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Physician-reported performance status (PS) constitutes the established method for stratifying oncologic patients in therapeutic decision-making. Objective measurements of physical function may further refine prognostication. In this prospective observational study, 103 patients with metastatic cancer who were referred for systemic therapy initiation were evaluated. PS was evaluated using the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS) and five objective physical function measurements (handgrip strength [HGS], chair stand test [CST], timed up and go [TUG] test, 4-m gait speed [GS] test, and short physical performance battery [SPPB] test). Overall survival and treatment complications were recorded from the medical records. Patients with low PS according to ECOG-PS (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.80, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.84, 7.80), HGS (HR: 2.37, 95% CI: 1.24, 4.55), SPPB (HR: 3.43, 95% CI: 1.55, 7.57), GS (HR: 3.03, 95% CI: 1.44, 6.38), and TUG (HR: 5.16, 95% CI: 2.19, 12.14) had shorter overall survival after adjustment for sex, age, symptomatology, comorbidity, percentage of weight loss, and tumor localization. Among the studied objective physical function measurements, HGS, SPPB, GS, and TUG were independent predictors of survival in a sample of patients with metastatic cancer, with TUG showing the highest effect size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Cardiometabolic disease progression can be delayed if patients engage in healthy lifestyle behaviors, adherence to which is highly influenced by psychosocial factors. The present study aimed at investigating the association of self-efficacy with the adherence level to healthy lifestyle behaviors among patients with cardiometabolic diseases in Greece. (2) Methods: 1988 patients (1180 females) with cardiometabolic diseases participated. Anthropometric, demographic, socioeconomic, clinical, and lifestyle characteristics were recorded. Patients were also asked to evaluate their efficacy to comply with healthy lifestyle behaviors. (3) Results: The majority exhibited unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. A subgroup demonstrated elevated self-efficacy in maintaining healthy habits despite facing diverse psychosocial challenges. Individuals with higher educational attainment, socioeconomic status, and rural/semi-urban residency had significantly elevated self-efficacy. Those with heightened self-efficacy exhibited significantly lower BMI and reduced prevalence of certain health conditions. Self-efficacy significantly influenced adherence to the Mediterranean diet, physical activity engagement, and smoking cessation, even in challenging circumstances. (4) Conclusions: This study represented an innovative approach in examining the role of self-efficacy in shaping health behaviors and outcomes within a Greek population. By integrating specific psychosocial circumstances into the analysis, valuable insights were provided into the contextual factors influencing self-efficacy and adherence to healthy lifestyle behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In the last few years, several clinical trials have evaluated the potential positive effects of probiotics supplementation against several adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, it is currently questionable whether the existing studies are adequate to derive potential recommendations of high validity and accuracy. From this perspective, the aim of the current narrative review focuses on the critical summarization and scrutinization of the currently available clinical studies by searching the most precise international databases, such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Sciences. Most of the existing evidence seems promising, rendering probiotics as potential effective preventive factors and/or co-treatment agents against diverse adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, there are several limitations and high heterogeneity amongst the existing clinical studies to be considered in order to derive specific recommendations of high validity to introduce probiotics supplementation in the clinical practice. Thus, further research is highly recommended in order to obtain more adequate conclusions. Background: Probiotics, as supplements or food ingredients, are considered to exert promising healthy effects when administered in adequate quantity. Probiotics' healthy effects are related with the prevention of many diseases, as well as decreasing symptom severity. Currently, the most available data concerning their potential health effects are associated with metabolic disorders, including gestational diabetes mellitus. There is also clinical evidence supporting that they may exert beneficial effects against diverse adverse pregnancy outcomes. The purpose of the current narrative study is to extensively review and analyze the current existing clinical studies concerning the probable positive impacts of probiotics supplementation during pregnancy as a protective agent against adverse pregnancy outcomes beyond gestational diabetes mellitus. Methods: a comprehensive and thorough literature search was conducted in the most precise scientific databases, such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Sciences, utilizing efficient, representative, and appropriate keywords. Results: in the last few years, recent research has been conducted concerning the potential beneficial effects against several adverse pregnancy outcomes such as lipid metabolism dysregulation, gestational hypertensive disorders, preterm birth, excessive gestational weight gain, caesarean risk section, vaginal microbiota impairment, mental health disturbances, and others. Conclusion: up to the present day, there is only preliminary clinical data and not conclusive results for probiotics' healthy effects during pregnancy, and it remains questionable whether they could be used as supplementary treatment against adverse pregnancy outcomes beyond gestational diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The general perception is that menstrual cycle is a factor related to body weight and body composition fluctuations in women. The lack of a standardized methodology of the so far conducted studies has led to controversial results. The aim of the current study is to identify if there are any changes in body weight and body composition during the menstrual cycle. Methods: In the current study measurements of body weight, circumferences, skinfolds and body composition with bioelectrical impedance analysis were conducted twice per week in 42 women during their menstrual cycle. Results: Body weight was found to be statistically significantly higher during menstruation compared to the first week of the menstrual cycle by 0.450 kg, which could be attributed to a statistically significant increase of 0.474 kg observed in extracellular water. No other statistically significant changes were observed regarding body composition. Conclusions: An increase of approximately 0.5 kg was observed during women's menstrual cycle, mostly due to extracellular fluid retention at menstruation days. These findings could be taken into account to interpret body weight and composition periodic fluctuations in women of reproductive age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earlier age at menarche is one of the well-documented antecedents of a range of adverse health effects in adulthood including obesity and psychopathological effects. Yet, few researchers have examined the potential association of menarcheal age with body fat distribution, self-perception, and body image. We retrospectively tested a sample (N = 392) of adult women (18–80 years) to examine the associations of age at menarche with body composition and body image indices. Analyses of covariance and multivariable logistic and linear regression were fitted adjusting for age, physical activity level, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Further adjustment was made for body mass index (BMI) and percentage of fat mass. Earlier age at menarche was associated with slightly increased odds of higher BMI and abdominal fat percentage; of note is the positive correlation with lower body composition indices including hip and calf circumferences/skinfolds. Additionally, earlier age at menarche was associated with higher scores in the negative body image scales, namely overweight preoccupation and self-classified weight, whereas lower risks were found for higher scores in the positive body image scales, namely appearance evaluation and body area satisfaction scales. These findings remained significant after correcting for body fat percentage. The present results showed positive associations for earlier age at menarche with gross indices of obesity with the associations mainly confined to distribution of body fat in the lower part of the body, whereas an increased risk of negative body image was also found. Future research could refine our understanding of the biological and psychological mechanisms underlying these associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food safety constitutes a basic priority for public health. Foodborne botulism occurs worldwide; it is an acute paralytic disease caused by the consumption of food containing the botulinum toxin. Growing consumer demand for cheese products could result in increased exposure of the population to this toxin, and thus the risk of foodborne botulism. The majority of cases of botulism caused by dairy products are related to cheese products specifically. Epidemic outbreaks and isolated cases have been reported over time. Domestically canned foods are still among the primary causes of the disease. Cheese products are not regularly involved in botulism incidents; it is however, necessary to take control measures for manufacturing and domestic preparation due to the high risk of occurrence of this particular disease. The aim of this review is to discuss foodborne botulism caused by cheese products, providing a brief epidemiological history, and to examine certain control measures that should be taken throughout the production process to better protect public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]