A longitudinal association between the traditional Japanese diet score and incidence and mortality of breast cancer-an ecological study

Traditional japanese diet score and the sustainable development goals by a global comparative ecological study

BACKGROUND

Reducing the environmental impact of the food supply is important for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) worldwide. Previously, we developed the Traditional Japanese Diet Score (TJDS) and reported in a global ecological study that the Japanese diet is associated with reducing obesity and extending healthy life expectancy etc. We then examined the relationship between the TJDS and environmental indicators.

METHODS

The average food (g/day/capita) and energy supplies (kcal/day/capita) by country were obtained from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Statistics Division database. The TJDS was calculated from eight food groups (beneficial food components in the Japanese diet: rice, fish, soybeans, vegetables, and eggs; food components that are relatively unused in the traditional Japanese diet: wheat, milk, and red meat) by country using tertiles, and calculated the total score from - 8 to 8, with higher scores meaning greater adherence to the TJDS. We used Land Use (m2), Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 2007/2013 (kg CO2eq), Acidifying emissions (g SO2eq), Eutrophying emissions (g PO43- eq), Freshwater (L), and water use (L) per food weight by Poore et al. as the environmental indicators and multiplied these indicators by each country's average food supply. We evaluated the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between the TJDS and environmental indicators from 2010 to 2020. This study included 151 countries with populations ≥ 1 million.

RESULTS

Land use (β ± standard error; -0.623 ± 0.161, p < 0.001), GHG 2007 (-0.149 ± 0.057, p < 0.05), GHG 2013 (-0.183 ± 0.066, p < 0.01), Acidifying (-1.111 ± 0.369, p < 0.01), and Water use (-405.903 ± 101.416, p < 0.001) were negatively associated with TJDS, and Freshwater (45.116 ± 7.866, p < 0.001) was positively associated with TJDS after controlling for energy supply and latitude in 2010. In the longitudinal analysis, Land Use (β ± standard error; -0.116 ± 0.027, p < 0.001), GHG 2007 (-0.040 ± 0.010, p < 0.001), GHG 2013 (-0.048 ± 0.011, p < 0.001), Acidifying (-0.280 ± 0.064, p < 0.001), Eutrophying (-0.132 ± 0.062, p < 0.05), and Water use (-118.246 ± 22.826, p < 0.001) were negatively associated with TJDS after controlling for confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

This ecological study suggests that the traditional Japanese dietary pattern might improve SDGs except Fresh water.

Global Association between Traditional Japanese Diet Score and All-Cause, Cardiovascular Disease, and Total Cancer Mortality: A Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Ecological Study

OBJECTIVE

Studies conducted on Japanese people have suggested that a traditional Japanese diet contributes to good health, longevity, and protection against several non-communicable diseases. However, it is unknown whether traditional Japanese dietary patterns are associated with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, and cancer mortality globally. The purpose of this cross-sectional and longitudinal ecological study is to clarify the global association between the traditional Japanese diet score (TJDS) and all-cause, cardiovascular disease, and total cancer mortality.

METHODS

Data on food supply and all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality, total cancer mortality, and covariables by country were obtained from a relevant internationally available database. TJDS by country was calculated from eight food groups and the total score ranged from -8 to 8, with higher scores indicating greater adherence to a traditional Japanese diet. We evaluated the cross-sectional and 10-year longitudinal association between TJDS and all-cause, cardiovascular disease, and total cancer mortality using 2009 as the baseline in 142 countries with populations of more than one million. A cross-sectional analysis and a longitudinal analysis were performed using three general linear models or three linear mixed models with different covariables.

RESULTS

In cross-sectional models controlled for fully-adjusted covariables, TJDS was negatively associated with all-cause mortality (β ± standard error; -43.819 ± 11.741, p < 0.001), cardiovascular disease mortality (-22.395 ± 4.638, p < 0.001), and total cancer mortality (-3.893 ± 1.048, p < 0.001). In 10-year longitudinal models controlled for fully-adjusted covariables, TJDS was significantly negatively associated with all-cause mortality (-31.563 ± 7.695, p < 0.001), cardiovascular disease mortality (-16.249 ± 4.054, p < 0.001), and total cancer mortality (-3.499 ± 0.867, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This cross-sectional and longitudinal ecological study suggests that the traditional Japanese diet is associated with lower all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality, and total cancer mortality, worldwide.

Connecting the dots in the associations between diet, obesity, cancer, and microRNAs

The prevalence of obesity has reached pandemic levels worldwide, leading to a lower quality of life and higher health costs. Obesity is a major risk factor for noncommunicable diseases, including cancer, although obesity is one of the major preventable causes of cancer. Lifestyle factors, such as dietary quality and patterns, are also closely related to the onset and development of obesity and cancer. However, the mechanisms underlying the complex association between diet, obesity, and cancer remain unclear. In the past few decades, microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs, have been demonstrated to play critical roles in biological processes such as cell differentiation, proliferation, and metabolism, highlighting their importance in disease development and suppression and as therapeutic targets. miRNA expression levels can be modulated by diet and are involved in cancer and obesity-related diseases. Circulating miRNAs can also mediate cell-to-cell communications. These multiple aspects of miRNAs present challenges in understanding and integrating their mechanism of action. Here, we introduce a general consideration of the associations between diet, obesity, and cancer and review the current knowledge of the molecular functions of miRNA in each context. A comprehensive understanding of the interplay between diet, obesity, and cancer could be valuable for the development of effective preventive and therapeutic strategies in future.

The Global Association between Egg Intake and the Incidence and Mortality of Ischemic Heart Disease-An Ecological Study

The relationship between egg consumption and ischemic heart disease (IHD) remains controversial as there is still no clear answer regarding the relationship, with research limited to a few geographical regions. In the current study, we conducted a longitudinal analysis of the association between egg intake and IHD incidence (IHDi) and mortality (IHDd) using 28 years of international data from 1990 to 2018. Egg intake (g/day/capita) by country was obtained from the Global Dietary Database. Age-standard IHDi and IHDd rates per 100,000 subjects in each country were obtained from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease database. The analysis included a total of 142 countries with populations of at least one million, for which all data were available from 1990 to 2018. Eggs are consumed worldwide, and regional differences in consumption are also shown. Utilizing IHDi and IHDd as objective variables and egg intake as an explanatory variable, the analysis was conducted using linear mixed models, which controlled for inter- and intra-country variation from year to year. The results showed a significant negative association between egg intake, and IHDi (-0.253 ± 0.117, p < 0.05) and IHDd (-0.359 ± 0.137, p < 0.05). The analysis was carried out using R 4.0.5. The results suggest that adequate egg intake might suppress IHDi and IHDd on a global scale.

Cellular reprogramming, chemoresistance, and dietary interventions in breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) diagnosis has been associated with significant risk factors, including family history, late menopause, obesity, poor eating habits, and alcoholism. Despite the advances in the last decades regarding cancer treatment, some obstacles still hinder the effectiveness of therapy. For example, chemotherapy resistance is common in locally advanced or metastatic cancer, reducing treatment options and contributing to mortality. In this review, we provide an overview of BC metabolic changes, including the impact of restrictive diets associated with chemoresistance, the therapeutic potential of the diet on tumor progression, pathways related to metabolic health in oncology, and perspectives on the future in the area of oncological nutrition.

Therapeutic effect of some natural active compounds for breast cancer

The extracts obtained from plants have been used in the treatment of many diseases since the earliest times. Today, it is of great importance to investigate the effects of the active molecules in these plant extracts at the molecular level together with the analysis. The effect of certain active compounds found in some plants, widely used as medicinal plants, on breast cancer has been investigated using docking. As a result of the docking scores obtained, it can be understood that the active molecules used in this study can be quite effective in controlling breast cancer. Promyelocytic leukemia is an important checkpoint from the literature for breast cancer and the docking energy values of Thymoquinone, Piperine and Carvacrol, as the active molecules in the control of this pathway. This study is very important when evaluated in terms of directing experimental studies by determining the most suitable active substances by comparing the activities of molecules in a short time.

Changes in the association between the traditional Japanese diet score and suicide rates over 26 years: A global comparative study

BACKGROUND

This study examined the global association between the Traditional Japanese Diet Score and suicide rate.

METHODS

Average food supply and energy supply by country were obtained from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Statistics Division database (FAOSTAT). Traditional Japanese Diet Score (TJDS) was calculated from food group classifications. Age-standardized suicide rates per 100,000 people by country were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease 2017 database. The 26-year associations between TJDS and suicide rates were examined controlling for covariates using a mixed-effects model in 138 countries with populations of 1 million or greater.

RESULTS

A significant negative association was found in the analysis of the relationship between TJDS and the prevalence of suicide [β (se) = -0.126 (0.031), p < 0.001]. The interaction term between TJDS and year was also significant [β (se) = -0.011 (0.003), p < 0.001]. The change in the effect of TJDS on suicide rates by year was examined. The effect of TJDS was not significant from 1991 to 1999 but became significant after 2000; the slope of the TJDS to suicide rate in 2017 was -0.270 (95% confidence interval -0.382, -0.169, p < 0.001).

LIMITATIONS

This was a national ecological study and did not consider individual differences in sex, age, and lifestyle.

CONCLUSIONS

TJDS may be is a protective factor for depression, which may prevent suicide. The association between TJDS and suicide rates became stronger over time and was inversely associated with suicide rates after 2000.

Assessing the Physiological Effects of Traditional Regional Diets Targeting the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials Implementing Mediterranean, New Nordic, Japanese, Atlantic, Persian and Mexican Dietary Interventions

Traditional regional diets are considered as sustainable dietary patterns, while many have been examined with regard to their health benefits. The aim of the present systematic review was to aggerate all evidence on the physiological effects of regional diets among adults at high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Three databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) implementing any regional diet (Mediterranean (MedD), Persian, Southern European Atlantic, Japanese, Chinese, new Nordic, or other) while examining cardiovascular risk factors among adults at increased risk. Primary outcomes included anthropometric indices and secondary outcomes involved blood lipid concentrations, glucose metabolism, inflammation and other markers of CVD progression. Twenty RCTs fulfilled the study’s criteria and were included in the qualitative synthesis, with the majority implementing a MedD. Adherence to most of the regional diets induced a reduction in the BW and anthropometric indices of the participants. The majority of RCTs with blood pressure endpoints failed to note a significant reduction in the intervention compared to the comparator arm, with the exception of some new Nordic and MedD ones. Despite the interventions, inflammation markers remained unchanged except for CRP, which was reduced in the intervention groups of one new Nordic, the older Japanese, and the Atlantic diet RCTs. With regard to blood lipids, regional diet interventions either failed to induce significant differences or improved selective blood lipid markers of the participants adhering to the experimental regional diet arms. Finally, in the majority of RCTs glucose metabolism failed to improve. The body of evidence examining the effect of regional dietary patterns on CVD risk among high-risk populations, while employing an RCT design, appears to be limited, with the exception of the MedD. More research is required to advocate for the efficacy of most regional diets with regard to CVD.

Photodynamic Therapy—An Up-to-Date Review

The healing power of light has attracted interest for thousands of years. Scientific discoveries and technological advancements in the field have eventually led to the emergence of photodynamic therapy, which soon became a promising approach in treating a broad range of diseases. Based on the interaction between light, molecular oxygen, and various photosensitizers, photodynamic therapy represents a non-invasive, non-toxic, repeatable procedure for tumor treatment, wound healing, and pathogens inactivation. However, classic photosensitizing compounds impose limitations on their clinical applications. Aiming to overcome these drawbacks, nanotechnology came as a solution for improving targeting efficiency, release control, and solubility of traditional photosensitizers. This paper proposes a comprehensive path, starting with the photodynamic therapy mechanism, evolution over the years, integration of nanotechnology, and ending with a detailed review of the most important applications of this therapeutic approach.