Innovations in Neuropsychology: Future Applications in Neurosurgical Patient Care.

Over the last century, collaboration between clinical neuropsychologists and neurosurgeons has advanced the state of the science in both disciplines. These advances have provided the field of neuropsychology with many opportunities for innovation in the care of patients prior to, during, and following neurosurgical intervention. Beyond giving a general overview of how present-day advances in technology are being applied in the practice of neuropsychology within a neurological surgery department, this article outlines new developments that are currently unfolding.

The Evolving Need for Neuropsychology in Neurosurgical Settings: Challenges Facing Transformative Care.

Clinical neuropsychology has been a valuable asset to neurologic surgery, contributing to lateralization and localization of pathologic brain tissue, identification of eloquent cortex, and evaluation of postoperative neuropsychological functioning. Moreover, neuropsychologists provide empirically driven interventions aimed at supporting preparation and/or recovery of neurosurgery patients. Nonetheless, several challenges may limit the reliability, validity, and generalizability of the assessment data obtained and reduce the usefulness of other neuropsychological services provided.

Foundations of Neuropsychology: Collaborative Care in Neurosurgery.

The disciplines of neuropsychology and neurosurgery have a history of partnership that has improved prognoses for patients with neurologic diagnoses that once had poor outcomes. This article outlines the evolution of this relationship and describes the current role that clinical neuropsychology has within a department of neurological surgery across the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative stages of treatment. Understanding the foundations of collaboration between neuropsychology and neurosurgery contextualizes present challenges and future innovations for advancing excellence along the continuum of care for all neurosurgical patients.

Refocusing vitamin A supplementation programmes to reach the most vulnerable.

WHO recommends vitamin A supplementation (VAS) programmes for children 6-59 months where vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem. However, resources for VAS are falling short of current needs and programme coverage is suffering. The authors present the case for considering the options for shifting efforts and resources from a generalised approach, to prioritising resources to reach populations with continued high child mortality rates and high vitamin A deficiency prevalence to maximise child survival benefits .

Review of the evidence regarding the use of antenatal multiple micronutrient supplementation in low- and middle-income countries.

Inadequate micronutrient intakes are relatively common in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), especially among pregnant women, who have increased micronutrient requirements. This can lead to an increase in adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. This review presents the conclusions of a task force that set out to assess the prevalence of inadequate micronutrient intakes and adverse birth outcomes in LMICs; the data from trials comparing multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) that contain iron and folic acid (IFA) with IFA supplements alone; the risks of reaching the upper intake levels with MMS; and the cost-effectiveness of MMS compared with IFA.

Ocean acidification does not limit squid metabolism via blood oxygen supply.

Ocean acidification is hypothesized to limit the performance of squid owing to their exceptional oxygen demand and pH sensitivity of blood-oxygen binding, which may reduce oxygen supply in acidified waters. The critical oxygen partial pressure (), the  below which oxygen supply cannot match basal demand, is a commonly reported index of hypoxia tolerance. Any CO-induced reduction in oxygen supply should be apparent as an increase in In this study, we assessed the effects of CO (46-143 Pa; 455-1410 μatm) on the metabolic rate and of two squid species - and - through manipulative experiments.

Vitamin A Supplementation Programs and Country-Level Evidence of Vitamin A Deficiency.

Vitamin A supplementation (VAS) programs targeted at children aged 6-59 months are implemented in many countries. By improving immune function, vitamin A (VA) reduces mortality associated with measles, diarrhea, and other illnesses. There is currently a debate regarding the relevance of VAS, but amidst the debate, researchers acknowledge that the majority of nationally-representative data on VA status is outdated.

Aluminium in coal fly ash (FA), in plants grown on FA, and in the leachates from FA.

Two coal fly ashes (FA), one from Montana semi-bituminous coal and another from North Dakota lignite alone or in combination with bottom ash (BA) from Montana semi-bituminous coal were tested as plant growth media for the following plant species: barley (Hordeum vulgare), oats (Avena sativa), rye (Secale cereale), wheat (Triticum aestivum), regreen; a hybrid between wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum), and triticale; a hybrid between wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rye (Secale cereale). The concentration of Al, in coal ashes and in plant seedlings was determined using Inducted Coupled Plasma Spectrophotometry (ICP). All tested plant species germinated and grow in FA and/or FA + BA containing media.

Agro-toxicological aspects of coal fly ash (FA) phytoremediation by cereal crops: effects on plant germination, growth and trace elements accumulation.

A vegetative cover is a remedial technique utilized on coal fly ash (FA) landfills for soil stabilization and for the physical and chemical immobilization of contaminants. There is a great concern, that plants planted or voluntarily growing on media with high content of FA may absorb toxic amounts of Se and/or heavy metals. If such plants are ingested, it may result in toxicity to animals or humans.

Preliminary study of coal fly ash (FA) phytoremediation by selected cereal crops.

This study focuses on the environmentally friendly utilization of coal combustion residue, fly ash (FA) containing significant amounts of heavy metals. Knowledge about the potential use of FA as a component of growth media for plants is fragmentary. Preliminary experiments tested the possibility to grow cereal crops on media composed exclusively of FA.

Amelioration of coal fly ash used as cereal crops growth media by sphagnum peat moss and soil.

Coal fly ash (FA) has a potential to be used as a soil amendment for growing plants. Toxicity of heavy metals present in FY, FA high salinity, and high pH of coal FA may potentially restrict or even prevent plant growth on the media with high concentration of FA. Sphagnum peat moss (SPM) shows a potential to ameliorate coal FA based plant media by improving the texture of such media, making media less harder, decreasing high pH of the media, and potentially binding heavy metals present in FA.

Environmental health aspects of coal ash phytoremediation by selected crops.

The objective of this research was to determine the effects of growth media containing FA and FA mixed with soil on selected crop plants seedlings growth. We studied the influence of various FA concentrations (e.g.

Iodine deficiency in 2007: global progress since 2003.

Background: Iodine deficiency is a global public health problem, and estimates of the extent of the problem were last produced in 2003.

Objectives: To provide updated global estimates of the magnitude of iodine deficiency in 2007, to assess progress since 2003, and to provide information on gaps in the data available.

Methods: Recently published, nationally representative data on urinary iodine (UI) in school-age children collected between 1997 and 2006 were used to update country estimates of iodine nutrition.

Review of the magnitude of folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies worldwide.

Human deficiencies of folate and vitamin B12 result in adverse effects which may be of public health significance, but the magnitude of these deficiencies is unknown. Therefore, we examine the prevalence data currently available, assess global coverage of surveys, determine the frequency with which vitamin status assessment methods are used, and identify patterns of status related to geographical distribution and human development. Surveys were identified through PubMed and the Vitamin and Mineral Nutrition Information System at the World Health Organization (WHO).

Comparison of plasma ferritin concentration with the ratio of plasma transferrin receptor to ferritin in estimating body iron stores: results of 4 intervention trials.

Background: Efforts to develop global programs for the control of iron deficiency require simple, low-cost, and accurate indicators of iron status.

Objective: We aimed to compare estimates of body iron (BI) stores, as calculated from either plasma ferritin concentration alone (BI-ferritin) or the ratio of plasma transferrin receptor (TfR) to ferritin (BI-TfR/ferritin).

Design: Data were analyzed from 4 previously completed, randomized intervention trials that enrolled infants, schoolchildren, or pregnant women (total n = 1189, after excluding subjects with elevated C-reactive protein).

Worldwide prevalence of anaemia, WHO Vitamin and Mineral Nutrition Information System, 1993-2005.

Objective: To provide current global and regional estimates of anaemia prevalence and number of persons affected in the total population and by population subgroup.

Setting And Design: We used anaemia prevalence data from the WHO Vitamin and Mineral Nutrition Information System for 1993-2005 to generate anaemia prevalence estimates for countries with data representative at the national level or at the first administrative level that is below the national level. For countries without eligible data, we employed regression-based estimates, which used the UN Human Development Index (HDI) and other health indicators.

Low plasma vitamin B-12 in Kenyan school children is highly prevalent and improved by supplemental animal source foods.

The high prevalence of vitamin B-12 deficiency in many regions of the world is becoming recognized as a widespread public health problem, but it is not known to what extent this deficiency results from a low intake of the vitamin or from its malabsorption from food. In rural Kenya, where a previous study identified a high prevalence of inadequate vitamin B-12 intakes, this study examined whether plasma vitamin B-12 concentrations were associated with dietary sources of the vitamin at baseline and could be increased by supplementation with animal source foods (ASF). The 4 experimental groups in 503 school children were: 1) control (no food provided); 2) githeri (a maize and bean staple with added oil); 3) githeri + meat (githeri + minced beef); or 4) githeri + milk (githeri + milk).