Ontology-Based Nutritional Recommender System

Obesity is considered an epidemic that is continuously growing around the world. Heart diseases, diabetes, and bone and joint diseases are some of the diseases that people who are overweight or obese can develop. One of the vital causes of those disorders is poor nutrition education; there is no raising awareness about eating healthy food and practicing physical activities to burn off the excess energy. Therefore, it is necessary to use new technologies to build methods/tools that help people to overcome these avoidable nutrition disorders. For this reason, we implemented a recommendation engine capable of identifying the different levels of overweight and obesity in users and providing dietary strategies to mitigate them. To do so, we defined the Ontology of Dietary Recommendations (ODR) with axioms to model recipes, ingredients, and a set of diets to assist people who suffer from obesity. We validated the defined model by using a real set of individuals who were anonymized. A panel of advisors evaluated each individual record and suggested the most appropriate diets from those included in the ontology. Then, the proposed system was asked to also provide diet recommendations for each individual, which were compared with those proposed by the advisors (ground truth), reaching a mean accuracy of 87%.

Safety of SGLT2 Inhibitors: A Pharmacovigilance Study from 2013 to 2021 Based on FAERS

Background: Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are widely used in clinical practice for their demonstrated cardiorenal benefits, but multiple adverse events (AEs) have been reported. We aimed to describe the distribution of SGLT2i-related AEs in different systems and identify important medical event (IME) signals for SGLT2i.Methods: Data from the first quarter (Q1) of 2013–2021 Q2 in FAERS were selected to conduct disproportionality analysis. The definition of AEs and IMEs relied on the system organ classes (SOCs) and preferred terms (PTs) by the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA-version 24.0). Two signal indicators, the reported odds ratio (ROR) and information component (IC), were used to estimate the association between SGLT2is and IMEs.Results: A total of 57,818 records related to SGLT2i, with 22,537 SGLT2i-IME pairs. Most SGLT2i-related IMEs occurred in monotherapy (N = 21,408, 94.99%). Significant signals emerged at the following SOCs: “metabolism and nutrition disorders” (N = 9,103; IC025 = 4.26), “renal and urinary disorders” (3886; 1.20), “infections and infestations” (3457; 0.85). The common strong signals were observed in diabetic ketoacidosis, ketoacidosis, euglycaemic diabetic ketoacidosis and Fournier’s gangrene. Unexpected safety signals such as cellulitis, osteomyelitis, cerebral infarction and nephrolithiasis were detected.Conclusion: Our pharmacovigilance analysis showed that a high frequency was reported for IMEs triggered by SGLT2i monotherapy. Different SGLT2is caused different types and the association strengths of IMEs, while they also shared some specific PTs. Most of the results are generally consistent with previous studies, and more pharmacoepidemiological studies are needed to validate for unexpected AEs. Based on risk-benefit considerations, clinicians should be well informed about important medical events that may be aggravated by SGLT2is.

Proximate Composition of Thai and Cambodian Ready-to-Eat Insects

Samples of ready-to-eat snacks based on Lethocerus indicus, Gymnogryllus vietnamensis, Tarbinskiellus portentosus, Teleogryllus mitratus, Bombyx mori, Omphisa fuscidentalis, and Cybister limbatus were purchased in Cambodia and Thailand, and their proximate chemical composition (including Na and Cl) was analysed. Comparing the results with the few existing references from the literature (based on unprocessed specimens), marked differences occurred. This was expected as the insect chemical composition varies strongly intra- and interspecifically due to taxon, feeding, instar, and processing, among others. In general, the insects mainly consisted of fat (35 to 60%) and protein (25 to 38%), with 2 to 16% nitrogen-free extract, 2 to 15% fibre, 3 to 5% ashes, 0.4 to 1.6% Na, and 0.6 to 1.4% Cl (dry matter base). In this way, this contribution adds to the compositional knowledge about traditional insect-based foodstuffs. The combination of high fat and protein with low carbohydrates makes them suitable to combat nutrition disorders.

Nutrition Habits of Polish Nurses: An Approach

Background: Chronic stress, unlimited working time and the shift working system as well as sleep deficiency may lead to the occurrence of nutrition disorders among nurses. Aim: The aim of the paper was an assessment of the nutrition habits of nurses. It was an observational study conducted from June 2017 to May 2018 among nurses (n = 1080) in Silesia in Poland. Data was obtained using a range of questionnaires. Results: Body mass index (BMI) of the analysed nurses demonstrated overweight/obesity in 490 (45.5%) of them. Nearly all the diets of the analysed nurses (n = 1021; 94.5%) required improvement. Younger nurses (<31 years old) demonstrated a greater tendency to indulge in habitual overeating, and those having additional employment demonstrated poorer nutrition habits compared to those without additional employment. Conclusion: The analysed nurses made numerous dietary mistakes which, as a consequence, can lead to obesity. Emotional overeating was the dominant nutrition habit in the studied group of nurses. Nurses who were overweight/obese, nurses who had additional employment and younger nurses demonstrated tendencies toward improper nutrition choices, i.e., the tendency to overeat or restrain oneself from eating.

The analysis of the degree of 10–13-year-old children’s nutrition, dietary habits and physical activity in the selected rural and urban areas of Silesian Province (Poland)

Background The nutrition disorders in the children’s population, in the form of malnutrition, as well as overweight and obesity constitute a significant clinical problem in the contemporary world. As a result of the improper way of children’s nutrition, their physical and mental development becomes dysfunctional, which leads in their adult life to serious health consequences, among others, complications of cardiovascular system, metabolic and endocrinological and disorders, improper development of osteoarticular system and mental diseases and social withdrawal. Results Five hundred eighty-nine parents of children aged 10–13 participated in the survey questionnaire, where 304 respondents were constituted by girls (51.61%); however, the remaining 285 people were represented by boys (48.39%). It turned out that overweight and obesity concern approximately 44% of respondents; however, approximately 22% of children have too low body weight in relation to age and sex. While analysing dietary habits, it was observed that main meals are not consumed by all children; breakfast is consumed by approximately 90% of respondents, packed lunch just by 70% and lunch and supper by 90% of respondents. In the course of subsequent analyses, it turned out that over ¾ of respondents declared that their child drinks mineral water every day, only approximately 44% of them drink milk every day; however, almost 18% of children reach for sweet drinks. Children eat sweet or salty snacks too often (over 55% every day or several times a week), resigning from consuming fruit and vegetables (just half of respondents every day), fish and brown bread (below 30% of children eat these products less than once a week); every fifth child dedicates less than 3 h to physical activity, 39% of respondents do exercise from 3 to 5 h a week, the next 25% from 5 to 10 h. Conclusions It was observed in the analysed population that over half of them struggle with the degree of nutrition disorders in the form of overweight and obesity or malnutrition. We may conclude, based on the obtained results, that children have inappropriate dietary habits, consuming too small quantities of fruit and vegetables, brown bread, fish and drinking improper quantities of water and milk. Repeatedly, they replace these full-value products by consuming sweets and salty snacks and by drinking sweet drinks, they also more and more often reach for processed food in fast food bars. What is worrying, it was also observed that in the analysed population, children dedicate too little of their free time to physical activity and additional physical activities.

Lifestyle and Health Characteristics of Students during Distance Learning

Introduction: Human health and lifestyle are influenced by many risk factors and living conditions. The purpose of the study was to analyze lifestyle and health characteristics of students during traditional and compelled distance learning. Materials and methods: We conducted a questionnaire-based survey of 300 students (years 2, 4, and 6) of the Voronezh State Medical University named after N.N. Burdenko. The questionnaire was specially developed by the authors and included questions about physical activity of medical students, their compliance with Coronavirus lockdown rules, sleep and rest, daily routine, diet, addiction to bad habits, and self-rated health during traditional and distance learning. Results and discussion: The study was conducted stepwise. We observed better self-discipline in following a stay-at-home order among junior students compared to their senior fellows. The period of compelled distance learning caused a decrease in physical activity of students, regardless of the year, with the exception of persons regularly engaged in physical exercises. The average daily walking distance of the respondents dropped from 5.35 km to 1.36 km in those observing the lockdown rules and to 3.15 km in those violating them. We established the relationship between distance learning and changes in sleep patterns, nutrition, and daily routine. We also revealed nutrition disorders leading to a weight gain and ranked bad habits related to transition to an unusual e-learning. A statistically significant worsening of self-rated health of the respondents was demonstrated. Conclusion: Distance learning during the spring semester of 2020 raised a number of novel questions regarding a wide variety of aspects of the educational process, lifestyle, nutrition, sleep, and rest.

The Influence of Nutrition Education on the Health of Women in Moyamba Town, Southern Region of Sierra Leone

The research work investigated the influence of nutrition education on the health of women in Moyamba town. The investigation adopted a descriptive design of a survey in this town. The study used a target sample population of twenty-five (25) women, lactating mothers, five (5) pregnant women, elderly five (5), aged women five (5). Adolescent five (5). Random sampling technique were used to select these women at various areas, schools, ante natal, post-natal clinics and outpatient department. Questionnaires were administered and interviews conducted. The result analyzed reveled that, tradition, poverty, negligence and inadequate logistics, illiteracy and other social factors such as poor education on good health leads to the risk of nutrition disorders in women such as mal-nutrition, diabetics, obesity, underweight, overweight, heart failure, complicated labour and infant and maternal mortality. another factor was Lack of proper nutrition education in schools. Nutritionist should be given special allowance in order to motivate them. Facilitate nutrition education at clinics, hospital radio and television discussions, postal and sign board with nutrition messages to the public as well as school , administrators should make it a point of duty that students are exposed to nutrition messages and that food and nutrition be a core subject in schools in other to prevent diet related diseases. This will enhance healthy environment and nation.

Safety and efficacy of etelcalcetide, an intravenous calcimimetic, for up to 52 weeks in hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism: results of a post-marketing surveillance in Japan

Background Etelcalcetide is a second-generation calcimimetic for the management of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in patients on dialysis. We performed a post-marketing surveillance (PMS) to obtain information on the safety and efficacy of etelcalcetide in clinical practice in Japan. Methods This PMS enrolled SHPT patients who started initial treatment with etelcalcetide between April 1, 2017 and February 28, 2018 in Japan. Safety [adverse drug reactions (ADRs)] and efficacy [serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), corrected calcium (cCa), phosphorous (P), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)] were recorded for up to 52 weeks or until treatment discontinuation. Treatment decisions were at the physician’s discretion. Results Of 1226 patients enrolled across 282 centers, safety and efficacy data were available for 1195 and 1192, respectively, while 933 continued treatment to Week 52. The starting dose was 5 mg in 82.0% of patients. There were 218 ADRs in 169 patients (14.1%). Metabolism and nutrition disorders (8.8%), adverse laboratory test results (1.8%), and gastrointestinal disorders (1.6%) were the most frequent classes of ADRs. Hypocalcemia-related ADRs occurred in 104 patients (8.7%). The percentage of patients with iPTH levels within the target range (60–240 pg/mL) steadily increased from 19.5% at Week 0 to 64.1% at Week 52 or last dose. cCa, P, and ALP levels remained well controlled. Conclusion This was the first real-world, large-scale, long-term observational PMS of etelcalcetide in Japan. We did not observe any new safety concerns. Etelcalcetide was associated with clinically relevant improvements in serum iPTH and maintenance of serum cCa, P, and ALP levels.