Social Determinants of Health and Outcomes After Pediatric Ventricular Assist Device Implantation.

BACKGROUND: Limited research exists on the influence of social determinants of health (SDOH) on outcomes in pediatric patients with advanced heart failure receiving mechanical circulatory support. METHODS: Linkage of the Pediatric Interagency Registry for Mechanical Circulatory Support (Pedimacs) and Society of Thoracic Surgeon's Congenital Heart Surgery Database (STS-CHSD) identified pediatric patients who underwent ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation from 2012 to 2022 with available residential zip codes. Utilizing the available zip codes, each patient was assigned a Childhood Opportunity Index (COI) score. Level of childhood opportunity, race, and insurance type were used as proxies for SDOH. Major outcomes included death, transplant, alive with device, and recovery. Secondary outcomes were adverse events. Statistical analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier survival, competing risk analyses, and multivariable Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Three hundred seventeen patients were included in the study. Childhood opportunity level and insurance status did not significantly impact morbidity or mortality after VAD implantation. White race was associated with reduced 1-year survival (71% in White vs. 87% in non-White patients, p = 0.05) and increased risk of pump thrombosis (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Childhood opportunity level and insurance status were not linked to morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients after VAD implantation. Notably, White race was associated with higher mortality rates. The study underscores the importance of considering SDOH in evaluating advanced therapies for pediatric heart failure and emphasizes the need for accurate socioeconomic data collection in future studies and national registries.

Supercritical fluid chromatography is not (only) normal-phase chromatography.

Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC), now using carbon dioxide as a major component of the mobile phase, has been known for over 60 years but still some misunderstandings remain about its capabilities. Amongst them, SFC is often described as a normal-phase chromatographic technique, based on different considerations: polarity of the stationary phase, elution order of the analytes, relative non-polarity of the mobile phase, non-linear retention behaviour, or adsorption retention mechanisms. All of these assumptions are true to a certain extent, and in certain circumstances. But also, all of these assumptions are wrong in different circumstances. In this paper, the criteria to categorize SFC as a normal-phase chromatographic method will be examined individually, considering all knowledge acquired from the early years of its development. Finally, it will appear that the "normal-phase" glass lens is greatly reducing the true extent of SFC's possibilities.

Experience with SGLT2 Inhibitors in Patients with Single Ventricle Congenital Heart Disease and Fontan Circulatory Failure.

Heart failure is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with Fontan circulation. Sodium-glucose-cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have become a mainstay of heart failure therapy in adult patients, however, there remains a paucity of literature to describe its use in pediatric heart failure patients, especially those with single ventricle physiology. We describe our early experience using SGLT2i in patients with single ventricle congenital heart disease surgically palliated to the Fontan circulation. We conducted a single-center retrospective chart review of all patients with Fontan circulation who were initiated on an SGLT2i from January 1, 2022 to March 1, 2023. Patient demographics, diagnoses, clinical status, and other therapies were collected from the electronic medical record. During the study period, 14 patients (median age 14.5 years, range 2.0-26.4 years) with Fontan circulation were started on a SGLT2i. Mean weight was 54 kg (range 11.6-80.4 kg). Median follow-up since SGLT2i initiation was 4.1 months (range 13 days-7.7 months). Four patients had a systemic left ventricle and 10 had a systemic right ventricle. Half the patients had Fontan Circulatory Failure with reduced Ejection Fraction (FCFrEF) of the systemic ventricle and the other half had Fontan Circulatory Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction (FCFpEF) of the systemic ventricle. In addition, 3 patients experienced Protein Losing Enteropathy (PLE) and 2 patients had plastic bronchitis, one of whom also was diagnosed with chylothorax. There were no genitourinary infections, hypoglycemia, ketoacidosis, hypotension or other significant adverse effects noted in our patient population. One patient experienced significant diuresis and transient acute kidney injury. Patients with FCFrEF showed a decrease in natriuretic peptide levels. Given the lack of proven therapies, demonstrated benefits of SGLT2i in other populations, and some suggestion of efficacy in Fontan circulation, further study of SGTLT2i in patients with Fontan circulation is warranted.

The interplay between food insecurity and family factors in relation to disordered eating in adolescence.

This study examined the association between food insecurity and both binge eating and unhealthy weight-control behaviors (UWCBs) and assessed whether such associations differ by factors within the family environment. Data were collected from a diverse sample of adolescents (Mage = 14.5 years; 54.1% female) and their parents/guardians (N = 2137 dyads) participating in EAT 2010 (Eating and Activity over Time). Food-insecure adolescents were more likely to report binge eating (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.94; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.41-2.69) and UWCBs (PR = 1.34; 95% CI: 1.21-1.49) than food-secure adolescents. Family meal importance (p = .03) and family communication (p < .001) significantly moderated the association between food insecurity and UWCBs, such that the association was weaker at lower levels of these factors. Significant interactions with parental weight talk/concern (p < .001) and weight teasing (p = .04) indicated a weaker association between food insecurity and UWCBs in the presence of these factors. Findings indicate that the association between food insecurity and UWCBs among youth is less salient in the absence of family protective factors and in the presence of family risk factors for UWCBs, indicating the importance of targeting food insecurity itself, regardless of the presence of family risk or protective factors for UWCBs.

Weight and disordered eating among adolescents from low-income backgrounds.

Disordered eating affects youth from varying socioeconomic backgrounds; however, representation of youth from low-income backgrounds within disordered eating research has been limited. The aim of the current study was to examine the association between adolescent weight and disordered eating among a sample of youth from a low-income background and to examine specific socioenvironmental factors that might moderate this association. Adolescents ages 12-17 (N = 73) from a low-income background and their parents/guardians completed self-report questionnaires. Adolescent height and weight were objectively measured to calculate BMI z-score. Adolescent weight was significantly positively associated with global disordered eating (95 % CI [0.26, 0.54]), after controlling for sex. Parental weight concern moderated the association between weight and global disordered eating, F(4, 68) = 18.44, p < .01, such that the relation between adolescent zBMI and disordered eating was no longer significant at low levels of parental weight concern. Structured family meals moderated the association between weight and global disordered eating, F(4, 68) = 11.99, p < .01, such that more frequent meals weakened the association between adolescent zBMI and disordered eating. Findings suggest that higher weight is associated with greater levels of disordered eating among adolescents from a low-income background. In addition, lower levels of parental weight concern and more frequent family meals significantly buffered the association between weight and disordered eating in this at-risk, yet understudied population. Both parental weight concern and family meals present as factors within the family environment that may serve as targets for intervention.

Facilitated on-line supercritical fluid extraction - supercritical fluid chromatography for nonpolar and polar compounds from milk thistle seeds.

Plant seeds, as those from milk thistle (Silybum marianum), are a valuable source of nonpolar and polar compounds with potentially interesting biological activity. The main nonpolar compounds are triglycerides, which are also the main components of all vegetable oils. In addition, specific polar compounds - flavonolignans, called silymarin, have been found in large amounts in milk thistle seeds extract. These flavonoids derivatives have different biological activity, for instance hepatoprotective effects. In order to extract and analyze both nonpolar (triglycerides) and polar compounds (flavonolignans) from milk thistle seeds through a sequential methodology, an on-line supercritical fluid extraction - supercritical fluid chromatography (SFE-SFC) method was developed. Different ways of transferring the extracts from SFE to SFC (i.e. direct on-column transfer and loop transfer) were compared, and particularly for their effect on chromatographic quality. In this respect, nonpolar and polar compounds caused different issues, especially as polar compounds required a significant portion of co-solvent in the extraction step, favoring early elution in the chromatographic column. First, on-line SFE-SFC was used for triglycerides analysis and allowed the comparison of transfer modes. Then, on-line kinetics were performed to measure defatting time before polar molecules extraction. Finally, the eventual benefit of loop transfer was also investigated for the analysis of flavonolignans, polar molecules whose analysis can be difficult by on-line SFE-SFC. The aim of this paper is to discuss the versatility of on-line SFE-SFC and how challenging the coupling can be, especially when both non-polar and polar molecules must be analyzed independently in a single sample.

The buffering effect of family support on the association between weight-based teasing and adolescent weight management outcomes.

Weight-based victimization (WBV) is associated with poor weight-related outcomes in adolescence. Family support may be one protective factor against the negative impact of WBV. The goal of this study is to examine the moderating effect of family support on the association between WBV and early weight loss for adolescents in a clinical weight management program. Parents of adolescents (N = 78) completed psychosocial measures at baseline. Objective height and weight were measured at baseline and follow-up (Visit 3). The overall model was significant (p = .02), explaining 12.76% of the variance in weight change over the first 2 months of treatment. As hypothesized, there was a significant moderating effect of family support on the association between WBV and weight change (p = .04), accounting 5.0% of the variance in weight change. Increased support from the family buffered the negative impact of WBV on early treatment outcomes for adolescents in a weight management program. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Representation of Women and Minority Faculty and Fellows in Academic Pediatric Cardiology Training Programs.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that diverse care teams optimize patient outcomes. Describing the current representation of women and minorities has been a critical step in improving diversity across several fields. OBJECTIVES: To address the lack of data specific to pediatric cardiology, the authors conducted a national survey. METHODS: U.S. academic pediatric cardiology programs with fellowship training programs were surveyed. Division directors were invited (July 2021 to September 2021) to complete an e-survey of program composition. Underrepresented minorities in medicine (URMM) were characterized using standard definitions. Descriptive analyses at the hospital, faculty, and fellow level were performed. RESULTS: Altogether, 52 of 61 programs (85%) completed the survey, representing 1,570 total faculty and 438 fellows, with a wide range in program size (7-109 faculty, 1-32 fellows). Although women comprise approximately 60% of faculty in pediatrics overall, they made up 55% of fellows and 45% of faculty in pediatric cardiology. Representation of women in leadership roles was notably less, including 39% of clinical subspecialty directors, 25% of endowed chairs, and 16% of division directors. URMM comprise approximately 35% of the U.S. population; however, they made up only 14% of pediatric cardiology fellows and 10% of faculty, with very few in leadership roles. CONCLUSIONS: These national data suggest a "leaky pipeline" for women in pediatric cardiology and very limited presence of URRM overall. Our findings can inform efforts to elucidate underlying mechanisms for persistent disparity and reduce barriers to improving diversity in the field.

A biobehavioral examination of emotional eating in adolescents: Evaluating the role of acute cortisol stress reactivity in the context of a multi-method assessment of eating in response to stress.

Stress is linked to emotional eating among adolescents, which in turn increases risk for overweight/obesity (OW/OB) development and continuation. There is a lack of research disentangling chronic and acute stress as predictors of adolescent emotional eating. Further, there is a corresponding need to understand the effects of acute physiological stress reactivity within the context of adolescent emotional eating. The primary aim of this study was to examine the impact of cortisol stress reactivity on emotional eating in adolescents, above and beyond the effects of perceived chronic stress. The impact of subjective stress reactivity was also explored. Adolescents' (N = 49) intake of highly palatable snack foods was measured on separate control and stress-induction (following the Trier Social Stress Test for Children) days. A multi-method approach was used to assess objective (caloric intake) and subjective (self-report) emotional eating. Results indicated that greater cortisol reactivity, but not subjective stress reactivity, predicted subjective emotional eating, beyond the impact of chronic stress. Neither chronic stress nor subjective or objective stress reactivity predicted objective emotional eating following stress-induction. Findings point to the role of chronic stress and cortisol reactivity as risks for greater perceived emotional eating among adolescents, while elucidating differences between perceived and objective emotional eating. Future research should explore how chronic versus acute stress differentially contribute to adolescent weight management.

Toward a deeper understanding of food insecurity among college students: examining associations with emotional eating and biological sex.

OBJECTIVE: The present study sought to extend our understanding of food insecurity among college students, including aims to replicate the high prevalence of food insecurity among college student samples, examine the food insecurity - emotional eating association, and determine whether biological sex moderates this association. PARTICIPANTS: Participants included 232 students (82.3% female; 83.2% Caucasian) enrolled at a U.S. university. METHODS: Participants completed the Household Food Security Survey Module: Short Form and Emotional Eating Scale as part of a larger study. RESULTS: Of the participants, 37.5% reported food insecurity. Food insecurity was positively associated with emotional eating (B = 1.35, 95% CI[0.24, 2.48]), controlling for body mass index (BMI). The association was stronger for males (95% CI[1.07, 6.54]) than females (95% CI[-0.29, 2.07]). CONCLUSIONS: College students, particularly males, who experience food insecurity may be at greater risk for emotional eating. Future research should investigate risk factors linked to both food insecurity and emotional eating among college students.

Defining a generic column set for achiral supercritical fluid chromatography applied to pharmaceuticals or natural products.

When starting a method development in supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC), the first step is usually to screen several stationary phases based on previous experience or simply based on what is available in the laboratory. However, as there are now a large number of stationary phases available for SFC, the choice of an adequate set of columns to rapidly achieve a satisfying result can be difficult. In this project, 16 columns comprising a wide diversity of stationary phases and polarities ranging from the most polar (like bare silica gel) to the least polar (like octadecylbonded-silica) were compared, based on the gradient analysis of 129 probe compounds. The set mostly comprised active pharmaceutical ingredients, natural products and a few metabolites. The columns were ranked with the help of Derringer desirability functions taking account of (i) the number of compounds eluted from the column, (ii) the elution time in a suitable time frame, (iii) the average peak width, (iv) the average peak symmetry and (v) the spreading of retention along the gradient time. The five criteria selected showed no correlation. Overall, it appeared that those columns that had a high overall score were good for several reasons, like bare silica gel, propanediol-bonded silica or pentabromobenzyloxy-bonded silica. Initially, the columns had been screened with a gradient elution starting from 5% co-solvent and ending with 50% co-solvent in CO2. However, for some most retentive columns like amide-bonded silica, too many compounds remained non-eluted from the column. To examine this column more fairly, a second elution gradient was applied that ended with 100% co-solvent. This proved effective in restoring good overall performance through the elution of the most polar compounds.

Effect of dilution solvent and injection volume on the analysis of basic hydrophilic therapeutic polypeptide salts with pressurized carbon dioxide mobile phases.

The chromatographic analysis of long-chain hydrophilic therapeutic peptides, with molecular weight mostly in the 3500-4500 Da range (31-34 amino acids), is explored with pressurized CO2 in the mobile phase. The optimal method was obtained on a Torus 2-PIC column, with a gradient elution of 50-90% co-solvent in CO2, which is relevant of enhanced-fluidity liquid chromatography (EFLC). Both UV (210 nm) and mass spectrometric detection modes were employed to assess the purity of the major peak and its resolution from impurities. Ten out of the eleven peptides in this set were basic, thus they were analyzed as acetate or trifluoroacetate salts. As significant peak distortion was observed in some cases, thorough examination of dilution solvent and injection volume was conducted to improve peak shape and resolution from impurities. Finally, the best injection volume was 1 µL, as any other volume (smaller or larger) yielded distorted peaks, and the best dilution solvent composition was the same as the mobile phase co-solvent (methanol comprising 5% water and 0.1 % methanesulfonic acid). However, not all peptide salts were fully soluble in this solvent so other alternatives (including more water in the dilution solvent), offering adequate dissolution but slightly inferior chromatographic performance should be chosen in such cases.

Disinhibited Eating and Executive Functioning in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

A growing body of research suggests disinhibited eating and weaker executive function (EF) are two risk factors for pediatric obesity. Emerging brain imaging and behavioral findings support the notion that EF skills impact eating regulation. However, a major gap in the current literature is a synthesis of the association between various EF skills and disinhibited eating patterns across child development. To address this gap, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to examine the effect of EF skills on disinhibited eating behaviors among youth ages 3-18 years old. PubMed and PsychINFO databases were utilized and data from 15 studies with a total sample of 4909 youth were included. A random effects meta-analysis revealed a small negative effect of overall EF skills on disinhibited eating behavior, r = -0.14, p < 0.01. Analysis of individual EF skills found working memory had an overall medium negative effect on disinhibited eating behavior, r = -0.25, p < 0.05. Taken together, findings from this meta-analysis support an inverse relationship between EF abilities and disinhibited eating patterns in children and adolescents, such that poorer EF abilities are associated with higher levels of disinhibited eating. Given the effect on eating behavior, future research is needed to assess whether EF difficulties may be a barrier to effective weight management in youth. Specifically, research is needed to examine whether EF skills may be a key target to consider for effective obesity prevention and treatment in children and adolescents.

Analysis of short-chain bioactive peptides by unified chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Part II. Comparison to reversed-phase ultra-high performance liquid chromatography.

In the first part of this study, a unified chromatography (UC) analysis method, which is similar to supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) but with wide mobile phase gradients of pressurized CO2 and solvent, was developed to analyse short-chain peptides, with UV and mass spectrometry (MS) detection. In this second part, the method is compared to a reference reversed-phase ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-UHPLC) method, based on the analysis of 43 peptides, including 10 linear peptides and 33 cyclic ones. First, the orthogonality between the two methods was examined, based on the retention patterns. As the UC method was developed on a polar stationary phase (Ascentis Express OH5), the elution orders and selectivities were expected to be significantly different from RPLC on a non-polar stationary phase (ACQUITY CSH C18). Secondly, the success rate of the methods was examined, based on successful retention / elution of the peptides and the absence of observed co-elutions between the main peak and impurities. A successful analysis was obtained for 81% of the peptides in UC and 67% in RPLC. Thirdly, the performance of the methods for the intended application of impurity profiling of peptide drug candidates was assessed, based on the comparison of peak purities, the number of impurities detected and the thorough examination of impurity profiles. Excellent complementarity of the two methods for the specific task of impurity profiling, and for the separation of isomeric species was observed, with only one isomeric pair in this set remaining unresolved. The method sensitivity was however better with RPLC than UC. Finally, the operational costs in terms of solvent cost per analysis were the same between the two methods.

Supercritical fluid chromatography for the analysis of natural dyes: From carotenoids to flavonoids.

Plant-derived natural dyes are used in a variety of formulated products, from food to cosmetics and pharmaceutics. In addition to their color, they also provide some bioactivity. While they are mostly analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography, supercritical fluid chromatography was also employed for several dye families, mostly for carotenoids and chlorophylls, and more recently for anthraquinones and flavonoids. These supercritical fluid chromatography methods are described in this review. Because the dyes have different structures and structural variations (polarity, isomers, etc.), the best chromatographic system to achieve their separation is not always the same. Hydrophobic stationary phases are preferred for the most hydrophobic dyes (chlorophylls and carotenoids) while polar stationary phases are preferred for the polar dyes (anthraquinones and flavonoids). Regarding the mobile phase composition, chlorophylls and carotenoids are best eluted with moderate proportions of co-solvent in CO2 (about 40%), while the most polar glycosylated flavonoids require higher proportions of co-solvent and acidic additives. Because dyes are colorful, ultraviolet-visible detection is often sufficient, while mass spectrometry offers additional structural information. Furthermore, fundamental information can also be gained through chromatographic analysis of dyes: either solubility in supercritical fluids, in view of their extraction, or retention behavior providing an understanding of stationary phase properties.

Weight Stigma and Mental Health in Youth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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 [0.292, 0.347], p < .001). Age and study quality each moderated the association between weight stigma and mental health. Generally, the study quality was fair to poor, with many studies lacking validated measurement of weight stigma. CONCLUSIONS: Although there was a significant association between weight stigma and mental health in youth, study quality hinders the current body of literature. Furthermore, findings highlight the lack of consideration of internalized weight stigma in child populations, the importance of using validated measures of weight stigma, and the need for increased awareness of how these associations affect populations of diverse backgrounds.

Analysis of short-chain bioactive peptides by unified chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Part I. Method development.

A method to analyse short-chain bioactive peptides (MW < 800 Da) and their impurities was developed with a unified chromatography (UC) analysis, including a wide mobile phase gradient ranging from supercritical fluid to near-liquid conditions, with UV and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry detection (ESI-MS). Four stationary phases and three mobile phase compositions were examined. Ten model peptides were first selected to identify the best operating conditions, including five linear tripeptides and five cyclic pentapeptides, with log P values ranging from -5.9 to 3.6, and including isomeric species. Derringer desirability functions were designed to identify optimal operating conditions based on 7 criteria, namely the number of peaks detected (including all impurities resolved), the proportion of the chromatogram occupied by target peaks, the least favourable resolution observed between the main peptide and impurities, peak shape features (asymmetry and peak width at half height), and finally the signal-to-noise ratio observed both with UV (210 nm) and ESI-MS in positive ionization mode. The optimum conditions were obtained on Ascentis Express OH5 stationary phase, with a mobile phase composed of carbon dioxide and methanol, comprising 2% water and 20 mM ammonium hydroxide. The final gradient program ranged from 5 to 80% co-solvent in CO2, with a reversed flow rate gradient ranging from 3.0 to 1.5 mL/min. Back-pressure was set at 120 bar and the column oven temperature at 60°C. Optimal conditions were applied to a large set of 76 peptides (34 linear tripeptides and 42 cyclic pentapeptides) and provided adequate scattering of the peaks in the retention space, together with some separation of isomeric species, particularly for the cyclic peptides.

Interlaboratory study of a supercritical fluid chromatography method for the determination of pharmaceutical impurities: Evaluation of multi-systems reproducibility.

Modern supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) is now a well-established technique, especially in the field of pharmaceutical analysis. We recently demonstrated the transferability and the reproducibility of a SFC-UV method for pharmaceutical impurities by means of an inter-laboratory study. However, as this study involved only one brand of SFC instrumentation (Waters®), the present study extends the purpose to multi-instrumentation evaluation. Specifically, three instrument types, namely Agilent®, Shimadzu®, and Waters®, were included through 21 laboratories (n = 7 for each instrument). First, method transfer was performed to assess the separation quality and to set up the specific instrument parameters of Agilent® and Shimadzu® instruments. Second, the inter-laboratory study was performed following a protocol defined by the sending lab. Analytical results were examined regarding consistencies within- and between-laboratories criteria. Afterwards, the method reproducibility was estimated taking into account variances in replicates, between-days and between-laboratories. Reproducibility variance was larger than that observed during the first study involving only one single type of instrumentation. Indeed, we clearly observed an 'instrument type' effect. Moreover, the reproducibility variance was larger when considering all instruments than each type separately which can be attributed to the variability induced by the instrument configuration. Nevertheless, repeatability and reproducibility variances were found to be similar than those described for LC methods; i.e. reproducibility as %RSD was around 15 %. These results highlighted the robustness and the power of modern analytical SFC technologies to deliver accurate results for pharmaceutical quality control analysis.

Household income and loss of control eating in adolescence: Examining the role of food insecurity.

Loss of control (LOC) eating is prevalent among adolescents and has been related to significant mental and physical health concerns. A growing body of research suggests that youth from lower income households are at risk for LOC eating. Food insecurity is an understudied contextual factor that may compound the risk for LOC eating in adolescents from low-income backgrounds. The present study sought to: 1) clarify the association between food insecurity and LOC eating among adolescents; and 2) examine whether household food insecurity moderated the association between income-to-needs and LOC eating. As part of a laboratory-based study, adolescents ages 12-17 (N = 60; 33% from low-income households; 53.3% female) completed the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire to measure LOC eating. Parents reported the household food insecurity status and household income, used to calculate income-to-needs ratio. Higher household food insecurity was positively associated with adolescent LOC eating (b = 0.662, t(59) = 5.09, p < .01), after controlling for adolescent BMI percentile, race, ethnicity, biological sex, and age. Food insecurity significantly moderated the association between income-to-needs and LOC eating, ΔF(1,56) = 11.99, p < .01, with the interaction effect explaining an additional 12% of variance. Specifically, lower household income-to-needs was associated with greater LOC eating among adolescents at higher levels of household food insecurity. This finding expands upon prior work by highlighting specific socioeconomic factors that place youth from low-income backgrounds at even greater risk for negative health outcomes. Future research is needed to understand potential ways to intervene for adolescents to prevent future LOC eating in the context of food insecurity.

Characterization of stationary phases in supercritical fluid chromatography including exploration of shape selectivity.

Achiral packed column supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) has shown an important regain of interest in academic and industrial laboratories in the recent years. In relation to this increased concern, major instrument manufacturers have designed some stationary phases specifically for SFC use. SFC stationary phases have been widely examined over the last two decades, based on the use of linear solvation energy relationships (LSER), which relate analyte retention to its properties and to the interaction capabilities of the chromatographic system. The method provides some understanding on retention mechanisms (normal phase, reversed phase or mixed-mode) and the possibility to compare stationary phases on a rational basis, especially through a spider diagram providing a visual classification. The latter can be used as a primary tool to select complementary stationary phases to be screened for any separation at early stages of method development, before optimization steps. In this context, the characterization of the 14 columns from the Shim-pack UC series (Shimadzu Corporation, Kyoto, Japan), which are dedicated to SFC and more broadly to unified chromatography (UC), was performed, using the LSER methodology. As in previous works, seven descriptors, including five Abraham descriptors (E, S, A, B, V) and two descriptors describing positive and negative charges (D- and D+) were first employed to describe interactions with neutral and charged analytes. Secondly, two more descriptors were introduced, which were previously employed solely for the characterization of enantioselective systems and expressing shape features of the analytes (flexibility F and globularity G). They brought additional insight into the retention mechanisms, showing how spatial insertion of the analytes in some stationary phases is contributing to shape separation capabilities and how folding possibilities in flexible molecules is unfavorable to retention in other stationary phases.