Fabrication of edible nanocellulose chitosan bi-component film based on a novel "swell-permeate" approach.

The fabrication of multi-component film with colloidal particles could be inconvenient. A novel "swell-permeate" (SP) strategy was proposed to form homogeneous multi-component films. The SP strategy allows colloidal particles to fit into the polymer network by stretching the polymer chains assisted by water. We demonstrated the strategy by creating films with polysaccharide substrates as ß-cyclodextrin grafted chitosan (CS) with nanocellulose. The addition of nanocellulose significantly increased the mechanical properties and the barrier performance of the films. The size of nanocellulose particles in affecting mechanical properties was investigated by applying different length of cellulose nanocrystal (CNC), the longer of which, due to denser physical entanglements, showed a better increase to the film in the elastic modulus and tensile strength to 4.54-fold and 5.71-fold, respectively. The films were also loaded with ethyl-p-coumarate (EpCA) and had an enhanced performance in anti-microbial for Altenaria alternata, Salmonella typhi, and Escherichia coli. The anti-oxidative property was increased as well, and both effects were valid both in vitro and in ready-to-eat apples. The strategy provides a practical and convenient method for fabricating colloidal particle containing films, and the novel idea of "swell-permeate" is potentially regarded as a new solution to the challenge of ready-to-eat food quality maintenance.

EAT-Lancet Diet Pattern, Genetic Predisposition, Inflammatory Biomarkers, and Risk of Lung Cancer Incidence and Mortality.

SCOPE: The association between a planetary and sustainable EAT-Lancet diet and lung cancer remains inconclusive, with limited exploration of the role of genetic susceptibility and inflammation. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study includes 175 214 cancer-free participants in the UK Biobank. Fourteen food components are collected from a 24-h dietary recall questionnaire. A polygenic risk score is constructed through capturing the overall risk variants for lung cancer. Sixteen inflammatory biomarkers are assayed in blood samples. Participants with the highest EAT-Lancet diet scores (≥12) have a lower risk of lung cancer incidence (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.64, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.51-0.80) and mortality (HR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.48-0.88), compared to those with the lowest EAT-Lancet diet scores (≤8). Interestingly, there is a significantly protective trend against both lung adenocarcinoma and lung squamous cell carcinoma with higher EAT-Lancet diet scores. Despite no significant interactions, a risk reduction trend for lung cancer is observed with increasing EAT-Lancet diet scores and decreasing genetic risk. Ten inflammatory biomarkers partially mediate the association between the EAT-Lancet diet and lung cancer risk. CONCLUSION: The study depicts a lower risk of lung cancer conferred by the EAT-Lancet diet associated with lower inflammation levels among individuals with diverse genetic predispositions.

Association Between Adherence to EAT-Lancet Diet and Risk of Hypertension: An 18-Year National Cohort Study in China.

OBJECTIVE: The EAT-Lancet Commission has proposed an EAT-Lancet diet (ELD), also known as a planetary health diet (PHD), which is environmentally sustainable and promotes human health. However, the association between this diet and the risk of hypertension remains unclear. This study aimed to determine whether adherence to ELD was associated with a lower risk of hypertension. METHODS: 11,402 adults without hypertension at baseline from the China Health and Nutrition Survey were included. The PHD score was used to evaluate ELD adherence, with higher scores reflecting better compliance. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was utilized to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Additionally, a subgroup analysis was performed to identify the possible effect modifiers, and a mediation analysis was conducted to explore the mediation effects of anthropometric measurements on the association between ELD and hypertension. RESULTS: A total of 3993 participants (35%) developed hypertension during 93,058 person-years of follow-up. In the covariate-adjusted model, hypertension risk was reduced in the highest quartile participants compared to the lowest quartile of the PHD score (adjusted HR: 0.79, 95%CI: 0.71-0.87; P-trend < 0.001), which remained significant after sensitivity analysis. Notably, the association was also observed in isolated systolic hypertension, isolated diastolic hypertension, and systolic-diastolic hypertension. Subgroup analysis revealed that the inverse association between the PHD score and hypertension risk was more pronounced in nonsmokers and high-sodium intake consumers than in smokers and low-sodium consumers (P-interaction < 0.05). Additionally, mediation analysis revealed that 23.3% of the association between the PHD score and hypertension risk was mediated by the waist-to-height ratio. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that a higher adherence to ELD is associated with a lower risk of hypertension. These results emphasize that ELD may serve as a potential strategy to prevent hypertension.

Eat, Sleep, Console model for neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome: a meta-analysis.

Background: The rising incidence of drug abuse among pregnant women has rendered neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome a significant global health concern. Methods: Databases including PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Elton B. Stephens. Company (EBSCO), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang were searched for comparative studies of the Eat, Sleep, Console model vs. traditional assessment tools for neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome. Two reviewers conducted literature searches, screened according to the inclusion criteria, extracted data, and independently verified accuracy. All meta-analyses were conducted using Review Manager Version 5.4. Results: In total, 18 studies involving 4,639 neonates were included in the meta-analysis. The Eat, Sleep, Console model demonstrated superior outcomes in assessing neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, significantly reducing the need for pharmacological treatment [risk ratio = 0.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.34-0.56, P < 0.001], decreasing the length of hospital stay [standard mean difference (SMD) = -2.10, 95% CI = -3.43 to -0.78, P = 0.002], and shortening the duration of opioid treatment (SMD = -1.33, 95% CI = -2.22 to -0.45, P = 0.003) compared to the Finnegan Neonatal Abstinence Scoring System. Conclusions: The Eat, Sleep, Console model is more effective than the Finnegan Neonatal Abstinence Scoring System in improving the assessment and management of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.

Microbial composition of spoiled irradiated ready-to-eat chicken feet and their spoilage characteristics.

The spoilage of irradiated ready-to-eat chicken feet (RTECF) seriously affects the food's quality, resulting in package swelling and off-flavors, both of which are highly undesirable to stakeholders and consumers. To investigate the spoilage characteristics of irradiated RTECF and the microorganisms responsible for the spoilage and swelling, the changes in physicochemical properties, microbial community, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) between normal and spoiled RTECF were evaluated. Compared with normal samples, the spoiled RTECF showed a higher pH value and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) value, lower color value, and texture features (P < 0.05). Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Lactobacillus, and Candida were the dominant genera responsible for RTECF spoilage as confirmed through both culture-dependent methods and high-throughput sequencing (HTS). The results of the verification for gas-producing strains showed that Lactobacillus brevis could cause RTECF packaging to swell. A total of 20 key VOCs were identified using headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). The results of Pearson correlation analysis (|r|>0.8, P < 0.05) showed that 12 dominant core microbial genera had a significant effect on the flavor of RTECF before and after spoilage. This study provides a theoretical reference for solving the problem of RTECF spoilage and improving the overall quality of RTECF products.

CD24 affects the immunosuppressive effect of tumor-infiltrating cells and tumor resistance in a variety of cancers.

BACKGROUND: Cluster of differentiation 24 (CD24) is a highly glycosylated glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored surface protein, expressed in various tumor cells, as a "don't eat me" signaling molecule in tumor immune. This study aimed to investigate the potential features of CD24 in pan-cancer. METHODS: The correlations between 22 immune cells and CD24 expression were using TIMER analysis. R package "ESTIMATE" was used to predict the proportion of immune and stromal cells in pan-cancer. Spearman's correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the relationships between CD24 expression and immune checkpoints, chemokines, mismatch repair, tumor mutation burden and microsatellite instability, and qPCR and western blot were conducted to assess CD24 expression levels in liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC). In addition, loss of function was performed for the biological evaluation of CD24 in LIHC. RESULTS: CD24 expression was positively correlated with myeloid cells, including neutrophils and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, in various tumors, such as BLCA, HNSC-HPV, HNSC, KICH, KIRC, KIRP, TGCT, THCA, THYM, and UCEC. In contrast, anti-tumor NK cells and NKT cells showed a negative association with CD24 expression in BRCA-Her2, ESCA, HNSC-HPV, KIRC, THCA, and THYM. The top three tumors with the highest correlation between CD24 and ImmuneScore were TGCT, THCA, and SKCM. Functional enrichment analysis revealed CD24 expression was negatively associated with various immune-related pathways. Immune checkpoints and chemokines also exhibited inverse correlations with CD24 in CESC, CHOL, COAD, ESCA, READ, TGCT, and THCA. Additionally, CD24 was overexpressed in most tumors, with high CD24 expression in BRCA, LIHC, and CESC correlating with poor prognosis. The TIDE database indicated tumors with high CD24 expression, particularly melanoma, were less responsive to PD1/PD-L1 immunotherapy. Finally, CD24 knockdown resulted in impaired proliferation and cell cycle progression in LIHC. CONCLUSION: CD24 participates in regulation of immune infiltration, influences patient prognosis and serves as a potential tumor marker.

Evaluation of the trade-off between variety, processing, and low-GI claim in ready-to-eat rice.

An increasing number of consumers demand healthier, more convenient, and sustainable food products, including rice, a staple worldwide. Food manufacturers have responded to this trend by considering food's intrinsic and extrinsic aspects. This study evaluated the importance of variety, processing, and claims on willingness to try ready-to-eat rice (RTE-rice). It also analyses the influence of consumer attitudes on the importance of attributes and willingness to try. The results showed that processing significantly influenced willingness to try RTE-rice, revealing consumers' greater preference for whole grain than milled rice with added bran. Claims had the least relevant importance. However, low glycaemic index had a positive impact, indicating its potential to influence consumer purchasing attitudes and promote healthier rice consumption. Additionally, three groups were created based on attitudinal factors. Naturalness-oriented and convenience-oriented groups were more likely to try RTE-rice. However, the reasons that motivate them may be different; this latter could be the ease of the service offered, while for the group focused on naturalness, they may have perceived through the ingredients and claimed that the product, despite being convenient, can bring benefits, thus perceiving them as natural.

Peroxiredoxin 2 regulates DAF-16/FOXO mediated mitochondrial remodelling in response to exercise that is disrupted in ageing.

OBJECTIVES: A decline in mitochondrial function and increased susceptibility to oxidative stress is a hallmark of ageing. Exercise endogenously generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) in skeletal muscle and promotes mitochondrial remodelling resulting in improved mitochondrial function. It is unclear how exercise induced redox signalling results in alterations in mitochondrial dynamics and morphology. METHODS: In this study, a Caenorhabditis elegans model of exercise and ageing was used to determine the mechanistic role of Peroxiredoxin 2 (PRDX-2) in regulating mitochondrial morphology. Mitochondrial morphology was analysed using transgenic reporter strains and transmission electron microscopy, complimented with the analysis of the effects of ageing and exercise on physiological activity. RESULTS: The redox state of PRDX-2 was altered with exercise and ageing, hyperoxidised peroxiredoxins were detected in old worms along with basally elevated intracellular ROS. Exercise generated intracellular ROS and rapid mitochondrial remodelling, which was disrupted with age. The exercise intervention promoted mitochondrial ER contact sites (MERCS) assembly and increased DAF-16/FOXO nuclear localisation. The prdx-2 mutant strain had a disrupted mitochondrial network as evidenced by increased mitochondrial fragmentation. In the prdx-2 mutant strain, exercise did not activate DAF-16/FOXO, mitophagy or increase MERCS assembly. The results demonstrate that exercise generated ROS increased DAF-16/FOXO transcription factor nuclear localisation required for activation of mitochondrial fusion events that were blunted with age. CONCLUSIONS: The data demonstrate the critical role of PRDX-2 in orchestrating mitochondrial remodelling in response to a physiological stress by regulating redox dependent DAF-16/FOXO nuclear localisation.

A comparison of dysphagia rates between long-segment anterior versus posterior cervical fusion.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to compare rates of dysphagia and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) following long-segment (≥ 3 levels) anterior cervical spinal fusion (ACF) and posterior cervical spinal fusion (PCF) at 3 and 12 months postoperatively. PROs were also compared for patients with dysphagia versus those without dysphagia. METHODS: A prospectively collected quality improvement database was used to identify patients who had a long-segment cervical spinal fusion. Cohorts were divided into ACF and PCF groups. Eating Assessment Tool-10 scores and PROs were obtained for all patients preoperatively and at 3 and 12 months postoperatively to compare. Multivariate analysis was also performed to evaluate risk factors for dysphagia. RESULTS: A total of 132 patients met the inclusion criteria, 77 of whom had undergone ACF and 55 of whom had undergone PCF. Dysphagia rates between ACF and PCF cohorts were similar at baseline (13.0% vs 18.2%, p = 0.4). New-onset dysphagia rates were also comparable at 3-month follow-up (39.7% vs 23.1%, p = 0.08) and 12-month follow-up (32.6% vs 32.4%, p > 0.99). Patients who underwent PCF had worse Neck Disability Index (NDI) scores at 3 months than did patients with ACF (13.67 ± 9.49 vs 10.55 ± 6.24, respectively; p = 0.03). There were significantly higher NDI scores for patients with dysphagia at 3 months in both the ACF and PCF groups and at 12 months for those in the PCF group. Analogously, EuroQol-5 Dimensions scores were worse for patients with dysphagia; however, this was only significant for patients in the ACF group at 3 months. There were no significant risk factors for the development of dysphagia found on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Similar rates and severity of dysphagia were seen following ACF and PCF at 3- and 12-month follow-up. This suggests that long-term dysphagia following cervical fusion surgery may be due to structural changes from the fusion rather than the surgical approach. However, the ACF cohort was significantly younger, and this may have partially accounted for the findings. PROs were also compared for patients with and without dysphagia, demonstrating worsened outcomes in some domains for patients who presented with dysphagia at 3- and 12-month follow-up. This suggests that dysphagia may be associated with a decreased quality of life after cervical fusion.

The discriminant ability of the Eating Assessment tool-10 to detect swallowing efficiency in neurogenic dysphagia.

PURPOSE: Neurogenic dysphagia causes complications such as malnutrition, dehydration, and aspiration pneumonia. Therefore, early detection with clinically valid tools is essential. This study aimed to investigate the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10) ability to detect swallowing efficiency at three different consistencies in neurogenic dysphagia. METHODS: One hundred twelve patients with neurogenic dysphagia (74 males and 38 females, mean ± SD age 61.83 ± 9.72 years) were included in the study. A Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) was performed in the clinic following EAT-10 to assess swallowing efficacy at International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI) consistencies of 0, 3, and 7. The swallowing efficiency of the patients was assessed using the Yale Pharyngeal Residue Severity Rating Scale (YPRSRS). Area under the curve, sensitivity, and specificity values were calculated to evaluate the ability of EAT-10 to discriminate between participants with and without residue and between participants with and without moderate-to-severe residue. RESULTS: The EAT-10 significantly detected participants with and without residues for three IDDSI consistent: for IDDSI 0 residue in the vallecula and pyriform sinus (cutoff score ≥ 14, p < 0.001), for IDDSI 3 residue in the vallecula and pyriform sinus (cutoff score ≥ 13, p < 0.001), for IDDSI 7 residue in the vallecula and pyriform sinus (respectively, cutoff score ≥ 13, cutoff score ≥ 14, p < 0.001). Additionally, the EAT-10 significantly detected those with and without moderate-to-severe residue. CONCLUSIONS: The EAT-10, frequently used in swallowing clinics, can determine swallowing efficiency in individuals with neurogenic dysphagia. Additionally, it has the power to detect moderate-to-severe pharyngeal residue.

Corrigendum: Global trends and research hotspots of EAT-Lancet diet: a bibliometric analysis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1328351.].

High-Risk Neuroblastoma Challenges and Opportunities for Antibody-Based Cellular Immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy has emerged as an attractive option for patients with relapsed or refractory high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB). Neuroblastoma (NB), a sympathetic nervous system cancer arising from an embryonic neural crest cell, is heterogeneous clinically, with outcomes ranging from an isolated abdominal mass that spontaneously regresses to a widely metastatic disease with cure rates of about 50% despite intensive multimodal treatment. Risk group stratification and stage-adapted therapy to achieve cure with minimal toxicities have accomplished major milestones. Targeted immunotherapeutic approaches including monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, adoptive cellular therapies, their combinations, and their integration into standard of care are attractive therapeutic options, although curative challenges and toxicity concerns remain. In this review, we provide an overview of immune approaches to NB and the tumor microenvironment (TME) within the clinical translational framework. We propose a novel T cell-based therapeutic approach that leverages the unique properties of tumor surface antigens such as ganglioside GD2, incorporating specific monoclonal antibodies and recent advancements in adoptive cell therapy.

Pre-packaged cold-chain ready-to-eat food as a source of sporadic listeriosis in Beijing, China.

OBJECTIVES: Using a sporadic case of listeriosis suspected to have been caused by consuming a pre-packaged cold-chain ready-to-eat (RTE) food in Beijing, China in 2021 as an exemplar, this study demonstrated the importance of thoroughly investigating the source of listeriosis up to the production point for mitigating infection risk during routine monitoring of Listeria in food facilities and national surveillance program using whole-genome sequencing (WGS). METHODS: Epidemiological, laboratory, traceback, and plant investigations were used to identify the source of infection. RESULTS: WGS showed the isolate from the patient was genetically indistinguishable from that of the implicated food. During a plant investigation, L. monocytogenes was detected in 26% (9/35) of the environmental samples and one of two raw material samples, confirming the source. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first investigation in China linking a case of L. monocytogenes infection to a suspected food and its production environment. This report highlights the risk of L. monocytogenes contamination of RTE food and demonstrates the role of food safety risk monitoring in identifying potential sources of infection. Reinforcing control programs in RTE processing plants, intensified surveillance of microorganisms in food products and targeted health education is required to mitigate the infection risk.

Prediction of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals Related to Estrogen, Androgen, and Thyroid Hormone (EAT) Modalities Using Transcriptomics Data and Machine Learning.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are chemicals that can interfere with homeostatic processes. They are a major concern for public health, and they can cause adverse long-term effects such as cancer, intellectual impairment, obesity, diabetes, and male infertility. The endocrine system is a complex machinery, with the estrogen (E), androgen (A), and thyroid hormone (T) modes of action being of major importance. In this context, the availability of in silico models for the rapid detection of hazardous chemicals is an effective contribution to toxicological assessments. We developed Qualitative Gene expression Activity Relationship (QGexAR) models to predict the propensities of chemically induced disruption of EAT modalities. We gathered gene expression profiles from the LINCS database tested on two cell lines, i.e., MCF7 (breast cancer) and A549 (adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial). We optimized our prediction protocol by testing different feature selection methods and classification algorithms, including CATBoost, XGBoost, Random Forest, SVM, Logistic regression, AutoKeras, TPOT, and deep learning models. For each EAT endpoint, the final prediction was made according to a consensus prediction as a function of the best model obtained for each cell line. With the available data, we were able to develop a predictive model for estrogen receptor and androgen receptor binding and thyroid hormone receptor antagonistic effects with a consensus balanced accuracy on a validation set ranging from 0.725 to 0.840. The importance of each predictive feature was further assessed to identify known genes and suggest new genes potentially involved in the mechanisms of action of EAT perturbation.

Adherence to EAT-Lancet reference diet and risk of premature coronary artery diseases: a multi-center case-control study.

BACKGROUND: In 2019, a globally sustainable dietary pattern that primarily emphasizes the consumption of plant-based foods was proposed by the EAT-Lancet Commission. However, there is limited evidence regarding the association of this diet with coronary events. OBJECTIVES: To determine the association between the EAT-Lancet Reference Diet (ELD) and premature coronary artery disease (PCAD) risk and its severity. METHODS: This multi-center, case-control study was conducted within the framework of the Iran premature coronary artery disease (I-PAD). A total of 3185 participants aged under 70 years in women and 60 years in men were included. Cases were those whose coronary angiography showed stenosis ≥ 75% in at least one vessel or ≥ 50% in the left main artery (n = 2033), while the controls had normal angiography results (n = 1152). Dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Logistic regression was utilized to examine the association between ELD and presence of PCAD. RESULTS: Compared with individuals in the first quartile, those in the highest quartile of ELD (OR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.21, 0.39; P for trend < 0.001) and ELD calculated with minimum intake (OR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.29, 0.52; P < 0.001) had lower risk of PCAD. Individuals in the highest quartile of adherence to the ELD and ELD with minimum intake had 78% and 72% lower risk of having severe PCAD compared with those in the lowest quartile, respectively. CONCLUSION: An inverse association was observed between adherence to the ELD and PCAD risk and its severity. Large-scale prospective cohort studies are required to confirm these findings.

Open-bore MRI Scanner Assessment of Epicardial Adipose Tissue after Bariatric Surgery: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: The recognition of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) as a cardiac risk factor has increased the interest in strategies that target cardiac adipose tissue. AIM: The effect of bariatric and metabolic surgery (BMS)-induced weight loss on EAT volume was evaluated in this study. METHODS: Fifteen bariatric patients, with (MS) or without (wMS) Metabolic Syndrome, underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using an open-bore scanner to assess EAT volume, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) thickness, and other cardiac morpho-functional parameters at baseline and 12 months after BMS. Nine patients underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), and 6 patients underwent Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGBP). RESULTS: EAT volume significantly decreased in all the patients 12 months post-BMS from 91.6 cm3 to 67.1 cm3; p = 0.0002 in diastole and from 89.4 cm3 to 68.2 cm3; p = 0.0002 in systole. No significant difference was found between the LSG and RYGBP group. Moreover, EAT volume was significantly reduced among wMS compared with MS. In particular, EAT volume in diastole was significantly reduced from 80.9 cm3 to 54.4 cm3; p = 0.0156 in wMS and from 98.3 cm3 to 79.5 cm3; p = 0.031 in MS. The reduction was also confirmed in systole from 81.2 cm3 to 54.1 cm3; p = 0.0156 in wMS and from 105.7 cm3 to 75.1 cm3; p = 0.031 in MS. Finally, a positive correlation was found between EAT loss, BMI (r = 0.52; p = 0.0443) and VAT (r = 0.66; p = 0.008) reduction after BMS. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that EAT reduction may be a fundamental element for improving the cardio-metabolic prognosis of bariatric patients. Moreover, this is the first study performed with an open-bore MRI scanner to measure EAT volume.

Development and antimicrobial activity of composite edible films of chitosan and nisin incorporated with perilla essential oil-glycerol monolaurate emulsions.

Aquatic products are highly susceptible to spoilage, and preparing composite edible film with essential oil is an effective solution. In this study, composite edible films were prepared using perilla essential oil (PEO)-glycerol monolaurate emulsions incorporated with chitosan and nisin, and the film formulation was optimized by response surface methodology. These films were applied to ready-to-eat fish balls and evaluated over a period of 12 days. The films with the highest inhibition rate against Staphylococcus aureus were acquired using a polymer composition of 6 µL/mL PEO, 18.4 µg/mL glycerol monolaurate, 14.2 mg/mL chitosan, and 11.0 µg/mL nisin. The fish balls coated with the optimal edible film showed minimal changes in appearance during storage and significantly reduced total bacterial counts and total volatile basic nitrogen compared to the control groups. This work indicated that the composite edible films containing essential oils possess ideal properties as antimicrobial packaging materials for aquatic foods.

Evaluating the diet in Germany with two indices focusing on healthy eating and planetary healthy eating using nationwide cross-sectional food intake data from DEGS1 (2008-2011).

PURPOSE: To improve sustainability, adjustments to current diets are necessary. Therefore, limited planetary resources are considered within the healthy reference diet proposed by the EAT-Lancet Commission. The agreement with nationwide food intake was evaluated with two indices which reflect this reference and German food intake recommendations. METHODS: A healthy eating index (HEI-MON) reflecting the dietary guidelines of the German nutrition society and a planetary healthy eating index (PHEI-MON) reflecting the healthy reference diet were developed, with scores from 0 to 100. Both indices were applied to data from a nationally representative sample of the German population aged 18-79 years for which data from a 53-item food frequency questionnaire are available. RESULTS: Mean scores for the indices were 53 for HEI-MON and 39 for PHEI-MON. A better adherence to either guideline could be found among women, persons of older age as well as persons with higher education level. The sub-scores for HEI-MON showed high agreement with the recommendations for side dishes, fruit/nuts, (processed) meat and cereals, but low agreement with the recommendations for free sugar and vegetables/legumes. PHEI-MON sub-scores were highest for poultry, fruits and potatoes, and lowest for nuts, red meat and legumes. High scores in one index do not necessarily correspond to high scores in the other index. Individuals with more plantbased diets had higher scores in both indices, while high sugar and meat consumption led to lower scores. CONCLUSIONS: More plant-based diets are crucial for individual and planetary health. Both indices reflect such diets which consider already health and sustainability aspects. At an individual level, the scores for both indices may differ considerably, but overall there is a huge potential in the population to adapt to a diet more in line with both guidelines.

How parent stress and COVID-19 impact on the family are associated with parental pressure to eat during COVID-19.

This study aimed to assess how parent stress and COVID-19 impact on the family are associated with parental pressure to eat during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents of healthy preschool-aged children completed measures including pressure to eat (Child Feeding Questionnaire), parent perception of their stress (Perceived Stress Scale), household food insecurity (Hunger Vital Sign) and effects of COVID-19 on families (COVID-19 Exposure and Family Impact). Children (N = 228) were racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse (34 % Black, 15 % Hispanic, and 29 % with household income <$20,000). Bivariate analyses showed that parent stress at Year 1 (ß 0.02; 95 % CI 0.006, 0.04) was significantly associated with pressure to eat at Year 1 and that COVID-19 impact at Year 1 (ß 0.02; 95 % CI 0.001, 0.03) was also significantly associated with pressure to eat. Multivariable linear regression analyses showed that parent stress at Year 1 was significantly associated with pressure to eat at Year 1 (ß 0.39; 95 % CI 0.16, 0.61) while COVID-19 impact was not significantly associated with pressure to eat at Year 1. This study, consisting of racially and socioeconomically diverse children, found that while parent stress was significantly associated with increased parental utilization of pressure to eat feeding practice, COVID-19 impact was not significantly associated with pressure to eat in adjusted analyses. This suggests that overall perceived stress by parents could be an important factor in parent pressuring feeding practices.

Is Nutrient Quality of the Locally-Existing, EAT-Lancet-like Plant-Based Diet Better or Worse than the Average Diet in Taiwan? An Example of Local Translation.

The EAT-Lancet commission advocated a planetary health diet in 2019. Some have raised concerns about its nutrient adequacy. This study used data from recent Nutrition and Health Surveys in Taiwan-from 2017 to 2020 (n = 6538)-to assess food intake and nutrient adequacy among three red meat consumption levels (low/medium/high). The low red meat group, whose diet was similar to the EAT-Lancet reference, showed significantly higher/better levels of vitamins C and E, calcium, magnesium, sodium, dietary fiber, and the polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids ratio. However, protein, B vitamins, phosphorus for females, and zinc were slightly compromised, but they were still near or above 100% of the Daily Reference Intakes (DRIs), except for zinc (74~75%). The intake levels of vitamin D, calcium, and dietary fiber in all three groups at times did not reach 70% of the DRIs, but this was more pronounced in the high red meat group compared to the low red meat group. Replacing ultra-processed foods (UPFs) with whole/healthy foods improved levels of zinc, calcium, and dietary fiber, but not vitamin D. Finally, a proposed local planetary health dietary construct was provided, suggesting maintaining the original distribution of the food groups recommended by the Taiwan Food Guide while specifying amounts of protein sources in line with the EAT-Lancet principles. The proposed diet, according to our estimation and comparison with Taiwanese DRIs, was nearly perfect in its nutrient composition.