Background: The main objective of this study is to determine the accuracy of different biochemical markers of hepatic steatosis and to correlate liver steatosis with adherence to the Mediterranean diet and level of physical activity. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out, including subjects over 50 years of age, with a BMI > 25 kg/m², but excluding any patient with documented hepatic pathology other than hepatic steatosis. Participants were divided into two groups: patients with hepatic steatosis diagnosed by ultrasound (SG) and a control group of individuals without hepatic steatosis (CG). The level of physical activity was recorded by the IPAQ-SF questionnaire and the adherence to the Mediterranean diet was recorded using the PREDIMED questionnaire. Biochemical markers analyzed included the Hepatic steatosis index (HSI), AST-to-Platelet ratio (APRI) and Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4). Results: A total of 116 patients were included, 71 belonging to the SG and 45 to the CG. A total of 58.6% of the patients showed low adherence to the Mediterranean diet, 35.4% moderate adherence and 6% high adherence. The median estimated physical activity was 495 METS, with most participants reporting light activity. In the SG, significantly higher HSI values were observed (p < 0.001). A cut-off point of a HSI of 40 was established, with a sensitivity of 73.2% and a specificity of 65.8%. Significantly higher FIB-4 values (p = 0.039) were also observed in the SG. A cut-off point of FIB-4 was set at 0.27, with a sensitivity of 69% and a specificity of 57.9%. Patients in the SG showed lower scores in the PREDIMED. Patients in the SG tended to show lower METS scores. However, the higher number of patients with intense activity in the CG group stands out (p = 0.008). Conclusions: The HSI and FIB-4 showed a significant correlation with liver steatosis. Hepatic steatosis is associated with low adherence to the Mediterranean diet and patients with hepatic steatosis tended to have lower METS scores.

Introduction: The diverse cultural landscape of Europe underscores the importance of culturally safe healthcare. There is a necessity to assess cultural competence among European nursing faculty to provide an international perspective on cultural competence.Design: A descriptive, cross‐sectional study.Methods: An assessment of cultural competencies was conducted using the Cultural Competence Assessment scale, either in its original language (English) or in its translated and validated versions in Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Turkish. An online questionnaire was used to collect data.The study was conducted in 71 higher institutions, distributed across 17 countries through a consecutive sample of 1364 nursing faculty.The ethical principles of biomedical research were respected during the study, and the confidentiality of the data was guaranteed.Results: The mean level of cultural competence of the European nursing faculty was at the level of ‘good’. They showed greater cultural awareness and sensitivity than cultural competence behaviors. Significant associations were found between cultural competence level and the language of the questionnaire, level of education, having a nursing degree, leisure stays abroad, having friends from other countries or cultures, and international experiences abroad and at home. The better levels of cultural competence were found in profiles with the categories of: women with a Nursing Degree, a higher level of education, and with an ERASMUS+ stay experience.Conclusions: This study offers an international overview of the cultural competence of nursing faculty. While the overall level of cultural competence was good, there is a need to reinforce the behaviors and factors that influence it.

Background: Obesity involves an excessive buildup of adipose tissue and is linked to chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which contribute to immunosenescence. Obesity and aging share common features, including immune system impairment and oxidative and inflammatory states, suggesting that obesity may represent a model for accelerated immunosenescence. Objectives/Methods: The aim of this research was to evaluate in Zucker fatty (fa/fa) rats, a well-established genetic model of obesity, multiple immune function parameters (phagocytic activity, natural killer cell function, lymphocyte proliferation in response to mitogens, and cytokine profiles), as well as redox parameters (total antioxidant capacity, glutathione levels, activities of glutathione peroxidase and reductase, and xanthine oxidase activity) in peritoneal leukocytes, spleen, thymus, and liver at adult age (24 weeks). Comparisons were made with Zucker lean controls (fa/+), commonly used as standard controls, and Wistar rats as an independent control group. Results: Zucker fa/fa rats displayed significant physiological disorders, including increased body and organ weights, premature immunosenescence characterized by impaired innate and adaptive immune responses, reduced IL-2 and IL-10 secretion, elevated TNF-α production upon mitogen stimulation, and oxidative stress evidenced by redox imbalance in the spleen, thymus, and liver. Conclusions: These immune dysfunctions and oxidative imbalances are comparable to those observed during the aging process. Given that the immune parameters analyzed are considered indicators of health, aging rate, and longevity, our findings suggest that adult Zucker fa/fa rats could exhibit features of premature aging.

Aim: This study aims to evaluate the cultural competencies of undergraduate nursing students and nurse educators and identify associated factors. Design: Observational, descriptive, longitudinal study conducted in Malta. Method: Online questionnaires, based on the Cultural Competence Assessment Scale measuring self‐perceived competence and reflections on international experiences, were administered to students during each of the 3 years of an undergraduate nursing programme and once to nurse educators. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to examine cultural competence levels and their associations with demographic and experiential factors. Results: A total of 43, 38 and 34 students participated across the three programme years, respectively, alongside 19 nurse educators (response rates: 51.8% and 70.4%, respectively). Third‐year students demonstrated very good cultural competence with a mean score of 78.24 (out of 100), while educators recorded a slightly lower mean of 73.26. Leisure time abroad before higher education significantly influenced cultural awareness in both first‐ and third‐year students, while age was positively correlated with cultural awareness among final‐year students. For educators, doctoral qualifications were associated with higher cultural awareness, and greater teaching experience correlated with more competent behaviours. Cultural competence improved progressively across the programme, suggesting clinical exposure and maturity play important roles. The inclusion of educators provided a broader perspective, showing that while awareness was strong, behaviour‐based competencies require further support. Patient or Public Contribution: Developing cultural competence is expected to improve patient care, safety and communication in increasingly diverse healthcare contexts.