Integrative analysis of DNA, macroscopic remains and stable isotopes of dog coprolites to reconstruct community diet.

Paleofeces or coprolites are often used to reconstruct diet at archaeological sites, usually using macroscopic analyses or targeted DNA amplification and sequencing. Here we present an integrative analysis of dog coprolites, combining macroscopic analyses, stable isotope measurements, and DNA shotgun sequencing to examine diet and health status. Dog coprolites used in this study were recovered from the Janey B.

A pragmatic and scalable strategy using mobile technology to promote sustained lifestyle changes to prevent type 2 diabetes in India and the UK: a randomised controlled trial.

Aims/hypothesis: This randomised controlled trial was performed in India and the UK in people with prediabetes to study whether mobile phone short message service (SMS) text messages can be used to motivate and educate people to follow lifestyle modifications, to prevent type 2 diabetes.

Methods: The study was performed in people with prediabetes (n = 2062; control: n = 1031; intervention: n = 1031) defined by HbA ≥42 and ≤47 mmol/mol (≥6.0% and ≤6.

Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes is Higher among Men with Persistent Impaired Glucose Tolerance than in Transient Impaired Glucose Tolerance - A 5 year Follow up Study.

Objective: This was a 5 year comparative analysis of the incidence of type 2 diabetes in men who had persistent impaired glucose tolerance (P-IGT) versus transient impaired glucose tolerance (T-IGT). P-IGT (positive IGT on two oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT), T-IGT (IGT in first OGTT and normal glucose tolerance (NGT) in the 2nd OGTT).

Methods: The samples were collected from a randomized controlled diabetes prevention study.

Secular TRends in DiabEtes in India (STRiDE-I): Change in Prevalence in 10 Years Among Urban and Rural Populations in Tamil Nadu.

Objective: The objective of the current study was to assess the secular trends in the prevalence of diabetes, prediabetes, and risk factors from two epidemiological surveys done 10 years apart in three adult populations of different geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds in Tamil Nadu, India.

Research Design And Methods: This survey was conducted in 2016 using methodology similar to that used in 2006. Persons aged ≥20 years ( = 9,848) were screened for diabetes, prediabetes, and the risk variables.

Protocol for a clinical trial of text messaging in addition to standard care versus standard care alone in prevention of type 2 diabetes through lifestyle modification in India and the UK.

Background: Type 2 diabetes is a serious clinical problem in both India and the UK. Adoption of a healthy lifestyle through dietary and physical activity modification can help prevent type 2 diabetes. However, implementing lifestyle modification programmes to high risk groups is expensive and alternative cheaper methods are needed.

The post-trial analysis of the Indian SMS diabetes prevention study shows persistent beneficial effects of lifestyle intervention.

Aims: We had shown that mobile phone based text messaging was an effective tool to deliver lifestyle changes among Asian Indian men with a 36% relative risk reduction in incident diabetes over two years. The present analysis investigated whether beneficial effects of intervention on diabetes prevention persisted for an additional three years after withdrawal of active intervention.

Methods: The primary two year randomized controlled trial (2010-2012) compared lifestyle changes with use of automated text messaging reminders in the intervention (n = 271) versus standard care advice (n = 266) at baseline.

Health education on diabetes and other non-communicable diseases imparted to teachers shows a cascading effect. A study from Southern India.

Aims: The aims were to assess effect of a short training programme on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly diabetes on school teachers and also on students who were in turn educated by them. Lifestyle changes made by both groups were assessed 6months later.

Methods: Graduate teachers (n=1017) from 2 districts in Tamilnadu, India were trained using audio visual aids in batches of 100, on healthy lifestyle practices, prevention and management of diabetes.

A pragmatic and scalable strategy using mobile technology to promote sustained lifestyle changes to prevent type 2 diabetes in India-Outcome of screening.

Aims: We describe a two-step screening approach using non-invasive risk assessment and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) to identify participants for a diabetes prevention trial.

Methods: A total of 6030 non-diabetic persons of 35-55 years were screened using risk assessment for diabetes. Those with three or more risk factors were screened using point of care HbA1c test.

Improvement in diet habits, independent of physical activity helps to reduce incident diabetes among prediabetic Asian Indian men.

Aims: To assess the beneficial effects of the components of lifestyle intervention in reducing incidence of diabetes in Asian Indian men with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in India.

Methods: This analysis was based on a 2 year prospective, randomized controlled primary prevention trial in a cohort of Asian Indian men with IGT (n=537) (Clinical Trial No: NCT00819455). Intervention and control groups were given standard care advice at baseline.

Screening among male industrial workers in India shows high prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance, undetected diabetes and cardiovascular risk clustering.

Objective: To study the magnitude of undetected diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors among male industrial workers.

Methods: Measurements of 2h post glucose blood glucose (2h PG), blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were done in 8741 non-diabetic men of 35-55 years. Presence of family history of diabetes (FH) was noted.

Effectiveness of mobile phone messaging in prevention of type 2 diabetes by lifestyle modification in men in India: a prospective, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Type 2 diabetes can often be prevented by lifestyle modification; however, successful lifestyle intervention programmes are labour intensive. Mobile phone messaging is an inexpensive alternative way to deliver educational and motivational advice about lifestyle modification. We aimed to assess whether mobile phone messaging that encouraged lifestyle change could reduce incident type 2 diabetes in Indian Asian men with impaired glucose tolerance.

Laser safety: practical measures and latest legislative requirements.

Lasers are used for a wide range of applications in operating departments and all persons working in a laser environment are required to understand the safety issues involved. This article details the various hazards associated with laser use and the management structure, procedures and control measures that should be implemented to ensure the health and safety of staff and patients. Recommendations are made in the context of the latest guidance and legislative requirements with reference to common issues that may arise in the workplace.

Changes in insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity in relation to the glycemic outcomes in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance in the Indian Diabetes Prevention Programme-1 (IDPP-1).

Objective: The Indian Diabetes Prevention Programme-1 (IDPP-1) showed that lifestyle modification (LSM) and metformin were effective for primary prevention of diabetes in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Among subjects followed up for 3 years (n = 502), risk reductions versus those for the control group were 28.5, 26.

Addition of antifungal skin bacteria to salamanders ameliorates the effects of chytridiomycosis.

Chytridiomycosis, caused by the skin fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has caused population declines of many amphibians in remote protected habitats. Progress has been made in understanding the pathogen's life cycle, documenting its devastating effects on individual amphibians and on populations, and understanding how and why disease outbreaks occur. No research has directly addressed the critical question of how to prevent declines and extinctions caused by outbreaks of the disease.

Beneficial effects of strategies for primary prevention of diabetes on cardiovascular risk factors: results of the Indian Diabetes Prevention Programme.

In subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) who participated in the Indian Diabetes Prevention Programme (IDPP), abnormalities related to body mass index, waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP), lipid profile and electrocardiography were analysed (at baseline and third-year follow-up) in control, lifestyle modification (LSM), metformin (MET) and LSM + MET groups. At baseline, elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) showed the highest (78.6%) and total cholesterol (TC) showed the lowest (42%) prevalence.

Antifungal skin bacteria, embryonic survival, and communal nesting in four-toed salamanders, Hemidactylium scutatum.

We examined a novel hypothesis for the maintenance of communal nesting in the salamander, Hemidactylium scutatum, namely that communal nests are more likely than solitary nests to be associated with cutaneous antifungal bacteria, which can inhibit fungal infections of embryos. A communal nest contains eggs of two or more females of the same species. The nesting behavior of H.

High prevalence of diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors associated with urbanization in India.

Objective: To compare prevalence of diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and cardiovascular risk factors between a city, a town, and periurban villages (PUVs) in southern India and to look for temporal changes in the city and PUVs.

Research Design And Methods: Subjects aged >/=20 years were studied in Tamilnadu, India, in Chennai (city, n = 2,192; 1,053 men and 1,138 women), Kanchipuram (town, n = 2,290; 988 men and 1,302 women), and Panruti (PUVs, n = 2,584; 1,280 men and 1,304 women) in 2006. Demographic, socioeconomic, and anthropometric details; blood pressure; physical activity; diet habits; and lipids were studied.

Diversity of cutaneous bacteria with antifungal activity isolated from female four-toed salamanders.

Among the microbiota of amphibian skin are bacteria that produce antifungal compounds. We isolated cutaneous bacteria from the skins of three populations of the nest-attending plethodontid salamander Hemidactylium scutatum and subsequently tested the bacterial isolates against two different fungi (related to Mariannaea elegans and Rhizomucor variabilis) that were obtained from dead salamander eggs. The culturable antifungal bacteria were phylogenetically characterized based on 16S rRNA phylogeny, and belonged to four phyla, comprising 14 bacterial families, 16 genera and 48 species.

Cost-effectiveness of the interventions in the primary prevention of diabetes among Asian Indians: within-trial results of the Indian Diabetes Prevention Programme (IDPP).

Objective: In the Indian Diabetes Prevention Programme (IDPP), a 3-year randomized, controlled trial, lifestyle modification (LSM) and metformin helped to prevent type 2 diabetes in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). The direct medical costs and cost-effectiveness of the interventions relative to the control group are reported here.

Research Design And Methods: Relative effectiveness and costs of interventions (LSM, metformin, and LSM and metformin) in the IDPP were estimated from the health care system perspective.