FIRST REPORT ON THE FEEDING BEHAVIOR OF EARLESS MONITOR, LANTHANOTUS BORNEENSIS AND ITS PREDATION ON RICE FIELD FROG, FEJERVARYA LIMNOCHARIS IN A CAPTIVE ENVIRONMENT

Being endemic to Borneo, the Earless monitor, Lanthanotus borneensis (Steindachner, 1878) is rarely found in its habitats due to its cryptic behavior. We provide care for confiscated animals in the Reptile House of Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense (MZB) in Cibinong, West Java, Indonesia since 2014. Little is known on its natural prey but from scattered descriptive reports. This study is aimed at documenting the feeding behavior of ten captive Earless monitors and events of predation on frogs. We set up two experiments, one with meat of Rice Field Frog, Fejervarya limnocharis, and the other with live frog of the same species. Our recorded observations ran for four weeks for the frog meat feeding experiment and followed by the frog predation experiment. Our results showed that lizards constantly accepted frog meat. Lizards tended to feed before sunset for a short period of time on the muddy soil surface, although a few individuals inconsistently fed under water. The average body mass for these lizards increased by 4.29 g and average SVL by 0.45 cm. We recorded predation on frogs in three out of ten individuals observed during this study. If F. limnocharis is confirmed to occur in the natural habitats of L. borneensis, it is possible that this frog species is among the natural prey for Earless monitors. Further studies on its natural diets should be conducted to gain in-depth knowledge essential for generating effective captive husbandry for this nationally protected species in Indonesia.

Fibula Nail Outcomes in Soft Tissue Compromised Ankle Fractures

Background: To determine the clinical outcomes following fibula nail fixation and to identify the indication for the use of fibula nails in lower limb fractures. Methods: Retrospective study of adult patients from 2 major trauma centers (MTCs) and 9 trauma units (TUs) who underwent fibula nail fixation for AO/OTA 44 fractures between January 1, 2018, and October 31, 2020. Outcome measures included infection, metalwork complications, nonunion or malunion, time to union, and length of inpatient hospital stay. Results: Ninety-five patients were included, with a mean age of 66 years; 57.9% of patients were female. The average body mass index was 30. Sixty-nine patients (72.6%) sustained a Weber B and 24 (27.4%) sustained a Weber C fracture. In addition, 26.3% were open fractures and all patients had soft tissue compromise affecting the lateral malleolus. The calculated infection rate for fibula nail was 4.2% and metalwork complication rate was 5.2%. The nonunion and malunion rate was 8.4% and rate of removal of hardware was 2.1%. The average time to union was 12.5 weeks, and length of inpatient stay was 9.4 days (SD 10). Conclusion: This multicenter study demonstrates that use of a fibula nail appears to be a safe approach to treating patients who have a physiologically higher risk of surgery, poor skin condition, and a complex fracture pattern.

Home Working and Physical Activity during SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Cohort Study

Background: Due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, human lifestyles and occupational settings have changed in the workplace. This survey explores associations of home working employment and related physical activity (PA–MET min/week). Methods: A longitudinal cohort study was conducted between March 2020 and March 2021. A standardized method for assessing PA and sedentary time, the Italian version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), was used through the Microsoft Forms® platform for self-administering the questionnaire. Baseline data were collected, and four follow-ups were performed; a full calendar year was observed. Results: In total, 310 home workers were recruited in this investigation. The average body mass index (BMI- kg/m2) was 21.4 ± 4.2 at baseline. The value increased at the first follow-up and fluctuated in the other recalls. The t-test of MET values of the four activities (Total PA, Vigorous-intensity activity, Moderate-intensity activity, Walking) show similar results; the total PA, at baseline 275.7 ± 138.6, decreased statistically significantly at the first (198.5 ± 84.6), third (174.9 ± 98.4), and fourth (188.7 ± 78.5) follow-ups, while it increased statistically significantly at the second follow-up (307.1 ± 106.1) compared to the baseline. Sedentary time was constant until the second follow-up, while it increased statistically significantly at the 3rd and 4th follow-up. Conclusion: workers involved reduced and reorganized their PA during this pandemic year. Each business company should intervene to improve the PA levels of workers and reduce sedentary behavior in the workplace.

Putting the “Beaver” Back in Beverley Brook: Rapid Shifts in Community Composition Following the Restoration of a Degraded Urban River

Widespread habitat degradation has caused dramatic declines in aquatic biodiversity. Reconfiguring channels and adding physical structures to rivers has become common practice in order to reinstate natural processes and restore biodiversity. However, the effectiveness of such measures is often questioned, especially in urban settings where overriding factors (e.g., water quality) might constrain biotic responses to increased habitat heterogeneity. We monitored invertebrate and fish communities before and up to five years after extensive restoration of Beverley Brook, a small, urban river flowing through a Royal Park in London, UK. Total invertebrate density was 5–148% higher with restoration across the monitoring period, and there was an increase in evenness but not invertebrate richness. Riverflies (Ephmemeroptera and Trichoptera) and crustaceans (Amphipoda, Asellidae) showed marked increases in density with restoration, suggesting improved flow, enhanced water quality, and greater quantity of basal resources. Fish biomass increased by 282% with restoration as did fish richness and the average body mass of three common fish species. Our results provide evidence for the effectiveness of common restoration methods in increasing standing stocks across trophic levels, from basal resources to apex predators. However, we primarily observed changes in the density of existing taxa rather than the development of novel assemblages, suggesting that large-scale factors, such as water quality and the lack of adequate source populations, might be important for understanding changes in biodiversity following river restoration.

Changes in Adherence to the 24-Hour Movement Guidelines and Overweight and Obesity among Children in Northeastern Japan: A Longitudinal Study before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

There are few studies comparing adherence to Canadian 24-hour Movement Guidelines (24-h MG) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and exploring the pandemic’s effect on childhood obesity. This survey-based 2-year study investigated changes in obesity and adherence to the 24-h MG in children before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected at two points in time: pre-COVID-19 (May 2019; T1; n = 247) and during-COVID-19 (May 2021; T2; n = 171). Participants were healthy elementary school children aged between 6–12 years in northeastern Japan. The questionnaire comprised items on physical activity, screen time, sleep duration, adherence to the 24-h MG, and anthropometric and demographic characteristics. Among all participants, a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) between the average body mass index at T1 (M = 16.06 kg/m2, SD = 2.08 kg/m2) and T2 (M = 18.01 kg/m2, SD = 3.21 kg/m2) was observed, where 17.8% were overweight and obese at T1 and 24% at T2, and 10.9% adhered to all 24 h MG at T1 and 4.1% at T2. To prevent obesity in children during the COVID-19 pandemic, environmental changes should be evaluated and appropriate preventive measures taken, including pro-community health programs that encourage parent-children outdoor activities.

Nutritional Status of Patients Co-Infected with TB/HIV During Tuberculosis Treatment at Conakry-Guinea UHC

Introduction: The aim was to assess weight gain during tuberculosis treatment in patients co-infected with tuberculosis and HIV. Methods: Tuberculosis patients co-infected with HIV and undergoing tuberculosis treatment in the pneumophtisiology and infectious and tropical diseases departments of the CHU in Conakry were included. Results: 562 patients were included, with a mean age of 35.6±11.3 years, and 52.5% were women. The average Body Mass Index [BMI] at baseline was 17.8 3.3 kg/m2. 71.5% of patients had a favorable result and 28.5% had an unfavorable result [death, abandonment]. Healed and lost patients gained an average of 2.6 kg and 0.1 kg respectively. Deceased patients lost an average of 3.6 kg. The weight variations of the cured patients were different from those of the deceased [p < 0.001]. A weight gain of 5% after 6 months of treatment was associated with the treatment site [OR=3.81; 95% CI 1.08 to 13.45], alcohol consumption [OR=10.33; 95% CI 1.20 to 89.16], malnutrition before treatment [OR=2.72; 95% CI 1.43 to 5.17] and the form of tuberculosis [OR=3.27; 95% CI 1.15 to 9.33]. Conclusion: Newly diagnosed patients co-infected with TB-HIV at Conakry's CHU are often malnourished. Weight gain during treatment seems to be a reliable indicator of the overall response to treatment.

Pelvic Congestion Syndrome: A Missed Opportunity

Background/Aims Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is pelvic pain for greater than 6 months with many potential causes one being pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS). PCS is diagnosed by clinical symptoms, exclusion of other etiologies, and imaging. Given the complex nature and diagnosis of CPP, we examined ordering and referral patterns in our local population to understand how the imaging findings of PCS correlate with patient symptoms and referral and treatment. Materials and Methods After IRB approval, we searched all 18 to 70-year-old females with CT of the pelvis between March 2015 and March 2018 with the terms “pelvic” plus “congestion,” “varices,” or “vein dilation” in the dictation. Via electronic medical record and image review we collected data regarding demographics, clinical presentation, symptoms, imaging findings, ordering provider, and any follow-up/referrals or interventions regarding PCS. Results A total of 96 patients were included of the 197 studies, with an average age of 47 years and average body mass index of 19.3 (n = 93) at the time of imaging. The reason for imaging was often acute abdominal or flank pain (n = 22) with 38% of cases ordered from the emergency room. Only 72 patients had documentation of clinical evaluation for symptoms of PCS. Notably, only 20 were referred for their symptoms, and only two patients were referred to IR. Both patients underwent successful endovascular intervention. Conclusion CPP is a common cause of morbidity with PCS representing an underdiagnosed cause. We demonstrate that while imaging findings may be incidental, we are failing to capture and triage patients with clinical symptoms of PCS. Radiologists can play a key role in the care of these patients.

Weight-related psychological inflexibility as a mediator between weight self-stigma and health-related outcomes

Weight self-stigma, the internalization of negative societal stereotypes, is a problem among populations with high weight. Weight self-stigma is associated with psychological inflexibility and maladaptive health-related behaviors. In this study, the authors explore how weight-related psychological inflexibility may influence weight self-stigma and health-related outcomes in 79 adults with high weight. Participants were primarily White (92.4%) and female (82.3%), with an average age of 39.56 years and average body mass index of 33.78. The study uses baseline, self-report data from a larger trial. Results indicate that weight self-stigma was negatively correlated with maladaptive eating behaviors, weight, and mental health. Weight-related psychological inflexibility was found as a significant mediator for the relationship between weight self-stigma and emotional eating, sedentary behavior, and mental health. Weight-related psychological inflexibility did not mediate the relationships between weight self-stigma and other eating measures and physical activity. These results support targeting weight-related psychological inflexibility and weight self-stigma in interventions.

Obesity rates in renal stone formers from various countries

Objective: To collect evidence on the rate of obesity in renal stone formers (RSFs) living in different climatic areas and consuming different diets. Materials and methods: Data of adult renal stone formers were retrospectively collected by members of U-merge from 13 participant centers in Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria (2), China, India, Iraq (2), Italy (2), Nigeria, Pakistan and Poland. The following data were collected: age, gender, weight, height, stone analysis and procedure of stone removal. Results: In total, 1689 renal stone formers (1032 males, 657 females) from 10 countries were considered. Average age was 48 (±14) years, male to female ratio was 1.57 (M/F 1032/657), the average body mass index (BMI) was 26.5 (±4.8) kg/m2. The obesity rates of RSFs in different countries were significantly different from each other. The highest rates were observed in Pakistan (50%), Iraq (32%), and Brazil (32%), while the lowest rates were observed in China (2%), Nigeria (3%) and Italy (10%). Intermediate rates were observed in Argentina (17%), Bulgaria (17%), India (15%) and Poland (22%). The age-adjusted obesity rate of RSFs was higher than the age-adjusted obesity rate in the general population in Brazil, India, and Pakistan, whereas it was lower in Argentina, Bulgaria, China, Italy, and Nigeria, and similar in Iraq and Poland. Conclusions: The age-adjusted obesity rate of RSFs was not higher than the age-adjusted obesity rate of the general population in most countries. The relationship between obesity and the risk of kidney stone formation should be reconsidered by further studies carried out in different populations.