Yes / Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are currently the leading cause of death worldwide. In this paper, we examine the channels through which economic growth affects NCDs’ epidemiology. Following a production function approach, we develop a basic technique to break up the impact of economic growth on NCDs into three fundamental components: (1) a resource effect; (2) a behaviour effect; and (3) a knowledge effect. We demonstrate that each of these effects can be measured as the product of two elasticities, the output and income elasticity of the three leading factors influencing the frequency of NCDs in any population: health care, healthrelated behaviours and lifestyle, and medical knowledge.

A major challenge for the pig industry is to formulate starter diets that primarily fit the digestive capacity, maintain GIT health and promote growth without recourse to in-feed antimicrobials. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of carbohydrase enzymes (CE) targeting non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) in enhancing gut health and function in piglets. First, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of adding CE in piglet diets on growth performance, GIT bacterial activity and nutrient digestibility. Pigs fed diets containing CE had a higher ileal lactobacilli count, total organic acids concentrations, NSP digestibility and low ammonia compared with control. The effectiveness of CE targeting NSP was further evaluated using enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) in a challenge model to evaluate the impact on gut health and function. Two approaches for the ETEC challenge were adopted; an in situ small intestine segments perfusion model and an in vivo model. Initially, a pilot study was conducted to establish and validate the in situ model. In the pilot study, conventional anti-diarrhea agents; fumaric acid, ZnO, egg yolk antibodies against ETEC K88 fimbriae and carbadox, attenuated fluid losses in ETEC-infected jejunal segments. Following the establishment of the in situ model, four experiments were conducted to study the effects NSP hydrolysis products (HP) from various feedstuffs (i.e. wheat, soybean meal, canola meal and flaxseed) on ETEC-induced secretory diarrhea. The results demonstrated that HP protected against ETEC-induced fluid and electrolyte losses. A further study was conducted to investigate the response of piglets fed diets containing HP and EYA singly or in combination upon oral challenge with ETEC. Feeding HP and EYA alone or in combination attenuated ETEC-enteritis symptoms such that piglets fed additives showed less pronounced acute phase responses and superior performance. Piglets fed diets containing additives had lower gastric pH, fewer ETEC adhered to ileal mucosa and lower incidence of diarrhea. Overall, reduction of intestinal pathogens or toxic bacterial metabolites contributes to enhanced GIT health and function. These novel results expand the scope of enzyme technology in animal nutrition within the new paradigm of dietary approaches to gut health and function.

A major challenge for the pig industry is to formulate starter diets that primarily fit the digestive capacity, maintain GIT health and promote growth without recourse to in-feed antimicrobials. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of carbohydrase enzymes (CE) targeting non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) in enhancing gut health and function in piglets. First, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of adding CE in piglet diets on growth performance, GIT bacterial activity and nutrient digestibility. Pigs fed diets containing CE had a higher ileal lactobacilli count, total organic acids concentrations, NSP digestibility and low ammonia compared with control. The effectiveness of CE targeting NSP was further evaluated using enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) in a challenge model to evaluate the impact on gut health and function. Two approaches for the ETEC challenge were adopted; an in situ small intestine segments perfusion model and an in vivo model. Initially, a pilot study was conducted to establish and validate the in situ model. In the pilot study, conventional anti-diarrhea agents; fumaric acid, ZnO, egg yolk antibodies against ETEC K88 fimbriae and carbadox, attenuated fluid losses in ETEC-infected jejunal segments. Following the establishment of the in situ model, four experiments were conducted to study the effects NSP hydrolysis products (HP) from various feedstuffs (i.e. wheat, soybean meal, canola meal and flaxseed) on ETEC-induced secretory diarrhea. The results demonstrated that HP protected against ETEC-induced fluid and electrolyte losses. A further study was conducted to investigate the response of piglets fed diets containing HP and EYA singly or in combination upon oral challenge with ETEC. Feeding HP and EYA alone or in combination attenuated ETEC-enteritis symptoms such that piglets fed additives showed less pronounced acute phase responses and superior performance. Piglets fed diets containing additives had lower gastric pH, fewer ETEC adhered to ileal mucosa and lower incidence of diarrhea. Overall, reduction of intestinal pathogens or toxic bacterial metabolites contributes to enhanced GIT health and function. These novel results expand the scope of enzyme technology in animal nutrition within the new paradigm of dietary approaches to gut health and function.

Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka sambandet mellan fysisk aktivitetsnivå, depressiva symtom och funktionshinder hos personer med Parkinsons sjukdom. Därtill kartlägga fysisk aktivitetsnivå, depressiva symtom samt funktionshinder bland personer med Parkinsons. Bakgrund: Parkinsons sjukdom är en av de mest förekommande neurodegenerativa sjukdomarna. Sjukdomen är kopplad till både motoriska och icke-motoriska symtom såsom depressiva symtom. Metod: 30 personer inkluderades i denna studie. I denna studie användes IPAQ-SF för att mäta fysisk aktivitetsnivå, MADRS-S för att mäta depressiva symtom samt WHODAS 2.0 för att skatta funktionshinder. Formulären sammanställdes i en webbenkät som publicerades via länk på Facebooksidor ägnade åt Parkinsons sjukdom. Resultat: Utav inkluderade i studien hade 4 (13.3%) låg fysisk aktivitetsnivå, 13 (43.3%) måttlig samt 13 (43.3%) hög. 16 (53.3%) klassades som väsentligen obesvärad, 11 (36.7%) som mild depression, 3 (10.0%) som måttlig samt ingen som svår depression. Bland de inkluderade var medianen för WHODAS 2.0 enligt följande: förstå och kommunicera 3.5 (2.0-5.0), förflyttning 4.5 (2.5-6.5), personlig vård 2.0 (2.0-3.5), relationer 4.0 (3.0-5.5), dagliga aktiviteter 4.5 (3.0-6.5) samt delaktighet i samhället 4.0 (3.0-6.0). Sambandet mellan fysisk aktivitetsnivå och depressiva symtom gav r=0.31 p=0.10. Sambandet mellan fysisk aktivitetsnivå och funktionshinder visade r=0.45 p=0.02. Sambandet mellan depressiva symtom och funktionshinder visade r=0.74 p=0.01. Slutsatser: En måttlig till hög fysisk aktivitetsnivå var vanligt. Likaså var förekomsten av depression omfattande. Förekomsten av funktionshinder var därutöver relativt låg. Korrelationen mellan samtliga variabler anses vara låg frånsett den mellan depressiva symtom och funktionshinder, vilken var måttlig. / Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the correlation between physical activity level, depressive symptoms and health and function in persons with Parkinson’s disease. In addition, this study aims to examine and map physical activity level, depressive symptoms and health and function among persons with Parkinson’s disease. Background: Parkinson’s disease is one the most widespread neurodegenerative diseases. The disease can present itself in either motor or non-motor symptoms, such as depressive symptoms. Method: 30 participants were included in this study. IPAQ-SF was used to measure physical activity level, MADRS-S to measure depressive symptoms and WHODAS 2.0 to measure health and function. The questionnaires were compiled in a web survey which was then posted on various Facebook pages aimed at Parkinson’s disease. Results: Among participants included 4 (13.3%) had low physical activity level, 13 (43.3%) moderate and 13 (43.3%) high. 16 (53.3%) were classed as having no depression, 11 (36.7%) as mild depression, 3 (10.0%) as moderate and none as severe depression. The median for the respective domain of were as follows: cognition 3.5 (2.0-5.0), mobility 4.5 (2.5-6.5), self care 2.0 (2.0-3.5), getting along with people 4.0 (3.0-5.5), life activities 4.5 (3.0-6.5), participation 4.0 (3.0-6.0). The correlation between physical activity level and depressive symptoms provided r=0.31 p=0.10, physical activity level and health and function r=0.45 p= 0.02 and depressive symptoms and health and function r=0.74 p=0.01. Conclusions: This study demonstrated a prominent occurance of high and moderate levels of physical activity. Likewise, the prevalence of depression was extensive. In addition, the incidence of disability was apparently low. The correlation between all variables is considered to be low apart from that between depressive symptoms and disability, which was moderate.

This study deals with the health production function. It analyzes the impact of health care, socioeconomic, lifestyle and environmental factors on the mortality and life expectancy of the population of the Czech Republic. The analysis is made by linear regressions with time series data for the period from 1993 to 2011. Health care is measured by health care expenditures or by non-monetary indicators, the number of doctors and the consumption of pharmaceuticals. The results show that higher health care expenditures increase the mortality and reduce life expectancy. On the other hand higher number of doctors and higher consumption of pharmaceuticals improve the health status of the population. It may indicate inefficiency and corruption in health sector. Important factors that positively influence health are wealth, education and fruit and vegetable consumption, smoking affects health negatively. The results suggest that health care policy should focus not only on effective allocation of health care expenditures but also on lifestyle and socioeconomic status of the population. The limits of this work are short time series which don't allow the use of the lagged explanatory variables.

Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka sambandet mellan fysisk aktivitetsnivå, depressiva symtom och funktionshinder hos personer med Parkinsons sjukdom. Därtill kartlägga fysisk aktivitetsnivå, depressiva symtom samt funktionshinder bland personer med Parkinsons. Bakgrund: Parkinsons sjukdom är en av de mest förekommande neurodegenerativa sjukdomarna. Sjukdomen är kopplad till både motoriska och icke-motoriska symtom såsom depressiva symtom. Metod: 30 personer inkluderades i denna studie. I denna studie användes IPAQ-SF för att mäta fysisk aktivitetsnivå, MADRS-S för att mäta depressiva symtom samt WHODAS 2.0 för att skatta funktionshinder. Formulären sammanställdes i en webbenkät som publicerades via länk på Facebooksidor ägnade åt Parkinsons sjukdom. Resultat: Utav inkluderade i studien hade 4 (13.3%) låg fysisk aktivitetsnivå, 13 (43.3%) måttlig samt 13 (43.3%) hög. 16 (53.3%) klassades som väsentligen obesvärad, 11 (36.7%) som mild depression, 3 (10.0%) som måttlig samt ingen som svår depression. Bland de inkluderade var medianen för WHODAS 2.0 enligt följande: förstå och kommunicera 3.5 (2.0-5.0), förflyttning 4.5 (2.5-6.5), personlig vård 2.0 (2.0-3.5), relationer 4.0 (3.0-5.5), dagliga aktiviteter 4.5 (3.0-6.5) samt delaktighet i samhället 4.0 (3.0-6.0). Sambandet mellan fysisk aktivitetsnivå och depressiva symtom gav r=0.31 p=0.10. Sambandet mellan fysisk aktivitetsnivå och funktionshinder visade r=0.45 p=0.02. Sambandet mellan depressiva symtom och funktionshinder visade r=0.74 p=0.01. Slutsatser: En måttlig till hög fysisk aktivitetsnivå var vanligt. Likaså var förekomsten av depression omfattande. Förekomsten av funktionshinder var därutöver relativt låg. Korrelationen mellan samtliga variabler anses vara låg frånsett den mellan depressiva symtom och funktionshinder, vilken var måttlig. / Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the correlation between physical activity level, depressive symptoms and health and function in persons with Parkinson’s disease. In addition, this study aims to examine and map physical activity level, depressive symptoms and health and function among persons with Parkinson’s disease. Background: Parkinson’s disease is one the most widespread neurodegenerative diseases. The disease can present itself in either motor or non-motor symptoms, such as depressive symptoms. Method: 30 participants were included in this study. IPAQ-SF was used to measure physical activity level, MADRS-S to measure depressive symptoms and WHODAS 2.0 to measure health and function. The questionnaires were compiled in a web survey which was then posted on various Facebook pages aimed at Parkinson’s disease. Results: Among participants included 4 (13.3%) had low physical activity level, 13 (43.3%) moderate and 13 (43.3%) high. 16 (53.3%) were classed as having no depression, 11 (36.7%) as mild depression, 3 (10.0%) as moderate and none as severe depression. The median for the respective domain of were as follows: cognition 3.5 (2.0-5.0), mobility 4.5 (2.5-6.5), self care 2.0 (2.0-3.5), getting along with people 4.0 (3.0-5.5), life activities 4.5 (3.0-6.5), participation 4.0 (3.0-6.0). The correlation between physical activity level and depressive symptoms provided r=0.31 p=0.10, physical activity level and health and function r=0.45 p= 0.02 and depressive symptoms and health and function r=0.74 p=0.01. Conclusions: This study demonstrated a prominent occurance of high and moderate levels of physical activity. Likewise, the prevalence of depression was extensive. In addition, the incidence of disability was apparently low. The correlation between all variables is considered to be low apart from that between depressive symptoms and disability, which was moderate.