Kirwan Health Campus

Poultry farming is a growing sector in Rwanda, but productivity remains constrained by high feed costs and limited adoption of modern feeding technologies such as pellet feeds. Pellet feeds have become increasingly popular in poultry production because they improve feed efficiency, reduce wastage, and support faster growth compared to mash feeds. In commercial systems, especially broiler production, adoption is very high. Studies indicate that over 90% of broiler diets worldwide are pelleted. Market data also show pellets make up around 40–45% of the global poultry feed market, with regional variations depending on production scale and infrastructure. This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional survey of 135 poultry farmers from the Northern and Eastern provinces, using structured questionnaires to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, poultry management practices, and perceptions toward pellet feeds and pelleting machines. Results show that only 38.8% of farmers currently use pellet feeds, with barriers including misconceptions that pellets are for broilers only (32.4%), lack of availability for layers, limited knowledge, and high costs. Awareness that pellets can be used for layers was low (30.2%), yet willingness to adopt was high, with 93.1% expressing interest in increasing use and 98.3% willing to purchase an affordable small pelleting machine. Logistic regression further showed that layer rearers (AOR = 0.093, 95% CI: 0.026–0.334) and those unaware of pellet suitability (AOR = 0.085, 95% CI: 0.033–0.218) were less likely to use them compared to the broiler rearers and those who are aware of pellet suitability, respectively. These findings highlight critical knowledge and perception gaps that limit pellet feed adoption despite strong interest, suggesting that targeted farmer training, awareness campaigns, and improved access to affordable pelleting equipment are essential to enhance productivity and sustainability in Rwanda’s poultry sector

ABSTRACTThis paper provides a decadal review of literature describing the analysis of simple saccharides and oligosaccharides in food by ion chromatography pulsed amperometric detection (IC/PAD) and ion chromatography mass spectrometry (IC/MS) as emerging techniques. The concentrations of these saccharides in food have important health implications and affect technical attributes of food quality. Saccharides have been analyzed over many decades using a diverse range of physical, chemical, and chromatographic techniques, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. In the past decade, ion chromatography (IC) has appeared as a contender with substantial benefits over established techniques. It is conducted without sample derivatization, unlike other techniques of comparable accuracy. Limits of detection (LOD) are also comparable, typically 20 μg/L when coupled with a pulsed amperometric detector or 1 mg/kg food using ion chromatography single quadrupole mass spectrometry. This compares to LODs of 2 g/kg food by high performance/liquid chromatography refractive index detector and 2 mg/kg food for gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The main strength of ion chromatography is the specificity/differentiation of simple saccharides, that has resulted in the discoveries of several unreported saccharides in foods. Examples include isomaltose in flour, erlose in stingless bee honey and arabinose, ribose, rhamnose, xylose, mannose, trehalose, maltose and raffinose in paprika. Evolving future advantages of ion chromatography in saccharide analysis include the increasing utilization of mass spectrometry, more work towards a standardized analytical methodology, and the need to investigate new, novel and admixed food types so that instrumentation continues to demonstrate relevance at the cutting edge of food research.

In child and adolescent psychiatry, the multiaxial classification approach has been developed over some decades and remains very relevant as it encapsulates the biopsychosocial approach, an approach which is also central to paediatric practice. There is considerable overlap between developmental-behavioural paediatrics and child and adolescent mental health, including presenting clinical problems, diagnoses, multidisciplinary and holistic approach to assessment and management, and similar use of pharmacological agents and psychosocial interventions. Multiaxial classification can be of use to paediatricians in a variety of ways, both in clinical practice and for teaching purposes. It can improve communication between the two disciplines and promotes a more holistic diagnostic representation in a structured and consistent format. Presented here are a number of practical ways in which the multiaxial biopsychosocial framework can be used, including case description, formulation, timeline and interventions, training and teaching.

Background: Rugby league involves repeated, complex, change-of-direction movements, although there are no test protocols that specifically assesses these physical fitness profiles. Thus, the current study examined the convergent validity and reliability of a repeated Illinois Agility (RIA) protocol in adolescent Rugby League players. Methods: Twenty-two junior Rugby League players completed 4 sessions with each separated by 7 days. Initially, physical fitness characteristics at baseline (i.e., multi-stage fitness, countermovement jump, 30-m sprint, single-effort agility and repeated sprint ability [RSA]) were assessed. The second session involved a familiarisation of RIA and repeated T-agility test (RTT) protocols. During the third and fourth sessions, participants completed the RIA and RTT protocols in a randomised, counterbalanced design to examine the validity and test-retest reliability of these protocols. Results: For convergent validity, significant correlations were identified between RIA and RTT performances (r= >0.80; p<0.05). For contributors to RIA performance, significant correlations were identified between all baseline fitness characteristics and RIA (r = >0.71; p < 0.05). Reliability of the RIA protocol was near perfect with excellent intra-class correlation coefficient (0.87-0.97), good ratio limits of agreement (×/÷ 1.05-1.06) and low coefficient of variations (1.77-1.97%). Conclusions: The current study has demonstrated the RIA to be a simple, valid and reliable field test that can provide coaches with information about their athlete's ability to sustain high intensity, multi-directional running efforts.

To compare the epidemiology of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in Indigenous and non-Indigenous infants in north Queensland, and to assess the quality of data recorded for SIDS deaths. Records were obtained for SIDS cases from all coronial courts in north Queensland from 1990 to 1998. Demographic characteristics, ethnicity, age at death, sleeping and feeding patterns, smoking incidences and autopsy findings were compared. Incidences, medians and univariate associations were generated where appropriate. There were 83 248 live births for the 9-year period; 71 389 non-Indigenous and 11 859 Indigenous births. There were 69 SIDS deaths (0.83 per 1000 live births). Overall, recording of demographic and death scene data was poor. Thirty-eight autopsies (55%) were performed by specialist pathologists. There were 22 (32%) non-Indigenous and 22 (32%) Indigenous SIDS deaths (25 ethnicity unknown), giving an estimated relative risk of 2.82 (95% CI 2, 4). Median age at death was 13.1 weeks (range 1-83 weeks) with 14% of deaths occurring in the neonatal period for both groups. Sleeping position was not recorded in 42% of cases and co-sleeping was not recorded in 27% of cases. Bed sharing was more common amongst Indigenous infants. Fifty-two per cent of SIDS cases occurred in the wet season and 48% in the dry season. Data recorded for SIDS deaths in north Queensland are poor, preventing specific conclusions concerning SIDS risk factors. However, SIDS rates may be up to three-fold higher in the Indigenous population. A uniform system of post-mortem and death scene data reporting is needed urgently.

A 1970 analysis of labour ward data to determine whether primiparas in the 30 to 34 year age group should be considered 'at risk' due to age was repeated in 1997. Control groups were primiparas aged 20 to 23 and multiparas 2 and 3. Incidence of operative delivery, several other obstetric outcomes and the condition of the infant at birth were compared in various age groups. Both studies showed that the 30 to 34 age group was at increased risk of operative delivery

SUMMARYEfficacy of oral, prophylactic erythromycin in reducing the time to establish full enteral feeds (150 ml/kg/day) was assessed in neonates &lt;32 weeks, ready for enteral feeds. Seventy‐three consecutive neonates were randomised to receive oral erythromycin ethyl succinate (n=36) or placebo (n=37) in a double‐blind trial until full enteral feeds or 14 days of therapy were reached. A prospectively designed feeding regimen, including plan of action for signs of feed intolerance, was common for all enrolled neonates. The median gestational age, birth weight and postnatal age at start of feeds were 29 versus 30 weeks (p=0.40), 1232 versus 1280 g (p=0.96) and 5 versus 5 days (p=0.84) for erythromycin and placebo group, respectively. Time to achieve full feeds was not significantly different in the two groups. (median times: erythromycin 93.5 versus placebo 104 hours, p=0.60). Erythromycin‐related side‐effects did not occur.

(2000). Does leaning forward improve micturition? Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology: Vol. 20, No. 6, pp. 628-629.

Parents of extremely premature babies may have problems understanding and remembering information on likely outcome. We have constructed a simplified evidence-based "gestation versus outcome" table that could be offered to the parents. Such a table may promote consistency in the information given to parents by different members of the perinatal team.

Urinary incontinence is a distressing and embarrassing condition suffered by at least 1 in 10 women. Incontinence is not just a disease of the elderly: 40% of women aged 30 to 50 suffer from incontinence and a surprising 11% of young women who have never borne children may also experience it. Incontinence unlike other chronic diseases can be cured in up to 70% of patients. The cost of incontinence is immense. Studies based on health care costs of urine incontinence in the USA indicate expenses as high as 2% of the national health care budget. Australia spends nearly 1 billion dollars per year on incontinence aids and this represents only a fraction of the total cost of incontinence.