131 research outputs found
Panel-based Assessment of Ecosystem Condition of Norwegian Barents Sea Shelf Ecosystems - Appendices
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Panel-based Assessment of Ecosystem Condition of Norwegian Barents Sea Shelf Ecosystems - Appendices
Source at https://hi.no/hi
Panel-based Assessment of Ecosystem Condition of Norwegian Barents Sea Shelf Ecosystems
The System for Assessment of Ecological Condition, coordinated by the Norwegian Environment Agency, is intended to form the foundation for evidence-based assessments of the ecological condition of Norwegian terrestrial and marine ecosystems not covered by the EU Water Framework Directive. The reference condition is defined as “intact ecosystems”, i.e., a condition that is largely unimpacted by modern industrial anthropogenic activities. An ecosystem in good ecological condition is defined as a system that does not deviate substantially from this reference condition in structure, functions or productivity. This means that, in practice, what is assessed here is the extent to which an ecosystem is impacted by anthropogenic drivers. This report describes the first operational assessment of the ecological condition of Norwegian Arctic and Sub-Arctic marine shelf ecosystems in the Barents Sea. The assessment method employed is the Panel-based Assessment of Ecosystem Condition (PAEC1), and the current assessment has considered to what extent the Barents Sea shelf ecosystems deviate from the reference condition2 by evaluating change trajectories
Panel-based Assessment of Ecosystem Condition of Norwegian Barents Sea Shelf Ecosystems
The System for Assessment of Ecological Condition, coordinated by the Norwegian Environment Agency, is intended to form the foundation for evidence-based assessments of the ecological condition of Norwegian terrestrial and marine ecosystems not covered by the EU Water Framework Directive. The reference condition is defined as “intact ecosystems”, i.e., a condition that is largely unimpacted by modern industrial anthropogenic activities. An ecosystem in good ecological condition is defined as a system that does not deviate substantially from this reference condition in structure, functions or productivity. This means that, in practice, what is assessed here is the extent to which an ecosystem is impacted by anthropogenic drivers. This report describes the first operational assessment of the ecological condition of Norwegian Arctic and Sub-Arctic marine shelf ecosystems in the Barents Sea. The assessment method employed is the Panel-based Assessment of Ecosystem Condition (PAEC1), and the current assessment has considered to what extent the Barents Sea shelf ecosystems deviate from the reference condition2 by evaluating change trajectories.Panel-based Assessment of Ecosystem Condition of Norwegian Barents Sea Shelf EcosystemspublishedVersio
Parental Perceptions of Children’s Weight Status in 22 Countries: The WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative: COSI 2015/2017
Introduction: Parents can act as important agents of change
and support for healthy childhood growth and development. Studies have found that parents may not be able to
accurately perceive their child’s weight status. The purpose
of this study was to measure parental perceptions of their
child’s weight status and to identify predictors of potential
parental misperceptions. Methods: We used data from the
World Health Organization (WHO) European Childhood
Obesity Surveillance Initiative and 22 countries. Parents
were asked to identify their perceptions of their children’s
weight status as “underweight,” “normal weight,” “a little
overweight,” or “extremely overweight.” We categorized
children’s (6–9 years; n = 124,296) body mass index (BMI) as
BMI-for-age Z-scores based on the 2007 WHO-recommended growth references. For each country included in the analysis and pooled estimates (country level), we calculated the
distribution of children according to the WHO weight status
classification, distribution by parental perception of child’s
weight status, percentages of accurate, overestimating, or
underestimating perceptions, misclassification levels, and
predictors of parental misperceptions using a multilevel logistic regression analysis that included only children with
overweight (including obesity). Statistical analyses were performed using Stata version 15 1. Results: Overall, 64.1% of
parents categorized their child’s weight status accurately
relative to the WHO growth charts. However, parents were
more likely to underestimate their child’s weight if the child
had overweight (82.3%) or obesity (93.8%). Parents were
more likely to underestimate their child’s weight if the child
was male (adjusted OR [adjOR]: 1.41; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.28–1.55); the parent had a lower educational level
(adjOR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.26–1.57); the father was asked rather
than the mother (adjOR: 1.14; 95% CI: 0.98–1.33); and the
family lived in a rural area (adjOR: 1.10; 95% CI: 0.99–1.24).
Overall, parents’ BMI was not strongly associated with the
underestimation of children’s weight status, but there was a
stronger association in some countries. Discussion/Conclusion: Our study supplements the current literature on factors
that influence parental perceptions of their child’s weight
status. Public health interventions aimed at promoting
healthy childhood growth and development should consider parents’ knowledge and perceptions, as well as the sociocultural contexts in which children and families live.The authors gratefully acknowledge support from a grant from
the Russian Government in the context of the WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of NCDs. Data collection in the
countries was made possible through funding by: Albania: World
Health Organization through the Joint Programme on Children,
Food Security and Nutrition “Reducing Malnutrition in Children,” funded by the Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund, and the Institute of Public Health; Bulgaria: Ministry
of Health, National Center of Public Health and Analyses, World
Health Organization Regional Office for Europe; Croatia: Ministry of Health, Croatian Institute of Public Health and World
Health Organization Regional Office for Europe; Czechia: Grants
AZV MZČR 17-31670 A and MZČR – RVO EÚ 00023761; Denmark: Danish Ministry of Health; France: French Public Health
Agency; Georgia: World Health Organization; Ireland: Health
Service Executive; Italy: Ministry of Health; Istituto Superiore di
sanità (National Institute of Health); Kazakhstan: Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan and World Health Organization Country Office; Latvia: n/a; Lithuania: Science Foundation of
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences and Lithuanian Science
Council and World Health Organization; Malta: Ministry of
Health; Montenegro: World Health Organization and Institute of
Public Health of Montenegro; Poland: National Health Programme, Ministry of Health; Portugal: Ministry of Health Institutions, the National Institute of Health, Directorate General of
Health, Regional Health Directorates and the kind technical support of Center for Studies and Research on Social Dynamics and
Health (CEIDSS); Romania: Ministry of Health; Russia (Moscow): n/a; San Marino: Health Ministry; Educational Ministry; Social Security Institute; the Health Authority; Spain: Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN); Tajikistan: World
Health Organization Country Office in Tajikistan and Ministry of
Health and Social Protection; and Turkmenistan: World Health
Organization Country Office in Turkmenistan and Ministry of
Health. The authors alone are responsible for the views expressed
in this article and they do not necessarily represent the views, decisions, or policies of the institutions with which they are affiliated.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Thinness, overweight, and obesity in 6‐ to 9‐year‐old children from 36 countries: The World Health Organization European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative - COSI 2015-2017
In 2015-2017, the fourth round of the World Health Organization (WHO) European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) was conducted in 36 countries. National representative samples of children aged 6–9 (203,323) were measured by trained staff, with similar equipment and using a standardized protocol. This paper assesses the children's body weight status and compares the burden of childhood overweight, obesity, and thinness in Northern, Eastern, and Southern Europe and Central Asia. The results show great geographic variability in height, weight, and body mass index. On average, the children of Northern Europe were the tallest, those of Southern Europe the heaviest, and the children living in Central Asia the lightest and the shortest. Overall, 28.7% of boys and 26.5% of girls were overweight (including obesity) and 2.5% and 1.9%, respectively, were thin according to the WHO definitions. The prevalence of obesity varied from 1.8% of boys and 1.1% of girls in Tajikistan to 21.5% and 19.2%, respectively, in Cyprus, and tended to be higher for boys than for girls. Levels of thinness, stunting, and underweight were relatively low, except in Eastern Europe (for thinness) and in Central Asia. Despite the efforts to halt it, unhealthy weight status is still an important problem in the WHO European Region.The authors gratefully acknowledge support from a grant from the
Russian Government in the context of the WHO European Office for
the Prevention and Control of NCDs. Data collection in the countries
was made possible through funding from the following: Albania:
WHO through the Joint Programme on Children, Food Security and
Nutrition “Reducing Malnutrition in Children,” funded by the
Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund, and the Institute
of Public Health; Austria: Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health,
Care and Consumer Protection, Republic of Austria; Bulgaria: Ministry
of Health, National Center of Public Health and Analyses, WHO
Regional Office for Europe; Croatia: Ministry of Health, Croatian Institute of Public Health and WHO Regional Office for Europe; Czechia:
Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic, grants AZV MZČR
17-31670 A and MZČR – RVO EÚ 00023761; Cyprus: not available;
Denmark: Danish Ministry of Health; Estonia: Ministry of Social
Affairs, Ministry of Education and Research (IUT 42-2), WHO Country
Office, and National Institute for Health Development; Finland: Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare; France: Santé publique France,
the French Agency for Public Health; Georgia: WHO; Greece: International Hellenic University and Hellenic Medical Association for Obesity; Hungary: WHO Country Office for Hungary; Ireland: Health
Service Executive; Italy: Ministry of Health and Italian National Institute of Health; Kazakhstan: Ministry of Health of the Republic of
Kazakhstan and WHO Country Office; Kyrgyzstan: World Health
Organization; Latvia: Ministry of Health, Centre for Disease Prevention and Control; Lithuania: Science Foundation of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences and Lithuanian Science Council and WHO;
Malta: Ministry of Health; Montenegro: WHO and Institute of Public
Health of Montenegro; North Macedonia: funded by the Government
of North Macedonia through National Annual Program of Public
Health and implemented by the Institute of Public Health and Centers
of Public Health in the country. WHO country office provided support
for training and data management; Norway: Ministry of Health and
Norwegian Institute of Public Health; Poland: National Health Programme, Ministry of Health; Portugal: Ministry of Health Institutions,
the National Institute of Health, Directorate General of Health,
Regional Health Directorates and the kind technical support from the
Center for Studies and Research on Social Dynamics and Health
(CEIDSS); Romania: Ministry of Health; Russian Federation: WHO;
San Marino: Health Ministry, Educational Ministry, Social Security
Institute and Health Authority; Serbia: World Health Organization
(Ref. File 2015-540940); Slovakia: Biennial Collaborative Agreement
between WHO Regional Office for Europe and Ministry of Health SR;
Slovenia: Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of
Slovenia within the SLOfit surveillance system; Spain: Spanish Agency
for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN); Sweden: Public Health
Agency of Sweden; Tajikistan: WHO Country Office in Tajikistan and
Ministry of Health and Social Protection; Turkmenistan: WHO Country Office in Turkmenistan and Ministry of Health; Turkey: Turkish Ministry of Health and World Bank.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Reduced Bone Mass and Muscle Strength in Male 5α-Reductase Type 1 Inactivated Mice
Androgens are important regulators of bone mass but the relative importance of testosterone (T) versus dihydrotestosterone (DHT) for the activation of the androgen receptor (AR) in bone is unknown. 5α-reductase is responsible for the irreversible conversion of T to the more potent AR activator DHT. There are two well established isoenzymes of 5α-reductase (type 1 and type 2), encoded by separate genes (Srd5a1 and Srd5a2). 5α-reductase type 2 is predominantly expressed in male reproductive tissues whereas 5α-reductase type 1 is highly expressed in liver and moderately expressed in several other tissues including bone. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of 5α-reductase type 1 for bone mass using Srd5a1−/− mice. Four-month-old male Srd5a1−/− mice had reduced trabecular bone mineral density (−36%, p<0.05) and cortical bone mineral content (−15%, p<0.05) but unchanged serum androgen levels compared with wild type (WT) mice. The cortical bone dimensions were reduced in the male Srd5a1−/− mice as a result of a reduced cortical periosteal circumference compared with WT mice. T treatment increased the cortical periosteal circumference (p<0.05) in orchidectomized WT mice but not in orchidectomized Srd5a1−/− mice. Male Srd5a1−/− mice demonstrated a reduced forelimb muscle grip strength compared with WT mice (p<0.05). Female Srd5a1−/− mice had slightly increased cortical bone mass associated with elevated circulating levels of androgens. In conclusion, 5α-reductase type 1 inactivated male mice have reduced bone mass and forelimb muscle grip strength and we propose that these effects are due to lack of 5α-reductase type 1 expression in bone and muscle. In contrast, the increased cortical bone mass in female Srd5a1−/− mice, is an indirect effect mediated by elevated circulating androgen levels
A picture of medically assisted reproduction activities during the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
STUDY QUESTION: How did coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) impact on medically assisted reproduction (MAR) services in Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic (March to May 2020)? SUMMARY ANSWER: MAR services, and hence treatments for infertile couples, were stopped in most European countries for a mean of 7 weeks. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: With the outbreak of COVID-19 in Europe, non-urgent medical care was reduced by local authorities to preserve health resources and maintain social distancing. Furthermore, ESHRE and other societies recommended to postpone ART pregnancies as of 14 March 2020. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: A structured questionnaire was distributed in April among the ESHRE Committee of National Representatives, followed by further information collection through email. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: The information was collected through the questionnaire and afterwards summarised and aligned with data from the European Centre for Disease Control on the number of COVID-19 cases per country. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: By aligning the data for each country with respective epidemiological data, we show a large variation in the time and the phase in the epidemic in the curve when MAR/ART treatments were suspended and restarted. Similarly, the duration of interruption varied. Fertility preservation treatments and patient supportive care for patients remained available during the pandemic. LARGE SCALE DATA: N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Data collection was prone to misinterpretation of the questions and replies, and required further follow-up to check the accuracy. Some representatives reported that they, themselves, were not always aware of the situation throughout the country or reported difficulties with providing single generalised replies, for instance when there were regional differences within their country. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: The current article provides a basis for further research of the different strategies developed in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Such conclusions will be invaluable for health authorities and healthcare professionals with respect to future similar situations.peer-reviewe
No interactions between previously associated 2-hour glucose gene variants and physical activity or BMI on 2-hour glucose levels.
Gene-lifestyle interactions have been suggested to contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes. Glucose levels 2 h after a standard 75-g glucose challenge are used to diagnose diabetes and are associated with both genetic and lifestyle factors. However, whether these factors interact to determine 2-h glucose levels is unknown. We meta-analyzed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) × BMI and SNP × physical activity (PA) interaction regression models for five SNPs previously associated with 2-h glucose levels from up to 22 studies comprising 54,884 individuals without diabetes. PA levels were dichotomized, with individuals below the first quintile classified as inactive (20%) and the remainder as active (80%). BMI was considered a continuous trait. Inactive individuals had higher 2-h glucose levels than active individuals (β = 0.22 mmol/L [95% CI 0.13-0.31], P = 1.63 × 10(-6)). All SNPs were associated with 2-h glucose (β = 0.06-0.12 mmol/allele, P ≤ 1.53 × 10(-7)), but no significant interactions were found with PA (P > 0.18) or BMI (P ≥ 0.04). In this large study of gene-lifestyle interaction, we observed no interactions between genetic and lifestyle factors, both of which were associated with 2-h glucose. It is perhaps unlikely that top loci from genome-wide association studies will exhibit strong subgroup-specific effects, and may not, therefore, make the best candidates for the study of interactions
Genome-Wide Association Study and Functional Characterization Identifies Candidate Genes for Insulin-Stimulated Glucose Uptake
Distinct tissue-specific mechanisms mediate insulin action in fasting and postprandial states. Previous genetic studies have largely focused on insulin resistance in the fasting state, where hepatic insulin action dominates. Here we studied genetic variants influencing insulin levels measured 2 h after a glucose challenge in \u3e55,000 participants from three ancestry groups. We identified ten new loci (P \u3c 5 × 10-8) not previously associated with postchallenge insulin resistance, eight of which were shown to share their genetic architecture with type 2 diabetes in colocalization analyses. We investigated candidate genes at a subset of associated loci in cultured cells and identified nine candidate genes newly implicated in the expression or trafficking of GLUT4, the key glucose transporter in postprandial glucose uptake in muscle and fat. By focusing on postprandial insulin resistance, we highlighted the mechanisms of action at type 2 diabetes loci that are not adequately captured by studies of fasting glycemic traits
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