Changes in grocery shopping behaviour among low-income households during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Online Purchasing Pilot (OPP) authorised the use of SNAP benefits online in Maryland in May 2020. We assessed shopping behaviour and intentions associated with uptake and intended future use of online grocery shopping during and after COVID-19 among SNAP-eligible households.

Design: In this mixed-methods study, participants completed a survey on online grocery shopping, and a purposefully sampled subset participated in focus groups or in-depth interviews between November 2020 and March 2021.

A Comprehensive Review of Percutaneous and Surgical Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia worldwide, and is associated with a significant risk of thromboembolic events. Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) has emerged as a promising alternative for patients with contraindications or intolerance to anticoagulant therapy. This review summarises the current evidence, indications, and technical advancements in surgical and percutaneous LAAO.

Medical nutrition therapy provided by a dietitian improves outcomes in adults with prehypertension or hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Interventions with dietitians can help modify dietary intake and reduce hypertension risk.

Objectives: We aimed to examine the following research question: In adults with prehypertension or hypertension, what is the effect of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided by a dietitian on blood pressure (BP), CVD risk and events, and anthropometrics compared with standard care or no intervention?

Methods: MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Central databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in peer-reviewed journals from 1985-2022.

Investigating the Effect of the Crosslinking Factor on the Properties of Hydrogel Materials Containing Hydrolate.

The use of natural ingredients in recent years has been of great importance in many industries and medicine. In biomedical applications, hydrogel materials also play a significant role. In view of this, the aim of this study was to synthesize and characterize hydrogel materials enriched with broadleaf linden hydrolate.

The effectiveness of medical nutrition therapy provided by a dietitian in adults with prediabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: A total of 374 million adults worldwide are living with prediabetes, 70% of whom will develop type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in their lifetime. Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided by a dietitian, such as that found in lifestyle interventions, has the potential to improve glycemic control and prevent progression to T2DM.

Objectives: The objective of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness of MNT provided by a dietitian, compared with standard care, on glycemic, cardiometabolic, and anthropometric outcomes in adults with prediabetes.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Chronic Total Occlusion-Contemporary Approach and Future Directions.

In the aging society, the issue of coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) has become a challenge for invasive cardiologists. Despite the lack of clear indications in European and American guidelines, the rates of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) for CTO increased over the last years. Well-conducted randomized clinical trials (RCT) and large observational studies brought significant and substantial progress in many CTO blind spots.

Cross-linked glucose oxidase clusters for biofuel cell anode catalysts.

The efficient localization of increased levels of active enzymes onto conducting scaffolds is important for the development of enzyme-based biofuel cells. Cross-linked enzyme clusters (CEC) of glucose oxidase (GOx) constrained to functionalized carbon nanotubes (CEC-CNTs) were generated in order to evaluate the potential of using CECs for developing GOx-based bioanodes functioning via direct electron transfer from the GOx active site to the CNT scaffold. CEC-CNTs generated from several weight-to-weight ratios of GOx:CNT were examined for comparable catalytic activity to free GOx into the solution, with CEC-CNTs generated from a 100% GOx solution displaying the greatest enzymatic activity.

Relation between the concentration of zinc in maternal whole blood and the risk of an infant being born with an orofacial cleft.

We investigated the relation between concentrations of maternal zinc and copper and the risk of an infant being born with an orofacial cleft. We did a case-control study using 116 mothers of children with isolated cleft lip with or without cleft palate (cleft group), and 64 mothers of unaffected children (control group). Mothers with a whole blood zinc concentration of 47.

[Scintigraphy of the lacrimal ducts].

Scintigraphy of the lacrimal pathways is an examination method which informs us on the function of the efferent lacrimal system. The authors made bilateral scintigraphic examinations in 32 patients with obstruction or stenosis of the lacrimal pathways, 22 times they made concurrent contrast examinations of the lacrimal pathways. In seven suprasaccal and 5 saccal obstructions and stenoses they did not find penetration of activity from the conjunctival sac into the lacrimal pathways.

[Imaging of focal nodular hyperplasia in static scintigraphy of the liver using 99mTc colloid].

A case of focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver is reported and its scintigraphic picture is presented. In the authors' experience and in accordance with available literary sources, Tc-99m-sulfur colloid scintigraphy is to be considered the crucial noninvasive examination approach revealing the pathologico-anatomical substrate of this asymptomatic hepatic lesion which may mimic severe focal disease of the liver.