Analysis of adherence to a healthy lifestyle among vegetarian and non-vegetarian Peruvian university students: A cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Evidence shows that a healthy lifestyle can promote physical and mental well-being in the general population. However, there are few studies that assess the adherence to a healthy lifestyle in vegetarian and non-vegetarian university students. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in adherence to a healthy lifestyle between vegetarian and non-vegetarian university students in Peru. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out considering data from 6,846 students selected by non-probabilistic convenience sampling. The Diet and Healthy Lifestyle Scale (DEVS), the Peruvian validation of the Vegetarian Lifestyle Index (VLI), was used. In addition, sociodemographic and anthropometric data such as weight and height were collected. Body mass index (BMI) was also calculated. RESULTS: Semi-vegetarian and vegetarian students had a high healthy lifestyle score compared to non-vegetarians. In addition, vegetarian diets showed a significantly higher proportion among students with a lower BMI (normal and underweight). Students with excess body weight (overweight and obesity) were less likely to report healthy lifestyle. In the overall population analyzed, it was observed that the levels of health and lifestyle behaviors, such as daily exercise and sunlight exposure, were mostly moderate and low. Additionally, sweets intake was high, while healthy food consumption such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains was low. CONCLUSION: The current findings show that although vegetarians had better adherence to a healthy lifestyle, interventions in the university setting are needed to improve healthy lifestyle in university students.

Dietary practices and nutritional status of children served in a social program for surrogate mothers in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Dietary practices are acquired in the family context and in turn can affect the health of family members, especially the nutritional status of children. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between nutritional status and feeding practices in children from foster families served by the SOS Children's Villages program in Cartagena, Colombia. METHODS: The study had a cross-sectional design. Through a non-probabilistic purposive sampling, 139 children from 0 to 5 years of age from the SOS Children's Villages Cartagena program were involved. The sociodemographic background of the participants was recorded and the nutritional status of the children was evaluated through anthropometric and biochemical measurements. Dietary practices were measured by means of a standardized questionnaire. Analyses were performed with Poisson regression models with robust variance. These regression models provided prevalence ratios (PR) with their respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). RESULTS: Among dietary practices, it was observed that most families eat together at home (63.3%), watch television when they eat (55.4%), and have dietary norms (80.6%). Consumption of plant foods was predominantly high, especially vegetables (86.3%), fruits (92.1%), cereals (84.9%), root vegetables, and bananas (93.5%). Consumption < 4 times/week of soft drinks and industrialized juices increases 14.3 times the probability of low weight-for-height in the study population compared to the group that does not consume them. On the other hand, watching television while eating (PR: 2.82, 95%CI 1.32-4.69) and consumption of sweet snacks (PR: 2.24, 95%CI 1.03-4.87) increased the probability of low height-for-age; while having eaten norms at home decreased the probability of low height-for-age in the study population by 50%. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to develop and implement interventions such as preventive measures and early diagnosis of inappropriate feeding behaviors to ensure adequate nutritional status among children under 5 years of age.

Factores asociados a un mayor grado de incapacidad por acúfenos en pacientes del servicio de Otorrinolaringología de una Clínica en Lima

Objetivo: Identificar los factores asociados a un mayor grado de incapacidad por acúfenos en pacientes del servicio de Otorrinolaringología en una clínica de Lima-Perú. El estudio: La muestra estuvo conformada por 100 pacientes que manifestaron sufrir de acufenos, a quienes se les aplicó el cuestionario Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). Para el análisis comparativo se usó el test de Chi-Square o Kruskal-Wallis. Para determinar la asociación entre las variables de estudio se usaron modelos de regresión de Poisson, con intervalos de confianza al 95%. Hallazgos: El 94% de los participantes presentaron algún grado de incapacidad por acufenos, 40% de grado severo. Por cada año cumplido aumenta 7% la probabilidad de padecer incapacidad grave por acufenos, mientras que ser hipertenso y tener depresión aumentan esta probabilidad en 8 y 4.8 veces respectivamente. Conclusiones: La edad, la Hipertensión y la depresión son factores asociados a un mayor grado de incapacidad por acúfenos.

Objective: The goal of this investigation was to determine the factors associated with a higher degree of disability due to tinnitus in patients of the otorhinolaryngology service in a clinic in Lima-Peru. The study: The sample consisted of 100 patients who reported suffering from tinnitus, to whom the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaire was applied. For the comparative analysis, either the Chi-Square or the Kruskal-Wallis test was used. To determine the association between the study variables, Poisson regression models were used, with 95% confidence intervals. Findings: Of the participants, 94% exhibited some degree of disability due to tinnitus. For 40% of the patients the disability was found to be severe. For every subsequent year of age, the probability of suffering from severe disability due to tinnitus increases by 7%, while being hypertensive and having depression increased this probability by 8 and 4.8 times, respectively. Conclusions: age, hypertension and depression are factors associated with a higher degree of disability due to tinnitus.

Factors associated with the use of oral health services in Peruvian children under the age of 12 years.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with the use of oral health services in Peruvian children under 12 years of age. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A secondary analysis of 2019 Demographic and Family Health Survey was conducted. The sample consisted of 40,751 children. The main variable was the use of dental services (attended/not attended) in the last 6 months, and the independent variables were gender, age, area of residence, wealth quintile, health insurance coverage, information received on oral health care, age, and educational level of the caregivers. Analyses of absolute and relative frequencies, differences in proportions, and multivariate analysis using generalized linear models were performed. RESULTS: The dental service utilization prevalence during the last 6 months was 31%. Correlation was found with urban area residents (PRa = 0.945; 95% CI: 0.904-0.988), the Jungle geographical domain (PRa = 0.926; 95% CI: 0.877-0.977), the highest wealth quintile (PRa = 1.323; 95% CI: 1.232-1.421), the higher education level of the caregiver (PRa = 1.375; 95% CI: 1.231-1.536), affiliation with the Public Health Insurance (PRa = 1.112; 95% CI: 1.069-1.158), and the condition of having received information on oral health care (PRa = 2.355; 95% CI: 2.263-2.245) with respect to their baseline variables. CONCLUSIONS: Several socio-demographic factors were correlated with the use of oral health services in Peruvian children under 12 years of age and the percentage of their use was low. Information on oral health care had a more significant impact on both, the population from the highest wealth quintile and the highest educational attainment.

Food insecurity associated with self-reported mental health outcomes in Peruvian households during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The global pandemic of COVID-19 and the social distancing efforts implemented worldwide to limit its spread have disrupted the economy, increased food insecurity, and mental health problems. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the association between food insecurity and mental health outcomes (stress, depression, and anxiety) in Peruvian households during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional investigation was conducted with 525 participants of both sexes (68% women), over 18 years of age and from the three geographic regions of Peru: Coast (54.9%), Highlands (28.4%), and Jungle (16.8%). The data were collected during the year 2021, between July 6 and September 22 through a self-administered online survey designed to assess socio-demographic, socioeconomic, food insecurity, and mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, and stress). Results: The majority of households (71.4%) experienced some degree of food insecurity. Mild food insecurity was the most frequent, affecting 49.1%, followed by moderate 15.4%, and severe 6.9%. Regarding mental health outcomes, 24.8% manifested depression, 26.7% anxiety, and 15.3% stress. With respect to the association between the level of food insecurity and anxiety, this was highly significant (p < 0.01). Households with mild, moderate and severe food insecurity are 2.04, 4.5, and 10.44 times, respectively, more likely to have moderate-severe anxiety. On the other hand, the mild food insecurity was not associated with moderate-severe depression. In contrast, households with moderate and severe food insecurity are 2.8 and 5.7 times, respectively, more likely to have moderate-severe depression. Finally, households with moderate food insecurity are 5.9 times more likely to have moderate-severe stress, and households with severe food insecurity are 8.5 times more likely to have moderate-severe stress, both having a highly significant association (p < 0.01). Conclusion: In conclusion, during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru, household food insecurity was independently associated with worse mental health outcomes. Monitoring of both food insecurity and mental health will be important as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Changes in Eating Habits and Lifestyles in a Peruvian Population during Social Isolation for the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Peru has one of the highest infection and death rates in the world for the COVID-19 pandemic. The government implemented house confinement measures with probable consequences on lifestyle, particularly affecting eating habits, physical activity, sleep quality, and mental health. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the lifestyles, physical activity, and sleep characteristics, as well as changes in eating habits in a Peruvian population during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed. We analyzed Peruvian adults based on an online self-administered questionnaire divided into sociodemographic, anthropometrics, COVID-19 diagnosis reported, lifestyle habits, and frequency of consumption of foods. RESULTS: During confinement for COVID-19, 1176 participants were studied. Of these, most reported weight gain (1 to 3 kg) and 35.7% were overweight. The lifestyles habits showed that 54.8% reported doing physical activity and 37.2% sleep less. The Peruvian sample presented a main meal pattern of breakfast (95.7%), lunch (97.5%), and dinner (89.1%). Likewise, eating habits before and during COVID-19 pandemic showed that vegetables (OR:1.56, CI95% 1.21-200), fruit (OR: 1.42, CI95% 1.10-1.81), legumes (OR:1.67, CI95% 1.23-2.28), and eggs (OR: 2.00, CI95% 1.52-2.65) presented significant consumption increase during social isolation, while bakery products (OR: 0.74, CI95% 0.56-0.97), meat, snack, refreshment, and fast food decreased in consumption. Other foods showed no significant differences. CONCLUSION: This study showed an important frequency of overweight and sleep changes. There was a slight increase in physical activity despite the social isolation measures and an increase in healthy eating habits; nevertheless, the majority reported gaining weight.

ACP-TX-I and ACP-TX-II, Two Novel Phospholipases A2 Isolated from Trans-Pecos Copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster Venom: Biochemical and Functional Characterization.

This work reports the purification and biochemical and functional characterization of ACP-TX-I and ACP-TX-II, two phospholipases A2 (PLA2) from Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster venom. Both PLA2s were highly purified by a single chromatographic step on a C18 reverse phase HPLC column. Various peptide sequences from these two toxins showed similarity to those of other PLA2 toxins from viperid snake venoms. ACP-TX-I belongs to the catalytically inactive K49 PLA2 class, while ACP-TX-II is a D49 PLA2, and is enzymatically active. ACP-TX-I PLA2 is monomeric, which results in markedly diminished myotoxic and inflammatory activities when compared with dimeric K49 PLA2s, confirming the hypothesis that dimeric structure contributes heavily to the profound myotoxicity of the most active viperid K49 PLA2s. ACP-TX-II exhibits the main pharmacological actions reported for this protein family, including in vivo local myotoxicity, edema-forming activity, and in vitro cytotoxicity. ACP-TX-I PLA2 is cytotoxic to A549 lung carcinoma cells, indicating that cytotoxicity to these tumor cells does not require enzymatic activity.