Effects of 12-week supplementation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Citrus bergamia</Emphasis> extracts-based formulation CitriCholess on cholesterol and body weight in older adults with dyslipidemia: a randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled trial

Backgrounds

Recent experiments suggest that Citrus bergamia extracts could benefit people with dyslipidemia and obesity but this needs to be further validated.

Methods

A total of 98 people age-matched older adults (65 years) with elevated blood lipids were enrolled to receive 12-week supplementation of a Citrus bergamia extracts-based formulation (CitriCholess)(n?=?48) and placebo (n?=?50).

Results

No group differences were found in baseline bodyweight, body mass index (BMI), blood cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and glucose levels. CitriCholess supplementation resulted in lower levels than placebo in TG (1.83?±?0.92 vs. 1.95?±?1.34 mmol/L, P?=?0.612), TC (5.14?±?0.98 vs. 5.44?±?0.77 mmol/L, P?=?0.097), and LDL-C (3.13?±?0.74 vs. 3.43?±?0.62 mmol/L, P?=?0.032). Compared to placebo, CitriCholess also resulted in greater reductions in body weight (?0.604?±?0.939 vs. 0.06?±?0.74 kg, P?<?0.01), waist circumferences (?0.60?±?1.349 cm vs. -0.16?±?1.503 cm, P?<?0.01) and BMI (?0.207?±?0.357 vs. 0.025?±?0.274, P?<?0.01). Additionally, females had a significantly higher level of HDL-C than males. TC was significantly correlated with LDL-C, and to a less degree, with TG. TG was inversely correlated with HDL-C. Body weight and waist circumference were negatively correlated with HDL-C and positively correlated with glucose.

Conclusion

12-week supplementation of CitriCholess could benefit lipid metabolism and weight management in old adults with dyslipidemia.

     

Effects of 12-week supplementation of marine Omega-3 PUFA-based formulation Omega3Q10 in older adults with prehypertension and/or elevated blood cholesterol

Backgrounds

To study the effects of supplementation of a marine omega-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acids (n3-PUFA) formulation (Omega3Q10) in older adults with hypertension and/or hypercholesterolemia.

Methods

A total of 97 people were enrolled to receive 12-week supplementation of either Omega3Q10 (n?=?48) or soybean oil (n?=?49). Total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and hypertension-related symptoms were determined before and after the supplementation.

Results

There were no baseline differences between the two groups. Omega3Q10 supplementation significantly reduced diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (from 81.6?±?5.3 mmHg to 79.3?±?5.2 mmHg, P?<?0.05). Blood concentrations of TC and LDL-C decreased significantly and blood HDL-C level increased significantly after 12 weeks of Omega3Q10 (5.5?±?0.7 vs. 5.3?±?0.5, P?<?0.05; 3.7?±?0.8 vs. 3.3?±?0.6, P?<?0.05; 1.2?±?0.6 vs. 1.3?±?0.5, P?<?0.05, respectively) and soybean oil supplementation (5.7?±?0.8 vs. 5.6?±?0.7, P?<?0.05; 3.6?±?0.7 vs. 3.4?±?0.8, P?<?0.05; 1.0?±?0.8 vs. 1.2?±?0.7, P?<?0.05, respectively) but no group differences were found. A significantly greater proportion of the people in the Omega3Q10 group became free from headache and palpitations & chest tightness symptoms after the 12-week supplementation compared to that of the soybean oil group (95.5% vs. 71.4%, P?<?0.01; 95.8 vs. 75.5%, P?<?0.01, respectively).

Conclusion

12-week supplementation of Fish oil-based PUFA appear to be more effective in improving DBP and hypertension-related symptoms than soybean oil in old adults with hypertension and hypercholesterolemia although both supplementation improved TC, LDL-C and HDL-C concentrations.

     

Decreased lipogenesis-promoting factors in adipose tissue in postmenopausal women with overweight on a Paleolithic-type diet

Purpose

We studied effects of diet-induced postmenopausal weight loss on gene expression and activity of proteins involved in lipogenesis and lipolysis in adipose tissue.

Methods

Fifty-eight postmenopausal women with overweight (BMI 32.5?±?5.5) were randomized to eat an ad libitum Paleolithic-type diet (PD) aiming for a high intake of protein and unsaturated fatty acids or a prudent control diet (CD) for 24 months. Anthropometry, plasma adipokines, gene expression of proteins involved in fat metabolism in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity and mass in SAT were measured at baseline and after 6 months. LPL mass and activity were also measured after 24 months.

Results

The PD led to improved insulin sensitivity (P?<?0.01) and decreased circulating triglycerides (P?<?0.001), lipogenesis-related factors, including LPL mRNA (P?<?0.05), mass (P?<?0.01), and activity (P?<?0.001); as well as gene expressions of CD36 (P?<?0.05), fatty acid synthase, FAS (P?<?0.001) and diglyceride acyltransferase 2, DGAT2 (P?<?0.001). The LPL activity (P?<?0.05) and gene expression of DGAT2 (P?<?0.05) and FAS (P?<?0.05) were significantly lowered in the PD group versus the CD group at 6 months and the LPL activity (P?<?0.05) remained significantly lowered in the PD group compared to the CD group at 24 months.

Conclusions

Compared to the CD, the PD led to a more pronounced reduction of lipogenesis-promoting factors in SAT among postmenopausal women with overweight. This could have mediated the favorable metabolic effects of the PD on triglyceride levels and insulin sensitivity.

     

Everyday life following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: decline in physical symptoms within the first month and change-related predictors

Purpose

Lower quality of life, especially in the physical domain (Physical-QOL), is common in patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, few studies explore changes in the Physical-QOL, i.e., physical symptoms, in everyday life of patients following HSCT. The present study addresses this gap by examining patient daily physical symptoms and their predictors in terms of demographic and clinical characteristics.

Methods

Physical symptoms were reported by 188 patients (56.9% men; aged 47.6?±?13.4 years) for 28 consecutive days after post-HSCT hospital discharge. Multilevel modeling was used to investigate fixed and random effects for physical symptom changes over time.

Results

The results indicated that the initial level of physical symptoms (immediately after hospital discharge) systematically decreased over 28 days. Treatment toxicity (WHO scale; β?=?0.09, p?<?.01) and baseline depressive symptoms (CES-D scale; β?=?0.06, p?<?.01) were associated with the initial level of physical symptoms. Patients with more depressive symptoms before HSCT and with more adverse treatment effects presented with more physical symptoms immediately after hospital discharge. The type of transplant, diagnosis, and conditioning regimen differentiated the course of physical symptoms. Patients with leukemias and other myeloid neoplasms (β?=?0.05, p?<?.01), after allogeneic HSCT (β?=??0.06, p?<?.01), and with non-myeloablative conditioning (β?=??0.09, p?<?.01) showed a significant lower decrease in symptoms over time. Patients with multiple myeloma presented with the most rapid improvement (β?=??.03, p?<?.05).

Conclusions

The findings suggest a heterogeneous and rather positive response to HSCT. Treatment-related conditions occurred to be a significant predictor of the intensity of change in physical functioning after HSCT.

     

Concentrations of nicotine,nitrosamines, and humectants in legal and illegal cigarettes in Mexico

Background

Article 10 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control states the need for industry disclosure of tobacco contents and emissions. Currently, the profiles of key tobacco compounds in legal and illegal cigarettes are largely unknown. We aimed to analyze and compare concentrations of nicotine, nitrosamines, and humectants in legal and illegal cigarettes collected from a representative sample of smokers.

Methods

Participants of the International Tobacco Control cohort provided a cigarette pack of the brand they smoked during the 2014 wave. Brands were classified as legal or illegal according to the Mexican legislation. Nicotine, nitrosamines, glycerol, propylene glycol, and pH were quantified in seven randomly selected packs of each brand. All analyses were done blinded to legality status. Average concentrations per brand and global averages for legal and illegal brands were calculated. Comparisons between legal and illegal brands were conducted using t tests.

Results

Participants provided 76 different brands, from which 6.8% were illegal. Legal brands had higher nicotine (15.05?±?1.89 mg/g vs 12.09?±?2.69 mg/g; p?<?0001), glycerol (12.98?±?8.03 vs 2.93?±?1.96 mg/g; p?<?0.001), and N-nitrosanatabine (NAT) (1087.5?±?127.0 vs 738.5?±?338 ng/g; p?=?0.006) concentrations compared to illegal brands. For all other compounds, legal and illegal brands had similar concentrations.

Conclusion

Compared to illegal cigarettes, legal brands seem to have higher concentrations of nicotine, NAT, and glycerol. Efforts must be made to implement and enforce Article 10 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to provide transparent information to consumers, regulators, and policy-makers; and to limit cigarette engineering from the tobacco industry.

     

Toxicity of Nickel on the Selected Species of Marine Diatoms and Copepods

Toxicity values for nickel on marine diatoms and copepods were derived based on bioassay tests. The 96 h IC₅₀ of nickel on diatoms, Odontella mobiliensis and Coscinodiscus centralis were 0.31?±?0.01 and 0.62?±?0.02 mg/L and LC₅₀ values on copepods, Oithona similis and Acartia danae were 2.78?±?0.14 and 2.34?±?0.32 mg/L, respectively. The species mean chronic values of nickel were 0.016, 0.17, 0.57 and 0.42 mg/L for O. mobiliensis, C. centralis, O. similis and A. danae, respectively. A hazardous concentration was derived and evaluated using the species sensitivity distribution (SSD) method. SSD indicated that 13 µg Ni/L is the maximum allowable concentration for protection of 95% plankton species in coastal and marine ecosystem of India. Diatoms are more sensitive to nickel than copepods by almost an order of magnitude. The toxicity values derived in the present study may be useful to calculate ambient water quality criteria/standard for nickel.     

Physical activity of German children during different segments of the school day

Aim

This study objectively investigated the amount and intensity of German primary school children’s physical activity (PA) during different segments of the school day and explored the contribution of physical education (PE) and break times to daily moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA).

Subject and methods

PA of 294 children (7.1?±?0.7 years, 48 % male) was objectively measured for 6 days using Actiheart®. Based on children’s timetables, break times and PE periods were determined and PA was calculated individually and subsequently classified in light (1.5–3 MET), moderate (3–6 MET) and vigorous (>6 MET) intensities. Weight status was determined during a school visit.

Results

Children spent 133?±?61 min in MVPA; on weekdays, this amount increased significantly (141?±?66 min, p?≤?0.01). 45.9 % of children reached physical activity guidelines of 60 min of MVPA daily, with boys achieving this goal significantly more often than girls (65.6 vs. 28.7 %, respectively; p?≤?0.01). PE lessons and break times accounted for 15?±?13 min (12.7 %) and 7?±?6 min (5.8 %) of daily MVPA, respectively. On days with PE, children spent 144?±?68 min in MVPA, whereas on days without PE, this time decreased significantly to 122?±?63 min (p?≤?0.01).

Conclusion

The findings suggest that segments such as PE lessons and morning breaks are important sources for MVPA for boys and girls. This should therefore be considered for policies, timetables and curriculums in order to offer sufficient opportunities for children to be physically active during the school day.

     

Speed ratio but cabin temperature positively correlated with increased heart rates among professional drivers during car races

Objectives

The present study measures heart rate (HR) on a number of professional race-car drivers during actual car races through annual seasons to test hypotheses that faster relative speed and higher cabin temperature would induce higher HR.

Methods

Heart rates in fifteen male drivers (31.2 ± 5.5 years old) were obtained by chest-strap sensors during official-professional 13 races. Average HR was calculated while the driver was racing from the start to the end of each race.

Results

The average HR during races was 164.5 ± 15.1 beats min^?1 and the average amount of time each driver spent driving per race was 54.2 ± 13.7 min. Average HR significantly and positively correlated with mean speed ratio (P < 0.001), but not with the average cabin temperatures (P = 0.533, range 25.6–41.8 °C) by the multiple linear regression analysis. Both average HR and mean speed ratio were significantly lower under wet, than dry conditions (151.9 ± 16.5 vs. 168.3 ± 12.5 beats min^?1, 86.9 ± 4.4 vs. 93.4 ± 1.5 %).

Conclusions

The cardiovascular system of drivers is considerably stressed at extremely high HR. This high average HR positively correlated with mean speed ratio, suggesting that faster driving speed would induce greater cardiovascular stress to professional drivers during actual races. However, contrary to our hypothesis, cabin temperature was not significantly correlated with average HR. It is speculated that direct body cooling systems used in this professional race category work well against increases in HR by thermal stress under the temperature range found herein.

     

Toxicity and Genotoxicity of Three Antimicrobials Commonly Used in Veterinary Medicine

The toxicity of chlortetracycline (CTC), oxytetracycline (OTC) and enrofloxacin (ENF) was tested on two green algal species: the international standard Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and the native Argentine species Ankistrodesmus fusiformis. All three antibiotics inhibited the algal growth. The most sensitive species was P. subcapitata, for which the EC₅₀ for CTC, OTC and ENF were 1.19?±?0.53, 0.92?±?0.30 and 5.18?±?3.80 mg L^?1, respectively. The EC₅₀ for A. fusiformis, were 3.23?±?0.53, 7.15?±?2.69 and 10.6?±?1.28 mg L^?1, respectively. The genotoxicity of these veterinary antibiotics was also assessed using chromosome aberration (CA) and micronuclei (MN) induction in Allium cepa roots. Three concentrations were tested (0.1, 1 and 10 mg L^?1). Only ENF at 1 and 10 mg L^?1 showed any significant MN induction. These data revealed that CTC, OTC and ENF could cause toxicity on green algae, whereas ENF could cause genotoxicity on A. cepa plants.     

Relationships between hydration biomarkers and total fluid intake in pregnant and lactating women

Introduction

Previous research established significant relationships between total fluid intake (TFI) and urinary biomarkers of the hydration process in free-living males and females; however, the nature of this relationship is not known for pregnant (PREG) and lactating (LACT) women.

Purpose

To determine the relationship between urinary and hematological hydration biomarkers with TFI in PREG and LACT.

Methods

Eighteen PREG/LACT (age: 31 ± 3 years, pre-pregnancy BMI: 24.26 ± 5.85 kg m^?2) collected 24-h urine samples, recorded TFI, and provided a blood sample at 5 time points (15 ± 2, 26 ± 1, 37 ± 1 weeks gestation, 3 ± 1 and 9 ± 1 weeks postpartum during lactation); 18 pair-matched non-pregnant (NP), non-lactating (NL) women (age: 29 ± 4 years, BMI: 24.1 ± 3.7 kg m^?2) provided samples at similar time intervals. Twenty-four-hour urine volume (U _VOL), osmolality (U _OSM), specific gravity (U _SG), and color (U _COL) were measured. Hematocrit, serum osmolality (S _OSM), and serum total protein (S _TP) were measured in blood.

Results

Significant relationships were present between TFI and urinary biomarkers in all women (P < 0.004); these relationships were not different between PREG and NP, and LACT and NL, except U _VOL in PREG (P = 0.0017). No significant relationships between TFI and hematological biomarkers existed (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Urinary biomarkers of hydration, but not hematological biomarkers, have a strong relationship with TFI in PREG, LACT, NP, and NL women. These data suggest that urinary biomarkers of hydration reflect TFI during pregnancy and breast-feeding.

     

Relationship between cyberbullying and health-related quality of life in a sample of children and adolescents

Purpose

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a well-known construct that refers to a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. Its relationship with multiple forms of violence, including bullying, has been widely explored, but this is not the case for cyberbullying. The main objective is to analyze how HRQoL varies depending on the role played in cyberbullying, its temporal stability, and gender and age differences.

Method

An analytical and longitudinal study was conducted at two temporal moments. At Time 1 (December 2015), 920 Spanish students aged between 11 and 18 years participated (M_age?=?13.36, SD?=?1.83: 48.9% boys and 51.1% girls). At Time 2 (April 2016), there were 313 participants (M_age 12.81 years, SD?=?1.59: 53.4% boys and 46.6% girls). We used the Cyberbullying Test (technological scale) and the Spanish version of the KIDSCREEN-52.

Results

Cybervictims and cyberbully–victims present worse scores in all dimensions of the KIDSCREEN-52 (p?<?.001), compared to cyberbystanders or uninvolved individuals. There are gender differences only in cyberaggression and cyberbystanding. There are significant inverse correlations between all the dimensions of the KIDSCREEN-52 and cybervictimization, with Bullying (r?=???.603, p?<?.001), Mood (r?=???.329, p?<?.001), and School environment (r?=???.327, p?<?.001) being particularly relevant. There were statistically significant differences between T1 and T2 for cyberbystanding (lower scores at T2).

Conclusion

Cybervictims and cyberbully–victims have worse quality of life in all the dimensions than uninvolved individuals, especially in Psychological well-being, School environment, and Bullying.

     

The association between social network factors and mental health at different life stages

Objectives

Psychosocial factors are important determinants of an individual’s health. This study examines the association between health scores and social network factors on mental health across different life stages.

Methods

Data were drawn from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey for adolescents (n = 1739), adults (n = 10,309) and seniors (n = 2287). Hierarchical regression modelling was applied to examine effects within and across age groups. All the variables were derived from the self-completion questionnaire.

Results

The social network factors were statistically significant predictors of mental health outcomes for all three life stages. For adolescents, the three social network factors were statistically significant with social isolation having the largest impact (β = ?.284, p < .001), followed by social connection (β = .084, p < .001) and social trust having a similar effect (β = .073, p < .001). For adults social isolation had the highest impact (β = ?.203, p < .001), followed by social connection (β = .110, p < .001) and social trust (β = .087, p < .001).The results for seniors were social isolation (β = ?.188, p < .001), social connection (β = .147, p < .001) and social trust (β = .032, p < .05).

Conclusions

After adding the social network factors, the models improved significantly with social isolation playing the most significant role across all life stages, whereas the other social network factors played a differentiated role depending upon the life stage. These findings have practical implications in the design of mental health interventions across different life stages.

     

Correlates of health-related quality of life in young-old and old–old community-dwelling older adults

Purpose

This study aimed (1) to examine the role of potential correlates of HRQoL in a large representative sample of older adults, and (2) to investigate whether the relationships between HRQoL and potential factors differ as a function of HRQoL component (physical vs. mental) and/or age cohort (young-old vs. old–old).

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 802 older adults aged 60–79 years old. HRQoL was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire. Functional fitness was assessed using the Senior Fitness Test. Physical activity was measured via the Baecke questionnaire. Demographic information, mental and health features were obtained through questionnaires.

Results

A multiple regression analysis showed that BMI (β = ?0.15, p?=?0.001), body strength (β =?0.21, p?<?0.001), aerobic endurance (β =?0.29, p?<?0.001), physical activity (β =?0.11, p?=?0.007), depressive symptoms (β = ?0.19, p?<?0.001), falls (β = ?0.19, p?<?0.001), and living alone (β = ?0.16, p?<?0.001) were all significantly related to HRQoL-SF-36 total score. The positive relation with aerobic endurance was significantly higher for the physical component of HRQoL, while the negative relation with living alone was significantly higher for the mental component. The positive relation of HRQoL with physical activity was significantly higher in old–old compared to young-old adults.

Conclusion

This data suggest that body composition, functional fitness, psycho-social factors, and falls are important correlates of HRQoL in old age. There are HRQoL-component and age-cohort differences regarding these correlates, underlying the need for specific strategies at the community level to promote HRQoL in older adults.

     

Sedentary time among primary school children in south-west Germany: amounts and correlates

Background

Sedentary behaviour in children is related to different health consequences such as overweight and cardio-metabolic diseases that can track into adulthood. Previous studies have shown that children spend hours being sedentary, but no data of sedentary time (ST) among German children has been available, yet. Therefore, this study investigated objectively measured amounts and correlates of ST in a sample of German primary school children.

Methods

Children’s physical activity (PA) was objectively assessed for 6 days using a multi-sensor device (Actiheart®; CamNtech, Cambridge, UK). Activity levels were categorized on the basis of energy expenditure (MET) into sedentary, light PA (LPA), and moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA). ST excluding sleeping hours was assessed for 231 children (7.1 ± 0.6 years, male: 45.9%) and analysed for independent groups. Examined factors (parental education, household income, and migration background) were assessed by parental questionnaire. Children’s weight, height and gender were collected in schools. Weight status was calculated on the basis of BMI percentiles.

Results

On average, children spent 3.5 ± 1.5 h daily being sedentary, excluding sleeping hours. Significantly higher ST was found in girls (t = ?4.6; p < 0.01), in children with migration background (t = ?6.9; p < 0.01), at the weekend (t = ?2.8; p < 0.01), and among inactive children (t = 6.8; p < 0.01). Additionally, significant correlations with ST in this sample were identified for MVPA (B = ?0.99; [?1.09;-0.88], p < 0.01), LPA (B = ?0.89; [?0.97;-0.82], p < 0.01), migration background (B = ?17.64; [5.24;30.04], p < 0.01), gender (B = ?13.48; [?25.94;-1.01], p < 0.05) and household income (B = ?4.80; [?9.07; ?0.53], p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Girls, children with migration background, and inactive children were identified as potential risk groups. A higher income was associated with less ST. In general, ST was higher at the weekend. Furthermore, as PA was found to be negatively correlated to ST, these activities may replace each other. Therefore, these findings should be considered in future health interventions.

Trial registration

German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS), DRKS-ID: DRKS00000494 DATE: 25/08/2010.

     

Effect of 8-weeks prebiotics/probiotics supplementation on alcohol metabolism and blood biomarkers of healthy adults: a pilot study

Purpose

Modulating gut bacteria via regular prebiotics/probiotics consumption may improve the metabolism of acute alcohol ingestion. This study investigated the impact of 8-weeks prebiotics/probiotics supplementation on microbiome changes and responses to acute alcohol consumption.

Methods

38 participants (21 females, 23.6?±?3.4 kg m^?2, mean?±?SD) attended the laboratory on two occasions separated by an 8-week intervention period. On each of these visits, a dose of alcohol (0.40?±?0.04 g kg^?1, Vodka?+?Soda-Water) was consumed over 10 min. Breath alcohol concentration was sampled over 5 h and alcohol pharmacokinetics was analysed using WinNonlin non-compartmental modelling (C_max, t_max, AUC_last). For the intervention, participants were randomised to receive Placebo?+?Placebo (PLA), Placebo?+?Prebiotics (PRE), Probiotics?+?Placebo (PRO), or Probiotics?+?Prebiotics (SYN) in a double-blinded manner. Probiotics were a commercially available source of Lactobacillus acidophilus (NCFM^®) and Bifidobacterium lactis (Bi-07). Prebiotics were a commercially available source of Larch Gum (from Larix occidentalis). Placebo was microcrystalline cellulose. Each visit, participants provided a stool sample, which was analysed to determine the presence of L. acidophilus and B. lactis. Differences between trials were analysed using paired samples t tests.

Results

Increased counts for at least one bacterial strain (L. acidophilus or B. lactis) were observed for all participants on SYN (n?=?10) and PRO (n?=?10) trials. No difference in C_max or t_max was observed between trials when analysed by treatment condition or microbiome outcome. A significant decrease in AUC_last was observed between trials for PLA (p?=?0.039) and PRE (p?=?0.030) treatments, and when increases in at least one bacterial strain (p?=?0.003) and no microbiome changes (p?=?0.016) were observed.

Conclusion

Consumption of probiotics appears to alter faecal counts of supplemental bacterial strains in otherwise healthy individuals. However, translation to any possible beneficial impact on alcohol metabolism remains to be elucidated.

     

Affective disorders and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in adolescents and young adults with Multiple Sclerosis (MS): the moderating role of resilience

Purpose

To investigate the moderating role of resilience in the relationship between affective disorders and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) for adolescents and young adults with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods

A quantitative methodology was adopted. Fifty-three adolescents and young adults were interviewed to assess resilience as a personality trait (Ego-Resiliency Scale) and resilience as an interactive competence (CYRM-28), Health-Related Quality of Life (PedsQL 4.0), depression and anxiety (BDI-II and STAI-Y).

Results

Affective disorders, both depression (β = ?.38, p < .001) and anxiety (State β = –.35, p < .001; Trait β = ?.41, p < .001), were negatively associated with HRQoL. Data also showed that the resilience competencies using Individual (β = .22, p < .001) and relational resources (β = .12, p < .05) are significantly associated HRQoL. According to the regression analyses, we tested the moderating role of resilience competence using individual resources on the relationship between the Depression Cognitive Factor and Emotional Functioning. Data show that in step 2 of the regression analysis, we obtained a variation of β = ?.45 (p < .001) to β = ?.30 (p < .001) in the dimension for the Depression Cognitive Factor. The Sobel test showed that the moderating effect of resilience was significant regarding the increase in R² (p < .01).

Conclusions

Resilience competence using individual resources moderates the relationship between the Depression Cognitive Factor and Emotional Functioning in adolescents with MS. Our study suggests that to improve well-being for adolescents with MS resilience could play a key role.

     

Objectively-assessed physical activity and weight change in young adults: a randomized controlled trial

Background

Reductions in physical activity (PA) are common throughout young adulthood and low PA is associated with weight gain. The SNAP Trial previously reported that two self-regulation approaches to weight gain prevention reduced weight gain over a 2-year period in 18–35 year olds. Presented here are secondary analyses examining changes in PA and the relationship between PA and weight change over 2 years.

Methods

599 young adults (age: 27.4?±?4.4 yrs.; BMI: 25.4?±?2.6 kg/m²) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment arms: Small Changes (reduce calorie intake by 100 kcals/day & add 2000 steps/day), Large Changes (lose 2.3–4.5 kg initially & increase PA to ≥250 min/wk), or Self-guided (control condition). Small and Large Changes received 10, face-to-face group sessions (months 1–4), and two 4-week refresher courses each subsequent year. Body weight and PA were objectively-measured at baseline, 4 months, 1 and 2 years. Daily steps and bout-related moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (MVPA: ≥3 METs, ≥10-min bouts) was calculated.

Results

Changes in bout-related MVPA and daily steps did not differ among treatment groups over the 2-year period (p’s?>?0.16). Collapsed across groups, participants gaining >1 lb. (n?=?187; 39.6%) had smaller changes in bout-related MVPA at 4 months, 1 and 2 years relative to those maintaining or losing weight (≤1 lb. weight gain; n?=?282, 60.4%, p’s?<?0.05). Averaged across time points, this difference equated to 47.8 min/week. Those gaining and not gaining >1 lb. did not differ on daily steps (p’s?>?0.10). Among participants engaging in ≥250 min/wk. of MVPA at 2 years (n?=?181), 30% gained >1 lb. from baseline to 2 years, which was not different from those engaging in 150–250 min/wk. (n?=?87; 36%; p?=?0.40), but this percentage was significantly lower when compared to those engaging in <150 min/wk. (n?=?176; 49%; p?<?0.001).

Conclusions

On average, PA differences were not observed between young adults assigned to small or large changes self-regulation interventions to prevent weight gain. Regardless of group assignment, higher levels of MVPA were associated with better weight gain prevention over 2 years. Our data suggest that achieving >150 min/week of MVPA is needed for weight gain prevention and that increasing MVPA, rather than steps, should be targeted.

Trial registration

www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01183689). Registered Aug 13, 2010.

     

Effect of increased water intake on plasma copeptin in healthy adults

Purpose

Inter-individual variation in median plasma copeptin is associated with incident type 2 diabetes mellitus, progression of chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular events. In this study, we examined whether 24-h urine osmolality was associated with plasma copeptin and whether increasing daily water intake could impact circulating plasma copeptin.

Methods

This trial was a prospective study conducted at a single investigating center. Eighty-two healthy adults (age 23.6 ± 2.9 years, BMI 22.2 ± 1.5 kg/m², 50% female) were stratified based upon habitual daily fluid intake volumes: arm A (50–80% of EFSA dietary reference values), arm B (81–120%), and arm C (121–200%). Following a baseline visit, arms A and B increased their water intake to match arm C for a period of 6 consecutive weeks.

Results

At baseline, plasma copeptin was positively and significantly associated with 24-h urine osmolality (p = 0.002) and 24-h urine specific gravity (p = 0.003) but not with plasma osmolality (p = 0.18), 24-h urine creatinine (p = 0.09), and total fluid intake (p = 0.52). Over the 6-week follow-up, copeptin decreased significantly from 5.18 (3.3;7.4) to 3.90 (2.7;5.7) pmol/L (p = 0.012), while urine osmolality and urine specific gravity decreased from 591 ± 206 to 364 ± 117 mOsm/kg (p < 0.001) and from 1.016 ± 0.005 to 1.010 ± 0.004 (p < 0.001), respectively.

Conclusions

At baseline, circulating levels of copeptin were positively associated with 24-h urine concentration in healthy young subjects with various fluid intakes. Moreover, this study shows, for the first time, that increased water intake over 6 weeks results in an attenuation of circulating copeptin.

Clinical Trial Registration Number

NCT02044679.

     

Unexpected profile of sphingolipid contents in blood and bone marrow plasma collected from patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia

Background

Impaired apoptotic pathways in leukemic cells enable them to grow in an uncontrolled way. Moreover, aberrations in the apoptotic pathways are the main factor of leukemic cells drug resistance.

Methods

To assess the presence of potential abnormalities that might promote dysfunction of leukemic cells growth, HPLC system was used to determine sphingosine (SFO), sphinganine (SFA), sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and ceramide (CER) concentration in the blood collected from patients diagnose with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML; n?=?49) and compare to values of control (healthily) group (n?=?51). Additionally, in AML group concentration of SFO, SFA, S1P and CER was determined in bone marrow plasma and compared to respective values in blood plasma. The concentration of S1P and CER binding protein – plasma gelsolin (GSN) was also assessed in collected samples using immunoblotting assay.

Results

We observed that in AML patients the average SFO, SFA and CER concentration in blood plasma was significantly higher (p?<?0.001) compare to control group, when blood plasma S1P concentration was significantly lower (p?<?0.001). At the same time the CER/S1P ratio in AML patient (44.5?±?19.4) was about 54% higher compare to control group (20.9?±?13.1). Interestingly the average concentration of S1P in blood plasma (196?±?13 pmol/ml) was higher compare to its concentration in plasma collected from bone marrow (154?±?21 pmol/ml).

Conclusions

We hypothesize that changes in profile of sphingolipids concentration and some of their binding protein partners such as GSN in extracellular environment of blood and bone marrow cells in leukemic patients can be targeted to develop new AML treatment method(s).

     

Associations between food and beverage consumption and different types of sedentary behaviours in European preschoolers: the ToyBox-study

Objective

To examine the association between food and beverage consumption and time spent in different sedentary behaviours such as watching TV and DVDs, playing computer/video games and quiet play/activities in preschoolers.

Methods

A sample of 6431 (51.8 % males) European preschoolers aged 3.5–5.5 years from six survey centres was included in the data analyses. Data on dietary habits and sedentary behaviours [watching TV, playing computer and quiet play (both during weekdays and weekend days)] were collected via standardized proxy-administered questionnaires. One-way analysis of covariance and general linear model (adjusted for sex, maternal education, body mass index and centre) were conducted.

Results

The results of the generalized linear model showed that the more strong associations in both males and females who were watching TV for > 1 h/day during weekdays were positively associated with increased consumption of fizzy drinks (β = 0.136 for males and β = 0.156 for females), fresh and packed juices (β = 0.069, β = 0.089), sweetened milk (β = 0.119, β = 0.078), cakes and biscuits (β = 0.116, β = 0.145), chocolate (β = 0.052, β = 0.090), sugar-based desserts and pastries (β = 0.234, β = 0.250), salty snacks (β = 0.067, β = 0.056), meat/poultry/processed meat (β = 0.067, β = 0.090) and potatoes (β = 0.071, β = 0.067), and negative associations were observed for the consumption of fruits (β = ?0.057, β = ?0.099), vegetables (β = ?0.056, β = ?0.082) and fish (β = ?0.013, β = ?0.013). During weekend days, results were comparable.

Conclusions

In European preschoolers, sedentary behaviours were associated with consumption of energy-dense foods and fizzy drinks. The present findings will contribute to improve the strategies to prevent overweight, obesity and nutrition-related chronic diseases from early childhood.