Lifestyle and Health among Spanish University Students: Differences by Gender and Academic Discipline

Today the need to analyze health behaviour from a gender perspective is as imminent as ever, particularly at university, where the number of women who register is on the rise and has exceeded the number of male students worldwide. We carried out a prevalence study aimed at analyzing Spanish university students’ lifestyles and identify differences according to gender and academic discipline. Of 3,646 eligible subjects doing university courses related to health (Group A), education (Group B) and other professions (Group C), 985 (27.0%) participated in the study. Information was elicited about their physical activity level, disturbed eating attitudes, consumption of alcohol, tobacco and illegal substances. Prevalence and Odds Ratios (OR) were calculated according to sex and kind of academic discipline. The obtained data confirmed that only 27.4% of the students were considered as sufficiently active, while 14.9% of them suffered from disturbed eating attitudes (DEA). Women were particularly less active (OR 0.46 (0.32–0.66); <em>p</em> < 0.0001), and more sedentary than men (OR 1.40 (1.00–1.97); <em>p</em> = 0.03). Binge drinking was more frequent in female than in male students (OR 1.79 (1.29–2.47); <em>p</em> = 0.0004). A third of the analyzed sample admitted that they had used illegal substances, while a lower consumption prevalence was found in women (OR 0.53 (0.40–0.71); <em>p</em> < 0.0001). The studied population was not very active (27.4%), especially women (OR = 0.45). Therefore, it seems that Spanish university students lead an unhealthy lifestyle, a situation which seems more conspicuous amongst females

The role of Mediterranean diet in the prevention of hypertension in relation to the assessment of individual nutrients

The purpose of this case-control study was to investigate the effect that mediterranean diet model has in preventing hypertension and to hierarchy estimate mediterranean diet in relation to individual nutrients regardless of other risk factors. During the period 2004-2006, 300 adult patients with a history of primary hypertension were evaluated during their visit to Hypertension Clinic of the General Hospital of Halkidiki. As a control group 100 healthy individuals were enrolled. Recording of data and other parameters were done during interview by using a questionnaire. The questionnaire included questions on general demographics, physical activity at work and recreation, nutrition, consumption of alcoholic beverages, smoking habits, family history of hypertension and medication. The calculation of the total energy intake, the Keys Score, simple carbohydrates, fiber, sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium in nutrition as well as the calculation of the Mediterranean diet score followed. Univariable and multivariable analysis were applied and found that the model of the Mediterranean diet was the main factor in the prevention of arterial hypertension followed by the dietary intake of sodium, magnesium and total energy intake. Finally, the adoption of nutritional models seems to outweigh the modification of individual nutrients

Detection of viable Helicobacter pylori inside free-living amoebae in wastewater and drinking water samples from Eastern Spain

[EN] Helicobacter pylori is one of the most concerning emerging waterborne pathogens. It has been suggested that it could survive in water inside free-living amoebae (FLA), but nobody has studied this relationship in the environment yet. Thus, we aimed to detect viable H. pylori cells from inside FLA in water samples. Sixty-nine wastewater and 31 drinking water samples were collected. FLA were purified and identified by PCR and sequencing. For exclusively detecting H. pylori inside FLA, samples were exposed to sodium hypochlorite and assayed by specific PMA-qPCR, DVC-FISH and culture. FLA were detected in 38.7% of drinking water and 79.7% of wastewater samples, even after disinfection. In wastewater, Acanthamoeba spp. and members of the family Vahlkampfiidae were identified. In drinking water, Acanthamoeba spp. and Echinamoeba and/or Vermamoeba were present. In 39 (58.2%) FLA-positive samples, H. pylori was detected by PMA-qPCR. After DVC-FISH, 21 (31.3%) samples harboured viable H. pylori internalized cells. H. pylori was cultured from 10 wastewater samples. To our knowledge, this is the first report that demonstrates that H. pylori can survive inside FLA in drinking water and wastewater, strongly supporting the hypothesis that FLA could play an important role in the transmission of H. pylori to humans.This study has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness AGL2014/53875-R grant and by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness Program International Joint Programming Actions (JPIW2013-095-C03-02).Moreno-Mesonero, L.; Moreno Trigos, MY.; Alonso Molina, JL.; Ferrús Pérez, MA. (2017). Detection of viable Helicobacter pylori inside free-living amoebae in wastewater and drinking water samples from Eastern Spain. Environmental Microbiology. 19(10):4103-4112. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.13856S41034112191

Bacteriological quality of swimming pool and spa water in northern Greece during 2011–2016: is it time for Pseudomonas aeruginosa to be included in Greek regulation?

AbstractThe risk of illness or infection associated with recreational water environments is mainly associated with faecal water contamination. Non-faecal human shedding into the pool water or surrounding area is also a potential source of pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The aim of the current study is to describe and evaluate the bacteriological quality of 2,844 swimming pool and jacuzzi/spa water samples in northern Greece during the 2011–2016 period. Bacteriological quality of recreational water includes heterotrophic bacteria, total coliforms and Escherichia coli according to Greek Hygienic Regulation. P. aeruginosa is a significant agent of opportunistic infection in aquatic environments and was also examined in the aforementioned samples. We aimed to indicate the importance of including P. aeruginosa as a recreational water quality indicator in the revised Hygienic Regulation. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0. The quality of all types of swimming pools was evaluated as excellent since less than 5% was found not to meet the regulations. Considering the presence and concentration of P. aeruginosa, the number of samples that would not meet the standards would differ significantly (18.9%). P. aeruginosa was detected in a larger amount of samples (15.2%) than E. coli (0.6%), which indicates that P. aeruginosa should be assessed as an important factor.</jats:p