Trans-fat labelling and potential presence of industrially produced trans-fat in the New Zealand packaged food supply: 2015-2019 & 2022.

Background And Aim: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that countries reduce industrially produced TFA (iTFA) in the food supply. However, New Zealand (NZ) has no mandatory regulation to control amounts of iTFA in foods. The objectives of this study were to assess within the NZ packaged food supply in recent years (2015-19 and 2022): i) the availability of products displaying information on TFA content on nutrition information panels (NIPs), ii) the content of TFA declared, and iii) the presence/potential presence of iTFA (n = 85,892 products).

Trends in the healthiness and nutrient composition of packaged products sold by major food and beverage companies in New Zealand 2015 to 2019.

Background: Dietary risk factors are the leading cause of death globally and in New Zealand (NZ). Processed packaged foods are prevalent in the food supply and contribute excess amounts of sodium, saturated fat, and sugar in diets. Improving the nutritional quality of these foods has the potential to reduce population chronic disease risk.

The prevalence of vegetarians, vegans and other dietary patterns that exclude some animal-source foods in a representative sample of New Zealand adults.

Objective: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of vegetarians, vegans and other dietary patterns that exclude some animal-source foods in New Zealand adults. We also examined socio-demographic and lifestyle correlates of these dietary patterns.

Design: The New Zealand Health Survey is a representative rolling cross-sectional survey of New Zealanders; data from the 2018/19 and 2019/20 waves were used for this analysis.

Meat-Free Mondays in Hospital Cafés in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Current human meat consumption levels contribute to environmental degradation and are a risk factor for non-communicable diseases. Globally, meat-reduction policy interventions are limited. Meat-Free Mondays (MFMs) is a global campaign to reduce meat consumption to improve planetary and human health.

Nutrient content and cost of canned and dried legumes and plant-based meat analogues available in New Zealand supermarkets.

Aims: Plant-based eating patterns are recommended for human and planetary health. Plant-based protein sources in supermarkets include traditional options and plant-based meat analogues. This cross-sectional survey examined the nutritional content, healthiness, cost and labelling of these products.

Product promotional strategies in supermarkets and their effects on sales: A case study of breakfast cereals and drinks in New Zealand.

Aims: To examine the frequency of promotions on breakfast cereals and drinks in a major New Zealand supermarket chain, determine the healthiness of promoted versus non-promoted products, and quantify the effects of promotions on sales.

Methods: Weekly data on product promotions and sales were collected in six Auckland supermarkets for 198 breakfast products over 12 weeks. The healthiness of products was determined using the Health Star Rating system, and the effect of promotions on sales was estimated using linear mixed models.

Automated Detection of Vascular Leakage in Fluorescein Angiography - A Proof of Concept.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to develop a deep learning algorithm to detect retinal vascular leakage (leakage) in fluorescein angiography (FA) of patients with uveitis and use the trained algorithm to determine clinically notable leakage changes.

Methods: An algorithm was trained and tested to detect leakage on a set of 200 FA images (61 patients) and evaluated on a separate 50-image test set (21 patients). The ground truth was leakage segmentation by two clinicians.

Contributions of h- and Na/K Pump Currents to the Generation of Episodic and Continuous Rhythmic Activities.

Developing spinal motor networks produce a diverse array of outputs, including episodic and continuous patterns of rhythmic activity. Variation in excitability state and neuromodulatory tone can facilitate transitions between episodic and continuous rhythms; however, the intrinsic mechanisms that govern these rhythms and their transitions are poorly understood. Here, we tested the capacity of a single central pattern generator (CPG) circuit with tunable properties to generate multiple outputs.

Practice patterns regarding regional corticosteroid treatment in noninfectious Uveitis: a survey study.

Background: Regional corticosteroid therapy for noninfectious uveitis is well-established but usage patterns have not been studied extensively. This study aims to assess practice patterns of retina and uveitis specialists regarding their preferences on the use of local corticosteroid therapy.

Methods: A 13-question survey was developed regarding the practice patterns of regional corticosteroid use in specific situations and populations.

Energy, Sodium, Sugar and Saturated Fat Content of New Zealand Fast-Food Products and Meal Combos in 2020.

This study aimed to benchmark the healthiness of the New Zealand (NZ) fast-food supply in 2020. There are currently no actions or policies in NZ regarding the composition, serving size and labeling of fast food. Data on serving size and nutrient content of products was collected from company websites and in-store visits to 27 fast-food chains.

Prevalence and Types of Non-Nutritive Sweeteners in the New Zealand Food Supply, 2013 and 2019.

The widely recognized association between high sugar intakes and adverse health outcomes has increased consumer demand for products lower in sugar. This may lead to increased use of other sweeteners by the food industry. The current study investigated the prevalence and types of non-nutritive sweeteners over time (2013-2019) in New Zealand's packaged food and beverages, overall and between categories.

Comparison of Healthiness, Labelling, and Price between Private and Branded Label Packaged Foods in New Zealand (2015-2019).

We aimed to compare New Zealand private label (PL) and branded label (BL) packaged food products in relation to their current (2019) healthiness (sodium and sugar contents, and estimated Health Star Rating (HSR) score), display of the voluntary HSR nutrition label on the package, and price. Healthiness and HSR display of products were also explored over time (2015 to 2019). Data were obtained from Nutritrack, a brand-specific food composition database.

Ocular adverse events in PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors.

Background: Programmed death-1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors can cause unique immune-related adverse effects due to non-specific immunological activation. However, less is known about adverse effects of these drugs in the eye.

Methods: Two adverse event databases were retrospectively reviewed.

Efficacy of Cognitive Training When Translated From the Laboratory to the Real World.

Introduction: Research shows that cognitive performance and emotional well-being can be significantly strengthened. A high-performance brain training protocol, Strategic Memory Advanced Reasoning Training (SMART), was developed by cognitive neuroscientists at The University of Texas at Dallas Center for BrainHealth based on 25-plus years of scientific study. Randomized controlled trials with various populations have shown that training and use of nine "SMART" strategies for processing information can improve cognitive performance and psychological health.

Which companies dominate the packaged food supply of New Zealand and how healthy are their products?

Improvement of national food supplies are an opportunity to improve a country's health. Our aim was to identify the major food companies manufacturing packaged foods and non-alcoholic beverages available in New Zealand supermarkets in 2018; to assess the healthiness of products using (1) the Health Star Rating (HSR) system, (2) Australian Dietary Guidelines classification (core/discretionary), and (3) by level of processing; to compare the healthiness of products displaying and not displaying the HSR and; to assess potential for food reformulation within selected food sub-categories. Information on packaged foods was obtained from the Nutritrack supermarket database.

Seven-year trends in the availability, sugar content and serve size of single-serve non-alcoholic beverages in New Zealand: 2013-2019.

Objective: To assess trends in relative availability, sugar content and serve size of ready-to-drink non-alcoholic beverages available for sale in supermarkets from 2013 to 2019.

Design: Repeat cross-sectional surveys. Data on single-serve beverages to be consumed in one sitting were obtained from an updated brand-specific food composition database.

The Development and Application of a Tool for Quantifying the Strength of Voluntary Actions and Commitments of Major Canadian Food Companies to Improve the Nutritional Quality of Their Products.

Background: Canada's food supply is high in nutrients of public health concern, contributing to poor diet quality and increased noncommunicable disease risk. Food companies shape the healthfulness of the food supply, yet little is known about companies' voluntary actions and commitments concerning product (re)formulation.

Objective: This study aimed to develop and apply a tool for quantifying the strength of voluntary actions and commitments of major food companies in Canada to improve the healthfulness of their products.

Choroidal granuloma resolution with tuberculosis treatment.

Purpose: To report a case of presumed ocular tuberculosis, successfully treated with anti-tubercular therapy alone.

Observations: Resolution of a presumed tubercular choroidal granuloma occurred after initiation of 4-drug anti-tubercular therapy, without any adjunct corticosteroid treatment.

Conclusions: Though corticosteroids are commonly used as adjunctive treatment for ocular tuberculosis, treatment with anti-tubercular therapy alone is possible in select patients with close follow-up.

The effect of a shelf placement intervention on sales of healthier and less healthy breakfast cereals in supermarkets: A co-designed pilot study.

Supermarkets are the principal source of grocery food in many high-income countries. Choice architecture strategies show promise to improve the healthiness of food choices. A retailer-academic collaboration was formed to co-design and pilot selected commercially sustainable strategies to increase sales of healthier foods relative to less healthy foods in supermarkets.

Moving Toward Standardized Pediatric Performance Improvement Measures in Child Physical Abuse: A Modified Delphi Approach.

Background: Limited guidance exists for pediatric trauma centers (PTCs) regarding best practice for measuring and reviewing performance improvement (PI) in the child physical abuse population. To move PTC programs toward standardized guidelines and PI practices, current practice and points of consensus among level 1 and 2 PTCs across the United States were assessed.

Methods: Utilizing a two-round, modified Delphi methodology, electronic surveys were distributed to pediatric trauma program managers and coordinators representing 125 PTCs.

An economical solution to record and control wheel-running for group-housed mice.

Background: The effects of exercise on brain function are widely known; however, there is a need for inexpensive, practical solutions for monitoring and metering the activity of multiple mice.

New Method: A contoured running wheel that has a built-in radio-frequency identification (RFID) receiver to monitor the activity of several mice in a single cage is presented. This system is scalable , the interface is easy to use, and the wheel can be dynamically locked so that each group-housed mouse receives a set exercise regimen.

Impact of Holidays on Pediatric Trauma Admissions to a Community Hospital in South Florida.

Objectives: The data from temperate regions indicate increases in pediatric traumatic injuries during the spring and summer months with anticipated admission spikes on warm weather holidays; hospitals in southern subtropical regions should not anticipate the same trends. The objectives of this study were to identify holiday-specific spikes in pediatric traumatic injury admissions at a community hospital in South Florida and report injury patterns in age, mechanism of injury, and surgical consults.

Methods: A 5-year retrospective review of pediatric traumatic injuries during holiday periods was conducted; patterns in age, mechanism of injury, and surgical consults were described.