Purpose
To determine the association between red meat (RM), processed red meat (PRM) and total red and processed red meat (TRPRM) consumption on nutritional adequacy and markers of health and ...cardio-metabolic diseases in British adults.
Methods
In this cross-sectional study of adults (19–64 y) from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) (
n
= 1758), RM and PRM consumption were assessed from 4 day estimated food diaries. Anthropometric measures, blood pressure (BP), pulse pressure (PP), plasma glucose, HbA1c, C-reactive protein, TAG, TC, LDL-C and HDL-C from the NDNS were used.
Results
43% of adults (men 57% and women 31%) consumed more than the 70 g/d TRPRM guidelines. Fewer adults in the highest tertile of TRPRM intake were below lower reference nutrient intakes (LRNIs), particularly for zinc and iron, respectively. In model 3 (controlled for age, energy intake, socioeconomic classification, number of daily cigarettes, BMI, dietary factors), higher RM consumption was associated with being significantly taller (model 3:
P-
ANCOVA = 0.006;
P
-T3/T1 = 0.0004) in men and lower diastolic BP (model 3:
P-
ANCOVA = 0.004;
P
-T3/T2 = 0.002) in women. Higher PRM in men was associated with significantly higher plasma ferritin concentration (model 3:
P-
ANCOVA = 0.0001;
P
-T2/T1 = 0.0001), being taller (
P-
ANCOVA = 0.019;
P
-T1/T2 = 0.047, T1/T3 = 0.044), increased body weight (model 3:
P-
ANCOVA = 0.001;
P
-T1/T3 = 0.0001), BMI (model 3:
P-
ANCOVA = 0.007;
P
-T1/T3 = 0.006) and smaller hip circumference (model 3:
P-
ANCOVA = 0.006;
P
-T3/T1 = 0.024;
P
-T2/T1 = 0.013) and in women significantly higher TC (model 3:
P-
ANCOVA = 0.020;
P
-T3/T2 = 0.016), LDL-C (
P-
ANCOVA = 0.030;
P
-T3/T2 = 0.025), HbA1c (model 3:
P-
ANCOVA = 0.0001;
P
-T2/T1 = 0.001;
P
-T3/T2 = 0.001) and higher PP (model 3:
P-
ANCOVA = 0.022;
P
-T3/T1 = 0.021).
Higher PRM consumption was associated with significantly higher BMI and hip circumference in men, and higher TC, LDL-C, HbA1c and PP in women, which was not observed for RM consumption.
Hawkfishes (family: Cirrhitidae) are small conspicuous reef predators that commonly perch on, or shelter within, the branches of coral colonies. This study examined habitat associations of ...hawkfishes, and explicitly tested whether hawkfishes associate with specific types of live coral. Live coral use and habitat selectivity of hawkfishes was explored at six locations from Chagos in the central Indian Ocean extending east to Fiji in the Pacific Ocean. A total of 529 hawkfishes from seven species were recorded across all locations with 63% of individuals observed perching on, or sheltering within, live coral colonies. Five species (all except Cirrhitus pinnulatus and Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus) associated with live coral habitats. Cirrhitichthys falco selected for species of Pocillopora while Paracirrhites arcatus and P. forsteri selected for both Pocillopora and Acropora, revealing that these habitats are used disproportionately more than expected based on the local cover of these coral genera. Habitat selection was consistent across geographic locations, and species of Pocillopora were the most frequently used and most consistently selected even though this coral genus never comprised more than 6% of the total coral cover at any of the locations. Across locations, Paracirrhites arcatus and P. forsteri were the most abundant species and variation in their abundance corresponded with local patterns of live coral cover and abundance of Pocilloporid corals, respectively. These findings demonstrate the link between small predatory fishes and live coral habitats adding to the growing body of literature highlighting that live corals (especially erect branching corals) are critically important for sustaining high abundance and diversity of fishes on coral reefs.
We present timing observations of 4-ms pulsars discovered in the Parkes 20-cm multibeam pulsar survey of the Galactic plane. PSRs J1552−4937 and J1843−1448 are isolated objects with spin periods of ...6.28 and 5.47 ms, respectively. PSR J1727−2946 is in a 40-d binary orbit and has a spin period of 27 ms. The 4.43-ms pulsar J1813−2621 is in a circular 8.16-d binary orbit around a low-mass companion star with a minimum companion mass of 0.2 M⊙. Combining these results with detections from five other Parkes multibeam surveys, gives a well-defined sample of 56 pulsars with spin periods below 20 ms. We develop a likelihood analysis to constrain the functional form which best describes the underlying distribution of spin periods for millisecond pulsars. The best results were obtained with a lognormal distribution. A gamma distribution is less favoured, but still compatible with the observations. Uniform, power-law and Gaussian distributions are found to be inconsistent with the data. Galactic millisecond pulsars being found by current surveys appear to be in agreement with a lognormal distribution which allows for the existence of pulsars with periods below 1.5 ms.
This study investigated whether teeth and dorsal fin spines could be used as non‐lethal methods of age estimation for a vulnerable and highly valued tropical fisheries species, coral trout ...Plectropomus leopardus. Age estimation of individuals from 2 to 9 years old revealed that dorsal spines represent an accurate ageing method (90% agreement with otoliths) that was more precise average per cent error (APE) = 4·1, coefficient of variation (c.v.) = 5·8% than otoliths (APE = 6·2, c.v. = 8·7%). Of the three methods for age estimation (otoliths, dorsal spines and teeth), spines were the most time and cost efficient. An aquarium‐based study also found that removing a dorsal spine or tooth did not affect survivorship or growth of P. leopardus. No annuli were visible in teeth despite taking transverse and longitudinal sections throughout the tooth and trialling several different laboratory methods. Although teeth may not be suitable for estimating age of P. leopardus, dorsal spines appear to be an acceptably accurate, precise and efficient method for non‐lethal ageing of individuals from 2 to 9 years old in this tropical species.
The primary structural component of the bacterial cell wall is peptidoglycan, which is essential for viability and the synthesis of which is the target for crucial antibiotics
. Peptidoglycan is a ...single macromolecule made of glycan chains crosslinked by peptide side branches that surrounds the cell, acting as a constraint to internal turgor
. In Gram-positive bacteria, peptidoglycan is tens of nanometres thick, generally portrayed as a homogeneous structure that provides mechanical strength
. Here we applied atomic force microscopy
to interrogate the morphologically distinct Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis species, using live cells and purified peptidoglycan. The mature surface of live cells is characterized by a landscape of large (up to 60 nm in diameter), deep (up to 23 nm) pores constituting a disordered gel of peptidoglycan. The inner peptidoglycan surface, consisting of more nascent material, is much denser, with glycan strand spacing typically less than 7 nm. The inner surface architecture is location dependent; the cylinder of B. subtilis has dense circumferential orientation, while in S. aureus and division septa for both species, peptidoglycan is dense but randomly oriented. Revealing the molecular architecture of the cell envelope frames our understanding of its mechanical properties and role as the environmental interface
, providing information complementary to traditional structural biology approaches.
Nitric oxide (NO) production by the vascular endothelium maintains an essential antiinflammatory, cytoprotective influence on the blood vessel wall. A key component of this activity is attributed to ...prevention of leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The NO receptor, soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), is expressed in endothelial cells but fulfils an unknown function. Therefore, we used intravital microscopy in mesenteric postcapillary venules from WT and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) knockout (eNOS-/-) mice, and an sGC activator (BAY 41-2272), to investigate a potential role for sGC in the regulation of adhesion molecule expression and leukocyte recruitment. Leukocyte rolling and adhesion was 6-fold greater in eNOS-/-than WT animals. BAY 41-2272 and the NO-donor, diethylamine-NONOate, reduced leukocyte rolling and adhesion in eNOS-/-mice to levels observed in WT animals. These effects were blocked by the sGC inhibitor ODQ 1H-(1,2,4)oxadiazolo(4,3-a)quinoxalin-1-one, which itself caused a 6-fold increase in leukocyte rolling and adhesion in WT mice. Increased leukocyte rolling and adhesion in IL-1β-treated mice was also inhibited by BAY 41-2272. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis in vitro and a specific P-selectin neutralizing antibody in vivo revealed that selective down-regulation of P-selectin expression accounted for the anti-adhesive effects of sGC activation. These data demonstrate that sGC plays a key antiinflammatory role by inhibiting P-selectin expression and leukocyte recruitment.
Elucidation of the genetic factors underlying chronic liver disease may reveal new therapeutic targets.
We used exome sequence data and electronic health records from 46,544 participants in the ...DiscovEHR human genetics study to identify genetic variants associated with serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Variants that were replicated in three additional cohorts (12,527 persons) were evaluated for association with clinical diagnoses of chronic liver disease in DiscovEHR study participants and two independent cohorts (total of 37,173 persons) and with histopathological severity of liver disease in 2391 human liver samples.
A splice variant (rs72613567:TA) in HSD17B13, encoding the hepatic lipid droplet protein hydroxysteroid 17-beta dehydrogenase 13, was associated with reduced levels of ALT (P=4.2×10
) and AST (P=6.2×10
). Among DiscovEHR study participants, this variant was associated with a reduced risk of alcoholic liver disease (by 42% 95% confidence interval {CI}, 20 to 58 among heterozygotes and by 53% 95% CI, 3 to 77 among homozygotes), nonalcoholic liver disease (by 17% 95% CI, 8 to 25 among heterozygotes and by 30% 95% CI, 13 to 43 among homozygotes), alcoholic cirrhosis (by 42% 95% CI, 14 to 61 among heterozygotes and by 73% 95% CI, 15 to 91 among homozygotes), and nonalcoholic cirrhosis (by 26% 95% CI, 7 to 40 among heterozygotes and by 49% 95% CI, 15 to 69 among homozygotes). Associations were confirmed in two independent cohorts. The rs72613567:TA variant was associated with a reduced risk of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, but not steatosis, in human liver samples. The rs72613567:TA variant mitigated liver injury associated with the risk-increasing PNPLA3 p.I148M allele and resulted in an unstable and truncated protein with reduced enzymatic activity.
A loss-of-function variant in HSD17B13 was associated with a reduced risk of chronic liver disease and of progression from steatosis to steatohepatitis. (Funded by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and others.).
Self-monitoring of blood pressure with self-titration of antihypertensives (self-management) results in lower blood pressure in patients with hypertension, but there are no data about patients in ...high-risk groups.
To determine the effect of self-monitoring with self-titration of antihypertensive medication compared with usual care on systolic blood pressure among patients with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease.
A primary care, unblinded, randomized clinical trial involving 552 patients who were aged at least 35 years with a history of stroke, coronary heart disease, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease and with baseline blood pressure of at least 130/80 mm Hg being treated at 59 UK primary care practices was conducted between March 2011 and January 2013.
Self-monitoring of blood pressure combined with an individualized self-titration algorithm. During the study period, the office visit blood pressure measurement target was 130/80 mm Hg and the home measurement target was 120/75 mm Hg. Control patients received usual care consisting of seeing their health care clinician for routine blood pressure measurement and adjustment of medication if necessary.
The primary outcome was the difference in systolic blood pressure between intervention and control groups at the 12-month office visit.
Primary outcome data were available from 450 patients (81%). The mean baseline blood pressure was 143.1/80.5 mm Hg in the intervention group and 143.6/79.5 mm Hg in the control group. After 12 months, the mean blood pressure had decreased to 128.2/73.8 mm Hg in the intervention group and to 137.8/76.3 mm Hg in the control group, a difference of 9.2 mm Hg (95% CI, 5.7-12.7) in systolic and 3.4 mm Hg (95% CI, 1.8-5.0) in diastolic blood pressure following correction for baseline blood pressure. Multiple imputation for missing values gave similar results: the mean baseline was 143.5/80.2 mm Hg in the intervention group vs 144.2/79.9 mm Hg in the control group, and at 12 months, the mean was 128.6/73.6 mm Hg in the intervention group vs 138.2/76.4 mm Hg in the control group, with a difference of 8.8 mm Hg (95% CI, 4.9-12.7) for systolic and 3.1 mm Hg (95% CI, 0.7-5.5) for diastolic blood pressure between groups. These results were comparable in all subgroups, without excessive adverse events.
Among patients with hypertension at high risk of cardiovascular disease, self-monitoring with self-titration of antihypertensive medication compared with usual care resulted in lower systolic blood pressure at 12 months.
isrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN87171227.
Marine protected areas (MPAs) aim to mitigate anthropogenic impacts by conserving biodiversity and preventing overfishing. The effectiveness of MPAs depends on population connectivity patterns ...between protected and non-protected areas. Remote islands are endemism hotspots for coral reef fishes and provide rare examples of coral reefs with limited fishing pressure. This study explored population genetic connectivity across a network of protected and non-protected areas for the endemic wrasse,
Coris bulbifrons,
which is listed as “vulnerable” by the IUCN due to its small, decreasing geographic range and declining abundance. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellite DNA (msatDNA) markers were used to estimate historic and contemporary gene flow to determine the level of population self-replenishment and to measure genetic and genotypic diversity among all four locations in the species range (south-west Pacific Ocean)—Middleton Reef (MR), Elizabeth Reef (ER), Lord Howe Island (LHI) and Norfolk Island (NI). MPAs exist at MR and LHI and are limited or non-existent at ER and NI, respectively. There was no obvious differentiation in mtDNA among locations, however, msatDNA revealed differentiation between the most peripheral (NI) and all remaining locations (MR, ER and LHI). Despite high mtDNA connectivity (
M
= 259–1,144), msatDNA connectivity was limited (
M
= 3–9) with high self-replenishment (68–93 %) at all locations. NI is the least connected and heavily reliant on self-replenishment, and the absence of MPAs at NI needs to be rectified to ensure the persistence of endemic species at this location. Other endemic fishes exhibit similar patterns of high self-replenishment across the four locations, indicating that a single spatial management approach consisting of a MPA network protecting part of each location could provide reasonable protection for these species. Thus, the existing network of MPAs at this endemic hotspot appears adequate at some locations, but not at all.
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a life-threatening disorder characterized by increased pulmonary artery pressure, remodeling of the pulmonary vasculature, and right ventricular failure. Loss of ...endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin contributes to PH pathogenesis, and current therapies are targeted to restore these pathways. Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are a family of enzymes that break down cGMP and cAMP, which underpin the bioactivity of NO and prostacyclin. PDE5 inhibitors (eg, sildenafil) are licensed for PH, but a role for PDE2 in lung physiology and disease has yet to be established. Herein, we investigated whether PDE2 inhibition modulates pulmonary cyclic nucleotide signaling and ameliorates experimental PH.
The selective PDE2 inhibitor BAY 60-7550 augmented atrial natriuretic peptide- and treprostinil-evoked pulmonary vascular relaxation in isolated arteries from chronically hypoxic rats. BAY 60-7550 prevented the onset of both hypoxia- and bleomycin-induced PH and produced a significantly greater reduction in disease severity when given in combination with a neutral endopeptidase inhibitor (enhances endogenous natriuretic peptides), trepostinil, inorganic nitrate (NO donor), or a PDE5 inhibitor. Proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells from patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension was reduced by BAY 60-7550, an effect further enhanced in the presence of atrial natriuretic peptide, NO, and treprostinil.
PDE2 inhibition elicits pulmonary dilation, prevents pulmonary vascular remodeling, and reduces the right ventricular hypertrophy characteristic of PH. This favorable pharmacodynamic profile is dependent on natriuretic peptide bioactivity and is additive with prostacyclin analogues, PDE5 inhibitor, and NO. PDE2 inhibition represents a viable, orally active therapy for PH.
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