Vitamin/mineral supplement (VMS) use has become increasingly popular in children and adolescents; however, different predictors may be associated with their usage. Therefore, the aim of this study ...was to compare determinants of VMS use in 1578 children and adolescents. Data was collected among parents of children (≤12 years old) and among adolescents (>12 years old) who attended public schools by a self-administered questionnaire. Multivariate-adjusted logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for determining the predictors of VMS use. In children, the following determinants of VMS use were indicated: socioeconomic status (average vs. very good/good; OR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.16⁻2.48), physical activity (1⁻5 vs. <1 h/week; OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.02⁻2.04), BMI (≥25 vs. 18.5⁻24.9 kg/m²; OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.46⁻0.98), and presence of chronic diseases (yes vs. no; OR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.46⁻3.69). In adolescents, gender (male vs. female; OR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.37⁻0.87), residential area (rural vs. urban; OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.40⁻0.99), BMI (<18.5 vs. 18.5⁻24.9 kg/m²; OR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.17⁻0.73), and health status (average/poor vs. at least good; OR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.13⁻3.39) were factors of VMS use. In both groups, the mother's higher educational level, fortified food consumption and diet modification towards better food choices were predictors of VMS use. In conclusion, most of the predictors of VMS use were different in children and adolescents.
The mechanisms underlying the progression of prostate cancer to a state of resistance to hormone ablation remain poorly understood. Here, we have investigated the relationship between androgen ...receptor (AR) and Her-2/neu in prostate cancer cells. Overexpression of Her-2/neu (c-ErbB2) activates the AR pathway and confers a survival and growth advantage to prostate cancer cells in an androgen-deficient milieu. In vitro, the absence of androgens or AR blockade induced Her-2/neu protein expression and phosphorylation. In contrast, upon readministration of androgens, Her-2/neu mRNA, protein, and phosphorylation levels decreased linearly with increasing concentrations of dihydrotestosterone as LNCaP cells reentered the cell cycle. In vivo, induction of Her-2/neu by castration in orthotopically injected LNCaP cells resulted in a progressive increase in prostate-specific antigen secretion into the mouse serum, indicating that Her-2/neu-mediated, AR-dependent transcription occurs following castration and results in tumor cell growth. Finally, selection of LNCaP cells stably transfected with short hairpin RNA specific for AR resulted in Her-2/neu overexpression. Similarly, knockdown of Her-2/neu led to induction of AR. However, when Her-2/neu and AR were simultaneously targeted, we observed cell death, whereas surviving cells retained low level expression of Her-2/neu. Thus, induction and activation of Her-2/neu occurs in an androgen-depleted environment or as a result of AR inactivation, promoting ablation-resistant survival of prostate cancer cells. These data provide the biochemical rationale to target Her-2/neu in hormone-refractory prostate cancer.
•Identification of factors linked to folate intake is crucial for public health.•More than half of the women had an inadequate folate intake.•Vegetables and cereals were the most important folate ...sources.•Analysis of folate intake may help design effective nutritional education.
The study aimed to identify the main folate sources and examine socio-demographic and lifestyle determinants influencing folate intake among 1410 women aged 18 to 39.
Data were collected using a self-administered health and lifestyle questionnaire and a 5-d dietary record method. To assess folate intake in relation to the dietary reference intakes, the probability approach was used. Folate intake determinants were identified using multivariate-adjusted logistic regression models; odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).
The average total folate intake among women was 311 ± 144 µg/day dietary folate equivalents. Vegetables (30.7%) and cereals (22.6%) were the most important folate sources. Foods fortified with folic acid were consumed by 20.6% of women, dietary supplements by 7.2%. More than half of the participants (55%) had a high probability of inadequate folate intake. The predictors of being in the highest tertile of folate intake (>303 versus <225 µg) were: physical activity (high versus low; OR: 2.97, 95% CI: 1.77–4.97), nutritional knowledge (high versus low; OR: 5.32, 95% CI: 2.82–10.1), following a vegetarian diet (yes versus no; OR: 6.13; 95% CI: 2.79–13.5), daily number of meals (≥5 versus ≤3; OR: 4.17, 95% CI: 2.38–7.32), excluding/including some foods (yes versus no; OR: 2.47; 95% CI: 1.41–4.31) and energy intake (3rd versus 1st tertile; OR:17.4, 95% CI: 11.1–27.4).
Identifying factors associated with a higher intake of folate may be helpful in shaping public health nutrition policy. It allows the design of effective nutrition education programs to promote increased intake of folate in subgroups at risk of deficiency.
D-type cyclins (cyclins D1, D2, and D3) are key components of cell cycle machinery in mammalian cells. These proteins are believed to drive cell cycle progression by associating with their kinase ...partners, cyclin-dependent kinases, and by directing phosphorylation of critical cellular substrates. In addition, D-cyclins play a kinase-independent role by sequestering cell cycle inhibitors p27 Kip1 and p21 Cip1 . In the past, we and others generated cyclin D1-deficient mice and have shown that these mice display developmental abnormalities, hypoplastic retinas, and pregnancy-insensitive mammary glands. To test the significance of cyclin D1–p27 Kip1 interaction within a living mouse, we crossed cyclin D1-deficient mice with mice lacking p27 Kip1 , and we generated double-mutant cyclin D1 −/− p27 −/− animals. Here we report that ablation of p27 Kip1 restores essentially normal development in cyclin D1-deficient mice. Our results provide genetic evidence that p27 Kip1 functions downstream of cyclin D1.
Background:
In order to prevent age-related degenerative diseases in the aging population, their diets should be nutrient dense. For this purpose, the Elderly-Nutrient rich food (E-NRF7.3) score has ...been developed to assess nutrient density of diets by capturing dietary reference values for older adults. To demonstrate its practical importance such score should be validated against markers of nutritional status and health.
Objective:
The objective of this study was to examine the association between the E-NRF7.3 score and markers of nutritional status and inflammation.
Design:
This study was carried out in a sample of the NU-AGE study including 242 Dutch and 210 Polish men and women, aged 65–79 years. Dietary intake was assessed by means of 7-day food records and structured questionnaires collected data on supplement use, lifestyle, and socio-economic information. Baseline measurements included anthropometrics, physical and cognitive function tests, and a fasting venipuncture. E-NRF7.3 scores were calculated to estimate nutrient density of foods and the diet. Associations between the E-NRF7.3 scores and micronutrient status of vitamin D, folate, vitamin B12, homocysteine, and c-reactive protein (CRP) were examined using linear regression analysis while adjusting for confounders.
Results:
Each one unit increase in E-NRF7.3 score was associated with a 2.2% increase in serum folate in Dutch and 1.6% increase in Polish participants in the fully adjusted models (both
p
< 0.01). Each one unit increase in E-NRF7.3 was significantly associated with a 1.5% decrease in homocysteine levels in Dutch participants (
p
< 0.01), whereas, a 0.9% increase in vitamin B12 levels was observed in Polish participants only (
p
< 0.01). Higher E-NRF7.3 scores were not associated with vitamin D or CRP levels. Adjustment for potential confounders did not substantially alter these results.
Discussion:
The E-NRF7.3 was developed to reflect dietary intake of relevant nutrients for older adults. Its association with markers of nutritional status could be confirmed for folate (both populations), vitamin B12 (Poland only), and homocysteine (the Netherlands only). There was no association with vitamin D and CRP. To further demonstrate its validity and practical implication, future studies should include a wider range of nutritional status makers, health outcomes, and inflammation markers.
Mesenchymal tumor subpopulations secrete pro-tumorigenic cytokines and promote treatment resistance
. This phenomenon has been implicated in chemorefractory small cell lung cancer and resistance to ...targeted therapies
, but remains incompletely defined. Here, we identify a subclass of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) that engages innate immune signaling in these cells. Stimulated 3 prime antisense retroviral coding sequences (SPARCS) are oriented inversely in 3' untranslated regions of specific genes enriched for regulation by STAT1 and EZH2. Derepression of these loci results in double-stranded RNA generation following IFN-γ exposure due to bi-directional transcription from the STAT1-activated gene promoter and the 5' long terminal repeat of the antisense ERV. Engagement of MAVS and STING activates downstream TBK1, IRF3, and STAT1 signaling, sustaining a positive feedback loop. SPARCS induction in human tumors is tightly associated with major histocompatibility complex class 1 expression, mesenchymal markers, and downregulation of chromatin modifying enzymes, including EZH2. Analysis of cell lines with high inducible SPARCS expression reveals strong association with an AXL/MET-positive mesenchymal cell state. While SPARCS-high tumors are immune infiltrated, they also exhibit multiple features of an immune-suppressed microenviroment. Together, these data unveil a subclass of ERVs whose derepression triggers pathologic innate immune signaling in cancer, with important implications for cancer immunotherapy.
Folic acid (FA) supplementation reduces the elevated serum homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations. 6 S-5-methyltetrahydrofolate (6 S-5-MTHF) is an alternative to FA due to possible advantages, that is, no ...masking cobalamin deficiency. The study aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of 6 S-5-MTHF in relations to FA supplementation in reducing the serum Hcy. Healthy volunteers, aged 50-65, had normal serum folate and did not use supplements with B-vitamins for 6 months. Forty subjects were divided into two groups: receiving 400 μg/d FA or the equimolar amount of 6 S-5-MTHF. Blood was collected at baseline and after 4 weeks. In both groups, a significant decrease in the mean Hcy level after intervention period was observed. Supplementation with 6 S-5-MTHF was slightly less effective, but not significantly, in Hcy lowering than FA (p = .243 between the groups), that is, by 7.8% and 13.4%, respectively. The 6 S-5-MTHF was shown to be an adequate alternative to FA in reducing Hcy concentrations.
The key issue is whether voluntarily fortified foods and vitamin/mineral supplements available on the market serve public health needs. The study aim was to estimate nutrient intakes from voluntarily ...fortified foods and vitamin/mineral supplements in relation to the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) in adolescents (
= 759) aged 13-19 who attended public secondary schools in Central-Eastern Poland.
Data on the consumption of voluntarily fortified foods were collected using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire containing 58 food items. Data on the use of dietary supplements were assessed via an open-ended question. The content of nutrients was estimated using the producer's labeling declaration. The distribution of nutrient intakes according to the percentage of DRI categories (<20%, 20-39.9%, 40-59.9%, 60-79.9%, 80-99.9%, 100-119%, or >120%) was estimated.
Consumption of voluntarily fortified foods was a common behavior in adolescents (86.7% of participants), while vitamin/mineral supplements were used by less than one-fifth of them (17.7%). The amounts of nutrient intakes from fortified foods and/or supplements were at different levels: (I) vitamins A, D, calcium, magnesium (>50% of adolescents did not exceed 20% of DRI); (II) vitamins E, B
, iron (>50% of respondents consumed at least 20% of DRI); (III) niacin and pantothenic acid (>50% of respondents consumed at least 40% of DRI); IV) vitamins C, B
, B
, B
, folate, biotin (>50% of participants consumed at least 60% of DRI). In a subgroup of respondents who used fortified foods and supplements simultaneously (
= 126), some nutrients (i.e., vitamins C, B
, B
, B
, niacin, and biotin) were consumed in amounts ≥150% of DRI. Intake above the Tolerable Upper Intake Levels was observed for niacin, vitamin A, B
and folic acid in individual cases (up to 1.1% of respondents); a higher risk of overconsumption was associated with using vitamin/mineral supplements than voluntarily fortified foods.
Adolescents should be educated on how to reasonably use fortified foods and dietary supplements to help to overcome the potential deficiency of nutrients without causing excessive consumption.
PDF
![Supplementation with [6S]-5...](http://api.summon.serialssolutions.com/2.0.0/image/issn/XR4PS5YY4K/0963-7486/small "Supplementation with [6S]-5-methyltetrahydrofolate or folic acid equally reduces serum homocysteine concentrations in older adults")
