Abstract. The present study aimed to provide a comparative analysis of the effects of penetrative stunning, non-penetrative stunning and post-slaughter stunning on biochemical parameters and electroencephalogram (EEG) associated with stress in heifers and steers. Ten animals were assigned to each of the following four treatment groups: (1) animals were subjected to conventional halal slaughter (a clean incision through the structures on the ventral neck at the approximate level of vertebrae C2-C3 -the trachea, oesophagus, carotid arteries and jugular veins) and post-cut penetrating mechanical stun within 10-20 s of the halal cut (U); (2) high-power non-penetrating mechanical stunning using a mushroom-headed humane killer, followed by conventional halal slaughter (HPNP); (3) low-power non-penetrating mechanical percussive stunning using a mushroom-headed humane killer, followed by conventional halal slaughter (LPNP); and (4) penetrative stunning using a captive-bolt pistol humane killer, followed by conventional halal slaughter (P). For each animal, blood samples and electroencephalogram recordings were taken before stunning, post-stunning (if applicable) and post-slaughter, and plasma concentrations of cortisol, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), adrenaline, noradrenaline and b-endorphin were determined. Irrespective of the stunning method, except for percentage change in plasma concentrations of noradrenaline, the values of blood parameters attained before and after stunning were not significantly different. The plasma noradrenaline concentration of the HPNP animals was significantly elevated following stunning. Following slaughter, the percentage change of plasma ACTH concentration in the P animals was significantly elevated. Neither stunning method nor sampling time had a significant effect on plasma b-endorphin concentration. On the basis of the EEG results, penetrative stunning seemed to be better in maximising the possibility of post-stunning insensibility, whereas U animals appeared to demonstrate an evident increase in EEG activity which is consistent with the presence of post-slaughter noxious stimuli associated with tissue cut and injury. The U animals had consistently higher, if not the highest, RMS values than did other stunned animals. This indicates a degree of EEG changes associated with stress and pain. On the basis of EEG data, our results suggested that penetrative stunning would be the most reliable method of ensuring insensibility and minimising pain. However, at slaughter, the P animals showed a dramatic elevation in the percentage change of circulating ACTH, suggesting physiological stress response. On a cautionary note, the results are not unequivocal, and it may be that the range of analyses available to researchers at this point of time are not sufficiently specific to allow definitive conclusions to be drawn.

Growth, a positive change in the size of a growing individual, is a dynamic measure of health, the best available indicator of nutrition status, and the only real measure of nutrition adequacy [1]. Deviations from the expected, or predictable, course of growing are not visible at the earliest stage, and such invisibility is a major barrier to preventing and curing health problems. Growth monitoring has gained popularity in the last two to three decades and has been practiced in over 80 countries [2], with perhaps the earliest report from clinic-based activities in Nigeria [3].The most widely promoted method of growth monitoring is weighing and charting growth, since weight gain is believed to be the most sensitive indicator of growth and is universally applicable [4]. This method is favoured by UNICEF. Among other techniques, measuring arm circumference is claimed to be the easiest and cheapest alternative to weighing [5] and has been recommended for use at the home and village levels whenever regular and frequent weighing is not possible [6].While most published papers have concentrated mainly on technical details, more important issues such as the objectives, feasibility, and usefulness of growth monitoring and its relevance and effectiveness in promoting child nutrition and health have not been dealt with adequately. Only a few evaluations to examine its functional utility and effectiveness have been made. At the twelfth session of the Subcommittee on Nutrition (SCN), in April 1986 in Tokyo, the Advisory Group on Nutrition (AGN) of the SCN was requested to make a statement with regard to growth-monitoring techniques and uses. In its statement of February 1987, the AGN recommended that the SCN investigate the literature to identify background papers on the usefulness of growth monitoring, its utility, and conditions of feasibility in relation to different purposes for which it is used. On the basis of such documents more specific recommendations could then be given to the SCN. The present brief review was prepared as one response to this recommendation .An international workshop was held in Indonesia in 1984 to promote the exchange of experiences in

This study provides a comparative analysis of the effects of pre-slaughter penetrative and non-penetrative stunning and post-slaughter stunning on meat quality attributes in longissimus lumborum (LL) and semitendinosus (ST) muscles in heifers. Ten animals were assigned to each of four treatment groups: i) animals were subjected to conventional Halal slaughter (a clean incision through the structures at the front of the upper neck - the trachea, oesophagus, carotid arteries and jugular veins) and post-cut penetrating mechanical stun within 10 to 20 s of the neck cut (Unstunned; US); ii) high power non-penetrating mechanical stunning followed by the neck cut (HPNP); iii) low power non-penetrating mechanical stunning followed by the neck cut (LPNP); and iv) penetrative stunning using a captive bolt pistol followed by the neck cut (P). For each carcass, muscle samples were removed within 45 min of slaughter, portioned and analysed for pH, cooking loss, water holding capacity (WHC), tenderness (WBS), lipid oxidation (TBARS) and color, over a two week storage period. Stunning did not affect pH and cooking loss. Significant differences in water holding capacity, tenderness, lipid oxidation and color were present at different storage time points. HPNP stunning resulted in lower WHC and color values, particularly lightness (L*), higher TBARS values and peak force values compared with those stunned using LPNP, P and US. These adverse effects on quality were mostly encountered in the ST muscle. In conclusion, the meat quality achieved using P, LPNP and US treatments was comparable, and no treatment stood out as considerably better than another.

Study Design Secondary analysis of Lumbar Epidural steroid injections for Spinal Stenosis randomized controlled trial data. Objective To re-evaluate whether outcomes for older adults receiving epidural steroid injections with or without corticosteroid improve after using patient-prioritized Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) items. Summary of Background Data Epidural corticosteroid injections are commonly used to treat lumbar spinal stenosis symptoms, despite limited evidence for their effectiveness in clinical trials. It is unclear whether evaluating patient-prioritized outcomes would alter results of a large clinical trial. Methods Outcomes from the LESS trial were re-analyzed using RDQ, Sickness Impact Profile- SIP weights assigned to the RDQ items, and patient-prioritized RDQ items. Differences between corticosteroid+lidocaine versus lidocaine-alone groups and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using analysis of covariance with adjustment for baseline values of the RDQ and recruitment site. Results At 6 weeks, both the corticosteroid+lidocaine group and the lidocaine-alone group had improvement in the RDQ scores (RDQ, RDQ using SIP weights, patient-prioritized RDQ) as compared with baseline scores (corticosteroid+lidocaine: -4.2 points, -4.1 points, -4.2; lidocaine-alone: -3.1 points, -2.9 points, and -3.1 points, respectively). However, there was no significant between-group difference in the RDQ or patient-prioritized RDQ (average treatment effect -1.0 points, 95% CI -2.1 to 0.1, P = 0.07; -1.0 points, 95% CI -2.0 to 0.1, P = 0.08 respectively). While the between-group difference of RDQ using SIP weights was statistically significant (average treatment effect -1.1, 95% CI -2.2 to -0.1, P = 0.04), this was not clinically important. Conclusions Results of the LESS trial did not substantively differ based on re-analysis of data using RDQ with SIP weights or patient-prioritized RDQ outcomes. This provides additional evidence that epidural injection of corticosteroid+lidocaine offered minimal or no short-term benefit as compared with epidural injection of lidocaine-alone for older adults with lumbar spinal stenosis.

Background: The use of mobile services for health promotion is rapidly increasing. The purpose of this paper is to review studies using cell phone applications as an intervention to improve mental health in breast cancer patients and to provide an overview of their effectiveness. Methods: A systematic search in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and PsycINFO was performed to retrieve relevant studies published from 2010 to 2020. The criteria for inclusion were included in any study illustrated about the breast cancer, English papers and mental health. Related articles were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The survey and meta-synthesis of included articles were conducted based on predefined classification.then From the selected studies, the following information was extracted: authors, publication date, study objectives, study population, study design, interventions, and results. Results: 81 papers were retrieved with databases and 46 articles were reviewed. At the end, 7 articles were selected for analysis. We identified 7 RCT studies that utilized a mental health application as a mental health intervention in breast cancer patients. The results showed all of studies effectiveness of the mobile apps on the stress, depression, anxiety, self-efficacy, social support, resiliency and coping with breast cancer. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the important role of mobile apps in promoting mental wellness of breast cancer patients. Mobile app interventions can be implemented to decrease depression through positive impacts on stress management, self-efficacy, resilience and breast cancer adaptation. We recommend that the role of mobile apps for the prevention and rehabilitation of mental health aspects in breast cancer patients would be examined through a blended delivery management approach in future studies.