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BackgroundMalnutrition is a common problem in dialysis patients and may affect up to one-third of patients. Near-infrared interactance (NIR) is a novel approach to estimate body composition and per cent total body fat.MethodsWe used near-infrared interactance (Futrex 5000) to estimate the body composition including body fat percentage, as well as subjective global assessment (SGA), anthropometric measurements including mid-arm circumference (MAC), triceps and biceps skinfold thickness, calculated mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC), body mass index (BMI), and laboratory values. NIR score, SGA assessment and anthropometric parameters were measured shortly after the end of a dialysis session. NIR measurement was made by placing a Futrex sensor on the nonaccess upper arm for several seconds. Serum albumin, transferrin (reflected by total iron binding capacity), and total cholesterol concentrations were performed as well.ResultsThirty-four patients (20 men and 14 women) were selected from a pool of 120 haemodialysis patients. Their ages ranged from 26 to 86 years (58+/-14 years). Time on dialysis ranged from 8 months to 19 years (4.5+/-4.6 years). NIR scores were significantly different in three SGA groups: (A) well-nourished, 32.5+/-6.9%; (B) mildly to moderately malnourished, 29.2+/-5.3%; and (C) severely malnourished, 23.2+/-10.2% (P

Underpinned by the attribution theory, this study examines the moderating effect of meagre information in the relationship between promotions and consumer usage of traditional medicine (TM) in Central Uganda. Traditional medicine is trendy despite efficacious concerns raised by various empirical studies. While extant literature presents several motivations for the newfound TM patronage, more is needed to discuss the role of promotions in this regard. Relatedly, the literature needs to include the contribution of meagre information and how it moderates the relationship between TM promotion and consumer usage. Using Cochran, a sample of 369 TM users was drawn from the cosmopolitan districts of Central Uganda. SPSS 25.0 and Amos 22.0 were used to clean and analyse the data, while Andrew Hayes 3.5 was used to test for moderation. The Johnson-Neyman test showed that increasing meagre information to -2.2503 creates an effect; at this point, TM promotions on consumer usage are moderated. The study concludes that the potential for inconsistencies, inadequacies and incompleteness in information related to traditional medicine is immense. Whilst the Ugandan government is still challenged to provide ideal regulatory frameworks to ensure THPs’ conformity to required safety, quality, and efficacy standards, they should make efforts to license and certify all THPs. Concerned regulatory bodies like the Uganda National Drug Authority and Uganda Communications Commission should regulate TM media communications to prevent the uneducated exaggeration of TM safety issues. They should streamline information disclosure to TM consumers and prohibit unbalanced public advertisements.

Despite growing academic interest for dermal inking in contemporary society, the reason why skin tattoos remain visible for life has predominantly been studied from a biological perspective. In preliminary physics studies of ink it has been presumed that the hydrophobicity of its main constituent prevents further dilution of pigment dispersion and therefore may be a contributing factor to aforementioned lifelongevity. According to these early studies, ultrasound might change the hydrophobicity of microparticles. The purpose of this study was to confirm or refute the presence of hydrophobic components in carbon black tattoo ink and to relate sonication to such presence. Cuvettes with n-octanol, distilled water, and a droplet of unsonicated or sonicated carbon black ink were shaken, allowed to settle and subsequently photographed. The sonicated ink had been subjected to ultrasound during 5 min at a centre frequency of 1 MHz, a pulse-repetition frequency of 1 kHz, and a 10% duty cycle. The greyscale values in both parts of the cuvettes were averaged. The resulting ratio of light intensities was an indicator for the ink hydrophobicity. The intensity partition coefficient of carbon black ink was measured to be greater than 103 before sonication and less than 103 after sonication. Carbon black tattoo ink was found to be very hydrophobic. However, sonication was found to make the dispersion less hydrophobic. Influencing the hydrophobicity of tattoo ink might change the permanence of a skin tattoo.