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The COVID-19 outbreak created one of the largest pandemics globally, with the world health organization (WHO) declaring several measures, including restriction of movement to curtail the spread of the virus. Reducing food waste is critical to achieving healthy nutrition and sustainability in food systems. In this regard, private households have consistently been regarded as key actors in food waste generation. Hence, this study examined the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on food waste in homes. A total of 1098 respondents were asked questions on how the pandemic affected their food preparation and consumption pattern, food purchasing and food waste. Compared with the situation before COVID19, there is a significant increase in kitchen spending and bread-making at home. Moreover, food waste generation and the frequency of eating out and food purchasing were reduced. Waste generation was higher in bakery products, left-over foods, and fruits and vegetables. Respondents suggested prudent meal preparation and consumption, increased awareness, and food purchasing restrictions as measures to reduce food waste. Overall, the pandemic has led to more stringent planning in household spendings and attitudinal changes regarding food preparation and consumption, resulting in a significant reduction in food waste and may have contributed to curtailing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Pharmaceutical representatives provide medicines information on their promoted products to doctors. However, studies have shown that the quality of this information is often low. No study has assessed the medicines information provided by pharmaceutical representatives to doctors in Malaysia and no recent evidence in Australia is present. We aimed to compare the provision of medicines information by pharmaceutical representatives to doctors in Australia and Malaysia. Methods Following a pharmaceutical representative's visit, general practitioners in Australia and Malaysia who had agreed to participate, were asked to fill out a questionnaire on the main product and claims discussed during the encounter. The questionnaire focused on provision of product information including indications, adverse effects, precautions, contraindications and the provision of information on the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS) listings and restrictions (in Australia only). Descriptive statistics were produced. Chi-square analysis and clustered linear regression were used to assess differences in Australia and Malaysia. Results Significantly more approved product information sheets were provided in Malaysia (78%) than in Australia (53%) (P < 0.001). In both countries, general practitioners reported that indications (Australia, 90%, Malaysia, 93%) and dosages (Australia, 76%, Malaysia, 82%) were frequently provided by pharmaceutical representatives. Contraindications, precautions, drug interactions and adverse effects were often omitted in the presentations (range 25% - 41%). General practitioners in Australia and Malaysia indicated that in more than 90% of presentations, pharmaceutical representatives partly or fully answered their questions on contraindications, precautions, drug interactions and adverse effects. More general practitioners in Malaysia (85%) than in Australia (60%) reported that pharmaceutical representatives should have mentioned contraindications, precautions for use, drug interaction or adverse effects spontaneously (P < 0.001). In 48% of the Australian presentations, general practitioners reported the pharmaceutical representatives failed to mention information on PBS listings to general practitioners. Conclusions Information on indications and dosages were usually provided by pharmaceutical representatives in Australia and Malaysia. However, risk and harmful effects of medicines were often missing in their presentations. Effective control of medicines information provided by pharmaceutical representatives is needed.

The purpose of this paper is to provide an updated review of the emerging edible chitosan coatings in combination with essential oils providing an anti-microbial function for the food packaging systems. Chitosan is produced commercially by de-acetylating chitin obtained from shellfish waste, and is bio-degradable, and was approved as a food ingredient in the United States; hence chitosan-films that are clear, tough, and flexible and with good oxygen barriers can be formed by solution casting-method. Recently results from published studies suggested that chitosan films combined with essential oils prevent a broad spectrum of micro-organisms including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi from growth and proliferation especially when there is a high concentration of the essential oil in the matrix of the natural polymer. Although recent studies showed that some essential oils, including Basil and Thyme essential oils, did not prevent the growth of certain species of fungi including Aspergillus niger, Botrytis cinerea, and Rhizopus stolonifer in an in vitro test. Despite the potentials of essential oils in active food packaging, its economic viability and economic sustainability must be looked into in light of the resource-intensive nature of its production, growing trend of ‘green’ consumerism, and the decline in the production output of aromatic plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Extracorporeal Shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is widely used in treating patients with ureteral stones because it is effective, safe, and noninvasive. Based on factors such as size and the location of stones, there is a significant variation in the overall stone-free rate (SFR). Aim of the study: To evaluate the effect of ureteral wall thickness (UWT), stone attenuation, the time from first attack of pain till first session of ESWL and stone/ rib density on the outcome of SWL in the treatment of upper ureteral stones (UUS). Patient and methods: A prospective study when 127 patients with radio-opaque UUS ranging from 7 to 20 mm and treated by ESWL were included in this study. The effect of (stone/ 12th rib) density by KUB, ureteral wall thickness by NCCT and the time from first attack of pain till first ESWL session was studied. Results: The overall successful fragmentation was 75.5%, with the overall success rates in the low density (LD) and high density (HD) groups were 83.8% and 52.94%, respectively. The average number of SWL sessions needed in the two groups for success was 1.9 compared with 2.7 sessions (p<0.05). For stones < 10 mm; those with ureteral wall thickness <3.25 mm have success rate about 90.3% VS 69.7% with ureteric wall thickness > 3.25 mm which is highly significant. Early ESWL within the first 24 hours of acute attack of first pain has successful fragmentation of 85.45%. With significant effect on number of ESWL sessions. The stone free rate reaches 91.1% for stones <10 mm. Conclusions: The stone free rate is inversely affected by stone /12th rib density ; ureteral wall thickness and the time from first attack of pain till first session of ESWL, were important predictors of successful ESWL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Urolithiasis affects 5-15% of the world population, with high recurrence, (2) which at 5 years can be up to 50%, with high frequency in the labor force population, which produces a high individual and hospital cost, so it constitutes a health problem of high socio-sanitary interes. Objective: To compare the treatment outcomes of Flexible ureterorenoscopy and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for patients with lower pole stones. Patients and method: Data base review for the patients in the period from first of Jan 2018 to the end of June 2019, in which 131 patients underwent interventions for the management of small lower pole stone. Sixty-seven patients were treated by ESWL and the rest (64) treated by F-URS. The most common complication was UTI 9/19 Results: 86/131 were male and 45/131 were female with mean age for F-URS group (52±9.7 years) and (49.6±12.3 years) for ESWL group, with highly significant differences regarding the stone size between the studied groups. The treatment rate, operative time and procedure per patient were highly significantly decrease in F-URS group than in ESWL (p<0.001). Moreover, significant association were notice between the studied groups among SFR at 3 months and secondary procedures. Conclusion: lower pole renal stone in size between 10-20 mm treated successfully and more efficiently by F-URS in comparison with ESWL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasitic infections have and will continue to be the frequent cause of mortality and morbidity unless strict measures are put in place. The increase in international travels and globalization of food supply present an interesting trend in the cases of parasitic infections. Parasitic foodborne infections can be transmitted from one host to the other. The route of infection could either be waterborne, foodborne or through the fecal-oral route. They have been regarded as Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) causing illness to more than one billion people globally but were given little attention by the public health community. This review will look at some of the most commonly reported foodborne parasitic infections and give a highlight on their sources, occurrence in foods, mode of transmission and control measures needed to mitigate their risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population increase and rising awareness on the importance of a healthy diet leads to high demands of high quality vegetable oil. As such, other sources of vegetable oil need to be explored to meet the current demand, especially in a country like Nigeria with the largest population in the African continent. Rice bran oil (RBO) from rice bran is a popular edible oil due to its numerous nutritional and health promoting qualities. Additionally, its rich nutrient and phytochemicals profile, high anti oxidant potential and promising health benefits have been the focus of current research. Nigeria has an exciting potential for establishing RBO extraction plants by both local and foreign investors due to the current booming in rice production. Currently, data regarding the availability of any commercial RBO processing plant in Nigeria is obscure. This paper will provide an overview of the potentials of RBO processing in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In the recent years, studies have centered on improving the health of individuals in sustainable ways. . The aim of this study to identify the relationship between sperm quality and BMI of adult males. Patients & Methods: For that reason, the study identified a group of men who had been visiting a health clinic and unable to conceive for a period of one year, after consistent unprotected intercourse with their female partners. Relatively, the semen was collected from a total of 115 participants who were requested to abstain from sex for three days. A trained staff explained the assumptions and the intentions of the study to the participants who then, provided a written consent for using their samples. In this process, biased information was eliminated by not indicating their origin. The study is not the first one in healthcare, but there are several others that had been done and still in the process to clarify the fundaments under the topic. The Results: After examination of the samples, the study identified that there is a negative correlation between BMI and sperm quality. The parameters that were used to determine sperm quality included sperm concentration, determining the type of motility and sperm count. From the results of the study, it was established that overweight and obese men had higher chances of having low sperm quality compared to the underweight and normal men. In the discussion part, the study had varied strengths including the use of men from different BMI and consistency in the examination process in the laboratory. Also, some scientific studies support the results of the study, especially in the release of sex hormones. Despite the findings, researchers are recommended to be cautious in explaining the results since they are subjective to errors considering that the female counterparts were not examined of their fertility condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]