On-chip phonon-enhanced IR near-field detection of molecular vibrations.

Phonon polaritons - quasiparticles formed by strong coupling of infrared (IR) light with lattice vibrations in polar materials - can be utilized for surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) spectroscopy and even for vibrational strong coupling with nanoscale amounts of molecules. Here, we introduce and demonstrate a compact on-chip phononic SEIRA spectroscopy platform, which is based on an h-BN/graphene/h-BN heterostructure on top of a metal split-gate creating a p-n junction in graphene. The metal split-gate concentrates the incident light and launches hyperbolic phonon polaritons (HPhPs) in the heterostructure, which serves simultaneously as SEIRA substrate and room-temperature infrared detector. When thin organic layers are deposited directly on top of the heterostructure, we observe a photocurrent encoding the layer's molecular vibrational fingerprint, which is strongly enhanced compared to that observed in standard far-field absorption spectroscopy. A detailed theoretical analysis supports our results, further predicting an additional sensitivity enhancement as the molecular layers approach deep subwavelength scales. Future on-chip integration of infrared light sources such as quantum cascade lasers or even electrical generation of the HPhPs could lead to fully on-chip phononic SEIRA sensors for molecular and gas sensing.

Reliability of Parental Recall of Birth Weight, Birth Length and Gestational Age in the Multicenter Cohort Study IDEFICS.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the reliability of parental recall of birth weight, birth length and gestational age several years after birth. METHODS: Parentally recalled birth parameters were obtained from the European multicentric cohort study IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of dietary- and lifestyle-induced health effects in children and infants) and compared to the corresponding data externally recorded in the child's medical check-up booklet. The agreement between the two sources was examined using Bland-Altman plots, intraclass correlation coefficients and Cohen's kappa for clinically relevant categories. Additionally, logistic regression models were used to identify factors related to parental recall accuracy. RESULTS: A total of 4930 children aged 2 to 11 years were included. Accuracy of birth weight within 100 g was 88%, 94% of the recalled birth length was within 2 cm, and 99% of the parents could recall with 2 weeks accuracy how many weeks their child was delivered preterm. Discrepancies of more than two weeks or more than 100 g were more likely in parents of low or medium socioeconomic status. Non-biological parents were 3.4 times more likely to have a discrepancy of more than 100 g compared to biological mothers (95% CI 1.7-6.7). Moreover, parents were less likely to accurately recall their child's birth parameters with increasing number of children within a family. CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: In general, parents' information matched well with the medical check-up booklet. However, accuracy varied among different groups which should be taken into consideration when using birth data recalled by parents in studies of child health.

Adolescent alcohol consumption predicted by differences in electrophysiological functional connectivity and neuroanatomy.

Alcohol consumption during adolescence has been associated with neuroanatomical abnormalities and the appearance of future disorders. However, the latest advances in this field point to the existence of risk profiles which may lead to some individuals into an early consumption. To date, some studies have established predictive models of consumption based on sociodemographic, behavioral, and anatomical-functional variables using MRI. However, the neuroimaging variables employed are usually restricted to local and hemodynamic phenomena. Given the potential of connectome approaches, and the high temporal dynamics of electrophysiology, we decided to explore the relationship between future alcohol consumption and electrophysiological connectivity measured by MEG in a cohort of 83 individuals aged 14 to 16. As a result, we found a positive correlation between alcohol consumption and the functional connectivity in frontal, parietal, and frontoparietal connections. Once this relationship was described, multivariate linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the predictive capacity of functional connectivity in conjunction with other neuroanatomical and behavioral variables described in the literature. Finally, the multivariate linear regression analysis determined the importance of anatomical and functional variables in the prediction of alcohol consumption but failed to find associations with impulsivity, sensation seeking, and executive function scales. In conclusion, the predictive traits obtained in these models were closely associated with changes occurring during adolescence, suggesting the existence of different paths in neurodevelopment that have the potential to influence adolescents' relationship with alcohol consumption.

Longitudinal associations between vitamin D status and biomarkers of inflammation in a pan-European cohort of children and adolescents.

PURPOSE: To investigate longitudinal associations between the vitamin D status and inflammatory markers in children and adolescents. METHODS: Children from eight European countries from the IDEFICS/I.Family cohort with repeated measurements were included in this study. A linear mixed-effect model was used to model the association of serum 25(OH)D as independent variable and z-scores of inflammatory markers [CRP, cytokines, adipokines, combined inflammation score] as dependent variables, where one level accounts for differences between individuals and the other for changes over age within individuals. RESULTS: A total of 1,582 children were included in the study. In the adjusted model, 25(OH)D levels were positively associated with adiponectin (ß = 0.11 [95% CI 0.07; 0.16]) and negatively with the inflammation score (ß = - 0.24 [95% CI - 0.40; - 0.08]) indicating that the adiponectin z-score increased by 0.11 units and the inflammation score decreased by 0.24 units per 12.5 nmol/l increase in 25(OH)D. In children with overweight or obesity, only a positive association between 25(OH)D and IP-10 was observed while in children with normal weight adiponectin was positively and the inflammation score was negatively associated. Associations of vitamin D with adiponectin and the inflammation score were stronger in girls than in boys and a positive association with TNF-α was observed only in girls. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that an increase in vitamin D concentrations may help to regulate inflammatory biomarkers. However, it seems to be no benefit of a better vitamin D status in children with overweight/obesity unless their weight is managed to achieve an improved inflammatory marker status.

Identification and Replication of Urine Metabolites Associated With Short-Term and Habitual Intake of Sweet and Fatty Snacks in European Children and Adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Intake of sweet and fatty snacks may partly contribute to the occurrence of obesity and other health conditions in childhood. Traditional dietary assessment methods may be limited in accurately assessing the intake of sweet and fatty snacks in children. Metabolite biomarkers may aid the objective assessment of children's food intake and support establishing diet-disease relationships. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to identify biomarkers of sweet and fatty snack intake in 2 independent cohorts of European children. METHODS: We used data from the IDEFICS/I.Family cohort from baseline (2007/2008) and 2 follow-up examination waves (2009/2010 and 2013/2014). In total, 1788 urine samples from 599 children were analyzed for untargeted metabolomics using high-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Short-term dietary intake was assessed by 24-h dietary recalls, and habitual dietary intake was calculated with the National Cancer Institute method. Data from the Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinal Designed (DONALD) cohort of 24-h urine samples (n = 567) and 3-d weighted dietary records were used for external replication of results. Multivariate modeling with unbiased variable selection in R algorithms and linear mixed models were used to identify novel biomarkers. Metabolite features significantly associated with dietary intake were then annotated. RESULTS: In total, 66 metabolites were discovered and found to be statistically significant for chocolate candy; cakes, puddings, and cookies; candy and sweets; ice cream; and crisps. Most of the features (n = 62) could not be annotated. Short-term and habitual chocolate intake were positively associated with theobromine, xanthosine, and cyclo(L-prolyl-L-valyl). These results were replicated in the DONALD cohort. Short-term candy and sweet intake was negatively associated with octenoylcarnitine. CONCLUSIONS: Of the potential metabolite biomarkers of sweet and fatty snacks in children, 3 biomarkers of chocolate intake, namely theobromine, xanthosine, and cyclo(L-prolyl-L-valyl), are externally replicated. However, these potential biomarkers require further validation in children.

Diet Quality Scores, Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We aimed to examine the relationship between various diet quality scores and obesity and Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) in children and adolescents. RECENT FINDINGS: Obesity and MetS, which increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease from childhood through adolescence, have been associated with adherence to various diet quality scores. A systematic search was performed in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, SciELO, Embase, and Cochrane, covering the period until March 2024. Two researchers evaluated 3,519 studies according to the inclusion criteria. Finally, 73 articles that analysed the relationship between diet quality scores and obesity and MetS were included, and 6 of them were included in a meta-analysis. Children younger than 12 years old showed statistically significant differences indicating a higher Mediterranean diet (MD) score adherence compared to those with a low score adherence for BMI (MD = 0.33 kg/m2, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.64) and WC values (MD = 1.21 cm, 95% CI: 0.50, 1.93). Additionally, in the meta-regression analysis, boys showed stronger associations for BMI, z-score BMI and WC (ß = 19.82, 95% CI: 17.62, 22.03, ß = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.33, 0.96 and ß = 67.03, 95% CI: 57.29, 76.77, respectively). Studies in this review suggest an association between high adherence to different diet quality scores and low BMI. Meta-analysis assessing the association between adherence to the MD and BMI, and WC, showed a protective effect of the MD pattern against obesity outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analyses provided evidence on the effect of the diet quality on obesity and MetS in children and adolescents.

Weight Status Determines the Impact of a School-Based Nutrition Education Intervention on Lifestyle Behaviors in Children.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the impact of the FLUYE school-based intervention on children's lifestyle behaviors, Mediterranean diet adherence, and emotional well-being in Spain. The objective was to promote healthy habits through nutrition education, physical activity, and emotional support within the school environment, with a focus on addressing the needs of both normal-weight and overweight/obese children. METHODS: A total of 552 children aged 3 to 12 years participated in the study, with data collected at baseline (T0) and follow-up (T1). The intervention was designed to integrate health education into the school curriculum, emphasizing the development of personal competencies in diet, physical activity, and emotional well-being. The analysis included changes in dietary habits, screen time, physical activity, and psychosocial outcomes, with comparisons made between the normal-weight and overweight/obese groups. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed in water consumption and reductions in sugar-sweetened beverage intake across both weight groups. However, an increase in screen time, particularly among normal-weight children, highlighted ongoing challenges in reducing sedentary behavior. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet improved more significantly in the overweight/obese group, suggesting the program's effectiveness in promoting healthier eating patterns among at-risk children. Emotional well-being and self-esteem also saw significant enhancements, with children reporting increased feelings of pride and positivity post-intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The FLUYE program effectively improved various aspects of children's lifestyle behaviors, particularly in dietary habits and emotional well-being. These findings underscore the importance of comprehensive, school-based interventions that address both physical and psychosocial aspects of health, especially for children at higher risk for obesity.

Prevención de Infecciones Respiratorias por VSR: Consenso Interinstitucional

Las infecciones por el VSR en constituyen una causa importante de morbilidad, hospitalización, ausentismo escolar y laboral, así como de mortalidad, en el mundo, así como en el Paraguay.En la actualidad, existen herramientas para la prevención del VSR. En el año 2012, el Paraguay, ha incorporado el palivizumab (MedImmune, EE. UU.), anticuerpo monoclonal, producido por tecnología de DNA recombinante. Este anticuerpo se administra en 5 dosis, cada 30 días y está indicado en lactantes nacidos prematuros y aquellos con trastornos cardiopulmonares. Por otro lado, actualmente se cuenta con una nueva herramienta para la prevención del VSR. El anticuerpo monoclonal de vida media prolongada Nirsevimab, específico para la conformación de prefusión de la proteína F, aprobado por EMA y FDA. Este monoclonal, está indicado para la prevención de las Infecciones respiratorias agudas bajas, causada por VSR en recién nacidos y lactantes nacidos durante o al ingresar a su primera temporada de VSR, en prematuros y lactantes hasta los 24 meses de edad que siguen siendo vulnerables a la enfermedad grave por VSR durante su segunda temporada de VSR. Luego de analizar la situación epidemiológica del VSR en el país así como la evidencia de eficacia, eficiencia y efectividad de este monoclonal; instituciones académicas, sociedades científicas, organizaciones no gubernamentales y gubernamentales se reunieron y elaboraron un consenso interinstitucional para la prevención de las infecciones por VSR, sugiriendo la incorporación del Nirsevimab, en menores de 12 meses de edad antes de su primera temporada de VSR y en reemplazo del Palivizumab, debido a que el nuevo monoclonal tiene el potencial de cambiar el panorama de las infecciones por VSR en el lactante y producir un impacto en la reducción la mortalidad y morbilidad infantil; reduciendo la carga al sistema de salud, en lo que se refiere a la disminución de la ocupación de camas hospitalarias tanto en sala como en unidades de cuidados intensivos, así como la disminución de la carga para los cuidadores, médicos y proveedores de atención médica y la mortalidad infantil.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections constitute a significant cause of morbidity, hospitalization, school and work absenteeism, as well as mortality worldwide, including in Paraguay. Currently, tools for RSV prevention are available. In 2012, Paraguay approved the use of palivizumab (MedImmune, USA), a monoclonal antibody produced through recombinant DNA technology. This antibody is administered in 5 doses, every 30 days and is indicated in infants born prematurely and those with cardiopulmonary disorders. Furthermore, a novel tool for RSV prevention has recently become available. Nirsevimab, a long-acting monoclonal antibody specific to the prefusion conformation of the F protein, has been approved by both the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This monoclonal antibody is indicated for the prevention of acute lower respiratory tract infections caused by RSV in newborns and infants born during or entering their first RSV season, as well as in premature infants and infants up to 24 months of age who remain vulnerable to severe RSV disease during their second RSV season. After analyzing the epidemiological situation of RSV in our country and evaluating the evidence of efficacy, efficiency, and effectiveness of this monoclonal antibody, academic institutions, scientific societies, and non-governmental and governmental organizations developed consensus guidelines on a new prevention alternative for the prevention of RSV infections, suggesting the incorporation of Nirsevimab in children under 12 months of age before their first RSV season and replacing Palivizumab. The new monoclonal has the potential to change the panorama of RSV infections in infants and produce an impact on the reduction of infant mortality and morbidity reducing the burden on the health system by decreasing hospital bed occupancy both in wards and in intensive care units, as well as the decrease in the burden on caregivers, physicians and health care providers.

Nutritional and physical fitness parameters in adolescence impact cardiovascular health in adulthood.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality worldwide, originating in the first decades of life. A better understanding of their early determinants would allow for better prevention. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of nutritional and activity-related characteristics during adolescence on young adult cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: The Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) study included adolescents (aged 12.5-17.5 years) in 10 European centres. Four centres designed a nested cohort including 236 participants who were reassessed as young adults (21-32 years). Food consumption was evaluated by dietary recalls, physical activity by accelerometers, physical fitness using physical tests and nutritional knowledge by questionnaires. Cardiovascular health was assessed by Pathobiological Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth (PDAY) Study risk scores and its components. Factors associated with cardiovascular risk were identified using a multivariable regression model. RESULTS: Higher Diet Quality Index (DQI, P = 0.012) and nutritional knowledge (P = 0.015) were significantly associated with lower modified PDAY risk scores. Ultra-processed foods were associated with a lower non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol (P = 0.003), whereas DQI (P = 0.014) and Planetary Health Diet Index (P = 0.016) were associated with a higher HDL cholesterol. Higher DQI was also related to a lower body mass index (BMI, P = 0.006). In addition, cardiorespiratory fitness was related to a lower BMI (P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Nutritional knowledge, diet quality and adherence to a sustainable diet in adolescence decrease cardiovascular risk in adulthood, whereas ultra-processed food consumption increases risk. These factors appear as targeted prevention tools for promoting a healthier adolescent lifestyle to decrease long-term cardiovascular risk. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY NUMBER: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02899416.

Factors affecting continuous participation in follow-up evaluations during a lifestyle intervention programme for type 2 diabetes prevention: The Feel4Diabetes-study.

AIMS: Community- and school-based lifestyle interventions are an efficient method of preventing type 2 diabetes in vulnerable populations. Many participants, however, fail to complete the necessary follow-ups. We investigated factors affecting the continuous participation in follow-up evaluations during the Feel4Diabetes-study, a multilevel intervention programme implemented across Europe. METHODS: Socioeconomic, sociodemographic and clinical factors were assessed for 2702 participants within six participating countries: Bulgaria and Hungary (low-to-middle-income countries, LMIC), Belgium and Finland (high-income countries, HIC) and Greece and Spain (high-income countries under austerity measures, HICAM). RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were detected with respect to sex, control group, education level, employment status, BMI and blood pressure measurements (systolic and diastolic blood pressure). Post hoc analysis revealed significant differences within socioeconomic regions. Higher levels of education were associated with significantly lower attrition in HIC (p < 0.05) and HICAM (p < 0.001), higher employment status was associated with lower attrition in HICAM (p < 0.001) and being female was associated with lower attrition in LMIC (p < 0.001). Surprisingly, the intervention group exhibited higher-than-expected attrition in HIC (p < 0.001) and HICAM (p = 0.003), and lower attrition in LMIC (p = 0.007). When tested together in the same multivariable predictive model, all sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables along with higher BMI retained their statistical significance, while systolic and diastolic blood pressure failed to remain significant. CONCLUSIONS: Key socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors along with BMI play a significant role in determining continuous participation in follow-up evaluations during school- and community-based intervention programmes.

Longitudinal associations between psychosomatic and emotional status and selected food portion sizes in European children and adolescents: IDEFICS/I.Family study.

This study aims to investigate the influence of psychosomatic and emotional status on food portion sizes (PSs) consumption from high energy-dense food groups in European children and adolescents. We hypothesized that psychosomatic and emotional status would have a significant association with the PS selection of energy-dense food. The study included 7355 children aged between 2 and 9.9 years at baseline (T0) (48.8% females); 3869 after 2 years (T1) (48.2% females), and 2971 (51.8% females) after 6 years of follow-up (T3). Psychosomatic and emotional status were measured using emotional well-being during the last week score (KINDL) and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. PS was calculated from daily food intake recorded in 24-hour dietary recalls. The associations between emotional status indicators and PS from selected energy-dense food groups were assessed by multilevel linear regression models. In the cross-sectional analysis, we observed that higher KINDL scores were linked to lower PS consumption from sweet bakery products and savory snacks in both genders. Moreover, we found that adolescent females with high emotional and peer problem scores tended to consume larger PS of carbohydrate-rich and sugar-fatty food items (P < .017). Longitudinally, higher peer problem scores were associated with increased PS from bread and rolls, margarine and lipids, and dairy products in all genders and age groups (P< .017). In adolescents, psychosomatic and emotional status could be a trigger for consuming large PS from carbohydrate-rich and sugar-fatty energy-dense foods. Thus, nutritional interventions should consider emotional status to decrease unhealthy dietary habits in children and adolescents.

Physical activity in relation to metabolic health and obesity: The Feel4Diabetes study.

AIM: To examine physical activity levels in association with metabolic health and estimate the stability of metabolically healthy obese (MHO) phenotypes over a 2-year period. METHODS: In total, 2848 men and women from families at risk of the development of diabetes were recruited. Participants were classified as obese or non-obese and metabolic health was defined using five existing definitions. Physical activity was estimated with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and pedometers. RESULTS: Prevalence of the MHO phenotype varied among definitions (0% to 20.2%). Overall, the MHO were more active than the metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO). Daily sitting hours (odds ratio [OR] = 1.055, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.009-1.104) and daily steps (per 500; OR = 0.934, 95% CI: 0.896-0.973) were remarkable predictors of metabolic health in individuals with obesity; and likewise, in individuals without obesity. After 2 years, 44.1% of baseline MHO adults transitioned to MUO, while 84.0% of the MUO at baseline remained at the same phenotype. Although physical activity was not a major determinant in phenotype transitioning, daily steps were associated with the maintenance of metabolic health over time in the non-obese group. CONCLUSION: A universally accepted definition for MHO is needed. Being physically active can contribute to a metabolically healthy profile even in the presence of obesity; still, MHO is a transient condition and physical activity alone may not be an adequate factor for its maintenance.

Dysexecutive symptomatology in everyday functioning and academic achievement in adolescents.

Background: During the educational stage, academic achievement depends on various social, family, and personal factors. Among the latter, executive skills in everyday life play a significant role in dealing with the academic demands of adolescents. Therefore, the aim of this study is to ascertain the effects of executive symptomatology in everyday functioning on academic achievement in adolescents. Method: The study involved 910 students aged between 13 and 15 years (M = 14.09, SD = 0.68) from both public and private schools in the Community of Madrid. The DEX, BDEFS-CA, and BRIEF-SR questionnaires were utilised to assess executive difficulties, while grades in language, mathematics, and natural sciences were used as a measure of academic achievement. Results: The data revealed statistically significant differences in working memory, emotional control, materials organisation, and task completion. In relation to language and natural sciences subjects. In the case of mathematics, emotional control and task completion were significant variables. Conclusion: Our results indicate that certain executive skills that are manifested in everyday life activities can contribute, albeit in a variable way, to academic achievement in the subjects studied. This aspect is relevant insofar as it allows us to develop preventive interventions based on the executive training of these everyday skills.

The Role of Zinc in Developed Countries in Pediatric Patients: A 360-Degree View.

Zinc is an important trace element for growth and health at pediatric ages. Zinc is fundamental in inflammatory pathways, oxidative balance, and immune function. Zinc exhibits anti-inflammatory properties by modulating Nuclear Factor-kappa (NF-κB) activity and reducing histamine release from basophils, leukocytes, and mast cells. Furthermore, its antioxidant activity protects against oxidative damage and chronic diseases. Finally, zinc improves the ability to trigger effective immune responses against pathogens by contributing to the maturation of lymphocytes, the production of cytokines, and the regulation of apoptosis. Given these properties, zinc can be considered an adjunctive therapy in treating and preventing respiratory, nephrological, and gastrointestinal diseases, both acute and chronic. This review aims to deepen the role and metabolism of zinc, focusing on the role of supplementation in developed countries in pediatric diseases.

Work engagement and sense of coherence as predictors of psychological distress during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between sense of coherence, work engagement, and work environment variables as predictors of the level of psychological distress during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study collected between April 22 and December 16, 2020, using non-probabilistic snowball sampling. The study variables and instruments were socio-demographic variables, work engagement (UWES-9 scale), sense of coherence (Antonovsky SOC-13 scale), and psychological distress (GHQ-12 scale). Multivariate analysis and binary logistic regression were performed including the scores of the three questionnaires and other variables such as effectiveness, safety, stress, health perception, and sex. Finally, the CHAID technique was applied to create a segmentation tree. Results: 72.7 % of participants had high levels of psychological distress, more predominantly among women, with work stress and low sense of coherence acting as the most influential mediators in generating psychological distress, and even more so when both were combined. Low work engagement and the availability of safe and effective means to prevent infection were predictors of psychological distress among workers. Conclusion: During the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, factors that contributed to psychological distress in the Chilean population were identified. These included a fair or poor perception of health, being a woman, work-related stress, availability of safety measures, low level of work engagement, and low level of sense of coherence. Identifying these factors may help prevent similar effects in future phases of the current pandemic or in future pandemics.

Longitudinal associations between food parenting practices and dietary intake in preschool children: The ToyBox Study.

INTRODUCTION: Food Parenting Practices (FPPs) include the practices parents use in the act of feeding their children, which may further influence their health. OBJECTIVES: To assess associations between changes in FPPs (permissiveness, food availability, guided choices, water encouragement, rules and limits and the use of food as reward) over 1 year and dietary intake (water, energy-dense/nutrient-poor and nutrient-dense foods) at follow-up in 4- to 6-year-old preschool-aged children. METHODS: Longitudinal data from the control group of the ToyBox study, a cluster-randomized controlled intervention study, was used (NCT02116296). Multilevel ordinal logistic regression analyses including FPP as the independent variables and dietary intake as outcome. RESULTS: Nine hundred sixty-four parent-child dyads (50.5% boys and 95.0% mothers) were included. Limited changes on the use of FPPs were observed over time. Nevertheless, in boys, often having F&V at home was associated with higher F&V consumption (OR = 6.92 [1.58; 30.38]), and increasing home availability of F&V was directly associated with higher water consumption (OR = 7.62 [1.63; 35.62]). Also, not having sweets or salty snacks available at home was associated with lower consumption of desserts (OR = 4.34 [1.75; 10.75]). In girls, having F&V availability was associated with higher F&V consumption (OR = 6.72 [1.52; 29.70]) and lower salty snack consumption (OR = 3.26 [1.50; 7.10]) and never having soft drinks at home was associated with lower consumption of sweets (OR = 7.89 [6.32; 9.86]). Also, never being permissive about soft drink consumption was associated with lower soft drink consumption (OR = 4.09 [2.44; 6.85]). CONCLUSION: Using favorable FPPs and avoiding the negative ones is prospectively associated with healthier dietary intake, especially of F&V, and less intake of soft drinks, desserts, and salty snacks.

Eating Behaviours and Dietary Intake in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This systematic review aimed to examine existing evidence related to associations between eating behaviours and dietary intake in children and adolescents, with a focus on the Children Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) and the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ) as assessment tools. RECENT FINDING: We conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines. We included observational and interventional studies published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese, that evaluated the association between eating behaviours and food and beverage intake. Thirteen studies from nine countries met the inclusion criteria, with sample sizes ranging from 62 to 4,914 individuals aged 2 to 16 years-old. Ten studies used the CEBQ, and three used the DEBQ. Our retrieved studies showed that children and adolescents engaging in food approach behaviours tend to consume foods rich in sugar and fats. However, we observed a higher consumption of fruits and vegetables. On the other hand, children and adolescents with lower engagement to food avoidant behaviours, generally exhibited a lower overall food consumption, except for snacks, which they consumed at a higher rate. This systematic review suggests that eating behaviours play an important role in shaping dietary intake. Nevertheless, due to the heterogeneity related to eating behaviours and diet intake, it highlights the need for further research to understand these complex relationships to develop effective interventions for promoting healthy eating habits in children and adolescents.

Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in a Paediatric Population in the Dominican Republic.

Introduction: During the summer of 2019 and within the framework of a social dentistry program carried out in the low-income town of San Francisco de Macorís (Dominican Republic), a descriptive study was carried out on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), aiming to find out the oral health status of a population of children in the aforementioned Dominican city. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the oral health status of a child population and its relationship with the quality of life perceived by these children in the aforementioned population of San Francisco de Macorís in order to develop an specific oral health program taking into account not only the existing oral health status but also the perceptions and feelings of the child population in this regard. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on a representative sample of children who were examined on their oral health status, following WHO guidelines, by professionals from the University of Seville (Spain) together with professionals from private practice (USA) and students from the Universidad Católica Nordestana (UCNE, Dominican Republic). Likewise, the children's parents voluntarily completed the Oral Quality of Life questionnaire COHIP-19 in its culturally adapted Spanish version. Results: For this purpose, 94 children with a mean age of 10.34 (SD 3.38) were observed in our study following WHO recommendations for oral health studies and evaluating OHQoL using the specific questionnaire validated in Spanish COHIP-19 in its short format (SF). The results show a state of oral health with a significant prevalence of caries (80.9%) and a DMFT of 1.70 (SD 1.90). The OHQoL perceived by these children shows that pain, bad breath or feeling sad because of the condition of their teeth were the factors with the worst evaluation score. Conclusions: The conclusion that mainly emerges from this study is that caries continues to be the main problem to be solved (more than other variables studied, such as malocclusion or fluorosis), and this ailment also causes pain, dysfunction, and bad breath and is therefore perceived as a problem to be solved in the children of this Dominican city.

Ultraprocessed Food Consumption and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Children.

Importance: High intake of ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) has been associated with higher cardiometabolic risk in adults; however, the evidence in children is limited. Objective: To investigate the association between UPF consumption and cardiometabolic risk factors in the Childhood Obesity Risk Assessment Longitudinal Study (CORALS). Design, Setting, and Participants: This baseline cross-sectional analysis was conducted using the data of CORALS participants recruited between March 22, 2019, and June 30, 2022. Preschool children (aged 3-6 years) were recruited from schools and centers in 7 cities in Spain. Inclusion criteria included informed consent signed by parents or caregivers and having a completed a set of questionnaires about the child's prenatal history at home. Exclusion criteria included low command of Spanish or unstable residence. Exposure: Energy-adjusted UPF consumption (in grams per day) from food frequency questionnaires and based on the NOVA food classification system. Main Outcomes and Measures: Age- and sex-specific z scores of adiposity parameters (body mass index [BMI], fat mass index, waist-to-height ratio, and waist circumference) and cardiometabolic parameters (diastolic and systolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance, high-density and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides) were estimated using linear regression models. Results: Of 1509 enrolled CORALS participants, 1426 (mean [SD] age, 5.8 [1.1] years; 698 boys [49.0%]) were included in this study. Mothers of children with high UPF consumption were younger, had a higher BMI, were more likely to have overweight or obesity, and had lower education levels and employment rates. Compared with participants in the lowest tertile of energy-adjusted UPF consumption, those in the highest tertile showed higher z scores of BMI (ß coefficient, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.05-0.35), waist circumference (ß coefficient, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.05-0.35), fat mass index (ß coefficient, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.00-0.32), and fasting plasma glucose (ß coefficient, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.06-0.37) and lower z scores for HDL cholesterol (ß coefficient, -0.19; 95% CI, -0.36 to -0.02). One-SD increments in energy-adjusted UPF consumption were associated with higher z scores for BMI (ß coefficient, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.05-0.17), waist circumference (ß coefficient, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.02-0.15), fat mass index (ß coefficient, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.04-1.18), and fasting plasma glucose (ß coefficient, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.03-0.17) and lower HDL cholesterol (ß coefficient, -0.07; 95% CI, -0.15 to -0.00). Substituting 100 g of UPFs with 100 g of unprocessed or minimally processed foods was associated with lower z scores of BMI (ß coefficient, -0.03; 95% CI, -0.06 to -0.01), fat mass index (ß coefficient, -0.03; 95% CI, -0.06 to 0.00), and fasting plasma glucose (ß coefficient, -0.04; 95% CI, -0.07 to -0.01). Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that high UPF consumption in young children is associated with adiposity and other cardiometabolic risk factors, highlighting the need for public health initiatives to promote the replacement of UPFs with unprocessed or minimally processed foods.

Addressing chronic diseases: a comparative study of policies towards type-2 diabetes and hypertension in selected European countries.

BACKGROUND: Type-2 diabetes (T2D) and hypertension (HTN) are two of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases (NCDs): they both cause a relevant number of premature deaths worldwide and heavily impact the national health systems. This study illustrates the impact of HTN and T2D in four European countries (Albania, Bulgaria, Greece and Spain) and compares their policies towards the monitoring and management of HTN and T2D and the prevention of NCDs as a whole. This analysis is conducted throughout the DigiCare4You Project (H2020)-which implements an innovative solution involving digital tools for the prevention and management of T2D and HTN. METHODS: The analysis is implemented through desk research, and it is enriched with additional information directly provided by the local coordinators in the four countries, by filling specific semi-structured forms. RESULTS: The countries exhibit significant differences in the prevalence of HTN and T2D and available policies and programs targeted to these two chronic conditions. Each country has implemented strategies for HTN and T2D, including prevention initiatives, therapeutic guidelines, educational programs and children's growth monitoring programs. However, patient education on proper disease management needs improvement in all countries, registries about patients affected by HTN and T2D are not always available, and not all countries promoted acts to contain the increasing rates of risk factors related to NCDs. CONCLUSIONS: While political awareness of the risks associated with HTN, T2D and NCDs in general is growing, there is a collective need for countries to strengthen their policies for preventing and managing these chronic diseases.