Nuts, vegetables, fruits, and protein dietary pattern during pregnancy is inversely associated with risk of childhood allergies: a case-control study.

Allergic diseases are prevalent chronic conditions among children and can lead to significant health and economic issues. It is hypothesized that healthy and high quality diet during pregnancy can prevent the onset of allergic diseases in offspring. This study aimed to investigate the potential relationship between major dietary patterns during pregnancy and allergies in children under one year of age. This case-control study was conducted involving 244 participants (122 mothers of allergic children and 122 healthy controls) who visited pediatricians and allergy outpatient clinics in Khuzestan Province, Iran, between June 2022 and March 2023. Demographic information was recorded using a socio-demographic questionnaire. A food frequency questionnaire was used to identify the foods consumed during pregnancy. Major dietary patterns were extracted using principal component analysis, and the potential relationship between these patterns and childhood allergies was investigated using multivariable logistic regression models. The crude odds ratio (OR) analysis showed that the fourth quartile of "Nut, vegetables, fruits, and protein" dietary pattern was associated with lower occurrence of childhood allergies (OR: 0.214, 95% CI = 0.068-0.679; P trend = 0.211). After adjusting for cofactors in Model 3, this association was still observed in the fourth quartile (OR = 0.108, 95% CI = 0.019-0.613; P trend, 0.001). However, no significant association was observed between "Carbohydrate and cereals" and "Salty" dietary patterns and childhood allergies. The study findings suggest that a maternal dietary pattern rich in nuts, vegetables, and fruits during pregnancy may reduce the risk of allergic diseases in offspring.

Association of vitamin D levels with anthropometric and adiposity indicators across all age groups: a systematic review of epidemiologic studies.

Objectives: It has not been established whether vitamin D deficiency is associated with anthropometric state; therefore, this systematic review examined the relationship between serum vitamin D levels with anthropometrics and adiposity across different ages. Methods: Studies that examined vitamin D deficiency with adiposity measures in different age groups were searched in the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar databases until November 2023. Two investigators independently reviewed titles and abstracts, examined full-text articles, extracted data, and rated the quality in accordance with the Newcastle-Ottawa criteria. Results: Seventy-two studies, with a total of 59,430 subjects, were included. Of these studies, 27 cross-sectional studies and one longitudinal study (with 25,615 participants) evaluated the possible link between 25(OH)D serum concentrations and anthropometric/adiposity indices in the pediatric population. Forty-two cross-sectional studies and two cohort investigations (with 33,815 participants) investigated the relationship between serum 25(OH)D levels and adiposity measures in adults and/or the elderly population. There is evidence supporting links between vitamin D deficiency and obesity, and revealed an inverse association between vitamin D and adiposity indicators, specifically in female subjects. However, the effects of several confounding factors should also be considered. Conclusion: Most published studies, most of which were cross-sectional, reported a negative association between vitamin D and female adiposity indicators. Therefore, serum vitamin D levels should be monitored in overweight/obese individuals.

Tea's anti-obesity properties, cardiometabolic health-promoting potentials, bioactive compounds, and adverse effects: A review focusing on white and green teas.

Tea is one of the most commonly consumed beverages in the world. Morocco, Japan, and China have consumed green tea for centuries. White tea, which is a variety of green teas, is very popular in China and is highly revered for its taste. Presently, both teas are consumed in other countries around the world, even as functional ingredients, and novel research is constantly being conducted in these areas. We provide an update on the health benefits of white and green teas in this review, based on recent research done to present. After a general introduction, we focused on tea's anti-obesity and human health-promoting potential, adverse effects, and new approaches to tea and its bioactive compounds. It has been found that the health benefits of tea are due to its bioactive components, mainly phenolic compounds. Of these, catechins are the most abundant. This beverage (or its extracts) has potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which could contribute to body weight control and the improvement of several chronic diseases. However, some studies have mentioned the possibility of toxic effects; therefore, reducing tea consumption is a good idea, especially during the last trimester of pregnancy. Additionally, new evidence will provide insight into the possible effects of tea on the human gut microbiota, and even on the viruses responsible for SARS-CoV-2. A beverage such as this may favor beneficial gut microbes, which may have important implications due to the influence of gut microbiota on human health.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity among Iranian population: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a major risk factor for chronic diseases. Politicians and practitioners should be aware of the dramatic increase in obesity and its subsequent complications to prevent associated health risks. This systematic review aimed to provide better insight into the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the Iranian population. METHOD: An evaluation was conducted on all published observational studies from both national (SID, Irandoc, Iranmedex) and international (Web of Knowledge, PubMed, Scopus) sources, which reported the prevalence of overweight/obesity among normal population samples, between January 2012 and December 2021. RESULT: A total of 152 eligible studies were included in this meta-analysis. Of the 152 selected studies, 74 reported the prevalence of overweight/obesity in patients aged ≤ 18 years, and 61 studies in adults. In the rest of the articles (17 studies), the results were reported for a combination of these age groups. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Iran was estimated at 20.1 (95% CI 17.92-22.30) and 13.44 (95% CI 11.76-15.22), respectively. This percentage (95% CI) was 11.71 (10.98-12.46) for overweight and 8.08 (7.02-9.22) for obesity in those aged ≤ 18 years, and 35.26 (32.61-37.99) for overweight and 21.38 (19.61-23.20) for obesity in those aged > 18 years. The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity in the entire population was 35.09% (95% CI 31.31-38.98). CONCLUSION: As obesity is on the rise in Iran, we should seek both weight loss strategies and ways to control comorbidities associated with high BMI.

Evaluation of dietary food intakes and anthropometric measures in middle-aged men with aggressive symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Aggression is one of the most prevalent behavioral disorders in men. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the possible association between dietary intake of food groups and aggression in middle-aged married men. METHODS: This case-control study included 336 participants (168 men with aggressive behaviors and 168 healthy controls) aged 35-55 years. Demographic information was collected using a socio-demographic questionnaire. A food frequency questionnaire was used to investigate the diet group intake last year. Based on the normality of the data distribution, Independent t-tests and Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare quantitative variables between the two groups. Categorical variables were compared between cases and controls using the Chi-squared test. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the possible association between food intake and aggression. RESULTS: Compared to controls, aggressive men had significantly higher mean weight, height, and waist circumference (WC), p = 0.007, p = 0.001, and p = 0.043, respectively. After adjusting WC, energy intake, and educational level, in Model 1, intake of milk, cheese, poultry, red meat, legumes, egg, fruits, and vegetables had a significant protective role on the occurrence of aggression, (Odd Ratio (OR) = 0.36; 95% (Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.204, 0.670; P = 0.001), (OR = 0.440; 95% CI = 0.284, 0.781; P = 0.005), (OR = 0.621; 95% CI = 0.284, 0.781; P = 0.046), (OR = 0.358; 95% CI = 0.198, 0.647; P = 0.001), (OR = 0.434; 95% CI = 0.243, 0.773; P = 0.005), (OR = 0.411; 95% CI = 0.229, 0.736; P = 0.003), (OR = 0.332; 95% CI = 0.180, 0.614; P < 0.001), (OR = 0.310; 95% CI = 0.168, 0.572; P < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Lower WC and a diet containing high-quality protein, fruits, and vegetables can have a protective role against aggression and are recommended for men with an aggressive mood. This diet can affect plasma levels of tryptophan and, therefore, brain levels of serotonin.

Risk factors, cutoff points, and definition of metabolically healthy/unhealthy obesity in children and adolescents: A scoping review of the literature.

Diagnosis of metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and its definition do not have universal criteria in the pediatric age group. Hence, this scoping review aims to identify the components, the cutoff points, and the definition of MHO in children and adolescents. A comprehensive, systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases. A consensus-based definition of MHO was developed through a Delphi process involving an international panel of 23 experts. This review included a total of 63 non-randomized studies, published between 2007 and 2022. According to our consensus (≥80% agreement), the proposed definition for MHO included the following components: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol >40 mg/dl (or >1.03 mmol/l), triglycerides ≤150 mg/dl (or ≤1.7 mmol/l), fasting plasma glucose <100 mg/dl (or <5.6 mmol/l), a measure of insulin, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure ≤90th percentile. Therefore, MHO was defined as the absence of the above metabolic risk factors; and those children and adolescents with one or more criteria were considered as metabolically unhealthy. A universal definition of MHO will allow comparisons between studies in the field of childhood obesity and can be useful in clinical practice.

Vitamin D, testosterone and depression in middle-aged and elderly men: a systematic review.

Depression is one of the common psychiatric disorders during elderly. This systematic review aims to present the relationship between vitamin D deficiency, depression and testosterone serum concentration in the middle-aged and elderly men. We performed a comprehensive search in the Google Scholar, PubMed, ProQuest, Web of Science, Cochrane, Science Direct, and Scopus databases to collect any relevant published studies. The data of the articles that had been investigated the relationship between depression and 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25[OH]D) serum concentration (nine studies), or testosterone and 25[OH]D (six studies), as the primary outcomes, were included in our review. The results of the cohort and cross-sectional studies have shown that vitamin-D deficiency is associated with the incidence of depression in older men. In addition, documents have reported the positive association between vitamin D and testosterone, and previous studies have shown that testosterone can involve in the mood. We have proposed scientific mechanisms that have shown vitamin D may also play a protective role in depression through its effect on the testosterone. Therefore, it is a low risk and safe recommendation for the middle-aged and elderly men to use the vitamin D supplement or exposure to the sunlight to prevent depression.

Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus, and Metabolic Syndrome: Review in the Era of COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is now at pandemic levels leading to considerable morbidity and mortality throughout the globe. Patients with obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are mainly susceptible and more probably to get severe side effects when affected by this virus. The pathophysiologic mechanisms for these notions have not been completely known. The pro-inflammatory milieu observed in patients with metabolic disruption could lead to COVID-19-mediated host immune dysregulation, such as immune dysfunction, severe inflammation, microvascular dysfunction, and thrombosis. The present review expresses the current knowledge regarding the influence of obesity, diabetes mellitus, and MetS on COVID-19 infection and severity, and their pathophysiological mechanisms.

Methodologies for the Design of University Teaching Spaces in Covid/19 Regime. A BIM Oriented Approach, Defined for the Case Study of the Buildings of the Department of Architecture of the University of Florence (DiDA).

The research, carried out at the University of Florence, investigated the tools and methodologies needed to manage the setting up of educational environments in a dynamic-emergency regime. It tested the interoperability of the digital tools deemed necessary for an integrated management of space management activities. And defining a methodology for setting up the spaces assisted by the use of digital systems capable of automating the design activities.

Retrospective evaluation of failure rate of 1,000 immediate implants placed in fresh extraction sockets and their risk factors.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the failure rate of 1,000 immediately placed implants in fresh extraction sockets and their risk factors. METHODS: The data comprised files of 1,000 fresh socket implants placed during the 2014-2019 interval in three Tehran-based private dental clinics. The statistical method was survival analysis consisting of shared frailty and intra-cluster correlation. Moreover, Chi-squared test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to statistically analyze the relationship between each independent variable and the response variable (immediate implant failure). RESULTS: 40 cases of failures among the implants were found, accounting for a 4% failure rate. Shared frailty survival model indicated that only the implant system significantly affects the failure rate. Intra-clustered correlation was 0.41. Chi-squared analysis showed that gender and implant system both significantly affect immediate implant failure. None of the quantitative variables were significantly related to immediate implant failure according to the Mann-Whitney U test. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The data was gathered using a relatively large sample size to perform a reliable evaluation on success and predictability of implants placed into fresh extraction sites. A brief review on articles focusing on fresh socket implant success or failure published from years 2000-2020 is presented.

The effect of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers, estradiol levels and severity of symptoms in women with postpartum depression: a randomized double-blind clinical trial.

Objectives: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major depressive disorder. Vitamin D deficiency may play a role in PPD pathogenesis. This study was designed to determine the effect of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on the severity of symptoms and some related inflammatory biomarkers in women with PPD.Materials and Methods: Eighty-one women with a PPD score >12 participated in this study. A total of 27 patients were randomly assigned into three groups (1:1:1 ratio) to receive either 50,000 IU vitamin D3 fortnightly + 500 mg calcium carbonate daily; or 50,000 IU vitamin D3 fortnightly + placebo of calcium carbonate daily, or placebo of vitamin D3 fortnightly + placebo of calcium carbonate daily (placebo group) for 8 weeks. At the baseline and end of the study, the severity score of PPD, levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D, calcium, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), interleukin 6 (IL6) and estradiol were measured.Results: The PPD score had more reduction in the vitamin D + calcium and vitamin D + calcium placebo groups than that of the placebo group (-1.7 ± 3.44, -4.16 ± 5.90 and 0.25 ± 2.81, respectively; p = 0.008). The effect of vitamin D on the PPD score was larger when vitamin D was given alone than given together with calcium (p = 0.042 and p = 0.004, respectively). No significant differences in estradiol, IL6 and TNFα were observed between the three groups.Discussion: Vitamin D may be effective in improving the clinical symptoms of PPD; however, the mechanism of the effect might not entirely operate through inflammatory and/or hormonal changes.

The relationship between history of dietary nutrients intakes and incidence of aggressive behavior in adolescent girls: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Aggressive behavior (AB) progress to a major concern among adolescents. The present study is designed to assess possible association between dietary intake of macronutrient, some micronutrient, cholesterol, and antioxidants with AB in adolescent girls, from age 9-13 years old. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the case-control study, a total 212 primary school girls between 9 and 13 years of age were divided into two groups (106 with AB and 106 healthy) base on aggression score of the Buss-Perry questionnaire. A 147-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to evaluate nutritional intake of subjects. Independent t-test and Mann-Whitney test was used to compare quantitative variables between the two groups according to the normality of data distribution. Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables between case and control groups. Logistic regression models were used to assess possible association of nutrients intake with AB. RESULTS: The consumption of more simple carbohydrate [odds ratios (OR): 14.53, confidence interval (CI): (13.23, 17.56)] total fat [OR: 13.31, CI: (8.50, 16.47)], SFAs [OR: 11.831, CI: (8.94, 15.36)], TFAs [OR: 9.10, CI: (6.87, 10.12)], and caffeine [OR: 16.26, CI: (14.53, 17.88)] significantly increase the occurrence of aggressive behaviors. Conversely, intake of fiber [OR: 0.997, CI: (0.012, 0.999)], W3 [OR: 0.991, CI: (0.040, 0.999)], and vitamin K [OR: 0.994, CI: (0.990, 0.999)] were marginal associated with reduced odds of AB. CONCLUSIONS: The intake of caffeine, simple carbohydrate, total fat, SFAs, TFAs, could increase the occurrence of AB.

Are history of dietary intake and food habits of patients with clinical symptoms of COVID 19 different from healthy controls? A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease that put unprecedented significant strain on clinical services and healthcare systems. The aim of the present research was to assess dietary food groups and also food habits of patients with clinical symptoms of COVID 19 and healthy controls. METHODS: This case-control research was carried out on 505 participants (279 subjects with clinical symptoms of COVID-19 and 226 controls), in age 18-65 years. Dietary food group's intake last year was investigated by a food frequency questionnaire. Food habits were asked by a general information questionnaire. The strength of the association between food group's intakes with the odds ratios (ORs) of COVID-19 was assessed using Logistic regression models. RESULTS: After adjusting for physical activity in the logistic regression models, intake of dough and yogurt had a significantly protective role on occurrence of COVID19 (OR = 0.62; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.44-0.87; P = 0.006) (OR = 0.74; 95% CI = 0.56-0.98; P = 0.044), respectively. No significant differences were seen in food habits between the two groups in the last year ago. CONCLUSIONS: High risk population for COVID19, advised to consume enough amount of yogurt and dough at the time of this pandemic.

The effect of acute consumption of resistant starch on appetite in healthy adults; a systematic review and meta-analysis of the controlled clinical trials.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Although several clinical trials have assessed the effect of Resistant Starch (RS) supplementation on appetite, the results have been inconsistent. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of RS on the healthy adults' rating of appetite. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To this end, Pubmed, CENTRAL, Web of science, Scopus, Medline, and Proquest were systematically searched to find the relevant randomized, and placebo-controlled human trials up to June 2019. As a result, the area under curve (AUC) and standard deviations of the participants' rating appetite were extracted from four eligible studies. RESULTS: Meta-analysis showed a lower appetite in RS group compared to the controls (weighted mean difference [WMD] = -1.375 mm min, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: -1.673, -1.076). Since high heterogeneity was observed among the included studies (I2 = 94.5%, P < 0.001), subgroup analysis was carried out by RS dose, RS type, duration of supplementation, and time of AUC measuring. In studies that used RS dose of ≥25 gr, heterogeneity disappeared (P = 0.560, I2 = 0%). In such studies, a significant reduction was observed in rating of appetite (WMD = -4.513 mm min, 95%CI: -5.270, -3.755; P < 0.001) than studies with RS dose of <25 gr (WMD = -0.799 mm min, 95%CI: -1.123,-0.474; P < 0.001). Additionally, subgroup analysis based on the type of RS showed a significant decrease of appetite in studies that used RS2 (WMD = -4.808 mm min, 95%CI: -5.834, -3.782; P < 0.001) than RS1 (WMD = -0.128 mm min, 95%CI: -0.457, 0.202; P = 0.448). CONCLUSIONS: To decrease the rate of appetite more effectively, we suggest other researchers to identify RS dose and type.

Postpartum depression and vitamin D: A systematic review.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a prevalent mood disorder estimated to affect 20%-40% of women worldwide after childbirth. In recent studies, the effect of vitamin D on prevention of mood disorders and depression has been investigated, but it is still unclear how vitamin D may affect PPD. The evidence on the relevance between vitamin D deficiency and PPD is inconsistent, and assessment of the recent literature has not previously been carried out. Moreover, there are few clinical studies on PPD and vitamin D supplementation. Five studies have so far assessed the relationship between the levels of vitamin D and PPD. Findings from cohort studies suggest that vitamin-D deficiency is related to the incidence of PPD and vitamin D may play a significant role in the recovery of women with PPD, but it is uncertain whether these actions are the effect of vitamin D on the function of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the levels of estradiol, serotonin, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and/or of other mechanisms involved in PPD.

Are Lipid Profile, Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference, and Blood Pressure of Depressed Elderly Patients Different from Healthy Subjects?

BACKGROUND: Depression and obesity are among the increasingly publicized health problems, both being related to critical complications, and increasing the risk of substantial morbidity and mortality. An increasing number of documents indicate that obesity affects mental status, low serum cholesterol levels, and is related to depressive symptoms. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the possible significant difference in lipid profile levels, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and blood pressure (BP), between depressive and nondepressive older adults. METHODS: This was a case-control study where 107 patients, over 65-year-old, were enrolled in this study. Serum total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), BP, and fasting blood sugar were measured. Data were analyzed using the statistical SPSS software version 22. Independent t-test was used to compare the results between the two groups and the Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables. In addition, nonparametric Mann-Whitney test was used to evaluate the data. RESULTS: The depressive group showed significant lower BMI, WC, LDL-C, and TG (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.016, and P < 0.014). Furthermore, the findings showed significantly higher systolic and diastolic BP in participants who had shown depressive symptoms (P < 0.035 and P < 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that a low BMI, serum LDL-C, and TG are related to depressive symptoms the Iranian elderly.

Emdogain effect on gingival fibroblast adhesion in bioabsorbable and non-resorbable barrier membranes: An in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Tissue engineering represents very exciting advances in regenerative medicine; however, periodontal literature only contains few reports. Emdogain (EMD) consists of functional molecules that have shown many advantages in regenerative treatments. This study investigated EMD effect on gingival fibroblast adhesion to different membranes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two dense polytetrafluoroethylene membranes (GBR-200, TXT-200), Alloderm and a collagenous membrane (RTM Collagen) were used in this experimental study. Each membrane was cut into four pieces and placed at the bottom of a well in a 48-well plate. 10 µg/mL of EMD was added to two wells of each group. Two wells were left EMD free. Gingival fibroblasts were seeded to all the wells. Cell adhesion was evaluated by means of a Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope after 24 hours incubation. Data was analyzed by independent t-test, one-way and two-way ANOVA and post hoc LSD test. P < 0.05 in independent t-test analysis and P < 0.001 in one-way ANOVA, two-way ANOVA and post hoc LSD analysis was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Alloderm had the highest cell adhesion capacity in EMD+ group and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). In EMD- group, cell adhesion to TXT-200 and Alloderm was significantly higher than GBR-200 and collagenous membrane (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study showed that EMD may decrease the cell adhesion efficacy of GBR-200, TXT-200 and collagenous membrane but it can promote this efficacy in Alloderm. It also showed the composition of biomaterials, their surface textures and internal structures can play an important role in their cell adhesion efficacy.