Novel 4-chlorophenoxyacetate dioxygenase-mediated phenoxyalkanoic acid herbicides initial catabolism in Cupriavidus sp. DL-D2.

Microbial metabolism is an important driving force for the elimination of 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid residues in the environment. The α-Ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase (TfdA) or 2,4-D oxygenase (CadAB) catalyzes the cleavage of the aryl ether bond of 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid to 4-chlorophenol, which is one of the important pathways for the initial metabolism of 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid by microorganisms. However, strain Cupriavidus sp. DL-D2 could utilize 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid but not 4-chlorophenol for growth. This scarcely studied degradation pathway may involve novel enzymes that has not yet been characterized. Here, a gene cluster (designated cpd) responsible for the catabolism of 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid in strain DL-D2 was cloned and identified, and the dioxygenase CpdA/CpdB responsible for the initial degradation of 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid was successfully expressed, which could catalyze the conversion of 4-chlorphenoxyacetic acid to 4-chlorocatechol. Then, an aromatic cleavage enzyme CpdC further converts 4-chlorocatechol into 3-chloromuconate. The results of substrate degradation experiments showed that CpdA/CpdB could also degrade 3-chlorophenoxyacetic acid and phenoxyacetic acid, and homologous cpd gene clusters were widely discovered in microbial genomes. Our findings revealed a novel degradation mechanism of 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid at the molecular level.

Associations of 24-hour movement guidelines adherence with fruit and vegetable intake in university students.

Background: Unhealthy eating habits, such as low vegetable and fruit intake, are associated with many health problems. 24-h movement behaviors have been reported to be positively associated with numerous health-related outcomes. Despite the importance of these two modifiable lifestyle behaviors in building healthy habits in university students, there is a paucity of relevant research in this population. Therefore, this study aims to examine the correlation between compliance with 24-h movement guideline (24-h MG) and intake of fruits and vegetables (IFV) in Chinese university students. Methods: This study investigated the relationship between the compliance with 24-h MG and IFV in 1,793 Chinese university students using a convenience sampling method online. Physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) were assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, while sleep was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The Chinese version of the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II was used to measure IFV. Generalized linear models were applied to examine the correlation between compliance with the 24-h MG and eating habits. Results: The proportion of participants who routinely consumed vegetables and fruits was 24.6% and 43.1%, respectively, while the proportion of meeting the three 24-h MG and a combination of any two guidelines was 27.8% and 40.1%, respectively. Meeting all three guidelines was associated with a greater IFV intake compared to not meeting either guideline. Meeting all three guidelines (OR = 2.42 [1.63, 3.58]) and the combination of moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) and sleep (OR = 2.06 [1.37, 3.10]) were positively associated with the frequency of vegetable consumption (p < 0.05). As well, meeting all three guidelines (OR = 2.06 [1.37, 3.10]), the combination of MVPA and sleep (OR = 1.72 [1.04, 2.84]), and sleep only (OR = 1.88 [1.21, 2.92]) were positively associated with fruits consumption (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Almost a third of the university students met the three 24-h MG, and compliance with all three guidelines was associated with a higher frequency of IFV. Furthermore, meeting the sleep guideline alone or in conjunction with the PA, and meeting the entire 24-h MG was associated with greater consumption of fruits.

Longitudinal Associations between Healthy Eating Habits, Resilience, Insomnia, and Internet Addiction in Chinese College Students: A Cross-Lagged Panel Analysis.

This study aimed to explore the longitudinal associations between healthy eating habits, resilience, insomnia, and Internet addiction by using a cross-lagged panel analysis of Chinese college students. Overall, 807 Chinese college students completed questionnaires on healthy eating habits, resilience, insomnia, and Internet addiction from August 2020 (time 1, T1) to November 2020 (time 2, T2), and were selected for the data analyses. Healthy eating habits (T1) had significant effects on resilience (T2; ß = 0.064, p < 0.05) and insomnia (T2; ß = -0.064, p < 0.05), but not Internet addiction (T2; ß = -0.028, p > 0.05). Insomnia (T1) negatively predicted resilience (T2; ß = -0.098, p < 0.01). Insomnia was bidirectionally associated with Internet addiction (Internet addiction at T1 to insomnia at T2: ß = 0.085, p < 0.01; insomnia at T1 to Internet addiction at T2: ß = 0.070, p < 0.05). Additionally, Internet addiction (T1) significantly predicted resilience (T2; ß = -0.075, p < 0.05). This study further expanded the understanding of the longitudinal associations between healthy eating habits, resilience, insomnia, and Internet addiction, which provided higher-level evidence and important implications for the interventions for reducing college students' Internet addiction, developing healthy eating habits, and improving resilience and sleep health.

Construction of an effective near-infrared fluorescence "turn-on" probe for hydrogen sulfide detection and imaging in living inflammatory cell and zebrafish models.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) can act as a gaseous signaling mediator closely associated with inflammation development. In this work, we designed a fluorescence turn-on near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe CIT-H2S based on Intermolecular Charge Transfer (ICT) for the detection of H2S in living inflammatory cells and zebrafish. On this basis, a dicyanoisophorone fluorophore was chosen as the fluorescence signal reporting group of CIT-H2S, and an azide group was constructed as the recognition group of H2S. CIT-H2S is characterized by high selectivity and sensitivity for H2S over other interference species. The fluorescence intensity at 661 nm showed good linearity in the range of H2S concentration from 0 to 10 µM, with an excellent limit of detection (LOD) as low as 81.52 nM. Impressively, CIT-H2S has been visualized for detecting H2S in drug-induced inflammatory cell and zebrafish models, thus indicating that CIT-H2S is a robust tool with the ability to study the occurrence and development of hydrogen sulfide and inflammation.

Customized antisense oligonucleotide-based therapy for neurofilament-associated Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

DNA-based therapeutics have emerged as a revolutionary approach for addressing the treatment gap in rare inherited conditions by targeting the fundamental genetic causes of disease. Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, a group of inherited neuropathies, represents one of the most prevalent Mendelian disease groups in neurology and is characterized by diverse genetic etiology. Axonal forms of CMT, known as CMT2, are caused by dominant mutations in over 30 different genes which lead to degeneration of lower motor neuron axons. Recent advances in antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapeutics have shown promise in targeting neurodegenerative disorders. Here we elucidate pathomechanistic changes contributing to variant specific molecular phenotypes in CMT2E, caused by a single nucleotide substitution (p.N98S) in the neurofilament light chain gene (NEFL). We used a patient-derived pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-induced motor neuron model, which recapitulates several cellular and biomarker phenotypes associated with CMT2E. Using an ASO treatment strategy targeting a heterozygous gain-of-function variant, we aimed to resolve molecular phenotypic changes observed in the CMT2E p.N98S subtype. To determine ASO therapeutic potential, we employed our treatment strategy in iPSC-derived motor neurons and used established as well as novel biomarkers of peripheral nervous system axonal degeneration. Our findings have demonstrated a significant decrease in clinically relevant biomarkers of axonal degeneration, presenting the first clinically viable genetic therapeutic for CMT2E. Similar strategies could be used to develop precision medicine approaches for otherwise untreatable gain of function inherited disorders.

How many adults have sufficient muscle-strengthening exercise and the associated factors: A systematic review consisting of 2,629,508 participants.

Purpose: The aim of this systematic review was to (1) estimate the prevalence of adhering to the MSE guidelines (at least 2 times/days a week) among adults; and (2) synthesize evidence on the correlates of adhering to the MSE guidelines. Methods: Five electronic databases were searched (March 2022), with a total of 30 observational studies consisting of 2,629,508 participants meeting the eligibility criteria. A meta-analysis was conducted to pool the prevalence of adhering to the MSE guidelines using the results of 21 eligible studies (study aim 1); and data reporting correlates of adhering to the MSE guidelines using 12 eligible studies were synthesized and categorized based on the Socioecological Model Framework (study aim 2). Results: Overall, 22.8 % (95%CI: 18.18 % ─ 27.77 %) of adults adhered to the MSE guidelines, and 23 potential correlates at five levels were examined. Five variables (i.e., sex, age, education level, socioeconomic status) at the sociodemographic level and two variables (i.e., body mass index, self-rated health) at the physical related level were identified as consistent correlates, but displaying weak to moderate association strengths. Conclusions: Less than a quarter of adults meet the MSE guidelines and multidimensional correlates are associated with the adherence to the guidelines, particularly sociodemographic correlates (e.g., sex, age, and educational level). Findings highlight the need to further promote the importance of engaging in MSE among adults and investing effective interventions that not only provide opportunities for MSE for adults, but also facilitate the development of skills and confidence to engage in MSE.

Kinetics, Kinematics, and Muscle Activity Patterns During Back Squat With Different Contributions of Elastic Resistance.

PURPOSE: Performing back squats with elastic bands has been widely used in resistance training. Although research demonstrated greater training effects obtained from adding elastic bands to the back squat, little is known regarding the optimal elastic resistance and how it affects neuromuscular performance. This study aimed to compare the force, velocity, power, and muscle activity during back squats with different contributions of elastic resistance. METHODS: Thirteen basketball players performed 3 repetitions of the back squat at 85% of 1-repetition maximum across 4 conditions: (1) total load from free weight and (2) 20%, (3) 30%, and (4) 40% of the total load from elastic band and the remaining load from free weight. The eccentric and concentric phases of the back squat were divided into upper, middle, and bottom phases. RESULTS: In the eccentric phase, mean velocity progressively increased with increasing elastic resistance, and muscle activity of the vastus medialis and rectus femoris significantly increased with the largest elastic resistance in the upper phase (P ≤ .036). In the concentric phase, mean power (P ≤ .021) and rate of force development (P ≤ .002) significantly increased with increasing elastic resistance. Furthermore, muscle activity of the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis significantly improved with the largest elastic resistance in the upper phases (P ≤ .021). CONCLUSION: Velocity, power, rate of force development, and selective muscle activity increased as the elastic resistance increased in different phases during the back-squat exercise.

Understanding regulating effects of protein-anionic octenyl succinic anhydride-modified starch interactions on the structural, rheological, digestibility and release properties of starch.

BACKGROUND: Proteins and anionic octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA)-modified starch (OSA-starch) are common ingredients in food systems. The interactions between OSA-starch and protein are found to alter the structural and functional properties of the protein-OSA-starch complexes. In this regard, the close understanding of the relationship among the molecular interactions between whey protein isolate (WPI) and OSA-high amylose corn starch (HAS), structure changes and rheological, digestibility and release properties of WPI-OSA-HAS was investigated. RESULTS: The molecular interactions of WPI-OSA-HAS were significant for increasing the surface rough, solubility, storage modulus and loss modulus, but decreasing the R1047/1022 values. For the nutritional evaluation, the anti-digestibility of WPI-OSA-HAS was enhanced with increased resistant starch + slowly digestible starch contents and decreased equilibrium hydrolysis percentage and kinetic constant. During the digestion, part of the starch granule, OSA groups and WPI were lost, but the loss was lower than for OSA-HAS. Furthermore, the results of curcumin-loaded WPI-OSA-HAS in simulated gastrointestinal fluids demonstrated that curcumin could be gradually released to simulate colonic fluid. Notably, the interaction between WPI and OSA-HAS depended on the WPI concentration with the stronger molecular interactions obtained at 35% concentration. CONCLUSION: These results provided important information concerning how to adjust the rheological, anti-digestibility and release properties of WPI-OSA-HAS through altering the electrostatic interactions and hydrophobic interactions of WPI-OSA-HAS. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Can sports participation be a protective factor against suicide-related outcomes in adolescents: a systematic review.

Background: Suicide-related outcomes among adolescents have become a serious public health problem worldwide. Emerging evidence suggests that sports participation may interact with suicide-related outcomes. The objective of this systematic review is to systematically review and summarize the association between sports participation and suicide-related outcomes among adolescents. Design: A systematic review according to PRISMA Statement (International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols registration: INPLASY202330072) https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2023-3-0072/. Methods: The literature search was conducted in three electronic databases: Web of Science, PubMed, and EBSCOhost. Results: A total of 16 studies (12 cross-sectional studies, 4 prospective studies) met the inclusion criteria were evaluated. Strong consistent evidence was found for the negative association between suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and sports participation among adolescents. There was insufficient evidence to support consistency in the association between sports participation and suicide plans, and no evidence regarding gender differences between sports participation and these suicide-related outcomes. Furthermore, there was heterogeneity in the measures of sports participation and suicide-related outcomes across the included studies. Conclusion: Evidence suggests that more sports participations are associated with lower suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in adolescents. However, the directionality of the observed associations should be examined based on more high-quality longitudinal studies in the future.

Clonal Hematopoiesis is Associated With Severe Cytokine Release Syndrome in Patients Treated With Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell (CART) Therapy.

Among patients receiving CD19 or B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) CAR T therapy, inflammation pre- and post-CAR T infusion is implicated in the development of toxicities including cytokine release syndrome (CRS), immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), and likely contributes to prolonged cytopenias. Clonal hematopoiesis (CH), the clonal expansion of hematopoietic stem cells harboring somatic mutations, has been associated with inflammasome upregulation. Herein, we examined the prevalence of pre-CAR T CH in a predominantly transplant-naïve cohort of recipients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) or multiple myeloma (MM), and assessed the relationship between the presence of CH mutations and CAR T-related outcomes including CRS, ICANS, prolonged cytopenia, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). This study included 62 patients with NHL or MM who underwent CD19 or BCMA CAR T therapy from 2017 to 2022 at City of Hope and had available pre-CAR T cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). DNA was isolated with QIAamp DNA Mini Kit (Qiagen) from PBMC samples (94% collected <30d of CART infusion), on which we performed targeted exome sequencing (108 pre-defined gene panel with 1000x sequencing depth) to determine the presence of CH (variant allele frequency [VAF] ≥2%). Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association between CH and absolute neutrophil count (ANC) recovery at day +30 and +60, maximum grade CRS and ICANS, grade <2 versus 2+, and OS and PFS at 1y. Covariates considered were age at CART, baseline ANC, sex, race, CAR-HEMATOTOX, LDH, bridging therapy (Y/N), and number of prior lines of therapy. Fifteen (24%) patients had at least one pathogenic CH mutation; 2 (13%) had ≥2 CH mutations concurrently. DMT3A mutations were the most common; 29% of mutations had VAFs >10%. Patients with CH were significantly more likely to develop grade ≥2 CRS (60% versus 28%, p = .03) compared to those without CH (odds ratio [OR] 3.9, 95% CI 1.2-13.2; p = .027). Accounting for baseline ANC (which was higher among the CH cohort and associated with delayed ANC recovery, p = .02) patients with CH did not have a significantly different rate of delayed ANC recovery compared to those without CH (adjusted OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.09-1.5; p = .17). There was no association between CH and ICANS, nor with 1y PFS or OS. CH was frequent (24%) in this cohort of CAR T recipients and was associated with a higher risk of development of grade ≥2 CRS after CAR T. Additional validation studies are currently underway, which may set the stage for consideration of pre-CAR T CH as a biomarker for risk stratification towards more proactive CRS prophylaxis. Translational studies could aim to prove a direct relationship between CH-mutated myeloid cells and CRS.

Associations between fundamental movement skills and accelerometer-measured physical activity in Chinese children: the mediating role of cardiorespiratory fitness.

Background and purpose: The associations of fundamental motor skills (FMS), health-related physical fitness (e.g., cardiorespiratory fitness, CRF), and moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) have been demonstrated in Western children, but these associations have not yet been validated in a sample of Chinese children. The aims of this study, therefore, were to examine the association between FMS subdomains and MVPA in a sample of Chinese children and to evaluate whether this association is mediated by CRF. Methods: A cross-sectional study consisting of 311 children aged 8-12 years (49.2% girls; mean age = 9.9 years) from Shanghai was conducted. FMS, CRF and MVPA were assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development-3rd Edition, Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run and ActiGraph GT3X accelerometers. Preacher & Hayes's bootstrap method was used to test the mediating effects of CRF on the association between FMS and MVPA. Results: CRF fully mediated the association between total FMS and MVPA in girls (indirect effects, b = 0.21, 95% CI [0.07-0.37]), while the mediation was only partial in boys (indirect effects, b = 0.12, 95% CI [0.01-0.26]). CRF fully mediated the association between locomotor skills and MVPA in girls (indirect effects, b = 0.27, 95% CI [0.09- 0.51]), whereas CRF partially mediated the association between object control skills and MVPA in boys (indirect effects, b = 0.15, 95% CI [0.18-0.35]). Conclusion: In order to better design and implement sex-specific interventions aiming to increase MVPA, it is essential to consider FMS subdomains and CRF alongside the sex differences in the association between them.

Associations of Eating Habits with Self-Rated Health and Life Satisfaction in Adolescents: A 42-Country Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the associations of eating habits with self-rated health and life satisfaction in adolescents using a multiple-country sample. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) 2013/2014 wave was used in this study. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data on independent variables including breakfast on weekdays, breakfast at weekends, and consumption of fruits, vegetables, sweets, and soft dirks. Outcomes included self-rated health and life satisfaction. Regression models were used to assess the associations between the independent variables and the two outcomes, separately, after controlling for covariates. Results were presented using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Of all the study participants (aged 11-15 years), 50.8% were girls. Compared with no consumption of breakfast on weekdays, eating breakfast for five days had 1.22 times greater likelihood for improved self-rated health (OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.19-1.25, p < 0.001). Participants who ate breakfast for both days (OR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.36-1.46, p < 0.001) and one day (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.08-1.17, p < 0.001) were more likely to experience improved self-rated health compared to never eating breakfast at weekends. Five or more days for fruit and vegetable consumption resulted in better self-rated health (all p < 0.001). Similar results were found in terms of the associations of breakfast, fruit, and vegetable consumption with life satisfaction. For example, a higher frequency of fruit intake was associated with enhanced self-rated health (e.g., OR for more than once daily = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.34-1.51, p < 0.001) compared to no fruit consumption. Similarly, a higher-frequency vegetable intake, such as more than once daily (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.26-1.39, p < 0.001), was associated with improved self-rated health. CONCLUSIONS: Healthy eating habits, especially regular breakfast and a higher consumption of vegetables and fruit, are associated with better self-rated health and life satisfaction in school-aged children. Of note, the consumption of fruit would have the greatest impact on health and wellbeing outcomes. This study offers evidence that healthy eating habits can play a vital role in school-aged children's health and wellbeing, highlighting the practical significance of educating adolescents to develop healthy eating habits.

Exhaled VOC detection in lung cancer screening: a comprehensive meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer (LC), characterized by high incidence and mortality rates, presents a significant challenge in oncology. Despite advancements in treatments, early detection remains crucial for improving patient outcomes. The accuracy of screening for LC by detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath remains to be determined. METHODS: Our systematic review, following PRISMA guidelines and analyzing data from 25 studies up to October 1, 2023, evaluates the effectiveness of different techniques in detecting VOCs. We registered the review protocol with PROSPERO and performed a systematic search in PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science. Reviewers screened the studies' titles/abstracts and full texts, and used QUADAS-2 tool for quality assessment. Then performed meta-analysis by adopting a bivariate model for sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: This study explores the potential of VOCs in exhaled breath as biomarkers for LC screening, offering a non-invasive alternative to traditional methods. In all studies, exhaled VOCs discriminated LC from controls. The meta-analysis indicates an integrated sensitivity and specificity of 85% and 86%, respectively, with an AUC of 0.93 for VOC detection. We also conducted a systematic analysis of the source of the substance with the highest frequency of occurrence in the tested compounds. Despite the promising results, variability in study quality and methodological challenges highlight the need for further research. CONCLUSION: This review emphasizes the potential of VOC analysis as a cost-effective, non-invasive screening tool for early LC detection, which could significantly improve patient management and survival rates.

Prevalence of obesity and associated sociodemographic and lifestyle factors in Ecuadorian children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Given the increasing prevalence of obesity in young people in Ecuador, there is a need to understand the factors associated with this condition. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of obesity in Ecuadorian children and adolescents aged 5-17 years and identify its associated sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición (ENSANUT-2018). The final sample consisted of 11,980 participants who provided full information on the variables of interest. RESULTS: The prevalence of obesity was 12.7%. A lower odd of having obesity was observed for adolescents; for those with a breadwinner with an educational level in middle/high school or higher; for each additional day with 60 or more minutes of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; and for those with greater daily vegetable consumption (one, two, or three or more servings). Conversely, there were greater odds of obesity in participants from families with medium, poor, and very poor wealth and those from the coast and insular region. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of obesity in Ecuadorian children and adolescents is a public health concern. Sociodemographic and lifestyle behavior differences in young people with obesity should be considered when developing specific interventions. IMPACT: As the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents increases in Latin America, with a particular focus on Ecuador, it becomes crucial to delve into the factors linked to this condition and identify the most successful strategies for its mitigation. The elevated prevalence of obesity among young individuals in Ecuador raises significant public health concerns. To develop targeted interventions, it is crucial to account for sociodemographic variables and lifestyle behaviors that contribute to obesity in this population.

Association between diabetes mellitus and primary biliary cholangitis: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Previous observational studies have demonstrated a link between diabetes mellitus(DM) and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Nevertheless, since these relationships might be confused, whether there is any causal connection or in which direction it exists is unclear. Our investigation aimed to identify the causal associations between DM and PBC. Methods: We acquired genome-wide association study (GWAS) datasets for PBC, Type 1 diabetes(T1DM), and Type 2 diabetes(T2DM) from published GWASs. Inverse variance-weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median (WM), Simple mode, and weighted mode methods were used to determine the causal relationships between DM(T1DM or T2DM) and PBC. Sensitivity analyses were also carried out to ensure the results were robust. To determine the causal relationship between PBC and DM(T1DM or T2DM), we also used reverse MR analysis. Results: T1DM was associated with a higher risk of PBC (OR 1.1525; 95% CI 1.0612-1.2517; p = 0.0007) in the IVW method, but no evidence of a causal effect T2DM on PBC was found (OR 0.9905; 95% CI 0.8446-1.1616; p = 0.9071) in IVW. Results of the reverse MR analysis suggested genetic susceptibility that PBC was associated with an increased risk of T1DM (IVW: OR 1.1991; 95% CI 1.12-1.2838; p = 1.81E-07), but no evidence of a causal effect PBC on T2DM was found (IVW: OR 1.0101; 95% CI 0.9892-1.0315; p = 0.3420). Conclusion: The current study indicated that T1DM increased the risk of developing PBC and vice versa. There was no proof of a causal connection between PBC probability and T2DM. Our results require confirmation through additional replication in larger populations.

Sex differences in 3- to 5-year-old children's motor competence: A pooled cross-sectional analysis of 6241 children.

There is some, albeit inconsistent, evidence supporting sex differences in preschoolers' motor competence (MC), with these observations not uniform when analyzed by age, and cultural groups. Thus, this study examined sex differences across ages in 3- to 5-year-old children's MC. A cross-country pooled sample of 6241 children aged 3-5 years (49.6% girls) was assessed for MC using the Test of Gross Motor Development-2nd/3rd edition, and children were categorized into groups of age in months. Multiple linear regression models and predictive margins were calculated to explore how sex and age in months affect scores of MC (i.e., locomotor and ball skills), with adjustments for country and BMI. The Chow's Test was used to test for the presence of a structural break in the data. Significant differences in favor of girls were seen at 57-59 and 66-68 months of age for locomotor skills; boys performed better in ball skills in all age periods, except for 42-44 and 45-47 months of age. The higher marginal effects were observed for the period between 45-47 and 48-50 months for locomotor skills (F = 30.21; and F = 25.90 for girls and boys, respectively), and ball skills (F = 19.01; and F = 42.11 for girls and boys, respectively). A significantly positive break point was seen at 45-47 months, highlighting the age interval where children's MC drastically improved. The identification of this breakpoint provides an evidence-based metric for when we might expect MC to rapidly increase, and an indicator of early delay when change does not occur at that age.

Inflammation activity affects liver stiffness measurement by magnetic resonance elastography in MASLD.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is recognized as the most precise imaging technology for assessing liver fibrosis in individuals with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). We aimed to investigate the clinical factors and pathological characteristics that may impact LSM in MASLD patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study recruited 124 patients who concurrently performed MRE, MRI-PDFF, and biopsy-proven MASLD. Linear regression models, Spearman's correlation, and subgroup analysis were employed to identify the variables affecting LSM. RESULTS: The AUROC (95 % CI) of MRE for diagnosing fibrosis stage ≥ 1, 2, 3, and 4 was 0.80 (0.70-0.90), 0.76 (0.66-0.85), 0.92 (0.86-0.99), and 0.99 (0.99-1.00), with corresponding cutoffs of 2.56, 2.88, 3.35, and 4.76 kPa, respectively. Multivariate analyses revealed that AST was the only independent clinical variable significantly correlated with LSM. Furthermore, LSM exhibited a notable association with the grade of lobular inflammation and hepatocellular ballooning. Subgroup analysis showed that when AST ≥ 2 ULN or inflammation grade ≥ 2, LSM of patients with early fibrosis stages showed a slight but significant increase. CONCLUSION: MRE demonstrates significant diagnostic accuracy in predicting liver fibrosis stages for MASLD patients, especially for advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, elevated AST and the severity of liver inflammation may impact its accuracy in staging early liver fibrosis.

Food insecurity and academic performance in Spanish adolescents: Results from the EHDLA study.

Introduction: Food insecurity is a growing global issue that affects both developed and developing nations, and mounting evidence suggests that decreased consumption of healthy foods has been linked to lower academic performance in adolescents. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between food insecurity and academic performance in a sample of Spanish adolescents aged 12-17 years from the Valle de Ricote (Region of Murcia, Spain). Methods: The present study analyzed data from the Eating Healthy and Daily Life Activities study, which included a sample of 777 adolescents (55.3 % girls). The Spanish Child Food Security Survey Module was used to assess food insecurity, and academic performance was evaluated using school records provided by the schools. Linear regression models (fitted by robust methods) were used to compare the relationships between food insecurity status and academic performance-related indicators. Results: Adolescents with the highest levels of food insecurity reported the lowest academic performance in language (mean [M] = 4.7; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 3.6 to 5.7), math (M = 4.6; 95 % CI 3.5 to 5.8), foreign language (M = 4.8; 95 % CI 3.8 to 5.8), and grade point average (M = 5.7; 95 % CI 4.9 to 6.5). Conversely, adolescents with the lowest levels of food insecurity reported the highest academic performance in language (M = 6.2; 95 % CI 6.0 to 6.5), math (M = 5.9; 95 % CI 5.5 to 6.2), foreign language (M = 6.2; 95 % CI 5.9 to 6.4), and grade point average (M = 6.7; 95 % CI 6.5 to 6.9) compared to those with higher food security. Conclusions: Living in a more food-insecure household could explain the lower academic performance of adolescents. Food insecurity should always be on the agenda of public policies. The availability of quality basic food essentials must be ensured in permanently satisfactory quantities without compromising access to other fundamental needs.

Health Benefits of Different Sports: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal and Intervention Studies Including 2.6 Million Adult Participants.

BACKGROUND: Several reviews have examined the health benefits of participation in specific sports, such as baseball, cricket, cross-country skiing, cycling, downhill skiing, football, golf, judo, rugby, running and swimming. However, new primary studies on the topic have recently been published, and the respective meta-analytic evidence needs to be updated. OBJECTIVES: To systematically review, summarise and appraise evidence on physical health benefits of participation in different recreational sports. METHODS: Searches for journal articles were conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, SpoLit, SPORTDiscus, Sports Medicine & Education Index and Web of Science. We included longitudinal and intervention studies investigating physical health outcomes associated with participation in a given sport among generally healthy adults without disability. RESULTS: A total of 136 papers from 76 studies conducted among 2.6 million participants were included in the review. Our meta-analyses of available evidence found that: (1) cycling reduces the risk of coronary heart disease by 16% (pooled hazard ratio [HR] = 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.80, 0.89), all-cause mortality by 21% (HR = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.73, 0.84), cancer mortality by 10% (HR = 0.90; 95% CI: 0.85, 0.96) and cardiovascular mortality by 20% (HR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.74, 0.86); (2) football has favourable effects on body composition, blood lipids, fasting blood glucose, blood pressure, cardiovascular function at rest, cardiorespiratory fitness and bone strength (p < 0.050); (3) handball has favourable effects on body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.050); (4) running reduces the risk of all-cause mortality by 23% (HR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.70, 0.85), cancer mortality by 20% (HR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.72, 0.89) and cardiovascular mortality by 27% (HR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.57, 0.94) and improves body composition, cardiovascular function at rest and cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.010); and (5) swimming reduces the risk of all-cause mortality by 24% (HR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.63, 0.92) and improves body composition and blood lipids (p < 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: A range of physical health benefits are associated with participation in recreational cycling, football, handball, running and swimming. More studies are needed to enable meta-analyses of health benefits of participation in other sports. PROSPERO registration number CRD42021234839.

Cross-sectional association between 24-hour movement guidelines and depressive symptoms in Chinese university students.

Background: The world's first 24-h movement guidelines for adults were released on 15 October 2020 in Canada, though evidence of their associations with health indicators in young adults is sparse. This study aimed to report the prevalence of meeting the 24-h movement guidelines and associations with depressive symptoms in a sample of Chinese university students. Methods: Cross-sectional data from 1,793 Chinese university students (mean age = 20.7 years, 63.6% female) were used. Sociodemographic information, movement behaviors (physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep duration), and depressive symptoms were collected using a self-reported questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of meeting the 24-h movement guidelines was 27.8% in Chinese university students. Logistic regression results show that compared to those who met the 24-h movement guidelines, odds ratio (OR) for depressive symptoms in those who met fewer recommendations contained in the 24-h movement guidelines were significantly higher (OR for none = 3.4, 95% CI [2.1-5.5], p < 0.001; OR for one = 2.7, 95% CI [2.0-3.8], p < 0.001; OR for two = 1.5, 95% CI [1.1-2.1], p = 0.013). Conclusion: The prevalence of meeting the 24-h movement guidelines in Chinese university students was relatively low and should be enhanced through multiple strategies. Meeting the 24-h movement guidelines was associated with lower risk for depression in Chinese young adults. It is suggested that moving more, sitting less and sleeping well in this population may reduce the occurrence of depression.