Examining Chile's unique food marketing policy: TV advertising and dietary intake in preschool children, a pre- and post- policy study

Background: The Chilean government implemented the first phase of a comprehensive marketing policy in 2016, restricting child-directed marketing of products high in energy, total sugars, sodium or saturated fat (hereafter “high-in”). Objectives: To examine the role that high-in TV food advertising had in the effect of the policy on consumption of high-in products between 2016 and 2017. Methods: Dietary data were obtained from 24-hour diet recall measured in 2016 (n = 940) and 2017 (n = 853), pre- and post-policy, from a cohort of 4 to 6 years children. Television use was linked to analyses of food advertisements to derive individual-level estimates of exposure to advertising. A multilevel mediation analysis examined direct and indirect effects of the policy through advertising exposure. Results: Children's high-in food consumption and advertising exposure declined significantly from 2016 to 2017 (P <.01). Consumption changes were not significantly mediated by changes in advertising exposure, which might suggest other elements of the Chilean Law potentially driving decreases in consumption to a greater extent than TV ads. Conclusions: Preschoolers' exposure to high-in advertising and consumption of high-in products decreased post-policy. Further research is needed to understand how marketing changes will relate to dietary changes after full implementation of the law and in the long term

TV advertising and dietary intake in adolescents: a pre- and post- study of Chile’s Food Marketing Policy

Background: The first phase of a comprehensive marketing policy was implemented in Chile in 2016. The policy restricted child-directed marketing of foods and beverages considered high in energy, total sugars, sodium or saturated fat (“high-in”). The objective of this study was to examine the role of high-in TV food advertising as a mediator in the association between policy implementation and consumption of high-in foods and beverages between 2016 and 2017. Methods: Dietary data were from 24-hour diet recalls collected in 2016 and 2017 in a cohort of 12–14 y children (n = 721). Television use was assessed concurrently and linked to analyses of food advertisements on broadcast and paid television to derive individual-level estimates of exposure to high-in food advertising. A multilevel mediation analysis examined direct and indirect effects of the policy through advertising exposure. Results: Following the policy implementation, high-in advertising exposure was significantly reduced (p < 0.01). High-in food intake decreased in adolescents with lower levels, but not higher levels, of high-in advertising at baseline. We did not find evidence of mediation by changes in high-in ad exposure. Conclusions: Adolescents’ exposure to high-in TV advertising decreased after the 2016 implementation of the Chilean Food Labeling and Marketing Law. However, evidence that changes in advertisement mediated dietary changes was not found. Further research is needed to understand how marketing changes will relate to dietary changes after full implementation of the law and in the long term

Changes in the amount of nutrient of packaged foods and beverages after the initial implementation of the Chilean Law of Food Labelling and Advertising: A nonexperimental prospective study

BACKGROUND: In June 2016, the first phase of the Chilean Food Labelling and Advertising Law that mandated front-of-package warning labels and marketing restrictions for unhealthy foods and beverages was implemented. We assess foods and beverages reformulation after this initial implementation. METHODS AND FINDINGS: A data set with the 2015 to 2017 nutritional information was developed collecting the information at 2 time periods: preimplementation (T0: January-February 2015 or 2016; n = 4,055) and postimplementation (T1: January-February 2017; n = 3,025). Quartiles of energy and nutrients of concern (total sugars, saturated fats, and sodium, per 100 g/100 mL) and the proportion of products with energy and nutrients exceeding the cutoffs of the law (i.e., products "high in") were compared pre- and postimplementation of the law in cross-sectional samples of products with sales >1% of their specific food or beverage groups, according to the Euromonitor International Database; a longitudinal subsample (i.e., products collected in both the pre- and postimplementation periods, n = 1,915) was also analyzed. Chi-squared, McNemar tests, and quantile regressions (simple and multilevel) were used for comparing T0 and T1. Cross-sectional analysis showed a significant decrease (T0 versus T1) in the proportion of product with any "high in" (from 51% [95% confidence interval (CI) 49-52] to 44% [95% CI 42-45]), mostly in food and beverage groups in which regulatory cutoffs were below the 75th percentile of the nutrient or energy distribution. Most frequent reductions were in the proportion of "high in" sugars products (in beverages, milks and milk-based drinks, breakfast cereals, sweet baked products, and sweet and savory spreads; from 80% [95% CI 73-86] to 60% [95% CI 51-69]) and in "high in sodium" products (in savory spreads, cheeses, ready-to-eat meals, soups, and sausages; from 74% [95% CI 69-78] to 27% [95% CI 20-35]). Conversely, the proportion of products "high in" saturated fats only decreased in savory spreads (p < 0.01), and the proportion of "high in" energy products significantly decreased among breakfast cereals and savory spreads (both p < 0.01). Quantile analyses showed that most of the changes took place close to the cutoff values, with only few exceptions of overall left shifts in distribution. Longitudinal analyses showed similar results. However, it is important to note that the nonexperimental nature of this study does not allow to imply causality of these findings. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that, after initial implementation of the Chilean Law of Food Labelling and Advertising, there was a significant decrease in the amount of sugars and sodium in several groups of packaged foods and beverages. Further studies should clarify how food reformulation will impact dietary quality of the population

Protein kinase B (AKT) upregulation and Thy-1-α_vβ₃ integrin-induced phosphorylation of Connexin43 by activated AKT in astrogliosis.

In response to brain injury or inflammation, astrocytes undergo hypertrophy, proliferate, and migrate to the damaged zone. These changes, collectively known as "astrogliosis", initially protect the brain; however, astrogliosis can also cause neuronal dysfunction. Additionally, these astrocytes undergo intracellular changes involving alterations in the expression and localization of many proteins, including α &lt;sub&gt;v&lt;/sub&gt; β &lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; integrin. Our previous reports indicate that Thy-1, a neuronal glycoprotein, binds to this integrin inducing Connexin43 (Cx43) hemichannel (HC) opening, ATP release, and astrocyte migration. Despite such insight, important links and molecular events leading to astrogliosis remain to be defined. Using bioinformatics approaches, we analyzed different Gene Expression Omnibus datasets to identify changes occurring in reactive astrocytes as compared to astrocytes from the normal mouse brain. In silico analysis was validated by both qRT-PCR and immunoblotting using reactive astrocyte cultures from the normal rat brain treated with TNF and from the brain of a hSOD1 &lt;sup&gt;G93A&lt;/sup&gt; transgenic mouse model. We evaluated the phosphorylation of Cx43 serine residue 373 (S373) by AKT and ATP release as a functional assay for HC opening. In vivo experiments were also performed with an AKT inhibitor (AKTi). The bioinformatics analysis revealed that genes of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway were among the most significantly altered in reactive astrocytes. mRNA and protein levels of PI3K, AKT, as well as Cx43, were elevated in reactive astrocytes from normal rats and from hSOD1 &lt;sup&gt;G93A&lt;/sup&gt; transgenic mice, as compared to controls. In vitro, reactive astrocytes stimulated with Thy-1 responded by activating AKT, which phosphorylated S373Cx43. Increased pS373Cx43 augmented the release of ATP to the extracellular medium and AKTi inhibited these Thy-1-induced responses. Furthermore, in an in vivo model of inflammation (brain damage), AKTi decreased the levels of astrocyte reactivity markers and S373Cx43 phosphorylation. Here, we identify changes in the PI3K/AKT molecular signaling network and show how they participate in astrogliosis by regulating the HC protein Cx43. Moreover, because HC opening and ATP release are important in astrocyte reactivity, the phosphorylation of Cx43 by AKT and the associated increase in ATP release identify a potential therapeutic window of opportunity to limit the adverse effects of astrogliosis

Atacamite Cu2Cl(OH)3: A model compound for the S = 1/2 sawtooth chain?

We present a combined experimental and theoretical study of the mineral atacamite Cu2Cl(OH)3.Based on ab initio band structure calculations, we derive a magnetic coupling scheme of essentially a S = 1/2 sawtooth chain. Experimentally, we fully characterize the long-range antiferromagnetically ordered state and field-induced behavior, here for H k b axis. Magnetic order is suppressed by magnetic fields of ∼ 20 T, while beginning at 31.5 T we observe a wide magnetization plateau at half of the saturation magnetization, Msat/2. Numerical calculations for the magnetization M(H) of the quantum sawtooth chain reveal a plateau at Msat/2, raising the issue of the understandingof its microscopic nature.Fil: Heinze, L.. Technische Universitat Carolo Wilhelmina Zu Braunschweig.; AlemaniaFil: Jeschke, H.. Okayama University; Japón. Goethe Universitat Frankfurt; AlemaniaFil: Metavitsiadis, A.. Technische Universitat Carolo Wilhelmina Zu Braunschweig.; AlemaniaFil: Reehuis, M.. Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH; AlemaniaFil: Feyerherm, R.. Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH; AlemaniaFil: Hoffmann, J. U.. Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH; AlemaniaFil: Wolter, A. U. B.. Leibniz Institute For Solid State And Materials Researc; AlemaniaFil: Ding, X.. Los Alamos National High Magnetic Field Laboratory; Estados UnidosFil: Zapf, V.. Los Alamos National High Magnetic Field Laboratory; Estados UnidosFil: Corvalán Moya, Carolina del Huerto. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; Argentina. Los Alamos National High Magnetic Field Laboratory; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Weickert, F.. Los Alamos National High Magnetic Field Laboratory; Estados UnidosFil: Jaime, M.. Los Alamos National High Magnetic Field Laboratory; Estados UnidosFil: Rule, K. C.. Australian Nuclear Science And Technology Organisation; AustraliaFil: Menzel, D.. Technische Universitat Carolo Wilhelmina Zu Braunschweig.; AlemaniaFil: Valenti, R.. Goethe Universitat Frankfurt; AlemaniaFil: Brenig, W.. Technische Universitat Carolo Wilhelmina Zu Braunschweig.; AlemaniaFil: Süllow, S.. Technische Universitat Carolo Wilhelmina Zu Braunschweig.; Alemani

Climate Change and Developing-Country Cities: Implications For Environmental Health and Equity

Climate change is an emerging threat to global public health. It is also highly inequitable, as the greatest risks are to the poorest populations, who have contributed least to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The rapid economic development and the concurrent urbanization of poorer countries mean that developing-country cities will be both vulnerable to health hazards from climate change and, simultaneously, an increasing contributor to the problem. We review the specific health vulnerabilities of urban populations in developing countries and highlight the range of large direct health effects of energy policies that are concentrated in urban areas. Common vulnerability factors include coastal location, exposure to the urban heat-island effect, high levels of outdoor and indoor air pollution, high population density, and poor sanitation. There are clear opportunities for simultaneously improving health and cutting GHG emissions most obviously through policies related to transport systems, urban planning, building regulations and household energy supply. These influence some of the largest current global health burdens, including approximately 800,000 annual deaths from ambient urban air pollution, 1.2 million from road-traffic accidents, 1.9 million from physical inactivity, and 1.5 million per year from indoor air pollution. GHG emissions and health protection in developing-country cities are likely to become increasingly prominent in policy development. There is a need for a more active input from the health sector to ensure that development and health policies contribute to a preventive approach to local and global environmental sustainability, urban population health, and health equity