Geographic and socioeconomic diversity of food and nutrient intakes: a comparison of four European countries

Purpose: Public health policies and actions increasingly acknowledge the climate burden of food consumption. The aim of this study is to describe dietary intakes across four European countries, as baseline for further research towards healthier and environmentally-friendlier diets for Europe. Methods: Individual-level dietary intake data in adults were obtained from nationally-representative surveys from Denmark and France using a 7-day diet record, Italy using a 3-day diet record, and Czech Republic using two replicates of a 24-h recall. Energy-standardised food and nutrient intakes were calculated for each subject from the mean of two randomly selected days. Results: There was clear geographical variability, with a between-country range for mean fruit intake from 118 to 199 g/day, for vegetables from 95 to 239 g/day, for fish from 12 to 45 g/day, for dairy from 129 to 302 g/day, for sweet beverages from 48 to 224 ml/day, and for alcohol from 8 to 15 g/day, with higher intakes in Italy for fruit, vegetables and fish, and in Denmark for dairy, sweet beverages and alcohol. In all countries, intakes were low for legumes ( 80 g/day). Within countries, food intakes also varied by socio-economic factors such as age, gender, and educational level, but less pronounced by anthropometric factors such as overweight status. For nutrients, intakes were low for dietary fibre (15.8–19.4 g/day) and vitamin D (2.4–3.0 µg/day) in all countries, for potassium (2288–2938 mg/day) and magnesium (268–285 mg/day) except in Denmark, for vitamin E in Denmark (6.7 mg/day), and for folate in Czech Republic (212 µg/day). Conclusions: There is considerable variation in food and nutrient intakes across Europe, not only between, but also within countries. Individual-level dietary data provide insight into the heterogeneity of dietary habits beyond per capita food supply data, and this is crucial to balancing healthy and environmentally-friendly diets for European citizens

Semaphorin 3F forms an anti-angiogenic barrier in outer retina

Semaphorins are known modulators of axonal sprouting and angiogenesis. In the retina, we identified a distinct and almost exclusive expression of Semaphorin 3F in the outer layers. Interestingly, these outer retinal layers are physiologically avascular. Using functional in vitro models, we report potent anti-angiogenic effects of Semaphorin 3F on both retinal and choroidal vessels. In addition, human retinal pigment epithelium isolates from patients with pathologic neovascularization of the outer retina displayed reduced Semaphorin 3F expression in 10 out of 15 patients. Combined, these results elucidate a functional role for Semaphorin 3F in the outer retina where it acts as a vasorepulsive cue to maintain physiologic avascularity

Deficiency in the Metabolite-Sensing Receptor SUCNR1 (GPR91) Leads to Outer Retinal Lesions akin to dry-Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a prominent cause of blindness in the Western world. To date, its molecular pathogenesis as well as the sequence of events leading to retinal degeneration remain largely ill-defined. While the invasion of choroidal neovessels in the retina is the primary mechanism that precipitates loss of sight, an earlier dry form precedes it. Here we provide the first evidence for the protective role of the RPE-resident metabolite receptor, succinate receptor 1 (SUCNR1; G-Protein coupled Receptor-91 (GPR91), in preventing dry AMD-like lesions of the subretinal space. Genetic analysis of 925 patients with geographic atrophy and 1199 AMD-free peers revealed an increased risk of developing geographic atrophy associated with intronic variants in the SUCNR1 gene. In mice, outer retinal expression of SUCNR1 is largely confined to the Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) as well as microglial cells and decreases progressively with age. Accordingly, Sucnr1-/- mice show signs of premature sub-retinal dystrophy with accumulation of oxidized-LDL, abnormal thickening of Bruch’s membrane and a pronounced buildup of lipid-bloated subretinal microglia. The accumulation of microglia in Sucnr1-/- mice is likely triggered by the inefficient clearance of oxidized lipids by the RPE as bone marrow transfer of wild-type microglia into Sucnr1-/- mice did not salvage the patho-phenotype and systemic lipolysis was equivalent between wild-type and control mice. Our findings suggest that deficiency in SUCNR1 is a possible contributing factor to the pathogenesis of dry AMD.and thus broaden our understanding of this clinically unmet nee

Deficiency in the metabolite receptor SUCNR1 (GPR91) leads to outer retinal lesions

International audienceAge-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a prominent cause of blindness in the Western world. To date, its molecular pathogenesis as well as the sequence of events leading to retinal degeneration remain largely ill-defined. While the invasion of choroidal neovessels in the retina is the primary mechanism that precipitates loss of sight, an earlier dry form precedes it. Here we provide the first evidence for the protective role of the Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE)-resident metabolite receptor, succinate receptor 1 (SUCNR1; G-Protein coupled Receptor-91 (GPR91), in preventing dry AMD-like lesions of the outer retina. Genetic analysis of 925 patients with geographic atrophy and 1199 AMD-free peers revealed an increased risk of developing geographic atrophy associated with intronic variants in theSUCNR1 gene. In mice, outer retinal expression of SUCNR1 is observed in the RPE as well as microglial cells and decreases progressively with age. Accordingly, Sucnr1-/- mice show signs of premature sub-retinal dystrophy with accumulation of oxidized-LDL, abnormal thickening of Bruch's membrane and a buildup of subretinal microglia. The accumulation of microglia in Sucnr1-deficient mice is likely triggered by the inefficient clearance of oxidized lipids by the RPE as bone marrow transfer of wild-type microglia into Sucnr1-/- mice did not salvage the patho-phenotype and systemic lipolysis was equivalent between wild-type and control mice. Our findings suggest that deficiency in SUCNR1 is a possible contributing factor to the pathogenesis of dry AMD and thus broaden our understanding of this clinically unmet need

Relaciones de parentesco, corporalidad y afectos en la producción de lo común: reflexiones a partir de una etnografía con trabajadores de la economía popular en Argentina

A partir de una investigación etnográfica con una cooperativa de vendedores ambulantes de la Confederación de Trabajadores de la Economía Popular (CTEP), este artículo explora los vínculos entre parentesco, corporalidad y afectos en la producción de lo común. Sostengo que esta producción implica el derecho a mantener una forma de vida que se remonta al menos a tres generaciones atrás —la posibilidad de seguir siendo—, como punto de partida de un proceso de experimentación política que permite proyectar una vida que vale la pena ser vivida para sí mismos y para las generaciones futuras al producir derechos y formas de bienestar colectivos de los que esta población ha estado históricamente desposeída. Más que pensar lo común como algo dado, este análisis busca contribuir a una perspectiva de lo común que atiende al proceso de producción y se focaliza en las prácticas y relaciones cotidianas que le dan forma.Starting from an ethnographic investigation with a cooperative of street hawkers from the Confederations of Workers of the Popular Economy (CTEP), this article explores the linkages between kinship, corporality and affections in the production of the common. I argue that this production entails the right to uphold a way of life that dates back at least three generations —the possibility of continuing to be—, as a starting point for a process of political experimentation to allow projecting a life worth living for themselves and for future generations, by producing rights and forms of collective wellbeing this population has historically been dispossessed of. More than thinking of the common as a given, this analysis seeks to contribute to a view of the common that serves the production process and focuses on the daily practices and relationships that shape it.A partir de uma pesquisa etnográfica com uma cooperativa de vendedores ambulantes da Confederação de Trabalhadores da Economia Popular (CTEP), este artigo explora os vínculos entre parentesco, corporeidade e afetos na produção do comum. Argumento que essa produção implica o direito de manter uma forma de vida que remonta, pelo menos, a três gerações — a possibilidade de continuar sendo—, como ponto de partida de um processo de experiência política que permite projetar uma vida que vale a pena ser vivida para si mesmo e para as gerações futuras ao produzir direitos e formas de bem-estar coletivos dos quais essa população tem estado historicamente destituída. Mais que pensar o comum como algo dado, esta análise busca contribuir para uma perspectiva do comum que atende ao processo de produção e está focada nas práticas e nas relações cotidianas que lhe dão forma.Fil: Fernandez Alvarez, Maria Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras. Instituto de Ciencias Antropológicas; Argentin