Theoretically, a positive environment (PE) includes (a) tangible and intangible resources that satisfy human needs, (b) enablers of healthy, pro-social, and pro-environmental behaviors that guarantee socio-environmental quality and wellbeing, and (c) environmental challenges that must be faced and solved. One of the most salient challenges is the global COVID-19 pandemic. This study sought to investigate whether PEs can stimulate responsible actions (i.e., self-care and precautionary behaviors against COVID-19), while maintaining personal wellbeing. Nine hundred and forty-nine Mexicans participated in an online survey encompassing five primary factors: resources, enablers, challenges, responsible health behaviors, and wellbeing. The first three factors examine “resources” such as physical infrastructure as well as family and social support, “enablers” which include information about protective health practices and perceived legitimacy of authorities in handling the pandemic, and “challenges” encompassing threat perception and social pressure to not engage in precautionary measures. Participants also self-reported hedonic wellbeing as well as self-care and precautionary behaviors, which formed the “responsible (health) behavior” factor. Structural equations model (n = 714 after list-wise deletion) showed that “resources,” “challenges,” and “enablers” form a second-order factor, “positive environments,” and this factor strongly covaries with “responsible behavior” and “wellbeing.” These results suggest that PEs are not only buffers against the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic but can also stimulate effective responses against a threat while maintaining individual wellbeing. These results can be used to inform the development and maintenance of PE frameworks aimed at minimizing the spread of COVID-19 and encouraging mental and physical health.
BACKGROUND: Ferulic acid is a natural occurring compound with antioxidant and antimicrobial bioactive properties, and recently was proposed as a new alternative growth promoter in meat-producing animals without changing meat quality parameters. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of two doses of ferulic acid (FA) on the feedlot performance, carcass traits, and physicochemical and sensory characteristics of meat quality in commercial heifers. Ninety heifers (3/4 Bos taurus; n = 270; body weight = 480 ± 10 kg) were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments (30 days): Control, fed with a basal diet; FA250 or FA500 offered the same diet further supplemented with FA at 250 or 500 mg kg −1 feed, respectively. Feedlot performance, carcass traits, and physicochemical and meat sensory characteristics were evaluated. RESULTS: FA supplementation increased average daily gain (ADG) by 21%, hot carcass weight by 1.8% and cold carcass weight by 1.6% with respect to the control (P < 0.05). FA500 treatment caused a decrease (P < 0.05) in some carcass traits. However, carcass characteristics of economic importance, such as cold carcass dressing and LT muscle area, were improved by FA250 supplementation (P < 0.05), causing a possible growth promoter effect. Physicochemical and sensory parameters of meat were not altered by FA supplementation (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ferulic acid has the potential for use as a growth promoter additive in finishing heifers without negatively affecting the meat quality, as occurs with some synthetic growth promotants compounds used in animal production.
Ferulic acid (FA) is a phytochemical with various bioactive properties. It has recently been proposed that due to its phytogenic action it can be used as an alternative growth promoter additive to synthetic compounds. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the growth performance, carcass traits, fiber characterization and skeletal muscle gene expression on hair-lambs supplemented with two doses of FA. Thirty-two male lambs (n = 8 per treatment) were individually housed during a 32 d feeding trial to evaluate the effect of FA (300 and 600 mg d −1 ) or zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH; 6 mg d −1 ) on growth performance, and then slaughtered to evaluate the effects on carcass traits, and muscle fibers morphometry from Longissimus thoracis (LT) and mRNA abundance of β 2 -adrenergic receptor (β 2 -AR), MHC-I, MHC-IIX and IGF-I genes. FA increased final weight and average daily gain with respect to non-supplemented animals (p ˂ 0.05). The ZH supplementation increased LT muscle area, with respect to FA doses and control (p ˂ 0.05). Cross-sectional area (CSA) of oxidative fibers was larger with FA doses and ZH (p ˂ 0.05). Feeding ZH increased mRNA abundance for β 2 -AR compared to FA and control (p ˂ 0.05), and expression of MHC-I was affected by FA doses and ZH (p ˂ 0.05). Overall, FA supplementation of male hair lambs enhanced productive variables due to skeletal muscle hypertrophy caused by MHC-I up-regulation. Results suggest that FA has the potential like a growth promoter in lambs.
ALK-positive, advanced NSCLC in Argentina. Methods: A budget impact model we developed to evaluate two separate scenarios from a payer's perspective. The model compared scenarios with and without crizotinib. In the crizotinib scenario all patients testing positive for the ALK mutation were given crizotinib. Comparators were platin-containing regimens (ex pemetrexed), platin/pemetrexed, erlotinib/gefitinib, and crizotinib. Epidemiology, market basket, adverse event costs, and drug costs were informed through ten local physician questionnaires and published literature. The survey was administered to oncologists in six different private and public hospitals of varying sizes and locations in Argentina. Costs are in 2013 USD (1 USD = 5.88 ARS). Results: Considering the population of Argentina (42,610,981) and applying age based incidence rates, the number of lung cancer patients was estimated to be 12,139. Of those patients 82.5% were estimated to be have metastatic NSCLC and 74% were likely to be treated, leaving 7,411 treated patients in the model. The estimated one-year cost for treating these patients without crizotinib was estimated to be $205,874,409. In the scenario including crizotinib, 154 patients (market uptake of 2.08%) were taken from other regimens and given crizotinib resulting in an estimated one-year cost of $224,651,145. The incremental total cost between these scenarios was $18,776,736 while the incremental costs per ALK+ patient and per member were $211 and $.04 respectively. These results were robust under standard parameter estimate variations. ConClusions: Adding crizotinib as a treatment option may have an acceptable budget impact under standard practices.objeCtives: The purpose of this model is to examine the budgetary impact of the decision to reimburse crizotinib for patients with ALK+ve advanced non-small-cell
El uso de aditivos de origen natural en producción animal ha tomado gran importancia en el sector pecuario, debido a su potencial de promover el crecimiento de una forma similar a los compuestos sintéticos como hormonas y antibióticos, pero sin causar posibles daños a la salud del animal, del consumidor o detrimento en la calidad de la carne. En los aditivos de origen natural existe una amplia variedad de compuestos, que son extraídos de distintas partes de las plantas, donde se toman ciertos aceites esenciales, mezclas de compuestos o compuestos aislados para utilizarse como remedios medicinales o suplementos alimenticios. Dentro de estos extractos, se encuentran los ácidos hidroxicinámicos, presentes en una gran variedad de vegetales, frutas y granos; los cuales presentan interesantes propiedades bioactivas como son, antioxidantes, antimicrobianos, preventivos de enfermedades cardiovasculares e inmunomoduladores. El uso de este tipo de aditivos en producción animal aún es limitado, pero se sugiere que su inclusión puede ser favorable como una estrategia para promover el crecimiento; sin embargo, dos aspectos importantes a estudiarse en los ácidos hidroxicinámicos es su farmacocinética y farmacodinamia, y a partir de allí establecer las condiciones de dosis, períodos de uso y efectos, además las posibles rutas y biotransformaciones que pueden ocurrir en el organismo animal. Esta revisión discute sobre la inclusión de ácidos hidroxicinámicos en dietas de animales de engorda, propiedades farmacocinéticas y farmacodinamias, y los hallazgos como promotores de crecimiento y sus efectos en la calidad de la carne.
The objective of the present study was to analyze the effect of the risk perception of covid-19 on self-medication practices in Mexican population. A total of 526 participants over 18 years of age were surveyed, 68.4% women and 31.6% men residing in northwestern Mexico. Using a structural model, the relation and prevalence of self-medication were analyzed. Risk perception about covid-19, consisting of preventive practices and the perception of the threat of the pandemic, was negatively correlated with self-medication practices, which indicates that people who follow preventive care recommendations tend to reduce the use of self-medication and to improve emotional selfmedication. Furthermore, the study shows that at least half of the participants have used drugs during the pandemic without medical prescription. Self-medication is a critical health problem; therefore, awareness programs about the adverse effects of medications can help reduce self-medication practices in Mexico.
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