Clinical and imaging correlates of hyperorality in syndromes associated with frontotemporal lobar degeneration.

AIM: Empirical research investigating hyperorality in syndromes associated with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is limited. The present study aims to assess and describe hyperorality and its clinical and imaging correlates in patients with FTLD-associated syndromes. METHODS: This retrospective longitudinal study included consecutive patients with FTLD who underwent a clinical, cognitive, and behavioral assessment. The presence and severity of hyperorality was assessed using the Frontal Behavior Inventory. RESULTS: A total of 712 patients with FTLD were included in the study. Hyperorality was reported by 29% (204 of 712 [95% CI: 25-32%]) of patients; was more frequent in those with severe dementia than in those with prodromal or mild to moderate dementia (P < 0.05); was associated with younger age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.96 [95% CI: 0.94-0.99]), (P = 0.003) and positive family history for dementia (OR = 2.03 [95% CI: 1.18-3.49], P = 0.010); was overall more probable in the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) and frontotemporal dementia with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis phenotypes, and less probable in other language or motor phenotypes; and was associated with higher severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms (OR = 1.08 [95% CI: 1.06-1.10], P < 0.001) and with the presence of several behavioral symptoms (P < 0.05). Moreover, hyperorality severity increased over time only in patients with bvFTD (ß = +0.15, P = 0.011) or semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia (ß = +0.34, P = 0.010). Finally, the presence of hyperorality was significantly associated with greater atrophy in the right anterior insula and right orbitofrontal region (false discovery rate-corrected P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Hyperorality is common in certain FTLD-associated syndromes. Understanding its correlates can help clinicians define pharmacological and educational interventions and clarify related anatomical circuits.

Effects of dietary habits and catheterization type on breast cancer-related lymphedema: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the factors that contribute to variability in breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is an important first step in developing targeted interventions to improve quality of life in breast cancer patients. Although previous research studies have has identified many risk factors for BCRL, dietary habits and catheterization type have rarely been studied until the present. AIM: This study aims to explore the effects of nursing factors such as dietary habits and catheterization type on breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 1,476 breast cancer patients who underwent surgery between January 1, 2012, and September 1, 2020. Lymphedema was assessed with a validated self-report questionnaire. All research data were obtained from medical records and a follow-up database. Multivariate Cox regression was conducted to explore the effects of dietary habits and catheterization type on BCRL. RESULTS: The results showed an increased risk for BCRL among breast cancer patients who followed a high-fat diet prehospitalization (HR = 2.47; 95% CI = 1.55-3.94; P < 0.001), indwelling totally implantable venous access ports (TIVAPs) compared with indwelling needles (HR = 0.56; 95% CI = 0.35-0.90;P = 0.017) or indwelling peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) (HR = 0.69; 95% CI = 0.45-1.05; P = 0.086). CONCLUSION: High-fat diet pre-hospitalization was an independent risk factor for lymphedema. The TIVAPs did not exert a protective effect on lymphedema compared with the PICC and indwelling needle. This study finding offers new insights to develop targeted interventions to decrease the incidence of lymphedema.

Internet use, dietary habits and adolescent obesity: evidence from China.

The widespread use of Internet has substantially influenced adolescents' lifestyles. This paper systematically explored the impact of Internet use on adolescent obesity and unveiled the underlying mechanism in China. We discussed the relationship among Internet use, dietary habits and obesity, and estimated the impact using panel data collected by the China Health and Nutrition Survey. Results indicated that increased Internet use significantly raised the risk of obesity among adolescents by changing their dietary habits. With a longer time of Internet use, adolescents would increase more proportion of snacks, and choose food with higher fat and protein. This paper offers a new empirical evidence for understanding the mechanism of Internet use on adolescent obesity, and provides a reference for developing countries to guide adolescents toward moderate Internet use and lower the risk of obesity.

Impact of daily breakfast intake on the outcomes of assisted reproductive technology procedures.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between meal consumption frequency and assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes among female patients with infertility. RESEARCH METHODS & PROCEDURES: This cohort study was conducted from February 2022 to January 2024 at Tokyo Medical University Hospital. Overall, 101 female patients with infertility issues and without a history of stroke, heart disease, cancer, or type 1 or type 2 diabetes were enrolled in this study. The factors extracted from the questionnaire included demographic information, meal consumption frequency before ART and at 20 years of age, smoking status, and alcohol consumption status. Data on other factors, including age, body mass index, anti-Müllerian hormone level, and parity history, were collected from medical records. The assessed clinical outcomes included number of transplanted embryos, clinical pregnancies, ongoing pregnancies, live births, and miscarriages. RESULTS: After adjusting for potential confounding factors, including age, smoking status, alcohol consumption status, body mass index, anti-Müllerian hormone level, and parity history, a multivariate analysis of ART outcomes was performed. Patients were categorized into groups based on the frequency of weekly consumption of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Patients who consumed breakfast 6-7 times a week were significantly more likely to have higher rates of live birth and lower rates of miscarriage in pregnancies conceived through ART. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of breakfast 6-7 times a week before ART was associated with increased success rates following ART. This highlights the potential importance of regular breakfast consumption for optimizing ART outcomes.

The prevalence of anaemia in rural adolescent girls - A cross-sectional study to understand the sociodemographic and dietary determinants in Dharwad District, India.

Context: Anaemia is one leading cause of morbidity among adolescent girls. Prevention, early detection, and treatment can break the intergeneration cycle of malnutrition. Aims/Objectives: The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of anaemia and assess its sociodemographic determinants and understand its association with the dietary pattern of rural adolescent girls. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 350 adolescent girls studying in the school of Kalgatigi Taluk, Dharwad district. The school girls were interviewed using a predesigned structured questionnaire by interview method. A food frequency questionnaire was used to assess the dietary pattern. Haemoglobin levels were estimated using Sahli's method. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were entered in Microsoft Excel and analysed using SPSS version 19 and the Chi-square test was applied to study the significance. Results: Rural adolescent school girls between the age group of 13-16 years were included. The prevalence of anaemia among them was found to be 47.4% and was significantly associated with the educational status of the mother, their socioeconomic status (SES), and type of diet. Vegetarian girls had a higher prevalence of anaemia. The frequency of meat and egg consumption was significantly associated with anaemia. The prevalence of anaemia was higher in thin and severely thin girls based on WHO-BMI. Conclusions: Anaemia in rural adolescent girls is of high burden and public health importance with a prevalence of 47.4% and significant association with dietary habits, SES, and BMI.

Association of the Mediterranean diet with arterial stiffness, inflammation, and medication use in women with systemic lupus erythematosus: an exploratory study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) face increased cardiovascular risk not completely explained by traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Arterial stiffness, inflammation or disease-related therapies may be contributors to augmented cardiovascular risk, whereas healthy dietary habits could help in their management. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to analyze the association of the adherence to the Mediterranean Diet with arterial stiffness, inflammation, and disease-related medication in women with SLE. METHODS: A total of 76 women with SLE were included in this cross-sectional exploratory study. The adherence to the Mediterranean Diet was assessed using the Mediterranean Diet Score. Arterial stiffness was measured through pulse wave velocity (PWV). Inflammatory profile was evaluated through high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). The use (yes / no) and doses (mg /day and cumulative dose in last 3 years) of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants were also registered. RESULTS: No association of the overall adherence to the Mediterranean Diet with PWV, hsCRP or medication use was found (all P>0.05). Lower intake of full dairy products was related to greater odds of corticosteroids use (odds=1.72; P=0.004), and both higher current (ß =0.29; P= 0.024) and cumulative (ß =0.21; P=0.040) doses. Lower intake of red wine was associated with lower odds of immunosuppressants use (odds=0.63; P=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: No association of the adherence to the Mediterranean Diet with arterial stiffness, inflammation or disease-related medication was observed in women with SLE with mild disease activity. However, higher dairy products and lower red wine consumption were related to lower use of disease-related medication. Future studies intervention studies are needed to better understand how nutritional education promoting Mediterranean Diet food groups can complement conventional SLE treatments.

The Interplay of Dietary Habits, Economic Factors, and Globalization: Assessing the Role of Institutional Quality.

BACKGROUND: Dietary habits are pivotal for population health and well-being, yet remain a pressing global issue, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where economic instability and institutional challenges exacerbate dietary problems. Despite extensive research, there is a notable gap in the literature regarding the direct and interactive effects of institutional quality and inflationary shocks on dietary habits. METHODS: This study delves into these complex interplays across 44 SSA nations from 2002 to 2022. Employing an innovative entropy method (EM) and the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) modeling, the study introduces an inclusive institutional quality index and an inflationary shock predictor as crucial determinants of dietary habits in the literature. RESULTS: The results from the panel-corrected standard error (PCSE) method and feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) model reveal that per capita GDP, school enrollment rate, government expenditures, globalization index, and urbanization are positively associated with population dietary habits, while inflationary shock, food insecurity, and unemployment rate exert negative influences. Notably, institutional quality acts as a catalyst, amplifying the positive effects of the former group and absorbing the negative impacts of the latter on population dietary habits. Additionally, a dynamic panel causality analysis confirms a bidirectional causality nexus between population dietary habits and all variables, except for inflationary shocks, which demonstrate a unidirectional causality link. CONCLUSIONS: These findings carry significant policy implications, underscoring the complex dynamics between institutional quality, inflationary shocks, and dietary habits in the region. The bidirectional causality highlights the need for holistic interventions that address economic, social, and institutional factors simultaneously. Moreover, the unidirectional causality of inflationary shocks on dietary habits suggests that stabilizing inflation is critical to protecting dietary habits. These results provide critical insights for policymakers to design targeted interventions aimed at improving nutrition, bolstering institutional frameworks, and ensuring public health resilience in the face of economic and social shocks.

Preschool Children's Dietary Patterns Are Associated with Food Shopping Establishments: The SENDO Project.

Background: Eating habits established during the preschool stage may last a lifetime, underlining the importance of choosing and purchasing healthy foods for proper nutrition. Aim: To assess the associations between place of food purchase and dietary intake and quality in Spanish preschool children. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was carried out within the framework of the SEguimiento del Niño para un Desarrollo Óptimo (SENDO) project. Data were collected using (1) the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), from which dietary nutrient intake and diet quality (NOVA System classification and KIDMED index) were analysed, and (2) the baseline food habits questionnaire, which asked about the food purchase outlet. Data were analysed by logistic regression, considering the intra-group correlation between siblings and using the type of food purchase outlet as a grouping variable. Results: Children from families shopping in hypermarkets consumed fewer nutrients, less minimally processed foods, as well as less fruit and vegetables than children from families shopping in specialised shops. Conclusions: Food shopping in specialised outlets can improve the quality of children's diets, promoting healthier habits such as greater adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and increasing the consumption of minimally processed foods. This has a positive impact on children's long-term health.

Associations between maternal diet, family eating habits and preschool children's dietary patterns: insights from the UPBEAT trial.

BACKGROUND: Dietary behaviours in early life often track across the life course, influencing the development of adverse health outcomes such as obesity and cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to explore the between dietary patterns (DP) in preschool children and maternal DP and family eating habits. METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of 488 mother-child pairs from the UK pregnancy Better Eating and Activity Trial (UPBEAT) at 3-year follow-up. Previously published DP from mothers and children (derived from food-frequency questionnaires and exploratory factor analysis) were used. Mothers' DP were "Fruits-Vegetables", "African-Caribbean", "Processed and Snacks", and children's DP were "Prudent", "Processed-Snacking", and "African-Caribbean". Family meal environments were evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale. RESULTS: Linear regression models revealed that child's prudent pattern was positively associated with maternal Fruits-Vegetables (B = 0.18 (0.08, 0.27)), Snacks patterns (B = 0.10 (0.01, 0.18)), and eating the same foods during meals (B = 0.25 (0.07, 0.43)). Child's Processed-Snacking pattern was directly associated with maternal Processed (B = 0.22 (0.13, 0.30)) and Snacks (B = 0.27 (0.18, 0.36)) patterns, receiving food as reward (B = 0.22 (0.04, 0.39)) and watching TV during meals (B = 0.27 (0.09, 0.45)). Finally, the child African-Caribbean pattern was directly associated with that from the mother (B = 0.41 (0.33, 0.50)) and watching TV during meals (B = 0.15 (0.09, 0.30)), and inversely associated with maternal processed (B=-0.09 (-0.17, -0.02)) and snacking (B=-0.08 (-0.15, -0.04)) patterns. CONCLUSIONS: Unhealthy dietary patterns in childhood are directly linked to similar maternal patterns and family meal behaviours, such as television viewing and food rewards. These findings highlight targetable behaviours for public health interventions.

Association between salt sensitivity of blood pressure and dietary habits in survey population: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Salt sensitivity of blood pressure (SSBP) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and links dietary salt with blood pressure. However, the study on the relationship between SSBP and dietary habits is rare. This study investigated the relationship between diet and SSBP in different blood pressure statues. METHODS: 1,459 subjects were assigned into four groups based on a case (hypertension)-control (normotension) study of SSBP and hypertension: 561 Salt-sensitive hypertension (SSH) and 235 non-salt-sensitive hypertension (NSSH) and 424 salt-sensitive normotension (SSN) and 239 non-salt-sensitive normotension (NSSN). Foods information of weekly or daily intakes were recalled. SSBP was tested with the modified salt stress test and was diagnosed with the Sullivan criteria. RESULTS: Compared with the NSSH and SSN groups, SSH group have lower intake of fresh fruits (both P<0.05). Furthermore, NSSN group have the lowest intake of red meat, and bacon (P<0.05). SSH group have the lowest intake of fresh vegetables (P<0.05). SSN group have the highest intake of eggs, dairy products, white meat (all P<0.05). In hypertensive patients, staple food (OR=0.37, 95%CI: 0.10-0.64) was associated with decreased risk of salt sensitivity. In normotensive subjects, white meat (OR=0.28, 95%CI: 0.14-0.43) was associated with reduced risk of salt sensitivity, bacon (OR=5.39, 95%CI: 2.11-8.67) and dairy products (OR=4.22, 95%CI: 1.82-6.56) and red meat (OR=2.95, 95%CI: 1.15-4.84) were associated with elevated risk of salt sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary habits play an important role in SSBP and the role varies with blood pressure especially among population.

Assessing through a longitudinal study of dietary habits among Romanian school children: effects of COVID-19 pandemic as well as of a school based educational program for promotion of healthy nutrition.

PURPOSE: The outbreak of COVID-19 has forced implementation of safety measures, leading to changes in people's lives. This study investigated several dietary habits among Romanian children before and during the pandemic. Also, it assessed the effectiveness of an educational program promoting healthy diet and evaluated factors influencing certain eating habits. METHODS: A longitudinal study was conducted in schools. Students were assigned to Control and Intervention groups. Data were collected at baseline (T1) (October -November 2019, 880 children) and post-intervention (T2) (December 2020-February 2021, 484 students). 350 children participated in both assessments. RESULTS: Baseline measurements revealed inadequate consumptions of fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and increased intake of soft drinks and sweets. At follow-up, the Intervention showed significant improvements on average intake of fruits and vegetables and in children eating ≥ 5 servings/day, compared to its baseline. Regarding self-perceptions on dietary habits during confinement, children from both groups reported healthier behaviors, with a significant decrease of comfort food. Compared to the Control group, Intervention increased its average intake of fruits and vegetables, consumed more ≥ 5 portions/day, reduced the number ≥ 2 cups/day of carbonated beverages and ≥ 3 portions/day of sweets. Age, gender, weight management, body mass index were associated with dietary habits at T1. Age, gender, Intervention group, weight management influenced eating patterns at T2. Eating behaviors at T1 influenced dietary habits at T2. CONCLUSION: Our program demonstrated positive changes in students' dietary habits, despite challenges of COVID-19. Results highlight the role of health education and emphasize the importance of integrating such programs consistently in schools.

A case report on dietary needs of the rowing athlete winner of the triple crown.

Sports nutrition is a topic that is often misinterpreted and sometimes abused. The often-used "shot-gun" method to meeting caloric needs by simply increasing caloric intake disregarding nutrient source is scientifically contrary to the need for a more careful study of the nutritional requirements of rowers. Rowing by itself is a very demanding sport as typical training sessions use exercise intensities that range from very low submaximal work to short term supramaximal efforts. The intake in calories should take into account also the type of race that the athlete will afford. In the case of the rower Giovanni Ficarra who won, in 16 months, three world competitions in the three different rowing disciplines, his dietary needs and training schedule significantly changed according to the type of competition, to be prepared for the extreme load of physical effort required to get the podium in such different conditions. This article in intended to provide recommendation for both coaches and athletes that are approaching rowing in its whole meaning and disciplines as Giovanni Ficarra did.

Dietary Habits and Their Impact on Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).

Introduction Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is marked by the frequent occurrence of stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus, causing symptoms such as heartburn and acid regurgitation at least once a week. When reflux leads to troublesome symptoms and esophageal damage and adversely affects quality of life, it is diagnosed as GERD. Age, gender, ethnicity, genetic predispositions, and aspects of diet and lifestyle, including factors like obesity and smoking, are associated with GERD. Methodology This cross-sectional study was conducted within the Departments of General Medicine, Surgery, and Gastroenterology at Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) in Peshawar, spanning from January 2024 to June 2024. Patients who visited these departments or the Outpatient Department within the specified period with GERD were included in the study. A non-probability purposive sampling technique was used. For the analysis, we utilized IBM SPSS Statistics version 21. Results This study consists of 280 participants. The mean age of the participants in this study was 44.60 years. GERD has a significant association with obesity (69.99) and lack of exercise (80%), and a negative association was found between other gastrointestinal conditions (55.71%) and smoking (64.28). Common symptoms among GERD patients were swallowing difficulty, regurgitation, heartburn, and chest pain. Conclusion Our study is the first to examine the relationship between lifestyle factors and GERD among Pakistani patients. Our findings highlight significant associations between GERD and several factors, including gender, BMI, dietary habits, and lack of exercise. Notably, cultural and regional differences appear to influence GERD prevalence and its risk factors, as demonstrated by the minimal impact of alcohol consumption in our study population.

A diet-wide Mendelian randomization analysis: causal effects of dietary habits on type 2 diabetes.

Background: Traditional clinical studies have indicated a link between certain food intakes and type 2 diabetes (T2D), but the causal relationships between different dietary habits and T2D remain unknown. Using Mendelian randomization (MR) approaches, we investigated the potential causal association between dietary habits and T2D risk. Methods: We collected publicly available genome-wide association studies' summary statistics for 18 dietary habits from the UK Biobank and T2D data from the DIAbetes Genetics Replication And Meta-analysis (DIAGRAM) consortium. We applied the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method, supplemented with the MR-Egger method, weighted median method (WMM), simple method, weighted mode, MR-Egger regression, and the MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier test to determine whether a particular diet was causal for T2D. Results: Reliable and robust MR estimates demonstrated that poultry intake has a causal effect on a higher risk of T2D (IVW: OR 6.30, 95% CI 3.573-11.11, p = 2.02e - 10; WMM: OR 5.479, 95% CI 0.2758-10.88, p = 1.19e - 06). Conversely, dried fruit intake (IVW: OR 0.380, 95% CI 0.237-0.608, p = 5.57e - 05; WMM: OR 0.450, 95% CI 0.321-0.630, p = 3.33e - 06) and cereal intake (IVW: OR 0.455, 95% CI 0.317-0.653, p = 1.924e - 05; WMM: OR 0.513, 95% CI 0.379-0.694, p = 1.514e - 05) were causally associated with T2D as protective factors. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the reliability and robustness of these findings. Discussion: Our study established the causal effects of poultry intake, dried fruit intake, and cereal intake on T2D, identifying poultry intake as a risk factor and the other two as protective factors. Further research into potential mechanisms is required to validate these novel findings.

Exploring the Multifaceted Influences on Childhood Nutritional Status: A Study Conducted in South Punjab, Pakistan.

Introduction The double burden of malnutrition (DBM) in Pakistan is a rising concern affecting school-going children, marked by coexisting under- and over-nutrition within the same population. Key influences include shifts in dietary habits, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle changes due to rapid urbanization. With a focus on Multan, Pakistan, the study seeks to assess the proportion of underweight and overweight students while identifying the risk factors and sociodemographic characteristics associated with this incidence. The aim is to guide future health interventions addressing this multidimensional health challenge. Materials and methods This study, adopting a descriptive cross-sectional research design, collected data from female teenage students through interviews and anthropometric measurements. A total of 300 participants were randomly selected from a comprehensive school list representing diverse urban and rural settings. Participants' weight and height were measured to calculate their body mass index (BMI), categorizing them into underweight, normal weight, and overweight groups. The relevant risk factors were collected through an interview questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0 (Released 2019; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States), with the results stratified according to socioeconomic, dietary, and psychosocial factors and compared across different weight categories. Results The study collected data from 300 students, revealing a correlation between socioeconomic status, dietary habits, and BMI. Parental occupation significantly affected nutritional status, with children of laborers primarily falling within normal and underweight categories. Dietary habits like frequency of fast food and milk or dairy consumption showed notable associations with nutritional status. Psychosocial factors such as peer or teacher comments about weight and outdoor sports participation also influenced the students' nutritional status. However, factors like family income, video game hours, and the presence of pets at home did not show significant associations with nutritional status. Conclusions The study illustrates a multi-faceted association between socioeconomic status, dietary habits, and BMI among schoolchildren in Multan, Pakistan, emphasizing the need for comprehensive interventions.

Changes in Nutritional Habits and Lifestyles Associated With COVID-19 in Jazan, Saudi Arabia: A 2022 Cross-Sectional Survey.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted dietary habits and physical activity patterns, with some long-term consequences. This study evaluated the effects of the pandemic on adults' dietary habits and physical activity in Jazan and compared them to pre-pandemic. METHODS: An analytical cross-sectional survey was conducted among conveniently selected 559 individuals in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, in February 2022 using a validated online questionnaire. Data was collected to assess changes in eating habits, food intake, and weight before and 21 months after lifting of COVID-19 curfew restrictions in the region. Chi-square and McNemar's tests were used for analysis. RESULTS: The proportion of individuals consuming homemade meals decreased from 50.6% (n=283) before the pandemic to 46.5% (n=260) during the pandemic, while the proportion of participants consuming less than three meals per day increased from 42.2% (n=236) to 45.4% (n=254), and breakfast consumption decreased significantly from 58.1% (n=325) to 53.5% (n=299) (p = 0.033). There was an increase in the consumption of fast food from 10.7% (n=60) to 12.0% (n=67) and dining at restaurants from 18.4% (n=103) to 19.3% (n=108); however, these increases were not statistically significant compared to pre-pandemic rates. During the pre-COVID-19 period, 46.9% (n=262) reported engaging in physical activity one to three times a week, whereas this frequency decreased to 41.3% (n=231) during the pandemic (p = 0.017). In contrast, a significant increase was observed in the duration of computer usage as prior to the pandemic, 20.2% (n=113) reported spending more than five hours per day on the computer, while this proportion increased to 31.8% (n=178) during the pandemic (p < 0.001). Furthermore, a considerable proportion of both males and females, constituting over one-third (n=189) of the total sample, reported an increase in body weight. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the adult population in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia experienced significant lifestyle changes during the COVID-19 pandemic, including altered dietary patterns and a significant decline in physical activity. To mitigate potential adverse effects on future well-being, it is crucial to implement enduring initiatives promoting healthy lifestyles.

Causal associations between 45 dietary intake habits and urolithiasis: insights from genetic studies.

Background: Different dietary habits can have varying effects on human health and metabolism, and these can be intervened and regulated. Kidney stones, as a disease caused by multiple factors, are largely attributed to diet and metabolism, but the potential causal relationship with dietary intake habits remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to link the predicted dietary intake based on 45 genetic factors with urolithiasis and explore the potential causal relationship. Methods: We extracted complete genome-wide association studies (GWASs) data on 45 dietary intake traits from the UK Biobank study. Data on kidney stones were obtained from the FinnGen database. In both univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization analyses, we used inverse variance weighted (IVW) as the primary method to calculate P values, odds ratios (ORs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We examined result heterogeneity using Cochran's Q test. We also carefully investigated potential sources of horizontal pleiotropy using the Mendelian randomization (MR)-PRESSO and MR-Egger methods, and conducted linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) analysis on the corrected P values. Results: Through univariable analysis, we identified 11 dietary habits that potentially causally associate with kidney stones among the 45 examined traits, including 9 protective factors and 2 risk factors. Based on the corrected results with false discovery rate (FDR) and sensitivity analysis, we found one relatively robust evidence. We controlled for common stone risk factors, such as body mass index and smoking, as confounders in multivariable analysis, and no significant results were observed after controlling for these confounders. Based on the LDSC analysis, most of the evidence supports significant genetic correlations with urolithiasis among the 11 traits with potential causal associations. Conclusions: This study confirms the impact of certain dietary factors on the development of kidney stones. Our findings contribute to providing evidence for dietary adjustments in daily life or dietary guidance specifically targeting kidney stone patients.

Dietary habits as associated factors with irritable bowel syndrome among medical students: evidence from a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Research on Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) among medical students has increased globally, highlighting a high prevalence in this demographic. However, there is a lack of data specifically regarding the prevalence of IBS among medical students in Yemen. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of IBS among Yemeni medical students. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving medical students who completed a validated self-administered questionnaire incorporating socio-demographic information, dietary habits, smoking status, sleep patterns, and the Rome IV criteria for IBS. We used bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models to identify IBS's associated factors, estimated as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and average marginal effect (AME) on the predicted probability of IBS. RESULTS: The study included 351 medical students with a mean age of 22.53 ± 2.70 years; 39.60% (139) were females. The prevalence of IBS was 26.21% (92 students), with 67.39% (62) of them classified as IBS-M (mixed). In multivariable analysis, the consumption of carbonated soft drinks remained significantly associated with IBS (OR: 3.35; 95% CI: 1.14-9.88; P = 0.028). In males, coffee consumption had a substantial effect on the predicted probability of IBS (AME: 11.41%; 95% CI: 0.32-22.60). In females, the consumption of carbonated soft drinks had a significant effect on the predicted probability of IBS (AME: 24.91%; 95% CI: 8.34-41.48). CONCLUSION: The consumption of carbonated soft drinks is significantly associated with IBS among medical students, with a particularly notable increase in the predicted probability of IBS in females. These findings highlight the necessity for gender-specific dietary recommendations in IBS management. Further research is essential to investigate IBS in the general population to gain a comprehensive understanding of its prevalence and associated factors.