bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Spikes Immediately after Electroconvulsive Therapy in Psychotic Patients
Authors: Kubota Fumio , Shibata Nobuyoshi , Akata Takushiro , Kikuchi Senichiro , Kifune Akira , Yuuki Naoya , Takeuchi Kazuo 
Published: November 2015

The goal of this study was to assess the spikes systematically and to clarify an epileptic abnormality induced by electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Our subjects were 20 psychotic patients with no spikes on prior EEGs. ECT was performed by applying electrical current to both sides of the patient's temple every 2 or 3 days for a period of between 1–4 weeks. The first EEG examination was performed either on the day that the ECT course was completed or on the following day. Subsequent EEG examinations were performed at intervals of 2 or 3 days. Thirteen of the 20 patients showed spikes. There were no significant differences in age, gender, diagnosis, or type of ECT. Patients with spikes had significantly more ECT sessions than those without spikes. The spikes were present in the frontal, temporal and central areas, predominantly frontal, anterior temporal and mid-temporal region, and almost disappeared in 1–3 weeks. The occurrence of spikes immediately after ECT was demonstrated. Although this abnormality was transient, it could indicate that in humans ECT causes the early stage of kindling phenomenon as a result of repeated application, and that the temporal lobe seems to play a major role in order to induce the phenomenon.
Value of the Early Electroencephalogram after a First Unprovoked Seizure
Authors: Schreiner A. , Pohlmann-Eden B. 
Published: November 2015

Studies on the predictive value of the electroencephalogram (EEG) concerning the risk of seizure recurrence have shown contradictory results. We prospectively studied the predictive value of the standard EEG and EEG with sleep deprivation for seizure relapse in adult patients presenting with a first unprovoked seizure. EEGs were performed on 157 adult patients within the first 48 hours of the first seizure. Additional EEGs with sleep deprivation were obtained in 60 cases. The standard EEG was abnormal in 70.7% and significantly associated with an increased risk of seizure recurrence [risk ratio 4.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.8; 11.3, p=0.001]. Subgroup analysis revealed the highest recurrence rates for patients with focal epileptiform activity (risk ratio 2.2, CI 1.2; 4.2, p=0.01). EEGs with sleep deprivation were abnormal in 48.3% of all cases and revealed epileptiform discharges in 13.3% of the patients who had no epileptiform activity in the standard EEG. Routine EEG revealed abnormalities in 60 of 94 patients who presented with normal neurologic status on admission. Further neuroradiological examinations detected previously unknown brain lesions in 19 of these cases, particularly cerebrovascular disease (CVD, n=7), brain tumors (n=6), and posttraumatic scars (n=4). In conclusion, the EEG is important for the early detection of focal nonepileptic and epileptic abnormalities after a first unprovoked seizure in adult patients and may provide valuable information on previously unknown disorders, particularly CVD and cerebral tumors. The abnormal EEG is a highly significant predictor for seizure recurrence. An additional EEG with sleep deprivation is helpful in cases when standard EEG does not reveal epileptiform discharges.
Auditory Evoked Responses in a Comparison between Schizophrenia Patients with and without Premorbid History of Drug Abuse: Report of Pilot Results
Authors: Boutros Nash N. , Korzyukov Oleg , Oliwa Glen , Struve Frederick , Jansen Ben H. 
Published: November 2015

Evidence for a role for drugs of abuse in the development of chronic psychotic syndromes is scattered throughout 40 years of literature. Electrophysiological studies examining groups believed to have chronic drug-induced psychotic symptoms yielded interesting findings. To our knowledge, no studies directly compared schizophrenia patients whose drug use preceded and those whose drug use followed the onset of psychotic symptoms. Twenty-six schizophrenia patients and 10 healthy control subjects were recruited for the study. Based on the SCID interview, schizophrenia subjects were classified into a Psychosis First (Psy 1st) group (N=11), Drugs First (Drugs 1st; N=8), and No Drug Use (No Drugs; N=7). Schizophrenia subjects were administered the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS). The P300 evoked response and sensory gating were measured for all subjects. Despite the small sample sizes significant differences were found between the groups. Most significantly, the P300 amplitude was smallest in the Drugs 1st as compared to the No Drugs groups, while sensory gating deficit was worst in the Psy 1st group. The data suggest that significant clinical and electrophysiological differences between these groups can be identified. Further research to better define these differences seems warranted.
The Potential for Increasing the Iron and Zinc Density of Maize through Plant-breeding
Authors: Bänziger Marianne , Long Jennifer 
Published: November 2015

The Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maiz y Trigo ( CIMMYT) maize-breeding programme has been focusing on identifying white-grained maize germplasm that has the potential to increase kernel iron and zinc concentrations, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, research at Cornell University has focused on traits such as multiple aleurone layer, which can increase kernel iron and zinc concentrations, and low phytic acid concentration, which holds promise for improving the bioavailability of iron and zinc. More than 1,400 improved maize genotypes and 400 landraces were grown and evaluated to assess grain iron and zinc concentrations. These materials represented all white-grained landraces that belonged to the core collection of CIM-MYT's germplasm bank, all white- and yellow-grained CIMMYT maize germplasm pools and populations, all white-grained materials that are currently in the active breeding programme of CIMMYT-Zimbabwe, and 57 white-grained maize cultivars currently grown in southern Africa. After a very thorough evaluation of the genetic variability of iron and zinc potentially available in white-grained tropical maize germplasm, promising genetic variability was found in both improved maize germplasm and landraces. One difficulty that maize breeders encounter is that grain iron and zinc concentrations are often correlated negatively with grain yield, which may result from the increased carbohydrate content of high-yielding materials, so that a given amount of iron and zinc is diluted. The multiple aleurone trait may be a fast track to overcome this effect. This trait is being introgressed into various materials in both the United States and southern Africa.
Nutrition Challenges in the Next Decade
Authors: Rajagopalan S. 
Published: November 2015

My heart aches to think of the conditions of the poor and the low in India. So long as millions live in hunger and ignorance, I hold everyone a traitor, who has been educated at their expense and pays not the least heed to them. No amount of politics can be of any avail until the masses of India are well fed, well educated and well cared for. — Swami Vivekanandha [1] The State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties. — Article 47 of the Constitution of India [2]
Community Assessment of Availability, Consumption, and Cultural Acceptability of Food Sources of (PRO)Vitamin A: Toward the Development of a Dietary Intervention among Preschool Children in Rural Burkina Faso
Authors: Nana Constance P. , Brouwer Inge D. , Zagré Noel-Marie , Kok Frans J. , Traoré Alfred S. 
Published: November 2015

Background Vitamin A deficiency remains a public health problem in Burkina Faso and elsewhere in the developing world. Dietary diversification is a promising strategy that needs to be explored to strengthen the country's ongoing supplementation program. Objective The purpose of this study was to identify locally available and acceptable (pro)vitamin A–rich foods to be included in a dietary intervention addressing vitamin A deficiency in children aged six months to three years. Methods A food ethnographic study combining recall methods, observation, and focused group discussion was conducted in the dry and rainy seasons. Thirty-five mother–child pairs were randomly selected and included in the study. Results The dietary pattern of children was characterized by low diversity with extremely low energy and vitamin A intake in both seasons. The study identified the availability of numerous (pro)vitamin A–rich foods, but these foods are either not consumed or consumed by few in low amounts and/or in low frequencies. The main constraining factors identified are related to financial accessibility (for liver), seasonal availability (for egg, milk, mango, papaya, and green leafy vegetables), and beliefs related to consumption and preparation (for green leafy vegetables). However, the study also revealed that the study population associated all identified (pro)vitamin A–rich foods with positive attributes such as health, strength, and vitamin richness, which might offer an entry point for designing and implementing dietary interventions. Conclusions Based on the findings of this formative research, intervention strategies with mango and liver are proposed to improve the vitamin A intake and status of children in the rural areas of Burkina Faso.
Urinary Iodine Concentration of Pregnant Women and Female Adolescents as an Indicator of Excessive Iodine Intake in Sri Lanka
Authors: Silva K. D. Renuka R. , Lalani D. , Munasinghe L. 
Published: November 2015

Background Mild deficiencies and excesses of iodine have deleterious effects in both females and males. The iodine status of the population after implementation of the universal salt iodization program in Sri Lanka is not known. Objective This cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the iodine status of pregnant women and female adolescents, with urinary iodine concentration used as the measure of outcome. Methods The participants were 100 women in the first trimester of pregnancy and 99 female adolescents in Kuliyapitiya, Kurunegala District, North-Western Province, Sri Lanka. The urinary iodine concentration was measured in a casual urine sample from each subject. The iodate contents of salt samples collected from households of the adolescents participating in the study were also measured. Results The median urinary iodine concentration of 185.0 μg/L and the prevalence of values under 50 μg/L of only 1% among the pregnant women indicate adequate iodine intake and optimal iodine nutrition. The median urinary iodine concentration (213.1 μg/L) among female adolescents indicates a more than adequate iodine intake and a risk of iodine-induced hyperthyroidism. Approximately 8% and 4% of the adolescents and pregnant women, respectively, had urinary iodine concentrations in the range of mild iodine deficiency (51 to 100 μg/L). More than half of the adolescents (56%) and 39% of the pregnant women had urinary iodine concentrations higher than optimal. The median iodine content in salt samples was 12.7 ppm. Only 20.2% of the samples were adequately iodized, and 10.1% of the samples had very high iodine levels. Conclusions Female adolescents and pregnant women had no iodine deficiency, but a considerable proportion of them, especially female adolescents, were at risk for iodine-induced hyperthyroidism. There is thus a need for proper monitoring of the salt iodization program to achieve acceptable iodine status.
Agricultural Biodiversity, Nutrition, and Health: Making a Difference to Hunger and Nutrition in the Developing World
Authors: Frison Emile A. , Smith Ifeyironwa Francisca , Johns Timothy , Cherfas Jeremy , Eyzaguirre Pablo B. 
Published: November 2015

Background In spite of the strides made globally in reducing hunger, the problems of micronutrient deficiencies and coexisting obesity and related cardiovascular and degenerative diseases constitute a formidable challenge for the future. Attempts to reverse this trend with single-nutrient intervention strategies have met with limited success, resulting in renewed calls for food-based approaches. The deployment of agricultural biodiversity is an approach that entails greater use of local biodiversity to ensure dietary diversity. Objective To outline a new strategy proposed by the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) that employs agricultural biodiversity as the primary resource for food security and health. Methods The authors carried out a meta-analysis to review and assemble existing information on the nutritional and healthful properties of traditional foods based on a diverse set of case studies and food composition and nutritional analysis studies. The methods highlight particular examples of foods where analysis of nutrient and non-nutrient composition reveals important traits to address the growing problems of malnutrition associated with the rise of chronic diseases. Finally, the authors analyze social, economic, and cultural changes that undermine the healthful components of traditional diets. Results Based on this multidisciplinary and comparative approach, the authors suggest a holistic food-based approach that combines research to assess and document nutritional and healthful properties of traditional foods, investigating options in which nutritionally valuable traditional foods can contribute to better livelihoods, and ways that awareness and promotional campaigns can identify healthful components of traditional diets that fit the needs of urban and market-oriented consumers. Conclusions There is an urgent need for agricultural research centers, national agricultural research systems, universities, and community-based organizations to work together under a shared policy framework with the aim of developing a strong evidence base linking biodiversity, nutrition, and health. Although these initiatives are still ongoing, the gains realized in small-scale and local pilot efforts have encouraged IPGRI to work with local partners toward the implementation of scale-up efforts in various regions.
Maternal Nutritional Status in Pastoral versus Farming Communities of West Pokot, Kenya: Differences in Iron and Vitamin A Status and Body Composition
Authors: Keverenge-Ettyang Grace Adisa , van Marken Lichtenbelt Wauter , Esamai Fabian , Saris Wim 
Published: November 2015

Background Underweight and micronutrient deficiencies are sequelae of the prevailing harsh living and economic conditions of women in sub-Saharan Africa. There are few data describing maternal nutritional status in these resource-poor settings. Provision of more effective modes of intervention requires that public health and nutrition policy at both the national and the multisectoral levels be based on community-specific nutritional and behavioral practices. Objective This longitudinal study investigated maternal micronutrient status in two remote, semiarid, rural communities that are ethnically similar but have distinctly different pastoral and farming lifestyles. We looked at differences in iron stores, vitamin A levels, and body composition of women in the third trimester of pregnancy and again at 4 months postpartum. Methods Complete data were collected from 113 pastoral and 110 farming Pokot women. Anthropometric measurements were taken, and serum ferritin and retinol levels were measured. Infants were weighed within 7 days of birth. Results Women from the farming community had significantly ( p < .05) lower hemoglobin concentrations than women from the pastoral community during the third trimester of pregnancy. Pastoral women had significantly higher serum ferritin concentrations than farming women during the third trimester of pregnancy ( p < .05) and at 4 months postpartum. There were no significant differences between pastoral and farming women in the percentage of women with serum retinol levels < 0.70 μmol/L during the third trimester of pregnancy (27.9% [34/113] and 24.2% [31/110], respectively) and at 4 months postpartum (29.2% [33/113] and 30.9% [34/110]) In the farming community, mean infant birthweight was significantly lower ( p < .01) than in the pastoral community and a significantly higher ( p < .05) proportion of newborns weighed less than 2.5 kg. At 4 months postpartum, the percentage of body fat was significantly lower in pastoral women than in farming women. Conclusions Women from the farming community in West Pokot, Kenya, have lower iron stores during the third trimester of pregnancy than women in the pastoral community. In addition, the mean weight of their newborn infants is lower than that of infants in the pastoral community. These findings may be associated with differences in living conditions, which are usually harsher in farming than in pastoral communities.
Vitamin A Stability in Salt Triple Fortified with Iodine, Iron, and Vitamin A
Authors: Raileanu Ildiko , Diosady Levente L. 
Published: November 2015

Background Dietary micronutrient deficiencies, which lead to diseases such as iodine deficiency disorders, iron-deficiency anemia, and vitamin A deficiency, are serious public health problems in the developing world. Fortifying salt with iodine, iron, and vitamin A is an attractive approach to simultaneously reduce the deficiencies of these three micronutrients in the diet. Objective To explore the technical feasibility of producing triple-fortified salt fortified with iodine, iron, and vitamin A that would be stable under the climatic conditions of developing countries (i.e., high temperature and high humidity). Methods Triple-fortified salt was obtained by granulation and encapsulation of commercially produced vitamin A products, iodine, and iron compounds. Vitamin A retention was determined in the presence of five iron and two iodine compounds, in different combinations, under three different storage conditions. The influence of commercial stabilization techniques for the vitamin A palmitate source used (spray-dried or dissolved in oil), and the type of binder used for granulation on vitamin A retention in triple-fortified salt was studied. The influence of temperature, humidity, and chemical interactions on vitamin A stability in triple-fortified salt was also investigated. Results The most stable formulation retained 77.73% of vitamin A after 2 months of storage at 40°C, 60% relative humidity, and 95% under ambient conditions. Conclusions The results indicate that the production of a stable triple-fortified salt is technically feasible.
Nutrition Education Alone Improves Dietary Practices but Not Hematologic Indices of Adolescent Girls in Iran
Authors: Amani Reza , Soflaei Maryam 
Published: November 2015

Background Iron-deficiency anemia is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency worldwide. Iron-deficiency anemia has particular negative consequences on women in their childbearing years, and its prevention is a high priority in most health systems. Objective This interventional study assessed the effect of nutrition education on hematologic indices, iron status, nutritional knowledge, and nutritional practices of high school girls in Iran. Methods Sixty healthy 16- to 18-year-old girls were randomly selected from two high schools in the city of Ahvaz and divided into two equally matched groups, one that received nutrition education, and one that did not. The education group received instruction in face-to-face sessions, group discussions, and pamphlets for 2 months. The control group did not receive any information during the study. Hematologic tests, corpuscular indices, and serum ferritin levels were measured at baseline and after 2 months. Food-frequency questionnaires were administered and histories taken, clinical signs of nutritional deficiencies observed, anthropometric measurements taken, nutritional knowledge tested, practices determined, and lifestyle questionnaires administered to all subjects. Results There were no statistically significant differences in any baseline characteristics between the two groups. Scores for nutritional knowledge and practices of the education group were significantly higher after two months compared with the baseline (31.4 ± 6 vs. 24.3 ± 5.9 points, p < .001, and 31.2 ± 5 vs. 28.4 ± 5.7 points, p < .05, respectively). The scores in the control group showed no significant changes from baseline to 2 months. Mean corpuscular volume values were elevated in the education group ( p < .001) but not in the control group. However, in the control group, serum ferritin concentrations showed about a 17% drop at the end of the study ( p < .004). There were no changes in other hematologic, lifestyle, clinical, or anthropometric data compared with baseline after completion of the study in both groups. Conclusion These findings indicate that nutritional education can improve knowledge of healthy nutrition and lifestyle choices. Focused nutritional education using available resources and correcting current dietary habits in a vulnerable group of young women may result in dietary changes that can ultimately improve iron intake.
Traditional Cooked Vegetable Dishes as Important Sources of Ascorbic Acid and β-Carotene in the Diets of Indian Urban and Rural Families
Authors: Gupta Shruti , Bains Kiran 
Published: November 2015

Background Fresh vegetable produce is abundant during the winter season in Punjab. It is an important source of vitamins and minerals in the Punjabi diet, but the availability of ascorbic acid and β-carotene from the vegetables is altered to varying degrees when they are subjected to traditional household processing methods. Objective To determine the importance of traditional cooked vegetable dishes as sources of ascorbic acid and β-carotene among urban and rural families during the winter. Methods Information about vegetable consumption, storage, and cooking practices was collected from 60 families, 30 each from urban and rural areas of Ludhiana District, Punjab, India. Samples of the common cooked vegetable dishes were prepared in the laboratory by methods ascertained from the survey and analyzed for ascorbic acid and β-carotene. Results The average total daily per capita consumption of vegetables by urban and rural families was 411.7 and 365.9 g, respectively. Cooked vegetable dishes provided 68.7% of the total vegetable intake for urban families and 85.0% for rural families. On average, the edible portion constituted 78.9% of the weight of the vegetables. Ten cooked vegetable dishes that were most frequently consumed by the families (mustard saag, potato—spinach, potato—fenugreek, potato—brinjal, potato—cauliflower, potato—capsicum, potato—carrots, potato—beans, potato—peas, and cabbage—peas) were selected for preparation in the laboratory and nutritional analysis. The average concentrations of ascorbic acid and β-carotene in the cooked vegetable dishes were 46.0 mg/100 g and 794.2 μg/100g fresh weight, respectively. The percentage losses of ascorbic acid and β-carotene during preparation and cooking were 26.1% and 25.9%, respectively. Conclusions For adult Indian men and women, the recommended dietary allowance of ascorbic acid is 40 mg, and that of β-carotene is 2,400 μg. Cooked vegetable dishes provided 269.9% and 77.5% of the recommended dietary allowances of ascorbic acid and β-carotene, respectively, indicating that these dishes are good sources of these nutrients in the diets of both urban and rural families during the winter season.