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"Palacios, Ana"
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A quasi-experimental study assessing the effectiveness of a community-based egg intervention in the nutritional and health status of young children from rural Honduras
This community-public-private-academic coalition project implemented and evaluated the effectiveness of a rural, community-based egg intervention that aimed to support the nutrition and health of children living in rural, poor communities from Intibucá, Honduras, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This investigator-blind, non-randomized, controlled study was informed by a community health improvement process and participatory research. Women from 13 communities were given a microloan to start an egg farm that supplied 1 egg daily to 201 children ages 6-24 months for 1 year (intervention group). Control communities (n = 14) were selected from neighboring municipalities with similar sociodemographic backgrounds based on size. Sociodemographic-, anthropometric-, and morbidity data were collected biannually between January 2021 to January 2022. Outcome changes were compared with linear-, generalized- or Poisson- mixed models adjusted by sex, age, maternal education, breastfeeding status, assets, adults living at home, baseline outcomes, and community-cluster.
Baseline to 6- and 12-month weekly frequency of egg intake significantly increased in the intervention vs. the control group: 6-month change = 1.86; 95%CI (1.61, 2.14); 12-month change = 1.63; 95%CI (1.42, 1.87 p<0.001), respectively. Baseline to 12-month changes in the intervention group were not significant for length/height-for-age-z-scores = 0.12, p = 0.187; weight-for-length/height-z-scores = -0.02, p = 0.78; and diarrhea prevalence, AOR = 1.69; 95%CI (0.53, 5.42), p = 0.378. Lower odds of respiratory infections were observed for the intervention vs. the control group at 6- and 12-month post: AOR = 0.28; 95%CI (0.12, 0.63), p = 0.002; AOR = 0.30; 95%CI (0.12, 0.75), p = 0.010, respectively.
Children in the intervention group reported consuming eggs more days per week relative to the control group. Lower odds of respiratory infections were observed in the intervention group throughout the study. Ongoing follow-up will offer more insights on the intervention's effectiveness in linear growth, dietary diversity, food security, and other nutritional outcomes.
Journal Article
Platelets, Thrombo-Inflammation, and Cancer: Collaborating With the Enemy
Platelets are small anucleate cells present in the blood stream, their typical role in primary hemostasis has been well-described. However, new evidence suggests that they have critically important roles in cancer progression and inflammation. Cancer cells can activate platelets, thus using them as physical shields from blood shear forces and natural killer (NK) cells. The activated platelets may also regulate hematopoietic and immune cell migration toward the tumor site; therefore, contributing to the cancer-associated inflammation. The activation of platelets by cancer cells may also contribute to metastasis and cancer progression by stimulating deep venous thrombosis and neutrophil extracellular trap formations (NETs) that \"hide\" cancer cells. We strived to review the current literature to dissect the role of platelets in cancer-associated thrombosis and tumor microenvironment inflammation.
Journal Article
Association Between Porphyromonas gingivalis and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Comprehensive Review
Periodontitis has long been linked to various inflammatory, chronic, and immunological diseases, such as heart disease or diabetes. Recently, there has been increasing scientific interest in the bidirectional relationship that may exist between periodontitis and the presence and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD), where it is hypothesized that the infiltration of oral microorganisms (mainly
) into the bloodstream, which subsequently reaches the brain, causes inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes related to AD.
The purpose of this review is to determine the association between
and Alzheimer's disease in older adults.
It was carried out using different databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, among others, of no more than 10 years old focused on older adult patients who have presented periodontitis and Alzheimer's disease. MESH-indexed terms were used, getting 307 articles. After removing 206 duplicates and applying inclusion criteria (language, relevance, and contribution to the study's objectives), 24 articles were selected for analysis.
Evidence has been found that gingipains produced by
may contribute to the formation of amyloid plaques in the brain and nerve cell damage characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. It has also been observed that
can enter the brain and stimulate a local immune response. Although the association is promising, more research is needed to confirm it and to develop effective treatments. These findings may have significant implications for clinical practice, potentially leading to preventive or therapeutic strategies targeting oral health as a modifiable risk factor for AD. Further research could focus on exploring these pathways and developing targeted interventions.
Journal Article
Differences in factors associated with anemia in Haitian children from urban and rural areas
In Haiti, differences in the prevalence of anemia between urban and rural areas have been observed.
To identify moderating factors that may help explain the difference in the prevalence of anemia in children from poor urban vs. rural areas of Haiti.
This cross-sectional study used secondary data from urban and rural school-based trials that assessed the effectiveness of a nutrition intervention. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT02747524. A total of 300 rural- and 981 urban- children between 2.5-13 years of age were included in this analysis. Effect modification in a binary logistic generalized linear mixed model was conducted using sample weights in SPSS® version 26. Models were adjusted for age and income. School cluster was included as random effect.
In rural areas, stunting was more prevalent in children with anemia vs. no anemia, (16.6%, and 6.3%, P = 0.008), respectively. Also, rural children with anemia lived with fewer adults vs. rural children with no anemia, ([Formula: see text] = 2.83±1.29, and 3.30±1.54, P = 0.005), respectively. In poor urban areas, helminth morbidities were more frequent in children with anemia vs. no anemia, (21.9% vs. 13.9, P = 0.011), respectively. In the combined sample, stunting, [AOR = 2.05; 95%CI (1.32-3.18)], age [AOR = 0.89; 95%CI (0.85-0.93)], and households with more adults [AOR = 0.77; 95%CI (0.67-0.87)] were associated with anemia. Effect modification by place of residence was observed in households with more adults (t = 3.83, P<0.001). No other nutritional, dietary, sanitation or morbidity factors or effect modifiers were observed.
In this sample, factors associated with anemia differed in poor urban and rural children from Haiti including family structure and helminth morbidities. Stunting and lower age increased the odds of anemia in the combined sample. Family structure appears to have an important role in anemia, and further research understanding the influence of family structures in anemia is needed.
Journal Article
Knowledge of pregnancy care behaviors, complications, and urgent maternal warning signs up to one year postpartum among Georgia residents
Objectives
Maternal mortality in the U.S. continues to increase, and the State of Georgia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among the 50 states at 33.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, disproportionately affecting Black and rural populations. This study sought to ascertain knowledge of adults living in Georgia about proper pregnancy care behaviors and their ability to identify warning signs and symptoms (WSS) of life-threatening complications during pregnancy and up to 1-year postpartum.
Methods
In 2022, using a cross-sectional study design, a questionnaire including items from validated instruments was distributed to adults residing in Georgia through social media and email. Questions were grouped into categories: total pregnancy knowledge, general pregnancy care behaviors, and pregnancy and postpartum WSS. Based on correct answer choices, scores were created for each of the four categories and compared by gender, age, education, race, and ethnicity using multiple linear regressions.
Results
Participants (
n
= 588) ranged from 18 to 76 years old and were primarily female (80%). The vast majority (83.3%) failed to identify important pregnancy care behaviors. More than half of all participants were unable to recognize pregnancy and postpartum WSS of complications, 52% and 56% respectively. Male, Black, and Hispanic self-identified adults exhibited lower recognition of pregnancy care behaviors and WSS of pregnancy and postpartum complications, relative to other genders, races, and ethnic groups, respectively (
p
< 0.001).
Conclusions
This research identified important gaps in maternal health knowledge among adults living in the State of Georgia, highlighting specific opportunities for intervention and offering evidence-based information that can help improve health literacy for better maternal outcomes.
Journal Article
Neutrophils, Cancer and Thrombosis: The New Bermuda Triangle in Cancer Research
Spontaneous venous thrombosis is often the first clinical sign of cancer, and it is linked to a worsened survival rate. Traditionally, tumor-cell induced platelet activation has been the main actor studied in cancer-associated-thrombosis. However, platelet involvement alone does not seem to be sufficient to explain this heightened pro-thrombotic state. Neutrophils are emerging as key players in both thrombus generation and cancer progression. Neutrophils can impact thrombosis through the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and expression of molecules like P-selectin and Tissue Factor (TF) on their membrane and on neutrophil-derived microvesicles. Their role in cancer progression is evidenced by the fact that patients with high blood-neutrophil counts have a worsened prognosis. Tumors can attract neutrophils to the cancer site via pro-inflammatory cytokine secretions and induce a switch to pro-tumoral (or N2) neutrophils, which support metastatic spread and have an immunosuppressive role. They can also expel their nuclear contents to entrap pathogens forming Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) and can also capture coagulation factors, enhancing the thrombus formation. These NETs are also known to have pro-tumoral effects by supporting the metastatic process. Here, we strived to do a comprehensive literature review of the role of neutrophils as drivers of both cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) and cancer progression.
Journal Article
Study of the Bunsen–Roscoe Reciprocity Law in Solar Water Disinfection (Optical Effect) for E. coli, E. faecalis and C. perfringens
Water stress and water quality represent major environmental challenges in the 21st century. In response, wastewater management and its potential reuse emerge as strategies to mitigate these problems. This research aims to verify the law of reciprocity in the solar disinfection process of real secondary wastewater effluents for different faecal microorganisms. Flat disinfection reactors, subjected only to natural and continuous UV radiation, were used. The study focused on the optical effect of UV radiation, eliminating the significant influence of the thermal effect and its synergy in solar disinfection at temperatures above 45 °C, by controlling the temperatures of the water samples to levels below 20 °C. Three experimental tests were carried out on sunny days. Each test comprised two trials, under the following conditions: (a) low solar irradiance over a prolonged time (duration approximately: 2.6 h) and (b) high solar irradiance and a shorter period of time (approximately 2 h), with each receiving the same UV dose. Inactivation kinetics was analysed for E. coli, E. faecalis, and C. perfringens (including spores). The results validated the reciprocity law for E. coli in all tests for UV doses > 20 Wh/m2, showing no significant deviations, with inactivation rates of 0.44 to 0.51 m2/Wh for initial concentrations of 106–107 CFU/100 mL. In contrast, for E. faecalis, the reciprocity was only valid at intensities < 700 W/m2, with rates of 0.04 and 0.035 m2/Wh for 105–106 CFU/100 mL; above this irradiance value, the law varied significantly and was not valid. C. perfringens did not show significant disinfection results during the experiments to verify this law, mainly due to the resistance of its spores. Additional experimentation with C. perfringens is necessary, by extending the length of the experiments and/or conducting them at higher irradiance values, in order to reach bacterial inactivation to enable the analysis of the reciprocity law. In general, the main conclusion from these results is that the reciprocity law in solar disinfection would be difficult to use for the estimation of water solar disinfection based on the irradiance and exposure times, as there are deviations from it at least in one specie (E. faecalis). Mores studies should be carried out to fully understand and determine the validity of this law and its potential application for forecasting solar water disinfection.
Journal Article
Analysing the Reciprocity Law for UV-LEDs in Water Disinfection of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Clostridium perfringens
The aim of this study is to verify the reciprocity law in the wastewater disinfection process using UV light. The optical power UV-LEDs used were 1.6 mW and 50 mW, and the wavelengths were 265 nm and 275 nm. E. coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Clostridium perfringens were the three microorganisms analysed in the study. The results showed lower inactivation rates around 0.063–0.065 cm2/mJ for 265 nm and 0.047–0.049 cm2/mJ for 275 nm for the Clostridium perfringens compared with the other two bacteria. For E. coli and Enterococcus faecalis, the inactivation rate was almost identical; 0.28 and 0.21 cm2/mJ, respectively, using 265 nm wavelength. There was a slightly better inactivation performance using the medium-power 275 nm UV-LEDs of 0.39 cm2/mJ and 0.29 cm2/mJ for E. coli and Enterococcus faecalis, respectively, and 0.33 cm2/mJ and 0.26 cm2/mJ using the low-power 275 nm UV-LEDs. The analysed data justify the reciprocity law for UV-LEDs disinfection using 265 nm and 275 nm UV-LEDs with two optical powers of 1.6 mW and 50 mW.
Journal Article