Innovations for Sustainability: Pathways to an efficient and post-pandemic future

3rd Report prepared by The World in 2050 initiativ

Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 3663 population-representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults

Background Underweight and obesity are associated with adverse health outcomes throughout the life course. We estimated the individual and combined prevalence of underweight or thinness and obesity, and their changes, from 1990 to 2022 for adults and school-aged children and adolescents in 200 countries and territories. Methods We used data from 3663 population-based studies with 222 million participants that measured height and weight in representative samples of the general population. We used a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate trends in the prevalence of different BMI categories, separately for adults (age ≥20 years) and school-aged children and adolescents (age 5–19 years), from 1990 to 2022 for 200 countries and territories. For adults, we report the individual and combined prevalence of underweight (BMI <18·5 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2). For schoolaged children and adolescents, we report thinness (BMI <2 SD below the median of the WHO growth reference) and obesity (BMI >2 SD above the median). Findings From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity in adults decreased in 11 countries (6%) for women and 17 (9%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 that the observed changes were true decreases. The combined prevalence increased in 162 countries (81%) for women and 140 countries (70%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. In 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity was highest in island nations in the Caribbean and Polynesia and Micronesia, and countries in the Middle East and north Africa. Obesity prevalence was higher than underweight with posterior probability of at least 0·80 in 177 countries (89%) for women and 145 (73%) for men in 2022, whereas the converse was true in 16 countries (8%) for women, and 39 (20%) for men. From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of thinness and obesity decreased among girls in five countries (3%) and among boys in 15 countries (8%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80, and increased among girls in 140 countries (70%) and boys in 137 countries (69%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. The countries with highest combined prevalence of thinness and obesity in school-aged children and adolescents in 2022 were in Polynesia and Micronesia and the Caribbean for both sexes, and Chile and Qatar for boys. Combined prevalence was also high in some countries in south Asia, such as India and Pakistan, where thinness remained prevalent despite having declined. In 2022, obesity in school-aged children and adolescents was more prevalent than thinness with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 among girls in 133 countries (67%) and boys in 125 countries (63%), whereas the converse was true in 35 countries (18%) and 42 countries (21%), respectively. In almost all countries for both adults and school-aged children and adolescents, the increases in double burden were driven by increases in obesity, and decreases in double burden by declining underweight or thinness. Interpretation The combined burden of underweight and obesity has increased in most countries, driven by an increase in obesity, while underweight and thinness remain prevalent in south Asia and parts of Africa. A healthy nutrition transition that enhances access to nutritious foods is needed to address the remaining burden of underweight while curbing and reversing the increase in obesit

One-Pot Synthesis of Titanate Nanotubes Decorated with Anatase Nanoparticles Using a Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal Reaction

A nanoheterostructure of titanate nanotubes decorated with anatase nanoparticles (TiNT@AnNP) was synthesized for the first time by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal one-pot reaction. Characterization by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected-area electron diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed highly crystalline and nanometer-sized TiNT@AnNP. The synthesized TiNT@AnNP degraded an anionic dye (Remazol blue) more efficiently under UV-visible light (380–780 nm) than a commercial anatase-TiO2 precursor. We correlated this increased efficiency of photodegradation to the large surface area and the efficient separation of photoinduced electron-hole pairs. Finally, we propose a mechanism to highlight the influence of a microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis in the production of TiNT@AnNP for environmental applications

<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> Soluble Tachyzoite Antigen Triggers Protective Mechanisms against Fatal Intestinal Pathology in Oral Infection of C57BL/6 Mice

<div><p><i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> induces a potent IL-12 response early in infection that results in IFN-γ-dependent control of parasite growth. It was previously shown that <i>T. gondii</i> soluble tachyzoite antigen (STAg) injected 48 hr before intraperitoneal infection reduces lipoxin A₄ and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO)-dependent systemic IL-12 and IFN-γ production as well as hepatic immunopathology. This study investigated the ability of STAg-pretreatment to control the fatal intestinal pathology that develops in C57BL/6 mice orally infected with 100 <i>T. gondii</i> cysts. STAg-pretreatment prolonged the animals’ survival by decreasing tissue parasitism and pathology, mainly in the ilea. Protection was associated with decreases in the systemic IFN-γ levels and IFN-γ and TNF message levels in the ilea and with increased TGF-β production in this tissue, but protection was independent of 5-LO and IL-4. STAg-pretreatment decreased CD4⁺ T cell, NK cell, CD11b⁺ monocyte and CD11b⁺CD11c⁺ dendritic cell numbers in the lamina propria and increased CD8⁺ T cells in the intestinal epithelial compartment. In parallel, decreases were observed in iNOS and IL-17 expression in this organ. These results demonstrate that pretreatment with STAg can induce the recruitment of protective CD8⁺ T cells to the intraepithelial compartment and decrease proinflammatory immune mechanisms that promote intestinal pathology in <i>T. gondii</i> infection.</p> </div

Mortality rates of 5 LO^-/-, IL-4^-/-, IL-12p40^-/-, MyD88^-/- and CCR5^-/- STAg-pretreated and infected mice.

<p>5 LO^-/- (A), IL-12p40^-/- (B), MyD88^-/- (C), CCR5^-/- (D) and IL-4^-/- (E) mice were pretreated with STAg and 48h later were infected with 100 <i>T. gondii</i> cysts by oral route. The C57BL/6 that were the WT mice of IL-4^-/-, IL-12p40^-/-, MyD88^-/- and CCR5^-/- and 129/SvEvTac that were the WT of 5 LO^-/- mice were also examined. The mortality rate for 8 mice from each group was determined. 5-LO^-/- (A), or IL-4^-/- (E) STAg-pretreated were significantly more resistant to toxoplasmosis than PBS-pretreated mice (χ²=9.171; <i>p</i> = 0.0018; df = 1; related to 5-LO^-/- mice; and χ²=6.198; <i>p</i> = 0.0128; df = 1; related to IL-4^-/- mice).</p

Mortality rates, tissue parasitism and inflammatory changes of STAg-pretreated C57BL/6 mice orally <i>T. gondii</i> infected.

<p>The mortality rate for 8 mice from each group was determined (A). STAg-pretreated mice were significantly more resistant to toxoplasmosis than PBS-pretreated mice (χ²=10.03; <i>P</i> = .0015; df = 1). Tissue parasitism in the small intestine (B), peripheral organs (C) and brain (D) were detected on day 8 p.i. by immunohistochemistry staining and scored by counting the number of parasitophorous vacuoles per tissue section in the small intestine and brain and per 40 microscopic fields in the other peripheral organs, using a 40 x objective. The small intestine (E,F), lung (G,H) and liver (I,J) of PBS- and STAg-pretreated mice were stained by H&E and analyzed for histological changes. The inflammatory foci in the liver are shown (arrows). Bar scale, 100 µm. The data of inflammatory scores in the organs were obtained by analyzing 40 microscopic fields per section on six sections using a 40 x objective from each mouse (K). Data are representative of at least two independent experiments of 5 mice per group that provided similar results. *<i>p</i> < 0.05 (Significantly different from values obtained from PBS-pretreated mice, Unpaired Student’s <i>t</i>-test). ^&p < 0.03 (Significantly different from values obtained from PBS-pretreated mice, Mann Whitney test); ^#<i>p</i> < 0.05 (Significantly different from values obtained from lung and liver of PBS-pretreated mice, Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn’s multiple comparisons post-test).</p

Mortality rates of nude, MHC II^-/- and MHC I^-/- STAg-pretreated and infected mice.

<p>The mortality rate for 8 mice from each group, nude (A), MHC II^-/- (B) and MHC I^-/- (C) was determined. Nude mice STAg- or PBS-pretreated survived significantly longer than euthymic control <i>T. gondii</i>-infected mice (χ²=10.03; <i>p</i> = 0.0015; df = 2). MHC II^-/- -STAg-pretreated mice were more resistant to infection than PBS-pretreated-MHC II^-/- or -C57BL/6 mice (χ²=4.493; <i>p</i> = 0.034; and χ²=4.120; <i>p</i> = 0.424; df = 2, respectively). MHC I^-/- pretreated with PBS or STAg were more resistant to infection than PBS-pretreated-C57BL/6 mice (χ²=9.069; <i>p</i> = 0.0026; χ²=3.974; <i>p</i> = 0.0462; df = 2, respectively).</p

Cytokine levels in the sera and mRNA expression and cytokine production in the ilea of STAg-pretreated orally <i>T. gondii</i> infected C57BL/6 mice.

<p>The levels of IL-12p70 (A), IFN-γ (B), IL-10 (C), IL-4 (D) and TGF-β (E) in serum samples, and IL-12p70 (J), IFN-γ (K), TNF (L), IL-10 (M), IL-4 (N) and TGF-β (O) in the ilea were measured on day 8 p.i. by ELISA. The values of cytokine production were the mean and SD of 5 mice per data point. The experiments were repeated twice and provided similar results. The cytokine IL-12p40 (F), IFN-γ (G), TNF (H) and IL-10 (I) transcript expressions in the ilea of STAg-pretreated and infected mice was quantified by qPCR on day 8 p.i. Results are demonstrated as mRNA expression of PBS- or STAg-pretreated and <i>T. gondii</i>-infected mice, relative to non-infected mice. The relative levels of gene expression were calculated by reference to the β-actin in each sample, using the threshold cycle (C_t) method; and the data (mean ± SD) represent values from one experiment representative of three independent experiments. * <i>p</i> < 0.05, **<i>p</i> < 0.01, ***<i>p</i> < 0.001 (ANOVA and Bonferroni multiple comparisons post-test). ^&<i>p</i> < 0.05 (Significantly different from values obtained from PBS-pretreated mice, Unpaired Student’s <i>t</i>-test). NI, non-infected.</p

Phenotypic characterization of leukocytes in the small intestine of STAg-pretreated and infected C57BL/6 mice.

<p>The leukocytes were obtained from the small intestine on day 8 p.i. as described on 'Material and methods' section. The number (mean ± SD) of CD3⁺, CD3⁺CD4⁺, CD3⁺CD8⁺, CD19⁺, CD3⁺NK⁺, NK⁺ and CD11b⁺, CD11c⁺, CD11b⁺CD11c⁺ (A) leukocytes were analyzed in the LP. The numbers of CD3⁺, CD3⁺γδ⁺, CD3⁺CD4⁺, CD3⁺CD8⁺ (B) lymphocytes were analyzed in the intraepithelial compartment. The intracellular IFN-γ and IL-17 production, after <i>in </i><i>vitro</i> stimulation with PMA/Ionomicin were detected in cells from the LP (C) and intraepithelial compartment (D) of the small intestine from PBS- or STAg-pretreated C57BL/6 mice on day 8 p.i. The IFN-γ, TGF-β, and RORγt (E) transcript expressions in CD4⁺ or CD8⁺ IELs from a pool obtained of 4 mice per group of naïve, PBS- or STAg-pretreated and infected mice was quantified by qPCR on day 8 p.i. Data are representative of at least two independent experiments of 5 mice per group. *<i>p</i> < 0.05, **<i>p</i> < 0.01 (Statistically different from values observed for the same cell phenotype obtained from PBS-pretreated mice, Unpaired Student’s <i>t</i>-test).</p