Rapid Detection and Identification of Yersinia Pestis From Food Using Immunomagnetic Separation and Pyrosequencing.
Rapid Detection and Identification of Yersinia pestis from Food Using Immunomagnetic Separation and Pyrosequencing.
Filed under: Eating Disorders
J Pathog. 2012; 2012: 781652
Amoako KK, Shields MJ, Goji N, Paquet C, Thomas MC, Janzen TW, Bin Kingombe CI, Kell AJ, Hahn KR
Interest has recently been renewed in the possible use of Y. pestis, the causative agent of plague, as a biological weapon by terrorists. The vulnerability of food to intentional contamination coupled with reports of humans having acquired plague through eating infected animals that were not adequately cooked or handling of meat from infected animals makes the possible use of Y. pestis in a foodborne bioterrorism attack a reality. Rapid, efficient food sample preparation and detection systems that will help overcome the problem associated with the complexity of the different matrices and also remove any ambiguity in results will enable rapid informed decisions to be made regarding contamination of food with biothreat agents. We have developed a rapid detection assay that combines the use of immunomagnetic separation and pyrosequencing in generating results for the unambiguous identification of Y. pestis from milk (0.9 CFU/mL), bagged salad (1.6?CFU/g), and processed meat (10?CFU/g). The low detection limits demonstrated in this assay provide a novel tool for the rapid detection and confirmation of Y. pestis in food without the need for enrichment. The combined use of the iCropTheBug system and pyrosequencing for efficient capture and detection of Y. pestis is novel and has potential applications in food biodefence.
HubMed – eating
Brief cognitive-behavioral therapy for weight loss in midlife women: a controlled study with follow-up.
Filed under: Eating Disorders
Int J Womens Health. 2012; 4: 559-67
Pimenta F, Leal I, Maroco J, Ramos C
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has proven to be effective in weight reduction. This study explores whether individual, 8-session CBT can promote weight loss in midlife women.Anthropometric (weight, abdominal perimeter, and body mass index calculation), psychological (health-related and sexual quality of life, stress, anxiety, and depression), and behavioral measures (binge eating disorder and restrained, external, and emotional eating) were assessed at baseline (T1), posttreatment (T2), and 4-month follow-up (T3), for a total of 21 women at baseline; the CBT group (n = 11) and the control group (n = 10; waiting list) were compared.Statistically significant effects that were dependent on the intervention were observed on weight (F = 4.402; P = 0.035; ?(p) (2) = 0.404; ? = 0.652) and body mass index (F = 3.804; P = 0.050; ?(p) (2) = 0.369; ? = 0.585); furthermore, marginally significant effects were observed on external eating (F = 2.844; P = 0.095; ?(p) (2) = 0.304; ? = 0.461). At follow-up, women in the CBT group presented with lower weight, abdominal perimeter, body mass index, and external eating; higher health-related quality-of-life and restrained eating were also observed in this group. Most differences identified were at a marginally significant level. Moreover, at follow-up, none of the participants of the CBT group met the criteria for binge eating disorder, whereas the number of women with binge eating disorder in the control group remained the same through all three assessments.An effective, though small, weight loss was achieved. Changes in quality of life were also observed. Moreover, changes in external eating behavior were successful.
HubMed – eating
Working Inside the Firehouse: Developing a Participant-Driven Intervention to Enhance Health-Promoting Behaviors.
Filed under: Eating Disorders
Health Promot Pract. 2012 Oct 22;
Frattaroli S, Pollack KM, Bailey M, Schafer H, Cheskin LJ, Holtgrave DR
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of on-duty death among U.S. firefighters among whom volunteers comprise 71% of the fire service. We sought to understand CVD risk among volunteer firefighters and to develop a CVD intervention based on their input. To accomplish these aims, we conducted a series of focus groups with volunteer firefighters and firefighters who serve with volunteers in Maryland. We conducted two additional focus groups with fire service leaders. Ninety-eight people participated in 15 focus groups. Participants discussed health and wellness, stress and the demanding nature of the volunteer fire service, and the challenges associated with healthy eating. They talked about food in the firehouse and the lack of quick, healthy, satisfying, and affordable food. Several suggestions for interventions to improve the food environment and firefighters’ ability to choose and prepare healthy meals and snacks emerged. An intervention reflecting the participants’ recommendations resulted. The way volunteer firefighters understand health and wellness and the specific factors that influence their food intake are valuable insights for addressing CVD risks in this population. To our knowledge, this is the first study that systematically brings firefighters into the process of developing an intervention to reduce CVD risk among this high-risk population.
HubMed – eating
Influence of individual and combined healthy behaviours on successful aging.
Filed under: Eating Disorders
CMAJ. 2012 Oct 22;
Sabia S, Singh-Manoux A, Hagger-Johnson G, Cambois E, Brunner EJ, Kivimaki M
BACKGROUND:Increases in life expectancy make it important to remain healthy for as long as possible. Our objective was to examine the extent to which healthy behaviours in midlife, separately and in combination, predict successful aging. METHODS:We used a prospective cohort design involving 5100 men and women aged 42-63 years. Participants were free of cancer, coronary artery disease and stroke when their health behaviours were assessed in 1991-1994 as part of the Whitehall II study. We defined healthy behaviours as never smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, physical activity (? 2.5 h/wk moderate physical activity or ? 1 h/wk vigorous physical activity), and eating fruits and vegetables daily. We defined successful aging, measured over a median 16.3-year follow-up, as good cognitive, physical, respiratory and cardiovascular functioning, in addition to the absence of disability, mental health problems and chronic disease (coronary artery disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes). RESULTS:At the end of follow-up, 549 participants had died and 953 qualified as aging successfully. Compared with participants who engaged in no healthy behaviours, participants engaging in all 4 healthy behaviours had 3.3 times greater odds of successful aging (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.1-5.1). The association with successful aging was linear, with the odds ratio (OR) per increment of healthy behaviour being 1.3 (95% CI 1.2-1.4; population-attributable risk for 1-4 v. 0 healthy behaviours 47%). When missing data were considered in the analysis, the results were similar to those of our main analysis. INTERPRETATION:Although individual healthy behaviours are moderately associated with successful aging, their combined impact is substantial. We did not investigate the mechanisms underlying these associations, but we saw clear evidence of the importance of healthy behaviours for successful aging.
HubMed – eating
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