Nevin Manimala

Food Funct. 2025 Jan 29. doi: 10.1039/d4fo05847j. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a growing public health problem worldwide, and dietary interventions have important potential in the prevention and treatment of NAFLD. Moreover, previous animal studies have shown that flaxseed has a good improvement effect in animal NAFLD models. Objectives: Assess whether flaxseed powder could improve the liver lipid content in patients with NAFLD. Methods: In this 12-week randomized controlled clinical trial, 50 patients were randomly assigned to the flaxseed group (n = 25) and the control group (n = 25). The flaxseed group received 30 g d^-1 flaxseed powder orally before lunch or dinner along with health education, while the control group received only health education. The primary outcome was the intrahepatic lipid content assessed by the proton density fat fraction estimated by magnetic resonance imaging, and secondary outcomes were body composition measurements, liver function, and glucolipid metabolism. Results: Patients in the flaxseed group showed significantly lower liver fat content, body fat percentage, obesity index, visceral fat area, serum total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), indirect bilirubin (IBIL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol (TC), and triglyceride (TG) levels after a 12-week intervention compared to pre-intervention levels, while serum apolipoprotein A1 (Apo A1) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were significantly increased, with all differences being statistically significant (P < 0.05). Analysis of the gut microbiota showed that, at the phylum level, flaxseed intervention significantly increased the abundance of Bacteroides and Actinobacteria, while decreasing the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes. At the genus level, the relative abundance of Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Parasutterella, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Eubacterium_xylanophilum_group, and Bifidobacterium in the gut microbiota of the flaxseed group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05), whereas the relative abundance of Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002 was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Flaxseed powder intervention for 12 weeks had the effect of improving liver lipid deposition, liver function, body composition indicators, and lipid metabolism in patients with NAFLD. It also regulated the gut microbiota in NAFLD patients, increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria while reducing harmful bacteria. This suggested that flaxseed is one of the natural and effective foods for improving NAFLD.

PMID:39878023 | DOI:10.1039/d4fo05847j

Knee. 2024 Dec 31;53:147-153. doi: 10.1016/j.knee.2024.12.006. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In the knee joints of patients with recurrent patellar dislocation (RPD), an increased relative tibial external rotation (rTER) is often observed. However, the changes in this parameter pre- and postoperatively remain unclear.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to reveal preoperative and postoperative changes in rTER in patients with RPD.

METHODS: A total of 48 cases with RPD in the knee joint were included in the study group, while 50 cases with normal knee joints were included in the control group. The measured parameters included tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance (TT-TG) and rTER. Measurements were recorded for RPD patients both pre-and postoperatively. Analysis of variance was used to assess the intergroup differences in TT-TG and rTER, and a t-test was employed to evaluate differences among various surgical procedures.

RESULTS: In the RPD group, rTER was significantly higher than in the control group (P＜0.001), with no statistically significant difference in postoperative rTER (P = 0.366). There was no significant difference in postoperative rTER between the RPD group and the control group (P = 0.057). The difference in TT-TG distance before and after operation in RPD patients was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Within the subgroups, there was a significant difference in rTER between pre – and post-operation in the tibial tuberosity osteotomy combined with medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR) group (P = 0.043). Multivariate analysis showed that age and body mass index had no correlation with rTER.

CONCLUSIONS: Compared with MPFLR alone, tibial tuberosity osteotomy combined with MPFLR can significantly reduce postoperative rTER and make rTER tend to be normal. For patients with elevated TT-TG and abnormal rTER, tibial tuberosity osteotomy combined with MPFLR may be a better choice.

PMID:39877986 | DOI:10.1016/j.knee.2024.12.006

Swiss Med Wkly. 2024 Dec 4;154:3841. doi: 10.57187/s.3841.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: A wide range of reproductive health issues, including fertility, pregnancy outcomes and contraceptive practices can be affected by morbid obesity and weight loss subsequent to bariatric surgery. This study aimed to explore the attitudes and practices of bariatric healthcare professionals in Switzerland regarding reproductive health counselling in the context of bariatric surgery.

METHODS: We conducted a national, cross-sectional, 36-question online survey among bariatric professionals in Switzerland. Survey topics included demographic factors, baseline characteristics of bariatric patients, perioperative reproductive health practices, attitudes and knowledge about contraception and recommendations regarding pregnancy. The survey was open from 1 October 2022 to 30 April 2023.

RESULTS: A total of 75 healthcare professionals participated in the survey. The majority of participants responded that female patients of reproductive age constitute more than half of the referred bariatric patients. Forty participants (57%) recommended contraception for a duration of 18-24 months following a bariatric operation. Only twenty-three respondents (31%) stated that they always refer their female bariatric patients of reproductive age to a gynaecologist prior to bariatric surgery. Fifty-six participants (75%) replied that they always discuss family planning prior to surgery. There was high variation regarding the recommended methods of contraception after surgery.Only thirty-nine participants (52%) reported that they always inform their patients about the occurrence of possible surgery-related complications during future pregnancies. More than half of the participants reported inadequate knowledge regarding absorption and safety of contraceptive pills after bariatric surgery. Although most professionals routinely follow up and provide counselling on maternal and foetal risks in pregnant women with previous bariatric surgery, forty-nine participants (65%) have no standardised protocol for such patients who present with acute abdominal pain in their practice.

CONCLUSION: Despite acknowledging the importance of reproductive health counselling, bariatric professionals address perioperative and contraception issues inconsistently and mostly reported a lack of adequate knowledge in the latter. Therefore, a stronger collaboration between bariatric professionals and women’s healthcare providers is needed to improve care of female bariatric patients of reproductive age.

PMID:39877941 | DOI:10.57187/s.3841

Mol Ecol Resour. 2025 Jan 29:e14072. doi: 10.1111/1755-0998.14072. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Collagen is the most ubiquitous protein in the animal kingdom and one of the most abundant proteins on Earth. Despite having a relatively repetitive amino acid sequence motif that enables its triple helical structure, in type 1 collagen, that dominates skin and bone, there is enough variation for its increasing use for the biomolecular species identification of animal tissues processed or degraded beyond the amenability of DNA-based analyses. In recent years, this has been most commonly achieved through the technique of collagen peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) known as ZooMS (Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry), applied to the analysis of tens of thousands of samples across over one hundred studies in the past decade alone. However, a robust means to quantify variation between these fingerprints remains elusive, despite being increasingly required due to the shift towards a wider range of wild fauna and those that are more distantly related from currently known sequences. This is particularly problematic in fish due to their greater sequence variation. Here we evaluate the quantification of the relative closeness of collagen fingerprints between families using ANOSIM and a modified SIMPER analysis, incorporating relative peak intensity. Our results show a clear correlation between sequence differentiation and statistical distance of PMFs, indicating that the additional complexity of type 1 collagen in fish could directly affect the efficacy of biomolecular techniques such as ZooMS. Furthermore, this multivariate statistical analysis demonstrates that PMFs in fish are substantively more distinct than those of mammalian or amphibian taxa.

PMID:39877940 | DOI:10.1111/1755-0998.14072

J Sustain Tour. 2024 Apr 22;33(2):333-356. doi: 10.1080/09669582.2024.2342982. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

Eating less meat when dining out can help mitigate climate change. Plant-based meats can facilitate the transition to a more environmentally sustainable tourism sector. However, uptake of these products remains low. Building on the capability-opportunity-motivation behaviour model, this study identifies the main reasons for the general population of restaurant patrons to reject plant-based meats: they prefer meat and traditional vegetable dishes; they are concerned about not enjoying plant-based meat dishes; they perceive plant-based meat dishes as too expensive. Accounting for heterogeneity among diners leads to the identification of six distinct consumer segments, which differ in their reasons for not ordering plant-based meat dishes in restaurants. From these empirical insights, we derive recommendations for tourism professionals on how to entice specific consumer segments to order plant-based meat dishes and identify future avenues for research.

PMID:39877925 | PMC:PMC11774254 | DOI:10.1080/09669582.2024.2342982

Front Public Health. 2025 Jan 14;12:1466083. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1466083. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aging population presents a significant public health challenge, particularly concerning mental health and injury prevention. Anxiety and depression are common among the older adult, affecting their quality of life and increasing the risk of unintentional injuries (UI). This study aims to explore the association between anxiety and depression and UI risk among the older adult in Guangxi, China, using data from the 2023 National Health Service Survey.

METHODS: A cross-sectional design was employed, analyzing data from 2,894 participants aged 60 and above in Guangxi. The primary variables were anxiety and depression, assessed via validated scales, with UI as the dependent variable. Logistic regression was used to estimate crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for potential confounders such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle factors.

RESULTS: Significant findings indicate that individuals with anxiety and depression had nearly double the risk of UI compared to those without these conditions (adj. OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.42-2.6, p < 0.001). Alcohol consumption was also associated with higher UI risk (adj. OR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.05-2.03, p = 0.023). Females had a significantly higher adjusted odds of UI compared to males (adj. OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.03-1.84, p = 0.029), and rural residents were more likely to experience UI than urban dwellers (adj. OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.05-1.82, p = 0.02). Exercise frequency was inversely related to UI risk, with those exercising 1-2 times per week having reduced odds (adj. OR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.22-0.98, p = 0.044). Other factors such as age, marital status, hypertension, diabetes, and main caregiver showed no significant associations with UI.

CONCLUSION: Addressing mental health issues and promoting moderate exercise may help reduce UI risk in the older adult. Policies should focus on enhancing mental health services and injury prevention programs, particularly in rural settings, to improve the overall health and safety of the aging population in Guangxi.

PMID:39877924 | PMC:PMC11772176 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1466083

Front Public Health. 2025 Jan 14;12:1514522. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1514522. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study evaluates the effectiveness of rural maternal health services in improving pregnant women’s health knowledge, practices, and outcomes in northwestern China, focusing on the roles of received public services and policy awareness.

METHODS: Baseline surveys were conducted in rural Shaanxi Province in 2021 and 2023, involving 1,152 pregnant women from 85 townships, selected via multistage cluster random sampling. Data were collected through structured face-to-face interviews, covering health knowledge and behaviors. Statistical analyses were performed to assess the impact of maternal health services.

RESULTS: Both received public services (Coefficient: 0.130, 95% CI: 0.015-0.246) and policy awareness (Coefficient: 0.114, 95% CI: 0.001-0.227) significantly improved nutrition and health knowledge but had limited impact on prenatal checkups or health outcomes. Policy awareness (OR: 3.826, 95% CI: 2.743-5.337) significantly increased picking up free folic acid, however, the rate of taking folic acid remained low.

CONCLUSION: While received public services and policy awareness improved nutrition and health knowledge, and policy awareness increased picking up free folic acid, they did not significantly influence prenatal checkups or health outcomes. More targeted efforts are needed to foster consistent health practices and improve maternal health outcomes in rural areas.

PMID:39877923 | PMC:PMC11772296 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1514522

Front Public Health. 2025 Jan 9;12:1493682. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1493682. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Health literacy (HL) is a critical determinant of health outcomes. Improving HL stands as one of the most essential, cost-effective, and efficacious strategies for enhancing the overall health of the population. This study aims to analyze the status of HL among urban and rural residents in Anhui Province, explore the associated factors, and provide a scientific basis for the formulation of targeted health education and promotion strategies.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 16,080 non-collective residents in Anhui Province from July to September 2022. Participants were selected using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method. HL was measured using the Chinese Citizen Health Literacy Questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with adequate HL.

RESULTS: Overall, 29.60% of residents in Anhui Province had adequate HL. The proportion of adequate HL in the different cities ranged from 22.42 to 38.73%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that the proportion of individuals with adequate HL was higher for males than for females (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.200; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.086-1.326); married was higher than unmarried (aOR = 1.195, 95% CI: 1.021-1.398). Compared with illiterate/less literate, the aOR values for primary school, junior high school, senior high school, and college or above were 1.690 (1.326-2.155), 3.467 (2.760-4.356), 7.033 (5.516-8.968), and 17.895 (13.948-22.959), respectively; compared with the age group of 65-69 years, the aOR values for the age groups 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54 and 55-64 years were 2.384 (1.774-3.202), 2.598 (2.049-3.294), 2.862 (2.267-3.615), 2.135 (1.697-2.685), and 1.468 (1.157-1.863), respectively; compared with farmers, the aOR values were 1.244 (95% CI, 1.081-1.432) for technical/professional, 1.121 (95% CI, 1.003-1.254) for commercial/service, and 1.329 (95% CI, 1.163-1.518) for other occupations.

CONCLUSION: Residents of Anhui Province exhibit relatively low levels of HL, with notable disparities observed among different education levels, age groups, genders, and marital statuses. It is essential for health policymakers and public health practitioners to develop targeted health education and promotion strategies tailored to distinct subpopulations of residents.

PMID:39877921 | PMC:PMC11773482 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1493682

Front Public Health. 2025 Jan 14;12:1464307. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1464307. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Migrant female sex workers (MFSWs) can be exposed to various health risks due to their occupation, including mental and physical health, substance use, and experience of violence. However, they face substantial barriers to accessing healthcare services. The inadequate access to medical care for migrant female sex workers poses a challenge to the German healthcare system.

RESEARCH AIMS: This qualitative study aimed to identify and analyze the barriers to the use of health and mental health services by migrant female sex workers in Berlin and what should be done to improve the access to healthcare and to make it easier to use health and mental health services for migrant female sex workers. The data collected can be used to derive overarching recommendations and strategies for action.

METHODS: Semi-structured, guided interviews were conducted with 10 migrant female sex workers in Berlin, Germany. The interviews were audio recorded, and the content of the transcribed interviews was analyzed. A structuring qualitative content analysis, according to Kuckartz, with deductive-inductive category formation was conducted in MAXQDA 2022.

RESULTS: Barriers were analyzed at three levels: patient, provider, and system. The patient level was related to the patient characteristics: social structure variables, health beliefs and attitudes, personal enabling resources, community enabling resources, perceived illness, and personal health practices. The provider level was related to the provider characteristics: skills and attitudes. The system level was related to the system characteristics: the organization of the healthcare system on local and national levels. Moreover, needs for actions were identified, which can be used for deriving recommendations for the improvement of healthcare situation of migrant sex workers living in Berlin.

CONCLUSION/DISCUSSION: Health services and future intervention studies should consider barriers identified in this study to improve the health services utilization and health of sex workers as part of the effort to protect the right of humans to health.

PMID:39877916 | PMC:PMC11772168 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1464307

Front Public Health. 2025 Jan 14;12:1503938. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1503938. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate and analyze the current status of oral disease treatment among the older adult in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, while also assessing the continuing medical education (CME) needs of dental institution personnel regarding oral diseases in this population.

METHODS: Convenience sampling was used to investigate the oral disease treatment among older adults and to assess CME needs of dental institution personnel regarding oral diseases in this population across various oral medical and health institutions in Guangxi.

RESULTS: A total of 754 valid questionnaires were collected, of which 70.3% were from non-public oral health institutions. Out-of-pocket costs for older adults were as high as 91.3%. The per capita cost of older adult patients was beyond 500 yuan in 51.6% of the oral health institutions. In terms of CME training, 32.8% of dental institution medical personnel have participated in CME courses specifically on oral diseases in the older adult. Meanwhile, 69.9% of institutions have expressed a need for CME training on oral diseases in the older adult.

CONCLUSION: Non-public oral health institutions account for a significant proportion, and the older adult primarily pay out-of-pocket for oral disease treatment in these facilities. The high cost of treatment may pose a significant barrier to the older adult seeking oral healthcare. Increasing CME programs targeted at geriatric oral diseases can help enhance the treatment capabilities of dental healthcare workers and improve oral health outcomes for the older adult population.

PMID:39877915 | PMC:PMC11772203 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1503938