scholarly journals Inverse Association Between the Mediterranean Diet and COVID-19 Risk in Lebanon: A Case-Control Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine N. El Khoury ◽  
Sofi G. Julien
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Patterns ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Western Diet ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
And Control ◽  
Control Study

Background: Since 2019, the world is confronting the COVID-19 public health crisis that deeply impacted all aspects of life, from the health sector to economy. Despite the advancement of research targeting pandemic containment measures, more strategies are still needed to alleviate the burden caused by this novel disease. In particular, optimal nutrition was proposed as a possible mitigating factor in the context of COVID-19. Indeed, the light is shed on balanced diets, such as the Mediterranean diet, which present the finest nutritional quality to support the immune system and other physiologic functions. In contrast, less varied diets that lack the needed nutrients and favor inflammation have been correlated with adverse health effects, including a hindered immune response, such as the western diet.Methods: This observational case control study aimed at exploring the possible associations between the different dietary patterns present among a sample of the Lebanese population and the COVID-19 occurrence and outcomes. An online survey collected information about the sociodemographic characteristics, health status, lifestyle, and dietary habits through the Mediterranean diet questionnaire and a semi-quantitative fod frequency questionnaire, and the COVID-19 infection and its burden. The sample consisted of 399 respondents divided into the case and control groups (37.6 and 62.4%, respectively) on the basis of the presence or absence of a COVID-19 infection history.Results: The participants in the case and control groups had average adherence to the Mediterranean diet and their dietary intake was closer to the western diet. However, the cases had a lower mean of the MedDiet score (p = 0.009). Food groups consumption analysis showed that this significant difference within the overall similar dietary patterns was due to a higher consumption of poultry and a trend toward decreased consumption of olive oil and increased read meat and alcohol intake among the cases. Additionally, gender influenced the levels of different foods' consumption. Nonetheless, the dietary intake did not impact the COVID-19 burden.Conclusion: It is recommended to adopt healthy food choices within the different dietary patterns for a better protection against COVID-19. These findings should be validated in larger-scale studies.

Dietary diversity score is inversely related to the risk of polycystic ovary syndrome in Tehranian women: a case-control study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Sahel Soodi ◽  
Seyed Ali Keshavarz ◽  
Sedighe Hosseini ◽  
Behnood Abbasi
Keyword(s):  
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Polycystic Ovary ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Ovary Syndrome ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Control Study

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age and is affected by various dietary factors. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary diversity score (DDS) and the risk of PCOS. Our case-control study was conducted in the summer and autumn of 2019 in Taleghani and Arash hospitals in Tehran, Iran. A total of 494 participants (203 cases and 291 controls) were included in the study. Thereafter, their demographic information, dietary intake, and anthropometric and physical activity assessments were gathered. A validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was then used to calculate the DDS by scoring 5 food groups. To evaluate the risk of PCOS in association with DDS, the subjects were categorized based on the quartile cut-off points of the DDS. The mean ± SD age of the participants in both the case and control groups was 28.98 ± 5.43 and 30.15 ± 6.21 years, while mean ± SD body mass index was 25.74 ± 5.44 and 23.65 ± 3.90 kg/m2, respectively. The comparison between the case and control groups indicated that total DDS was 5.19 ± 1.19 for the cases and 5.51 ± 1.19 for the controls. The comparison of DDS in the highest versus the lowest quartiles showed a decreased risk of PCOS (p < 0.05). We demonstrated an inverse association between DDS and PCOS compared with the control group. Furthermore, a higher DDS was significantly associated with a lower risk of PCOS (odds ratio = 0.40). Novelty: This is the first investigation on the relationship between DDS and PCOS. Results depicted an inverse relationship between DDS and PCOS.

scholarly journals Occupational stress and psychological health impact on hypertension of miners in noisy environment in Wulumuqi, China: a case-control study

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaoqin Lu ◽  
Huan Yan ◽  
Jiandong Yang ◽  
Jiwen Liu
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Propensity Score ◽  
Occupational Stress ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Noisy Environment ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
And Control ◽  
Control Study

Abstract Background Hypertension has been declared as a global public health crisis by the World Health Organization, because of its high prevalence. It affects the health of one billion people worldwide and is directly responsible for the deaths of more than 10 million people per year. The purpose of our research was to explore the influence of occupational stress and psychological health on hypertension of miners who work in a noisy environment and provide decision reference for relevant departments to keep miners’ health. Methods A case-control study was carried out in this research. The study subjects were divided into case groups and control groups based on whether they had hypertension or not. Effort-Reward Imbalance questionnaire and Self-Reporting Inventory questionnaire were used to investigate the psychological health status and occupational stress of the target population. General information was balanced between case and control groups through propensity score matching method. After propensity score matching, a multifactorial analysis was used to explore the impact of occupational stress and psychological health on hypertension. Results According to the result of the multivariate analysis, psychological health was hazard to hypertension (t = 5.080, P<0.001) and occupational stress was not a direct risk factor for hypertension (t = 1.760, P = 0.080). The model was statistically significant (χ2 = 20.4, P<0.01). Conclusions For miners working in the noisy environment, psychological status was a direct risk factor to hypertension, while occupational stress was an indirect factor.

Association of influenza vaccination with reduced risk of venous thromboembolism

2009 ◽  
Vol 102 (12) ◽  
pp. 1259-1264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tienan Zhu ◽  
Laure Carcaillon ◽  
Isabelle Martinez ◽  
Jean-Pierre Cambou ◽  
Xavier Kyndt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Venous Thromboembolism ◽  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Multivariate Regression ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Multivariate Regression Analysis ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
And Control ◽  
Control Study ◽  
Reduced Risk

SummaryInfluenza vaccination can reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with coronary heart disease, but its impact on the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) has not been studied. It was the aim of this study to investigate whether influenza vaccination reduces the risk of VTE. We conducted a case-control study involving 1,454 adults enrolled in 11 French centers between 2003 and 2007, comprising 727 consecutive cases with a first documented episode of VTE and 727 age- and sex-matched controls. In the case and control groups 202 (28.2%) and 233 (32.1%) subjects, respectively, had been vaccinated against influenza during the previous 12 months. After multivariate regression analysis, the odds ratios (OR) for VTE associated with vaccination were 0.74 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57–0.97) and 0.52 (95% CI, 0.32–0.85), respectively, for the whole population and for subjects aged 52 years or less. The protective effect of vaccination was similar for deep venous thrombosis (OR 0.9; 95% CI, 0.60–1.35) and pulmonary embolism (OR 0.71; 95% CI, 0.53–0.94) and for both provoked (OR 0.71; 95% CI, 0.53–0.97) and unprovoked VTE (OR 0.85; 95% CI, 0.59–1.23).This case-control study suggests that influenza vaccination is associated with a reduced risk of VTE.

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet is Associated With Lower Likelihood of Breast Cancer: A Case-Control Study

2014 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 810-817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niki Mourouti ◽  
Meropi D. Kontogianni ◽  
Christos Papavagelis ◽  
Petrini Plytzanopoulou ◽  
Tonia Vassilakou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Lower Likelihood ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Control Study

scholarly journals Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and risk of functional constipation in children in Turkey: case–control study

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 587-594
Author(s):  
Ulas Akbulut ◽  
Ishak Isik ◽  
Atike Atalay ◽  
Ismail Topal
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Lower Risk ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Functional Constipation ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Index Score ◽  
Turkish Children ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Kidmed Index ◽  
Control Study

Background: Functional constipation is often seen in children, affecting quality of life and imposing a considerable burden on health care services. The Mediterranean diet is associated with a lower risk of functional gastrointestinal disorders. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between functional constipation and adherence to the Mediterranean diet in Turkish children aged 6–18 years. Methods: In this case–control study, 221 children with functional constipation (cases) were selected from a paediatric gastroenterology clinic between May 2018 and September 2019, and 230 children without constipation (controls) were randomly selected from those attending a well-child check-up. Cases and controls were matched on sex, age and socioeconomic characteristics. Compliance with the Mediterranean diet was assessed using the KIDMED index score. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to analyses the data. Results: KIDMED index scores in cases and controls were 4.0 (SD = 2.5) and 6.3 (SD = 2.4), respectively (P < 0.001). Odds ratios for functional constipation were 0.23 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.13–0.38) for KIDMED index score 4–7 and 0.05 (95% CI: 0.03–0.11) for score ≥ 8 compared with the lowest category (score ≤ 3; P < 0.001). A negative correlation was observed between age and adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Conclusion: Good adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a lower risk of functional constipation, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet decreased with age. Education on nutrition and health is warranted to help maintain and improve the health of young people in Turkey.

A Case-Control Study on the p73 G4A Gene Polymorphism and Susceptibility to Breast Cancer in an Iranian Population

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeinab TAVAKKOL AFSHARI ◽  
Zahra GHOLIZADEH ◽  
Amin Reza NIKPOOR ◽  
Jalil TAVAKKOL AFSHARI ◽  
Rashin GANJALI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Iranian Population ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Case Group ◽  
Medical Sciences ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
And Control ◽  
Control Study

Background: The tumor protein p73 (TP73) is a homolog of TP53 family. Ectopic p73 overexpression largely mimics p53 activities as a tumor suppressor and activates the transcription of p53-responsive genes and as a result induce apoptosis. This study aimed to investigate the association between p73 G4A polymorphism and the risk of breast cancer in a northeastern Iranian population. Methods: This case-control study was performed on 105 patients who admitted in educational hospitals of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran during 2013-2015, with breast cancer as case group and 120 healthy women as the control group. PCR-CTPP method was used to investigate the relationship between the p73 G4A polymorphism and the risk of breast cancer. Results: There was no significant association between the AA genotype of the p73 G4A polymorphism and breast cancer in case and control groups. Although G allele frequency was higher in the case group, the abundance of this allele between case and control groups was not statistically meaningful and, as a result, not associated with the risk of breast cancer in this study group. Conclusion: There was no association between G4A p73 polymorphism and the risk of breast cancer in a northeastern Iranian population.  

Association between the use of insecticide-treated bed net and malaria infection in Ende District, East Nusa Tenggara

2017 ◽  
pp. 62
Author(s):  
M. S. Sekunda ◽  
A. A. Sagung Sawitri ◽  
P. P. Januraga
Keyword(s):  
Malaria Infection ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Bed Net ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Physical Conditions ◽  
Net Use ◽  
And Control ◽  
Control Study

Background and purpose: Malaria is a public health problem in Eastern Indonesia, especially in East Nusa Tenggara. Insecticide-treated bed net was massively distributed in 2014, however the incidence of malaria in Ende District remains high. This study aims to examine association between the use of insecticide-treated bed net and malaria infection.Methods: A case control study was conducted in Wewaria Subdistrict, Ende District in 2016 involving 67 cases and 134 controls. Data on the use of insecticide-treated bed net which include methods of net use, net use practice, net maintenance and its current conditions were obtained through interviews and observations. Physical conditions of respondent’s house that include conditions of the wall, floor, window, ventilation, ceiling and lighting were also documented through observations. Data were analysed using logistic regression. Results: Cases and control groups were comparable for gender (p=1), age (p=0.9), education level (p=0.9) and occupation (p=0.6). This study found that five variables were associated with malaria infection: irregular use of the insecticide-treated bed net (AOR=4.08; 95%CI: 1.87-8.89), torn net (AOR=2.23; 95%CI: 1.10-4.54), inadequate lighting (AOR=3.64; 95%CI: 1.77-7.47), humid floor (AOR=3.02; 95%CI: 1.24-7.34) and holes or broken ceiling (AOR=2.41; 95%CI: 1.02-5.72).Conclusions: The use of insecticide-treated bed net and physical conditions of the house are risk factors for malaria infection.

scholarly journals Kinesiophobia Levels in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Case-Control Investigation

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4791
Author(s):  
Ana María Jiménez-Cebrián ◽  
Ricardo Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo ◽  
Marta Elena Losa-Iglesias ◽  
Carmen de Labra ◽  
César Calvo-Lobo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Daily Activities ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
And Control ◽  
Control Study

Background: Kinesiophobia can be an obstacle to physical and motor activity in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). PD affects patients’ independence in carrying out daily activities. It also impacts a patient’s biopsychosocial well-being. The objective of this study was to analyze the levels and scores of kinesiophobia in PD patients and compare them with healthy volunteers. Methods: We deployed a case-control study and recruited 124 subjects (mean age 69.18 ± 9.12). PD patients were recruited from a center of excellence for Parkinson’s disease (cases n = 62). Control subjects were recruited from the same hospital (control n = 62). Kinesiophobia total scores and categories were self-reported using the Spanish version of the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-11). Results: Differences between cases and control groups were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were shown between groups when comparing kinesiophobia categories (or levels) and total scores, revealing higher kinesiophobia symptoms and levels in PD patients. All of the PD patients reported some degree of kinesiophobia (TSK-11 ≥ 18), while the majority of PD patients (77.3%) had kinesiophobia scores rated as moderate to severe (TSK-11 ≥ 25). On the other hand, ~45.1% of controls reported no or slight kinesiophobia and 53.2% reported moderate kinesiophobia. Conclusions: Total kinesiophobia scores were significantly higher in PD patients compared with healthy controls, with moderate to severe kinesiophobia levels prevailing in PD patients. Therefore, individuals living with PD should be evaluated and controlled in order to detect initial kinesiophobia symptoms.

Increased incidence of BK virus viraemia among patients undergoing chronic haemodialysis: a case–control study

2017 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 360-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samer Fuad Swedan
Keyword(s):  
Case Control Study ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Bk Virus ◽  
Acid Extraction ◽  
Chronic Haemodialysis ◽  
Nucleic Acid Extraction ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
And Control ◽  
Control Study

AimsIncidence of BK virus (BKV) viraemia, a major risk factor for nephropathy, among patients undergoing chronic haemodialysis remains poorly investigated. This case–control study evaluated the risk of infection by BKV, in addition to hepatitis C virus (HCV) among haemodialysis subjects (n=100), compared with age-matched controls (n=100).MethodsSubjects’ blood plasma samples were subjected to nucleic acid extraction, followed by real-time PCR to evaluate viraemia by BKV and HCV, while sera samples were subjected to ELISA, to identify IgG seropositivity for HCV.ResultsMean age±SD was 47.8±20.4 and 48.9±17.6 years for the haemodialysis and control groups, respectively. BKV and HCV viraemia was observed among 19% versus 8% (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.09 to 5.18; p=0.023) and 3% versus 0% (p=0.081) of the haemodialysis and control groups, respectively. Mean BK viral load±SD did not vary significantly among the two groups; 914.8±2868 versus 44.30±74.04 copies/mL for the haemodialysis and control groups, respectively (p=0.4041). HCV seropositivity rates were 6% versus 2% (p=0.149), among the haemodialysis and control groups, respectively.ConclusionsSubjects on haemodialysis may be at increased risk of nephropathy due to increased incidence of BK virus reactivations and may require optimisation of immunosuppressive therapy.

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