Fitness & Nutrition News

This narrative review argues that vitamin D is clearly important for skeletal health during the first 1,000 days of life and may also shape immune, metabolic, and selected neurodevelopmental pathways during early development. However, the authors stress that human evidence for most non-skeletal outcomes remains heterogeneous, with benefits appearing most consistent in populations with baseline deficiency.

All-frequencies sudden sensorineural hearing loss (AF-SSNHL) is a common otology emergency that greatly impacts patient’s quality of life. Given that inflammatory-immune-hemostasis-nutrition-related parameters are commonly reported prognostic factors, this study aimed to compare and evaluate the clinical value of such parameters to develop a prognostic nomogram. The analysis prospectively enrolled 245 patients with AF-SSNHL patients from August 2018 to May 2022. Patients were divided into training and validation cohorts randomly. The predictive values of the hematological indexes were calculated by receiver operating characteristic analysis, and predictive abilities were evaluated using logistic regression. A predictive prognostic model was developed using logistic regression and internally/external validated using calibration curves, decision curve analysis, and ROC analysis; a nomogram was constructed as its graphical representation. The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and neutrophil lymphocyte D-dimer albumin score (NLDA) were superior to other hematological indexes in predicting the outcome of AF-SSNHL. The predictive prognostic model revealed that a high value of NLDA [odds ratio (OR), 4.363; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.828–10.416; P < 0.05] and a low level of PNI (OR, 2.439; 95% CI, 1.188–5.006; P < 0.05) were independent risk factors for ineffective AF-SSNHL treatment. The concordance indexes for internal and external validation of the predictive model were 0.815 (95% CI, 0.754–0.875, P = 0.770) and 0.788 (95% CI, 0.663–0.913, P = 0.348), respectively. The areas under the curves of the nomogram-based predicted probabilities (nomogram scores) were 0.815 (95%CI, 0.754–0.875; P < 0.05) and 0.849 (95%CI, 0.737–0.961; P < 0.05), respectively. PNI and NLDA were superior hematological parameters and independent predictors of AF-SSNHL prognosis. Our predictive model, visualized as a nomogram based on vertigo, hearing level onset, PNI, and NLDA, may facilitate individualized prediction of treatment outcome of AF-SSNHL. Trial registration: ChiCTR1800017072, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=29023, Registration Date: 07/10/2018.

Even the healthiest people among us are usually carrying viruses in their bodies.

A trial testing the aldosterone blocker spironolactone in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) did not show any significant improvement in terms of heart failure hospitalizations and cardiovascular death at 24 months, according to findings presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26).

Medication typically used to manage diabetes or obesity may help reduce the risk of worsening depression, anxiety and self-harm, new Griffith University

Alberta Oral Health Professionals Urge Patients to Know the Signs of Oral Cancer

The Hawaii Department of Health and Hawaiian Humane Society are urging residents and recovery workers to monitor for signs of leptospirosis in the aftermath of the “Kona low” storm floods.

AHA urges a plant-based diet with less sugar, salt and processed foods, contrasting federal guidelines and aiming to improve heart health and nutrition.

A Université de Montréal study has found a previously unknown mechanism in bacterial reproduction that could be attacked by future antibiotics. Bacteria reproduce by dividing into two: they form a wall, or septum, between the two future cells while remodeling the old cell walls so the so-called "daughter" cells can separate without bursting. Until now, scientists had believed that once the dividing wall was built, bacteria gradually break down the links between its two sides to allow the cells to separate in a process called cleavage.

A team from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center (The Institute), led by Jean-Jacques Lebrun, Ph.D., has identified a protein that pancreatic cancer cells rely on to survive and grow. This discovery opens a promising avenue for the research and development of more effective and targeted therapies to treat one of the most aggressive and deadly cancers.