The VitMin Lab Sandwich-ELISA Assays for Iron and Inflammation Markers Compared Well with Clinical Analyzer Reference-Type Assays in Subsamples of the Nepal National Micronutrient Status Survey.

BACKGROUND: The low cost and small specimen volume of the VitMin Lab ELISA assays for serum ferritin (Fer), soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and α-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) have allowed their application to micronutrient surveys conducted in low-resource countries for ∼2 decades. OBJECTIVES: We conducted a comparison between the ELISA and reference-type assays used in the US NHANES. METHODS: Using the Roche clinical analyzer as a reference, we measured random subsets of the 2016 Nepal National Micronutrient Status Survey (200 serum samples from children aged 6-59 mo; 100 serum samples from nonpregnant women) for Fer, sTfR, CRP, and AGP. We compared the combined data sets with the ELISA survey results using descriptive analyses. RESULTS: The Lin's concordance coefficients between the 2 assays were ≥0.89 except for sTfR (Lin's ρ = 0.58). The median relative difference to the reference was as follows: Fer, -8.5%; sTfR, 71.2%; CRP, -19.5%; and AGP, -8.2%. The percentage of VitMin samples agreeing within ±30% of the reference was as follows: Fer, 88.5%; sTfR, 1.70%; CRP, 74.9%; and AGP, 92.9%. The prevalence of abnormal results was comparable between the 2 assays for Fer, CRP, and AGP, and for sTfR after adjusting to the Roche assay. Continued biannual performance (2007-2019) of the VitMin assays in CDC's external quality assessment program (6 samples/y) demonstrated generally acceptable performance. CONCLUSIONS: Using samples from the Nepal survey, the VitMin ELISA assays produced mostly comparable results to the Roche reference-type assays for Fer, CRP, and AGP. The lack of sTfR assay standardization to a common reference material explains the large systematic difference observed for sTfR, which could be corrected by an adjustment equation pending further validation. This snapshot comparison together with the long-term external quality assessment links the survey data generated by the VitMin Lab to the Roche assays used in NHANES.

Religious Coping Amidst a Pandemic: Impact on COVID-19-Related Anxiety.

Religious coping is one potential strategy to manage stressors. Positive religious coping has been linked to better physical and mental health outcomes, while negative religious coping has been associated with increased stress and anxiety. The primary objective of this study was to examine individuals' use of religious coping during the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined the relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and religious coping in a national sample of 970 individuals located within the USA recruited via Amazon's Mechanical Turk (MTurk) between September 12, 2020, and September 25, 2020. Findings indicate negative religious coping is most strongly associated with COVID-19 anxiety, as higher levels of negative religious coping were positively related to COVID-19 anxiety. In a moderated multiple regression wherein positive religious coping and negative religious coping were included in an interaction term, only negative religious coping was significantly associated with COVID-19 anxiety. This may have been due, in part, because individual's typical religious engagement was disrupted by social distancing and isolation measures. When accounting for participant age, sex, religious beliefs and behaviors, and negative religious coping, positive religious coping was negatively, although weakly, associated with COVID-19 anxiety. These findings suggest that negative religious coping has a stronger association with COVID-19 anxiety than positive religious coping.

Folate and Vitamin B12 Deficiency Among Non-pregnant Women of Childbearing-Age in Guatemala 2009-2010: Prevalence and Identification of Vulnerable Populations.

INTRODUCTION: Information on folate and vitamin B12 deficiency rates in Guatemala is essential to evaluate the current fortification program. The objectives of this study were to describe the prevalence of folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies among women of childbearing age (WCBA) in Guatemala and to identify vulnerable populations at greater risk for nutrient deficiency. METHODS: A multistage cluster probability study was designed with national and regional representation of nonpregnant WCBA (15-49 years of age). Primary data collection was carried out in 2009-2010. Demographic and health information was collected through face-to-face interviews. Blood samples were collected from 1473 WCBA for serum and red blood cell (RBC) folate and serum vitamin B12. Biochemical concentrations were normalized using geometric means. Prevalence rate ratios were estimated to assess relative differences among different socioeconomic and cultural groups including ethnicity, age, education level, wealth index and rural versus urban locality. RESULTS: National prevalence estimates for deficient serum [<10 nmol per liter (nmol/L)] and RBC folate (<340 nmol/L) concentrations were 5.1 % (95 % CI 3.8, 6.4) and 8.9 % (95 % CI 6.7, 11.7), respectively; for vitamin B12 deficiency (<148 pmol/L) 18.5 % (95 % CI 15.6, 21.3). Serum and RBC folate deficiency prevalences were higher for rural areas than for urban areas (8.0 vs. 2.0 % and 13.5 vs. 3.9 %, respectively). The prevalence of RBC folate deficiency showed wide variation by geographic region (3.2-24.9 %) and by wealth index (4.1-15.1 %). The prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency also varied among regions (12.3-26.1 %). CONCLUSIONS: In Guatemala, folate deficiency was more prevalent among indigenous rural and urban poor populations. Vitamin B12 deficiency was widespread among WCBA. Our results suggest the ongoing need to monitor existing fortification programs, in particular regarding its reach to vulnerable populations.

Urine sodium excretion increased slightly among U.S. adults between 1988 and 2010.

Little information is available on temporal trends in sodium intake in the U.S. population using urine sodium excretion as a biomarker. Our aim was to assess 1988-2010 trends in estimated 24-h urine sodium (24hUNa) excretion among U.S. adults (age 20-59 y) participating in the cross-sectional NHANES. We used subsamples from a 1988-1994 convenience sample, a 2003-2006 one-third random sample, and a 2010 one-third random sample to comply with resource constraints. We estimated 24hUNa excretion from measured sodium concentrations in spot urine samples by use of calibration equations (for men and women) derived from the International Cooperative Study on Salt, Other Factors, and Blood Pressure study. Estimated 24hUNa excretion increased over the 20-y period [1988-1994, 2003-2006, and 2010; means ± SEMs (n): 3160 ± 38.4 mg/d (1249), 3290 ± 29.4 mg/d (1235), and 3290 ± 44.4 mg/d (525), respectively; P-trend = 0.022]. We observed significantly higher mean estimated 24hUNa excretion in each survey period (P < 0.001) for men compared with women (31-33%) and for persons with a higher body mass index (BMI; 32-35% for obese vs. normal weight) or blood pressure (17-26% for hypertensive vs. normal blood pressure). After adjusting for age, sex, and race-ethnicity, temporal trends in mean estimated 24hUNa excretion remained significant (P-trend = 0.004). We observed no temporal trends in mean estimated 24hUNa excretion among BMI subgroups, nor after adjusting for BMI. Although several limitations apply to this analysis (the use of a convenience sample in 1988-1994 and using estimated 24hUNa excretion as a biomarker of sodium intake), these first NHANES data suggest that mean estimated 24hUNa excretion increased slightly in U.S. adults over the past 2 decades, and this increase may be explained by a shift in the distribution of BMI.

Development of a Standard Reference Material for metabolomics research.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has developed a Standard Reference Material (SRM) to support technology development in metabolomics research. SRM 1950 Metabolites in Human Plasma is intended to have metabolite concentrations that are representative of those found in adult human plasma. The plasma used in the preparation of SRM 1950 was collected from both male and female donors, and donor ethnicity targets were selected based upon the ethnic makeup of the U.S. population. Metabolomics research is diverse in terms of both instrumentation and scientific goals. This SRM was designed to apply broadly to the field, not toward specific applications. Therefore, concentrations of approximately 100 analytes, including amino acids, fatty acids, trace elements, vitamins, hormones, selenoproteins, clinical markers, and perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), were determined. Value assignment measurements were performed by NIST and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). SRM 1950 is the first reference material developed specifically for metabolomics research.

Folate status in the US population 20 y after the introduction of folic acid fortification.

BACKGROUND: Enriched cereal-grain products have been fortified in the United States for >20 y to improve folate status in women of reproductive age and reduce the risk of folic acid-responsive neural tube birth defects (NTDs). OBJECTIVES: Our objectives were to assess postfortification changes in folate status in the overall US population and in women aged 12-49 y and to characterize recent folate status by demographic group and use of folic acid-containing supplements. METHODS: We examined cross-sectional serum and RBC folate data from the NHANES 1999-2016. RESULTS: Serum folate geometric means increased from 2007-2010 to 2011-2016 in persons aged ≥1 y (38.7 compared with 40.6 nmol/L) and in women (35.3 compared with 37.0 nmol/L), whereas RBC folate showed no significant change. Younger age groups, men, and Hispanic persons showed increased serum and RBC folate concentrations, whereas non-Hispanic black persons and supplement nonusers showed increased serum folate concentrations. The folate insufficiency prevalence (RBC folate <748 nmol/L; NTD risk) in women decreased from 2007-2010 (23.2%) to 2011-2016 (18.6%) overall and in some subgroups (e.g., women aged 20-39 y, Hispanic and non-Hispanic black women, and supplement nonusers). After covariate adjustment, RBC folate was significantly lower in all age groups (by ∼10-20%) compared with persons aged ≥60 y and in Hispanic (by 8.2%), non-Hispanic Asian (by 12.1%), and non-Hispanic black (by 20.5%) compared with non-Hispanic white women (2011-2016). The 90th percentile for serum (∼70 nmol/L) and RBC (∼1800 nmol/L) folate in supplement nonusers aged ≥60 y was similar to the geometric mean in users (2011-2014). CONCLUSIONS: Blood folate concentrations in the US population overall and in women have not decreased recently, and folate insufficiency rates are ∼20%. Continued monitoring of all age groups is advisable given the high folate status particularly in older supplement users.

A comparison of mental strategies during athletic skills performance.

The current study examined the effects of performance enhancement techniques (PET's) on motor skill performance. Specifically, one hundred fifty college student volunteers (Men = 41; 27.3% and Women = 109; 72.6%) were randomly assigned to one of the nine conditions (Cond): Cond 1 and 2, simultaneous, externally verbalized self-talk or imagery (e.g., participants were instructed to say "aim, back, birdie "or engaged in imagery out loud while putting); Cond 3 and 4, delayed externally verbalized self-talk or imagery (e.g., participants were instructed to say "aim, back, birdie "or engaged in imagery out loud before putting); Cond 5 and 6, simultaneous, internally verbalized self-talk or imagery (e.g., participants were instructed to say "aim, back, birdie "or engaged in imagery silently to oneself while putting); Cond 7 and 8, delayed internally verbalized (e.g., participant were instructed to say "aim, back, birdie "or engaged in imagery silently to oneself before putting); and Cond 9, no instruction control group. All participants were asked to perform a golf-putting task. Results indicated that participants who implemented several (PET's) increased their putting accuracy across overall difference score evaluations F (8, 141) = 4.01, p < 0.05 when compared to a no instruction control condition. Follow-up analyses indicated that participants who reportedly engaged in ten hours or less of athletic activities per week preferred self-talk strategies F (2, 119) = 4.38, p < 0.05 whereas participants who endorsed ten hours or more of athletic activity per week preferred imagery strategies F (2, 25) = 5.27, p < 0.05. Key PointsMental imagery and self-talk strategies are implemented by athletes in order to regulate arousal, reduce maladaptive behaviors, reconstruct negative thoughts, and to increase one's concentration and focus.Results of the current study suggest that participants who engaged in several performance enhancement techniques exhibited enhanced performance on a golf putting task when compared to participants in a control condition.Participants who endorsed limited athletic familiarity and activity (e.g., ten hours or less) preferred self-talk practice whereas participants who endorsed higher ratings scores of athletic familiarity and activity (e.g., ten hours or more) preferred imagery strategies.The results of this study demonstrate the flexibility of Performance Enhancement Techniques (e.g., imagery v. self-talk, internal v. external, simultaneous v. delayed) and how they can be implemented to help an athlete reach his or her full potential.

Degree of handedness and priming: further evidence for a distinction between production and identification priming mechanisms.

The distinction between implicit and explicit forms of memory retrieval is long-standing, and important to the extent it reveals how different neural architecture supports different aspects of memory function. Similarly, distinctions have been made between kinds of repetition priming, a form of implicit memory retrieval. This study focuses on the production-identification (ID) priming distinction, which delineates priming tasks involving verification of stimulus features as compared to priming tasks that require use of a cue to guide response retrieval. Studies investigating this dissociation in dementia or similar patient populations indicate that these forms of priming may differ in their neural bases. The current study looks at degree of handedness as a way of investigating inferred neural architecture supporting these two forms of priming. A growing body of research indicates that degree of handedness (consistent, or CH, versus inconsistent, or ICH) is associated with greater interhemispheric interaction and functional access to right hemisphere processing in ICH, with superior performance seen in ICH on memory tasks reliant on this processing. Arguments about the theoretical mechanisms underlying ID and production forms of perceptual priming tasks suggest that performance on these tasks will differ as a function of degree of handedness. We tested this question in a group of CH and ICH young adults, who were asked to study lists of words prior to performing a production priming task (word stem completion, WSC), a perceptual word ID task, and a word stem cued recall task. While both handedness groups exhibited reliable priming across tasks, WSC priming was greater in ICH than CH participants, with ID priming not differing between groups. This dissociation supports the argument that production and ID forms of priming have different underlying neural bases.

Production and identification repetition priming in amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

The experiment reported here examined implicit memory function, as measured through repetition priming, in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to examine whether impairments exist in this aspect of memory function. Young adults, healthy older controls, Alzheimer's disease patients, and MCI participants were asked to perform two types of implicit memory tests (word stem completion and threshold identification repetition priming tasks), as well as a recognition test for studied items. As expected, young adults performed better than the other participants on the recognition test and the word stem completion task; there was equivalent priming across groups on the word identification task. While both the older control and MCI participants showed lower levels of priming on the word stem completion task relative to the young adults, the magnitude of priming was equivalent for these two groups, and reliably greater than that of the dementia participants. These results suggest that not all aspects of memory function are impaired in MCI relative to healthy aging.

Recollecting, recognizing, and other acts of remembering: an overview of human memory.

The question of whether memory is important to human existence is simple to answer: life without memory would be devoid of any meaning. The question of what memory is, however, is much more difficult to answer. The main purpose of this article is to provide an overview of memory function, by drawing distinctions between different memory systems, specifically declarative (ie, conscious) versus nondeclarative (ie, nonconscious) memory systems. To distinguish between these larger systems and their various components, we include discussion of deficits in memory that occur as a consequence of brain injury and normative aging processes. Included in these descriptions is discussion of the neuroanatomical correlates of each memory component described to illustrate the importance of particular brain regions to different aspects of memory function.

Frontal lobe dysfunction and false memory susceptibility in older adults.

The study reported here was conducted to examine the role of frontal lobe function in false memory susceptibility in older adults, as little research has specifically examined this question in older adults. False recognition was compared in three groups of older adults (one with no evidence of cognitive impairment, one with evident frontal impairment but no other dysfunction, and an Alzheimer's dementia group) to a single group of young adults. Results indicate that false memory susceptibility was highest in the frontally impaired group, with young and older control participants performing similarly. In contrast, Alzheimer's dementia patients showed relatively low levels of false memory susceptibility, likely due to overall poor memory for list items, indicating that general memory impairments are not likely to be driving false memory susceptibility. Potential mechanisms underlying these effects are discussed.

Age differences in inhibition of schema-activated distractors.

In recent years a debate has ensued over the arguments that normal aging is associated with a reduction in the efficiency of inhibitory mechanisms underlying selective attention, leading to disruptions in the normal operation of working memory. The purpose of the study reported here was to investigate the relationship between age, inhibitory functioning, and working memory, adapting a procedure previously used by Gernsbacher and Faust (1991) to measure the suppression of activated, but no-longer-relevant information in working memory. Young and older adults viewed picture arrays of objects found in common settings, and then judged whether a target word named an item from the previously presented array. Older adults relative to young adults demonstrated less suppression of critical target items. The implications of these findings regarding inhibitory function in old age are discussed.