'The Health-Secure Partnership': Study protocol for the development of a school- & community-based intervention for promoting healthy nutrition among rural adolescents in The Gambia.

Introduction: Interventions addressing malnutrition (under- and overnutrition) among adolescents have not been developed in The Gambia. We aim to coproduce the first phase of 'The Health-Secure Partnership' (HSP) - an innovative multicomponent intervention for adolescents in rural areas of The Gambia. Inference drawn from existing evidence and public contribution suggest that the future intervention would ideally involve nutrition-specific components coupled with changes to wider school and community contexts, delivered in partnerships between schools and local communities.

Factors influencing malnutrition among adolescent girls in The Gambia: a mixed-methods exploratory study.

Background: In The Gambia, existing research to understand and address malnutrition among adolescent girls is limited. Prior to the conduct of large-scale studies, formative research is needed. The aim of this mixed methods, cross-sectional study was to explore cultural contexts relevant to nutritional status, feasibility and appropriateness of recruitment and data collection methods (questionnaires and anthropometric measures), and plausibility of data collected.

Co-Designing Recipe Resources to Support Healthy Eating in African-Caribbeans in the United Kingdom: An Academic and Community Partnership Approach.

Introduction: The wealth of free food-based resources available to UK consumers on healthy eating and nutrition provides very limited illustrations of ethnic foods including African-Caribbean cuisines. This inequality in available resources limits the ability of African-Caribbean communities to effectively manage their health and reduces the cultural competence of health professionals.

Objective: The aim was to co-design healthier versions of several traditional African-Caribbean recipe resources by working in partnership with academics, a community-based Third Sector organisation, and their service-users.

'Health Connections': study protocol for the development of a coproduced, community-based diet, physical activity, and healthy weight intervention for UK black and Asian adults.

Introduction: A limited number of diet, physical activity and weight management programmes suitable for UK black and Asian populations have been evaluated. We aim to coproduce 'Health Connections-an ambitious new intervention to support dietary and physical activity choices, and maintaining a healthier weight, tailored to the needs of black Caribbean, black African and South Asian adults. Our existing research and public engagement work suggests that the intervention should be designed to be embedded in communities and delivered by peer educators supported by health professionals.

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Low Carbohydrate Versus Low Fat Diets, in Type 2 Diabetes: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

The clinical benefit of low carbohydrate (LC) diets compared with low fat (LF) diets for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains uncertain. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to compare their efficacy and safety in people with T2D. RCTs comparing both diets in participants with T2D were identified from MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and manual search of bibliographies.

Improving Vitamin D Intake in Young Children-Can an Infographic Help Parents and Carers Understand the Recommendations?

Vitamin D deficiency is a serious public health issue in the United Kingdom. Those at increased risk, such as pregnant women, children under 5 years and people from ethnic groups with dark skin, are not all achieving their recommended vitamin D. Effective vitamin D education is warranted.

Nutrient Composition of Popularly Consumed African and Caribbean Foods in The UK.

(1) Background: Traditional foods are important in the diets of Black Africans and Caribbeans and, more widely, influence UK food culture. However, little is known about the nutritional status of these ethnic groups and the nutrient composition of their traditional foods. The aim was to identify and analyse African and Caribbean dishes, snacks and beverages popularly consumed in the UK for energy, macronutrients and micronutrients.

Gamma-glutamyltransferase and risk of hypertension: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective evidence.

The objective of this review was to obtain a reliable estimate of the magnitude of the prospective association between gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and risk of hypertension, and to characterize the nature of the dose-response relationship. We conducted a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of published prospective studies. Relevant studies were identified in a literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases up to May 2015.

Association of serum total osteocalcin with type 2 diabetes and intermediate metabolic phenotypes: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational evidence.

Serum total osteocalcin, a marker of bone formation, may regulate glucose metabolism and influence the risk of developing adverse metabolic outcomes. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published observational evidence, to assess and quantify the associations of serum total osteocalcin with type 2 diabetes and intermediate metabolic phenotypes [e.g.

Gamma glutamyltransferase, alanine aminotransferase and risk of cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis.

The prospective evidence for the associations of gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) with risk of cancer in the general population is uncertain. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published prospective observational studies evaluating the associations of baseline levels of GGT and ALT with risk of overall (incidence and/or mortality) and site-specific cancers. Relevant studies were identified in a literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, reference lists of relevant studies to April 2014 and email contact with investigators.

Liver enzymes and risk of cardiovascular disease in the general population: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.

Background: Gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), commonly used markers of liver dysfunction, have been implicated with risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the strength and consistency of their associations in the general population have not been reliably quantified.

Methods: We synthesized available prospective epidemiological data on the associations of baseline levels of GGT, ALT, AST, and ALP with CVD [composite CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD), or stroke outcomes].

Liver enzymes and risk of all-cause mortality in general populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), commonly used as markers of liver dysfunction, have been implicated with risk of all-cause mortality. The prospective evidence on the associations in general populations has not been reliably quantified.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published prospective cohort studies evaluating the associations of baseline levels of these enzymes with all-cause mortality in general populations.

Liver aminotransferases and risk of incident type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

We evaluated the associations of liver aminotransferases with risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in general populations by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of published prospective studies. Studies were identified in a literature search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science from 1950 through October 2012. Of the 2,729 studies reviewed, 17 studies involving 60,359 participants and 3,890 incident T2D events were included.

Vitamin D and risk of future hypertension: meta-analysis of 283,537 participants.

The evidence on the association between baseline vitamin D status and risk of incident hypertension in general populations is limited and has not been reliably quantified. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published prospective studies evaluating the associations of baseline vitamin D status (circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and dietary vitamin D intake) with risk of hypertension. Eligible studies were identified in a literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science up to November 2012.

Ferritin levels and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective evidence.

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that a strong link that exists between elevated baseline body iron stores and high risk of incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in general populations, but the precise magnitude of the associations remains uncertain.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published prospective studies evaluating the associations of baseline ferritin (a biomarker of body iron stores) levels with risk of T2DM in general populations. A subsidiary review of dietary heme iron status and T2DM risk associations was also conducted.

Room for improvement? Leadership, innovation culture and uptake of quality improvement methods in general practice.

Background: Leadership and innovation are currently seen as essential elements for the development and maintenance of high-quality care. Little is known about the relationship between leadership and culture of innovation and the extent to which quality improvement methods are used in general practice. This study aimed to assess the relationship between leadership behaviour, culture of innovation and adoption of quality improvement methods in general practice.

Patients' and clinicians' experiences of consultations in primary care for sleep problems and insomnia: a focus group study.

Background: Insomnia affects around one-third of adults in the UK. Many sufferers seek help from primary care.

Aim: To explore patients' and primary care practitioners' expectations, experiences, and outcomes of consultations for sleep difficulties, as a basis for improving the treatment of insomnia in primary care.