Polygenic Risk Scores and the Risk of Childhood Overweight/Obesity in Association With the Consumption of Sweetened Beverages: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) and non-nutritive sweetened beverage (NNSB) consumption is associated with obesity and are targets for population-level dietary interventions. In children (<16 years), we evaluate whether SSB or NNSB consumption is associated with subsequent (2 years later) overweight and/or obesity, and the effect of consumption on subsequent overweight/obesity differs by BMI polygenic risk score (BMI-PRS). Methods: The nationally representative Longitudinal-Study-of-Australian-Children had biennial data collection from birth (n = 5107) until age 14/15 years (n = 3127). At age 11/12 years, a comprehensive biomedical assessment, including PRS assessment, was undertaken (n = 1422). Parent- or self-reported beverage consumption (SSBs: soft drinks, energy drinks, and/or juice; NNSBs: diet drinks) was measured as any/none over previous 24 hours. BMI-PRS was derived using published results (high PRS ≥75th percentile). At ages 4/5-14/15 children were classified as having obesity, overweight/obesity, or not having overweight/obesity using BMI z-score (CDC cut points). Results: SSB consumption had limited association with subsequent overweight/obesity. NNSB consumption was associated with ∼8% more children with subsequent overweight/obesity at most ages. In older children with high BMI-PRS, associations between NNSB consumption and subsequent overweight/obesity strengthened with age [at age 14-15 for high BMI-PRS, difference in proportion with overweight/obesity among NNSB consumers vs. nonconsumers = 0.38 (95% confidence interval: 0.22 to 0.55, p ≤ 0.001)]. There was limited association between SSB consumption and BMI-PRS. Conclusion: NNSB consumption was associated with increased risk of overweight/obesity for children with greater genetic risk at older ages (12-15 years). Focused intervention among children with high genetic risk could target NNSB consumption; however, reverse causality (children with genetic risk and/or high BMI consume more NNSBs) cannot be excluded.

Pneumocystis pneumonia with respiratory failure in a HIV-negative patient following short course of low-dose to moderate-dose prednisolone for a dermatological condition.

A woman in her 80s was admitted with 5 days of progressive dyspnoea and hypoxic respiratory failure, in the setting of receiving a 3-week course of low-dose to moderate-dose prednisolone for a pruritic skin rash. Her medical history was not significant for major medical comorbidities or any other clear risk factors for secondary immunosuppression apart from advanced age. CT revealed widespread small-airway and parenchymal disease with ground-glass opacities consistent with atypical respiratory infection. Sputum PCR confirmed Pneumocystis jirovecii She was diagnosed with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) in the context of her clinical presentation, radiological features and PCR result. Her HIV status was negative. The patient was treated with 4 weeks of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and 3 weeks of adjunctive prednisolone. She initially required high-dependency unit support with non-invasive ventilation. In this case report, we review the literature regarding PJP in the dermatology setting.