MORE TOFU KIDS

Eating more soy foods could improve thinking and attention in kids

Study strengthens evidence for health benefits of isoflavone-rich soy foods

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR NUTRITION

Chicago (July 2, 2024) — A new study found that school-aged children who consumed more isoflavones from soy foods exhibited better thinking abilities and attention. These findings pave the way for future research aimed at unraveling how soy foods can positively impact children's cognitive abilities.

Isoflavones are naturally occurring compounds found in various plants, particularly soybeans and soy products. Although previous research in adults has suggested that soy isoflavones can improve memory, the benefits haven’t been studied well in children.

“Soy foods are often not a regular part of children’s diets in the United States,” said Ajla Bristina, a neuroscience doctoral student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “Our study adds evidence of the importance of nutrients found in soy foods for childhood cognition.”

Bristina will present the findings at NUTRITION 2024, the flagship annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition held June 29–July 2 in Chicago.

To examine the potential benefits of soy isoflavones, the researchers examined previously available data from a cross-sectional study that included 128 children ages 7 to 13. They used information from 7-day diet records to calculate each child’s average dietary intake, including the amounts of macronutrients, micronutrients, vitamins and isoflavones consumed. To assess the children’s general intellectual ability, the researchers used a set of pencil and paper tests adjusted for grade level. They also measured attentional abilities using a computerized task known as the flanker task while electroencephalographic (EEG) activity was recorded and used to measure information processing speed and attention.

“No other studies have examined the association between soy isoflavones and attentional abilities using EEG or similar measures to record electrical activity generated by the brain,” said Bristina.

Overall, the analysis revealed that the children in the study tended to consume low amounts of isoflavone-containing soy foods. However, those who did consume more soy foods showed faster responses during the attentional tasks and exhibited faster processing speed. No association was observed between soy isoflavone intake and general intellectual ability.

“The children in our study consumed an average of 1.33 mg of isoflavones per day, which while relatively low, aligns with previously reported values for the United States,” said Bristina. “Soy consumption for individual participants ranged from 0 to 35 mg/day. To put this into perspective, an 8 fl. oz serving of soy milk provides about 28 mg of isoflavones, a serving of tofu provides about 35 mg and half a cup of steamed edamame provides about 18 mg of isoflavones.”

Bristina says that snacks like roasted edamame, soynuts or soymilk are a good way to incorporate more soy into the diet. Tofu, tempeh or soy-based nuggets are also good options for meals.

“Correlational studies like this are only the first step,” said Bristina. “To better understand the effects of eating soy foods on children’s cognitive abilities and the precise amount of isoflavone intake necessary to elicit faster response times will require intervention approaches.” To find out more, the research team recently began a clinical trial examining the effects of soy foods on thinking abilities, sex hormones, metabolic health and gut health.

Bristina will present this research at 8:12-8:24 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, July 2, during the Nutritional Neuroscience: Nutritional Effects on Cognition and Disease Severity Across the Lifespan session in McCormick Place (abstract; presentation details).

Please note that abstracts presented at NUTRITION 2024 were evaluated and selected by a committee of experts but have not generally undergone the same peer review process required for publication in a scientific journal. As such, the findings presented should be considered preliminary until a peer-reviewed publication is available.

About NUTRITION 2024

NUTRITION 2024 is the flagship meeting of the American Society for Nutrition and the premier educational event for nutritional professionals around the globe. NUTRITION brings together lab scientists, practicing clinicians, population health researchers, and community intervention investigators to identify solutions to today’s greatest nutrition challenges. Our audience also includes rising leaders in the field – undergraduate, graduate, and medical students. NUTRITION 2024 will be held June 29–July 2, 2024 in Chicago. https://nutrition.org/N24 #Nutrition2024

About the American Society for Nutrition (ASN)

ASN is the preeminent professional organization for nutrition research scientists and clinicians around the world. Founded in 1928, the society brings together the top nutrition researchers, medical practitioners, policy makers and industry leaders to advance our knowledge and application of nutrition. ASN publishes four peer-reviewed journals and provides education and professional development opportunities to advance nutrition research, practice, and education. Since 2018, the American Society of Nutrition has presented NUTRITION, the leading global annual meeting for nutrition professionals. http://www.nutrition.org

Find more news briefs from NUTRITION 2024 at: https://www.eurekalert.org/newsroom/nutrition2024/home.  

Soybean seed hardness demystified: key genes and networks uncovered

NANJING AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

 

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SEED HARDNESS AND COMPONENT CONTENTS OF NMH AND PXS AT DIFFERENT STAGES.

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CREDIT: HORTICULTURE RESEARCH

Soybean seed hardness, a key factor in consumer acceptance and vegetable soybean quality, has been elucidated through a comprehensive study. Researchers identified the genetic and molecular mechanisms influencing this trait, focusing on differential gene expression during seed development. The discovery of the GmSWEET2 gene as a significant regulator of hardness offers a pathway to enhance soybean texture, potentially revolutionizing the market with customized varieties to suit diverse consumer preferences.

Vegetable soybeans are valued for their taste and nutritional benefits, but consumer preferences for seed hardness vary across regions. Chinese consumers prefer softer seeds, while African consumers favor moderately hard seeds. Despite its importance, research on the factors influencing seed hardness has been limited, especially for vegetable soybeans. Addressing these regional preferences requires an in-depth understanding of the genetic and biochemical mechanisms that determine seed hardness. Due to these challenges, there is a pressing need for a comprehensive study to enhance soybean quality and marketability.

A collaborative study (DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhae084) from Nanjing Agricultural University, published in Horticulture Research, illuminates the genome-wide transcriptome, pinpointing key regulatory networks and genes associated with seed hardness in vegetable soybeans. This research sheds light on the intricate processes that determine soybean seed texture.

The study revealed significant genetic differences between the two soybean landraces during seed development. Key findings include the differential expression of genes involved in starch synthesis, protein storage, and fatty acid metabolism. The GmSWEET2 gene emerged as a critical regulator of seed hardness; its overexpression in Pixiansilicao led to increased seed hardness, confirming its pivotal role. Additionally, the study identified stages S3 and S4 of seed development as crucial periods where these genetic differences significantly influenced the accumulation of seed storage components. During these stages, genes involved in cell proliferation and cell wall formation also showed differential expression, impacting seed hardness. These findings highlight the importance of understanding genetic regulation during specific developmental stages to manipulate seed hardness effectively, providing valuable insights for soybean breeding programs aimed at improving seed texture and quality.

Dr. Han Xing, a leading researcher, commented, "Our discovery of the GmSWEET2 gene's role in seed hardness provides valuable insights into soybean breeding. By manipulating this gene, we can develop soybean varieties with tailored seed textures to meet various consumer preferences, enhancing market appeal."

This research paves the way for breeding programs aimed at improving the quality and consumer acceptance of vegetable soybeans. The identification of GmSWEET2 and other key genes offers new targets for genetic modification, allowing for the development of soybean varieties with optimized seed hardness, thus catering to diverse global markets.

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References

DOI

10.1093/hr/uhae084

Original Source URL

https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae084

Funding information

This work was supported by the Key Research and Development Program (Modern Agriculture) of Jiangsu Province (BE2023348), the National Key R&D Program of China (2021YFD1201605), Zhongshan Biological Breeding Laboratory (ZSBBL) (BM2022008-01 and ZSBBL-KY2023-03), the ‘JBGS’ Project of Seed Industry Revitalization in Jiangsu Province (JBGS(2021)059), China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA (CARS-04), National Natural Science Foundation of China (31471519), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (XUEKEN2023022), the Jiangsu Agriculture Science and Technology Innovation Fund (CX(22)5004 and CX(20)2015), the Key R&D project of Jiangsu Province (BE2019376), Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production and Cyrus Tang Innovation Center for Seed Industry.

About Horticulture Research

Horticulture Research is an open access journal of Nanjing Agricultural University and ranked number one in the Horticulture category of the Journal Citation Reports ™ from Clarivate, 2022. The journal is committed to publishing original research articles, reviews, perspectives, comments, correspondence articles and letters to the editor related to all major horticultural plants and disciplines, including biotechnology, breeding, cellular and molecular biology, evolution, genetics, inter-species interactions, physiology, and the origination and domestication of crops.

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JOURNAL

Horticulture Research

DOI

10.1093/hr/uhae084 

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Genome-wide transcriptome analysis reveals key regulatory networks and genes involved in the determination of seed hardness in vegetable soybean

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Changes in emergency contraceptive fills after Massachusetts’ statewide standing order

JAMA NETWORK

About The Study: 

The Massachusetts statewide standing order policy was associated with a 32% increase in emergency contraceptive fills at pharmacies versus comparison states. After the policy, fills for prescription-only ulipristal more than doubled and accounted for the observed increases in fills for emergency contraceptives.

Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Dima M. Qato, Pharm.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., email qato@usc.edu.

To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/

(doi:10.1001/jama.2024.11715)

Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

#  #  #

Media advisory: This study is being presented at the AcademyHealth 2024 Annual Research Meeting.

Embed this link to provide your readers free access to the full-text article This link will be live at the embargo time https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2024.11715?guestAccessKey=f61343ad-3103-4539-a281-7597e041fd9b&utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_content=tfl&utm_term=070224

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JOURNAL

JAMA

 

American Indian/Alaska Native patients less likely to undergo breast reconstruction

Disparity in reconstruction persists for AI/AN women, reports Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®

Peer-Reviewed Publication

WOLTERS KLUWER HEALTH

Waltham — July 2, 2024 — American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women with breast cancer have consistently lower rates of breast reconstruction after mastectomy compared to non-Hispanic White women, reports a paper in the July issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer. 

"Despite an upward trend in reconstruction, AI/AN women continue to be less likely to undergo breast reconstruction," comments Jane Hui, MD, MS, of University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. "While our findings point to some possible approaches to reducing this disparity, it will be essential to also determine Native women's opinions related to breast reconstruction." 

Focus on factors affecting breast reconstruction in AI/AN women 

Using data from the National Cancer Database, the researchers identified 1,980 AI/AN women and 414,036 non-Hispanic White women who underwent mastectomy for breast cancer between 2004 and 2017. Annual breast reconstruction rates were compared between groups, along with factors associated with decisions about reconstruction. 

The two groups differed in some important characteristics. American Indian/Alaska Native women had higher rates of other medical diagnoses (comorbidity), 20% versus 12%; were more likely to have public health insurance, 49% versus 20%; and more likely to undergo single-breast (unilateral) mastectomy. 

Over the 13-year study period, breast reconstruction increased in both groups: from 13% to 47% for AI/AN women and from 29% to 62% from non-Hispanic White women. After adjustment for other factors, AI/AN women remained nearly one-half less likely to undergo reconstruction.  

Other factors associated with lower reconstruction rates included older age, earlier year of diagnosis, more advanced cancer, unilateral mastectomy, public insurance, and living in an area of lower educational attainment. Within the AI/AN group, reconstruction was more likely for younger women; those with more recent diagnosis, less-advanced cancer, and less comorbidity; and those living in urban areas or areas with a higher level of educational attainment. 

Insights for addressing breast reconstruction disparity in Native women 

Breast reconstruction after mastectomy has known benefits for some, including improved quality of life and body image. However, breast reconstruction is a personal decision – there is "no optimal proportion" of patients who should opt for reconstruction, Dr. Hui and colleagues note. 

American Indian/Alaska Native women face a wide range of health disparities and barriers to medical care, including elevated rates of chronic health conditions, later diagnosis and higher mortality from breast cancer. "Complicating the healthcare environment in which AI/AN receive medical care is chronic underfunding of the Indian Health Service (IHS), implicit bias against AI/AN, and fraught relationships between physicians and AI/AN patients," the researchers write. 

Their study offers insights into factors associated with the lower rate of breast reconstruction for AI/AN women with breast cancer. "Multidisciplinary efforts to improve care delivery to AI/AN women may continue to minimize disparities through earlier diagnosis and treatment," Dr. Hui and coauthors conclude. "Simultaneously, qualitative research into AI/AN perspectives on breast cancer care could improve shared decision-making between physicians and AI/AN patients, empowering AI/AN women to choose post-mastectomy reconstruction if they so desire." 

Read Article: Disparities in post-mastectomy reconstruction use among American Indian and Alaska Native women 

Wolters Kluwer provides trusted clinical technology and evidence-based solutions that engage clinicians, patients, researchers and students in effective decision-making and outcomes across healthcare. We support clinical effectiveness, learning and research, clinical surveillance and compliance, as well as data solutions. For more information about our solutions, visit https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/health. 

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About Wolters Kluwer 

Wolters Kluwer (EURONEXT: WKL) is a global leader in information, software solutions and services for professionals in healthcare; tax and accounting; financial and corporate compliance; legal and regulatory; corporate performance and ESG. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with technology and services. 

Wolters Kluwer reported 2023 annual revenues of €5.6 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 21,400 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.  

For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. 

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JOURNAL

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

ARTICLE TITLE

Disparities in post-mastectomy reconstruction use among American Indian and Alaska Native women

 

Examination of trauma history questionnaire deepens understanding of vulnerable women

Studies of incarcerated women, perinatal women yield insights that can inform treatment

Peer-Reviewed Publication

CRIME AND JUSTICE RESEARCH ALLIANCE

Exposure to trauma is associated with many negative outcomes, especially for at-risk populations like incarcerated women and perinatal women. The Trauma History Questionnaire (THQ) is a common measure of exposure to trauma, but no published studies have validated the instrument with these two understudied groups. In a new study published in Women & Health, researchers at Idaho State University (ISU) explored the THQ to shed light on these groups.

            “Given the long-term physical and mental health risks associated with exposure to trauma, especially in vulnerable populations, valid measures of different types of trauma exposures are critical,” explains Shannon Lynch, professor of psychology at ISU, who coauthored the study. Lynch is an expert whose work is promoted by the NCJA Crime and Justice Research Alliance, which is funded by the National Criminal Justice Association.

            More than half of women in the United States will experience at least one traumatic event in their lives. Exposure to trauma is linked to rises in rates of depression, anxiety, substance use, social isolation, and chronic health problems, the effects of which are especially concerning for women experiencing incarceration or pregnancy. The high-risk life circumstances of these women may differentially affect the ways they experience and recover from traumatic events.

The THQ is frequently used to assess traumatic experiences in various populations. In this study, researchers sought to address the lack of studies on the instrument’s validity with incarcerated women and perinatal women. They analyzed two samples of incarcerated women (the Trauma Exposure and Treatment Needs Study and the Seeking Safety Study) and one sample of prenatal women, that is, women immediately before and after the birth of their child (the IDAHO Mom Study); all three studies were conducted in the northwestern United States.

In particular, the study examined the validity of constructs with other measures and indices of trauma, convergent validity with related constructs (i.e., depression, anxiety, somatic symptoms, social support), and the predictive validity of prenatal THQ scores with postnatal depression. The study also compared the incarcerated women with the perinatal women to identify unique interactions between gender and life circumstances in relation to trauma.

            The THQ performed roughly as expected with the perinatal and incarcerated samples and demonstrated sufficient psychometric properties for use in future research with these populations. It demonstrated a strong relation to a similar trauma measure (the Severity of Violence Against Women Scale) for both groups of women, as well as relations to relevant constructs of symptoms of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and psychological distress in these samples. Incarcerated women had significantly higher THQ scores than perinatal women, and prenatal women’s THQ scores predicted later postpartum symptoms of depression.

            Based on these findings, the authors suggest that while exposure to trauma may differ within subgroups of understudied female populations, robust connections exist between trauma and mental health outcomes across life circumstances.

In light of the elevated rates of exposure to trauma in the two groups of incarcerated women, as well as the strong associations between trauma and negative mental health outcomes, they recommend increased attention to mental health care in women’s prisons. And in light of the relation between trauma and depression in the perinatal group and research on the negative effects of trauma and depression on maternal and fetal well-being, they recommend increased mental health care and support for women exposed to trauma in the perinatal period.

            Among the study’s limitations, the authors note that each study used different measures, which limits direct comparison among samples. In addition, data for the studies were collected at different points in time. Finally, all three studies were conducted in the same region, which limits the generalizability of the results to other demographically distinct regions.

“Our findings increase our understanding of the kinds of trauma experienced by incarcerated women and perinatal women, and they can help inform the utility of trauma assessments for these vulnerable groups,” says Lillian Bengtson, a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology at ISU, who led the study. “Accurately measuring trauma in these groups will allow researchers and practitioners to better understand risk factors and long-term outcomes, and provide a focus for prevention and treatment involving vulnerable populations of women.”

The study was supported by the Idaho State University (ISU) Department of Psychology, ISU College of Arts & Letters, and ISU Office of Research.

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JOURNAL

Women & Health

DOI

10.1080/03630242.2024.2344503 

ARTICLE TITLE

Trauma History Questionnaire: validation with novel samples of incarcerated women and perinatal women

 

Journal of Participatory Medicine announces new theme issue on Patient and Consumer Use of Artificial Intelligence for Health

JMIR PUBLICATIONS

 

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JOURNAL OF PARTICIPATORY MEDICINE ANNOUNCES NEW THEME ISSUE ON PATIENT AND CONSUMER USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR HEALTH
 

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CREDIT: JMIR PUBLICATIONS

(Toronto, July 2, 2024) JMIR Publications invites submissions to a new theme issue titled “Patient and Consumer Use of Artificial Intelligence for Health” in its premier open access journal Journal of Participatory Medicine indexed in PubMed, SCOPUS, Sherpa Romeo, and DOAJ. 

This theme issue will explore the use of AI for health (AIH) from the perspectives of patients and the public. The journal is seeking papers that examine (a) the experience and impact of patients and health consumers using AI applications, and (b) the involvement of patients, caregivers, and the public in the co-design and development of AIH.
  
For this theme issue, the journal welcomes original research, reviews, case studies, and viewpoints on insights on patient and public use of AIH. We seek articles that discuss benefits and risks of consumer AIH for self-care, innovation opportunities, and research gaps in the use of AIH by patients and the public. Articles jointly authored with patient advocates are especially welcome. 

Theme issue topics include but are not limited to the following:
Research on the experience, value, and impact of patients and consumers actively using AI tools
●      Explore how patients using generative AI, such as ChatGPT, learn about health issues, understand their health data, or consequently engage in self-care and change behavior.
●      Examine, from the health consumer perspective, how AI chatbots, virtual assistants, or other tools answer queries, assess symptoms, or communicate with health professionals.
●      Understand how AI-powered devices and applications that collect and analyze data are used by patients and how they can impact behavior and health outcomes.
 
Co-production and Co-design of AI tools with patients, health consumers, and the public
●      Meaningful involvement or consultation of patients and caregivers with lived experience, in the design, development or deployment of AI applications for specific health issues.
●      Meaningful involvement or consultation of patients and caregivers with lived experience, in the research of health-related AI applications.
●      Democratic deliberation of the public to address key issues of health-related AI, such as privacy, security, ethics, data bias, governance, and the responsible use of personal health data.
 
Research on the clinical use of AI tools that interact directly with patients and/or caregivers
●      Examine, from the patient perspective, the use of clinician-derived AI tools that are directed at the patient and caregiver, such as sending AI-derived content to respond to patients’ secure emails.

All submissions will undergo a rigorous peer-review process, and accepted articles will be published in a theme issue (e-collection) titled “Patient and Consumer Use of Artificial Intelligence for Health.”

Read the full call for submissions to learn more. 

About JMIR Publications:
JMIR Publications, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2024, is a leading open access digital health research publisher. As a pioneer in open access publishing, JMIR Publications is committed to driving innovation in scholarly communications, advancing digital health research, and promoting open science principles. Our portfolio features 35 open access, peer-reviewed journals dedicated to the dissemination of high-quality research in the field of digital health, including the Journal of Medical Internet Research, as well as cross-disciplinary journals such as JMIR Research Protocols and the new title JMIR XR & Spatial Computing. 

 

Barriers to care: transgender and gender-diverse peoples’ health care experiences

CANADIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION JOURNAL

Transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse people face barriers to accessing surgery and to the health system in general, describe authors in two new research papers published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

In many areas of life, people who identify as transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse experience discrimination even where there are laws to protect transgender human rights. Health systems also pose barriers for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse people, who are more likely to delay obtaining medical care because of fear of discrimination and other factors.

In two research articles, authors describe the experiences of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse people in accessing gender-affirming surgery. A related humanities article argues that gender self-determination is a medical right.

As there are few Canadian studies on the surgical experiences of people who self-identify as members of these populations, authors sought to understand the experience of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse people when seeking gender-affirming care. Participants in the research studies reported barriers in accessing gender-affirming care, which also affected their general experiences with the health care system.

“The stress of negotiating presurgical bureaucracy often stood in sharp contrast to the positive feelings [participants] experienced when deciding to seek gender-affirming surgery,” writes Dr. Hilary MacCormick, an anesthesiologist in the Department of Women’s and Obstetric Anesthesia, IWK Health, and assistant professor at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, with coauthors in one of the studies  https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.240061. “Participants described the need to self-advocate when interacting with health care professionals who had a lack of experience with or negative attitude toward [transgender or nonbinary] people.”

These barriers and marginalization can cause additional trauma in a situation where patients of any background might feel stress and anxiety because of surgery.

“Our data support the need for more in-depth and nuanced discussions surrounding shared decision-making, and consideration of potential effects of past traumas, instances of invalidation, or negative interactions within health care,” the authors conclude.

The findings of the study on the lived experiences of people seeking publicly funded penile-inversion vaginoplasty were similar. “Health care systems need to improve access to gender-affirmation surgery, reduce wait times for care by increasing capacity for gender-affirmation surgery, and improve care experiences,” writes Dr. Gianni Lorello, a scientist at the Women’s College Research and Innovation Institute, anesthesiologist at University Health Network, and associate professor at the University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, with coauthors https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.231250.

In a related humanities articlehttps://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.230935, Florence Ashley, assistant professor, Faculty of Law and John Dossetor Health Ethics Centre at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, argues that gender self-determination is a medical right and that health care providers are ethically bound to respect this and examine their gatekeeping practices.

“The burden of justifying barriers to care should fall on the health care providers who erect them and not on those seeking care to affirm their gender,” Ashley argues.

“Health care providers working with transgender communities should carefully examine their gatekeeping practices to ascertain whether they are justified by clear and compelling evidence and abandon those that cannot meet this justificatory threshold.”

Dr. Kirsten Patrick, Editor-in-Chief of CMAJ, comments in an editorial https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.240878 that “receiving care that validates their chosen identity is associated with better physical and mental health for transgender and gender-diverse patients. Even if access to interventions is limited, compassionate and kind care need not be.”

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JOURNAL

Canadian Medical Association Journal

DOI

10.1503/cmaj.240061 

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

Lived experiences of transgender and nonbinary people in the perioperative context: a qualitative study

 

‘Healthy’ workplaces a vital factor in clawing back billions of dollars lost to workplace injuries and illness

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

A new study published this week shows how the global economy could claw back billions of dollars lost each year due to workplace injuries and illness.

In Australia, more than 500,000 employees sustain injuries or illnesses relating to work and in 60% of cases, this requires time off work. That equates to around $30 billion, equivalent to the annual output of Australia’s agricultural sector.

In Canada, their annual costs are equivalent (CAD $29.4 billion); the United Kingdom comes in at GBP £18.8 billion each year and across the European Union (EU), a staggering €467 billion a year.

New research published in Safety Science reveals that companies that offer healthy working conditions to employees, including supportive relationships with supervisors, valuing skills and job autonomy, and minimising work stress, report far fewer days lost per workers’ compensation claim.

Researchers from the University of South Australia’s Psychosocial Safety Climate Global Observatory compared working conditions in 100 Australian organisations to 12,000 injured workers’ compensation claims, identifying the root cause of delays in people returning to work after workplace-related injury or illness.

Organisations with a poor psychosocial safety climate (PSC) reported 160% more days off due to workplace injury or illness, compared to high PSC organisations (177 days vs 68 days).

Likewise, costs for the injury or illness were 104% greater in very low PSC organisations versus high PSC organisations ($67,260 vs $32,939 per employee).

“Our findings show that a healthy psychological climate in workplaces is essential if companies want to reduce working time loss and costs related to workplace injuries and illnesses,” says UniSA ARC Laureate Fellow Professor Maureen Dollard.

The researchers avoided individual bias by correlating data sets at the organisational level rather than surveys with injured employees on retrospective work conditions.

“Aside from a strong PSC, the most important factors in predicting a quicker return to work included how satisfying and rewarding their job was, how supportive their supervisor was, whether their skills were potentially adaptable, and how much autonomy they had in their role.”

In Australia, during 2017-18, an estimated 563,000 people had an injury or illness related to work, representing 4.2% of the workforce. In 60% of cases, this involved taking time off work, costing the equivalent of Australia’s annual agricultural output, or 1.6% of the nation’s GDP.

The most common occupations featured in the claims data included nurses, police officers and personal assistants. Muscle-related injuries comprised the bulk of the claims.

“These findings provide more evidence that ‘healthy’ workplaces matter,” says Prof Dollard. “They are not only important to our psychological health and to prevent injury to workers, but PSC is just as important following injury or illness.

“Building an organisation with strong PSC will help to reduce time lost and also cut costs through better injury prevention and management.”

Notes for editors

“PSC as an organisational level determinant of working time lost and expenditure following workplace injuries and illnesses” is authored by Professor Maureen Dollard and colleagues from UniSA’s PSC Global Observatory. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2024.106602

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JOURNAL

Safety Science

DOI

10.1016/j.ssci.2024.106602 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Case study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

PSC as an organisational level determinant of working time lost and expenditure following workplace injuries and illnesses

Will continuous cropping of crops necessarily lead to continuous cropping obstacles?

HIGHER EDUCATION PRESS

 

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GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

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CREDIT: KUNGUANG WANG, QIAOFANG LU, ZHECHAO DOU, ZHIGUANG CHI, DONGMING CUI, JING MA, GUOWEI WANG, JIALING KUANG, NANQI WANG, YUANMEI ZUO

Continuous cropping obstacles (CCOs) refer to the phenomenon that the same crop or its related species are continuously planted on the same plot, and even under normal management conditions, the yield and quality of products are still reduced, and the diseases and insect pests become serious. CCOs can cause crop yield losses of up to 20%–80%. Areas with severe continuous cropping problems will almost suffer a total loss of production, which has become one of the biggest limiting factors for agricultural capacity expansion and sustainability. In the past, the question of CCOs has always perplexed agricultural scientists: What is the cause of CCOs? Will long-term continuous cropping definitely lead to CCOs? How to reduce CCOs?

To answer these questions, this article summarizes past studies. CCOs is the external manifestation of the interaction between plants, soil, microorganisms, and the environment. Soil degradation, soil ecological environment deterioration, and plant autotoxicity are the main causes of CCOs. However, not all soils will have CCOs after long-term continuous cropping. In continuous cropping, there are three main disease patterns of soil-borne diseases: (1) continuous severe type, is manifested in that the disease becomes more serious and the crop yield continues to decrease during the entire continuous cropping process; ( 2) late relief type, is manifested in that the soil-borne diseases are serious in the early stage of continuous cropping, and the disease-suppressing soil is formed in the late stage of continuous cropping, and the soil-borne diseases are alleviated; (3) continuous fluctuation type, is manifested in the alternation of severe disease period and disease relief period during continuous cropping. The rhizobiont theory emphasizes that nutrient efficiency is a process of synergistic interaction and improvement of multi-interface systems from soil to soil organisms to plants. Therefore, to solve the problem of CCOs, it is necessary to reduce from the system level by regulating the cascade amplification effect of the various interfaces of the rhizosphere. Through reasonable water and fertilizer management, optimized planting structure, conservation tillage, soil biological regulation, and other measures, the soil micro-food web structure can be regulated to achieve the reduction of CCOs. This paper summarizes the pathogenesis of soil-borne diseases in continuous cropping soils, and proposes that it is necessary to start from the system perspective of plant–soil–soil biological interactions and prevent soil-borne diseases in a targeted manner to achieve the reduction of continuous cropping obstacles. This study has been published on the Journal of Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering in Vol. 11, No. 2, 2024, DOI: 10.15302/J-FASE-2024543.

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JOURNAL

Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering

DOI

10.15302/J-FASE-2024543 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

A review of research progress on continuous cropping obstacles