The impact of antioxidant diets, nutraceuticals and physical activity interventions in the prevention of cardiometabolic diseases: An overview

Hippocrates - Father of Medicine (ca 460-370 BC) - endorsed the cuative effects of foods; he said: "Leave your drugs in the chemist's pot if you can heal the patient with food". This review focuses on the management of cardio-metabolic diseases (CMDs) with nutraceuticals and antioxidant diets such as Allium sativum, turmeric, soybean, peptides, phytosterols, resveratrol, polyphenolic substances etc. CMDs are a cluster of conditions linked to altered fat and carbohydrate metabolism as well as macroand micro-vascular problems. CMDs cause severe pathophysiological and metabolic alterations in the body, resulting in the occurrence of chronic diseases like atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease and stroke, neurodegenerative ailments, fatty liver, kidney malfunction, hypercholesterolaemia, hyperlipidaemia, insulin resi-tance and some cancers, consequently imposing a very high economic burden on the healthcare costs. Currently used pharmacotherapies are not only expensive but also are associated with undesirable adverse events. Thus, there is an urgent need for affordable, cost-effective and alternative safe therapies for the prevention and management of CMDs. Holistic approaches targeted for health promotion and prevention of CMDs include the intake of antioxidant-rich diets, anti-inflammation wholesome foods and moderate physical activity (about 30 min/day). Such strategies will not only prevent obesity-related CMDs, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), coronary heart disease and stroke, but also will improve the quality of patient's life and consequently reduce healthcare burdens. Nutraceuticals and probiotics exhibit anti-inflammation, anti-aging, anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects, thereby reducing the adverse health risks associated with CMDs. Antioxidants protect cell membranes and DNA from excessive free radicals, which contribute to CMD related diseases. Physical exercise along with dietary interventions helps to mitigate oxidative stress, improve blood triglyceride levels, increase HDL-cholesterol and reduce LDLcholesterol and reverse the biological markers associated with CMDs. Many studies have provided robust scientific evidence and demonstrated links between dietary interventions, nutraceuticals, probiotics, wholesome foods and physical activity for the prevention of CMDs. The major limitations in promoting nonpharmacological therapies for health and well-being benefits are a lack of public awareness and a paucity of clinical nutrition instruction for medical students on the merits of complementary methods for the prevention and management of CMDs. The goals of this review are to provide up-to-date knowledge about selected nutraceuticals, wholesome foods and physical activity in the prevention of CMDs and the underlying mechanisms associated with each intervention, which will ultimately improve patient's quality of life and assist in reducing healthcare costs globally

Queer In AI: A Case Study in Community-Led Participatory AI

We present Queer in AI as a case study for community-led participatory design in AI. We examine how participatory design and intersectional tenets started and shaped this community's programs over the years. We discuss different challenges that emerged in the process, look at ways this organization has fallen short of operationalizing participatory and intersectional principles, and then assess the organization's impact. Queer in AI provides important lessons and insights for practitioners and theorists of participatory methods broadly through its rejection of hierarchy in favor of decentralization, success at building aid and programs by and for the queer community, and effort to change actors and institutions outside of the queer community. Finally, we theorize how communities like Queer in AI contribute to the participatory design in AI more broadly by fostering cultures of participation in AI, welcoming and empowering marginalized participants, critiquing poor or exploitative participatory practices, and bringing participation to institutions outside of individual research projects. Queer in AI's work serves as a case study of grassroots activism and participatory methods within AI, demonstrating the potential of community-led participatory methods and intersectional praxis, while also providing challenges, case studies, and nuanced insights to researchers developing and using participatory methods.Comment: To appear at FAccT 202

A study to assess the knowledge and attitude towards HIV of pharmacy students from Mumbai university

Background: India is the biggest HIV epidemic in the world. The role of a pharmacist is pivotal in educating the general masses. The aim of the study was to determine the knowledge and attitude of pharmacy students from University of Mumbai. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in University of Mumbai during February-March 2020. Therein, 307 students (214: females and 94: males) participated in the study. The questionnaire was distributed in the classroom and data was collected by means of Google-forms. Furthermore, the data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 23. Results: The participants demonstrated good knowledge (84%) and attitude (76%) score. With respect to knowledge score, no significant difference was observed except for responses of two questions, aim of the antiretroviral therapy (ART) and Avoidance of sexual intercourse can decrease the risk of HIV. With respect to attitude score, Volunteering to work at an institute for the welfare of HIV patients showed a significant difference. Conclusion: The current study showed that there were no misconceptions or negative attitude regarding HIV among the students. However, a study with greater sample size must be conducted across India for further investigation

Development and validation of integrated yoga module for obesity in adolescents

Background: Obesity is a growing global epidemic and cause of noncommunicable diseases. Yoga is one of the effective ways to reduce stress which is one of the causes of obesity. Nowadays, children in adolescent age are more prone to get obese due to lack of physical activity making them more sedentary. Aim: To identify the design and validation of Integrated Approach of Yoga Therapy Module (IAYTM) for obesity in adolescents. Materials and Methods: First phase – IAYTM for obesity was designed based on the literature review of classical texts and recently published research articles. Second phase – Designed IAYTM was validated by 16 subject matter (yoga) experts. Content-validity ratio (CVR) was analyzed using Lawshe's formula. Results: Yoga practices were designed for Integrated Yoga Module for Obesity in Adolescents. Yoga practices with CVR ≥0.5 and which were validated by 16 yoga experts and approved in faculty group discussion were included in final Integrated Yoga Therapy Module. Conclusion: The yoga practices were designed and validated for IAYTM for obesity in adolescents