Diet and lifestyle may affect risk for metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) by chronically elevating systemic inflammation.

In this study we investigated the separate and joint associations of dietary and lifestyle inflammation scores (DIS and LIS, respectively) with MAFLD risk.

For this nested case-control study we identified and recruited 968 patients with MAFLD (defined as having a fatty liver index≥60 plus ≥1 of the following conditions overweight or obese, type II diabetes mellitus, evidence of metabolic dysregulation) and 964 controls from among 35-70-y-old men and women in the baseline phase of the Sabzevar Persian Cohort Study. We collected demographic, lifestyle, anthropometric, biochemical, and dietary intake information (via a validated FFQ) from which we calculated a circulating inflammation biomarker-weighted, predominantly whole foods and beverages-based, 19-component DIS and a 3-component LIS. We estimated DIS- and LIS-MAFLD associations using multivariable unconditional logisdiet affects MAFLD risk.

Our results suggest that higher balances of pro- relative to anti-inflammatory dietary and lifestyle exposures, separately and especially jointly, may be associated with higher MAFLD risk among adults. Also, inflammation may be the primary mechanism through which diet affects MAFLD risk.

Echinocandins are widely used for the treatment of invasive fungal diseases. While they bind strongly to plasma proteins, our knowledge of this process is not sufficient to permit their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics targets to be discussed. In this study, we characterized the binding of two echinocandins, caspofungin and micafungin, to plasma proteins, human serum albumin (HSA) and human α 1-acid glycoprotein (AAG).

The binding parameters, number of binding sites (n) and association constant (K) for caspofungin and micafungin to HSA and AAG were determined by equilibrium dialysis. The binding site on HSA for these echinocandins was identified by conducting inhibition experiments.

Caspofungin was found to bind strongly to a single site on HSA (n = 1.26, K = 0.45 × 106 M-1) and AAG (n = 0.99, K = 0.29 × 106 M-1). Micafungin was found to bind more strongly to HSA (n = 1.35, K = 1.44 × 106 M-1) and AAG (n = 1.32, K = 1.16 × 106 M-1). The binding site for these drugs on HSA appears to be within subdomain IA.

Free fraction of caspofungin and micafungin in patients may not be substantially affected due to the contribution of AAG to the overall protein binding and the binding to subdomain IA on HSA, which is different from the major drug-binding sites within subdomains IB, IIA and IIIA.

Free fraction of caspofungin and micafungin in patients may not be substantially affected due to the contribution of AAG to the overall protein binding and the binding to subdomain IA on HSA, which is different from the major drug-binding sites within subdomains IB, IIA and IIIA.

Over the past two decades, there has been a steady increase in research focused on the association between weight-based stigma and mental health outcomes in children and adolescents. The present study is a systematic review and meta-analysis of the associations between weight stigma and mental health in youth.

A systematic search of PubMed, PsychInfo, and Embase databases was conducted in January 2020. Inclusion criteria included the following (a) examined an association between weight stigma and a mental health outcome, (b) mean sample age <18 (+1 standard deviation) years, (c) written in English, and (d) peer reviewed. Forty eligible articles were identified. The moderating effects of age, sex (percent female), weight status (percent with overweight/obesity), and study quality were examined.

Overall, meta-analytic findings using a random-effects model indicated a statistically significant moderate association between weight stigma and poorer mental health outcomes (r = .32, 95% confidence interval how these associations affect populations of diverse backgrounds.

Examining a variety of diet quality methodologies will inform best practice use of diet quality indices for assessing all-cause and CVD mortality.

To examine the association between three diet quality indices (Australian Dietary Guideline Index, DGI; Dietary Inflammatory Index, DII; Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay, MIND) and risk of all-cause mortality, CVD mortality and non-fatal CVD events up to 19 years later.

Data on 10,009 adults (51.8 years; 52% female) from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle study were used. A food frequency questionnaire was used to calculate DGI, DII and MIND at baseline. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% CI of all-cause mortality, CVD mortality and non-fatal CVD events (stroke; myocardial infarction) according to 1 SD increase in diet quality, adjusted for age, sex, education, smoking, physical activity, energy intake, history of stroke or heart attack, and diabetes and hypertension status.

y in Australian adults, while a more inflammatory diet predicted higher mortality risk. These findings highlight the applicability of following Australian dietary guidelines, a Mediterranean style diet and a low-inflammatory diet for the reduction of all-cause and CVD mortality risk.

World Health Organization African region is wild poliovirus-free; however, outbreaks of vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (VDPV2) continue to expand across the continent including in Chad. We conducted a serological survey of polio antibodies in polio high-risk areas of Chad to assess population immunity against poliovirus and estimate the risk of future outbreaks.

This was a community-based, cross-sectional survey carried out in September 2019. Children between 12 and 59 months were randomly selected using GIS enumeration of structures. Informed consent, demographic and anthropometric data, vaccination history, and blood spots were collected. Seropositivity against all 3 poliovirus serotypes was assessed using a microneutralization assay at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Analyzable data were obtained from 236 out of 285 (82.8%) enrolled children. Seroprevalence of polio antibodies for serotypes 1, 2, and 3 was 214/236 (90.7%); 145/236 (61.4%); and 196/236 (86.2%), respectively. For serotype 2, the seroprevalence significantly increased with age (P = .004); chronic malnutrition was a significant risk factor for being type 2-seronegative.

Poliovirus type 2 seroprevalence in young children was considered insufficient to protect against the spread of paralytic diseases caused by VDPV2. Indeed, VDPV2 outbreaks were reported from Chad in 2019 and 2020. High-quality immunization response to these outbreaks is needed to prevent further spread.

Poliovirus type 2 seroprevalence in young children was considered insufficient to protect against the spread of paralytic diseases caused by VDPV2. Indeed, VDPV2 outbreaks were reported from Chad in 2019 and 2020. High-quality immunization response to these outbreaks is needed to prevent further spread.

To address the effects of storage duration on red blood cell (RBC)-derived microparticles (RMPs) in packed RBCs from donors who have thalassemia.

Packed RBCs were prepared according to laboratory routine. The quantity of RMPs was determined using FACSCalibur and counting beads.

Across durations of storage, the packed RBCs from donors with thalassemia (n = 28) and healthy volunteers (n = 104) showed average RMPs to be 47,426 (10,139‒127,785) particles/μL vs 49,021 (13,033‒126,749) particles/μL, respectively (P = .63). The peak RMP levels in donors with thalassemia and healthy volunteers, respectively, were shown in products from storage days 34 and 38. Both groups showed a trend toward a positive association between RMP concentration and the duration of storage in packed RBC bags stored under blood bank conditions.

Our results suggest that storage-induced RMP release has similar effects in stored packed RBCs obtained from both donors with thalassemia and healthy volunteers.

Our results suggest that storage-induced RMP release has similar effects in stored packed RBCs obtained from both donors with thalassemia and healthy volunteers.

The purpose of this study was to identify and characterize sex-specific physical and psychophysical performance adaptations in response to a novel 10-week training program.

Fifteen males and thirteen females completed a standardized load carriage task (5 km at 5.5 km.h-1, wearing a 23 kg torso-borne vest) before and after 10 weeks of resistance and load carriage training. Psychophysical responses (i.e., heart rate and ratings of perceived exertion) were measured throughout the load carriage task. Physical performance (i.e., countermovement and squat jumps, push-ups, sit-ups, and beep test) was measured at before, mid-way, and after the training program (weeks 0, 6, and 11, respectively).

Training elicited significant improvements in squat jump maximal force, push-ups, and beep test performance (P < .05). Males outperformed females in all performance measures, with interactions (time, sex) for push-ups, sit-ups, and beep test performance. After training, aerobic capacity improved by 5.4% (42.9 mL· kg-1· min-1 to 45.2 mL· kg-1· min-1) in males but did not improve in females. Psychophysical responses decreased for both sexes (P < .05) during the load carriage task post-training.

While 10 weeks of standardized training elicited positive adaptations in both physical and psychophysical performance, sex-specific differences were still evident. To lessen these differences, sex-specific training should be considered to optimize load carriage performance.

While 10 weeks of standardized training elicited positive adaptations in both physical and psychophysical performance, sex-specific differences were still evident. To lessen these differences, sex-specific training should be considered to optimize load carriage performance.

This study evaluated the epidemiological factors of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among South Korean troops including the prevalence, therapeutic methods, and sexual risk behaviors.

The medical records of the STIs diagnosed troops at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital (AFCH) for 36 months (between January 2018 and December 2020) were retrospectively reviewed. The data collection for the study began after obtaining research approvals from the institutional ethics committee of AFCH. The patients were classified into two subgroups, pre-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and COVID-19 groups. The clinical parameters of the patients including STI-related symptoms and underlying diseases were analyzed. The sociosexual conduct of the two study groups was evaluated and compared by using a survey questionnaire.

Overall, 138 STI patients with mean age of 21.2 years were included (pre-COVID-19 106 patients/COVID-19 32 patients). 32.6% of the patients received college education before the military service. The importance of education on alcohol misuse and safe sexual relationships should be taken more seriously within the military.

Pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ib (PHP1B) is characterized by hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia due to PTH-resistance in the proximal renal tubules. Maternal pathogenic STX16/GNAS variants leading to maternal epigenetic GNAS changes impair expression of the stimulatory G protein alpha-subunit (Gsα) thereby causing autosomal dominant PHP1B (AD-PHP1B). In contrast, genetic defects responsible for sporadic PHP1B (sporPHP1B) remain mostly unknown.

Determine whether PHP1B encountered after in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) causes GNAS re-methylation defects similar to those in sporPHP1B.

Retrospective analysis.

Nine among thirty-six sporPHP1B patients investigated since 2000, all with LOM at the three maternal GNAS DMRs and gain-of-methylation (GOM) at the paternal NESP DMR, had been conceived through IVF or ICSI. Besides abnormal GNAS methylation, IVF/ICSI-PHP1B cases revealed no additional imprinting defects. Three of these PHP1B patients have dizygotic twins and four have IVF/ICSI-conceived siblings, all with normal GNAS methylation; two unaffected younger siblings were conceived naturally.