Dietary Items Research Articles

Investigating chemical risk in green and loggerhead turtles foraging in Moreton Bay using species-specific cell-based bioassays.

Differences in trophic level may result in differences in chemical exposure between species of sea turtles, as pollutants may bioaccumulate differentially in diet items. It is, therefore, crucial to understand species-specific differences in exposure and effect to accurately assess chemical risk to individual species. This study used blood collected from green and loggerhead turtles foraging in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia, to assess differences in chemical exposure and effect of two species foraging in the same area at different trophic levels. Organic contaminants were extracted from green and loggerhead turtle blood samples and assessed for cytotoxicity in species-specific cell cultures. The results indicated that chemical exposure to organic contaminants was similar between the two species, despite differences in trophic level. Overall, chemical risk was relatively low in both species, but temporal changes in toxicity observed in other similar studies illustrate the importance of ongoing toxicological assessments of sea turtle populations.

Validity of the MED4CHILD tool for assessing adherence to the Mediterranean diet in preschool children

Most of the available tools to assess adherence to Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) were constructed for adults, having limited applicability to children and adolescents. The aim of this study is to validate a specific questionnaire to assess adherence to MedDiet in children aged 3 to 6 years (MED4CHILD questionnaire). The validation was performed in a baseline examination of a cohort of children who were recruited in schools in seven cities. Of the total sample of 1509 children, we included 858 children aged 3 to 6 years with complete information on adherence to the MedDiet, food consumption, anthropometry and cardiometabolic characteristics. Adherence to the MedDiet was assessed using an 18-item questionnaire, adapted from validated questionnaire for adults using the Delphi method. Food and beverage consumption was assessed using a validated COME-Kids Food and Beverage Frequency Questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements and cardiometabolic risk factors were assessed using standard methods. Statistical analyses included kappa agreement, ANOVA and linear regression models. Higher MED4CHILD scores were associated with higher intakes of food characteristic of the MedDiet. The MED4CHILD questionnaire showed moderate validity, especially for key items of the Mediterranean diet (kappa ranging from 0.333 to 0.665). Direct significant associations were found between MED4CHILD scores and cardiometabolic profile, including waist circumference (p), triglycerides and HOMA-IR (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The 18-item MED4CHILD questionnaire showed moderate validity for assessing adherence to the MedDiet in children aged 3 to 6 years, in terms of agreement with food and beverage consumption and favourable cardiometabolic profile.What is known:• The Mediterranean diet has been linked to a number of health benefits and the assessment of children's adherence to this diet is important for public health and research.• The tools available to assess MedDiet compliance are mainly for adults.What is new:• The MED4CHILD questionnaire is a simple, inexpensive and rapid tool for assessing MedDiet compliance in children.• This tool showed moderate relative validity and a high score was associated with a favourable cardiometabolic profile.

Morphological change in an isolated population of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) in Britain.

The mechanical properties of dietary items are known to influence skull morphology, either through evolution or by phenotypic plasticity. Here, we investigated the impact of supplementary feeding of peanuts on the morphology of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) from five populations in Britain (North Scotland, Borders, Jersey and two temporally distinct populations from Formby (Merseyside)). Stable isotope analysis confirmed dietary ecology in 58 specimens. Geometric morphometrics were used to analyse three-dimensional and two-dimensional shape variation across 113 crania and 388 mandibles, respectively. Nitrogen isotope ratios (δ15N) were lower in the 1990s and 2010s Formby squirrels (suggesting a diet with an increased proportion of peanuts), and higher in other populations. Significant differences in cranio-mandibular shape were found between all populations, with 1990s Formby red squirrels exhibiting a morphology associated with reduced masticatory efficiency. This effect was partially reversed following a reduction in supplementary feeding of peanuts. We propose that these morphological changes are related to the reduced mechanical effort needed to process peanuts relative to naturally occurring food items. This could be an example of diet-induced plastic changes to the skeleton in non-muroid wild mammals, although further research is needed to exclude other driving factors such as genetics.

Integrative development of a concise screening questionnaire for early detection of pregnant women at risk for dystrophy

BackgroundMaintaining a healthy diet during pregnancy is vital for reducing the risk of adverse birth outcomes. However, conventional methods of assessing the dietary behavior of pregnant women, such as the FFQ, are often time-consuming. This study aims to develop a concise nutritional screening questionnaire tailored for pregnant women, empowering prenatal healthcare providers to quickly identify key adverse dietary behaviors and provide targeted guidance.MethodsTo validate the Pregnancy Nutrition Checklist, we enrolled 208 women in early pregnancy and 200 women were included to analysis (with an average age of 31.54 ± 4.24 years). Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to assess the relative reliability of the Pregnancy Nutrition Checklist compared with the FFQ scale. Exploratory factor analysis was used to test the structural validity of the scale. A generalized linear model was used to analyze the correlation between dietary behavior and birth weight.ResultsThe pregnancy nutrition checklist includes 15 dietary items and 3 other lifestyle habit items. Compared with traditional FFQ questionnaires, the correlation analysis of corresponding items in the pregnancy nutrition checklist revealed statistical significance (p < 0.05), except for fat intake. EFA identified three underlying factors, namely, “high-fat foods,” “moderate-fat foods,” and “low-fat foods,” indicating that the questionnaire has good construct validity. Insufficient consumption of vegetables by pregnant women(OR = 2.64, 95% CI: 1.08–6.46, p = 0.033) was associated with a significantly greater risk of developing LGA fetuses. Pregnant women whose sugar, coffee, or tea intake did not exceed the classification criteria had significantly greater fetal birth weights than those whose intake exceeded the classification criteria (OR = 3.38, 95% CI: 1.18–9.68, p = 0.023). In contrast, consuming fewer highly palatable snacks can reduce the incidence of LGA babies (OR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.11–0.74, p = 0.010).ConclusionsThis tool has great potential for identifying unhealthy dietary behaviors, potentially leading to improved pregnancy outcomes.Trial registrationThis study was preregistered on May 5, 2023, at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2300071126).

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) bioactive constituents and their applications as natural multifunctional ingredients in health-promoting foods and nutraceuticals: A comprehensive review.

Foods that support human health and longevity are becoming increasingly relevant as substitutes for or adjuncts to pharmacological drugs, either through direct consumption or incorporation into designer foods fortified with health-promoting ingredients. Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits, seeds, and pollen are a cornerstone of diverse food and medicine traditions. Their reported metabolic activities include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antihypertensive, antihyperlipidemic, antidiabetic, antitumor, antianemia, hepatoprotective, antibacterial, and antiviral effects. Beneficial effects on gut health and vascular health, as well as effectiveness in alleviating certain dysfunctions of the reproductive system, have also been noted. The genomic diversity of this versatile tree and the diverse agroecological conditions in which it grows lead to appreciable variations in the occurrence of protective nutrients and other high-value bioactive phytochemicals, including flavonoid and non-flavonoid phenolics, carotenoids, phytosterols, and oxylipins, whose potential remains underutilized in the food sector. As food ingredients, date fruits and their co-products can improve the sensory, nutritional, and nutraceutical qualities of a broad range of dietary items. Their high nutritional density can assist with the design of novel or improved products that meet the demand for healthier foods. This review summarizes the current state of evidence on the potentialities of date palm fruits and co-products in functional food development, focusing on the nutrients and extra-nutritional compounds of interest, their biofunctional activities, and factors that influence their abundance and bioactivity. Proofs of concept across food and beverage categories, new developments, and clinical evidence are discussed, followed by recommendations for addressing research gaps.

Through the eyes of the Andean bear: Camera collar insights into the life of a threatened South American Ursid.

Due to Andean bears' propensity for inhabiting challenging environments and terrain, their wild ecology remains poorly understood, especially when compared to other members of the Ursidae family. In one of the steepest, wettest regions of the Andes, the Kosñipata Valley of southeastern Peru, we attached and retrieved camera-borne collars on three wild free-ranging Andean bears. From just one longer term camera collar deployed on a single individual over a period of 4 months, we observed a variety of rare or previously undocumented natural history observations. These include courtship and mating behaviors, social interactions with conspecifics, novel dietary items of previously unrecorded fruit consumption, cannibalism, potential infanticide, the sole documented case of primate consumption, and evidence of geophagy. The wealth of novel natural history insights gained from just 4 months of camera collar data of this poorly studied species has elucidated numerous avenues warranting further investigation.

Prevalence of invasive fish and plants in the winter diet of the rakali (Hydromys chrysogaster)

AbstractUnderstanding the dietary components of a species can help reveal complex ecological interactions within an ecosystem. We analysed the diet of a native semi‐aquatic predator, the rakali (Hydromys chrysogaster), to investigate its reported preference for invasive species in a regulated freshwater system. We used faecal metabarcoding analysis to identify key dietary items consumed during winter in the Yanco Creek System of southern New South Wales. While rakali did not display a significant difference in the consumption of invasive and native fish, 79.5% of total fish relative read abundance were invasive. The common carp (Cyprinus carpio) comprised 16.8% of the total diet relative read abundance and was present in 78.6% of samples. Plant matter was present in all samples and over half of the total relative read abundance of the diet. The prevalence of plants in the winter diet of rakali indicates that they are an important dietary supplement when other resources are limited. We show that the prevalence of invasive fish consumed by rakali is likely a result of their greater abundance in the system, rather than a direct preference. Further research is needed to determine the extent to which rakali can control invasive prey populations.

Estimated Dietary Intakes of Vitamin A5.

A new vitamin concept, termed vitamin A5, an umbrella term for vitamin A derivatives being direct nutritional precursors for 9-cis-13,14-dihydroretinoic acid and further induction of RXR-signaling, was recently identified with global importance for mental health and healthy brain and nerve functions. Dietary recommendations in the range of 1.1 (0.5-1.8) mg vitamin A5 / day were suggested by an international expert consortium. The ensuing question arises as to the current daily dietary intake amounts in Western civilization. Addressing this answer included calculating the intake based on known amounts of vitamin A5 in frequently consumed food items of the human diet that are high in this vitamin, as well as the known daily dietary intake amounts of those selected food components in Westernized countries. Regarding food items, amounts of vitamin A5 in the form of provitamin A5 (i.e., 9-cis-beta-carotene (9CBC)), the predominant form in the diet, were found to range from 0.1 to 39 µg 9CBC / g for individual fruits and vegetables, with the highest concentrations being in leafy vegetables. The average intake amounts of vitamin A5 in adults of the general population following a Western lifestyle in Europe averaged 0.9, with a range from 0.5 (for Austria) to 1.3 (for Italy) mg 9CBC/day. Furthermore, based on our calculations, large parts, i.e., approximately two-thirds, of the population are low, even too low (<1.1 mg/day), in daily vitamin A5 intake. In addition to the importance of nudging the population toward a regrettably non-well-accepted higher intake of fruits and vegetables, an additional fortification and supplementation of vitamin A5 could be considered, similar to other micronutrients that are low in a Westernized diet.

Food habits of the exotic lizard Diploderma polygonatum polygonatum (Agamidae, Squamata, Reptilia) at a World Heritage site, Yakushima Island, Japan

This study investigated the dietary components of an exotic lizard, Diploderma polygonatum polygonatum Hallowell, 1861, at the Yakushima Island World Heritage Site in southern Japan. A total of 430 individuals of various invertebrate species were found in the stomachs of 42 lizards. The most abundant order of prey animals was Hymenoptera (303 individuals in 38 lizards), followed by Coleoptera (36 individuals in 18 lizards) and Lepidoptera (24 individuals in 15 lizards). DNA barcoding was applied to 135 dietary items, and a total of 59 sequences were confirmed. BLAST searches showed that 33 of these 59 sequences presented more than 95% identity to known sequences in the database. These results showed this arboreal lizard captured invertebrates from both ground and arboreal habitats in the introduced area. Although no species on the Japanese Red List were identifiable in the stomachs of the lizards, the database of invertebrate DNA was insufficient to identify the dietary components of this predator at a World Heritage site.

Nutritional Composition of Forage Available to the Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat.

Access to adequate nutrition supports an animal's chance of survival and reproduction; thus, it is particularly important for threatened species. The nutritional quality of forage available to the critically endangered northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii; NHW) has not been assessed for two decades. The NHW Recovery Action Plan 2022 highlighted a need to investigate the effects of invasive buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) on the species' diet - reassessing the relative nutritional quality of highly abundant buffel grass will assist this investigation. This study assessed the nutritional composition of NHW food items, including buffel grass. Comparisons of the nutritional composition were made between two geographically distanced sites (both eucalyptus woodland and savannah with highly abundant buffel grass), seasons and plant genera. The nitrogen, gross energy, acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre, ash and mineral content of plants and their relationship to scats, as faecal nitrogen is a good predictor of palatability of grass and nutritional status, were assessed. The nutritional content of plants varied significantly between sites, seasons and genera. Total forage nutritional quality was greatest during spring 2020 at Epping Forest National Park, during summer 2020/21 and autumn 2021 at Richard Underwood Nature Refuge and poorest during winter at both sites. Buffel grass may be a nutritionally valuable food item of the NHW during winter at both sites. There was no significant relationship between the N and gross energy in forage and scats. The findings of this study will inform management if there is a need to reduce invasive buffel grass, based on enhanced knowledge of the NHW nutritional requirements, by determining whether the species has access to suitable dietary items and meeting their nutritional requirements, particularly when forage quality is poorest or promotion of nutritionally valuable forage items is required. The study will also inform management of nutritional requirements at future translocation sites for the NHW.

Ayurvedic perspective of dietary risk factors of colorectal cancers - A hospital-based case control study

BackgroundThe rising prevalence of colorectal cancer (CRC) may be attributed to various nutritional and behavioural factors, making both factors as important topics for discussion to the layman and the oncology community. ObjectiveTo explore additional dietary risk factors, other than those already known, according to the Ayurvedic perspective in CRC patients. MethodsDetail dietary data was collected from 420 patients of CRC and 116 healthy volunteers registered at our institute with the help of a food frequency questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was done by plotting radar charts, whereas the logistic regression models were used to calculate the adjusted Odd Ratios (ORs) associated with consumption of green chilli, red chilli powder and curd, individually and in combinations. ResultsThe controls in the present study were younger, had more males, the majority of them belonged to middle- and lower-income groups and had a family history of cancer as compared with cohort of case studies. Green chilli consumption was found to be the maximum within the lower-income group (n = 18, 66.67%), while that of red chilli (n = 150, 48.23%), and curd (n = 107, 34.04%) within the middle class. Maximum consumption of green chillies (Males n = 48, 29.27%; Females n = 36, 21.95%), red chillies (Males n = 40, 29.85%; Females n = 16, 24.61%) and curd (Males n = 31, 28.97%) was observed in the age group 46 to 60 irrespective of sex. Tobacco was found to be the most common addiction in all groups. The maximum number of patients frequently consuming these three dietary items presented majorly with rectal cancer, and liver metastasis and were in advanced grade and stage of cancer. Curd and curd with red chilli powder had a significant association with the development of CRC with an OR of 2.7280 (95% CI 1.6346 to 4.5531) and 5.0806 (95% CI 2.4015 to 10.7485), respectively, which was highly significant (p < 0.0001). Green chilli was notably an associated risk with an OR of 2.0095 (95% CI 1.3258 to 3.0458), which was also statistically significant (p = 0.001). Red chilli powder and green chilli with curd had ORs as 1.6917 (95% CI 1.1105 to 2.5771) and 2.1778 (95% CI 1.1591 to 4.0918) with p = 0.0144 and 0.0156, respectively. ConclusionIn the present study, green chilli, red chilli, and curd are identified as additional dietary risk factors for colorectal cancers, owing to their ability to produce chronic inflammation leading to various inflammatory conditions including cancer.

Food web structure of the Lake Superior fish community in 2021–2022

The trophic linkages and ecological requirements of the Lake Superior fish community have not been assessed on a whole lake scale in over a decade. Here, we investigated the trophic dynamics across multiple species and habitat zones of Lake Superior. From April to October of 2021 and 2022, a total of five piscivore, four planktivore, and six benthivore species were collected by region and length class during bottom-trawl, standard gillnet, commercial cisco gillnet, and recreational angler surveys. To assess trophic linkages, stomach contents were measured to estimate biomass consumed and a multivariate analysis was used to assess diet composition by species, length, and region. We found a high degree of interconnectedness in the Lake Superior food web, with Mysis as a critical diet item for most fishes. Native piscivore diets varied by region and with ontogeny. Lake charr were important habitat couplers in the lake, exhibiting a diverse diet and opportunistic foraging strategy. Conversely, Pacific salmon were more restricted in their foraging. Planktivores and benthivores primarily consumed Mysis, with less reliance on Diporeia compared to previous studies. Lake whitefish and cisco were the exception to this pattern, with broader bathymetric depth distributions represented in their diets. We found the food web to be supported by a predominantly native species assemblage, with redundancies at all trophic levels

Diet and metabolic influences on skin aging and diseases: Ayurvedic prospectives

Skin aging and disorders are related to environmental factors, genetic makeup, nutrition, and other factors, but Ayurveda emphasized the dietary etiologies for all types of skin disorders and skin aging. The concept of Jara(aging) is entirely dependent on the Prana(life energy force for circulation and respiration) supported by ojus and tejos. The digestive power (Agni) is very vital for skin disorders and aging. Undigested food residue(Ama) influences the occurrence of diseases in the body; like that, it influences skin aging and skin disorders. The particular rasa(taste dominant), dietary items, and dieting procedure for genesis skin disorders are described. Food items included or avoided in a diet for a particular skin condition are also narrated. There is a positive correlation between diet and metabolism in skin aging and disorders. Therefore, fruit and vegetable consumption, along with other polyphenols containing food items, exercise, and pranayama may represent the healthiest and safe method in order to maintain youthful skin and can prevent skin disorders aging.

The COM-B model: a cross-sectional survey assessing capability, opportunities, and motivation to follow the MIND diet among informal female caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease or dementia has been correlated with poor dietary patterns in caregivers. Dietary patterns like The Mediterranean-DASH diet intervention for neurodegenerative delay (MIND) diet have the potential to reduce the negative health outcomes associated with caregiving. Our objective was to assess capabilities, opportunities, and motivation of caregivers to follow the MIND diet using the COM-B model approach. Female caregivers (n = 299, m age = 37.7 ± 13.7) participated in an online survey. Majority were White (72%) and cared for someone with Alzheimer's disease (42.6%). The survey included at least one question for each of the 6 COM-B subcomponents: psychological capability, physical capability, social opportunity, physical opportunity, reflective motivation, and automatic motivation. Most caregivers were not consuming the MIND diet as only 8.4% reported normally eating the MIND diet items. Caregivers (36.5%) were slightly confident or not confident at all in cooking and eating the MIND diet. Participants (67.1%) reported that consuming the MIND diet would somewhat to very much be supported by friends and family. Budget, time, and transportation were selected as the main barriers. Budget, cooking skills, access to food and stores, and family support were the main facilitators. Strategies to increase capability, opportunities, and motivation for the MIND diet are needed to improve caregivers' health. Future MIND diet interventions should improve budget planning and cooking skills of caregivers (capabilities), make MIND diet food items accessible to them (opportunity) and incorporate social support from family and friends (motivation).

Seasonal Feeding Activity and Ontogenetic Dietary Shifts of the Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) in Lake Arekit, a Small, Eutrophic Lake in Ethiopia

ABSTRACTSeasonal feeding activity and ontogenetic dietary shifts of Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus, 1758) were examined using 209 fish samples from Lake Arekit, Ethiopia. Among the 209 specimens, 174 (83.3%) displayed a range of dietary items in their stomachs. The species’ feeding patterns were determined through numerical indexes (frequency of occurrence and volumetric contribution) and composite indexes (index of preponderance [IOP] and Geometric Index of Importance [GIIi]). Detritus emerged as the primary food source for C. carpio, followed by macrophytes, insects and zooplankton. A lesser amount of phytoplankton, nematodes and ostracods were also consumed. On the basis of the findings, C. carpio can be classified as a detri‐omnivore, as it consumes benthic species like nematodes, ostracods and insect larvae. Seasonal fluctuations in food item consumption were noted (p &lt; 0.05), with higher intake during the rainy season and reduced consumption in the dry season. There was a distinct ontogenetic shift in the relative importance of food items and showed significant variations in food preferences among size groups (p &lt; 0.05). The contributions of animal‐origin food categories (ostracods, zooplankton and insects) were important in the diet of the smaller size class, whereas food of plant origin (macrophytes) and detritus were more important in the diet of adults. Understanding the seasonal feeding patterns and ontogenetic dietary shifts of C. carpio in Lake Arekit provides crucial insights into their ecological role within the lake's ecosystem and highlights their adaptability to eutrophic conditions.

True metabolizable energy of foods consumed by lesser scaup (Aythya affinis)

AbstractThe energy derived from available foods is an important factor used in conservation planning for migratory species. Estimating true metabolizable energy (TME) of available foods has become a common method for resource managers to increase reliability in energetic carrying‐capacity estimates. Lesser scaup (Aythya affinis; hereafter scaup), have experienced a population decline concurrent with suspected decreases in foraging habitat quality and quantity at spring stopover sites in the upper Midwest, USA. Unfortunately, few TME estimates are available for common diet items of scaup. We estimated nitrogen‐adjusted TME (TMEN) of 5 common foods of scaup by conducting feeding trials on wild females and males. True metabolizable energy varied by food taxa, but not by pretrial body mass or sex. Mean TMEN (kcal/g[dry] ± SE) was greatest for wild millet (Echinochloa crus‐galli; 2.20 ± 0.14), followed by chironomids (Chironomus spp.; 1.41 ± 0.49), amphipods (Gammarus spp.; 1.33 ± 0.23), planorbid snails (Planorbidae; 0.17 ± 0.07), and fingernail clams (Sphaeriidae; −0.79 ± 0.27). Our results, combined with scaup diet literature indicated that the management of spring staging areas for high‐energy invertebrates (i.e., chironomids and amphipods) would provide improved opportunity for energy acquisition during migration. Further study could help determine if the acclimation of scaup to particular diets, especially bivalves, increases their TMEN values.

Antibiotic Residue in Milk and Meat Products: A Scientific Overview

The need for food is rising globally as the human population continues to rise. People in better socioeconomic countries have a tendency to substitute meat and high quality items for grains in their diets. Over the past thirty years, there has been a seventy percent increase in their choice of chicken as a protein source. Antibiotics accumulate in animal tissues as a result of overuse and misuse in treating illnesses and fostering animal growth. From there, they enter human bodies through the food chain. This study provides a detailed assessment of comparative studies on the dangers to human health posed by antibiotic residue (AR) in foods, including milk and meat from animal sources. The usage of several veterinary antibiotics in animal farms, which can result in ARs, is the main topic of this review's early section. Later on, there has been a thorough discussion of ARs in dietary items, such as milk and meat. People from underdeveloped and impoverished nations are particularly susceptible to infectious diseases brought on by bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, according to review research on the problems with antibiotic use and human health. Towards the conclusion of the review, a few alternative strategies are outlined, taking into account their potential exposure to substitute antibiotics as growth promoters and reducing the prevalence of antibiotic resistant genes. These strategies include the use of probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids, phytogenic feed additives, and other substances.

Estimated and invivo measurements of bite force demonstrate exceptionally large bite forces in parrots (Psittaciformes).

Jaw morphology and function determine the range of dietary items that an organism can consume. Bite force is a function of the force exerted by the jaw musculature and applied via the skeleton. Bite force has been studied in a wide range of taxa using various methods, including direct measurement, or calculation from skulls or jaw musculature. Data for parrots (Psittaciformes), considered to have strong bites, are rare. This study calculated bite force for a range of parrot species of differing sizes using a novel method that relied on forces calculated using the area of jaw muscles measured insitu and their masses. The values for bite force were also recorded invivo using force transducers, allowing for a validation of the dissection-based models. The analysis investigated allometric relationships between measures of body size and calculated bite force. Additionally, the study examined whether a measure of a muscle scar could be a useful proxy to estimate bite force in parrots. Bite force was positively allometric relative to body and skull mass, with macaws having the strongest bite recorded to date for a bird. Calculated values for bite force were not statistically different from measured values. Muscle scars from the adductor muscle attachment on the mandible can be used to accurately predict bite force in parrots. These results have implications for how parrots process hard food items and how bite forces are estimated in other taxa using morphological characteristics of the jaw musculature.

The bowel function instrument for rectal cancer survivors with anastomosis and ostomy

ObjectiveRectal cancer is often treated with surgery such as ostomy or anastomosis. The Bowel Function Instrument (BFI) is a valid and reliable 18-item measure of physical bowel symptoms. Some items on the BFI do not apply to those with ostomies. We reanalyzed data from a previous validation study to inform the best method for scoring the BFI for both people with ostomies and anastomosis. MethodsPeople (n = 575) with rectal cancer treated with ostomy (n = 181, 31 %) or anastomosis (n = 394, 69 %) completed the BFI and Short Form 12 (SF12) measure on a mailed survey. The full BFI has three subscales and a total score based on 14 items: soilage/urgency (4 items); frequency of bowel movements (6 items); and dietary changes (4 items). We used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to examine two versions (8-item, 11-item) of the BFI adapted for use with both ostomy and anastomosis. We also examined reliability and validity of the version supported by the CFA. ResultsCFA results supported the 8-item BFI that included only the soilage/urgency items and dietary changes items but not the frequency items. The 8-item BFI was reliable (Cronbach's alpha of 0.788). The 8-item BFI score significantly correlated with all SF12 subscales with Pearson correlations ranging from 0.115 (Vitality) to 0.318 (social function). ConclusionsThe 8-item version of the BFI was valid and reliable as a total score for people with ostomy or anastomosis. The 8-item BFI may be useful for monitoring bowel function during and after treatment for rectal cancer.

Influence of Diet on Bowel Function and Abdominal Symptoms in Children and Adolescents with Hirschsprung Disease-A Multinational Patient-Reported Outcome Survey.

Introduction: This study aimed to understand the influence of diet and nutrition items on gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with Hirschsprung Disease (HD). Method: An online questionnaire was created to obtain patient-reported outcomes using the multinational Holistic Care in Hirschsprung Disease Network. This was distributed in Dutch, English, German, Italian, Polish, and Swedish via patient associations. Information on demographics, the extension of disease, current diet, and the influence of food ingredients on bowel function were obtained. Results: In total, 563 questionnaires were answered by parents or patients themselves. The length of the aganglionic segment was short in 33%, long in 45%, total colonic aganglionosis (TCA) in 11%, and involved the small intestine in 10%. Overall, 90% reported following a mixed diet, and 31% reported taking probiotics, with twice as many patients taking probiotics in the TCA group compared to standard HD. Mealtimes and behaviours around eating were affected by 61%, while 77% had established food items that worsened symptoms, and of these, 80% stated that they had worked these items out themselves. A high-fibre diet was followed by 24% and 18% a low-fibre diet. Symptoms were reported, particularly from dairy in 30%, fruits in 39%, pulses in 54%, and sugar in 48%. Conclusions: This first multinational survey on diet and bowel function in HD reports an association between certain dietary items with gastrointestinal symptoms. This study can support an improved understanding of the interaction between food items and bowel function in children with HD. We suggest a multidisciplinary approach to balance dietary exclusions and support adequate growth, preventing nutrition deficiencies and enhancing quality of life.