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Background & Aim: Food addiction (FA) as a specific food-related behavior may play an essential role in the pathogenesis of obesity. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and gut microbiota (GM) alterations probably through fasting are closely related to brain function, affecting eating behaviors and body weight management. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of time-restricted feeding (TRF) on serum BDNF levels and eating behaviors in overweight and obese women with FA., Methods and Design: This clinical trial was performed with a 2-month follow-up on 56 obese and overweight women with FA. Participants were randomly divided into two groups receiving a low-calorie diet (n = 27) and a group receiving a low-calorie diet with TRF (n = 29). Anthropometric measurements, biochemical markers, eating behavior, and stress were assessed during the study period., Results: The reductions in weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and body fat mass were significantly higher in the TRF group compared to the control group at week 8 ( P  = 0.018, P  = 0.015. P  = 0.03, and P  = 0.036, respectively). The cognitive restriction score was higher in the TRF as compared with the control group ( P  = 0.002). The food addiction criteria score was significantly reduced in both groups ( P  < 0.001). Serum levels of BDNF were significantly increased in the TRF group ( P  < 0.001). In addition, BDNF levels had a positive and significant correlation with the cognitive restriction score (r = 0.468 and P  < 0.001), While the correlation with FA was not significant (β = 0.588 and P  = 0.618). Lipopolysaccharide binding protein decreased significantly in both groups, but this decrease was significantly higher in the TRF group than in the control group ( P  < 0.001)., Conclusion: The results of this study showed that a low-calorie diet with TRF is more effective in weight management than a low-calorie diet alone, probably through further modulating the GM and improving BDNF levels. More effective weight loss in the TRF is probably related to better management of eating behavior than FA., Trial Registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials identifier: IRCT20131228015968N7.

Background: Although the role of a diet rich in fructose and saccharose in development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is well known, the effects of a low free sugar diet in the management of the disease have not yet been investigated in adult patients with NAFLD. We aimed, therefore, to analyze the effects of a low-free sugar diet on NAFLD main features., Methods: Participants with FibroScan-proven NAFLD were randomized to a 12-week dietary intervention (low free sugar diet or usual diet). The primary outcome was change in hepatic steatosis measurement between baseline and 12 weeks. The secondary outcomes included changes in anthropometric measurements, lipid profile, glycemic indices, liver enzymes, and inflammatory factors., Results: Forty-three subjects completed the 12-week intervention. Low free sugar diet compared with the usual diet significantly decreased the concentrations of ALT (43.00 ± 27.54 to 27.95 ± 20.77 U/L), TG (172.86 ± 83.04 to 144.19 ± 65.55), TC (155.54 ± 37.55 to 139.86 ± 33.63 mg/dL), FBS (103.95 ± 15.42 to 91.00 ± 14.36 mg/dL), insulin (14.37 ± 5.79 to 8.92 ± 5.43 mU/L), HOMA-IR (3.81 ± 1.80 to 2.06 ± 1.29), hs-CRP (3.80 ± 1.09 to 2.88 ± 0.52 mg/L), TNF-α (4.60 ± 1.54 to 3.41 ± 0.69 pg/mL), NF-kb (3.89 ± 1.34 to 3.35 ± 1.33), as well as resulted in reduced fibrosis score and steatosis score, with increased QUICKI (P < 0.05). The differences in AST, GGT, HDL-C and LDL-C were not significant (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: Low free sugar diet in overweight/obese NAFLD patients may reduce hepatic steatosis and fibrosis while improving glycemic indices, decreasing the concentrations of biomarkers of inflammation, TG, and TC levels., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Background: Food addiction is one of the behavioral factors that play an important role in the pathogenesis of obesity. Much evidence is available suggesting intestinal microbiomes can play a role in eating behavior, body composition, and BDNF levels, and they can be modified by time-restricted feeding (TRF). So, this study will aim to evaluate the effect of TRF on anthropometric measures, eating behavior, stress, and serum BDNF and LBP levels in women with overweight/obesity and food addiction., Methods: We will carry out a randomized clinical trial for 8 weeks to evaluate the effect of a TRF on anthropometric measures, eating behavior, stress level, serum BDNF and LBP levels in women with overweight/obesity and food addiction., Discussion: Given the effect of BDNF on regulating eating behavior and body weight and the effect of dietary restrictions on BDNF and the gut microbiome, the TRF diet could possibly be a new way to successfully manage weight through modifying BDNF in people with eating disorders, including food addiction., Trial Registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20131228015968N7 . Registered on 25 October 2020., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background and Objective: Given the importance of rapid diagnosis for fungal rhinosinusitis, this study aimed to evaluate the use of nested PCR to identify Aspergillus and Mucor species in clinical samples from patients with suspected fungal rhinosinusitis., Methods: Functional endoscopic sinus surgery specimens were collected from 98 patients with rhinosinusitis from 2012 to 2013. All samples were ground and cultured on sabouraud dextrose agar. The isolated fungi were identified based on their macroscopic and microscopic features. Fungal DNA was extracted from the tissue samples and nested PCR was performed with two sets of primers for Mucor and Aspergillus., Results: Direct microscopic showed that 5.1% contained fungal components and 9.2% exhibited growth of fungi in culture. The most common agents isolated were Aspergillus fumigatus (n= 3), Aspergillus flavus (n=2), Penicillium sp (n=3) and Alternaria sp. (n=1). Mucor sp. was identified in the pathology smear from 1 patient. Positive results for fungal rhinosinusitis were obtained for a total of 10.2% by culture or pathology smear. Positive PCR results were obtained in 72 samples for Aspergillus and 31 samples for Mucor., Conclusion: Our results suggest that endoscopic sinus surgery specimens are not suitable for nested PCR, probably because of the accumulation of fungi that contaminate the environmental air. This drawback is a limiting factor for diagnosis with nasal cavity specimens. Therefore, molecular methods and conventional culture techniques are helpful complementary diagnostic methods to detect fungal rhinosinusitis and determine appropriate management for these patients.