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Poor dietary choices have been rising concurrently with an increase in asthma prevalence, especially in children. Dietary indexes that simultaneously measure the healthiness and sustainability of dietary patterns have emerged to address the dual concerns of human and planetary health. Accordingly, we aimed to evaluate adherence to a sustainable dietary pattern and its impact on airway inflammation and asthma. In this study, 660 school-aged children (49.1% females, 7–12 years) were considered. A cross-sectional analysis was performed to assess the association between diet and asthma and airway inflammation according to overweight/obesity. Diet was evaluated through the Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI). Higher scores represent a healthier and more sustainable diet. Three definitions of asthma were considered based on a self-reported medical diagnosis, symptoms, asthma medication, measured lung function, and airway reversibility. Airway inflammation was assessed by exhaled fractional nitric oxide (eNO). We considered two categories of body mass index: non-overweight/non-obese and overweight/obese. The associations between diet with asthma and airway inflammation were estimated using adjusted binary logistic regressions. The odds of having airway inflammation decreased with the increase in PHDI score. Moreover, children in the non-overweight/non-obesity group in the fourth quartile of the PHDI had lower odds of having airway inflammation compared to children in the first quartile. Our study indicates that a healthier and sustainable diet is associated with lower levels of eNO, but only among children without overweight/obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An adequate sodium intake is related to various health benefits. Parallelly, the Mediterranean diet (MD) is a dietary pattern known for its many positive impacts on health. Nonetheless, the association between adherence to the MD and sodium urinary excretion is scarce, even more in children. This study aimed to assess the association between MD adherence and the excretion of sodium, as a proxy of intake. This cross-sectional analysis comprised 295 children (46.8% females, aged 7–11 years, mean age: 8.53 ± 0.73 years) from 20 schools within Porto, Portugal. MD adherence was evaluated utilizing the alternate Mediterranean score (aMED). Higher scores denote a healthier dietary pattern (0–8). Sodium excretion was estimated by 24-h urine collection. The association between adherence to MD and Na excretion was estimated by logistic regression, adjusting for confounders. Children in the higher sodium excretion group had a higher intake of legumes, a higher body mass index and parents with lower education levels compared to children in the lower sodium excretion group. In logistic regression analysis, sodium urinary excretion was not associated with higher MD adherence, even after adjustment for confounders. High MD adherence could not be associated with lower sodium excretion in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There seems to exist an intricate relationship between airway inflammation, body mass index (BMI), and diet. The intake of specific foods or food groups has been suggested to suppress the oxidative stress and inflammatory processes that characterize airway inflammation, but little is known about dietary patterns and their complex interplay with BMI and airway inflammation. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to explore the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), a characteristic European diet, and levels of airway inflammation in school-aged children, taking into account their BMI. This cross-sectional analysis comprised 660 children: 49.1% females, 7–12 years old. Adherence to the MD was assessed through the alternate Mediterranean score (aMED). Higher scores represent a healthier diet (0–8). Airway inflammation was assessed measuring exhaled fractional nitric oxide (eNO). Two categories of BMI were considered: non-overweight/non-obese (p < 85th) and overweight/obese (p ≥ 85th). The associations between diet and airway inflammation were estimated using logistic regression models. Higher scores of the aMED were associated with decreased odds of having eNO ≥ 35 ppb, but only in non-overweight/non-obese children (OR = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.61–0.97). For overweight/obese children, the previous association was not significant (OR = 1.57, 95% CI, 0.88–2.79). Our findings suggest that adherence to the MD is associated with lower levels of airway inflammation among non-overweight/non-obese children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that impacts millions of people worldwide. Recent studies suggest that diet may play a role in asthma pathophysiology. Several dietary factors have been recognized as potential contributors to the development and severity of asthma for its inflammatory and oxidative effects. Some food groups such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats appear to exert positive effects on asthma disease. On the other hand, a high consumption of dietary salt, saturated fats, and trans-fat seems to have the opposite effect. Nonetheless, as foods are not consumed separately, more research is warranted on the topic of dietary patterns. The mechanisms underlying these associations are not yet fully understood, but it is thought that diet can modulate both the immune system and inflammation, two key factors in asthma development and exacerbation. The purpose of this review is to examine how common food groups and dietary patterns are associated with asthma. In general, this research demonstrated that fruits and vegetables, fiber, healthy fats, and dietary patterns considered of high quality appear to be beneficial to asthma disease. Nonetheless, additional research is needed to better understand the interrelation between diet and asthma, and to determine the most effective dietary interventions for asthma prevention and management. Currently, there is no established dietary pattern for asthma management and prevention, and the nuances of certain food groups in relation to this disease require further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) analysis is a recently developed, non-invasive method used to identify and quantify biomarkers, mainly those coming from the lower respiratory tract. It seems that diet can influence the airway's inflammation and change the exhaled breath composition. This study aimed to assess the association between diet quality intake and markers in EBC among school-aged children. A cross-sectional analysis included 150 children (48.3% females, aged 7–12 years, mean age: 8.7 ± 0.8 years) from 20 schools across Porto, Portugal. We assessed diet quality through the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015, which was estimated based on a single 24 h food recall questionnaire. EBC samples were collected, and we assessed their ionic content (Na+, K+) and conductivity. The association between diet quality and Na+, K+, Na+/K+ ratio and conductivity was estimated using logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders. After adjustment, a higher quality diet score increases the odds of higher conductivity values of the EBC (aOR = 1.04, 95%CI 1.00; 1.08). Our findings suggest that a higher diet quality in school-aged children is associated with higher conductivity levels of the EBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this work was to examine whether elevated iodine intake was associated with adverse effects on IQ among school-age children in Portugal. In a representative sample of children from the north of the country, IQ percentiles by age (assessed with Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices) were dichotomized to <50 ("below-average" IQs) and ≥50. Morning urine iodine concentrations, corrected for creatinine, were dichotomized to <250 µg/g and ≥250 µg/g, according to the European Commission/Scientific Committee on Food's tolerable upper level of daily iodine intake for young children. Data were examined with Chi-square tests, logistic regression, and GLM univariate analysis. The sample (N = 1965) was classified as generally iodine-adequate (median urinary iodine concentration = 129 µg/L; median iodine-to-creatinine ratio = 126 µg/g) according to the WHO's criteria. A greater proportion of children in the ≥250 µg/g group had below-average IQs, compared to children with less than 250 µg/g (p = 0.037), despite a sizable (though non-significant) proportion of children in the less-than-250 µg/g group also presenting below-average IQs, at the bottom of the iodine distribution (<50 µg/g). The proportion of below-average IQs increased with increasingly elevated iodine concentrations (p = 0.047). The association remained significant after the adjustment for confounders, with the elevated iodine group showing increased odds of having below-average IQs when compared with the non-elevated iodine group (OR 1.55; 95% CI 1.11–2.17; p = 0.011). Consistently, the former group presented a lower mean IQ than the latter (p = 0.006). High iodine intake was associated with lower IQs even in a population classified as iodine-adequate. These results bear on child cognition and on initiatives involving iodine supplementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individual nutrients and bioactive compounds have been implicated in the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), which are related to inflammation and asthma. However, evidence about the impact of diet is scarce. Therefore, we aimed to assess the association between dietary acid load and asthma-related miRNA in the exhaled breath condensate (EBC) of school-aged children. This cross-sectional analysis included 150 participants aged 7 to 12 years (52% girls) from a nested case–control study, which randomly selected 186 children attending 71 classrooms from 20 public schools located in city of Porto, Portugal. Dietary data were collected by one 24 h-recall questionnaire. Dietary acid load was assessed using the potential renal acid load (PRAL) and net endogenous acid production (NEAP) scores. Based on previous studies, eleven asthma-related miRNAs were chosen and analyzed in EBC by reverse transcription-quantitative real-time PCR. PRAL, NEAP and miRNAs were categorized as high or low according to the median. Logistic regression models were performed to assess the association between dietary acid load scores and miRNAs. Children in high dietary acid load groups (PRAL ≥ 14.43 and NEAP ≥ 55.79 mEq/day) have significantly increased odds of having high miR-133a-3p levels. In conclusion, higher dietary acid loads possibly modulate asthma-related miRNAs of school-aged children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Health Organization promotes salt iodisation to control iodine deficiency. In Portugal, the use of iodised salt in school canteens has been mandatory since 2013. The present study aimed to evaluate iodine status in school-aged children (6-12 years) and to monitor the use of iodised salt in school canteens. A total of 2018 participants were randomly selected to participate in a cross-sectional survey in northern Portugal. Children's urine and salt samples from households and school canteens were collected. A lifestyle questionnaire was completed by parents to assess children's eating frequency of iodine food sources. Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The median UIC was 129 Mg/L which indicates the adequacy of iodine status and 32% of the children had UIC < 100 µg/L. No school canteen implemented the iodised salt policy and only 2% of the households were using iodised salt. Lower consumption of milk, but not fish, was associated with a higher risk of iodine deficiency. Estimation of sodium intake from spot urine samples could be an opportunity for adequate monitoring of population means. Implementation of iodine deficiency control policies should include a monitoring program aligned with the commitment of reducing the population salt intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surfaces with antimicrobial properties are gaining notoriety as an efficient method to avoid surface contamination. Self-disinfecting paints are a promising strategy towards cleaner indoor environments by preventing the colonization of walls with microorganisms. However, its widespread use needs an appropriate toxicological safety evaluation due to the potential for biological disturbance associated to its biocidal activity. In this work, the cyto- and genotoxic assessment of two self-disinfecting paints containing the antimicrobial substances triclosan (TCS) and isoborneol (ISB) is performed. HaCaT and A549 cell lines models were selected for the in vitro assessment. To evaluate the cytotoxicity, tests by direct contact and on extracts obtained from leaching were performed following ISO 10993, whereas the genotoxicity was assessed by comet assay and cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay. The results showed low levels of cyto- and genotoxicity under the models and conditions tested, indicating that these substances have commercial potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wound care has been clinically demanding due to inefficacious treatment that represents an economic burden for healthcare systems. In Europe, approximately 7 million people are diagnosed with untreated wounds, leading to a cost between 6.000€ and 10.000€ per patient/year. In the United States of America, 1.5 million people over 65 years old suffer from chronic wounds. A promising therapeutic strategy is the use of exogenous growth factors because they are decreased at the wound site, limiting the recovery of the skin. Insulin is one of the cheapest growth factors in the market able to accelerate the re-epithelialization and stimulate angiogenesis and cell migration. However, the effectiveness of topical insulin in wound healing is hampered by the proteases in the wound bed. The encapsulation into nanoparticles improves its stability in the wound, providing adhesion to the mucosal surface and allowing its sustained release. The aim of this review is to perform a standing point about a promising strategy to treat different types of wounds by the topical delivery of insulin-loaded nanocarriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing epidemiological evidence suggests that optimal diet quality helps to improve preservation of lung function and to reduce chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) risk, but no study has investigated the association of food insecurity (FI) and lung health in the general population. Using data from a representative sample of US adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2012 cycles, we investigated the association between FI with lung function and spirometrically defined COPD in 12,469 individuals aged ≥ 18 years of age. FI (high vs. low) was defined using the US Department of Agriculture's Food Security Scale). Population-weighted adjusted regression models were used to investigate associations between FI, and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), their ratio, and spirometrically defined restriction (FVC below the lower limit of normal) and airflow obstruction (COPD). The prevalence of household FI was 13.2%. High household FI was associated with lower FVC (adjusted β-coefficient −70.9 mL, 95% CI −116.6, −25.3), and with higher odds (OR) of spirometric restriction (1.02, 95% CI 1.00, 1.03). Stratified analyses showed similar effect sizes within specific ethnic groups. High FI was associated with worse lung health in a nationally representative sample of adults in the US. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence about the impact of vegetable and fruit diversity consumption on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning is scarce. In this cross-sectional study (513 participants, 49.9% girls aged 7 to 12 years), we evaluated the association between vegetable and fruit diversity consumption and the ANS in school-aged children. Dietary intake was collected using a single 24-h recall questionnaire. Fruit and vegetable diversity consumption was estimated by summing up all the different individual vegetables and fruits consumed in one day. Pupillometry was used to assess pupillary light response, which evaluated the ANS activity. Adjusted linear regressions estimated the association between vegetable and fruit diversity consumption with pupillary light response measures. There was a positive and significant association between vegetable diversity consumption and the average dilation velocity, a measure related to the sympathetic nervous system activity (β-coefficient = 0.03, 95%CI: 0.002; 0.07). Our findings show that vegetable diversity consumption is associated with the ANS response, a possible early link between diet and health in school-aged children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity has been repeatedly linked to asthma, and several potential mechanisms have been proposed in the etiologies of the obese-asthma phenotype. Considering that lungs play an important role in systemic pH and acid–base regulation, are a key organ in asthma development, and that nutritional inadequacy of several nutrients and high dietary acid load can affect airway inflammation and reactivity, we aimed to test the hypothesis that dietary acid load may be associated with asthma in children. Data on 699 children (52% females), aged 7–12 years, were analyzed. Anthropometric measurements were performed to assess body mass index. Dietary acid load was calculated using potential renal acid load (PRAL) equations from a 24 h dietary recall administrated to children. Adjusted PRAL for total energy intake was applied with the use of the residual method. Lung function and airway reversibility were assessed with spirometry. Asthma was defined by a positive bronchodilation or self-reported medical diagnosis with reported symptoms (wheezing, dyspnea, or dry cough) in the past 12 months. After adjustment for energy intake, sex, age, parent's education level, and physical activity, positive and significant associations were found between asthma and PRAL [odds ratio (OR) = 1.953, 95% CI = 1.024, 3.730) in overweight/obese children. Our findings suggest that dietary acid load might be a possible mechanism in overweight/obese-asthma phenotype development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ursolic acid is a very important compound due to its biological potential as an anti-inflammatory, trypanocidal, antirheumatic, antiviral, antioxidant and antitumoral agent. This study presents the HPLC analysis of ursolic acid (UA) content in eight different Ocimum species: O. americanum L., O. basilicum L, O. basilicum var purpurascens Benth, O. basilicum var. minimum L, O. gratissimum L, O. micranthum Willd, O. selloi Benth. and O. tenuiflorum L. grown in Northeastern Brazil. In these Ocimum species, UA was detected in different yields, with O. tenuiflorum showing the highest content (2.02%). This yield is very significant when compared with other sources of UA.