Abdominal obesity and low physical activity are associated with insulin resistance in overweight adolescents: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT: Background: Previous studies have assessed the metabolic changes and lifestyles associated with overweight adolescents. However, these associations are unclear amongst overweight adolescents who have already developed insulin resistance. This study assessed the associations between insulin resistance and anthropometric, metabolic, inflammatory, food consumption, and physical activity variables amongst overweight adolescents. Methods: This cross-sectional study divided adolescents (n = 120) between 10 and 18 years old into 3 groups: an overweight group with insulin resistance (O + IR), an overweight group without insulin resistance (O-IR), and a normal-weight control group (NW). Adolescents were matched across groups based on age, sex, pubertal maturation, and socioeconomic strata. Anthropometric, biochemical, physical activity, and food consumption variables were assessed. Insulin resistance was assessed using homeostatic model assessment (HOMA Calculator Version 2.2.2 from ©Diabetes Trials Unit, University of Oxford), and overweight status was assessed using body mass index according to World Health Organization (2007) references. A chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables. ANOVAs or Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for continuous variables. Multiple linear regression models were used to calculate the probability of the occurrence of insulin resistance based on the independent variables. Results: The risk of insulin resistance amongst overweight adolescents increases significantly when they reach a waist circumference > p95 (OR = 1.9, CIs = 1.3-2.7, p = 0.013) and watch 3 or more hours/day of television (OR = 1.7, CIs = 0.98-2.8, p = 0.033). Overweight status and insulin resistance were associated with higher levels of inflammation (hsCRP ≥1 mg/L) and cardiovascular risk according to arterial indices. With each cm increase in waist circumference, the HOMA index increased by 0.082; with each metabolic equivalent (MET) unit increase in physical activity, the HOMA index decreased by 0.026. Conclusions: Sedentary behaviour and a waist circumference > p90 amongst overweight adolescents were associated with insulin resistance, lipid profile alterations, and higher inflammatory states. A screening that includes body mass index, in waist circumference, and physical activity evaluations of adolescents might enable the early detection of these alterations

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Composite Membranes Based on Functionalized Mesostructured Cellular Foam Particles and Sulfonated Poly(Ether Ether Sulfone) with Potential Application in Fuel Cells

Composite polymeric membranes were designed based on sulfonated poly(ether ether sulfone) (sPEES) and mesostructured cellular foam (MCF) silica nanoparticles functionalized with organic compounds. Parameters such as molecular weight (MW) of the polymer, nature of the functional group of the MCF silica, and percentage of silica charge were evaluated on the final properties of the membranes. Composite membrane characterization was carried out on their water retention capacity (high MW polymer between 20–46% and for the low MW between 20–60%), ion exchange capacity (IEC) (high MW polymer between 0.02 mmol/g–0.07 mmol/g and low MW between 0.03–0.09 mmol/g) and proton conductivity (high MW polymer molecular between 15–70 mS/cm and low MW between 0.1–150 mS/cm). Finally, the membrane prepared with the low molecular weight polymer and 3% wt. of functionalized silica with sulfonic groups exhibited results similar to Nafion® 117

Prevalencia de anemia ferropénica en escolares y adolescentes, Medellín, Colombia, 1999 Prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia in schoolchildren and adolescents, Medellín, Colombia, 1999

OBJETIVO: Determinar la prevalencia de anemia ferropénica y describir el consumo de hierro en la dieta de escolares y adolescentes matriculados en colegios oficiales y privados de la zona urbana de la ciudad de Medellín, Colombia, en el año escolar 1999&shy;2000, así como explorar la asociación entre grupo de edad, sexo, clase socioeconómica y parasitismo intestinal por un lado, y anémica ferropénica y deficiencia de hierro por el otro. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio de corte transversal en 960 estudiantes de 6 a 18 años de edad que fueron elegidos por muestreo aleatorio simple tras un muestreo polietápico estratificado y por conglomerados de colegios oficiales y privados en comunas de la zona de Medellín. Se evaluaron el contenido corporal de hierro mediante determinaciones de ferritina, hemoglobina, volumen corpuscular medio y amplitud de la distribución eritrocitaria; la presencia de parásitos intestinales mediante análisis coprológico; el estado nutricional por medio de mediciones antropométricas; y el consumo de hierro y vitamina C mediante un cuestionario semicuantitativo de ingesta alimentaria. Para definir los casos de anemia ferropénica y de deficiencia de hierro se usaron las definiciones estándar de la Organización Mundial de la Salud basadas en los valores de ferritina y hemoglobina. También se examinó la asociación entre grupo de edad, sexo, clase socioeconómica y presencia de parásitos intestinales por un lado y la presencia de anemia por el otro mediante pruebas no paramétricas con un nivel de significación de 0,05. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia de deficiencia de hierro fue de 4,9% y la de anemia ferropénica, de 0,6%. Se encontró una mayor prevalencia de ambas en mujeres adolescentes (P < 0,05) que en el resto de la muestra estudiada. No se demostró ninguna asociación significativa entre la presencia de parásitos intestinales y la de anemia. El consumo promedio de hierro diario fue de 5,5 &plusmn;2,3 mg (desviación estándar [DE]) (32% &plusmn;15% [DE] de la ingesta dietética recomendada [RDA] para el grupo de edad estudiado); el aporte promedio de hierro hemático en la dieta fue de 0,7 &plusmn;0,7 mg [DE]. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en la cantidad y el tipo de hierro consumido entre los niños con y sin anemia. El parámetro antropométrico que mostró la mayor asociación con la presencia de anemia fue la relación entra la estatura y la edad. CONCLUSIONES: Las prevalencias de anemia ferropénica y deficiencia de hierro encontradas en la población estudiada fueron bajas, de acuerdo con los parámetros de hemoglobina y ferritina definidos por la Organización Mundial de la Salud como normales para estos grupos poblacionales. La baja prevalencia de parásitos hematófagos, un consumo adecuado de vitamina C y los finos mecanismos de regulación del metabolismo del hierro pueden haber contribuido a estos resultados. Se debe velar por un contenido adecuado de hierro en la dieta de las adolescentes y poner en marcha campañas educativas que contribuyan a prevenir la deficiencia de hierro en este grupo poblacional.<br>OBJECTIVE: This research had two objectives: (1) to determine the prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia and describe iron consumption in the diet of schoolchildren and adolescents enrolled in public and private schools of the urban area of the city of Medellín, Colombia, in the 1999&shy;2000 school year and (2) to explore the associations that age group, sex, socioeconomic class, and intestinal parasitism show with iron-deficiency anemia and iron deficiency. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 960 students from 6 to 18 years old who were selected by simple random sampling after stratified multistage sampling and clustering in public and private schools in districts of Medellín. Body iron content was evaluated by determining ferritin and hemoglobin levels, average corpuscular volume, and amplitude of the erythrocyte distribution; the presence of intestinal parasites was evaluated through stool analysis; nutritional status was evaluated by means of anthropometric measurements; and consumption of iron and vitamin C was evaluated using a semiquantitative questionnaire on food intake. In order to define the cases of iron-deficiency anemia and of iron deficiency we used the standard definitions of the World Health Organization, based on ferritin and hemoglobin values. We used nonparametric tests, with a significance level of 0.05, to examine the associations between age group, sex, socioeconomic class, and the presence of intestinal parasites on the one hand and the presence of anemia on the other hand. RESULTS: The prevalence of iron deficiency was 4.9%, and the prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia was 0.6%. The prevalence of both was higher among adolescent women (P < 0.05) than in the rest of the sample studied. No significant association was found between the presence of intestinal parasites and the presence of anemia. The average daily consumption of iron (&plusmn; standard deviation) was 5.5 mg (&plusmn; 2.3 mg) (32% &plusmn; 15% of the recommended dietary intake for the studied age group); the average contribution of serum iron in the diet was 0.7 mg (&plusmn; 0.7 mg). Comparing the children who did and who did not have anemia, there were no significant differences in iron consumption and the type of iron consumed. The anthropometric parameter that showed the greatest association with the presence of anemia was height for age. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalences of iron deficiency and of iron-deficiency anemia found in the population studied were low, according to the parameters for hemoglobin and ferritin as defined by the World Health Organization as being normal for these population groups. The low prevalence of blood-sucking parasites, adequate consumption of vitamin C, and the refined mechanisms with which the body regulates iron homeostasis may have contributed to these results. Adequate iron content in the diet of adolescents should be maintained, and education campaigns should be implemented to help prevent iron deficiency in this population group

Cambios en la presión arterial en un grupo de voluntarios normotensos después del consumo de diferentes dosis de café filtrado Changes in blood pressure in a group of normotense volunteers after consumption or different doses of filtered coffee

No es clara la asociación entre el consumo de café y los cambios en los niveles de presión arterial; si bien algunos estudios muestran una correlación positiva, otros no logran confirmarla. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar el cambio en los niveles de presión arterial en un grupo de voluntarios normotensos sometidos al consumo de diferentes dosis de café filtrado. Se trata de un estudio prospectivo, clínico controlado, en el cual se conformaron cuatro grupos y se sometieron por un período de seis semanas al consumo de diferentes cantidades de café filtrado: el grupo uno no consumió café, el grupo dos consumió 200 mL, el tres 400 mL y el cuatro 600 mL. Antes y al final de la intervención, en cada sujeto se midieron los niveles de presión arterial; en el grupo control se midió la concentración de cafeína antes, durante y al final de la intervención. Los resultados mostraron grupos comparables por género, edad e índice de masa corporal, sin diferencias significativas en las condiciones basales. Después de la intervención, la presión arterial sistólica y diastólica no mostró diferencia intragrupos, excepto en el grupo cuatro en el cual disminuyó significativamente (p=0,006) la presión arterial diastólica. Entre grupos los cambios en los niveles de presión sistólica y diastólica no fueron significativos (p=0,510 y 0,430 respectivamente). En conclusión, el consumo de diferentes dosis de café filtrado no ocasionó en sujetos normotensos cambios significativos en los niveles de presión arterial; el grupo que se abstuvo de tomar café no mostró disminución significativa de la presión arterial.<br>The association between coffee consumption and changes in blood pressure values is not clear yet. Although some studies show a positive correlation, others fail to confirm it. The aim of this study was to determine changes in blood pressure values in a group of normotense volunteers submitted to consumption of different doses of filtered coffee. This is a prospective clinical controlled study in which four groups were conformed and were submitted during a period of six weeks to consumption of different doses of filtered coffee: group one did not have coffee, group two consumed 200 mL, group three 400 mL and group four 600 mL. Blood pressure values were measured before and at the end of the intervention in each subject; in the control group coffeine concentration was measured before, during and at the end of the intervention. The results showed comparable groups by gender, age and body mass index, without significant differences in basal conditions. After the intervention, systolic and diastolic blood pressure did not show any difference between the groups, with the exception of group four in which diastolic blood pressure diminished significantly (p=0.006). Between the groups, the changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were not significant (p=0.510 and 0.430 respectively). In conclusion, consumption of different doses of filtered coffee did not cause significant changes in blood pressure values; the group that did not have coffee did not show significant lowering of blood pressure values

Results of linear mixed effects models testing the effects of physical parameters on genotypic diversity (G_o/G_e) in 18 populations of <i>Montastraea annularis</i> across the Caribbean.

a<p>Degrees of freedom.</p>b<p>Associated probability.</p>*<p>Significant at p<0.05.</p

Clonal Structure of <i>Montastraea annularis</i> populations across the Caribbean.

<p>Based on the relationship between genotypic diversity and genotypic evenness, populations (n = 18) have been divided into 3 groups ranging from sexual to mostly asexual. Four of the five populations from Colombia are overlapping.</p

Relationship between genotypic diversity (G_o/G_e) and physical parameters in <i>Montastraea annularis</i> populations across the Caribbean.

<p>a) Colony Size; b) Hurricane Incidence; and c) Reef Slope. Higher genotypic diversity is associated with a) larger colony size; b) lower hurricane incidence; and c) gentler reef slope. n = 18 sites.</p

Relationship between colony size and hurricane incidence in <i>Montastraea annularis</i> populations across the Caribbean.

<p>n = 18 sites.</p

Physical parameters for 18 populations of <i>Montastraea annularis</i> across the Caribbean.

a<p>Reef abbreviations provided in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0053283#pone-0053283-t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>.</p>b<p>Number of hurricanes to pass a location between 1863 and 2004.</p>c<p>Exposure values of 10⁻²³ are effectively zero.</p>d<p>Mean±SE.</p