Characterization of street food consumption in palermo: possible effects on health

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Street Food (SF) consists of out-of-home food consumption and has old, historical roots with complex social-economic and cultural implications. Despite the emergence of modern fast food, traditional SF persists worldwide, but the relationship of SF consumption with overall health, well-being, and obesity is unknown.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This is an observational, cross-sectional study. The study was performed in Palermo, the largest town of Sicily, Italy. Two groups were identified: consumers of SF (n = 687) and conventional restaurant food (RES) consumers (n = 315). Study subjects answered a questionnaire concerning their health conditions, nutritional preferences, frequency of consumption of SF and a score relative to SF consumption ranging from 0 to 20 was calculated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Body mass index (BMI, kg/m²) was significantly and independently correlated with the score of street food consumption (r = 0,103; p < 0.002). The prevalence of different diseases, including hypertension and type 2 diabetes, and the use of medications did not differ between the two groups. Milza (a sandwich stuffed with thin slice of bovine spleen and lung) consumers had a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension (12.2% vs 6.2% in non consumers; p < 0.005) and in this subgroup the use of anti-hypertensive drugs was inversely correlated with the frequency of milza consumption (r = 0.11; P = 0.010).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study suggests that SF consumption in Palermo is associated with a higher BMI and higher prevalence of hypertension in milza consumers. Further studies should evaluate whether frequent SF consumers have unfavourable metabolic and cardiovascular profile.</p

Policy brief: the future of the Andean water towers

Highlights Glaciers, snow, permafrost, lakes and wetlands are natural reservoirs of water. They support communities across the Andes. Andean glaciers are shrinking, and the rate of ice loss is accelerating. Andean glaciers are thinning by an average of 0.7 m per year, ~35% faster than the global average. Climate change is raising air temperatures, decreasing snowfall and increasing droughts across the Andes. Extreme weather events are likely to become more frequent and severe, with heat stress, forest fires, floods and landslides threatening local communities. Under the highest emissions scenarios, projections show an almost total glacier loss in the Tropical Andes. Glaciers across the rest of the Andes will experience significant losses under an optimistic climate scenario, and up to 58% of the present ice volume will be lost under a higher emissions scenario. Warming affects precipitation, snow and glaciers, which together control ecologically, socially and economically important high-altitude wetlands. These wetlands also have the potential to form an alternative water store as glacier snow and ice stores are depleted. Glacier shrinkage and eventual disappearance will decrease downstream water availability, and could contribute to extreme droughts in the arid and semi-arid Andes, impacting food and water security to populations along the length of the Andes. Adaptation strategies should be implemented by working together with affected communities, considering regional variations, and assessing the impact of glacier loss, alongside water demand and human vulnerabilities

A New Multidisciplinary Home Care Telemedicine System to Monitor Stable Chronic Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients: A Randomized Study

BACKGROUND: Antiretroviral therapy has changed the natural history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in developed countries, where it has become a chronic disease. This clinical scenario requires a new approach to simplify follow-up appointments and facilitate access to healthcare professionals. METHODOLOGY: We developed a new internet-based home care model covering the entire management of chronic HIV-infected patients. This was called Virtual Hospital. We report the results of a prospective randomised study performed over two years, comparing standard care received by HIV-infected patients with Virtual Hospital care. HIV-infected patients with access to a computer and broadband were randomised to be monitored either through Virtual Hospital (Arm I) or through standard care at the day hospital (Arm II). After one year of follow up, patients switched their care to the other arm. Virtual Hospital offered four main services: Virtual Consultations, Telepharmacy, Virtual Library and Virtual Community. A technical and clinical evaluation of Virtual Hospital was carried out. FINDINGS: Of the 83 randomised patients, 42 were monitored during the first year through Virtual Hospital (Arm I) and 41 through standard care (Arm II). Baseline characteristics of patients were similar in the two arms. The level of technical satisfaction with the virtual system was high: 85% of patients considered that Virtual Hospital improved their access to clinical data and they felt comfortable with the videoconference system. Neither clinical parameters [level of CD4+ T lymphocytes, proportion of patients with an undetectable level of viral load (p = 0.21) and compliance levels >90% (p = 0.58)] nor the evaluation of quality of life or psychological questionnaires changed significantly between the two types of care. CONCLUSIONS: Virtual Hospital is a feasible and safe tool for the multidisciplinary home care of chronic HIV patients. Telemedicine should be considered as an appropriate support service for the management of chronic HIV infection. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical-Trials.gov: NCT01117675

Kant e o problema da origem das representações elementares: apontamentos

Il s'agit d'examiner l'origine des représentations fondamentales (formes de la réceptivité et formes intelectuelles )face à la critique faite par Kant des idées innées et abstraites.Trata-se de considerara origem das representações fundamentais (formas de receptividade e formas intelectuais), face à crítica de Kant às idéias inatas e abstratas.UNESP Faculdade de Filosofia e Ciências Departamento de FilosofiaUNESP Faculdade de Filosofia e Ciências Departamento de Filosofi

Extending glacier monitoring into the Little Ice Age and beyond

Reconstructions of glacier front variations based on well-dated historical evidence from the Alps, Scandinavia, and the southern Andes, extend the observational record as far back as the 16th century. The standardized compilation of paleo-glacier length changes is now an integral part of the internationally coordinated glacier monitoring system