Reduced effectiveness of permethrin-treated military uniforms after prolonged wear measured by contact irritancy and toxicity bioassays with Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) nymphs.

Factory-treated permethrin uniforms are the primary method used by the US Army to prevent arthropod bites and transmission of arthropod-borne diseases. In this study previously worn uniforms were collected from cadets at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY to determine the amount of permethrin remaining after prolonged wear and subsequent effects on ticks. Six trousers were collected from cadets in the sophomore, junior, and senior classes.

Is child anemia associated with early childhood development? A cross-sectional analysis of nine Demographic and Health Surveys.

Anemia is a significant public health problem in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with young children being especially vulnerable. Iron deficiency is a leading cause of anemia and prior studies have shown associations between low iron status/iron deficiency anemia and poor child development outcomes. In LMICs, 43% of children under the age of five years are at risk of not meeting their developmental potential.

Estimating minimum dietary diversity for children aged 6-23 months: a comparison of agreement and cost of two recall methods in Cambodia and Zambia.

Objective: To compare the agreement and cost of two recall methods for estimating children's minimum dietary diversity (MDD).

Design: We assessed child's dietary intake on two consecutive days: an observation on day one, followed by two recall methods (list-based recall and multiple-pass recall) administered in random order by different enumerators at two different times on day two. We compared the estimated MDD prevalence using survey-weighted linear probability models following a two one-sided test equivalence testing approach.

Assessing the performance of national sentinel food lists at subnational levels in six countries.

Objective: To assess how well national sentinel lists of the most frequently consumed foods in each food group capture data at subnational levels to measure minimum diet diversity (MDD).

Design: We analysed data from seven surveys with 24-h open dietary recalls to evaluate: (1) the percentage of reported foods that were included in each sentinel food list; (2) whether these lists captured consumption of some food groups better than others and (3) differences between estimates of dietary diversity calculated from all food items mentioned in the open 24-h recall . only food items included in the sentinel lists.

Determinants of Maternal Diet Quality in Winter in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Diet quality influences maternal health and nutrition from preconception through pregnancy and lactation, as well as infant health and nutrition. Women are vulnerable to poor nutrition given their increased nutrient requirements during the prenatal period through the first 2 years postpartum. Minimum diet diversity among women, a good predictor of adequate micronutrient intake, is often used as a proxy for diet quality.

A Real-World Matched Cohort Study of the Effect of Concomitant Amiodarone or Diltiazem Administration on Apixaban Peak and Trough Concentrations.

Background: Apixaban is a substrate for p-glycoprotein and is extensively metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4. There are minimal published data regarding the effect of amiodarone and diltiazem on apixaban serum concentrations.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the degree of elevation of apixaban concentrations resulting from amiodarone or diltiazem.

Exclusive breastfeeding: Measurement to match the global recommendation.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) recommend exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first 6 months of life. To estimate the proportion of infants that are exclusively breastfed, many agencies use the point prevalence of EBF among infants currently 0-5.9 months of age, as recommended by WHO and UNICEF.

Assessment of Anti-Xa activity in patients receiving concomitant apixaban with strong p-glycoprotein inhibitors and statins.

What Is Known And Objectives: Although the apixaban Food and Drug Administration (FDA) package insert recommends dose reduction in patients administered dual strong inhibitors of p-glycoprotein (P-gp) and cytochrome P-450 (CYP) 3A4, there are limited published data regarding potential drug-drug interactions between apixaban (Eliquis) and common p-glycoprotein (P-gp) and CYP3A4 inhibitors co-administered with statins. The aim of this study was to investigate the degree of elevation relative to apixaban serum peak and trough concentration after the co-administration of amiodarone, diltiazem and statins (atorvastatin, rosuvastatin and simvastatin).

Methods: Patients prescribed apixaban 5mg twice daily for at least one week were identified from the anticoagulation clinic database and contacted for potential enrolment.

Utilizing Probiotics for the Prevention and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Diseases.

Probiotics are heavily advertised to promote a healthy gastrointestinal tract and boost the immune system. This review article summarizes the history and diversity of probiotics, outlines conventional assays and models, assesses the pharmacologic effects of probiotic and pharmaceutical co-administration, and the broad impact of clinical probiotic utilization for gastrointestinal disease indications.

The Underlying Effects of Celiac Disease and Subsequent Implications on Deployment in the United States Army.

Introduction: The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the etiology, pathology, and treatments for celiac disease (CD), as well as to provide context as to how CD impacts the U.S. military.

Visualizing and exploring nonlinear behavior, timescales, and mechanical signatures of human blood.

Background: Human blood is a thixo-elasto-visco-plastic (TEVP) material that exhibits unique fluctuations in mechanical properties based on physiology, and shear rate. We demonstrate new visual tools to help visualize and characterize these varied mechanical properties.

Objective: Our objective is to demonstrate contemporary visual and numerical tools to help visualize and characterize the varied mechanical properties of human blood.

Global mid-upper arm circumference cut-offs for adults: a call to action.

Since 2009, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) has become an accepted measure for screening children for acute malnutrition and determining eligibility for services to manage acute malnutrition. Use of MUAC has increased the reach and enhanced the quality of community-based management of acute malnutrition services. Increasingly, MUAC is also used to assess nutritional status and eligibility for nutrition support among adolescents and adults, including pregnant and lactating women and HIV and TB clients.

Association between Malaria Infection and Early Childhood Development Mediated by Anemia in Rural Kenya.

Malaria is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five years of age, with most cases occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa. Children in this age group in Africa are at greatest risk worldwide for developmental deficits. There are research gaps in quantifying the risks of mild malaria cases, understanding the pathways linking malaria infection and poor child development, and evaluating the impact of malaria on the development of children under five years.

Characteristics of Pica Behavior among Mothers around Lake Victoria, Kenya: A Cross-Sectional Study.

: Pica, the craving and purposeful consumption of nonfoods, is poorly understood. We described the prevalence of pica among women on Mfangano Island, Kenya, and examined sociodemographic and health correlates. : Our cross-sectional study included 299 pregnant or postpartum women in 2012.

Reminiscence About Physical Activity: A Pilot Study to Reduce Pain in Older Adults.

The aim of the current randomized attention control pilot study was to conduct a preliminary test of a facilitated reminiscence intervention about past physical activity for the effect on increased physical activity and reduced pain in older adults with osteoarthritis. Thirteen older adults were randomized to the facilitated reminiscence or health education group and participated in six individual sessions over 6 weeks. Reminiscence functions, self-reported physical activity, pain intensity, and pain interference with function were measured at baseline and 1 and 3 months postintervention.

Updating the modified Thompson test by using whole-body bioluminescence imaging to replace traditional efficacy testing in experimental models of murine malaria.

Background: Rodent malaria models are extensively used to predict treatment outcomes in human infections. There is a constant need to improve and refine these models by innovating ways to apply new scientific findings and cutting edge technologies. In addition, and in accordance with the three R's of animal use in research, in vivo studies should be constantly refined to avoid unnecessary pain and distress to the experimental animals by using preemptive euthanasia as soon as the main scientific study objective has been accomplished.

Evaluation of a social network intervention on child feeding practices and caregiver knowledge.

Food insecurity and poor infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices contribute to undernutrition. The Kanyakla Nutrition Program was developed in rural Kenya to provide knowledge alongside social support for recommended IYCF practices. Utilizing a social network approach, the Kanyakla Nutrition Program trained community health workers (CHWs) to engage mothers, fathers, and grandparents in nutrition education and discussions about strategies to provide instrumental, emotional, and information support within their community.

Effects of water quality, sanitation, handwashing, and nutritional interventions on child development in rural Kenya (WASH Benefits Kenya): a cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Background: Poor nutrition and infectious diseases can prevent children from reaching their developmental potential. We aimed to assess the effects of improvements in water, sanitation, handwashing, and nutrition on early child development in rural Kenya.

Methods: In this cluster-randomised controlled trial, we enrolled pregnant women in their second or third trimester from three counties (Kakamega, Bungoma, and Vihiga) in Kenya's western region, with an average of 12 households per cluster.

Quantity and species of fish consumed shape breast-milk fatty acid concentrations around Lake Victoria, Kenya.

Objective: Long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA) found in breast milk are derived from dietary sources and critical for optimal infant development. We examined associations between fish consumption and concentrations of LCPUFA and essential n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in breast milk among mothers living around Lake Victoria.

Design: We used cross-sectional analyses of associations between recent fish consumption and breast-milk fatty acid concentrations.

Timing, intensity, and duration of household food insecurity are associated with early childhood development in Kenya.

This study examines the association between 3 dimensions of food insecurity (timing, intensity, and duration) and 3 domains of child development (gross motor, communication, and personal social). Longitudinal data from 303 households (n = 309 children) visited 9 times over 2 years were collected. Children in households experiencing severe food insecurity 3 months prior (timing) had significantly lower gross motor (β -0.

Human health alters the sustainability of fishing practices in East Africa.

Understanding feedbacks between human and environmental health is critical for the millions who cope with recurrent illness and rely directly on natural resources for sustenance. Although studies have examined how environmental degradation exacerbates infectious disease, the effects of human health on our use of the environment remains unexplored. Human illness is often tacitly assumed to reduce human impacts on the environment.

Piperaquine Population Pharmacokinetics and Cardiac Safety in Cambodia.

Despite the rising rates of resistance to dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP), DP remains a first-line therapy for uncomplicated malaria in many parts of Cambodia. While DP is generally well tolerated as a 3-day DP (3DP) regimen, compressed 2-day DP (2DP) regimens were associated with treatment-limiting cardiac repolarization effects in a recent clinical trial. To better estimate the risks of piperaquine on QT interval prolongation, we pooled data from three randomized clinical trials conducted between 2010 and 2014 in northern Cambodia.

Cytochrome P450 2D-mediated metabolism is not necessary for tafenoquine and primaquine to eradicate the erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium berghei.

Background: Due to the ability of the 8-aminoquinolines (8AQs) to kill different stages of the malaria parasite, primaquine (PQ) and tafenoquine (TQ) are vital for causal prophylaxis and the eradication of erythrocytic Plasmodium sp. parasites. Recognizing the potential role of cytochrome (CYP) 450 2D6 in the metabolism and subsequent hepatic efficacy of 8-aminoquinolines, studies were designed to explore whether CYP2D-mediated metabolism was related to the ability of single-dose PQ and TQ to eliminate the asexual and sexual erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium berghei.

Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) for Biodosimetry Tools Employed in Operational Environments.

It is essential to identify improved capabilities to accurately identify, confirm, and/or quantify radiological exposure and injury in order to inform critical triage, diagnosis, and treatment decisions. Herein the authors report characteristic requirements and potential Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) for biodosimetry tools employed in operational environments. While similar significant efforts have been completed in this area for the U.