Saltwater fish but not freshwater fish consumption is positively related to handgrip strength: The TCLSIH Cohort Study

Fish contain many important nutrients and are primarily known for high n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) content. Studies have shown that supplementation of fish oil-derived n-3 PUFA improves muscle mass and strength. Here, we hypothesized that fish consumption might improve muscle strength. To test this hypothesis, we performed this cross-sectional study (n = 29,084) in Tianjin, China. The frequency of fish consumption was assessed using a valid self-administered food frequency questionnaire. Handgrip strength (HGS) was used as the indicator of muscle strength, and was measured using a handheld digital dynamometer. Analysis of covariance was used to examine the relationship between fish consumption and HGS. In men, after adjusted potential confounding factors, the least square means (95% confidence intervals) of HGS across saltwater fish consumption categories were 41.5 (41.1, 43.7) kg for <1 time/week, 44.6 (43.2, 45.8) kg for 1 time/week, and 44.7 (43.3, 46.1) kg for ≥2 to 3 times/week (P for trend <0.001). In men, the least square means (95% confidence intervals) of HGS across the ascending quartiles of dietary n-3 PUFA intake were 43.6 (43.2, 44.4) kg, 43.7 (43.2, 44.6) kg, 44.4 (43.0, 45.8) kg, and 44.6 (43.1, 46.0) kg (P for trend <0.01). The results showed that saltwater fish consumption was positively related to HGS in men, but not in women, suggesting that saltwater fish contain nutrients that may be used to improve HGS.     

60Co γ射线对盐诱导激酶2的诱导表达作用

目的 探讨电离辐射对盐诱导激酶2（SIK2）蛋白和mRNA的诱导表达作用及细胞周期相关性。方法 HepG2细胞用⁶⁰Co γ射线照射,蛋白质印迹法和实时定量PCR法分别检测细胞的SIK2蛋白和mRNA的表达,胸腺嘧啶双阻滞法同步化细胞,流式细胞术测定细胞周期的变化。结果 HepG2细胞2 Gy照射后4、6、10 h,SIK2蛋白表达显著增加 （t=3.00、3.98、4.17,P<0.05）;10 Gy大剂量照射后,SIK2蛋白表达增加的趋势与2 Gy一致,但增加的幅度较前者低。2和10 Gy照射后SIK2基因 mRNA均在10 h出现了增加（t=4.54、2.74,P<0.05）。照后10 h出现了细胞G₂/M阻滞高峰。利用同步化细胞分析表明,细胞周期不同时相中SIK2 mRNA的表达无明显差别。结论 2和10 Gy照射均能诱导SIK2蛋白表达增加,2 Gy的作用更加明显。细胞照射后10 h,SIK2 mRNA的表达水平增加,但与辐射诱发细胞G₂/M期阻滞引起不同时相细胞的分布变化无关。     

Human biomonitoring pilot study DEMOCOPHES in Germany: Contribution to a harmonized European approach

Human biomonitoring (HBM) is an effective tool to assess human exposure to environmental pollutants, but comparable HBM data in Europe are lacking. In order to expedite harmonization of HBM studies on a European scale, the twin projects COPHES (Consortium to Perform Human Biomonitoring on a European Scale) and DEMOCOPHES (Demonstration of a study to Coordinate and Perform Human Biomonitoring on a European Scale) were formed, comprising 35 partners from 27 European countries.In COPHES a research scheme and guidelines were developed to exemplarily measure in a pilot study mercury in hair, cadmium, cotinine and several phthalate metabolites in urine of 6–11 year old children and their mothers in an urban and a rural region. Seventeen European countries simultaneously conducted this cross-sectional DEMOCOPHES feasibility study.The German study population was taken in the city of Bochum and in the Higher Sauerland District, comprising 120 mother-child pairs. In the present paper features of the study implementation are presented. German exposure concentrations of the pollutants are reported and compared with European average concentrations from DEMOCOPHES and with those measured in the representative German Environmental Survey (GerES IV).German DEMOCOPHES concentrations for mercury and cotinine were lower than the European average. However, 47% of the children were still exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) outside their home, which gives further potential for enhancing protection of children from ETS.Compared with samples from the other European countries German participating children had lower concentrations of the phthalate metabolites MEP and of the sum of 3 DEHP-metabolites (MEHP, 5OH-MEHP and 5oxo-MEHP), about the same concentrations of the phthalate metabolites MBzP and MiBP and higher concentrations of the phthalate metabolite MnBP. 2.5% of the German children had concentrations of the sum of 4 DEHP-metabolites and 4.2% had concentrations of MnBP that exceeded health based guidance values, indicating reasons for concern.Continuous HBM is necessary to track changes of pollutant exposure over time. Therefore Germany will continue to cooperate on the harmonisation of European human biomonitoring to support the chemicals regulation with the best possible exposure data to protect Europe’s people against environmental health risks.     

Parents and Health Care Professionals Working Together to Improve Adolescent Health: The Perspectives of Parents

One proposed strategy to improve adolescent health and health care is to create working partnerships among adolescent health care professionals (HCPs) and families. In this pilot qualitative study we interviewed 17 mothers to explore their perceptions of the role of parents, HCPs, and parent–HCP partnerships in addressing adolescent health issues.     

Coping with Weight-related Discrepancies: Initial Development of the WEIGHTCOPE

PurposeThe present research sought to provide the initial development, validation and reliability for a measure (WEIGHTCOPE) to assess the variation in how women, who are currently trying to lose or maintain weight, cope with common, perceived weight-related discrepancies.MethodsTo this end, two studies were conducted to 1) develop an initial list of coping responses to common weight-related triggers, 2) create an initial measurement model through exploratory factor analysis (study 1; n = 470), and 3) provide initial validation for the measure through confirmatory factor analysis (study 2; n = 310).FindingsResults support the initial validity and reliability of a 38-item, 10-factor structure: Physical Activity, Healthy Eating, Suppressed Eating, Supplement Use, Self-Regulation, Positive Reframing, Social Support, Disengagement, Camouflage, and Comfort Food. The present findings reiterate individual variation in coping choice in response to a perceived weight-related discrepancy, and its prospective assessment with the WEIGHTCOPE.ConclusionsThe WEIGHTCOPE can be an integral tool for public health and clinical practice, where triggers are common, and interventions are employed to enhance the use of more positive forms of weight control behaviors and/or avoid negative consequences of weight- and fat-related discrepancies. Future research can use the WEIGHTCOPE to help guide theoretical and pragmatic approaches to various triggering events and potential moderators of coping.