Mini Nutritional Assessment of rural elderly people in Bangladesh: the impact of demographic, socio-economic and health factors

OBJECTIVE: In stating the Millennium Development Goals, the United Nations aims to halve malnutrition around the world by 2015. Nutritional status of the elderly population in low-income countries is seldom focused upon. The present study aimed to evaluate the magnitude of malnutrition among an elderly population in rural Bangladesh. DESIGN AND SETTING: Data collection for a multidimensional cross-sectional study of community-based elderly people aged 60 years and over was conducted in a rural area in Bangladesh. SUBJECTS: Of 850 randomly selected elderly individuals, 625 participated in home interviews. Complete nutritional information was available for 457 individuals (mean age 69+/-8 years, 55% female). Nutritional status was assessed using an adapted form of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) including body mass index (BMI). Age, sex, education, household expenditure on food and self-reported health problems were investigated as potential predictors of nutritional status. RESULTS: BMI<18.5 kg m(-2), indicating chronic energy deficiency, was found in 50% of the population. MNA revealed a prevalence of 26% for protein-energy malnutrition and 62% for risk of malnutrition. Health problems rather than age had a negative impact on nutritional status. Level of education and food expenditure were directly associated with nutritional status. CONCLUSION: In order to reduce world hunger by half in the coming decade, it is important to recognise that a substantial proportion of the elderly population, particularly in low-income countries, is undernourished.     

A quantitative real‐time PCR assay for detection of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum in navy bean seeds

Bean anthracnose is a seedborne disease of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) caused by the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum lindemuthianum. Using seed that did not test positive for the pathogen has been proven to be an effective strategy for bean anthracnose control. To quantify the extent of anthracnose seed infection, a real‐time PCR‐based diagnostic assay was developed for detecting C. lindemuthianum in seeds of the commercial bean class navy bean. The ribosomal DNA (rDNA) region consisting of part of the18S rDNA, 5^.8S rDNA, internal transcribed spacers (ITS) 1, 2 and part of the 28S rDNA of seven races of C. lindemuthianum, 21 isolates of Colletotrichum species and nine other bean pathogens were sequenced with the universal primer set ITS5/ITS4. Based on the aligned sequence matrix, one primer set and a probe were designed for a SYBR Green dye assay and a TaqMan MGB (minor groove binder) assay. The primer set was demonstrated to be specific for C. lindemuthianum and showed a high sensitivity for the target pathogen. The detection limit of both assays was 5 fg of C. lindemuthianum genomic DNA. To explore the correlation between the lesion area and the DNA amount of C. lindemuthianum in bean seed, seeds of the navy bean cultivar Navigator with lesions of different sizes, as well as symptomless seeds, were used in both real‐time PCR assays.     

PCB in a River System During Sediment Remediation

Remediation of 150 000 m³ of sediment containing400 kg PCB was performed by suction dredging in asmall lake in Sweden in the summers of 1993 and 1994.Upon project completion calculations indicated that97% of the PCB was deposited in a landfill withsubsequent low transport to the surroundings, andthat 2.9 kg was left in the lake sediment.Concentrations of PCB that were measured weekly in thewater leaving the lake were 12 ng/L (geometric mean)during dredging, not exceeding 30 ng/L and notsignificantly higher than in investigations preceedingthe remedial action. The concentration of PCB wasnegatively correlated to water discharge andpositively correlated to water temperature. PCBtransport in the river was correlated to waterdischarge but not to the dredging activity. Duringdredging of the most contaminated part of the lake,the dredging area was screened off by a geotextilesilt curtain that reduced leakage of PCB to the riverdownstream.     

The corona blues according to daily life changes by COVID-19: A partial least squares regression model

This study identifies determinants of the variation in depression resulting from COVID-19, specifies in detail the changes to daily life, and then compares the determinants' magnitude. The determinants were combined into three groups: first, the unpredictability of the disease and side effects by its response measures (specifically, restrictions on the freedom of movement and strain on social relationships); second, (mis)information through social media, public authorities, and mass media; and third, income reductions and other sociodemographic factors. Daily life changes were divided into four categories: travel/mobility, time at home (alone and with family), domestic activities (remote work, online shopping, food deliveries, reading, and online networking), and conflicts (with family and neighbors). We measured the total 29 predictors using data from the 2020 Seoul Survey, which is based on face-to-face interviews with a probability sample of adult residents. We made our estimations using partial least squares regression, which can analyze all original variables regardless of collinearity. The regression model found that major stressors include declines in out-of-home offline networking and the rise of domestic activities—and subsequent conflicts with family—restrictions on mobility (specifically, those of leisure travel), and income reductions. In contrast, changes to working and shopping (to remote work and online shopping) rather than leisure increased uses of private transportation modes. Moreover, we found influences of all forms of communications and media to be insignificant. We shall also provide a discussion on policy and academic implications of the findings.     

All lives matter. An analysis of internationals' living conditions in Seoul,Korea, using an extended image–satisfaction–loyalty mechanism

We indirectly analyze the residential environment for long-staying internationals in Seoul, Korea, by extending the image–satisfaction–loyalty mechanism widely used in tourism, specifically by examining the internationals' satisfaction and loyalty. We consider residential difficulties, sociodemographics, and survey years along with image as exogenous variables and evaluate satisfaction not only in terms of its absolute but also its relative level, which is the difference between absolute satisfaction (AS) and previous expectation. Tourism studies have measured loyalty using individuals' intention to recommend to another and their own revisit intention, but we evaluate the revisit intention with place attachment/hometown perception, which is more suitable for long-staying residents. The variables are measured with 2016–2018 data from an annual quality of life survey for Seoul residents (n = 5279 individuals) and analyzed with structural equation modeling. Our results show that the conventionally used AS is associated only with recommendation intention, but the relative satisfaction (RS) both with recommendation intention and hometown perception. Regarding the exogenous variables, AS is substantially affected by image and RS is somewhat strongly influenced by residential difficulties. However, image is the principal determinant of loyalty level, whether recommendation intention or hometown perception. These findings confirm the applicability of the image–satisfaction–loyalty mechanism not only to short-staying inbound tourists but also to long-staying international residents.     

Inferomedial placement of a single-entry subpalpebral lavage tube for treatment of equine eye disease

The objective of this study was to describe method of placement, and frequency and severity of complications associated with a subpalpebral lavage system placed in the medial aspect of the equine inferior eyelid. The inferomedial subpalpebral lavage (ISPL) tube is positioned deep in the medial aspect of the inferior conjunctival fornix so that the footplate lies flat between the lower eyelid and the anterior surface of the nictitans. Retrospective data from the placement of 92 ISPL systems placed in 86 horses during a 31-month period were examined. Tube placement was performed using sedation and regional anesthesia only in 59% of horses. The median duration of tube placement was 19 days (range: 1-61 days). Seventy-one horses were treated for up to 55 days following discharge from hospital with an ISPL tube in place. No complications were reported with 59% of ISPL systems. Non-ocular complications were found in 38% of ISPL systems and included tube displacement from the conjunctival fornix (18%), suture loss requiring resuturing of the system to the horse's head (14%), and damage necessitating replacement of the injection port (6%). Ocular complications were recorded in 3% of horses and were limited to inferior eyelid swelling. Vision was retained in 88% of horses. The ISPL system is easily and safely placed, and well tolerated for extended periods. It appears to be associated with infrequent and minor complications when compared with placement of subpalpebral lavage tubes in the superior eyelid.