Topic Review
Hypersensitivity Reactions to Food Additives
Food additives (FAs) are commonly used in prosscessed foods, but hypersensitivity reactions to food additives (HFA) appears to be a rare phenomenon. Identification of the FA responsible for hypersensitivity and its treatment is difficult. Diagnosis is a challenge for the clinician and for the patient. A food diary is a helpful diagnostic tool. It allows diet therapy to be monitored based on the partial or complete elimination of products containing a harmful additive. An elimination diet must not be deficient, and symptomatic pharmacotherapy may be necessary if its application is ineffective.
  • 416
  • 21 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Quantum Dot-Based Lateral Flow Immunoassay
Point-of-care testing (POCT) technology has exhibited an outstanding capability for the detection of several disease biomarkers owing to the fact that such techniques are fast, easy to perform, efficient, and low cost. The lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) is one such strategy for POCT. LFIA is a well-established platform and a potent assay for fast and inexpensive testing, as this technology is instrumentation independent and allows the visualisation of test results by the naked eye. In order to enhance the sensitivity and specificity of the LFIAs, as well as to allow the quantitation of results, fluorescence immunochromatographic assays have been developed by utilising fluorescent reporters. Fluorescence immunochromatographic assays have advantages over conventional approaches in regard to sensitivity as it produces a higher intensity band on the test and control lines. One such promising fluorescent reporter is quantum dots (QDs). QDs are tiny semiconducting nanocrystals with diameters ranging from 2 to 10 nanometers. QDs have unique electronic characteristics that are intermediate between those of bulk semiconductors and discrete molecules, which is due in part to their high surface-to-volume ratios. The most visible result is fluorescence, in which the nanocrystals emit distinct colours determined by particle size.
  • 1.8K
  • 19 Sep 2022
Topic Review
VR Serious Games and Negative Schizophrenia Symptoms
Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder that affects 1 in every 300 people worldwide. VR is an interesting tool that has started to be used in remediation therapies. Although it is typically used as an exposure technique for specific phobias, VR has been applied, with encouraging results, to the study and treatment of schizophrenia. It can offer the potential for a significant therapeutic benefit, since patients are more willing to enter challenging situations and experiment with alternative ways of responding.
  • 662
  • 19 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Association between Smoking and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
The connection between smoking and Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is not yet clear. There are studies that have confirmed the effect of smoking on sleep disordered breathing, whereas others did not. Nicotine affects sleep, as smokers have prolonged total sleep and REM latency, reduced sleep efficiency, total sleep time, and slow wave sleep. Smoking cessation has been related with impaired sleep. 
  • 617
  • 14 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Application of Standardized Regression Coefficient in Meta-Analysis
The β coefficient is the estimate resulting from an analysis carried out on variables that have been standardized so that their standard deviations (and variances) are equal to one. Therefore, the standardized coefficient refers to how many standard deviations the response or outcome variable will change per a standard deviation increase in the explanatory or predictor variable. Thus, the standardized coefficient β can be regarded as an attempt to make regression coefficients more comparable, and can be used as an effect-size estimate when the exposure levels in original studies are measured in different units of measurement.
  • 6.7K
  • 14 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Metabolic Disease in the Offspring
Obesity incidence is rising worldwide, including women of reproductive age, contributing to increased gestations in which Maternal Obesity (MO) occurs. Offspring born to obese mothers present an increased predisposition to develop metabolic (e.g., obesity, diabetes) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The developmental programming of the metabolic dysfunction in MO offspring can initiate in utero. The different availability of metabolic substrates, namely glucose, can modulate cellular growth, proliferation, and differentiation, resulting in different levels of tissue maturation and function.
  • 421
  • 14 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Bone Health in Prostate Cancer Disease
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men. PCa cells require androgen receptor (AR) signaling for their growth and survival. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the preferred treatment for patients with locally advanced and metastatic PCa disease. Bone-metastasis-induced early changes in the bone that proceed the osteoblastic response in the bone matrix are monitored and detected via modern magnetic resonance and PET/CT imaging technologies.
  • 674
  • 14 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Religion and Health in Macau
Macau, a Portuguese colony until 1999, remains a diversified culture because of its intermixed historical background from the East and the West. Through structural equation modelling, the analysis of data collected from a representative sample of Macau residents, using a multistage stratified sampling procedure, indicated a positive link between religiosity and health. Moreover, altruism and prejudice mediated a portion of the relationship between religiosity and health. Additionally, Macau residents who were more religious had a higher level of altruism and a lower level of prejudice. The link between religion and prejudice in Macau differs from that of many other cultures, indicating that the effect of religion on prejudice varies by cultural context.
  • 685
  • 14 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Stretching and Inflammation
Stretching is one of the popular elements in physiotherapy and rehabilitation. When correctly guided, it can help minimize or slow down the disabling effects of chronic health conditions. Most likely, the benefits are associated with reducing inflammation.
  • 2.5K
  • 13 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Obesity, Pregnancy and the Social Contract with Adolescents
Adolescent health and well-being are of great concern worldwide, and adolescents encounter particular challenges, vulnerabilities and constraints. The dual challenges of adolescent parenthood and obesity are of public health relevance because of the life-altering health and socioeconomic effects on both the parents and the offspring. Prevention and treatment strategies at the individual and population levels have not been successful in the long term, suggesting that adolescent pregnancy and obesity cannot be managed by more of the same. Here, the researchers view adolescent obese pregnancy through the lens of the social contract with youth. The disruption of this contract is faced by today’s adolescents, with work, social and economic dilemmas which perpetuate socioeconomic and health inequities across generations. The lack of employment, education and social opportunities, together with obesogenic settings, increase vulnerability and exposure to lifelong health risks, affecting their offspring’s life chances too. To break such vicious circles of disadvantage and achieve sustainable solutions in real-world settings, strong efforts on the part of policymakers, healthcare providers and the community must be oriented towards guaranteeing equity and healthy nutrition and environments for today’s adolescents. The involvement of adolescents themselves in developing such programs is paramount, not only so that they feel a sense of agency but also to better meet their real life needs. 
  • 540
  • 13 Sep 2022
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