Achievement of Target Gain Larger than Unity in an Inertial Fusion Experiment.

On December 5, 2022, an indirect drive fusion implosion on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) achieved a target gain G_{target} of 1.5. This is the first laboratory demonstration of exceeding "scientific breakeven" (or G_{target}>1) where 2.05 MJ of 351 nm laser light produced 3.1 MJ of total fusion yield, a result which significantly exceeds the Lawson criterion for fusion ignition as reported in a previous NIF implosion [H. Abu-Shawareb et al. (Indirect Drive ICF Collaboration), Phys. Rev. Lett. 129, 075001 (2022)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.129.075001]. This achievement is the culmination of more than five decades of research and gives proof that laboratory fusion, based on fundamental physics principles, is possible. This Letter reports on the target, laser, design, and experimental advancements that led to this result.

Study protocol of a randomized control trial on the effectiveness of improvisational music therapy for autistic children.

BACKGROUND: Music therapy is the clinical use of musical interventions to improve mental and physical health across multiple domains, including social communication. Autistic children, who have difficulties in social communication and often increased anxiety, tend to show a strong preference for music, because it can be structured and systematic, and therefore more predictable than social interaction. This makes music therapy a promising medium for therapeutic support and intervention. Previous clinical trials of music therapy compared to traditional therapy for autistic children have shown encouraging but nevertheless mixed results. KEY AIMS: The primary aim is to conduct a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of improvisational music therapy for autistic children and test its effectiveness in at improving social communication and wellbeing, and to reduce anxiety. RESEARCH PLAN: The RCT will be conducted with 200 autistic children in the UK aged 7 to 11 years old. Participants will be randomly assigned to either improvisational music therapy or support as usual. The trial will be an assessor-blind, pragmatic two-arm cluster RCT comparing the impact of 12-weeks of improvisational music therapy in addition to support as usual, vs. support as usual for autistic children. METHODS: Researchers who are blind to which arm the children are in will conduct assessments and obtain data via caregiver reports. The primary outcome will be the absolute change in the total score of the Brief Observation of Social Communication Change (BOSCC) assessed at baseline, T1 (13 weeks) and T2 (39 weeks) follow-ups. The BOSCC consists of specific items that were developed to identify changes in social-communication behaviours. Secondary outcome measures include: (1) Parent reported anxiety scale for youth with ASD (Note that we do not use the term 'ASD' or Autism Spectrum Disorder, because many autistic people feel it is stigmatising. Instead, we use the term 'autism') (PRAS-ASD) (2) Young Child Outcome Rating Scale, for wellbeing (YCORS), (3) Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ); and (4) Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale (VABS). (5) The Children's Communication Checklist-2 (CCC-2) will be completed to evaluate pragmatic speech with fluent speakers only; (6) The Music Engagement Scale (MES); and (7) Assessment of the Quality of Relationship (AQR) will be used to evaluate the child-therapist relationships using video-analysis of music therapy sessions. Additional data will be collected by administering the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI-II), Music at Home Questionnaire (M@H), and children's versions of the Empathy Quotient (EQ) and Systemizing Quotient (SQ). Audio and video data from the therapy sessions will be collected and analysed (using both human and computer-based feature-coding, e.g., machine learning and AI-driven methods) to identify how music and non-musical interactions foster change throughout the therapy. DISCUSSION: This study aims to observe if the interactions, engagement, and therapeutic modalities fostered during music therapy sessions can translate to non-musical contexts and improve autistic children's social communication skills, identifying possible mediating factors contributing to the effectiveness of music therapy, potentially informing policy making and governance. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This randomised control trial is registered with the NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine:  https://clinicaltrials.gov/search?term=NCT06016621 , clinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0601662, Registration Date 19th August 2023.

Revisiting specific force loss in human permeabilized single skeletal muscle fibers obtained from older individuals.

Specific force (SF) has been shown to be reduced in some but not all studies of human aging using chemically skinned single muscle fibers. This may be due, in part, not only to the health status/physical activity levels of different older cohorts, but also from methodological differences in studying skinned fibers. The aim of the present study was to compare SF in fibers from older hip fracture patients (HFP), healthy master cyclists (MC), and healthy nontrained young adults (YA) using two different activating solutions. Quadriceps muscle samples and 316 fibers were obtained from HFPs (74.6 ± 4 years, n = 5), MCs (74.8 ± 1, n = 5), and YA (25.5 ± 2, n = 6). Fibers were activated (pCa 4.5, 15°C) in solutions containing either 60 mM N-tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid pH buffer (TES) or 20 mM imidazole. SF was determined by normalizing force to fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) assuming either an elliptical or circular shape and to fiber myosin heavy chain content. Activation in TES resulted in significantly higher MHC-I SF in all groups and YA MHC-IIA fibers, irrespective of normalization method. Although there were no differences in SF between the participant groups, the ratio of SF between the TES and imidazole solutions was lower in HFPs compared with YAs (MHC-I P < 0.05; MHC-IIA P = 0.055). Activating solution composition, as opposed to donor characteristics, had a more notable effect on single fiber SF. However, this two-solution approach revealed an age-related difference in sensitivity in HFPs, which was not shown in MCs. This suggests further novel approaches may be required to probe age/activity-related differences in muscle contractile quality.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Whether specific force (SF) decreases with advancing age in human single skeletal muscle fibers is uncertain. Equivocal published findings may be due to the different physical activity levels of the elderly cohorts studied and/or different chemical solutions used to measure force. We compared single fiber SF between young adults, elderly cyclists, and hip fracture patients (HFP) using two solutions. The solution used significantly affected force and revealed a difference in sensitivity of HFP muscle fibers.

Lawson Criterion for Ignition Exceeded in an Inertial Fusion Experiment.

For more than half a century, researchers around the world have been engaged in attempts to achieve fusion ignition as a proof of principle of various fusion concepts. Following the Lawson criterion, an ignited plasma is one where the fusion heating power is high enough to overcome all the physical processes that cool the fusion plasma, creating a positive thermodynamic feedback loop with rapidly increasing temperature. In inertially confined fusion, ignition is a state where the fusion plasma can begin "burn propagation" into surrounding cold fuel, enabling the possibility of high energy gain. While "scientific breakeven" (i.e., unity target gain) has not yet been achieved (here target gain is 0.72, 1.37 MJ of fusion for 1.92 MJ of laser energy), this Letter reports the first controlled fusion experiment, using laser indirect drive, on the National Ignition Facility to produce capsule gain (here 5.8) and reach ignition by nine different formulations of the Lawson criterion.

Dipeptide inhibitors of the prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA): A comparison of urea and thiourea derivatives.

Glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCP(II)), also known as the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), is a transmembrane zinc(II) metalloenzyme overexpressed in prostate cancer. Inhibitors of this receptor are used to target molecular imaging agents and molecular radiotherapy agents to prostate cancer and if the affinity of inhibitors for GCP(II)/PSMA could be improved, targeting might also improve. Compounds containing the dipeptide OH-Lys-C(O)-Glu-OH (compound 3), incorporating a urea motif, have high affinity for GCP(II)/PSMA. We hypothesized that substituting the zinc-coordinating urea group for a thiourea group, thus incorporating a sulfur atom, could facilitate stronger binding to zinc(II) within the active site, and thus improve affinity for GCP(II)/PSMA. A structurally analogous urea and thiourea pair (HO-Glu-C(O)-Glu-OH - compound 5 and HO-Glu-C(S)-Glu-OH - compound 6) were synthesized and the inhibitory concentration (IC50) of each compound measured with a cell-based assay, allowing us to refute the hypothesis: the thiourea analogue showed 100-fold weaker binding to PSMA than the urea analogue.

LARP4A recognizes polyA RNA via a novel binding mechanism mediated by disordered regions and involving the PAM2w motif, revealing interplay between PABP, LARP4A and mRNA.

LARP4A belongs to the ancient RNA-binding protein superfamily of La-related proteins (LARPs). In humans, it acts mainly by stabilizing mRNAs, enhancing translation and controlling polyA lengths of heterologous mRNAs. These activities are known to implicate its association with mRNA, protein partners and translating ribosomes, albeit molecular details are missing. Here, we characterize the direct interaction between LARP4A, oligoA RNA and the MLLE domain of the PolyA-binding protein (PABP). Our study shows that LARP4A-oligoA association entails novel RNA recognition features involving the N-terminal region of the protein that exists in a semi-disordered state and lacks any recognizable RNA-binding motif. Against expectations, we show that the La module, the conserved RNA-binding unit across LARPs, is not the principal determinant for oligoA interaction, only contributing to binding to a limited degree. Furthermore, the variant PABP-interacting motif 2 (PAM2w) featured in the N-terminal region of LARP4A was found to be important for both RNA and PABP recognition, revealing a new role for this protein-protein binding motif. Our analysis demonstrates the mutual exclusive nature of the PAM2w-mediated interactions, thereby unveiling a tantalizing interplay between LARP4A, polyA and PABP.

Metabolomics and microbial composition increase insight into the impact of dietary differences in cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Dietary changes can modulate gut microbiota and interact with cirrhosis. Our prior study demonstrated that microbial diversity was higher in cirrhotics from Turkish vs the USA, which was associated with lower risk of 90-day hospitalizations. We aimed to define gut microbial functional and metabolomic changes to increase insight into benefits of the Mediterranean compared to Western diets. METHODS: In all, 139 Turkish (46 controls/50 compensated/43 decompensated) and 157 American subjects (48 controls/59 compensated/50 decompensated) were studied. Turkish subjects consumed a modified Mediterranean diet with daily fermented milk intake, whereas Americans consumed a Western diet. Predicted gut microbial functionalities and plasma metabolomics were compared between/within countries. Correlation network differences between microbiota and metabolites in cirrhotics from Turkey vs the USA were evaluated. RESULTS: Predicted microbial function showed lower amino acid, bioenergetics and lipid pathways, with functions related to vitamin B, glycan, xenobiotic metabolism, DNA/RNA synthesis, in cirrhotics from Turkey compared to the USA. Plasma metabolomics demonstrated higher relative lactate levels in Turkey vs the USA. The metabolite changes in decompensated cirrhosis, compared to controls, showed similar trends in Turkey and the USA, with reduced lipids and phosphocholines. Phosphocholines were significantly lower in patients hospitalized in 90 days (P = .03). Correlation networks in cirrhotics demonstrated linkage differences between beneficial taxa, Blautia and Oscillispira, and lactate and unsaturated lipids, in Turkey compared to American patients. CONCLUSIONS: A modified Mediterranean diet was associated with altered plasma metabolomics and beneficially alters microbiota functionality and correlations compared to Western diet in cirrhosis. These altered diet-microbial interactions could potentially affect the 90-day hospitalization risk.

Understanding the risk of emerging bacterial resistance to over the counter antibiotics in topical sore throat medicines.

AIMS: The aims of this study were to explore the development of bacterial resistance and cross-resistance in four common human pathogens following realistic exposure to antibiotics found in over-the-counter (OTC) sore throat medicines: gramicidin, neomycin, bacitracin and tyrothricin. METHODS AND RESULTS: Bacterial exposure to in-use (concentration in the product before use) and diluted concentration (i.e. during use) of antibiotic where conducted in broth for 24 h or until growth was visible. The changes in bacterial susceptibility profile before and after exposure was determined using standardized ISO microdilution broth. Antibiotic testing was performed according to EUCAST guidelines. We demonstrated that test bacteria were able to survive exposure to the in-use concentrations of some antibiotics used in OTC medicines. Exposure to during use concentrations of bacitracin resulted in stable increase in minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) (>8-fold) in Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii. Exposure to tyrothricin resulted in a stable increase in MIC (2·4-fold) in Klebsiella pneumoniae, and exposure to neomycin resulted in a stable increase MIC (5000-fold higher than the baseline) in Streptococcus pyogenes. Clinical cross-resistance to other antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, fusidic acid, gentamicin, cefpodoxime, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and cefotaxime) was also demonstrated following exposure to bacitracin or tyrothricin. Bacitracin exposure lead to a stable bacterial resistance after 10 passages. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that OTC antibiotic medicines have the potential to drive resistance and cross-resistance in vitro. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Tackling antibiotic resistance is a high worldwide priority. It is widely accepted that the overuse and misuse of antibiotics increase the risk of the development and spread of antibiotic resistance within communities. A number of OTC sore throat products, widely available across the world for topical use in respiratory indications, contain locally delivered antibiotics. Our findings showed that these antibiotics in OTC medicines present a risk for emerging cross-resistance in a number of bacterial respiratory pathogens.

Synergic interplay of the La motif, RRM1 and the interdomain linker of LARP6 in the recognition of collagen mRNA expands the RNA binding repertoire of the La module.

The La-related proteins (LARPs) form a diverse group of RNA-binding proteins characterized by the possession of a composite RNA binding unit, the La module. The La module comprises two domains, the La motif (LaM) and the RRM1, which together recognize and bind to a wide array of RNA substrates. Structural information regarding the La module is at present restricted to the prototypic La protein, which acts as an RNA chaperone binding to 3' UUUOH sequences of nascent RNA polymerase III transcripts. In contrast, LARP6 is implicated in the regulation of collagen synthesis and interacts with a specific stem-loop within the 5' UTR of the collagen mRNA. Here, we present the structure of the LaM and RRM1 of human LARP6 uncovering in both cases considerable structural variation in comparison to the equivalent domains in La and revealing an unprecedented fold for the RRM1. A mutagenic study guided by the structures revealed that RNA recognition requires synergy between the LaM and RRM1 as well as the participation of the interdomain linker, probably in realizing tandem domain configurations and dynamics required for substrate selectivity. Our study highlights a considerable complexity and plasticity in the architecture of the La module within LARPs.

Is consuming yoghurt associated with weight management outcomes? Results from a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Yoghurt is part of the diet of many people worldwide and is commonly recognised as a 'health food'. Epidemiological studies suggest that yoghurt may be useful as part of weight management programs. In the absence of comprehensive systematic reviews, this systematic review investigated the effect of yoghurt consumption by apparently healthy adults on weight-related outcomes. METHODS: An extensive literature search was undertaken, as part of a wider scoping review, to identify yoghurt studies. A total of 13 631 records were assessed for their relevance to weight-related outcomes. RESULTS: Twenty-two publications were eligible according to the review protocol. Cohort studies (n=6) and cross-sectional studies (n=7) all showed a correlation between yoghurt and lower or improved body weight/composition. Six randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and one controlled trial had various limitations, including small size and short duration. One RCT showed significant effects of yoghurt on weight loss, but was confounded by differences in calcium intake. One trial showed nonsignificant weight gain and the remaining five trials showed nonsignificant weight losses that were greater in yoghurt consumers. CONCLUSIONS: Yoghurt consumption is associated with lower body mass index, lower body weight/weight gain, smaller waist circumference and lower body fat in epidemiological studies. RCTs suggest weight reduction effects, but do not permit determination of a cause-effect relationship. Well-controlled, adequately powered trials in research and community settings appear likely to identify a modest but beneficial effect of yoghurt consumption for prevention of weight gain and management of obesity. The ready availability of yoghurt (a nutrient-dense food) and its ease of introduction to most diets suggests that educating the public to eat yoghurt as part of a balanced and healthy diet may potentially contribute to improved public health. Future carefully designed RCTs could provide proof of principle and large community-based studies could determine the practical impact of yoghurt on body weight/composition.

Proteomic and metabolomic changes driven by elevating myocardial creatine suggest novel metabolic feedback mechanisms.

Mice over-expressing the creatine transporter have elevated myocardial creatine levels [Cr] and are protected against ischaemia/reperfusion injury via improved energy reserve. However, mice with very high [Cr] develop cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction. To investigate these contrasting effects, we applied a non-biased hypothesis-generating approach to quantify global protein and metabolite changes in the LV of mice stratified for [Cr] levels: wildtype, moderately elevated, and high [Cr] (65-85; 100-135; 160-250 nmol/mg protein, respectively). Male mice received an echocardiogram at 7 weeks of age with tissue harvested at 8 weeks. RV was used for [Cr] quantification by HPLC to select LV tissue for subsequent analysis. Two-dimensional difference in-gel electrophoresis identified differentially expressed proteins, which were manually picked and trypsin digested for nano-LC-MS/MS. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed efficient group separation (ANOVA P ≤ 0.05) and peptide sequences were identified by mouse database (UniProt 201203) using Mascot. A total of 27 unique proteins were found to be differentially expressed between normal and high [Cr], with proteins showing [Cr]-dependent differential expression, chosen for confirmation, e.g. α-crystallin B, a heat shock protein implicated in cardio-protection and myozenin-2, which could contribute to the hypertrophic phenotype. Nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR at 700 MHz) identified multiple strong correlations between [Cr] and key cardiac metabolites. For example, positive correlations with α-glucose (r² = 0.45; P = 0.002), acetyl-carnitine (r² = 0.50; P = 0.001), glutamine (r² = 0.59; P = 0.0002); and negative correlations with taurine (r² = 0.74; P < 0.0001), fumarate (r² = 0.45; P = 0.003), aspartate (r² = 0.59; P = 0.0002), alanine (r² = 0.66; P < 0.0001) and phosphocholine (r² = 0.60; P = 0.0002). These findings suggest wide-ranging and hitherto unexpected adaptations in substrate utilisation and energy metabolism with a general pattern of impaired energy generating pathways in mice with very high creatine levels.

Traffic pollution and the incidence of cardiorespiratory outcomes in an adult cohort in London.

OBJECTIVES: The epidemiological evidence for adverse health effects of long-term exposure to air and noise pollution from traffic is not coherent. Further, the relative roles of background versus near traffic pollution concentrations in this process are unclear. We investigated relationships between modelled concentrations of air and noise pollution from traffic and incident cardiorespiratory disease in London. METHODS: Among 211 016 adults aged 40-79 years registered in 75 Greater London practices between 2005 and 2011, the first diagnosis for a range of cardiovascular and respiratory outcomes were identified from primary care and hospital records. Annual baseline concentrations for nitrogen oxide (NOx), particulate matter with a median aerodynamic diameter <2.5 µm (PM2.5) attributable to exhaust and non-exhaust sources, traffic intensity and noise were estimated at 20 m2 resolution from dispersion models, linked to clinical data via residential postcode. HRs were adjusted for confounders including smoking and area deprivation. RESULTS: The largest observed associations were between traffic-related air pollution and heart failure (HR=1.10 for 20 µg/m3 change in NOx, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.21). However, no other outcomes were consistently associated with any of the pollution indicators, including noise. The greater variations in modelled air pollution from traffic between practices, versus within, hampered meaningful fine spatial scale analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The associations observed with heart failure may suggest exacerbatory effects rather than underlying chronic disease. However, the overall failure to observe wider associations with traffic pollution may reflect that exposure estimates based on residence inadequately represent the relevant pattern of personal exposure, and future studies must address this issue.

Qualitative grading of disc degeneration by magnetic resonance in the lumbar and cervical spine: lack of correlation with histology in surgical cases.

BACKGROUND: Clinically, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is the most effective non-invasive tool for assessing IVD degeneration. Histological examination of the IVD provides a more detailed assessment of the pathological changes at a tissue level. However, very few reports have studied the relationship between these techniques. Identifying a relationship may allow more detailed staging of IVD degeneration, of importance in targeting future regenerative therapies. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between MR and histological grading of IVD degeneration in the cervical and lumbar spine in patients undergoing discectomy. METHODS: Lumbar (N = 99) and cervical (N = 106) IVD samples were obtained from adult patients undergoing discectomy surgery for symptomatic IVD herniation and graded to ascertain a histological grade of degeneration. The pre-operative MR images from these patients were graded for the degree of IVD (MR grade) and vertebral end-plate degeneration (Modic Changes, MC). The relationship between histological and MR grades of degeneration were studied. RESULTS: In lumbar and cervical IVD the majority of samples (93%) exhibited moderate levels of degeneration (ie MR grades 3-4) on pre-operative MR scans. Histologically, most specimens displayed moderate to severe grades of degeneration in lumbar (99%) and cervical spine (93%). MR grade was weakly correlated with patient age in lumbar and cervical study groups. MR and histological grades of IVD degeneration did not correlate in lumbar or cervical study groups. MC were more common in the lumbar than cervical spine (e.g. 39 versus 20% grade 2 changes; p < 0.05), but failed to correlate with MR or histological grades for degeneration. CONCLUSIONS: In this surgical series, the resected IVD tissue displayed moderate to severe degeneration, but there is no correlation between MR and histological grades using a qualitative classification system. There remains a need for a quantitative, non-invasive, pre-clinical measure of IVD degeneration that correlates with histological changes seen in the IVD.

An assessment of key risk factors for surgical site infection in patients undergoing surgery for spinal metastases.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the rate of surgical site infection (SSI) in patients undergoing surgery for spinal metastases, and identify key risk factors for SSI among this patient group. METHOD: A retrospective case note review was undertaken in adult patients being treated at a single specialist centre for spinal surgery. RESULTS: There were 152 patients identified for inclusion. Overall SSI rate was 11.2 per 100 patients (9.7 per 100 procedures). An increase in the risk of SSI was observed when surgery involved a greater number of vertebral levels (odds ratio 1.26, p=0.019) when controlling for primary spinal region. Controlling for the number of spinal levels, the odds of SSI increased by a factor of 5.6 (p=0.103) when the primary surgical region was thoracic, as opposed to cervical or lumbar. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, surgery associated with multiple vertebral levels for treatment of spinal metastases, particularly of the thoracic spine, is associated with increased risk of SSI.

Disorder-to-order transition of MAGI-1 PDZ1 C-terminal extension upon peptide binding: thermodynamic and dynamic insights.

PDZ domains are highly abundant protein-protein interaction modules commonly found in multidomain scaffold proteins. The PDZ1 domain of MAGI-1, a protein present at cellular tight junctions that contains six PDZ domains, is targeted by the E6 oncoprotein of the high-risk human papilloma virus. Thermodynamic and dynamic studies using complementary isothermal titration calorimetry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) (15)N heteronuclear relaxation measurements were conducted at different temperatures to decipher the molecular mechanism of this interaction. Binding of E6 peptides to the MAGI-1 PDZ1 domain is accompanied by an unusually large and negative change in heat capacity (ΔC(p)) that is attributed to a disorder-to-order transition of the C-terminal extension of the PDZ1 domain upon E6 binding. Analysis of temperature-dependent thermodynamic parameters and (15)N NMR relaxation data of a PDZ1 mutant in which this disorder-to-order transition was abolished allows the unusual thermodynamic signature of E6 binding to be correlated to local folding of the PDZ1 C-terminal extension. Comparison of the exchange contributions observed for wild-type and mutant proteins explains how variation in the solvent-exposed area may compensate for the loss of conformational entropy and further designates a distinct set of a few residues that mediate this local folding phenomena.

Adenovirus 36 infection: a role in dietary intake and response to inpatient weight management in obese girls.

Human adenovirus 36 (Adv36) increases adiposity and is more prevalent in overweight and obese children. Dietary intake in animal models is comparable regardless of Adv36 status. The effects of Adv36 on obesity treatment outcomes have not been clarified. The aim of this study is to investigate the pre-treatment dietary intake and the response to a 4-week inpatient weight management in 184 obese adolescent girls aged 13.0-17.9 years with respect to the presence of Adv36 antibodies. Evaluation of 3-day dietary records did not show any difference in daily intake of energy and essential nutrients between Adv36 antibody positive and negative girls. After the intervention Adv36 positive girls presented with significantly greater decrease of waist circumference (P=0.020), z-score of waist circumference (P=0.024), waist-to-hip ratio (P=0.007) and weight-to-height ratio (P=0.019) compared with Adv36 negative girls. On the contrary, the sum of four skinfolds decreased significantly more in Adv36 negative than in Adv36 positive individuals (P=0.013). Neither body fat percentage nor metabolic and hormonal parameters showed any significant relevance to Adv36 status in response to weight loss intervention. In conclusion, energy restriction in Adv36 antibody positive girls was associated with greater decrease of abdominal obesity and preservation of subcutaneous fat tissue than in those antibody negative.

Longitudinal investigation of adenovirus 36 seropositivity and human obesity: the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Adenovirus-36 (Adv-36) infection is associated with exaggerated adipogenesis in cell culture and the development of obesity in animal models and humans, but a causal relationship remains unproven. Our objective was to determine whether serological evidence of Adv-36 infection in childhood and/or adulthood is associated with adult obesity. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Paired plasma concentrations of Adv-36 antibodies were measured by a novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in a subgroup (n=449) of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study in childhood (mean age 11.9 years) and adulthood (mean age 41.3 years). The study group included (1) individuals who had maintained normal-weight status (2) those who became obese adults from a normal-weight status in childhood and (3) those that were overweight/obese as a child and obese as an adult. RESULTS: Mean (s.d.) time between baseline and follow-up was 29.4 (3.2) years (range 21-31 years). A total of 24.4% of individuals who were normal weight throughout life were seropositive for Adv-36 during child and/or adulthood as compared with 32.3% of those who became obese adults (P=0.11). Those who became obese in adulthood were more likely to be Adv-36 seropositive as adults compared with those who maintained normal weight (21.3% vs. 11.6%, P=0.02). This difference was mediated by a decline in Adv-36 seropositivity between child and adulthood in those maintaining normal weight. No differences were observed in body mass index across the life course, nor in waist circumference in adult life, between those who were Adv-36 seronegative or seropositive at any age. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals who gained weight across the life course were more likely to be Adv-36 seropositive in adult life than those who did not gain weight. However, analysis of change in weight status in relation to Adv-36 positivity did not support a causal role for Adv-36 in the development of obesity.

Long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution and the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a national English cohort.

OBJECTIVES: The role of outdoor air pollution in the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains unclear. We investigated this question using a large, nationally representative cohort based on primary care records linked to hospital admissions. METHODS: A cohort of 812 063 patients aged 40-89 years registered with 205 English general practices in 2002 without a COPD diagnosis was followed from 2003 to 2007. First COPD diagnoses recorded either by a general practitioner (GP) or on admission to hospital were identified. Annual average concentrations in 2002 for particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <10 µm (PM10) and <2.5 µm (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone and sulfur dioxide (SO2) at 1 km(2) resolution were estimated from emission-based dispersion models. Hazard ratios (HRs) per interquartile range change were estimated from Cox models adjusting for age, sex, smoking, body mass index and area-level deprivation. RESULTS: 16 034 participants (1.92%) received a COPD diagnosis from their GP and 2910 participants (0.35%) were admitted to hospital for COPD. After adjustment, HRs for GP recorded COPD and PM10, PM2.5 and NO2 were close to unity, positive for SO2 (HR=1.07 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.11) per 2.2 µg/m(3)) and negative for ozone (HR=0.94 (0.89 to 1.00) per 3 µg/m(3)). For admissions HRs for PM2.5 and NO2 remained positive (HRs=1.05 (0.98 to 1.13) and 1.06 (0.98 to 1.15) per 1.9 µg/m(3) and 10.7 µg/m(3), respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This large population-based cohort study found limited, inconclusive evidence for associations between air pollution and COPD incidence. Further work, utilising improved estimates of air pollution over time and enhanced socioeconomic indicators, is required to clarify the association between air pollution and COPD incidence.