Overweight and Obesity Is Associated with Higher Risk of Perceived Stress and Poor Sleep Quality in Young Adults.

Background and Objectives: Overweight and obesity are growing public health challenges, particularly concerning young adults. University life presents a unique set of stressors that may influence weight management alongside sleep quality. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate the association between overweight or obesity, stress, and sleep quality in a large sample of Greek university students. Materials and Methods: The study recruited 2116 active students from across various Greek universities. Participants completed questionnaires on sociodemographics, academic performance, and physical activity levels using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Stress and sleep quality were assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), respectively. Body weight and height were directly measured to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI). Results: Our analysis of 2116 Greek university students revealed significant associations between various factors and overweight/obesity. Compared to their rural counterparts, young adults in urban areas had an 88% higher prevalence of overweight/obesity (p = 0.0056). Regular smokers were twice as likely to be overweight or obese (p = 0.0012). Notably, those with low physical activity levels displayed a more than two-fold increased risk (p = 0.0008) compared to those with moderate or high activity levels. Similarly, students with moderate or high perceived stress levels had a more than two-fold prevalence of overweight/obesity compared to those with low stress (p = 0.0005). Inadequate sleep quality was also associated with an 86% higher risk of overweight/obesity (p = 0.0007). Interestingly, good academic performance showed a 57% greater prevalence of overweight/obesity compared to very good/excellent performance (p = 0.0103). Conclusions: Our findings reveal that perceived stress and poor sleep quality are significant risk factors for overweight and obesity in this young adult population.

Association of Higher Mediterranean Diet Adherence With Lower Prevalence of Disability and Symptom Severity, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Sleep Quality, Cognitive Impairment, and Physical Inactivity in Older Adults With Multiple Sclerosis.

A good nutritional status and healthy diets may decelerate disease disability and symptom severity and quality of life of peoples with multiple sclerosis (MS). Mediterranean diet (MD) can prevent several chronic diseases, including neurodegenerative disease. This is an observational, cross-sectional study on 279 older adults with MS, aiming to investigate the effects of MD against several aspects of mental health. Qualified questionnaires were used to assess disability and symptom severity, depression, anxiety, stress, sleep quality, cognitive status, physical activity, and MD adherence. Multivariate analysis showed that enhanced MD adherence was independently associated with lower prevalence of disability and symptom severity (P = .0019), depression (P = .0201), anxiety (P = .0287), perceived stress (P = .0021), inadequate sleep quality (P = .0033), cognitive impairment (P = .0018) and physical inactivity (P = .0028). Adopting MD may ameliorate mental health disturbances in older adults with MS. Future public health policies should inform older adults with MS for the favorable impacts of MD in improving the mental health MS comorbidities.

Childhood overweight and obesity and abnormal birth anthropometric measures are associated with a higher prevalence of childhood asthma in preschool age.

OBJECTIVES: Childhood asthma is one of the most common non-communicable diseases in the world. Several perinatal and postnatal factors have been associated with increased risk of developing childhood asthma. The present study aims to assess whether childhood overweight and obesity and abnormal birth anthropometric measures affect the risk of developing childhood asthma in preschool age. METHODS: In this study, 5215 preschool children at the age of 2-5 years were enrolled after applying several inclusion and exclusion criteria and they examined whether they present asthma symptoms. Non-adjusted and adjusted statistical analysis was performed to assess whether perinatal and postnatal factors increase the risk of developing childhood asthma. RESULTS: A prevalence of 4.5% of childhood asthma was recorded. Among children diagnosed with asthma, 19.4% were affected by overweight and 13.9% were obese. Childhood overweight/obesity was indepedently associated with a 76% higher risk of childhood asthma than normal weight. Abnormal birth anthropometric measures, i.e. birth weight, length, and head circumference, were independently associated with higher odds (87%, 29%, and 23%, respectively) of childhood asthma than normal ranges. CONCLUSIONS: This is a cross-sectional, nationally representative study which supported evidence that childhood overweight/obesity and abnormal birth anthropometric measures may independently increase the risk of childhood asthma in preschool age. Emergent health policies and strategies are recommended to promote a healthy lifestyle, preventing childhood obesity at the early stages of life.

How to improve food waste management in hospitals through focussing on the four most common measures for reducing plate waste.

Hospitals have a responsibility to link human health and the environment, but food waste in hospitals has traditionally been much higher than in other areas of food supply. The cause of this situation has many negative impacts on health, economy, society, and environment. As a result, food waste has become a topic of discussion in hospital food departments. Part of this problem is plate waste, the served food that remains uneaten by patients. Given the magnitude of the food problem, this systematic review is aimed to identify the most common measures used to reduce plate waste in hospitals. PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases were comprehensively searched to identify food waste studies worldwide using related search terms. Many approaches have been recommended to increase patient food intake and minimise plate waste in hospitals. Up to date, the four most common include flexible portion sizes, increased food choices through selective menus, additional nutritional support and a better ordering and delivery system. Among them, the most used and effective are flexible portion sizes which may increase the ability of patients choosing their menus and upgrade ordering and delivery system by electronic format. In most studies, plate waste covers the most significant percentage of food waste produced in hospitals, while more than one approach is recommended to minimise it. In this aspect, further well-design, multicenter, clinical studies are strongly required to highlight and establish novel and effective approaches for improving food waste management in hospitals by reducing plate waste.

Depression is associated with worse health-related quality of life, lower physical activity levels, and inadequate sleep quality in a Greek elderly population.

The present study is a cross-sectional study that aimed to investigate the potential associations between depression status, health-related quality of life, physical activity levels and sleep quality in a representative Greek elderly population. Three thousand four hundred five (3405) men and women over 65 years old from 14 different Greek regions were enrolled. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was used to assess depression status, Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) was evaluated using Short Form Health Survey, physical activity levels were assessed via the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A high prevalence of depression and an increased incidence of poor quality of life, low physical activity levels and inadequate sleep quality among the elderly population were recorded. Depression status was independently associated with worse quality of life, poor physical activity, inadequate sleep quality, female gender, BMI and living alone after adjustment for potential confounding factors. Elderly age, low muscle mass, educational and financial status were also identified as indicators of depression; however, their impact on depression status was considerably attenuated after adjusting for confounding factors. In conclusion, depression was associated with worse health-related quality of life, poor physical activity and inadequate sleep quality in a Greek elderly population. Future randomized control trials should be performed to confirm the findings of this cross-sectional study.

Relation of Maternal Pre-Pregnancy Factors and Childhood Asthma: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Pre-School Children Aged 2-5 Years Old.

Background and Objectives: Asthma constitutes a constant, prolonged, inflammation-related pulmonary disorder in childhood with serious public health concerns. Several maternal risk factors can enhance the prevalence of its development in this stage of life; however, the currently available data remain contradictory and/or inconsistent. We aim to evaluate the potential impacts of mothers' sociodemographic, anthropometric and prenatal and perinatal factors on the prevalence of developing asthma in pre-school children. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional survey, which includes 5133 women and their matched pre-school children. Childhood asthma was diagnosed using validated questionnaires. Statistical analysis was accomplished to evaluate whether maternal sociodemographic, anthropometric and prenatal and perinatal factors can increase the probability of childhood asthma in pre-school age. Results: A prevalence of 4.5% of childhood asthma was recorded in pre-school age. Maternal age and pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity, caesarean section, gestational diabetes and hypertension and not breastfeeding were associated with childhood asthma after adjustment for multiple confounding factors. Conclusion: Our research showed that several maternal factors increase the prevalence of childhood asthma in pre-school age. Suitable and effective health policies and strategies should be taken into account to confront the predominant maternal factors that increase its prevalence in pre-school age.

Maternal Gestational Diabetes Is Associated with High Risk of Childhood Overweight and Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study in Pre-School Children Aged 2-5 Years.

Background and Objectives: Childhood obesity is a global public health concern with long-term and serious health implications. An important factor for childhood obesity is maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), which in turn impacts maternal and offspring long-term health. This study aimed to investigate the associations between maternal GDM and childhood weight status and multiple anthropometric and sociodemographic factors and perinatal outcomes. Materials and Methods: A total of 5348 children aged 2-5 years old and their paired mothers took part in the study. Questionnaires were utilized to evaluate the sociodemographic factors and perinatal outcomes as well as smoking habits, educational level, economic status, age, and parity status. Children's anthropometric parameters were measured, and maternal medical history, preterm birth records, and anthropometric measures during pregnancy were retrieved by their medical records. Results: Overall, 16.4% of the children aged at 2-5 years were overweight, and 8.2% of them were affected by obesity, leading to a total 24.6% of children with overweight/obesity. Further, 5.5% of the enrolled mothers were diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus. GDM doubles the probability of childhood overweight/obesity at ages 2-5 years old independently of multiple confounding factors. Pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity, older maternal age, and smoking are risk factors for GDM, while GDM additionally increases the risk of preterm birth. Children of mothers that developed GDM were at greater risk of overweight or obesity, with the association between GDM and offspring's weight status being independent of confounding factors. Conclusions: GDM is a severe public health issue with prolonged complications for both the mother and their children. Public health approaches and programs need to promote the negative role of pre-pregnancy weight and smoking status as well as the significance of a good glycemic control throughout gestation in women of childbearing age.

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet during Pregnancy: Associations with Sociodemographic and Anthropometric Parameters, Perinatal Outcomes, and Breastfeeding Practices.

Background and Objectives: The Mediterranean diet (MD) has been recognized as a beneficial nutritional pattern that promotes human health, decreasing the risks of a variety of human disorders and pathological states, including adverse pregnancy outcomes. In this aspect, the current survey aimed to assess the potential association of compliance with the MD during gestation with various sociodemographic and anthropometric parameters, perinatal outcomes, and breastfeeding practices. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study performed on 5688 pregnant women from 10 distinctive Greek areas. Face-to-face interviews with qualified questionnaires and thorough retrievals of medical records were performed to collect data concerning the participants' sociodemographic and anthropometric parameters, perinatal outcomes, and breastfeeding practices. Results: Elevated compliance with the MD during pregnancy was independently related with older age, higher educational status, and better economic status as well as decreased incidences of pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity and excess gestational weight gain and a lower likelihood of gestational diabetes. Moreover, greater adherence to the MD was independently associated with an increased prevalence of delivering vaginally and a greater prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding for at least 16 weeks postpartum. Conclusions: A higher level of compliance with the MD for the period of gestation was associated with several favorable lifestyle factors that may promote maternal health. Further studies with a prospective design as well as studies exploring the potential effects of maternal compliance with the MD for the period of pregnancy on the health of children should be performed. Future studies should also be extended beyond the MD by assessing the potential beneficial effects of adopting a Mediterranean lifestyle on maternal and child health.

Caesarean Section Delivery Is Associated with Childhood Overweight and Obesity, Low Childbirth Weight and Postnatal Complications: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background and Objectives: In the last decades, simultaneously increasing trends have been recorded for both caesarean section delivery and childhood overweight/obesity around the world, which are considered serious public health concerns, negatively affecting child health. Aim: The present study aims to investigate whether caesarean section is associated with the increased rates of childhood overweight/obesity, low childbirth anthropometric indices and postnatal complications in pre-school age. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study in which 5215 pre-school children aged 2-5 years old were enrolled from nine different Greek regions after applying specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Non-adjusted and adjusted statistical analysis was performed to assess the impact of caesarean section in comparison to vaginal delivery. Results: Children delivered by caesarean section were significantly more frequently overweight or obese at the age of 2-5 years, also presenting a higher prevalence of low birth weight, length and head circumference. Caesarean section was also associated with higher incidence of asthma and diabetes type I at the age of 2-5 years. In a multivariate analysis, caesarean section increased the risk of childhood overweight/obesity and low childbirth anthropometric indices even if adjusting for several childhood and maternal confounding factors. Conclusions: Increasing trends were recorded for both caesarean section delivery and childhood overweight/obesity, which are considered serious public health concerns. Caesarean section independently increased childhood overweight/obesity in pre-school age, highlighting the emergent need to promote health policies and strategies to inform future mothers about its short and long-term risks and that this mode of delivery should preferably be performed only when there are strong medical recommendations in emergency obstetric conditions.

Association of Gestational Hypertension with Sociodemographic and Anthropometric Factors, Perinatal Outcomes, Breastfeeding Practices, and Mediterranean Diet Adherence: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background and Objectives: Gestational hypertension has been associated with several pregnancy short-term and long-term complications, affecting both the mother and her infant's health. The present study aims to assess the potential association of gestational hypertension with sociodemographic and anthropometry factors, perinatal outcomes, breastfeeding habits, and Mediterranean diet (MD) compliance. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 5271 mothers that was carried out after delivery. The anthropometry characteristics and perinatal outcomes were retrieved from the mothers' medical records. Sociodemographic characteristics, MD adherence, and breastfeeding habits were assessed via one-to-one interviews of the assigned women with qualified staff. Results: Maternal older age, being employed, family history of gestational hypertension, overweight/obesity before gestation, and abnormal gestational weight gain (GWG) independently increased the risk of developing gestational hypertension. Moreover, gestational hypertension was independently related with a greater incidence of abnormal childbirth body weight and preterm birth, not exclusively breastfeeding, and lower levels of MD adherence. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of informing future mothers about the risk factors of gestational hypertension, underlining also that a healthy lifestyle, which simultaneously includes a healthy nutritional pattern such as MD, may decrease the risk of developing gestational hypertension and the subsequent pregnancy complications.

Probiotic Supplementation during Pregnancy: Evaluating the Current Clinical Evidence Against Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) constitutes a common metabolic disorder that could lead to deleterious short- and long-term complications in both the mother and her infant. Probiotic supplementation seems to exert diverse, healthy effects by acting as a preventive agent against various human diseases, including GDM. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current narrative review was to critically summarize and scrutinize the available clinical studies during the last 15 years (2008-2023) concerning the use of probiotic supplementation during pregnancy as a protecting agent against GDM. METHODS: A thorough and in-depth search was performed in the most accurate scientific databases, e.g., PubMed., Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar applying effective, and relevant keywords. RESULTS: There are currently some clinical studies suggesting the potential beneficial impact of probiotic supplementation in the prevention and/or co-treatment of GDM. Nevertheless, there is a high heterogeneity amongst the available clinical studies concerning the dosage, the administration duration, the probiotic species types, the method designs and protocols, and the study populations. CONCLUSION: Probiotic supplementation at conventional dosages and in combination with a balanced healthy diet, and lifestyle seems to reduce the the risk of developing GDM, while ameliorating the severity of its symptoms. Further clinical studies taking into account the above considerations should be performed to establish conclusive results, while the future meta-analyses should include studies with the feasibly lowest heterogeneity.

Could Insulin Be a Better Regulator of Appetite/Satiety Balance and Body Weight Maintenance in Response to Glucose Exposure Compared to Sucrose Substitutes? Unraveling Current Knowledge and Searching for More Appropriate Choices.

BACKGROUND: Insulin exerts a crucial impact on glucose control, cellular growing, function, and metabolism. It is partially modulated by nutrients, especially as a response to the intake of foods, including carbohydrates. Moreover, insulin can exert an anorexigenic effect when inserted into the hypothalamus of the brain, in which a complex network of an appetite/hunger control system occurs. The current literature review aims at thoroughly summarizing and scrutinizing whether insulin release in response to glucose exposure may be a better choice to control body weight gain and related diseases compared to the use of sucrose substitutes (SSs) in combination with a long-term, well-balanced diet. METHODS: This is a comprehensive literature review, which was performed through searching in-depth for the most accurate scientific databases and applying effective and relevant keywords. RESULTS: The insulin action can be inserted into the hypothalamic orexigenic/anorexigenic complex system, activating several anorexigenic peptides, increasing the hedonic aspect of food intake, and effectively controlling the human body weight. In contrast, SSs appear not to affect the orexigenic/anorexigenic complex system, resulting in more cases of uncontrolled body weight maintenance while also increasing the risk of developing related diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Most evidence, mainly derived from in vitro and in vivo animal studies, has reinforced the insulin anorexigenic action in the hypothalamus of the brain. Simultaneously, most available clinical studies showed that SSs during a well-balanced diet either maintain or even increase body weight, which may indirectly be ascribed to the fact that they cannot cover the hedonic aspect of food intake. However, there is a strong demand for long-term longitudinal surveys to effectively specify the impact of SSs on human metabolic health.

Nutritional interventional studies in patients with multiple sclerosis: a scoping review of the current clinical evidence.

A good nutritional status appears to slow down disease progression and ameliorate symptoms' intensity in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Up to date, there are several interventional studies, which have explored the potential beneficial effects of specific dietary patterns as well as specific bioactive nutrients against disease progression and symptomatology of MS patients. This is a thorough, scoping review, which aims to critically summarize and scrutinize the currently available clinical evidence of the potential beneficial effects of nutritional interventional studies against MS progression and symptomatology. This review was conducted to systematically map the research done in this area, as well as to identify gaps in knowledge. For this purpose, we thoroughly explored the most accurate scientific web databases, e.g., PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to achieve the most relevant clinical human studies applying effective and characteristic keywords. There are currently several dietary patterns and specific bioactive nutrients that show promising results by slowing down disease progression and by improving MS symptoms. However, there are also certain conflicting results, while most of the existing studies enrolled a small number of MS patients. Nutritional interventions may exert substantial protective effects against MS progression and symptomatology. However, large, long-term, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trials with a prospective design are strongly recommended to delineate whether such nutritional intervention may attenuate disease progression, and improve symptomatology in MS patients.

Fetus Exposure to Drugs and Chemicals: A Holistic Overview on the Assessment of Their Transport and Metabolism across the Human Placental Barrier.

BACKGROUND: The placenta exerts a crucial role in fetus growth and development during gestation, protecting the fetus from maternal drugs and chemical exposure. However, diverse drugs and chemicals (xenobiotics) can penetrate the maternal placental barrier, leading to deleterious, adverse effects concerning fetus health. Moreover, placental enzymes can metabolize drugs and chemicals into more toxic compounds for the fetus. Thus, evaluating the molecular mechanisms through which drugs and chemicals transfer and undergo metabolism across the placental barrier is of vital importance. In this aspect, this comprehensive literature review aims to provide a holistic approach by critically summarizing and scrutinizing the potential molecular processes and mechanisms governing drugs and chemical transfer and metabolism across the placental barrier, which may lead to fetotoxicity effects, as well as analyzing the currently available experimental methodologies used to assess xenobiotics placental transfer and metabolism. METHODS: A comprehensive and in-depth literature review was conducted in the most accurate scientific databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science by using relevant and effective keywords related to xenobiotic placental transfer and metabolism, retrieving 8830 published articles until 5 February 2024. After applying several strict exclusion and inclusion criteria, a final number of 148 relevant published articles were included. RESULTS: During pregnancy, several drugs and chemicals can be transferred from the mother to the fetus across the placental barrier by either passive diffusion or through placental transporters, resulting in fetus exposure and potential fetotoxicity effects. Some drugs and chemicals also appear to be metabolized across the placental barrier, leading to more toxic products for both the mother and the fetus. At present, there is increasing research development of diverse experimental methodologies to determine the potential molecular processes and mechanisms of drug and chemical placental transfer and metabolism. All the currently available methodologies have specific strengths and limitations, highlighting the strong demand to utilize an efficient combination of them to obtain reliable evidence concerning drug and chemical transfer and metabolism across the placental barrier. To derive the most consistent and safe evidence, in vitro studies, ex vivo perfusion methods, and in vivo animal and human studies can be applied together with the final aim to minimize potential fetotoxicity effects. CONCLUSIONS: Research is being increasingly carried out to obtain an accurate and safe evaluation of drug and chemical transport and metabolism across the placental barrier, applying a combination of advanced techniques to avoid potential fetotoxic effects. The improvement of the currently available techniques and the development of novel experimental protocols and methodologies are of major importance to protect both the mother and the fetus from xenobiotic exposure, as well as to minimize potential fetotoxicity effects.

Association of Christian Orthodox Fasting with Sociodemographic, Anthropometric and Lifestyle Factors and Serum Biochemical Indices: A Cross-Sectional Study on Patients with Metabolic Diseases.

Christian Orthodox fasting, a type of time-restricted diet, which presents some similarities to the Mediterranean Diet, also including certain similarities with periodic vegetarianism or other time-restricted diets (e.g., intermittent diet and Ramadan fasting), may cumulatively be related to the same or even better beneficial healthy effects as these well-recognized dietary patterns. The present study aimed to explore the potential beneficial impact of Christian Orthodox fasting in patients with metabolic disorders, such as diabetes mellitus type 2, excessive obesity, hypothyroidism and osteoporosis. This was a cross-sectional study, including 135 patients with metabolic disorders (67 fasters and 68 non-fasters). The enrolled fasters had adapted Christian Orthodox fasting recommendations for at least twelve consecutive years or even from childhood. Relevant questionnaires were used to record sociodemographic, anthropometric and lifestyle data of the study population through face-to-face interviews between the enrolled individuals and qualified personnel during a non-fasting period. Christian Orthodox fasting patients showed a significantly and independently lower prevalence of overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity, which is highly associated with cardiometabolic disease risks, as well as a significantly and independently lower incidence of hypertension, including separately lower systolic and diastolic pressure, than non-fasting patients. Fasters also had a significantly and independently increased prevalence of an advanced educational level and no smoking history, as well as a lower incidence of sedentary behavior, and a trend of a correlation with reduced c-reactive protein (CRP), an indicator of inflammation, compared to non-fasters. Fasters also exhibited higher serum albumin and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, as well as lower glucose levels, than non-fasters. This is one of the few cross-sectional studies demonstrating that Christian Orthodox fasting may promote metabolic health by improving several aspects of metabolic disorders, being associated with specific sociodemographic, anthropometric and lifestyle factors. Further studies conducted on larger sample sizes from different countries and different ethnicities that include Christian Orthodox fasters are recommended to evaluate the impact of long-term religious fasting effects on human health, either as a preventative factor reducing the risk of chronic diseases and especially cardiometabolic disorders or as a nutritional intervention to ameliorate symptom severity.

Curcumin as a Multifunctional Spice Ingredient against Mental Disorders in Humans: Current Clinical Studies and Bioavailability Concerns.

BACKGROUND: Mental disorders in terms of depression, anxiety, and stress are one of the major causes of burden globally. Over the last two decades, the use of plant-based substances in the treatment of mental disorders in combination or not with medication has increasingly attracted the interest of the scientific research community. However, even if there is a plethora of naturally occurring bioactive compounds, most of them have low bioavailability, rendering them unable to insert into the bloodstream to exert their biological activities. METHODS: This is a comprehensive narrative review that critically summarizes and scrutinizes the new approaches to the treatment of mental disorders using curcumin, also highlighting its bioavailability properties. The most accurate were searched using effective and relevant keywords. RESULTS: This narrative review reveals substantial evidence that curcumin can exert significant effects on several mental disorders. However, despite the low cost, the extensive and confirmed potency of curcumin and its involvement in signaling pathways and the scientifically confirmed data regarding its molecular mechanisms of action against mental disorders, this naturally occurring compound presents low oral bioavailability. Pharmaceutical technology has provided solutions to increase the bioavailability of curcumin. Combination with piperine, galactomannosides, liposomal formulation or nanoformulation overcomes the bioavailability and solubility disadvantages. CONCLUSIONS: Although curcumin demonstrates anti-anxiety, anti-depressive and anti-stress properties, studies on humans are limited and heterogeneous. Further research is highly recommended to determine the most functional formula, dose, duration, and possible side effects of curcumin on mental disorders in humans. Based on the current knowledge, the curcumin nanoformulation and Theracurmin, a form of colloidal submicroscopic particles, seem to be the most effective bioavailable formulations, which may be examined in future clinical human studies.

Evaluating the sociodemographic, anthropometric and lifestyle parameters, depression, quality of life, cognitive status, physical activity, and Mediterranean diet adherence of older adults in pre- and post-Covid-19 periods: a comparative cross-sectional study.

Ojective: Covid-19 pandemic has exerted deleterious effects on several aspect of mental health worldwide. The detrimental medical complications, the increased prevalence of morbidity and the rapid international spread of Covid-19 have resulted in urgent public health concerns and political measures across the world. This comparative, cross-sectional study aims to assess the changes that were established in sociodemographic, anthropometric and lifestyle parameters and several aspects of mental health of older adults due to Covid-19 pandemic by comparing the pre-Covid period with the post-Covid period. Methods: Qualified questionnaires were applied for assessing the prevalence of depression, quality of life, cognitive status, and Mediterranean Diet (MD) adherence, as well as sociodemographic, anthropometric and lifestyle parameters in 3388 older adults in the pre- and post-Covid period. Results: Covid-19 pandemic independently affected type of residence, smoking habits, BMI and WHR status, risk of depression, quality of life, cognitive status, physical activity levels, and MD adherence. Conclusions: Covid -19 pandemic has exerted persistent detrimental effects on daily quality of life and mental health of older adults in the post-Covid period. Future strategies and public policies should develop healthcare programs to provide psychological and nutritional counseling and support to older adults to minimize the detrimental effects of Covid pandemic.

Exercise as a Promising Agent against Cancer: Evaluating Its Anti-Cancer Molecular Mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Cancer cases are continuously increasing, while the prevalence rates of physical inactivity are also continuously increasing. Physical inactivity is a causative factor in non-communicable diseases, including cancer. However, the potential beneficial effects of exercise on cancer treatment have not received much attention so far. The aim of this study was to highlight the relationship between cancer and exercise on a molecular basis. METHODS: Comprehensive and in-depth research was conducted in the most accurate scientific databases by using relevant and effective keywords. RESULTS: The mechanisms by which exercise may reduce cancer risk and/or progression may include the metabolic profile of hormones, systemic inflammation reduction, insulin sensitivity increase, antioxidant capacity augmentation, the boost to the immune system, and the direct effect on the tumor. There is currently substantial evidence that the effect of exercise may predict a stronger association with cancer and could supplementarily be embedded in cancer clinical practice to improve disease progression and prognosis. CONCLUSION: The field of this study requires interconnecting the overall knowledge of exercise physiology with cancer biology and cancer clinical oncology to provide the basis for personalized targeting strategies that can be merged with training as a component of a holistic co-treatment approach to optimize cancer healthcare.

May Nutritional Status Positively Affect Disease Progression and Prognosis in Patients with Esophageal and Pharyngeal Cancers? A Scoping Review of the Current Clinical Studies.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition in esophageal and pharyngeal cancer patients constitutes a common and serious concern, which significantly reduces patients' prognoses. Cancers of the esophagus and the pharynx can considerably impair feeding in patients, resulting in severe undernutrition. This is a scoping review that intends to critically analyze the most well-designed clinical studies investigating the potential beneficial impact of diverse nutritional assessment tools on the prognosis of patients with esophageal and pharyngeal cancers. METHODS: The most accurate and remarkable scientific databases were comprehensively explored utilizing relative keywords to detect clinical studies that investigate whether nutritional status may affect disease prognosis. RESULTS: Several assessment tools have evaluated and highlighted the potential beneficial impact of nutritional status on disease progression and patients' prognosis in both esophageal and pharyngeal cancers. Regarding esophageal cancer, CONUT, PNI, PG-SGA, and NRS-2002 are more commonly used, while albumin is also frequently evaluated. Regarding pharyngeal cancers, fewer studies are currently available. PNI has been evaluated, and its significance as a factor for shorter survival' times has been highlighted. The Comprehensive Nutritional Index has also been evaluated with positive results, as well as NRS 2002, GPS, and body-weight status. However, there is currently a lack of studies with an adequate number of women with cancer. An international literature gap was identified concerning follow-up studies with adequate methodology. CONCLUSIONS: Nutritional status may significantly affect disease progression and patients' survival, highlighting the significance of a great nutritional status in individuals with esophageal and pharyngeal cancers. Further large-scale and well-designed prospective surveys should be performed to verify the potential beneficial effects of adequate nourishment in people suffering from cancer of the esophagus and pharynx.

Mediterranean Diet Adherence Is Associated with Favorable Health-Related Quality of Life, Physical Activity, and Sleep Quality in a Community-Dwelling Greek Older Population.

BACKGROUND: The Mediterranean diet (MD) is a beneficial dietary pattern with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can promote mental and physical human health. This study aims to assess the impact of MD adherence on health-related quality of life, physical activity levels, and sleep quality in a representative Greek elderly population. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 3254 persons ≥65 years from 14 different Greek regions, urban, rural and islands participated in this study, of which 48.4% were female and 51.6% were male. Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) was evaluated utilizing a short form healthy survey, physical activity was determined by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), sleep quality was assessed utilizing the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and MD adherence was assessed via the Mediterranean Diet Score (MedDietScore). RESULTS: Moderate adherence to the MD and an increased prevalence of poor quality of life, low physical activity levels and inadequate sleep quality among the elderly population were recorded. High MD adherence was independently associated with better quality of life (OR: 2.31, 95% CI: 2.06-2.68, p = 0.0008), higher physical activity (OR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.47-2.35, p = 0.0141) and adequate sleep quality (OR: 2.11, 95%: 1.79-2.44, p = 0.0018), female sex (OR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.02-1.68, p = 0.0032) and living with others (OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 0.81-1.76, p = 0.0375), after adjustment for potential confounding factors. In unadjusted analysis, participants' age (p < 0.0001), anthropometric characteristics (p < 0.005), educational (p = 0.0026) and financial status (p = 0.0005) and smoking habits (p = 0.0031) were also identified as indicators of MD adherence; however, their impact on MD adherence was considerably attenuated after adjusting for confounding factors (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: High MD adherence was correlated with favorable quality of life, higher levels of physical activity, and a more adequate sleep quality score. Strategies and public health policies that facilitate MD adherence and physical activity in older adults may improve sleep and quality of life, impacting overall wellbeing in this age group.