Habit formation in context: Context-specific and context-free measures for tracking fruit consumption habit formation and behaviour

Objectives

Interventions promoting habitual fruit consumption have the potential to bring about long-term behaviour change. Assessing the effectiveness of such interventions requires adequate habit and behaviour measures. Habits are based on learned context-behaviour associations, so measures that incorporate context should be more sensitive to expected habit and behaviour changes than context-free measures. This study compared context-specific and context-free measures of fruit consumption habit and behaviour following a 3-week habit formation intervention.

Design

Prospective online study (n = 58).

Methods

Behaviour frequency was assessed across five timepoints, retrospectively (Time 1 [T1], T5) or via daily diary data (uploaded weekly at T2, T3 and T4). Habit strength was assessed before (T1) and immediately after the intervention (T4), and again 2 weeks later (T5). Analyses of variance were run, with time and context specificity as within-subject factors, and habit and behaviour frequency as dependent measures.

Results

An interaction between time and context specificity was found in both analyses (habit: F(2,114) = 12.848, p < .001, part.η² = .184; behaviour: F(2,114) = 6.714, p = .002, part.η² = .105). Expected habit formation patterns 5 weeks post-baseline were only detected by the context-specific habit measure. Likewise, increased behaviour frequency was only found when the target context was specified (p's < .001).

Conclusions

Assessments of purposeful dietary habit and behaviour change attempts should incorporate context-specific measurement.     

A single bout of breast milk expression does not increase resting metabolic rate

Introduction

Breastfeeding women have elevated resting metabolic rate (RMR); however, whether a single bout of lactation increases RMR is unknown. This study aimed to determine if a single bout of lactation acutely increased RMR.

Methods

Twenty-two lactating women (age: 31 ± 0.9 year, body mass index: 27.3 ± 1.2 kg/m²) were recruited. RMR was assessed at baseline and at 1- and 2-h following breast milk expression.

Results

RMR was unchanged in lactating women following a single bout of lactation (baseline: 1437 ± 39; 1 h: 1425 ± 37 2 h: 1440 ± 31 kcal/day) (p > .05). RMR was not correlated to daily milk produced (r = 0.05, p > .05), but was correlated to body mass (r = 0.74, p < .001), fat-free mass (kg) (r = 0.61, p < .01), and fat mass (kg) (r = 0.71, p < .01).

Conclusion

RMR in lactating women appears to be more related to body mass or composition in the postpartum period rather than lactation.     

Effect of serum amyloid A1 treatment on global gene expression in THP-1-derived macrophages

Objective  

To investigate the effect of serum amyloid A1 (SAA1) on global gene expression in macrophages derived from THP-1 monocytes.     

Hypothalamic abnormalities and Parkinsonism associated with H1N1 influenza infection

Objective  

To describe a case of a young adult with severe H1N1 influenza illness associated with hypothalamic abnormalities and post-influenza parkinsonism.     

Soluble vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor-1 inhibits migration of human monocytic THP-1 cells in response to VEGF

Objective  

We aimed to investigate the regulation and contribution of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and sFlt-1(1–3) to human monocytic THP-1 migration.     

Immune checkpoint molecules soluble program death ligand 1 and galectin‐9 are increased in pregnancy

Problem

Pregnancy requires balance between tolerance to the haploidentical fetus and the mother's ability to mount immune responses. There are parallels to this phenomenon that occur in metastatic cancer. We assessed soluble program death ligand‐1 soluble PD‐L1 (sPD‐L1) and galectin‐9 in the blood of pregnant women during gestation as these molecules are highly involved in immune suppression during cancer.

Method of study

Maternal blood was collected from 30 primigravida women at monthly intervals during pregnancy, delivery and 6‐week post‐partum. Blood was analyzed for sPD‐L1 and galectin‐9 concentrations by ELISA. Term placentas were collected in formalin and IHC was completed for PD‐L1 and galectin‐9 expression.

Results

Maternal blood levels of sPD‐L1 (0.438 ng/mL) and galectin‐9 (1976 pg/mL) were elevated early in normal pregnancies compared to non‐pregnant controls (0.242 ng/mL and 773 pg/mL, respectively). sPD‐L1 increased throughout gestation, whereas galectin‐9 remained elevated until parturition; both proteins returned to control levels post‐partum. Women carrying male fetuses had significantly higher galectin‐9 levels, but not sPD‐L1, than those carrying females (2263 pg/mL vs 1874 pg/mL; P = .0005). Trophoblast cells of the term placenta coexpress galectin‐9 and PD‐L1.

Conclusion

Immune‐regulatory molecules galectin‐9 and sPD‐L1 increased during pregnancy and may play a role in immune tolerance that is critical for the fetus.     

Association between long-term neuro-toxicities in testicular cancer survivors and polymorphisms in glutathione-s-transferase-P1 and -M1, a retrospective cross sectional study

Background  

To assess the impact of polymorphisms in Glutathione S-transferase (GST) -P1, -M1, and -T1 on self-reported chemotherapy-induced long-term toxicities in testicular cancer survivors (TCSs).     

The effects of social interactions on momentary stress and mood during COVID-19 lockdowns

Objective

Social interactions are vital for our well-being, particularly during times of stress. However, previous studies linking social interactions to psychological outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic have largely been retrospective and/or cross-sectional. Thus, we tested four preregistered hypotheses (H1–H4) concerning the real-time effect of social interactions on momentary changes in stress and mood during two COVID-19 lockdowns.

Design

We used an ecological momentary assessment approach in 732 participants in spring 2020 (burst 1) and in a subsample of these participants (n = 281) during a further lockdown in autumn/winter 2020 (burst 2).

Methods

Participants reported their stress and mood in a smartphone app five times per day for 7 days and indicated the nature and frequency of their recent social interactions.

Results

Social interactions (H1) and their frequency (H2) improved momentary affect (e.g., social interactions increased mood valence: estimate = 2.605, p < .001 for burst 1). This was particularly the case for face-to-face interactions which, compared with other types of interactions, reduced momentary stress (e.g., estimate = −2.285, p < .001 for burst 1) and boosted mood (e.g., estimate = 1.759, p < .001 for burst 1) across both lockdowns, even when controlling for the pleasantness of the interaction and the closeness of the interaction partner (H3). We also show that individual differences in people's responsiveness to different social rewards modulated the impact of social interactions on momentary mood (H4).

Conclusions

This study extends findings from cross-sectional and retrospective studies by highlighting the real-time affective benefits of social interactions during COVID-19 lockdown. The results have important implications for the (self-) management of stress and mood during psychologically demanding periods.     

Functional analysis of splicing mutations in exon 7 of <Emphasis Type="Italic">NF1</Emphasis>gene

Background  

Neurofibromatosis type 1 is one of the most common autosomal dominant disorders, affecting about 1:3,500 individuals. NF1 exon 7 displays weakly defined exon-intron boundaries, and is particularly prone to missplicing.     

Functional polymorphisms in <Emphasis Type="Italic">XRCC</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">1</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">APE</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">1</Emphasis> contribute to increased apoptosis and risk of ulcerative colitis

Objective  

The present study was designed to investigate the role of X-ray cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) and apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) polymorphisms in apoptosis and the risk of ulcerative colitis (UC).     

Associations between <Emphasis Type="Italic">ERAP1</Emphasis> polymorphisms and ankylosing spondylitis susceptibility: a meta-analysis

Objective  

The aim of this study was to determine whether five polymorphisms of endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 (ERAP1) confer susceptibility to ankylosing spondylitis (AS).     

A novel germline <Emphasis Type="Italic">PALB2</Emphasis> deletion in Polish breast and ovarian cancer patients

Background  

PALB2 protein was recently identified as a partner of BRCA1 and BRCA2 which determines their proper function in DNA repair.     

sTNFR-1 is an early inflammatory marker in community versus institutionalized elderly women

Objective and design  

To evaluate plasma sTNFR-1 and IL-6 levels and correlate with hand grip in the institutionalized and community living Brazilian elderly.     

T null and M null genotypes of the glutathione S-transferase gene are risk factor for CAD independent of smoking

Background  

The association of the deletion in GSTT1 and GSTM1 genes with coronary artery disease (CAD) among smokers is controversial. In addition, no such investigation has previously been conducted among Arabs.     

P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1-mediated leukocyte recruitment regulates hepatocellular damage in acute obstructive cholestasis in mice

Objective  

Leukocytes mediate hepatocellular injury in obstructive cholestasis. The aim of the present study was to define the role of P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) in cholestasis-induced leukocyte recruitment and liver damage.     

Lipopolysaccharide represses the expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 and scavenger receptor class B,type I in murine macrophages

Objective and design  

To investigate the regulation of cholesterol transporters, including ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), ABCG1 and scavenger receptor class B, type I (SR-BI), by inflammatory stimuli in macrophages.     

Role of heme oxygenase-1 in inflammatory response induced by mechanical stretch in synovial cells

Objective  

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism by which heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) regulates inflammatory responses induced by mechanical stretch in human fibroblast-like synoviocyte (HFLS) cells.     

Dickkopf-1 as Potential Biomarker to Evaluate Bone Erosion in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Objective  

This study aims to explore the potential role of circulating Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in evaluating erosive arthritis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).     

Maternal–infant interaction quality is associated with child NR3C1 CpG site methylation at 7 years of age

Objective

Infancy is both a critical window for hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis development, and a sensitive period for social–emotional influences. We hypothesized that the social–emotional quality of maternal–infant interactions are associated with methylation of HPA-axis gene NR3C1 later in childhood.

Methods

Using a subsample of 114 mother-infant pairs from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), linear regression models were created to predict variance in methylation of seven selected CpG sites from NR3C1 in whole blood at age 7 years, including the main predictor variable of the first principal component score of observed maternal–infant interaction quality (derived from the Thorpe Interaction Measure at 12 months of age) and covariates of cell-type proportion, maternal financial difficulties and marital status at 8 months postnatal, child birthweight, and sex.

Results

CpG site cg27122725 methylation was negatively associated with warmer, more positive maternal interaction with her infant (β = 0.19, p = .02, q = 0.13). In sensitivity analyses, the second highest quartile of maternal behavior (neutral, hesitant behavior) was positively associated with cg12466613 methylation. The other five CpG sites were not significantly associated with maternal–infant interaction quality.

Conclusions

Narrow individual variation of maternal interaction with her infant is associated with childhood methylation of two CpG sites on NR3C1 that may be particularly sensitive to environmental influences. Infancy may be a sensitive period for even small influences from the social–emotional environment on the epigenetic determinants of HPA-axis function.     

A novel c.-22T>C mutation in GALK1 promoter is associated with elevated galactokinase phenotype

Background  

Many genetic variations of GALK1 have been identified in the patients with galactokinase (GALK1) deficiency. However, the molecular characteristics of GALK1 in individuals with elevated GALK1 activity are relatively unknown.