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La seguridad alimentaria es cuando toda persona en todo momento tiene acceso económico y físico a suficientes alimentos inocuos y nutritivos para satisfacer sus necesidades alimentarias y preferencias en cuanto alimentos a fin de llevar una vida sana y activa. Por lo que el objetivo evaluar seguridad alimentaria y calidad de vida de la población vulnerable en la provincia Cusco, Perú. Para lo que se aplicó metodología con enfoque cuantitativo, con un diseño no experimental de corte transversal, basada en cuestionarios aplicados y entrevistas a una muestra de estudio (249 pobladores), la misma que previo a su aplicación superó las pruebas de validez y confiabilidad. Se realizó pruebas de frecuencia a los resultados de la opinión de los encuestados y correlación de Sperman's. Se evidencia que en un 65,9% la percepción de la población es que existe una inadecuada seguridad alimentaria, asimismo en un 85,1% que existe una mala calidad de vida, y desde una perspectiva estadística entre las citadas variables se obtuvo una significancia de 0,000 con un Rho de Sperman de 0,442, lo que demuestra la vulnerabilidad que se encuentra la población de Cusco. Concluyendo que entre las dos variables de estudio existe una relación directamente proporcional y de nivel moderado, denotando que en la media que se mejora los aspectos asociados a las dimensiones de la seguridad alimentaria, por consecuencia se tendría una mejora calidad de vida de la población de la provincia de Cusco, lo que evidencia que en la medida que se refuerce los aspectos asociados a la seguridad alimentaria, el bienestar físico y psicológico aspecto relacionado a la salud de dichas personas tendrá la oportunidad de mejorar.

Food security is when everyone at all times has economic and physical access to sufficient safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for a healthy and active life. Therefore, the objective is to evaluate food security and quality of life of the vulnerable population in the province of Cusco, Peru. For which a methodology with a quantitative approach was applied, with a non-experimental cross-sectional design, based on questionnaires applied and interviews to a study sample (249 residents), which, prior to its application, passed the validity and reliability tests. Frequency tests were carried out on the results of the respondents' opinion and Sperman's correlation. It is evident that in 65.9% the perception of the population is that there is inadequate food security, also in 85.1% that there is a poor quality of life, and from a statistical perspective, a significance was obtained between the aforementioned variables of 0.000 with a Sperman's Rho of 0.442, which demonstrates the vulnerability of the population of Cusco. Concluding that between the two study variables there is a directly proportional relationship and of a moderate level, denoting that on average the aspects associated with the dimensions of food security are improved, consequently there would be an improved quality of life for the population of the province of Cusco, which shows that to the extent that the aspects associated with food security are reinforced, the physical and psychological well-being, an aspect related to the health of these people, will have the opportunity to improve

A segurança alimentar é quando todos têm, em todos os momentos, acesso económico e físico a alimentos seguros e nutritivos suficientes para satisfazer as suas necessidades dietéticas e preferências alimentares para levar uma vida saudável e activa. Portanto, o objetivo é avaliar a segurança alimentar e a qualidade de vida da população vulnerável na província de Cusco, Peru. Para o qual foi aplicada uma metodologia de abordagem quantitativa, com desenho transversal não experimental, baseada na aplicação de questionários e entrevistas a uma amostra do estudo (249 residentes), que, antes da sua aplicação, passou em testes de validade e fiabilidade. Foram realizados testes de frequência sobre os resultados das opiniões dos entrevistados e correlação de Spearman. Evidencia-se que em 65,9% a percepção da população é que há segurança alimentar inadequada, também em 85,1% que há má qualidade de vida, e do ponto de vista estatístico obteve-se significância entre as variáveis citadas de 0,000, com um Speman Rho de 0,442, o que demonstra a vulnerabilidade da população de Cusco. Concluindo que entre as duas variáveis do estudo existe uma relação diretamente proporcional e moderada, denotando que em média os aspectos associados às dimensões da segurança alimentar são melhorados, consequentemente haveria uma melhoria na qualidade de vida da população do província de Cusco, o que mostra que à medida que se reforçam os aspectos associados à segurança alimentar, o bem-estar físico e psicológico, aspecto relacionado à saúde dessas pessoas, terá a oportunidade de melhorar

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La seguridad alimentaria es "cuando toda persona en todo momento tiene acceso económico y físico a suficientes alimentos inocuos y nutritivos para satisfacer sus necesidades alimentarias y preferencias en cuanto alimentos a fin de llevar una vida sana y activa". Por lo que el objetivo evaluar seguridad alimentaria y calidad de vida de la población vulnerable en la provincia Cusco, Perú. Para lo que se aplicó metodología con enfoque cuantitativo, con un diseño no experimental de corte transversal, basada en cuestionarios aplicados y entrevistas a una muestra de estudio (249 pobladores), la misma que previo a su aplicación superó las pruebas de validez y confiabilidad. Se realizó pruebas de frecuencia a los resultados de la opinión de los encuestados y correlación de Sperman's. Se evidencia que en un 65,9% la percepción de la población es que existe una inadecuada seguridad alimentaria, asimismo en un 85,1% que existe una mala calidad de vida, y desde una perspectiva estadística entre las citadas variables se obtuvo una significancia de 0,000 con un Rho de Sperman de 0,442, lo que demuestra la vulnerabilidad que se encuentra la población de Cusco. Concluyendo que entre las dos variables de estudio existe una relación directamente proporcional y de nivel moderado, denotando que en la media que se mejora los aspectos asociados a las dimensiones de la seguridad alimentaria, por consecuencia se tendría una mejora calidad de vida de la población de la provincia de Cusco, lo que evidencia que en la medida que se refuerce los aspectos asociados a la seguridad alimentaria, el bienestar físico y psicológico aspecto relacionado a la salud de dichas personas tendrá la oportunidad de mejorar.

Food security is "when everyone at all times has economic and physical access to sufficient safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for a healthy and active life." Therefore, the objective is to evaluate food security and quality of life of the vulnerable population in the province of Cusco, Peru. For which a methodology with a quantitative approach was applied, with a non-experimental cross-sectional design, based on questionnaires applied and interviews to a study sample (249 residents), which, prior to its application, passed the validity and reliability tests. Frequency tests were carried out on the results of the respondents' opinion and Sperman's correlation. It is evident that in 65.9% the perception of the population is that there is inadequate food security, also in 85.1% that there is a poor quality of life, and from a statistical perspective, a significance was obtained between the aforementioned variables of 0.000 with a Sperman's Rho of 0.442, which demonstrates the vulnerability of the population of Cusco. Concluding that between the two study variables there is a directly proportional relationship and of a moderate level, denoting that on average the aspects associated with the dimensions of food security are improved, consequently there would be an improved quality of life for the population of the province of Cusco, which shows that to the extent that the aspects associated with food security are reinforced, the physical and psychological well-being, an aspect related to the health of these people, will have the opportunity to improve.

A segurança alimentar é "quando todos têm, em todos os momentos, acesso económico e físico a alimentos seguros e nutritivos suficientes para satisfazer as suas necessidades dietéticas e preferências alimentares para levar uma vida saudável e activa". Portanto, o objetivo é avaliar a segurança alimentar e a qualidade de vida da população vulnerável na província de Cusco, Peru. Para o qual foi aplicada uma metodologia de abordagem quantitativa, com desenho transversal não experimental, baseada na aplicação de questionários e entrevistas a uma amostra do estudo (249 residentes), que, antes da sua aplicação, passou em testes de validade e fiabilidade. Foram realizados testes de frequência sobre os resultados das opiniões dos entrevistados e correlação de Spearman. Evidencia-se que em 65,9% a percepção da população é que há segurança alimentar inadequada, também em 85,1% que há má qualidade de vida, e do ponto de vista estatístico obteve-se significância entre as variáveis citadas de 0,000, com um Speman Rho de 0,442, o que demonstra a vulnerabilidade da população de Cusco. Concluindo que entre as duas variáveis do estudo existe uma relação diretamente proporcional e moderada, denotando que em média os aspectos associados às dimensões da segurança alimentar são melhorados, consequentemente haveria uma melhoria na qualidade de vida da população do província de Cusco, o que mostra que à medida que se reforçam os aspectos associados à segurança alimentar, o bem-estar físico e psicológico, aspecto relacionado à saúde dessas pessoas, terá a oportunidade de melhorar.

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BACKGROUND: Social and economic factors, such as food insecurity, contribute to long coronavirus disease (COVID). During the pandemic, a significant rise in food insecurity was observed, both in Brazil and worldwide. We aimed to investigate the association between food insecurity and long COVID in Brazilian adults. METHODS: Cross-sectional study nested within the Prospective study About Mental and Physical Health in Adults (PAMPA) Cohort. Participants completed an online questionnaire in June 2022. We assessed food insecurity using the Brazilian Scale of Food Insecurity. Long COVID was defined as any post-coronavirus disease 2019 symptoms that persisted for at least 3 months after infection. RESULTS: A total of 956 participants were included (74.0% female, median age 36 (Interquartile Range [IQR] (29-45.7). The prevalence of food insecurity was 29.4%, and 77.8% had long COVID. Food insecurity was associated with an increased probability of long COVID (prevalence ratio [PR]: 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-1.22). Participants in food insecurity situations had a higher likelihood of experiencing neurological (PR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.10-1.28), pulmonary (PR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.17-1.52) and gastrointestinal (PR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.31-1.88) symptoms after infection. CONCLUSIONS: Food insecurity was associated with long COVID. Governments must plan public policies to mitigate the effects of long COVID and food insecurity.

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RESUMO O ambiente alimentar é um conceito fundamental para compreender como o contexto social influencia os comportamentos alimentares. Ele se refere ao conjunto de fatores físicos, econômicos e sociais que afetam o acesso e a disponibilidade de alimentos em uma determinada região. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o ambiente alimentar em uma região de vulnerabilidade social no município de Piraquara, região metropolitana de Curitiba-PR. O ambiente alimentar foi mapeado a partir de busca ativa, virtual e no território, de todo e qualquer dos 122 estabelecimentos de venda de alimentos nas áreas de abrangência das unidades de saúde. Constatou-se a predominância de estabelecimentos de alimentos não saudáveis (62,2%), pequeno número de estabelecimentos que comercializam alimentos saudáveis (9,8%) e alta concentração de qualquer tipo de estabelecimento no entorno de duas das principais vias da região, deixando grandes áreas com maior dificuldade de acesso. Nesse contexto, destaca-se a importância da criação de equipamentos de Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional no município que promovam a garantia de acesso físico e econômico a uma alimentação adequada e saudável para as famílias, especialmente em áreas de vulnerabilidade socioeconômica.

ABSTRACT The concept of the food environment plays a crucial role in comprehending how the social context influences eating behaviors. It encompasses a combination of physical, economic, and social factors that impact food access and availability within a specific region. This study aimed to assess the food environment in a socially vulnerable area within the municipality of Piraquara, located in the metropolitan region of Curitiba-PR. The food environment was charted through an active virtual search within the territories covered by health units, leading to the identification of 122 establishments. The analysis revealed a prevalence of unhealthy food vendors in the region (62.2%), a limited number of establishments offering healthy food options (9.8%), and a notable concentration of various types of establishments around two main roads, creating significant access challenges in other areas. In this context, the significance of establishing Food and Nutrition Security facilities in the municipality is underscored. Such initiatives aim to ensure both physical and economic access to suitable and nutritious food, particularly for families residing in socioeconomically vulnerable regions.

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BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis is a leading cause of death worldwide, and food insecurity is known to negatively influence health outcomes through multiple pathways. Few studies have interrogated the relationship between food insecurity and tuberculosis outcomes, particularly independent of nutrition. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study of adults initiating first-line treatment for clinically suspected or microbiologically confirmed drug-sensitive tuberculosis at a rural referral center in Haiti. We administered a baseline questionnaire, collected clinical data, and analyzed laboratory samples. We used logistic regression models to estimate the relationship between household food insecurity (Household Hunger Scale) and treatment failure or death. We accounted for exclusion of patients lost to follow-up using inverse probability of censoring weighting and adjusted for measured confounders and nutritional status using inverse probability of treatment weighting. RESULTS: We enrolled 257 participants (37% female) between May 2020 and March 2023 with a median age (interquartile range) of 35 (25-45) years. Of these, 105 (41%) had no hunger in the household, 104 (40%) had moderate hunger in the household, and 48 (19%) had severe hunger in the household. Eleven participants (4%) died, and 6 (3%) had treatment failure. After adjustment, food insecurity was significantly associated with subsequent treatment failure or death (odds ratio 5.78 [95% confidence interval, 1.20-27.8]; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Household food insecurity at tuberculosis treatment initiation was significantly associated with death or treatment failure after accounting for loss to follow-up, measured confounders, and nutritional status. In addition to the known importance of undernutrition, our findings indicate that food insecurity independently affects tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Haiti.

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The present review highlights the potential of insect-based proteins to address the growing need for sustainable and secure food systems. The key findings suggest that edible insects offer a viable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional livestock, requiring significantly less land, water, and feed while emitting lower levels of greenhouse gases. Insect farming can also reduce waste and recycle nutrients, supporting circular economy models. Nutritionally, insects provide high-quality protein, essential amino acids, and beneficial fats, making them valuable to human diets. Despite these benefits, this review emphasizes the need for comprehensive regulatory frameworks to ensure food safety, manage potential allergenicity, and mitigate contamination risks from pathogens and environmental toxins. Additionally, developing innovative processing technologies can enhance the palatability and marketability of insect-based products, promoting consumer acceptance. This review concludes that with appropriate regulatory support and technological advancements, insect-based proteins have the potential to significantly contribute to global food security and sustainability efforts.

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INTRODUCTION: Food insecurity (FI) experienced during pregnancy represents a relevant public health problem, as it negatively affects maternal and child health. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of FI among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic and determine associated factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the period from 2021 to 2022, with a representative sample of 423 women resulting from a sample calculation based on the average (2912 births) that occurred in the years 2016 to 2020 in the only maternity hospital in the municipality. After analyzing the medical records, interviews were carried out with the postpartum women using a standardized questionnaire and the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to calculate prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals to measure associations. RESULTS: FI was observed in 57.0% of cases and was associated with age under 20 years (PR = 1.52; 95% CI 1.29; 1.79), receipt of government assistance (PR = 1.31; 95% CI 1.10; 1.55), loss of family employment (PR = 1.40; 95% CI 1.20; 1.64), greater number of residents (PR = 1.17; 95% CI 1.00; 1.37), and prenatal care in a public institution (PR = 1.53; 95% CI 1.04; 2.26). CONCLUSION: There was a high prevalence of FI cases, associated with socioeconomic, demographic, and prenatal care characteristics during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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PURPOSE: The current research aimed to investigate the connection between food insecurity and sleep issues among Spanish adolescents aged from 12 to 17 years from the Valle de Ricote (Region of Murcia, Spain). METHODS: Data from the Eating Healthy and Daily Life Activities Study, which included a sample of 836 adolescents (55.3% girls), were analyzed. Food insecurity was evaluated using the Child Food Security Survey Module in Spanish (CFSSM-S), while sleep-related problems were evaluated using the Bedtime problems, Excessive daytime sleepiness, Awakenings during the night, Regularity and duration of sleep, and Sleep-disordered breathing (BEARS) sleep screening tool. Generalized linear models were employed to explore the association between food insecurity and sleep-related issues. RESULTS: Compared with their counterparts with food security, adolescents with food insecurity had greater probabilities of bedtime problems (24.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 16.9% to 33.0%, p = 0.003), excessive daytime sleepiness (36.4%, 95% CI 27.5% to 46.3%, p < 0.001), awakenings during the night (16.7%, 95% CI 10.8% to 25.1%, p = 0.004), and any sleep-related problems (68.1%, 95% CI 57.5% to 77.1%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that food insecurity is related to greater sleep-related problems among adolescents. Implementing strategies to mitigate food insecurity may contribute to improved sleep health among adolescents, highlighting the importance of integrated public health interventions.

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Currently, approximately 34% of fruit is lost and wasted in emerging economies due to inefficient post-harvest processes, technological shortcomings, lesser valorization of surpluses, and byproducts. Peach (Prunus persica L.) is a fruit with a good yearly growth rate but higher postharvest losses in Colombia. One way to take advantage of this type of product is through the application of drying processes that increase its shelf life and its inclusion in the food chain. Refractance Window Drying (RWD) is a fourth generation drying technique implemented by the food industry in the last few decades and has been applied to several dehydrated food products. This study compared the effects of different drying methods on the physical and sensory properties of peaches surplus. Treatments consisted of (i) peaches were sliced (1, 2, and 3 mm thickness) and dried using RWD at 86°C, (ii) peach pulp mixed with maltodextrin (MD) (0.12-0.33 kg of MD/kg of sample) and RWD (RWD-MD), and (iii) conventional oven drying (OD) at 60°C (3 mm thick) dried for 24 h. The study found that the drying method significantly (p < 0.05) affected the texture, color, and general taste of peaches. The results showed that processing treatments combined with different drying conditions affected the physical properties of the peach. RWD in slices reduced water content to 0.05 kg H2O/kg in 40 min, showing fewer effects on color attributes. A surface response analysis on RWD showed good correlations for water activity (R2 = 0.8652-0.9894) and moisture content (R2 = 0.7048-0.9826). A higher diffusion coefficient (1.63 × 10-6 m2 s-1) was observed for RWD in slices with 3 × 10-3 m of thickness; however, for RWD-MD, differences in diffusion coefficients were present for the lowest MD addition (0.12 kg/kg), vitamin C was not detected on the dried slices, and higher concentration of ß-carotene (175.88 µg/100 g) was found on the thinner slices. Principal component analysis showed that RWD in the slices was the most suitable drying process, followed by OD. Sensory analysis showed good acceptability for RWD slices after 30 days of storage.

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In the past five decades, global food systems have undergone a notable transition, moving from predominantly rural settings to increasingly urban and industrialized environments, largely driven by processes of globalization and supply chain integration. However, this evolution has not adequately addressed equitable access to nutritious diets and food environments, resulting in adverse health outcomes. This study delves into the spatial and non-spatial barriers that impede the adoption of healthy diets in the Noreste of Mexico, particularly focusing on the challenges associated with accessing and cultivating plant-based foods. Through an examination of suitable areas for urban agriculture and an exploration of the socio-cultural factors influencing the adoption of plant-based diets, the research focuses on interventions aimed at promoting healthier and more sustainable eating practices in Monterrey. The findings of the study reveal significant disparities in food access across the Monterrey metropolitan area, with central urban zones exhibiting superior access to fresh foods compared to suburban and peripheral regions. This inequality disproportionately affects marginalized areas characterized by higher poverty rates, exacerbating issues of food insecurity. Nevertheless, traditional dietary practices could offer promising avenues for creating culturally significant and healthier dietary transitions, even amidst the ongoing process of urbanization.

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BACKGROUND: School meals represent a significant supply of nutrients for children in Brazil, especially those in conditions of social vulnerability. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in meals served in public elementary schools in four municipalities in the state of Bahia, Brazil, and assess the risk posed to children's health. METHODS: Ninety-six samples were collected from 16 schools, freeze-dried, and subjected to microwave-assisted digestion. The As, Cd, and Pb levels were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The risk assessment was based on calculating each element's hazard quotient (HQ). RESULTS: None of the samples reached or exceeded the tolerable levels for the elements analyzed. Pb was the metal that obtained the most significant result, reaching maximum levels of 39-157 µg·kg-1. CONCLUSIONS: No element exceeded the PTWI proposed by JECFA; thus, the toxic metal content in school meals poses a negligible risk to children's health.

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Introduction: One of the dimensions of food security has to do with economic access to food. Aim: Propose a methodology that allows evaluating economic access to food in Argentina for the elderly population. Methods: Dietary guides for the Argentine population are used. Meanwhile, the food consumption patterns observed in the elderly population in Argentina are considered from a household expenditure survey, from which implicit food prices can also be obtained. Results: Six dietary plans corresponding to different regions of the country are designed and evaluated and it is found that they would be affordable only in two of the six regions analyzed. Conclusion: in the Metropolitan, Pampas, Cuyo, and Northeast regions the cost of the ideal basket is higher than food spending, fundamentally in the Northeast region where food spending should increase by 25%.

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The causes and conditions of displacement often increase the vulnerability of migrant and refugee populations to food insecurity, alongside other material hardships. We aimed to examine the multidimensional aspects and patterns of food insecurity and other material hardships in a cross-sectional sample of 6221 Venezuelan refugees and migrants in urban Colombia using a latent class analysis. Using multinomial and logistic regression models, we investigated the demographic and migratory experiences associated with identified classes and how class membership is associated with multiple health outcomes among Venezuelan refugees and migrants, respectively. Approximately two thirds of the sample was comprised cisgender women, and the participants had a median age of 32 years (IQR: 26-41). Four heterogeneous classes of food insecurity and material hardships emerged: Class 1-low food insecurity and material hardship; Class 2-high food insecurity and material hardship; Class 3-high income hardship with insufficient food intake; and Class 4-income hardship with food affordability challenges. Class 2 reflected the most severe food insecurity and material hardships and had the highest class membership; Venezuelans with an irregular migration status were almost 1.5 times more likely to belong to this class. Food insecurity and material hardship class membership was independently associated with self-rated health, mental health symptoms, and recent violence victimization and marginally associated with infectious disease outcomes (laboratory-confirmed HIV and/or syphilis infection). Social safety nets, social protection, and other interventions that reduce and prevent material hardships and food insecurity among refugees and migrants, alongside the host community, may improve public health, support development, and reduce healthcare costs. In the long term, regularization and social policies for migrants aimed at enhancing refugees' and migrants' social and economic inclusion may contribute to improving food security in this population.

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BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic caused societal disruption in the United States and most of the world, affecting many aspects of life, including healthcare and health-related behaviors such as diet, food security, and physical activity. Communities with economic and health disparities may have been particularly affected. This study was undertaken to determine how conditions in the early pandemic (January, 2021-February, 2022) affected Latino patients of Mexican Ancestry at high risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus who participated in El Banco por Salud biobank project in Tucson, Arizona. METHODS: Baseline, prepandemic measurements were available in 17, 21, and 60 patients with normal hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes, respectively. RESULTS: People with healthy HbA1c were significantly younger, less obese, and had higher HDL cholesterol. HbA1c was unaffected by the pandemic in any group. Triglycerides, total and HDL cholesterol levels fell in all groups during the pandemic. Physical activity levels in all groups were remarkably low, with most reporting no engagement in any voluntary physical activity. Engagement in physical activity or its enjoyment was lower in patients with diabetes and prediabetes than in younger, less obese patients. Major diet differences were between men and women and were present before the pandemic. Women consumed significantly more vegetables, fruit, and salad than men. The only pandemic-related change in diet was a drop in egg consumption, possibly explaining the fall in total cholesterol. CONCLUSION: Societal disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic had minimal effects on adverse health-related behaviors, cardiometabolic risk, or changes in glycemic control in a Latino community with diabetes and healthcare disparities in the Southwest US.

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BACKGROUND: Social vulnerability can influence in the development of cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents (CRF). For this reason, the objective of our study was to evaluate the presence of CRF in adolescents, according to social vulnerability. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with 517 adolescents of both sexes, from 10 to 19 years of age, classified into 2 groups by social vulnerability, according to socioeconomic characteristics collected by means of questionnaires, where adolescents who did not have access to drinking water, sewage network, and adequate per capita income were classified as vulnerable. Anthropometric, biochemical, and blood pressure data were evaluated. Level of physical activity was assessed by an adapted questionnaire, and food intake was assessed by a 3-day food record. Independent T, Mann-Whitney, and χ2 tests were used, according to the scale of measurement of the variables, on the statistical program SPSS, version 25, at a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: Adolescents had median age of 14 (11 to 15) years; 58.4% were female; 32.4% were overweight, and 52.4% were physically inactive in leisure. Mean consumption of ultra-processed food was observed to account for 45.0% of calorie intake. Adolescents classified as vulnerable had lower weight, body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, and neck circumference when compared to non-vulnerable adolescents. Both groups had cholesterol concentrations above the normal level. Non-vulnerable adolescents had higher triglyceride concentrations, higher alcohol consumption, and lower fiber intake compared to vulnerable adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with social vulnerability are less likely to have cardiovascular risk factors.

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This study investigated the occurrence of aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, and G2) in maize flour produced in Mozambique and to assess the associated carcinogenic risk. At different opportunities, 30 samples of maize flour were collected in five flour processing factories. These were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. AFB1 concentrations ranged from 0.25 to 0.33 µg kg-1. The levels of total aflatoxins ranged from 0.55 to 1.05 µg kg-1, with a mean of 0.89 µg kg-1, for which maximum limits (MLs) are 10 and 4 µg kg-1 for Mozambique and the European Union, respectively. The calculated Margin of Exposure (MOE) for men and women was 243 and 231, respectively, so several folds below the risk cut-off level, indicating that consumption of such maize flour poses a potential risk of hepatocarcinoma related to aflatoxin exposure due to high intake of this food, a staple diet in most African countries.

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Clostridium botulinum is a foodborne pathogen responsible for severe neuroparalytic disease associated with the ingestion of pre-formed toxin in food, with processed meats and canned foods being the most affected. Control of this pathogen in meat products is carried out using the preservative sodium nitrite (NaNO2), which in food, under certain conditions, such as thermal processing and storage, can form carcinogenic compounds. Therefore, the objective was to use nanoemulsified essential oils (EOs) as natural antimicrobial agents, with the aim of reducing the dose of NaNO2 applied in mortadella. The antimicrobial activity of nanoemulsions prepared with mixtures of EOs of garlic, clove, pink pepper, and black pepper was evaluated on endospores and vegetative cells of C. botulinum and Clostridium sporogenes (surrogate model) inoculated in mortadella prepared with 50 parts per million NaNO2. The effects on the technological (pH, water activity, and color) and sensory characteristics of the product were also evaluated. The combinations of EOs and their nanoemulsions showed sporicidal effects on the endospores of both tested microorganisms, with no counts observed from the 10th day of analysis. Furthermore, bacteriostatic effects on the studied microorganisms were observed. Regarding the technological and sensorial characteristics of the product, the addition of the combined EOs had a negative impact on the color of the mortadella and on the flavor/aroma. Despite the strong commercial appeal of adding natural preservatives to foods, the effects on flavor and color must be considered. Given the importance of controlling C. botulinum in this type of product, as well as the reduction in the amount of NaNO2 used, this combination of EOs represents a promising antimicrobial alternative to this preservative, encouraging further research in this direction.

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Siltation and the loss of hydropower reservoir capacity is a global challenge with a predicted 26 % loss of storage at the global scale by 2050. Like in many other Latin American contexts, soil erosion constitutes one of the most significant water pollution problems in Chile with serious siltation consequences downstream. Identifying the sources and drivers affecting hydropower siltation and water pollution is a critical need to inform adaptation and mitigation strategies especially in the context of changing climate regimes e.g. rainfall patterns. We investigated, at basin scale, the main sources of sediments delivered to one of the largest hydropower reservoirs in South America using a spatio-temporal geochemical fingerprinting approach. Mining activities contributed equivalent to 9 % of total recent sediment deposited in the hydropower lake with notable concentrations of sediment-associated pollutants e.g. Cu and Mo in bed sediment between the mine tributary and the reservoir sediment column. Agricultural sources represented ca. 60 % of sediment input wherein livestock production and agriculture promoted the input of phosphorus to the lake. Evaluation of the lake sediment column against the tributary network showed that the tributary associated with both dominant anthropogenic activities (mining and agriculture) contributed substantially more sediment, but sources varied through time: mining activities have reduced in proportional contribution since dam construction and proportional inputs from agriculture have increased in recent years, mainly promoted by recent conversion of steep lands from native vegetation to agriculture. Siltation of major hydropower basins presents a global challenge exemplified by the Rapel basin. The specific challenges faced here highlight the urgent need for co-design of evidence-led, context-specific solutions that address the interplay of drivers both within and without the basin and its communities, enhancing the social acceptability of sediment management strategies to support the sustainability of clean, hydropower energy production.

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The use of plant-associated microorganisms is increasingly being investigated as a key tool for mitigating the impact of biotic and abiotic threats to crops and facilitating migration to sustainable agricultural practices. The microbiome is responsible for several functions in agroecosystems, such as the transformation of organic matter, nutrient cycling, and plant/pathogen growth regulation. As climate change and global warming are altering the dynamics of plant-microbial interactions in the ecosystem, it has become essential to perform comprehensive studies to decipher current and future microbial interactions, as their useful symbiotic mechanisms could be better exploited to achieve sustainable agriculture. This will allow for the development of effective microbial inoculants that facilitate nutrient supply for the plant at its minimal energy expense, thus increasing its resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses. This article collection aims to compile state-of-the-art research focused on the elucidation and optimization of symbiotic relationships between crops and their associated microbes. The information presented here will contribute to the development of next-generation microbial inoculants for achieving a more sustainable agriculture.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Ecosystem services (ES) embrace contributions of nature to human livelihood and well-being. Reef environments provide a range of ES with direct and indirect contributions to people. However, the health of reef environments is declining globally due to local and large-scale threats, affecting ES delivery in different ways. Mapping scientific knowledge and identifying research gaps on reefs' ES is critical to guide their management and conservation. We conducted a systematic assessment of peer-reviewed articles published between 2007 and 2022 to build an overview of ES research on reef environments. We analyzed the geographical distribution, reef types, approaches used to assess ES, and the potential drivers of change in ES delivery reported across these studies. Based on 115 articles, our results revealed that coral and oyster reefs are the most studied reef ecosystems. Cultural ES (e.g., subcategories recreation and tourism) was the most studied ES in high-income countries, while regulating and maintenance ES (e.g., subcategory life cycle maintenance) prevailed in low and middle-income countries. Research efforts on reef ES are biased toward the Global North, mainly North America and Oceania. Studies predominantly used observational approaches to assess ES, with a marked increase in the number of studies using statistical modeling during 2021 and 2022. The scale of studies was mostly local and regional, and the studies addressed mainly one or two subcategories of reefs' ES. Overexploitation, reef degradation, and pollution were the most commonly cited drivers affecting the delivery of provisioning, regulating and maintenance, and cultural ES. With increasing threats to reef environments, the growing demand for assessing the contributions to humans provided by reefs will benefit the projections on how these ES will be impacted by anthropogenic pressures. The incorporation of multiple and synergistic ecosystem mechanisms is paramount to providing a comprehensive ES assessment, and improving the understanding of functions, services, and benefits.

Assuntos