Insomnia (sleeplessness) is a potential symptom of stress-induced depression/anxiety (DA), which induces TNF-α expression. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effect of Lactobacillus (Lactiplantibacillus) plantarum P72, isolated as a strain suppressing lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of TNF-α in Caco2 cells, on DA and insomnia in immobilization stress (IS)- or cultured fecal microbiota (cFM)-treated mice. Oral administration of live or heat-killed P72 (hP72) reduced IS- or cFM-induced DA-like behaviors. They also reduced sleep latency time (SLT) and enhanced sleep duration (SLD). Additionally, P72 upregulated γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), GABAA receptor α1, serotonin, and 5-HT1A receptor expression, which were downregulated by IS or cFM. Hempseed oil (HO) alone was ineffective against IS-induced DA- and insomnia-like behaviors, but its combination with P72 (PH) or hP72 (hPH) showed enhanced efficacy, reducing DA- and insomnia-like behaviors more strongly than P72 or HO alone. These also reduced the number of NF-κB-positive cells and the expression of TNF-α in the prefrontal cortex and colon. These results imply that P72 and its combination with HO can alleviate DA and insomnia by upregulating serotonergic and GABAergic systems through the suppression of NF-κB signaling.
Background/objectives: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women globally, and it negatively impacts diet and quality of life, increasing the risk of recurrence. Adhering to World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) lifestyle guidelines, such as healthy eating habits and nutritional status, can help in primary and secondary cancer prevention. However, no questionnaire was found for self-assessment of these guidelines for the Brazilian population. The aim of this study is to carry out content validity, pilot, and usability testing of the self-administered digital instrument "PrevCancer" assessing adherence to the WCRF/AICR recommendations in Brazilian female breast cancer survivors.
Methods: We conducted a psychometric study that involved the development of an instrument based on WCRF/AICR recommendations. Assessment of content validity involved the Content Validity Index (CVI) based on expert assessments (n = 7). The pilot study involved the System Usability Scale (SUS) after applying the developed instrument (n = 65) and anthropometric assessment for convergent validity by female participants (n = 55). The final usability test consisted of evaluating the satisfaction with the instrument of women with breast cancer (n = 14).
Results: The "PrevCancer" instrument demonstrated good content (CVI = 1.0) as well as good usability and acceptability in the pilot study (mean SUS score = 88.1). The convergent validity stage demonstrated positive associations between the PrevCancer parameters and anthropometric parameters (p < 0.001). In the final usability study (mean SUS score = 90.3), participants' receptivity to the instrument was excellent.
Conclusions: The PrevCancer instrument had valid content and great usability by the target population, proving to be a useful tool for future cancer research.
Background: Malnutrition among older adults is associated with numerous adverse effects, including increased morbidity, mortality, prolonged hospital stays, and a heightened risk of falls. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of malnutrition in different groups of older adults using the F-MNA, anthropometry, and s-albumin and the association between nutritional status and fall risk.
Methods: A total of 228 participants aged 60 years and older were divided into three groups: (1) patients in an internal medicine ward, (2) individuals living in family homes, and (3) residents of care homes. Disease profiles, nutritional status (assessed using the F-MNA and SNAQ), body composition, fall risk, and biochemical markers were evaluated.
Results: The results indicated the highest prevalence of malnutrition among hospitalized individuals. Fall risk was associated with age, calf circumference, the F-MNA, the SNAQ, serum albumin levels, residence in a care home, comorbidities, and the number of medications taken daily. Regression analysis revealed that age, calf circumference, and residence in a care home were independent predictors of fall risk in older adults.
Conclusion: Older adults are at significant risk of malnutrition, with the risk notably increasing during hospitalization and long-term stays in care homes. Hospitalized individuals had the poorest nutritional status and were at significant risk of further weight loss, underscoring the importance of post-discharge care and rehabilitation.
Background/objectives: The growing concern about the environmental impacts of consumption has led to the emergence of so-called "eco-guilt"-a psychological construct reflecting the guilt felt by individuals about the environmental consequences of their choices, which plays a prominent role among the factors influencing pro-environmental behavior. Although eco-guilt has already emerged in other service sectors, such as tourism, and general scales exist to measure it, no such scale exists in the context of food consumption. The aim of this research is to develop and validate a scale to measure eco-guilt related to food consumption.
Methods: To create the scale in an objective way, we used the Sustainable Development Goals as a framework. Data were collected from university students; a questionnaire was completed online by 367 respondents. The responses were analyzed from several different perspectives, using multiple methods following the principle of triangulation. For the data analysis, the Psych and Mokken packages of R software (version 4.4.0) were used.
Results: The constructed scale was based on 13 items. An overview of the reliability of the scale was provided using various indicators (e.g., Cronbach's α = 0.86, ωh = 0.63, ωH asymptotic = 0.71, and ωt = 0.89). Based on the analyses, we proposed a reduced form with nine items for the measurement of food-related eco-guilt.
Conclusions: The results of this research provide a scale to help understand what motivates consumers to make more sustainable consumption choices. Moreover, the scale is relevant to future research focused on understanding how guilt influences future food choices.
Background: This review investigates the impact of bioactive molecules produced by probiotics on child health, focusing on their roles in modulating gut microbiota, enhancing immune function, and supporting overall development. Key metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bacteriocins, exopolysaccharides (EPSs), vitamins, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), are highlighted for their ability to maintain gut health, regulate inflammation, and support neurodevelopment. Objectives: The aim of this review is to examine the mechanisms of action and clinical evidence supporting the use of probiotics and postbiotics in pediatric healthcare, with a focus on promoting optimal growth, development, and overall health in children. Methods: The review synthesizes findings from clinical studies that investigate the effects of probiotics and their metabolites on pediatric health. The focus is on specific probiotics and their ability to influence gut health, immune responses, and developmental outcomes. Results: Clinical studies demonstrate that specific probiotics and their metabolites can reduce gastrointestinal disorders, enhance immune responses, and decrease the incidence of allergies and respiratory infections in pediatric populations. Additionally, postbiotics-bioactive compounds from probiotic fermentation-offer promising benefits, such as improved gut barrier function, reduced inflammation, and enhanced nutrient absorption, while presenting fewer safety concerns compared to live probiotics. Conclusions: By examining the mechanisms of action and clinical evidence, this review underscores the potential of integrating probiotics and postbiotics into pediatric healthcare strategies to promote optimal growth, development, and overall health in children.
Background: Understanding the causes of hypertension is important in order to prevent the disease. Gut microbiota (GM) seems to play an important role, but the detailed physiology remains elusive, with alpha diversity being the most studied indicator.
Objectives: This review aimed to systematically synthesize data on gut microbiota (alpha diversity) and hypertension.
Methods: Databases, including MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE, and citations were systematically queried. We retrieved articles reporting the association between gut microbiota and hypertension. A valid critical appraisal tool was also used to investigate the quality of the included studies.
Results: Eighteen eligible studies met our inclusion criteria. In this report, we focused on the following indices of alpha diversity: Shannon, Chao1, Simpson, and Abundance-based Coverage Estimator (ACE) indices. Several studies observed a significantly lower Shannon index in hypertensive patients compared to the healthy control group. Nevertheless, no statistically significant difference was found for the Chao1, Simpson, and ACE indices between hypertensive patients and controls. A higher Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio (F/B ratio) was consistently observed in hypertensive patients compared to healthy controls, indicating potential dysbiosis in the gut microbiota.
Conclusions: Our systematic review indicates that hypertensive patients may exhibit an imbalance in gut microbiota, evidenced by decreased alpha diversity and an elevated F/B ratio. However, the absence of statistically significant differences in secondary diversity indices (Chao1, Simpson, and ACE) highlights the need for further research. Well-designed, large-scale studies are necessary to clarify these associations and explore the role of gut microbiota in hypertension development.
Background: Globally, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is on the rise, especially in Arab countries, which emphasizes the need for reliable ethnic-specific biochemical screening parameters. Methods: Two hundred twenty-one Lebanese adults were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Biochemical parameters including Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA), Triglyceride and Glucose index (TyG), ratio of Triglycerides to High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (TG/HDL-C), Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP), and Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) were assessed for their prediction of MetS. Analysis of covariance, logistic regression, expected-versus-observed case ratio were used to determine model calibration, concordance statistic, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values (PPV, NPV). Results: The prevalence of MetS was 44.3%. All biochemical parameters were significantly associated with MetS, with a strong model discrimination (c-statistic between 0.77 and 0.94). In both sex categories, TyG best predicted MetS (females: cut-off value, 8.34; males: cut-off value, 8.43) and showed good estimation among females, but overestimation among males. HOMA had the lowest discriminatory power in both sex categories. Conclusions: This study suggests that TyG best predicts MetS, while HOMA has the lowest predictive power. Future larger studies need to focus on harmonizing ethnic specific cut-offs and further validating our results.
Objective: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common complication after childbirth. Weight misperception can lead to self-esteem issues and mental health problems, especially in women and adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between weight perception before and during pregnancy and the status of PPD in Southern China.
Methods: From October 2021 to November 2023, a multi-stage sampling method was used to recruit 2169 eligible mothers aged 18-49 who had delivered live-born singleton infants within 3 to 180 days postpartum. Anthropometric measurements and face-to-face questionnaire surveys were conducted to collect data. The Kappa test was used to assess the agreement between actual and perceived weight. The generalized linear model incorporating multiplicative interaction analysis was applied to explore the associations among variables.
Results: The prevalence of PPD status was 18.0%. Among women, 35.2% perceived their pre-pregnancy weight (PPW) as abnormal, while 33.1% perceived their gestational weight gain (GWG) as inappropriate. There was poor agreement between maternal actual and perceived PPW/GWG (Kappa = 0.366, p < 0.001; Kappa = 0.188, p < 0.001), with 27.8% of women misperceiving their PPW and 52.1% misperceiving their GWG. The results of the general linear model indicated that women who perceived their PPW as underweight (β = 0.70, p = 0.016) or overweight/obese (β = 0.86, p < 0.001), as well as those who perceived their GWG as excessive (β = 0.47, p = 0.028) were more likely to exhibit PPD status. The interaction analysis results showed that those who perceived their PPW as underweight and their GWG as insufficient (β = 1.75, p = 0.020), as well as those who perceived their PPW as overweight/obese and their GWG as excessive (β = 0.90, p = 0.001) had a positive interactive effect on the occurrence of PPD status, while underestimating PPW and GWG may be a protective factor against PPD status (β = -1.03, p = 0.037).
Conclusion: These findings support that maternal weight perception plays a role in the development of PPD status. Further improvement is needed in personalized health education for weight management, both prior to and throughout the pregnancy period. This can help women reduce weight anxiety, better understand their body image, and potentially lower the risk of developing PPD.
Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are common causes of morbidity and mortality. However, the impact of changes in lifestyle and rehabilitation programs on the progression of cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic (CRM) conditions, remains unclear.
Methods: In a retrospective manner, we analyzed charts of 200 patients admitted for cardiorespiratory rehabilitation at our facility in 2023. A 6 min walk test, echocardiographic features, and laboratory values were investigated to evaluate the impact of cardiorespiratory rehabilitation in patients post cardiac surgery. This study examined the impact of combined lifestyle and exercise scores (diet, alcohol consumption, smoking, aerobic physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep duration, and social connection) on cardio-renal-metabolic profiles and on a quality-of-life score measured by the Borg Scale.
Results: During the rehabilitation program, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) significantly increased (51.2 vs. 54.3%, SEM 0.51 p = 0.001). The six-minute walk test (6 MWT) significantly improved in terms of meters (133 vs. 373 m, SEM 6.41, p < 0.001) and Borg scale (6.6 vs. 2.5, SEM 0.06, p < 0.001). Glycemia levels reduced significantly (114.5± vs. 107.4± mg/dL, SEM 2.45, p = 0.001). While total cholesterol levels (119.4 vs. 129.6 mg/dL, SEM 2.4, p < 0.001) as well as HDL levels (29.9 vs. 40 mg/dL, SEM 0.62, p < 0.001) significantly increased, triglyceride levels significantly decreased (128.5 vs. 122.1 mg/dL, SEM 3.8, p = 0.048). There was no change in LDL levels. Creatinine levels remained stable throughout the period of rehabilitation.
Conclusions: Cardiorespiratory rehabilitation has a significant impact on myocardial function, quality of life in terms of exercise capacity and symptoms (6 MWT) as well as laboratory levels relevant for cardiovascular prevention such as glycemia and lipid profile.
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