Validation of a Low-Cost Manometer to Assess of Tongue, Lip, Cheek, and Respiratory Strength: A Laboratory-Based Study.

Objective(s): The objective of this study was to characterize the level of agreement between three manometers: (1) Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI)-the reference standard for tongue, lip, and cheek strength assessments; (2) MicroRPM Respiratory Pressure Meter (MicroRPM)-the reference standard for respiratory strength assessments; and (3) Digital Pressure Manometer (DPM)-an alternative, low-cost pressure testing manometer.

Methods: Manual pressures were simultaneously applied to the IOPI and DPM, and to the MicroRPM and DPM, within a controlled laboratory setting. Agreement in pressure readings were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Lin's concordance correlation, and Bland-Altman Plots.

Consensus statement on Singapore Perinatal Mental Health Guidelines on Depression and Anxiety.

Introduction: Perinatal depression and anxiety are public health concerns affecting approximately 1 in 10 women in Singapore, with clear evidence of association with various adverse outcomes in mother and child, including low birthweight, preterm birth and negative impact on infant neurodevelopment, temperament and behaviour. A workgroup was formed to develop recommendations to address the perinatal mental health needs of women with depression and anxiety. The approach was broad-based and aimed to incorporate holistic methods that would be readily applicable to the network of care providers supporting childbearing women.

Flexibility for Intensity Dosing in Lingual Resistance Exercises: A Large Randomized Clinical Trial in Typically Aging Adults as Proof of Principle.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of intensity dosing during tongue exercise on tongue pressure generation, adherence, and perceived effort.

Design: This was a five-site, prospective, randomized clinical trial. Outcome measures were obtained across multiple baselines, biweekly during exercise, and 4-weeks post-intervention.

The Effect of Genetic Taste Status on Swallowing: A Literature Review.

Purpose: Swallowing and taste share innervation pathways and are crucial to nutritive intake. Individuals vary in their perception of taste due to factors such as genetics; however, it is unclear to what extent genetic taste status influences swallowing physiology and function. The purpose of this review article is to provide background on genetic taste status, review the evidence on the association between genetic taste status and swallowing, and discuss research and clinical implications.

The World Health Organization's public health intelligence activities during the COVID-19 pandemic response, December 2019 to December 2021.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) presented a unique opportunity for the World Health Organization (WHO) to utilise public health intelligence (PHI) for pandemic response. WHO systematically captured mainly unstructured information (e.g.

Evaluation of Barley and Wheat Germplasm for Resistance to Head Blight and Mycotoxin Production by Fusarium asiaticum and F. graminearum.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the most serious diseases in barley and wheat, as it is usually accompanied by the production of harmful mycotoxins in the grains. To identify FHB-resistant breeding resources, we evaluated 60 elite germplasm accessions of barley (24) and wheat (36) for FHB and mycotoxin accumulation. Assessments were performed in a greenhouse and five heads per accession were inoculated with both Fusarium asiaticum (Fa73, nivalenol producer) and F.

Leveraging human resources for outbreak analysis: lessons from an international collaboration to support the sub-Saharan African COVID-19 response.

Emerging infectious diseases are a growing threat in sub-Saharan African countries, but the human and technical capacity to quickly respond to outbreaks remains limited. Here, we describe the experience and lessons learned from a joint project with the WHO Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) to support the sub-Saharan African COVID-19 response.In June 2020, WHO AFRO contracted a number of consultants to reinforce the COVID-19 response in member states by providing actionable epidemiological analysis.

An in-depth statistical analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic's initial spread in the WHO African region.

During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, sub-Saharan African countries experienced comparatively lower rates of SARS-CoV-2 infections and related deaths than in other parts of the world, the reasons for which remain unclear. Yet, there was also considerable variation between countries. Here, we explored potential drivers of this variation among 46 of the 47 WHO African region Member States in a cross-sectional study.

A double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial investigating the effects of lesogaberan on the objective cough frequency and capsaicin-evoked coughs in patients with refractory chronic cough.

Objective: Baclofen is a centrally acting γ-aminobutyric acid type B (GABA) receptor agonist which reduces gastro-oesophageal reflux and suppresses the cough reflex; however, central nervous system side-effects limit its use. Lesogaberan is a novel peripherally acting GABA agonist, but its effects on refractory chronic cough are unknown.

Design: We performed a single-centre, placebo-controlled, double-blind randomised crossover study in patients with chronic cough, refractory to the treatment of underlying conditions.

Functional roles of all five putative hydrophobin genes in growth, development, and secondary metabolism in Fusarium graminearum.

Fusarium graminearum is the causal agent of Fusarium head blight in cereal crops. As in other filamentous ascomycetes, F. graminearum contains genes encoding putative hydrophobins, which are small secreted amphiphilic proteins with eight conserved cysteine residues.

Enhancing the caregiving experience of family care partners in Singapore through an arts programme for persons with dementia: an exploratory study.

Arts-based programmes for persons with dementia have shown promise in alleviating some of the caregiving challenges for family care partners. The present study sought to broaden the sociocultural perspectives of arts-based programmes by investigating the impact of a locally developed Arts & Dementia programme for persons with dementia on their family care partners in Singapore. Thirty-two family care partners of persons with dementia who participated in the Arts & Dementia programme were recruited.

Species Complex: A Bibliographic Analysis and Web-Accessible Database for Global Mapping of Species and Trichothecene Toxin Chemotypes.

is ranked among the five most destructive fungal pathogens that affect agroecosystems. It causes floral diseases in small grain cereals including wheat, barley, and oats, as well as maize and rice. We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed studies reporting species within the species complex (FGSC) and created two main data tables.

The impact of the Arts and Dementia Program on short-term well-being in older persons with dementia from Singapore.

Objective: To investigate the impact of a locally developed Arts and Dementia Program on the short-term well-being of older persons with dementia in Singapore.

Methods: Single-arm study with 21 persons with dementia. Behavioural tendencies and mood and engagement values were assessed using Dementia Care Mapping at baseline and during the program.

Information management practices in the WHO African Region to support response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The rapid transmissibility of the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 causing coronavirus disease-2019, requires timely dissemination of information and public health responses, with all 47 countries of the WHO African Region simultaneously facing significant risk, in contrast to the usual highly localised infectious disease outbreaks. This demanded a different approach to information management and an adaptive information strategy was implemented, focusing on data collection and management, reporting and analysis at the national and regional levels. This approach used frugal innovation, building on tools and technologies that are commonly used, and well understood; as well as developing simple, practical, highly functional and agile solutions that could be rapidly and remotely implemented, and flexible enough to be recalibrated and adapted as required.

Implementing epidemic intelligence in the WHO African region for early detection and response to acute public health events.

Epidemic intelligence activities are undertaken by the WHO Regional Office for Africa to support member states in early detection and response to outbreaks to prevent the international spread of diseases. We reviewed epidemic intelligence activities conducted by the organisation from 2017 to 2020, processes used, key results and how lessons learned can be used to strengthen preparedness, early detection and rapid response to outbreaks that may constitute a public health event of international concern. A total of 415 outbreaks were detected and notified to WHO, using both indicator-based and event-based surveillance.

Patient- and Physician-Level Factors Associated With Adherence to C-CHANGE Recommendations in Primary Care Settings in Ontario.

Background: We previously found large variation among family physicians in adherence to the anadian ardiovascular armonization of ational uidelines ndeavour (C-CHANGE). We assessed the role of patient- and physician-level factors in the variation in adherence to recommendations for managing cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study using multilevel logistic regression analyses with the lectronic edical ecord dministrative data inked atabase (EMRALD) housed at ICES in Ontario.

Phylogenomic Analysis of a 55.1-kb 19-Gene Dataset Resolves a Monophyletic that Includes the Species Complex.

Scientific communication is facilitated by a data-driven, scientifically sound taxonomy that considers the end-user's needs and established successful practice. In 2013, the community voiced near unanimous support for a concept of that represented a clade comprising all agriculturally and clinically important species, including the species complex (FSSC). Subsequently, this concept was challenged in 2015 by one research group who proposed dividing the genus into seven genera, including the FSSC described as members of the genus , with subsequent justification in 2018 based on claims that the 2013 concept of is polyphyletic.

Changing perceptions towards dementia: How does involvement in the arts alongside persons with dementia promote positive attitudes?

The prevalence of dementia in Singapore is on the rise. Due to the negative perceptions associated with the condition, persons with dementia and their care partners face an increased risk of social isolation and loneliness. One objective of the Arts and Dementia programme offered by the Alzheimer's Disease Association is to increase inclusivity of persons with dementia in the community.

Characterization of Nivalenol-Producing That Causes Cereal Head Blight in Korea.

of the species complex causes head blight in small-grain cereals. The nivalenol (NIV) chemotypes of is more common than the deoxynivalenol (DON) chemotypes of or in Korea. To understand the prevalence of NIV in Korean cereals, we characterized the biological traits of 80 cereal isolates of producing NIV or 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3-ADON), and 54 with 3-ADON or 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (15-ADON).

Photoprotection But Not N-acetylcysteine Improves Intestinal Blood Flow and Oxidation Status in Parenterally Fed Piglets.

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to determine if protecting parenteral nutrition solutions from ambient light and supplementing with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) improves mesenteric blood flow, gut morphology, and oxidative status of parenterally fed neonates.

Methods: Neonatal Yucatan miniature piglets (n = 23, 7-11 days old) were surgically fitted with central venous catheters and an ultrasonic blood flow probe around the superior mesenteric artery. Piglets were fed continuously for 7 days either light-protected (LP) or light-exposed (LE) complete parenteral nutrition that was enriched with either NAC or alanine (ALA).

Implementation of a Heart Failure Telemonitoring System in Home Care Nursing: Feasibility Study.

Background: Telemonitoring (TM) of heart failure (HF) patients in a clinic setting has been shown to be effective if properly implemented, but little is known about the feasibility and impact of implementing TM through a home care nursing agency.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the feasibility of implementing a mobile phone-based TM system through a home care nursing agency and to explore the feasibility of conducting a future effectiveness trial.

Methods: A feasibility study was conducted by recruiting, through community cardiologists and family physicians, 10 to 15 HF patients who would use the TM system for 4 months by taking daily measurements of weight and blood pressure and recording symptoms.

Hip-Muscle Activity in Men and Women During Resisted Side Stepping With Different Band Positions.

Context: Weakness or decreased activation of the hip abductors and external rotators has been associated with lower extremity injury, especially in females. Resisted side stepping is commonly used to address hip weakness. Whereas multiple variations of this exercise are used clinically, few data exist regarding which variations to select.