Western Lifestyle Research Articles

Abstract 4135835: Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus in Calcutta Schoolteachers and its Relationship with Cardiovascular Risk as Assessed by the ASCVD Model

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is rising in prevalence in India with economic development and the adoption of a Western lifestyle. Hypothesis: The increase in incidence and prevalence of CVD is possibly due to a rise in the incidence of risk factors like diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, hyperlipidemia, lack of physical activity and obesity, among various other causes. Aims: 1. To estimate the prevalence of DM in the community of Calcutta schoolteachers 2. To examine the relationship between the prevalence of DM and CVD risk as assessed by the different traditional CVD risk factors (age, sex, hypertension, current smoking, DM, and hyperlipidemia). Methods: We recruited 4,150 schoolteachers from 400 schools in Calcutta, India between June, and August 2019 with approval of the Tufts IRB and the local Ethics Committee. Participants were asked questions about their different risk factors to ascertain their cardiovascular risk by the ASCVD risk calculator. Baseline values (total cholesterol 170 mg/dL, HDL-C 50 mg/dL, no DM) were used when a participant’s glycemic status or lipid profile was not available. Based on the risk score, participants were stratified as mild (<5%), moderate (5-10%), or high (>10%) risk for developing ASCVD. A total of 240 participants were randomly selected from a stratified sample of the participants for evaluation for diabetes using HbA1c. DM was diagnosed when the Hb A1 C was 6.5% or more. Results: The mean age of the participants was 44 years, and 41% were male. Out of a total of 4,150 participants, 85.7% (3,558) were in the low-risk for CVD category, 9.0% (374) were moderate-risk, and 5.3% (218) were high-risk. Among the 240 screened for DM, 17.1% (41) were found to have the condition, and 41.3% (99) were pre-diabetic. There was no significant difference in prevalence of DM between men and women in the overall study population and in the mild risk group. However, more women in the medium risk group and more men in the high-risk group were found to be diabetic (p value <0.001 in both). Some participants were reclassified based on their new diagnosis of DM. Conclusions: The prevalence of DM was high among Calcutta schoolteachers, which contributes to being at increased risk for ASCVD. Most participants were unaware of their DM or cardiovascular risk, highlighting the need for increased testing and awareness. The estimates from this study may be used to understand the community burden of DM and cardiovascular risk.

Entamoeba muris mitigates metabolic consequences of high-fat diet in mice

ABSTRACT Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of several human conditions including abdominal obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia, all of which are risk factors of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Dietary pattern is a well-recognized MetS risk factor, but additional changes related to the modern Western life-style may also contribute to MetS. Here we hypothesize that the disappearance of amoebas in the gut plays a role in the emergence of MetS in association with dietary changes. Four groups of C57B/6J mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) or a normal diet (ND) were colonized or not with Entamoeba muris, a commensal amoeba. Seventy days after inoculation, cecal microbiota, and bile acid compositions were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing of 16S rDNA and mass spectrometry, respectively. Cytokine concentrations were measured in the gut, liver, and mesenteric fat looking for low-grade inflammation. The impact of HFD on liver metabolic dysfunction was explored by Oil Red O staining, triglycerides, cholesterol concentrations, and the expression of genes involved in β-oxidation and lipogenesis. Colonization with E. muris had a beneficial impact, with a reduction in dysbiosis, lower levels of fecal secondary bile acids, and an improvement in hepatic steatosis, arguing for a protective role of commensal amoebas in MetS and more specifically HFD-associated MASLD.

Modelling a Western Lifestyle in Mice: A Novel Approach to Eradicating Aerobic Spore-Forming Bacteria from the Colonic Microbiome and Assessing Long-Term Clinical Outcomes.

The environmentally acquired aerobic spore-forming (EAS-Fs) bacteria that are ubiquitous in nature (e.g., soil) are transient colonisers of the mammalian gastro-intestinal tract. Without regular exposure, their numbers quickly diminish. These species of bacteria have been suggested to be essential to the normal functioning of metabolic and immunogenic health. The modern Western lifestyle restricts exposure to these EAS-Fs, possibly explaining part of the pathogenesis of many Western diseases. To date, the only animal studies that address specific microbiome modelling are based around germ-free animals. We have designed a new animal model that specifically restricts exposure to environmental sources of bacteria. A new protocol, termed Super Clean, which involves housing mice in autoclaved individually ventilated cages (IVCs), with autoclaved food/water and strict ascetic handling practice was first experimentally validated. The quantification of EAS-Fs was assessed by heat-treating faecal samples and measuring colony-forming units (CFUs). This was then compared to mice in standard conditions. Mice were housed in their respective groups from birth until 18 months. Stool samples were taken throughout the experiment to assess for abundance in transiently acquired environmental bacteria. Clinical, biochemical, histological, and gene expression markers were analysed for diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (the "diseases of the West"). Our results show that stringent adherence to the Super Clean protocol produces a significantly decreased abundance of aerobic spore-forming Bacillota after 21 days. This microbiomic shift was correlated with significantly increased levels of obesity and impaired glucose metabolism. There was no evidence of colitis, liver disease or hypercholesterolaemia. This new murine model successfully isolates EAS-Fs and has potential utility for future research, allowing for an investigation into the clinical impact of living in relative hygienic conditions.

Decolonizing Gender Dynamics: Reclaiming Lawino’s Voice in Okot p’Bitek’s Song of Lawino

Using Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s decolonization theory, this article argues that Okot p’Bitek’s Song of Lawino reclaims African cultural voice and identity. Even though it is available in English, Song of Lawino is a kind of narrative poetry borrowed from the traditional Acholi song. This study uses contextual and stylistic analysis to show how p’Bitek’s poetry acts as a force for decolonization, advocates for cultural preservation, and addresses collective issues. Findings show that by satirizing African middle-class elites who adhere to Western values, the two chapters from Song of Lawino studied “The Woman with Whom I Share My Husband” and “Let Them Prepare the Malakwang Dish” highlight the clash between European and African cultures. In these poems, Lawino challenges gender dynamics and defends traditional practices, as well as criticizes the shallowness of Westernized lifestyles adopted by her husband Ocol. Through this strong-willed woman’s criticism, Okot p’Bitek’s poetry reveals the negative impacts of credulous cultural assimilation and underlines the import

Perspective: on the future of fecal microbiota transplantation.

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) has shown to possess impressive potential benefit for a wide range of clinical indications. Due to its inherent safety issues and efficacy constraints, the use of personalized FMT analogs could be a promising avenue. The development of such analogs will require a detailed understanding of their functionality, encompassing not only microbe-host interactions of the microbial taxa that are involved, but also of the ecological dimensions of the analogs and an overview of the gastrointestinal sites where these relevant microbial interactions take place. Moreover, characterization of taxa that have been lost due to diminished exposure to beneficial microbes, as a consequence of Western lifestyle, may lead to creation of future FMT analogs with the capacity to restore functionalities that we have lost.

The burden of steatotic liver disease

The steatotic liver disease is one of the most common etiologies of chronic liver diseases, especially in developed countries. It is in direct correlation with the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and the western lifestyle. Thus, we aimed to study the impact of fatty liver disease globally, depending on geographic distribution, age, gender, and associated risk factors, using the searche engines PubMed and Google Scholar. It has been observed that steatotic liver disease is a globally prevalent disease, which is more common in men and post-menopausal women, suggesting the protective role of female sex hormones. Steatotic liver disease is also considered the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome, being frequently diagnosed among patients with type 2 diabetes and/or obesity. The increased incidence of the disease was also noted in children, overweight / obese adolescents. Steatotic liver disease is a burden both for the patient and society as a whole, requiring the need for screening and early diagnosis.

Phylogeny and disease associations of a widespread and ancient intestinal bacteriophage lineage

Viruses are core components of the human microbiome, impacting health through interactions with gut bacteria and the immune system. Most human microbiome viruses are bacteriophages, which exclusively infect bacteria. Until recently, most gut virome studies focused on low taxonomic resolution (e.g., viral operational taxonomic units), hampering population-level analyses. We previously identified an expansive and widespread bacteriophage lineage in inhabitants of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Here, we study their biodiversity and evolution in various human populations. Based on a phylogeny using sequences from six viral genome databases, we propose the Candidatus order Heliusvirales. We identify heliusviruses in 82% of 5441 individuals across 39 studies, and in nine metagenomes from humans that lived in Europe and North America between 1000 and 5000 years ago. We show that a large lineage started to diversify when Homo sapiens first appeared some 300,000 years ago. Ancient peoples and modern hunter-gatherers have distinct Ca. Heliusvirales populations with lower richness than modern urbanized people. Urbanized people suffering from type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as well as inflammatory bowel disease, have higher Ca. Heliusvirales richness than healthy controls. We thus conclude that these ancient core members of the human gut virome have thrived with increasingly westernized lifestyles.

Antrodia camphorata Supplementation during Early Life Alters Gut Microbiota and Inhibits Young-Onset Intestinal Tumorigenesis in APC1638N Mice Later in Life.

Young-onset colorectal cancer is an increasing concern worldwide due to the growing prevalence of Westernized lifestyles in childhood and adolescence. Environmental factors during early life, particularly early-life nutrition, significantly contribute to the increasing incidence. Recently, there have been reports of beneficial effects, including anti-inflammation and anti-cancer, of a unique fungus (Antrodia camphorate, AC) native to Taiwan. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of AC supplementation in early life on the development of young-onset intestinal tumorigenesis. APC1638N mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HF) at 4-12 weeks of age, which is equivalent to human childhood/adolescence, before switching to a normal maintenance diet for an additional 12 weeks up to 24 weeks of age, which is equivalent to young to middle adulthood in humans. Our results showed that the body weight in the HF groups significantly increased after 8 weeks of feeding (p < 0.05). Following a switch to a normal maintenance diet, the change in body weight persisted. AC supplementation significantly suppressed tumor incidence and multiplicity in females (p < 0.05) and reduced IGF-1 and Wnt/β-catenin signaling (p < 0.05). Moreover, it altered the gut microbiota, suppressed inflammatory responses, and created a microenvironment towards suppressing tumorigenesis later in life.

Western lifestyle, metaflammation and the cell of origin of colon cancer.

Western lifestyle, metaflammation and the cell of origin of colon cancer.

DAMP-ing IBD: Extinguish the Fire and Prevent Smoldering.

In inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), the most promising therapies targeting cytokines or immune cell trafficking demonstrate around 40% efficacy. As IBD is a multifactorial inflammation of the intestinal tract, a single-target approach is unlikely to solve this problem, necessitating an alternative strategy that addresses its variability. One approach often overlooked by the pharmaceutically driven therapeutic options is toaddress the impact of environmental factors. This is somewhat surprising considering that IBD is increasingly viewed as a condition heavily influenced by such factors, including diet, stress, and environmental pollution-often referred to as the "Western lifestyle". In IBD, intestinal responses result from a complex interplay among the genetic background of the patient, molecules, cells, and the local inflammatory microenvironment where danger- and microbe-associated molecular patterns (D/MAMPs) provide an adjuvant-rich environment. Through activating DAMP receptors, this array of pro-inflammatory factors can stimulate, for example, the NLRP3 inflammasome-a major amplifier of the inflammatory response in IBD, and various immune cells via non-specific bystander activation of myeloid cells (e.g., macrophages) and lymphocytes (e.g., tissue-resident memory T cells). Current single-target biological treatment approaches can dampen the immune response, but without reducing exposure to environmental factors of IBD, e.g., by changing diet (reducing ultra-processed foods), the adjuvant-rich landscape is never resolved and continues to drive intestinal mucosal dysregulation. Thus, such treatment approaches are not enough to put out the inflammatory fire. The resultant smoldering, low-grade inflammation diminishes physiological resilience of the intestinal (micro)environment, perpetuating the state of chronic disease. Therefore, our hypothesis posits that successful interventions for IBD must address the complexity of the disease by simultaneously targeting all modifiable aspects: innate immunity cytokines and microbiota, adaptive immunity cells and cytokines, and factors that relate to the (micro)environment. Thus the disease can be comprehensively treated across the nano-, meso-, and microscales, rather than with a focus on single targets. A broader perspective on IBD treatment that also includes options to adapt the DAMPing (micro)environment is warranted.

Physical activity, physical fitness and cardiometabolic health among Finnish military workers

IntroductionThe Western lifestyle challenges national defence. Inactivity, obesity, high BP and elevated lipid and glucose levels as well as tobacco use all increase cardiometabolic risk. The present study was thus...

مسلم معاشروں میں مغربی تہذیب کے اثرات اور ٹرانس جینڈر ایکٹ: ایک تنقیدی جائزہ

Western culture is dominating rapidly in Muslim societies in current times. Islamic social values are being marginalized gradually. Impact of Western thought, in this regard, on Muslim world seems to be a challenge for Muslim scholars. The entire world has been converted into global village because of advance technology and communication. In this global age, Muslim youth is adopting western secular lifestyle. From materialistic aspects, the West is stronger economically, but socially it is weaker than the Muslim culture and civilization. Therefore, the foundations of Islamic social system are being overwhelmed by the West. Western thought manures in the disguise of attractive slogans of human rights, women rights, transgender rights, feminism, enlightenment, equality, and freedom. Recently, an LGBT+ Movie Joy land (2022) was produced in Pakistan. The basic aim was to promote western civilization in this Islamic country. The main objective of this research article is to highlight practice of western thought and culture in Muslim societies that is destabilizing bases of Islamic social system. Seemingly it becomes our responsibility to play our role in contesting emerging trends of western civilization in Muslim societies.

Atopic diseases-Diagnostics, mechanisms, and exposures.

Epidemiological data suggest that atopic diseases begin in early life and that most cases present clinically during early childhood. The diseases are highly prevalent and increase as communities adopt western lifestyles. Disentangling the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to disease debut is necessary to identify beneficial/harmful exposures so that successful prevention and treatment can be generated. The objective of this review is to explore the definition of atopy and mechanisms of atopic diseases, and to investigate the importance of environmental factors in early life, prior to disease development. First, the distribution of sIgE levels in children is investigated, as this is one of the main criteria for the definition of atopy. Thereafter, it is explored how studies of parental atopic status, sensitization patterns, and early debut and severity of atopic dermatitis have substantiated the theory of an early-life window of opportunity for intervention that precedes the development of atopic diseases in childhood. Then, it is examined whether early-life exposures such as breastfeeding, dogs, cats, and house dust mites in the home perinatally constitute important influencers in this crucial time of life. Finally, it is discussed how these findings could be validated in randomized controlled trials, which might prepare the ground for improved diagnostics and prevention strategies to mitigate the current atopic pandemic.

An Escape to Pure Existence

In this brief exposition, I embark on an exploration of the essence of values through the lens of 20th-century art. Art, with its inherent lack of definitive utility, offers a fertile ground for multiple interpretations within its designated realm of meaning. Through a retrospective analysis spanning two centuries of cultural evolution, I seek to unravel the drivers behind shifts in Western mentality and lifestyle, particularly the growing detachment from reality in secular societies, moving towards a realm of pure existence. Enriched with theological and philosophical references, my discourse encourages readers to extract insights from various cultural domains. I frame the human experience within four conceivable stages of interaction between existence and reality, advocating for the fourth stage as my preferred state – one that achieves harmony between existential challenges and moral imperatives, fostering a balance between needs and ethical obligations. Keywords: God, reality, existence, philosophy of art, aesthetics, value, content

Does a "Western Lifestyle" Confer a Higher Burden of Colorectal Cancer? A Comparison of EU15+ Countries versus Global Trends between 1990 and 2019.

The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the U.S. is declining in adults 50 years and older; however, recent studies suggest an increasing disease burden among adults under age 50. This study aims to compare the incidence, mortality, and mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIRs) of CRC in EU15+ countries to determine if similar age-stratified occurrences are observed across these countries with similar "Western lifestyle"-related risk factors. Incidence and mortality rates for CRC between 1990 and 2019 were extracted using the Global Burden of Disease database. The data were age-stratified into groups between ages 25-49, 50-69, and greater than 69 years. We observed that the incidence of CRC increased globally for all age groups, with the highest increase observed for males (75.9%) and females (27.7%) aged 25-49. A similar trend was observed in 15 of the 19 EU15+ countries for males and 16 of the 19 EU15+ countries for females aged 25-49. Global mortality rates decreased for all age groups in females but increased for males in all age groups. This raises concerns regarding potentially modifiable risk factors contributing to increased CRC development and underscores the importance of implementing standardized screening at an earlier stage to ensure adequate detection in the younger population.

Routine upper gastro-intestinal tract endoscopy before elective cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstones-justified

Gallstones are common in Western countries and increasing in developing countries through adoption of western lifestyle. Gallstones may cause life-threatening complications, including acute cholecystitis, acute cholangitis, and acute pancreatitis. Cholecystectomy is the treatment of choice for symptomatic gallstones. Presentation of symptomatic gallstones may be indistinguishable from that of other upper gastro-intestinal tract (UGI) pathologies. Some surgeons routinely perform preoperative UGI endoscopy to diagnose and treat concomitant UGI pathology. A prospective cross-sectional observational study was undertaken at University of Pretoria teaching hospitals to evaluate this practice. Patients aged 18 years and older, with symptomatic gallstones but did not satisfy Tokyo guidelines for acute cholecystitis were recruited. UGI endoscopy was performed before cholecystectomy. There were 124 patients, 110 (88.7%) females and 14 (11.3%) males, mean age 44.0 (13.2) (range: 22–78) years. Most common symptoms were right upper quadrant (RUQ) pain (87%), epigastric pain (59.7%), nausea (58.1%) and vomiting (47.9%). Clinically, 80% had RUQ tenderness and 52.4% epigastric tenderness. UGI endoscopy found 35.4% pathology, 28.2% were active, and comprised acute gastritis (27.4%), peptic ulcers (4.8%), duodenitis (3.2%) and oesophagitis (2.4%). Twelve patients had more than one pathology. This warranted treatment before elective cholecystectomy and justifies the practice of routine preoperative UGI endoscopy.

Ambivalent Culture: A Migrant's Subject in Kiran Desai’s the Inheritance of Loss

The research explores The Inheritance of Loss from the perspective of Post-colonialism. The cultural relation between East and West or the Indian and Western culture is hierarchical, controversial, and ambivalent due to misunderstanding and misinterpretation. In this age of multiculturalism and globalization, any individual has a fondness for Western culture. But being a migrant, people experience cultural controversy and contradictory feelings simultaneously. Ambivalent Culture is the subject of Third and Fourth World people. At first, these people observe the First and Second World; and assume their superiority in culture, custom, and lifestyle; and they are highly modernized and technologically updated. Due to these assumptions, the Third and Fourth World people willingly migrate to the First and Second World with the dream of economic prosperity and for the betterment of life to secure a better future by accepting the very concept of Western lifestyle, custom, and culture. The main problem of migrants appears with the involvement of Western lifestyle and culture, and they encounter cultural dilemmas and trauma. The migrants realize the gap between their own culture and another culture; and as compensation the hybridity in culture appears—the migrants relocate their existence with the cultural hierarchy, disorder, geopolitical confusion, inequality, illegal immigration, and forefront terrorism activity. The Third and Fourth World people’s migration to secure life with prosperity and a bright future in the First and Second World postulates the imbalance contact between self-identity and foreign identity which lead to the crucial situation and forms ambivalent culture; of the subject of migrant.

Hirsutella sinensis polysaccharides and Parabacteroides goldsteinii reduce lupus severity in imiquimod-treated mice

BackgroundThe incidence of autoimmune diseases is increasing in developed countries, possibly due to the modern Western diet and lifestyle. We showed earlier that polysaccharides derived from the medicinal fungus Hirsutella sinensis produced anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects by modulating the gut microbiota and increasing the abundance of the commensal Parabacteroides goldsteinii in mice fed with a high-fat diet. MethodsWe examined the effects of the prebiotics, H. sinensis polysaccharides, and probiotic, P. goldsteinii, in a mouse model of imiquimod-induced systemic lupus erythematosus. ResultsThe fungal polysaccharides and P. goldsteinii reduced markers of lupus severity, including the increase of spleen weight, proteinuria, and serum levels of anti-DNA auto-antibodies and signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4). Moreover, the polysaccharides and P. goldsteinii improved markers of kidney and liver functions such as creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, glomerulus damage and fibrosis, and serum liver enzymes. However, the prebiotics and probiotics did not influence gut microbiota composition, colonic histology, or expression of tight junction proteins in colon tissues. ConclusionsOur results indicate that H. sinensis polysaccharides and the probiotic P. goldsteinii can reduce lupus markers in imiquimod-treated mice. These prebiotics and probiotics may therefore be added to other interventions conducive of a healthy lifestyle in order to counter autoimmune diseases.

Does Engel's law work in central and Eastern European countries? The role of aspirations in determining food expenditures

Some of the CEE countries, despite rising per capita incomes and their gradual convergence to the levels of Western European countries, have recently experienced a stabilization or even an increase in share of food in total households’ expenditure. This is, of course, inconsistent with the Engel's Law, which postulates that share of food in total expenditure in these countries should gradually converge to the levels observed in the Western European countries, as the per capita income gap narrows. Using panel regressions it was shown that a factor explaining this anomaly may be aspirations among CEE countries to emulate the Western lifestyle reflected in the disproportionately high share of processed food in their total expenditure on food and non-alcoholic beverages compared to their per capita income level. The results obtained can be helpful in understanding food consumption patterns in catching-up economies, which is important for analyzing inflationary processes in these countries.

Pattern of Breast Cancer in Women at Child-bearing Age, its Risk Factors and Clinicopathological Evaluation in Tertiary Level Hospital

Background: Carcinoma breast is the leading cancer in female in Bangladesh, increasing significantly due to urbanization and adoption of western life style. Objective: This study aimed to systematically understand the pattern of breast cancer, its risk factors and clinicopathological evaluation in women at their childbearing age. Methods: A cross sectional observational study, data was collected from 50 patients of histopathologically confirmed breast cancer in the department of Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Dhaka from 2022 to 2023. Results: The majority of the cases were 41-45(42%) years age with mean presentation was 43.55 (SD-/+9.63) years. Invasive ductal carcinoma was the most common subtype 86%, followed by ductal carcinoma in situ (8%). Of the cases 2% were nullipara and 46% had two children. Median age of at 1st birth was 21 years. A significant proportion (16%) had family history of breast cancer. 98% patients gave history of breast feeding. Conclusions: Breast cancer is increasingly occurring in younger age groups in Bangladesh, results suggested a mixture of different factors in women like age of menarche, age of first child birth, parity, history of breast feeding and family history poses higher risk for breast cancer. J Rang Med Col. March 2024; Vol. 9, No. 1:16-21