Association between sleep duration and sleep quality with sugar and sugar-sweetened beverages intake among university students

Background and aim

Both short sleep duration and intake of sugar or sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are associated with weight gain; but the linkage between sleep characteristics and sugar or SSBs intake was less studied. We aimed to evaluate the associations of sleep duration and sleep quality with sugar and SSBs intake among Iranian adults.

Method

This cross-sectional study consisted of 395 adults chosen among students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, based on a multistage cluster random sampling method. Sleep characteristics and dietary intakes and were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and a 147-item validated food frequency questionnaire, respectively.

Results

Mean age and percentage of women in the study population were 22.79 (year) and 51.8%, respectively. No significant difference was observed between sleep duration and sugar intake, but short sleepers (< 6 h/d) had higher consumption of SSBs intake (86.54 vs. 65.73 g/day; P = 0.05) in comparison with those who had more than 8 h/d of sleep. Poor quality sleepers had significantly higher intake of SSBs compared with those with good quality of sleeping (87.09 vs. 56.73 g/day; P = 0.004). No significant correlation was found between sleep duration and SSBs intake. However, sleep quality score was positively correlated with SSBs intake (r_p:0.14, P = 0.007) in whole population, such that higher quality score (defined as poor sleep quality) was correlated with greater consumption of SSBs. Similar results were found in younger individuals (r_p:0.27, P = 0.002) and non-obese participants (r_p:0.14, P = 0.006).

Conclusion

We found that sleep duration was not associated with sugar or SSBs intake in Iranian adults. Poor sleep quality was correlated with high consumption of SSBs, especially in younger and non-obese individuals. More prospective investigations are required to confirm these findings.

     

The encephalitogenicity of T(H)17 cells is dependent on IL-1- and IL-23-induced production of the cytokine GM-CSF

Interleukin 17 (IL-17)-producing helper T cells (T(H)17 cells) require exposure to IL-23 to become encephalitogenic, but the mechanism by which IL-23 promotes their pathogenicity is not known. Here we found that IL-23 induced production of the cytokine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in T(H)17 cells and that GM-CSF had an essential role in their encephalitogenicity. Our findings identify a chief mechanism that underlies the important role of IL-23 in autoimmune diseases. IL-23 induced a positive feedback loop whereby GM-CSF secreted by T(H)17 cells stimulated the production of IL-23 by antigen-presenting cells. Such cross-regulation of IL-23 and GM-CSF explains the similar pattern of resistance to autoimmunity when either of the two cytokines is absent and identifies T(H)17 cells as a crucial source of GM-CSF in autoimmune inflammation.     

Integrin expression in human dental pulp cells and their role in cell attachment on extracellular matrix proteins

Integrins are a family of heterodimeric glycoproteins consisting of alpha and beta subunits that noncovalently interact to form cell surface adhesion receptors. The objective of this study was to identify integrins in human dental pulp cells and determine their role in human dental pulp cell attachment to the biological active molecules, laminin and fibronectin. Integrin expression was studied by immunoblot and immunoprecipitation using monoclonal integrin antibodies. The role of integrin in human dental pulp cell adhesion on laminin and fibronectin was determined by inhibition of cell adhesion with those antibodies. This study found human dental pulp cells expressed alpha 1, alpha 3, alpha 5, alpha 6, alpha v, and beta 1 integrin subunits. The adhesion of human dental pulp cells to laminin and fibronectin was not inhibited by monoclonal antibody to any subunit, except that anti-beta 1 antibody inhibited pulp cells adhesion on laminin. These data provide information for further studying the role of integrins in dental pulp cell biological function.     

Expressed Emotion in relatives of persons with dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives: Expressed Emotion (EE) refers to a number of key aspects of interpersonal relationships which have been shown to relate to outcomes in relatives of people with health conditions.

Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis of EE and outcomes in relatives of persons with dementia is reported. Potential research studies were identified via a search of three electronic databases; PsychINFO, MEDLINE and the Web of Science between 1960 and 2015.

Results: We reviewed 12 studies investigating correlations between EE and well-being in relatives of patients with dementia. Factors hypothesised to influence EE including attributions, social support, coping strategies and relationship quality were also reviewed.

Conclusion: High-EE relatives were found to have increased levels of burden (Z = 6.967, P < 0.001) and greater levels of depression (Z = 5.842, P < 0.001). Compared to low-EE relatives, high-EE relatives were more likely to attribute the patient's problems to factors that were personal to and controllable by the patient. Relatives with less social support, inefficient coping strategies and a poor relationship with the patients, were more likely to be classified as high-EE.     

Cell and tissue reactions to mineral trioxide aggregate and Portland cement

OBJECTIVE: Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) is being widely used for root-end fillings, pulp capping, perforation repairs, and other endodontic procedures. MTA and Portland cement (PC) have many similar physical, chemical, and biologic properties. PC cement has shown promising potential as an endodontic material in several studies in vitro and in vivo. The purpose of this study was to compare the cytotoxic effect in vitro and the tissue reaction of MTA and Portland cement in bone implantation in the mandibles of guinea pigs. STUDY DESIGN: Millipore culture plate inserts with freshly mixed or set material were placed into the culture plates with already attached L929 cells. After an incubation period of 3 days, the cell morphology and cell counts were studied. Adult male guinea pigs under strict asepsis were anesthetized, during which a submandibular incision was made to expose the symphysis of the mandible. Bilateral bone cavities were prepared and Teflon applicators with freshly mixed materials were inserted into the bone cavities. Each animal received 2 implants, one filled with ProRoot and 1 with PC. The animals were killed after 2 or 12 weeks, and the tissues were processed for histologic evaluation by means of light microscopy. RESULTS: There was no difference in cell reactions in vitro. Bone healing and minimal inflammatory response adjacent to ProRoot and PC implants were observed in both experimental periods, suggesting that both materials are well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: MTA and PC show comparative biocompatibility when evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The results suggest that PC has the potential to be used as a less expensive root-end filling material.