Blood cadmium, lead, manganese, mercury, and selenium levels in American Indian populations: The Strong Heart Study.

BACKGROUND: Many American Indian (AI) communities are in areas affected by environmental contamination, such as toxic metals. However, studies assessing exposures in AI communities are limited. We measured blood metals in AI communities to assess historical exposure and identify participant characteristics associated with these levels in the Strong Heart Study (SHS) cohort. METHOD: Archived blood specimens collected from participants (n = 2014, all participants were 50 years of age and older) in Arizona, Oklahoma, and North and South Dakota during SHS Phase-III (1998-1999) were analyzed for cadmium, lead, manganese, mercury, and selenium using inductively coupled plasma triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. We conducted descriptive analyses for the entire cohort and stratified by selected subgroups, including selected demographics, health behaviors, income, waist circumference, and body mass index. Bivariate associations were conducted to examine associations between blood metal levels and selected socio-demographic and behavioral covariates. Finally, multivariate regression models were used to assess the best model fit that predicted blood metal levels. FINDINGS: All elements were detected in 100% of study participants, with the exception of mercury (detected in 73% of participants). The SHS population had higher levels of blood cadmium and manganese than the general U.S. population 50 years and older. The median blood mercury in the SHS cohort was at about 30% of the U.S. reference population, potentially due to low fish consumption. Participants in North Dakota and South Dakota had the highest blood cadmium, lead, manganese, and selenium, and the lowest total mercury levels, even after adjusting for covariates. In addition, each of the blood metals was associated with selected demographic, behavioral, income, and/or weight-related factors in multivariate models. These findings will help guide the tribes to develop education, outreach, and strategies to reduce harmful exposures and increase beneficial nutrient intake in these AI communities.

A plasma calcium-phosphorus product can be used to predict the lifespan of dogs with chronic kidney disease.

A serum calcium-phosphorus (sCaPP) product was assessed for prediction of survival in dogs affected with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dogs (N = 150) were retrospectively studied and followed up to determine their lifespan using 25 healthy dogs as controls. Blood and urine analyses were performed and blood pressure was measured. The dogs were divided into groups according to sCaPP (higher or lower than 70 mg2/dL2) and International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) stage (IRIS 1-4). Shorter survival was observed with sCaPP > 70 mg2/dL2 compared to dogs with sCaPP < 70 mg2/dL2 [45.48 days (range: 5.8 to 149 days) versus 505.40 days (range: 113.31 to 539.52 days), mean (95% confidence interval); P ≤ 0.001 respectively]. Similarly, dogs with advanced IRIS stages showed higher levels of sCaPP [mean (95% confidence interval) in mg2/dL2; IRIS 1: 42.83 (range: 29.58 to 62.10); IRIS 2: 63.18 (range: 46.34 to 90.09); IRIS 3: 95.57 (range: 88.34 to 127.19); IRIS 4: 130.38 (range: 125.16 to 153.52)], accompanied by lower survival rates. Therefore, sCaPP could represent a valuable tool in the prognosis of canine CKD.

Un produit plasmatique calcium-phosphore peut être utilisé pour prédire la durée de vie de chiens avec une maladie rénale chronique. Un produit sérique calcium-phosphore (sCaPP) fut évalué pour prédire la survie de chiens souffrant de maladie rénale chronique (CKD). Des chiens (N = 150) furent étudiés rétrospectivement et suivis pour déterminer leur survie en utilisant 25 chiens en santé comme témoins. Des analyses urinaires et sanguines furent effectuées et la pression sanguine fut mesurée. Les chiens furent divisés en groupes en fonction de leur sCaPP (plus élevé ou plus faible que 70 mg2/dL2) et de leurs stages selon l'International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) (IRIS 1­4). Un temps de survie plus court fut observé avec une sCaPP > 70 mg2/dL2 comparativement aux chiens avec une sCaPP < 70 mg2/dL2 [45,48 jours (varie de 5,8 à 149 jours) versus 505,40 jours (varie de 113,31 à 539,52 jours), moyenne (intervalle de confiance 95 %); P ≤ 0,001 respectivement]. De manière similaire, les chiens avec un stages IRIS avancé avaient des niveaux de sCaPP plus élevés [moyenne (intervalle de confiance 95 %) en mg2/dL2; IRIS 1 : 42,83 (varie de 29,58 à 62,10); IRIS 2 : 63,18 (varie de 46,34 à 90,09); IRIS 3 : 95,57 (varie de 88,34 à 127,19); IRIS 4 : 130,38 (varie de 125,16 à 153,52], accompagnés de taux de survie plus bas. Ainsi, la valeur de sCaPP pourrait représenter un outil utile dans le pronostic des maladies rénales chroniques chez le chien.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

Prevalence of orthorexia nervosa among ashtanga yoga practitioners: a pilot study.

PURPOSE: Orthorexia nervosa (ON, i.e., fixation on righteous eating) is a poorly defined disordered eating behavior that results from a pathological obsession with food, its purported nutritional value, composition, origin, etc. METHODS: We investigated the prevalence of ON in a local ashtanga yoga community, by using a validated questionnaire (ORTO-15) that sets a threshold of ON diagnosis at ≤40. RESULTS: Among the 136 respondents, the mean ORTO-15 score (which was normally distributed) was 35.27 ± 3.69, i.e., 86 % of respondents had an ORTO-15 score lower than 40 and no significant association with age or BMI was recorded. When we analyzed the differential distribution of orthorexia in our cohort, we recorded an association of ORTO-15 score and vegetarianism, i.e., the ORTO-15 score was lower among vegetarians. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this pilot study should suggest ashtanga yoga teachers to avoid excessive reference to a healthy diet, which is natural component of yoga practice.