How COVID-19 pandemic affected nutrition behaviors

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) had started as a global pandemic and public health emergency back in year 2020. Starting in year 2023, which was a little more than three years afterwards, World Health Organization (WHO) removed COVID-19’s public health emergency status.1 During the past three years, the pandemic, quarantine, and lockdown policy had changed many aspects in life, sosio-economic and public health alike. This included nutrition behaviors which significantly affected the global population’s nutritional status. A study to adults and elderly living independently in Amsterdams revealed an increase of nutritional behavior presdisposing to overnutrition, such as more snacking and decreased physical activity to those who had not been in quarantine. Whereas those who were in quarantine, behavior changes related to undernutrition, such as eating less, skipping meals, and drinking more alcoholic beverages, were more seen in the study results.2 An online survey study to lockdown countries e.g Europe, North-Africa, Western Asia, and United States showed a decrease in both frequency and the duration of physical activity, included an increase of time spent in sedentary behavior. The study also revealed a significant increase in consuming unhealthy food, eating out of control, snacking between meals, alcohol binge drinking, and number of main meals per day.3An online study to students in Indonesia showed changes in eating patterns consisted of increased meal portions and snacks. The sedentary behavior was also excalated.4 What factors contributed to these changes? As we all aware, confinement influence our daily activities and mental health. Those who usually commute to the office had to work from home thus limiting physical activities. We also saw the increased numbers of anxiety, depression, and boredom which may led to more snackings or skipping meals.We had learned that the restriction to stay at home had influenced dietary and physical activity. These changes may or may not expected, however, they surely altered global nutritional status. The numbers of overweight and obesity are more prevalent post-pandemic thus may lead to the increase of non-communicable diseases.We certainly hope that there will be no more pandemic which warrants lockdown in the future, however the future itself is not a certainty. In the present, we will have to tackle many nutritional-related problems in any population. Within the course of time, if a similar pandemic should occur, we might have to compile a public health, nutrition, mental health, and physical activity policy to minimize the problems

How COVID-19 pandemic affect nutritional status

In Indonesia, COVID-19 has primarily affected food access and causes drop of income. The poor and vulnerable groups have difficulties in affording high nutritional value food thus resulting in, not only decline of food intake, but also lower dietary quality.4&nbsp

Male attraction tο virgin females in the almond seed wasp, Eurytomα amygdali Enderlein (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae)

Παρατηρήσεις που έγιναν στο εργαστήριο έδειξαν ότι τα ενήλικα του εντόμου Eurytoma amygdali Enderlein (Hymenoptera: Eyrytomidae) είναι σεξουαλικά δραστήρια από την πρώτη ημέρα της εξόδου τους από τα προσβεβλημένα αμύγδαλα. Πειράματα που έγιναν με την βοήθεια ολφακτομέτρου έδειξαν ότι τα παρθένα θηλυκά του εντόμου ηλικίας μιας ως δώδεκα ημερών προσελκύουν από κάποια απόσταση τα αρσενικά. Η ανταπόκριση των αρσενικών ήταν ισχυρότερη τις πρωινές ώρες της ημέρας. Τα παρθένα θηλυκά ήταν ελκυστικά και σε συνθήκες υπαίθρου. Παγίδες τύπου «Δέλτα», που περιείχαν εγκλωβισμένα 5-20 παρθένα θηλυκά η καθεμιά και αναρτήθηκαν σε μυγδαλιές, προσέλκυσαν και έπιασαν ικανοποιητικό αριθμό αρσενικών που εξαπολύθηκαν. Αντίθετα, παγίδες που περιείχαν συζευγμένα θηλυκά ή κενά κλουβιά δεν ήταν ελκυστικές για τα αρσενικά έντομα.Laboratory observations showed that adults of the almond seed wasp, Eurytoma amygdali Enderlein (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) were sexually mature on the first day of emergence. Experiments with an olfactometer showed that 1 to 12 day-old virgin females attracted the males. This attraction was found to be due to an odor, apparently a pheromone, released by the virgin females. The responsiveness of the males was higher the first part of the photophase. Under field conditions too, virgin females were attractive to males. “Delta” traps, containing 5-20 virgin females, suspended on almond trees, attracted and captured males released among the same trees. On the contrary, traps containing mated females or empty cages were not attractive to males

In memoriam Prof. Dr. dr. Saptawati Bardosono, MSc

The passing of Prof. Saptawati Bardosono on October 15th last year was a great sadness and loss for the entire scientific community, especially nutrition-related. It was also an immeasurable grief for us, the editorial team of World Nutrition Journal

The importance of school snacks for primary school-aged children nutritional support as the foundation of Sekolah Generasi Maju in Indonesia

As a developing country, Indonesia is still burdened with high prevalence of child malnutrition including those in primary school. One of the main factors affecting nutritional status of children is snack consumption in school. School snacks are expected to be able to contribute to nutritional requirements. This narrative review is written to collect information and knowledge regarding nutritional status, nutritional requirements, factors determining nutritional status of primary school children and, lastly, recommended school snacks. This review also acts as a basic information for school snacks program establishment

The Relationship Between Hyperglycemia Status and High Gastric Residual Volume Status in Adult ICU Patients

Introduction: Hyperglycemia commonly occurs in critically ill patients due to metabolic stress. Hyperglycemia can cause gastric motility disturbance in which can cause high gastric residual volume (GRV). The objective of this study is to determine the relationship between hyperglycemia and high GRV status in ICU patients. Methods: This study used cross sectional method with consecutive sampling of 96 adult ICU patients. Blood glucose level were measured every 12 hours and GRV every 4 hours on first and second day admission to ICU. Data were analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Science Program (SPSS) version 20.0. The relationship between hyperglycemia status and high GRV status were analyzed using Chi-Square test. Results: Hyperglycemia status was found in 45.8% subjects on day 1 and 35.4% on day 2. High GRV status was found in 28.1% on day 1 and 25% on day 2. There was no significant relationship between hyperglycemia and high GRV status on day 1 and 2 (p=0.34 and 0.81).  However, in 12 subjects, we found high GRV occurred 19.67 ± 11.06 hours after the onset of hyperglycemia. Conclusion: There was no significant relationship between hyperglycemia status and high GRV status, but high GRV could be found later after hyperglycemia

Anemia Status and Its Related Factors among Indonesian Workers: Hemoglobin Survey in Three Different Workplaces

This study aims to explore risk factors of low hemoglobin status (anemia) among workers in three different workplaces in Indonesia. Cross-sectional study design was applied to screen hemoglobin value by using a multiwave pulse total-hemoglobinometer Masimo® and obtain socio-demographic characteristics using a questionnaire. Three workplaces were purposively selected to have total population eligible for this study. Health safety protocol was applied both for the subjects and researchers as COVID19 prevention. Statistical analyses were used accordingly to find potential risk factor(s) of anemia among workers. A total of 2386 eligible subjects with mean age of 36.8 ± 9.2 years participated in this study consisted of mainly male workers (85.3%), mostly married (79.0%), never smoke (55.8%) and working in shift (68.7%). Mean of hemoglobin value was 14.2 ± 1.2 mg/dL with anemia prevalence of 9.9%. Risk factor of anemia among workers were female-gender, non-marriage status, never smoking and no-work shift. However, the potential determinant for anemia among workers was female-gender, in which the prevalence of anemia was 24.6% as compared to 7.4% in male-gender. Keep providing free meal in the workplace canteen is a must, but there is a need to provide iron and vitamin C-fortified food and/or iron and vitamin C supplement especially for female workers

Male attraction tο virgin females in the almond seed wasp, Eurytomα amygdali Enderlein (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae)

Παρατηρήσεις που έγιναν στο εργαστήριο έδειξαν ότι τα ενήλικα του εντόμου Eurytoma amygdali Enderlein (Hymenoptera: Eyrytomidae) είναι σεξουαλικά δραστήρια από την πρώτη ημέρα της εξόδου τους από τα προσβεβλημένα αμύγδαλα. Πειράματα που έγιναν με την βοήθεια ολφακτομέτρου έδειξαν ότι τα παρθένα θηλυκά του εντόμου ηλικίας μιας ως δώδεκα ημερών προσελκύουν από κάποια απόσταση τα αρσενικά. Η ανταπόκριση των αρσενικών ήταν ισχυρότερη τις πρωινές ώρες της ημέρας. Τα παρθένα θηλυκά ήταν ελκυστικά και σε συνθήκες υπαίθρου. Παγίδες τύπου «Δέλτα», που περιείχαν εγκλωβισμένα 5-20 παρθένα θηλυκά η καθεμιά και αναρτήθηκαν σε μυγδαλιές, προσέλκυσαν και έπιασαν ικανοποιητικό αριθμό αρσενικών που εξαπολύθηκαν. Αντίθετα, παγίδες που περιείχαν συζευγμένα θηλυκά ή κενά κλουβιά δεν ήταν ελκυστικές για τα αρσενικά έντομα.Laboratory observations showed that adults of the almond seed wasp, Eurytoma amygdali Enderlein (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) were sexually mature on the first day of emergence. Experiments with an olfactometer showed that 1 to 12 day-old virgin females attracted the males. This attraction was found to be due to an odor, apparently a pheromone, released by the virgin females. The responsiveness of the males was higher the first part of the photophase. Under field conditions too, virgin females were attractive to males. “Delta” traps, containing 5-20 virgin females, suspended on almond trees, attracted and captured males released among the same trees. On the contrary, traps containing mated females or empty cages were not attractive to males

Στάσεις των Ελλήνων εκπαιδευτικών Πρωτοβάθμιας και Δευτεροβάθμιας Εκπαίδευσης σε σχέση με την Επείγουσα Απομακρυσμένη Διδασκαλία (ΕΑΔ) κατά τη διάρκεια της πανδημίας Covid-19

Οι ΤΠΕ τα τελευταία χρόνια ολοένα και περισσότερο καταλαμβάνουν χώρο και χρόνο στην Εκπαίδευση. Τόσο η ασύγχρονη μορφή εξ αποστάσεως εκπαίδευσης, όσο και η σύγχρονη, η οποία και μελετάται στην παρούσα έρευνα, αποτελούν σημαντικά εκπαιδευτικά εργαλεία της διδασκαλίας, διότι, όπως είδαμε σε κάποιες περιπτώσεις, όπου δεν είναι δυνατή η φυσική παρουσία διδασκόντων και μαθητευομένων, αποτελούν τη μοναδική λύση, προκειμένου να συνεχιστεί απρόσκοπτα η εκπαιδευτική διαδικασία. Μία τέτοια περίπτωση είναι και η εφαρμογή της Επείγουσας Απομακρυσμένης Διδασκαλίας (ΕΑΔ) κατά τη διάρκεια της πανδημίας Covid-19. Σκοπός της παρούσας έρευνας είναι να διερευνήσει και να εξετάσει τις στάσεις των Ελλήνων εκπαιδευτικών της Πρωτοβάθμιας και Δευτεροβάθμιας Εκπαίδευσης σε σχέση με την επείγουσα απομακρυσμένη διδασκαλία (ΕΑΔ) κατά τη διάρκεια της πανδημίας Covid-19. Οι στόχοι της έρευνας είναι οι εξής: Να διερευνηθεί το κατά πόσο οι εκπαιδευτικοί ανά βαθμίδα, ειδικότητα, διδακτική εμπειρία, φύλο, ηλικία έχουν θετική, ουδέτερη ή αρνητική στάση απέναντι στην ΕΑΔ, να διαπιστωθεί κατά πόσο είναι ικανοποιημένοι και κατά πόσο προτίθενται οι εκπαιδευτικοί να κάνουν χρήση της ΕΑΔ και στο μέλλον και να γίνουν προτάσεις βάσει των συμπερασμάτων της έρευνας. Στην έρευνα μας συμμετείχαν 251 εκπαιδευτικοί, στην πλειονότητά τους γυναίκες και εκπαιδευτικοί δευτεροβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης. Οι ερωτηθέντες κλήθηκαν να απαντήσουν σε 33 συνολικά ερωτήσεις του ερωτηματολογίου, το οποίο διαρκούσε λίγη ώρα. Φυσικά, όλες οι απαντήσεις ήταν ανώνυμες. Οι εκπαιδευτικοί που συμμετείχαν στην έρευνά μας είχαν αρνητική στάση αναφορικά με τη χρησιμότητα της ΕΑΔ στο πλαίσιο της αποδοτικότητας στη μαθησιακή διαδικασία, όπως και έντονα αρνητική ήταν η στάση τους ως προς το πλεονέκτημα της ΕΑΔ έναντι της δια ζώσης μάθησης. Η πλειονότητα των νεότερων σε ηλικία εκπαιδευτικών όλων των ερευνών - και της παρούσης - φάνηκε ότι είχε μια μεγαλύτερη ευκολία στη χρήση της ΕΑΔ και εξοικείωση στις ΤΠΕ, γενικότερα, καθώς είδαμε ότι αντιμετωπίζει με μία πιο θετική στάση μια ενδεχόμενη μελλοντική χρήση της ΕΑΔ, σε σχέση με τους μεγαλύτερους ηλικιακά εκπαιδευτικούς . Επίσης οι νεότεροι εκπαιδευτικοί φάνηκε να αντλούν μεγαλύτερη ευχαρίστηση συγκριτικά με τους μεγαλύτερους. Οι εκπαιδευτικοί της έρευνάς μας είχαν ουδέτερη στάση σχετικά με την πρόθεση συνέχισης της ΕΑΔ στο μέλλον, εν αντιθέσει των εκπαιδευτικών των άλλων ερευνών που είχαν πιο θετική στάση, αναγνωρίζοντας την αξία και αναγκαιότητά της.In recent years, ICT has increasingly taken up space and time in Education. Both the asynchronous form of distance education and the modern one, which is studied in this research, are important educational tools of teaching, because, as we have seen in some cases, where the physical presence of teachers and students is not possible, they are the only solution, in order to continue the educational process without interruption. One such case is the implementation of Emergency Distance Learning (EDL) during the Covid-19 pandemic. The purpose of this research is to investigate and examine the attitudes of Greek Primary and Secondary Education teachers in relation to emergency distance learning (EDL) during the Covid-19 pandemic. The objectives of the research are as follows: To investigate whether the teachers by grade, specialty, teaching experience, gender, age have a positive, neutral or negative attitude towards the EDL, to find out whether they are satisfied and whether the teachers intend to make use of the EDL in the future and to make recommendations based on the conclusions of the research. 251 teachers participated in our survey, the majority of them women and secondary education teachers. Respondents were asked to answer a total of 33 questions in the questionnaire, which took some time. Of course, all responses were anonymous. The teachers who participated in our research had a negative attitude regarding the usefulness of EDL in the context of efficiency in the learning process, just as their attitude was strongly negative regarding the advantage of EDL over lifelong learning. The majority of the younger teachers in all surveys - and the present one - appeared to have a greater ease in using EDL and familiarity with ICT, in general, as we saw that they face with a more positive attitude a possible future use of EDL, in relation to with older teachers. Also younger teachers seemed to derive more pleasure compared to older ones. The teachers of our research had a neutral attitude regarding the intention to continue EDL in the future, in contrast to the teachers of the other researches who had a more positive attitude, recognizing its value and necessity

Long-term care in the health system: European tendencies and Bulgarian experience

Introduction: One of the most serious challenges faced by health systems in the world is the population ageing, which stresses the increasing importance of long-term care. This article aims at providing a concise definition of long-term care, the kinds of services included in it, the trends in the long-term care costs and the scope of the services, as well as the various financial arrangements for long-term care.Materials and methods: This is a review article, which summarizes the findings in the literature concerning the content and scope of the concept „long-term care`. An attempt has been made to give a short classification of the types of long-term care services and their financing. The paper is based on materials, analyses and statistical data by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the European Union and Bulgarian sources.Results and Discussion: The term „long-term care` refers to a range of services provided for people with limited ability (physical and/or mental) to function who therefore depend on an outside assistance for meeting various needs (medical and nonmedical) for an extended period providers. The share of long-term care health costs in GDP and in total health costs varies significantly across the EU member-states. It is substantially lower in the new Central and Eastern European members, among which Bulgaria ranks last. EU countries can be grouped on different dimensions to deliver a typology of long-term care systems, some of the classifications being presented in the article.Conclusion: The long-term care system faces a number of challenges, connected with the increasing costs parallel with the rising expectations for a higher quality and efficiency. A challenge in every country, even the most developed one, is the provision of the adequate number and qualification mix of formal carers as well as various types of assistance for the informal carers - financial, information, consultative and psychological