PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of rose bengal photodynamic therapy on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in human corneal fibroblasts. Furthermore, to analyze potential involvement of the mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathways in this process. METHODS: Human corneal fibroblast cultures underwent 0-2.0 µg/mL lipopolysaccharide treatment, and 24 h later rose bengal photodynamic therapy (0.001% RB, 565 nm wavelength illumination, 0.17 J/cm2 fluence). Interleukin-6, interleukin-8, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, interferon regulatory factor-3, interferon α2, and interferon ß1 gene expressions were determined by quantitative PCR. Interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and C-C motif chemokine ligand-4 concentrations in the cell culture supernatant were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 protein level in human corneal fibroblasts by western blot. In addition, the nuclear factor kappa B and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways were investigated by quantitative PCR and phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa B p65 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase by western blot. RESULTS: Rose bengal photodynamic therapy in 2.0 µg/mL lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human corneal fibroblasts triggered interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 mRNA (p < .0001) and interleukin-6 protein increase (p < .0001), and downregulated intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression (p < .001). C-C motif chemokine ligand-4, interferon regulatory factor-3, interferon α2, and interferon ß1 expressions remained unchanged (p ≥ .2). Rose bengal photodynamic therapy increased IκB kinase subunit beta, nuclear factor kappa B p65, extracellular signal-regulated kinases-2, c-Jun amino terminal kinase, and p38 transcription (p ≤ .01), and triggered nuclear factor kappa B p65 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation (p ≤ .04) in lipopolysaccharide treated human corneal fibroblasts. CONCLUSION: Rose bengal photodynamic therapy of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human corneal fibroblasts can modify the inflammatory response by inducing interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 expression, and decreasing intercellular adhesion molecule-1 production. C-C motif chemokine ligand-4, interferon regulatory factor-3, and interferon α and ß expressions are not affected by rose bengal photodynamic therapy in these cells. The underlying mechanisms may be associated with nuclear factor kappa B and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway activation.
Equine brucellosis significantly impacts the health and functionality of horses, leading to complications such as bursitis infection, septic tenosynovitis, septic arthritis, and non-specific lameness resulting from joint infections. In the present study, we used the Rose Bengal plate agglutination test (RBPT), serum agglutination test (SAT), and the 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) assays to find equine brucellosis. From June 2018 to September 2022, 876 blood samples were randomly taken from apparently healthy racing horses in certain parts of Iran, such as Kerman, Isfahan, Tehran, Qom, and Kurdistan. DNA extraction was carried out directly on all 63 serum samples identified as seropositive through RBPT. An additional 30 seronegative serum samples were also randomly chosen for study. Bacterial culture was also done on milk, blood, and vaginal swabs taken from seropositive horses.The bacteria that were found in the samples were then put through Bruce-ladder PCR. Our results indicated that 63 (7.1%), 21 (2.3%), and 2 (0.2%) of horses were seropositive using RBPT, SAT, and 2-ME, respectively. Also, none of the 30 DNA-extracted serum samples from seronegative horses tested positive for Brucella DNA, while 44.5% (28/63) of the DNA samples from seropositive horses yielded positive results for Brucella DNA. Out of the seropositive samples, 26 had DNA from Brucella abortus and 2 had DNA from Brucella melitensis. Also, B. melitensis biovar 1 was found in two milk samples from mares in the provinces of Kerman and Isfahan. It was identified using classical biotyping, and molecular assays. It was seen that some of healthy racing horses in some parts of Iran had antibodies against Brucella. The bacteriology and PCR methodologies provide a more comprehensive and reliable means of identifying Brucella spp. infections in horse, especially when the RBPT test came back positive. This underscores the imperative for employing molecular, bacterial, and serological methods in the diagnosis and monitoring of this zoonotic infection. Additionally, this finding suggests that Brucella is being transmitted to equine hosts as a result of its presence in ruminants. The mechanism of transmission may involve interactions between infected ruminants and susceptible equines. This discovery is significant as it underscores the potential cross-species transmission of Brucella and highlights the importance of understanding and managing the spread of the pathogen in both ruminant and equine populations.
Background: Diabetic foot ulcer and potential subsequent lower extremity amputation are major complications of diabetes mellitus and are also prominent morbidity factors that could affect patients' quality of life. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of diabetic foot amputation and explore correlates of amputation cause and type among subjects with diabetes mellitus in Tehran, Iran. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the demographic, sociological, and clinical characteristics of subjects who had undergone lower extremity amputation due to diabetic foot ulcers, from 2011 to 2020, in two educational medical centers in Tehran, Iran. We examined the medical records of 4676 individuals who were admitted to Shariati and Sina hospitals due to diabetic foot issues. Information related to patient demographics (age, gender, marital status), social factors (education level, insurance), and clinical data (medical history, laboratory results, and characteristics of diabetic foot ulcers) was collected for subjects who had undergone lower extremity amputation due to diabetic foot ulcer. The collected data was reported using average values, standard deviations and proportions and analyzed using statistical tests. Results: During one decade, 882 out of 4676 (18.8%) patients with diabetic foot ulcers underwent lower extremity amputations of various types in Sina and Shariati hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Of these, 692 (14.5%) were included for further analysis in the study and the rest were excluded due to lack of sufficient recorded data. About 75.9% of the study population was male, and the average age including both sexes was 60 years. About 92.7% were married, and on average, subjects had been afflicted with diabetes mellitus for 15.1 years. Statistical analysis using Pearson's chi-square test showed there was a significant association between the treatment regimen for diabetes mellitus and the type of amputation (P = .01), as well as between the duration of the disease and the cause of amputation (P = .01) and its type (P = .04). Conclusion: diabetes mellitus related treatment regimen and duration of disease are significantly associated with amputation cause and type.
Understanding Why and How Diabetic Patients Lose Their Feet: A Study from Tehran, Iran This study explored patients with diabetes in Tehran, Iran, experience foot problems leading to amputation. We looked at the records of 4676 patients over a decade, finding that 18.8% had lower limb amputations. Key factors included treatment methods for diabetes and the duration of the disease, significantly impacting the cause and type of amputation. These insights can guide better care to prevent such serious complications in patients with diabetes.
Hospital food waste has nutritional, economic and environmental impacts, and halving food waste is a sustainable development goal. This study aimed to quantify hospital food waste and its nutritional, environmental and financial values in medical and surgical wards. In a cross-sectional study in three educational hospitals, nutritional and demographic data of adult inpatients were collected. The food waste was measured at breakfast, lunch and snack times, and a 24-hour food recall was fulfilled for each patient. Also, the nutritional, environmental and financial values of discarded food were calculated. Food waste contributors were determined using linear regression. Totally, 398 meals were evaluated. The average served food was about 1 kg patient-1 day-1, while 539.5 g patient-1 day-1(50.1% of the served food) was discarded. Mean food wastes were 148.9 g (standard deviation (SD): 130.1), 364.3 g (SD: 257.2) and 80.2 g (SD: 101.5) in breakfast, lunch and snacks, equal to 45.7% (SD: 36.9), 51.4% (SD: 36.1) and 62.4% (SD: 53.2) of the served food, respectively. Rice, soup, milk and fruits were mostly discarded. Severely malnourished patients had higher daily food waste. Food preparation and waste were estimated to cost on average US$1.8 and US$0.8 patient-1 day-1, respectively. Each kilogram of food waste resulted in 8.1 m2 of land use, 1.4 kg of CO2-equivalent gas emission, and about 1003 L of water wastage. Half of the hospital food was discarded which means waste of nutrients, environmental resources and money. Current data can help authorities to plan for reducing hospital food waste.
Food Loss and Waste , Refuse Disposal , Adult , Humans , Cross-Sectional Studies , Nutritive Value , Lunch , Hospitals
The transparent corneal epithelium in the eye is maintained through the homeostasis regulated by limbal stem cells (LSCs), while the nontransparent epidermis relies on epidermal keratinocytes for renewal. Despite their cellular similarities, the precise cell fates of these two types of epithelial stem cells, which give rise to functionally distinct epithelia, remain unknown. We performed a multi-omics analysis of human LSCs from the cornea and keratinocytes from the epidermis and characterized their molecular signatures, highlighting their similarities and differences. Through gene regulatory network analyses, we identified shared and cell type-specific transcription factors (TFs) that define specific cell fates and established their regulatory hierarchy. Single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) analyses of the cornea and the epidermis confirmed these shared and cell type-specific TFs. Notably, the shared and LSC-specific TFs can cooperatively target genes associated with corneal opacity. Importantly, we discovered that FOSL2, a direct PAX6 target gene, is a novel candidate associated with corneal opacity, and it regulates genes implicated in corneal diseases. By characterizing molecular signatures, our study unveils the regulatory circuitry governing the LSC fate and its association with corneal opacity.
Corneal Opacity , Epithelium, Corneal , Limbus Corneae , Humans , Limbus Corneae/metabolism , Cornea/metabolism , Epithelium, Corneal/metabolism , Transcription Factors/genetics , Transcription Factors/metabolism , Cell Differentiation/genetics , Corneal Opacity/metabolism
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic elicited the general population to use various dietary supplements (DSs) and nutraceuticals as a protective means against the disease. The present study aimed to evaluate changes and certain determinants of DS intake during the COVID-19 lockdown among Iranian households. Methods: This nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted from April 4 to April 25, 2020, during which Iran was in lockdown. To collect data, a web-based electronic self-administered questionnaire was created. The data were compared among provinces based on their food security situations. Results: A total of 21,290 households were included in the analyses. Approximately 27% of the households were using DSs after the epidemic. The most common DSs used were vitamin D (42%) and vitamin C (20%), followed by multi-vitamin (16%), zinc (9%), omega-3 (6%), vitamin A (4%), and probiotics (3%). Logistic regression analysis revealed that DS intake was directly associated with the household income but inversely with household size and the food security status of the provinces. DS intake was positively associated with the presence of high-risk persons in the households, the education of the households' head, and the presence of a person with a history of COVID-19 within the household. Conclusions: During epidemic lockdown, DS use was remarkably increased among the Iranian households. Apart from the debatable usefulness of DSs against COVID-19, the inverse association of DS use with a household's income and provincial food security well indicates inequity in accessibility to DS. Actions to improve the nutritional status of the under-privileged populations including targeted supplementation are strongly recommended.
Background: The prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the status of nutritionally high-risk behaviors in the country are not promising. Because of undeniable impact of media advertising on food choices, to combat the problem some regulations on food advertisements are developed in the country. However, the high prevalence of NCDs warns of the possibility that either the laws are not given the necessary attention or they are not implemented properly. Therefore in the present review, all studies on how the country's visual and written mass media comply with regulations related to food product advertisement were systematically reviewed. Methods: We searched all studies, including Persian and English articles, dissertations, and research projects, published and unpublished reports in eight domestic and international databases and search engines during the years 1996 to December of 2020 (25 years). Then, the content of the eligible studies was extracted, evaluated, and reported. Results: A total of 18 eligible studies (articles and reports) were included in the review. The results indicated violations of rules and regulations including displaying food products of low nutritional value and obese people, misleading/exaggerating claims, award offers, induction of gluttony, consumerism, and inconsistency with scientific facts. Most of the studies (55%) had, implicitly or explicitly, targeted children and adolescents. Conclusions: The results of this study indicated a violation of the rules and regulations of health policies, mainly in the field of promoting foods of low nutritional value during the study period. Violations of the ban on advertising for children were also reported in more than half of the studies.
At present, sesame oil is extracted from un-hulled white sesame seeds by using cold press lubrication machines in local stores in Iran. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical properties and safety parameters of the hulled and un-hulled white sesame oils. The fatty acid composition, antioxidant activity, oxalates content, total phenolic content, carotenoid content, acid value, peroxide value, p-anisidine value, value total oxidation value (TOTOX), aflatoxins and pesticides residue, smoke point, color, relative density, and refractive index of oil sample were examined immediately after extracting the oil. The peroxide, p-anisidine, and TOTOX value of the hulled and un-hulled sesame oil samples were also examined periodically. After 7 months, the quality parameters were high and the oil samples were not consumable. Linoleic and oleic acids were the predominant fatty acids in the hulled and un-hulled sesame oils. The results of this study showed that the oil extracted from raw un-hulled sesame had a lower initial quality than hulled sesame oil and was oxidized more rapidly than it during the storage period. Virgin oils contained impurities acting like prooxidants and reduced their stability and shelf life. In addition, the un-hulled sesame oil contained higher amounts of antinutrient compounds (e.g., oxalate and pesticide residues) than the hulled sesame oil. Aflatoxin was not detected in our oil samples.
There are limited data on HHV-7 meningitis and this systematic review used electronic search to gather pieces of evidence regarding its characteristics. Nine articles were included which three were case reports and the rest of the articles were retrospective studies. Altogether, 32 cases were described in the literature that 13 were females and 26 were aged less than 16 years old. The HHV-7 meningitis has been reported in any season, especially in winter. It affected both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals and mostly presented with fever and headache, however rash and seizure have also been documented. The CSF analysis in general showed an elevated range of cell count with lymphocytic predominance and normal to slightly elevated protein levels. Thirteen patients did not receive treatment for HHV-7 meningitis and full recovery was gained in the majority of cases after about 10 days. This review summarizes characteristics of HHV-7 meningitis in the literature, and yet epidemiological studies are needed to shed more light which eventually could be helpful for the diagnosis and management of this disease.
Herpesvirus 7, Human , Meningitis , Female , Humans , Adolescent , Male , Retrospective Studies , Seizures
BACKGROUND: An increasing number of studies in Western countries have shown that healthy eating patterns have a protective effect against cognitive decline and dementia, however, information about this relationship among non-western populations with different cultural environments is scarce. The present study investigated the association between dietary patterns (DPs) and cognitive function in the Iranian elderly. METHODS: In this case-control study, the data of 290 elderly people in two groups of case and control (Mean age in case: 74.2 ± 8.6, in control: 67.3 ± 7.3 year) were analyzed. Two DPs of healthy and unhealthy were extracted from a 142-item dish-based food frequency questionnaire, and patterns driven by principal components analysis (PCA) of 25 food groups. Multivariate binary logistic regression calculated the odds ratio (OR) of cognitive impairment with adjustment for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: A healthy DP, characterized by high consumption of fruits and vegetables, legumes, and nuts, was related to a decrease in the odds of Alzheimer's disease in Iranian elderly people. Also, moderate adherence to an unhealthy food pattern was associated with an increase in the probability of the disease; however, the association was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: In this elderly population, a healthy eating pattern was associated with reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Further prospective studies are recommended.
Alzheimer Disease , Humans , Aged , Alzheimer Disease/epidemiology , Alzheimer Disease/etiology , Alzheimer Disease/prevention & control , Iran/epidemiology , Prospective Studies , Case-Control Studies , Vegetables , Diet/adverse effects
Introduction: Food waste reflects inadequate food intake and is of economic and environmental importance. Therefore, understanding the underlying factors is a must to combat food waste. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with managers, nurses, nutritionists, food providers, kitchen staff, and inpatients at three hospitals in Tehran. Responses were recorded, coded, and analyzed thematically. Results: Forty-eight face-to-face interviews led to three core categories: 1. opinions/performance; 2. causes, related factors, and characteristics; and 3. rooting and suggestions. We found that the majority of the hospitalized patients did not consume their entire food. In spite of overall satisfaction with the quantity and quality of food, anorexia, personal taste, and poor quality of raw materials prohibited patients from eating. Also, rice was the most discarded food. Economic barriers were the most important hindrance to elevate the quality, and some strategies, like the supply of high-quality materials and recruiting skillful cooking team, were proposed to improve it. Conclusions: Our findings delineated a limited budget as the main barrier to improve the quality. Nevertheless, the low quality of hospital foods may actually impose a heavier economic burden due to food waste.
There is limited literature regarding meningitis associated with HHV-7. This article reports an immunocompetent adolescent girl who developed fever, headache, and meningism which CSF molecular analysis with PCR was positive only for HHV-7. Interestingly, persistent cavum septum pellucidum and cavum vergae were observed on brain magnetic resonance imaging. The patient received antibiotics, dexamethasone, and acyclovir and then she gained full recovery. HHV-7 is a rare and yet possible pathogen in patients with meningitis, and this is the first described case report from Iran.
Herpesvirus 7, Human , Meningitis , Female , Humans , Adolescent , Iran , Herpesvirus 7, Human/genetics , Meningitis/pathology , Septum Pellucidum/pathology , Brain/diagnostic imaging
Sterilization of saffron packaging and maintaining the quality of saffron content are the main priorities in saffron preservation. Common modalities do not offer lasting saffron preservation and it is urgent to develop novel packaging approaches from renewable resources and prevent packaging waste. Here, simultaneous decontamination and quality maintenance of saffron is demonstrated, for the first time, through the synergistic application of nano-clay-loaded carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanocomposites (CNCs) and cold plasmas (CP). Compared to the separate uses of CP and CMC/PVA/nano clay, our results confirm the synergies between CP and CMC/PVA/nano clay cause complete inactivation of Escherichia coli bacteria, while not significantly affecting the concentrations of the essential saffron components (safranal, crocin, and picrocrocin). Overall, the CP-treated CMC/PVA/nano clay fosters saffron preservation, through contamination removal and quality maintenance of the food product. The synergistic application of CP and CMC/PVA/nano clay thus represents a promising strategy for packaging, sterilization, and preservation of high-value food products.
Crocus , Nanocomposites , Plasma Gases , Cellulose , Decontamination , Polyvinyl Alcohol , Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium , Clay
BACKGROUND: The pandemic of the newly emerged coronavirus infection and its related disease, Covid-19, has influenced various aspects of human life including dietary habits. This study aimed to examine changes in dairy products consumption during Covid-19 lockdown period in a huge sample of Iranian households. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study using a web-based electronic self-administered questionnaire designed to detect any changes in the consumption frequency of dairy products in the Iranian households during Covid-19 lockdown. RESULTS: A total of 21,290 households were enrolled. During Covid-19 epidemic lockdown, about 29%, 26% and 7% of the households had decreased their consumption frequency of milk, yogurt and cheese, respectively. The female-headed households were 21% more likely to decrease their consumption of milk, compared with male-headed households (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.05-1.4). The households residing in food insecure provinces were 29%, 20% and 45% more likely to decrease their consumption of milk, yogurt and cheese as compared with those living in the food secure provinces. About 37%, 25.3%, 19.4% of those households who reported a decrease in consumption of dairy products had fully omitted them. CONCLUSION: We found considerable decrement of dairy products consumption, especially milk and yogurt, in a high proportion of the studied households. Inadequate intake and, in some households, omission of dairy products can potentially bring about serious health outcomes with heavier economic burden. Further studies to track these changes over time and to evaluate their health consequences are warranted.
BACKGROUND: Nutritional inadequacy, especially micronutrients, is still a serious concern among children in developing countries. Dietary diversity score (DDS) has been recommended as a proxy for nutritional adequacy. The present study aims to develop a questionnaire to assess the dietary diversity among 24-59 months children in Iran; also, the validity of the dietary diversity score as an indicator of nutritional status among the children will be assessed. METHODS: In order to design the questionnaire, the Food and Agriculture Organization Guideline for measuring individual dietary diversity will be applied. According to the guideline, foods are categorized into nine groups, then dietary diversity score will be calculated by summing the number of food groups. In order to evaluate the efficacy of this questionnaire in predicting the nutritional status of the children, the relationship between dietary diversity score calculated by the questionnaire with nutritional adequacy, serum retinol and anthropometric indicators will be compared. DISCUSSION: DDS can be a valuable indicator for predicting the adequacy of macronutrients and micronutrients specially in children. It is also significantly related to the mean probability of adequacy (MPA).
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) affects a large proportion of people with diabetes, and early detection is essential to prevent further progression. Widespread clinical testing relies on simplicity and cost-effectiveness of examination. Early signs of DPN may be detected by assessing the sudomotor nerves, and sudomotor activity can be measured by bioimpedance. We present a prototype toe probe for DPN detection including sensors for measuring skin AC conductance, skin temperature and humidity. The prototype was tested on five participants with DPN and five healthy age-matched controls in a pilot study. Sudomotor sensor responses to a simple deep breathing test were very weak or absent in the DPN group, with all controls having larger responses than the DPN group. Evaporation was lower for the DPN group, and skin temperature was higher on average. For the same foot, the results for sudomotor responses were in agreement with sensory neurography amplitudes from the sural nerve whereas the monofilament test gave normal results for two of the DPN participants. If sufficient detection accuracy is confirmed in larger studies, the method may provide a simple and cost-effective tool to support clinical examination. Clinical Relevance- We present the early realization and testing of a simple device to support early detection of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
Diabetes Mellitus , Diabetic Neuropathies , Small Fiber Neuropathy , Humans , Diabetic Neuropathies/diagnosis , Pilot Projects , Toes
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to develop a conceptual framework to better understand food and nutrition literacy and its dimensions and components among Iranian children. METHODS: The study included three sub-studies. First, two qualitative studies were conducted to explore experts' and students' perspectives and experiences regarding the topic. A comprehensive qualitative literature review was then conducted to identify food/nutrition literacy definitions and its components in the relevant literature. The data of the above three sub-studies were compiled as text data and were analyzed utilizing MAXQDA2010 software. RESULTS: Two main domains, including cognitive and skill domains, emerged from the data analysis. The cognitive domain consisted of food- and nutrition-related knowledge included four subcategories "nutrition knowledge", "lifestyle knowledge", "food safety knowledge", and "knowledge of food and its preparation") as well as "food and nutrition understanding". The skill domain consisted of three dimensions: "functional", "interactive", and "critical" food and nutrition literacy. CONCLUSIONS: The developed framework highlights the importance of integrated application of all dimensions of food and nutrition literacy among this population group. It can assist policymakers and curriculum developers in assessing education curricula and developing effective strategies for teaching and learning to increase students' food and nutrition literacy.
BACKGROUND: Food and nutrition literacy is a key factor in shaping healthy dietary behaviors and may result in decreasing decrease the prevalence of overweight. Empirical research on food and nutrition literacy and its outcomes is limited, especially among children and adolescents. Thus, this study investigates the link between Food and Nutrition Literacy (FNLIT) with eating behaviors, academic performance, and overweight in 10-12 years old students in Tehran, Iran. METHODS: This study was performed through two phases: 1) Proposing a conceptual model of the relationship between FNLIT and its determinants and outcomes, based on the existing evidence and previous models, and 2) Testing the proposed FNLIT model through a cross-sectional study on 803 primary school students (419 boys and 384 girls, from 34 public and 10 private primary schools), aged 10-12 years using structural equation modeling. Demographic, socio-economic, and household food security characteristics were collected by interviewing the students and their mothers/caregivers using a questionnaire. FNLIT was measured by a self-administered, locally designed, and validated questionnaire. RESULTS: The fit indices suggested a reasonably adequate fit of the data to the hypothesized model (χ2/df = 2.03, p < 0.001, goodness of fit index (GFI) = 0.90, adjusted goodness of fit index (AGFI) = 0.88, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.91, incremental fit index (IFI) = 0.91, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.04, standardized root mean residual (SRMR) = 0.06). SES was directly and positively related to FNLIT and its subscale in students. FNLIT score had a positive direct (non-mediated) relationship with healthy eating behavior and academic performance. This pattern was strongly reversed in unhealthy eating behavior. There was a full mediation relationship between FNLIT and overweight/obesity via healthy eating behaviors. SES predicted academic performance partially through the mediating effect of Food Label Literacy (FLL). The results indicated that despite the direct relationship between SES and academic performance, an indirect but negative relationship existed with food insecurity. The finding also revealed the fully mediating role of Food Choice Literacy (FCL) in the relationship between demographic factors and healthy eating behaviors. Our study also found that Interactive Food and Nutrition Literacy (IFNL) protected unhealthy eating behaviors, and FCL predicted healthy eating behaviors in children. CONCLUSION: Our study draws attention to FNLIT, especially the skills domain, including IFNL, FCL, and FLL, as the most important determinant of healthy eating behavior, academic performance, and weight status in school-age children reduces social inequalities in children's development. To ensure an adequate level of FNLIT, educators should assess and plan to enhance food literacy skills in children and adolescents.
Academic Success , Overweight , Adolescent , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , Feeding Behavior , Female , Humans , Iran , Latent Class Analysis , Literacy , Male , Overweight/epidemiology , Students
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 epidemic has affected diverse issues of life including economy, health and nutrition. This nationwide study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the epidemic lockdown-induced socio-economic changes on animal source proteins and cereals intakes of Iran population for the first time. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study using a web-based electronic self-administered questionnaire. A questionnaire was designed with the aim of detecting any changes in the dietary pattern of the Iranian household following coronavirus epidemic. RESULTS: A total of 21,290 households participated in the study. Approximately 33%, 24%, 14.2% and 7% of the households had decreased the weekly consumption of red meat, white meat, eggs and rice/bread, respectively, following COVID-19 epidemic. The results of ordered logistic regression showed that the female-headed households, as compared with male-headed ones, were 30% more likely to decrease their weekly consumption of white meat (OR = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1-1.5). About 8.6% of the households had reduced all three major dietary sources of animal protein. Close to half of the households (46.9%) who decreased their intake of the animal protein sources had increased their intake of rice or bread, too. The major reasons for these changes were decrease of income and job loss. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, animal protein food consumption decreased during epidemic lockdown but the amounts of rice and bread, as the major sources of dietary energy, have increased. These changes, if persist long enough, can seriously affect micronutrient status of the whole population. Early nutritional interventions for needy families are warranted.
COVID-19 , Edible Grain , Animals , COVID-19/epidemiology , Communicable Disease Control , Cross-Sectional Studies , Diet , Female , Humans , Iran/epidemiology , Male , Surveys and Questionnaires
Developing an effective phycoremediation system, especially by utilizing microalgae, could provide a valuable approach in wastewater treatment for simultaneous nutrient removal and biomass generation, which would help control environmental pollution. This research aims to study the impact of low-voltage direct current (DC) application on Chlorella vulgaris properties and the removal efficiency of nutrients (N and P) in a novel electrokinetic-assisted membrane photobioreactor (EK-MPBR) in treating synthetic municipal wastewater. Two membrane photobioreactors ran in parallel for 49 days with and without an applied electric field (current density: 0.261 A/m2). Mixed liquid suspended soils (MLSS) concentration, chemical oxygen demand (COD), floc morphology, total phosphorus (TP), and total nitrogen (TN) removals were measured during the experiments. The results showed that EK-MPBR achieved biomass production comparable to the control MPBR. In EK-MPBR, an over 97% reduction in phosphate concentration was achieved compared to 41% removal in the control MPBR. The control MPBR outperformed the nitrogen removal of EK-MPBR (68% compared to 43% removal). Induced DC electric field led to lower pH, lower zeta potential, and smaller particle sizes in the EK-MPBR as compared with MPBR. The results of this novel study investigating the incorporation of Chlorella vulgar is in an electrokinetic-assisted membrane photobioreactor indicate that this is a promising technology for wastewater treatment.
