Objective Measures Research Articles

Examining the Accuracy of Self-Reported Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence Using a Visual Analog Scale Among Opioid-Dependent People Living with HIV.

Evidence indicates that regular assessment of antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence is necessary to promote adherence and achieve viral suppression. Self-reported adherence using a visual analog scale (VAS) has been used extensively to measure ART adherence. However, less is known about the accuracy of the VAS for measuring ART adherence among opioid-dependent people living with HIV. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the VAS in measuring ART adherence in opioid-dependent people living with HIV who are enrolled in a methadone maintenance program (MMP). This study was conducted within a larger randomized controlled trial among opioid-dependent people living with HIV (N = 109) who were enrolled in an inner-city MMP. Self-reported VAS ART adherence data were compared to pharmacy refill data, which is a more objective measure. Self-reported VAS ratings and pharmacy refill behavior were significantly correlated at the 6-month post-intervention mark (r = 0.349, p = 0.006) but not at any other time point (i.e., pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-months, and 9-months post-intervention). Based on the pharmacy refill data, participants did not consistently adhere to their ART medication but self-reported high adherence on the VAS. The self-report VAS may not be an accurate measure for assessing ART adherence among opioid-dependent persons living with HIV and enrolled in a MMP. Based on our findings, it may be more accurate to use pharmacy refill information or other objective measures to quantify ART adherence over extended periods for this patient population.

Harnessing Foot Mechanics: The Role of Lacing Techniques in Enhancing Comfort and Reducing Injury Risk

Background: Lacing techniques are often viewed as a functional necessity, but recent research has highlighted their role as a customization tool for foot health and comfort. This review synthesizes findings from studies examining the biomechanical effects of different lacing patterns on pressure distribution, tendon loading, and foot mechanics. Methods: We analyzed studies that investigated various lacing techniques, including tightness and patterns. Objective measurements, such as pressure insoles and cadaveric models, were used to quantify the effects. Diverse study populations, including individuals with foot health concerns and athletes, were considered. This study was conducted as a scoping review following the JBI methodology, adhering to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Results: The studies collectively reveal that lacing patterns significantly influence dorsal pressure distribution during activities like running. Customized lacing can optimize foot biomechanics, reducing the risk of injuries related to abnormal pressure distribution. A total of 27 records were identified from the initial search. After removing duplicates and screening, four articles were included in the final review. Additionally, certain lacing configurations were found to reduce peak Achilles tendon tension, a crucial finding for injury-prone individuals. Conclusions: Proper lacing techniques are not just a functional aspect but a means to enhance foot health and prevent injuries. Healthcare professionals can provide personalized lacing recommendations to patients, with implications for those with specific foot conditions, athletes, and individuals at risk of injuries. The importance of patient education on the significance of lacing techniques cannot be overstated, emphasizing the need for informed choices when lacing shoes. These findings underscore the multifaceted role of lacing techniques in promoting foot health and well-being.

Aggression in a Cohort of Male Methamphetamine (METH) Users With and Without Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) Use History in Malaysia.

Methamphetamine (METH) consumption is associated with aggression. Decoction derived from the kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) leaf has been used as a METH substitute in Southeast Asia. Given its perceived benefit, we investigated the relationship between kratom use and aggression in a treatment sample of METH users with and without kratom use history. Four hundred and three male METH users participated in this cross-sectional study. A semi-structured questionnaire and several objective clinical measures were administered. Results indicate that there were no significant differences in aggression and its dimensions between METH users with and without kratom use history. However, two distinct Clusters (1 and 2) of METH users with kratom use history were studied. Users in Cluster 1 were characterized by a higher quantity and frequency of daily kratom use, longer duration of kratom use, and use of kratom at a younger age. Users in Cluster 2 exhibited the opposite characteristics. Kratom dependence and the first age of kratom use were identified as risk factors for aggression in Cluster 1. The frequency of daily kratom use appeared as a protective factor against aggression in Cluster 2. The results offer partial support to the instrumental kratom use concept; lower frequency (1 to 3 times) of kratom use may potentially minimize aggression in METH users presenting with mild to moderate kratom dependence.

Halitosis in oral lichen planus patients.

To investigate the halitosis level in oral lichen planus (OLP) participants and OLP-free participants.&#xD;Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 70 participants at the New Zealand's National Centre for Dentistry. Halitosis was determined using the objective measurements (parts per billion [ppb] volatile sulphur compounds [VSCs] in the exhaled air) and subjective measurement (self-reported halitosis questionnaire).&#xD;Results: The VSCs values of OLP participants (mean ± SD: 144.64 ± 23.85 ppb) were significantly greater than that in the OLP-free participants (105.52 ± 22.31ppb) (mean difference: 39.12 ppb; p < 0.05; 95% CI: 27.95, 50.29). The VSCs value of hyperplastic (mean difference: 34.11; 95% CI: 20.07, 48.15; p<0.05) and erosive/ulcerative (mean difference: 57.47; 95% CI: 34.19, 80.76; p<0.05) OLP participants were statistically greater than that of OLP-free participants. No statistical significance was found between hyperplastic and erosive/ulcerative OLP (p>0.05). "Type (OLP-free/OLP)" has a significant effect on the dependent variable (VSCs). 78.6% of OLP and 90.5% of OLP-free brushed their teeth at least twice daily, with a statistically significant observation (Mean square: 1.61; F: 13.13; p<0.05).&#xD;Conclusions: The levels of VSCs were greater in participants with hyperplastic and erosive/ulcerative OLP than that in the OLP-free participants. &#xD.

Impact of postpartum physical activity on maternal depression and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

To examine the influence of postpartum exercise on maternal depression and anxiety. Systematic review with random effects meta-analysis and meta-regression. Online databases up to 12 January 2024, reference lists, recommended studies and hand searches. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomised interventions of any publication date or language were included if they contained information on the Population (postpartum people), Intervention (subjective or objective measures of frequency, intensity, duration, volume, type, or mode of delivery of exercise), Comparator (no exercise or different exercise measures), and Outcome (postpartum depression, anxiety prevalence, and/or symptom severity). A total of 35 studies (n=4072) were included. Moderate certainty evidence from RCTs showed that exercise-only interventions reduced the severity of postpartum depressive symptoms (19 RCTs, n=1778, SMD: -0.52, 95% CI -0.80 to -0.24, I2=86%, moderate effect size) and anxiety symptoms (2 RCTs, n=513, SMD: -0.25, 95% CI -0.43 to -0.08, I2=0%, small effect size), and the odds of postpartum depression by 45% (4 RCTs, n=303 OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.95, I2=0%) compared with no exercise. No included studies assessed the impact of postpartum exercise on the odds of postpartum anxiety. To achieve at least a moderate reduction in the severity of postpartum depressive symptoms, postpartum individuals needed to accumulate at least 350 MET-min/week of exercise (eg, 80 min of moderate intensity exercise such as brisk walking, water aerobics, stationary cycling or resistance training). Postpartum exercise reduced the severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms and the odds of postpartum depression.

Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairments (CRCIs) in Non-Central Nervous System Adult Patients: Outcome Measures and Methodology of Assessment: A Literature Review

Background: Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) represents one of the most common and debilitating effects in patients surviving after cancer treatments. Neurocognitive deficits are important causes of disability and burden in cancer survivors. The true magnitude of CRCI is difficult to define due to significant heterogeneity of literature data. At present, there is no agreement on the gold standard for detection and grading of CRCI in clinical trials, and there is a lack of clear knowledge of its pathophysiology. Objectives: In this review, we aim to discuss some perspectives for future research to pursue in order to cover the gaps in knowledge in the CRCI field. Methods: We focused our literature research on the following relevant issues: neuroradiological correlates of CRCI; objective neuropsychological evaluation and subjective complaint assessment and their correlation with objective measures; timing of assessment; and possible treatments. Results: The correct methodology for evaluating cognitive deficits induced by anti-tumor treatments still requires a definition based on quality scientific evidence, and literature data are currently scarce. Conclusions: This review highlights the need for further research to understand the causes and consequences of cancer-related cognitive impairment using standardized and sensitive measures of cognitive functions and the long-term effects of chemotherapy on cognitive functions and to develop effective interventions.

CARCASS EVALUATION SYSTEMS IN THE EU

In order to obtain market transparency carcass classification in the EU has to be carried out according to regulations for different species. Besides the carcass weight objective measurements as a basis for the assessment of lean are available for pigs and partly for beef carcasses. Classification equipments for pigs are the same in various member states, but due to regional differences concerning breeds and consumer’s preferences different formulas are used to calculate lean content. Meat quality traits are not an integrated part of the payment system as yet. Subjective assessment by looking at conformation and fat coverage is applied for most of the beef and sheep carcasses in the member states. Poultry classification also considers hygienic quality of the carcass.

LPS-induced delirium-like behavior and microglial activation in mice correlate with bispectral electroencephalography (BSEEG).

Delirium is a multifactorial medical condition characterized by impairment across various mental functions and is one of the greatest risk factors for prolonged hospitalization, morbidity, and mortality. Research focused on delirium has proven to be challenging due to a lack of objective measures for diagnosing patients, and few laboratory models have been validated. Our recent studies report the efficacy of bispectral electroencephalography (BSEEG) in diagnosing delirium in patients and predicting patient outcomes. We applied BSEEG to validate a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse model of delirium. Moreover, we investigated the relationship between BSEEG score, delirium-like behaviors, and microglia activation in hippocampal dentate gyrus and cortex regions in young and aged mice. There was a significant correlation between BSEEG score and impairment of attention in young mice. Additionally, there was a significant correlation between BSEEG score and microglial activation in hippocampal dentate gyrus and cortex regions in young and aged mice. We have successfully validated the BSEEG method by showing its associations with a level of behavioral change and microglial activation in an LPS-induced mouse model of delirium. In addition, the BSEEG method was able to sensitively capture an LPS-induced delirium-like condition that behavioral tests could not capture because of a hypoactive state.

Screening for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: Subjective Versus Objective Measures.

This study compared subjective screening modalities recommended in diabetic foot screening guidelines for the detection of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) with an objective measure, the NC-Stat DPNCheck®. We assessed 63 participants (mean age 54.5 years ± 10.5) utilising subjective screening tools (Semmes-Weinstein 10-g monofilament, 128-Hz traditional tuning fork, neurothesiometer, O'Brien 128-Hz electronic tuning fork) and compared results with the objective automated sural nerve conduction test NC-Stat DPNCheck®. A significant difference was found in the number of limbs classified with DPN between all screening tools (P < .05). Therefore, this suggests that some screening modalities are more sensitive in diagnosing DPN than others, highlighting the importance of using multiple screening tools to a comprehensive understanding of the patient's neurological status. The findings also emphasize the need to incorporate objective measures in diabetic foot screening and encourage future research to establish a gold standard tool for DPN diagnosis.

Review and Call for Improved Cannabis Measurement and the Potential for Leveraging Cannabis Seed-To-Sale Systems.

International consensus has emerged, which proposes that the measurement and standardization of the quantity of THC potency, or dose (mgTHC), is a requisite for identifying consistent relationships between patterns of cannabis use and the risk for negative health outcomes, especially critical given the increasing number of U.S. states and European countries considering legalizing cannabis for recreational use. Despite the lack of measurement approaches that provide accurate, real-time data on THC dosage, the number of states that have implemented legal adult use cannabis markets has coincided with the use of regulatory seed-to-sale or track-and-trace systems. Seed-to-sale tracking systems are designed to track the amount of cannabis cultivated, and typically leverage biochemical testing contractors to label the THC potencies and amounts on a diverse array of cannabis products. We propose leveraging seed-to-sale tracking systems to facilitate a more objective measure of THC potency. In the current review, we will: 1) summarize the complexities of accurately measuring the multidimensional aspects of cannabis use patterns; 2) review recent advancements in quantifying THC and the importance of standardizing THC dose in measuring cannabis use; and 3) discuss the potential value of future research efforts examining how state-level seed-to-sale tracking data can inform the standard THC dose.

Association between slow wave sleep and blood pressure in insomnia.

The majority of patients with insomnia exhibit abnormal sleep in objective testing (e.g., decreased sleep duration, decreased slow wave sleep (SWS). Previous studies have suggested that some of these objective measures of poor sleep, such as decreased sleep duration, are associated with a higher risk of hypertension in insomnia. We examined the relationship between SWS and morning and evening blood pressure (BP) levels in patients with clinically diagnosed insomnia. A total of 229 normal sleepers and 1378 insomnia patients were included in this study. Insomnia was defined based on standard diagnostic criteria with symptoms lasting ≥6 months. All subjects underwent in-laboratory polysomnography. Patients were classified into quartiles of percent SWS. Evening and morning hypertension were defined using BP measurements taken in the evening before and in the morning after polysomnography, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between insomnia, SWS and hypertension. Insomniacs with <3.5% SWS (OR 3.27, 95% CI 1.31-7.66) and those with 3.5-10.2% SWS (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.28-5.91) had significantly greater odds of morning hypertension compared to normal sleepers. No associations were seen in insomnia with 10.2-15.8% SWS and with >15.8% SWS. Significant effect modifications by sex (p=0.043) were found, as decreased SWS was associated with morning hypertension only in men. Odds of evening hypertension were not significantly associated with SWS. Decreased SWS is associated with morning hypertension in a dose-dependent manner in insomnia, especially in men.

Reframing the Antarctic as polar planetary commons: moving beyond rights of nature

ABSTRACT This conceptual paper seeks to unravel the processes of assigning rights to nature (RoN) in the polar context through recognising how current efforts of assigning these are steeped in property relations and express an inherent anthropocentrism. The paper critically synthesises ideas from across the disciplines of environmental law, geography and cultural theory to understand how the process of assigning rights to nature takes place – or effectively how rights of nature makes for Antarctic geographies today and into the future. The Antarctic is currently promoted, depicted and popularly imagined as a pristine wilderness. As such, it represents the final frontier of techno industrial capitalism on the planet. In this context, the wilderness qualities of the region need to be confronted as places of our making. This calls for a radical realignment of the assignation of rights to nature, whereby any diminutive apprehensions of nature or objective measures of wilderness need to be countered. Any assignation of rights needs to be informed by how values and representations are continually relationally constituted and have a planetary dimension. This reframing implies that places do not possess some inherent or authentic value, or rights. The way they are valued is made here and now, there and then, in the moments we make sense of and relate to place. In this frame of ongoing valuing, this paper explores how RoN takes place in the polar regions, revealing the Antarctic as a planetary hydrocommons. Underpinned by notions of geopower and sympoietic earth jurisprudence these planetary hydrocommons are illustrated through ice and the question posed is how our ongoing relation configuration to place can feature in Antarctic policy and governance.

Economic inequalities in adolescents’ internalising symptoms: longitudinal evidence from eight countries

Research, mainly conducted in Europe and North America, has shown an inequitable burden of internalising mental health problems among adolescents from poorer households. We investigated whether these mental health inequalities differ across a diverse range of countries and multiple measures of economic circumstances. In this longitudinal observational cohort study, we analysed data from studies conducted in eight countries (Australia, Ethiopia, India, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, the UK, and Viet Nam) across five global regions. All studies had self-reported measures of internalising symptoms using a validated scale at two timepoints in adolescence; a measure of household income, household consumption expenditure, or subjective wealth; and data collected between 2000 and 2019. Household income (measured in four countries), consumption expenditure (six countries), and adolescents' subjective assessment of household wealth (five countries) were measured in mid-adolescence (14-17 years). The primary outcome (internalising symptoms, characterised by negative mood, affect, and anxiety) was measured later in adolescence between age 17 and 19 years. Analyses were linear regression models with adjustment. Effect estimates were added to random-effects meta-analyses to aid understanding of cross-country differences. The overall pooled sample of eight studies featured 18 910 adolescents (9568 [50·6%] female and 9342 [49·4%] male). Household income had a small or null association with adolescents' internalising symptoms. Heterogeneity (I2 statistic) was 71·04%, falling to 39·71% after adjusting for baseline symptoms. Household consumption expenditure had a stronger association with internalising symptoms (decreases of 0·075 SD in Peru [95% CI -0·136 to -0·013], 0·034 SD in South Africa [-0·061 to -0·006], and 0·141 SD in Viet Nam [-0·202 to -0·081] as household consumption expenditure doubled). The I2 statistic was 74·24%, remaining similar at 74·83% after adjusting for baseline symptoms. Adolescents' subjective wealth was associated with internalising symptoms in four of the five countries where it was measured. The I2 statistic was 57·09% and remained similar after adjusting for baseline symptoms (53·25%). We found evidence for cross-country differences in economic inequalities in adolescents' internalising symptoms, most prominently for inequalities according to household consumption expenditure. Subjective wealth explained greater variance in symptoms compared with the objective measures. Our study suggests that economic inequalities in adolescents' mental health are prevalent in many but not all countries and vary by the economic measure considered. Variation in the magnitude of inequalities suggests that the wider context within countries plays an important role in the development of these inequalities. Wellcome Trust.

Implementing and Evaluating the Timed Up and Go Test Automation Using Smartphones and Smartwatches.

Physical performance tests aim to assess the physical abilities and mobility skills of individuals for various healthcare purposes. They are often driven by experts and usually performed at their practice, and therefore they are resource-intensive and time-demanding. For tests based on objective measurements (e.g., duration, repetitions), technology can be used to automate them, allowing the patients to perform the test themselves, more frequently and anywhere, while alleviating the expert from supervising the test. The well-known Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, typically used for mobility assessment, is an ideal candidate for automation, as inertial sensors (among others) can be deployed to detect the various movements constituting the test without expert supervision. To move from expert-led testing to self-administered testing, we present a mHealth system capable of automating the TUG test using a pocket-sized smartphone or a wrist smartwatch paired with a smartphone, where data from inertial sensors are used to detect the activities carried out by the patient while performing the test and compute their results in real time. All processing (i.e., data processing, machine learning-based activity inference, results calculation) takes place on the smartphone. The use of both devices to automate the TUG test was evaluated (w.r.t. accuracy, reliability and battery consumption) and mutually compared, and set off with a reference method, obtaining excellent Bland-Altman agreement results and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient reliability. Results also suggest that the smartwatch-based system performs better than the smartphone-based system.

A glossary for social-to-biological research

Research has shown that our socially structured experiences elicit a biological response, leading to the observation that numerous biomarkers (objective biological measures that are representative of various biological processes) are socially patterned. This ‘social-to-biological’ research is of interest to researchers across multiple disciplines and topics and especially to those with an interest in understanding the biological embodiment of the ‘social environment’. Combining social and biomarker data is also of relevance to those examining the biological determinants of social behaviours (for example, the relationship between genetics and certain behaviours like smoking). However, as much of the research involving biomarkers and social data are multidisciplinary, researchers need to understand why and how to optimally use and combine such data. This article provides a resource for researchers by introducing a range of commonly available biomarkers across studies and countries. Because of the breadth of possible analyses, we do not aim to provide an exhaustive and detailed review of each. Instead, we have structured the glossary to include: an easy-to-understand definition; a description of how it is measured; key considerations when using; and an example of its use in a relevant social-to-biological study. We have limited this glossary to biomarkers that are available in large health and social surveys or population-based cohort studies and focused on biomarkers in adults. We have structured the glossary around the main physiological systems studied in research on social to biological transition and those that go across systems and highlight some basic terms and key theoretical concepts.

Is hyperactivity in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) a functional response to demands on specific executive functions or cognitive demands in general?

Hyperactivity is a core and impairing deficit in the clinical model of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, the extent to which hyperactivity in ADHD is evoked by cognitively challenging tasks in general or by demands on specific executive functions remains unclear. A clinically evaluated and carefully phenotyped community-referred sample of 184 children ages 8-13 (M = 10.40, SD = 1.50; 61 girls) with ADHD (n = 119) and without ADHD (neurotypical children and children with psychiatric disorders other than ADHD) were administered multiple, counterbalanced executive (working memory, inhibitory control, set shifting) and nonexecutive tests. Objective measures of gross motor movement (hyperactivity) were obtained using actigraphy. Using bifactor s-1 modeling, results indicate that children with ADHD demonstrate moderately elevated levels of motor movement relative to non-ADHD children. Additionally, findings indicated that hyperactivity in ADHD reflects the outcome of at least two similarly important factors: (a) a baseline level of elevated motor movement that is independent of environmental demands on their executive and nonexecutive cognitive abilities (d = 0.72); and (b) additional elevations attributable to demands placed on specific executive functions, with working memory and inhibition demands evoking similarly large, differential increases in movement for children with ADHD above and beyond their elevated baselines (Δd = 0.80). These findings suggests that executive function demands exacerbate, but do not fully explain, hyperactivity in ADHD, and/or there are at least two pathways to hyperactivity in ADHD-hyperactivity caused by environmental demands that challenge their underdeveloped executive functions, and hyperactivity caused by one or more other factors that need future research to identify. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The risk information and skin-cancer education for undergraduate prevention (RISE-UP) study: Protocol for a trial of personalized sun protection interventions for skin cancer prevention among undergraduate students.

Addressing the increasing incidence of skin cancer among young adults is a priority. The objective of the Risk Information and Skin-cancer Education for Undergraduate Prevention (RISE-UP) study is to identify personalized intervention components to prevent sunburn, a clinically significant outcome highly associated with skin cancer, in college students. Guided by the Elaboration Likelihood Model, the study will use Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) methodology to test three intervention components (ultraviolet photography, MC1R genetic testing, and action planning) each with two levels (yes v. no) in a full-factorial experiment to evaluate unique and combined effects of these components to improve outcomes over the longer-term, with seasonally timed follow-up. At-risk University of Utah students (N = 528) will be recruited. Eligibility criteria include self-reported sunburn or tanning in the past year, or not utilizing recommended sun protection. After baseline assessment, participants will be randomized to intervention group, stratified by sex. Assessments will be completed at (1) Baseline; (2) Intervention; (3) 1 month after intervention; (4) 4 months after intervention (the end of the first summer); and (5) 15 months after intervention (the end of the second summer). The primary outcome will be participants' self-reported number of sunburns. Secondary outcomes will include self-reported sun protection and tanning behaviors and, in a randomly selected subgroup, an objective measure of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure. The RISE-UP study will determine the efficacy of different combinations of personalized skin cancer preventative interventions for young adults and determine the optimal combination of intervention components to prevent skin cancer. NCT05634252.

Investigating Sensitivity to Auditory Cognition in Listening Effort Assessments: A Simultaneous EEG and Pupillometry Study.

It is still not fully explained what kind of cognitive sources the methods used in the assessment of listening effort are more sensitive to and how these measurement results are related to each other. The aim of the study is to ascertain which neural resources crucial for listening effort are most sensitive to objective measurement methods using differently degraded speech stimuli. A total of 49 individuals between the ages of 19 and 34 with normal hearing participated in the study. In the first stage, simultaneous pupillometry, electroencephalogram (EEG), and single-task paradigm reaction time (RT) measurements were made during the challenging listening and repetition task with noise-vocoded speech. Two speech reception thresholds (SRT) (50% and 80%) for two vocoding conditions (16 and 6 channels) were collected, resulting in 4 conditions. In the second stage, the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) and the test of attention in listening (TAIL) were applied. Stepwise linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the predictors of listening effort measurements. A significant difference was found between 6 and 16 channel stimuli in both pupil dilation change and EEG alpha band power change. In the hardest listening condition, whereas RAVLT scores are significant predictors of pupil dilation change, TAIL scores are significant predictors of EEG alpha power. As the stimulus difficulty decreased, the factors that predicted both EEG and pupillometry results decreased. In the single-task paradigm, a significant regression model could not be obtained at all four difficulty levels. As a result of the study, it was found that the pupil dilation change was more sensitive to auditory memory skills and the EEG alpha power change was more sensitive to auditory attention skills. To our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the sensitivity of different listening effort measurement methods to auditory cognitive skills.

The active advantage: Objective measurement of preoperative activity is associated with postoperative recovery and outcomes in gynecologic oncology patients

The active advantage: Objective measurement of preoperative activity is associated with postoperative recovery and outcomes in gynecologic oncology patients

Modulating the gut microbiota in Crohn’s disease: a pilot study on the impact of a plant-based diet with DNA-based monitoring

IntroductionCrohn’s Disease (CD) is characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation and dysbiosis. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a plant-based diet (PBD) on gut microbiota composition and inflammation in CD patients and assess the utility of trnL gene sequencing for monitoring dietary adherence.MethodsFourteen CD patients participated in a 12-week PBD intervention. Dietary adherence was monitored through self-reported food diaries and trnL sequencing, which detects plant residues in fecal samples. Gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing, and fecal calprotectin levels were measured as an indicator of intestinal inflammation.ResultsTrnL sequencing identified 55 plant genera in fecal samples, compared to 41 reported in food diaries, highlighting its accuracy in assessing plant residue diversity. By week 4, participants demonstrated a 1.4-fold increase in plant intake, correlating with a significant increase in microbial diversity. Key genera associated with gut health, such as Faecalibacterium and Bacteroides, increased in abundance. Additionally, fecal calprotectin levels decreased from 472 mg/kg at baseline to 207 mg/kg at week 12, indicating reduced intestinal inflammation.DiscussionA PBD positively influenced gut microbiota composition and decreased intestinal inflammation in CD patients. The study also demonstrated that trnL sequencing is an effective tool for assessing dietary adherence in clinical settings, offering a more objective measure than self-reported food diaries.