How Information on Superfoods Changes Consumers’ Attitudes: an Explorative Survey Study

Increasing interest in healthy habits has created the market for what is commonly called “superfoods.” The goal of this study was to explore Swiss consumers’ initial and final attitudes toward superfoods as well as their change in attitude toward those foods after being provided selected information. A questionnaire survey was conducted to explore the individual traits of the respondents. The attitudes were assessed at the beginning and end of the survey. Four multiple regression analyses were performed. The results showed that consumers perceiving superfoods’ health benefits and expressing an interest in organic foods were associated with initial and positive attitudes. These predictors remained significantly related to the positive attitude at the end of the survey. Sociodemographic predictors (age and place of residence) were significant factors, with older people and individuals who lived in urban centers showing a higher propensity to improve their attitudes toward superfoods. Individuals with lower perceptions about the benefits of superfoods being healthy and lower levels of cultural participation showed a negative attitude change. Given that this study aims to shed light on the variables that influence the behavior of Swiss consumers toward the superfoods trend, it fills a significant gap in the literature

Extruded snacks enriched with açaí berry: physicochemical properties and bioactive constituents

This work aimed to develop extrudates enriched with açaí and evaluate the effect of this fruit on their physicochemical properties and bioactive constituents of these foods. Rice/corn (2 : 1) extrudates containing 0, 2, 4, and 6% of freeze-dried açaí were prepared using a twin-screw extruder and characterized towards proximate composition, the concentration of anthocyanin and carotenoids, and typical process-related extrudate characteristics. The addition of açaí increased the total anthocyanins (from 0 to 20.1 mg 100 g-1) and total carotenoid content (from 1.6 to 6.2 μg g-1). Açaí enrichment elevated the protein and mineral content by 6.3% and 32.2%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the samples regarding the expansion index. Higher incorporation of açaí resulted in crispier snacks extrudates and high total color difference (ΔE). Therefore, açaí (up to 6%) can be regarded as stable in the extrusion conditions applied and be used in extrudates to enhance their bioactive and nutritional properties, providing color and suitable physical characteristics. Açaí extrudates can serve as an alternative for consumers interested in convenience food with bioactive constituents

Exploring spoken discourse and its neural correlates in women with Alzheimer's disease with low levels of education and socioeconomic status

Purpose: Early impairments in spoken discourse abilities have been identified in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the impact of AD on spoken discourse and the associated neuroanatomical correlates have mainly been studied in populations with higher levels of education, although preliminary evidence seems to indicate that socioeconomic status (SES) and level of education have an impact on spoken discourse. The purpose of this study was to analyze microstructural variables in spoken discourse in people with AD with low-to-middle SES and low level of education and to study their association with gray matter (GM) density. Method: Nine women with AD and 10 matched (age, SES, and education) women without brain injury (WWBI) underwent a neuropsychological assessment, which included two spoken discourse tasks, and structural magnetic resonance imaging. Microstructural variables were extracted from the discourse samples using NILC-Metrix software. Brain density, measured by voxel-based morphometry, was compared between groups and then correlated with the differentiating microstructural variables. Results: The AD group produced a lower diversity of verbal time moods and fewer words and sentences than WWBI but a greater diversity of pronouns, prepositions, and lexical richness. At the neural level, the AD group presented a lower GM density bilaterally in the hippocampus, the inferior temporal gyrus, and the anterior cingulate gyrus. Number of words and sentences produced were associated with GM density in the left parahippocampal gyrus, whereas the diversity of verbal moods was associated with the basal ganglia and the anterior cingulate gyrus bilaterally. Conclusions: The present findings are mainly consistent with previous studies conducted in groups with higher levels of SES and education, but they suggest that atrophy in the left inferior temporal gyrus could be critical in AD in populations with lower levels of SES and education. This research provides evidence on the importance of pursuing further studies including people with various SES and education levels

Innovación y consolidación de la red HecoUSAL. Integración de la digitalidad en el aprendizaje servicio

Memoria ID-080 Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2020-2021

Síndrome de DiGeorge (deleção do cromossomo 22q11.2): manejo e prognóstico

A síndrome de DiGeorge (SDG), também conhecida como síndrome velocardiofacial, é uma condição neurogenética autossômica dominante de interesse global caracterizada pela microdeleção do cromossomo 22q11.2, na qual não há predileção por gênero ou raça. A doença é conhecida pela tríade clássica as cardiopatias congênitas, timo hipoplásico – ou aplásico – e hipocalcemia decorrente da hipoplasia paratireoidiana O diagnóstico da síndrome baseia-se em dois exames laboratoriais, a Hibridização Genômica Comparativa baseada em microarray (aCGH) e a Hibridização por Fluorescência in situ (FISH), ambas com a finalidade de investigar o distúrbio genético e o tratamento consiste em tratar as alterações decorrentes da patologia. O objetivo estudo é analisar o manejo e o prognóstico da síndrome de DiGeorge por meio de um apanhado de casos clínicos. Trata-se de uma revisão bibliográfica integrativa, de natureza quantitativa, que utilizou as plataformas PubMed (Medline), Scientific Eletronic Library On-line (SciELO) e Cochrane Library como bases de dados para a seleção dos artigos, todos na língua inglesa. Foram utilizadas literaturas publicadas com recorte temporal de 2017 a 2022. De acordo com as literaturas analisadas, foi observado que a SDG requer diligência por parte dos profissionais da saúde no que concerne ao seu manejo, vide os vários fenótipos, desde leves a graves, da patologia. Por ter envolvimento multissistêmico, é essencial que, mesmo antes do diagnóstico, os distúrbios inerentes à síndrome sejam tratados e sujeitos à suspeição por intermédio da equipe, a qual necessita ter conhecimento acerca dessa possibilidade, haja vista a eventualidade de um pior prognóstico aos pacientes portadores

Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil: setting the baseline knowledge on the animal diversity in Brazil

The limited temporal completeness and taxonomic accuracy of species lists, made available in a traditional manner in scientific publications, has always represented a problem. These lists are invariably limited to a few taxonomic groups and do not represent up-to-date knowledge of all species and classifications. In this context, the Brazilian megadiverse fauna is no exception, and the Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil (CTFB) (http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/), made public in 2015, represents a database on biodiversity anchored on a list of valid and expertly recognized scientific names of animals in Brazil. The CTFB is updated in near real time by a team of more than 800 specialists. By January 1, 2024, the CTFB compiled 133,691 nominal species, with 125,138 that were considered valid. Most of the valid species were arthropods (82.3%, with more than 102,000 species) and chordates (7.69%, with over 11,000 species). These taxa were followed by a cluster composed of Mollusca (3,567 species), Platyhelminthes (2,292 species), Annelida (1,833 species), and Nematoda (1,447 species). All remaining groups had less than 1,000 species reported in Brazil, with Cnidaria (831 species), Porifera (628 species), Rotifera (606 species), and Bryozoa (520 species) representing those with more than 500 species. Analysis of the CTFB database can facilitate and direct efforts towards the discovery of new species in Brazil, but it is also fundamental in providing the best available list of valid nominal species to users, including those in science, health, conservation efforts, and any initiative involving animals. The importance of the CTFB is evidenced by the elevated number of citations in the scientific literature in diverse areas of biology, law, anthropology, education, forensic science, and veterinary science, among others

Superfoods: Drivers for Consumption

The goal of this study was to identify the drivers for the consumption of superfoods. A comprehensive (paper-and-pencil) survey was mailed to German- and French-speaking Swiss residents, yielding a final sample size of N = 442. A multiple regression, using the backward elimination method, was applied to verify the influence of 18 predictors, including behavioral patterns and socio-demographics, on superfoods consumption. The results indicate that consumers interested in superfoods believe in their health benefits; these consumers also showed high nutritional knowledge. Furthermore, they are creative while cooking and consume meals that result in positive emotions and a relaxed mood. They accept new food technologies and are not concerned about eating non-traditional or not-easily-accessible meals. Superfood consumers are also characterized by their interest in organic and natural ingredients. The findings contribute to the existing literature by expanding the knowledge about the drivers of superfood consumption and help marketers setting strategies

Consumer Perception Toward “Superfoods”: A Segmentation Study

This study aimed to better understand consumers’ perceptions toward superfoods, to reveal segments of consumers, and to describe their behavioral patterns and sociodemographic characteristics. Data were collected from a mail survey (n = 423). Consumer segmentation revealed six segments. The “superfoodies” (13%) showed a more positive attitude toward superfoods, believing in their health and sustainable benefits. Adventurous consumers (16%) showed less knowledge on superfoods, despite that, they believe in the benefits of those foods after receiving some information during the survey. Involved consumers (13%) presented high nutritional knowledge and believe in the future of superfoods. Indifferent consumers (23%) appear to have a neutral attitude toward superfoods. Skeptical consumers (21%) and rejectors (15%) seem to be more conservative and less interested and unconvinced about the benefits of consuming superfoods. These results help guide those producing, marketing, and selling superfoods, and serve as a basis to develop strategies for different target groups

A prevenção quaternária na Atenção Primária à Saúde

Segundo a Organização Mundial de Médicos de Família (WONCA), a prevenção quaternária (P4) emergiu como um conceito inovador, propondo alternativas para prevenir o uso excessivo de medicamentos, os eventos iatrogênicos e otimizar os custos da saúde em todos os níveis de atenção, principalmente na primária. Este estudo tem como proposta relatar e evidenciar a importância da prevenção quaternária na prática dos serviços da Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS). Foram realizadas buscas nas bases de dados PubMed, LILACS e SciELO, utilizando-se os seguintes descritores: ‘’Prevenção quaternária”, ‘’APS’’, “Quaternary prevention” e “Overmedication” com ênfase em resultados de até 5 anos. O estudo identificou que a P4 é um tema ainda pouco trabalhado dentro da graduação médica, tendo um pequeno número de publicações voltadas para o assunto disponíveis nas bases de dados nacionais. O termo Prevenção Quaternária foi utilizado pela primeira vez em 1995, sendo definido como uma ação feita para rastrear um paciente ou população em risco de sobremedicalização, para protegê-los de intervenções médicas invasivas e sem recomendações, sugerindo procedimentos eticamente aceitáveis, ganhando popularidade especialmente entre os médicos de família. A P4 é uma ferramenta fundamental não só na APS, mas também em todo o SUS, pois ao eliminar os tratamentos e rastreamentos diagnósticos desnecessários, assim como a sobremedicalização, os custos com saúde do sistema e a mortalidade iatrogênica tendem a diminuir, possibilitando um melhor uso dos recursos disponíveis. Em conclusão, a prevenção quaternária é um tema de grande relevância na prática médica, entretanto, a quantidade e qualidade dos estudos disponíveis ainda não são satisfatórias. Desse modo, recomenda-se mais pesquisas que avaliem a eficácia da P4 na melhoria da saúde pública