Effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 primary vaccines and boosters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Hungary (HUN-VE 4 Study).

INTRODUCTION: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 infection and is associated with increased risk of complications. The present study aimed to investigate effectiveness and persistence of different COVID vaccines in persons with or without diabetes during the Delta wave in Hungary. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Data sources were the national COVID-19 registry data from the National Public Health Center and the National Health Insurance Fund on the total Hungarian population. The adjusted incidence rate ratios and corresponding 95% CIs were derived from a mixed-effect negative binomial regression model. RESULTS: A population of 672 240 cases with type 2 diabetes and a control group of 2 974 102 non-diabetic persons free from chronic diseases participated. Unvaccinated elderly persons with diabetes had 2.68 (95% CI 2.47 to 2.91) times higher COVID-19-related mortality rate as the 'healthy' controls. Primary immunization effectively equalized the risk of COVID-19 mortality between the two groups. Vaccine effectiveness declined over time, but the booster restored the effectiveness against mortality to over 90%. The adjusted vaccine effectiveness of the primary Pfizer-BioNTech against infection in the 14-120 days of postvaccination period was 71.6 (95% CI 66.3 to 76.1)% in patients aged 65-100 years with type 2 diabetes and 64.52 (95% CI 59.2 to 69.2)% in the controls. Overall, the effectiveness tended to be higher in individuals with diabetes than in controls. The booster vaccines could restore vaccine effectiveness to over 80% concerning risk of infection (eg, patients with diabetes aged 65-100 years: 89.1 (88.1-89.9)% with Pfizer-on-Pfizer, controls 65-100 years old: 86.9 (85.8-88.0)% with Pfizer-on-Pfizer, or patients with diabetes aged 65-100 years: 88.3 (87.2-89.2)% with Pfizer-on-Sinopharm, controls 65-100 years old: 87.8 (86.8-88.7)% with Pfizer-on-Sinopharm). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that people with type 2 diabetes may have even higher health gain when getting vaccinated as compared with non-diabetic persons, eliminating the marked, COVID-19-related excess risk of this population. Boosters could restore protection.

Waning of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Effectiveness in COPD Patients: Lessons from the Delta Variant.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic is profoundly changing, data on the effect of vaccination and duration of protection against infection and severe disease can still be advantageous, especially for patients with COPD, who are more vulnerable to respiratory infections. The Hungarian COVID-19 registry was retrospectively investigated for risk of infection and hospitalization by time since the last vaccination, and vaccine effectiveness (VE) was calculated in adults with COPD diagnosis and an exact-matched control group during the Delta variant of concern (VOC) wave in Hungary (September-December 2021). For the matching, sex, age, major co-morbidities, vaccination status, and prior infection data were obtained on 23 August 2021. The study population included 373,962 cases divided into COPD patients (age: 66.67 ± 12.66) and a 1:1 matched group (age: 66.73 ± 12.67). In both groups, the female/male ratio was 52.2:47.7, respectively. Among the unvaccinated, there was no difference between groups in risk for infection or hospitalization. Regarding vaccinated cases, in the COPD group, a slightly faster decline in effectiveness was noted for hospitalization prevention, although in both groups, the vaccine lost its significant effect between 215 and 240 days after the last dose of vaccination. Based on a time-stratified multivariate Cox analysis of the vaccinated cases, the hazard was constantly higher in the COPD group, with an HR of 1.09 (95%: 1.05-1.14) for infection and 1.87 (95% CI: 1.59-2.19) for hospitalization. In our study, COPD patients displayed lower vaccine effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalization but a similar waning trajectory, as vaccines lost their preventive effect after 215 days. These data emphasize revaccination measures in the COPD patient population.

Effectiveness and waning of protection with the BNT162b2 vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in immunocompromised individuals.

Introduction: In Hungary, the HUN-VE 3 study determined the comparative effectiveness of various primary and booster vaccination strategies during the Delta COVID-19 wave. That study included more than 8 million 18-100-year-old individuals from the beginning of the pandemic. Immunocompromised (IC) individuals have increased risk for COVID-19 and disease course might be more severe in them. In this study, we wished to estimate the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 related death in IC individuals compared to healthy ones and the effectiveness of the BNT162b2 vaccine by reassessing HUN-VE 3 data. Patients and methods: Among the 8,087,988 individuals undergoing follow-up from the onset of the pandemic in the HUN-VE 3 cohort, we selected all the 263,116 patients with a diagnosis corresponding with IC and 6,128,518 controls from the second wave, before vaccinations started. The IC state was defined as two occurrences of corresponding ICD-10 codes in outpatient or inpatient claims data since 1 January, 2013. The control group included patients without chronic diseases. The data about vaccination, SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 related death were obtained from the National Public Health Center (NPHC) during the Delta wave. Cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were reported on a daily basis using a centralized system via the National Public Health Center (NPHC). Results: Out of the 263,116 IC patients 12,055 patients (4.58%) and out of the 6,128,518 healthy controls 202,163 (3.30%) acquired SARS-CoV-2 infection. Altogether 436 IC patients and 2141 healthy controls died in relation to COVID-19. The crude incidence rate ratio (IRR) of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 1.40 (95%CI: 1.37-1.42) comparing IC patients to healthy controls. The crude mortality rate ratio was 4.75 (95%CI: 4.28-5.27). With respect to SARS-CoV-2 infection, interestingly, the BNT162b2 vaccine was more effective in IC patients compared to controls. Primary vaccine effectiveness (VE) was higher in IC patients compared to controls and the booster restored VE after waning. VE regarding COVID-19 related death was less in IC patients compared to healthy individuals. Booster vaccination increased VE against COVID-19-related death in both IC patients and healthy controls. Conclusion: There is increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 related mortality in IC patient. Moreover, booster vaccination using BNT162b2 might restore impaired VE in these individuals.

Asymptomatic and Mild SARS-CoV-2 Infections in a Hungarian Outpatient Cohort in the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

We aimed to estimate the proportion of the population infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the first year of the pandemic. The study population consisted of outpatient adults with mild or no COVID-19 symptoms and was divided into subpopulations with different levels of exposure. Among the subpopulation without known previous COVID-19 contacts, 4143 patients were investigated. Of the subpopulation with known COVID-19 contacts, 594 patients were investigated. IgG- and IgA-seroprevalence and RT-PCR positivity were determined in context with COVID-19 symptoms. Our results suggested no significant age-related differences between participants for IgG positivity but indicated that COVID-19 symptoms occurred most frequently in people aged between 20 and 29 years. Depending on the study population, 23.4-74.0% PCR-positive people (who were symptomless SARS-CoV-2 carriers at the time of the investigation) were identified. It was also observed that 72.7% of the patients remained seronegative for 30 days or more after their first PCR-positive results. This study hoped to contribute to the scientific understanding of the significance of asymptomatic and mild infections in the long persistence of the pandemic.

The effect of harvest time of forage on carbohydrate digestion in horses quantified by in vitro and mobile bag techniques.

Carbohydrates in forages constitute an important part of the feed ration for all horses. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of harvest time on carbohydrate composition and digestion of various grass species. The experiment was divided into three parts 1) characterization of the chemical composition of experimental feeds (6 grass species: meadow fescue [MF], cocksfoot [CF], perennial ryegrass [PR], smooth bromegrass [SB], tall fescue [TF], and timothy [TI], and 3 harvest times: early, medium, and late first cut), 2) measurements of the in vitro digestion of selected experimental feeds (the 6 grass species, and 2 harvest times [early and late]) measured by in vitro gas production, and 3) in vivo digestion of selected experimental feeds (2 grass species: CF and PR, 2 harvest times [early and late]) measured by the mobile bag technique using caecum cannulated horses. An experimental field was established with plots containing each of the grass species in three replicate blocks. Grass samples were cut between 1200 and 1400 h at 4th of June (early first cut), 17th of June (medium first cut), and 1st of July (late first cut) and analyzed for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber with heat stable amylase and free of residual ash (aNDFom) and water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC). The in vitro fermentation was investigated using the ANKOM RF gas production technique, where feeds were incubated for 48 h using horse caecal fluid as an inoculum. Gas production was modeled, and maximum gas production (MGP) was used to evaluate the potential digestibility of the feeds. Based on the chemical analyses and the in vitro experiment, early and late harvested CF and PR were selected for the in vivo experiment, which was conducted as a randomized 4 × 4 Latin square design including four periods, four horses and four feeds. In general, the CP content decreased whereas the aNDFom content increased as the grasses matured. The content of WSC increased in SB and TI, but decreased in CF, and fructans increased in SB, TI, PR, and TF as they matured. The in vitro MGP showed a clearer difference between harvest times than between grass species. Harvest time had larger effect on digestibility than grass species, and a high precaecal disappearance of the WSC fraction was measured by the mobile bag technique. Cocksfoot was identified as a grass species with potentially low digestibility and low WSC content and could potentially be used more for horses.

Feedstuffs contain different carbohydrate fractions that are digested in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract of horses. Grass for grazing or harvesting contains variable amounts of structural carbohydrates such as cellulose and hemi-cellulose (named fibres) and nonstructural carbohydrates which in temperate grass species include sugars and fructans (named water soluble carbohydrates (WSC)). This study quantified carbohydrate composition and digestion of six grass species (perennial ryegrass, timothy, smooth bromegrass, tall fescue, cocksfoot, and meadow fescue) harvested at three different times (early, medium, and late) and preserved as hay. In general, fiber content increased as the grasses matured, whereas WSC content varied to a large extent. In vitro fermentation using horse caecal fluid was used to quantify digestion of early and late cut grass samples of all species. Harvest time (early vs. late) had a larger effect on in vitro fermentation compared to the effect of grass species. Early and late harvested perennial ryegrass and cocksfoot were further selected for detailed studies of precaecal digestion in vivo as these species had highest and lowest WSC content. In general, cocksfoot was identified as grass species with low digestibility and low WSC concentration compared to the other species investigated.

Effectiveness and Waning of Protection With Different SARS-CoV-2 Primary and Booster Vaccines During the Delta Pandemic Wave in 2021 in Hungary (HUN-VE 3 Study).

Background: In late 2021, the pandemic wave was dominated by the Delta SARS-CoV-2 variant in Hungary. Booster vaccines were offered for the vulnerable population starting from August 2021. Methods: The nationwide HUN-VE 3 study examined the effectiveness and durability of primary immunization and single booster vaccinations in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection, Covid-19 related hospitalization and mortality during the Delta wave, compared to an unvaccinated control population without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results: The study population included 8,087,988 individuals who were 18-100 years old at the beginning of the pandemic. During the Delta wave, after adjusting for age, sex, calendar day, and chronic diseases, vaccine effectiveness (VE) of primary vaccination against registered SARS-CoV-2 infection was between 11% to 77% and 18% to 79% 14-120 days after primary immunization in the 16-64 and 65-100 years age cohort respectively, while it decreased to close to zero in the younger age group and around 40% or somewhat less in the elderly after 6 months for almost all vaccine types. In the population aged 65-100 years, we found high, 88.1%-92.5% adjusted effectiveness against Covid-19 infection after the Pfizer-BioNTech, and 92.2%-95.6% after the Moderna booster dose, while Sinopharm and Janssen booster doses provided 26.5%-75.3% and 72.9%-100.0% adjusted VE, respectively. Adjusted VE against Covid-19 related hospitalization was high within 14-120 days for Pfizer-BioNTech: 76.6%, Moderna: 83.8%, Sputnik-V: 78.3%, AstraZeneca: 73.8%, while modest for Sinopharm: 45.7% and Janssen: 26.4%. The waning of protection against Covid-19 related hospitalization was modest and booster vaccination with mRNA vaccines or the Janssen vaccine increased adjusted VE up to almost 100%, while the Sinopharm booster dose proved to be less effective. VE against Covid-19 related death after primary immunization was high or moderate: for Pfizer-BioNTech: 81.5%, Moderna: 93.2%, Sputnik-V: 100.0%, AstraZeneca: 84.8%, Sinopharm: 58.6%, Janssen: 53.3%). VE against this outcome also showed a moderate decline over time, while booster vaccine types restored effectiveness up to almost 100%, except for the Sinopharm booster. Conclusions: The HUN-VE 3 study demonstrated waning VE with all vaccine types for all examined outcomes during the Delta wave and confirmed the outstanding benefit of booster vaccination with the mRNA or Janssen vaccines, and this is the first study to provide clear and comparable effectiveness results for six different vaccine types after primary immunization against severe during the Delta pandemic wave.

Booster Vaccination Decreases 28-Day All-Cause Mortality of the Elderly Hospitalized Due to SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant.

(1) Background: SARS-CoV-2 infections are associated with an increased risk of hospital admissions especially in the elderly (age ≥ 65 years) and people with multiple comorbid conditions. (2) Methods: We investigated the effect of additional booster vaccinations following the primary vaccination series of mRNA, inactivated whole virus, or vector vaccines on infections with the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant in the total Hungarian elderly population. The infection, hospital admission, and 28-day all-cause mortality of elderly population was assessed. (3) Results: A total of 1,984,176 people fulfilled the criteria of elderly including 299,216 unvaccinated individuals, while 1,037,069 had completed primary vaccination and 587,150 had obtained an additional booster. The primary vaccination series reduced the risk of infection by 48.88%, the risk of hospital admission by 71.55%, and mortality by 79.87%. The booster vaccination had an additional benefit, as the risk of infection, hospital admission, and all-cause mortality were even lower (82.95%; 92.71%; and 94.24%, respectively). Vaccinated patients needing hospitalization suffered significantly more comorbid conditions, indicating a more vulnerable population. (4) Conclusions: Our data confirmed that the primary vaccination series and especially the booster vaccination significantly reduced the risk of the SARS-CoV-2 delta-variant-associated hospital admission and 28-day all-cause mortality in the elderly despite significantly more severe comorbid conditions.

Nationwide Effectiveness of First and Second SARS-CoV2 Booster Vaccines During the Delta and Omicron Pandemic Waves in Hungary (HUN-VE 2 Study).

Background: In Hungary, the pandemic waves in late 2021 and early 2022 were dominated by the Delta and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants, respectively. Booster vaccines were offered with one or two doses for the vulnerable population during these periods. Methods and Findings: The nationwide HUN-VE 2 study examined the effectiveness of primary immunization, single booster, and double booster vaccination in the prevention of Covid-19 related mortality during the Delta and Omicron waves, compared to an unvaccinated control population without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection during the same study periods. The risk of Covid-19 related death was 55% lower during the Omicron vs. Delta wave in the whole study population (n=9,569,648 and n=9,581,927, respectively; rate ratio [RR]: 0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.44-0.48). During the Delta wave, the risk of Covid-19 related death was 74% lower in the primary immunized population (RR: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.25-0.28) and 96% lower in the booster immunized population (RR: 0.04; 95% CI: 0.04-0.05), vs. the unvaccinated control group. During the Omicron wave, the risk of Covid-19 related death was 40% lower in the primary immunized population (RR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.55-0.65) and 82% lower in the booster immunized population (RR: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.16-0.2) vs. the unvaccinated control group. The double booster immunized population had a 93% lower risk of Covid-19 related death compared to those with only one booster dose (RR: 0.07; 95% CI. 0.01-0.46). The benefit of the second booster was slightly more pronounced in older age groups. Conclusions: The HUN-VE 2 study demonstrated the significantly lower risk of Covid-19 related mortality associated with the Omicron vs. Delta variant and confirmed the benefit of single and double booster vaccination against Covid-19 related death. Furthermore, the results showed the additional benefit of a second booster dose in terms of SARS-CoV-2 infection and Covid-19 related mortality.

Nationwide effectiveness of five SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in Hungary-the HUN-VE study.

OBJECTIVES: The Hungarian vaccination campaign was conducted with five different vaccines during the third wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2021. This observational study (HUN-VE: Hungarian Vaccine Effectiveness) estimated vaccine effectiveness against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and COVID-19-related mortality in 3.7 million vaccinated individuals. METHODS: Incidence rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19-related mortality were calculated using data from the National Public Health Centre surveillance database. Estimated vaccine effectiveness was calculated as 1 - incidence rate ratio ≥7 days after the second dose for each available vaccine versus an unvaccinated control group using mixed-effect negative binomial regression controlling for age, sex and calendar day. RESULTS: Between 22 January 2021 and 10 June 2021, 3 740 066 Hungarian individuals received two doses of the BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech), HB02 (Sinopharm), Gam-COVID-Vac (Sputnik-V), AZD1222 (AstraZeneca), or mRNA-1273 (Moderna) vaccines. Incidence rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19-related death were 1.73-9.3/100 000 person-days and 0.04-0.65/100 000 person-days in the fully vaccinated population, respectively. Estimated adjusted effectiveness varied between 68.7% (95% CI 67.2%-70.1%) and 88.7% (95% CI 86.6%-90.4%) against SARS-CoV-2 infection, and between 87.8% (95% CI 86.1%-89.4%) and 97.5% (95% CI 95.6%-98.6%) against COVID-19-related death, with 100% effectiveness in individuals aged 16-44 years for all vaccines. CONCLUSIONS: Our observational study demonstrated the high or very high effectiveness of five different vaccines in the prevention SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19-related death.

Feeding and Management of Horses with and without Free Faecal Liquid: A Case-Control Study.

Free faecal liquid (FFL) in horses is characterised by the excretion of faeces in two phases (one solid and one liquid), which may cause dermatitis on the hindlegs. The causes of FFL are not known. Results from previous studies have indicated that feed ration composition and management factors may play important roles in the occurrence of FFL. A case-control study was therefore performed in which data on feed rations, feeding practices and management factors were compared between horses with (case) and without (control) FFL on 50 private farms in Sweden and Norway. The comparisons show that case and control horses were reported to be fed similar average amounts of wrapped forage (p = 0.97) and to be subject to similar management practices, but case horses were fed higher proportions of concentrates in their diet (p < 0.001) and lower average amounts of straw and lucerne (p < 0.05) compared to control horses. Case horses were reported to be fed twice as much concentrate per 100 kg BW and day as control horses and a higher daily intake of starch and water-soluble carbohydrates (p < 0.05). Case horses also had a lower daily intake of digestible crude protein and neutral detergent fibre compared to control horses (p < 0.05). These differences were small but are of interest for further studies of factors causing FFL.

Faecal bacterial composition in horses with and without free faecal liquid: a case control study.

Free faecal liquid (FFL) is a condition in horses which manifests as differential defecation of solid and liquid phases of faeces. The etiology of FFL is currently unknown, but deviances in the hindgut microbiota has been suggested to be of importance. The present study aimed to compare the faecal bacterial composition of farm-matched horses with (case, n = 50) and without (control, n = 50) FFL. Samples were collected at three different occasions. The V3 and V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene were amplified and sequenced using Illumina sequencing. Also, samples were cultivated for detection of Clostridioides difficile and Clostridium perfringens. Analysis revealed similar faecal bacterial composition between case and control horses, but an effect of sampling period (p = 0.0001). Within sampling periods, 14 genera were present in higher or lower proportions in case compared to control horses in at least one sampling period. Compared to controls, case horses had higher relative abundance of Alloprevotella (adjusted p < 0.04) and lower relative abundance of Bacillus spp. (adjusted p < 0.03) in at least two sampling periods. All horses tested negative for C. difficile and C. perfringens by culture of faeces. Further studies are required to establish the clinical relevance of specific bacterial taxa in FFL.

Differential Defecation of Solid and Liquid Phases in Horses-A Descriptive Survey.

Free faecal liquid (FFL) is a condition in horses where faeces are voided in one solid and one liquid phase. The liquid phase contaminates the tail, hindlegs and area around the anus of the horse, resulting in management problems and potentially contributing to impaired equine welfare. The underlying causes are not known, but anecdotal suggestions include feeding wrapped forages or other feed- or management-related factors. Individual horse factors may also be associated with the presence of FFL. This study, therefore, aimed to characterize horses showing FFL particularly when fed wrapped forages, and to map the management and feeding strategies of these horses. Data were retrieved by a web-based survey, including 339 horses with FFL. A large variety of different breeds, ages, disciplines, coat colours, housing systems and feeding strategies were represented among the horses in the study, meaning that any type of horse could be affected. Respondents were asked to indicate if their horse had diminished signs of FFL with different changes in forage feeding. Fifty-eight percent (n = 197) of the horse owners reported diminished signs of FFL in their horses when changing from wrapped forages to hay; 46 (n = 156) of the horse owners reported diminished signs of FFL in their horses when changing from wrapped forages to pasture; 17% (n = 58) reported diminished signs of FFL when changing from any type of forage batch to any other forage. This indicated that feeding strategy may be of importance, but cannot solely explain the presence of FFL. The results also showed that the horses in this study had a comparably high incidence of previous colic (23%, n = 78) compared to published data from other horse populations. In conclusion, the results showed that FFL may affect a large variety of horse types and that further studies should include detailed data on individual horse factors including gastrointestinal diseases as well as feeding strategies, in order to increase the chance of finding causes of FFL.

Breaking crown dentine in whole teeth: 3D observations of prevalent fracture patterns following overload.

Teeth with intact crowns rarely split or fracture, despite decades of cyclic loading and occasional unexpected overload. This is largely attributed to the presence of dentine, since cracking and fracture of enamel have been frequently reported. Dentine is similar to bone, comprising mineralised collagen fibres as a main constituent. Unlike cortical bone, however, where microcracking and damage arrest are essential for re/modelling and healing, dentine can neither remodel nor regenerate. This raises questions regarding the evolutionary benefits of toughening, leading to uncertainty whether cracks actually appear in dentine in situ. Here we study the notion that circumpulpal dentine is usually protected against, rather than damaged by severe overloads, even though it is not much more massive or stronger than it needs to be. To address this, we examined hydrated teeth still within whole jawbones of freshly-slaughtered skeletally mature pigs, mechanically loaded until fracture. Force displacement curves, optical and electron microscopy combined with 3D microstructural analysis by conventional micro-computed tomography (µCT) revealed mostly brittle fracture paths in circumpulpal crown dentine. Once overload cracks reach this mass of dentine they propagate rapidly along straight paths often parallel to the enamel flanks of the oblong shovel shaped premolars. We find infrequent signs of active toughening mechanisms with minimal crack diversion, ligament bridging and microcracking. When such toughening is seen, it mainly appears in softer dentine in the root, or near the dentine-enamel-junction (DEJ) in mantle dentine. We observed shear bands in overloaded circumpulpal dentine, due to mutual gliding of upper and lower segments. These shear bands are formed as periodic arrays of rotated dentine fragments. The 3D data consistently demonstrate the importance of the layered tooth structure, containing a stiff outer enamel shell, a soft sub-DEJ interlayer and a stiff circumpulpal dentine bulk, for deflecting cracks from splitting the tooth.

Effects of diet-induced weight gain and turnout to pasture on insulin sensitivity in moderately insulin resistant horses.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify insulin sensitivity and monitor glucose, insulin, and lipid concentrations in a group of moderately insulin-resistant horses during induction of obesity by use of a forage diet supplemented with fat and during subsequent turnout to pasture. ANIMALS 9 adult Standardbred mares (11 to 20 years old). PROCEDURES: Weight gain of horses was induced during 22 weeks by use of a forage diet supplemented with fat fed in gradually increasing amounts, followed by feeding of that fat-supplemented diet at 2.5 times the daily maintenance requirements. Horses were then turned out to pasture. Insulin sensitivity was measured with the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp method before and after weight gain and after 4 weeks at pasture. Body weight, body condition score, and cresty neck score as well as fasting and postprandial concentrations of plasma insulin, plasma glucose, serum triglyceride, and serum nonesterified fatty acids were measured during the study. RESULTS: Body weight typically increased by 10%, and body condition score (scale, 1 to 9) increased by > 1.5 from the start to the end of the weight-gain period. There was no difference in insulin sensitivity or metabolic clearance rate of insulin during the weight-gain period. Four weeks at pasture generally improved insulin sensitivity and metabolic clearance rate of insulin by 54% and 32%, respectively, but there was no change in body weight or body condition score. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Findings indicated that dietary composition played a more important role than did short-term weight gain on alterations in insulin sensitivity of horses.

Consumo de bebida alcoólica, fatores socioeconômicos e excesso de peso: um estudo transversal no sul do Brasil / Alcohol consumption, social and economic factors and excess weight: a cross-sectional study

O objetivo do estudo foi investigar o consumo de álcool e verificar sua associação com escolaridade, renda e excesso de peso em uma amostra de mulheres. Trata-se de um estudo transversal com 317 mulheres. Aplicou-se um questionário padronizado e pré-codificado para determinar a quantidade, a frequência e o tipo de bebida alcoólica consumida. As mulheres foram classificadas em dois grandes grupos, conforme a quantidade de bebida consumida. O primeiro grupo "Consumo de Álcool", formado por duas subcategorias: (1) mulheres que bebiam no mínimo 10g/dia de etanol; (2) mulheres que referiram não consumir 10g/dia de etanol e as que beberam em algum período da vida ou previamente, mas que o deixaram de fazer. O segundo grupo, "Contato com Álcool", foi composto por três subcategorias: (1) bebedoras (mulheres que bebiam no mínimo 10g/dia de etanol), (2) ex-bebedoras (já beberam regularmente, mas deixaram de consumir a bebida) e (3) não bebedoras. Das investigadas, 30% eram bebedoras e 36,6% se declararam ex-bebedoras. Tinham sobrepeso 39,4% das participantes e 34,3% eram obesas. As investigadas com maior grau de instrução consumiam maior quantidade de álcool, quando comparadas às mulheres com menor escolaridade (analfabetas) que consumam menos (p = 0,010).

The scope of this study was to investigate alcohol consumption and its association with educational level, income and weight in a sample of women. It involved a cross-sectional study with 317 women. A standardized and pre-encoded questionnaire was applied to determine the amount, frequency and type of alcoholic beverage consumed. The women were classified in two large groups according to the number of drinks consumed. The first group "Alcohol Consumption," was comprised of two subcategories: (1) women who drank at least 10g/day of ethanol; (2) women who reported not consuming 10g/day of ethanol, and those who drank at some period of their lives or previously, but no longer did so. The second group, "Contact with Alcohol," was composed of three subcategories: (1) drinkers (women who drank at least 10g/dia of ethanol); (2) former drinkers (women who used to drink regularly, but no longer drink alcohol); and (3) non-drinkers. 30% of the women investigated were drinkers, and 36.6% reported they were former drinkers. 39.4% of the total sample was overweight and 34.3% obese. Women with higher educational levels were found to consume a larger amount of alcohol when compared to women with less education (illiterate) who consume less (p = 0.010).

[Alcohol consumption, social and economic factors and excess weight: a cross-sectional study]. / Consumo de bebida alcoólica, fatores socioeconômicos e excesso de peso: um estudo transversal no sul do Brasil.

The scope of this study was to investigate alcohol consumption and its association with educational level, income and weight in a sample of women. It involved a cross-sectional study with 317 women. A standardized and pre-encoded questionnaire was applied to determine the amount, frequency and type of alcoholic beverage consumed. The women were classified in two large groups according to the number of drinks consumed. The first group "Alcohol Consumption," was comprised of two subcategories: (1) women who drank at least 10g/day of ethanol; (2) women who reported not consuming 10g/day of ethanol, and those who drank at some period of their lives or previously, but no longer did so. The second group, "Contact with Alcohol," was composed of three subcategories: (1) drinkers (women who drank at least 10g/dia of ethanol); (2) former drinkers (women who used to drink regularly, but no longer drink alcohol); and (3) non-drinkers. 30% of the women investigated were drinkers, and 36.6% reported they were former drinkers. 39.4% of the total sample was overweight and 34.3% obese. Women with higher educational levels were found to consume a larger amount of alcohol when compared to women with less education (illiterate) who consume less (p = 0.010).