Background: Frequent episodes of nasal symptoms are the usual clinical manifestations (CM) of allergic rhinitis (AR) and have a significant negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adolescents. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to test the hypothesis that cytokines in nasal mucus may be associated with HRQoL in adolescents with AR. Methods: European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 3 Level Version (EQ-5D-3L), “The Adolescent Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire” (AdolRQLQ) and the Total 4 Symptom Score (T4SS) scoring system were administered to 113 adolescents with AR, nonallergic rhinitis (NAR) and to healthy control subjects. Nasal secretions were sampled and tested for 13 cytokines using a multiplex flow cytometric bead assay. Results: The AR group had significantly lower EQ-5D-3L (0.661 ± 0.267 vs. 0.943 ± 0.088; p < 0.001) and higher AdolRQLQ total scores (2.76 ± 1.01 vs. 1.02 ± 0.10; p < 0.001) compared to the control group. The AR group had higher concentrations of IL-1β (p = 0.002), IL-6 (p = 0.031), IL-8 (p < 0.001), IL17-A (p = 0.013) and IL-18 (p = 0.014) compared to the control group, and IL-1β, IL-6, IL17-A and IL-18 were significantly (p < 0.050) increased with disease progression. Cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, as well as severe CM, were identified as significant predictors of lower HRQoL in adolescents with AR. Conclusions: This study identified IL-1β, IL-6, as well as severe CM, as predictors of lower HRQoL in adolescents with AR. However, these results should only serve as a starting point for additional confirmation research.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Society for Hypertension, elevated blood pressure is defined as the blood pressure the readings of which consistently range ≥140 mmHg systolic and/or 90 mmHg diastolic. Having in mind the fact that hypertension is one of the leading risk factors for cardiovasluar disease, kidney failure and premature mortality, it is clear that preventive measures should be imposed before the diagnosis is established. The main nutritional measures used in preventing hypertension are: weight loss, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH diet), reducing salt and alcohol intake and increasing potassium intake. The aim of this paper was to show the preventive effect of the DASH diet on hypertension onset in normotensive patients as well as to highlight that the diet is an integral part of hypertension treatment, in addition to the use of drug therapy for hypertensive patients.

Background/Objectives: Previous studies have linked chronic conditions and multimorbidity to lower physical activity, but evidence across individual movement behaviours remains limited. We examined associations between the number of self-reported chronic diseases and conditions and transport-related walking, leisure time physical activity, muscle-strengthening activity and sedentary behaviour among people aged ≥15 years in Serbia. Methods: Nationally representative 2019 Serbian National Health Survey data were analysed (n = 13,076 with complete information on 17 conditions). Complex sample logistic regression models were sequentially adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, body mass index, functional mobility and self-rated health. Additional analyses assessed linear trends and departures from linearity using all covariates except self-rated health. Results: Overall, 51.4% reported no condition, 18.0% one and 30.6% two or more. All outcomes were associated with condition status before adjustment, but most associations were attenuated after including functional mobility. After full adjustment, an overall association remained only for muscle-strengthening activity on <2 days/week (Wald F = 5.13; p = 0.006). Compared with no condition, one condition was associated with higher odds (aOR 1.60, 95% CI 1.18–2.16), but two or more were not. Each additional condition was associated with 4.5% higher odds of sitting or reclining for ≥6 h/day (aOR 1.045, 95% CI 1.006–1.087; p = 0.025). No other linear trends were identified; muscle-strengthening activity showed a departure from linearity (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Associations differed across movement behaviour domains and were attenuated particularly after including functional mobility. The number of conditions alone only partially accounted for observed differences in movement behaviours.