Association of physical activity and nutrition with telomere length, a marker of cellular aging: A comprehensive review.

The aging of the population has great social and economic effects because it is characterized by a gradual loss in physiological integrity, resulting in functional decline, thereby loss of ability to move independently. Telomeres, the hallmarks of biological aging, play a protective role in both cell death and aging. Critically short telomeres give rise to a metabolically active cell that is unable to repair damage or divide, thereby leading to aging. Lifestyle factors such as physical activity (PA) and nutrition could be associated with telomere length (TL). Indeed, regular PA and healthy nutrition as integral parts of our lifestyle can slow down telomere shortening, thereby delaying aging. In this context, the present comprehensive review summarizes the data from recent literature on the association of PA and nutrition with TL.

Validity and reliability of SCREEN II (Seniors in the Community: Risk Evaluation for Eating and Nutrition) search in Turkish society.

Introduction: Objective: the aim of this study is to determine the reliability and the validity of the Seniors in the Community: Risk Evaluation for Eating and Nutrition (SCREEN II) scale, which has been developed with the aim of evaluating eating and nutrition risks. Methods: a total of 207 elderly were included in the study. The Standardized Mini Mental Test (SMMT) was applied to individuals for mental adequacy assessment and then SCREEN II scale was applied. For the selection of scale items, main components factor analysis and Varimaks conversion has been applied to the data and it has been decided to use the components which have 0.40 and bigger factor loading. Results: in accordance with the validity and reliability analyzes, it was determined that the 3 subscales and 12-item adaptation of the SCREEN scale were suitable for Turkish society. These subscales are "Food intake and eating habits", "Conditions and difficulties affecting food intake" and "Weight change and food restriction". When the Cronbach alpha internal consistency values were evaluated for the reliability of the SCREEN II scale, the obtained values indicated that the items in each subscale were consistent with each other and formed a whole. Conclusion: the findings have shown that SCREEN II is a reliable and valid scale for the elderly people living in Turkey.

Introducción: Objetivo: el objetivo de este estudio es determinar la fiabilidad y la validez de la escala de evaluación de riesgos para la alimentación y la nutrición en adultos mayores en la comunidad (SCREEN II, por sus siglas en inglés), que se ha desarrollado con el objetivo de evaluar los riesgos alimentarios y nutricionales de las personas mayores. Métodos: se incluyeron en el estudio un total de 207 personas mayores. Se aplicó el SMMT (Standardized Mini-Mental Test) para la evaluación de función cognitiva y luego se aplicó la escala SCREEN II. Para la selección de ítems de la escala, se han aplicado a los datos el análisis factorial de componentes principales y la conversión de Varimaks, y se ha decidido utilizar los componentes que tienen una carga factorial de 0,40 y mayor. Resultados: El estudio mostró que las tres subescalas y la adaptación de los 12 ítems de la herramienta fueron de utilidad cuando se aplicaron a la población turca. Las tres subescalsa fueron: " ingesta de alimentos y hábitos dietéticos", "condiciones y dificultades que afectan a la ingestión de alimentos" y "cambios en el peso y restricción alimentaria". Al aplicar los valores de consistencia interna Cronbach alpha se evidenció que los ítems de cada subescala eran consistentes entre sí y constituían un todo. Conclusión: los hallazgos han demostrado que SCREEN II es una escala confiable y válida para las personas mayores que viven en Turquía.

The effects of weight loss on normal transaminase levels in obese patients.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with insulin resistance, which is the main pathogenic factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD can progress without associated elevations in liver enzymes. Therefore, we investigated the effects of weight loss on normal transaminase levels in obese subjects who are at risk for NAFLD. METHODS: Thirty-seven obese patients with normal ALT levels were evaluated. All patients received an individualized low-calorie diet over at least 6 months. Twenty-two patients who achieved weight loss of at least 5% body weight were identified as the study group and the others as the control group. Transaminases, insulin resistance, and body mass index were compared before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Hepatic steatosis was found in 83.8% of obese patients. ALT was correlated with HOMA-IR in all patients at baseline (r = 0.363, P = 0.027). At the end of the follow-up, mean weight loss achieved in the study and control groups were 9.2% (8.7 +/- 3.0 kg) and 0.3% (0.5 +/- 2.8 kg), respectively. In the study group, HOMA-IR and ALT decreased from 4.0 +/- 1.8 to 2.4 +/- 0.9 and from 21.4 +/- 6.6 IU/L to 16.8 +/- 5.5 IU/L, respectively (P = 0.005 and P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that weight loss results in a decrease in normal ALT levels as well as insulin resistance. Therefore, the normal range for ALT may need to be reassessed.