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The article offers information on importance of nutrition in international health and development; and also mentions about double burden of malnutrition (DBM) which is defined as the coexistence of undernutrition along with overweight/obesity or diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Background: Hunger, food insecurity, stunting, anemia, overweight, and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) may coexist in the same person, household, and community in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The double burden of malnutrition (DBM) is an important cause of disability and premature death, which could be addressed with comprehensive policies such as the Plan of Action for the Prevention of Obesity in Children and Adolescents. This paper summarizes the main policies and actions aimed to prevent undernutrition and obesity. Summary: Several countries are implementing the Plan of Action, Caribbean Public Health Agency is actively supporting Ministries of Health, Education, and Sport to develop school nutrition policies and strategies to create health-promoting environments at school and in their surrounding communities. Chile is implementing the comprehensive child protection system "Chile Crece Contigo" that integrates health, social development, and educational activities to optimize growth and childhood cognitive-motor development. Brazil is implementing policies and plans to commit to international targets regarding food and nutrition security, NCDs and their risk factors. Key Messages: The DBM exists in the Americas and contributes to disability and premature death. The Region is making progress implementing policies and actions addressing the DBM. However, stronger political will and leadership are needed to enact legislation and policies that create and support enabling -environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2015 St. Gallen Consensus Conference on early breast cancer took place in Vienna, Austria, for the first time. After 3 days of high-level presentations by international panel members of clinical trials having been reported recently in the field, the traditional Saturday voting tried to translate the assembled knowledge into clinical treatment recommendations intended to guide clinical practice of breast cancer care for the 'average' patient. This report summarizes the results of the 2015 international panel voting procedures with respect to locoregional and endocrine treatment, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, as well as adjuvant bisphosphonate use. This report is not aimed to replace the official St. Gallen consensus publication - some recommendations may even be altered in the final paper - but should serve as a preliminary rapid report of this important meeting. © 2015 S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The double burden of malnutrition in Asia and the Pacific is driving a renewed focus on maternal malnutrition. Summary: Though adverse consequences of maternal malnutrition have been long recognized, there is slow progress in addressing nutritional problems of women/adolescent girls. Coverage and quality of current maternal nutrition interventions, mostly delivered through antenatal care programmes vary across countries, and are often sub-optimum. Further, despite a marked increase in overweight and obesity in women of reproductive age, at present, most programmes are focused on under-nutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. Key Messages: The recent antenatal care recommendations released by World Health Organization provide a benchmark for countries to evaluate their programmes and identify gaps and challenges to improving maternal nutrition. Asian and Pacific countries need to address all forms of maternal malnutrition. For countries that historically focused on maternal under-nutrition, expanding their programmes to incorporate interventions to address overweight and obesity will be challenging. Innovative methods for nutrition counselling, both in terms of content and using novel channels of communication, are needed. Protocols and guidance on managing excessive weight gain as well as determining appropriate pregnancy weight gains are needed, while managing micronutrient deficiencies, particularly in settings where inherited disorders of red blood cells exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on several papers discussed at the first symposium of the Vienna Research Platform of Nutrition and Food Sciences (VRPNFS), held on April 25, 2008 in Vienna, Austria, is presented. Presentations of this one-day event are grouped into four topics, namely, antioxidants and oxidative stress, cell immunity, inflammation, nutrition and genetics, food quality and analytics, and further topics of nutrition and food research.

The article discusses various papers on pharmacology presented at the 11th Symposium of the Austrian Pharmacological Society which was held in Vienna, Austria on November 24-26, 2006. These papers include "Long-Term Effects of an Endothelin-A Receptor Antagonist on Diabetic Cardiomyopathy and Vascular Dysfunction in Diabetic Mice with Myocyte-Specific Overexpression of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase," by W. Woelkart and colleagues, "Pharmacological Properties of GABA Receptors Containing Gamma1 Subunits," by S. Khom and "Automated Drug Screening of Ligand- and Voltage-Gated Ion Channels on Xenopus Oocytes," by I. Baburin.

Presents the abstracts of the papers presented in the 9th symposium of the Austrian Pharmacological Society (APHAR).

Provides abstracts from the papers presented in the 5th Symposium of the Austrian Pharmacological Society held in Vienna from November 26, 1999 to November, 27 1999. Suggestion to form cation channels activated by the phospholipase C/IP3/diacylglycerol pathway; Representation of Kynurenine pathway as one of the metabolic routes of tryptophan degradation leading to niacin formation; Finding of two different molecular forms of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD65 and GAD67) in vertebrates encoded by different genes.

Background: The doubly labelled water (DLW) method is an isotope-based technique that quantifies total energy expenditure (TEE) over periods of 1–3 weeks from the differential elimination of stable isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen. The method was invented in the 1950s, but limited ability to measure low isotope enrichments combined with the high cost of isotopes meant it only became feasible to use in humans in the 1980s. It is still relatively expensive to use, and alone small samples are unable to tackle some of the important questions surrounding energy balance such as how have expenditures changed over time and how do expenditures differ with age, between sexes and in different environments? Summary: By combining information across studies, answers to such questions may be possible. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) DLW database was established to pool DLW data across multiple studies. It was initiated by the main labs currently using the method and is hosted by the IAEA. At present, the database contains 6,621 measures of TEE by DLW from individuals in 23 countries, along with various additional data on the study participants. Key Messages: The IAEA DLW database is a key resource enabling future studies of energy demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing the double burden of malnutrition (DBM) with high levels of undernutrition and a growing burden of overweight/obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Undernourishment in sub-Saharan Africa increased between 2010 and 2016. Although the prevalence of chronic undernutrition is decreasing, the number of stunted children under 5 years of age is increasing due to population growth. Meanwhile, overweight/obesity is increasing in all age groups, with girls and women being more affected than boys and men. It is increasingly recognized that the drivers of the DBM originate outside the health sector and operate across national and regional boundaries. Largely unregulated marketing of cheap processed foods and nonalcoholic beverages as well as lifestyle changes are driving consumption of unhealthy diets in the African region. Progress toward the goal of ending hunger and malnutrition by 2030 requires intensified efforts to reduce undernutrition and focused action on the reduction of obesity and diet-related NCDs. The World Health Organization is developing a strategic plan to guide governments and development partners in tackling all forms of malnutrition through strengthened policies, improved service delivery, and better use of data. It is only through coordinated and complementary efforts that strides can be made to reduce the DBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Eastern Mediterranean Regions and Europe and Central Asia Regions are facing an epidemiological and nutrition transition, especially among vulnerable groups including mothers, children and adolescents. This has led to a double burden of malnutrition (DBM). Poor infant and young child feeding (IYCF), poor dietary diversity, excessive consumption of energy dense unhealthy foods, a growing obesogenic environment for children, including aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods for children, and reduced physical activity are among the main causes. In addition, several countries in the region lack the nutrition governance capacity to respond effectively to the DBM. This article reviews the context and provides a set of conclusions in which countries are called to reduce the marketing of unhealthy foods for children, enforce the fortification of staple foods with micronutrients to reduce micronutrient deficiencies and improve IYCF, including breastfeeding in the region. Also, the call is strong for cross-border multi-sectoral efforts to address the DBM in these regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is growing awareness in the field of public health that combatting the double burden of malnutrition requires approaches that address its multi-dimensional origin, rather than focusing primarily on the biomedical domain. Current frameworks of malnutrition like the UNICEF conceptual framework, and the Lancet Series 2013 framework have been instrumental in understanding the determinants of malnutrition and developing appropriate interventions. However, these frameworks fail to explicitly address issues of agency, that is, about being able to pursue one's goal. The capability approach as originally developed by Amartya Sen includes agency in the causal chain. Summary and key Messages: In the past 5 years, the International Union of Nutritional Sciences Task Force "Towards a multi-dimensional index for child growth and development" has developed a capability framework for child growth, and conducted empirical research applying this framework. The working group discussed what would be needed to further develop the approach and explained the added value to international organisations and policy makers. We suggest developing an index of advantage that will be a proxy for a child's agency. We hypothesise that such an index will explain much of the variance in studying inequalities in child nutrition and thus call for action to improve this focal point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about the 8th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC-8), held in Vienna, from March 21-24, 2012 is presented. The conference focused on the latest developments in breast cancer research and treatments. Some of the topics discussed included new application method of trastuzumab; intraoperative ultrasound to optimize breast conserving surgery; and overcoming hormone resistance. Also presented were updates on various trials in progress.

Presents abstracts of studies highlighted at the World Congresses of Gastroenterology in Vienna, Austria in September 1998. "Molecular Analysis of the Suppression of C-X-C Chemokine Production by Rebamipide in H. pylori Stimulated Gastric Mucosal Cells," by M. Aihara et al; "Interleukin-10 in the Gastric Antrum in H. pylori Gastritis: Immunohistochemical Localisation and in vitro Effects," by K. Bodger et al; "Water Extracts of Helicobacter pylori Delay the Healing of Gastric Ulcers Via Enhancement in Apoptosis," by T. Brzozowski et al.

Presents abstracts of studies highlighted at the World Congresses of Gastroenterology in Vienna, Austria in September 1998. "Cholecystokinin (CCK)-Response to Intraduodenal Tryptophan in Dogs Is Independent From CCK-A Receptors," by E. Niebergall-Roth et al; "Canine Intraluminal Gallbladder Pressure: Latency of Response to Intestinal Stimulants," by E. Niebergall-Roth et al; "Method of the Human Bile Vesicles Aggregation Evaluat and Its Clinical Utilization," by I. Kh. Marakhovski.

Presents abstracts of studies highlighted at the World Congresses of Gastroenterology in Vienna, Austria in September 1998. "Helicobacter Pylori Eradication and Ulcer Healing in Patients on Long-Term Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs," by G. Etolhi et al; "GI Bleeding in Relation to Analgesic Use," by William Blot and Joseph McLaughlin; "Loss in IL-4 Repression of TNF-α in Gastric Mucosal Injury by Indomethacin: Effect of Ebrotidine and Ranitidine," by B.L. Slomiany et al.; "New Concepts Regarding Ulcerogenic Mechanism of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs," by I. Puscas and Marcela Coltau.

Presents abstracts of studies highlighted at the World Congresses of Gastroenterology in Vienna, Austria in September 1998. "Experiance of Application Tachocomb® in Surgery of a Liver," by O.G. Skipenko et al; "Lack of HCV Transmission After Blood Transfusion. Final Results of a Prospective Survey," by E. Strauss et al; "Survival Outcome Following Resection of Proximal Cholangiocarcinoma," by W.S. Melvin et al.