The Effect of Stage-Matched Educational Intervention on Behavior Change and Glycemic Control in Elderly Patients with Diabetes

Objective: Diabetes is a chronic and common global disease that requires particular care behaviors for the rest of life. People with diabetes can be trained to achieve optimal self-care. The present study was conducted to determine the effect of stage-matched educational intervention on behavior change and glycemic control in elderly patients with diabetes. Materials and methods: In this controlled clinical trial, 110 type 2 elderly patients with diabetes were selected randomly from health centers in Malard city, Iran, and were assigned to the control and experimental group equally. Data collection instruments were: demographics questions, scales to assess transtheoretical model constructs and stage of change, and blood samples for determining FBS and HbA1c. The mentioned variables were measured before, 1, and 3 months after the stage-matched educational intervention. The educational intervention consisted of 2 group intensive training sessions of about 45 minutes and daily messages via mobile phone for 3 months. The educational topics were about healthy diet and caring behaviors. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 and independent & paired t-test, chi-square, one-way ANOVA, and ANCOVA. The significance level was considered less than 0.05. Results: The mean age of study participants was (66.5 ± 3.91) years. Also, the average duration of diabetes was (7.18 ± 4.21) years, and 50% had a Junior high school education. A significant decrease was found in mean FBS (from 187 ± 43.4 to 136.42 ± 36.34, p < 0.05) and HbA1c (from 8.28 ± 1.26 to 7.26 ± 1.10, p < 0.05) in the experimental group, and also the mean of self-care behaviors in the experimental group increased significantly from baseline (from 1.51 ± 1.71 to 1.45 ± 0.92, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Educational intervention based on the stages-of-change model can improve glycemic control and behaviors related to controlling diabetes, so it is necessary to pay attention to essential psychological variables in designing educational interventions in order to control blood glucose in patients with diabetes

The association between fat mass and obesity‐associated ( FTO ) genotype and serum vitamin D level in breast cancer patients

Abstract: The preventive effect of vitamin D against breast cancer can be influenced by gene polymorphisms. This study aimed to investigate the association between serum level of 25(OH) vitamin D and FTO genotype in breast cancer patients. A cross‐sectional study was carried out on 180 newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer in Tehran, Iran. The blood samples were collected from the participants in order to assess the FTO gene rs9939609 polymorphism by the tetra‐primer amplification refractory mutation system (Tetra‐ARMS) PCR method. The serum level of 25(OH) vitamin D was measured using the direct competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The association between vitamin D and the FTO genotype in patients with breast cancer was assessed after adjustment for cofounders. The frequency of TT, AT and AA genotypes in the breast cancer patients were 43% (n = 77), 49% (n = 89) and 8% (n = 14), respectively. All patients with higher than 40 ng/dl of serum 25(OH) vitamin D had one or two copies of FTO rs9939609 risk allele (p = 0.019). No linear association was found between the number of FTO risk allele and the level of serum vitamin D. All patients with high serum level of 25(OH) vitamin D had one or two copies of FTO rs9939609 risk allele. FTO gene polymorphisms may counteract the beneficial effects of vitamin D in breast cancer prevention. Further studies can help to better understand the genetic factors predisposing to breast cancer and their effect on the association between vitamin D and breast cancer

The Association of Fat-Mass-and Obesity-Associated Gene Polymorphism (rs9939609) With Colorectal Cancer: A Case-Control Study

Background and Aim: The association between the rs9939609 polymorphism of fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) and risk of colorectal cancer is controversial. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between FTO rs9939609 polymorphism and colorectal cancer (CRC) in Iranian people. Methods: A case-control study was conducted on 125 patients with CRC and 250 healthy subjects in Tehran, Iran. Demographic data and blood samples were collected from all participants. Genotyping of rs9939609 polymorphism was performed by the tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (T-ARMS-PCR) method. Results: The occurrence of AA genotype of FTO rs9939609 polymorphism in the colorectal cancer patients was significantly higher compared to that of healthy subjects (16.4 vs. 2.9%, respectively, P=0.02). The association between the frequency of risk allele of the FTO polymorphism and CRC (B=1.67, P=0.042) remained significant after adjustment for age. Further adjustment for gender (model 2) and marital status (model 3) did not change this result (B=1.67, P= 0.042 and B=1.67, P=0.043, respectively). The results remained significant after additional adjustment for ethnicity (B=1.57, P= 0.047). Conclusion: We found a positive association between the A allele of the rs9939609 polymorphism and CRC. Future studies are required to identify the underlying mechanisms

Advertising and Climate Change : The role of advertising as a driver of climate change

Advertising is increasingly recognized as having both direct and indirect negative impacts on the environment and climate change, although these effects are often overlooked in public discourse. While advertising alone is not solely responsible for these negative consequences, it does play a significant role in promoting and perpetuating consumerism and resource intensive industries. There are different effects and implications advertising strategies can have, positive and negative, when shaping consumer behavior and thus, environmental impacts. Some efforts have been initiated in the marketing industry to foster more sustainable and responsible advertising practices, which include the use of eco-friendly materials, the adoption of energy efficient digital advertising methods, and the establishment of ethical advertising standards. Nevertheless, addressing the environmental and climate impacts of advertising remains an ongoing challenge.  This research concentrates on exploring how advertising influences climate change. This thesis involves an extensive systematic literature analysis to synthesize existing knowledge regarding the adverse effects of advertising on climate change, and what types and categories of advertising are most influential. The research focuses on aspects such as how advertising fosters a culture of consumerism, encouraging increased consumption of products and services, contributing to higher resource extraction, production, and transportation, all of which are key drivers of environmental degradation and climate change. The research also aims to contribute to the development of more responsible advertising practices and policies that align with environmental sustainability goals. Our ultimate goal is to foster a shift in the advertising industry towards approaches that not only reduce its negative impact on the environment but also actively promote sustainable consumer behaviors and lifestyles

Interactions dietary components with expression level of breast cancer-related genes

Abstract Background Dietary components can influence the effects of genetic background in breast cancer (BC). This review study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary components on the expression level of BC-related genes. Methods In this narrative review, Embase, PubMed, PsycInfo, and the Cochrane databases were used to collect the related papers with interactions of BC, genetics, and dietary intake. Appropriate keywords such as BC, gene expression, mutation, nutrient, and diet (alone and together) were applied for data collection. Results The association of BC with some genes including the BC1 gene (BRCA1), the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene can be affected by dietary components. Moderate B12 supplementation may be protective against BC in people with the inherited mutation of BRCA. The olive oil may have a protective effect against BC through several mechanisms such as suppressing HER-2 expression. Furthermore, high glycemic index foods may increase the risk of BC by the activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway and the up-regulation of FTO gene expression. Conclusion There are interactions between BC, BC-related genes, and dietary intake. Dietary components such as macronutrients, micronutrients, and phytochemicals may regulate the expression level of BC-related genes. Further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the associations between BC-related genes and diet and to discover the underlying mechanisms

The effect of FTO gene rs9939609 polymorphism on the association between colorectal cancer and different types of dietary fat intake: a case-control study

Abstract Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers in the world. Some dietary factors such as fat intake have been identified as the risk factors for CRC. This study aimed to investigate the effect of fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene rs9939609 polymorphism on the association between CRC and different types of dietary fats. Methods This case-control study was performed on 135 CRC cases and 294 healthy controls in Tehran, Iran. Data on demographic factors, anthropometric measurements, physical activity, the intake of different types of dietary fats, and FTO gene rs9939609 polymorphism was collected from all participants. The association between cancer and dietary fat intake in individuals with different FTO genotypes was assessed using different models of logistic regression. Results Oleic acid intake was higher in the case group compared to the control group in both people with TT (7.2±3.46 vs. 5.83±3.06 g/d, P=0.02) and AA/AT genotypes (8.7±6.23 vs. 5.57 ±3.2 g/d, P<0.001). Among carriers of AA/AT genotypes of FTO rs9939609 polymorphism, a positive association was found between CRC and higher intakes of oleic acid (OR=1.12, CI95% 1.03–1.21, P=0.01) and cholesterol (OR=1.01, CI95% 1.00–1.02; P=0.01) after adjusting for age, sex, physical activity, alcohol use, smoking, calorie intake, and body mass index. Conclusion Higher intakes of cholesterol and oleic acid were associated with a higher risk of CRC in FTO-risk allele carriers. The association of CRC and dietary fat may be influenced by the FTO genotype. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm these findings

The association between vitamin D intake with inflammatory and biochemical indices and mortality in critically ill patients with COVID‐19: A case‐control study

Abstract Background The coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) has become a worldwide health issue with widespread hospitalization and dependence on the intensive care unit (ICU). Vitamin D has a key role in modulating immune cells and modulating the inflammatory responses. This study aimed to investigate the association of vitamin D supplementation with inflammatory, biochemical, and mortality indices in critically ill patients with COVID‐19. Methods This case‐control study was conducted on critically ill COVID‐19 patients hospitalized in the ICU including the survived >30 day patients as the case group and dead patients as the control group. The status of vitamin D supplementation and inflammatory and biochemical indices of the patients were retrieved from the medical records. Logistic regression method was used to assess the association between 30 days survival and vitamin D supplement intake. Results Compared to the group of COVID‐19 patients who died in <30 day, the survived patients had a lower eosinophile level (2.2 ± 0.5 vs. 6 ± 0.0, p < .001) and higher vitamin D supplementation duration (9 ± 4.4 vs. 3.3 ± 1.9 day, p = .001). Vitamin D supplementation had a positive association with survival in COVID‐19 patients (OR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.15−3.40, p < .05). The association remained significant after adjustments fot age, sex, underlying diseases, and smoking. Conclusion Vitamin D supplementation in critically ill patients with COVID‐19 has the potential to increase survivability within the first 30 days of hospitalization

The Effect of Vitamin C on Pathological Parameters and Survival Duration of Critically Ill Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction: Vitamin C has been reported to have beneficial effects on patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin C supplementation on pathological parameters and survival duration of critically ill patients with COVID-19. Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 120 hospitalized critically ill patients infected with COVID-19. The intervention group (n = 31) received one capsule of 500 mg of vitamin C daily for 14 days. The control group (n = 69) received the same nutrition except for vitamin C supplements. Measurement of pathological and biochemical parameters was performed at baseline and after 2 weeks of the intervention. Results: Following 2 weeks of vitamin C supplementation, the level of serum K was significantly lower in the patients compared with the control group (3.93 vs. 4.21 mEq/L, p < 0.01). Vitamin C supplementation resulted in a higher mean survival duration compared with that of the control group (8 vs. 4 days, p < 0.01). There was a linear association between the number of days of vitamin C intake and survival duration (B = 1.66, p < 0.001). The vitamin C supplementation had no effect on blood glucose, mean arterial pressure, arterial blood gas (ABG) parameters, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), kidney function, cell blood count (CBC), hemoglobin (Hb), platelet (Plt), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), albumin, hematocrit (Hct), and other serum electrolytes including sodium (Na), calcium, and phosphorus (P). Conclusion: The present study demonstrated the potential of vitamin C supplementation in enhancing the survival duration of critically ill patients with COVID-19. Clinical Trial Registration: https://www.irct.ir/trial/55074, identifier IRCT20151226025699N