Impacts of colonization on Indigenous food systems in Canada and the United States: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Indigenous populations in Canada and the United States (US) have maintained reciprocal relationships with nature, grounded in respect for and stewardship of the environment; however, disconnection from traditional food systems has generated a plethora of physical and mental health challenges for communities. Indigenous food sovereignty including control of lands were found to be factors contributing to these concerns. Therefore, our aim was to conduct a scoping review of the peer-reviewed literature to describe Indigenous disconnection from Indigenous food systems (IFS) in Canada and the US. METHODS: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-SR) and Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines, we searched MEDLINE, SCOPUS, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, Sociological Abstracts, and Bibliography of Native North Americans. Data was extracted from 41 studies and a narrative review completed based on study themes. RESULTS: The overarching theme identified in the included studies was the impact of colonization on IFS. Four sub-themes emerged as causes for Indigenous disconnection from traditional food systems, including: climate change; capitalism; legal change; and socio-cultural change. These sub-themes highlight the multiple ways in which colonization has impacted Indigenous food systems in Canada and the US and important areas for transformation. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to reconnect Indigenous knowledge and values systems with future food systems are essential for planetary health and sustainable development. Traditional knowledge sharing must foreground authentic Indigenous inclusion within policymaking.

Single dose therapy of vaginal candidiasis: a comparative trial of fenticonazole vaginal ovules versus clotrimazole vaginal tablets.

An open, randomized comparative clinical trial was performed in 153 patients suffering from symptomatic vaginal candidiasis confirmed by mycological tests. Patients were allocated at random into two groups: the first group (consisting of 75 subjects) was treated with a single vaginal ovule of fenticonazole (600 mg) and the second group (consisting of 78 subjects) was treated with a single vaginal tablet of clotrimazole (500 mg). Therapeutic efficacy was assessed by microbiological and clinical criteria 7 days and 1 month (when possible) after the single dose treatment. At the first follow-up visit, complete disappearance of the signs and symptoms or a highly significant reduction of their intensity was observed in both treatment groups. No significant difference was evident between the two drugs. At 7 days, the mycological tests gave negative results in 92% of the patients in the fenticonazole group and in 88.5% of the patients in the clotrimazole group. The difference between the two treatment groups was again not statistically significant. The second follow-up visit was performed in 55 (73.3%) patients of the fenticonazole group and in 52 (66.7%) patients of the clotrimazole group. The results indicate that 83.6% of patients in the fenticonazole group and 69.2% of patients in the clotrimazole group were still disease free at the time of this visit. Both drugs were well tolerated. Mild, local and short lasting side-effects were reported in only 5 cases of the group treated with fenticonazole.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cytological screening for cervical cancer and human papillomavirus in general practice.

In a retrospective study of cervical screening in a general practice in Birmingham 156 out of 1913 smears taken over three years showed some abnormality. Smears from 65 women showed severe non-specific inflammation, and 91 women had various grades of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, of whom 53 were aged under 30 and 13 over 40. Of 35 women with clinical evidence of human papillomavirus, 21 had normal results on cervical testing and 14 abnormal results. The incidence of genital warts among sexually active young people is growing, but the association of human papillomavirus with abnormal cervical smears is not clear. The efficacy of screening in the United Kingdom must be improved by actively encouraging younger patients to attend for regular screening.

Sexually transmitted diseases in a general practice.

A pilot study of the occurrence of latent sexually transmitted diseases in a sexually active sample was carried out in a general practice. The conclusions confirm that a reliable diagnosis of a sexually transmitted disease cannot be made in general practice when based only on the opinion of the patient. Full venereological history, examination and microbiological backup are essential. The microbiological investigations should be broad-based and should not rely on one specimen or method.