Effects on Metabolic Health after a 1-Year-Lifestyle Intervention in Overweight and Obese Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective. To evaluate the effect of a family-based intervention on anthropometric and metabolic markers in overweight and obese children. Methods. Overweight or obese 8–12 years olds (n = 93) were randomized into intervention or control groups. The intervention group participated in a program aiming for lifestyle changes regarding food habits and physical activity. Anthropometric measures and venous blood samples were collected from all children at baseline and after 1 year. Results. BMI z-scores decreased in both groups, 0.22 (P = 0.002) and 0.23 (P = 0.003) in intervention and control group, respectively, during the 1-year study, but there was no difference in BMI between the groups at 1-year measurement (P = 0.338). After 1 year, there was a significant difference in waist circumference, waist/hip ratio, and apolipoprotein B/A1 ratio between intervention and control group. Conclusions. The intervention had limited effects on anthropometrics and metabolic markers, which emphasizes the need of preventing childhood overweight and obesity

Adolescents’ attitudes, preferences and perceived behaviours regarding healthy eating and whole grains from a gender and health interest perspective

Background: A healthy diet is important not only for the growth and development of the human body but also for the prevention of chronic diseases. However, most Swedish adolescents do not follow dietary recommen-dations, especially the intake of whole grain is very low. To create targeted conditions for healthy food choices amongst adolescents, comprehensive knowledge of factors related to adolescents’ unhealthy and healthy eating is needed. Objective: To investigate adolescents’ attitudes, preferences and perceived behaviours regarding healthy eating, with a specific focus on whole grains and to evaluate differences between genders and between adolescents with higher versus lower health interest. Design: A total of 1,178 Swedish adolescents responded to a questionnaire about their attitudes, preferences and perceived behabviours towards healthy eating and whole grains, and their general interest in nutrition and health. Results of girls and boys were compared, as well as adolescents with a higher versus lower health interest. Results: Displays information about healthy eating among adolescents and a comprehensive set of factors that may affect their ability to eat healthier. Overall, adolescents had a positive attitude towards food and health, but less than half felt that they managed to eat healthy. The consumption of different whole grain products was low, although the willingness to eat healthier and more whole grain was high. The most reported barrier to healthy eating, as well as increasing whole grain intake, was the unavailability of tasty healthy products, taste being even more important for adolescents with a low health interest than those with a high interest. Whole grain consumption and factors increasing the willingness of whole grain consumption were most prominent not only in adolescents with high health interest but also in girls compared with boys. Conclusion: The results show good potential to improve dietary habits amongst adolescents. Taste and avail-ability of healthy products were rated the most important, whilst knowledge about the products’ healthiness was rated the least important, especially amongst those with low health interest. By focusing on the attitudes and preferences of adolescents, the effectiveness may increase of initiatives to improve their dietary habits

Effects on Metabolic Health after a 1-Year-Lifestyle Intervention in Overweight and Obese Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective. To evaluate the effect of a family-based intervention on anthropometric and metabolic markers in overweight and obese children. Methods. Overweight or obese 8-12 years olds (n = 93) were randomized into intervention or control groups. The intervention group participated in a program aiming for lifestyle changes regarding food habits and physical activity. Anthropometric measures and venous blood samples were collected from all children at baseline and after 1 year. Results. BMI z-scores decreased in both groups, 0.22 (P = 0.002) and 0.23 (P = 0.003) in intervention and control group, respectively, during the 1-year study, but there was no difference in BMI between the groups at 1-year measurement (P = 0.338). After 1 year, there was a significant difference in waist circumference, waist/hip ratio, and apolipoprotein B/A1 ratio between intervention and control group. Conclusions. The intervention had limited effects on anthropometrics and metabolic markers, which emphasizes the need of preventing childhood overweight and obesity

Increasing cell biomass in Saccharomyces cerevisiae increases recombinant protein yield: the use of a respiratory strain as a microbial cell factory

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Recombinant protein production is universally employed as a solution to obtain the milligram to gram quantities of a given protein required for applications as diverse as structural genomics and biopharmaceutical manufacture. Yeast is a well-established recombinant host cell for these purposes. In this study we wanted to investigate whether our respiratory <it>Saccharomyces cerevisiae </it>strain, TM6*, could be used to enhance the productivity of recombinant proteins over that obtained from corresponding wild type, respiro-fermentative strains when cultured under the same laboratory conditions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here we demonstrate at least a doubling in productivity over wild-type strains for three recombinant membrane proteins and one recombinant soluble protein produced in TM6* cells. In all cases, this was attributed to the improved biomass properties of the strain. The yield profile across the growth curve was also more stable than in a wild-type strain, and was not further improved by lowering culture temperatures. This has the added benefit that improved yields can be attained rapidly at the yeast's optimal growth conditions. Importantly, improved productivity could not be reproduced in wild-type strains by culturing them under glucose fed-batch conditions: despite having achieved very similar biomass yields to those achieved by TM6* cultures, the total volumetric yields were not concomitantly increased. Furthermore, the productivity of TM6* was unaffected by growing cultures in the presence of ethanol. These findings support the unique properties of TM6* as a microbial cell factory.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The accumulation of biomass in yeast cell factories is not necessarily correlated with a proportional increase in the functional yield of the recombinant protein being produced. The respiratory <it>S. cerevisiae </it>strain reported here is therefore a useful addition to the matrix of production hosts currently available as its improved biomass properties do lead to increased volumetric yields without the need to resort to complex control or cultivation schemes. This is anticipated to be of particular value in the production of challenging targets such as membrane proteins.</p

Results from the Sweden 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth

Background: The Sweden 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity (PA) for Children and Youth is a unique compilation of the existing physical and health related data in Sweden. The aim of this paper is to summarize the procedure and results from the report card. Methods: Nationally representative surveys and individual studies between 2005-2015 were included. Eleven PA and health indicators were graded using the Active Healthy Kids Canada grading system. Grades were assigned based on the percentage of children/youth meeting a defined benchmark (A: 81-100%, B: 61-80%, C: 41-60%, D: 21-40%, F: 0-20%, or incomplete (INC). Results: The assigned grades were: Overall Physical Activity, D; Organized Sport Participation, B+; Active Play, INC; Active Transportation, C+; Sedentary Behaviors, C; Family and Peers, INC; School, C+; Community and the Built Environment, B; Government Strategies and Investments, B; Diet, C-; and Obesity, D. Conclusion: The included data provides some support that overall PA is too low and sedentary behavior is too high for almost all age groups in Sweden, even with the many national policies as well as an environment that is favorable to the promotion of PA

Трансоральная тиреоид- и паратиреоидэктомия: серия наблюдений

ЩИТОВИДНОЙ ЖЕЛЕЗЫ БОЛЕЗНИПАРАЩИТОВИДНЫХ ЖЕЛЕЗ БОЛЕЗНИОКОЛОЩИТОВИДНЫХ ЖЕЛЕЗ БОЛЕЗНИЭНДОКРИННЫЕ ХИРУРГИЧЕСКИЕ ОПЕРАЦИИХИРУРГИЯ ЭНДОКРИННЫХ ЖЕЛЕЗТИРЕОИДЭКТОМИЯЭНДОСКОПИЧЕСКАЯ ТЕХНИКАПАРАТИРЕОИДЭКТОМИЯОКОЛОЩИТОВИДНОЙ ЖЕЛЕЗЫ УДАЛЕНИЕТРАНСОРАЛЬНЫЙ ДОСТУПТРАНСОРАЛЬНАЯ ХИРУРГИЯ ШЕИДЕРМАТОЛОГИЧЕСКИЙ ИНДЕКСКАЧЕСТВО ЖИЗНИЦель. Представить результаты собственной серии трансоральных операций у пациентов с заболеваниями щитовидной и околощитовидных желез. Материал и методы. Трансоральная операция выполнена 20 женщинам и 1 мужчине. Все пациенты оперированы по поводу первичного заболевания и соответствовали критериям отбора на основании ультразвукового и цитологического исследований, гормонального фона, соматического статуса. Показаниями к операции в 17 случаях явился узловой зоб, в 2 случаях – диффузный токсический зоб, в 2 случаях – первичный гиперпаратиреоз, аденома околощитовидной железы. Хирургическая техника включала в себя трехпортовый доступ в нижнем своде преддверия рта и газовый способ поддержания рабочей полости. Для операции использовались стандартные лапароскопические инструменты и ультразвуковое энергетическое устройство. В послеоперационном периоде пациенты прошли тест по субъективной оценке эстетического результата операции с использованием опросника дерматологического индекса качества жизни. Результаты. Тиреоидэктомия выполнена 4 пациентам, 15 пациентам – гемитиреоидэктомия и 2 пациентам – паратиреоидэктомия. У одной пациентки трансоральная паратиреоидэктомия выполнена в составе симультанной операции по поводу синдрома множественной эндокринной неоплазии 1 типа. У двух пациентов после операции верифицирован папиллярный рак T1N0M0. Среднее время операции составило 196,1 мин (диапазон 110 – 300 мин). Средняя кровопотеря 39,5 мл (диапазон 10 – 300 мл). На девятой по счету операции потребовалась конверсия вследствие неконтролируемого кровотечения. В одном случае отмечен преходящий парез возвратного гортанного нерва, в одном случае гематома. После операции медиана и среднее значение дерматологического индекса качества жизни составили 1 (0; 4) и 2,05 соответственно, что свидетельствует о незначительном влиянии на качество жизни. Заключение. Трансоральная эндоскопическая операция на щитовидной и околощитовидных железах перспективна в отношении оптимального выбора у пациентов, желающих избежать рубца на шее.Objective. To present the results of the author’s own series of transoral operations in patients with pathology of the thyroid and parathyroid glands. Methods. Transoral surgery was performed in women (n=20) and man (n=1). All patients were operated on for the primary disease and met the selection criteria based on ultrasound and cytological examinations, hormonal levels, and somatic status. Indications for surgery were: nodular goiter in 17 cases, diffuse toxic goiter – in 2 cases, parathyroid adenoma – in 2 cases. The surgical technique included a three-port approach in the lower fornix of the vestibule of the mouth and a gas technique for maintaining the working cavity. Standard laparoscopic instruments and an energy based ultrasonic device were used for the operation. In the postoperative period, patients underwent a test for subjective assessment of the aesthetic result of the operation using the survey of the dermatology life quality index. Results. Thyroidectomy was performed in 4 patients, hemithyroidectomy – in 15 patients and parathyroidectomy – in 2 patients. In one patient, transoralparathyroidectomy was performed as a part of a simultaneous operation for multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 syndrome. Papillary cancer T1N0M0 was verified in two patients after surgery. The mean operation time was 196.1 min (range 110 – 300 min). Average blood loss – 39.5 ml (range 10 – 300 ml). The nineth operation required the conversion due to severe bleeding. In one case, the temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury was reported, in one case – hematoma. After surgery, the median and average values of the dermatology life quality index were 1 (IQR 0-4) and 2.05, respectively, which indicates an insignificant effect on the quality of life. Conclusion. Transoral endoscopic surgery on the thyroid and parathyroid glands would be the promising optimal choice in patients to avoid scarring on the neck

Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology-Nutritional Epidemiology (STROBE-nut): An Extension of the STROBE Statement.

Concerns have been raised about the quality of reporting in nutritional epidemiology. Research reporting guidelines such as the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement can improve quality of reporting in observational studies. Herein, we propose recommendations for reporting nutritional epidemiology and dietary assessment research by extending the STROBE statement into Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology-Nutritional Epidemiology (STROBE-nut).Recommendations for the reporting of nutritional epidemiology and dietary assessment research were developed following a systematic and consultative process, coordinated by a multidisciplinary group of 21 experts. Consensus on reporting guidelines was reached through a three-round Delphi consultation process with 53 external experts. In total, 24 recommendations for nutritional epidemiology were added to the STROBE checklist.When used appropriately, reporting guidelines for nutritional epidemiology can contribute to improve reporting of observational studies with a focus on diet and health

Pan-Cancer Analysis of lncRNA Regulation Supports Their Targeting of Cancer Genes in Each Tumor Context

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are commonly dys-regulated in tumors, but only a handful are known toplay pathophysiological roles in cancer. We inferredlncRNAs that dysregulate cancer pathways, onco-genes, and tumor suppressors (cancer genes) bymodeling their effects on the activity of transcriptionfactors, RNA-binding proteins, and microRNAs in5,185 TCGA tumors and 1,019 ENCODE assays.Our predictions included hundreds of candidateonco- and tumor-suppressor lncRNAs (cancerlncRNAs) whose somatic alterations account for thedysregulation of dozens of cancer genes and path-ways in each of 14 tumor contexts. To demonstrateproof of concept, we showed that perturbations tar-geting OIP5-AS1 (an inferred tumor suppressor) andTUG1 and WT1-AS (inferred onco-lncRNAs) dysre-gulated cancer genes and altered proliferation ofbreast and gynecologic cancer cells. Our analysis in-dicates that, although most lncRNAs are dysregu-lated in a tumor-specific manner, some, includingOIP5-AS1, TUG1, NEAT1, MEG3, and TSIX, synergis-tically dysregulate cancer pathways in multiple tumorcontexts

Pan-cancer Alterations of the MYC Oncogene and Its Proximal Network across the Cancer Genome Atlas

Although theMYConcogene has been implicated incancer, a systematic assessment of alterations ofMYC, related transcription factors, and co-regulatoryproteins, forming the proximal MYC network (PMN),across human cancers is lacking. Using computa-tional approaches, we define genomic and proteo-mic features associated with MYC and the PMNacross the 33 cancers of The Cancer Genome Atlas.Pan-cancer, 28% of all samples had at least one ofthe MYC paralogs amplified. In contrast, the MYCantagonists MGA and MNT were the most frequentlymutated or deleted members, proposing a roleas tumor suppressors.MYCalterations were mutu-ally exclusive withPIK3CA,PTEN,APC,orBRAFalterations, suggesting that MYC is a distinct onco-genic driver. Expression analysis revealed MYC-associated pathways in tumor subtypes, such asimmune response and growth factor signaling; chro-matin, translation, and DNA replication/repair wereconserved pan-cancer. This analysis reveals insightsinto MYC biology and is a reference for biomarkersand therapeutics for cancers with alterations ofMYC or the PMN