Dietary animal and plant protein intakes and their associations with obesity and cardio-metabolic indicators in European adolescents: The HELENA cross-sectional study

Background: Previous studies suggest that dietary protein might play a beneficial role in combating obesity and its related chronic diseases. Total, animal and plant protein intakes and their associations with anthropometry and serum biomarkers in European adolescents using one standardised methodology across European countries are not well documented. Objectives: To evaluate total, animal and plant protein intakes in European adolescents stratified by gender and age, and to investigate their associations with cardio-metabolic indicators (anthropometry and biomarkers). Methods: The current analysis included 1804 randomly selected adolescents participating in the HELENA study (conducted in 2006-2007) aged 12.5-17.5 y (47% males) who completed two non-consecutive computerised 24-h dietary recalls. Associations between animal and plant protein intakes, and anthropometry and serum biomarkers were examined with General linear Model multivariate analysis. Results: Average total protein intake exceeded the recommendations of World Health Organization and European Food Safety Authority. Mean total protein intake was 96 g/d (59% derived from animal protein). Total, animal and plant protein intakes (g/d) were significantly lower in females than in males and total and plant protein intakes were lower in younger participants (12.5-14.9 y). Protein intake was significantly lower in underweight subjects and higher in obese ones; the direction of the relationship was reversed after adjustments for body weight (g/(kg.d)). The inverse association of plant protein intakes was stronger with BMI z-score and body fat percentage (BF%) compared to animal protein intakes. Additionally, BMI and BF% were positively associated with energy percentage of animal protein. Conclusions: This sample of European adolescents appeared to have adequate total protein intake. Our findings suggest that plant protein intakes may play a role in preventing obesity among European adolescents. Further longitudinal studies are needed to investigate the potential beneficial effects observed in this study in the prevention of obesity and related chronic diseases

2013 WSES guidelines for management of intra-abdominal infections

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Is radiofrequency ablation the treatment of choice for patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma?

Liver resection is widely considered the mainstay of curative therapy for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was initially developed as a treatment for small HCC in patients with considerable cirrhosis and inadequate liver function reserve for liver resection. However, in some centers, RFA is now used for small HCC, as an alternative to liver resection or even as the preferred treatment. This Practice Point commentary discusses the findings and limitations of a retrospective cohort study by Livraghi et al. that analyzed the outcomes of a group of patients with small, single HCC who underwent treatment with RFA. The authors reported a low major complication rate and a local complete response rate similar to that after resection. This commentary highlights the issues to consider when interpreting and generalizing these results, in particular that these findings need to be interpreted in the light of studies that suggest a high rate of local recurrence and incomplete histopathological response after RFA of small HCC.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Molecular identification of the arrowhead dogfish Deania profundorum (Centrophoridae) from the northern waters of the Iberian peninsula

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