Studies on the association between single foods or nutrients and colorectal cancer have provided inconsistent results. Previous reviews did not conduct a quantitative synthesis of the relation with dietary patterns. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies addressing the association between dietary patterns and colorectal cancer. Studies quantifying the association between dietary patterns (defined a posteriori) and colorectal cancer were identified in PubMed (until 01.08.2010) and through backward and forward citation tracking (ISI Web of Science and Scopus). Summary relative risk (RR) estimates and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were computed for highest versus lowest levels of exposure, for colon cancer (CC) and rectal cancer (RC), and for proximal and distal CC, by random effects meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was quantified using the I2 statistic. Eight cohort and eight case–control studies defining patterns through principal components and factor analyses were included in the systematic review. Meta-analyses were conducted for three patterns: (i) ‘drinker,’ characterized by high alcohol consumption (CC: RRcombined=0.96, 95% CI: 0.82–1.12, I2=0.6%; RC: RRcombined=0.83, 95% CI: 0.47–1.45, I2=65.1%); (ii) ‘healthy,’ characterized by high fruit/vegetables consumption (CC: RRcombined=0.80, 95% CI: 0.70–0.90, I2=55.1%; RC: RRcombined=1.02, 95% CI: 0.89–1.17, I2=10.8%); (iii) ‘western,’ characterized by high red/processed meat consumption (CC: RRcombined=1.29, 95% CI: 1.13–1.48, I2=31.7%; RC: RRcombined=1.13, 95% CI: 0.92–1.39, I2=40.6%). Summary estimates for proximal and distal CC were similar. The risk of CC was increased with patterns characterized by high intake of red and processed meat and decreased with those labelled as ‘healthy.’ No significant associations were observed for RC.

With a significant portion of the population adopting veganism and conflicting views among nutrition professionals regarding the necessity of vitamin B12 supplementation, this review aims to explore existing studies evaluating interventions through food supplementation. It focuses on the impact of vitamin B12 deficiency across different demographics. The present study seeks to understand how research has addressed the relationship between the rise in veganism and vitamin B12 deficiency over the past decade. A scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA flow diagram. Studies from 2010 to 2023 were identified using Boolean operators and key terms in electronic databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and EBSCO (Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts, and Academic Search Complete). Out of 217 articles identified, 70 studies were included. The topical analysis categorized the studies into three groups: those associating vitamin B12 deficiency with diseases (n = 14), those analyzing the dietary habits of vegetarian individuals (vegan or not) without a specific focus on vitamin B12 (n = 49), and those addressing food guides and nutrition institution positions (n = 7). The authors concluded that vitamin B12 deficiency is prevalent among vegans due to limited consumption of animal products. For vegetarians, supplementation is an efficient means of treating and preventing deficiency; a daily dose of 50 to 100 micrograms is advised. There are still significant gaps in the research, nevertheless, such as the absence of randomized controlled trials evaluating various forms or dosages of vitamin B12 among vegetarians and the requirement for more information and awareness of the vitamin’s significance in vegan diets.

Dietary pattern analysis is a powerful technique to study the relationships between diet and cancer, accounting for the specificities of overall dietary intake in each setting. The objective of this study was to quantify the association between dietary patterns and colon and rectum cancers. We evaluated 151 rectum and 102 colon cancer cases selected among surgical patients at the Portuguese Oncology Institute, and 879 community controls. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Dietary patterns were defined with principal components and cluster analyses. Age, sex, education, total energy intake, and physical activity-adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were computed. Three dietary patterns were identified: (i) PI: 'healthy,' high consumption of dairy products, wholegrain cereals, vegetables/salads, legumes, fruits and vegetable soup, and low intake of wine; (ii) PII: 'low consumption of milk and foods containing dietary fiber,' low intake of dairy products, vegetables/salads, legumes, and fruits; and (iii) PIII: 'western,' high consumption of red/processed meat, refined cereals, sugar and sweets, potatoes, alcoholic beverages, and low intake of wholegrain cereals and vegetable soup. Compared with PI, the risk of colon cancer was higher among subjects with PII (OR = 2.07; 95% CI: 1.04-4.14) and PIII (OR = 2.35; 95% CI: 1.19-4.64). The OR estimates for rectum cancer were 3.12 (95% CI: 1.74-5.61) and 1.41 (95% CI: 0.75-2.63), respectively. Our results confirm the higher risk of colorectal cancer among subjects with 'western' diets and 'low consumption of milk and foods containing foods containing dietary fiber'. At a local level, these results support public health messages based on the accumulated evidence on the relationship between individual food items/groups and colorectal cancer.

Exergames, which combine digital games and physical exercise, have become a popular alternative to traditional exercise programs and are increasingly used in the health domains. This study aimed to provide a systematic review to synthesize existing studies on the use of exergames for the mental wellbeing of healthy older adults, aggregating the collected data to identify effect size. We performed a Systematic Review and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Assessment (GRADE) evidence synthesis. We performed the search in the following databases: MEDLINE^®, CINAHL^®, SPORTDiscus, SCOPUS, SciELO, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, and Cochrane^® Central Register of Controlled Trials from the first record until October 2021. Randomized controlled trials using exergames as an intervention were included. A total of 10 articles published between 2009 and 2021 were selected. Most studies used the Nintendo Wii^® as the exergame in the intervention program. Interventions ranged from 6 to 12 weeks, with 8-week programs being most frequent. It was possible to observe a positive effect on mood, the reduction of apathy, anxiety and depression, self-esteem, and affection.

Decisions to deny asylum are often based on highly speculative credibility assessments. Language barriers, trauma, and cultural misconceptions have all been shown to impact the perceptions examiners form about cases. Yet, although contestable in principle, many negative rulings retain an aura of objectivity and are accepted as justified by the case’s lack of empirical support and legal fit. This article examines how this aura of objectivity is accomplished. How is it that the essentially contestable nature of credibility assessments gets downplayed, so that the decision to deny asylum appears to be dictated by law and evidence? To address this question, the article draws on a case encountered during ethnographic research on the work of status determination in Brazil: the decision to deny refugee status to the asylum seeker known as Mrs. Z. It is argued that maintaining the perception that there was a pivotal moment of definition is a central aspect of how the decision to deny Mrs. Z’s request came across as warranted. Talk of a pivotal moment of definition, the article shows, fosters the perception that the relevant sources of controversy “have been dealt with,” foreclosing the possibility of dissent. Drawing on the work of American ethnomethodologist Michael Lynch, I adapt the notion of “phase-work” to refer to this discursive device.