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Eating frequency and weight status in Portuguese children aged 3-9 years: Results from the cross-sectional National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey 2015-2016

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Eating frequency and weight status in Portuguese children aged 3-9 years: Results from the cross-sectional National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey 2015-2016 Abstract: Objective:To evaluate daily eating frequency (main meals and snacks) in relation to weight status in children aged 3-9 years, representative of the Portuguese population.Design:Cross-sectional study. Dietary intake was estimated as the mean of two non-consecutive days of food diaries, followed by face-to-face interviews. Weight and height were measured by trained observers. Eating occasions (EO) were defined by the children's caregiver; an EO was considered separate if the time of consumption was different from other EO and it provided at least 209 kJ (50 kcal). Main meals defined as 'breakfast', 'lunch' and 'dinner' could be selected only once per day. The remaining EO were considered snacks. The association between eating frequency and overweight/obesity was evaluated through logistic regressions weighted for the population distribution.Setting:National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey of the Portuguese population, 2015-2016.Participants:Portuguese children aged 3-9 years with complete dietary data and anthropometric measurements (n 517).Results:Overall, the number of daily EO ranged from 3·5 to 11, and on average children had 5·7 daily EO. After adjustment for child's sex, age and total energy intake, and considering only plausible energy intake reporters, having < 3 snacks/d was positively associated with being overweight/obese (OR = 1·98; 95 % CI 1·00, 3·90), compared with having 3 snacks/d.Conclusions:Lower daily frequency of EO was associated with increased odds of being overweight or obese in children. A higher eating frequency, maintaining the same energy intake, seems to contribute to a healthy body weight in children. (c) The Authors 2019.

Building capacity in risk-benefit assessment of foods: Lessons learned from the RB4EU project

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Building capacity in risk-benefit assessment of foods: Lessons learned from the RB4EU project Abstract: Background: Human diet may present both risks and benefits to consumers' health. Risk-benefit assessment of foods (RBA) intends to estimate the overall health impact associated with exposure (or lack of exposure) to a particular food or food component. Scope and approach: "RiskBenefit4EU - Partnering to strengthen the risk-benefit assessment within EU using a holistic approach" (RB4EU) is a project funded by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) that integrates a multidisciplinary team from Portugal, Denmark and France. This project aims to strengthen the EU capacity to assess and integrate food risks and benefits regarding toxicology, microbiology and nutrition. One of the specific objectives of RB4EU was to build capacity in RBA among the recipient partners from Portugal. In order to achieve this objective, a capacity building strategy including theoretical and hands-on training and the development of a case-study were established. This paper aims to present the strategy used in the RB4EU project to build capacity within RBA, including the main training approaches and the lessons learned. Key findings and conclusions: The capacity-building program included three main activities: theoretical training, focusing on RBA concepts; hands-on training, applying the acquired concepts to a concrete case-study, using the methods and tools displayed; and scientific missions, intending to provide advanced training in specific domains of RBA. The developed strategy can be used in the future to build capacity within RBA.

Kaempferol: A Key Emphasis to Its Anticancer Potential

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Kaempferol: A Key Emphasis to Its Anticancer Potential Abstract: A marked decrease in human cancers, including breast cancer, bone cancer, and cervical cancer, has been linked to the consumption of vegetable and fruit, and the corresponding chemoprotective effect has been associated with the presence of several active molecules, such as kaempferol. Kaempferol is a major flavonoid aglycone found in many natural products, such as beans, bee pollen, broccoli, cabbage, capers, cauliflower, chia seeds, chives, cumin, moringa leaves, endive, fennel, and garlic. Kaempferol displays several pharmacological properties, among them antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and antidiabetic activities, and is being applied in cancer chemotherapy. Specifically, kaempferol-rich food has been linked to a decrease in the risk of developing some types of cancers, including skin, liver, and colon. The mechanisms of action include apoptosis, cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase, downregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathways. In this sense, this article reviews data from experimental studies that investigated the links between kaempferol and kaempferol-rich food intake and cancer prevention. Even though growing evidence supports the use of kaempferol for cancer prevention, further preclinical and clinical investigations using kaempferol or kaempferol-rich foods are of pivotal importance before any public health recommendation or formulation using kaempferol.

Nutri-Score: A Public Health Tool to Improve Eating Habits in Portugal

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Nutri-Score: A Public Health Tool to Improve Eating Habits in Portugal

A Review of Methods to Assess Parental Feeding Practices and Preschool Children's Eating Behavior: The Need for Further Development of Tools

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Title: A Review of Methods to Assess Parental Feeding Practices and Preschool Children's Eating Behavior: The Need for Further Development of Tools Abstract: We reviewed tools developed to Measure parental feeding practices and eating behavior and food intake or preferences of children aged 0 to 5 years. Two electronic literature databases (Medline and Psycinfo) were used to search for both observational and experimental studies in human beings. The articles selected for review were those presenting tools with data on internal consistency and/or test-retest reliability and/or construct validity. A total of 3,445 articles were retrieved, and further searching of reference lists and contact with experts produced an additional 18 articles. We identified three tools on the qualitative dimension of children's eating behavior, two tools on food intake or preferences, and one tool on parental feeding practices with rigorous testing of internal consistency, construct validity, and test-retest reliability. All other tools presented in this review need further evaluation of their validity or reliability. Because major gaps exist, we highlight the need for more tools on parental attention to children's hunger and satiety cues, and the need to evaluate the degree of control allowed to children younger than age 2 years in feeding events. Food avoidance (ie, behaviors or strategies to take away and to reject food) and food approach (ie, attractiveness for food stimuli) have not been assessed in children aged 12 to 24 months. Food preference tests based on sensory aspects rather than nutritional quality may be worth investigating. We identified a need for further evaluation of quality, especially test-retest reliability and construct validity, for most tools developed for use in studying children aged 0 to 5 years. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2012;112:1578-1602.

Traveling with food allergy: What to expect from the airlines?

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Traveling with food allergy: What to expect from the airlines?

Physical training improves quality of life both in asthmatic children and their caregivers

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Physical training improves quality of life both in asthmatic children and their caregivers

MicroRNAs in lung cancer

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Title: MicroRNAs in lung cancer Abstract: Lung cancer (LC) is a serious public health problem responsible for the majority of cancer deaths and comorbidities in developed countries. Tobacco smoking is considered the main risk factor for LC; however, only a few smokers will be affected by this cancer. Current screening methods are focused on identifying the early stages of this malignancy. Thus, new data concerning the roles of microRNA alterations in inflammation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and lung disease have increased hope about LC pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. MicroRNA mechanisms include angiogenesis promotion, cell cycle regulation by modulating cellular proliferation and apoptosis, and migration and invasion inhibition. In this context, this manuscript reviews the current information about many important microRNAs as they relate to the initiation and progression of LC.

Salmonella enterica serotype Bovismorbificans, a new host for CTX-M-9

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Salmonella enterica serotype Bovismorbificans, a new host for CTX-M-9

Follicular Fluid redox involvement for ovarian follicle growth

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Follicular Fluid redox involvement for ovarian follicle growth Abstract: As the human ovarian follicle enlarges in the course of a regular cycle or following controlled ovarian stimulation, the changes in its structure reveal the oocyte environment composed of cumulus oophorus cells and the follicular fluid (FF). In contrast to the dynamic nature of cells, the fluid compartment appears as a reservoir rich in biomolecules. In some aspects, it is similar to the plasma, but it also exhibits differences that likely relate to its specific localization around the oocyte. The chemical composition indicates that the follicular fluid is able to detect and buffer excessive amounts of reactive oxygen species, employing a variety of antioxidants, some of them components of the intracellular milieu. An important part is played by albumin through specific cysteine residues. But the fluid contains other molecules whose cysteine residues may be involved in sensing and buffering the local oxidative conditions. How these molecules are recruited and regulated to intervene such process is unknown but it is a critical issue in reproduction. In fact, important proteins in the FF, that regulate follicle growth and oocyte quality, exhibit cysteine residues at specific points, whose untoward oxidation would result in functional loss. Therefore, preservation of controlled oxidative conditions in the FF is a requirement for the fine-tuned oocyte maturation process. In contrast, its disturbance enhances the susceptibility to the establishment of reproductive disorders that would require the intervention of reproductive medicine technology. © 2017 The Author(s).

AGEs, contributors to placental bed vascular changes leading to preeclampsia

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Title: AGEs, contributors to placental bed vascular changes leading to preeclampsia Abstract: Glycation of proteins or other biomolecules and their further long-term degradation result in the formation of advanced glycation end products, AGEs. AGEs and other ligands interact with their receptors, RAGEs, localized to a variety of tissues, but mainly in endothelium and vascular wall cells. This interaction triggers diverse signaling pathways that converge on the activation of NF-kappa B and the initiation of a local inflammatory reaction that, when prolonged, results in dysfunctional features. Preeclampsia is a serious vascular disorder centred at the placenta - uterine interface, the placental bed, but the condition extends to the mother's circulation. RAGEs have notorious expression in the placental bed tissues along pregnancy but, in addition, RAGEs and their ligands are expressed in the fetal membranes and are found in the amniotic fluid and the mother's serum. Disorders complicating pregnancies and having an important vascular involvement, as preeclampsia and diabetes mellitus, have additional enhanced AGE/RAGE expression variation. This indicates that for their assessment, the assay of RAGEs or their ligands may become useful diagnostic or prognostic procedures.

Potassium urinary excretion and dietary intake: a cross-sectional analysis in 8-10 year-old children (vol 15, 60, 2015)

Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Potassium urinary excretion and dietary intake: a cross-sectional analysis in 8-10 year-old children (vol 15, 60, 2015) Abstract: [Erratum] Description: [Erratum]

Letter to the editor. Comment on: Handgrip strength by dynamometry does not identify malnutrition in individual preoperative outpatients

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Letter to the editor. Comment on: Handgrip strength by dynamometry does not identify malnutrition in individual preoperative outpatients Abstract: [letter to editor] Description: [carta ao editor]

Cell surface targeting of the Melanocortin 5 Receptor (MC5R) requires serine-rich terminal motifs

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Cell surface targeting of the Melanocortin 5 Receptor (MC5R) requires serine-rich terminal motifs Abstract: The Melanocortin 5 Receptor (MC5R) is a cell surface receptor that belongs to the class of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), which comprises an intracellular carboxylic domain, seven transmembrane helices and an extracellular amino terminal. Over the last few years, MC5R has been implicated in the regulation of lipid metabolism in exocrine glands, muscle and even in adipose tissue and its function is quite dependent on its correct cell membrane targeting. In this context, the purpose of this work was to study the role of MC5R N terminus in the receptor trafficking from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) through the Golgi complex to the plasma membrane. Analysis of N-terminal deleted forms of MC5R revealed that the first 21 amino acids contain the information responsible for the receptor cell surface expression and the removal of further amino acids interfere with the receptor synthesis. In this setting, several mutant forms of the receptor were created by site directed mutagenesis of the MC5R first 21 amino acids and their presence at the plasma membrane was assessed. We have found that two small motifs, constituted by residues Ser4/Ser5 and Ser17/G1u18, are clearly involved in the correct targeting of MC5R to the cell surface. Fluorescence microscopy analysis has revealed that MC5R constructs with mutations in those residues are mainly retained at the ER/Golgi complex. Furthermore, the homodimerization ability of the receptor is maintained in these mutant forms, suggesting that other mechanisms are involved in the regulation of the anterograde transport of MC5R by those N-terminal domains.

Corrigendum to "Protective effects of xanthohumol against the genotoxicity of heterocyclic aromatic amines MeIQx and PhIP in bacteria and in human hepatoma (HepG2) cells (vol 50, pg 949, 2012)"

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Corrigendum to "Protective effects of xanthohumol against the genotoxicity of heterocyclic aromatic amines MeIQx and PhIP in bacteria and in human hepatoma (HepG2) cells (vol 50, pg 949, 2012)"

Nutritional strategies facing an older demographic: The Nutrition UP 65 study protocol

Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Nutritional strategies facing an older demographic: The Nutrition UP 65 study protocol Abstract: Background: The population of Portugal is aging. The lack of data on older adults nutritional status and the lack of nutrition knowledge amongst health professionals, caregivers, and older adults themselves, remains a challenge.Objective: The Nutrition UP 65 study aims to reduce nutritional inequalities in the older Portuguese adult population and improve knowledge regarding older Portuguese adults nutritional status, specifically relating to undernutrition, obesity, sarcopenia, frailty, hydration, sodium, and vitamin D statuses.Methods: A representative sample of older Portuguese adults was selected. Sociodemographic, lifestyle, anthropometric, functional, and clinical data were collected. Sodium excretion, hydration, and vitamin D statuses were assessed.Results: Data collection (n=1500) took place between December, 2015 and June, 2016. Results will be disseminated in national and international scientific journals, and via Portuguese media.Conclusions: Nutrition UP 65 results will provide evidence for the design and implementation of effective preventive public health strategies regarding the elderly. These insights may represent relevant health gains and costs savings.

Effect of competitive swimming on airway inflammation: A 3-yr longitudinal study

Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Effect of competitive swimming on airway inflammation: A 3-yr longitudinal study Abstract: Background Allergy to cats and dogs and polysensitization towards these animals are associated with severe childhood asthma. Molecular-based allergy diagnostics offers new opportunities for improved characterization and has been suggested to be particularly useful in patients with polysensitization and/or severe asthma. The aim was to use extract- and molecular-based allergy diagnostics to compare patterns of IgE sensitization towards aeroallergens in children with problematic severe and controlled asthma. Methods Children with a positive ImmunoCAP towards any furry animal (cat, dog or horse) were recruited from a Nationwide Swedish study on severe childhood asthma. Severe (n=37, age 13years) and controlled (n=28, age 14years) asthmatics underwent assessment of allergic sensitization by ImmunoCap (kU(A)/l) and immunosolid-phase allergen chip (ISAC). In addition, Asthma Control Test, spirometry and a methacholine challenge were performed. Results Children with severe asthma had lower asthma control (p<0.001) and FEV1 (p=0.001) and more bronchial hyper-responsiveness (p=0.008) in spite of high doses of inhaled steroids (>= 800 mu g budesonide). Children with severe asthma displayed higher levels of IgE antibodies towards cat (17 vs. 3.9, p=0.027), dog (3.8 vs. 1.2, p=0.012) and horse (7.4 vs. 0.7, p=0.014). Sensitization towards Can f 2 (22% vs. 0%, p=0.009) and Equ c 1 (51% vs. 25%, p=0.03) was more common in severe asthma. IgE levels towards Equ c 1 correlated with asthma control (r=-0.41, p=0.04). Conclusion Children with severe allergic asthma had higher sIgE levels to cat, dog and horse. Molecular-based allergy diagnostics revealed a more complex molecular spreading of allergen components in children with the most severe disease.

Promoting sustainable behavior change in body weight control [Promovendo mudanças comportamentais sustentáveis no controlo do peso corporal]

Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Promoting sustainable behavior change in body weight control [Promovendo mudanças comportamentais sustentáveis no controlo do peso corporal] Abstract: There is a wide acknowledgement of obesity as a relevant clinical entity. Such relevance can be inferred by the huge worldwide amount of research and related health promotion and clinical efforts. Though the evidence sustains some cues for the therapeutic success, the overall long-term effectiveness of obesity treatment tends to be not so satisfactory. Scientific literature is not unequivocal in key areas of nutritional intervention, such as the magnitude of caloric restriction, proportion of macronutrients, meal frequency, among others. The same applies to the area of physical activity recommendation for weight control. As a correlate of this scenario of incertitude, there is a proliferation of interventions and there is a clear need to integrate the scientific and clinical evidence. This paper presents a narrative literature review of key issues of clinical practice in obesity, regarding a set of actions that, in the overall, have as main purpose the promotion of reduction and/or control of body weight. The role of the health professional is highlighted as a facilitator of acquisition of habits that favor weight control, by integrating the professional's scientific knowledge with the patient's readiness for and capacity to change. © Ordem dos Médicos 2014.