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Öntaş E, Bahar-Özvarış Ş, Şimşek B. Creating, publishing, and spreading processes of health-related contents in internet news sites: evaluation of the opinions of actors in health communication. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1370343. [PMID: 39139666 PMCID: PMC11319292 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1370343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The accuracy and reliability of health information disseminated through news is crucial, as it directly impacts both individual and societal health outcomes. This study aims to analyze the publication process of health content in Türkiye and its implications for public health. By examining the perspectives of various health communication stakeholders, the study seeks to identify existing issues and propose potential solutions. Methods The research uses a mixed-methods approach, including baseline content analysis of 846 news by 133 criteria, quantitative research with 78 participants encompassing bureaucrats, academics, journalists, and health association members, and 15 in-depth interviews for comprehensive insights. Results The content analysis indicated that 23.2% of the analyzed news articles lacked credible sources, while 63% did not mention the author's name. A striking 96.2% of respondents stated that inaccurate health news poses a risk to public health, emphasizing the urgent need for standardized reporting practices. The majority (90.9%) pinpointed the media as the primary catalysts for infodemic spread, with 93.5% citing gatekeepers as barriers to accurate information. Eroding trust in media, fueled by unethical practices, harms both media credibility and effective public health interventions. Discussion The study underscores the necessity for a collaborative approach among public institutions, academia, and media, focusing on responsibility, regulation, and sanctions against the infodemic. The research advocates for a balanced approach that prioritizes health rights and press freedom within a stakeholder-driven framework, highlighting that legislation alone cannot fully enhance the digital information ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eray Öntaş
- Department of Public Health, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Şevkat Bahar-Özvarış
- Department of Public Health, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Burcu Şimşek
- Department of Communication Sciences, Hacettepe University Faculty of Communication, Ankara, Türkiye
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Zhang B, You J, Rolls ET, Wang X, Kang J, Li Y, Zhang R, Zhang W, Wang H, Xiang S, Shen C, Jiang Y, Xie C, Yu J, Cheng W, Feng J. Identifying behaviour-related and physiological risk factors for suicide attempts in the UK Biobank. Nat Hum Behav 2024:10.1038/s41562-024-01903-x. [PMID: 38956227 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-01903-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Suicide is a global public health challenge, yet considerable uncertainty remains regarding the associations of both behaviour-related and physiological factors with suicide attempts (SA). Here we first estimated polygenic risk scores (PRS) for SA in 334,706 UK Biobank participants and conducted phenome-wide association analyses considering 2,291 factors. We identified 246 (63.07%) behaviour-related and 200 (10.41%, encompassing neuroimaging, blood and metabolic biomarkers, and proteins) physiological factors significantly associated with SA-PRS, with robust associations observed in lifestyle factors and mental health. Further case-control analyses involving 3,558 SA cases and 149,976 controls mirrored behaviour-related associations observed with SA-PRS. Moreover, Mendelian randomization analyses supported a potential causal effect of liability to 58 factors on SA, such as age at first intercourse, neuroticism, smoking, overall health rating and depression. Notably, machine-learning classification models based on behaviour-related factors exhibited high discriminative accuracy in distinguishing those with and without SA (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.909 ± 0.006). This study provides comprehensive insights into diverse risk factors for SA, shedding light on potential avenues for targeted prevention and intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bei Zhang
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence and Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia You
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence and Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Edmund T Rolls
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence and Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Oxford Centre for Computational Neuroscience, Oxford, UK
- Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Xiang Wang
- Medical Psychological Centre, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Medical Psychological Institute, Central South University, Changsha, China
- China National Clinical Research Centre on Mental Disorders (Xiangya), Changsha, China
| | - Jujiao Kang
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence and Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuzhu Li
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence and Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruohan Zhang
- Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Wei Zhang
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence and Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Huifu Wang
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Shitong Xiang
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence and Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Chun Shen
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence and Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuchao Jiang
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence and Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Chao Xie
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence and Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Jintai Yu
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence and Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Cheng
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence and Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China.
- MOE Frontiers Centre for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Fudan ISTBI-ZJNU Algorithm Centre for Brain-inspired Intelligence, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China.
| | - Jianfeng Feng
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence and Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
- MOE Frontiers Centre for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Fudan ISTBI-ZJNU Algorithm Centre for Brain-inspired Intelligence, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China.
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Guo J, Garshick E, Si F, Tang Z, Lian X, Wang Y, Li J, Koutrakis P. Environmental Toxicant Exposure and Depressive Symptoms. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2420259. [PMID: 38958973 PMCID: PMC11222999 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.20259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Recognizing associations between exposure to common environmental toxicants and mental disorders such as depression is crucial for guiding targeted mechanism research and the initiation of disease prevention efforts. Objectives To comprehensively screen and assess the associations between potential environmental toxicants and depressive symptoms and to assess whether systemic inflammation serves as a mediator. Design, Setting, and Participants A total of 3427 participants from the 2013-2014 and 2015-2016 waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination and Survey who had information on blood or urine concentrations of environmental toxicants and depression scores assessed by the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were included. Statistical analysis was performed from July 1, 2023, to January 31, 2024. Exposures Sixty-two toxicants in 10 categories included acrylamide, arsenic, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, iodine, metals, nicotine metabolites, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compound (VOC) metabolites; and perchlorate, nitrate, and thiocyanate. Main Outcomes and Measures An exposome-wide association study and the deletion-substitution-addition algorithm were used to assess associations with depression scores (PHQ-9 ≥5) adjusted for other important covariates. A mediation analysis framework was used to evaluate the mediating role of systemic inflammation assessed by the peripheral white blood cell count. Results Among the 3427 adults included, 1735 (50.6%) were women, 2683 (78.3%) were younger than 65 years, and 744 (21.7%) were 65 years or older, with 839 (24.5%) having depressive symptoms. In terms of race and ethnicity, 570 participants (16.6%) were Mexican American, 679 (19.8%) were non-Hispanic Black, and 1314 (38.3%) were non-Hispanic White. We identified associations between 27 chemical compounds or metals in 6 of 10 categories of environmental toxicants and the prevalence of depressive symptoms, including the VOC metabolites N-acetyl-S-(2-hydroxy-3-butenyl)-l-cysteine (odds ratio [OR], 1.74 [95% CI, 1.38, 2.18]) and total nicotine equivalent-2 (OR, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.26-1.59]). Men and younger individuals appear more vulnerable to environmental toxicants than women and older individuals. Peripheral white blood cell count mediated 5% to 19% of the associations. Conclusions and Relevance In this representative cross-sectional study of adults with environmental toxicant exposures, 6 categories of environmental toxicants were associated with depressive symptoms with mediation by systemic inflammation. This research provides insight into selecting environmental targets for mechanistic research into the causes of depression and facilitating efforts to reduce environmental exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhui Guo
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Eric Garshick
- Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep, and Critical Care Medicine Section, Medical Service, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Feifei Si
- Peking University Sixth Hospital Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Ziqi Tang
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyao Lian
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yaqi Wang
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Li
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Petros Koutrakis
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
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Alemany M. The Metabolic Syndrome, a Human Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2251. [PMID: 38396928 PMCID: PMC10888680 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
This review focuses on the question of metabolic syndrome (MS) being a complex, but essentially monophyletic, galaxy of associated diseases/disorders, or just a syndrome of related but rather independent pathologies. The human nature of MS (its exceptionality in Nature and its close interdependence with human action and evolution) is presented and discussed. The text also describes the close interdependence of its components, with special emphasis on the description of their interrelations (including their syndromic development and recruitment), as well as their consequences upon energy handling and partition. The main theories on MS's origin and development are presented in relation to hepatic steatosis, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, but encompass most of the MS components described so far. The differential effects of sex and its biological consequences are considered under the light of human social needs and evolution, which are also directly related to MS epidemiology, severity, and relations with senescence. The triggering and maintenance factors of MS are discussed, with especial emphasis on inflammation, a complex process affecting different levels of organization and which is a critical element for MS development. Inflammation is also related to the operation of connective tissue (including the adipose organ) and the widely studied and acknowledged influence of diet. The role of diet composition, including the transcendence of the anaplerotic maintenance of the Krebs cycle from dietary amino acid supply (and its timing), is developed in the context of testosterone and β-estradiol control of the insulin-glycaemia hepatic core system of carbohydrate-triacylglycerol energy handling. The high probability of MS acting as a unique complex biological control system (essentially monophyletic) is presented, together with additional perspectives/considerations on the treatment of this 'very' human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marià Alemany
- Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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De Pretis F, Jukola S, Landes J. E-synthesis for carcinogenicity assessments: A case study of processed meat. J Eval Clin Pract 2022; 28:752-772. [PMID: 35754297 DOI: 10.1111/jep.13697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Recent controversies about dietary advice concerning meat demonstrate that aggregating the available evidence to assess a putative causal link between food and cancer is a challenging enterprise. METHODS We show how a tool developed for assessing putative causal links between drugs and adverse drug reactions, E-Synthesis, can be applied for food carcinogenicity assessments. The application is demonstrated on the putative causal relationship between processed meat consumption and cancer. RESULTS The output of the assessment is a Bayesian probability that processed meat consumption causes cancer. This Bayesian probability is calculated from a Bayesian network model, which incorporates a representation of Bradford Hill's Guidelines as probabilistic indicators of causality. We show how to determine probabilities of indicators of causality for food carcinogenicity assessments based on assessments of the International Agency for Research on Cancer. CONCLUSIONS We find that E-Synthesis is a tool well-suited for food carcinogenicity assessments, as it enables a graphical representation of lines and weights of evidence, offers the possibility to make a great number of judgements explicit and transparent, outputs a probability of causality suitable for decision making and is flexible to aggregate different kinds of evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco De Pretis
- Department of Communication and Economics, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Reggio, Emilia, Italy
| | - Saana Jukola
- Department of Philosophy I, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.,Institute for Medical Humanities, University Clinic Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jürgen Landes
- Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy, Faculty of Philosophy, Philosophy of Science and Study of Religion, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany.,Open Science Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
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Brauer P, Royall D, Rodrigues A. Use of the Healthy Eating Index in Intervention Studies for Cardiometabolic Risk Conditions: A Systematic Review. Adv Nutr 2021; 12:1317-1331. [PMID: 33460430 PMCID: PMC8321868 DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmaa167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Researchers and counselors need diet-assessment tools that characterize diet at baseline and over time in diet counseling and coaching interventions. Among possible tools, the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) is of interest in cardiometabolic treatment as it has undergone significant validation and development. The objective of this study was to systematically review relevant intervention studies using the HEI and its adaptations to examine whether diet interventions improve diet quality as measured by the HEI and the magnitude of change in included diet-quality scores following dietary intervention. Two databases [Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and PubMed] were searched for articles published from January 1995 to December 2019. The review included intervention studies in adults presenting with overweight/obesity and obesity-related chronic disease (metabolic syndrome, diabetes, prediabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia) who received education or counseling, and the HEI was evaluated from baseline to follow-up (US or Canadian version) or Alternate HEI. Study quality was assessed using Cochrane risk of bias for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or Cochrane Risk of Bias for Nonrandomized interventions (ROBINS-I). A total of 25 studies were included: 15 RCTs, 3 quasi-experimental studies, and 7 pre-post studies. Eight different versions of the HEI were used. Results demonstrated that diet quality assessed by HEI and its adaptations improved to a clinically relevant degree, especially in studies where multiple food behaviors/food-behavior goals were the focus and where an intensive, long-term intervention was compared with a no-treatment control group. There was wide variation in magnitude of change in included diet-quality indicators. Use of the HEI and its adaptations and other diet-quality tools is promising for better characterization of diet-counseling interventions and results when multiple food behaviors are a focus. Additional development is encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Brauer
- Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dawna Royall
- Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ariellia Rodrigues
- Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Extensive research and important discoveries on the microbiome have led to a growth in media coverage. This study explores how the microbiome has been portrayed in press sources popular among American and Canadian audiences. DESIGN Content analysis. METHODS Using the FACTIVA Database, we compiled a finalised data set of (N=830) articles from press sources popular among American and Canadian audiences which were published between 1 January 2018 and 11 October 2019 and which contained at least one of the following search terms: 'microbiome', 'microbiota', 'gut health', 'healthy gut', 'unhealthy gut', 'gut bacteria', 'probiotic' or 'probiotics.' We performed content analysis on the articles to determine how often ideas of the microbiome were presented as beneficial, in which health contexts, and whether actions could be taken to reap stated benefits. We compared this portrayal of benefits with critical portrayals of the microbiome. RESULTS Almost all of the articles (94%) described health benefits associated with the microbiome with many (79%) describing actions which could be taken to reap stated benefits. Articles most often described health benefits in more broad, general context (34%) and most commonly outlined actions related to food/drug (45%) as well as probiotic (27%) intake. Only some articles (19%) provided microbiome-related critiques or limitations. Some of the articles (22%) were focused on highlighting specific research developments, and in these articles, critiques or limitations were more common. CONCLUSIONS Articles discussing the microbiome published for American and Canadian audiences typically hype the microbiome's impact and popularise gut health trends while only offering a little in the way of communicating microbiome science. Lifestyle choices including nutrition, taking probiotics, stress management and exercise are often promoted as means of reaping the microbiome-related health benefits. The trend of actionable 'gut health' is foregrounded over more evidence-based descriptions of microbiome science.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stuart Turvey
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Sipido KR, Nagyova I. Health research and knowledge translation for achieving the sustainable development goals: tackling the hurdles. Eur J Public Health 2021; 30:i36-i40. [PMID: 32391902 PMCID: PMC7213555 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckaa032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
We are far from reaching the sustainable development goals (SDGs) for health despite a wealth of novel insights in disease mechanisms and possible solutions. Why have we failed in knowledge translation and implementation? Starting from the case of cardiovascular diseases as one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases, we examine barriers and hurdles, and perspectives for future health research. Health has multiple links with other SDGs. To accelerate the progress towards a healthy society, health research needs to take a broader view and become more cross-disciplinary and cross-sectoral. As one example, behavioural studies will underpin better prevention and treatment adherence. The next generation workforce in health and research needs an adapted education and training to implement more effective health approaches. As well, only effective dialogue and communication between researchers, practitioners, society and policymakers can lead to translation of evidence into policies, addressing the complexity of socioeconomic factors and commercial interests. Within Europe, health research needs a comprehensive vision and strategy that connects to achieving better health, as one of the interconnected SDGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin R Sipido
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Iveta Nagyova
- Department of Social and Behavioural Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, PJ Safarik University, Kosice, Slovakia
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Cena H, Porri D, De Giuseppe R, Kalmpourtzidou A, Salvatore FP, El Ghoch M, Itani L, Kreidieh D, Brytek-Matera A, Pocol CB, Arteta Arteta DS, Utan G, Kolčić I. How Healthy Are Health-Related Behaviors in University Students: The HOLISTic Study. Nutrients 2021; 13:675. [PMID: 33669884 PMCID: PMC7926492 DOI: 10.3390/nu13020675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the health-related behaviors among university students, with emphasis on health sciences students from Croatia, Italy, Lebanon, Poland, Romania, Spain and Turkey. We included 6222 students in Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, Nutrition and Dietetics, Sports Sciences, Veterinary, and Economics enrolled between April 2018 and March 2020. We assessed dietary patterns, sleeping habits, physical activity and perceived stress among students by means of validated questionnaires. The median age ranged between 19 and 24 years, smoking prevalence between 12.0% and 35.4%, and body mass index (BMI) ranged between 21.1 and 23.2 kg/m2. Breakfast was less often and more often consumed daily in Turkey (36.7%), and Italy (75.7%), respectively. The highest Mediterranean diet score was recorded in Spain and Italy, and the lowest in Turkey, followed by students from Croatia, Lebanon, Poland and Romania. Sleep duration, physical activity and stress perception also differed between countries. Multivariable regression analysis revealed a small, but positive association between BMI and several characteristics, including age, female gender, smoking, physical activity, mobile phone use, and perceived stress. A negative association was found between BMI and sleep duration on non-working days. Self-rated health perception was positively associated with female gender, breakfast, physical activity, and time spent studying, and negatively with BMI, smoking and stress. Our results demonstrated diverse habits in students from different countries, some of which were less healthy than anticipated, given their educational background. Greater emphasis needs to be placed on improving the lifestyle of these adolescents and young adults, who will be tomorrow's healthcare workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hellas Cena
- Laboratory of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (H.C.); (D.P.); (A.K.); (G.U.)
- Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Service, Unit of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, ICS Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Debora Porri
- Laboratory of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (H.C.); (D.P.); (A.K.); (G.U.)
| | - Rachele De Giuseppe
- Laboratory of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (H.C.); (D.P.); (A.K.); (G.U.)
| | - Aliki Kalmpourtzidou
- Laboratory of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (H.C.); (D.P.); (A.K.); (G.U.)
| | | | - Marwan El Ghoch
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Beirut Arab University, P.O. Box 11-5020 Riad El Solh, Beirut 11072809, Lebanon; (M.E.G.); (L.I.); (D.K.)
| | - Leila Itani
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Beirut Arab University, P.O. Box 11-5020 Riad El Solh, Beirut 11072809, Lebanon; (M.E.G.); (L.I.); (D.K.)
| | - Dima Kreidieh
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Beirut Arab University, P.O. Box 11-5020 Riad El Solh, Beirut 11072809, Lebanon; (M.E.G.); (L.I.); (D.K.)
| | | | - Cristina Bianca Pocol
- Department of Animal Production and Food Safety, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj Napoca, 400372 Cluj Napoca, Romania;
| | | | - Gözde Utan
- Laboratory of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (H.C.); (D.P.); (A.K.); (G.U.)
| | - Ivana Kolčić
- Department of Public Health, University of Split School of Medicine, 21000 Split, Croatia;
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Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Risk. Evidence, Lack of Evidence, and Diligence. Nutrients 2020; 12:nu12123782. [PMID: 33317164 PMCID: PMC7764656 DOI: 10.3390/nu12123782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most controversial areas of nutrition research relates to fats, particularly essential fatty acids, in the context of cardiovascular disease risk. A critical feature of dietary fatty acids is that they incorporate into the plasma membrane, modifying fluidity and key physiological functions. Importantly, they can reshape the bioavailability of eicosanoids and other lipid mediators, which direct cellular responses to external stimuli, such as inflammation and chronic stress conditions. This paper provides an overview of the most recent evidence, as well as historical controversies, linking fat consumption with human health and disease. We underscore current pitfalls in the area of fatty acid research and critically frame fatty acid intake in the larger context of diet and behavior. We conclude that fundamental research on fatty acids and lipids is appropriate in certain areas, but the rigor and reproducibility are lacking in others. The pros and cons are highlighted throughout the review, seeking to guide future research on the important area of nutrition, fat intake, and cardiovascular disease risk.
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ŞENOL Y, AVCI K. The use of social media in outbreak communication. JOURNAL OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND MEDICINE 2020. [DOI: 10.32322/jhsm.725257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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12
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Sugden K, Hannon EJ, Arseneault L, Belsky DW, Corcoran DL, Fisher HL, Houts RM, Kandaswamy R, Moffitt TE, Poulton R, Prinz JA, Rasmussen LJH, Williams BS, Wong CCY, Mill J, Caspi A. Patterns of Reliability: Assessing the Reproducibility and Integrity of DNA Methylation Measurement. PATTERNS 2020; 1:S2666-3899(20)30014-3. [PMID: 32885222 PMCID: PMC7467214 DOI: 10.1016/j.patter.2020.100014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
DNA methylation plays an important role in both normal human development and risk of disease. The most utilized method of assessing DNA methylation uses BeadChips, generating an epigenome-wide “snapshot” of >450,000 observations (probe measurements) per assay. However, the reliability of each of these measurements is not equal, and little consideration is paid to consequences for research. We correlated repeat measurements of the same DNA samples using the Illumina HumanMethylation450K and the Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChips in 350 blood DNA samples. Probes that were reliably measured were more heritable and showed consistent associations with environmental exposures, gene expression, and greater cross-tissue concordance. Unreliable probes were less replicable and generated an unknown volume of false negatives. This serves as a lesson for working with DNA methylation data, but the lessons are equally applicable to working with other data: as we advance toward generating increasingly greater volumes of data, failure to document reliability risks harming reproducibility. Measurements of DNA methylation made using BeadChip probes are differentially reliable Unreliable probes were less heritable, less replicable, and less functionally relevant This has serious implications for reporting and evaluating DNA methylation findings Reliability joins replicability and reproducibility to make three fundamental Rs of STEM
Although DNA methylation data are used widely by researchers in many fields, the reliability of these data are surprisingly variable. Our findings remind us that, in an age of increasingly big data, research is only as robust as its foundations. We hope that our findings will improve the integrity of DNA methylation studies. We also hope that our findings serve as a cautionary reminder for those generating and implementing big data of any type: reliability is a fundamental aspect of replicability. Conducting analysis with reliable data will improve chances of replicable findings, which might lead to more actionable targets for further research. To the extent that reliable data improve replicability, the knock-on effect will be more public confidence in research and less effort spent trying to replicate findings that are bound to fail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Sugden
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Grey Building, 2020 West Main Street, Suite 201, Durham, NC 27705, USA.,Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Eilis J Hannon
- Complex Disease Epigenetics Group, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK
| | - Louise Arseneault
- King's College London, Social, Genetic, and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - Daniel W Belsky
- Department of Epidemiology & Butler Aging Center, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - David L Corcoran
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Helen L Fisher
- King's College London, Social, Genetic, and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - Renate M Houts
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Grey Building, 2020 West Main Street, Suite 201, Durham, NC 27705, USA
| | - Radhika Kandaswamy
- King's College London, Social, Genetic, and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - Terrie E Moffitt
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Grey Building, 2020 West Main Street, Suite 201, Durham, NC 27705, USA.,Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.,King's College London, Social, Genetic, and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, London, UK.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Richie Poulton
- Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Joseph A Prinz
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Line J H Rasmussen
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Grey Building, 2020 West Main Street, Suite 201, Durham, NC 27705, USA.,Clinical Research Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Benjamin S Williams
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Grey Building, 2020 West Main Street, Suite 201, Durham, NC 27705, USA.,Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Chloe C Y Wong
- King's College London, Social, Genetic, and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - Jonathan Mill
- Complex Disease Epigenetics Group, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK
| | - Avshalom Caspi
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Grey Building, 2020 West Main Street, Suite 201, Durham, NC 27705, USA.,Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.,King's College London, Social, Genetic, and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, London, UK.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
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13
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Affiliation(s)
- John P A Ioannidis
- Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
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14
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Liebman BF. Dissenting Opinions in Nutrition Research. JAMA 2020; 323:1000. [PMID: 32154854 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2020.0490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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