Food Knowledge, Habits, Practices, and Addiction Among Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Investigation

BACKGROUND

Changing lifestyles and food habits have an impact on both nutrient requirements and intake among adolescents. The aim of this study is to assess the level of knowledge, habits, practices, and the presence of food addiction among adolescents residing in Damanhur City.

METHODS

A descriptive correlational study design is employed to collect data from 363 adolescents selected conveniently from two youth centers in Damanhur, Egypt. Four tools are used: a demographic questionnaire, the Adolescent Food Habits Checklist (AFHC), the General Nutritional Knowledge Assessment Questionnaire (GNKQ), and the Yale Food Addiction Scale version 2.0 (YFAS 2.0).

RESULTS

The age of the participating adolescents ranges from 10 to 19 years. More than half of the participants (51.8%) reported choosing low-fat foods. Additionally, around one-third of the adolescents (34.7%) meet the diagnostic criteria for food addiction. However, there is no statistically significant association found between food addiction and adolescents' eating habits and practices.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Most of the studied adolescents exhibit unhealthy eating practices. Food addiction is identified as a significant health concern among this population. Therefore, it is highly recommended to provide nutritional education for adolescents and their families and implement school-based strategies to promote healthy eating habits.

The Effect of Simulation Training on Enhancing Nursing Students' Perceptions to Incorporate Patients' Families Into Treatment Plans: A Randomized Experimental Study

INTRODUCTION

As clinical placement in bachelor's nursing programs becomes increasingly difficult, simulation is becoming increasingly common to enhance learning. Blended learning incorporating simulation videos provides students with the opportunity to observe and learn from exemplary practices while bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and its practical application. This study aimed to investigate the effect of simulation training on enhancing nursing students' perception of integrating patient's families' assessments into their treatment plan.

METHODS

A quantitative, experimental research design was used, with a control (56) and intervention group (67) from levels 7 and 8 senior nursing students at King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, College of Nursing, Jeddah, assigned randomly to each group. The tool consists of three sections: personal information, a Van Gelderen family rubric, and a role-play survey. The validity and reliability of the tools were confirmed by the original developer. In the current study, the reported Cronbach's alpha was 95%.

RESULTS

A total of 123 students participated in the study. Their ages ranged between 19 and 23 years and 23 years and above, with a mean age of 21.3 ± 1.3 among the control group and 22.2 ± 1.1 among the experimental group. There was an improvement in the mean scores in the post-training phase compared to the pre-training phase in the experimental group, with a statistically significant difference at p < 0.05. However, there were no significant differences noted between the control and experimental groups in the pre-training phase compared to the statistically significant difference noted between the two groups in the post-training phase.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The findings of the study indicated that the utilization of scenario-based standardized patient-simulated exercises, guided by dedicated faculty and accompanied by reflective debriefing exercises, proved to be an effective approach for bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and its application in clinical practice. Therefore, the study prompts curriculum revisions to incorporate family assessment into nursing practices, as well as evidence-based strategies, such as learning activities that use standardized patient or high-fidelity simulation technology to address and possibly reduce the theory-practice gap for graduates when entering clinical practice.

knowledge and attitudes of Saudi and Egyptian professionals and non-professionals toward vitiligo patients

Introduction: Vitiligo is a protracted skin disorder in which areas of skin lose their color. Numerous research has revealed that psychosocial therapies can lessen the effect of social stigma on the degree of vitiligo impairment. Objective: This study examines how an educational intervention affects the knowledge and attitudes of Egyptian and Saudi professionals and non-professionals toward patients with vitiligo. Materials and Methods: A quantitative, comparative quasi-experimental study was conducted with 357 participants at the College of Nursing-Jeddah (CON-J), Saudi Arabia, and the Faculty of Nursing, Menoufia University, Egypt. To complete the study, three valid and reliable tools were utilized: demographic and personal characteristics, the IOF Scale, and knowledge and attitudes. Results: A high percentage of Egyptians (81.4%) and Saudis (81.1%) had a higher education level, and nearly two-thirds (66.5%) were single. The total sample (n = 375) spanned the ages of 20 to 50 years. Most (94.6%) Saudis live in cities, 82.2% are health professionals, and nearly two-thirds (69.7%) are middle-class. After the intervention, there was a high level of knowledge difference between Egyptian and Saudi participants (professional and non-professional) at (p = 0.021); (p = .001), respectively.  

Real-time PCR detection and phylogenetic relationships of Neorickettsia spp. in digeneans from Egypt, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and the United States

Neorickettsia (Rickettsiales, Anaplasmataceae) is a genus of obligate intracellular bacterial endosymbionts of digeneans (Platyhelminthes, Digenea). Some Neorickettsia are able to invade cells of the digenean's vertebrate host and are known to cause diseases of domestic animals, wildlife, and humans. In this study we report the results of screening digenean samples for Neorickettsia collected from bats in Egypt and Mindoro Island, Philippines, snails and fishes from Thailand, and fishes from Vietnam and the USA. Neorickettsia were detected using a real-time PCR protocol targeting a 152bp fragment of the heat shock protein coding gene, GroEL, and verified with nested PCR and sequencing of a 1853bp long region of the GroESL operon and a 1371bp long region of 16S rRNA. Eight unique genotypes of Neorickettsia were obtained from digenean samples. Neorickettsia sp. 8 obtained from Lecithodendrium sp. from Egypt; Neorickettsia sp. 9 and 10 obtained from two species of Paralecithodendrium from Mindoro, Philippines; Neorickettsia sp. 11 from Lecithodendrium sp. and Neorickettsia sp. 4 (previously identified from Saccocoelioides lizae, from China) from Thailand; Neorickettsia sp. 12 from Dicrogaster sp. Florida, USA; Neorickettsia sp. 13 and SF agent from Vietnam. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the forms, provisionally named Neorickettsia sp. 8-13, represent new genotypes. We have for the first time detected Neorickettsia in a digenean from Egypt (and the African continent as a whole), the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam based on PCR and sequencing evidence. Our findings suggest that further surveys from the African continent, SE Asia, and island countries are likely to reveal new Neorickettsia lineages as well as new digenean host associations.

Demonstration of Taenia crassiceps cysteine proteinase activity in tegumentary lysosome-like vesicles

Larval stages of Taenia species survive for prolonged periods in the tissues of their intermediate hosts. Other groups have demonstrated that host immunoglobulins are taken up by the cysticerci by adsorptive endocytosis, degraded, and the amino acids incorporated into parasite proteins. We have shown that a 43-kDa cysteine proteinase is the major parasite enzyme that degrades immunoglobulin in vitro. To localize this enzyme in situ, Taenia crassiceps cysticerci were incubated with the peptide substrate Z-Phe-Arg-methoxynaphthylamide. Free methoxynaphthylamide was coupled to p-rosanilin and osmium and visualized by transmission electron microscopy. Initial studies of cysticerci incubated without substrate confirmed the normal microanatomy and absence of significant host inflammation. In comparison to controls with no substrate, sections of cysticerci incubated with substrate revealed electron-dense deposits in round vesicles. The vesicles were found primarily within the tegumentary cytons and internuncial processes, a location similar to that described for vesicles associated with adsorptive endocytosis. There were proportionately more endocytotic vesicles and electron-dense vesicles in smaller cysticerci than larger ones. Formation of electron-dense deposits was inhibited by heat and partially inhibited by the cysteine proteinase inhibitor E-64. These data are consistent with localization of the cysteine proteinase activity to lysosome-like vesicles.

Ultrastructural features of the tegument of adult Cynodiplostomum azimi (Trematoda:Digenea) in experimentally infected albino rats

The ultrastructure of the tegument of adult Cynodiplostomum azimi and the lesions caused by the worm at this host parasite interface in albino rats are described. The tegument consists of a syncytial distal cytoplasm (approx. 2.01-3.1 microns in thickness), bounded by an outer apical plasma membrane and an inner basal trilaminated lamina. The subtegumental cells (approx. 10.34 microns in length) are connected with the distal cytoplasm by means of cytoplasmic trabeculae. The morphology of the tegument appeared very variable. Large areas were formed of irregular folds, while other areas carried finger-like or papilla-form structures. Tegumental spines appear to have a crystalline lattice structure. Three morphologically distinct types of membrane-bound inclusion bodies were described in the tegumental/perikaryal complex. The electron-lucent elongate bodies (approx. 0.23 micron in length) were the predominant first type. The second was round-ovoid bodies (average length 0.12 micron) with a central core of electron-dense material. The third was electron-dense, rod-like in shape (0.28 micron in length) and occurred occasionally. The majority of these inclusion bodies were oriented parallel to the tegumental surface. The host's mucosa at the parasite interface showed marked flattening and partial to complete loss of mucosal microvilli. Inflammatory cells, particularly eosinophils were observed at the host-parasite interface.

Scanning electron microscopy of the small intestine of rats experimentally infected with Cynodiplostomum azimi

Scanning electron micrographs of the proximal intestine of rats infected with C. azimi showed mild villous changes and excessive mucus secretion as early as the first day after infection. On the second day the regular leaf-like pattern of the villi was not seen, the epithelial lining of the mucosa was damaged with large amounts of mucus. Goblet cell openings appeared either empty or filled with secretions. The mucosal damage persisted for three months. Four months after infection, villi regained part of their normal pattern. Their epithelial lining although less damaged, appeared delicate. Villi away from the worm were less affected. Pathological changes at different intervals of infection were discussed in relation to the surface structure of the parasite.

Some ultrastructural studies on the excretory bladder of the adult Cynodiplostomum azimi (Trematoda: Digenea) in infected rats

Transmission electron microscope was used to reveal the reserve bladder system of the adult Cynodiplostomum azimi in experimentally infected rats. It was shown that this system consisted of a number of lacunae. The lacunar lining appeared as syncytial epithelium containing many nuclei, mitochondria, dense secretory bodies, Golgi complex and bundles of smooth muscles. The outer surface of the excretory epithelium was highly folded and lamellated. These lamellae were continuous with the excretory epithelium. Small lipid droplets were observed within the excretory epithelium, while larger ones were associated with the lamellae. The large lipid droplets were released in the lacunal lumen after the rupture of the lamellae surrounding them.

Scanning electron microscopy of normal and praziquantel treated S. haematobium worms (Egyptian strain)

The ultrastructure of the tegument of S. haematobium was examined before and after treatment with Praziquantel using scanning electron microscopy. The surface of the adult male worms prior to treatment showed numerous tubercles with apically directed spines and the lateral border showed highly pitted folds. The oral and ventral suckers showed well developed spines. Praziquantel administration caused various structural changes in the various groups studied. Blebs and spine deformities appeared as early as half an hr. after administration. Changes were also observed when the drug was administered prior to worm maturation resulting in generalized deformities in the worms which survived treatment, loss of spines and tegumental swellings.