PCV13 Vaccination of Adults against Pneumococcal Disease: What We Have Learned from the Community-Acquired Pneumonia Immunization Trial in Adults (CAPiTA)

The Community-Acquired Pneumonia immunization Trial in Adults (CAPiTA) evaluated older adult pneumococcal vaccination and was one of the largest vaccine clinical trials ever conducted. Among older adults aged ≥65 years, the trial established 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) efficacy in preventing first episodes of bacteremic and nonbacteremic pneumococcal vaccine serotype (VT) community acquired pneumonia (CAP), and of vaccine serotype invasive pneumococcal disease (VT-IPD). Since the publication of the original trial results, 15 additional publications have extended the analyses. In this review, we summarize and integrate the full body of evidence generated by these studies, contextualize the results in light of their public health relevance, and discuss their implications for the assessment of current and future adult pneumococcal vaccination. This accumulating evidence has helped to better understand PCV13 efficacy, serotype-specific efficacy, efficacy in subgroups, the interpretation of immunogenicity data, and the public health value of adult PCV vaccination.

Effectiveness of two doses of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccine

Vaccine effectiveness (VE) was consistently high following two doses (94.6–97.4%) and three doses (96.1%) of the tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccine. These data support the public health value of providing two doses of the TBE vaccine to a traveller to an endemic area presenting with insufficient time to complete the full three-dose primary series.

Drivers of Pigeon Pea Consumption Among School-Aged Children in Central Tanzania

Background: Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) and iron deficiencies (ID) are of major public health concern in Tanzania including among school-aged children. PEM and ID in early childhood have serious, long-term consequences because they impede motor, sensory, social and emotional development, growth retardation, poor cognitive development, learning disability of children, lowered resistance to infectious diseases, and reduced physical work capacity. The objective of this study was to elucidate the drivers of pigeon pea consumption among school-aged children in Dodoma district, Central Tanzania. Understanding these drivers would be useful in promoting pigeon pea consumption among school-aged children as one of the strategies to increase dietary protein and iron intake.Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study in which data were collected using a questionnaire based on a combination of the Theory of Planned Behavior and Health Belief Model. The data were collected from caregivers (n = 138) in four villages in Kongwa district, Dodoma region, Central Tanzania. We used correlations and multiple regressions to assess associations between constructs and identify predictive constructs. Mann–Whitney U tests were used for score comparisons with a significant p-value set at <0.10.Results: Health value was significantly correlated with health behavior identity (rs = 0.63, p < 0.001) and also significantly predicted health behavior identity (rs = 0.49, p = 0.001). The constructs cues to action and control belief were significantly associated with intention (β = −0.41, p = 0.059 and β = 0.06, p = 0.019 respectively). Finally, we observed that intention was a significant predictor of behavior (β = 1.38, p = 0.001). We also observed a significant negative interaction between perceived barriers and intention to consume pigeon pea (β = −0.04, p = 0.006), indicating that perceived barriers limit intention to consume pigeon pea.Conclusion and Implication: Our findings indicate that when the caregiver places increased importance on preventing her school-aged child from being iron or protein deficient or indeed anemic (health value), it results in a positive evaluation of the effectiveness of giving pigeon pea to address these nutrient deficiencies. Programs and efforts aimed at promoting pigeon pea consumption should focus on educating caregivers on iron and protein deficiency and the role that pigeon pea could play in addressing these. However, perceived barriers such as pest infestation during storage need to be addressed to increase pigeon pea consumption. The involvement of post-harvest management specialists is therefore crucial. Along with this, increasing productivity and crop management is also crucial to ensure year-round affordable supply of pigeon pea.

Organic Food in the Diet of Residents of the Visegrad Group (V4) Countries—Reasons for and Barriers to Its Purchasing

This study aimed to determine the differences in the frequency of, reasons for, and barriers to purchasing organic food among the inhabitants of the Visegrád Group member states. The selection of the countries for the study was dictated by the fact that the countries of Central and Eastern Europe play the role of a niche market in the European organic food market. This research employed the method of a diagnostic survey and the discriminant function. A chi-squared test, ANOVA, and Fisher’s Post Hoc LSD test were also used to present differences in individual groups. This research shows that respondents from Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia were guided by similar behaviors regarding the purchase of organic food. However, the attitudes of the respondents slightly differed between countries. In the case of the reasons for choosing organic food, the most important thing was that it is non-genetically modified food, especially for Polish consumers. The following were also mentioned: lack of chemical compounds (Slovaks and Czechs), high health value of such food (Czechs and Slovaks), and excellent taste (Hungarians). The most critical barriers against purchasing are the price (Poles and Hungarians), difficult access (Poles and Hungarians), and the short expiry time of such products (Slovaks).

SARS-CoV-2 testing in the community: Testing positive samples with the TaqMan SARS-CoV-2 Mutation Panel to find variants in real-time

Genome sequencing is a powerful tool for identifying SARS-CoV-2 variant lineages, however there can be limitations due to sequence drop-out when used to identify specific key mutations. Recently, Thermo Fisher Scientific have developed genotyping assays to help bridge the gap between testing capacity and sequencing capability to generate real-time genotyping results based on specific variants. Over a 6-week period during the months of April and May 2021, we set out to assess the Thermo Fisher TaqMan Mutation Panel Genotyping Assay, initially for three mutations of concern and then an additional two mutations of concern, against SARS-CoV-2 positive clinical samples and the corresponding COG-UK sequencing data. We demonstrate that genotyping is a powerful in-depth technique for identifying specific mutations, an excellent complement to genome sequencing and has real clinical health value potential allowing laboratories to report and action variants of concern much quicker.

Towards More Sustainable Diets: Investigating Consumer Motivations towards the Purchase of Green Food

The concept of green consumption has become an environmental topic that draws worldwide attention. In order to mitigate environmental damage, it is imperative to increase the recyclability of the food system, and therefore, novel, sustainable, and produced foods need to be supplied to the food system. Among such foods, precooked plant-based foods (PPBFs), which feature health, convenience, and functionality, have become a new trend of the food culture. This study uses the value–attitude–behavior (VAB) model as the theoretical framework and incorporates research variables, such as “environmental concern”, “time pressure”, and “cooking habit”, so as to discuss consumers’ behavioral intention toward PPBFs. The research results reveal the following: (1) consumers’ health value and interest in PPBFs will significantly affect their behavioral intention; (2) there is a significant relationship between environmental concern and behavioral intention; and (3) time pressure and cooking habits indicate an insignificant relationship with behavioral intention.

Health assessment of vegetation composition in the reclamation area of PT Natarang Mining, Tanggamus Regency, Lampung Province

Reclamation is a recovery activity in mining areas, one of which is revegetation. The success of revegetation plants can be seen from the health of the composition and structure of the vegetation when the trees are six years old and over. This study aims to determine the health of the vegetation composition (location, type, and level of tree damage) in the reclamation area of PT Natarang Mining, Tanggamus Regency, Lampung Province. The location of this research is in the area around the main office of PT Natarang Mining, Way Linggo Forest, Bandar Negeri Semuong, Tanggamus Regency, covering an area of 2.97 Ha. The research was conducted through vegetation analysis using the circular plot method and assessing the health of the vegetation composition based on the damage index at the plot level. The results showed that tree vegetation obtained 12 species. The most common tree species found was Falcataria moluccana (Sengon) which amounted to 22 individuals. The most significant contribution of tree species indicated by the highest importance value index was Falcataria moluccana. The location of most damage found in most of the plots was at the bottom of the stem (code 3) and the bottom and top of the stem (code 4). Types of open wound damage (code 03) and gall rust (code 26) were the most dominant causes of damage, with an average damage rate of 35% and 22%, respectively. The health value of the vegetation composition has a value range of 1.20 – 2.00. The average health value of the vegetation composition is 1.50, which is included in the medium category.

Two aspects of health literacy and their importance for the use of health-promotion measures by teachers in the school setting

PurposeTeachers are exposed to many stressors. Compared to other occupational groups, they are more frequently affected by psychosomatic complaints. In recent decades, numerous prevention and intervention measures for promoting health have been developed and implemented for this target group. However, it remains unclear how the uptake of health-promotion measures (HPMs) by teachers can be increased in order to prevent stress-related disorders. This paper examines two facets of health literacy—health awareness and health value—in terms of their importance in both the take-up and intended take-up of HPMs.Design/methodology/approachIn the 2017/2018 school year, data were collected by paper and pencil from a representative sample of 830 teachers across all school types in the German State of Brandenburg.FindingsTeachers who place great value on their own health show significantly higher levels of take-up and intended take-up of HPMs. The findings regarding health awareness are more heterogeneous. Further associations were found with age and psychosocial stress.Originality/valueWhile there has been growing academic interest in developing HPMs for teachers, there has been relatively little focus on the factors that may influence the implementation and uptake of these measures. The paper contributes to addressing this gap by shedding light on the relevance of two facets of health literacy. Strengthening the perceived importance of health could be a starting point for increasing the use of HPMs by teachers and thus improving their health.

The nutritional and health value of beef lipids - fatty acid composition in grass-fed and grain-fed beef

Interest in meat fatty acid (FA) composition stems mainly from the need to find ways to produce healthier meat with a suitable ratio of polyunsaturated (PUFA) to saturated fatty acids (SFA) and a favourable balance between n-6 and n-3 PUFA. Studies of grass feeding versus grain feeding cattle have been conducted in different regions throughout the world and suggest that grass-based diets can significantly improve the fatty acid (FA) composition of beef. Compared with grain diets, grass diets contribute to a lower total fat content and more favourable SFA composition i.e. higher proportion of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and cholesterol-neutral stearic acid (C18:0). Feeding fresh grass compared to concentrates results in higher levels of n-3 PUFA in muscle lipids and a more favourable n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio that is within the nutritional recommendations for the human diet.