Socioeconomic Disparities and Self-reported Substance Abuse-related Problems

Background: It is not well understood whether the self-reported experience of substance abuse-related problems differs by socioeconomic status.Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis using the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) on participants who reported ever using illicit drugs or used illicit drugs in the past year.Findings: Among those reporting ever using illicit drugs (n = 4701), 71% were Non-Hispanic White, 37% had a family income ≥ $75000, and 3% reported having substance abuse-related problems in the past year. After adjustment for age, race, marital status, and education, individuals in the lowest income group were more likely to report having problems related to their substance abuse compared to individuals in the highest income group [odds ratio (OR) = 1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08-1.72] among those who reported ever using illicit drugs. There was no evidence of interaction with race or gender.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that poverty may be associated with self-identification of substance abuse-related problems among those who report ever using illicit drugs. Appropriate intervention should be targeted toward the low-income group to address identified substance abuse-related problems

Pregravid Physical Activity, Dietary Intake, and Glucose Intolerance During Pregnancy

To ascertain prepregnancy physical activity and dietary intake from a sample of women in early pregnancy and estimate the effect of prepregnancy lifestyle behaviors on the 1-hour glucose challenge test (GCT)

Religious Beliefs, Treatment Seeking, and Treatment Completion among Persons with Substance Abuse Problems

Background: Religious beliefs can assist with the success of treatment in persons with substance abuseproblems by providing social support, confidence, and hope.Methods: As such, a secondary analysis using 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), of20219 participants with self-identified illicit substance use problems was conducted. Survey was weightedbivariate and multivariate regression analysis was used to adjust for potential confounders.Findings: Approximately, 15.0% of the study sample were between ages of 18-25 years and 71.5% wereNon-Hispanic Black, 11.3% were Non-Hispanic White, and 12.1% were Hispanic. About 10.3% had less than ahigh school education, 28.0% graduated high school, 30.0% had some college education, and 32.0% werecollege graduates. Only 1.3% reported receiving substance abuse treatment in the past 12 months and5.4% perceived a need for substance abuse treatment in the last 12 months. 65.0% reported that religiousbeliefs were an important part of their life and 62.5% reported that their religious beliefs influenced theirdecision making. After adjustment for sociodemographic factors, both the importance of religious beliefs andthe influence of religious beliefs on decision making were associated with increased odds of having treatment[odds ratio (OR) = 1.56, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14-2.14 and OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.11-2.05, respectively].However, there was no association between the importance of religious beliefs or the influence of religiousbeliefs on decision making and perceived need for substance abuse treatment.Conclusion: These findings suggest that religious beliefs may be an important determinant in receiving treatmentamong substance abusers and also have implications for exploration of faith-based and faith-placed intervention

Gestational Diabetes and Subsequent Growth Patterns of Offspring: The National Collaborative Perinatal Project

Our objective was to test the hypothesis that intrauterine exposure to gestational diabetes [GDM] predicts childhood growth independent of the effect on infant birthweight. We conducted a prospective analysis of 28,358 mother-infant pairs who enrolled in the National Collaborative Perinatal Project between 1959 and 1965. The offspring were followed until age 7. Four hundred and eighty-four mothers (1.7%) had GDM. The mean birthweight was 3.2 kg (range 1.1–5.6 kg). Maternal characteristics (age, education, race, family income, pre-pregnancy body mass index and pregnancy weight gain) and measures of childhood growth (birthweight, weight at ages 4, and 7) differed significantly by GDM status (all P < 0.05). As expected, compared to their non-diabetic counterparts, mothers with GDM gave birth to offspring that had higher weights at birth. The offspring of mothers with GDM were larger at age 7 as indicated by greater weight, BMI and BMI z-score compared to the offspring of mothers without GDM at that age (all P < 0.05). These differences at age 7 persisted even after adjustment for infant birthweight. Furthermore, the offspring of mothers with GDM had a 61% higher odds of being overweight at age 7 compared to the offspring of mothers without GDM after adjustment for maternal BMI, pregnancy weight gain, family income, race and birthweight [OR = 1.61 (95%CI:1.07, 1.28)]. Our results indicate that maternal GDM status is associated with offspring overweight status during childhood. This relationship is only partially mediated by effects on birthweight

Gestational diabetes: determination of risk factors to diabetes mellitus

Objetivos Identificar fatores preditivos do desenvolvimento de diabetes mellitus (DM) em mulheres com antecedentes de diabetes gestacional (DG). Tipo de estudo Estudo observacional, analítico, retrospetivo e de coorte. Local Hospital de Braga. População Amostra aleatória de 300 mulheres, nascidas antes de 1995, com diagnóstico de DG entre 1 de janeiro de 2001 e 31 de dezembro de 2010 e seguimento da gravidez no Hospital de Braga. Métodos Os dados foram obtidos através da consulta de processos clínicos. A lista de doentes com DM, referente ao ano de 2011, foi utilizada para verificação do desenvolvimento da doença no grupo selecionado. Foram analisados o perfil sociodemográfico, os antecedentes pessoais, familiares e obstétricos e outros fatores anteparto. Foi realizada uma análise descritiva univariada e bivariada. Seguidamente foi criado um modelo de regressão logística binária para identificar potenciais preditores de desenvolvimento de DM tipo 2. Resultados Trinta e dois vírgula sete por cento das mulheres desenvolveu DM. A probabilidade de desenvolvimento de DM após DG aumentou 8,2 vezes quando idade gestacional menor que 24 semanas no momento do diagnóstico (OR = 8,19; p < 0,001), 3,4 vezes se necessidade de insulinoterapia (OR = 3,36; p < 0,001) e 3,1 vezes se índice de massa corporal (IMC) prévio = 26,4 kg/m2 (OR = 3,07; p = 0,003). História familiar de DM tipo 2, 4 valores elevados na prova de tolerância oral à glicose, valor de glicemia em jejum, idade materna no momento do diagnóstico e IMC pós-parto, apesar de apresentarem associação com desenvolvimento de DM não se revelaram seus preditores. Não se verificou associação entre gravidez prévia ou diagnóstico prévio de DG com desenvolvimento de DM. Conclusões Em mulheres com DG, a idade gestacional menor que 24 semanas no momento do diagnóstico, a necessidade de insulinoterapia e o IMC prévio = 26,4 kg/m2 apresentaram-se como fatores de risco para desenvolvimento de DM.Aims: To identify predictive factors to diabetes mellitus (DM) development in women with history of gestational diabetes (GD). Study design: An observational, analytic, cohort retrospective study. Local: Hospital of Braga. Population: A random sample of 300 women, born before 1995, with GD diagnosed since January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2010 and pregnancy surveillance in a public Hospital of Braga. Methods: Data was collected by consultation of medical records. The DM patients’ list of 2011 was used to verification of the disease development in the selected group. Sociodemographic profile, personal, family and obstetric history, and other antepartum factors were analyzed. A univariate descriptive analysis and a bivariate analysis were performed. A binary logistic regression model was created to identify potential predictors of type 2 DM development. Results: 32.7% of women developed DM. The probability of DM development after GD was increased 8.2 times when gestational age at diagnosis was less than 24 weeks (OR = 8.19; p < 0.001), 3.4 times with the need of insulin therapy (OR = 3.36; p < 0.001) and 3.1 times with previous pregnancy body mass index (BMI) ≥ 26.4 kg/m2 (OR = 3.07; p = 0.003). Although family history of type 2 DM, maternal age at diagnosis, postpartum BMI, 4 abnormal values in the diagnostic oral glucose tolerance test and fasting glucose level had presented association with DM development, did not present as its predictors. It was not verified association between previous pregnancy or previous GD diagnosis and DM development. Conclusions: In women with GD, gestational age at diagnosis less than 24 weeks, need of insulin therapy and previous pregnancy BMI ≥ 26.4 kg/m2 were presented as risk factors to DM development. © 2014 Sociedade Portuguesa de Endocrinologia, Diabetes e Metabolismo. Published by Elsevier España

Lower cerebrospinal fluid/plasma fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) ratios and placental FGF21 production in gestational diabetes

Objectives: Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) levels are increased in insulin resistant states such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). In addition, GDM is associated with serious maternal and fetal complications. We sought to study human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and corresponding circulating FGF21 levels in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and in age and BMI matched control subjects. We also assessed FGF21 secretion from GDM and control human placental explants. Design: CSF and corresponding plasma FGF21 levels of 24 women were measured by ELISA [12 GDM (age: 26–47 years, BMI: 24.3–36.3 kg/m2) and 12 controls (age: 22–40 years, BMI: 30.1–37.0 kg/m2)]. FGF21 levels in conditioned media were secretion from GDM and control human placental explants were also measured by ELISA. Results: Glucose, HOMA-IR and circulating NEFA levels were significantly higher in women with GDM compared to control subjects. Plasma FGF21 levels were significantly higher in women with GDM compared to control subjects [234.3 (150.2–352.7) vs. 115.5 (60.5–188.7) pg/ml; P<0.05]. However, there was no significant difference in CSF FGF21 levels in women with GDM compared to control subjects. Interestingly, CSF/Plasma FGF21 ratio was significantly lower in women with GDM compared to control subjects [0.4 (0.3–0.6) vs. 0.8 (0.5–1.6); P<0.05]. FGF21 secretion into conditioned media was significantly lower in human placental explants from women with GDM compared to control subjects (P<0.05). Conclusions: The central actions of FGF21 in GDM subjects maybe pivotal in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in GDM subjects. The significance of FGF21 produced by the placenta remains uncharted and maybe crucial in our understanding of the patho-physiology of GDM and its associated maternal and fetal complications. Future research should seek to elucidate these points

Association Between Adiponectin and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Levels at Eight to Fourteen Weeks Gestation and Maternal Glucose Tolerance: The Parity, Inflammation, and Diabetes Study

Inflammation may influence gestational hyperglycemia, but to date, the data from observational studies is largely limited to results from the third trimester of pregnancy. Our objective was to evaluate first trimester adipocytokine levels. We sought to determine whether first trimester adiponectin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF)-alpha concentrations were independently associated and predictive of maternal glucose tolerance, as measured by the 1-hour glucose challenge test (GCT), after adjustment for maternal lifestyle behaviors and body mass index (BMI)

The HBP1 tumor suppressor is a negative epigenetic regulator of MYCN driven neuroblastoma through interaction with the PRC2 complex

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Risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in dogs and cats: a case-control study

Risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in dogs and cats were investigated in an unmatched case-control study. A total of 197 animals from 150 veterinary practices across the United Kingdom was enrolled, including 105 MRSA cases and 92 controls with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) infection. The association of owners and veterinarian staff with the human healthcare sector (HCS) and animal-related characteristics such as signalment, antimicrobial and immunosuppressive therapy, and surgery were evaluated as putative risk factors using logistic regression. We found that significant risk factors for MRSA infection were the number of antimicrobial courses (p = 0.005), number of days admitted to veterinary clinics (p = 0.003) and having received surgical implants (p = 0.001). In addition, the odds of contact with humans which had been ill and admitted to hospital (p = 0.062) were higher in MRSA infected pets than in MSSA controls. The risk factors identified in this study highlight the need to increase vigilance towards identification of companion animal groups at risk and to advocate responsible and judicious use of antimicrobials in small animal practice