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Lactic acid-producing bacteria (LAB) are being widely studied due to their probiotic potential. The aim of the present study was to determine and identify the presence of LAB from canine vaginal samples, as well as to evaluate their probiotic in vitro potential. Ninety-four bitches were included in the study. Vaginal samples were obtained by means of a sterile swab and streaked on Man Rogosa Sharpe agar plates. A total of 100 LAB strains were obtained and submitted to Gram stains and basic biochemical tests, which included catalase, oxidase and haemolysis tests. Thirteen strains belonging to the genera Lactobacillus (n = 10), Lactococcus (n = 2) and Pediococcus (n = 1) were selected as potential probiotics and further subjected to evaluation of resistance to gastrointestinal conditions (pH, lysozyme, bile salts and hydrogen peroxide) and safety and efficacy in vitro (resistance to antibiotics and antimicrobial capacity). Only three strains, one Lactobacillus lactis and two Lactobacillus plantarum, accomplished the requirements for being considered as potential in vitro probiotics.

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Drug use rates among adults in Afghanistan are over twice as high as the global average which complicates an already challenging situation in the country. Although progress has been made toward improving availability of treatment and the rights and status of women, cultural norms and historical precedents have delayed advances, including in drug treatment. Female Afghan patients access treatment via home-based systems without the option of group in-patient treatment centers available to male patients. Using data from a new evaluation of Afghanistan's drug treatment system we report on updated differences in treatment outcomes for male and female patients in drug treatment centers in Afghanistan. A probability sample was used, selecting 32 centers to evaluate, and including baseline and follow-up data from 865 individuals who were officially admitted to drug treatment. Data collection included: (a) baseline and follow-up interviews; (b) baseline and follow-up urine drug tests; and (c) intake and treatment participation records. Random intercept generalized linear models were used to analyze change by regressing outcomes on a contrast representing time and a correction for selectivity biases. Male and female patients had similar, overall pre-treatment characteristics including low levels of education, though education levels were lower for women. At follow-up, there were significant differences between male and female patients' self-reports of substance use and related consequences, including criminal behavior. These findings represent mixed results; while some progress has been made in offsetting gender disparities in Afghanistan, remaining significant gender differences in posttreatment results suggest more positive outcomes for female than for male patients.

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Electrodialysis (ED) desalination performance of different conventional and laboratory-scale ion exchange membranes (IEMs) has been evaluated by many researchers, but most of these studies used their own sets of experimental parameters such as feed solution compositions and concentrations, superficial velocities of the process streams (diluate, concentrate, and electrode rinse), applied electrical voltages, and types of IEMs. Thus, direct comparison of ED desalination performance of different IEMs is virtually impossible. While the use of different conventional IEMs in ED has been reported, the use of bioinspired ion exchange membrane has not been reported yet. The goal of this study was to evaluate the ED desalination performance differences between novel laboratory­scale bioinspired IEM and conventional IEMs by determining (i) limiting current density, (ii) current density, (iii) current efficiency, (iv) salinity reduction in diluate stream, (v) normalized specific energy consumption, and (vi) water flux by osmosis as a function of (a) initial concentration of NaCl feed solution (diluate and concentrate streams), (b) superficial velocity of feed solution, and (c) applied stack voltage per cell-pair of membranes. A laboratory­scale single stage batch-recycle electrodialysis experimental apparatus was assembled with five cell­pairs of IEMs with an active cross-sectional area of 7.84 cm2. In this study, seven combinations of IEMs (commercial and laboratory-made) were compared: (i) Neosepta AMX/CMX, (ii) PCA PCSA/PCSK, (iii) Fujifilm Type 1 AEM/CEM, (iv) SUEZ AR204SZRA/CR67HMR, (v) Ralex AMH-PES/CMH-PES, (vi) Neosepta AMX/Bare Polycarbonate membrane (Polycarb), and (vii) Neosepta AMX/Sandia novel bioinspired cation exchange membrane (SandiaCEM). ED desalination performance with the Sandia novel bioinspired cation exchange membrane (SandiaCEM) was found to be competitive with commercial Neosepta CMX cation exchange membrane.

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Background: A worldwide and ever-growing population of children are using psychoactive substances. To slow this problem, the Child Intervention for Living Drug-Free (CHILD) Curriculum was created to train treatment providers on how to screen, assess, and treat children between the ages of 4-12 years of age exposed to or actively using psychoactive substances. The purpose of the present project was to evaluate the extent to which completion of a six-session training of the six courses of the CHILD Curriculum met the objective of increasing the participants' knowledge of the Curriculum's approach to treating children for substance use problems. Methods: 71 participants from Africa, Asia, and South America were invited for training and 100% accepted the invitation. Trainees completed an in-person small-group course, occurring over 32 days and comprising 256 total hours. During the CHILD Curriculum training, they completed six separate, 20-item, multiple choice knowledge assessment measures, one for each of the six courses comprising the Curriculum. Results: Significant (ps<.001) improvement in knowledge in each course was associated with a multivariate measure of strength of the relationship that indicated the change was substantial for five courses (R2s>.5) and moderate for a sixth course. Percentage change from baseline varied from a low of 17% to a high of 63%. Conclusion: The CHILD Curriculum provides a useful educational framework to ensure knowledge gains by trainees. This curriculum content and evaluation provides a framework for future training of providers to pre-adolescent children who use psychoactive substances or are at risk for such use.

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Psychoactive substance use among children in Afghanistan is an issue of concern. Somewhere around 300,000 children in the country have been exposed to opioids that either parents directly provided to them or by passive exposure. Evidence-based and culturally appropriate drug prevention and treatment programs are needed for children and families. The goals of this study were to: (1) examine lifetime psychoactive substance use in girls and boys at treatment entry; and (2) examine differential changes in substance use during and following treatment between girls and boys. Children ages 10-17 years old entering residential treatment were administered the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test for Youth (ASSIST-Y) at pre- and post-treatment, and at three-month follow-up. Residential treatment was 45 days for children and 180 days for adolescents and consisted of a comprehensive psychosocial intervention that included education, life skills, individual and group counseling and, for older adolescents, vocational skills such as embroidery and tailoring. Girls and boys were significantly different regarding lifetime use of five substances at treatment entry, with girls less likely than boys to have used tobacco, cannabis, stimulants, and alcohol, and girls more likely than boys to have used sedatives. Differences between boys and girls were found for past-three-month use of four substances at treatment entry, with girls entering treatment with higher past-three-month use of opioids and sedatives, and boys with higher past-three-month use of tobacco, cannabis, and alcohol. Change over the course of treatment showed a general decline for both girls and boys in the use of these substances. Girls and boys in Afghanistan come to treatment with different substance use histories and differences in past-three-month use. Treatment of children for substance use problems must be sensitive to possible differences between girls and boys in substance use history.

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Resumen Objetivo: analizar el sentido de coherencia y su relación con el estilo de vida promotor de salud en estudiantes de una universidad pública en Sonora, México. Método: estudio descriptivo y correlacional, participaron 44 estudiantes de las carreras de ciencias de la computación, física y geología. Se empleó una cédula de datos sociodemográficos, la Escala Sentido de Coherencia 13 y el Cuestionario Estilo de Vida ii. Se efectuó análisis de datos con medidas de tendencia central y de dispersión, se utilizó el test chi-cuadrado y coeficiente de correlación de Spearman, con un nivel de significancia de alfa 0,05. Resultados: la edad promedio de los estudiantes fue de 20 años, 70,5% eran hombres y solteros, un 52,3% mostró sentido de coherencia global bajo predominando en hombres (54,8%). Un 56,8% obtuvo un estilo de vida promotor de salud insuficiente, mayormente en mujeres (69,2%). El sentido de coherencia tuvo correlación positiva significativa con el estilo de vida promotor de salud (p < 0,05). Conclusiones: la etapa de transición a la vida universitaria es un período importante y crítico para los estudiantes, es prioritario establecer programas de promoción y educación para la salud con enfoque salu-togénico, con el propósito de fortalecer el uso de los recursos disponibles y desarrollar un sentido de coherencia más fuerte en los estudiantes, fomentando un estilo de vida promotor de salud permanente.

Resumo Objetivo: analisar o senso de coerência e sua relação com o estilo de vida promotor de saúde em estudantes de uma universidade pública em Sonora, México. Metodologia: estudo descritivo e correlacional, 44 alunos participaram das carreiras de ciência da computação, física e geologia. Utilizou-se um cartão de dados sociodemográficos, a sense of coherence scale 13 e o lifestyle ii questionnaire. A análise dos dados foi realizada com medidas de tendência central e dispersão, utilizando-se o teste do qui-quadrado e o coeficiente de correlação de Spearman, utilizando um nível de significância de alfa 0,05. Resultados: a média da idade dos estudantes foi de 20 anos, 70,5 % eram homens e solteiros, 52,3 % mostraram um senso de coerência global, predominantemente em homens (54,8 %). 56,8 % obtiveram um estilo de vida insuficiente para o promotor de saúde, principalmente mulheres (69,2 %). O senso de coerência teve uma correlação positiva significativa com o estilo de vida promotor de saúde (p < 0,05). Conclusões: a fase de transição para a vida universitária é um período importante e crítico para os alunos. É prioritário estabelecer programas de promoção da saúde e educação com uma abordagem salutogênica, com o objetivo de reforçar o uso dos recursos disponíveis e desenvolver um senso de coerência mais forte nos estudantes promovendo, assim, o desenvolvimento de um promotor vitalício da saúde.

Abstract Objective: to analyze the sense of coherence and its relationship with the health-promoting lifestyle in students of a public university in Sonora, Mexico. Methodology: descriptive and correlational study, 44 students in the careers of computer science, physics and geology participated. A socio-demographic data card, the sense of coherence scale 13 and the Lifestyle II questionnaire were used. Data analysis was performed with central trend and dispersion measurements, the chi-square test and Spearman correlation coefficient were used, using a significance level of alpha 0.05. Results: the average age of students was 20 years, 70.5 % were male and single, 52.3 % showed a low sense of overall coherence, predominantly in men (54.8 %). 56.8 % obtained an insufficient health-promoting lifestyle, mostly in women (69.2 %). The sense of coherence had a significant positive correlation with the health-promoting lifestyle (p < 0.05). Conclusions: the transition to university life is an important and critical period for students, it is a priority to establish health promotion and education programs with a salutogenic approach, with the aim of strengthening the use of the accessible resources and developing a stronger sense of coherence in students, fostering a permanent health-promoting lifestyle.

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This paper summarizes the development and evaluation of an assessment instrument for children ages 7-12. The CHILD CARRE measure is a semi-structured interview with 7 domains. Children from the USA and Argentina (N=134) completed baseline and follow-up assessments. Substance use occurred at an average age of 8. Almost 33% of the children were taking medications for medical issues, more than 50% of them said that medical problem gets in the way of doing things they like to to do and almost 64% of the children stated that they would like to feel better. On average, children completed third grade in school, 56% of them knew how to read and 26% of the children started making money at age 8. Most children (74%) saw someone drunk or high and 23% of children reported alcohol or psychoactive substance use. Among these children using substances, such substance use occurred at an average age of 8, and in the past 30 days they used these substances an average for 5 days. The rating of level of risk on the part of the interviewer placed these children in the "risky" to "very risky" categories. Most children reported seeing their family members smoking (83%) or using alcohol (67%), and 49% reported seeing their family members high on drugs. Few children (10%) had conflicts with the law, while 46% of their family members had legal problems. Some children (30%) reported having serious problems getting along with family members, neighbors, or friends. These results suggest that this measure can serve as the first comprehensive measure to assess multiple life domains for young children at risk for or using psychoactive substances.

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The present study examined the impact of a novel intervention for children at risk for substance use or actively using substances that was provided to 783 children between 4 and 18 years of age in Afghanistan. They received the Child Intervention for Living Drug-free (CHILD) protocol while in outpatient or residential treatment. CHILD included age-appropriate literacy and numeracy, drug education, basic living safety, and communication and trauma coping skills. A battery of measures examined multiple child health domains at treatment's start and end and 12 weeks later. For younger children, there were no significant Gender or Gender X Time effects (all p's > .16 and .35, resp.). The time main effect was significant for all outcomes (all p's < .00192, the prespecified per-comparison error rate). Post hoc testing showed significant improvements from residential treatment entry to completion for all scales. For older children, a time main effect was significant for (all p's < .00192, the prespecified per-comparison error rate) all but one outcome. Community follow-up means were significantly lower than residential treatment entry means. CHILD had a positive impact on children, and treatment impact endured from posttreatment to follow-up assessment.

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Very little evidence has been reported in literature regarding the misuse of substances in rural areas. Despite the common perception of rural communities as a protective and risk-mitigating environment, the scientific literature demonstrated the existence of many risk factors in rural communities. The Drug Prevention and Health Branch (DHB) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the World Health Organization (WHO), in June 2016, organized a meeting of experts in treatment and prevention of SUDs in rural settings. The content presented during the meeting and the related discussion have provided materials for the preparation of an outline document, which is the basis to create a technical tool on SUDs prevention and treatment in rural settings. The UNODC framework for interventions in rural settings is a technical tool aimed to assist policy makers and managers at the national level. This paper is a report on UNODC/WHO efforts to improve the clinical conditions of people affected by SUDs and living in rural areas. The purpose of this article is to draw attention on a severe clinical and social problem in a reality forgotten by everyone.

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