Dietary perception and knowledge among cardiac patients visiting tertiary care hospital outpatient department (OPD).

Objective: To appraise the dietary perception and knowledge of cardiac patients visiting Outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital. Methods: A cross sectional study of 466 patients attending cardiac outdoor clinic at a tertiary care cardiac hospital in Rawalpindi, Pakistan were selected through convenient sampling from January to April 2021. Patients included in the study were above 18 years of age and had a cardiac disease. A structured questionnaire in English and Urdu was drafted with questions related to patient demographics, dietary perception and knowledge. Results: Among 466 patients, 60% (n=280) were males and 40% (n=186) were females whereas 14% (n=66) of the patients were uneducated and 15% (n=68) had completed postgraduate education. In this study 23% (n=106) of the participants used internet to search nutrition related information and 72 % (n=339) of the patients consider their lifestyle to be healthy. Majority (n=261, 56%) of the patients had no idea regarding sodium consumption. 46% (n=215) of the patients had no knowledge regarding the effects of bakery items on cardiac health. Conclusion: Dietary Knowledge plays a predominant role in the management of cardiac disease. The study concluded that cardiac patients had inadequate knowledge regarding dietary intake in cardiac disease and has high prevalence of dietary myths and misconceptions. Strategic plan including nutritional awareness program and intensive counseling sessions should be designed to increase dietary knowledge of cardiac patients.

The effects of dietary intervention combined with comprehensive exercise instruction on somatic function and quality of life in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To assess the effects of dietary intervention combined with comprehensive exercise instruction on somatic function and quality of life in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: This was application research. A total of 120 elderly patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) admitted to The No.2 Hospital of Baoding from March 10, 2022 to March 10, 2023 were included and randomly divided into the control group and the experimental group(n=60). Patients in the control group received conventional treatment and nursing regimen, while those in the experimental group were given dietary intervention combined with comprehensive exercise instruction based on the control group. The differences before and after treatment between the two groups were compared and analyzed. Results: After the intervention, the experimental group had remarkably lower levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2h postprandial blood glucose(2hPG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) than the control group (p=0.00), while significantly improved somatic function, psychological function, social function and material life status compared to the control group (p=0.00). The levels of SAS and SDS in the experimental group were significantly decreased compared with those in the control group (p=0.00). The levels of SOD, MDA and CAT in the experimental group were obviously superior to those in the control group, with statistically significant differences (p=0.00). Conclusion: Dietary intervention combined with comprehensive exercise instruction is an effective treatment for elderly patients with DM, boasting a variety of benefits such as regulating patients' blood glucose levels, improving patient satisfaction, and ameliorating the level of oxidative stress in the body, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Bridging sustainability and industry through resourceful utilization of pea pods- A focus on diverse industrial applications.

The focus on sustainable utilization of agricultural waste is currently a leading area of scientific research, driving significant advancements in technology and circular economy models. The fundamental capacity of bio-based products, bioprocessing techniques, and the crucial involvement of microbial treatments are opening opportunities for efficient solutions in various industries. One of the most popular green vegetables, peas are members of the Fabaceae family and have a pod-like structure. Every year, a significant amount of pea pods is discarded as waste products of peas that have negative impacts on our environment. In this comprehensive review, we explore innovative methods for utilizing pea pods to minimize their environmental footprint and optimize their viability across multiple industries. A large portion of the pea processing industry's output consists of pea pods. Variety of proteins, with major classes being globulin and albumin (13%), dietary fiber (43-58%), and minerals are abundant in these pods. Because of their diverse physiochemical properties, they find applications in many diverse fields. The porous pea pods comprised cellulose (61.35%) and lignin (22.12%), which could make them superior adsorbents. The components of these byproducts possess valuable attributes that make them applicable across treatment of wastewater, production of biofuels, synthesis of biocolors, development of nutraceuticals, functional foods, and enzymes for the textile industry, modification of oil, and inhibition of steel corrosion.

The diet-intestinal microbiota dynamics and adaptation in an elevational migration bird, the Himalayan bluetail (Tarsiger rufilatus).

Migratory birds experience changes in their environment and diet during seasonal migrations, thus requiring interactions between diet and gut microbes. Understanding the co-evolution of the host and gut microbiota is critical for elucidating the rapid adaptations of avian gut microbiota. However, dynamics of gut microbial adaptations concerning elevational migratory behavior, which is prevalent but understudied in montane birds remain poorly understood. We focused on the Himalayan bluetail (Tarsiger rufilatus) in the montane forests of Mt. Gongga to understand the diet-gut microbial adaptations of elevational migratory birds. Our findings indicate that elevational migratory movements can rapidly alter gut microbial composition and function within a month. There was a significant interaction between an animal-based diet and gut microbiota across migration stages, underscoring the importance of diet in shaping microbial communities. Furthermore, the gut microbial composition of T. rufilatus may be potentially altered by high-altitude acclimatization. An increase in fatty acid and amino acid metabolism was observed in response to low temperatures and limited resources, resulting in enhanced energy extraction and nutrient utilization. Moreover, microbial communities in distinct gut segments varied in relative abundance and responses to environmental changes. While the bird jejunum exhibited greater susceptibility to food and environmental fluctuations, there was no significant difference in metabolic capacity among gut segments. This study provides initial evidence of rapid diet-gut microbial changes in distinct gut segments of elevational migratory birds and highlights the importance of seasonal sample collection. Our findings provide a deeper understanding of the unique high-altitude adaptation patterns of the gut microbiota for montane elevational migratory birds.

Dietary patterns interfere with gut microbiota to combat obesity.

Obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders are global epidemics that occur when there is chronic energy intake exceeding energy expenditure. Growing evidence suggests that healthy dietary patterns not only decrease the risk of obesity but also influence the composition and function of the gut microbiota. Numerous studies manifest that the development of obesity is associated with gut microbiota. One promising supplementation strategy is modulating gut microbiota composition by dietary patterns to combat obesity. In this review, we discuss the changes of gut microbiota in obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders, with a particular emphasis on the impact of dietary components on gut microbiota and how common food patterns can intervene in gut microbiota to prevent obesity. While there is promise in intervening with the gut microbiota to combat obesity through the regulation of dietary patterns, numerous key questions remain unanswered. In this review, we critically review the associations between dietary patterns, gut microbes, and obesity, aiming to contribute to the further development and application of dietary patterns against obesity in humans.

A comparative study of dietary amino acid patterns: unveiling growth, composition, and molecular signatures in juvenile Onychostoma macrolepis.

The wild Onychostoma macrolepis, a species under national class II protection in China, lacks a specific compound feed for captive rearing. Understanding the dietary amino acid pattern is crucial for optimal feed formulation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the four different dietary amino acid patterns, i.e., anchovy fishmeal protein (FMP, control group) and muscle protein (MP), whole-body protein (WBP), fish egg protein (FEP) of juvenile Onychostoma macrolepis, on the growth performance, body composition, intestinal morphology, enzyme activities, and the expression levels of gh, igf, mtor genes in juveniles. In a 12-week feeding trial with 240 juveniles (3.46±0.04g), the MP group demonstrated superior outcomes in growth performance (FBW, WGR, SGR), feed utilization efficiency (PER, PRE, FCR). Notably, it exhibited higher crude protein content in whole-body fish, enhanced amino acid composition in the liver, and favorable fatty acid health indices (AI, TI, h/H) in muscle compared to other groups (P < 0.05). Morphologically, the MP and FMP groups exhibited healthy features. Additionally, the MP group displayed significantly higher activities of TPS, ALP, and SOD, along with elevated expression levels of gh, igf, mtor genes, distinguishing it from the other groups (P < 0.05). This study illustrated that the amino acid pattern of MP emerged as a suitable dietary amino acid pattern for juvenile Onychostoma macrolepis. Furthermore, the findings provide valuable insights for formulating effective feeds in conserving and sustainably farming protected species, enhancing the research's broader ecological and aquacultural significance.

Catalytic action of alternansucrase on sucrose under in vitro simulated gastric conditions.

Alternansucrase, a glucosyltransferase, is currently used to produce slowly digestible alternan oligosaccharides or maltooligosaccharides from sucrose. These oligosaccharides are popular for food fortification to lower postprandial glucose levels. This study aimed to explore the enzymatic reaction of alternansucrase in simulated in vitro gastric reaction conditions. Under the studied conditions, SucroSEB (a model enzyme for alternansucrase) hydrolyzed the sucrose and transglycosylated the glucose to produce glucans, both in the absence and presence of acceptors. The preference of the acceptor was maltose˃ raffinose˃ lactose. The rate of sucrose hydrolysis was significantly higher in the presence of maltose (p = 0.024). The glucans formed during the reaction included oligomers (DP 3-10) and polymers (DP ≥ 11), both of which increased over time. These glucans contained α-1,3 and α-1,6 glycosidic linkages, confirmed by 1H and 13C NMR. They were slowly and partially digestible in the presence of rat intestinal extract in contrast to the complete and rapid digestion of starch. The glucans formed after a longer gastric reaction time exhibited higher dietary fiber potential (19.145 ± 4.77 %; 60 min) compared to those formed during the initial phase (2.765 ± 0.19 %; 15 min). Overall, this study demonstrated the efficacy of SucroSEB in converting sucrose to slowly and partially digestible glucans under simulated in vitro gastric conditions.

"How difficult it is to change dietary behaviour" experience of older people with sarcopenic obesity: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Dietary intervention is an important method to manage sarcopenic obesity, but the implementation in real world is difficult to achieve an ideal condition. This study aimed to the experiences of older people with sarcopenic obesity during the implementation of dietary behavioural change (DBC) intervention. METHODS: This study is a semi-structured individual interview embedded within a pilot randomized controlled trial on community-dwelling older people with sarcopenic obesity. Purposive sampling was applied to invite 21 participants who had received a 15-week DBC intervention. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Content analysis was performed to analyze the data. RESULTS: The themes for facilitators included: (a) Attach importance to self's health; (b) Family's support; (c) Concern self's body shape; (d) Instructor's support; (e) Regular food diary taken. The themes for barriers included: (a) Difficulties of taking food diary; (b) Difficulties of calculating the food amount; (c) Yield to offspring's appetite; (d) Misjudging self's or family's appetite. CONCLUSION: Support from family members and instructor, caring about self's health and body image facilitated the intervention implementation. The complication of food amount estimation and diary record, personal sacrifice for next generations, and previous living experience were barriers for implementing the intervention. Overall, the older people with sarcopenic obesity can accept the design of DBC intervention program and have great willing to join.

Dietary acid load as well as dietary phytochemical index, and association with multiple sclerosis: results from a case-control study.

INTRODUCTION: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by central nervous system (CNS) lesions. Although the etiology and pathogenesis of MS remains unclear, nutrition is among the environmental factors that may be involved in developing MS. Currently, no specific diet has been associated with MS. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the dietary phytochemical index (DPI), dietary acid load (DAL), and the risk of developing MS. METHODS: This case‒control study was conducted on 174 patients with MS and 171 healthy individuals in Mashhad, Iran. Data were collected using a 160-item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The study investigated the association between DPI, DAL, and MS, considering anthropometric measures, dietary intake, smoking habits, and sex. DPI, potential renal acid load (PRAL), and net endogenous acid production (NEAP), as indicators of DAL, were calculated based on the FFQ. RESULTS: The study analyzed 345 participants, comprising 174 (50.4%) MS patients and 171 (49.6%) healthy individuals. The mean age of the participants was 32.45 ± 8.66 years. The DPI score was significantly lower among MS patients, while the NEAP and PRAL scores were significantly higher among MS patients compared to the healthy group. There was no relationship between NEAP (OR 1.001; 95% CI 0.959-1.044; P = 0.974) and PRAL (OR 1.019; 95% CI 0.979-1.061; P = 0.356) and MS incidence. CONCLUSIONS: The study found higher smoking and obesity rates in MS patients, with a reduced DPI score and increased DAL. Further studies are needed before recommending plant-based foods and dietary acid-base balance evaluation as therapeutic approach.

Evaluation of dietary patterns and their impact on eye health among Saudi adults-A multi-regional cross-sectional analysis in Makkah, Riyadh, and Qassim.

Background and aim: Nutrition plays a vital role in maintaining and improving vision health. However, little is known about dietary intake habits and their correlation with vision health among adults in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The present survey was aimed to assess dietary patterns and vision health among Saudi adults and to determine the association between dietary patterns and vision health. Methods: The present analytical study was carried out among 1,234 Saudi adults in the Makkah, Riyadh, and Qassim regions of KSA. We used the Arabic version of the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire-25 (NEI VFQ-25) and the diet quality screener (DQS). We applied Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests to determine the association between vision function score and demographic characteristics. Furthermore, the Spearman correlation test was used to determine the relationship between the DQS and the NEI VFQ-25. Results: Of the studied population, the highest score obtained through the NEI VFQ-25 was in the social function domain (mean ± SD = 76.64 ± 18.63), followed by the general vision domain (mean ± SD = 75.21 ± 15.16) and was negatively correlated with age. Regarding dietary patterns, the intake of lean protein sources per week was the highest, with a mean intake of 4.17 days per week, followed by that of whole grains and milk or dairy products, with a mean intake of around four days per week. There was a significant correlation between various dietary intakes and visual function scores. Conclusion: The present survey underscores the significance of understanding regional dietary patterns and their implications for vision health. Furthermore, our study's findings indicate a need for targeted nutritional intervention measures to improve the vision health of this population.

Diet and risk for hernia: a Mendelian randomization analysis.

Background: The relationship between dietary factors and hernias is currently unclear. Methods: The UK Biobank was used to extract dietary factors that were used as exposures, including intake of alcohol, non-oily fish, beef, fresh fruit, oily fish, salad/raw vegetables, dried fruit, coffee, cereal, salt, tea, water, cooked vegetables, cheese, Lamb/mutton, pork, poultry, processed meat, and bread. The FinnGen biobank was used to obtain GWAS data on hernias as outcomes. The main analysis of this study was performed using the weighted median, MR-Egger, and IVW methods. Cochran's Q test was utilized to assess heterogeneity. To find potential outliers, the MR-PRESSO method was used. Leave-one-out analysis was employed to assess the IVW method's robustness. Results: Alcoholic consumption per week (OR: 0.614; p = 0.00614) reduced the risk of inguinal hernia. Alcohol intake frequency (OR: 1.309; p = 0.0477) increased the risk of ventral hernia (mainly including incisional hernia and parastomal hernia). The intake of non-oily fish (OR: 2.945; p = 0.0214) increased the risk of inguinal hernia. Salt added to food (OR: 1.841; p = 0.00267) increased the risk of umbilical hernia. Cheese intake (OR: 0.434; p = 0.000536) and dried fruit intake (OR: 0.322; p = 0.00716) decreased the risk of ventral hernia, while cooked vegetable intake (OR: 4.475; p = 0.0380) increased the risk of ventral hernia. No causal relationships were found with hernias from other dietary factors. Conclusion: Inguinal, umbilical, and ventral hernias are all related to dietary factors.

Flavonoids intake and weight-adjusted waist index: insights from a cross-sectional study of NHANES.

This study conducted data on 15,446 adults to explore the impact of flavonoids on weight-adjusted waist index (WWI). This was a nationwide cross-sectional study among US adults aged 20 years or older. Dietary intake of flavonoids was assessed through 24-h recall questionnaire. WWI was calculated by dividing waist circumference (WC) by the square root of weight. We utilized weighted generalized linear regression to evaluate the association between flavonoids intake and WWI, and restricted cubic splines (RCS) to explore potential non-linear relationships. Our findings indicated that individuals with lower WWI experienced a notable increase in their consumption of total flavonoids, flavanones, flavones, flavan-3-ols, and anthocyanidins intake (ß (95% CI); -0.05(-0.09, -0.01); -0.07(-0.13, 0.00); -0.07(-0.11, -0.02); -0.06(-0.11, 0.00); -0.13(-0.18, -0.08), respectively), with the exception of flavonols and isoflavones. Additionally, consumption of total flavonoids, flavonols, flavanones, isoflavones, and flavan-3-ols had a non-linear relationship with WWI (all P for non-linearity < 0.05). Furthermore, the effect of total flavonoids on WWI varied in race (P for interaction = 0.011), gender (P for interaction = 0.038), and poverty status (P for interaction = 0.002). These findings suggested that increase the intake of flavonoids might prevent abdominal obesity, but further prospective studies are requested before dietary recommendation.

Reply to "Stribling & Ibrahim 2023: Commentary to the Editor".

In response to "Stribling & Ibrahim 2023: Commentary to the Editor", we wish to thank all authors for their interest in our work. The sole motive behind our narrative review, after learning the lesson from the trans-fat history and its impact on the science and food industry, is to prevent harm before it is too late. We agree with the authors regarding the importance of a worldwide unified definition of dietary fibre, but this should not have potential to worsen symptoms of those with functional bowel disorders nor cause more confusion among the public regarding the health benefits of dietary fibre. Thus, we aim to address the authors' views and concerns, and to provide future recommendations, which will be summarised below. The following abbreviations will be used: FBDs, functional bowel disorders; DF, dietary fibre; LMW DF, low molecular weight dietary fibre; HMW DF, high molecular weight dietary fibre.

Charting the microplastic menace: A bibliometric analysis of pollution in Malaysian mangroves and polypropylene bioaccumulation assessment in Anadara granosa.

According to a bibliometric analysis, studies on microplastic pollution in Malaysia are still incomprehensive. This study found microplastic contamination in sediment (97 particles/kg) and water (10,963 particles/m3) samples from Malaysian mangroves. Sediment from Matang and water from Kuala Selangor recorded the highest microplastic concentrations at 140 ± 5.13 particles/kg and 13,350 ± 37.95 particles/m3, respectively. Fragmented, blue, rayon and particles of <0.1 mm microplastic were the most abundant in sediment and water. In an experiment of polypropylene microplastic uptakes, Anadara granosa was found to uptake more 0.1 mm fiber particles. The uptake is strongly correlated to the presence of microplastics in sediment and water. The estimated dietary intake (EDI) indicates that a consumer could ingest 507 microplastic particles/year by consuming contaminated A. granosa. Therefore, mitigating measures are crucial to safeguard aquatic systems and humans from microplastic pollution.

Web scraping of user-simulated online nutrition information for people with multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: People diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) often seek to modify their diet guided by online advice, however this advice may not align with national dietary guidelines. The aim of this study was to simulate an online search for dietary advice conducted by a person with MS and evaluate the content. It was hypothesised that a variety of eating patterns are promoted for MS online and these dietary approaches can be contradictory. METHODS: An online search was simulated using Google Trends-informed search terms and Google and Bing search engines. URLs were extracted using R. Nutrition data were extracted including recommendations for diets, foods, supplements, and health professional consultation. Statistical analyses were conducted using R. RESULTS: 73 URLs from 49 websites were extracted, with only 14 results common to both search engines. Dietary recommendations included overall eating patterns (58 webpages, 79%), individual foods (55 webpages, 75%), and supplements (33 webpages, 45%). The most promoted eating pattern for MS was a balanced diet (33 recommendations, 48%), more likely by nonprofit organisations and health information websites (14 and 17 recommendations, 100% and 89%); lifestyle program websites were more likely to recommend restrictive diets (19 recommendations, 100%) (p<0.001). 52% pages advised consulting a health professional, most often a doctor or dietitian. CONCLUSION: A balanced diet is the most recommended eating pattern for MS online, though advice promoting restrictive diets persists.

Dietary fiber alleviates alcoholic liver injury via Bacteroides acidifaciens and subsequent ammonia detoxification.

The gut microbiota and diet-induced changes in microbiome composition have been linked to various liver diseases, although the specific microbes and mechanisms remain understudied. Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is one such disease with limited therapeutic options due to its complex pathogenesis. We demonstrate that a diet rich in soluble dietary fiber increases the abundance of Bacteroides acidifaciens (B. acidifaciens) and alleviates alcohol-induced liver injury in mice. B. acidifaciens treatment alone ameliorates liver injury through a bile salt hydrolase that generates unconjugated bile acids to activate intestinal farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and its downstream target, fibroblast growth factor-15 (FGF15). FGF15 promotes hepatocyte expression of ornithine aminotransferase (OAT), which facilitates the metabolism of accumulated ornithine in the liver into glutamate, thereby providing sufficient glutamate for ammonia detoxification via the glutamine synthesis pathway. Collectively, these findings uncover a potential therapeutic strategy for ALD involving dietary fiber supplementation and B. acidifaciens.

Understanding modifiable caregiver factors contributing to child development among young children in rural Malawi.

This study examined modifiable caregiver factors influencing child development in Malawi using baseline data from 1,021 mothers and their children <2 years of age participating in a cluster-randomized controlled trial implemented in rural Malawi (2022-2025). We fit an evidence-based theoretical model using structural equation modelling examining four caregiver factors: (1) diet diversity (sum of food groups consumed in the past 24 h), (2) empowerment (assessed using the project-level Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index), (3) mental health (assessed using the Self-Reported Questionnaire, SRQ-20), and (4) stimulation (number of stimulation activities the mother engaged in the past 3 days). Child development was assessed using the Malawi Development Assessment Tool (norm-referenced aggregate Z-score). The model controlled for child, caregiver, and household socioeconomic characteristics. Results showed that caregiver dietary diversity was directly associated with higher child development scores (standardized coefficient 0.091 [95% CI 0.027, 0.153]) and lower SRQ-20 scores -0.058 (-0.111, -0.006). Empowerment was directly associated with higher child development scores (0.071 [0.007, 0.133]), higher stimulation score (0.074 [0.013, 0.140]), higher dietary diversity (0.085 [0.016, 0.145]), and lower SRQ-20 scores (-0.068 [-0.137, -0.002]). Further, higher empowerment was indirectly associated with improved child development through enhancement of caregiver dietary diversity, with an indirect effect of 0.008 (0.002, 0.018). These findings highlight the important role that caregiver diet and empowerment play in directly influencing child development and other aspects of caregiver well-being. Interventions aimed at enhancing child development should consider these factors as potential targets to improve outcomes for children and caregivers.

A single-blinded, randomized, parallel intervention to evaluate genetics and omics-based personalized nutrition in general population via an e-commerce tool: The PREVENTOMICS e-commerce study.

BACKGROUND: Personalized nutrition (PN) has been proposed as a strategy to increase the effectiveness of dietary recommendations and ultimately improve health status. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess whether including omics-based PN in an e-commerce tool improves dietary behavior and metabolic profile in general population. METHODS: A 21-wk parallel, single-blinded, randomized intervention involved 193 adults assigned to a control group following Mediterranean diet recommendations (n = 57, completers = 36), PN (n = 70, completers = 45), or personalized plan (PP, n = 68, completers = 53) integrating a behavioral change program with PN recommendations. The intervention used metabolomics, proteomics, and genetic data to assist participants in creating personalized shopping lists in a simulated e-commerce retailer portal. The primary outcome was the Mediterranean diet adherence screener (MEDAS) score; secondary outcomes included biometric and metabolic markers and dietary habits. RESULTS: Volunteers were categorized with a scoring system based on biomarkers of lipid, carbohydrate metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress, and microbiota, and dietary recommendations delivered accordingly in the PN and PP groups. The intervention significantly increased MEDAS scores in all volunteers (control-3 points; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.2, 3.8; PN-2.7 points; 95% CI: 2.0, 3.3; and PP-2.8 points; 95% CI: 2.1, 3.4; q < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in dietary habits or health parameters between PN and control groups after adjustment for multiple comparisons. Nevertheless, personalized recommendations significantly (false discovery rate < 0.05) and selectively enhanced the scores calculated with biomarkers of carbohydrate metabolism (ß: -0.37; 95% CI: -0.56, -0.18), oxidative stress (ß: -0.37; 95% CI: -0.60, -0.15), microbiota (ß: -0.38; 95% CI: -0.63, -0.15), and inflammation (ß: -0.78; 95% CI: -1.24, -0.31) compared with control diet. CONCLUSIONS: Integration of personalized strategies within an e-commerce-like tool did not enhance adherence to Mediterranean diet or improved health markers compared with general recommendations. The metabotyping approach showed promising results and more research is guaranteed to further promote its application in PN. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04641559 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04641559?cond=NCT04641559&rank=1).

The role of exercise training and dietary sodium restriction in heart failure rehabilitation: A systematic review.

Heart failure (HF) rehabilitation seeks to enhance the entire well-being and quality of life of those with HF by focusing on both physical and mental health. Non-pharmacological measures, particularly exercise training, and dietary salt reduction, are essential components of heart failure rehabilitation. This study examines the impact of these components on the recovery of patients with heart failure. By conducting a comprehensive analysis of research articles published from 2010 to 2024, we examined seven relevant studies collected from sources that include PubMed and Cochrane reviews. Our findings indicate that engaging in physical activity leads to favorable modifications in the heart, including improved heart contractility, vasodilation, and cardiac output. These alterations enhance the delivery of oxygen to the peripheral tissues and reduce symptoms of heart failure, such as fatigue and difficulty breathing. Nevertheless, decreasing the consumption of salt in one's diet to less than 1500 mg per day did not have a substantial impact on the frequency of hospitalizations, visits to the emergency room, or overall mortality when compared to conventional treatment. The combination of sodium restriction and exercise training can have synergistic effects due to their complementary modes of action. Exercise improves cardiovascular health and skeletal muscle metabolism, while sodium restriction increases fluid balance and activates neurohormonal pathways. Therefore, the simultaneous usage of both applications may result in more significant enhancements in HF symptoms and clinical outcomes compared to using each program alone.

Macrophage dynamics in prostate cancer: Molecular to therapeutic insights.

This review provides an in-depth examination of the role that tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play in the progression of prostate cancer (PCa), with a particular focus on the factors influencing the polarization of M1 and M2 macrophages and the implications of targeting these cells for cancer progression. The development and prognosis of PCa are significantly influenced by the behavior of macrophages within the tumor microenvironment. M1 macrophages typically exhibit anti-tumor properties by secreting pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), thereby enhancing the immune response. Conversely, M2 macrophages contribute to tumor cell migration and invasion through the production of factors like arginase-1 (Arg1) and interleukin-10 (IL-10). This review not only explores the diverse factors that affect macrophage polarization but also delves into the potential therapeutic strategies targeting macrophage polarization, including the critical roles of non-coding RNA and exosomes in regulating this process. The polarization state of macrophages is highlighted as a key determinant in PCa progression, offering a novel perspective for clinical treatment. Future research should concentrate on gaining a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying macrophage polarization and on developing effective targeted therapeutic strategies. The exploration of the potential of combination therapies to improve treatment efficacy is also emphasized. By emphasizing the importance of macrophages as a therapeutic target in PCa, this review aims to provide valuable insights and research directions for clinicians and researchers.