Disparities in body mass index of women by sexual orientation

Background: Obesity is a leading health indicator with larger body size associated with increased all-cause mortality. Sexual minority women (SMW) are reported to have higher body mass index (BMI) than heterosexual women. Aims: The three aims of our research were to: 1) identify if, and what, differences exist in dietary intake of women by sexual orientation (SO); 2) investigate dietary consumption as a potential mediator between SO and BMI; and 3) explore current depression as a mediator with the sample stratified by lifetime history of depression. Methods: This secondary analysis utilized Epidemiologic STudy of HEalth Risk in Women (ESTHER) Project data. Group comparisons were made between the SO groups for dietary intake from three-day food diary data. With SO as the predictor and BMI as the outcome, three models were tested: 1) total caloric intake as a mediator; 2) macronutrients (mean daily grams of: fat, carbohydrates, protein, and alcohol) as parallel mediators; and 3) current depression as a mediator with the ESTHER sample stratified by lifetime history of depression. Results: SMW had significantly higher BMI than heterosexual women. Even after adjusting for education level and parity, SMW had higher daily consumption than heterosexual women of: caloric intake; total fat; total monounsaturated fatty acid; and total polyunsaturated fatty acid. Alcohol intake was significantly higher for SMW than heterosexual women but not after adjusting for education and parity. Total caloric intake and fat intake partially mediate the association between SO and BMI even when covariates are held constant (age, education, smoking status, physical activity). SMW had significantly higher rates of lifetime history of depression than heterosexual women. We did not find evidence that current depression mediates the relationship between the SO of women and BMI. We found that women with no lifetime history of depression did not have a significant association between the sexual orientation of women and BMI. Conclusion: Our findings are of public health significance to this minority population. Research has traditionally concluded that SMW are disproportionately more overweight and obese than heterosexual women. We explored the influence of dietary intake and depression to help explain BMI differences

Development and psychometric assessment of the COPD and Asthma Sleep Impact Scale (CASIS)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Patients with respiratory disease experience disturbed sleep, but there is no widely accepted measure of sleep impairment due to respiratory disease. We developed and evaluated the psychometric performance of a patient-reported measure to assess the impact on sleep due to respiratory disease, the COPD and Asthma Sleep Impact Scale (CASIS).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Identification of the items forming the CASIS was guided by patient interviews and focus groups. An observational study involving patients from the US and UK was then conducted to assess the psychometric characteristics of the measure.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Qualitative data from 162 patients were used to develop the CASIS (n = 78 COPD; n = 84 asthma). The observational study included 311 patients with COPD and 324 patients with asthma. The final seven items used in the CASIS were identified based on factor and item response theory analyses. Internal consistency was 0.90 (COPD) and 0.92 (asthma), and test-retest reliability was 0.84 (both groups). In the COPD sample, CASIS scores were significantly correlated with the Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire scores (all p < 0.0001) and differed significantly by patient-reported disease severity, exacerbation status, and overall health status (all p ≤ 0.005). In the asthma sample, CASIS scores were significantly correlated with the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire scores (all p < 0.0001) and differed significantly by clinician and patient-reported disease severity, exacerbation status, and overall health status (all p ≤ 0.0005).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The CASIS shows good internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity and may be useful in helping to understand the impact that COPD and asthma have on sleep outcomes.</p

Evaluation of the stability of hyperspectral signatures in Microcystis aeruginosa and Dolichospermum sp. under nutrient stress

The early detection of cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) is important to deploy effective rapid response and mitigation strategies. However, monitoring cyanoHAB-prone water bodies remains a challenge, in part due to the limitation of spatial, temporal, and spectral resolutions of current image-based remote sensing technologies. Remote sensing platforms and sensors are rapidly evolving. Before these technologies can be transitioned to operational programs for early warning and routine monitoring, they need to be evaluated and validated in controlled environments. Therefore, in this study, the stability of hyperspectral signatures from two cyanobacteria: Microcystis aeruginosa and Dolichospermum sp. were evaluated under nutrient stress. Cultures were exposed to various nitrate (0.15-1.5 g•L-1) and phosphate (0.01-0.1 g•L-1) concentrations and ratios. Assessments were made on overall growth via in vivo phycocyanin fluorescence, toxin production via ELISA, and changes in hyperspectral signatures using a Resonon hyperspectral camera (400-1000nm). Laboratory experiments showed a change in spectral signatures under all of the nutrient stressors examined. This largely coincided with culture senescence, which also corresponded with higher cyanotoxin levels. Currently, this information is being compiled into a database for the identification of cyanobacteria that will be used to validate this technology as it transitions to field-based platforms

Therapeutic Targeting of the Mitochondria Initiates Excessive Superoxide Production and Mitochondrial Depolarization Causing Decreased mtDNA Integrity

<div><p>Mitochondrial dysregulation is closely associated with excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Altered redox homeostasis has been implicated in the onset of several diseases including cancer. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and proteins are particularly sensitive to ROS as they are in close proximity to the respiratory chain (RC). Mitoquinone (MitoQ), a mitochondria-targeted redox agent, selectively damages breast cancer cells possibly through damage induced via enhanced ROS production. However, the effects of MitoQ and other triphenylphosphonium (TPP⁺) conjugated agents on cancer mitochondrial homeostasis remain unknown. The primary objective of this study was to determine the impact of mitochondria-targeted agent [(MTAs) conjugated to TPP⁺: mitoTEMPOL, mitoquinone and mitochromanol-acetate] on mitochondrial physiology and mtDNA integrity in breast (MDA-MB-231) and lung (H23) cancer cells. The integrity of the mtDNA was assessed by quantifying the degree of mtDNA fragmentation and copy number, as well as by measuring mitochondrial proteins essential to mtDNA stability and maintenance (TFAM, SSBP1, TWINKLE, POLG and POLRMT). Mitochondrial status was evaluated by measuring superoxide production, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, oxygen consumption, extracellular acidification and mRNA or protein levels of the RC complexes along with TCA cycle activity. In this study, we demonstrated that all investigated MTAs impair mitochondrial health and decrease mtDNA integrity in MDA-MB-231 and H23 cells. However, differences in the degree of mitochondrial damage and mtDNA degradation suggest unique properties among each MTA that may be cell line, dose and time dependent. Collectively, our study indicates the potential for TPP⁺ conjugated molecules to impair breast and lung cancer cells by targeting mitochondrial homeostasis.</p></div

Mitochondrial replication machinery.

<p>Gene expression (A,C) and protein levels (B,D) for TWINKLE, POLG and POLRMT in MDA-MB-231 (A,C) and H23 (B,D) cell lines determined by qPCR and immunoblotting. Cells were exposed to DMSO (0.02%), MitoT (dark gray bars), MitoQ (gray bars), and MitoCA (light gray bars) at 2μM for 24 hours. In A-B, bars represent the average log2 fold change normalized to <i>GAPDH</i> and the DMSO control. Statistical significance is expressed as asterisks at p<0.05 relative to the DMSO control. In C-D, bars denote the mean densitometry (+/-1 SEM) of immunoblots of mitochondrial fractions normalized to VDAC and the corresponding DMSO treatment. For each assay, two independent experiments were performed (n = 3).</p