A systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions incorporating behaviour change techniques to promote breastfeeding among postpartum women.

The benefits of exclusive breastfeeding are well documented, yet few women adhere to recommendations. We report the Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTs) within interventions trialled internationally after pregnancy to promote exclusive and mixed breastfeeding as well as evidence of effectiveness. PsycINFO, EMBASE and MEDLINE databases were screened.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among middle-aged and elderly adults in China: current status and temporal trends.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to estimate prevalence and distribution of MetS among middle-aged and elderly adults in China.

Methods: The present analysis used data from a national study in 2014-2015.

Intersectional identities and dilemmas in interactions with healthcare professionals: an interpretative phenomenological analysis of British Muslim gay men.

Individual interviews were conducted with six self-identified Muslim gay men living in London focusing on their experience of health service use. Transcripts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Analysis identified two major themes: the close(d) community and self-management with healthcare professionals, detailing participants' concerns regarding the risks of disclosing sexuality; and the authentic identity - 'you're either a Muslim or you're gay, you can't be both' - which delineated notions of incommensurate identity.

Diet, the intestinal microbiota, and immune health in aging.

Many countries are facing aging populations, with those over 65 years of age likely to represent the largest population over the next 10-20 years. Living longer often comes with poor health and, in particular, a decline in the immune function characterized by poor vaccine responses and increased risk of infection and certain cancers. Aging and diet represent major intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence the makeup and activity of resident intestinal microbes, the microbiota, the efficient functioning of which is essential for sustaining overall health and the effectiveness of the immune system.

What do tomorrow's doctors need to learn about ecosystems? - A BEME Systematic Review: BEME Guide No. 36.

Background: Human health is fundamentally determined by the health of ecosystems. Guidance is lacking about how to address the topic of ecosystems within medical education.

Aims: To determine the nature of discussions around ecosystems in the educational, medical and medical education literature.

Influence of memory theme and posttraumatic stress disorder on memory specificity in British and Iranian trauma survivors.

This study investigated the influence of culture, memory theme and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on autobiographical memory specificity in Iranian and British trauma survivors. Participants completed the Autobiographical Memory Test and PTSD Diagnostic Scale. The results indicated that the British group provided significantly more personal-themed memories than the Iranian group, while the Iranian group provided significantly more social-themed memories than the British group.

Challenges to professionalism: Social accountability and global environmental change.

This article explores the concept of professionalism as it relates to social change and social accountability, and expands on them in the light of global environmental changes. Professionalism in medicine includes concepts of altruism, service, professional knowledge, self-regulation and autonomy. Current dialogues around social accountability suggest that medical schools should re-orientate their strategy and desired education, research and service outcomes to the health needs of the communities they serve.

The effect of 14 weeks of vitamin D3 supplementation on antimicrobial peptides and proteins in athletes.

Heavy training is associated with increased respiratory infection risk and antimicrobial proteins are important in defence against oral and respiratory tract infections. We examined the effect of 14 weeks of vitamin D3 supplementation (5000 IU/day) on the resting plasma cathelicidin concentration and the salivary secretion rates of secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA), cathelicidin, lactoferrin and lysozyme in athletes during a winter training period. Blood and saliva were obtained at the start of the study from 39 healthy men who were randomly allocated to vitamin D3 supplement or placebo.