Summary Sarcopenic obesity (SO) is assuming a prominent role as a risk factor because of the double metabolic burden derived from low muscle mass (sarcopenia) and excess adiposity (obesity). The ...increase in obesity prevalence rates in older subjects is of concern given the associated disease risks and more limited therapeutic options available in this age group. This review has two main objectives. The primary objective is to collate results from studies investigating the effects of SO on physical and cardio-metabolic functions. The secondary objective is to evaluate published studies for consistency in methodology, diagnostic criteria, exposure and outcome selection. Large between-study heterogeneity was observed in the application of diagnostic criteria and choice of body composition components for the assessment of SO, which contributes to the inconsistent associations of SO with cardio-metabolic outcomes. We propose a metabolic load:capacity model of SO given by the ratio between fat mass and fat free mass, and discuss how this could be operationalised. The concept of regional fat distribution could be incorporated into the model and tested in future studies to advance our understanding of SO as a predictor of risk for cardio-metabolic diseases and physical disability.
High adiposity in middle age is associated with higher dementia risk. The association between weight loss and cognitive function in older adults is still controversial. A meta‐analysis was undertaken ...to estimate the effectiveness of intentional weight loss on cognitive function in overweight and obese adults. A structured strategy was used to search randomized and non‐randomized studies reporting the effect of intentional and significant weight loss on cognitive function in overweight and obese subjects. Information on study design, age, nutritional status, weight‐loss strategy, weight lost and cognitive testing was extracted. A random‐effect meta‐analysis was conducted to obtain summary effect estimates for memory and attention–executive domains. Twelve studies met inclusion criteria. Seven were randomized trials and the remaining five included a control group. A low‐order significant effect was found for an improvement in cognitive performance with weight loss in memory (effect size 0.13, 95% CI 0.00–0.26, P = 0.04) and attention/executive functioning (effect size 0.14, 95% CI 0.01–0.27, P < 0.001). Studies were heterogeneous in study design, sample selection, weight‐loss intervention and assessment of cognitive function. Weight loss appears to be associated with low‐order improvements in executive/attention functioning and memory in obese but not in overweight individuals.
Excluding large native mammals is an inverse test of rewilding. A 25-year exclosure experiment in an African savanna rangeland offers insight into the potentials and pitfalls of the rewilding ...endeavor as they relate to the native plant community. A broad theme that has emerged from this research is that entire plant communities, as well as individual plants, adjust to the absence of herbivores in ways that can ill-prepare them for the return of these herbivores. Three lines of evidence suggest that these "naïve" individuals, populations, and communities are likely to initially suffer from herbivore rewilding. First, plots protected from wild herbivores for the past 25 years have developed rich diversity of woody plants that are absent from unfenced plots, and presumably would disappear upon rewilding. Second, individuals of the dominant tree in this system, Acacia drepanolobium, greatly reduce their defences in the absence of browsers, and the sudden arrival of these herbivores (in this case, through a temporary fence break), resulted in far greater elephant damage than for their conspecifics in adjacent plots that had been continually exposed to herbivory. Third, the removal of herbivores favoured the most palatable grass species, and a large number of rarer species, which presumably would be at risk from herbivore re-introduction. In summary, the native communities that we observe in defaunated landscapes may be very different from their pre-defaunation states, and we are likely to see some large changes to these plant communities upon rewilding with large herbivores, including potential reductions in plant diversity. Lastly, our experimental manipulation of cattle represents an additional test of the role of livestock in rewilding. Cattle are in many ways ecologically dissimilar to wildlife (in particular their greater densities), but in other ways they may serve as ecological surrogates for wildlife, which could buffer ecosystems from some of the ecological costs of rewilding. More fundamentally, African savannah ecosystems represent a challenge to traditional Western definitions of "wilderness" as ecosystems free of human impacts. We support the suggestion that as we "rewild" our biodiversity landscapes, we redefine "wildness" in the 21st Century to be inclusive of (low impact, and sometimes traditional) human practices that are compatible with the sustainability of native (and re-introduced) biodiversity.
Background: Disruption of circadian rhythms has been associated with obesity in children and adolescents, and with hypertension in adults, in industrialized populations. Objective: We examined ...cross-sectional associations between sleep duration or television viewing and obesity and blood pressure in Brazilian adolescents. Design: The sample consisted of 4452 adolescents aged 10-12 years participating in a prospective birth cohort study in Pelotas, Brazil. Sleep duration and television viewing were determined through questionnaires. Obesity was assessed using international cut-offs for body mass index (BMI), and body fatness by skinfold thicknesses. Blood pressure was measured using a validated monitor. Results: Short sleep duration was associated with increased BMI, skinfolds, systolic blood pressure, activity levels and television viewing. Each hour of sleep reduced BMI by 0.16 kg/m2 (s.e. 0.04), and was associated with odds ratio for obesity of 0.86 (s.e. 0.04), both P<0.001. Television viewing was associated with increased BMI and skinfolds, and increased blood pressure. The effects of sleep duration and television viewing on obesity were independent of one another. Their associations with blood pressure were mediated by body fatness. Conclusions: Both short sleep duration and increased television viewing were associated with greater body fatness, obesity and higher blood pressure, independently of physical activity level. These associations were independent of maternal BMI, identified in other studies as the strongest predictor of childhood obesity. Our study shows that behavioural factors associated with metabolic risk in industrialized populations exert similar deleterious effects in a population undergoing nutritional transition and suggest options for public health interventions.
Preeclampsia is a multifactorial pathology with negative outcomes in affected patients in both the peripartum and postpartum period. Black patients in the United States, when compared to their White ...and Hispanic counterparts, have higher rates of preeclampsia. This article aims to review the current literature to investigate how race, social determinants of health, and genetic profiles influence the prevalence and outcomes of patients with preeclampsia. Published studies utilized in this review were identified through PubMed using authors' topic knowledge and a focused search through a Medline search strategy. These articles were thoroughly reviewed to explore the contributing biosocial factors, genes/biomarkers, as well as negative outcomes associated with disparate rates of preeclampsia. Increased rates of contributing comorbidities, including hypertension and obesity, which are largely associated with low access to care in Black patient populations lead to disparate rates of preeclampsia in this population. Limited research shows an association between increased rate of preeclampsia in Black patients and specific APOL1, HLA-G, and PP13 gene polymorphisms as well as factor V Leiden mutations. Further research is required to understand the use of certain biomarkers in predicting preeclampsia within racial populations. Understanding contributing biosocial factors and identifying genes that may predispose high-risk populations may help to address the disparate rates of preeclampsia in Black patients as described in this review. Further research is required to understand if serum, placental, or urine biomarkers may be used to predict individuals at risk of developing preeclampsia in pregnancy. KEY POINTS: · Prevalence of preeclampsia in the U.S. is higher in Black patients compared to other racial groups.. · Patients with preeclampsia are at risk for poorer health outcomes both during and after delivery.. · Limited research suggests specific biomarkers or gene polymorphisms contribute to this difference; however, explanations for this disparity are multifactorial and further investigation is necessary..
Whether wild herbivores confer biotic resistance to invasion by exotic plants remains a key question in ecology. There is evidence that wild herbivores can impede invasion by exotic plants, but it is ...unclear whether and how this generalises across ecosystems with varying wild herbivore diversity and functional groups of plants, particularly over long‐term (decadal) time frames.
Using data from three long‐term (13‐ to 26‐year) exclosure experiments in central Kenya, we tested the effects of wild herbivores on the density of exotic invasive cacti, Opuntia stricta and O. ficus‐indica (collectively, Opuntia), which are among the worst invasive species globally. We also examined relationships between wild herbivore richness and elephant occurrence probability with the probability of O. stricta presence at the landscape level (6150 km2).
Opuntia densities were 74% to 99% lower in almost all plots accessible to wild herbivores compared to exclosure plots. Opuntia densities also increased more rapidly across time in plots excluding wild herbivores. These effects were largely driven by megaherbivores (≥1000 kg), particularly elephants.
At the landscape level, modelled Opuntia stricta occurrence probability was negatively correlated with estimated species richness of wild herbivores and elephant occurrence probability. On average, O. stricta occurrence probability fell from ~0.56 to ~0.45 as wild herbivore richness increased from 6 to 10 species and fell from ~0.57 to ~0.40 as elephant occurrence probability increased from ~0.41 to ~0.84. These multi‐scale results suggest that any facilitative effects of Opuntia by wild herbivores (e.g. seed/vegetative dispersal) are overridden by suppression (e.g. consumption, uprooting, trampling).
Synthesis. Our experimental and observational findings that wild herbivores confer resistance to invasion by exotic cacti add to evidence that conserving and restoring native herbivore assemblages (particularly megaherbivores) can increase community resistance to plant invasions.
Resumen
Entender si los herbívoros silvestres confieren resistencia biótica a las invasiones biológicas dadas por plantas exóticas sigue siendo una pregunta clave en ecología. Existe evidencia de que los herbívoros silvestres pueden impedir el proceso de invasión por parte de pantas exóticas, pero no está claro si o como este proceso se generaliza a través de ecosistemas con diferente diversidad de especies de herbívoros silvestres y grupos funcionales de plantas, particularmente en el largo plazo (décadas).
Usando datos de tres experimentos de exclusión a largo plazo (de 13 a 26 años) en Kenia central, testeamos los efectos de la presencia de herbívoros silvestres en la densidad de especies de cactus invasores exóticos, Opuntia stricta y O. ficus‐indica (colectivamente, Opuntia), los cuales se encuentran entre las especies invasoras más dañinas a nivel mundial. También examinamos las relaciones espaciales a nivel de paisaje (6150 km2) entre la riqueza de herbívoros silvestres y la probabilidad de ocurrencia de elefantes con la probabilidad de presencia de O. stricta.
Las densidades de Opuntia fueron entre un 74% y un 99% más bajas en casi todas las parcelas accesibles a los herbívoros silvestres en comparación con las parcelas que excluían los mismos. Las densidades de Opuntia también aumentaron más rápidamente en el tiempo en las parcelas que excluían a los herbívoros silvestres. Estos efectos estaban dados en gran medida por la presencia de megaherbívoros (≥1000 kg), en particular los elefantes.
A nivel de paisaje, la probabilidad de ocurrencia de O. stricta estuvo negativamente correlacionada con la riqueza estimada de especies de herbívoros silvestres y la probabilidad de ocurrencia de elefantes. En promedio, la probabilidad de ocurrencia de O. stricta se redujo de ~0,56 a ~0,45 con un aumento de la riqueza de herbívoros silvestres de 6 a 10 especies y se redujo de ~0,57 a ~0,40 con un aumento de la probabilidad de ocurrencia de elefantes de ~0,41 a ~0,84. Estos resultados en diferentes escalas espaciales sugieren que cualquier efecto facilitador de Opuntia por parte de los herbívoros silvestres (p. ej., dispersión de semillas/vegetación) es contrarrestado por la supresión (p. ej., consumo, desarraigo, pisoteo).
Síntesis. Nuestros resultados experimentales y observacionales de que los herbívoros silvestres confieren resistencia a la invasión de los cactus exóticos se suman a la evidencia de que conservar y restaurar ensambles de herbívoros nativos (particularmente megaherbívoros) puede aumentar la resistencia de las comunidades biológicas a las invasiones de plantas.
Muhtasari
Uwezo wa wanyama pori walao mimea kudhibiti uvamizi wa mimea ya kigeni bado ni swali kuu katika ikolojia. Kuna ushahidi kwamba wanyama pori walao mimea wana uwezo wa kuzuia uvamizi wa mimea ya kigeni, lakini haijulikani iwapo inafanyika na jinsi inavyofanyika kwa ujumla katika mifumo ya ikolojia yenye aina mbalimbali ya wanyama pori na vikundi vitendakazi vya mimea, hasa kwa muda mrefu (wa muongo).
Kwa kutumia data kutoka kwa majaribio matatu ya muda mrefu (miaka 13 hadi 26) yaliyomo Kenya ya kati, tulipima athari za wanyama pori kwenye wiani wa cactus vamizi za kigeni, Opuntia stricta na O. ficus‐indica (kwa pamoja, Opuntia), ambazo ni miongoni mwa spishi vamizi zaidi duniani. Pia tulichunguza uhusiano kati ya utajiri wa aina za wanyama pori na uwezekano wa kutokea kwa O. stricta katika kiwango kikubwa cha mazingira (6150 km2).
Wiani wa Opuntia ulipunguka kwa kati ya 74% na 99% katika takriban viwanja vyote vinavyofikiwa na wanyama pori walao mimea na uliongezeka kwa kasi zaidi katika viwanja ambavyo havijumuishi wanyama pori walao mimea. Athari hizi zilichangiwa kwa kiasi kikubwa na wanyama walao mimea ambao ni wakubwa sana (≥1000 kg), hasa tembo.
Katika kiwango kikubwa cha mazingira, uwezekano wa kutokea kwa Opuntia uliwiana hasi na makadirio ya utajiri wa aina za wanyama pori walao mimea na uwezekano wa kutokea kwa tembo. Kwa wastani, uwezekano wa kutokea kwa Opuntia stricta ulipungua kutoka ~0.56 hadi ~0.45 kwani utajiri wa aina za wanyama pori walao mimea uliongezeka kutoka spishi 6 hadi 10 na ulipungua kutoka ~0.57 hadi ~0.40 kwani uwezekano wa kutokea kwa tembo uliongezeka kutoka ~0.41 hadi ~0.84. Matokeo haya ya viwango mbalimbali yanapendekeza kwamba athari zozote za uwezeshaji wa Opuntia na wanyama wa pori walao mimea (k.m. utawanyishaji wa mbegu/mimea) huzidiwa na ukandamizaji (k.m. kuliwa, kung'olewa, kukanyagwa).
Usanisi. Matokeo ya majaribio na uchunguzi wetu kwamba wanyama pori hudhibiti uvamizi wa cactus za kigeni yanachangia ushahidi kwamba kuhifadhi na kurejesha mikusanyiko ya wanyama walao mimea wa asili (hasa wale wakubwa sana) kunaweza kuongeza udhibiti wa jumuiya ya kibayologia dhidi ya uvamizi wa mimea.
Our experimental and observational findings that wild herbivores confer resistance to invasion by exotic cacti add to evidence that conserving and restoring native herbivore assemblages (particularly megaherbivores) can increase community resistance to plant invasions. Photo credit: Gustavo Lozada (same for potential cover image).
Aim
This study focused on Swedish child health nurses’ attitudes and the support they provided to fathers and mothers, highlighting changes from 2004 to 2014.
Method
In 2014, 363 child health nurses ...in Stockholm County completed a 23‐item questionnaire, similar to the questionnaire by Massoudi et al. in 2004, on their attitudes and the support they gave to fathers and mothers. Analyses were completed using chi‐square tests of nurses’ attitudes and support to fathers and mothers, and the results from the 2004 and 2014 studies were compared.
Results
In 2014, the vast majority of nurses fully agreed that it was important to have close contact with both parents, but more than two‐thirds did not feel they had the same competencies for mothers and fathers and three quarters found it complicated to support both parents. The majority viewed fathers more equally in 2014 than in 2004 and although they did provide more support to both parents, mothers in 2014 still received more support than fathers.
Conclusion
While Swedish child health nurses viewed fathers as more equal to mothers in 2014 than 2004, mothers still received the majority of the parenting support.
Increased Fructose Intake as a Risk Factor For Dementia Stephan, B. C. M.; Wells, J. C. K.; Brayne, C. ...
The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences,
08/2010, Letnik:
65A, Številka:
8
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The transition in the world age demographic toward older age is associated with an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. Risk profiles for dementia may also be ...changing. Obesity and type 2 diabetes have increased in prevalence in the last half-century and have been associated with increased dementia risk. Specific changes in nutrition may also represent a direct risk. A diet transition in the United States has occurred in the intake of refined sugar, particularly high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) from a yearly estimate of 8.1 kg/person at the beginning of the XIX century to a current estimate of 65 kg/person. This article considers the association between refined sugar intake, markers of cardiovascular disease risk, and the possible promotion of the development of dementia.
Current recommendations for diagnosing myelodysplastic syndromes endorse flow cytometry as an informative tool. Most flow cytometry protocols focus on the analysis of progenitor cells and the ...evaluation of the maturing myelomonocytic lineage. However, one of the most frequently observed features of myelodysplastic syndromes is anemia, which may be associated with dyserythropoiesis. Therefore, analysis of changes in flow cytometry features of nucleated erythroid cells may complement current flow cytometry tools. The multicenter study within the IMDSFlow Working Group, reported herein, focused on defining flow cytometry parameters that enable discrimination of dyserythropoiesis associated with myelodysplastic syndromes from non-clonal cytopenias. Data from a learning cohort were compared between myelodysplasia and controls, and results were validated in a separate cohort. The learning cohort comprised 245 myelodysplasia cases, 290 pathological, and 142 normal controls; the validation cohort comprised 129 myelodysplasia cases, 153 pathological, and 49 normal controls. Multivariate logistic regression analysis performed in the learning cohort revealed that analysis of expression of CD36 and CD71 (expressed as coefficient of variation), in combination with CD71 fluorescence intensity and the percentage of CD117
erythroid progenitors provided the best discrimination between myelodysplastic syndromes and non-clonal cytopenias (specificity 90%; 95% confidence interval: 84-94%). The high specificity of this marker set was confirmed in the validation cohort (92%; 95% confidence interval: 86-97%). This erythroid flow cytometry marker combination may improve the evaluation of cytopenic cases with suspected myelodysplasia, particularly when combined with flow cytometry assessment of the myelomonocytic lineage.
Over a quarter of the world's land surface is grazed by cattle and other livestock, which are replacing wild herbivores, potentially impairing ecosystem structure, and functions. Previous research ...suggests that cattle at moderate stocking rates can functionally replace wild herbivores in shaping understory communities. However, it is uncertain whether this is also true under high stocking rates and the effects of wild herbivore on plant communities are moderate, enhanced, or simply additive to the effects of cattle at high stocking rates. To evaluate the influence of cattle stocking rates on the ability of cattle to functionally replace wild herbivores and test for interactive effects between cattle and wild herbivores in shaping understory vegetation, we assessed herbaceous vegetation in a long‐term exclosure experiment in a semi‐arid savanna in central Kenya that selectively excludes wild mesoherbivores (50–1000 kg) and megaherbivores (elephant and giraffe). We tested the effects of cattle stocking rate (zero/moderate/high) on herbaceous vegetation (diversity, composition, leafiness). We also tested how those effects depend on the presence of wild mesoherbivores and megaherbivores. We found that herbaceous community composition (primary ordination axis) was better explained by the presence/absence of herbivore types than by total herbivory, suggesting that herbivore identity is a more important determinant of community composition than total herbivory at high cattle stocking rates. The combination of wild mesoherbivores and cattle stocked at high rates led to increased bare ground and annual grass cover, reduced perennial grass cover and understory leafiness, and enhanced understory diversity. These shifts were weaker or absent when cattle were stocked at high stocking rates in the absence of wild mesoherbivores. Megaherbivores tempered the effects of cattle stocked at high rates on herbaceous community composition but amplified the effects of high cattle stocking rate on bare ground and understory diversity. Our results show that cattle at high stocking rates do not functionally replace wild herbivores in shaping savanna herbaceous communities contrary to previous findings at moderate stocking rates. In mixed‐use rangelands, interactions between cattle stocking rate and wild herbivore presence can lead to non‐additive vegetation responses with important implications for both wildlife conservation and livestock production.
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