve the quality of life of affected newborns.

Physical activity and sedentary behavior among ambulatory children with cerebral palsy using accelerometer: a cross-sectional study.

Physical activity (PA) is paramount for childhood development and growth. However, children diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy (CP) were often considered sedentary, and their physical inactivity was associated with adverse health conditions and complications. Therefore, this study aimed to objectively describe and compare the PA levels and SB levels of children with and without CP of the same age group. It also studied the factors correlating with PA, SB, and step count per day in children with CP. A cross-sectional study using a wrist-worn accelerometer was conducted. PA and SB were measured over seven consecutive days. Eighty-five children aged 6-12 years, consisting of 41 children with CP and 44 TD children, participated in this study with a mean age of 9.18 ± 1.95 and 8.45 ± 1.78 years, respectively. According to the gross functional measures, 53.6% of children with CP were classified as first classification. A significant amount of time was spent in SB and Light PA (LPA) by children with CP compared to TD children, and no significant differences were observed in moderate PA (MPA) or step count. Gender mainly affected MPA as girls spent more time in MPA than boys. The age, height, and weight of children with CP correlate significantly with SB. As children's age, height, and weight increase, SB increases. Additionally, children with higher weights have lower step counts per day. This study showed that children with CP spend more time in LPA and SB than typically developed children. Therefore, concerted efforts are needed to encourage physical activity and reduce the sedentary lifestyle, to take into account the gender and anthropometric measures of children to enhance the quality of life among children with CP, and to consider gender and anthropometric measures of the children.

The Level of Vitamin D in Patients with Susceptible Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Evaluation of its Influence on the Clinical Course of the Disease

Vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency is defined as a very common condition in the general population. On the one hand, vitamin D deficiency is associated with several adverse health conditions, on the other hand, vitamin D supplements are inexpensive and safe to use, which makes it an attractive therapeutic option for both doctors and patients, especially for groups risk among the population. Several researchers claim that vitamin D metabolites play an important role in the coordinated work of the body’s immune system by inducing the migration of phagocytes, modulating the Th1—Th2 cell balance, and differentiating T-regulatory cells. Objective — to determine the level of vitamin D in patients with susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis and to evaluate its influence on the clinical course of the disease. Materials and methods. The randomized case-control study included 45 patients with newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis of the lungs with preserved sensitivity and 30 practically healthy individuals (PHI) of the control group. The level of vitamin D in blood serum was examined using the VD (Vitamin D) ELISA Kit (Optics Valley Biomedical Industrial Park, Wuhan, China (430075)), for the quantitative detection of vitamin D in blood serum, number: EU2541, parameter: 1.563—100 ng/ml. Results and discussion. According to the results of our study, it was established that the average level of 25(OH)D concentration in the blood serum of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis was (18.46 ± 4.23) ng/ml, in the control group it was (28.834 ± 5.79) ng/ml and was statistically significant (p = 0.001). Our multivariate studies with binary logistic regression showed a strong direct relationship between the presence of a specific tubercular process and vitamin D deficiency (&lt; 20 ng/ml) (OR 2.817, 95 % CI 1.287—4.894, p &lt; 0.005. Conclusions. Vitamin D deficiency was noted in 94 % of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis with severe intoxication syndrome (7—10 points). In tuberculosis with moderate intoxication syndrome (4—6 points), 69.7 % of patients had a vitamin D deficiency, which practically did not differ from indicators in patients with mild intoxication syndrome (1—3 points) — 67.2 % of people.

Optimizing Antioxidant Potential: Factorial Design-Based Formulation of Fucoidan and Gallic Acid-Conjugated Dextran Blends.

The role of oxidative stress in health and homeostasis has generated interest in the scientific community due to its association with cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and other diseases. Therefore, extensive research seeks to identify new exogenous antioxidant compounds for supplementation. Polysaccharides are recognized for their antioxidant properties. However, polysaccharide chemical modifications are often necessary to enhance these properties. Therefore, dextran was conjugated with gallic acid (Dex-Gal) and later combined with fucoidan A (FucA) to formulate blends aimed at achieving superior antioxidant activity compared to individual polysaccharides. A factorial design was employed to combine FucA and Dex-Gal in different proportions, resulting in five blends (BLD1, BLD2, BLD3, BLD4, and BLD5). An analysis of surface graphs from in vitro antioxidant tests, including total antioxidant capacity (TAC), reducing power, and hydroxyl radical scavenging, guided the selection of BLD4 as the optimal formulation. Tests on 3T3 fibroblasts under various conditions of oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide revealed that BLD4 provided enhanced protection compared to its isolated components. The BLD4 formulation, resulting from the combination of Dex-Gal and FucA, showed promise as an antioxidant strategy, outperforming its individual components and suggesting its potential as a supplement to mitigate oxidative stress in adverse health conditions.

Proposed Physiological Mechanisms Underlying the Association between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Mental Health Conditions: A Narrative Review.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs; e.g., physical abuse) can impact lifelong mental health both directly and intergenerationally, with effects transmitted from the parent to the child. Several physiological mechanisms have been proposed to explain the impacts of ACEs on mental health. The purpose of this narrative review was to synthesize and critique the peer-reviewed literature on physiological mechanisms proposed to underlie the impacts of ACEs on mental health, specifically: (1) hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning, (2) inflammation, (3) genetic inheritance and differential susceptibility, (4) epigenetics, (5) brain structure and function, (6) oxidative stress, and (7) metabolic profiles. We searched Google Scholar using variations of the terms "adverse childhood experiences", "mechanisms", and "mental health" to locate relevant peer-reviewed literature. We also mined citations of the identified literature to find additional important sources. The role of inflammation in the etiology of mental health conditions among those exposed to ACEs appeared promising, followed by hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning, brain structure and function, genetics, epigenetics, metabolism, and lastly, oxidative stress. Replication studies that examine the associations among ACEs, genetic inheritance and differential susceptibility, epigenetics, oxidative stress, and metabolism are required to better define links with mental health.

The Clinical Implication of Nocturia in Predicting Hypertension Among Working-Aged Koreans.

Evidence has indicated that nocturia is a clinical manifestation of adverse health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. However, previous studies are less available for the clinical implication of nocturia on the development of hypertension. Study participants were 32,420 working-aged Koreans (21,355 men and 11,065 women) who periodically received health checkups. They were categorized into 4 groups by the frequency of nocturia (never, <1, 1-2, and ≥3/week). We used Cox proportional hazards models to analyze the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for incident hypertension (multivariable-adjusted HR [95% CI]) in relation to the frequency of nocturia. Subgroup analysis was conducted by gender and sleep quality (good and poor sleep quality). In women, nocturia was associated with an increased risk of hypertension, compared with never nocturia (HR [95% CI]; never: reference, <1/week: 1.33 [1.10-1.60], 1-2/week: 1.26 [1.00-1.58], and ≥3/week: 1.34 [1.05-1.72]). This association was not observed in men (HR [95% CI]; never: reference, <1/week: 1.00 [0.93-1.08], 1-2/week: 1.00 [0.88-1.12], and ≥3/week: 1.06 [0.94-1.23]). In subgroup analysis by sleep quality, only women with good sleep quality showed an association between nocturia and the risk of hypertension. However, women with poor sleep quality and men did not show an association between the frequency of nocturia and the risk of hypertension. Nocturia is a potential risk factor for incident hypertension in working-aged women with good sleep quality.

Conazoles

Conazoles belong to the group of azole-based fungicides and pharmaceutical preparations that are widely used in agriculture for crop protection and in human and veterinary medicine for the treatment of oropharyngeal and urogenital mycotic infections. The antifungal mode of action consists in the inhibition of certain cytochrome c-oxidase enzymes leading to disruption of the ergosterol metabolic pathway, which plays a similar role in cholesterol synthesis in mammals. Some conazoles possess hepatotoxic properties, some are mutagenic and tumorigenic, some are only carcinogenic and some do not act in these negative ways. In addition, their potential for cumulative exposure and deposition of residues in the human body could contribute to an increased risk of certain diseases and adverse health conditions, particularly during the foetal development. For these reasons, the risk assessment of the use of conazoles in human medicine and plant protection requires harmonisation and further research.

Acute sleep deprivation in mice generates protein pathology consistent with neurodegenerative diseases.

Insufficient or disturbed sleep is strongly associated with adverse health conditions, including various neurodegenerative disorders. While the relationship between sleep and neurodegenerative disease is likely bidirectional, sleep disturbances often predate the onset of other hallmark clinical symptoms. Neuronal waste clearance is significantly more efficient during sleep; thus, disturbed sleep may lead to the accumulation of neuronal proteins that underlie neurodegenerative diseases. Key pathological features of neurodegenerative diseases include an accumulation of misfolded or misprocessed variants of amyloid beta (Aβ), tau, alpha synuclein (α-syn), and TarDNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43). While the presence of fibrillar protein aggregates of these neuronal proteins are characteristic of neurodegenerative diseases, the presence of small soluble toxic oligomeric variants of these different proteins likely precedes the formation of the hallmark aggregates. We hypothesized that sleep deprivation would lead to accumulation of toxic oligomeric variants of Aβ, tau, α-syn, and TDP-43 in brain tissue of wild-type mice. Adult mice were subjected to 6 h of sleep deprivation (zeitgeber 0-6) for 5 consecutive days or were left undisturbed as controls. Following sleep deprivation, brains were collected, and protein pathology was assessed in multiple brain regions using an immunostain panel of reagents selectively targeting neurodegenerative disease-related variants of Aβ, tau, α-syn, and TDP-43. Overall, sleep deprivation elevated levels of all protein variants in at least one of the brain regions of interest. The reagent PDTDP, targeting a TDP-43 variant present in Parkinson's disease, was elevated throughout the brain. The cortex, caudoputamen, and corpus callosum brain regions showed the highest accumulation of pathology following sleep deprivation. These data provide a direct mechanistic link between sleep deprivation, and the hallmark protein pathologies of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

M167 - Adverse Childhood Experiences, Substance Use, and Mental Health Conditions Among Men who Have Sex With Men

M167 - Adverse Childhood Experiences, Substance Use, and Mental Health Conditions Among Men who Have Sex With Men

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in paired tap water and house dust from United States homes

Most people in the United States have been exposed to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) which have been linked to a wide array of adverse health conditions in adults and children. The consumption of contaminated drinking water is an important human exposure pathway to PFAS. Residential sources also contribute to PFAS exposure through dermal contact and ingestion of house dust, which acts as an aggregate of chemicals from sources like furnishing materials and consumer products. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) conducted the first nationwide survey of residential hazards called the American Healthy Homes Survey (AHHS) in 2005, followed by a second survey (AHHS II) in 2017. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collaborated with HUD on both efforts and subsequently analyzed PFAS in household tap water and house dust collected from the same homes during the AHHS II study. This study leverages these paired samples to investigate potentially important exposure sources and pathways in the residential environment. Here we report results for paired household tap water and house dust samples from 241 homes for 13 and 16 PFAS chemicals, respectively. All 13 targeted chemicals were detected in the household tap water samples with detections ranging from 100 % for PFBS to 1 % for PFNS, and all 16 targeted chemicals were detected in the house dust samples with detections ranging from 97 % for PFOA to 9 % for PFNS. Four chemicals (PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, and PFHpA) were measured above the limit of detection in at least 50 % of the samples in both media. All households had at least one of the targeted PFAS detected in both their tap water and house dust. Results provided evidence that geographical factors, such as proximity to ambient contamination sources, were main drivers of PFAS contamination in tap water, while PFAS contamination in house dust was driven mainly by within-home sources. Exposure estimates calculated from the measured PFAS concentrations highlight the importance of addressing potential sources of exposure to PFAS within homes in addition to ambient sources affecting communities’ drinking water, particularly to reduce children’s exposure to these chemicals.

Do environmental awareness and food safety information nudges enhance youth’s affinity to safer food consumption? Findings from an experiment in Nepal

PurposeUnsafe food consumption results in adverse health conditions, foodborne illness and undernutrition among households and communities. The consumption of food contaminated with harmful microorganisms or with harmful pesticide residuals results in adverse health conditions and undernutrition. However, there are a number of challenges to maintaining food safety in the food systems of developing countries, like Nepal, where awareness of food safety is low and research on these issues is lacking.Design/methodology/approachWe conducted an experiment among youth aged between 20 and 26 years in Nepal to assess their food safety awareness and affinity to safer fresh produce choices. In the classroom setting experimentations with and without information nudges conducted among 224 youth participants, participants chose one fresh produce packet among the four. We analyzed results using multinomial and mixed logit models appropriate for discrete choice modeling.FindingsWe found that the youth’s perceived higher importance of sustainable food systems and their knowledge levels on microbial contamination and foodborne illnesses play significantly positive roles. The likelihood of choosing microbial safety-labeled fresh produce or both microbial- and chemical safety-labeled fresh produce increased with nudging among those who have some knowledge of microbial contamination and foodborne illnesses – we found that the interaction of nudging and level of knowledge is significantly positive. Youth belonging to higher income classes do not necessarily have a higher affinity to safer fresh produce but with nudging, the higher income class youth have a higher likelihood of choosing safer fresh produce choices.Research limitations/implicationsYouth engagement and their awareness of food safety could be one of the important strategies to potentially develop them as effective promoters, adopters and educators in enhancing food safety in food systems in Nepal. Our predicted premium for food safety attributes points to the potential scope for the emerging market segment or business opportunities augmenting food safety in Nepal.Originality/valueWe examined the factors influencing the safer fresh produce choices among youth in Nepal. We tested whether awareness levels of microbial contamination and foodborne illness and information nudging affect the likelihood of safer fresh produce choice. Then we predicted the willingness to pay (premium) for safety attributes. To the best of our knowledge, none of the previous studies have examined this aspect in Nepal.

Association of systemic immune-inflammation index with insulin resistance and prediabetes: a cross-sectional study.

Previous research suggested a relationship between the Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII) and multiple adverse health conditions. However, the role of SII in prediabetes and insulin resistance (IR) remains poorly understood. Therefore, this study aims to explore the potential relationship between SII and prediabetes and IR, providing data support for effective diabetes prevention by reducing systemic inflammation. Linear regression models were used to assess the correlation between continuous SII and risk markers for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Subsequently, multivariate logistic regression models and subgroup analyses were employed to evaluate the association between SII tertiles and prediabetes and IR, controlling for various confounding factors. Finally, restricted cubic spline graphs were used to analyze the nonlinear relationship between SII and IR and prediabetes. After controlling for multiple potential confounders, SII was positively correlated with fasting blood glucose (FBG) (β: 0.100; 95% CI: 0.040 to 0.160), fasting serum insulin (FSI) (β: 1.042; 95% CI: 0.200 to 1.885), and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (β: 0.273; 95% CI: 0.022 to 0.523). Compared to participants with lower SII, those in the highest tertile had increased odds of prediabetes (OR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.02-1.34; p for trend < 0.05) and IR (OR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.18 to 1.51; p for trend<0.001). Our study results demonstrate an elevated association between SII levels and both IR and prediabetes, indicating SII as a straightforward and cost-effective method identifying individuals with IR and prediabetes.

Public Health Expenditure and Sustainable Health Outcomes in 45 Sub-Saharan African Countries: Does Government Effectiveness Matter?

This paper examines the interaction between health expenditure and health outcomes with due consideration for government effectiveness across developing African economies. The rich data for this study draw from forty-five Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries covering the period 1960 to 2022. The analysis follows a country-specific comparative manner using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model as the major estimation technique. The results indicate that poor health outcomes are not due to inadequate budgetary allocations alone. Specifically, this study found a cointegrating relationship and strong adjustment of health outcomes deriving from the shocks and dynamics of not just health expenditures, but also government effectiveness. It is therefore recommended that strong institutions and safety nets be created to guard against corruption and leakages that derail the beneficial impact of public health spending. Also, government expenditures should be focused more on cottage and primary health dimensions to better mitigate adverse health conditions in SSA countries.