Testing a Web-Based Interactive Comic Tool to Decrease Obesity Risk Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Preadolescents: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Childhood obesity prevalence remains high, especially in racial and ethnic minority populations with low incomes. This epidemic is attributed to various dietary behaviors, including increased consumption of energy-dense foods and sugary beverages and decreased intake of fruits and vegetables. Interactive, technology-based approaches are emerging as promising tools to support health behavior changes.

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation from Young-Trained Donors Improves Cognitive Function in Old Mice Through Modulation of the Gut-Brain Axis.

The gut-brain axis is a bidirectional communication pathway that modulates cognitive function. A dysfunctional gut-brain axis has been associated with cognitive impairments during aging. Therefore, we propose evaluating whether modulation of the gut microbiota through fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from young-trained donors (YT) to middle-aged or aged mice could enhance brain function and cognition in old age.

Association between Mediterranean diet and metabolic health status among adults was not mediated through serum adropin levels.

Background: Prevalence of metabolic disorders has been increased in recent years around the world. The relationship between Mediterranean diet (MD) with metabolic health status and serum adropin levels has been less examined in Iranian adults. We investigated the association between MD compliance with metabolic health status and adropin hormone in Iranian adults.

Governance and resilience as entry points for transforming food systems in the countdown to 2030.

Due to complex interactions, changes in any one area of food systems are likely to impact-and possibly depend on-changes in other areas. Here we present the first annual monitoring update of the indicator framework proposed by the Food Systems Countdown Initiative, with new qualitative analysis elucidating interactions across indicators. Since 2000, we find that 20 of 42 indicators with time series have been trending in a desirable direction, indicating modest positive change.

Exploring novel antifungal peptides from peptic hydrolysis of chicken cruor protein via regression-based machine learning approach.

There is a growing interest in natural preservatives driven by consumer demand for clean-label products. In Canada, approximately 48 million liters of blood are produced annually during chicken slaughter, offering an opportunity to valorize cruor, the solid blood component rich in hemoglobin, for use in food preservation. This study investigated the hydrolysis of chicken cruor with pepsin at pH 2, 3, 4, and 5 for 180 min to produce antimicrobial peptides.

Beyond single-use: a systematic review of environmental, economic, and clinical impacts of endoscopic surgical instrumentation.

Background: The evolution of endoscopic surgery has introduced a multitude of instruments, available in both disposable and reusable variants, influencing practices across various surgical specialties. Instrument selection is complex, considering individual preferences and institutional factors such as costs, instrument performance, and factors related to cleaning and sterilization. Notably, environmental sustainability has gained prominence due to the threat of climate change.

Therapeutic effects of curcumin supplementation on liver enzymes of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Curcumin, as an antioxidant agent, has been proposed as a potential treatment for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of the current systematic review and meta-analysis was to summarize earlier findings regarding the effect of curcumin supplementation on liver enzymes and ALP in NAFLD patients. All studies published up to November 18, 2022, were searched through the PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases to collect all randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on NAFLD patients in which curcumin was used as a treatment.

Effect of School-Based Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation Program on the Serum Folate Status of Adolescent Girls in Sidama Region, Southern Ethiopia: Comparative Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: In Ethiopia, a school-based weekly iron and folic acid supplementation (WIFAS) program is being implemented to reduce burden of anemia in adolescent girls. While the program's impact on iron levels is well-studied, there is limited evidence on its effect on folate status.

Objective: The study was aimed at assessing the effect of the WIFAS on serum folate levels of school adolescent girls in Sidama Region, Southern Ethiopia.

Association between underlying health conditions and long COVID among non-hospitalized and hospitalized individuals as modified by health literacy: A multi-center study.

Objectives: We investigated the effect modification of health literacy (HL) in ameliorating the negative impact of underlying health conditions (UHC) on long COVID among non-hospitalized and hospitalized survivors.

Study Design: An online cross-sectional study was conducted in Vietnam from December 2021 to October 2022.

Methods: A sample of 4507 participants recruited from 18 hospitals and health centers were those aged 18 or older, had contracted COVID-19 for at least 28 days, and were not in the acute phase of reinfection.

The relationship between dietary branched-chain and aromatic amino acids with the regulation of leptin and FTO genes in adipose tissue of patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

Recent studies have suggested that the interaction between diet and an individual's genetic predisposition can determine the likelihood of obesity and various metabolic disorders. The current study aimed to examine the association of dietary branched-chain amino acids(BCAAs) and aromatic amino acids(AAAs) with the expression of the leptin and FTO genes in the visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues of individuals undergoing surgery. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 136 Iranian adults, both men and women, aged ≥18 years.

Ergogenic Benefits of β-Hydroxy-β-Methyl Butyrate (HMB) Supplementation on Body Composition and Muscle Strength: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses.

Background: β-Hydroxy-β-methyl butyrate (HMB) is a metabolite of the amino acid leucine, known for its ergogenic effects on body composition and strength. Despite these benefits, the magnitude of these effects remains unclear due to variability among studies. This umbrella review aims to synthesize meta-analyses investigating the effects of HMB on body composition and muscle strength in adults.

Association Between Physical Fitness and Cardiovascular Health in Chilean Schoolchildren from the Metropolitan Region.

Cardiovascular diseases increasingly impact youth, with early development of risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, and inadequate nutrient intake. Proper nutrient intake and physical fitness are vital for reducing these risks, especially in pediatric populations. This study explores the connection between physical fitness, metabolic risk, and nutrient status among 1656 Chilean schoolchildren from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.

Individual and Joint Associations Between Animal and Plant Protein Intakes with Impaired Fasting Glucose and Type 2 Diabetes in the Framingham Offspring Study.

Objectives: Given the considerable discrepancy in the literature regarding dietary protein and glucose homeostasis, we examined the prospective association between protein intake (total, animal, plant) and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus or impaired fasting glucose (IFG). We also examined whether these associations differed by sex, body weight, or other risk factors.

Methods: We included 1423 subjects, aged ≥ 30 years, in the Framingham Offspring Study cohort.

Postprandial Vascular Effects of a High Potassium Meal in Patients with Treated Hypertension.

Background: There is compelling evidence of an inverse association between potassium intake and blood pressure (BP). A potential mechanism for this effect may be dietary potassium-mediated augmentation of endothelium-dependent relaxation. To date, studies have investigated potassium intake supplementation over several weeks in healthy volunteers with variable results on vascular function.

Emerging Biomarkers and Determinants of Lipoprotein Profiles to Predict CVD Risk: Implications for Precision Nutrition.

Biomarkers constitute a valuable tool to diagnose both the incidence and the prevalence of chronic diseases and may help to inform the design and effectiveness of precision nutrition interventions. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be the foremost cause of death all over the world. While the reasons that lead to increased risk for CVD are multifactorial, dyslipidemias, plasma concentrations of specific lipoproteins, and dynamic measures of lipoprotein function are strong biomarkers to predict and document coronary heart disease incidence.

The Association of Dining Companionship with Energy and Nutrient Intake Among Community-Dwelling Japanese Older Adults.

Background: Community-dwelling older adults are at risk of malnutrition due to age-related declines in energy and nutrient intake. While the positive effect of dining companions on energy and nutrient intake has been suggested, evidence remains inconclusive. This study investigated the association between the number of dining companions and energy and nutrient intake, as well as the contribution of specific food groups to higher intake in the presence of dining companions.

Towards a Greener Future: Sustainable Innovations in the Extraction of Lavender ( spp.) Essential Oil.

Lavender is one of the most appreciated aromatic plants, with high economic value in food, cosmetics, perfumery, and pharmaceutical industries. Lavender essential oil (LEO) is known to have demonstrative antimicrobial, antioxidant, therapeutic, flavor and fragrance properties. Conventional extraction methods, e.

Massive Localized Lymphedema, Wound Care Without Major Surgical Excision: A Case Report.

Massive localized lymphedema (MLL) is a benign overgrowth of lymphoproliferative tissue that is primarily observed in adults with class III obesity. Patients present with a painless mass that has usually been present for a considerable period. Consultation of a healthcare professional typically takes place when MLL-related complaints interfere with daily living.

Cultural Determinants of Body Image: What About the Menopausal Transition?

Body image is an important aspect of psychological well-being that is influenced by several biological and psychosocial risk factors. Cultural determinants of body image include the patterns of shared beliefs, values, practices, and social norms within a group that can act as a lens through which a person perceives, compares, and evaluates their body. Women tend to experience higher rates of body dissatisfaction than men, with reproductive milestones such as puberty, pregnancy, and postpartum being windows of vulnerability for body image concerns.

Elevated risk of possible sarcopenia and weak muscle strength with higher dietary inflammatory index in Iranian breast cancer survivors: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Increased levels of inflammation in cancer patients and survivors can make them more prone to muscle wasting and sarcopenia. Diet can be an appropriate treatment for alleviating patient complications. Therefore, this study was performed to determine the association between sarcopenia and its components with the dietary inflammatory index (DII) among breast cancer survivors.

Systemic regulation of retinal medium-chain fatty acid oxidation repletes TCA cycle flux in oxygen-induced retinopathy.

Activation of anaplerosis takes away glutamine from the biosynthetic pathways to the energy-producing TCA cycle. Especially, induction of hyperoxia driven anaplerosis in neurovascular tissues such as the retina during early stages of development could deplete biosynthetic precursors from newly proliferating endothelial cells impeding physiological angiogenesis and leading to vasoobliteration. Using an oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) mouse model, we investigated the metabolic differences between OIR-resistant BALB/cByJ and OIR susceptible C57BL/6J strains at system levels to understand the molecular underpinnings that potentially contribute to hyperoxia-induced vascular abnormalities in the neural retina.

Exploration of the Fasting Hypoglycemic Mechanism of Casein Hydrolysate Enriched with Glu/Gln and Glu/Gln-Containing Peptides in db/db Diabetic-like Mice Using Multiomics Analysis.

The fasting hypoglycemic effect of casein hydrolysate (CH) was investigated in db/db diabetic-like mice using a multiomics integrated analysis of peptidome, transcriptome, and metabolome. Results showed that the oral administration of CH at a dose of 600 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks reduced the fasting blood glucose levels by 14.73 ± 9.

Systematic Review of Interventions in Early Pregnancy Among Pregnant Individuals at Risk for Hyperglycemia.

Objective: The maternal metabolic environment in early pregnancy can influence fetal growth trajectories. Our objective was to identify interventions initiated in early pregnancy (<20 weeks gestation) in pregnant individuals with risk factors for hyperglycemia and report their impact on primary (neonatal adiposity, small for gestational age, large for gestational age, macrosomia) and secondary outcomes (gestational weight gain, maternal hypertensive disorder, birth injury, NICU admission, preterm delivery, emergency cesarean section).

Data Sources: We searched Cochrane Central database, Medline, Embase, CINAHL databases, and clinicaltrials.