Summary
Despite the acknowledged injustice and widespread existence of parachute research studies conducted in low‐ or middle‐income countries by researchers from institutions in high‐income ...countries, there is currently no pragmatic guidance for how academic journals should evaluate manuscript submissions and challenge this practice. We assembled a multidisciplinary group of editors and researchers with expertise in international health research to develop this consensus statement. We reviewed relevant existing literature and held three workshops to present research data and holistically discuss the concept of equitable authorship and the role of academic journals in the context of international health research partnerships. We subsequently developed statements to guide prospective authors and journal editors as to how they should address this issue. We recommend that for manuscripts that report research conducted in low‐ or middle‐income countries by collaborations including partners from one or more high‐income countries, authors should submit accompanying structured reflexivity statements. We provide specific questions that these statements should address and suggest that journals should transparently publish reflexivity statements with accepted manuscripts. We also provide guidance to journal editors about how they should assess the structured statements when making decisions on whether to accept or reject submitted manuscripts. We urge journals across disciplines to adopt these recommendations to accelerate the changes needed to halt the practice of parachute research.
Communities with diverse ethnicity in high-income countries are disproportionately affected by poor diet-related health outcomes. In England, the United Kingdom's government's healthy eating dietary ...resources are not well accepted and are underutilised among this population. Thus, this study explored perceptions, beliefs, knowledge, and practices around dietary intake among communities with African and South Asian ethnicity residing in Medway, England.
This qualitative study generated data from 18 adults aged 18 and above using a semi-structured interview guide. These participants were sampled using purposive and convenience sampling strategies. All the interviews were conducted in English over the telephone, and responses were thematically analysed.
Six overarching themes were generated from the interview transcripts: eating patterns, social and cultural factors, food preferences and routines, accessibility and availability, health and healthy eating, and perceptions about the United Kingdom government's healthy eating resources.
The results of this study indicate that strategies to improve access to healthy foods are required to improve healthy dietary practices among the study population. Such strategies could help address this group's structural and individual barriers to healthy dietary practices. In addition, developing a culturally responsive eating guide could also enhance the acceptability and utilisation of such resources among communities with ethnic diversity in England.
•Naringenin (NG) prevented hypoxic stress-induced behavioral impairments.•NG inhibited hypoxic stress-induced oxidative stress.•NG inhibited hypoxic stress-induced up-regulation of inflammatory ...proteins.•NG attenuated hypoxic stress-induced neuronal degeneration.•NG increased BDNF expression in hypoxic mice brain.
Oxidative and inflammatory signaling pathways have been identified as important targets for mitigating hypoxic stress-induced neurological complications. Thus, the effects of naringenin, a potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective bioflavonoid on hypoxic stress-induced depressive-like and anxiety-related behaviors in mice, and the underlying molecular mechanisms were evaluated in this study. Thirty-five male Swiss mice were distributed into 5 groups (n = 7). Mice in group I (non-stress control) and group 2 (stress-control) both had vehicle (5 % DMSO), while groups 3–5 received naringenin (10, 25 and 50 mg/kg), intraperitonally. Thirty minutes later, mice in groups 2–5 were subjected to 15 min hypoxic stress, daily for 14 days. Locomotor activity, anxiety and depression were evaluated on day 15. The mice brains were processed for malondialdehyde, glutathione, superoxide-dismutase (SOD), catalase, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β assays. The serum corticosterone concentration and expressions of the brain immunopositive cells of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kB) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as well as histomorphological changes of the amygdala were also determined. Naringenin (25−50 mg/kg) ameliorated the hypolocomotion, depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors in hypoxic mice. The increased brain contents of malondialdehyde, TNF-α, interleukin-1β, and decreased antioxidant (glutathione and SOD) status were attenuated by naringenin. Naringenin (10 mg/kg) increases BDNF expression but did not significantly (p < 0.05) alter corticosterone and catalase contents. The increased expressions of iNOS and NF-kB as well as loss of amygdala neuronal cells were reduced by naringenin (10 mg/kg). Overall, these findings suggest that naringenin improves depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors in mice exposed to hypoxic stress by modulating oxido-inflammatory insults and NF-kB/BDNF expressions.
The concept of the peer-to-peer local energy market (P2P LEM) is no longer novel to the energy community. Yet, its large-scale implementation within the current electricity network remains a complex ...challenge. One key reason is the lack of understanding of the supplier licensing models in different countries. For instance, in the UK, up to year 2023, a consumer is only allowed to have a single supplier at a time under its single licence supplier model. This directly contradicts the existing P2P trading models that allow a consumer to purchase electricity from multiple sellers within the local market. Given this context, this article conducts a review of recent literature and government policies in different countries on the P2P LEM and identifies the barriers behind the lack of large-scale P2P trading implementation in today's electricity markets. We explain how these barriers can be overcome by engaging prosumers in traditional and private distribution networks through either licensed or license-exempt suppliers. Particularly, we discuss six P2P LEM frameworks that can be utilised to address the supplier licensing issue. Finally, this review presents a summary of risks, and recommendations to aid the regulatory framework to implement P2P LEM.
There are no widely adopted ethical standards for the use of imagery in global health publications. We reviewed imagery used by global health actors in grey literature related to antimicrobial ...resistance (AMR) and vaccination and analysed whether the imagery used was relevant, ethical, and equitable.
Reports produced by key global health actors on AMR and vaccination were retrieved through searches on 1) Google using key MESH terms; and 2) the website of each actor. Reports containing at least one image of person/s, published between 2015 and 2022 were included. Guidelines from Photographers Without Borders, European Non-governmental confederation for relief and development (CONCORD) Code of Conduct on Images and Messages, and the National Press Photographers Association were used to develop an analysis framework. Consensus was reached iteratively on the (qualitative and quantitative) indicators used in the final framework.
In 118 reports from 14 global health actors, there were 1115 images, of which 859 included people (370 healthcare professionals (HCPs), 402 adult non-HCPs, and 393 children). Of HCP images, 301/370 (81%) included non- whites, 273/370 (74%) included women, and 247/370 (67%) included non-white women. Of the non-HCP images, 346/402 (86%) included non-whites, 321/402 (80%) included women, and 278/402 (69%) included non-white women. Of images including children, 359/393 (91%) included non-whites. Qualitative analysis identified issues of relevance, integrity, consent, and representation from high income versus low-and middle-income countries (LMIC). Inequities in staging, digital manipulation, and breaches of confidentiality were noted in images depicting LMICs.
Biased representation of LMICs drives misleading and irrelevant disease associations and power imbalances. This work highlights how imagery in global health contributes to representations that are inequitable and unethical.
Through the process of inquiry, we have created an ethical framework for appropriate imagery use in global health grey literature to help key actors avoid these biases.
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is experiencing rapid economic growth and rising demand for energy, accompanied by significant low energy access and sustainability challenges. Globally, to address similar ...issues and unlock a region's energy potential, regional integrated energy systems have gained traction, and initiatives such as establishing power pools for regional electricity markets, cross-border power exchanges, and integrating renewable energy resources are being promoted. This paper describes the status of regional integrated energy systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. We analyze the energy growth achieved through effective strategies and policies that support regional integrated energy systems in developed and developing regions (the United Kingdom and China). Our findings show that challenges, including limited access to financing, regulatory barriers, lack of effective energy planning model, inadequate supporting policies, and fragmented institutional frameworks, hinder the region's widespread deployment of regional integrated energy systems. Taking lessons from the case studies, addressing SSA's energy challenges requires concerted efforts from governments, international organizations, and the private sector to create enabling policy environments, mobilize investments, and build technical capacity and supporting infrastructures. Regional integrated energy systems can enhance energy security by diversifying energy sources, fostering economic development, and stimulating cross-border energy trade. In the United Kingdom, the implementation of integrated energy systems has contributed to a 25% reduction in carbon emissions and a 15% increase in energy efficiency over the past decade. Similarly, in China, the integration of renewable energy sources into regional energy systems has led to a 30% increase in renewable energy capacity and a 20% decrease in coal consumption since 2010. China owns 32% of global renewable energy market, alongside an installed capacity of about 1.26 TW in the first quarter of 2023. Our findings from the power pools indicate that three out of the four pools possess significant hydro energy resources. Specifically, within the CAPP region, 7 out of 10 countries heavily rely on hydro energy, while in EAPP, 6 out of 11 countries exhibit a similar dependency. Moreover, within SAPP, 9 out of 12 countries and within WAPP, 5 out of 14 countries rely significantly on hydro energy.
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•Assessment of Integrated Energy Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa.•Barriers to regional integrated energy system (RIES) implementation in SSA are identified.•Examine drivers of regional integrated energy system development in a developed and developing country (United Kingdom and China).•Targeted policies that can significantly increase research and development of regional integrated energy systems in SSA are identified.
Minority ethnic groups are a fast-growing population in many high-income countries, partly due to the increasing population of immigrants and second-generation migrants. The dietary practices of some ...of these minority ethnic groups might make them to be disproportionately affected by obesity and increase their risks of developing non-communicable diseases. Population-specific interventions and strategies are vital to addressing poor nutritional practices among this population. Thus, this study systematically reviewed the perceptions of dietary intake amongst Black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups in high-income countries.
This systematic review was conducted in line with the guidelines of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for systematic reviews, using a meta-aggregative design. This systematic review identified and synthesised qualitative literature on the perceptions of dietary intake amongst BlackAsian and other minority ethnic groups in high-income countries. An extensive and comprehensive database search was conducted between January 2000 - May 2022 and included twenty (20) studies that met the eligibility criteria from six countries. The included studies were assessed for quality using the JBI qualitative assessment and review instrument. The JBI data extraction tools were used to retrieve relevant data from included articles, and the data were thematically analysed.
We identified eight major themes across this database: (1) "Social and Cultural Factors," (2) "Availability and Accessibility," (3) "Family and Community Influences," (4) "Food Preferences", (5) "Home Country Food Versus Host Country Food" (6) "Dietary Acculturation" (7) "Health and Healthy Eating" (8) "Perception of Nutritional Information."
Overall, Black, Asian, and other minority ethnic groups individuals were found to be aware of the effects of unhealthy eating on their health, and some of them have nutritional knowledge, but social and cultural factors, including structural factors, were deterrents to their healthy eating behaviours. An important finding from this review is that some participants believed that nutritional information, based on bio-medical science, was intended for only White population groups and that it was antagonistic to their cultural and community well-being.
Complex interventions, such as innovation platforms, pose challenges for evaluators. A variety of methodological approaches are often required to build a more complete and comprehensive understanding ...of how complex interventions work. In this paper, we outline and critically appraise a methodologically pluralist evaluation of an innovation platform to strengthen primary care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. In doing so, we aim to identify lessons learned from the approach taken and add to existing literature on implementing evaluations in complex settings, such as innovation platforms. The pluralist design used four evaluation approaches-developmental evaluation, principles-focused evaluation, network analysis, and framework analysis-with differing strengths and challenges. Taken together, the multiple evaluation approaches yielded a detailed description and nuanced understanding of the formation, functioning and outcomes of the innovation platform that would be difficult to achieve with any single evaluation method. While a methodologically pluralist design may place additional pressure on logistical and analytic resources available, it enables a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that underlie complex interventions.
Purpose
To determine the effect of clinical and cytological features of ocular surface disease on patient’s satisfaction following small incision cataract surgery at a tertiary eye care centre.
...Method
This is a prospective observational study of 70 consecutive consenting patients who underwent manual small incision cataract surgery(MSICS) at a tertiary eye care centre. All participants underwent ocular surface profile assessment using Schirmer I test (ST1), tear film break-up time (TBUT), conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) at pre-operative visit, 1-week and 4-week post-operative visit. Patient’s satisfaction with surgical outcome was evaluated at 6-week post-operative visit using a rating scale of 1 to 10. Data were analysed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY USA).
Results
The mean age was 68 ± 9.4 years with a male/female ratio of 1:1.1. The mean OSDI score decreased significantly (
p
< 0.001) from 33.1 ± 8.4 pre-operatively to 20.8 ± 7.4 four weeks after surgery. The TBUT was 12 ± 4.1 s pre-operatively, but significantly reduced to 11.2 ± 3.9 s (
p
< 0.001) at 4-week post-operative period. At 6 weeks, patients with normal CIC reduced from 53 (75.8%) pre-operatively to 8 (11.4%) (
p
< 0.001,
z
= − 7.24). Fifty percent of patients with severe post-operative ocular surface disease reported dissatisfaction with their surgical outcome (
p
= 0.024).
Conclusion
Manual small incision cataract surgery can significantly impair the ocular surface health profile of patients. The presence of ocular surface disease in patients pre-operatively can negatively impact their level of satisfaction with surgical outcome.
Methyl jasmonate (MJ) is a chemical compound that has been postulated to play a role in plant wound and pathogen responses. While the anti-inflammatory property of MJ has been reported in literature, ...no studies have been carried out to describe its role in the modulation of pain. Thus, this present investigation sought to evaluate the antinociceptive activity of MJ in animal models of pain. The antinociceptive activity of MJ (10–50 mg/kg) administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) was screened using the acetic acid-induced writhing, tail immersion, formalin-induced paw licking and Randall–Selitto paw pressure tests in rodents. MJ demonstrated inhibitory activity against acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions in mice. It further produced a significant suppression of the inflammatory pain associated with the second phase of the formalin test in mice. However, MJ did not inhibit the neurogenic pain associated with the first phase of the formalin test and also failed to alter the reaction time of mice to noxious heat in the tail immersion test. In the Randall–Selitto paw pressure test, MJ significantly prolonged the paw withdrawal latency in the inflamed hind paw but did not alter the pain response in the non-inflamed hind paw of rats. The acute toxicity test showed that MJ given i.p. was well tolerated by the animals, as no toxic symptoms or death were observed at a dose range of 100–300 mg/kg in mice. Behavioural changes (ataxia, sedation and hyperventilation) were only observed at higher doses of MJ (400 and 500 mg/kg). Taken together, these findings suggest that methyl jasmonate has antinociceptive activity and may serve as a therapeutic in the treatment of inflammatory pain.
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