Lifestyle-related Diseases Research Articles

Promoting a sustainable diet among office workers in Sweden: A pilot Study

Abstract Background Society is facing multiple challenges, including lifestyle-related diseases, alongside global climate change. Actions are needed to promote sustainable lifestyles advocating for healthy and environmentally friendly diets. This study aimed to assess how a sustainable lifestyle, compared to conventional healthy lifestyle education at work, affects participants’ energy intake, nutrient consumption, and diet-related CO2e. Methods An 8 week two-armed randomized trial was conducted, comprising a sustainable lifestyle arm (n = 21) and a healthy lifestyle arm (n = 16) based on the theoretical framework of the Behavioral Change Wheel, in total (n = 33) completed the trial. The office workers participated in 6 workshops during working hours. Linear mixed-effects models and analysis of variance tests were used for data analysis. Changes over time are presented as arms combined, along with their respective mean differences. Results A significant decrease in mean diet-related CO2e was observed (p < 0.001), with a decrease on average of 0.74 and 0.71 kg CO2e/day. The mean change in daily kilocalorie intake had a significant decrease over time (p = 0.008), on average of 192 and 386 Kcal. Moreover, a significant decrease in mean protein intake was observed (p < 0.001), with a decrease on average of 16 and 18 grams, possibly explaining the decrease in CO2e. No significant differences were observed between the arms at any timepoint. Conclusions Promoting sustainable lifestyle habits has a similar impact to advocating for a conventional healthy lifestyle regarding diet. This supports the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023. Despite the small sample size, insights into facilitating sustainable behaviors can influence public health policies across Europe and the workplace as an arena for health promotion. Key messages • The promotion of sustainable and healthy lifestyle habits at work can promote both individual and planetary health by decreasing diet-related CO2e emissions. • Here we demonstrate that the workplace has the potential to act as an arena to combat climate change.

Effects of a Six-Month Physical Activity Program on Health Risk Factors and Body Composition Among Overweight and Obese Middle-Aged Adults

Introduction. Physical activity is vital for preventing and managing lifestyle-related diseases, which pose significant health and socio-economic challenges. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a six-month supervised physical activity program on health risk factors and body composition in middle-aged individuals with overweight or obesity. Methods. The study involved 166 men and women aged 30 to 65 years, with a body mass index (BMI) ranging from 26 to 35 and moderate to severe health risks. Participants of the study were engaged in a six-month physical activity training program designed in accordance with World Health Organization guidelines. Comprehensive assessments were performed at baseline and after the intervention, including measurements of various anthropometric and body composition parameters, as well as evaluations of functional performance. Fitness tests were also conducted to assess participants’ physical capacity and to monitor improvements throughout the training period. Results. Baseline measures of body mass composition and age demonstrated a strong positive correlation with visceral fat rating (VFR) in both men (r = 0.364, p < 0.001) and women (r = 0.420, p = 0.002). Following the six-month training program, participants exhibited an average improvement of 30% (p < 0.001) in their Cooper endurance test results. The physical activity intervention positively impacted body mass index (BMI) and various body composition metrics, including fat mass, VFR, and muscle mass, across all participants and most subgroups (gender, BMI, and age). In males, training at higher maximum heart rate (HRmax) zones significantly contributed to a reduction in the percentage of fat mass (80–89% HRmax) and an increase in the percentage of muscle mass (70–79% and 80–89% HRmax). Conclusions. The study indicates that a six-month supervised physical activity program significantly improves health risk factors and body composition (visceral fat reduction and improvement in percent of fat and muscle mass) among middle-aged individuals with overweight or obesity. Therefore, we advocate for the integration of structured physical activity interventions into healthcare practices to effectively enhance health outcomes in this population.

Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the management of hypertension and the prevalence of lifestyle disease

Abstract Background/Introduction Behavior restrictions after the advent of COVID-19 dramatically changed our lifestyle, which may have affected self-management of metabolic factors in individuals. Purpose We examined possible changes in the prevalence and management of lifestyle-related diseases in the general population. Methods We enrolled 2582 consecutive participants aged ≥20 years (male=6984, 49.5±11.9 year-old) who visited our hospital for their annual physical check-up at least five times between 2017 and 2022. Participants were divided into 2 groups (with [n=739] or without antihypertensive medication [n=1843]) and changes in parameters that are closely related with lifestyle were examined before (2017-2019) and after (2020-2022) the pandemic of COVID-19. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg, or the use of antihypertensive medications. Diabetes mellitus was defined as fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dL, HbA1c ≥ 6.5% or the use of antidiabetic medications. Dyslipidemia was defined as LDL-cholesterol ≥140 mg/dL, HDL-cholesterol <40 mg/dL, triglyceride ≥150 mg/dL, or the use of antidyslipidemic medications. Hyperuricemia was defined as uric acid >7.0 mg/dL for men, >6.0 mg/dL for women or the use of anti-hyperuricemic medications. Metabolic syndrome was defined based on Japanese diagnostic criteria (2005). Results The main results are shown in Table. The levels of all parameters were worse in participants with than without anti-hypertensive medication. The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome which was higher in subjects with than without anti-hypertensive medication increased after the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the most of parameters were deteriorated after the pandemic, only the management of blood pressure in subjects under antihypertensive medication was improved. Conclusion Behavior restrictions during the pandemic might have unfavorable impact on the prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases. Although the control of blood pressure was not worsened, total management was not excellent during the pandemic in hypertensive individuals under medication.Characteristics of study participants

10.G. Practice session: Innovation technology to promote healthy lifestyles: teachings from multi-national EU funded projects

Abstract The global burden of disease attributable to lifestyle risk factors is constantly escalating on a worldwide scale. Inadequate diet and sedentary behaviors stand out as particularly impactful contributors to chronic non-communicable diseases, resulting in millions of deaths annually and projecting stable, alarming trends for the foreseeable future. These statistics raise significant concerns among public health experts, particularly regarding the pervasive influence of unhealthy lifestyles on younger generations. This demographic cohort’s susceptibility poses a substantial threat to the future trajectory of non-communicable diseases and places immense strain on healthcare systems and global health outcomes. In light of these challenges, the imperative for public health initiatives and interventions aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles becomes glaringly apparent. Addressing the root causes of unhealthy behaviors through targeted interventions is essential to reverse the projected trends and mitigate future health risks. Public health authorities shoulder the responsibility of prioritizing such endeavors, as they play a pivotal role in shaping environments conducive to healthy living for present and future generations alike. Embracing innovative methodologies, leveraging technological advancements, and adopting modern approaches are imperative to engage and mobilize younger populations effectively. Initiatives funded by entities such as the European Union serve as promising examples, highlighting the potential for collaborative efforts to drive meaningful change. Sharing the methodologies and findings of such projects within the public health community can catalyze knowledge dissemination and foster collaboration, ultimately amplifying the impact of intervention strategies worldwide. By prioritizing intervention studies for behavioral change, stakeholders can collectively address the pressing challenge of lifestyle-related diseases and pave the way for healthier, more resilient communities. The aim of this workshop is to provide an overview of multi-national EU funded projects aiming to promote healthy lifestyles in the Mediterranean region. Key messages • Innovative and more modern approaches are needed to improve the diet in the Mediterranean region. • Children and adolescents are the main targets to counteract the rise of non-communicable diseases.

Rural–Urban Divide of COVID-19 Fatalities in India—Investigating the Role of Lifestyle Disorder Diseases

AbstractUsing data on weekly COVID-19 infections and fatalities at the district level for 19 states and 4 union territories of India, we investigate the determinants of COVID-19 deaths focusing exclusively on the second wave of infections. We include several macroeconomic and structural indicators for districts namely, per capita district domestic product, the degree of urbanization, population density, percentage of aged population, share of agriculture, poverty, among several others. Our findings suggest that fatalities have a clear rural–urban divide. Rural agricultural districts with more poor people have experienced less cases and fatalities. Fatalities are more clustered in prosperous and dense industrial districts. Regions having higher COVID-19 fatalities also have a higher proportion of ageing population with urban life-style disorder related diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Prevalence of respiratory illnesses further aggravates the effects of some of these life-style disorder diseases on COVID-19 fatalities.

Factors Related to mHealth App Use Among Japanese Workers: Cross-Sectional Survey.

Health care providers can make health guidance more effective by using mobile health technologies such as health apps. Although health care providers need to know who uses health apps, existing studies have yielded inconsistent results. The aim of the study was (1) to clarify the prevalence and patterns of health app use to improve health behaviors for preventing lifestyle-related diseases among Japanese workers and (2) to identify the associations among demographic characteristics, health behavior, and internet use and health app use by gender. Data were collected from a cross-sectional internet survey in 2023. In total, 2200 participants were included, with an even distribution of men and women in each age group aged 20 to 60 years. The participants were workers with smartphones and reported their gender, age, residence area, marital status, education, employment status, occupation, work pattern, diseases under treatment, health checkups, health guidance, health behaviors, internet use duration, and number of devices used. We asked about current and previous health app use for 1 month. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted by gender. Of the participants, 472 (21.5%) and 189 (8.6%) were current and previous health app users, respectively. Most current and previous health app users used features that record and track their physical activity and other health behaviors. Health app users-both men and women-were more likely to have health checkups (odds ratio [OR] 1.53, 95% CI 1.12-2.11 and OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.10-2.07, respectively), receive health guidance (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.47-2.74 and OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.32-2.62, respectively), engage in regular physical activity (OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.91-3.47 and OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.41-2.67, respectively), use the internet for 120-179 minutes per day (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.13-2.75 and OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.12-2.57, respectively), and were less likely to be older (50-59 years: OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.33-0.88 and OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.25-0.6, respectively, and 60-69 years: OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.22-0.62 and OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.28-0.77, respectively). According to gender, male health app users were more likely to be married (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.23-2.33) and less likely to work in the security, agriculture, forestry, fishing, manufacturing, or transportation industries (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.41-0.95). Female health app users were more likely to have a university education or higher (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.061-2.26), maintain an appropriate body weight (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.10-2.11), and use 3 or more devices (OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.41-3.23). Physical activity and health guidance are strong predictors of app use. Health care providers should assess the target populations' preferences for app use based on their characteristics, support their app use, and enhance the effectiveness of health guidance.

A Study of the Factors Impeding Proper Dietary Habits: An Investigation Using the Japanese Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions

(1) Background: Diet is significant for nutritional intake and serves as an essential element for improving quality of life (QOL). Poor dietary management skills increase the risk of onset or progression of lifestyle-related diseases, and, in particular, are a factor in reduced QOL during old age. This study aimed to clarify the physical and social background factors impeding dietary self-management. (2) Methods: The study participants were 3814 men (age range, 30–69 years) extracted from anonymous data comprising 15,294 persons provided from the Japanese national statistics database. The participants were classified into two groups (Concerned vs. Unconcerned) according to whether they were concerned about their diet. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for diet-conscious behaviors were then obtained by means of binomial logistic regression analysis performed following univariate analysis. (3) Results: The Concerned and Unconcerned groups comprised 2548 (66.8%) and 1266 subjects (33.2%), respectively. The diet-conscious behavior with the highest response rate was eating regularly (46.7%). The most frequent items in the Unconcerned group were the subjective symptom “irritable” (48.9%), high stress (46.3%), working more than 56 h/week (43.8%), and smoking (41.9%). The only item with a large significant OR in the binomial logistic regression analysis was smoking (OR: 2.2). (4) Conclusions: These results suggest that a smoking habit and stress are factors that impede diet management behaviors.

Lifestyle Factors in Diabetes Management: Insights from the Kerala Paradox for the Indian Diaspora

With an estimated 101 million people living with diabetes, India ranks second in the world for the highest number of cases. In particular, Kerala, a state in southern India, faces what is known as the "Kerala Paradox", where strong socio-economic indicators fail to translate into lower levels of lifestyle-related diseases. As a result, Kerala has one of the highest diabetes prevalence rates in the country, ranking among the top three. This research paper aims to thoroughly analyse the Kerala Paradox and explore the factors contributing to it. It then extends the analysis through primary data to assess whether these lifestyle factors also influence the prevalence of diabetes in the Delhi NCR region. The latter half of the paper builds on findings from the literature review and primary research to evaluate the implications for diabetes management across the Indian diaspora. Keywords: India, Kerala paradox, Diabetes, Lifestyle factors, Physical activity, Dietary habits, Diabetes Management

Oral hygiene predicts lower life satisfaction and subjective health: experience of post-Soviet countries.

Oral diseases are among the most common non-communicable diseases around the globe and become a public health challenge that considerably impact general health and well-being in all ages across the lifespan. Oral health is an integral part of general health, where poor oral health and other lifestyle-related chronic diseases have a common risk factor background. The underlying causes of oral health inequalities are often complex and related to country-specific historical, economic, cultural, social, or political factors. For more than a decade, data from the Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey showed that tooth brushing rates are very low in post-Soviet countries. The general aim of our study was to focus on a more detailed profile of schoolchildren from post-Soviet countries, who have poor habits of teeth brushing, in terms of their family, social support, physical activity, nutrition, and other health-related behaviors. Data for this study was extrapolated from the Health Behavior in School-aged Children study, a World Health Organization collaborative cross-national study, conducted every 4years since 1983/1984. For this study, the post-Soviet countries from Eastern Europe and Central Asia were selected: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Data from all countries (some exceptions for Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan) were collected within 2017-2018 HBSC study, following international research protocol. The sample consisted of 44,760 schoolchildren, aged 11, 13, and 15years from 12 countries. Irregular tooth brushing is more common among boys, elder adolescents, and schoolchildren from less affluent families. Low own health measures, low life satisfaction, low physical activity, and low FAS relate to poorer adolescent dental hygiene in post-Soviet countries. Adolescents characterized by irregular tooth brushing were more likely to assess their health as fair or poor rather than excellent or good (OR = 1.22), and also had greater odds of reporting low life satisfaction (OR = 1.36). Individual mental health complaints-feeling low, being irritable, being nervous, and having sleep difficulties-were assessed as a possible outcome of irregular tooth brushing. However, irregular tooth brushing was not associated with poorer mental health outcomes (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Oral hygiene in post-Soviet countries is still a major public health challenge and have to be addressed properly. What is Known: • Oral health strongly affects the overall health of children and adolescents in the future. • Oral diseases often share common determinants and risk factors with other chronic diseases. • The underlying causes of oral health inequalities are often complex and related to country-specific historical, economic, cultural, social, or political factors. What is New: • Irregular tooth brushing was more common among adolescents with low life satisfaction and poor or fair health as well as in less affluent families. • Irregular tooth brushing was not found to be associated with poorer mental health among post-Soviet countries adolescents.

Sports and Exercise Medicine: Present and Future

Sports and exercise medicine is a newly emerging medical speciality in association with sports and physical education. As the lifestyle of the average population has changed drastically with sedentary type and lack of physical exercise, thus, inviting various lifestyle-related diseases in society, this speciality has been gaining tremendous popularity in medical practices. This discipline is a combination of sports medicine and exercise medicine (therapy). Clinical and interventional physiology which is the resultant of these two components, plays an important role in injury management and for the promotion of health and wellbeing, devoid of any side effects. In the present editorial, with the objectives, an attempt has been made to discuss the present scenario of the discipline of sports and exercise medicine along with its future prospects, as in spite of its numerous benefits, not enough attention has been given to the holistic improvement of the healthcare system.

The chronic wound characterisation study and biobank: a study protocol for a prospective observational cohort investigation of bacterial community composition, inflammatory responses and wound-healing trajectories in non-healing wounds

IntroductionChronic wounds affect 1%–2% of the global population, with rising incidence due to ageing and lifestyle-related diseases. Bacterial biofilms, found in 80% of chronic wounds, and scattered single-cell bacteria may...

Non-alcohlic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): Is it a Dormant Volcano or Tip of an Iceberg?

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a major cause of chronic liver disease, is known to affect a quarter of the global adults. Natural history of NAFLD shows interindividual variation, traditionally it progresses from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis to fibrosis/cirrhosis and finally yet rarely to hepatocellular carcinoma. It is largely a lifestyle-related disease and is often labeled as the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Both prevention and control of NAFLD include controlling risk factors (obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and dyslipidemia), through lifestyle modification and medications. Drug therapy for NAFLD per se is still evolving and till date, no drugs are approved. It is clinically silent, especially in the early stages, and is a diagnosis of exclusion. Certain easily calculated indices can stratify cases into high or low risk for advanced fibrosis, thereby dictating appropriate monitoring and treatment measures. In addition to complications specific to liver disease in those who do progress to advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis, an increased risk of nonliver disease-related morbidity and mortality is also present. Challenges are manifold and include rising burden due to ever-growing epidemic of diabetes and obesity, low public awareness, fragmented healthcare, no approved drugs, and dearth of data on magnitude and epidemiology of the disease. The recent integration of NAFLD into the National Program for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NPCDCS) by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India is a welcome step in this direction as the contributory factors are mostly the same for all diseases and controlling any one or all of them will have a desired impact on the prevalence of all the diseases under this program.

Sex differences in genotype frequency and the risk of polycythemia associated with rs13419896 and rs2790859 among Tibetan highlanders living in Tsarang, Mustang, Nepal

BackgroundTibetan highlanders have adapted to hypoxic environments through genetic mechanisms that avoid hemoglobin concentration increases and prevent polycythemia. Recently, sex differences in hemoglobin dynamics with age have been reported among Tibetan highlanders living in Tsarang. Additionally, concerns have been raised that dietary changes associated with modernization may increase the risk of polycythemia and lifestyle-related diseases among Tibetan highlanders. However, the relationship between genetic polymorphisms and the risk of lifestyle-related diseases in Tibetan highlanders has been investigated in only a few regions. This study aims to elucidate whether polymorphisms in genes related to hypoxic adaptation are associated with the incidence of lifestyle-related diseases and polycythemia and whether these polymorphisms affect hemoglobin dynamics in the residents of Tsarang, Mustang, Nepal.MethodsHealth checkup data from individuals living in Tsarang in Mustang District, Nepal, collected in 2017, were used to determine the prevalence of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, hypoxemia, and polycythemia. DNA was extracted from whole-blood samples, and data for the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs13419896 (EPAS1), rs12619696 (EPAS1), and rs2790859 (EGLN1) were obtained using real-time PCR. The health checkup data were statistically analyzed to determine the associations of these diseases with polymorphisms in genes related to hypoxic adaptation.ResultsA total of 168 participants, comprising 78 males and 90 females, were included in the final analysis. In terms of the prevalence of each disease, only the prevalence of polycythemia significantly differed between sexes (p < 0.01). Additionally, among the three analyzed SNPs, significant sex differences in genotype frequency were observed for rs13419896 and rs2790859. For rs2790859 in females, Tibetan highlanders with the adaptive genotype had a significantly lower incidence of polycythemia (p < 0.01) and significantly lower hemoglobin concentrations (p < 0.01).ConclusionsThis study revealed that there are sex differences in the genotype frequency of gene-related hypoxic adaptations among the residents of Tsarang. The findings also suggested that the rs2790859 polymorphism might be involved in the recent incidence of polycythemia among Tsarang residents. If the frequency of non-Tibetan genotypes increases due to intermixing with other populations in the Mustang District, polycythemia may emerge as a modern disease. It is essential to continue investigating the health status of Mustang residents to elucidate various aspects of hypoxic adaptation and disease susceptibility.

Assessing Psychological Health in School-Going Adolescents: Insights from a Cross-Sectional Study in North India

Introduction: - Adolescence is a critical phase marked by significant physical and psychological transformations. Research has shown a strong link between lifestyle-related diseases and unhealthy habits developed during this period, which often persist into adulthood. Early assessment of adolescents' psychological health and lifestyles can play a crucial role in preventing the progression of these behaviors into more serious health conditions. Methods: - This cross-sectional study involved 600 adolescents from 9th to 12th grades in selected schools in Rohtak, Haryana, India. The psychological health of adolescents was evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4). Ethical approval was secured from the relevant authorities prior to the study. Results: - The average age of the participants was 15.9 years (SD = 1.4), with the majority being male (61%). Over half of the participants (52.7%) had a BMI between 18 and 25 kg/m², and 39.8% were from a lower-middle socio-economic background. In most of the items on the PHQ-4, the majority of participants reported experiencing psychological distress. Approximately one-fifth of the participants reported negative emotions, such as sadness (25.5%) and anxiety (18.8%), occurring at least once a week. Around 62% of the participants reported experiencing anxiety, while 67% reported symptoms of depression. Overall, 86.3% of the participants exhibited psychological distress in the form of either anxiety or depression. None of the sociodemographic variables showed a statistically significant association with the psychological impacts observed in the study. Conclusion: - The study highlights the presence of anxiety and depression among school children in this setting. It offers preliminary data for policymakers to consider when revising existing policies and interventions to better address the needs of adolescents.

7055 Metabolic Disorders In Thalidomide Embryopathy

Abstract Disclosure: A. Tanabe: None. Thalidomide embryopathy (TE) is a congenital limb defect that occurs in neonates born to pregnant women who have taken thalidomide. Typical abnormalities of the TE are upper limb hypoplasia and and/or auditory dysfunction. In Japan, thalidomide was marketed as an agent for sleep-induce and digestive ulcers from 1958 to 1962. Up to now, approximately 290 cases have been certified and are supported by the government as drug-induced disease. Currently, many of the victims are in their late 50s, and in addition to congenital disabilities, various health issues such as lifestyle-related diseases can be developed. We investigated their metabolic condition using data of medical health checkup between 2017 and 2018. Fifty-one Japanese cases of TE (28 men and 23 women) were included in this study. The mean age was 56.4±1.6 years in men and 55.9±1.2 years in women. The prevalence of upper limb deformities was 64% in men and 74% in women; the remaining patients had only hearing impairment. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 22.7±2.1 in men and 22.5±4.0 in women. Eleven percent of men and 17% of women had a BMI between 25-30, while 9% of women and no men had a BMI of 30 or greater. Liver dysfunction was seen in 32% of men and 9% of women. The mean high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was 60±17 mg/dL in men and 68±18 mg/dL in women. The mean low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level was 120±28 mg/dL in men and 136±35 mg/dL in women, with 25% of men and 48% of women had LDL level of 140 mg/dL or greater. The mean triglyceride (TG) level was 144±85 mg/dL in men and 116±61 mg/dL in women, with 43% of men and 17% of women had a level of 150 mg/dL or greater. The mean HbA1c level was 6.0±1.0% in men and 5.9±0.4% in women. The prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance was 25% in men and 13% in women. Fatty liver (FL) evaluated by ultrasonography or CT scan was 61% in men and 39% in women. The patients with FL showed significantly high body fat percentage and TG level in men, high alanine aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase and TG levels in women, respectively, compared to the patients without FL. The prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia was significantly higher in men with FL compared with men without FL. There was no significant difference in with or without the upper limb abnormalities in both groups. Although without obvious overweight, more than 40 % of the patients had dyslipidemia and 50% of the patients had FL. The limb abnormalities can result in movement limitations however other factors may be involved in the development of metabolic disorders in TE. The results of this study provide valuable information for future health management in thalidomide embryopathy. (This study was conducted by a research grant from the National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Japan: 21A1015 and a Grant-in-Aid from the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare, Japan: 20KC2005, 23KC2017). Presentation: 6/2/2024

Exenatide administration time-dependently affects the hepatic circadian clock through glucagon-like peptide-1 receptors in the central nervous system

Accumulating evidence indicates that disruption of the circadian clock contributes to the development of lifestyle-related diseases. We have previously shown that exenatide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, can strongly affect the molecular clocks in the peripheral tissues. This study aimed to investigate the effects of its dosing time and the central nervous system-specific GLP-1 receptor knockdown (GLP1RKD) on the hepatic clock in mice treated with exenatide. Male C57BL/6J and GLP1RKD mice were housed under a 12-h/12-h light/dark cycle, and feeding was restricted to either the light period (L-TRF) or the first 4 h in the dark period (D-TRF). In parallel, exenatide was administered 4–5 times, once daily either at the beginning of the dark (ZT 12) or light period (ZT 0), and we assessed the mRNA expression rhythms of clock genes in the liver thereafter. Exenatide administration at ZT 12 counteracted the phase shift effect of the L-TRF on the hepatic clock of wild-type mice, whereas the dosing at ZT 0 enhanced its effect. However, exenatide did not influence the phase of the hepatic clock under D-TRF regardless of the dosing time. The effect of exenatide in wild-type mice weakened in GLP1RKD mice. These results showed that exenatide dosing time-dependently affects the hepatic circadian clock through the central GLP-1 system. Exenatide administration at the beginning of the active period (i.e., in the morning for humans) might prevent disruption of the peripheral clocks caused by irregular eating habits.

Sensory testing and quality maintenance of hamburgers containing soybean meat

In the past few years, lifestyle-related diseases have been increasing, and meat intake has been linked to this increase. Therefore, in recent years, there have been attempts to use soybeans as a substitute for meat. Soybeans exhibit antioxidant and antimicrobial effects. Therefore, processing foods using soybeans may preserve food quality because the main factors causing food deterioration are oxidation and microbial growth. To verify the quality-retention effect of soybeans, we conducted a sensory test on hamburgers, the quality of which readily deteriorates over time. We investigated the percentage of soybean meat that would be acceptable in a hamburger and quality retention with the addition of different amounts of soybean meat. We found that hamburgers with soybean meat were accepted by more than half of the participants when the soybean meat content was ≤50%. In terms of changes over time in quality-related factors, the L- and b-values (lightness/brightness and yellowness/blueness, respectively) were higher, avalue (redness/greenness) was lower, and pH was higher in hamburgers that contained soybean meat than in those without added soybean meat. Furthermore, an increase in the bacteria count and peroxide content was suppressed in hamburgers containing soybean meat. The results indicate that hamburgers containing soybean meat are of higher quality than those made with 100% animal meat. The use of soybeans as a meat substitute in hamburgers can help mitigate the rise of lifestyle-related diseases linked to high meat consumption.

Dietary habits and genetic susceptibility: correlations between nutritional intake and genetic risks for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

Dietary habits may impact the prevention and management of schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BD), and genetic and environmental factors can influence both these habits and these disorders. This study investigated the effects of genetic predispositions to SCZ and BD on current dietary habits among older adults with lifestyle-related diseases, potentially offering insights for preventive mental health strategies. A cohort of 730 older patients who were diagnosed with or suspected of having lifestyle-related diseases was assessed for eight current dietary categories: miso soup, Japanese tea, green and yellow vegetables, light-colored vegetables, fruits, pickles, meats, and soybeans. Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) for the risk of SCZ and BD, including BD types I and II, the shared risk of SCZ and BD, and the differentiation of SCZ from BD, were calculated utilizing data from large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWASs). Our findings revealed that PRSs for SCZ and BD risk significantly influenced specific dietary habits, particularly decreased consumption of nutrient-rich foods such as light-colored vegetables (SCZ, R2 = 0.0096, p = 3.54 × 10−3; BD, R2 = 0.0074, p = 9.09 × 10−3) and soybeans (SCZ, R2 = 0.0061, p = 0.019; BD, R2 = 0.014, p = 8.38 × 10−4). Notable differences in dietary effects were observed between PRSs for BD I and BD II, with a more pronounced impact associated with BD I (e.g., light-colored vegetables, BD I, R2 = 0.015, p = 3.11 × 10−4; BD II, p > 0.05). Moreover, shared genetic factors for SCZ and BD were correlated with lower intakes of miso soup (R2 = 0.013, p = 1.21 × 10−3), Japanese tea (R2 = 0.0092, p = 5.59 × 10−3), light-colored vegetables (R2 = 0.010, p = 2.92 × 10−3), and soybeans (R2 = 0.014, p = 3.13 × 10−4). No significant correlations were found between PRSs for differentiating SCZ from BD and any dietary patterns (p > 6.25 × 10−3). Genetic risks shared by individuals with SCZ and BD may influence dietary choices in older adults, emphasizing the potential for dietary modifications as part of comprehensive strategies for the prevention of the SCZ and BD onset, as well as for the treatment of individuals at risk of or diagnosed with SCZ and BD.

Comparison of the Effects of Inappropriate Meal Timing-Induced and Genetic Models of Circadian Clock Disruption on Uterine mRNA Expression Profiles

BackgroundAccumulating evidence reveals that inappropriate meal timing contributes to the development of lifestyle-related diseases. An underlying mechanism is thought to be the disruption of the intracellular circadian clock in various tissues based on observations in both systemic and tissue-specific clock gene-deficient mice. However, whether the effects of conditional clock gene knockout are comparable to those of inappropriate meal timing remains unclear. ObjectivesThis study aimed to compare the effects of a recently developed 28-h feeding cycle model with those of a core clock gene Bmal1 uterine conditional knockout (Bmal1 cKO) model on uterine mRNA expression profiles. MethodsThe models were generated by subjecting C57BL/6J mice to an 8-h/20-h feeding/fasting cycle for 2 wk and crossing Bmal1-floxed mice with PR-Cre mice. Microarray analyses were conducted using uterine samples obtained at the beginning of the dark and light periods. ResultsThe analyses identified 516 and 346, significantly 4-fold and 2-fold, up- or downregulated genes in the 28-h feeding cycle and Bmal1 cKO groups, respectively, compared with each control group. Among these genes, only 7 (1.4%) and 63 (18.2%) were significantly up- or downregulated in the other model. Moreover, most (n = 44, 62.9%) of these genes were oppositely regulated. These findings were confirmed by gene set enrichment analyses. ConclusionsThis study reveals that a 28-h feeding cycle and Bmal1 cKO differently affect gene expression profiles and highlights the need for considering this difference to assess the pathophysiology of diseases associated with inappropriate meal timing.

Real-Time Monitoring of Oxygen-Consumption Rate in Mouse Liver Slices Incubated in Organ-on-a-Chip Devices.

We developed an organ-on-a-chip (OOC) based on precision-cut liver slices to assess liver function in real-time, both in health and disease, in a controlled and noninvasive manner. We achieved this by integrating fiber-optic-based oxygen sensors before and after the microchamber in which a liver slice was incubated under flow, to measure oxygen concentrations in the medium in real time. We first demonstrated that the basal oxygen consumption rate (OCR) of liver slices is a reliable indicator of liver slice viability. By monitoring basal OCR (2.9-5.7 pmol O2/min/μg protein) in incubation medium, we found that it correlated well to cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content (3.0-7.9 pmol/μg protein) (r = 0.82, p < 0.0001). Second, we induced a diseased state in liver slices by targeting the mitochondria, as they play a critical role in liver function and disease. We exposed the liver slices to succinate in abundance (40 mM) for short periods (1 h) to rapidly boost mitochondrial OCR. Two successive treatments of succinate increased the OCR of liver slices by 1.5 pmol/min/μg each time. However, between treatments, the liver slice OCR did not return to its basal OCR, instead decreasing drastically by 60-70%, suggesting succinate toxicity. We confirmed this with ATP analysis (1.0 pmol/μg protein) and hematoxylin and eosin staining, which showed tissue necrosis and apoptosis. Our system could be an advantageous model for future studies assessing liver (patho)physiology in response to potentially toxic drugs or lifestyle-related liver diseases.