Prevention Of Chronic Diseases Research Articles

Plant-based diets for kidney disease prevention and treatment.

Plant-based diets are associated with a lower risk of hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mortality. Using the most recent evidence, we critically appraised the role of plant-based diets in primary and secondary prevention of chronic kidney disease (CKD) with a focus on key nutritional factors (dietary acid load, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and fiber). In healthy individuals, observational studies found that greater intake of plant protein and higher adherence to plant-based diets (overall, healthful, and provegetarian) was associated with a lower risk of CKD. In those with CKD, plant-based diets were associated with a lower risk of mortality, improved kidney function, and favorable metabolic profiles (fibroblast growth factor-23, uremic toxins, insulin sensitivity, inflammatory biomarkers). Only few studies reported nutrient content of plant-based diets. These studies found that plant-based diets had lower dietary acid load, lower or no significant difference in phosphorus and sodium, and higher potassium and fiber. One study reported that vegetarian diets were associated with severe vitamin D deficiency compared to nonvegetarian diets. Plant-based diets provide several benefits for prevention and management of CKD, with little risk for individuals with CKD. Incorporation of vitamin D rich foods in plant-based diets may be helpful.

COVID-19-Associated Sepsis: Potential Role of Phytochemicals as Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals

The acute manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exhibit the hallmarks of sepsis-associated complications that reflect multiple organ failure. The inflammatory cytokine storm accompanied by an imbalance in the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory host response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection leads to severe and critical septic shock. The sepsis signature in severely afflicted COVID-19 patients includes cellular reprogramming and organ dysfunction that leads to high mortality rates, emphasizing the importance of improved clinical care and advanced therapeutic interventions for sepsis associated with COVID-19. Phytochemicals of functional foods and nutraceutical importance have an incredible impact on the healthcare system, which includes the prevention and/or treatment of chronic diseases. Hence, in the present review, we aim to explore the pathogenesis of sepsis associated with COVID-19 that disrupts the physiological homeostasis of the body, resulting in severe organ damage. Furthermore, we have summarized the diverse pharmacological properties of some potent phytochemicals, which can be used as functional foods as well as nutraceuticals against sepsis-associated complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The phytochemicals explored in this article include quercetin, curcumin, luteolin, apigenin, resveratrol, and naringenin, which are the major phytoconstituents of our daily food intake. We have compiled the findings from various studies, including clinical trials in humans, to explore more into the therapeutic potential of each phytochemical against sepsis and COVID-19, which highlights their possible importance in sepsis-associated COVID-19 pathogenesis. We conclude that our review will open a new research avenue for exploring phytochemical-derived therapeutic agents for preventing or treating the life-threatening complications of sepsis associated with COVID-19.

Inequality in breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices in Argentina by household income level in 2018-2019.

Introduction. Diet quality is a right related to survival, healthy growth, prevention of chronic diseases, and malnutrition in all its forms. The objective of this study was to analyze breastfeeding and feeding practices in children younger than 2 years from urban areas of Argentina in 2018-2019 according to their household income level. Population and methods. Secondary analysis of data of the Second National Survey on Nutrition and Health (ENNyS2) of 2018-2019. Breastfeeding and complementary feeding indicators proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) were analized. Data were stratified by household income level. Results. The analysis included 5763 children younger than 24 months old. Although 97% was ever breastfed, only 47% of infants younger than 6 months were exclusively breastfed the previous day and 48% continued with breastfeeding after 1 year old, with a higher prevalence in low-income children. The previous day, 23% of children aged 6 to 23 months did not eat any fruit or vegetable, 60% consumed unhealthy foods, and 50% consumed sweet beverages. The consumption of sweet beverages and the absence of fruit and vegetables were higher in low-income households. Conclusion. The quality of children's diet is far from the recommendations and is conditioned by income. Early initiation of breastfeeding, minimum dietary diversity, fruit and vegetable consumption are lower and sweet beverage consumption is greater in impoverished sectors.

A Statewide Physician Champion Initiative to Prevent Diabetes: Lessons Learned from North Carolina.

The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) and American Medical Association (AMA) collaborated to support diabetes prevention efforts in North Carolina (NC) with a physician champion initiative focused on tracking and increasing referrals to the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). Three focus areas to effectively engage and utilize physician champions included: (1) self-adoption within their practice, (2) engagement and outreach with other healthcare leaders, and (3) influence to peers and colleagues. Six NC physician champions were selected to support the work from January 2020 to January 2023. This resulted in increased outreach to physicians about Diabetes Free NC, increased materials/education for physicians on prediabetes identification and management, and 1943 referrals to the National DPP. This work can be further translated and applied to other states to aid prevention efforts. Physician champions' expertise coupled with adequate resources can allow them to play a key role in chronic disease prevention and management.

Optimization of Phenolic Compounds Extraction from Aerial Parts of Fabiana punensis S. C. Arroyo by Ultrasound- and Microwave-Assisted Extraction

Fabiana punensis S. C. Arroyo is a subshrub or shrub that is indigenous to the arid and semiarid region of northern Argentina and is known to possess several medicinal properties. The objective of this study was to optimize the extraction conditions so as to maximize the yield of bioactive total phenolic compound (TPC) and flavonoids (F) of F. punensis’ aerial parts by using non-conventional extraction methods, namely ultrasound-assisted extraction, UAE, and microwave-assisted extraction, MAE, and to compare the biological activities and toxicity of optimized extracts vs. conventional extracts, i.e., those gained by maceration. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to apply factorial designs to optimize the parameters of extraction: solid-to-liquid ratio, extraction time, ultrasound amplitude, and microwave power. The experimental values for TPC and F and antioxidant activity under the optimal extraction conditions were not significantly different from the predicted values, demonstrating the accuracy of the mathematical models. Similar HPLC-DAD patterns were found between conventional and UAE- and MAE-optimized extracts. The main constituents of the extracts correspond to phenolic compounds (flavonoids and phenolic acids) and apigenin was identified. All extracts showed high scavenger capacity on ABTS•+, O2•− and H2O2, enabling the inhibition of the pro-inflammatory enzymes xanthine oxidase (XO) and lipoxygenase (LOX). They also showed an antimutagenic effect in Salmonella Typhimurium assay and cytotoxic/anti-proliferative activity on human melanoma cells (SKMEL-28). Toxicological evaluation indicates its safety. The results of this work are important in the development of efficient and sustainable methods for obtaining bioactive compounds from F. punensis for the prevention of chronic degenerative diseases associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and DNA damage.

Influence of socio-environmental factors on stress and chronic disease in an urban population

IntroductionThe primary purpose of this project is to identify the modifiable individual, social and environmental factors associated with stress and to investigate and quantify the effect of persistent stress on chronic disease in a marginalized, primarily minority, urban community.MethodsThis study leveraged data collected as part of Temple Health: Block-By-Block, a longitudinal cohort study conducted over five years in an underserved community. Through in-home visits, 385 subjects completed a Visit 5 Social & Environmental Assessment which measured individual, social, neighborhood, and environmental factors as reported through each participant’s perspectives. A Perceived Stress Scale and a Cumulative Chronic Disease Index was also completed during this visit.ResultsFive of sixteen modifiable risk factors were identified as significant, independent predictors of stress, including general health, employment status, difficulties in paying for basics, home ownership and overall neighborhood quality. These health determinants combined with stress scores significantly predicted chronic disease burden.ConclusionsThis study provides unique, individualized evidence regarding the impact of social determinants of health on levels of stress among community residents, and suggests that stress is an intervening factor in the path to chronic disease. While addressing social determinants of health must be a priority, this study indicates that actionable behavioral and pharmacologic interventions to reduce stress may provide more immediate improvements in prevention and reduction of chronic disease in diverse urban communities.

Enhancing Citizen Health Literacy Through Digital Technology.

Contemporary society faces significant public health challenges with prevalent unhealthy behaviors and environmental risks leading non-communicable diseases. This study assesses health awareness campaigns'to effectiveness in a specific Taiwanese municipality, focusing on the impact of a health care management system. Objectives include enhancing public health literacy and evaluating community health promotion. The proposed system includes a personalized assistant app, personnel education, and events covering topics like hypertension, diabetes, diet, exercise, and chronic disease prevention. In summary, the research advocates for effective public health interventions, integrating digital technologies, personalized health management, and community engagement to promote health literacy and healthier lifestyles.

Systematic Development of an AI Chatbot for Physical Activity Habit Formation in Prehypertension Individual Integrating Needs, Theories, and Evidence.

Prehypertension, an early stage in the development of hypertension, impacts a substantial segment of the adult population worldwide. Addressing this issue, our study introduces HabitBot, an AI-driven chatbot tailored to encourage physical activity (PA) habits among individuals with prehypertension. HabitBot combines natural language processing with multidisciplinary approaches, drawing from both theoretical frameworks and empirical studies. The chatbot development followed a systematic, five-phase process: comprehensive needs assessment, literature review on behavior change theories, analysis for selecting effective behavior change techniques (BCTs), prototype design through intervention mapping, and refining the intervention based on user feedback. The outcome includes a prototype that integrates the Health Action Process Approach and Habit Formation Theory, utilizing twelve identified BCTs effective in fostering PA habits. User feedback further refined the chatbot across multiple dimensions such as user interface, content accessibility, and privacy. HabitBot exemplifies an innovative integration of behavior change strategies with advanced language model technology, paving the way for digital health interventions in chronic disease prevention. Future studies should assess its long-term efficacy in habit formation and explore its applicability to various demographic groups.

Assessing the effectiveness of “BETTER Women”, a community-based, primary care-linked peer health coaching programme for chronic disease prevention: protocol for a pragmatic, wait-list controlled, type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial

IntroductionThe Building on Existing Tools to Improve Cancer and Chronic Disease Prevention and Screening in Primary Care (BETTER) programme trains allied health professionals working in primary care settings to develop...

Validation of Contrast-Enhanced Mammography as Breast Imaging Modality Compared to Standard Mammography and Digital Breast Tomosynthesis.

Contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) is a relatively new imaging technique that allows morphologic, anatomic and functional imaging of the breast. The aim of our study was to validate contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) compared to mammography (MMG) and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) in daily clinical practice. This retrospective study included 316 consecutive patients who underwent MMG, DBT and CEM at the Centre for Prevention and Diagnosis of Chronic Diseases of Primorsko-goranska County. Two breast radiologists independently analyzed the image data, without available anamnestic information and without the possibility of comparison with previous images, to determine the presence of suspicious lesions and their morphological features according to the established criteria of the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) lexicon. The diagnostic value of MMG, DBT and CEM was assessed by ROC analysis. The interobserver agreement was excellent. CEM showed higher diagnostic accuracy in terms of sensitivity and specificity compared to MMG and DBT, the reporting time for CEM was significantly shorter, and CEM findings resulted in a significantly lower proportion of equivocal findings (BI-RADS 0), suggesting fewer additional procedures. In conclusion, CEM achieves high diagnostic accuracy while maintaining simplicity, reproducibility and applicability in complex clinical settings.

The Role of Omega- 3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Diabetes Mellitus Management: A Narrative Review.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic illnesses characterized by elevated levels of glucose in the bloodstream as a result of abnormalities in the generation or function of insulin. Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) is an essential component of diabetes management. Dietary fats are essential in both the prevention and progression of chronic diseases. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are recognized for their advantageous impact on health. They assist in controlling blood sugar levels and lipid profile in patients with all types of diabetes. Furthermore, they reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular events and death linked to DM. After evaluating the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antilipidemic, and antidiabetic mechanisms of omega-3 fatty acid supplements, as well as the results from randomized controlled studies, it is clear that these supplements have positive effects in both preventing and treating diabetes, as well as preventing and treating complications related to diabetes, specifically cardiovascular diseases. However, current evidence does not support the use of omega-3 supplementation in people with diabetes for the purpose of preventing or treating cardiovascular events. People with all types of diabetes are suggested to include fatty fish and foods high in omega-3 fatty acids in their diet twice a week, as is prescribed for the general population.

Synergistic Effect of β-Cryptoxanthin and Epigallocatechin Gallate on Obesity Reduction.

Chronic obesity is an alarmingly growing global public health concern, posing substantial challenges for the prevention of chronic diseases, including hyperinsulinemia, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and coronary artery disease, and there is an urgent need for early mitigation strategies. We previously reported the obesity-reducing effects of green tea and β-cryptoxanthin intake. However, since tea has a complex mixture of compounds, it remained unclear which component contributed the most to this effect. Using high-performance liquid chromatography, we analyzed the components of tea in this study to determine if consumption of any combination of these compounds with β-cryptoxanthin had an obesity-reducing effect. Consuming epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a component of green tea, and β-cryptoxanthin for 4 weeks led to a decrease in body weight. Moreover, the weight and size of the white adipose tissues were significantly reduced, and blood biochemistry test results were comparable to normal values, with particular improvement in liver function. This indicated that intake of EGCG and β-cryptoxanthin reduces obesity in both subcutaneous and visceral fat. These findings suggest that simultaneous intake of EGCG and β-cryptoxanthin not only reduces obesity but also has a systemic beneficial effect on the body's normal physiological function.

Features of eating behavior of early school-age children in the context of the implementation of the school meals reform

The aim of this study is to study the peculiarities of the eating behaviour of children of primary school age, their food preferences, choice of products and attitudes towards school meals, food habits in the choice of products and attitudes towards the school canteen in the context of the implementation of the school meal reform. Materials and methods. A large-scale medical and sociological study was conducted, which included children (5,401) of primary school age (from 6 to 10 years old) and their parents (4,347 people) from various schools in Kyiv, Vinnytsia, and Donetsk regions. The questionnaires included questions about food preferences, frequency of consumption of different foods, attitudes towards school meals and factors that influence food choices. The collected data were processed and analyzed using descriptive statistics methods in Excel. Research results indicate a significant level of awareness of the importance of a healthy diet by most children, but an insufficient level of water consumption, an insufficient understanding of the importance of nutrition for maintaining health by children, high popularity of high-carbohydrate products and a low level of satisfaction of some parents with school meals. Conclusions. The conducted analytical research revealed several educational and organizational problems related to the introduction of healthy food in schools, especially within the framework of reforming school food programs. According to the Strategy for reforming the school nutrition system, compliance with the principles of healthy nutrition, ensuring high-quality, safe and healthy nutrition, and improving the taste properties of school nutrition compliance with the principles of healthy nutrition, is extremely important for the preservation of children's health and the prevention of chronic non-infectious diseases. The results of our research indicate the need for additional educational programs for children and parents, the gradual introduction of new food standards, as well as ensuring the availability of healthy food in school canteens, and the implementation of social projects that will contribute to the formation of healthy eating habits

Olive Oil Consumption, Risk Factors, and Diseases: An Umbrella Review.

Olive oil is a vegetable oil that provides health benefits, including a reduction in free radicals and total cholesterol and prevention of chronic diseases. The escalating incidence of chronic diseases presents a substantial challenge to public health, prompting numerous studies to assess these health-related effects. Despite several systematic reviews and meta-analyses summarizing the association between olive oil consumption and specific health outcomes, there is no summary of the accumulated evidence from these reviews. This umbrella review summarizes the evidence on olive oil consumption or intervention in adults and its association with multiple risk factors and diseases. We retrieved systematic reviews of randomized trials or observational studies on oral interventions or the consumption of olive oil. The systematic search encompassed databases including MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS, and CENTRAL from inception to February 6, 2023. Two independent reviewers conducted data extraction and assessed methodological quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool. Overall, 17 systematic reviews of randomized trials and observational studies, covering outcomes such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, type 2 diabetes, glucose metabolism, inflammatory and oxidative markers, and all-cause mortality, were included. The evidence suggests a beneficial association between olive oil consumption and cardiovascular diseases, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and all-cause mortality. However, the evidence was less definitive for inflammatory markers, oxidative stress, glucose metabolism, and blood lipid outcomes. Several meta-analyses revealed high heterogeneity and wide confidence intervals, along with a limited number of randomized clinical trials. Given the high heterogeneity and low quality of evidence, further studies involving randomized trials are imperative. Prioritizing an in-depth analysis of specific olive oil components and using a control group with distinct characteristics and different effects is strongly recommended. PROSPERO registration no. CRD42022357290.

Redesigning Pharmacy to Improve Public Health Outcomes: Expanding Retail Spaces for Digital Therapeutics to Replace Consumer Products That Increase Mortality and Morbidity Risks.

United States healthcare outcomes, including avoidable mortality rates, are among the worst of high-income countries despite the highest healthcare spending per capita. While community pharmacies contribute to chronic disease management and preventive medicine, they also offer consumer products that increase mortality risks and the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and depression. To resolve these contradictions, our perspective article describes opportunities for major pharmacy chains (e.g., CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens) to introduce digital health aisles dedicated to prescription and over-the-counter digital therapeutics (DTx), together with mobile apps and wearables that support disease self-management, wellness, and well-being. We provide an evidence-based rationale for digital health aisles to replace spaces devoted to sugar-sweetened beverages and other unhealthy commodities (alcohol, tobacco) that may increase risks for premature death. We discuss how digital health aisles can serve as marketing and patient education resources, informing customers about commercially available DTx and other technologies that support healthy lifestyles. Since pharmacy practice requires symbiotic balancing between profit margins and patient-centered, value-based care, replacing health-harming products with health-promoting technologies could positively impact prevention of chronic diseases, as well as the physical and mental health of patients and caregivers who visit neighborhood pharmacies in order to pick up medicines.

Epidemiological characteristics of fatal drowning and related factors in children in Zhejiang Province, 2022

Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of fatal drowning in children in Zhejiang Province in 2022, analyze factors such as the swimming ability of children, the caregiver behavior at drowning site, types of first aid personnel and methods of first aid of unintentional fatal drowning and provide evidence for targeted intervention. Methods: Using the "Survey Form of Fatal Drowning Case in Children" designed by National Center for Chronic and Non-communicable Disease Control and Prevention of the China CDC, we collected case information of children aged 0-17 years who died due to drowning in Zhejiang in 2022 from medical history/death investigation records, telephone interviews, and home visits. Results: A total of 341 fatal drowning cases in children occurred in Zhejiang in 2022 and 330 cases were investigated (96.77%). The male to female of the cases was 2.33∶1, most cases were aged 15-17 years and 0-4 years, and 54.24% of fatal drowning cases occurred in children from other provinces. In the drowning cases, 83.33% were unintentional ones, and the proportion of intentional fatal drowning cases in children increased with age. Fatal drowning cases mainly occurred in open natural water bodies and public water storage facilities. More fatal drowning cases occurred in open natural water bodies in older children, while more fatal drowning cases occurred in public water storage facilities in younger children. In 275 children who died due to unintentional drowning, 73.09% could not swim, and only 1.09% were fully supervised by adults within an arm's length. First aid personnel, mainly medical staffs, bystanders and adult caregivers, were present for 47.63% fatal drowning cases. The proportion of the cases who had cardiopulmonary resuscitation as the first aid within 5 minutes was 2.18%. Conclusions: Drowning poses a serious threat to children's lives and there are differences in reasons and locations of fatal drowning in children in different age groups in Zhejiang Province in 2022. It is necessary to conduct to interventions to improve children's swimming skills, strengthen effective adult care and conduct health education about field first aid of drowning to reduce the incidence of drowning and related deaths in children.

Insights into the Role of Vitamin D in the Prevention and Control of Cancer and Other Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases: Shedding Further Light on a Captivating Subject

Vitamin D is a hormone that humans can synthesize upon sun exposure or through a balanced and healthy diet, including vitamin D-rich foods or supplements [...]

Protein and Leucine Requirements for Maximal Muscular Development and Athletic Performance Are Achieved with Completely Plant-Based Diets Modeled to Meet Energy Needs in Adult Male Rugby Players

Rugby athletes consume large amounts of animal protein in accordance with conventional dietary guidance to increase muscle mass and strength. This misaligns with national dietary guidelines, which suggest limiting meat consumption for chronic disease prevention. The ability of completely plant-based diets to satisfy the nutritional needs of rugby players has not been explored. This study scaled nutrient data from a large population consuming completely plant-based diets with limited supplemental protein to meet the calorie requirements of adult male rugby athletes to assess whether protein and leucine recommendations for muscular development and athletic performance would be achieved. Calorie requirements were estimated from research that employed the doubly labeled water method, and dietary data from the Adventist Health Study-2 were scaled to this level. The modeled protein level was 1.68 g/kg/day, which meets recommendations for maximal gains in muscle mass, strength, and athletic performance. The modeled leucine level was 2.9 g/meal for four daily meals, which exceeds the threshold proposed to maximally stimulate muscle protein synthesis in young men. These results indicate that consuming large portions of completely plant-based meals can satisfy protein and leucine requirements for maximal muscular development and athletic performance in adult male rugby athletes while aligning with public health recommendations.

Protein and Leucine Requirements for Maximal Muscular Development and Athletic Performance Are Achieved with Completely Plant-Based Diets Modeled to Meet Energy Needs in Adult Male Rugby Players.

Rugby athletes consume large amounts of animal protein in accordance with conventional dietary guidance to increase muscle mass and strength. This misaligns with national dietary guidelines, which suggest limiting meat consumption for chronic disease prevention. The ability of completely plant-based diets to satisfy the nutritional needs of rugby players has not been explored. This study scaled nutrient data from a large population consuming completely plant-based diets with limited supplemental protein to meet the calorie requirements of adult male rugby athletes to assess whether protein and leucine recommendations for muscular development and athletic performance would be achieved. Calorie requirements were estimated from research that employed the doubly labeled water method, and dietary data from the Adventist Health Study-2 were scaled to this level. The modeled protein level was 1.68 g/kg/day, which meets recommendations for maximal gains in muscle mass, strength, and athletic performance. The modeled leucine level was 2.9 g/meal for four daily meals, which exceeds the threshold proposed to maximally stimulate muscle protein synthesis in young men. These results indicate that consuming large portions of completely plant-based meals can satisfy protein and leucine requirements for maximal muscular development and athletic performance in adult male rugby athletes while aligning with public health recommendations.

In silico medicine and -omics strategies in nephrology: contributions and relevance to the diagnosis and prevention of chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been increasing over the last years, with a rate between 0.49% to 0.87% new cases per year. Currently, the number of affected people is around 850 million worldwide. CKD is a slowly progressive disease that leads to irreversible loss of kidney function, end-stage kidney disease, and premature death. Therefore, CKD is considered a global health problem, and this sets the alarm for necessary efficient prediction, management, and disease prevention. At present, modern computer analysis, such as in silico medicine (ISM), denotes an emergent data science that offers interesting promise in the nephrology field. ISM offers reliable computer predictions to suggest optimal treatments in a case-specific manner. In addition, ISM offers the potential to gain a better understanding of the kidney physiology and/or pathophysiology of many complex diseases, together with a multiscale disease modeling. Similarly, -omics platforms (including genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics), can generate biological data to obtain information on gene expression and regulation, protein turnover, and biological pathway connections in renal diseases. In this sense, the novel patient-centered approach in CKD research is built upon the combination of ISM analysis of human data, the use of in vitro models, and in vivo validation. Thus, one of the main objectives of CKD research is to manage the disease by the identification of new disease drivers, which could be prevented and monitored. This review explores the wide-ranging application of computational medicine and the application of -omics strategies in evaluating and managing kidney diseases.