A Slight Adjustment of the Nutri-Score Nutrient Profiling System Could Help to Better Reflect the European Dietary Guidelines Regarding Nuts

The consumption of nuts remains low among European populations despite widespread inclusion as a recommended food group across European dietary guidelines. Front-of-Pack nutrition labelling systems are designed to support consumers make healthier choices and to stimulate product improvement, thus representing a pivotal opportunity to reduce the gap between intakes and recommendations. This study examined how the Nutri-Score algorithm treats nuts and nut-containing products and tested whether slight adjustments could better recognise and motivate nut inclusion in foods and diets. The nutritional score (ScN) and corresponding Nutri-Score letter of 68 nuts and nut-containing products were calculated, using the initial algorithm and slight adjustments, where nut weight was doubled (S1), saturated fats (S2) or energy (S3) from nuts were discounted, or saturated fats were replaced by the saturated fats/lipid ratio (S4). The correlation between the nuts’ content and the ScN was moderate for the initial algorithm (R² = 0.34) and S1 (R² = 0.36), but improved for S2, S3 and S4 (R² = 0.54, 0.55 and 0.52, respectively). Four plain nuts, initially labelled as “B” or “C” obtained a Nutri-Score “A” with S2, S3 and S4. Slight adjustments could better align the Nutri-Score with food-based dietary guidelines, reassure consumers on healthfulness of nuts and nut-containing products, whilst incentivising the inclusion of nuts in diverse foods.     

Betel Quid Dependency and Associated Intrapersonal,Interpersonal, and Environmental Factors among Adolescents: A School-Based Cross-Sectional Survey

Background: Betel quid (BQ) is one of the fourth most commonly used substance globally. Though BQ is a psycho-active substance, yet little has been explored regarding dependency on it particularly among adolescents. Objectives: Therefore, in this study, we aimed to determine adolescents' dependency on BQ, along with their intrapersonal, interpersonal and environmental determinants of dependency. Methods: This cross-sectional study focused on 2200 school-going adolescents of Karachi, Pakistan in 2016. Primary outcome was dependency on BQ among adolescents. Both univariate and multivariate regressions were used to estimate crude and adjusted odds ratios (after adjustments for all intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental factors) with 95% confidence level. Results: Out of 2200 students, 874 (39.7%) were found to be BQ users amongst whom 69 (7.9%) were dependent on BQ. Comparing the groups with only areca nut users as reference category, betel quid with tobacco additives chewers were considerably dependent (OR = 14.08, 95% CI 3.64–54.16). The individuals who chewed >5 chews per day (OR = 1.87, 95% CI 1.08–3.29) and chronic users (>1year) (OR = 2.02, 95% CI 1.09–3.74) were more likely to be dependent. Older students (>12 years) (OR = 2.12, 95% CI 1.06–4.23), and who studied in government schools were significantly dependent (OR = 3.32, 95% CI 1.80–6.10) than those who studied in private schools. Conclusions: In conclusion, intrapersonal characteristics like more than 5 chews per day, chronic chewers of more than a year, BQ with tobacco chewers, older adolescents and children studying in government schools were significantly associated with BQ dependency.     

A SNOUT-ONLY INHALATION EXPOSURE SYSTEM FOR USE IN RABBIT TERATOLOGY STUDIES

A novel method of snout-only inhalation exposure of rabbits suitable for the conduct of regulatory inhalation teratology studies is described. The system comprises a slightly modified, conventional, rodent exposure system fitted with specially designed rabbit restraint tubes. The system was validated by exposing groups of pregnant New Zealand White rabbits to metered-dose aerosols of two beta2-agonists, salbutamol sulfate and salmeterol xinafoate, for 1 h each day on days 8-20 of pregnancy. Air and propellant controls and three aerosol concentrations of compound were used in each experiment. Each group comprised five rabbits. Drug was detected in the plasma of exposed rabbits. Animals accepted the procedure with ease. Animal losses were low (4%) and consistent with mortality experienced with other rodent inhalation exposure systems. No adverse clinical signs and only minor effects on maternal body weight gain were observed. No increased incidence of fetal losses or unexpected fetal abnormalities were detected using this technique compared to other routes of administration of these compounds. In contrast to previously described methods of inhalation exposure of rabbits, this technique provides a convenient, effective, and acceptable method of simultaneously exposing large numbers of rabbits whilst retaining the advantages of snout-only rodent systems and avoiding stressful individual dosing methods.     

Clinician Administered and Self-Report Survey Both Effective for Identifying Fecal Incontinence in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Digestive Diseases and Sciences - To test two methods for reporting of fecal incontinence (FI) in people with inflammatory bowel disease. Consecutive patients from IBD clinics in six UK hospitals...