Search

Gut microbial catechol dehydroxylases are a largely uncharacterized family of metalloenzymes that potentially impact human health by metabolizing dietary polyphenols. Here, we use metatranscriptomics (MTX) to identify highly transcribed catechol-dehydroxylase-encoding genes in human gut microbiomes. We discover a prevalent, previously uncharacterized catechol dehydroxylase (Gp Hcdh) from Gordonibacter pamelaeae that dehydroxylates hydrocaffeic acid (HCA), an anti-inflammatory gut microbial metabolite derived from plant-based foods. Further analyses suggest that the activity of Gp Hcdh may reduce anti-inflammatory benefits of polyphenol-rich foods. Together, these results show the utility of combining MTX analysis and biochemical characterization for gut microbial enzyme discovery and reveal a potential link between host inflammation and a specific polyphenol-metabolizing gut microbial enzyme. [Display omitted] • Metatranscriptomics analysis identifies prevalent gut bacterial catechol dehydroxylases • A catechol dehydroxylase from G. pamelaeae (Gp Hcdh) is highly transcribed in vivo • Gp Hcdh dehydroxylates hydrocaffeic acid, an abundant anti-inflammatory polyphenol • Gp Hcdh level correlates with anti-inflammatory activity of cruciferous vegetables Bae et al. uncover that a highly transcribed member (Gp Hcdh) of the gut bacterial catechol dehydroxylase family metabolizes hydrocaffeic acid, an abundant anti-inflammatory polyphenol. Analyses of human data suggest that the activity of Gp Hcdh may reduce anti-inflammatory activity of foods that are major sources of hydrocaffeic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy with increasing incidence. Most BTC cases are diagnosed with metastatic disease which carries a 5‐year survival rate of <5%. Physical activity, diet, and obesity might be associated with BTC risk, but studies have been limited particularly in African descendants. We addressed this knowledge gap by evaluating associations of BTC risk with obesity, physical activity, and dietary intakes in 723,326 adult participants in four cohort studies conducted in China, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in each cohort; results were combined using meta‐analysis. All cohorts had ≥11 median follow‐up years with 839 incident BTC cases combined. BTC risk was positively associated with body mass index (BMI) and waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR) whereas physical activity, fruit intake, and fish intake were inversely associated. HR and (95% CI) comparing BMI >35.0 to 18.5–24.9: 1.71 (1.26, 2.31), p‐trend <.0001; comparing BMI‐adjusted WHR top to bottom quartile: 1.20 (0.94, 1.53), p‐trend =.05; comparing ≥15–0 metabolic equivalent task‐hours/week 0.76 (0.61, 0.94), p‐trend =.009; comparing highest to lowest intake tertile for fruit and fish 0.79 (0.66, 0.95), p‐trend =.01; 0.82 (0.68, 0.98), p‐trend =.04, respectively. Associations were, in general, similar across ancestry groups. Our study provides strong evidence for important roles of obesity, diet, and physical activity in BTC etiology and stresses the need for lifestyle modification to combat the rising incidence of this fatal malignancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The animal gut microbiome acts as a crucial link between the host and its environment, playing a vital role in digestion, metabolism, physiology, and fitness. Using 16S rRNA metabarcoding, we investigated the effect of altitude on the microbiome composition of Anatolian Blind Mole Rats (Nannospalax xanthodon) across six locations and three altitudinal groups. We also factored in the host diet, as well as host microsatellite genotypes and thyroid hormone levels. The altitude had a major effect on microbiome composition, with notable differences in the relative abundance of several bacterial taxa across elevations. Contrary to prior research, we found no significant difference in strictly anaerobic bacteria abundance among altitudinal groups, though facultatively anaerobic bacteria were more prevalent at higher altitudes. Microbiome alpha diversity peaked at mid-altitude, comprising elements from both low and high elevations. The beta diversity showed significant association with the altitude. Altitude had a significant effect on the diet composition but not on its alpha diversity. No distinct altitude-related genetic structure was evident among the host populations, and no correlation was revealed between the host genetic relatedness and microbiome composition nor between the host microbiome and the diet. Free thyroxine (FT4) levels increased almost linearly with the altitude but none of the bacterial ASVs were found to be specifically associated with hormone levels. Total thyroxine (TT4) levels correlated positively with microbiome diversity. Although we detected correlation between certain components of the thyroid hormone levels and the microbiome beta diversity, the pattern of their relationship remains inconclusive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent disorder of gut‐brain interaction without a reliable cure. Evidence suggests that an alteration of the gut microbiome may contribute to IBS pathogenesis, motivating the development of microbiome‐targeted therapies to alleviate IBS symptoms. However, IBS‐specific microbiome signatures are variable across cohorts. A total of 9204 datasets were meta‐analyzed, derived from fourteen IBS microbiome discovery cohorts, three validation cohorts for diet‐microbiome interactions, and five rifaximin therapy cohorts. The consistent bacterial species and functional signatures associated with IBS were identified. Network analysis revealed two distinct IBS‐enriched microbiota clusters; obligate anaerobes that are found commonly in the gut, and facultative anaerobes typically present in the mouth, implying a possible association between oral bacterial translocation to gut and IBS pathogenesis. By analyzing diet‐microbiome interactions, microbiota‐targeted diets that can potentially modulate the altered gut microbiota of IBS subjects toward a healthy status were identified. Furthermore, rifaximin treatment of IBS subjects was linked with a reduction in the abundance of facultatively anaerobic pathobionts. Gut microbiome signatures were identified across IBS cohorts that may inform the development of therapies for microbiome modulation in IBS. The microbiota‐targeted diet patterns described may enable nutritional intervention trials in IBS and for assisting dietary management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the possibility of using Citrus aurantiifolia seed powder (CASP) as a growth promoter to produce highquality meat without compromising the bone quality of the birds was explored. A total of 600 one-day-old Cobb 500 broiler chickens were randomly allocated to 6 dietary treatments with 5 replicates each and 20 birds per replicate. The treatments comprised negative control (standard diet), positive control (standard diet + oxytetracycline 50% twice a week according to the prescription of the manufactures) and a standard diet supplemented with 2.5 g/kg, 5 g/kg, 7.5 g/kg, and 10 g/kg of CASP respectively. The results show that the crude fat content in the meat decreased significantly as the CASP dose in the feed increased (P < 0.001). Birds that received a CASP supplement of 5 g/kg upwards had a higher ash content in the breast muscles. The fillets from broilers diet supplemented with 10 g/kg of CASP were lighter in colour (greater L* values, P < 0.05) than fillets from the birds in the control groups. The Seedor and Robustness index, as well as the ash content of leg bones, were positively influenced (P < 0.05) by CASP supplementation. This study demonstrates that the addition of CASP as a growth promoter in broiler diets can yield good quality meat while improving bone quality of the birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) affects 30 million Americans. Previous epidemiologic work has shown that diet can impact pulmonary function in those with and without COPD. Diet is also a major driver of gut microbiome composition and function. Importantly, the gut microbiome has also been associated with lung health (i.e., the gut-lung axis) in both preclinical and clinical studies. Despite this growing body of evidence, many questions remain regarding the gut-lung axis. Specifically, how the microbiome impacts the relationship between diet factors and spirometry or stage of disease in people with COPD is little understood. We hypothesize that there are taxonomic differences in the gut microbiome among the different stages of COPD and that diet microbiome interactions influence pulmonary function. This study aimed to identify how the GI microbiota correlated with the severity of respiratory disease in COPD patients and how the microbiome may mediate the relationship between diet, including fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, and lung function outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions Plant‐based diets (PBDs) have gained popularity in recent years due to their co‐benefits for human and planetary health. Although clinical guidelines now recommend well‐balanced PBDs, it remains unclear how dietitians in the United Kingdom (UK) and Republic of Ireland (ROI) view such diets and their implementation in practice. This study aimed to evaluate the perspectives of registered dietitians (RDs) on the role of a whole food plant‐based diet (WFPBD) in clinical practice.A cross‐sectional online survey was conducted amongst RDs in the UK and ROI between September and November 2023.A total of 335 RDs participated in the survey. Most RDs (76%) agree that a well‐planned WFPBD is suitable for all stages of life, with some (48%) expressing concerns over the risk of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. Three‐quarters of RDs (75%) incorrectly thought that plant protein is incomplete, necessitating protein combining. A WFPBD was on average ranked fourth out of 14 dietary strategies for managing some of the leading non‐communicable diseases. Excluding dairy and eggs was the primary reason preventing RDs from personally adopting a WFPBD, whereas meal preparation and cost were the main barriers for their clients. The majority of RDs (79%) feel they did not receive sufficient education on WFPBDs, with 58% agreeing there are insufficient evidence‐based resources available in their field. Only 33% feel supported when advocating for a WFPBD in their workplace.Although many RDs view WFPBDs as viable and clinically relevant, significant barriers to their implementation exist, underscoring the need for enhanced education and support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parental environments have profound consequences for offspring fitness through transgenerational transmission of resources and epigenetic factors. Locomotor activity is a functional trait of considerable ecological importance, as it determines the ability of animals to find food and mates and to disperse to more favourable environments. Although there have been studies demonstrating that animals can plastically increase their locomotor capacity in response to nutritionally stressful environments, it remains largely unexplored whether and how parental diet can adjust offspring locomotor capacity and its related traits. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the parental intake of a nutritionally suboptimal diet would induce hyperactivity in the offspring and that this transgenerational effect could lead to improved offspring performance in an insect herbivore, the bean bug (Riptortus pedestris Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Alydidae). We compared the locomotor activity, metabolic phenotype and performance traits of two groups of R. pedestris nymphs born to parents raised on soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr, Fabaceae; standard diet] or peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L., Fabaceae; high‐fat diet). Despite being smaller at birth, the offspring of peanut‐fed parents moved faster and more frequently than those of soybean‐fed parents during their early development. The newly hatched offspring born to peanut‐fed parents had higher relative energy reserves in somatic tissues than those born to soybean‐fed parents, indicating that differential parental provisioning could underpin this parental effect on offspring locomotor activity. Possibly through increased foraging activity, the hyperactive offspring of peanut‐fed parents grew faster into heavier adults than the offspring of soybean‐fed parents, implying that parentally induced increase in offspring locomotor activity is adaptive. This study provides experimental evidence for diet‐mediated transgenerational plasticity of locomotor activity in invertebrates and sheds novel insights into the role of parental diet history in shaping offspring phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive research has shown that spending time in natural greenspaces has a positive impact on health. However, there is limited evidence regarding potential factors that may influence these effects. This review aimed to assess the strength of the evidence and potential impact of exposure to green and bluespaces on dietary outcomes in adults. Inclusion criteria for the review were based on the PICO criteria. Following PRISMA guidelines, an initial search of five databases was conducted: CINAHL, GreenFILE, AMED, Medline, and PubMed, accessed on 14th June 2021 and augmented by an updated rerun in January 2024. All studies used the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist for Analytical Cross‐Sectional Studies for quality assessment. Due to heterogeneity, a narrative synthesis was conducted to evaluate the relationships between the included studies. Four observational studies that reported diet‐related outcomes were included in the review, and participants within the studies ranged from 554 to >350,000 participants. Other health outcomes, including physical activity and obesity, were also reported. Two studies found that dietary patterns were not correlated with exposure to greenspace. Due to the small number of articles retrieved and the paucity of evidence, the findings must be interpreted cautiously. In conclusion, further research is essential to clarify the intricate mechanisms involved in greenspace‐related health benefits. Additionally, investigating the specific greenspace attributes influencing adult dietary intake and food choices is warranted. When devising public health interventions, it is crucial to account for the substantial health advantages associated with various socioeconomic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Poor Food security (FS) is associated with risk of diet-related diseases and rising healthcare costs. Produce Prescription Interventions (PRx) are emerging clinical tools to improve FS and diet quality, but their impact in families with children is not well established. This study evaluates the impact of a pediatric PRx on FS and nutrition-related behaviors. Methods: Adult caregivers of children (0-18) were enrolled within a 6-month produce delivery and nutrition education intervention. A validated food security survey was administered pre/post intervention to determine FS scores and "Food Secure" status. Statistical analyses tested pre-post differences in FS scores and proportion of scores within the "Food Secure" range. Semi-structured interviews were performed post-intervention to explore families' experiences with low FS and healthy behaviors and were thematically analyzed. Results: Between October 2021 and December 2022, 82 families were enrolled, 65 completed FS survey at baseline and 54 completed it at post-intervention. FS scores improved post-intervention (P <.05) and a greater proportion of household- and child-level scores fell within the "Food Secure" range post-intervention (P <.05). Twenty-eight interviews were analyzed. Three salient themes were identified: (1) value of healthcare-based screening and intervention, (2) food and education motivate behavior change, and (3) perceptions of post-intervention lifestyle sustainability. Conclusions: Participation in the PRx was associated with improvements in FS and nutrition-related attitudes and behaviors. PRx can be implemented by health systems to improve FS and health behaviors associated with risk for diet-related diseases. Longer-term support may be needed to maintain healthy behavior changes associated with PRx participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gut microbes are important to the health and fitness of many animals. Many factors have been shown to affect gut microbial communities including diet, lifestyle, and age. Most animals have very complex physiologies, lifestyles, and microbiomes, making it virtually impossible to disentangle what factors have the largest impact on microbiota composition. Honeybees are an excellent model to study host-microbe interactions due to their relatively simple gut microbiota, experimental tractability, and eusociality. Worker honey bees have distinct gut microbiota from their queen mothers despite being close genetic relatives and living in the same environment. Queens and workers differ in numerous ways including development, physiology, pheromone production, diet, and behavior. In the prolonged absence of a queen or Queen Mandibular Pheromones (QMP), some but not all workers will develop ovaries and become "queen-like". Using this inducible developmental change, we aimed to determine if diet and/or reproductive development impacts the gut microbiota of honey bee workers. Results: Microbiota-depleted newly emerged workers were inoculated with a mixture of queen and worker gut homogenates and reared under four conditions varying in diet and pheromone exposure. Three weeks post-emergence, workers were evaluated for ovary development and their gut microbiota communities were characterized. The proportion of workers with developed ovaries was increased in the absence of QMP but also when fed a queen diet (royal jelly). Overall, we found that diet, rather than reproductive development or pheromone exposure, led to more "queen-like" microbiota in workers. However, we revealed that diet alone cannot explain the microbiota composition of workers. Conclusion: The hypothesis that reproductive development explains microbiota differences between queens and workers was rejected. We found evidence that diet is one of the main drivers of differences between the gut microbial community compositions of queens and workers but cannot fully explain the distinct microbiota of queens. Thus, we predict that behavioral and other physiological differences dictate microbiota composition in workers and queens. Our findings not only contribute to our understanding of the factors affecting the honey bee microbiota, which is important for bee health, but also illustrate the versatility and benefits of utilizing honeybees as a model system to study host-microbe interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aim: The burden of orofacial clefts (OFCs) has declined globally except in sub-Saharan Africa, with a great disease burden in North Africa. Children with OFCs have a high risk of malnutrition, and African countries have some of the highest malnutrition rates. This scoping review assessed the status of research on OFCs and nutrition and feeding among children living in African countries. Methods: We followed the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines for conducting scoping reviews. We searched eleven databases for articles on malnutrition and feeding among children with OFCs living in African countries. No restriction was done by type of study or publication date. Books, book chapters, and reviews were excluded. Only publications in English language were included. We extracted information about the publication year, study design, setting, location, participants' age, data collection methods, international collaboration, and funding. We classified articles into studies assessing (1) the impact of nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy on OFCs, (2) the impact of OFCs on malnutrition, (3) feeding problems in children with OFCs, and (4) the impact of nutritional status on OFCs repair outcomes. We calculated frequencies and used bar charts and a map. Results: Out of 208 search results, 36 were duplicates, and 25 eventually fit the inclusion criteria, with 52% retrieved from Google Scholar. About 80% of the studies were from four countries: Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, and Uganda; 72% were hospital-based and 52% were cross-sectional. The most frequent data collection method was clinical examination and questionnaires. Most studies focused on feeding problems in children with OFCs (44%) and the impact of OFCs on malnutrition (32%). International collaboration was observed in six studies, with one study showing South-South collaboration. Only two studies were funded. Conclusions: There is a predominance of under-funded descriptive research not indexed by international databases. Minimal research has been directed to population-level OFC preventive programs in primary healthcare settings and assessing interventions supporting children with OFCs. A research agenda is needed to prioritize research needs and secure funds to support South-South collaboration to address the nutrition and feeding-related problems associated with OFCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At a length of 27 mm and greater, each subsequent varices of Pteropurpura macroptera (Deshayes, 1838) represents one year of growth. Among snails still growing, a single varix is added most frequently during August or September. Reproduction occurs from April to early July. The growth rate in situ and in culture were similar. Egg capsules, embryos and the average number of each per cluster are provided. The diet in culture was exclusively bivalves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To describe an Aboriginal cultural immersion delivered to dietetics students at a large university in Australia and assess its effectiveness as a method to teach Aboriginal history, culture, diet, and health in dietetics. Methods: Taking a strength‐based approach, Aboriginal processes of learning were privileged, with the cultural immersion being co‐designed with immersion educators, a First Nations researcher, and dietetics academic. The cultural immersion consisted of an opening ceremony and four stations of yarning, weaving, bush tucker, and artefacts/medicines. A mixed‐methods approach was used, with triangulation of data from pre‐ and postsurveys, station mapping, and focus group interviews. Quantitative and qualitative data were simultaneously analysed from participating first‐year Master of Nutrition and Dietetics students and then drawn together for an integrated understanding of the impact of the cultural immersion on student learnings. Results: Fifty‐three students completed pre‐ and postsurveys and 36 participated in focus groups. Through sharing lived experiences, learning through culture, and keeping sessions practical and Aboriginal leadership, each cultural immersion station utilised Aboriginal processes of learning that meaningfully engaged students with Aboriginal education content, appreciate holistic health and increased their general knowledge on Aboriginal history, culture, diet, and health (all p < 0.001). Conclusion: Cultural immersion is one teaching method to enhance student knowledges and can be a part of a programmatic and integrated approach that embeds Aboriginal content throughout the whole curriculum. It is necessary that institutions recognise the value of cultural immersions to student learnings and commit to providing ongoing support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Solitary drinking is a risky drinking pattern associated with increased substance use and psychosocial problems. However, very little is known regarding the associations between drinking alone and broader health status and behaviors. Purpose Accordingly, this study examined the relationship between health metrics and solitary drinking among individuals who currently drink (N = 99, 46.46% female, 88.89% White). Methods U.S. participants between 21 and 40 years old were recruited. Measures included self-reported diet, physical activity, sleep, cannabis use, general and solitary alcohol use, and objective anthropomorphic measures (e.g. body mass index [BMI]) using data from both a baseline appointment and 30 days of daily diary responses. Adjusting for general alcohol use, age, and gender, associations at baseline were assessed through regression analyses, while daily data were analyzed via mixed effects models. Results Several health measures were associated with solitary drinking. Specifically, solitary drinking was related to consuming fewer servings of fruits and vegetables and greater quantities of alcohol based on daily data. Baseline data showed an association between solitary drinking and higher BMIs, poorer sleep quality, greater sugar consumption, and hazardous drinking. Conclusions These findings suggest that beyond substance and psychosocial problems associated with solitary drinking, this drinking behavior may be a warning sign for health risks and, subsequently, broader health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary change can be a strong evolutionary force and lead to rapid adaptation in organisms. High-fat and high-sugar diets can challenge key metabolic pathways, negatively affecting other life history traits and inducing pathologies such as obesity and diabetes. In this study, we use experimental evolution to investigate the plastic and evolutionary responses to nutritionally unbalanced diets. We reared replicated lines of larvae of the housefly Musca domestica on a fat-enriched (FAT), a sugar-enriched (SUG), and a control (CTRL) diet for thirteen generations. We measured development time in each generation and larval growth and fat accumulation in generations 1, 7, and 13. Subsequently, all lines were reared for one generation on the control diet to detect any plastic and evolutionary changes. In the first generation, time to pupation decreased on a fat-rich diet and increased on a sugar-rich diet. The fat-rich diet increased fat accumulation and, to a lesser extent, the dry weight of the larvae. Multigenerational exposure to unbalanced diets caused compensatory changes in development time, dry weight, and absolute and relative fat content, although pattern and timing depended on diet and trait. When put back on a control diet, many of the changes induced by the unbalanced diets disappeared, indicating that the diet has large plastic effects. Nevertheless, fat-evolved lines still grew significantly larger than the sugar-evolved lines, and sugar-evolved lines had consistently lower fat content. This can be an effect of parental diet or an evolutionary change in nutrient metabolism as a consequence of multigenerational exposure to unbalanced diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides insights for health professionals and fire departments seeking to improve well-being, performance, and health of firefighters. The results suggest prioritizing improvements in autonomous motivation and nutritional knowledge, reducing access to unhealthy foods at the fire station and creating a social climate that encourages healthy food behaviors among teammates. Objective: Using a cross-sectional correlational study, the purpose was to quantitatively investigate factors associated to firefighters' food behaviors while on duty at the fire station. Methods: Two hundred and fifty-two (252) firefighters (males, 96%; age, 39 ± 11 years) completed an online questionnaire assessing diet and exploring factors that could be associated to firefighters' food behaviors at the fire station. Results: First regression analysis showed that level of education, years of experience, self-perceived nutrition knowledge, autonomous motivation, and accessibility to unhealthy foods were the best predictors of healthy food score. Second regression analysis revealed that body mass index, autonomous motivation, and meals interrupted by emergency calls were the best predictors of fast-food score. Conclusions: This study highlights the various factors associated with firefighters' food behaviors at the fire station. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the changes in training, sleep, diet, and mental health of cross-country runners. Participants: Cross-country runners from NCAA Division II institutes. Methods: Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed to analyze survey responses to ordinal questions on the survey while Spearman's rank correlation analysis (ρ) was used to calculate correlation between after the start of pandemic questions. Data was marked significant at p < 0.05. Results: Analysis of the survey responses revealed that cross-country runners were more likely to experience feelings of depression (p < 0.001), lack of motivation (p < 0.001), and higher daily stress (p < 0.001) after the start of the pandemic. After the start of the pandemic, runners running less days per week were more likely to report an increased feeling of depression (ρ=-0.315, p = 0.008) and lack of motivation (ρ=-0.458, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The present study underscores the importance of training, sleep, diet, and mental health amongst cross-country runners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Western diet is associated with chronic disease risk, and degree of dietary acculturation can impact susceptibility. This study sought to understand the factors associated with changes in food consumption habits among international students at a large public university in the southern US. Participants: A convenience sample of 173 international students representing 41 countries at The University of Georgia participated in the survey. Methods: This cross-sectional online survey assessed dietary habits, perception of healthy eating, and level of acculturation using previously validated measures. Results: Highest number of participants were from China (19.2%), 89.0% were graduate students with an average age of 27.5 ± 4.83 years. The majority (62.0%) of participants were dietary acculturated with affordability and accessibility determining types of food consumption, as fewer whole foods and more processed foods were consumed in the U.S. Conclusions: Findings suggest dietary acculturation may be driven by economic factors, making the transition to Westernized food items a convenient and cost-effective choice among international students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine changes in freshman students' objectively measured body mass index (BMI), physical activity (PA), and dietary behaviors (consumption of trans fats, sugars, and added sugars) during their first college semester. Methods: Twenty-eight participants (18.32 ± 2.2) completed the dietary (ASA24-US) and PA (wrist-worn ActiGraph accelerometer) assessments. Non-parametric Paired-Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to identify the changes in BMI, moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (MVPA), vigorous-intensity PA (VPA), and nutrition. Results: The analyses showed a statistically significant increase in BMI (Mbaseline = 22.85[2.87] kg/m2; Mpost = 23.53[3.21] kg/m2; p =.002, r =.53) and MVPA (Mbaseline = 200.94[81.08]; Mpost = 216.92[78.33]; p =.031, r =.41), but there were no statistically significant changes in VPA or dietary behaviors. Conclusions: Although freshman students' PA and dietary behaviors were relatively healthy, efforts to increase VPA and reduce consumption of added sugars are well warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on college students' nutrition, including dietary behaviors and food security status. Participants: Participants included 140 students between 18 and 25 years of age, who were enrolled in a college or university in the greater Houston area. Methods: Analyses included descriptive statistics, t tests, and ANOVAs to analyze differences in dietary behaviors by demographic variables, and chi-square tests to assess characteristics associated with food security status. Results: The majority of participants reported changing their diets due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There were no significant differences by demographics. However, there were significant differences in food security status by race/ethnicity and social class. Conclusion: This study identified changes and disparities in college students' dietary behaviors and food security status during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings help inform future policy, programs, and research to address college students' nutrition during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between religion and health tends to be framed positively. Religion has been found to act as a coping mechanism and source of support in times of ill health. In this paper, we focus on the disruptive effect of chronic illness on religious practice and cultural engagement. Drawing on interviews with ethnic minority adults with end‐stage kidney disease, who also identify as religious, we introduce the concept 'cultural disruption'. While religious practice and belief was found to provide strength and comfort we also found that chronic illness had a disruptive impact on religious and cultural practice that participants attempted to manage. To highlight the potential disruptive effect of chronic illness on religious faith and cultural engagement we identify three elements of cultural disruption—disruption to religious practice, disruption to sense of self and identity and disruption to wellbeing. We conclude by suggesting that understanding and accounting for the potential of cultural disruption when diagnosing, treating and supporting people with chronic illness offers an alternative entry point to the life‐worlds of patients who identify as religious and the things that are important to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reintroduction of the Mexican wolf in the wilds of northwestern Mexico has allowed us to address its trophic ecology and elucidate conflicts with livestock producers: their main mortality factor. Our objective was to determine the feeding habits of wolves in Mexico, as well as the quantity and frequency of livestock predation in relation to seasonal and individual variables, through the analysis of genetically identified scats. During 2012–2022 we collected 1171 Mexican wolf scats. We extracted and sequenced DNAm and identified individuals and their sex using microsatellite analysis. We washed the scat and separated the undigested components for taxonomic identification. We estimated the frequency of prey items, the biomass it contributed to the diet, and compared prey consumption between sexes and between the birth and dispersal seasons. We constructed generalized linear models to identify the relationship between livestock presence in the diet and dietary prey richness with respect to environmental and individual variables. We identified 68 wolves that had consumed 30 species of vertebrates. Of these, white‐tailed deer (36.12%), diversionary feeding (22.79%), and cattle (25.56%) had the highest contribution to biomass. The ingestion of items was independent of the sex of the wolves but was dependent on the season. The presence of deer and diversionary feeding decreased the likelihood of cattle being ingested but also decreased the richness of items of wild species in the wolf diet. Wolves in northwestern Mexico fed mainly on large prey available in the reintroduction area, including livestock. As wolves consume livestock, it increases the risk of retaliatory actions from ranchers. Our results serve as a basis for the implementation of strategies to reduce human–wolf conflicts and set a baseline for coexistence in northwestern Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the greatest challenges for researchers today is understanding climate-change impacts on fish populations, particularly in vulnerable and understudied ecosystems such as the Canadian Arctic. Among other impacts, northern fishes will undergo thermal stress as atmospheric and sea surface temperatures are projected to rise globally. Models that consider how both environmental factors such as temperature and potential species interactions will impact population extirpation and species' range contraction can help project the future distribution of a species in the face of a warming climate. Here, we investigate the climate-change impacts of rising temperatures and the potential northward distributional shift of brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis) on Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus), Canada's northernmost freshwater fish species. Specifically, we used a logistic regression model to establish baseline relationships between the current distribution of Arctic charr and the variables, degree-days (a key climate variable), geographical location, and brook charr occurrence. We developed the model applying the expected changes in degree-days to 2050 (25–50% increase from the average of 1976–2005) and 2080 (50–100% increase) while incorporating the historical distribution of Arctic charr to estimate the change in Arctic charr distribution over that time. We found that growing degree-days, longitude, latitude, and brook charr occurrences correctly classified 93% of Arctic charr historical occurrences in Canada. We estimate that in a high-carbon scenario, where degree-days are expected to increase by 50 to 100%, Arctic charr range is projected to decrease by 18% in Canada by 2051–2080 and decrease even further by 3% with the presence of brook charr. The Canadian high Arctic may provide refuge for Arctic charr, likely maintaining temperatures optimal for species persistence. Regardless, management that considers the climate stresses on Arctic charr populations will be important to preserve this highly valued resource that is pivotal for food security and traditional ways of life for northerners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White-spotted charr (Salvelinus leucomaenis subspp.) and masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou subspp.) are common stream salmonids in the Japanese Archipelago. In Shikoku Island, although white-spotted charr is not originally distributed, its introduced populations have been established in several streams and caused population decline of red-spotted masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou ishikawae) in some streams. In this study, we examined effects of non-native white-spotted charr on prey use by native red-spotted masu salmon and described food resource partitioning between the two species at the population and individual levels using their allopatric and sympatric streams. Comparisons of the diet between allopatric (without charr) and sympatric red-spotted masu salmon (with charr) indicated no significant difference at both population and individual levels, suggesting that white-spotted charr had no effect on prey use by red-spotted masu salmon. Comparisons of the diet between red-spotted masu salmon and white-spotted charr in the sympatric stream indicated significant differences at both population and individual levels. The population level analyses showed a clear pattern of partitioning that the diets of red-spotted masu salmon and white-spotted charr were dominated by terrestrial and aquatic prey, respectively. Furthermore, individual-level analyses showed that among-individual variation in prey use was larger in white-spotted charr than in red-spotted masu salmon. The high individual variation in prey use by white-spotted charr may facilitate the coexistence of the two species at the local habitat scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specialist carnivores are often among the first species disappearing from transformed, human-dominated landscapes. However, some carnivore species can exploit abundant food sources in human-dominated landscapes. In this study, we investigated the diet of a specialist carnivore, the serval (Leptailurus serval), inhabiting artificial and natural landscapes surrounding a petrochemical plant in the Highveld of Mpumalanga, South Africa. From 2013 to 2018, for each year, we collected and analysed a total of 264 scat samples. We found that rodent species dominated the serval diet, while other prey items like birds, insects, and unidentified prey contributed little to the diet. In terms of biomass consumed, Otomys sp (56.94 %), Mastomys sp (19.12 %), and Rhabdomys sp (8.68 %) were the most important rodent prey. We further found that biomass consumed is only affected by species, not season or species–season interactions. Our results concur with previous studies that serval is primarily a rodent specialist and that specialisation holds even in human-altered landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines whether the motivations and experiences of 'anti-diet' dietitians and psychologists represent a paradigm shift in healthcare. We conducted four 2-hour, discipline-specific focus groups with a total of 16 female participants residing in Australia. Our reflexive thematic analysis generated four themes that we consider to be stages of a weight-neutral paradigm shift: (1) a recognition of a mismatch between one's weight-centred training and one's lived experience of diet culture, which subsequently informs (2) gut feelings that influence their decision to reject the weight-centric paradigm, thereby leading to (3) exploring the anti-diet knowledge base and then subsequently (4) promoting or advocating for the weight neutral paradigm. Our findings represent a four-stage paradigm shift in action; emphasising the significance of lived experience in the weight-neutral turn, as well as differences in symbolic power between health professionals. Future research should focus on potential ruptures or conflicts within the weight-neutral paradigm itself, and look more deeply into the experiences of other health professionals who are critical of the weight-centred approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: This study evaluated the impact of continuous positive airway pressure (C-PAP) therapy combined with a rigorous diet regimen on obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Methods: Sixty obese patients (BMI ≥ 30) diagnosed with severe OSAS were recruited in order to establish the evaluation of CPAP therapy with different extents of adherence to a rigorous diet regimen. After one year, significant improvements were observed. Results: BMI reduced by 12.32%, apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) by 22.04%, oxygen desaturation index (ODI) by 15.87%, total sleep time with oxygen saturation below 90% (TST90%) by 25.2%, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores by 21.74%. Patients were, then, divided into three groups, based on adherence to the restricted diet, as well as to the correct use of the nocturnal C-PAP, showing different reductions in BMI, AHI, ODI, TST90%, and ESS, according to their adherence, based on the sum of % reduction in BMI + AHI into three groups. Conclusions: These findings underscore the effectiveness of combining C-PAP therapy with a strict diet in improving OSAS symptoms and overall health in obese patients. Future studies with larger cohorts and longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm these results and explore the long-term benefits of this integrated approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the main endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age worldwide. This condition is often associated with various metabolic alterations that contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Recent research suggests that branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) dysregulation is observed in PCOS. This study aims to investigate the relationship between dietary patterns, body composition, metabolic analytes, and serum amino acid levels in Mexican women with PCOS. Utilizing a cross-sectional design, we found that both study groups, PCOS (n = 24) and PCOS + MetS (n = 21), exhibited increased relative fat mass and dietary habits characterized by high simple sugar intake and low protein consumption, correlating with levels of relative fat mass and leptin. Notably, serum concentrations of BCAAs and glutamic acid were significantly elevated in the PCOS + MetS group. Our findings suggest that a metabolic approach may enhance the prediction and management of MetS in women with PCOS, highlighting the importance of dietary interventions in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the complex link between inflammation, gut health, and dietary amino acids is becoming increasingly important in the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study tested the hypothesis that a leucine-rich diet could attenuate inflammation and improve gut health in a mouse model of IBD. Specifically, we investigated the effects of a leucine-rich diet on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in germ-free (GF) SAMP1/YitFC (SAMP) mice colonized with human gut microbiota (hGF-SAMP). hGF-SAMP mice were fed one of four different diets: standard mouse diet (CHOW), American diet (AD), leucine-rich AD (AD + AA), or leucine-rich CHOW diet (CH + AA). Body weight, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, gut permeability, colonoscopy scores, and histological analysis were measured. Mice on a leucine-rich CHOW diet showed a decrease in fecal MPO prior to DSS treatment as compared to those on a regular diet (p > 0.05); however, after week five, prior to DSS, this effect had diminished. Following DSS treatment, there was no significant difference in gut permeability, fecal MPO activity, or body weight changes between the leucine-supplemented and control groups. These findings suggest that while a leucine-rich diet may transiently affect fecal MPO levels in hGF-SAMP mice, it does not confer protection against DSS-induced colitis symptoms or mitigate inflammation in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to endothelial dysfunction, platelet activation, and coagulation abnormalities, promoting thrombus formation. Given the growing interest in non-pharmacological approaches to modulate oxidative stress, we examine the potential of various dietary interventions and antioxidant supplementation in reducing oxidative damage and preventing thrombotic events. Key dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and ketogenic diets, as well as antioxidant-rich supplements like curcumin, selenium, and polyphenols, demonstrate promising effects in improving oxidative stress markers, lipid profiles, and inflammatory responses. This review highlights recent advances in the field, drawing from in vitro, ex vivo, and clinical studies, and underscores the importance of integrating dietary strategies into preventive and therapeutic approaches for managing thrombosis and cardiovascular health. Further research is needed to better understand long-term effects and personalize these interventions for optimizing patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) are formed through non-enzymatic reactions between reducing sugars and proteins, nucleic acids or lipids (for example through hyperoxidation). In diabetes, elevated glucose levels provide more substrate for AGEs formation. AGEs can also be ingested through the diet from foods cooked at high temperatures, or containing much sugar. The present work aimed to review all published randomized controlled trials (RCT) on low-dietary AGE (L-dAGEs) interventions in patients with diabetes. Pubmed, Scopus and Cochrane databases were searched (until 29 February 2024) with appropriate keywords (inclusion criteria: RCT, patients with diabetes, age > 18 years, outcomes related to inflammation, glucose, and lipids; exclusion criteria: non-RCTs, case-series, case reports and Letter to the Editor, or animal studies). The present review was registered to the Open Science Framework (OSF). From 7091 studies, seven were ultimately included. Bias was assessed with the updated Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. A reduction in circulating AGEs was documented in 3/3 studies. No particular differences were documented in glycemic parameters after a L-dAGEs diet. Reductions in glucose levels were observed in one out of six studies (1/6), while HbA1c and HOMA did not change in any study (0/6 and 0/3, correspondingly). Lipid profile also changed in one out of four studies (1/4). More consistent results were observed for oxidative stress (beneficial effects in 3/3 studies) and inflammatory markers (beneficial effects in 4/4 studies). Other athero-protective effects, such as adiponectin increases, were reported. Limitations included the small sample size and the fact that dietary and physical activity habits were not considered in most studies. In conclusion, a L-dAGEs pattern may minimize AGEs accumulation and have beneficial effects on oxidative stress and inflammation indices, while its effects on glycemic and lipemic parameters are inconsistent and modest in patients with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This research explores the impact of modern lifestyle factors, such as exposure to artificial light, shift work, and dietary habits, on our body's internal clock and its association with increased body fat deposits and cancer risk. By reviewing various published studies, we aim to understand the physiological mechanisms underlying the increased risk of cancer associated with an unhealthy lifestyle. In particular, there is evidence that disruptions in the body's natural rhythms can lead to abnormal cortisol levels, which in turn may promote fat buildup and create an adipose environment favorable for cancer growth. Additionally, we explore the anticancer effects of melatonin, either directly on cancer cells or through its role in preventing the formation of an adipose microenvironment conducive to tumor development. Our findings could offer new insights into how lifestyle choices and melatonin regulation influence cancer development, helping researchers and healthcare professionals better understand and address these risks. Background: Recent research underscores a crucial connection between circadian rhythm disruption and cancer promotion, highlighting an urgent need for attention. Objectives: Explore the molecular mechanisms by which modern lifestyle factors—such as artificial light exposure, shift work, and dietary patterns—affect cortisol/melatonin regulation and cancer risk. Methods: Employing a narrative review approach, we synthesized findings from Scopus, Google Scholar, and PubMed to analyze lifestyle impacts on circadian health, focusing on cortisol and melatonin chronobiology as molecular markers. We included studies that documented quantitative changes in these markers due to modern lifestyle habits, excluding those lacking quantitative data or presenting inconclusive results. Subsequent sections focused solely on articles that quantified the effects of circadian disruption on adipogenesis and tumor microenvironment modifications. Results: This review shows how modern habits lead to molecular changes in cortisol and melatonin, creating adipose microenvironments that support cancer development. These disruptions facilitate immune evasion, chemotherapy resistance, and tumor growth, highlighting the critical roles of cortisol dysregulation and melatonin imbalance. Conclusions: Through the presented findings, we establish a causal link between circadian rhythm dysregulation and the promotion of certain cancer types. By elucidating this relationship, the study emphasizes the importance of addressing lifestyle factors that contribute to circadian misalignment, suggesting that targeted interventions could play a crucial role in mitigating cancer risk and improving overall health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Breast cancer is the most common cancer type and the leading cause of mortality for women worldwide. The microbiome influences various cancer therapies, including radiotherapy. Thus, radiotherapy-derived metabolites and microbiome composition may affect cancer progression and treatment response, and vice versa. This review explores this bidirectional relationship as well as providing current evidence and future perspectives in this field. The gut microbiome has emerged as a crucial player in modulating cancer therapies, including radiotherapy. In the case of breast cancer, the interplay between the microbiome and radiotherapy-derived metabolites may enhance therapeutic outcomes and minimize adverse effects. In this review, we explore the bidirectional relationship between the gut microbiome and breast cancer. We explain how gut microbiome composition influences cancer progression and treatment response, and how breast cancer and its treatments influence microbiome composition. A dual role for radiotherapy-derived metabolites is explored in this article, highlighting both their therapeutic benefits and potential hazards. By integrating genomics, metabolomics, and bioinformatics tools, we present a comprehensive overview of these interactions. The study provides real-world insight through case studies and clinical trials, while therapeutic innovations such as probiotics, and dietary interventions are examined for their potential to modulate the microbiome and enhance treatment effectiveness. Moreover, ethical considerations and patient perspectives are discussed, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the subject. Towards revolutionizing treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes, the review concludes with future research directions. It also envisions integrating microbiome and metabolite research into personalized breast cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense (DOD) acknowledge that nutrition may be a modifier of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) sequelae. Military clinicians are considering nutritional supplements and dietary interventions when managing patients with mild TBI. Therefore, clinicians should be familiar with the current evidence for nutritional interventions in mild TBI and special considerations related to the military lifestyle. OBJECTIVE: This narrative review aims to summarize the existing evidence surrounding the role of special diets and select nutrients in mild TBI outcomes, gut microbiota changes, and special considerations for Service members and Veterans recovering from mild TBI. METHODS: We conducted a literature review in PubMed and Google Scholar limited to nutritional interventions and nine topics with primary focus on mild TBI, although we included some articles related to moderate-to-severe TBI where relevant: 1) ketogenic diet, 2) Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet, 3) omega-3 fatty acids, 4) creatine, 5) vitamin D, 6) weight management, 7) gut microbiota, 8) caffeine, and 9) alcohol. We summarized key findings and safety factors where appropriate for each intervention. We also identified nutritional supplement safety and operational rations considerations and areas in need of further research. RESULTS: Preclinical studies and early human trials suggest that the specific nutrients and diets discussed in the current article may offer neuroprotection or benefit during mild TBI rehabilitation. Omega-3 fatty acids, creatine, and vitamin D are generally safe when taken within recommended guidelines. CONCLUSION: More evidence is needed to support nutritional recommendations for enhancing neuroprotection and mitigating mild TBI symptoms in humans. The DOD's Warfighter Nutrition Guide recommends a whole food diet rich in antioxidants, phytonutrients, omega-3 fatty acids, micronutrients, probiotics, and fiber to optimize long-term health and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The administration of local anesthesia in intraperitoneal space as part of the multi-modal analgesic regimen has shown to be effective in reducing postoperative pain. Recent studies demonstrated that intraperitoneal lidocaine may provide analgesic effects. Primary objective was to determine the impact of intraperitoneal lidocaine on postoperative pain scores at rest. Design We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Methods Databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL were searched from their inception date until May 2023. Randomized clinical trials (RCT) comparing intraperitoneal lidocaine and placebo in adults undergoing surgery were included. Results Our systematic review included 24 RCTs (n = 1824). The intraperitoneal lidocaine group was significantly associated with lower postoperative pain scores at rest (MD, −0.87, 95% CI, −1.04 to −0.69) and at movement (MD, −0.50, 95% CI, −0.93 to −0.08) among adult patients after surgery. Its administration also significantly decreased morphine consumption (MD, −6.42 mg, 95% CI, −11.56 to −1.27) and lowered the incidence of needing analgesia (OR, 0.22, 95% CI, 0.14 to 0.35). Intraperitoneal lidocaine statistically reduced time to resume regular diet (MD, 0.16 days; 95% CI, −0.31 to −0.01) and lowered postoperative incidence of nausea and vomiting (OR, 0.54, 95% CI, 0.39 to 0.75). Conclusions In this review, our findings should be interpreted with caution. Future studies are warranted to determine the optimal dose of administering intraperitoneal lidocaine among adult patients undergoing surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A priority of nutrition science is to identify dietary determinants of health and disease to inform effective public health policies, guidelines, and clinical interventions. Yet, conflicting findings in synthesizing evidence from randomized trials and observational studies have contributed to confusion and uncertainty. Often, heterogeneity can be explained by the fact that seemingly similar bodies of evidence are asking very different questions. Improving the alignment within and between research domains begins with investigators clearly defining their diet and disease questions; however, nutritional exposures are complex and often require a greater degree of specificity. First, dietary data are compositional, meaning a change in a food may imply a compensatory change of other foods. Second, dietary data are multidimensional; that is, the primary components (ie, foods) comprise subcomponents (eg, nutrients), and subcomponents can be present in multiple primary components. Third, because diet is a lifelong exposure, the composition of a study population's background diet has implications for the interpretation of the exposure and the transportability of effect estimates. Collectively clarifying these key aspects of inherently complex dietary exposures when conducting research will facilitate appropriate evidence synthesis, improve certainty of evidence, and improve the ability of these efforts to inform policy and decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital technology creates new opportunities to design multisensory learning experiences. Evidence suggests that digital innovation can greatly benefit health education, including nutrition programs. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the education sector, forcing schools to modify standard practices from exclusively in-person delivery to online or blended learning. Digitalized curriculums became particularly useful as an Emergency Remote Teaching tool. This article focuses on developing and implementing a multimedia, multisensory, and scalable Hip-Hop Healthy Eating and Living in Schools (H.E.A.L.S.) Nutrition–Math Curriculum (NMC). NMC comprises 20 lessons—music-based multimedia resources used in the classroom or at home. Fourteen lessons represent self-directed online modules (asynchronous learning) hosted on a Learning Management System (LMS) called "Gooru." The remaining six lessons are teacher-facilitated (in person or using Zoom) review sessions (synchronous learning). The article discusses (1) the development of NMC through the lens of the Multisensory Multilevel Health Education Model (MMHEM), (2) the high acceptability of NMC evaluated using a mixed-methods design among minoritized fifth-grade students attending an after-school program, and (3) the students' completion and mastery rates of the NMC modules based on LMS data. Multimedia nutrition education programs integrated with common core curriculum content, such as NMC, may be a promising avenue for disseminating health education to minoritized children living in New York City and similar high fast-food density cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variations in the size and shape of the eye have been observed in many species of fish. As eye size is positively related to visual acuity, larger eyes should favour foraging and detection of predators.However, few studies have examined the variation in eye morphology in relation to the complexity of lake conditions, including environmental perturbation and spatial variation in predation and competition. Such tests are especially important as the degrading of the visual climate is expected due to climate change, where browning, turbidity and variations in structural complexity should set different demands for visual acuity of foraging fish under predation risk.In this study, we tested the variation of the eye size among 667 individuals of an aquatic predator perch, Perca fluviatilis, from littoral and pelagic habitats of 14 lakes. We used Secchi depth to assess the effects of the visual climate of our lake systems, as fish foraging is highly related to visual conditions, and studied eye size variation in relation to the contribution of the pelagic resources to an individual's diet and the risk of predation.Secchi depth, the pelagic contribution to the diet and the percentage of piscivores had significant effects on eye size.These variable outcomes suggest that the lake environment in terms of visual climate, predation landscape and diet are major factors of eye size variation in this generalist predator. As many fish species trade off foraging against predation risk, future studies will show whether the complexity of intra‐ and interspecific interactions contribute to the variation in eye size in freshwater fish. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potential immortality is observed in several species (e.g. prickly pear cactus, hydra and flatworms) and is indicative of their negligible or even negative senescence rates. Unlike in senescent species, which experience reduced individual performance with age due to physiological degradation, species with negligible or negative senescence display mortality rates that remain constant or decline with age, respectively. These rates vary across taxa and are correlated with life history traits. Yet, the extent to which variable resource availability, a key driver of variation in life history traits, impacts species that show negligible or negative senescence is currently unknown.Here, we examine whether and how variation in the quantity, quality and feeding interval of resources impact population structure, population performance and life history trait trade‐offs in two long‐lived planaria that do not senesce: Schmidtea mediterranea and Dugesia tahitiensis. In a full factorial design, different combinations of resource quantity (reduced intake, standard intake and high intake) and quality (high and low quality) were provided in two different feeding intervals (7‐day and 14‐day intervals) for 19 weeks.We show that variability in resource availability, via decreases in quantity, quality and frequency of resources, does not diminish population viability in either species but does result in suboptimal conditions of stress in S. mediterranea.The high population viability we report can be attributed to two different mechanisms: increased reproduction or increased investment into maintenance at the expense of reproduction. Moreover, which mechanism was responsible for said high population viability was context‐dependent and modulated by the specific life history strategy of the two planaria species.We show that suboptimal conditions can cause stress responses that have significant impacts on non‐senescent species. The context‐dependent response we observe suggests that species that do not senesce but are subject to suboptimal conditions of stress may ultimately exhibit declines in performance and ultimately die. A clearer understanding of the impact of suboptimal conditions of resource availability on non‐senescent species is needed to determine the extent of stress experienced and ultimately whether a species can truly be immortal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the change in the Dietary Diversity (DD) Index of Maya women of reproductive age living in rural areas of the Western Highlands of Guatemala after nutrition, health, and agroecology interventions. Methods: This is a secondary analysis study on DD from two matched groups from three villages in the Lake Atitlan area in the department of Sololá. The first cohort was recruited in 2017 (sample of n = 77). The second cohort was recruited in 2020 (sample of n = 61). Both were followed until 2021. The program provided various resources for assistance for food production and home improvements (sessions from 2018 to 2022). Agroecology sessions were conducted in the test farm. Due to the COVID-19, adjustments were made to continue the education and training sessions. Results: Both cohort samples had a statistically significant increase in participants who consumed at least 15 g from five groups of foods (2017: p =.00002; 2020: p =.045). There was a statistically significant increase in mean food groups consumed daily (2017: p <.00001; 2020: p =.005). Conclusions for Practice: Implementing interventions that include nutrition, health, and agroecology practices in the long term has demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the Dietary Diversity Index of Maya women in their reproductive years living in rural villages in the Western Highlands. Significance: Indigenous Maya women face numerous health challenges, including stunting, poor nutrition, and maternal mortality. Low dietary diversity and limited food access in rural areas of Guatemala exacerbate these issues. The intervention in this study statistically increased the Dietary Diversity Index of Maya women, notably raising the consumption of Vitamin B and Vitamin A-rich foods, which are essential for maternal and fetal health. These findings highlight the potential for culturally appropriate nutrition programs to enhance dietary diversity in this population, promoting overall health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faecal incontinence is a hidden problem that is often under-reported, under-diagnosed, under-investigated and under-treated. Faecal incontinence is more common in women and older people. Its prevalence also increases with age. Faecal incontinence occurs because of a complex interplay of contributing factors, some of which can be reversed in primary care without the need for specialist investigations and treatment. This article explores the reasons why adults develop faecal incontinence and how to identify and treat reversible causes in primary care. It also provides information on specialist treatment and the management of intractable faecal incontinence. A structured approach to assessment and management is key in identifying problems and offering primary care for timely treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors, including rectal neuroendocrine tumors (r-NETs). However, the relative advantages of traction-assisted ESD for the treatment of small rectal lesions are still debated. Aims: We conducted a study to compare the efficacy and safety of rubber band traction-assisted ESD (RBT-ESD) to conventional ESD (C-ESD). Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients with r-NET treated with ESD between October 2021 and October 2023. Our study assessed differences between the groups in the complete resection rate of lesions, muscular layer injury, surgical complications, operation time, resection speed, time to liquid diet, postoperative hospital stay, hospital cost, and recurrence rate. Results: A total of 119 patients with r-NETs participated in this study (RBT-ESD group, n = 27; C-ESD group, n = 92). The operation time in RBT-ESD group was shorter than in C-ESD group, but the difference was not statistically significant (16.0 min [9.0–22.0 min] vs. 18.0 min [13.3–27.0 min], P = 0.056). However, the resection speed was significantly faster in the RBT-ESD group (6.7 vs. 4.1 mm2/min, P = 0.005). Furthermore, the RBT-ESD group showed significantly less muscular layer injury (P = 0.047) and faster diet recovery (P = 0.035). No significant differences were observed in the complete resection rate, surgical complications, postoperative hospital stay, hospital cost, or recurrence rate between the two groups. Conclusion: For r-NETs of < 2 cm in size, the RBT method did not significantly shorten the operation time but resulted in faster resection speed, less muscular layer injury, and earlier postoperative recovery to a liquid diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Effective management of drug–food interactions is crucial for enhancing antibiotics' efficacy/safety. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review to assess the impact of dietary interventions on the bioavailability of 15 macrolides and 10 tetracyclines. Methods We included studies examining the influence of food, beverages, antacids, and mineral supplements on the pharmacokinetic parameters of orally administered macrolides and tetracyclines. We searched Medline (via PubMed), Embase and Cochrane Library databases up to December 2022. Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane and NIH tools. Quantitative analyses were conducted if two or more comparable food-effect studies were available; otherwise, a qualitative summary was provided. Results We included 120 studies from 97 reports. Meta-analyses were conducted for 8 macrolides and 4 tetracyclines, with qualitative synthesis for 10 and 9, respectively. About 64% of the studies were open-label, crossover designs. Our assessment found that 37% of the studies had a high risk of bias, while only 6% had low risk. Food significantly affected 10 of 13 macrolides (77%) and 6 of 7 tetracyclines (86%). High positive effects on bioavailability were seen with extended-release azithromycin and clarithromycin, and erythromycin estolate. High negative impacts were observed with erythromycin propionate and stearate, azithromycin capsules, demeclocycline and omadacycline. Antacids and mineral supplements significantly decreased tetracyclines absorption. Milk and grapefruit juice showed variable impacts on absorption. Discussion Interactions depend on antibiotics' physicochemical characteristics, intervention type, drug formulation and potential patient factors. The quality of evidence was rated low due to outdated studies, methodological diversity and unequal data availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Proper nutrition during early childhood is essential for healthy growth and development, yet many children, particularly in low and middle-income countries, fail to meet recommended intake levels of fruits and vegetables. This study aims to assess the factors associated with zero vegetable and fruit (ZVF) consumption among children aged 6–23 months in Tanzania, using data from the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). Methods: A weighted sample of 4582 children aged between 6 and 23 months were included in the study. Data cleaning, coding, and analysis were performed using STATA version 17 software. To address the hierarchical nature of the DHS data and the binary outcome variable, a multilevel mixed-effect binary logistic regression model was used. The deviance value served as a guide for determining the best-fitting model. In the subsequent multivariable multilevel binary logistic regression analysis, adjusted odds ratios were computed alongside their respective 95% confidence intervals to evaluate the strength of association, with statistical significance set at a p-value below 0.05. Result: The overall proportion of ZVF consumption among children aged 6–23 months in Tanzania was 48.34% (95% CI: 46.87, 49.81). Current breastfeeding status, maternal educational status, household wealth index, sex of the household head, and community poverty level were associated with higher odds of ZVF consumption. Meanwhile, child age, maternal employment status, father's educational status, and media exposure were associated with lower odds of ZVF consumption. Conclusion: Child age, current breastfeeding status, maternal educational status, maternal employment status, father's educational status, household wealth index, sex of household, media exposure, and community poverty level were significantly associated with ZVF consumption. Efforts should focus on educating mothers about the early introduction of fruits and vegetables in children's diets, alongside supporting breastfeeding. Tailored economic empowerment initiatives are needed in impoverished communities to improve access to nutritious foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, in Australia, 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. A common adjuvant treatment for breast cancer is radiation therapy (RT). The amalgamation of side effects caused by RT treatment can ultimately affect a patient’s quality of life (QoL). With increasing breast cancer survival, a greater focus on the non-lethal consequences of this disease and its treatment is warranted. Exercise and nutrition have proven beneficial in promoting and supporting overall health and managing chronic diseases. Furthermore, exercise has demonstrated improvement and sustainment to QoL. The focus of this scoping literature review was to determine the scale of evidence regarding the effectiveness of exercise and/or nutritional interventions for women with breast cancer receiving radiation therapy. An online search of five databases was conducted to identify studies published between 2000 and 2023. The 58 studies included in the scoping review comprised 46 interventions and 4615 women with breast cancer who received radiation therapy participated. Most studies (90%; n = 52) were ‘exercise only’ based, 3% (n = 2) were ‘nutrition only’, and the remaining 7% (n = 4) of studies were combined exercise and nutrition interventions. The findings from this review highlight most studies are dedicated to investigating exercise. Further research is required to fully understand the potential benefits of these interventions and their synergistic impact on the quality of life of women with breast cancer receiving radiation therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kidney disease and its comorbidities disproportionately affect older persons. Kidney disease modifying therapy is underutilized in older adults, as guidelines lack consensus on approaching diagnosis and treatment in older adults. This review aims to highlight the challenges presented by, and opportunities for, identifying and treating CKD in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diet can influence cognitive functioning in older adults and is a modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline. However, it is unknown if an association exists between diet and lower-level processes in the brain underpinning cognition, such as multisensory integration. We investigated whether temporal multisensory integration is associated with daily intake of fruit and vegetables (FV) or products high in fat/sugar/salt (FSS) in a large sample (N = 2,693) of older adults (mean age = 64.06 years, SD = 7.60; 56% female) from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). Older adults completed a Food Frequency Questionnaire from which the total number of daily servings of FV and FSS items respectively was calculated. Older adults' susceptibility to the Sound Induced Flash Illusion (SIFI) measured the temporal precision of audio-visual integration, which included three audio-visual Stimulus Onset Asynchronies (SOAs): 70, 150 and 230 ms. Older adults who self-reported a higher daily consumption of FV were less susceptible to the SIFI at the longest versus shortest SOAs (i.e. increased temporal precision) compared to those reporting the lowest daily consumption (p =.013). In contrast, older adults reporting a higher daily consumption of FSS items were more susceptible to the SIFI at the longer versus shortest SOAs (i.e. reduced temporal precision) compared to those reporting the lowest daily consumption (p <.001). The temporal precision of multisensory integration is differentially associated with levels of daily consumption of FV versus products high in FSS, consistent with broader evidence that habitual diet is associated with brain health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a degenerative disease of the nervous system. Observational studies have found an association between plant food intake and AD. However, it is unclear whether this association is influenced by confounding factors. We aimed to explore the causal relationship between plant-based diet and the risk of AD using two-sample Mendelian randomization. Materials and Methods: We obtained datasets of exposure from the IEU Open GWAS project, including dried fruit intake, fresh fruit intake, raw vegetable intake, cooked vegetable intake, and cereal intake. The summary data for AD were obtained from a large GWAS meta-analysis containing 71,880 cases and 383,378 controls. Results: Increased intake of dried fruits was associated with a reduced risk of AD (IVW: OR = 0.88, 95CI = 0.82–0.95). No causal association was found between the intake of other foods and AD. Conclusion: This MR study suggests that genetically predicted increased intake of dried fruits is a causal protective factor for AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and mental health outcomes among patients with migraine headaches. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 262 subjects were included. The dietary intakes were collected using a validated 168-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Items were scored according to their inflammatory potential, so a higher DII indicated a more pro-inflammatory diet. The association between DII and the mental health of participants was investigated using multinomial logistic regression and odds ratio (OR) with a corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was reported. Results: Overall, 224 women and 38 men, with a mean (standard error) DII of −2.96 (0.06), age of 36.1 (0.53) years, and BMI of 25.55 (0.21) kg/m2, comprised our study population. DII was positively associated with a higher risk of depression in patients with the highest adherence to a pro-inflammatory diet compared to those with the lowest adherence (OR = 1.76; 95%CI: 1.04, 3.00; Ptrend = 0.035). Adjustments for age, sex, marital status, smoking status, migraine headache index score, number of family members, mean arterial pressure, medication, physical activity, and BMI intensified the association in a way that the risk of depression was 2.03 times higher in patients with the highest adherence to a pro-inflammatory diet compared to those with the lowest adherence to a pro-inflammatory diet (OR = 2.03; 95%CI: 1.18, 3.49; Ptrend = 0.011). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that depression was positively associated with adherence to a pro-inflammatory diet. However, no significant association was observed between anxiety and stress with DII. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]