Structure, Dynamics, and Photophysics in the Copper(I) Iodide–Tetrahydrothiophene System

Combination of CuI and tetrahydrothiophene (THT) in MeCN or neat THT produces various phases, depending upon experimental conditions. Green luminescent product (CuI)4(THT)2 (1) consists of Cu4I4 cubane units knit into a 3-D network by μ2-THT ligands. Dull yellow luminescent (CuI)10(THT)7(MeCN) (2) contains {[Cu4I4(THT)](μ2-THT)2(Cu2I2)(μ2-THT)2[Cu4I4(NCMe)]} “rungs” linked into 1-D ladders by pairs of μ2-THT ligands. Two molecular (CuI)4(THT)4 phases were found: orange luminescent 3a and yellow luminescent 3b. Triclinic 3b is the more stable phase at 25 °C, but it undergoes endothermic transformation to monoclinic 3a at 38 °C. Compound 3a transforms to a triclinic phase (3a′) that retains orange emission at −60 °C. Nonemissive (CuI)3(THT)3·MeCN (4) is a 2-D sheet structure in which Cu3(THT)3 rings are linked in trigonal directions by rhomboid Cu2I2 dimer units. The previously reported (CuI)2(THT)4 (5) is a molecular dimer. Temperature and mixing ratio domains for the formation of the CuI–THT phases from MeCN are presented. Luminescence in 1, 2, 3a, and 3b is rationalized on the basis of varying degrees of halide-to-metal charge transfer (XMCT) and metal-centered (MC) behavior. Low-temperature spectra reveal reversible changes, including modest red shifts for 1 and 2, and splitting into two excitation/emission band pairs for 3a and 3b

Personal and social norms for food portion sizes in lean and obese adults.

BACKGROUND: Portion size is an important component of dietary advice for weight control, but little is known about what portion sizes people consider 'normal'. This study determined the effect of body mass index (BMI), gender, dietary restraint and liking of the food on personal and social portion size norms for a range of foods and the degree of certainty over the norms. METHODS: Thirty lean (BMI 20-25 kg m(-)(2)) and 30 obese (BMI 30-35 kg m(-)(2)) men and women (aged 18-60 years) viewed 17 different portion sizes of 12 foods on a computer screen on two occasions a week apart. Participants responded 'more' or 'less' to each photograph reflecting personal portion size preference or perceived portion sizes of others. Personal and social norms for portion sizes of each food were determined using the method of constant stimuli giving a sigmoidal curve of the probability of answering 'less' over a range of portion sizes. The slope of the sigmoid at the norm gave a measure of certainty about the norm. Regression models were used to examine the effect of BMI, gender, dietary restraint and liking of the food on personal norms, social norms, the relationship between norms, and the slopes. RESULTS: Personal norms were significantly larger in the obese (P=0.026), men (P<0.001), those with lower dietary restraint (P<0.001), and those with higher liking for the food (P<0.001). Social norms were larger for women (P=0.012). The slopes at the norms were 30% shallower in the obese and in men (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Larger personal norms for portion size among the obese, men, those with lower dietary restraint and those with higher liking for a food imply greater consumption, which may undermine weight control. Shallower slopes for norms in the obese and in men may imply less clearly defined habitual portion sizes.This study was supported by a program grant from the UK Medical Research Council (U105960389).This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Nature Publishing Group via http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2015.4

Effect of reducing portion size at a compulsory meal on later energy intake, gut hormones, and appetite in overweight adults.

OBJECTIVE: Larger portion sizes (PS) are associated with greater energy intake (EI), but little evidence exists on the appetitive effects of PS reduction. This study investigated the impact of reducing breakfast PS on subsequent EI, postprandial gastrointestinal hormone responses, and appetite ratings. METHODS: In a randomized crossover design (n = 33 adults; mean BMI 29 kg/m(2) ), a compulsory breakfast was based on 25% of gender-specific estimated daily energy requirements; PS was reduced by 20% and 40%. EI was measured at an ad libitum lunch (240 min) and snack (360 min) and by weighed diet diaries until bed. Blood was sampled until lunch in 20 participants. Appetite ratings were measured using visual analogue scales. RESULTS: EI at lunch (control: 2,930 ± 203; 20% reduction: 2,853 ± 198; 40% reduction: 2,911 ± 179 kJ) and over the whole day except breakfast (control: 7,374 ± 361; 20% reduction: 7,566 ± 468; 40% reduction: 7,413 ± 417 kJ) did not differ. Postprandial PYY, GLP-1, GIP, insulin, and fullness profiles were lower and hunger, desire to eat, and prospective consumption higher following 40% reduction compared to control. Appetite ratings profiles, but not hormone concentrations, were associated with subsequent EI. CONCLUSIONS: Smaller portions at breakfast led to reductions in gastrointestinal hormone secretion but did not affect subsequent energy intake, suggesting small reductions in portion size may be a useful strategy to constrain EI

Impact of weight maintenance and loss on diabetes risk and burden: a population-based study in 33,184 participants

$\textbf{Background}$ Weight loss in individuals at high risk of diabetes is an effective prevention method and a major component of the currently prevailing diabetes prevention strategies. The aim of the present study was to investigate the public health potential for diabetes prevention of weight maintenance or moderate weight loss on a population level in an observational cohort with repeated measurements of weight and diabetes status. $\textbf{Methods}$ Height, weight and diabetes status were objectively measured at baseline and 10 year follow-up in a population-based cohort of 33,184 participants aged 30–60 years between 1990 and 2013 in Västerbotten County, Sweden. The association between risk of incident diabetes and change in BMI or relative weight was modelled using multivariate logistic regression. Population attributable fractions (PAF) were used to assess population impact of shift in weight. $\textbf{Results}$ Mean (SD) BMI at baseline was 25.0 (3.6) kg/m$^2$. Increase in relative weight between baseline and follow-up was linearly associated with incident diabetes risk, odds ratio (OR) 1.05 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–1.06) per 1% change in weight. Compared to weight maintenance (±1.0 kg/m$^2$), weight gain of >+1.0 kg/m$^2$ was associated with an increased risk of incident diabetes, OR 1.52 (95% CI 1.32, 1.74), representing a PAF of 21.9% (95% CI 15.8, 27.6%). For moderate weight loss (−1.0 to −2.0 kg/m$^2$) the OR was 0.72 (95% CI 0.52, 0.99). $\textbf{Conclusions}$ Weight maintenance in adulthood is strongly associated with reduced incident diabetes risk and there is considerable potential for diabetes prevention in promoting this as a whole population strategy.This work was supported by the Medical Research Council [MC_UU_12015/ 4], the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research [FAS 2006_1512] and the Swedish Research Council [2006-21576-36119-666]. The Västerbotten Intervention Programme is financed by Västerbotten County Council. Dr Feldman is supported by the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Foundation through Churchill College, Cambridge

Service evaluation of weight outcomes as a function of initial BMI in 34,271 adults referred to a primary care/commercial weight management partnership scheme

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Systematic review of studies of mental health nurses' experience of anger and of its relationships with their attitudes and practice

IntroductionEmotional regulation is important in mental health nursing practice but individual emotions may require different regulation strategies. There is ample evidence that nurses experience anger specifically during their work, for example when experiencing patient aggression. It is, therefore, important to consolidate what is known about how anger manifests in mental health nursing practice.AimWe aimed to systematically identify, evaluate, and synthesise results from studies about mental health nurses and anger, where anger was measured objectively.MethodsSystematic literature review based on PRISMA guidelines.Results.We identified 12 studies. A range of validated and non-validated instruments were used. Mental health nurses may have lower levels of anger than normative samples but anger is commonly reported as an issue for them. Anger was studied in relation to its links with i) clinical management of patients, notably violence containment; and ii) employment issues more generally, notably job motivation. Anger is related to nurses’ attitudes about the acceptability of coercion but there is no evidence that it results in more coercion.Implications for practiceNurses should be aware of the potential influence of anger on their practice. Anger, specifically, should be considered when supporting mental health nurses, for example in clinical supervision. Emotional regulation training should target anger

Enhancing the dissolution of phenylbutazone using Syloid® based mesoporous silicas for oral equine applications

Three mesoporous silica excipients (Syloid® silicas AL-1 FP, XDP 3050 and XDP 3150) were formulated with a model drug known for its poor aqueous solubility, namely phenylbutazone, in an attempt to enhance the extent and rate of drug dissolution. Although other forms of mesoporous silica have been investigated in previous studies, the effect of inclusion with these specific Syloid® silica based excipients and more interestingly, with phenylbutazone, is unknown. This work reports a significant enhancement for both the extent, and rate, of drug release for all three forms of Syloid® silica at a 1:1 drug:silica ratio over a period of 30 minutes. An explanation for this increase was determined to be conversion to the amorphous form and an enhanced drug loading ability within the pores. Differences between the release profiles of the three silicas was concluded to be a consequence of the physicochemical differences between the three forms. Overall, this study confirms that Syloid® silica based excipients can be used to enhance dissolution, and potentially therefore bioavailability, for compounds with poor aqueous solubility, such as phenylbutazone. In addition, it has been confirmed that drug release can be carefully tailored based on the choice of Syloid® silica and desired release profile

The need for future research into the assessment and monitoring of eating disorder risk in the context of obesity treatment

In adolescents and adults, the co-occurrence of eating disorders and overweight or obesity is continuing to increase, and the prevalence of eating disorders is higher in people with higher weight compared to those with lower weight. People with an eating disorder with higher weight are more likely to present for weight loss than for eating disorder treatment. However, there are no clinical practice guidelines on how to screen, assess, and monitor eating disorder risk in the context of obesity treatment. In this article, we first summarize current challenges and knowledge gaps related to the identification and assessment of eating disorder risk and symptoms in people with higher weight seeking obesity treatment. Specifically, we discuss considerations relating to the validation of current self-report measures, dietary restraint, body dissatisfaction, binge eating, and how change in eating disorder risk can be measured in this setting. Second, we propose avenues for further research to guide the development and implementation of clinical and research protocols for the identification and assessment of eating disorders in people with higher weight in the context of obesity treatment. Public Significance The number of people with both eating disorders and higher weight is increasing. Currently, there is little guidance for clinicians and researchers about how to identify and monitor risk of eating disorders in people with higher weight. We present limitations of current research and suggest future avenues for research to enhance care for people living with higher weight with eating disorders

Participants' experiences of mental health during a COVID-19 tailored ACT-based behavioural weight management intervention: a qualitative study

Purpose We aimed to explore participants' experiences of mental health during an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)-based guided self-help intervention to support weight management in adults with overweight or obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic (SWiM-C: Supporting Weight Management during COVID-19). Methods We conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with twenty participants and used reflexive thematic analysis to identify patterns of meaning across the dataset relevant to mental health. Results Four themes were conceptualized: i) Mental health changes associated with SWiM-C, ii) External factors negatively impacted mental health and intervention engagement, iii) Use and impact of coping responses, and iv) Intervention preferences based on psychological needs. Conclusions Findings suggest that participants were exposed to multiple factors, both related to and external to the intervention, that negatively impact their mental health, yet ACT-based aspects of the SWiM-C intervention appeared to support participants to adaptively manage the decline in their mental health. The findings can be used to inform the development of future weight management interventions, such as through intervention personalization and the inclusion of more strategies that target emotional regulation. Trial registration: ISRCTN 12107048, https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN1210704

Structure-activity analysis of a CFTR channel potentiator: Distinct molecular parts underlie dual gating effects.

The cystic fibrosis (CF) transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a member of the ATP-binding cassette transporter superfamily that functions as an epithelial chloride channel. Gating of the CFTR ion conduction pore involves a conserved irreversible cyclic mechanism driven by ATP binding and hydrolysis at two cytosolic nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs): formation of an intramolecular NBD dimer that occludes two ATP molecules opens the pore, whereas dimer disruption after ATP hydrolysis closes it. CFTR dysfunction resulting from inherited mutations causes CF. The most common CF mutation, deletion of phenylalanine 508 (DeltaF508), impairs both protein folding and processing and channel gating. Development of DeltaF508 CFTR correctors (to increase cell surface expression) and potentiators (to enhance open probability, Po) is therefore a key focus of CF research. The practical utility of 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoate (NPPB), one of the most efficacious potentiators of DeltaF508 CFTR identified to date, is limited by its pore-blocking side effect. NPPB-mediated stimulation of Po is unique in that it involves modulation of gating transition state stability. Although stabilization by NPPB of the transition state for pore opening enhances both the rate of channel opening and the very slow rate of nonhydrolytic closure, because of CFTR's cyclic gating mechanism, the net effect is Po stimulation. In addition, slowing of ATP hydrolysis by NPPB delays pore closure, further enhancing Po. Here we show that NPPB stimulates gating at a site outside the pore and that these individual actions of NPPB on CFTR are fully attributable to one or the other of its two complementary molecular parts, 3-nitrobenzoate (3NB) and 3-phenylpropylamine (3PP), both of which stimulate Po: the pore-blocking 3NB selectively stabilizes the transition state for opening, whereas the nonblocking 3PP selectively slows the ATP hydrolysis step. Understanding structure-activity relationships of NPPB might prove useful for designing potent, clinically relevant CFTR potentiators