Young People's Health in Great Britain and Ireland: Findings from the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC)Survey, 2006.

This report presents data from the 2006 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey; a World Health Organization (WHO) collaborative cross-national study and focuses on data collected from young people in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It expands on the findings from the international report Inequalities in Young People's Health (Currie et al, 2008), with additional variables and prevalence rates that allows more comprehensive and focussed comparisons to be made between the four countries.This resource was contributed by The National Documentation Centre on Drug Use.

A study of cocaine use in Northern Ireland 2009.

This study explored the patterns of cocaine use and the lifestyles of users in Northern Ireland with the aim of providing the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) and treatment service providers with a better understanding of cocaine use in Northern Ireland. This primarily qualitative study was conducted in two phases. In Phase I a â?~Community Assessment Processâ?T was conducted to gain an understanding of the experiences of drug treatment professionals to cocaine use in Northern Ireland. In phase II 40 in-depth interviews were conducted with cocaine users. The study identified two types of cocaine user, these are recreational or socially integrated users and those referred for drug treatment who as a group was socially marginalized users. For the purposes of this study these users will be referred to as either recreational or treatment users. The demographic profiles of each type of user differed in a number of important respects. The recreational users were typically young, educated and anchored to a largely conventional lifestyle and whose pattern of non-work activities involved partying and drug use. Treatment users, on the other hand, generally had low level educational qualifications and were typically unemployed and living on state benefits. A number of the treatment users were either living in a hostel at the time of interview or had experienced homelessness at some time in their life. None of the recreational users reported any experience of homelessness. These distinctions, as well as differences between the groups in terms of their drug use patterns, preferences and practices, strongly suggest that in unravelling the nature of cocaine use and cocaine problems there is a need to look beyond the drug itself.This resource was contributed by The National Documentation Centre on Drug Use.

Health at a Glance 2013.

Health at a Glance 2013 presents the trends and influences shaping health status, services and policies in OECD countries and the BRIICS. Although indicators such as life expectancy or infant mortality suggest that things are improving overall, inequalities in wealth, education and other social indicators still have a significant impact on health status and access to health services. These health disparities may be explained by differences in living and working conditions, as well as differences that show up in the health-related lifestyle data presented here (e.g., smoking, harmful alcohol drinking, physical inactivity, and obesity).This resource was contributed by The National Documentation Centre on Drug Use.

Growing up in Ireland. Key findings: 13-year-olds. No. 2. Physical activity and obesity among 13-year-olds.

This Key Finding reports on data from the second wave of interviews with Growing Up in Ireland's Child Cohort. The 8,568 children and their families were first interviewed when the children were 9 years old, and then at age 13 years, when 7,400 were reinterviewed between August 2011 and February 2012.The findings show that boys and young people from more socially advantaged backgrounds were more likely to exercise, and that 13-year-olds who took more exercise (whether hard or light exercise) were less likely to be overweight or obese.While most of the young people in Growing Up in Ireland maintained a healthy weight over time, one in four was either overweight or obese, a finding similar to that at 9 years. Girls were also more likely to be classified as overweight or obese than boys. The majority of 13-year-olds were quite positive about their physical appearance, although a quarter rated themselves as below average in this respect, and girls tended to be less positive about their body image than boys. Dieting behaviours had also become evident at 13.To understand more fully the origins and course of overweight and obesity, the descriptive data in this Key Finding can be used in more complex analyses drawing on the rich data available on the child, family and other important contextual variables.This resource was contributed by the National Documentation Centre on Drug Use.

Food and Health Project Longford/Westmeath

The Food and Health Project offers practical healthy eating and lifestyle courses to groups cooking on a lower income. Courses offered include: C/O Athlone Community Taskforce Ball Alley Lane Athlone Westmeath HSE and community group Initiative Type Nutrition Education and Training Programmes Location Longford Westmeath Funding HSE and community group Partner Agencies HSE

The Glen Community Garden

Community Health Workers are employed to improve the health and lifestyle of a community through a series of health focused initiatives that build on existing services and facilities. North Lee Community Work Department, HSE South Initiative Type Community Food Growing Projects Location Cork Funding North Lee Community Work Department, HSE South Partner Agencies HSE South North Lee Community Work Department

Limerick Seed to Plate

The aim of the project is to address an identified need in the community, promoting healthy eating and organic home-gardening practices. Building on the success of a pilot intergenerational project entitled "Through the Years", it became apparent that gardening related activities could be implemented and promoted on a larger scale, reaching the wider community, groups and classes. The project serves as a setting for community education and will be inclusive in helping reduce isolation by providing meeting places for all members of their local communities. Key people being targeted are older people, local families and residents, Limerick Youth Service, After School Clubs, the Garda Youth Diversion Project and the Family Resource Centre. The Limerick Seed to Plate works with gardeners whose primary focus is to develop the gardening projects further. There is a strong educational emphasis to the project and the learning is transferred to participants own homes and lifestyles. Southill has a community café and, where possible, food grown in their garden is showcased and cooked in the centre and café. The Community Food Initiative strengthens the existing healthy eating habits in the community and aims to result in increased long-term health benefits arising from a healthier lifestyle. Communities will benefit from the project which will create employment, build bridges between communities, promote social inclusion and provide a focus for the local areas. Part of theDemonstration Programme 2010-2012 Location Limerick Target Groups At risk youth Children ( 4-12 years) Children (0-4 years) Children (13-18 years) Families Lone parents Low income families Men Migrant, minority ethnic groups Older people Travellers Unemployed Women

KASI Community Garden

KASI acquired a site from Killarney Parish for a community garden project. The community garden provides a form of activity through volunteerism for asylum seekers in direct provisions who are not allowed to work. The participants will focus on growing crops and developing the garden which will facilitate interaction between the target groups and local communities in a very holistic and organic manner of working together, sharing and exchanging ideas, skills, crops, food and culture. KASI is developing a community garden on the outskirts of Killarney town. The sedentary lifestyle in direct provisions can cause isolation, depression and other mental health issues for asylum seekers. The community garden project provides a space for migrant workers and their families (most of whom live in flats and apartments and do not have access to a garden space) to grow their own crops. The community garden project will provide training on organic gardening, nutrition, healthy eating habits,cooking on a budget, cookery demonstrations and an opportunity for participants to exchange skills, knowledge, recipes and food. In addition, the project will enable locals to get information on nutritional values of herbs and authentic, healthy ethnic recipes. This initiative could also facilitate KASI influencing the diets and menu in direct provision centres. KASI will open a social space for training and cookery demonstrations for target groups and locals. Part of theDemonstration Programme 2010-2012 Initiative Type Community Food Growing Projects Location Kerry Target Groups Migrant, minority ethnic groups

Food for Thought

Windsor Women’s Centres’ Food for Thought project provides a multi-functional inner-city green space, which facilitates activities for participants that empowers them to recognise healthy lifestyle choices. This space provides the means through which women and their families in the community can improve their environment, health and wellbeing. They also encompass a range of activities which improve the nutrition of service users from children to the elderly and will improve the physical and emotional wellbeing of their community.

Escherichia coli variants in periprosthetic joint infection: diagnostic challenges with sessile bacteria and sonication.

The diagnostic yield of prosthetic joint-associated infection is hampered by the phenotypic change of bacteria into a sessile and resistant form, also called biofilm. With sonication, adherent bacteria can be dislodged from the prosthesis. Species identification may be difficult because of their variations in phenotypic appearance and biochemical reaction. We have studied the phenotypic, genotypic, and biochemical properties of Escherichia coli variants isolated from a periprosthetic joint infection. The strains were collected from synovial fluid, periprosthetic tissue, and fluid from the explanted and sonicated prosthesis. Isolates from synovial fluid revealed a normal phenotype, whereas a few variants from periprosthetic tissue and all isolates from sonication fluid showed different morphological features (including small-colony variants). All isolates from sonication fluid were beta-galactosidase negative and nonmotile; most were indole negative. Because of further variations in biochemical properties, species identification was false or not possible in 50% of the isolates included in this study. In contrast to normal phenotypes, variants were resistant to aminoglycosides. Typing of the isolates using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis yielded nonidentical banding patterns, but all strains were assigned to the same clonal origin when compared with 207 unrelated E. coli isolates. The bacteria were repeatedly passaged on culture media and reanalyzed. Thereafter, most variants reverted to normal phenotype and regained their motility and certain biochemical properties. In addition, some variants displayed aminoglycoside susceptibility after reversion. Sonication of an explanted prosthesis allows insight into the lifestyle of bacteria in biofilms. Since sonication fluid also reveals dislodged sessile forms, species identification of such variants may be misleading.

Building Evidence for Dementia Prevention

As was the case in 2010 when the National Institutes of Health issued a consensus statement on the prevention of Alzheimer’s and other dementias, there remains a lack of firm evidence for dementia prevention. Because of the difficulties in studying this phenomenon, no modifiable risk factors for dementia have been definitively established, and no pharmaceutical or nutritional supplements been proven to prevent Alzheimer’s disease or cognitive decline. However, longitudinal observational studies have identified several factors associated with dementia. A recent review article summarizes the current epidemiological evidence about Alzheimer’s and other dementias, and presents three ongoing large scale randomized control trials (RCTs) that focus on preventing dementia. The review argues that there is substantial evidence for many factors that, in combination, might reduce the risk of, or delay the onset of, dementia. Although no specific cure for dementia exists, and no specific pathway between risk factor and disease onset has been identified, several cardiovascular, stress, toxicity, and psychosocial variables have been repeatedly associated with dementia. Protective factors, such as high education, physical exercise, and not smoking cigarettes, have been identified as well. Intervention studies that account for these multiple factors may well identify strategies for preventing or delaying dementia. However, the protective effects and risk factors suggested by observational data have yet to be assessed in RCT research. The role of such factors in reducing or increasing the risk for dementia needs to be more specifically defined. Three ongoing RCT studies in Europe show promise in this area, as they target multiple risk and protective factors by promoting healthy lifestyle changes and medical treatment of vascular diseases. These are: FINGER, a Finnish trial involving 1,200 older adults at risk for dementia. This intervention features nutritional guidance, physical activity, cognitive and social engagement, and medical management of risk factors. Participants were involved in previous, intensive observational studies of vascular health and health behavior, so FINGER will provide a level of relevant information about its research subjects that is normally impossible for clinical RCTs to attain;MAPT, a multicenter study of 1,680 frail older adults in France. This study will compare the efficacy of omega-3 dietary supplementation with a multidomain training intervention that involves physical and cognitive training. The study will include follow-up assessments after five years;PreDIVA, a Dutch study of 3,534 community dwelling participants between 70 and 78 years old, recruited from primary care clinics. This study will compare standard medical care with a multicomponent vascular health intervention. The study will last for six years and measure both dementia and disability outcomes. These studies are an important step in dementia research, using earlier observational studies as the basis for rigorously assessed interventions. Although a cure for dementia has not been identified, this new research may identify preventive strategies against dementia. �� Source: Mangialasche F, Kivipelto M, et al. (2012). Dementia prevention: current epidemiological evidence and future perspective. Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy 4:6.

ENGAGED: evidence for active and healthy ageing

To scale up independent living solutions we need to collect and share more evidence on their impact across Europe. However, a joint European framework of methodologies is missing in that area. For that reason ENGAGED organised a set of workshops gathering experts and stakeholders from all over Europe.Read more about our activities and the ENGAGED upcoming events in the project’s third newsletter:��ENGAGED third newsletter

A Picture of Ageing Research in Ireland, North and South

This publication provides a snapshot of the ageing research landscape across the island of Ireland.�� By 2030 one in five people on the island of Ireland will be 65 years or older. As the population ages research into ageing and older people is vital to help plan for healthier and more active later lives for everyone. Academic institutions across the island are engaged in a wide range of research programmes and projects relating to ageing. ��Ageing is increasingly viewed as a research priority for these institutions and the island of Ireland is gaining recognition as a place of excellence for ageing research. This publication provides an overview of research relating to ageing being carried out in their various third level institutions in Ireland, North and South. ��It combined these profiles with information about a selection of major collaborative research projects and CARDI’s research funding activities to produce an update of a previous directory published in 2010. A Picture of Ageing Research 2014 illustrates the continued growth and quality of research being carried out in a wide range of disciplines by a growing community of researcher in Ireland, North and South. CARDI Director Dr Roger O’Sullivan says, “We are delighted to present this publication which captures the innovative and high quality nature of ageing research being carried out by researchers in Ireland, North and South. ��Ageing research is vital to providing a valuable evidence base for building a better future for our ageing populations”.

Making the Link Between Obesity and wellbeing

Making the links between Obesity & Well-being. A briefing paper developed for Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP) North West. The paper covers the epidemiology and evidence of links between health and obesity. Mental well-being is a key factor of obesity and weight management. Good mental health is a protective factor for good physical health and against physical illness and is essential for making healthy lifestyle choices and behaviour changes. Poor mental health can lead to unhealthy lifestyle choices and unhealthy weight management. Obesity and physical illness can also lead to poor mental health. People with mental health problems, especially severe, are also at increased risk of obesity and related poor health. In order to ensure that strategies and programmes effectively address the relevant mental well-being factors, a mental well-being impact assessment (MWIA) could be undertaken. This process is based on health impact assessment methodology and a set of evidence based mental well-being determinants and factors, grouped under the four themes of enhancing control, increasing resilience and community assets, facilitating participation and promoting inclusion. The process also involves identifying indicators to measure progress. Evaluation shows it is effective in engaging stakeholders in service development and evaluation and it increases understanding of mental well-being and its determinants.

Obésité et fertilité ne font pas bon ménage [The impact of obesity on fertility]

There are many negative impacts of obesity on fertility. Obese couples present decreased sperm count, decreased ovulation and conception rates, increased erectile dysfunction and spontaneous abortion rate as well as increased maternal and foetal complications of pregnancy. Moreover, obesity tends to decrease response to fertility treatments. Fortunately, intensive lifestyle modifications can restore fertility while decreasing pregnancy complications risk. With the increasing trend of obesity to affect young populations, taking care of these infertile couples rapidly is capital to restore fertility and decrease its related pregnancy complications.