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Diverticulitis and hemorrhoidal proctitis in the population are significant public health problems. We studied the potential association between the intake of certain plant foods and diverticulitis or hemorrhoidal episodes through a case–control study including 410 cases and 401 controls. We used a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. The intake was additionally quantified according to a 24 h recall. The plant foods or derived food products were categorized by their main chemical components into ethanol, caffeine/theine/theobromine, capsaicin, alliin, acids, eugenol, and miscellaneous foods such as curcumin. The mean score for overall intake of plant foods under consideration was 6.3 points, and this was significantly higher in cases (8.5) than in controls (4.1). Overall intake was similar in cases presenting with diverticulitis or hemorrhoidal proctitis. Cases had 13 times the odds of being in the upper quartile for overall intake (&gt, 7 points), compared to controls. Explanatory logistic regression models showed that the strongest association with diverticulitis and hemorrhoidal proctitis was shown by the chemical food group of capsaicin, followed by ethanol, eugenol, caffeine/theine/theobromine, and acids. Neither alliin nor miscellaneous food groups showed any association. High, frequent consumption of capsaicin, followed by ethanol, eugenol, caffeine/theine/theobromine, and acids increase the risk of diverticulitis and hemorrhoidal proctitis.

A hortaliça Eruca sativa, popularmente conhecida como rúcula, apresenta vários benefícios à saúde, tais como, atividades anti-inflamatórias e antioxidantes em organismos vivos, por apresentar em sua composição proteínas, vitaminas A e C, sais minerais, como ferro e cálcio, e flavonoides. Os flavonoides têm recebido muita atenção nos últimos anos devido aos vários efeitos benéficos podendo citar os mais importantes, auxilia no processo antiflamatórios, nos sintomas da menopausa, previne alguns tipos de câncer e ajuda manter a saúde do coração. O trabalho teve como o objetivo quantificar flavonoides totais da rúcula produzida de forma hidropônica na região oeste do Paraná, utilizando diferentes métodos de extração, temperaturas e formas de agitação, além de também considerar o tempo de cultivo da planta. Também foram avaliadas suas atividades: antimicrobiana, antifúngica e antioxidante. Primeiramente foram feitos testes probatórios, variando-se a concentração de metanol como solvente extrator dos flavonoides, a fim de identificar um método eficiente para a realização de todas as outras etapas. O material vegetal fresco foi cortado manualmente, utilizando 5 g das folhas da hortaliça picada em 100 mL de mistura de solvente com a umidade determinada em 92%. Os testes foram continuados com o processo de agitação em Shaker a 170 rpm, em triplicatas a temperatura ambiente de 25°C e 55°C, variando-se o tempo de extração em 12, 24, 36 e 48 h e o tempo de cultivo da planta, em 7,14 e 21 dias. Após a obtenção dos extratos, realizou-se a leitura dos flavonoides totais no espectrofotômetro UV-Vis em 440 nm de comprimento de onda, em comparação com a curva padrão de quercetina. Para os testes realizados, o resultado que se apresentou mais satisfatório foi com a concentração de solvente de 80% de MeOH, nos tempos de extração de 12 e 24h. Ao final, empregou o teste de ANOVA e Tukey (p

Background: Prevalence rates show that the greatest time of increase in overweight and obesity occurs between the ages of 18 and 29. According to the American College Health Association- National College Health Assessment, 2012 (ACHA-NCHA II), more than 1/3 of students were either overweight or obese. Excess weight in female university students is of concern as they are in their child bearing years. Approximately 41.6% of women start pregnancy as overweight and obese, and more than half of women gain excess weight during pregnancy. Moreover, changes in dietary behaviors and reduction in physical activity often occurs at college. About 94% of students do not get the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables, and more than 50% of students do not get enough physical activity. Examining factors affecting students’ fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity is imperative for interventions to be effective in promoting healthy behaviors and weight control among female university students. Previous studies addressing fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity using behavioral theory have been either conducted based only on using a quantitative study method or investigating these behaviors separately. This was the only known study to examine quantitatively and qualitatively fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity, simultaneously, using the framework of Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) along with related factors in female university students. Methods: A two-phase explanatory mixed methods design was used. It consisted of collecting qualitative data after a quantitative phase to describe the quantitative data in depth. In phase I, a total of 362 female students participated in an online survey. In phase II, a total of 33 female students participated in five focus group discussions to further explore students’ perceptions on fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity. SPSS was used for the qualitative data analysis and Atlas ti 7.0 was used for the qualitative data analysis. Results: The TPB constructs of attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, along with the addition of the weight control status of trying to lose weight, were found to be significant predictors in female university students’ intention to follow the recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity, which in turn was a significant predictor of both behaviors. Knowledge of the recommendations was not found to be significant for either fruit and vegetable intake or physical activity. Focus group discussions revealed that students’ beliefs of some of the negative outcomes of meeting the recommendations functioned as barriers to following the recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity. Findings also indicated the positive and negative influence of social norms – females with children wanted to be role models; single females felt more negative pressure from friends and others. Overall, students perceived more barriers than facilitators to meet the recommendations for fruits and vegetables than for physical activity. Conclusion: The mixed method approach of the study provided a deeper insight into the influential factors pertaining to fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity among female university students and could be used in further research to develop effective interventions.