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Objective : To examine the associations between gradients of average daily temperature and sunlight hours with daily steps over a 35-week period in school-aged children and to evaluate whether there were differences by sex. Methods : We conducted a follow-up study involving 655 children (50.8% girls, mean age 10.45 ± 0.95 years) from six public primary schools in Cuenca, Spain. We measured daily steps using Xiaomi Mi Band 3 Smart Bracelets (Xiaomi Corporation, Beijing, China) from October 2022 to June 2023 (over 35 weeks). We collected the average daily temperature from the local weather station in Cuenca and the sunlight hours during the same period. We used ANCOVA models and LOESS regression to examine the associations between gradients of average daily temperature and daily hours of sunlight with daily steps. Additionally, we performed a multiple linear regression model. Results : Our findings revealed significant variations in daily steps across the 35 weeks. The relationship between environmental factors and daily steps was non-linear in both girls and boys. The optimal values for higher activity levels were an average temperature of 14 °C and 13 h of sunlight. Furthermore, a 1 °C increase in temperature was associated with an increase of 74 ± 130 steps/day, while an increase of one hour of sunlight was associated with an increase of 315 ± 237 steps/day. However, the sunlight hours may act as a moderating factor. Conclusions : Our study showed a non-linear association between average daily temperature and the sunlight hours with daily steps over a 35-week period. Appropriate strategies may be needed to promote physical activity during periods of extreme temperatures or sunlight exposure.

This cohort study aimed to analyze the relationship between nut consumption and the risk of all-cause dementia in adults from the United Kingdom (UK). Data from participants in the UK Biobank cohort between 2007-2012 (baseline) and 2013-2023 (follow-up) were analyzed. Baseline information on nut consumption was obtained using the Oxford WebQ 24-h questionnaire. All-cause dementia (i.e. Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, or vascular dementia) was assessed at baseline and follow-up through self-reported medical diagnosis, hospitalization, or death records. Hazard regression models were used to estimate the association between nut consumption and the risk of developing all-cause dementia, with adjustments made for sociodemographic, lifestyle, hearing problems, self-rated health, and the number of chronic diseases. Participants with all-cause dementia at baseline were excluded. A total of 50,386 participants (mean age 56.5 ± 7.7 years, 49.2% women) were included in the prospective analyses. The incidence of all-cause dementia was 2.8% (n = 1422 cases). Compared with no consumption, daily nut consumption (> 0 to 3 or more handfuls) was significantly associated with a 12% lower risk of all-cause dementia (hazard ratio = 0.88; 95% confidence interval, 0.77-0.99) after 7.1 mean years of follow-up, regardless of the potential confounders considered. No statistically significant interactions were observed between nut consumption and any of the covariates included in the hazard regression models. Stratified analyses revealed that nut consumption of up to 1 handful of 30 g/day and consumption of unsalted nuts were associated with the greatest protective benefits. The daily consumption of nuts may play a protective role in the prevention of dementia., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to American Aging Association.)

Objectives: Eating disorders (EDs) have emerged as a growing public health concern. However, the role of sleep in this context remains underexplored. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the associations between sleep parameters and chronotype with ED risk in a sample of university students in Spain. Methods: ED risk was assessed via the Sick, Control, One stone, Fat, Food Questionnaire, and sleep quality was assessed via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Other sleep parameters and chronotypes were self-reported. Sociodemographic, body composition, lifestyle, and depressive symptom data were collected. Logistic and linear regression models adjusted for the main confounders were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the study associations. Results: A total of 403 students (70.2% female) aged 18 to 30 years participated in the study. Those reporting poor sleep quality (OR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.08-3.17, p = 0.025) and ≤6 h of night-time sleep duration (OR = 4.14, 95% CI 2.00-8.57, p < 0.01) were more likely to be at risk of EDs in the adjusted analyses. The association between night-time sleep duration and the risk of ED did not remain significant when we adjusted for sleep quality. In addition, an evening chronotype was associated with an increased risk of EDs (OR = 1.68, 95% CI 1.07-2.66, p = 0.039) only before adjustment for confounders. Conclusions: Among university students, poorer sleep quality was cross-sectionally associated with EDs. Future prospective studies are needed to examine whether promoting sleep quality may serve as an effective strategy for preventing the risk of EDs.

(1) Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the main cause of death in developed countries, being atherosclerosis, a recurring process underlying their apparition. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) modulate the expression of their targets and have emerged as key players in CVDs; (2) Methods: 18 miRNAs were selected (Pubmed and GEO database) for their possible role in promoting atherosclerosis and were analysed by RT-qPCR in the aorta from apolipoprotein E-deficient ( ApoE -/- ) mice. Afterwards, the altered miRNAs in the aorta from 18 weeks- ApoE -/- mice were studied in human aortic and carotid samples; (3) Results: miR-155-5p was overexpressed and miR-143-3p was downregulated in mouse and human atherosclerotic lesions. In addition, a significant decrease in protein kinase B (AKT), target of miR-155-5p, and an increase in insulin-like growth factor type II receptor (IGF-IIR), target of miR-143-3p, were noted in aortic roots from ApoE -/- mice and in carotid plaques from patients with advanced carotid atherosclerosis (ACA). Finally, the overexpression of miR-155-5p reduced AKT levels and its phosphorylation in vascular smooth muscle cells, while miR-143-3p overexpression decreased IGF-IIR reducing apoptosis in vascular cells; (4) Conclusions: Our results suggest that miR-155-5p and miR-143-3p may be implicated in insulin resistance and plaque instability by the modulation of their targets AKT and IGF-IIR, contributing to the progression of atherosclerosis.