Innovative health tracker that provides advanced functionalities to support and guide users in modifying their lifestyle: a Straussian ground theory approach.

Objective: Health can be described as the state of homeostasis and optimal functioning across various bio-psycho-social dimensions and processes, allowing an individual to adapt and respond effectively to extrinsic and intrinsic challenges. Our thoughts, choices, behaviors, experiences, and feelings shape our existence. By transitioning from unconscious reactions to conscious responses, we can establish novel habits and behaviors, actively embracing positive shifts in our lifestyle. Subjects and methods: The presented examination focuses on the smartwatch (SW), analyzing the incorporation of potentially progressive attributes that could enrich our lifestyle pursuits. The objective is not the health disorders themselves but the employment of wearable devices to create a strong sense of coherence in the Straussian grounded theory approach. The study had no subjects. Results: The potential of the SW has been partially explored in lifestyle intervention, modification, research, and practice. Conclusion: Based on our examination, creating an innovative SW capable of aiding individuals in better comprehending their behaviors and motivating them toward comprehensive changes in their lifestyle is a challenging yet attainable endeavor. Our ambition is to bring into existence SW capable of comprehensively measuring and evaluating interoception, circadian rhythm (CR), selected lifestyle pillars, and their associated components, and seamlessly integrating them into current SW features. It focuses on boosting motivation, maintenance, and amelioration regarding one's lifestyle. The novel approach strives to boost both immediate and underlying factors that actively contribute to improving one's metacognition.

Comparison of BMI and % BF determined by bioimpedance analysis for obesity screening in young women.

The body mass index (BMI) is used as the most common and simplest measure to predict obesity. The aim of the study was to compare the BMI method and % BF (body fat) determined by bioimpedance analysis for obesity screening and to evaluate the correlation between these methods. 200 women aged 18-25 years were included in the study. BMI ≥ 25/ ≥ 30 kg/m2 was the criterion for assessment of overweight/obesity. Body fat (BF) in % and kg was determined by bioimpedance analysis. For assessment of obesity by % BF, the criterion was ≥ 30% fat. Based on BMI, 4.5% of women were obese, 14.5% were overweight. According to % BF, up to 30% of women were obese. The largest differences between BMI and % BF categorization were found in the underweight and overweight groups. According to the BMI 43% of women in the underweight category and 34.5% in the overweight category had a % BF in the normal range. By correlation analysis, we found a strong positive statistically significant correlation in women between BMI and BF (%) (rs = 0.782, p < 0.01) and also between BMI and BF (kg) (rs = 0.880, p < 0.01). Both of these methods assess body composition in their own specific way, complement each other, and other combining them, we achieve more accurate results for determining the overall health status of an individual.

Diabetes mellitus and its influence on the incidence and process of diabetic retinopathy.

OBJECTIVES: The main aim of the study was to show the effect of diabetes in relation to the gender of the patients, duration of the disease, and on the incidence of diabetic retinopathy. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of these two diseases, pathological ocular changes and progression of disease occurrence in relation to the duration of the disease with respect to their impact on the quality of vision of the patient. METHODS: The prospective observational cross-sectional study included 3,951 patients (1,838 males, 2,113 females) with diabetes mellitus from 7 districts of eastern Slovakia. Patients with diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy were identified by special screening in the number of 2,093 (1,094 females and 999 males). Subjects were divided by sex and by duration of diabetes into 5 groups: patients with diabetes under 5, 10, 15, 20, and over 20 years. We differentiated between proliferative and non-proliferative forms of diabetic retinopathy and monitored changes in visual quality. Manifestations of pathological changes were recorded using special examination methods in the eye clinic. We observed a decrease in vision by two lines, pathological changes on the retina and the occurrence of practical blindness. RESULTS: Of the total number of diabetic patients examined, diabetic retinopathy was also present in more than half of the patients. The major form represented in the patients was the non-proliferative form of retinopathy. The obtained results confirmed that the representation of patients with diabetic retinopathy increases with increasing duration of diabetes. Similarly, pathological changes characteristic of this type of late complication of diabetes were also more frequent, such as deterioration of visual acuity, the appearance of aneurysms, hard exudates macular edema, and gradual loss of vision, which can result in practical blindness. CONCLUSION: The percentage of people with diabetic retinopathy increases with the duration of diabetes, as well as the increased frequency of pathological late complication of diabetes, including deterioration of visual acuity, the development of aneurysms, hard exudates, macular oedema, and gradual loss of vision, which can result in practical blindness. Early diagnosis of the disease and introduction of appropriate treatment would alleviate the symptoms of the disease in more than half of the patients, so more frequent preventive check-ups with an ophthalmologist should be performed in diabetic patients to avoid detection of the disease in its late stages.

Level of biochemical parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus depending on the genotype of the FokI polymorphism in the vitamin D3 receptor (VDR gene).

OBJECTIVES: Diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) is a multifactorial and polygenic disorder characterised by chronic hyperglycaemia accompanied by impaired lipid, carbohydrate, and protein metabolism. The disease is associated with several genetic polymorphisms, including the FokI polymorphism in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene. METHODS: We conducted a study of 327 probands (191 T2DM patients, 136 controls), with a mean age 65.06 (SD ± 10.88) years of patients with T2DM and 58.89 (SD ± 6.59) years in the healthy probands. We investigated the association between FokI polymorphism and biochemical parameters in T2DM patients in the Slovak population. Anthropometric measurements, biochemical, and genetic analysis were statistically evaluated by Statistica ver.13 software using t-tests. RESULTS: Biochemical analysis confirmed significantly higher mean values of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), glucose (GLU), and uric acid (UA) (p < 0.001) in T2DM probands and statistically significantly lower values of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), cholesterol and vitamin D (p < 0.001). Allele frequencies and genotype distributions of the FokI (rs2228570) polymorphism were not significantly different between T2DM patients and controls (p = 0.909). Patients with T2DM and TT genotype had the highest glucose level of 11.39 (SD ± 2.32) uU/ml (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study did not provide evidence for an association of the investigated FokI polymorphism of the VDR gene with T2DM in the Slovak population. Further research is needed to evaluate the impact of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the VDR gene, focusing on related genetic analyses in a larger T2DM cohort.

Association of the PDE4D gene variant with selected markers in individuals with ischaemic heart disease: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the variant (rs2910829) of the PDE4D gene in relation to its influence on biochemical, anthropometric and physiological parameters in patients with coronary artery disease and healthy subjects of the Eastern Slovak population. METHODS: The male group consisted of 72 individuals and the female group consisted of 132 individuals. On the basis of clinical screening the subjects were divided into two groups - with ischaemic heart disease and control group. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood using a commercial NucleoSpin® Blood Machenery-Nagel kit. Molecular genetic analysis of the polymorphism under study was performed using the StepOne™ Real-Time PCR System instrument. The lipid profile markers TC, HDL, LDL, TG were measured by Cobas Integra 400 plus biochemical analyser, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure using a digital blood pressure monitor. Among anthropometric parameters, body height and weight, waist and hip circumference were measured and BMI and WHR indices were calculated. RESULTS: A statistically significant (p = 0.018) possible association between the mutant T allele and ischaemic heart disease was found in men. In women, we found a statistically significant difference in the systolic (p = 0.013) and diastolic blood parameters (p = 0.005) in the CC genotype. In the group of women, we found statistically significant differences in all observed anthropometric parameters and in LDL and TC markers. In the group of men divided on the basis of BMI, statistical significance was found in systolic blood pressure (p = 0.028). In the group of women with ischaemic heart disease, we found a negative correlation between BMI and HDL. CONCLUSION: The study contributes to new findings of the representation of genotypes and alleles of the rs2910829 PDE4D gene polymorphism in the Slovak population. This is a pilot study. Interactions between genotype and observed anthropometric, physiological and biochemical markers were confirmed.

Cytogenetic analysis of coke oven workers in Eastern Slovakia.

OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to evaluate the extent of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure in coke oven workers from Eastern Slovakia by cytogenetic analysis of human peripheral lymphocytes. METHODS: A total of 81 peripheral blood samples were collected from PAH-exposed workers (mean age 45.84 ± 9.73 years) and 30 samples constituted the control group (41.93 ± 15.39 years). The samples were processed using routine cytological analysis. Conventional cytogenetic analysis of human peripheral lymphocytes has been used to evaluate the effects of PAHs. RESULTS: Comparison of the aberrant cells in the total exposed with the controls showed a significant difference (p < 0.05). A high level of significance (p < 0.001) was observed when comparing the gaps between the exposed group and the control group. There was a significant difference (p < 0.01) in aberrant cells and chromatid breaks (p < 0.05) in the GR1 working subgroup compared with the control group. The results of the correlation analysis did not show a significant relationship between the length of occupational exposure and the frequency of aberrant cells (r = 0.071, p = 0.529). Similarly, no association was observed between smoking among coke plant workers and the frequency of aberrant cells (r = 0.117, p = 0.538). CONCLUSION: Cytogenetic analysis showed an increased frequency of chromosomal aberrations in coke oven workers in Eastern Slovakia.

Polymorphisms rs562556 and rs2479409 of the PCSK9 gene associated with obesity and cardiovascular disease.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to comprehensively assess the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs562556 and rs2479409) in the PCSK9 gene with biochemical parameters - C-reactive protein (CRP), glucose (GLU), triglyceride (TAG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL CHOL), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non HDL CHOL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL CHOL), cholesterol (CHOL), and anthropometric parameters (visceral fat), overweight/obesity and cardiovascular risk. METHODS: A total of 71 women aged 23-64 years were divided into three groups based on body mass index (BMI). BMI ≥ 25/≥ 30 kg/m2 was the criterion for assessment of overweight/obesity. Anthropometric, biochemical and genetic examinations were performed on the probands. Changes in markers in each group and their association with cardiovascular risk were monitored. RESULTS: We can conclude that in our study population we observed differences between the BMI categories for biochemical markers (CRP, LDL CHOL, non HDL CHOL, HDL CHOL, LDL CHOL) and anthropometric marker (visceral fat). Atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), Castelli's Risk Index I (CRI-I) and atherogenic coefficient (AC) confirmed high cardiovascular risk for the obese women category (0.045); (< 0.013); (< 0.010). Genotype and allele frequencies for the PCSK9 gene in the overweight and obese groups showed higher allele frequencies of allele A for both polymorphisms of the gene. CONCLUSIONS: PCSK9 gene expression is associated with biological processes such as lipid metabolism and inflammation. Cholesterol-lowering therapies are the gold standard for reducing the risk of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Administration of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against PCSK9 is a novel lipid-lowering therapeutic approach in adults to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Effectiveness of Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet in the Management of Overweight Women: The Prospective Interventional Cohort Study.

Evidence indicates that unhealthy eating habits constitute multilevel obstacles threatening health and well-being. Studies suggest that consumer choices have turned irremovably towards Western diets. The Mediterranean diet (MD) is considered one of the most effective in preventing and treating overweight and obesity, yet its results and associations are ambiguous. This explanatory research aims to examine the effect of the MD on anthropometric and biochemical variables in 181 females from an Eastern European country. The sample was divided into three distinct clusters based on age (tricenarian, quadragenarian, and quinquagenarian). Anthropometric and biochemical examinations in the three-month MD program plan failed to provide convincing evidence of the benefits of the MD on selected integrands. However, total body fat (FATP) values between groups showed a significant difference (p ≤ 0.032) between groups A and C (p ≤ 0.029), which can be attributed to the age of the cohort (30-39 vs. 50-60 years). Values in groups A and B (p ≤ 0.001) and C and A (p ≤ 0.001) were significant between the cohorts but did not indicate any changes in visceral fat (VFATL) in the individual groups. The presented findings can have implications for further investigation and the development of more comprehensive instruments, incorporating critical add-on constituents that will be appropriate to monitor, evaluate, and predict body weight management in experimentation.