Interaction between dietary fat intake and metabolic genetic risk score on 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in a Turkish adult population

Previous studies have pointed out a link between vitamin D status and metabolic traits, however, consistent evidence has not been provided yet. This cross-sectional study has used a nutrigenetic approach to investigate the interaction between metabolic-genetic risk score (GRS) and dietary intake on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations in 396 unrelated Turkish adults, aged 24–50 years. Serum 25(OH)D concentration was significantly lower in those with a metabolic-GRS ≥ 1 risk allele than those with a metabolic-GRS < 1 risk allele (p = 0.020). A significant interaction between metabolic-GRS and dietary fat intake (energy%) on serum 25(OH)D levels was identified (Pinteraction = 0.040). Participants carrying a metabolic-GRS ≥ 1 risk allele and consuming a high fat diet (≥38% of energy = 122.3 ± 52.51 g/day) had significantly lower serum 25(OH)D concentration (p = 0.006) in comparison to those consuming a low-fat diet (<38% of energy = 82.5 ± 37.36 g/d). In conclusion, our study suggests a novel interaction between metabolic-GRS and dietary fat intake on serum 25(OH)D level, which emphasises that following the current dietary fat intake recommendation (<35% total fat) could be important in reducing the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in this Turkish population. Nevertheless, further larger studies are needed to verify this interaction, before implementing personalized dietary recommendations for the maintenance of optimal vitamin D status

Musculoskeletal disorders in shipyard industry: prevalence, health care use, and absenteeism

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether the well-known risk factors for the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) also play an important role in the determining consequences of MSD in terms of sickness absence and health care use. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 853 shipyard employees. Data were collected by questionnaire on physical and psychosocial workload, need for recovery, perceived general health, occurrence of musculoskeletal complaints, and health care use during the past year. Retrospective data on absenteeism were also available from the company register. RESULTS: In total, 37%, 22%, and 15% of employees reported complaints of low back, shoulder/neck, and hand/wrist during the past 12 months, respectively. Among all employees with at least one MSD, 27% visited a physician at least once and 20% took at least one period of sick leave. Various individual and work-related factors were associated with the occurrence of MSD. Health care use and absenteeism were strongest influenced by chronicity of musculoskeletal complaints and comorbidity with other musculoskeletal complaints and, to a lesser extent, by work-related factors. CONCLUSION: In programmes aimed at preventing the unfavourable consequences of MSD in terms of sickness absence and health care use it is important to identify the (individual) factors that determine the development of chronicity of complaints. These factors may differ from the well-know risk factors for the occurrence of MSD that are targeted in primary prevention

Understanding the nature and mechanism of foot pain

Approximately one-quarter of the population are affected by foot pain at any given time. It is often disabling and can impair mood, behaviour, self-care ability and overall quality of life. Currently, the nature and mechanism underlying many types of foot pain is not clearly understood. Here we comprehensively review the literature on foot pain, with specific reference to its definition, prevalence, aetiology and predictors, classification, measurement and impact. We also discuss the complexities of foot pain as a sensory, emotional and psychosocial experience in the context of clinical practice, therapeutic trials and the placebo effect. A deeper understanding of foot pain is needed to identify causal pathways, classify diagnoses, quantify severity, evaluate long term implications and better target clinical intervention

Mechanical and psychosocial factors predict new onset shoulder pain: A prospective cohort study of newly employed workers

Aim: To test the hypothesis that work related mechanical and psychosocial factors predict new onset shoulder pain in newly employed workers. Methods: Two year prospective study of newly employed workers from 12 diverse occupational settings. At baseline, 1081 subjects provided information on work related mechanical and psychosocial risk factors, and current pain status. Results: In all, 803 (74%) subjects were free from shoulder pain at baseline. Of those, 638 (79%) responded at 12 months and 476 (88%) at 24 months. New onset shoulder pain was reported by 93 (15%) and 73 (15%) subjects respectively. An increased risk of symptom onset was found in subjects reporting mechanical exposures involving heavy weights including lifting with one or two hands, carrying on one shoulder, lifting at or above shoulder level, and pushing or pulling. Working with hands above shoulder level was also predictive of new onset shoulder pain. Of the psychosocial factors examined, the strongest predictor was monotonous work. Those individuals with any other previous pain also had an increased risk of new onset shoulder pain at follow up. In multivariate analysis, lifting heavy weights with one or two hands, pushing or pulling heavy weights, working with hands above shoulder level, and monotonous work were independently associated with new onset shoulder pain. Conclusions: This study supports the hypothesised relation between mechanical risk factors and shoulder pain. In general, work related psychosocial factors were modestly associated with new onset shoulder pain. However, monotonous work was a strong risk factor for new onset shoulder pain

Reliability of procalcitonin as a severity marker in critically ill patients with inflammatory response

Procalcitonin (PCT) is increasingly recognised as an important diagnostic parameter in clinical evaluation of the critically ill. This prospective study was designed to investigate PCT as a diagnostic marker of infection in critically ill patients with sepsis

Clinical applicability of the substitution of mixed venous oxygen saturation with central venous oxygen saturation.

Objective: To examine the clinical applicability of substituting central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO(2)) for mixed venous oxygen saturation (SmvO(2)) in monitoring global tissue oxygenation

Risk factors for new-onset low back pain amongst cohorts of newly employed workers

Objectives: to test the hypothesis that work‐related mechanical, psychosocial and physical environment factors would predict new‐onset low back pain (LBP) in newly employed workers.Methods: a total of 1186 newly employed workers were recruited from a variety of occupational settings. Those who were free from LBP at baseline were identified. Subjects were followed up at 12 and 24 months. Work‐related mechanical, psychosocial and physical environment exposures were measured. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess predictors of new‐onset LBP.Results: new‐onset LBP was reported by 119 (19%) and 81 (19%) subjects at 12 and 24 months, respectively. Several work‐related mechanical exposures predicted new‐onset LBP including lifting heavy weights with one or two hands, lifting heavy weights at or above shoulder level, pulling heavy weights, kneeling or squatting for 15 min or longer. Of the psychosocial factors examined, stressful and monotonous work significantly predicted symptom onset. In addition, hot working conditions and pain at other sites also predicted new‐onset LBP. On multivariate analysis these risks were only moderately attenuated but the 95% confidence intervals excluded unity only for the latter, non‐mechanical, exposures.Conclusion: in this cohort of newly employed workers, from a range of occupations, several aspects of the work‐place environment, other than mechanical factors, were important in predicting new‐onset LBP. These results emphasize that interventions aimed at reducing the occurrence of LBP are likely to be most successful if they intervene across these domains