Blood Chromium Levels and Their Association with Cardiovascular Diseases, Diabetes, and Depression: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015-2016.

Currently, there is no global consensus about the essentiality of dietary chromium. To provide evidence to this debate, an examination of blood chromium levels and common chronic health conditions was undertaken. Using a subsample from the 2015−2016 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n = 2894; 40 years+), chi-square and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine blood chromium levels (0.7−28.0 vs. <0.7 µg/L) and their associations with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs; self-report), diabetes mellitus (DM; glycohemoglobin ≥5.7%), and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score ≥5), while controlling for socio-demographic (age/sex/income/education/relationship status) and health-related (red blood cell folate/medications/co-morbidities/body mass index (BMI)/substance use) factors. The sample was almost evenly distributed between men and women (n = 1391, 48.1% (men); n = 1503, 51.9% (women)). The prevalence estimates of low blood chromium levels tended to be higher among those with CVDs (47.4−47.6%) and DM (50.0−51.6%). Comparisons between those with low vs. normal blood chromium levels indicate men have increased odds of CVDs (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.86, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22−2.85, p < 0.001) and DM (aOR = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.32−2.83, p < 0.001) and lower odds of depression (aOR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.22−0.77, p < 0.05). Dietary chromium may be important in the prevention and management of CVDs and DM for men. Continued exploration of chromium's role in chronic diseases, including differences by biological factors, is needed.

Immunologic function after splenic embolization, is there a difference?

BACKGROUND: To define the immunologic status of patients undergoing splenic embolization (SE) after traumatic injury. This information may lead to the development of immunization protocols based on scientific data. METHODS: Patients with traumatic splenic injury, treated at one level II Trauma Center were eligible for study. SE patients were compared with splenectomy (SP) patients and controls (C = blunt abdominal trauma patients with negative abdominal computed tomography scans). Clinical examination, medical survey, blood sampling, and nuclear medicine spleen scans were performed. IgM, IgG, C3 complement, complement factor B, helper T cells (CD3, CD4), suppressor T-cells (CD8), complete blood counts, and HIV status were tested. Radionuclide spleen scans were analyzed for total spleen volume, splenic defects, abnormal radionuclide uptake, and ectopic sites of tracer uptake. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, gender, or injury severity score among groups. Follow-up time was comparable (SP = 2.67 years; SE = 2.88 years). There were no significant differences in all studies measured except for higher CD8 levels in the SP group (730.1 vs. SE 452.1 vs. C 480.6; p = 0.002), although all values were within the normal range. CD3 levels showed a trend of being higher in the SP group (1709.3 vs. SE 1397.2 vs. C 1371.9), but were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that the immunologic profile of embolized patients is similar to controls. This supports the safe use of SE in managing the traumatically injured spleen. Larger studies examining the immune function after SE will be needed to make definitive vaccination recommendations.