Orthorexia nervosa risk and associated factors among Chilean nutrition students: a pilot study

Background Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is characterized by an excessive, obsessive concern with healthy eating generating psychological complications and even malnutrition at a caloric and protein level. Current evidence suggests that people with greater food knowledge are the most likely to be affected, placing nutrition students as a populational risk group. Since there are no nationwide studies dealing with orthorexia nervosa in this risk group, the present pilot study intends to identify risk factors for orthorexia nervosa in a sample of Nutrition and Dietetics students in Chile. Method A descriptive cross-sectional pilot study was done on 90 Nutrition and Dietetics students from a Chilean university, representing 70% of its population. The ORTHO-11-ES instrument was applied to determine ON risk, along with consulting about attitudinal, physical-clinical and social variables. Statistical tests were performed in GraphPad PRISM 8.0®, applying probability ratios and personal correlation, between the sociodemographic variables and the risk of orthorexia nervosa. This study was approved by the university Ethics Committee based on the Helsinki Declaration. Results 23.3% of the studied population was at risk of suffering ON. Associated variables were being in the second year of their major (OR 2.22), coming from a charter school (OR 3.00) and cohabitation being limited to ≤ 1 person (OR 2.47). Particularly, declared physical activity limits are associated to the risk of suffering ON (Sedentary OR 2.42, Heavy OR 3.53), as well as time spent on the social network Instagram (< 1 h OR 2.77, > 3 h OR 1.80). Conclusions There is an ON risk prevalence of 23.3% in the present pilot sample under study, indicating that years of study, cohabitation, secondary educational establishment, physical activity and Instagram use constitute associated factors for the studied condition. Some results vary from international evidence, describing a dual nature in the variables for Instagram time and declared physical activity for ON risk. This study needs replication in more representative samples and longitudinal character with control groups which can confirm the studied elements as ON risk factors. Plain English summary Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is an expression created to indicate a possible new eating disorder characterized by excessive and obsessive preoccupation with healthy eating. Some of its most distinctive traits include marked anxiety over food, exaggerated fear over the appearance of some diseases and shame about physical appearance. This ultimately impacts food choice, planning, acquisition, preparation and consumption, creating psychological complications along with some associated with malnutrition. Considering that Nutrition students are an at-risk group, the present pilot study evaluated its prevalence and associated factors in a specific sample in Chile. Conditions associated with the risk of orthorexia nervosa identified in the present study include: number of hours spent using Instagram, limited cohabitation, extreme physical activity, and number of years in the major. These results should be taken cautiously, with their association confirmed in follow-up studies.

A Pilot Study of the Influence of Natrum muriaticum at 6CH and 30CH Potency in a Standardized Culture of Phaseolus vulgaris

The use of highly diluted and dynamized solutions is widespread. Its use extends to all living beings, including vegetables, acting effectively in primary and secondary metabolism. The aim of the present pilot study was to confirm the action of Natrum muriaticum at 6 CH and 30 CH dilutions in comparison to the action of a 5.0% NaCl solution, when administered separately in population of Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean). An evaluation was performed by determining the Relative Growth Rate (RGR) of bean population treated for six weeks and subdivided into 4 groups (with 5 vases each): P1, the control group, which was treated with a 30% alcohol solution only; P2, treated with an aqueous 5.0% NaCl solution; P3, treated with Natrum muriaticun at 6 CH dilution; P4, treated with Natrum muriaticum at 30 CH dilution. The results obtained showed that an increase in soil salinity caused inhibition of the development of bean population (P2). In addition, the use of the Natrum muriaticum dilution promoted a significant increase in vegetable growth, chiefly related to the 6 CH (P3), causing a significant increase in the RGR of the bean population. The use of this high dilutions provided evidence that method is efficient in vegetables.

Automated Functional Color Field Tester (FCFTester) Trends and Reproducibility – A Multicenter Pilot Study

Background: The present study was designed to assess a protocol for investigating normative trends of kinetic color visual field sizes and reproducibility of such utilizing the Automated Functional Color Field Tester (FCFTester). Methods: The participants were recruited at three clinical sites. The participants were screened for the study based on a questionnaire designed by the authors to help assess the inclusion and exclusion criteria. There were 116 adult-only participants, however, only those reporting White race (n = 106) were used for statistical analysis. The mean age was 35.8 (std = 14) and nearly 70% of the sample was female. Results: This study demonstrated that kinetic visual field sizes across all four color isopters are not influenced by gender (p = 0.96) nor eye tested (p = 0.46). Only a slight difference in mean visual field sizes was found between the three clinical sites ranging from less than 2.5 degrees when the target was blue or green to less than 1.5 degrees for white or red targets. Overall, age had limited, yet significant, influence on kinetic field sizes likely related to the relatively young age of our participants. A significant difference in mean field size existed when comparing the four color isopters with an ascending order of green, red, blue, and white. This pattern was consistent across the three testing sites. Variability in field size for each color isopter was slight across the three clinical sites. Conclusion: The present pilot study shows promise that a protocol can be established to provide reproducible data and normative trends in kinetic color visual field testing. The authors recognize that this should be achievable with further refinement of the current testing protocol.

Neuropsychological Profile in Pediatric Migraine without Aura: A Pilot Study

Despite the high prevalence of headache in developmental age, current reports about its neuropsychological effects are still lacking. The aim of the present pilot study is to assess the neuropsychological skills among children affected by migraine without aura (MwoA). Fifteen children (7M/8F) (mean age 10.73 ± 2.13) with MwoA, consecutively referred to the Center for Childhood Headache at Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, underwent the Italian version of the NEPSY-2 after cognitive evaluation. Moreover, to assess the pain level and disability grade during daily activity, the VAS and PedMIDAS scales were used. MwoA children were comparable with the control group of 38 children with respect to age, gender, language, and education level. Written informed consent was obtained from all parents and from children directly, when appropriate. MwoA children differed from controls significantly among the NEPSY-2 subscales, with a relevant relationship between the frequency and intensity of the attacks. In conclusion, the results of the present pilot study may suggest that MwoA could impact significantly neuropsychological functioning in children.

Folliscope Assessment of Lyophilized Growth Factors Scalp Injection in Androgenetic Alopecia

Background Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a non-scarring disease with a progressive thinning of the scalp hair that follows a characteristic pattern. It is the most common form of alopecia, affecting up to 80% of men and 50% of women in the course of their life. Objectives The aim of this study is to evaluate the possible clinical benefit of lyophilized platelet derived growth factors(L-GF) locally injected in cases of AGA. Patients and Methods The present pilot study included 20 female patients with AGA. Patients were recruited from the outpatient clinic of Ain Shams University Hospital, in the period at the period from September 2018 till March 2019. The study was approved by the Research Ethical Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University and fulfilled all the ethical aspects required in human research. Results Treatment with L-GF resulted in improvement of AGA patients with minimal side effects. Conclusion Lyophilized platelet derived growth factors (L-GF) injection for AGA could represent new therapeutic option for delivering platelet growth factors. As a pilot study, the sample size of this work was small, despite the fact that we had statistical significant results. Further randomized wide scale comparative studies between conventional autologous PRP and L-GF are demanding to draw concrete results.

Efficacy of Siddha medicine in the treatment of COVID- 19 patients - A pilot study

The pandemic triggered by coronavirus disease (COVID-19) invariably questions the health security of people around the globe. It’s also strongly advocates the need for unique health care practice that substantially prevents the infection and practice of controlling the disease transmission. Alternate therapy with viable medications that can adequately strengthen the immune system to enhance the speedy recovery of the patients becomes the need of the hour. Siddha system of medicine is one such versatile practice that emerged before centuries that incorporates the practice of availing potential remedies from herbal and another natural origin. Still, now there is no proper documentary evidence on evaluating the efficacy of Siddha treatment in the clinical management of COVID-19, hence the main objective of the present pilot study is to investigate the potential of Siddha formulations such as Aadathodai kudineer, Thaalisaathi chooranam, Thulasi chooranam, Pavala parpam, Bramaanandha Bairava Maathirai and Thoothuvalai nei in treatment and accelerating the recovery of COVID19 patients. A Study was executed in 25 patients with laboratory- confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. The Outcome of the present clinical study signifies that treatment with Siddha medicines significantly accelerated recovery of patients by stabilising the immune mechanism which was evidenced by pronouncing declination in CRP (C- reactive protein), neutrophil, lymphocytes, Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Creatinine, Serum Albumin and Serum Urea level almost back to the normal. In conclusion therapy with Siddha medicines opened a new gateway in the clinical practice on managing COVID-19 due presence of vital phytotherapeutics that showcase multiple pharmacological activities against risky pathogens like SARS-CoV-2.

Pilot study to investigate the effect of long-term exposure to high pCO2 on adult cod (Gadus morhua) otolith morphology and calcium carbonate deposition

To date the study of ocean acidification on fish otolith formation has been mainly focused on larval and juvenile stages. In the present pilot study, wild-captured adult Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) were exposed to two different levels of pCO2, 422µatm (ambient, low pCO2) or 1091µatm (high pCO2), for a period of 30 weeks (from mid-October to early April 2014–2015) in order to study the effects on otolith size, shape and CaCO3 crystallization amongst other biological parameters. We found that otoliths from cod exposed to high pCO2 were slightly smaller (− 3.4% in length; − 3.3% in perimeter), rounder (− 2.9% circularity and + 4% roundness) but heavier (+ 5%) than the low pCO2 group. Interestingly, there were different effects in males and females; for instance, male cods exposed to high pCO2 exhibited significant changes in circularity (− 3%) and roundness (+ 4%) compared to the low pCO2 males, but without significant changes on otolith dimensions, while females exposed to high pCO2 had smaller otoliths as shown for length (− 5.6%), width (− 2%), perimeter (− 3.5%) and area (− 4.8%). Furthermore, while the majority of the otoliths analysed showed normal aragonite deposition, 10% of fish exposed to 1091µatm of pCO2 had an abnormal accretion of calcite, suggesting a shift on calcium carbonate polymorph crystallization in some individuals under high pCO2 conditions. Our preliminary results indicate that high levels of pCO2 in adult Atlantic cod might affect otolith growth in a gender-specific way. Our findings reveal that otoliths from adult cod are affected by ocean acidification, and we believe that the present study will prompt further research into this currently under-explored area.

Differences in the sperm metabolomes of smoking and nonsmoking men

Currently, spermiogram analysis is the most relevant method used to clarify the potential infertility of a couple. However, in some cases, the reasons for infertility remain obscure. Smoking is among the factors that have been described to adversely affect male fertility. Smoking increases oxidative stress and thus promotes various pathological processes. Comparative studies, particularly those on metabolomic changes in sperm and seminal plasma caused by smoking, have not yet been published. Thus, the present pilot study aimed at the mass spectrometric characterization of the metabolomes of specimens from both smoking and nonsmoking subjects and the comparison of the evaluated data in terms of sperm apoptosis and spermiogram parameters. The results provided evidence that the conventional spermiogram is not altered in smokers compared to nonsmokers. However, a more careful investigation of sperm cells by metabolomic profiling reveals profound effects of smoking on sperm: first, nitrogen oxide synthase, a marker of oxidative stress, is activated. Second, the uptake of fatty acids into sperm mitochondria is reduced, leading to an impaired energy supply. Third, phenylalanine hydroxylation and tryptophan degradation, which are both indications of altered tetrahydrobiopterin biosynthesis, are reduced. Moreover, flow cytometry approaches indicated increased sperm caspase-3 activity, a sign of apoptosis. The present study clearly shows the negative effects of smoking on semen quality. Especially for idiopathic cases, metabolomic profiling can help to shed light on male sub- or infertility.

Urinary mRNA Expression of Glomerular Podocyte Markers in Glomerular Disease and Renal Transplant

The research of novel markers in urinary samples, for the description of renal damage, is of high interest, and several works demonstrated the value of urinary mRNA quantification for the search of events related to renal disease or affecting the outcome of transplant kidneys. In the present pilot study, a comparison of the urine mRNA expression of specific podocyte markers among patients who had undergone clinical indication to renal transplanted (RTx, n = 20) and native (N, n = 18) renal biopsy was performed. The aim of this work was to identify genes involved in podocytes signaling and cytoskeletal regulation (NPHS1, NPHS2, SYNPO, WT1, TRPC6, GRM1, and NEUROD) in respect to glomerular pathology. We considered some genes relevant for podocytes signaling and for the function of the glomerular filter applying an alternative normalization approach. Our results demonstrate the WT1 urinary mRNA increases in both groups and it is helpful for podocyte normalization. Furthermore, an increase in the expression of TRPC6 after all kinds of normalizations was observed. According to our data, WT1 normalization might be considered an alternative approach to correct the expression of urinary mRNA. In addition, our study underlines the importance of slit diaphragm proteins involved in calcium disequilibrium, such as TRPC6.

Negation Processing in Children with ADHD: The Generic Problem of Using Negation in Instructions

Recent studies have suggested that negation comprehension falls back onto inhibitory brain systems that are also crucial for impulse control and other non-linguistic control domains (Beltran et al., 2018, 2019; de Vega et al., 2016; Liu et al., 2020). Against this backdrop, the present pilot study investigated the use of negation within directional instructions (i.e., “not left”, “now left”, “not right”, “now right”) in children with ADHD and a control group. The results indicate that children in general have a long response delay following negative compared to affirmative instructions. Additionally, there was a tendency for this effect to be more pronounced in the ADHD group. Together, these results suggest that negation processing might indeed demand inhibitory control processes, which are differently available across different subgroups. Thus, the current study provides evidence that using negation in imperatives or instructions is generally rather critical and should be avoided if possible, but that negation use is probably even more problematic in specific clinical populations. Potential implications of these results will be discussed.