Bone Health Status in Indian Overweight/Obese Children

This cross-sectional study, to assess bone health in Indian overweight, obese children in comparison with healthy controls was conducted in 245 (126 girls) children and adolescents aged 6–17 y in Pune, India. It was found that total body bone mineral content, bone area and bone mineral density adjusted for Tanner stage and weight were significantly lower in obese children as compared to overweight children, which in turn, was significantly lower than normal weight children (p?<?0.05). Thus, overweight and obesity is negatively related to bone health in children and adolescents. Interventions need to be planned to increase peak bone mass accrual in overweight and obese children to reduce future risk of fracture and osteoporosis.     

Natural M-segment reassortment in Potosi and Main Drain viruses: implications for the evolution of orthobunyaviruses

Summary Recently, we identified Batai virus as the M-segment reassortment partner of Ngari virus. Extension of genetic analyses to other orthobunyaviruses related to the Bunyamwera serogroup indicates additional natural genome reassortments. Whereas the relative phylogenetic positions of all three genome segment sequences were similar for Northway and Kairi viruses, the relative positions of Potosi and Main Drain virus M-segment sequences diverged from those of their S- and L-segments. Our findings indicate M-segment reassortment in Potosi and Main Drain viruses and demonstrate natural genome reassortment as a driving force in the evolution of viruses of the Bunyamwera serogroup.