Universal School Meals and Associations with Student Participation,Attendance, Academic Performance,Diet Quality,Food Security,and Body Mass Index: A Systematic Review

The school environment plays an important role in children’s diets and overall health, and policies for universal free school meals have the potential to contribute to positive child health outcomes. This systematic review evaluates studies examining the association between universal free school meals and students’ school meal participation rates, diets, attendance, academic performance, and Body Mass Index (BMI), as well as school finances. The search was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). A search for studies published in economically developed countries published through December 2020 was performed in PubMed, Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), Thomson Reuters’ Web of Science, and Academic Search Ultimate, followed by examining the references in the resultant literature. A total of 47 studies were identified and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was applied to assess bias. Nearly all studies examining universal free school meals found positive associations with school meal participation. Most studies examining universal free school meals that included free lunch found positive associations with diet quality, food security, and academic performance; however, the findings of studies examining only universal free breakfast were mixed. Research findings were similarly mixed when examining attendance as an outcome. Concerns about adverse outcomes on student BMI were not supported by the literature; in fact, several studies detected a potentially protective effect of universal free school meals on BMI. Research examining the impact of universal free meals on school finances was limited, but suggest that lower-income school districts in the U.S. may have positive financial outcomes from participation in universal free school meal provisions. Additionally, providing free meals to students may be associated with improved household incomes, particularly among lower-income families with children. Further research is needed to examine the financial implications of universal free meals for both school districts and families. Overall, universal free school meals may have multiple benefits for students and countries should consider universal free school meal provisions with strong nutrition guidelines. (PROSPERO registration: CRD42020221782).     

Social Distancing in Chronic Migraine during the COVID-19 Outbreak: Results from a Multicenter Observational Study

Background: The restrictions taken to control the rapid spread of COVID-19 resulted in a sudden, unprecedented change in people’s lifestyle, leading to negative consequences on general health. This study aimed to estimate the impact of such changes on migraine severity during 2020 March–May lockdown. Methods: Patients affected by migraine with or without aura, diagnosed by expert physicians, completed a detailed interview comprehensive of: assessment of migraine characteristics; measure of physical activity (PA) levels; measure of the intake frequency of main Italian foods; the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) questionnaire investigating sleep disorders. Results: We included 261 patients with a mean age of 44.5 ± 12.3 years. During social distancing, 72 patients (28%) reported a headache worsening, 86 (33%) an improvement, and 103 (39%) a stable headache frequency. A significant decrease of the PA levels during COVID-19 quarantine in the whole study sample was observed (median total metabolic equivalent task (METs) decreased from 1170 to 510; p < 0.001). Additionally, a significant difference was reported on median ISI scores (from 7 to 8; p < 0.001), which were increased in patients who presented a stable or worsening headache. Conclusions: Our study confirmed that the restrictions taken during the pandemic have affected the practice of PA levels and sleep quality in migraine. Hence, PA and sleep quality should be assessed to find strategies for an improvement in quality of life.     

Association of the Chronotype Score with Circulating Trimethylamine N-Oxide (TMAO) Concentrations

Individual differences in the chronotype, an attitude that best expresses the individual circadian preference in behavioral and biological rhythms, have been associated with cardiometabolic risk and gut dysbiosis. Up to now, there are no studies evaluating the association between chronotypes and circulating TMAO concentrations, a predictor of cardiometabolic risk and a useful marker of gut dysbiosis. In this study population (147 females and 100 males), subjects with the morning chronotype had the lowest BMI and waist circumference (p < 0.001), and a better metabolic profile compared to the other chronotypes. In addition, the morning chronotype had the highest adherence to the Mediterranean diet (p < 0.001) and the lowest circulating TMAO concentrations (p < 0.001). After adjusting for BMI and adherence to the Mediterranean diet, the correlation between circulating TMAO concentrations and chronotype score was still kept (r = −0.627, p < 0.001). Using a linear regression analysis, higher chronotype scores were mostly associated with lower circulating TMAO concentrations (β = −0.479, t = −12.08, and p < 0.001). Using a restricted cubic spline analysis, we found that a chronotype score ≥59 (p < 0.001, R² = −0.824) demonstrated a more significant inverse linear relationship with circulating TMAO concentrations compared with knots <59 (neither chronotype) and <41 (evening chronotype). The current study reported the first evidence that higher circulating TMAO concentrations were associated with the evening chronotype that, in turn, is usually linked to an unhealthy lifestyle mostly characterized by low adherence to the MD.     

A functional three-dimensional microphysiological human model of myeloma bone disease

Human myeloma bone disease (MBD) occurs when malignant plasma cells migrate to the bone marrow and commence inimical interactions with stromal cells, disrupting the skeletal remodeling process. The myeloma cells simultaneously suppress osteoblastic bone formation while promoting excessive osteoclastic resorption. This bone metabolism imbalance produces osteolytic lesions that cause chronic bone pain and reduce trabecular and cortical bone structural integrity, and often culminate in pathological fractures. Few bone models exist that enable scientists to study MBD and the effect therapies have on restoring the bone metabolism imbalance. The purpose of this research was to develop a well characterized three-dimensional (3D) bone organoid that could be used to study MBD and current or potential treatment options. First, bone marrow stromal cell–derived osteoblasts (OBs) mineralized an endosteal-like extracellular matrix (ECM) over 21 days. Multiple analyses confirmed the generation of hydroxyapatite (HA)-rich bone-like tissue fragments that were abundant in alkaline phosphatase, calcium, and markers of osteoblastic gene expression. On day 22, bone marrow macrophage (BMM)–derived osteoclasts (OCs) were introduced to enhance the resorptive capability of the model and recapitulate the balanced homeostatic nature of skeletal remodeling. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRAcP-5b), type I collagen C-telopeptide (CTX-1), and gene expression analysis confirmed OC activity in the normal 3D organoid (3D in vitro model of normal bonelike fragments [3D-NBF]). On day 30, a human multiple myeloma (MM)–derived plasmacytoma cell line was introduced to the 3D-NBF to generate the 3D-myeloma bone disease organoid (3D-MBD). After 12 days, the 3D-MBD had significantly reduced total HA, increased TRAcP-5b levels, increases levels of CTX-1, and decreased expression of osteoblastic genes. Therapeutic intervention with pharmaceutical agents including an immunomodulatory drug, a bisphosphonate, and monoclonal restored HA content and reduced free CTX-1 in a dose-dependent manner. This osteogenically functional model of MBD provides a novel tool to study biological mechanisms guiding the disease and to screen potential therapeutics. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).     

A Descriptive Analysis of the Epidemiology and Motivations for Laser Tattoo Removal in an Underserved Population

Journal of Community Health - Tattoos of formerly gang-involved and incarcerated individuals can negatively impact their ability to reintegrate into society. Laser tattoo removal is essential to...     

Risky Sexual Behavior Among Street Children,Adolescents, and Young People Living on the street in southern Brazil

Although adolescents living on the street tend to have unprotected sex with many partners and substance abuse, little is known about this reality in Brazil. To estimate the prevalence and factors associated with risky sexual behavior among children and adolescents living on the street in Porto Alegre and Rio Grande. A cross-sectional study was carried out using the Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS) sampling method to quickly and efficiently access populations of difficult access. Poisson regression with robust adjustment of variance was used in the multivariate analysis. The sample consisted of 231 participants aged 10–21 years. Most were male and aged 16- 21 years. More than half (66.7%) of the respondents did not have a school bond, and 64.5% did not live with the family. Half of the sample had been living on the street for at least four years, spending 15 h or more on the street. Most (86.6%) responded that they had already used illicit drugs in their lives, and unprotected sex prevalence was 61.9%. The variables independently associated with unprotected sex were years living on the street, hours spent on the street, having a steady partner, illicit drug use, and sexual intercourse without a condom under the influence of drugs. The high prevalence of unprotected sex points to the need for intervention policies for this population to prevent the main risk factors.

     

Growth factors and kidney development

The formation of the metanephric kidney is dependent upon the timed and sequential expression of a number of polypeptide growth factors. To shed light on the participation of members of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and epidermal growth factor/transforming growth factor- (EGF/TGF-) families, we measured the synthesis of IGF-I, IGF-II, EGF and TGF- by developing rat metanephroi in organ culture and determined the effect of anti-growth factor antibodies on growth and development. IGF-I, IGF-II and TGF- were produced by metanephroi and released into culture media. We could detect no EGF. Inclusion of anti-IGF-I, anti-IGF-II, anti-IGF-II receptor or anti-TGF- antibodies in organ cultures inhibited growth and development of metanephroi. Our findings suggest that both members of the IGF family and TGF- are produced within the developing metanephros and promote renal organogenesis.     

Transthoracic 2D echo color Doppler assessment of internal mammary artery to left anterior descending coronary artery graft

For noninvasive evaluation of anatomy and flow characteristics of internal mammary artery graft (IMA-graft), 2D echo-Color-Doppler (CDE) was performed in 60 patients (54 M, 6 F, mean age 54.1±6.9 y), who underwent coronary angiography 20.1 ±13 months after a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).CDE was performed, using an echocardiographic unit equipped with a 5 MHz linear transducer.In all patients, measurements of IMA-graft diameter (mm), and peak systolic and diastolic flow velocity (cm/sec) were obtained at baseline and also in 16 patients after dipyridamole infusion (0.54 mg/Kg/min) and in 10 patients after sublingual nitroglycerin (NTG) (0.4 mg). Angiography showed the IMA-graft patency in 58/60 patients (96.8%).A typical biphasic flow was displayed by CDE in 49/58 patients (84.4%) with angiographic patency.Dipyridamole infusion increased both IMA-graft diameter and peak diastolic flow velocity (PDFV) from 2.28 ±0.51mm to 2.9 ±0.42mm and from 19.4 ±6.2 cm/sec to 93.9 ±29 cm/sec, respectively (p<0.0001).No significant modifications of peak systolic flow velocity (PSFV) were observed.NTG increased PDFV from 29.11 ±8 cm/sec to 41.88 ±7.20 cm/sec (p<0.005), while diameter and PSFV showed no statistically significant modifications.CDE is a useful diagnostic tool for noninvasive evaluation of IMA-graft patency both early after surgery and during long-term follow-up. CDE pharmacological stress improves the sensibility of the technique and it can provide indirect information about pathophysiology of recipient coronary vessel.     

Identification of the central vestibular projections in man: a positron emission tomography activation study

The cerebral representation of space depends on the integration of many different sensory inputs. The vestibular system provides one such input and its dysfunction can cause profound spatial disorientation. Using positron emission tomography (PET), we measured regional cerebral perfusion with various vestibular stimulations to map central vestibular projections and to investigate the cerebral basis of spatial disorientation. We showed that the temporoparietal cortex, the insula, the putamen, and the anterior cingulate cortex are the cerebral projections of the vestibular system in man and that the spatial disorientation caused by unilateral vestibular stimulation is associated with their asymmetric activation.