Ultra-processed food and drink consumption and lipoprotein subclass profiles: A cross-sectional study of a middle-to older-aged population.

Background And Aims: Studies have consistently demonstrated associations between ultra-processed food and drink (UPFD) consumption and non-communicable diseases. However, there is a lack of data investigating relationships between UPFD intake and intermediate cardiometabolic disease markers. In this study we explored UPFD associations with lipoprotein subclasses.

Systematic Review on the Impact of Salt-Reduction Initiatives by Socioeconomic Position to Address Health Inequalities in Adult Populations.

Context: International evidence shows that individuals from low socioeconomic positions (SEPs) consume a greater amount of salt than those from higher SEPs. This health inequality reflects a disproportionate effect of salt-reduction initiatives, and explains a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease among the most vulnerable populations. Assessing this impact can help tailor implementation strategies in the future for the benefit of the whole population.

Plant-based diet adherence is associated with metabolic health status in adults living with and without obesity.

Purpose: Metabolic health phenotypes exist across the body mass index spectrum. Diet may be an important modifiable risk factor, yet limited research exists on dietary patterns in this context. We investigated associations between dietary patterns, reflecting dietary quality, healthfulness and inflammatory potential, and metabolic health phenotypes in adults living with and without obesity.

Lifestyle factors and BMI attenuate relationships between biomarkers of inflammation and depressive symptoms and well-being: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Mental disorders are a growing public health concern and evidence has linked chronic low-grade inflammation with depression and well-being. Research also suggests that certain modifiable lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, diet quality and BMI are related to psychological health. These may modulate the relationship between low-grade inflammation and mental health conditions.

Relationships between childhood adversity and inflammatory biomarkers in adulthood: A cross-sectional analysis of a middle-to older-aged population.

Background: Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) has been linked with increased cardiometabolic risk in adulthood. Low-grade systemic inflammation may underlie this association. Thus far, however, there has been limited investigation of later life inflammatory biomarkers in the context of childhood adversity.

Untangling the association between COVID-19 health literacy, trust in the pandemic response, and mental distress, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland: a repeated cross-sectional study.

Background: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rates of mental distress is well described. However, the contribution of poor health literacy and low levels of trust in state institutions to mental distress is less well defined. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 health literacy and trust in the pandemic response (Trust) on mental distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland.

Anthropometric measures, predicted visceral adipose tissue and biomarkers of chronic inflammation.

Background: Evidence has linked low-grade systemic inflammation and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) with development of chronic conditions. Cytokines and select proteins released by VAT may promote a low-grade inflammatory response. A number of equations have been developed to estimate VAT levels.

Plant-based dietary indices and biomarkers of chronic low-grade inflammation: a cross-sectional analysis of adults in Ireland.

Purpose: There is increasing interest in the health benefits of plant-based diets (PBDs). Evidence reports favourable associations with inflammatory profiles and reduced cardiovascular disease risk. However, limited studies have examined relationships between PBD indices (PDIs) and inflammatory biomarkers.

Cohort profile update: The Cork and Kerry Diabetes and Heart Disease Study.

The Cork and Kerry Diabetes and Heart Disease Study was established to investigate the prevalence of diabetes and cardiovascular disease among middle-aged adults in Ireland. The Mitchelstown cohort was recruited from a single large primary care centre between 2010-2011. A rescreen of this cohort was conducted in 2015.

Plant-based diet indices and lipoprotein particle subclass profiles: A cross-sectional analysis of middle- to older-aged adults.

Background And Aims: Plant-based diets (PBDs) are associated with favourable lipid profiles and cardiometabolic outcomes. However, limited data regarding PBD indices (PDIs) and lipoprotein subclasses exist. We examined overall PDI, healthful PDI (hPDI) and unhealthful PDI (uPDI) associations with lipid and lipoprotein profiles.

Association of adverse childhood experiences with lipid profiles and atherogenic risk indices in a middle-to-older aged population.

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) have been associated with poor later life health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease (CVD). Limited research investigating potential underlying biological mechanisms linking ACE to CVD exists, particularly regarding lipid biomarkers.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the associations between childhood adversity and unfavourable lipid profiles and derived atherogenic risk indices in a middle-to-older aged population.

Consumer attitudes and behaviors toward more sustainable diets: a scoping review.

There is an urgent need to move toward more sustainable diets. Although this will require radical and systemic changes across food systems, altering consumer ideologies and practices is essential to garner support for such actions. In this scoping review, the evidence on consumers' attitudes and behaviors toward more sustainable diets is synthesized and a range of factors, considerations, and proposed strategies are presented that can contribute to building the societal-level support for urgent and systems-level changes.

Mental health following an initial period of COVID-19 restrictions: findings from a cross-sectional survey in the Republic of Ireland.

: We assessed the mental health of individuals in the general population, during an initial period of easing of COVID-19 restrictions in the Republic of Ireland (RoI). Data were collected through a nationally representative cross-sectional telephone survey, during the first period of easing of restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic between May and July 2020. Mental health was examined using the Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety Depression Scale.

Associations between the Nutrient Profiling System Underlying the Nutri-Score Nutrition Label and Biomarkers of Chronic Low-Grade Inflammation: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of a Middle- to Older-Aged Population.

Low-grade systemic inflammation is associated with a range of conditions. Diet may modulate inflammation and public health strategies are needed to guide consumers' dietary choices and help prevent diet-related disease. The Food Standards Agency nutrient profiling system (FSAm-NPS) constitutes the basis of the five-colour front-of-pack Nutri-Score labelling system.

Dietary score associations with markers of chronic low-grade inflammation: a cross-sectional comparative analysis of a middle- to older-aged population.

Purpose: To assess relationships between the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), Mediterranean Diet (MD), Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and Energy-adjusted DII (E-DII™) scores and pro-inflammatory cytokines, adipocytokines, acute-phase response proteins, coagulation factors and white blood cells.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 1862 men and women aged 46-73 years, randomly selected from a large primary care centre in Ireland. DASH, MD, DII and E-DII scores were derived from validated food frequency questionnaires.

Compliance with local travel restrictions and face masks during first phase of COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland: a national survey.

Background: This study examines compliance with local travel restrictions and assesses early uptake of mask wearing, during the initial phase of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Ireland, to inform the ongoing outbreak response.

Methods: A series of four nationally representative telephone surveys were developed. Information was collected at a household level and from primary respondents.

Does gestational diabetes increase the risk of maternal kidney disease? A Swedish national cohort study.

Background: Gestational diabetes (GDM) is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease. It is uncertain whether GDM is independently associated with the risk of chronic kidney disease. The aim was to examine the association between GDM and maternal CKD and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and to determine whether this depends on progression to overt T2DM.

Evaluation of the impact and implementation of a national clinical programme for the management of self-harm in hospital emergency departments: study protocol for a natural experiment.

Background: A National Clinical Programme for the Management of Hospital-Presenting Self-Harm (NCP-SH) was introduced in Ireland in 2014. This involved the development of a model of care to standardise the management of self-harm in emergency departments, to be delivered by dedicated clinical nurse specialists. The core components of the programme were to: ensure an empathic and timely response, conduct a biopsychosocial assessment, involve family members in assessment and discharge planning, and provide a bridge to next care.

Associations between a protective lifestyle behaviour score and biomarkers of chronic low-grade inflammation: a cross-sectional analysis in middle-to-older aged adults.

Background/objectives: Certain lifestyle behaviours may have a protective effect against low-grade systemic inflammation, which is linked to chronic disease. Our objective was to examine associations between a five-component protective lifestyle behaviour (PLB) score and a range of pro-inflammatory cytokines, adipocytokines, acute-phase response proteins, coagulation factors and white blood cells.

Subjects/methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 2045 middle-to-older aged men and women.

Relationships between patterns of cannabis use, abuse and dependence and recent stimulant use: Evidence from two national surveys in Ireland.

Background And Objectives: Epidemiological studies show that the use of cannabis is related to the use of other illicit drugs, including stimulants such as cocaine and ecstasy. However, few studies have examined how patterns of cannabis use relate to the use of stimulants. In this research we determined relationships between patterns of cannabis use and recent stimulant use, drawing on data from two large nationally representative surveys.

Comparing dietary score associations with lipoprotein particle subclass profiles: A cross-sectional analysis of a middle-to older-aged population.

Background And Objectives: Lipoprotein particle concentrations and size are associated with increased risk for atherosclerosis and premature cardiovascular disease. Studies also suggest that certain dietary behaviours may be cardioprotective. Limited comparative data regarding any dietary score/index-lipoprotein particle subclass associations exist.