Factors associated with body image dissatisfaction in a Brazilian university sample during the COVID-19 pandemic

We investigated the prevalence of body image dissatisfaction (BID) and associated factors among professors and undergraduate students in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using Stunkard’s Figure Rating Scale, BID was analyzed in a sample of 2,220 adults. The independent variables were sociodemographic, lifestyle, mental health symptoms, COVID-19-related factors, disordered eating, experience of weight stigma, and weight change concerns. We used a multinomial logistic regression analysis. The overall prevalence of BID was 82.5% (69.0% due to excess weight), with more professors dissatisfied by excess weight than undergraduate students (78.9% vs. 61.2%, p < 0.001). In the adjusted model, being a young adult (PR, 1.201, 95% CI: 1.128; 1.279), married or in a stable union (PR, 1.088, 95% CI: 1.027; 1.152), reporting of binge eating episode (PR, 1.120, 95% CI: 1.068; 1.173), concern about weight gain (PR, 1.394, 95% CI: 1.310; 1,483), and experience of excess weight stigma (PR, 1.193, 95% CI: 1.141; 1.248) increased the prevalence of BID due to excess weight. While males (PR, 1.578, 95% CI: 1.328; 1.875), moderate to severe depressive symptoms (PR, 1.217, 95% CI: 1.011; 1.465), the concern of losing weight (PR, 1.494, 95% CI: 1.221; 1.830), and experience of low weight stigma (PR, 2.620, 95% CI: 2.093; 3.280) increased the prevalence of BID due to low weight. Different factors associated with BID were observed between students and professors. Bearing in mind the complexity of body image, it is essential to consider different public health interventions and the COVID-19 pandemic’s influence on reducing BID among Brazilian adults, especially susceptible groups

Reduced glucosylceramide in the mouse model of Fabry disease: correction by successful enzyme replacement therapy

Fabry disease is an X-linked lysosomal storage disease (LSD) caused by deficient activity of α-Galactosidase A (α-Gal A). As a result, glycosphingolipids, mainly globotriaosylceramide (Gb3), progressively accumulate in body fluids and tissues. Studies aiming at the identification of secondary lipid alterations in Fabry disease may be potentially useful for the monitorization of the response to enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) and development of future therapies. The focus of this study was to evaluate if α-Gal A deficiency has an effect on two key groups of molecules of sphingolipids metabolism: glucosylceramides (GlucCers) and ceramides (Cers). Studies performed in a mouse model of Fabry disease showed reduced level of GlucCer and normal level of Cer in plasma, liver, spleen, kidney and heart. Moreover, analysis of GlucCer isoforms in Fabry knockout mice showed that GlucCer isoforms are unequally reduced in different tissues of these animals. ERT had a specific effect on the liver's GlucCer levels of Fabry knockout mice, increasing hepatic GlucCer to the levels observed in wild type mice. In contrast to Fabry knockout mice, plasma of Fabry patients had normal GlucCer and Cer but an increased GlucCer/Cer ratio. This alteration showed a positive correlation with plasma globotriaosylsphingosine (lyso-Gb3) concentration. In conclusion, this work reveals novel secondary lipid imbalances caused by α-Gal A deficiency.FEDER funds through the Operational Competitiveness Programme—COMPETE and by National Funds through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia under the project FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-022718 (PEst-C/SAU/LA0002/2011). The sponsors had no influence on the conception, study design, data collection, analysis or interpretation, manuscript writing as well as on the decision to submit the article for publication. R Quinta was supported by a fellowship from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (SFRH/BD/33447/2008). This work is part of the PhD thesis of R Quint

Tissue and cell-type dependent impact of secondary glucocerebrosidase abnormalities due to LIMP-2 deficiency

Sphingolipidoses comprise the most prevalent group of lysosomal storage disorders. The most frequent is Gaucher disease (GD), where it occurs the storage of the glycosphingolipid glucosylceramide (GlcCer) due to a deficiency in the enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GCase). GD is a multi-systemic disorder affecting most organs, resulting in cytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly and skeletal abnormalities. Only recently, lysosomal integral membrane protein, type 2 (LIMP-2) has been identified as the receptor involved in the intracellular sorting and trafficking of the enzyme GCase to lysosomes. Deficiency of LIMP-2 causes Action Myoclonic-Renal Failure (AMRF), which clinically differs from GD. AMRF patients present renal dysfunction and failure, myoclonic epilepsy and ataxia with progressive neurological impairment .N/

Lyso-glycosphingolipid abnormalities in different murine models of lysosomal storage disorders

In lysosomal glycosphingolipid storage disorders, marked elevations in corresponding glycosphingoid bases (lyso-glycosphingolipids) have been reported, such as galactosylsphingosine in Krabbe disease, glucosylsphingosine in Gaucher disease and globotriaosylsphingosine in Fabry disease. Using LC–MS/MS, we comparatively investigated the occurrence of abnormal lyso-glycosphingolipids in tissues and plasma of mice with deficiencies in lysosomal α-galactosidase A, glucocerebrosidase and galactocerebrosidase. The nature and specificity of lyso-glycosphingolipid abnormalities are reported and compared to that in correspondingly more abundant N-acylated glycosphingolipids. Specific elevations in tissue and plasma globotriaosylsphingosine were detected in α-galactosidase A-deficient mice; glucosylsphingosine in glucocerebrosidase-deficient mice and galactosylsphingosine in galactocerebrosidase-deficient animals. A similar investigation was conducted for two mouse models of Niemann Pick type C (Npc1nih and Npc1nmf164), revealing significant tissue elevation of several neutral glycosphingolipids and concomitant increased plasma glucosylsphingosine. This latter finding was recapitulated by analysis of plasma of NPC patients. The value of plasma glucosylsphingosine in biochemical confirmation of the diagnosis of NPC is discusse

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Strategies and performance of the CMS silicon tracker alignment during LHC Run 2

The strategies for and the performance of the CMS silicon tracking system alignment during the 2015–2018 data-taking period of the LHC are described. The alignment procedures during and after data taking are explained. Alignment scenarios are also derived for use in the simulation of the detector response. Systematic effects, related to intrinsic symmetries of the alignment task or to external constraints, are discussed and illustrated for different scenarios