Association of mental health and negative life events with weight change in patients with overweight: a cohort study

Background: It is unclear to what extent mental health and negative life events (NLEs) contribute to weight change in patients with overweight. This study aimed to evaluate the association of anxiety, depression, NLEs and quality of life (QoL) with weight change over ten years in middle-aged individuals with overweight.Methods: Population-based cohort study of 2889 middle-aged men and women with a body mass index ≥27 kg/m2. Relative weight change over ten years was defined as weight loss (≤- 5 %), stable weight (between >- 5 % and Results: In 51 % participants weight was stable, 33 % participants lost weight and 17 % gained weight. Mild (odds ratio 1.36; 95 % confidence interval 1.05-1.75), and moderate to very severe depressive symptoms (1.43; 0.97-2.12) and four or more distant NLEs (1.35; 1.10-1.67) were associated with weight gain. Anxiety symptoms, the mental component summary of QoL were not associated with either weight gain or weight loss.Limitations: Due to the observational design residual confounding cannot be excluded.Conclusion: Our study suggests that depressive symptoms or having experienced distant NLEs are associated with weight gain over time in middle-aged individuals with overweight. These subgroups might benefit from proactive attention from their health care providers.Keywords: Body weight changes; Life change events; Longitudinal study; Mental health; Overweight.</p

A case-only study to identify genetic modifiers of breast cancer risk for BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers

Breast cancer (BC) risk for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers varies by genetic and familial factors. About 50 common variants have been shown to modify BC risk for mutation carriers. All but three, were identified in general population studies. Other mutation carrier-specific susceptibility variants may exist but studies of mutation carriers have so far been underpowered. We conduct a novel case-only genome-wide association study comparing genotype frequencies between 60,212 general population BC cases and 13,007 cases with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. We identify robust novel associations for 2 variants with BC for BRCA1 and 3 for BRCA2 mutation carriers, P < 10−8, at 5 loci, which are not associated with risk in the general population. They include rs60882887 at 11p11.2 where MADD, SP11 and EIF1, genes previously implicated in BC biology, are predicted as potential targets. These findings will contribute towards customising BC polygenic risk scores for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers

Effects of soil properties on food web accumulation of heavy metals to the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus)

Effects of soil properties on the accumulation of metals to wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) were evaluated at two sites with different pH and organic matter content of the soil. pH and organic matter content significantly affected accumulation of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in earthworms and vegetation. For Cd, Cu and Zn these effects propagated through the food web to the wood mouse. Soil-to-kidney ratios differed between sites: Cd: 0.15 versus 3.52, Cu: 0.37 versus 1.30 and Zn: 0.33–0.83. This was confirmed in model calculations for Cd and Zn. Results indicate that total soil concentrations may be unsuitable indicators for risks that metals pose to wildlife. Furthermore, environmental managers may, unintentionally, change soil properties while taking specific environmental measures. In this way they may affect risks of metals to wildlife, even without changes in total soil concentrations. Soil properties significantly affect accumulation of heavy metals to wood mice so; risks cannot be based on total concentrations

Effecten van locatiespecifieke bodemkarakteristieken op de accumulatie van zware metalen in terrestrische voedselketens : veldgegeven en modelelberekeningen

Bodemeigenschappen bepalen (mede) de biobeschikbaarheid van verontreinigingen en daarmee de opname ervan door bodemorganismen en planten. In deze studie ligt de aandacht bij kleine zoogdieren, met name muizen, zoals de bosmuis, veldmuis, spitsmuis. Veldwerk wordt beschreven dat uitgevoerd is om (eerder beschreven) modeluitkomsten te valideren. Op basis van deze veldgegevens, en verdere modelontwikkeling kan worden geconcludeerd dat er een sterke invloed is van de bodemkarakteristieken op de opname van zware metalen door kleine zoogdieren. De risico’s van dergelijke verontreinigingen voor hogere organismen als gevolg van voedselweb accumulatie worden daarmee niet alleen bepaald door de totaalgehaltes van deze verontreinigingen in de bodem, maar ook door de beschikbaarheid ervan

Effects of soil properties on food web accumulation of heavy metals to the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus)

Effects of soil properties on the accumulation of metals to wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) were evaluated at two sites with different pH and organic matter content of the soil. pH and organic matter content significantly affected accumulation of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in earthworms and vegetation. For Cd, Cu and Zn these effects propagated through the food web to the wood mouse. Soil-to-kidney ratios differed between sites: Cd: 0.15 versus 3.52, Cu: 0.37 versus 1.30 and Zn: 0.33–0.83. This was confirmed in model calculations for Cd and Zn. Results indicate that total soil concentrations may be unsuitable indicators for risks that metals pose to wildlife. Furthermore, environmental managers may, unintentionally, change soil properties while taking specific environmental measures. In this way they may affect risks of metals to wildlife, even without changes in total soil concentrations. Soil properties significantly affect accumulation of heavy metals to wood mice so; risks cannot be based on total concentrations

Effecten van locatiespecifieke bodemkarakteristieken op de accumulatie van zware metalen in terrestrische voedselketens : veldgegeven en modelelberekeningen

Bodemeigenschappen bepalen (mede) de biobeschikbaarheid van verontreinigingen en daarmee de opname ervan door bodemorganismen en planten. In deze studie ligt de aandacht bij kleine zoogdieren, met name muizen, zoals de bosmuis, veldmuis, spitsmuis. Veldwerk wordt beschreven dat uitgevoerd is om (eerder beschreven) modeluitkomsten te valideren. Op basis van deze veldgegevens, en verdere modelontwikkeling kan worden geconcludeerd dat er een sterke invloed is van de bodemkarakteristieken op de opname van zware metalen door kleine zoogdieren. De risico’s van dergelijke verontreinigingen voor hogere organismen als gevolg van voedselweb accumulatie worden daarmee niet alleen bepaald door de totaalgehaltes van deze verontreinigingen in de bodem, maar ook door de beschikbaarheid ervan

Dutch GPs' perspectives on addressing obesity: a qualitative study

Background: Early diagnosis and treatment of obesity in primary care may help to tackle the obesity pandemic. Nonetheless, GPs frequently fail to address obesity and demonstrate limited adherence to guidelines. Aim: To explore Dutch GPs’ perspectives on addressing obesity regarding the following three target behaviours: discussing weight; diagnosing; and referring patients with obesity. Design & setting: A qualitative focus group study with Dutch GPs. Method: Six focus groups were conducted with a purposive sample of 21 GPs. Thematic analysis was performed using deductive coding, according to the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Results: For discussing weight, the main barriers identified were a presented complaint unrelated to obesity (environmental context and resources), concerns about a negative response from the patient (beliefs about consequences), and worries about obesity being a sensitive subject to discuss (emotions). A long-term trustworthy relationship (social influences) facilitated discussing weight. For diagnosing patients with obesity, the main barriers were related to resources; for example, lack of (appropriate) measuring equipment and time (environmental context and resources). For referring patients with obesity, the main barriers were no referral options nearby (environmental context and resources), and doubts about the positive effects of the referral on weight change (beliefs about consequences). Conclusion: Different barriers for discussing weight, diagnosing, and referring patients with obesity were identified, underscoring the importance for tailored interventions to these specific behaviours. Improving knowledge and skills of GPs seems insufficient as this study showed that particular attention should be paid to establishing long-term relationships, addressing GPs' beliefs about consequences, and creating a supportive environment with sufficient time and resources.</p

Allosteric modulators affect the internalization of human adenosine A1 receptors.

Contains fulltext : 48658.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)To study the effect of allosteric modulators on the internalization of human adenosine A(1) receptors, the receptor was equipped with a C-terminal yellow fluorescent protein tag. The introduction of this tag did not affect the radioligand binding properties of the receptor. CHO cells stably expressing this receptor were subjected during 16 h to varying concentrations of the agonist N(6)-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) in the absence or presence of 10 microM of the allosteric enhancer PD 81,723 ((2-amino-4,5-dimethyl-3-thienyl)-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methanone) or the allosteric inhibitor SCH-202676 (N-(2,3-diphenyl-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5(2H)-ylidene)methanamine). CPA itself was able to internalize 25% and 40% of the receptors at a concentration of 400 nM or 4 muM, respectively. Addition of either PD 81,723 or SCH-202676 alone had no effect on internalization. However, with PD 81,723 a slight amount of internalization was obtained already at 40 nM of CPA and at 400 nM CPA 59% of the receptors internalized. SCH-202676 on the other hand effectively prevented CPA-induced internalization of the receptor