Evaluation of prime and prime-boost immunization strategies in BALB/c mice inoculated with Leishmania infantum transfected with toxic plasmids

The etiologic agents of visceral leishmaniasis are Leishmania infantum and Leishmania donovani. Despite the variety of drugs available to treat leishmaniasis, most lead to serious adverse effects, and resistance to these drugs has been reported. Currently, no leishmaniasis vaccine is available for humans. That is why the group developed transgenic L. infantum promastigote lines, which express toxic proteins after differentiation into amastigotes. That is why group developed the pFL-AMA plasmid and transfected it into L. Infantum promastigotes. This plasmid was expressed only in the amastigote form of the parasite. Sequences encoding toxic proteins (active bovine trypsin and egg avidin) were inserted in this plasmid, and the transfected parasites died after the differentiation process. In this study, two immunization protocols were performed in BALB/c mice: prime and prime-boost immunization prior to challenge with the wild-type L. infantum (WT). The parasite burdens in the spleen, liver, and bone marrow were evaluated to verify immunological protection. Histopathological analysis of the spleen and liver and the humoral immune response were also performed. The data showed that the parasite burden was reduced in prime-boosted mice in the spleen, liver, and bone marrow, indicating that mice immunized with two doses of the transfected parasites were satisfactorily protected. High levels of IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a antibodies were observed, as well as the presence of anti-inflammatory cytokine Interleukine-10 and pro-inflammatory cytokine Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) and Interferon-γ (IFN – γ) suggesting a Th1/Th2 mix response, in addition to the presence of multinucleated giant cells in the spleen and lymphocyte infiltration in the liver. Therefore, L. infantum transfected with a toxic plasmid is an excellent vaccine candidate against visceral leishmaniasis and the application of a boost before the challenge promotes greater protection against WT L. infantum infection.     

Fat shaming under neoliberalism and COVID-19: Examining the UK’s Tackling Obesity campaign

This article explores the dynamics between fat shaming, neoliberalism, ideological constructions of health and the ‘obesity epidemic’ within the UK, using the UK Government’s recent Tackling Obesity campaign in response to Covid-19 as an illustration. We draw attention to how fat shaming as a practice that encourages open disdain for those living with excess weight operates as a moralising tool to regulate and manage those who are viewed as ‘bad’ citizens. In doing so, we begin by outlining how the ideological underpinnings of ‘health’ have been transformed under neoliberalism. We then consider the problematic use of fat shaming discourses that are often used as tools to promote ‘healthy’ lifestyle choices by those who view it as not only an acceptable way of communicating the health risks associated with obesity but also a productive way of motivating people with obesity to lose weight. Drawing on Graham Scambler’s theoretical framework regarding shame and blame (2020), we discuss how ‘heaping blame on shame’ has become a ‘wilful political strategy’ under neoliberalism, particularly as it relates to individuals with obesity, and how the Tackling Obesity campaign leverages concerns around ‘choices’ and ‘costs’ as a means through which to encourage normative models of self-care and self-discipline.     

Is low or high body mass index in patients operated for oral squamous cell carcinoma associated with the perioperative complication rate?

The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of body mass index (BMI), both low and high values, on the perioperative complication rate in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The medical records of 259 patients operated between 2014 and 2017 for OSCC were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Sixty of the 259 patients developed 87 complications. Low or high BMI was not associated with the perioperative complication rate. A longer operating time and increased blood loss were associated with a higher perioperative complication rate and higher Clavien–Dindo grade. Low BMI, American Society of Anesthesiologists score 2 and 3, a longer operating time, and increased blood loss were associated with a longer hospital stay. Low BMI was associated with a longer hospital stay. Neither low nor high BMI was associated with the perioperative complication rate. A longer operating time and increased blood loss were associated with a higher perioperative complication rate and higher Clavien–Dindo grade.     

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and weight status in children: the role of parental feeding practices

Abstract

The study examines Parental Feeding Practices (PFP) in relation to adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) and children’s weight status. It’s a cross-sectional study of 402 parents (68.4% mothers), with children aged 2–12 years. Parents completed the Comprehensive Parental Feeding Questionnaire and the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for children and adolescents (KIDMED), evaluating children’s adherence to the MD. Logistic regression showed that in children aged 2–<6 years, “emotion regulation/food as reward” and “pressure” decrease MD adherence (OR?=?0.186, p?<?0.0001 and OR?=?0.496, p?=?0.004), and “monitoring” decrease excess body weight (OR?=?0.284, p?=?0.009). In older children (6–12 years), “healthy eating guidance” and “monitoring” increase MD adherence (OR?=?3.262, p?=?0.001 and OR?=?3.147, p?<?0.0001), “child control” decreases MD adherence (OR?=?0.587, p?=?0.049), “pressure” decrease excess body weight (OR?=?0.495, p?<?0.0001) and “restriction” increase excess body weight (OR?=?1.784, p?=?0.015). “Healthy eating guidance” and “monitoring” seem to be the best PFP employed, in terms of children’s MD adherence and weight status.     

Factors associated with the perception of parents and children regarding obesity-related terminology used by healthcare professionals in a sample of Korean children and adolescents with obesity

ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare how children with overweight or obesity and their parents perceive the obesity-related terms used by healthcare professionals and investigate the factors associated with these perceptions.MethodsChildren and adolescents aged 8–16 years with overweight or obesity (n = 192) and their parents participated in the cross-sectional study by responding to a 5-point Likert-scale questionnaire on 10 obesity-related terms, including “chubby,” “weight problem,” “weight,” “overweight,” “BMI,” “obese,” “heavy,” “fleshy,” “fat,” and “severely obese.”ResultsFor both children and parents, “chubby” was the most desirable term (mean ± standard deviation: 3.50 ± 1.12 and 2.95 ± 0.83, respectively), and “severely obese” was the least acceptable term (2.83 ± 1.17 and 2.02 ± 1.02, respectively). Although the parents preferred all the terms less than the children did (p < 0.001), “weight problem” was considered most motivating for a child to lose weight (3.93 ± 0.94). Among children, older age and a larger self-perceived body size were associated with a more positive response towards obesity-related terms, whereas having internalized or externalized problems were negatively associated with these terms. Parents with a history of cardiovascular disease considered “severely obese” (β = ?0.419, [95% CI: ?0.739, ?0.099]) and “fat” (β = ?0.457, [95% CI: ?0.750, ?0.164]) less desirable.ConclusionsChildren and adolescents had a higher preference for obesity-related terms than their parents and preferred that healthcare professionals use euphemistic terms such as “chubby,” or neutral terms such as “weight problem.” Children with larger self-perceived body sizes or older age had a higher preference for obesity-related words. The terms used by healthcare professionals to describe excess weight must be motivating and respectful for all family members participating in the treatment.     

Impact of overweight and obesity on US renal cell carcinoma incidence trends (1995-2018)

In the United States, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) incidence and the prevalence of obesity, an established risk factor for RCC, have been increasing for several decades. RCC is more common among older individuals. We sought to quantify the contribution of excess adiposity to the rising incidence of RCC among individuals 60 years or older. National Institutes of Health-American Association of Retired Persons Diet and Health Study data (n = 453 859 participants, enrolled in 1995-1996, age at enrollment 50-71 years) were used to estimate multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for RCC across body mass index categories and HRs associated with smoking. Population attributable fractions (PAFs) were calculated using estimated HRs and annual overweight/obesity prevalence from the National Health Interview Survey (1985-2008). PAF estimates were combined with RCC incidence from Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results-13 to calculate annual percent changes in RCC incidence attributable (and unrelated) to overweight/obesity. We found that between 1995 and 2018, among individuals aged 60 years and older, PAF for overweight/obesity increased from 18% to 29% for all RCCs. In comparison, the PAF for smoking declined from 12% to 9%. RCC incidence increased 1.8% per year (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5%-2.1%) overall, while RCC incidence attributable to overweight/obesity increased 3.8% per year (95%CI 3.5%-4.2%) and RCC incidence unrelated to overweight/obesity increased 1.2% per year (95% CI 0.9%-1.4%). In conclusion, overweight/obesity appears to have contributed importantly to the rising incidence of RCC in the United States since the mid-1990s. Public health interventions focused on reducing overweight and obesity could help substantially in curbing this trend.     

健脾益肝方对非酒精性脂肪性肝病患者脂肪分布及脂代谢的影响

目的:探讨健脾益肝方对非酒精性脂肪性肝病(NAFLD)患者脂肪分布及脂代谢的影响。方法:将80例NAFLD患者随机分为对照组和治疗组各40例。两组患者均在多学科联合管理下给予个体化的饮食、运动等生活方式指导,治疗组患者在此基础上加用健脾益肝方,疗程均为3个月。通过生物电阻抗技术测量患者治疗前后脂肪质量及分布,定期监测肝肾功能、血脂指标。比较两组患者肥胖、脂肪分布、血脂指标变化。结果:治疗组患者有效率为97.5%,明显高于对照组的82.5%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);治疗组患者BMI、BFP、WHR、TC、TG及LDL-C水平明显低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(均P<0.05);治疗组患者躯干及内脏脂肪沉积改善明显优于对照组,差异有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。结论:生活方式干预联合健脾益肝方治疗NAFLD患者能显著改善患者的肥胖及脂代谢紊乱,并且与躯干和内脏脂肪质量的下降密切相关。