Lifestyle Factors Research Articles

Association between the age-adjusted visceral adiposity index (AVAI) and female infertility status: a cross-sectional analysis of the NHANES 2013–2018

BackgroundObesity stands as an essential factor contributing to infertility in women. Early identification of obese individuals leads to favorable results for female infertility. The objective of this research is to assess the association between the age-adjusted visceral adiposity index (AVAI) and female infertility.MethodsThis study was conducted using NHANES data from 2013 to 2018, in which 1,231 women aged 20–45 were selected. Infertility was defined by survey questions. AVAI was calculated using anthropometric and serum data. Covariates included demographics and lifestyle factors. Statistical analysis with R, adjusting for covariates, and assessing nonlinearity and cutoff effects.ResultsThe study of 1,231 women from the NHANES database revealed that 11.94% were diagnosed with infertility. Individuals with higher AVAI scores showed increased age, WC, BMI, and reduced HDL levels, with a positive correlation between AVAI and female infertility (OR = 1.42, 95%CI: 1.26–1.60). AVAI quartiles showed a pronounced relationship with female infertility risk, with the highest quartile showing the greatest risk(OR = 9.35,95% CI: 2.96–29.55). Nonlinear and threshold effects in the relationship between AVAI and female infertility were identified, with an inflection point at -9.70. Subgroup analyses indicated significant interactions between AVAI and educational status and BMI, particularly in women with a BMI below 25 kg/m2, where a high AVAI level was closely related to increased infertility risk(OR = 1.92, 95%CI: 1.44–2.58).ConclusionThe study identifies a strong association between elevated AVAI scores and female infertility risk, especially in women with a BMI under 25 kg/m2. This suggests that AVAI could be a valuable predictor in female fertility assessments.

The effect of parental pain, disability benefits and education on risk of long-term sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders and the modifying effect of sleep and physical activity: the HUNT study

BackgroundFamily factors, sleep, and physical activity have previously been associated with risk of sick leave and disability benefits due to musculoskeletal disorders. However, how these factors act during adolescence and young adulthood is unclear. The aim of this study was to (i) examine if chronic pain, disability benefits and education in parents influence the risk of long-term sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders in young adulthood, and (ii) to explore if offspring sleep problems and physical activity modify these effects.MethodsA population-based prospective study of 18,552 adolescents and young adults (≤ 30 years) in the Norwegian HUNT Study. Survey data was linked to national registry data on sick leave, disability benefits, family relations and educational attainment. We used Cox regression to estimate hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for long-term (≥ 31 days) sick leave due to a musculoskeletal disorder in offspring associated with parental factors and the joint effect of parental factors and offspring lifestyle factors.ResultsParental chronic pain (HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.27–1.45), disability benefits (HR 1.41, 95% CI 1.33–1.48) and low educational attainment (HR 1.78, 95% CI 1.67–1.90) increased the risk of long-term sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders among offspring. There was no strong evidence that sleep and physical activity modified these effects.ConclusionChronic pain, disability benefit and low education in parents increased the risk of long-term sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders among offspring, but these effects were not modified by offspring sleep problems or physical activity level. The findings suggest that efforts beyond individual lifestyle factors might be important as preventive measures.

Association between Healthy Eating Index-2015 total and component food scores with reproductive lifespan among postmenopausal women: a population-based study from NHANES 2005–2016

BackgroundPrior research has demonstrated that nutrition plays a crucial role in the establishment and maturation of the reproductive lifetime. Although the specific dietary components involved in preventing or postponing the reproductive lifespan are still unknown, a healthy diet can affect the reproductive lifespan. Here, the study aimed to explore the relationship between reproductive lifespan and diet quality by utilizing the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015).MethodsIn this study, a total of 2761 postmenopausal women were selected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2005 to 2016. Diet quality was determined using HEI-2015 based on two 24-hour dietary recalls. Reproductive lifespan was defined as the number of years between self-reported age at menarche and menopause. Weighted linear regression and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) models were used to analyze the relationship between HEI-2015 and reproductive lifespan. Subsequently, the impact of various components of HEI-2015 on reproductive lifespan was assessed through weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models.ResultsAmong 2761 postmenopausal women, the mean age was 63.7 years. 41.5% were obese, and 49.7% were non-Hispanic white. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and medical history, individuals in the highest tertile of HEI-2015 had a 4.81% (95% CI: 1.82–7.79%) longer reproductive time life. Higher HEI-2015 was also significantly associated with a higher likelihood of late menopause (p for trend < 0.05). Based on XGBoost models, the relative importance of HEI-2015 on reproductive lifespan was determined. Whole fruits, whole grains, total protein foods, and greens and beans significantly contributed to extending age at menopause and reproductive time life in the HEI-2015. The weights of the WQS index for age at menopause were 27.1%, 23.2%, 10.1%, and 7.5% respectively, while the weights of the WQS index for reproductive time life were 30.2%, 14.6%, 9.3%, and 14.0% respectively.ConclusionThere is a positive association between the HEI-2015 and reproductive lifespan. This underscores the significance of enhancing adherence to healthy dietary patterns in preventing a shorter reproductive lifespan.

Trigger Warning: How Modern Diet, Lifestyle, and Environment Pull the Trigger on Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease Progression

Understanding chronic kidney disease (CKD) through the lens of evolutionary biology highlights the mismatch between our Paleolithic-optimized genes and modern diets, which led to the dramatically increased prevalence of CKD in modern societies. In particular, the Standard American Diet (SAD), high in carbohydrates and ultra-processed foods, causes conditions like type 2 diabetes (T2D), chronic inflammation, and hypertension, leading to CKD. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), a genetic form of CKD, is characterized by progressive renal cystogenesis that leads to renal failure. This review challenges the fatalistic view of ADPKD as solely a genetic disease. We argue that, just like non-genetic CKD, modern dietary practices, lifestyle, and environmental exposures initiate and accelerate ADPKD progression. Evidence shows that carbohydrate overconsumption, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance significantly impact renal health. Additionally, factors like dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, nephrotoxin exposure, gastrointestinal dysbiosis, and renal microcrystal formation exacerbate ADPKD. Conversely, carbohydrate restriction, ketogenic metabolic therapy (KMT), and antagonizing the lithogenic risk show promise in slowing ADPKD progression. Addressing disease triggers through dietary modifications and lifestyle changes offers a conservative, non-pharmacological strategy for disease modification in ADPKD. This comprehensive review underscores the urgency of integrating diet and lifestyle factors into the clinical management of ADPKD to mitigate disease progression, improve patient outcomes, and offer therapeutic choices that can be implemented worldwide at low or no cost to healthcare payers and patients.

Some correlates of body dissatisfaction in urban school students

Background. Body dissatisfaction is widely spread among the population. It negatively affects human health, contributing to the development of eating disorders, anxiety and depressive disorders, and the formation of unhealthy eating patterns and lifestyle. Determining the factors associated with body dissatisfaction in adolescents may be important for the prevention of the above mentioned disorders.The aim of the work. To describe the prevalence, characteristics and factors associated with body dissatisfaction among urban school students.Materials and methods. Tenth-grade school students (n = 440) underwent anthropometry and also filled out questionnaires including socio-demographic factors and lifestyle factors. Collins scales were used to assess body dissatisfaction, and the Russian version of the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL 4.0; Lyon, France) was used to assess health-related quality of life.Results. 60.2 % of school students reported a desire to have body figures different from the actual one. 42.7 % of adolescents experienced mild body dissatisfaction, 17.5 % experienced moderate and severe body dissatisfaction. The frequency of body dissatisfaction was comparable among both male and female adolescents, but it was more pronounced among girls compared to boys (Z = 2.2; p = 0.029). Boys were significantly more likely than girls to strive for larger body figures than what they felt they had (38.8 % vs. 8.1 %). In contrast, girls were significantly more likely than boys to want to lose weight (55.4 % vs. 12.3 %). Statistically significant associations with moderate/severe body dissatisfaction are shown for overweight/ obesity and for the time spent by schoolchildren watching TV, on social networks, and in the Internet. Sports activities demonstrated a protective role in relation to body dissatisfaction. The presence of body dissatisfaction significantly reduced all aspects of adolescents’ quality of life.Conclusions. The results of the study justify the approach to body dissatisfaction as an independent problem that requires active diagnostics and targeted exporure, and determine possible directions for preventive measures among adolescents.

Associations of traditional healthy lifestyle and sleep quality with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease: two population-based studies

AimsTo examine whether an extended lifestyle metrics incorporating sleep quality improves risk stratification for metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), at-risk metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and significant fibrosis.MethodsA total of 5011 participants with abdominal ultrasound from Imaging sub-cohort of South China Cohort (ISSCC) and 3672 participants underwent vibration controlled transient elastography from US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (US NHANES) were included. Liver Essential 5 was constructed by incorporating sleep quality into traditional healthy lifestyles (HLS).ResultsA total of 4.66–17.72% of the association between traditional HLS and MAFLD was mediated by sleep quality regardless of the detection techniques, and their joint associations on MAFLD were significant in both cohorts. ORs for individuals with poor sleep and unfavorable HLS were 1.72 (1.29–2.30) in ISSCC and 2.25 (1.55–3.26) in US NHANES, respectively. Around half of the participants previously considered as following a favorable HLS were re-classified by Liver Essential 5 with significantly higher prevalences of MAFLD in both cohorts (P < 0.001). Similar results were also found on at-risk MASH and significant fibrosis in US NHANES. ORs of participants with per one increment increase in Liver Essential 5 were 0.82 (0.77–0.89) and 0.79 (0.70–0.88) for MAFLD in ISSCC and US NHANES, 0.62 (0.48–0.78) for at-risk MASH and 0.78 (0.65–0.93) for significant fibrosis.ConclusionsLiver Essential 5, which incorporates sleep quality and traditional lifestyle factors, provides additional risk stratification for MAFLD-related outcomes.

Dietary patterns and cardiorespiratory fitness in midlife and subsequent all-cause dementia: findings from the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study

BackgroundIdentifying lifestyle factors that independently or jointly lower dementia risk is a public health priority given the limited treatment options available to patients. In this cohort study, we examined the associations between Mediterranean or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet adherence and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with later-life dementia, and assessed whether the associations between dietary pattern and dementia are modified by CRF.MethodsData are from 9,095 adults seeking preventive care at the Cooper Clinic (1987–1999) who completed a 3-day dietary record and a maximal exercise test. Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders or senile dementia (i.e., all-cause dementia) was identified from Medicare administrative claims (1999–2019). Illness-death models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between Mediterranean or DASH diet adherence (primary exposure), CRF (secondary exposure), and all-cause dementia, adjusted for demographic and clinical factors. An interaction term was included between diet score and CRF to assess effect modification by CRF.ResultsThe mean age at baseline was 50.6 (standard deviation [SD]: 8.4) years, and a majority of the study sample were men (77.5%) and White (96.4%). 1449 cases of all-cause dementia were identified over a mean follow-up of 9.2 (SD: 5.8) years. Neither Mediterranean nor DASH diet adherence was associated with dementia risk in fully adjusted models (HR per SD of Mediterranean diet score: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.94, 1.05; HR per SD of DASH diet score: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.96, 1.08). However, participants with higher CRF had a decreased hazard of dementia (HR, per metabolic equivalent of task [MET] increase, Mediterranean model: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92, 0.98; HR, per MET increase, DASH model: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.92, 0.97). No effect modification by CRF was observed in the association between diet and dementia.ConclusionsIn this sample of apparently healthy middle-aged adults seeking preventive care, higher CRF at midlife was associated with a lower risk of all-cause dementia, though adherence to a Mediterranean or DASH diet was not, and CRF did not modify the diet-dementia association. CRF should be emphasized in multimodal interventions for dementia prevention and investigated among diverse samples.

Do modifiable patient factors increase the risk of postoperative complications after total joint arthroplasty?

Numerous studies demonstrate that modifiable lifestyle risk factors can influence patient outcomes including survivability, quality of life, and postoperative complications following orthopaedic surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of modifiable lifestyle risk factors on postoperative medical and surgical complications following a total joint arthroplasty (TJA) in a large national healthcare system. A retrospective chart review of a large national health system database was performed to identify patients who underwent TJA between 2017 and 2021. TJA included total knee arthroplasty, total hip arthroplasty, and total shoulder arthroplasty. Modifiable lifestyle risk factors were defined as tobacco use, narcotic drug abuse, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Postoperative medical complications and postoperative surgical complications were collected. Logistic regression and odds ratio point estimate analysis were conducted to assess for associations between postoperative complications and modifiable lifestyle risk factors. Of the 16,940 patients identified, the mean age was 71 years, mean BMI was 29.7kg/m2, and 62% were women. We found that 3.5% had used narcotics, 8.7% were past or current smokers, 24% had diabetes, and 61% had hypertension; in addition, 5.4% experienced postoperative medical complications and 6.4% experienced postoperative surgical complications. Patients who used narcotics were 90% more likely to have postoperative complications (p < 0.0001) and 105% more likely to experience prosthetic complications (p < 0.0001). Similarly, patients with tobacco use were 65% more likely to have postoperative complications (p < 0.0001) and 27% more likely to experience prosthetic complications. Our results demonstrate critical rates of increased postoperative medical and surgical complications after TJA for patients with narcotic abuse, tobacco use, or diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, adopting preoperative interventions and optimization programs informed by our findings on specific modifiable risk factors could aid orthopaedic surgeons in optimizing patient health. III; Retrospective study.

Coping with COVID-19: a prospective cohort study on young Australians' anxiety and depression symptoms from 2020–2021

BackgroundStudies have shown that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic negatively impacted the mental health of young Australians. However, there is limited longitudinal research exploring how individual factors and COVID-19 related public-health restrictions influenced mental health in young people over the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to identify risk and protective factors associated with changes in individual symptoms of anxiety and depression among young Australians during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThis prospective cohort study collected data on anxiety and depression symptoms of young Australians aged 15–29 years old using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale short form (DASS-21). We delivered four online questionnaires from April 2020 to August 2021 at intervals of 3, 6, and 12 months after the initial survey. We implemented linear mixed-effects regression models to determine the association among demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle and COVID–19 public health restrictions related factors and the severity of anxiety and depression symptoms over time.ResultsAnalyses included 1936 young Australians eligible at baseline. There was a slight increase in DASS-21 anxiety mean scores from timepoint 3 to timepoint 4. DASS-21 depression scores showed slight fluctuations across timepoints with the highest mean score observed in timepoint 2. Factors associated with increases in anxiety and depression severity symptoms included LGBTQIA + identity, financial insecurity both before and during the pandemic, higher levels of loneliness, withdrawal or deferral of studies, spending more time on social media, and difficulties to sleep. Risk factors for only depression symptoms include unemployment during COVID-19 pandemic and being in lockdown. Living with someone was a protective factor for both anxiety and depression symptoms, pre-COVID-19 unemployment for depression symptoms, and older age and unemployment during the pandemic for anxiety symptoms.ConclusionThese findings indicate that during the first year of the pandemic in Australia, there were significant changes in young people’s mental health which were associated with multiple demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, and lockdown factors. Hence, in future public health crises, we suggest more inclusive guidelines that involve young people in their development and implementation ensuring that their unique perspectives and needs are adequately considered.

T Cell Peptide Prediction, Immune Response, and Host–Pathogen Relationship in Vaccinated and Recovered from Mild COVID-19 Subjects

COVID-19 remains a significant threat, particularly to vulnerable populations. The emergence of new variants necessitates the development of treatments and vaccines that induce both humoral and cellular immunity. This study aimed to identify potentially immunogenic SARS-CoV-2 peptides and to explore the intricate host–pathogen interactions involving peripheral immune responses, memory profiles, and various demographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors. Using in silico and experimental methods, we identified several CD8-restricted SARS-CoV-2 peptides that are either poorly studied or have previously unreported immunogenicity: fifteen from the Spike and three each from non-structural proteins Nsp1-2-3-16. A Spike peptide, LA-9, demonstrated a 57% response rate in ELISpot assays using PBMCs from 14 HLA-A*02:01 positive, vaccinated, and mild-COVID-19 recovered subjects, indicating its potential for diagnostics, research, and multi-epitope vaccine platforms. We also found that younger individuals, with fewer vaccine doses and longer intervals since infection, showed lower anti-Spike (ELISA) and anti-Wuhan neutralizing antibodies (pseudovirus assay), higher naïve T cells, and lower central memory, effector memory, and CD4hiCD8low T cells (flow cytometry) compared to older subjects. In our cohort, a higher prevalence of Vδ2-γδ and DN T cells, and fewer naïve CD8 T cells, seemed to correlate with strong cellular and lower anti-NP antibody responses and to associate with Omicron infection, absence of confusional state, and habitual sporting activity.

Changes in 10-Year Predicted Cardiovascular Disease Risk for a Multiethnic Semirural Population in South East Asia: Prospective Study.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors tend to cluster and interact multiplicatively and have been incorporated into risk equations such as the Framingham risk score, which can reasonably predict CVD over short- and long-term periods. Beyond risk factor levels at a single time point, recent evidence demonstrated that risk trajectories are differentially related to CVD risk. However, factors associated with suboptimal control or unstable CVD risk trajectories are not yet established. This study aims to examine factors associated with CVD risk trajectories in a semirural, multiethnic community-dwelling population. Data on demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, mental health, and cardiovascular factors were measured at baseline (2013) and during follow-up (2018) of the South East Asia Community Observatory cohort. The 10-year CVD risk change transition was computed. The trajectory patterns identified were improved; remained unchanged in low, moderate, or high CVD risk clusters; and worsened CVD risk trajectories. Multivariable regression analyses were used to examine the association between risk factors and changes in Framingham risk score and predicted CVD risk trajectory patterns with adjustments for concurrent risk factors. Of the 6599 multiethnic community-dwelling individuals (n=3954, 59.92% female participants and n=2645, 40.08% male participants; mean age 55.3, SD 10.6 years), CVD risk increased over time in 33.37% (n=2202) of the sample population, while 24.38% (n=1609 remained in the high-risk trajectory pattern, which was reflected by the increased prevalence of all major CVD risk factors over the 5-year follow-up. Meanwhile, sex-specific prevalence data indicate that 21.44% (n=567) of male and 41.35% (n=1635) of female participants experienced an increase in CVD risk. However, a stark sex difference was observed in those remaining in the high CVD risk cluster, with 45.1% (n=1193) male participants and 10.52% (n=416) female participants. Regarding specific CVD risk factors, male participants exhibited a higher percentage increase in the prevalence of hypertension, antihypertensive medication use, smoking, and obesity, while female participants showed a higher prevalence of diabetes. Further regression analyses identified that Malay compared to Chinese (P<.001) and Indian (P=.04) ethnicity, nonmarried status (P<.001), full-time employment (P<.001), and depressive symptoms (P=.04) were all significantly associated with increased CVD risk scores. In addition, lower educational levels and frequently having meals from outside were significantly associated to higher odds of both worsening and remaining in high CVD risk trajectories. Sociodemographics and mental health were found to be differently associated with CVD risk trajectories, warranting future research to disentangle the role of psychosocial disparities in CVD. Our findings carry public health implications, suggesting that the rise in major risk factors along with psychosocial disparities could potentially elevate CVD risk among individuals in underserved settings. More prevention efforts that continuously monitor CVD risk and consider changes in risk factors among vulnerable populations should be emphasized.

Predictors of Pre-Hypertension and Hypertension in Rural Adults: Insights Into the Impact of Yoga, Lifestyle, and Demographic Factors

Background: Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, particularly in rural areas where healthcare access is limited. This study investigates predictors of pre-hypertension and hypertension, with a focus on yoga and lifestyle factors such as physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among rural adults to collect data on demographic factors (age, gender, education level), lifestyle habits (smoking, alcohol, physical activity), and yoga participation. Blood pressure was measured and classified into normal, pre-hypertension, and hypertension categories. Logistic regression was used to identify significant predictors of hypertension and pre-hypertension. Results: Key predictors of hypertension include age (OR = 0.998), gender (OR = 0.648 for males), and BMI (OR = 1.012). Alcohol consumption was significantly associated with higher hypertension risk (OR = 1.293). Yoga participation, particularly improvements in flexibility, showed a modest reduction in hypertension odds (OR = 0.945). Non-yoga physical activity also demonstrated a protective effect (OR = 0.958). Conclusion: Lifestyle factors such as alcohol consumption and physical activity play important roles in hypertension risk. While yoga showed some benefits, particularly in flexibility improvements, further research is needed to explore its longterm effects. Public health interventions targeting modifiable risk factors, including yoga, may help reduce the prevalence of hypertension in rural communities.

Nine Neuroimaging-AI Endophenotypes Unravel Disease Heterogeneity and Partial Overlap across Four Brain Disorders: A Dimensional Neuroanatomical Representation.

Disease heterogeneity poses a significant challenge for precision diagnostics. Recent work leveraging artificial intelligence has offered promise to dissect this heterogeneity by identifying complex intermediate brain phenotypes, herein called dimensional neuroimaging endophenotypes (DNEs). We advance the argument that these DNEs capture the degree of expression of respective neuroanatomical patterns measured, offering a dimensional neuroanatomical representation for studying disease heterogeneity and similarities of neurologic and neuropsychiatric diseases. We investigate the presence of nine such DNEs derived from independent yet harmonized studies on Alzheimer's disease (AD1-2) 1 , autism spectrum disorder (ASD1-3) 2 , late-life depression (LLD1-2) 3 , and schizophrenia (SCZ1-2) 4 , in the general population of 39,178 participants in the UK Biobank study. Phenome-wide associations revealed prominent associations between the nine DNEs and phenotypes related to the brain and other human organ systems. This phenotypic landscape aligns with the SNP-phenotype genome-wide associations, revealing 31 genomic loci associated with the nine DNEs (Bonferroni corrected P- value < 5x10 -8 /9). The DNEs exhibited significant genetic correlations, colocalization, and causal relationships with multiple human organ systems and chronic diseases. A causal effect (odds ratio=1.25 [1.11, 1.40], P-value=8.72x10 -4 ) was established from AD2, characterized by focal medial temporal lobe atrophy, to AD. The nine DNEs, along with their polygenic risk scores, significantly enhanced the predictive accuracy for 14 systemic disease categories, particularly for conditions related to mental health and the central nervous system, as well as mortality outcomes. These findings underscore the potential of the nine DNEs to capture the expression of disease-related brain phenotypes in individuals of the general population and to relate such measures with genetics, lifestyle factors, and chronic diseases. All results are publicly available at https://labs-laboratory.com/medicine/ .

Liposomal encapsulated curcumin attenuates lung cancer proliferation, migration, and induces apoptosis

Lung cancer is one of the most diagnosed types of cancer worldwide, accounting to one fifth of cancer-related deaths. The high prevalence of lung cancer (LC) is due to various factors such as environmental pollution or lifestyle factors such as cigarette smoking. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most diagnosed type of lung cancer. Despite the availability of several lines of treatment for NSCLC, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and combinations of these, this disease still has very low survival rate, highlighting the urgent need to develop novel therapeutics. Phytoceuticals, or plant-derived bioactives are a promising source of biologically active compounds. Among these, curcumin is particularly relevant due to its wide range of anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity. However, its poor solubility causes low bioavailability, severely limiting its clinical application. Encapsulation of curcumin in nanoparticle-based delivery systems such as liposomes holds promise to overcome this limitation. In the present study, we demonstrate promising in vitro anticancer affect or curcumin-loaded liposomes (PlexoZome®) on A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells. The study reveals how liposomal curcumin functionally supresses the proliferation, migration, and colony formation of these cells whilst also drastically reducing the expression of multiple cancer marker proteins. This work provides foundational data for the development of a curcumin-based nano formulation to be used as therapy for NSCLC.

Prevalence of Balance Impairment in Physically Active and Sedentary Lifestyle Children Aged 7-10 Years

Background: Balance impairment can significantly affect motor development in children, with lifestyle factors such as physical activity playing a crucial role. Physically active children may develop better balance than those leading sedentary lifestyles.Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of balance impairment in physically active and sedentary children aged 7-10 years.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 377 children aged 7-10 years from schools in Sheikhupura, Pakistan. The participants were divided into physically active (n=189) and sedentary (n=188) groups based on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (IPAQ-C). Balance was assessed using the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS), a 14-item tool with a maximum score of 56. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25, with chi-square tests to determine statistical significance (p&lt;0.05).Results: In the physically active group, 79.4% (n=150) had good balance scores, while 67.6% (n=127) in the sedentary group showed moderate balance impairment. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p&lt;0.001).Conclusion: Physically active children demonstrated better balance compared to their sedentary peers, underscoring the importance of physical activity in childhood development

The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio predicts all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among United States adults with COPD: results from NHANES 1999-2018.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is considered a biomarker of systemic inflammation and immune activation. However, its relationship with the risk of mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between NLR and the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with COPD. Data were collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from January 1999 to December 2018. The calculation method of NLR involves dividing the neutrophil count by the lymphocyte count in the total blood cell count. The optimal NLR threshold associated with survival outcomes was determined using the maximally selected rank statistics method (MSRSM). The relationship between NLR and the risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in COPD was investigated using a weighted multivariable Cox regression model. Additionally, restricted cubic spline (RCS) was employed to discuss the potential relationship between NLR patients in different groups and the risk of mortality. In this study, 716 adults with COPD were included using the maximally selected rank statistics method, among whom 208 had higher NLR (≥2.56) and 508 had lower NLR (<2.56). During a median follow-up of 111.5 months, 162 COPD patients died from all causes, and 49 patients died from cardiovascular diseases. After adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle factors, the risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 2.07, 95%CI: 1.46-2.94) and cardiovascular mortality (HR = 3.03, 95%CI: 1.63-5.65) in patients with higher NLR was increased by 2-3 times compared to those with lower NLR. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed significantly lower survival rates in patients with higher NLR for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality (p < 0.05). Restricted cubic spline analysis showed a linear correlation between NLR and the risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. NLR has a high value in independently predicting long-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risks in community-dwelling COPD patients. Therefore, NLR can serve as a cost-effective and widely available indicator for assessing the prognosis of COPD patients.

The independent and joint association between physical activity, sleep duration and daily sitting time with bone mineral density: A real world study from NHANES 2007–2018.

PurposeTo assess the independent and joint effect of physical activity, sleep duration, and daily sitting time on bone mineral density (BMD), based on National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2018. DesignCross-sectional design. MethodsThe primary outcome was risk of low BMD. All associations between lifestyle factors and the prevalence of low BMD were based on logistic regression, and dose-response relationships were further explored by restricted cubic spline (RCS). Finally, multiplicative and additive interaction was examined by P interaction and relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI). Results10,346 individuals (N normal BMD = 6353; N Low BMD = 3993) were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression indicated low intensity physical activity (odds ratio [OR] 0.84; 95 % confidence interval [95%CI] 0.78–0.90) and high intensity physical activity (0.67, 0.56–0.78) had protective impact on risk of low BMD, whereas short sleep (1.41, 1.20–1.64), long sleep (1.36, 1.03–1.79) and prolonged daily sitting (1.58, 1.32–1.88) had harmful effect. RCS revealed dose-response associations between physical activity (J-shaped), sleep duration (U-shaped), daily sitting time (positive-associated) and risk of low BMD. Multiplicative interaction between sleep duration and physical activity was observed (P interaction = 0.003), while not between daily sitting time and physical activity (P interaction = 0.600). Notably, negative additive interactions indicated that physical activity mitigated the increased risk of low BMD associated with irregular sleep patterns and prolonged sedentary behavior. ConclusionIncreasing physical activity was presented as a modulating factor, potentially altering the relationship between independent variables that have deleterious effects on BMD like sleep duration and sedentary behavior. The study underscores the importance of lifestyle modifications in the prevention of early onset low BMD.

Prevalence, correlates, and health indicators associated with meal-skipping among middle-aged and older adults in Thailand: A national longitudinal study.

The purpose of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the prevalence and correlates of and the factors contributing to meal-skipping in middle-aged and older adults in Thailand. We examined prospective cohort data from three consecutive waves of the Health, Aging and Retirement in Thailand (HART) study (analytic sample size = 2863) for participants 45 years of age and older. Meal-skipping was assessed with a one- and two-day recall of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We used generalized estimating equations analysis to evaluate the longitudinal relationships between sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health indicators and meal-skipping between 2015 (wave 1), 2017 (wave 2), and 2020 (wave 3). Furthermore, binary logistic regression was used to establish the longitudinal association between meal-skipping and the incidence of multiple chronic conditions. The prevalence of meal-skipping was 6.2% in 2015, 16.2% in 2017, and 13.6% in 2020, and across study years the highest proportion of meal skipping was for lunch (6.0%), followed by breakfast (4.6%), and dinner (2.8%). In the final model, sociodemographic factors (higher education, urban residence, and lower subjective economic status), lifestyle factors (high alcohol use, current smoking, and obesity class II), and health indicators (probable depression and wearing dentures) were positively associated with meal-skipping. In the adjusted logistic regression models, compared with no meal-skipping, meal-skipping in 2-3 study waves was associated with incident obesity and incident probable depression. Skipping meals was linked to a number of lifestyle variables and indicators of physical and mental illness. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; ••: ••-••.

Associations of Lifestyle, Ambient Air Pollution With Progression of Asthma in Adults: A Comprehensive Analysis of UK Biobank Cohort.

We aim to investigate the associations between lifestyle, ambient air pollution with crucial outcomes in the progression of adult asthma, including asthma new-onset and asthma hospitalisation. 176,800 participants were included to assess the prospective association between baseline risk exposures and the subsequent asthma onset, 17,387 participants were used to evaluate asthma hospitalisation. Cox regression models were employed to examine the associations. In terms of lifestyle factors, the HRs (95% CIs) of the least healthy lifestyle categories for asthma incidence and hospitalization were 1.099 (1.017-1.187) and 1.064 (1.008-1.123), respectively. For pollutants, PM2.5, especially the traffic-related PM2.5 component, was consistently recognized as a significant risk factor for asthma onset (HR = 1.064, 95% CI: 1.034-1.094) and hospitalisation (HR = 1.031, 95% CI: 1.010-1.052) under various model adjustments. Low socioeconomic status also played a major role in the progression of adult asthma. Our study provides crucial insights into factors influencing the progression of adult asthma. Monitoring and reducing exposure to air pollution, particularly PM2.5, promoting healthier lifestyle, and addressing socioeconomic inequity are important in preventing and managing asthma.

Prevalence of Pre-Hypertension and Hypertension in Rural Adults: The Role of Lifestyle and Yoga Participation

Hypertension (HTN) and pre-hypertension are significant global health challenges, particularly in rural populations where access to healthcare and lifestyle education is limited. This cross-sectional study, conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Erode, Tamil Nadu, beginning in October 2022, aimed to quantify the prevalence of hypertension and pre-hypertension among 412 rural adults and explore the role of lifestyle factors, particularly yoga participation, in blood pressure management. A total of 412 participants were surveyed for demographic details, lifestyle habits, and health metrics such as blood pressure, BMI, and heart rate. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥90 mmHg, while pre-hypertension was defined as SBP 120-139 mmHg or DBP 80-89 mmHg. The study found a 32% prevalence of hypertension and a 28% prevalence of pre-hypertension. Regular yoga participants had significantly lower systolic (mean 120 mmHg) and diastolic (mean 75 mmHg) BP compared to nonpractitioners (mean SBP 135 mmHg, DBP 85 mmHg). These findings highlight the critical role of yoga and lifestyle changes in managing blood pressure in rural populations, supporting the need for public health policies that promote yoga as a preventive intervention.