An investigation of the health value and self-care capabilities of the elderly in urban-rural fringe area nursing homes and the related in？uencing factors

Objective：To investigate the health value and self-care capabilities of the elderly living in urban-rural fringe area nursing homes and the factors that influence these variables.Methods：A cluster sampling method was used to select 280 elderly individuals from seven urban-rural fringe communities in Xianning to complete a survey regarding their health value and self-care capabilities.Results：The total health value and self-care capability scores of the elderly were 7.45 ± 1.45 and100.25±22.56,respectively.Both of these scores significantly differed by age,education level,marital status,and income（P 〈 0.05,P 〈 0.01）.Self-care capability was correlated with health value（r=0.521）.A multivariate linear regression analysis showed that health value,marital status,and age predicted selfcare capability.Conclusions：Elderly people living in the urban-rural fringe area with higher health values also had higher self-care capabilities.The self-care capabilities of the elderly can be enhanced by improving their health value using the ＂knowing-trusting-acting＂ model.

Can the 5-colour nutrition label“Nutri-Score”improve the health value of food?

Obesity and other nutrition-related non-communicable diseases were virtually non-existent before the advent of industrialized food production.In recent years,a 5-color front-of-package food label(“Nutri-Score”)seeking to demonstrate the overall nutritional value and healthiness of food products has been adopted for voluntary use in some European countries.The Nutri-Score is mainly based on the sugar,salt and calorie content of food items.The present viewpoint discusses whether the Nutri-Score correctly identifies healthy and unhealthy food items and how large an impact the Nutri-Score may have on consumers’choices.Furthermore,other benefits as well as hidden costs and drawbacks in implementing the Nutri-Score will be presented.Despite its reducing of the complex information regarding the contents of foods,the Nutri-Score may provide easily intelligible information regarding healthy nutrition and may become a valuable tool in educating consumers and influencing their food choices.The Nutri-Score may not become a game-changer in combating poor nutrition,but it is helpful in the right circumstances.If an inexpensive public policy,such as front-of-package labeling,makes some positive contribution,there is no reason to argue against its adoption.Even small effects may be relevant when a measure is adopted at population level.

Effects of Cordyceps Feed Additive on Production Performance and Egg Quality in Laying Ducks

[ Objective ] To investigate effects of Cordyceps feed additive on growth performance, laying rate and egg quality in laying ducks. [ Method] A total of 270 healthy laying ducks were randomly divided into throe groups, 90 ducks in each group. The ducks in the control group, group I and group II were fed common basal diet, basal diet containing 10 g/kg Cordyceps feed additive and basal diet containing 40 g/kg Cordyceps feed additive, respectively. The trial lasted for 28 d. During the whole trial, the ducks were weighed and their growth was observed at an interval of 7 d. The exterior quality and the nutritive indexes of duck eggs were determined. [ Result] After experiments, the body weights of ducks in the group I and group II were increased and higher than that of the control group. In the group I and group II, the laying rate was increased by 1.07% and 2.15%, respectively; the egg weight was increased by 3.95% and 4.16%, respectively; and the feed to egg ratio was decreased by 2.54% and 4.23%, respectively. The egg shape and eggshell thickness were consistent between the control group and experimental groups. In the group I and group II, the protein content of the duck eggs was increased by 5.55% and 17.15%, respectively; the cholesterol content was decreased by 11.79% and 42.14%, respectively; the IgY level was increased by 13.20% and 27.97%, respectively; and the lecithin content was increased by 5.13% and 11.69%, respectively. [Condusion] The Cordyceps feed additive can increase the body weight and laying rate of laying ducks and improve the quality of duck eggs.