scholarly journals Selenium Deficiency Is Widespread and Spatially Dependent in Ethiopia

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1565
Author(s):  
Adamu Belay ◽  
Edward J. M. Joy ◽  
Christopher Chagumaira ◽  
Dilnesaw Zerfu ◽  
E. Louise Ander ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Essential Element ◽  
Selenium Deficiency ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Eastern Ethiopia ◽  
North West ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
North East ◽  
Se Deficiency ◽  
Western Ethiopia ◽  
Se Status

Selenium (Se) is an essential element for human health and livestock productivity. Globally, human Se status is highly variable, mainly due to the influence of soil types on the Se content of crops, suggesting the need to identify areas of deficiency to design targeted interventions. In sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia, data on population Se status are largely unavailable, although previous studies indicated the potential for widespread Se deficiency. Serum Se concentration of a nationally representative sample of the Ethiopian population was determined, and these observed values were combined with a spatial statistical model to predict and map the Se status of populations across the country. The study used archived serum samples (n = 3269) from the 2015 Ethiopian National Micronutrient Survey (ENMS). The ENMS was a cross-sectional survey of young and school-age children, women and men. Serum Se concentration was measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). The national median (Q1, Q3) serum Se concentration was 87.7 (56.7, 123.0) μg L−1. Serum Se concentration differed between regions, ranging from a median (Q1, Q3) of 54.6 (43.1, 66.3) µg L−1 in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region to 122.0 (105, 141) µg L−1 in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region and the Afar Region. Overall, 35.5% of the population were Se deficient, defined as serum Se < 70 µg L−1. A geostatistical analysis showed that there was marked spatial dependence in Se status, with serum concentrations greatest among those living in North-East and Eastern Ethiopia and along the Rift Valley, while serum Se concentrations were lower among those living in North-West and Western Ethiopia. Selenium deficiency in Ethiopia is widespread, but the risk of Se deficiency is highly spatially dependent. Policies to enhance Se nutrition should target populations in North-West and Western Ethiopia.

scholarly journals Selenium deficiency risks in sub-Saharan African food systems and their geospatial linkages

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 457-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. S. Ligowe ◽  
F. P. Phiri ◽  
E. L. Ander ◽  
E. H. Bailey ◽  
A. D. C. Chilimba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Systems ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Selenium Deficiency ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Iron And Zinc ◽  
Se Deficiency ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Sub Saharan

Selenium (Se) is an essential element for human health. However, our knowledge of the prevalence of Se deficiency is less than for other micronutrients of public health concern such as iodine, iron and zinc, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Studies of food systems in SSA, in particular in Malawi, have revealed that human Se deficiency risks are widespread and influenced strongly by geography. Direct evidence of Se deficiency risks includes nationally representative data of Se concentrations in blood plasma and urine as population biomarkers of Se status. Long-range geospatial variation in Se deficiency risks has been linked to soil characteristics and their effects on the Se concentration of food crops. Selenium deficiency risks are also linked to socio-economic status including access to animal source foods. This review highlights the need for geospatially-resolved data on the movement of Se and other micronutrients in food systems which span agriculture–nutrition–health disciplinary domains (defined as a GeoNutrition approach). Given that similar drivers of deficiency risks for Se, and other micronutrients, are likely to occur in other countries in SSA and elsewhere, micronutrient surveillance programmes should be designed accordingly.

scholarly journals Dietary Selenium Regulates microRNAs in Metabolic Disease: Recent Progress

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1527
Author(s):  
Xin Huang ◽  
Yu-Lan Dong ◽  
Tong Li ◽  
Wei Xiong ◽  
Xu Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physiological State ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Dietary Factors ◽  
Regulatory Mechanisms ◽  
Metabolic Risk ◽  
Messenger Rnas ◽  
Immune Disorders ◽  
Se Deficiency ◽  
Safety Range ◽  
Se Status

Selenium (Se) is an essential element for the maintenance of a healthy physiological state. However, due to environmental and dietary factors and the narrow safety range of Se, diseases caused by Se deficiency or excess have gained considerable traction in recent years. In particular, links have been identified between low Se status, cognitive decline, immune disorders, and increased mortality, whereas excess Se increases metabolic risk. Considerable evidence has suggested microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate interactions between the environment (including the diet) and genes, and play important roles in several diseases, including cancer. MiRNAs target messenger RNAs to induce changes in proteins including selenoprotein expression, ultimately generating disease. While a plethora of data exists on the epigenetic regulation of other dietary factors, nutrient Se epigenetics and especially miRNA regulated mechanisms remain unclear. Thus, this review mainly focuses on Se metabolism, pathogenic mechanisms, and miRNAs as key regulatory factors in Se-related diseases. Finally, we attempt to clarify the regulatory mechanisms underpinning Se, miRNAs, selenoproteins, and Se-related diseases.

scholarly journals 971Ethnicity and Cardiovascular Disease in the Australian Population

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekavi Georgousopoulou ◽  
Sally Lord
Keyword(s):  
Risk Prediction ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Ethnic Background ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Country Of Birth ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
North West ◽  
North East ◽  
Risk Charts ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Focus of Presentation Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction is recommended for Australians over 45 and Indigenous Australians over 35 years of age. UK evidence for the QRISK tool suggests that including ethnic background as a moderator, improves risk prediction. Australian risk-charts do not account for ethnicity, despite the diversity of the population. Our aim was to compare CVD prevalence among Australian ethnic groups, defined by country of birth and summarized in the following regions: 1.Oceania and Antarctica, 2.North-West-, 3.Southern and Eastern Europe, 4.North Africa and Middle East, 5.South-East-, 6.North-East-, 7.Southern and Central Asia, 8.America and 9.Sub-Saharan Africa. Findings Aggregated data from the Australian Health Survey Core Content–Risk Factors and Health Conditions 2011-12 TableBuilder of Australian Bureau of Statistics were representative of approximately 21.5M Australians according to weights’ analysis; however, age standardisation was impossible. Ischemic CVD prevalence for Australians born in Oceania and Antarctica was approximately 2.6%, North-West Europe 5.1%, Southern and Eastern Europe 6.7%, North Africa and Middle East 4.3%, South-East Asia 1.3%, north-East Asia 0.3%, South and Central Asia 1.2%, America 2.3% and Sub-Saharan Africa 1.2%. In all ethnic sub-groups, males represented 51-83% of individuals with CVD. Conclusions/Implications Country of birth may be used as a proxy of ethnic background for investigating potential socio-cultural CVD risk factors and if accounted for, might increase risk-charts’ performance. Key messages Australians’ ethnic background is associated with CVD prevalence. Including ethnicity in risk-tools might increase accuracy in CVD risk prediction.

scholarly journals ARMED CONFLICTS IN AFRICA: FRAGILE STATES AND RISING INSTABILITY

2017 ◽  
pp. 445-480
Author(s):  
Jeroen Van den Bosch ◽  
Jacek Raubo
Keyword(s):  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Internal Conflict ◽  
Islamic State ◽  
Structural Factors ◽  
Fragile States ◽  
North West ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
Sub Saharan

The first part of this article provides an overview of the development of entrenched armed conflicts in Sub Saharan Africa which continue or have resurfaced in 2016. The author (JVdB) aims to expose the underlying causes and nature of the violent contestation by drawing of the works of C. T. Call in order to break open the black box of ‘failed states’ and analyze their legitimacy, capacity and security gaps separately. In addition the author will provide short scenarios of how these conflicts are likely to evolve in the short and medium-term and which (structural) factors will dominate these trends. The second part of this article (by JR) mainly aims at presenting the basic preconditions for the activities of the major terrorist organizations in Africa. With emphasis on the importance of the north-east and north-west regions of this continent in context of terrorist threats. Hence the initial focus was put on Somalia, which as a permanent fragile state remains under the increased influence of the Jihadist organization Al Shabaab, which is an organization with a high potential for increased capacity in the coming years. Next, was sketched out the situation in Egypt, considering, in essence, the activity of the so-called Islamic State in Sinai Peninsula. In this Analysis it also pointed to the intricate internal situation in modern Libya after so-called Arab Spring and international military intervention, where, despite earlier appearances, the terrorist threat was too much positioned, mostly by comprised to the internal conflict between the different Libyan political parties. Finally, efforts were made to illustrate the current terrorist activity in the Mali area, highlighting the importance of Al Qaeda branch AQIM and the situation in Nigeria where Boko Haram group operates.

scholarly journals Geopolitical zones differentials in intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) and long lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) utilization in Nigeria

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. e0254475
Author(s):  
Chinedu Chukwu ◽  
Herbert Onuoha ◽  
Kwala Adline Katty Okorafor ◽  
Oluwaseun Ojomo ◽  
Olugbenga A. Mokuolu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Media Use ◽  
Intermittent Preventive Treatment ◽  
Preventive Treatment ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
North Central ◽  
North West ◽  
North East ◽  
South West ◽  
Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets ◽  
In Pregnancy

Background The coverage of long lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) and intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp) uptake for the prevention of malaria commonly vary by geography. Many sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries, including Nigeria are adopting the use of LLIN and IPTp to fight malaria. Albeit, the coverage of these interventions to prevent malaria across geographical divisions have been understudied in many countries. In this study, we aimed to explore the differentials in LLIN and IPTp uptake across Nigerian geopolitical zones. Methods We analyzed data from Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2016–17. The outcome variables were IPTp and LLIN uptake among women of childbearing age (15–49 years). A total sample of 24,344 women who had given birth were examined for IPTp use and 36,176 women for LLIN use. Percentages, Chi-square test and multivariable logit models plots were used to examine the geopolitical zones differentials in IPTp and LLIN utilization. Data was analyzed at 5% level of significance. Results The overall prevalence of IPTp was 76.0% in Nigeria. Moreover, there were differences across geopolitical zones: North Central (71.3%), North East (76.9%), North West (78.2%), South East (76.1%), South South (79.7%) and South West (72.4%) respectively. Furthermore, the prevalence of LLIN was 87.7%% in Nigeria. Also, there were differences across geopolitical zones: North Central (89.1%), North East (91.8%), North West (90.0%), South East (77.3%), South South (81.1%) and South West (69.8%) respectively. Women who have access to media use, married, educated and non-poor were more likely to uptake IPTp. On the other hand, rural dwellers and those with media use were more likely to use LLIN. Conversely, married, educated, non-poor and women aged 25–34 and 35+ were less likely to use LLIN. Conclusion Though the utilization of IPTp and LLIN was relatively high, full coverage are yet to be achieved. There was geopolitical zones differentials in the prevalence of IPTp and LLIN in Nigeria. Promoting the utilization of IPTp and LLINs across the six geopolitical zones through intensive health education and widespread mass media campaigns will help to achieve the full scale IPTp and LLIN utilization.

Girl-Child Streetism and Possible Interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 163-176
Author(s):  
Sunday Olawale ◽  
◽  
Juliet Perumal
Keyword(s):  
Teenage Pregnancy ◽  
Street Children ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Careful Study ◽  
Skills Acquisition ◽  
North West ◽  
North East ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Government

Streetism is a growing problem worldwide and Africa is one of the continents with the highest population of street children. United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) refers to street children as children whom the street, more than their family, becomes their real home. The recent statistics released by UNICEF revealed that States in the North-east and North-west regions of Nigeria have female primary net attendance rates of 47.7 per cent and 47.3 per cent, which shows that more than half of the girls in those parts of the country are not in school. This paper examined streetism from the gender perspective, to draw the attention of the government, civil societies, and other stakeholders towards responding to the menace of street girls. This study was carried out by conducting document analysis and careful study of various secondary data sources obtained online. Google scholar, Scopus, and African Journals Online (AJOL) were used to retrieve journal articles, news items and other electronic materials written on the complexities of streetism as it affects girl children in Sub-Saharan Africa. High vulnerability to violence, rape, sexually transmitted diseases, and teenage pregnancy are the major problems found in the literature to be of peculiarity to street girls. Special programmes such as street education and literacy, and vocational skills acquisition programmes for street children were suggested as possible interventions to respond to the menace of streetism in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

scholarly journals Selenium status highly regulates selenoprotein mRNA levels for only a subset of the selenoproteins in the selenoproteome

2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 329-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger A. Sunde ◽  
Anna M. Raines ◽  
Kimberly M. Barnes ◽  
Jacqueline K. Evenson
Keyword(s):  
Thioredoxin Reductase ◽  
Selenium Deficiency ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Nonsense Mediated Decay ◽  
Liver And Kidney ◽  
Se Deficiency ◽  
Selenoprotein Mrnas ◽  
Se Status

Gpx (glutathione peroxidase)-1 enzyme activity and mRNA levels decrease dramatically in Se (selenium) deficiency, whereas other selenoproteins are less affected by Se deficiency. This hierarchy of Se regulation is not understood, but the position of the UGA selenocysteine codon is thought to play a major role in making selenoprotein mRNAs susceptible to nonsense-mediated decay. Thus in the present paper we studied the complete selenoproteome in the mouse to uncover additional selenoprotein mRNAs that are highly regulated by Se status. Mice were fed on Se-deficient, Se-marginal and Se-adequate diets (0, 0.05 and 0.2 μg of Se/g respectively) for 35 days, and selenoprotein mRNA levels in liver and kidney were determined using microarray analysis and quantitative real-time PCR analysis. Se-deficient mice had liver Se concentrations and liver Gpx1 and thioredoxin reductase activities that were 4, 3 and 3% respectively of the levels in Se-adequate mice, indicating that the mice were Se deficient. mRNAs for Selh (selenoprotein H) and Sepw1 (selenoprotein W) as well as Gpx1 were decreased by Se deficiency to <40% of Se-adequate levels. Five and two additional mRNAs were moderately down-regulated in Sedeficient liver and kidney respectively. Importantly, nine selenoprotein mRNAs in liver and fifteen selenoprotein mRNAs in the kidney were not significantly regulated by Se deficiency, clearly demonstrating that Se regulation of selenoprotein mRNAs is not a general phenomenon. The similarity of the response to Se deficiency suggests that there is one underlying mechanism responsible. Importantly, the position of the UGA codon did not predict susceptibility to Se regulation, clearly indicating that additional features are involved in causing selenoprotein mRNAs to be sensitive to Se status.

A new volcanic province: evidence from glacial erratics in western North Greenland

2000 ◽  
pp. 35-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter R. Dawes ◽  
Bjørn Thomassen ◽  
T.I. Hauge Andersson
Keyword(s):  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Iron Formation ◽  
Banded Iron Formation ◽  
Common Component ◽  
Volcanic Province ◽  
North West ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
Surficial Deposits ◽  
North Greenland

NOTE: This article was published in a former series of GEUS Bulletin. Please use the original series name when citing this article, for example: Dawes, P. R., Thomassen, B., & Andersson, T. H. (2000). A new volcanic province: evidence from glacial erratics in western North Greenland. Geology of Greenland Survey Bulletin, 186, 35-41. https://doi.org/10.34194/ggub.v186.5213 _______________ Mapping and regional geological studies in northern Greenland were carried out during the project Kane Basin 1999 (see Dawes et al. 2000, this volume). During ore geological studies in Washington Land by one of us (B.T.), finds of erratics of banded iron formation (BIF) directed special attention to the till, glaciofluvial and fluvial sediments. This led to the discovery that in certain parts of Daugaard-Jensen Land and Washington Land volcanic rocks form a common component of the surficial deposits, with particularly colourful, red porphyries catching the eye. The presence of BIF is interesting but not altogether unexpected since BIF erratics have been reported from southern Hall Land just to the north-east (Kelly & Bennike 1992) and such rocks crop out in the Precambrian shield of North-West Greenland to the south (Fig. 1; Dawes 1991). On the other hand, the presence of volcanic erratics was unexpected and stimulated the work reported on here.

Stratigraphy, structure and geochemistry of Archaean supracrustal rocks from Oqaatsut and Naajaat Qaqqaat, north-east Disko Bugt, West Greenland

1999 ◽  
pp. 65-78
Author(s):  
Henrik Rasmussen ◽  
Lars Frimodt Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
Tectonic Setting ◽  
Trace Element Geochemistry ◽  
Element Geochemistry ◽  
West Greenland ◽  
North West ◽  
North East ◽  
Metavolcanic Rocks ◽  
Arc Setting ◽  
Area North ◽  
Back Arc

NOTE: This article was published in a former series of GEUS Bulletin. Please use the original series name when citing this article, for example: Rasmussen, H., & Frimodt Pedersen, L. (1999). Stratigraphy, structure and geochemistry of Archaean supracrustal rocks from Oqaatsut and Naajaat Qaqqaat, north-east Disko Bugt, West Greenland. Geology of Greenland Survey Bulletin, 181, 65-78. https://doi.org/10.34194/ggub.v181.5114 _______________ Two Archaean supracrustal sequences in the area north-east of Disko Bugt, c. 1950 and c. 800 m in thickness, are dominated by pelitic and semipelitic mica schists, interlayered with basic metavolcanic rocks. A polymict conglomerate occurs locally at the base of one of the sequences. One of the supracrustal sequences has undergone four phases of deformation; the other three phases. In both sequences an early phase, now represented by isoclinal folds, was followed by north-west-directed thrusting. A penetrative deformation represented by upright to steeply inclined folds is only recognised in one of the sequences. Steep, brittle N–S and NW–SE striking faults transect all rock units including late stage dolerites and lamprophyres. Investigation of major- and trace-element geochemistry based on discrimination diagrams for tectonic setting suggests that both metasediments and metavolcanic rocks were deposited in an environment similar to a modern back-arc setting.

scholarly journals Social Solidarity Economy and Village-centric Development in North-West Cameroon

2021 ◽  
pp. 251660262110154
Author(s):  
Charles Fonchingong Che ◽  
Marcellus Mbah
Keyword(s):  
Community Development ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Social Economy ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Community Relations ◽  
Social Solidarity ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Solidarity Economy ◽  
North West ◽  
Secondary Sources

Amidst shrinking budgets for community development in most of sub-Saharan Africa, the social solidarity economy is touted as a model in local development. This article situates solidarity initiatives and capability-focused outcomes that deliver enhanced livelihoods, social security and community development. The conceptual framing of social theory, social capital and social economy informs this case study with focus on the Ndong Awing Cultural and Development Association, North-West region, Cameroon. The analysis of semi-structured interviews and secondary sources suggests that solidarity networks such as njangis, cooperatives, quarter development unions and diaspora networks promote village-centric development. These overlapping networks generate scarce financial and human resources–essential packages for livelihoods and welfare. Emerging state policy is yet to calibrate these mechanisms of ground-up, mutual development drives. Galvanising these solidarity assets require meaningful co-productionand revamped state−community relations. This article offers a paradigm shift in how village groups mobilise income, capital and financing of village projects, nurtured through human development and agency.

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