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Food Science & Nutrition Jun 2024Malnutrition remains a major public health challenge among children in developing countries, especially those experiencing civil wars and political unrest. It is...
Malnutrition remains a major public health challenge among children in developing countries, especially those experiencing civil wars and political unrest. It is imperative to ascertain the level of malnutrition, particularly in displaced children, to develop and effectively implement interventions. This study was a cross-sectional survey conducted to assess the nutritional status of 657 internally displaced school-aged children (5-15 years) enrolled in primary schools in the West and Littoral Regions of Cameroon. The height, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference of the children were measured using standard measurements. Clinical examinations were also made on the children. Other parameters that affect nutritional status, such as morbidity and health-seeking practices, were assessed using pre-tested, structured interviewer questionnaires. An analysis of the data revealed that stunting was the most prevalent form of malnutrition (27.1%), followed by wasting (23%), thinness (21.6%), and underweight (20.1%). About 44.5% of the children had low serum iron, and 35.7% of them had poor protein status. The prevalence of anemia was 30.0%. The most common signs of protein, vitamin A, and iron deficiencies observed were thin, dry, or sparse hair (5.2%), pallor (7.3%), and xerosis (3.3%), respectively. About 32% of the children had been sick within the previous month of the study, and the most common illness was the common cold (19.8%). Most of them (>60%) had good health-seeking practices. The high prevalence of stunting, wasting, thinness, underweight, anemia, protein, and iron deficiency calls for interventions such as nutrition education and supplementation to prevent malnutrition and diet-related diseases among children.
PubMed: 38873487
DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.4068 -
Food Science & Nutrition Jun 2024The current study pioneers a comprehensive exploration into the influence of ripening stages on the nutritional composition and antioxidant attributes of the New Zealand...
The current study pioneers a comprehensive exploration into the influence of ripening stages on the nutritional composition and antioxidant attributes of the New Zealand damson plums (). Sampled at early-, mid-, and late-ripening stages from randomly selected plum trees, the investigation unveiled notable significant ( < .05) declines in multiple parameters as ripening progressed. Noteworthy reductions in dry matter (from 21% to 19.33%), stone weight (from 30.23% to 24.30%), total dietary fiber (from 3.15% to 2.5%), energy content (from 280 to 263 kJ/100 g), vitamin D3 (from 1.67 to 1.53 μg/100 g), vitamin A (from 4.2 to 3.87 μg/100 g), and specific minerals (e.g., Ca, Mg, and P) emerged as a hallmark of this progression. Additionally, plums harvested at the advanced ripening stage exhibited heightened moisture content in contrast to their early-stage counterparts. Conversely, ash, protein, carbohydrates, total sugar, and minerals (including K, Na, Zn, and Se) demonstrated no significant alteration ( > .05) across ripening stages. Remarkably, damson plums that were harvested at the end of the ripening stage displayed reduced phenolic content and total antioxidant activity compared to those acquired at the early-mid ripening phase. This research collectively highlights the substantive impact of harvesting time and ripening stage on the nutritional and antioxidant profiles of damson plums cultivated in New Zealand.
PubMed: 38873447
DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.4097 -
Food Science & Nutrition Jun 2024Uganda's lactating mothers are vulnerable to deficiencies of vitamin A and iron because they consume plant-based conventional foods such as white-fleshed sweet potato...
Lactating mothers' perceptions and sensory acceptability of a provitamin A carotenoid-iron-rich composite dish prepared from iron-biofortified common bean and orange-fleshed sweet potato in rural western Uganda.
Uganda's lactating mothers are vulnerable to deficiencies of vitamin A and iron because they consume plant-based conventional foods such as white-fleshed sweet potato (WFSP) and non-iron biofortified common bean (NIBCB) that are low in provitamin A (PVA) and iron, respectively. A PVA carotenoid-iron-rich dish was prepared from a combination of orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) and iron-biofortified common bean (IBCB). This study evaluated the perceptions and sensory acceptability of OFSP+IBCB (test food) against WFSP+NIBCB (control food) among lactating mothers in rural Uganda. A total of 94 lactating mothers participated in the study. The sensory attributes (taste, color, aroma, texture, and general acceptability) of test and control foods were rated using a five-point facial hedonic scale (1 = dislike very much, 2 = dislike, 3 = neutral, 4 = like 5 = like very much). An attribute was acceptable if the participant scored from like to like very much. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted to assess participant perceptions about their future consumption of OFSP+IBCB. The chi-square test was used to detect the proportion difference for each sensory attribute between OFSP+IBCB and WFSP+NIBCB, while FGD data were analyzed by thematic analysis. Taste, color, and aroma were acceptable to the mothers and not significantly different between OFSP+IBCB and WFSP+NIBCB ( > .05). Participants had positive perceptions of the taste, aroma, and color of the OFSP+IBCB and negative perceptions about the soft texture of OFSP. The lactating mothers had positive perceptions of consuming OFSP+IBCB provided they were accessible, affordable, and feasible to prepare.
PubMed: 38873437
DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.4053 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2024The purpose of this study is to investigate the drug safety of three Transthyretin (TTR) inhibitors in the real world using the United States Food and Drug...
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to investigate the drug safety of three Transthyretin (TTR) inhibitors in the real world using the United States Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database.
METHODS
This study extracted reports received by the FAERS database from the first quarter of 2018 to the third quarter of 2023 for descriptive analysis and disproportionality analysis. Safety signal mining was conducted at the Preferred Term (PT) level and the System Organ Class (SOC) level using reporting odds ratio (ROR). The characteristics of the time-to-onset curves were analyzed using the Weibull Shape Parameter (WSP). The cumulative incidence of TTR inhibitors was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on whether the reporter was a medical professional.
RESULTS
A total of 3,459 reports of adverse events (AEs) caused by TTR inhibitors as the primary suspect (PS) drug were extracted. The top three reported AEs for patisiran were fatigue, asthenia, and fall, with the most unexpectedly strong association being nonspecific reaction. The top three reported AEs for vutrisiran were fall, pain in extremity and malaise, with the most unexpectedly strong association being subdural haematoma. The top three reported AEs for inotersen were platelet count decreased, blood creatinine increased, and fatigue, with the most unexpectedly strong association being blood albumin decreased. Vitamin A decreased, arthralgia, and dyspnea were the same AEs mentioned in the drug labels of all three drugs, while malaise and asthenia were the same unexpected significant signals. This study offers evidence of the variability in the onset time characteristics of AEs associated with TTR inhibitors, as well as evidence of differences in adverse event reporting between medical professionals and non-medical professionals.
CONCLUSION
In summary, we compared the similarities and differences in drug safety of three TTR inhibitors in the real world using the FAERS database. The results indicate that not only do these three drugs share common AEs, but they also exhibit differences in drug safety profiles. This study contributes to enhancing the understanding of medical professionals regarding the safety of TTR inhibitors.
PubMed: 38873427
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1368244 -
Translational Animal Science 2024Cull cows represent a significant percentage of revenue received from the U.S. beef industry; however, cull cows are heavily price discounted at time of slaughter. This...
The effects of different feeding strategies providing different levels of vitamin A on animal performance, carcass traits, and the conversion rate of subcutaneous fat color in cull-cows.
Cull cows represent a significant percentage of revenue received from the U.S. beef industry; however, cull cows are heavily price discounted at time of slaughter. This experiment's objective is to evaluate different feeding strategies and their effects on body condition score, subcutaneous fat color, and carcass yield and quality traits in cull cows. The central hypothesis is feeding a high-energy diet, with low levels of vitamin A, for 56 d will improve animal performance, carcass yield, and quality traits in addition to capturing the point (rate) of the conversion of yellow to white subcutaneous fat. In the present experiment 98 Angus crossbreed cows were utilized. Cows were fed either low vitamin A () diet consisting of whole shelled corn, soybean hulls, soybean meal, and a mineral-vitamin supplement or high vitamin A () diet, formulated using whole shelled corn, fescue hay, dry distiller grains with soluble, and a mineral-vitamin supplement for 56 d. During the 56 d feeding period, body weights and condition scores, and subcutaneous adipose samples were collected every 14 d. On day 56, cattle were slaughtered; 48 h postmortem carcass characteristics and objective color scores (subcutaneous adipose tissue) were recorded and a sample of the longissimus dorsi lumborum was collected. Subcutaneous adipose tissue samples were utilized to record subjective color scores and then ground to be analyzed for β-carotene concentration. The longissimus dorsi lumborum samples (2.54 cm slices) were removed for Warner-Bratzler shear force () and pH testing. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Feeding cull cows LVA resulted in differences in subcutaneous carcass fat color ( = 0.01) as well as * values ( < 0.01) on day 56 compared with HVA. Subjective fat color scores were not different ( > 0.10) on day 0 or 14 but were different ( ≤ 0.05) on days 28, 42, and 56. Additionally, 9-cis-β-carotene concentration on day 56 were different ( = 0.05) between treatments. A trend was noticed for all--β-carotene concentration ( = 0.10) on day 56 as well. Cull cow body weights were greater ( ≤ 0.04) when fed the LVA diet starting on days 14, 28, and 42; and a trend was noticed on day 56 ( = 0.09). Overall, cows fed the LVA treatment for 56 d exhibited decreased adipose yellowness and β-carotene concentrations as well as increased live weights.
PubMed: 38863594
DOI: 10.1093/tas/txae071 -
BMC Nutrition Jun 2024Vitamin A (VA) remains a core micronutrient as VA Deficiency (VAD) in children has persisted as a public health problem in parts of Africa with adverse effects....
BACKGROUND
Vitamin A (VA) remains a core micronutrient as VA Deficiency (VAD) in children has persisted as a public health problem in parts of Africa with adverse effects. Caregivers of children are essential in the control of VAD; however, there is a paucity of data on their knowledge of VA, dietary sources, and VAD. This study sought to assess the level of VA-related nutrition knowledge (VANK) and its predictors among caregivers of preschool children in Eastern Uganda.
METHODS
A cross-sectional analytical design was used. Both socio-demographic and knowledge and attitude (KA) data were collected using a structured questionnaire partly adapted from the FAO model Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) questionnaire. A sample size of 256 was used. Caregivers of 24-59 months-old children were selected from Bukwo District in Eastern Uganda using purposive and random sampling methods. Knowledge scores (%) based on responses to ten questions were determined and eventually classified as low (≤ 40%) and moderate or high (˃40%). Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed using SPSS (version 24). Logistic regression was used to identify predictors with p < 0.05 considered significant.
RESULTS
The study had 247 caregivers with a mean age of 30.9 ± 7.7 years. The majority were female (90%), married, subsistence crop farmers and had primary-level education or lower. The mean VANK score was 18.9 ± 24.7%. Overall, most of the caregivers had low VANK as only about 20% had moderate or high. The proportions that knew the different aspects of VANK were correspondingly small. About half of the caregivers (46.6%) knew VA itself and only 27% knew any of its sources. Those who knew VAD, its causes, signs/symptoms and prevention measures were 31, 22, 13 and 24% respectively. The caregivers' VANK was significantly associated with their overall VA-related attitude, age and level of education. However, education and age were the significant predictors.
CONCLUSION
Caregivers had very low VANK. They barely knew VA and its food sources or VAD. The main predictors of VANK were caregiver age and level of education. The study recommends education of caregivers about VA for effective VAD control which contributes to achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2.
PubMed: 38863006
DOI: 10.1186/s40795-024-00891-5 -
PloS One 2024All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), recognized as the principal and most biologically potent metabolite of vitamin A, has been identified for its inhibitory effects on...
All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), recognized as the principal and most biologically potent metabolite of vitamin A, has been identified for its inhibitory effects on hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. The present study reveals that ATRA induces E6-associated protein (E6AP)-mediated proteasomal degradation of HBx to suppress HBV replication in human hepatoma cells in a p53-dependent pathway. For this effect, ATRA induced promoter hypomethylation of E6AP in the presence of HBx, which resulted in the upregulation of E6AP levels in HepG2 but not in Hep3B cells, emphasizing the p53-dependent nature of this effect. As a consequence, ATRA augmented the interaction between E6AP and HBx, resulting in substantial ubiquitination of HBx and consequent reduction in HBx protein levels in both the HBx overexpression system and the in vitro HBV replication model. Additionally, the knockdown of E6AP under ATRA treatment reduced the interaction between HBx and E6AP and decreased the ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation of HBx, which prompted a recovery of HBV replication in the presence of ATRA, as confirmed by increased levels of intracellular HBV proteins and secreted HBV levels. This study not only contributes to the understanding of the complex interactions between ATRA, p53, E6AP, and HBx but also provides an academic basis for the clinical employment of ATRA in the treatment of HBV infection.
Topics: Humans; Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; Trans-Activators; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Virus Replication; Hepatitis B virus; Tretinoin; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; Hep G2 Cells; Down-Regulation; Ubiquitination; Proteolysis; Promoter Regions, Genetic; DNA Methylation; Cell Line, Tumor
PubMed: 38861553
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305350 -
Frontiers in Pediatrics 2024The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of Vitamin A (VitA) as an adjuvant therapy for pediatric Pneumonia (MPP) through meta-analysis, and to investigate... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of Vitamin A (VitA) as an adjuvant therapy for pediatric Pneumonia (MPP) through meta-analysis, and to investigate its impact on inflammation levels (IL-6, IL-10), in order to explore the role of VitA in pediatric MPP.
METHODS
Using a systematic literature search method, relevant research literature is searched, and RCT studies that meet the requirements are selected based on preset inclusion and exclusion criteria. Then, a quality evaluation was conducted on the included literature, and meta-analysis was used to calculate the combined effect values of mortality rate, hospital stay, lung rale disappearance time, cough duration, fever duration, IL-6 and IL-10 levels, and heterogeneity analysis was conducted. The levels of IL-6 and IL-10 represent the inflammatory levels in pediatric MPP patients, and exploring their changes has significant implications for the anti-inflammatory effect of treatment.
RESULTS
A total of 10 RCT studies were included, with a total sample size of 1,485, including 750 cases in the control group and 735 cases in the observation group. The meta-analysis results of this study showed that there was a significant difference in the total clinical efficacy of using VitA adjuvant therapy compared to the control group without VitA [OR = 3.07, 95%CI = (2.81, 4.27)], < 0.05. However, there was no significant difference in the adverse reaction rate between the use of VitA as an adjuvant therapy and the control without VitA [OR = 1.17, 95%CI = (0.61, 2.27)], > 0.05. At the same time, the hospitalization time [MSD = -0.86, 95% CI = (-1.61, -0.21)], lung rale disappearance time [MSD = -0.78, 95%CI = (-1.19,-0.51)], cough duration [MSD = -1.07, 95%CI = (-1.41, -0.71)], and fever duration [MSD = -0.47, 95%CI = (-0.72, -0.23)] using VitA as an adjuvant treatment were obviously lower. In addition, the meta-analysis outcomes also showed that the use of VitA adjuvant therapy can significantly reduce IL-6 [MSD = -1.07, 95%CI = (-1.81, -0.27)] and IL-10 [MSD = -0.13, 95%CI = (-0.31, 0.12)] levels. This indicates that the application of VitA in pediatric MPP also has the effect of reducing inflammatory response.
CONCLUSION
Based on the meta-analysis results, VitA adjuvant therapy can significantly improve the clinical symptoms of pediatric MPP patients, shorten hospitalization time, promote the disappearance of lung rales, and alleviate cough and fever symptoms. In addition, VitA adjuvant therapy can effectively reduce inflammation levels, indicating its potential role in inhibiting inflammatory responses. In clinical practice, VitA adjuvant therapy for pediatric MPP can be promoted as a potential treatment option.
PubMed: 38859981
DOI: 10.3389/fped.2024.1345458 -
Open Medicine (Warsaw, Poland) 2024Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common respiratory disease in children. This prospective cohort study of 110 children with CAP and 100 healthy children...
Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common respiratory disease in children. This prospective cohort study of 110 children with CAP and 100 healthy children investigated the relationship between the levels of vitamin A, D and E and inflammatory markers, such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF-a), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-10 (IL-10), neutrophils (NE) and C-reactive protein (CRP), in CAP. The haemoglobin, leukocyte concentration, NE, monocytes and CRP concentration in the CAP group showed significant differences ( < 0.05). The levels of vitamin A, D and E in the CAP group were lower than those in the control group, while the levels of TNF-a and IL-1 were higher than in the control group; the differences were statistically significant ( < 0.05). The IL-10 levels showed no significant differences ( > 0.05). Pearson analysis revealed that the vitamin A, D and E levels were all correlated with the TNF-a, IL-10 and CRP levels ( < 0.05). The vitamin A, D and E levels of the CAP children were lower than those of the healthy children. Thus, the content of fat-soluble vitamins is correlated with the secretion of TNF-a and IL-10. The research provides a new direction for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of CAP.
PubMed: 38859879
DOI: 10.1515/med-2024-0972 -
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine 2024Nutrients are crucial for dialysis patients, especially elderly patients. Nutrition-related complications in dialysis patients are often closely related to...
BACKGROUND
Nutrients are crucial for dialysis patients, especially elderly patients. Nutrition-related complications in dialysis patients are often closely related to cardiovascular aging. However, we know little about the effect of different nutrients on the commonly used outcome predictor, health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Therefore, this study investigated the associations between different nutrients and HRQOL among dialysis patients.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 123 dialysis adults at multiple dialysis centers. The Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) assesses HRQOL. Modified quantitative subjective global assessment (MQSGA) evaluates nutritional status. A 3-day dietary record evaluated nutrient intakes.
RESULTS
Among the 123 participants, 79 received hemodialysis (HD), and 44 were on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Patients with PD had a higher SF-36 score than HD (525 ± 136 vs. 375 ± 179, < 0.001). A negative association between nutrition status and HRQOL was observed in HD (regression coefficient = -17.4, < 0.001) but not in PD ( = -12.3, = 0.07). For HD patients, the nutrition status was negatively correlated with intakes of carbohydrates, fiber, selenium, copper, and Manganese ( = -0.02, = 0.032; = -0.3, = 0.031; = -0.1, = 0.006; = -2.3, = 0.025; = -1.3, = 0.003, respectively). Their HRQOL was positively associated with calories, fat, niacin, and vitamin E ( = 2.19, = 0.035; = 2.4, = 0.043; = 8.5, = 0.044; = 6.9, = 0.017, respectively). Conversely, for patients with PD, only vitamin B2 was found to be adversely correlated with their nutritional status ( = -5.2, = 0.037), and increased intakes of vitamin A, vitamin C and fiber ( = 0.1, = 0.031; = 0.8, = 0.028; = 15.8, = 0.045, respectively) were associated with a better HRQOL.
CONCLUSIONS
The nutritional intake of PD patients and HD patients affects their quality of life differently. Macronutrients significantly impact HRQOL in HD patients, while vitamins have a more substantial impact on PD patients.
PubMed: 38859815
DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1407650