Changes in Alcohol Consumption,Eating Behaviors,and Body Weight during Quarantine Measures: Analysis of the CoCo-Fakt Study

IntroductionPublic health measures enacted to reduce COVID-19 transmission have affected individuals'' lifestyles, mental health, and psychological well-being. To date, little is known how stay-at-home orders have influenced the eating behaviors, weight development, and alcohol consumption of quarantined persons. The CoCo-Fakt cohort study analyzed these parameters and their association with psychological distress and coping strategies.MethodsAn online survey was conducted of all persons who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (infected persons [IP]) between December 12, 2020, and January 6, 2021, as well as their close contacts (contact persons [CP]) registered by the public health department of Cologne. 8,075 of 33,699 individuals were included in the analysis. In addition to demographic data, psychological distress, and coping strategies, information on changes in body weight, eating, and drinking behaviors was collected.ResultsIP lost 1.2 ± 4.4 kg during the quarantine period, and CP gained 1.6 ± 4.1 kg. The reasons given by IP for weight change were mainly loss of taste and feeling sick, whereas CP were more likely than IP to eat out of boredom. Higher psychological burden and lower coping strategies were associated with both weight gain and loss. Of the 30.8% of participants who changed their alcohol consumption during the quarantine period, CP in particular drank more alcohol (IP 15.2%; CP 47.7%). Significantly less alcohol was consumed by individuals with higher coping scores.ConclusionIn this short but psychologically stressful period of stay-at-home orders, changes in eating and drinking behavior as well as weight development are evident, mainly in high-risk contacts. To avoid possible long-term sequelae, health authorities should take these findings into account during the quarantine period; in particular, general practitioners should consider these findings during follow-up.     

Paget''s disease of the vulva and urogenital malignancies: A case report and review of the literature

The vulva is one of the extramammary sites which has a potential for developing Paget's Disease with which an underlying sweat gland carcinoma or breast carcinoma is frequently associated. Urogenital malignancy may be a third contender. Such a case managed by the authors herein reported and a review of the literature about such lesions support this assumption.     

误诊为特发性血小板减少性紫癜的儿童再生障碍性贫血临床分析

目的通过对误诊为特发性血小板减少性紫癜(ITP)的再生障碍性贫血(再障)患儿临床特点和误诊原因的分析,提高临床医师对儿童再障的认识,减少早期误诊。方法收集我院1992年1月-2010年8月收治的曾误诊为ITP、入院后确诊为再障的20例患儿的临床资料,分别按照实验室检查、疗效及误诊原因进行回顾性分析。结果在所有再障患儿中,误诊为ITP者占16%,在被诊断为ITP时:(1)多数患儿已经出现明显的外周血二系或三系下降,而并非单纯血小板减少。(2)5例患儿行骨髓检查,但结果并不符合ITP骨髓象。(3)绝大部分患儿未进行必要的血小板抗体检查,或检查结果并不典型。(4)按ITP进行糖皮质激素和大剂量免疫球蛋白治疗,疗效欠佳,未能进一步检查以核实诊断。(5)所有患儿均不符合ITP诊断标准,经过进一步检查均符合再障诊断标准。经抗胸腺细胞免疫球蛋白、环胞素A和雄性激素等治疗后,参照再障疗效标准,总有效率和显效率分别为75%和62%。结论再障和ITP均存在明显的血小板减少和出血倾向,ITP发病率明显高于再障,临床容易发生误诊。因此,临床上发现血小板降低,在考虑ITP诊断时,必须同时考虑可导致血小板减少的其他疾病的可能性,严格参照中华医学会制定的"再生障碍性贫血诊断标准"和"特发性血小板减少性紫癜诊断标准",以明确诊断和进行必要的鉴别诊断。     

Omega-9 Modifies Viscoelasticity and Augments Bone Strength and Architecture in a High-Fat Diet-Fed Murine Model

The influence of diet on the development of osteoporosis is significant and not fully understood. This study investigated the effect of diets of varying lipid profiles and ω-3, ω-6 and ω-9 composition on the structural and mechanical properties of bone. The hypothesis studied was that a diet high in saturated fat would induce osteoporosis and produce an overall increased detrimental bony response when compared with a diet high in unsaturated ω-6, or ω-9. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed either a control diet, 50:50 mix (saturated:unsaturated) high in ω-9 (HFD^50:50), a diet high in saturated fat (HSF) or a polyunsaturated fat diet high in ω-6 (PUFA) over an 8-week duration. Tibiae were retrieved and evaluated using DMA, 3-point-bending, histomorphometry, and microCT. Mice fed a HSF diet displayed key features characteristic of osteoporosis. The loss tangent was significantly increased in the HFD^50:50 diet group compared with control (p = 0.016) and PUFA-fed animals (p = 0.049). HFD^50:50-fed mice presented with an increased viscous component, longer tibiae, increased loss modulus (p = 0.009), and ultimate stress, smaller microcracks (p < 0.001), and increased trabecular width (p = 0.002) compared with control animals. A diet high in ω-9 resulted in an overall superior bone response and further analysis of its role in bone health is warranted.     

Effect of GSH and niacin combination on protein oxidation, ER stress, glycation and aggregation in HLE cells under high glucose condition

AIM: To evaluate the effects of reduced glutathione (GSH) and niacin combination on protein oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, glycation, and aggregation of the αβ crystalline in human lens epithelial (HLE) cells treated with high glucose levels. METHODS: HLE cells were cultured and exposed to 25 mmol/L glucose to promote high glucose conditions. Groups of cells were co-treated with three different combinations of dosages: 10 μmol/L GSH+25 μmol/L niacin (P1), 30 μmol/L GSH+25 μmol/L niacin (P2), and 100 μmol/L GSH+25 μmol/L niacin (P3). After 72h incubation, protein carbonyl content (PCC) and glucose reactive protein (GRP78) content were assessed using ELISA examinations. After two-week incubation, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) were also assessed and the expression of αβ crystalline was measured using Western blot examination. RESULTS: PCC and GRP78 levels in the co-treated groups were not significantly reduced compared to control (P>0.05). In contrast, there was a significant decrease of the AGEs levels in all groups co-treated with GSH and niacin when compared with the control group (P<0.05). In addition, the αβ crystalline expression increased after high dose glucose administration, but decreased in all groups co-treated with GSH and combinations of GSH and niacin. CONCLUSION: Combinations of GSH and niacin inhibit the aggregation of proteins and prevent glycation in hyperglycemic HLE cells. This study shows that this combination may play an active role in preventing diabetic cataract mainly from the AGEs pathway.     

Cytokine production by human B cells: role in health and autoimmune disease

B cells are classically considered solely as antibody-producing cells driving humoral immune responses to foreign antigens in infections and vaccinations as well as self-antigens in pathological settings such as autoimmunity. However, it has now become clear that B cells can also secrete a vast array of cytokines, which influence both pro- and anti-inflammatory immune responses. Indeed, similarly to T cells, there is significant heterogeneity in cytokine-driven responses by B cells, ranging from the production of pro-inflammatory effector cytokines such as IL-6, through to the release of immunosuppressive cytokines such as IL-10. In this review, focusing on human B cells, we summarize the key findings that have revealed that cytokine-producing B cell subsets have critical functions in healthy immune responses and contribute to the pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases.     

Association of Lifetime Exposure to Glyphosate and Aminomethylphosphonic Acid (AMPA) with Liver Inflammation and Metabolic Syndrome at Young Adulthood: Findings from the CHAMACOS Study

Background: The prevalence of liver disorders and metabolic syndrome has increased among youth. Glyphosate, the most widely used herbicide worldwide, could contribute to the development of these conditions.Objective: We aimed to assess whether lifetime exposure to glyphosate and its degradation product, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), is associated with elevated liver transaminases and metabolic syndrome among young adults.Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study (n=480 mother–child dyads) and a nested case–control study (n=60 cases with elevated liver transaminases and 91 controls) using data from the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS). We measured glyphosate and AMPA concentrations in urine samples collected during pregnancy and at child ages 5, 14, and 18 y from cases and controls. We calculated glyphosate residue concentrations: [glyphosate +(1.5×AMPA)]. We estimated the amount of agricultural-use glyphosate applied within a 1-km radius of every residence from pregnancy to age 5 y for the full cohort using California Pesticide Use Reporting data. We assessed liver transaminases and metabolic syndrome at 18 y of age.Results: Urinary AMPA at age 5 y was associated with elevated transaminases [relative risk (RR) per 2-fold increase=1.27, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06, 1.53] and metabolic syndrome (RR=2.07, 95% CI: 1.38, 3.11). Urinary AMPA and glyphosate residues at age 14 y were associated with metabolic syndrome [RR=1.80 (95% CI: 1.10, 2.93) and RR=1.88 (95% CI: 1.03, 3.42), respectively]. Overall, a 2-fold increase in urinary AMPA during childhood was associated with a 14% and a 55% increased risk of elevated liver transaminases and metabolic syndrome, respectively. Living near agricultural glyphosate applications during early childhood (birth to 5 y of age) was also associated with metabolic syndrome at age 18 y in the case–control group (RR=1.53, 95% CI: 1.16, 2.02).Discussion: Childhood exposure to glyphosate and AMPA may increase risk of liver and cardiometabolic disorders in early adulthood, which could lead to more serious diseases later in life. https://doi.org/10.1289/{"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"EHP11721","term_id":"372011122","term_text":"EHP11721"}}EHP11721