Evaluation of acceptability, functionality, and validity of a passive image-based dietary intake assessment method in adults and children of Ghanaian and Kenyan origin living in London, UK

BACKGROUND: Accurate estimation of dietary intake is challenging. However, whilst some progress has been made in high-income countries, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remain behind, contributing to critical nutritional data gaps. This study aimed to validate an objective, passive image-based dietary intake assessment method against weighed food records in London, UK, for onward deployment to LMICs. METHODS: Wearable camera devices were used to capture food intake on eating occasions in 18 adults and 17 children of Ghanaian and Kenyan origin living in London. Participants were provided pre-weighed meals of Ghanaian and Kenyan cuisine and camera devices to automatically capture images of the eating occasions. Food images were assessed for portion size, energy, nutrient intake, and the relative validity of the method compared to the weighed food records. RESULTS: The Pearson and Intraclass correlation coefficients of estimates of intakes of food, energy, and 19 nutrients ranged from 0.60 to 0.95 and 0.67 to 0.90, respectively. Bland-Altman analysis showed good agreement between the image-based method and the weighed food record. Under-estimation of dietary intake by the image-based method ranged from 4 to 23%. CONCLUSIONS: Passive food image capture and analysis provides an objective assessment of dietary intake comparable to weighed food records

The impact of branched-chain amino acid supplementation on measures of glucose homeostasis in individuals with hepatic disorders: A systematic review of clinical studies.

BACKGROUND: Branched chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation may influence glucose metabolism in individuals with impaired glycemic profile. This systematic review investigated the effects of isolated BCAA supplementation on measures of glucose homeostasis in individuals with hepatic disorders. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Scopus for published clinical trials that investigated the effects of isolated BCAA supplementation on measures of glucose homeostasis, including serum glucose and insulin, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, and Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) scores. RESULTS: Eleven trials met the inclusion criteria. Only one study revealed a decrease in serum glucose from BCAA supplementation compared to three studies that showed increases. Five studies demonstrated no significant changes in serum glucose, and two studies displayed no changes in HbA1c following BCAA supplementation. Serum levels of insulin were decreased in three studies, remained unchanged in one, whilst increased in the remaining three studies. BCAA supplementation reduced HOMA-IR scores in two studies, increased HOMA-IR scores in another two or resulted in no changes in two other studies. CONCLUSIONS: BCAA supplementation in isolation had no effect on overall glucose homeostasis in individuals with hepatic disorders, although some improvements on serum insulin levels and HOMA-IR scores were observed. Overall, there is little evidence to support the utilization of BCAA supplementation as a potential nutritional strategy for improving measures of glucose homeostasis in individuals with hepatic disorders. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Impact of probiotics on muscle mass, muscle strength and lean mass: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Probiotics have shown potential to counteract sarcopenia, although the extent to which they can influence domains of sarcopenia such as muscle mass and strength in humans is unclear. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to explore the impact of probiotic supplementation on muscle mass, total lean mass and muscle strength in human adults. A literature search of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted through PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library from inception until June 2022. Eligible RCTs compared the effect of probiotic supplementation versus placebo on muscle and total lean mass and global muscle strength (composite score of all muscle strength outcomes) in adults (>18 years). To evaluate the differences between groups, a meta-analysis was conducted using the random effects inverse-variance model by utilizing standardized mean differences. Twenty-four studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis exploring the effects of probiotics on muscle mass, total lean mass and global muscle strength. Our main analysis (k = 10) revealed that muscle mass was improved following probiotics compared with placebo (SMD: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.10–0.74, I2 = 57%, P = 0.009), although no changes were revealed in relation to total lean mass (k = 12; SMD: -0.03, 95% CI: −0.19 – 0.13, I2 = 0%, P = 0.69). Interestingly, a significant increase in global muscle strength was also observed among six RCTs (SMD: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.33–1.06, I2 = 64%, P = 0.0002). Probiotic supplementation enhances both muscle mass and global muscle strength; however, no beneficial effects were observed in total lean mass. Investigating the physiological mechanisms underpinning different ageing groups and elucidating appropriate probiotic strains for optimal gains in muscle mass and strength are warranted

Persistent hiccups as an atypical presentation of SARS-CoV-2 infection: a systematic review of case reports

Symptoms such as fever, dry cough, dyspnoea, and respiratory distress are commonly described in patients infected with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Recently, a growing number of cases pertained to persistent hiccups have been reported by SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. The aim of this systematic review was to screen the current literature and provide a summary of the reported cases of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients presenting with persistent hiccups. The PubMed, Scoups and Web of Science databases were searched according to PRISMA guidelines from inception until 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020. Case reports or case series that provided a separate clinical description for patients with presenting complaints of persistent hiccups before or after COVID-19 diagnosis, were retrieved. The critical appraisal checklist for case reports provided by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) was employed to evaluate the overall quality of the eligible studies. We identified 13 eligible studies that included 16 patients in which presenting complaints of hiccups were reported by hospitalised and emergency department-admitted COVID-19 patients. The mean duration of hiccups was 4.6 days reported in 87% (14/16) patients. Hypertension was the most common comorbidity present in 50% (8/16) of patients followed by diabetes mellitus (4/16). Moreover, 43% (7/16) of patients received only one medication for managing the hiccups with metoclopramide (5/16) followed by chlorpromazine and baclofen (4/16) used as primary treatment. Equally, 43% of patients (7/16) received dexamethasone followed by azithromycin (5/16), ivermectin (4/16) and ceftriaxone (4/16) for managing the infection from SARS-CoV-2. The majority of patients (14/16) improved after initiation of treatment. Persistent hiccups are possibly a rare symptom clinicians may expect to encounter in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Although there is not ample proof to propose causation, increased awareness about the diversity of presentations of SARS-CoV-2 infection, could be crucial in the early recognition of the disease

Spotlight on early COVID-19 research productivity: a 1-year bibliometric analysis

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), one of the most serious public health crises in over a century, has led to an unprecedented surge of publications across all areas of knowledge. The current study assessed the early research productivity on COVID-19 in terms of vaccination, diagnosis, treatment, symptoms, risk factors, nutrition and economy. The Scopus database was searched between January 1, 2020and December 31, 2020 to initially examine the research productivity on COVID-19, as measured by total publications by the 20 highest ranked countries according to gross domestic product. The literature search was then refined, and research productivity was assessed across seven major research domains related to COVID-19: vaccination, diagnosis, treatment, symptoms, risk factors, nutrition and economy. The initial literature search yielded 53,348 publications. Among these, 27,801 publications involved authorship from a single country and 22,119 publications involved authorship from multiple countries. Overall, the United States was the most productive country (n=13,491), with one and a half times or more publications than any other country, on COVID-19 and the selected domains related to it. However, following adjustment for population size, gross domestic product, and expenditure for research and development, countries of emerging economies such as India along countries of lower population density such as Switzerland, Indonesia and Turkey exhibited higher research productivity. The surge of COVID-19 publications in such short period of time underlines the capacity of the scientific community to respond against a global health emergency, however this may jeopardise research quality

SPP1 in infliximab resistant ulcerative colitis and associated colorectal cancer: an analysis of differentially expressed genes

Background and Objective: Infliximab is a tumour necrosis factor-α (TNFα) antagonist that has advanced the management of ulcerative colitis (UC). Although efficacious, considerable percentage of patients are resistant to treatment. Accumulative inflammatory burden in long-term UC patients refractory to therapy, increases the risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC). Our study investigated anti-TNFα-naïve patients with active UC to identify gene biomarkers whose dysregulated expression correlated with resistance to IFX treatment and poor prognosis in CRC. Methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from two studies (GSE73661 and GSE14580) with colonic mucosal samples were retrieved. Non-inflammatory bowel disease controls were compared to those with active UC that either responded or were resistant to IFX before treatment. DEGs from UC samples resistant to IFX were used to construct a protein-protein interaction network and clustering gene modules were identified. Module DEGs that also overlapped with UC samples responsive to IFX, were analysed based on topological closeness and radiality. Hub genes were obtained and their correlation with CRC progression was evaluated. Their expression was estimated in CRC tissues and their tumour microenvironment immune statuswas predicted. Results: Three clusters composed of 582 DEGs from UC samples resistant to IFX, were retrieved. Comparative analysis identified 305 overlapping DEGs with UC samples responsive to IFX. Topological analysis revealed a hub gene – SPP1 – whose overexpression in CRC tissues and patients correlated with increased infiltration of immune signatures and poor prognosis. Conclusions: SPP1 may serve as potential gene biomarker and predictor of resistance to IFX therapy in UC and CRC development