Comparisons of body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio and a body shape index (ABSI) in predicting high blood pressure among Malaysian adolescents: a cross-sectional study

Objective To compare the performance of different anthropometric indices including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and a body shape index to predict high blood pressure (BP) in adolescents using the 90th and 95th percentiles as two different thresholds. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Probability proportionate to size was used to randomly select two schools in Selangor state, Malaysia. Participants A total of 513 adolescents (58.9% women and 41.1% men) aged 12–16 years were recruited. Primary and secondary outcome measures Weight, height, WC and BP of the adolescents were measured. The predictive power of anthropometric indices was analysed by sex using the receiver operating characteristic curve. Results BMI and WHtR were the indices with higher areas under the curve (AUCs), yet the optimal cut-offs to predict high BP using the 95th percentile were higher than the threshold for overweight/obesity. Most indices showed poor sensitivity under the suggested cut-offs. In contrast, the optimal BMI and WHtR cut-offs to predict high BP using the 90th percentile were lower (men: BMI-for-age=0.79, WHtR=0.46; women: BMI-for-age=0.92, WHtR=0.45). BMI showed the highest AUC in both sexes but had poor sensitivity among women. WHtR presented good sensitivity and specificity in both sexes. Conclusions These findings suggested that WHtR might be a useful indicator for screening high blood pressure risk in the routine primary-level health services for adolescents. Future studies are warranted to involve a larger sample size to confirm these findings

A Meta-analysis of Gene Expression Signatures of Blood Pressure and Hypertension

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have uncovered numerous genetic variants (SNPs) that are associated with blood pressure (BP). Genetic variants may lead to BP changes by acting on intermediate molecular phenotypes such as coded protein sequence or gene expression, which in turn affect BP variability. Therefore, characterizing genes whose expression is associated with BP may reveal cellular processes involved in BP regulation and uncover how transcripts mediate genetic and environmental effects on BP variability. A meta-analysis of results from six studies of global gene expression profiles of BP and hypertension in whole blood was performed in 7017 individuals who were not receiving antihypertensive drug treatment. We identified 34 genes that were differentially expressed in relation to BP (Bonferroni-corrected p<0.05). Among these genes, FOS and PTGS2 have been previously reported to be involved in BP-related processes; the others are novel. The top BP signature genes in aggregate explain 5%–9% of inter-individual variance in BP. Of note, rs3184504 in SH2B3, which was also reported in GWAS to be associated with BP, was found to be a trans regulator of the expression of 6 of the transcripts we found to be associated with BP (FOS, MYADM, PP1R15A, TAGAP, S100A10, and FGBP2). Gene set enrichment analysis suggested that the BP-related global gene expression changes include genes involved in inflammatory response and apoptosis pathways. Our study provides new insights into molecular mechanisms underlying BP regulation, and suggests novel transcriptomic markers for the treatment and prevention of hypertension

New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Factors associated with executive function among adolescents aged 12 to 16 years in Petaling Perdana, Selangor, Malaysia

Adolescence represents one of the most dynamic and influential periods in human life stages, with profound changes of physiological, cognitive, and psychosocial developments. Individual differences of successful transition across adolescence are critically determined by their self-regulatory abilities, known as executive function (EF). EF refers to a group of high-order cognitive skills that underlie planning, organizing and self-regulation which are responsible for achievement of goal-directed behaviours. There are three dissociable yet interrelated domains of EF, namely inhibition, working memory (WM) and cognitive flexibility (CF). Proficiency of these domains affect multiple aspects of adolescents’ well being. Given that considerable reorganization of EF in adolescence could be highly responsive to different biological and environmental factors, this study aimed to examine the factors associated with EF among adolescents aged 12 to 16 years in Petaling Perdana, Selangor. A total of 513 adolescents (41.1% males, 58.9% females) with a mean age of 14.08 ± 1.32 years from two randomly selected government secondary schools in Petaling Perdana participated in this study. Mothers of the adolescents completed a self-administered questionnaire to obtain information on socioeconomic factors, while adolescents completed another set of self-administered questionnaire on their demographic information, meal consumption pattern, eating behaviours, physical activity (PA) and sleep quality. Anthropometric measurements (weight, height and waist circumference) and blood pressure of the adolescents were measured by the researcher. Physical fitness of the adolescents was assessed using a modified Harvard-step test. Three different neurocognitive tests were used to measure each domain of EF, including Stroop Colour-Word test, Digit-span test, and Trail-making test that measured inhibition, WM and CF, respectively. Nearly one third of the adolescents were found to be overweight or obese (32.6%), while 14.0% and 18.5% were abdominally obese, based on their waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio, respectively. About one in ten of the adolescents were hypertensive (11.9%), while 19.1% were at pre-hypertensive stage. Birth data showed that one in ten of the adolescents were born with low birth weight (11.4%) and more than half of them were pre-term births (56.5%). Unhealthy lifestyle behaviours were prevalent in adolescents in this study. Among all three main meals, the rate of breakfast skipping was the highest (69.0%), followed by dinner (47.4%) and lunch (47.2%). Although more than half of the adolescents had moderate PA level (55.0%), only 6.2% reported high level of PA. Likewise, only 9.0% of them attained good physical fitness level. Besides, majority of them were shown to have poor sleep quality (72.5%). In term of EF, the mean interference score (inhibition), WM score, and task-switching score (CF) of adolescents were 1.79 ± 6.68, 17.28 ± 3.74, and 27.92 ± 19.58, respectively. Based on the available categorization given, 7.6% and 13.3% of the adolescents had poor levels of inhibition and CF. Results of multiple linear regression revealed that higher monthly household income (β=0.078, p=0.048) and lower A Body Shape Index (β=-0.155, p=0.001) significantly predicted better inhibition, in which these variables explained for 3.7% of variance in inhibition. Better WM was significantly predicted by older age of adolescents (β=0.132, p=0.003), higher monthly household income (β=0.117, p=0.018) and more years of father’s education (β=0.129, p=0.008). It was also found that lower BMI-for-age (β=-0.099, p=0.025) and food responsiveness (β=-0.096, p=0.029), higher frequency of dinner intake (β=0.105, p=0.017), higher PA level (β=0.084, p=0.045) and better sleep quality (β=0.192, p<0.001) significantly predicted higher level of WM. Collectively, these variables explained for 12.7% of variance in WM. Lastly, female adolescents (β=-0.107, p=0.017), those who were at older age (β=-0.166, p<0.001), more regular dinner intake (β=-0.090, p=0.042), and lower emotional undereating (β=0.097, p=0.032) significantly predicted better CF. In relative to normal birth weight, very low birth weight significantly predicted poorer CF (β=0.125, p=0.005). These variables together explained for 7.5% of variance in CF. In conclusion, a number of demographic and socioeconomic, physiological and lifestyle factors were found to be associated with EF among adolescents in this study. The proficiency of EF could be enhanced by improving socio-economic status such as parent’s education and family income; while reducing risk of low birth weight via promotion of perinatal care and maternal health. Healthy lifestyle including regular meal intakes especially dinner, active in PA and good sleep quality should be advocated and established for life-long benefits and better EF. In view of the relatively small variance for EF found in this study, other factors such as dietary intakes, appetitive hormones, home environment and parent’s mental health might possibly associated with EF of adolescents which required further investigations. The transition during adolescence appears as a valuable window for intervention to boost EF beyond preschool years. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach involving parents, health professionals, government agencies, and school authorities should be established to foster healthy development of EF in adolescence and thereafter

Using of sequential injection chromatography method for separation and determination of salicylic acid and triamcinolone acetonide in pharmaceutical preparation Triamcinolon-IVAX

Využití metody sekvenční injekční chromatografie pro separaci a stanovení triamcinolon acetonidu a kyseliny salicylové v léčivém přípravku Triamcinolon-IVAX Pavel Holík Abstrakt Výsledky měření potvrdily, že sekvenční injekční chromatografii je možné použít pro simultánní stanovení účinných látek v léčivém přípravku Triamcinolon - IVAX. Zjištěné výsledky dokázaly, že je tato nová generace průtokových metod alternativou HPLC v analytických laboratořích při zachování správnosti dosažených výsledků. Optimální podmínky pro analýzu jsou: mobilní fáze acetonitril-voda v poměru 35:65 (v/v), pH 3,3 až 3,4 upraveno přidáním koncentrované kyseliny octové (99%). Množství MF potřebné pro jednu analýzu je 4 ml; množství vzorku k jedné analýze 10 μl; průtoková rychlost pumpy 15 µl.s-1 . Pro analýzu byla použita kolona Onyx™ monolithic C18 (50 x 4,6 mm) s monolitickou předkolonou (5 x 4,6 mm); detekční cela Z o délce optické dráhy 1 cm s podélným směrem paprsku vůči toku; UV-VIS spektrofotometr s nastavenou vlnovou délkou 240 nm; jako vnitřní standard byl použit propylparaben. Metoda vykazovala tyto hodnoty: limit detekce (3σ) pro kyselinu salicylovou 1,00 µg.ml-1 , pro triamcinolon acetonid 0,66 µg.ml-1 a pro propylparaben 0,33 µg.ml-1 ; limit kvantifikace pro kyselinu salicylovou 3,00 µg.ml-1 , pro triamcinolon acetonid...Using of sequential injection chromatography method for separation and determination of salicylic acid and triamcinolone acetonide in pharmaceutical preparation Triamcinolon-IVAX Pavel Holík Abstract A novel and fast simultaneous determination of triamcinolone acetonide (TCA) and salicylic acid (SA) in topical pharmaceutical formulations by sequential injection chromatography (SIC) as an alternative to classical high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been developed. A recently introduced Onyx™ monolithic C18 (50 mm × 4,6 mm, Phenomenex® ) with 5 mm monolithic precolumn were used for the first time for creating sequential injection chromatography system based on a FIAlab® 3000 with a six-port selection valve and 5,0 ml syringe pump in study. The mobile phase used was acetonitrile/water (35:65, v/v), pH 3.3 adjusted with acetic acid at flow rate 15 µl.s-1 . UV detection provided by fibre-optic DAD detector was set up at 240 nm. Propylparaben was chosen as suitable internal standard (IS). There is only simple pre-adjustment of the sample of topical solution (dilution with mobile phase) so the analysis is not uselessly elongated. Parameters of the method showed good linearity in wide range, correlation coefficient >0,999; system precision (relative standard deviation, R.S.D.) in the range 0,45-1,95%...Department of Analytical ChemistryKatedra analytické chemieFarmaceutická fakulta v Hradci KrálovéFaculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králov

Obesity and unhealthy lifestyle associated with poor executive function among Malaysian adolescents

<div><p>The understanding on the roles of obesity and lifestyle behaviors in predicting executive function of adolescents has been limited. Low executive function proficiency may have adverse effects on adolescents’ school academic performance. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the relationship between BMI-for-age and multiple lifestyle behaviors (operationalized as meal consumption, physical activity, and sleep quality) with executive function (operationalized as inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility) on a sample of Malaysian adolescents aged between 12 and 16 years (<i>N</i> = 513). Participants were recruited from two randomly selected schools in the state of Selangor in Malaysia. Using a self-administered questionnaire, parent participants provided information concerning their sociodemographic data, whereas adolescent participants provided information regarding their meal consumptions, physical activity, and sleep quality. The modified Harvard step test was used to assess adolescents’ aerobic fitness, while Stroop color-word, digit span, and trail-making tests were used to assess adolescents’ inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility, respectively. Three separate hierarchical regression analyses were conducted for each outcome namely, inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. After adjusted for sociodemographic factors and BMI-for-age, differential predictors of inhibition and working memory were found. Habitual sleep efficiency significantly and positively predicted inhibition. Regular dinner intakes, physical activity levels, and sleep quality significantly and positively predicted working memory. Household income emerged as a consistent predictor for all executive function domains. In conclusion, an increased trend of obesity and unhealthy lifestyles among adolescents were found to be associated with poorer executive function. Regular dinner intakes, higher physical activity levels and better sleep quality predicted better executive function despite the inverse relationship between obesity and executive function. Future studies may explore how lifestyle modifications can optimize the development of executive function in adolescents as well as relieve the burden of obesity.</p></div

Summary of hierarchical regression analyses predicting adolescents’ inhibition.

<p>Summary of hierarchical regression analyses predicting adolescents’ inhibition.</p

Pearson-product moment correlations between BMI-for-age and lifestyle behaviors with EF.

<p>Pearson-product moment correlations between BMI-for-age and lifestyle behaviors with EF.</p

Characteristics of the participants (<i>n</i> = 513).

<p>Characteristics of the participants (<i>n</i> = 513).</p