Risk prediction of iron deficiency for plasmapheresis donors in China: Development and validation of a prediction model.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The present study aims to evaluate the iron stores in plasmapheresis donors and develop and validate an iron deficiency (ID) risk prediction model for plasmapheresis donors with potential or existing ID. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed plasmapheresis donors' serum ferritin (SF) and haemoglobin (Hb) levels. The candidate factors showing significant differences in the multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to establish a risk prediction scoring system. The participants were divided into a training cohort and an internal validation cohort in a 7:3 ratio. Additional plasmapheresis donors from a different station were recruited for external validation. RESULTS: The SF levels in both male and female donors in the high-frequency group were significantly lower than those of new donors (male: p < 0.001; female: p = 0.008). The prevalence of ID in female regular donors with a high frequency was significantly higher than that in new donors (33.1% vs. 24.6%; odds ratio = 1.209 [95% CI: 1.035-1.412]). Donation frequency, age, Hb, body mass index and being pre-menopausal were identified as independent risk factors for ID (p < 0.05). The developed model exhibited good discrimination ability (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve >0.7) and calibration (p > 0.05) in development, internal validation cohorts and external validation cohorts. CONCLUSION: A higher donation frequency has been associated with reduced SF levels and an increased risk of ID in women. The developed ID risk prediction model demonstrates moderate discriminative power and good model fitting, suggesting its potential clinical utility.

Food environment trajectories: a sequence analysis from the CARTaGENE cohort.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to create a typology of longitudinal exposure to food environment based on socio-economic context. DESIGN: Food environment trajectories were modelled using a sequence analysis method, followed by a logistic regression to describe those trajectories. SETTING: The study took place in Quebec, Canada, using food environment data from 2009, 2011 and 2018 merged with participants' demographic and socio-economic characteristics. PARTICIPANT: At recruitment, 38 627 participants between the ages of 40 and 69 years from six urban areas in Quebec were included in the CARTaGENE cohort study. The cohort was representative of the Quebec urban population within this age range. RESULTS: Our study revealed five trajectories of food access over time: (1) limited access to food stores throughout the study period, (2) limited access improving, (3) good access diminishing, (4) good access throughout the period and (5) low access throughout the period. Logistic regression analysis showed that participants who were unable to work (OR = 1·42, CI = 1·08-1·86), lived in households with five or more persons (OR = 1·69, CI = 1·17-2·42) and those living in low-income households (OR = 1·32, CI = 1·03-1·71) had higher odds of experiencing a disadvantaged food environment trajectory. Additionally, the level of education and age of participants were associated with the odds of experiencing a disadvantaged food environment trajectory. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates that people facing socio-economic disadvantage are more likely to experience a disadvantaged food environment trajectory over time.

Equity in vaccine coverage in Uganda from 2000 to 2016: revealing the multifaceted nature of inequity.

BACKGROUND: This study analyses vaccine coverage and equity among children under five years of age in Uganda based on the 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) dataset. Understanding equity in vaccine access and the determinants is crucial for the redress of emerging as well as persistent inequities. METHODS: Applied to the UDHS for 2000, 2006, 2011, and 2016, the Vaccine Economics Research for Sustainability and Equity (VERSE) Equity Toolkit provides a multivariate assessment of immunization coverage and equity by (1) ranking the sample population with a composite direct unfairness index, (2) generating quantitative measure of efficiency (coverage) and equity, and (3) decomposing inequity into its contributing factors. The direct unfairness ranking variable is the predicted vaccination coverage from a logistic model based upon fair and unfair sources of variation in vaccination coverage. Our fair source of variation is defined as the child's age - children too young to receive routine immunization are not expected to be vaccinated. Unfair sources of variation are the child's region of residence, and whether they live in an urban or rural area, the mother's education level, the household's socioeconomic status, the child's sex, and their insurance coverage status. For each unfair source of variation, we identify a "more privileged" situation. RESULTS: The coverage and equity of the Diphtheria-Pertussis-Tetanus vaccine, 3rd dose (DPT3) and the Measles-Containing Vaccine, 1st dose (MCV1) - two vaccines indicative of the health system's performance - improved significantly since 2000, from 49.7% to 76.8% and 67.8% to 82.7%, respectively, and there are fewer zero-dose children: from 8.4% to 2.2%. Improvements in retaining children in the program so that they complete the immunization schedule are more modest (from 38.1% to 40.8%). Progress in coverage was pro-poor, with concentration indices (wealth only) moving from 0.127 (DPT3) and 0.123 (MCV1) in 2000 to -0.042 and -0.029 in 2016. Gains in overall equity (composite) were more modest, albeit significant for most vaccines except for MCV1: concentration indices of 0.150 (DPT3) and 0.087 (MCV1) in 2000 and 0.054 and 0.055 in 2016. The influence of the region and settings (urban/rural) of residence significantly decreased since 2000. CONCLUSION: The past two decades have seen significant improvements in vaccine coverage and equity, thanks to the efforts to strengthen routine immunization and ongoing supplemental immunization activities such as the Family Health Days. While maintaining the regular provision of vaccines to all regions, efforts should be made to alleviate the impact of low maternal education and literacy on vaccination uptake.

An integrated approach to analyze equitable access to food stores under disasters from human mobility patterns.

Limited access to food stores is often linked to higher health risks and lower community resilience. Socially vulnerable populations experience persistent disparities in equitable food store access. However, little research has been done to examine how people's access to food stores is affected by natural disasters. Previous studies mainly focus on examining potential access using the travel distance to the nearest food store, which often falls short of capturing the actual access of people. Therefore, to fill this gap, this paper incorporates human mobility patterns into the measure of actual access, leveraging large-scale mobile phone data. Specifically, we propose a novel enhanced two-step floating catchment area method with travel preferences (E2SFCA-TP) to measure accessibility, which extends the traditional E2SFCA model by integrating actual human mobility behaviors. We then analyze people's actual access to grocery and convenience stores across both space and time under the devastating winter storm Uri in Harris County, Texas. Our results highlight the value of using human mobility patterns to better reflect people's actual access behaviors. The proposed E2SFCA-TP measure is more capable of capturing mobility variations in people's access, compared with the traditional E2SFCA measure. This paper provides insights into food store access across space and time, which could aid decision making in resource allocation to enhance accessibility and mitigate the risk of food insecurity in underserved areas.

An Exploratory Study of the Perceived Need for and Acceptability of a Healthy Frozen Meal Product Among Rural Corner Store Customers in North Carolina.

This pilot study assesses barriers to obtaining healthy affordable food and the early-stage acceptability of a novel subsidized healthy frozen meal product designed to address food insecurity and nutritional status among corner store customers in rural North Carolina. A convenience sample of 50 customers were surveyed to examine the perceived availability of healthy food options, barriers to maintaining healthy diets, food shopping and consumption habits, and reception of the product. Findings confirmed barriers to obtaining healthy foods that the product seeks to address, the validity of corner stores as the intervention site, and approval of the product's taste and concept.

Intestinal enteroendocrine cells rely on ryanodine and IP3 calcium store receptors for mechanotransduction.

Enteroendocrine cells (EECs) are specialized sensors of luminal forces and chemicals in the gastrointestinal (GI) epithelium that respond to stimulation with a release of signalling molecules such as serotonin (5-HT). For mechanosensitive EECs, force activates Piezo2 channels, which generate a very rapidly activating and inactivating (∼10 ms) cationic (Na+ , K+ , Ca2+ ) receptor current. Piezo2 receptor currents lead to a large and persistent increase in intracellular calcium (Ca2+ ) that lasts many seconds to sometimes minutes, suggesting signal amplification. However, intracellular calcium dynamics in EEC mechanotransduction remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to determine the role of Ca2+ stores in EEC mechanotransduction. Mechanical stimulation of a human EEC cell model (QGP-1) resulted in a rapid increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+ and a slower decrease in ER stores Ca2+ , suggesting the involvement of intracellular Ca2+ stores. Comparing murine primary colonic EECs with colonocytes showed expression of intercellular Ca2+ store receptors, a similar expression of IP3 receptors, but a >30-fold enriched expression of Ryr3 in EECs. In mechanically stimulated primary EECs, Ca2+ responses decreased dramatically by emptying stores and pharmacologically blocking IP3 and RyR1/3 receptors. RyR3 genetic knockdown by siRNA led to a significant decrease in mechanosensitive Ca2+ responses and 5-HT release. In tissue, pressure-induced increase in the Ussing short circuit current was significantly decreased by ryanodine receptor blockade. Our data show that mechanosensitive EECs use intracellular Ca2+ stores to amplify mechanically induced Ca2+ entry, with RyR3 receptors selectively expressed in EECs and involved in Ca2+ signalling, 5-HT release and epithelial secretion. KEY POINTS: A population of enteroendocrine cells (EECs) are specialized mechanosensors of the gastrointestinal (GI) epithelium that respond to mechanical stimulation with the release of important signalling molecules such as serotonin. Mechanical activation of these EECs leads to an increase in intracellular calcium (Ca2+ ) with a longer duration than the stimulus, suggesting intracellular Ca2+ signal amplification. In this study, we profiled the expression of intracellular Ca2+ store receptors and found an enriched expression of the intracellular Ca2+ receptor Ryr3, which contributed to the mechanically evoked increases in intracellular calcium, 5-HT release and epithelial secretion. Our data suggest that mechanosensitive EECs rely on intracellular Ca2+ stores and are selective in their use of Ryr3 for amplification of intracellular Ca2+ . This work advances our understanding of EEC mechanotransduction and may provide novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets for GI motility disorders.

Long-term segmentation-free assessment of head-flagellum movement and intracellular calcium in swimming human sperm.

Human spermatozoa are the archetype of long-term self-organizing transport in nature and are critical for reproductive success. They utilize coordinated head and flagellar movements to swim long distances within the female reproductive tract in order to find and fertilize the egg. However, to date, long-term analysis of the sperm head-flagellar movements, or indeed those of other flagellated microorganisms, remains elusive due to limitations in microscopy and flagellar-tracking techniques. Here, we present a novel methodology based on local orientation and isotropy of bio-images to obtain long-term kinematic and physiological parameters of individual free-swimming spermatozoa without requiring image segmentation (thresholding). This computer-assisted segmentation-free method evaluates, for the first time, characteristics of the head movement and flagellar beating for up to 9.2 min. We demonstrate its powerful use by showing how releasing Ca2+ from internal stores significantly alters long-term sperm behavior. The method allows for straightforward generalization to other bio-imaging applications, such as studies of bull sperm and Trypanosoma, or indeed of other flagellated microorganisms - appealing to communities other than those investigating sperm biology.

Current definitions of the breathing cycle in alveolar breath-by-breath gas exchange analysis.

Identification of the breathing cycle forms the basis of any breath-by-breath gas exchange analysis. Classically, the breathing cycle is defined as the time interval between the beginning of two consecutive inspiration phases. Based on this definition, several research groups have developed algorithms designed to estimate the volume and rate of gas transferred across the alveolar membrane ("alveolar gas exchange"); however, most algorithms require measurement of lung volume at the beginning of the ith breath (VLi-1; i.e., the end-expiratory lung volume of the preceding ith breath). The main limitation of these algorithms is that direct measurement of VLi-1 is challenging and often unavailable. Two solutions avoid the requirement to measure VLi-1 by redefining the breathing cycle. One method defines the breathing cycle as the time between two equal fractional concentrations of lung expired oxygen (Fo2) (or carbon dioxide; Fco2), typically in the alveolar phase, whereas the other uses the time between equal values of the Fo2/Fn2 (or Fco2/Fn2) ratios [i.e., the ratio of fractional concentrations of lung expired O2 (or CO2) and nitrogen (N2)]. Thus, these methods identify the breathing cycle by analyzing the gas fraction traces rather than the gas flow signal. In this review, we define the traditional approach and two alternative definitions of the human breathing cycle and present the rationale for redefining this term. We also explore the strengths and limitations of the available approaches and provide implications for future studies.

Calcium storage in multivesicular endo-lysosome.

It is now established that endo-lysosomes, also referred to as late endosomes, serve as intracellular calcium store, in addition to the endoplasmic reticulum. While abundant calcium-binding proteins provide the latter compartment with its calcium storage capacity, essentially nothing is known about the mechanism responsible for calcium storage in endo-lysosomes. In this paper, we propose that the structural organization of endo-lysosomal membranes drives the calcium storage capacity of the compartment. Indeed, endo-lysosomes exhibit a characteristic multivesicular ultrastructure, with intralumenal membranes providing a large amount of additional bilayer surface. We used a theoretical approach to investigate the calcium storage capacity of endosomes, using known calcium binding affinities for bilayers and morphological data on endo-lysosome membrane organization. Finally, we tested our predictions experimentally after Sorting Nexin 3 depletion to decrease the intralumenal membrane content. We conclude that the major negatively-charge lipids and proteins of endo-lysosomes serve as calcium-binding molecules in the acidic calcium stores of mammalian cells, while the large surface area of intralumenal membranes provide the necessary storage capacity.

Iron Status and Associated Factors among Canadian Women: Results from the Canadian Health Measures Survey.

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency and overload may negatively impact women's health. There has been limited assessment of iron status and its associated factors among Canadian women. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated associations of various sociodemographic, lifestyle, medication, and dietary factors with body iron stores among pre- and postmenopausal women in Canada. METHODS: Analyses were conducted using cross-sectional, nationally representative survey and biomarker data from women aged 20-79 y (n = 6362) in the Canadian Health Measures Survey (2009-2017). Body iron stores were assessed by measuring serum concentrations of ferritin (SF). Information on potential correlates was collected during an in-home interview. Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate associations with SF concentration, and logistic regression was used to estimate associations with iron deficiency (SF <15 µg/L) or elevated iron stores (SF >150 µg/L). RESULTS: Geometric mean SF concentrations were significantly higher in postmenopausal than in premenopausal women (73.2 versus 33.8 µg/L; P < 0.001). The prevalence of iron deficiency among pre- and postmenopausal women was 16.0% and 4.0%, respectively, whereas that of elevated iron stores was 2.7% and 21.0%, respectively. After simultaneous adjustment for multiple factors, including high-sensitivity CRP (inflammation marker), we found that age, East/Southeast Asian (versus White) race/ethnicity, alcohol, and red meat consumption were positively associated with SF concentration among pre- and postmenopausal women. In addition, aspirin use and dairy consumption were inversely associated with SF concentration among postmenopausal women only. Similar patterns were observed for associations with elevated iron stores among postmenopausal women, whereas higher grain consumption was associated with an increased prevalence of iron deficiency among premenopausal women. CONCLUSIONS: Sociodemographic, lifestyle, medication, and dietary factors are correlated with iron status determined by SF concentration among Canadian women. The findings may have implications for intervention strategies aimed at optimizing body iron stores in pre- and postmenopausal women.

High carbohydrate consumption increases lipid storage and promotes migratory flight in locusts.

Migration allows animals to track favorable environments and avoid harmful conditions. However, migration is energetically costly, so migrating animals must prepare themselves by increasing their energy stores. Despite the importance of locust migratory swarms, we still understand little about the physiology of locust migration. During long-distance flight, locusts rely on lipid oxidation, despite the fact that lipids are relatively rare in their leaf-based diets. Therefore, locusts and other insect herbivores synthesize and store lipid from ingested carbohydrates, which are also important for initial flight. These data suggest that diets high in carbohydrate should increase lipid stores and the capacity for migratory flight in locusts. As predicted, locust lipid stores and flight performance increased with an increase in the relative carbohydrate content in their food. However, locust flight termination was not associated with complete lipid depletion. We propose potential testable mechanisms that might explain how macronutrient consumption can affect flight endurance.

Field physiology in the aquatic realm: ecological energetics and diving behavior provide context for elucidating patterns and deviations.

Comparative physiology has developed a rich understanding of the physiological adaptations of organisms, from microbes to megafauna. Despite extreme differences in size and a diversity of habitats, general patterns are observed in their physiological adaptations. Yet, many organisms deviate from the general patterns, providing an opportunity to understand the importance of ecology in determining the evolution of unusual adaptations. Aquatic air-breathing vertebrates provide unique study systems in which the interplay between ecology, physiology and behavior is most evident. They must perform breath-hold dives to obtain food underwater, which imposes a physiological constraint on their foraging time as they must resurface to breathe. This separation of two critical resources has led researchers to investigate these organisms' physiological adaptations and trade-offs. Addressing such questions on large marine animals is best done in the field, given the difficulty of replicating the environment of these animals in the lab. This Review examines the long history of research on diving physiology and behavior. We show how innovative technology and the careful selection of research animals have provided a holistic understanding of diving mammals' physiology, behavior and ecology. We explore the role of the aerobic diving limit, body size, oxygen stores, prey distribution and metabolism. We then identify gaps in our knowledge and suggest areas for future research, pointing out how this research will help conserve these unique animals.

Implementation of a food retail intervention to reduce purchase of unhealthy food and beverages in remote Australia: mixed-method evaluation using the consolidated framework for implementation research.

BACKGROUND: Adoption of health-enabling food retail interventions in food retail will require effective implementation strategies. To inform this, we applied an implementation framework to a novel real-world food retail intervention, the Healthy Stores 2020 strategy, to identify factors salient to intervention implementation from the perspective of the food retailer. METHODS: A convergent mixed-method design was used and data were interpreted using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). The study was conducted alongside a randomised controlled trial in partnership with the Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation (ALPA). Adherence data were collected for the 20 consenting Healthy Stores 2020 study stores (ten intervention /ten control) in 19 communities in remote Northern Australia using photographic material and an adherence checklist. Retailer implementation experience data were collected through interviews with the primary Store Manager for each of the ten intervention stores at baseline, mid- and end-strategy. Deductive thematic analysis of interview data was conducted and informed by the CFIR. Intervention adherence scores derived for each store assisted interview data interpretation. RESULTS: Healthy Stores 2020 strategy was, for the most part, adhered to. Analysis of the 30 interviews revealed that implementation climate of the ALPA organisation, its readiness for implementation including a strong sense of social purpose, and the networks and communication between the Store Managers and other parts of ALPA, were CFIR inner and outer domains most frequently referred to as positive to strategy implementation. Store Managers were a 'make-or-break' touchstone of implementation success. The co-designed intervention and strategy characteristics and its perceived cost-benefit, combined with the inner and outer setting factors, galvanised the individual characteristics of Store Managers (e.g., optimism, adaptability and retail competency) to champion implementation. Where there was less perceived cost-benefit, Store Managers seemed less enthusiastic for the strategy. CONCLUSIONS: Factors critical to implementation (a strong sense of social purpose; structures and processes within and external to the food retail organisation and their alignment with intervention characteristics (low complexity, cost advantage); and Store Manager characteristics) can inform the design of implementation strategies for the adoption of this health-enabling food retail initiative in the remote setting. This research can help inform a shift in research focus to identify, develop and test implementation strategies for the wide adoption of health-enabling food retail initiatives into practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN 12,618,001,588,280.

A healthier retail food environment around the home is associated with longer duration of weight-loss maintenance among successful weight-loss maintainers.

Few studies have examined associations between the retail food environment and weight maintenance. This study examined the residential Retail Food Environment Index (RFEI) of weight loss maintainers and associations with weight maintenance duration, perceived effort and difficulty managing weight, and coping and monitoring strategies. Participants were 6947 members of the WW Success Registry (enrolled January 2018-February 2020), a nationwide (United States) convenience sample of individuals who lost weight using Weight Watchers (WW) and maintained a ≥ 9.1 kg weight loss for ≥1 year (Mean 24.7 kg loss for 3.4 years). Home addresses were geo-coded and the RFEI (ratio of unhealthy [fast-food and convenience stores] to healthy [supermarkets, grocery stores, and fruit/vegetable vendors] outlets) was used to classify the healthfulness of the food environments. Validated questionnaires measured psychological coping and self-monitoring. Compared to individuals living in the healthiest food environments (RFEI<1.6), those in the least healthy food environments (RFEI ≥4.0) maintained weight loss for 0.5 years less (3.2 vs 3.7 years; 95% CI between-group difference = 0.20, 0.80), reported statistically higher scores but not clinically relevant differences on perceived effort (4.6 vs. 4.5; 95% between-group difference = 0.01, 0.21) and difficulty managing their weight (3.1 vs. 3.0; 95% CI between-group difference = 0.01, 0.17) and practice of self-monitoring (2.7 vs. 2.6; 95% CI between-group difference = 0.01, 0.14). No differences in psychological coping were observed. Weight loss maintainers living in the least healthy retail food environments maintained weight loss for a shorter duration compared to those in the healthiest food environments.

Occurrence of methylsiloxanes in indoor store dust in China and potential human exposure.

Methylsiloxanes are synthetic molecules with versatile and extensive applications. Because of their volatile properties, they are easily released from manufactured products and contaminate indoor environments, causing high human exposure. However, available information on their presence in specific microenvironments, and on the related potential risks for human health, is limited. We conducted a survey of sixteen methylsiloxanes species, including three cyclic (D4-D6) and thirteen linear (L4-L16) chemicals, in indoor dust samples from twenty-eight stores representative of six store categories in Beijing, China. Total methylsiloxane concentrations in store dust were 176-54,825 ng/g, depending on the store, with a median of 2196 ng/g. Linear chemicals represented a median proportion of 90.8% of total methylsiloxanes. The measured methylsiloxane concentrations in this study were marginally higher than those reported previously for standard living and working environments. The highest linear and total methylsiloxane concentrations were measured in electronic stores, while the highest cyclic methylsiloxane concentrations were measured in department stores. The presence of methylsiloxanes in the store dust samples was attributed mainly to their release from chemical additives in marketed products. Estimated median total exposure doses under normal and worst-case exposure scenarios were 0.237 and 0.888 ng/kg bw/d, respectively. Further investigation is needed to characterize methylsiloxane distribution in other microenvironments and to evaluate the associated health risks.

Bloom-induced internal release controlling phosphorus dynamics in large shallow eutrophic Lake Taihu, China.

High phosphorus (P) concentrations are commonly observed in lakes during algal blooms despite massive efforts on external nutrient reduction. However, the knowledge about the relative contribution of internal P loading linked with algal blooms on lake phosphorus (P) dynamics remains limited. To quantify the effect of internal loading on P dynamics, we conducted extensive spatial and multi-frequency nutrient monitoring from 2016 to 2021 in Lake Taihu, a large shallow eutrophic lake in China, and its tributaries (2017-2021). The in-lake P stores (ILSP) and external loading were estimated and then internal P loading was quantified from the mass balance equation. The results showed that the in-lake total P stores (ILSTP) ranged from 398.5 to 1530.2 tons (t), and exhibited a dramatic intra- and inter-annual variability. The annual internal TP loading released from sediment ranged from 1054.3 to 1508.4 t, which was equivalent to 115.6% (TP loading) of the external inputs on average, and responsible for the fluctuations of ILSTP on a weekly scale. High-frequency observations exemplified that ILSTP increased by 136.4% during algal blooms in 2017, while by only 47.2% as a result of external loading after heavy precipitation in 2020. Our study demonstrated that both bloom-induced internal loading and storm-induced external loading are likely to run counter significantly to watershed nutrient reduction efforts in large shallow lakes. More importantly, bloom-induced internal loading is higher than storm-induced external loading over the short term. Given the positive feedback loop between internal P loadings and algal bloom in eutrophic lakes, which explains the significant fluctuation of P concentration while nitrogen concentration decreased. It is emphasized that internal loading and ecosystem restoration are unignorable in shallow lakes, particularly in the algal-dominated region.

Factors associated with fruit and vegetable consumption among Burmese refugees.

OBJECTIVE: The Burmese population is one of the fast-growing refugee populations in the USA. This study investigated behavioural and environmental factors associated with fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption among Burmese refugees. DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional interview survey in 2018-2019. The 24-h recall was used to assess dietary behaviour. Multivariable logistic regression models were constructed with meeting the daily FV consumption recommendation (two or more servings of fruits and three or more servings of vegetables) as the outcome variable. We selected socio-economics, nutritional knowledge, food shopping frequency, ethnicity of preferred food store owners, perceived neighbourhood food environment and network distance to preferred food stores as potential explanatory variables. SETTING: Two Upstate New York counties. PARTICIPANTS: Burmese refugees (n 173) aged ≥18 years. RESULTS: Forty-five percentage of respondents met the daily FV consumption recommendation, and nearly all respondents identified ethnic (Burmese, Chinese/pan-Asian, or South Asian/halal) stores as their preferred stores to purchase FV. In the best-fit model, age (OR 1·08, 95 % CI (1·04, 1·12)) and shopping frequency (OR 1·51, 95 % CI (1·01, 2·26)) were positively associated, and network distance to preferred stores in kilometres (OR 0·81, 95 % CI (0·73, 0·90)) was negatively associated with meeting the daily FV consumption recommendation. No significant effect modifications by car ownership, poverty, length of stay in the USA and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participation were detected. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggested that having Asian ethnic food stores within a short, walkable distance from home and shopping at these stores often can promote healthy dietary behaviour among Burmese refugees.

Associations between food and beverage purchases and skin carotenoids among diverse small food retail store customers.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if customer purchases at small food stores are associated with healthfulness of the diet as approximated by skin carotenoids. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional survey of customers in small food stores regarding demographics and food purchases. Food and beverage purchases were classified as 'healthy' or 'non-healthy' and 'carotenoid' v. 'non-carotenoid' using a systematic classification scheme. Fruit and vegetable intake was objectively assessed using a non-invasive device to measure skin carotenoids. Associations between variables of interest were examined using Pearson's correlation coefficients, t tests and multiple linear regression analyses. SETTING: Twenty-two small food retail stores in rural (n 7 stores) and urban (n 15) areas of North Carolina. PARTICIPANTS: Customers of small food stores. RESULTS: Of study participants (n 1086), 55·1 % were male, 60·0 % were African American/Black and 4·2 % were Hispanic, with a mean age of 43·5 years. Overall, 36 % purchased at least one healthy item, and 7·6 % of participants purchased a carotenoid-containing food/beverage. Healthy foods and beverages purchased included produce, lean meats, 100 % juices, plain popcorn, plain nuts, milk and yogurt. Unhealthy items included non-100 % juices, crackers, chips, candy, cakes and donuts. Purchase of a healthy or carotenoid-containing item was positively associated with skin carotenoid scores (P = 0·002 and 0·006, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: A relatively small proportion of customers purchased any healthy or carotenoid-containing foods and beverages, and those who did purchase healthy options had higher skin carotenoid scores. Future research should confirm these findings in different populations.

A longitudinal analysis of the fluctuation of food stores in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Changes in food environments have the potential to affect consumption, nutritional status, and health, and understanding these changes is of utmost importance. This study, therefore, aimed to examine the fluctuation of food stores that sell fruits and vegetables over five years in the health promotion service area of Primary Health Care (PHC) in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. METHODS: This was an ecological study that used data from a food environment audit conducted in the realm of Brazilian PHC. Buffers of 1 mile (equivalent to 1600 m) were created around health promotion services to define food environments. All food stores and open-air food markets that sold fruits and vegetables (FV) within this buffer area were considered eligible. The data collection was performed during two periods: the baseline, in 2013, and after five years, in 2018. This study compares the fluctuation by the type of stores and according to the health vulnerability index (HVI). RESULTS: After 5 years, 35.2% of the stores were stable; 154 stores were closed, and 155 were opened. The stability was greater in low-vulnerability areas, and the fluctuation differed by type of store only for areas with high vulnerability. The number of supermarket decreased in high HVI territories; and local stores, showed greater stability when compared to specialized FV markets. CONCLUSIONS: The differences in store fluctuations according to the vulnerability of areas demonstrate the importance of food supply policies considering the local characteristics to reduce inequities of access to healthy foods.

Effects of calcium-free ageing on ethanol-induced activation and developmental potential of mouse oocytes.

Although ethanol treatment is widely used to activate oocytes, the underlying mechanisms are largely unclear. Roles of intracellular calcium stores and extracellular calcium in ethanol-induced activation (EIA) of oocytes remain to be verified, and whether calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is involved in EIA is unknown. This study showed that calcium-free ageing (CFA) in vitro significantly decreased intracellular stored calcium (sCa) and CaSR expression, and impaired EIA, spindle/chromosome morphology and developmental potential of mouse oocytes. Although EIA in oocytes with full sCa after ageing with calcium does not require calcium influx, calcium influx is essential for EIA of oocytes with reduced sCa after CFA. Furthermore, the extremely low EIA rate in oocytes with CFA-downregulated CaSR expression and the fact that inhibiting CaSR significantly decreased the EIA of oocytes with a full complement of CaSR suggest that CaSR played a significant role in the EIA of ageing oocytes. In conclusion, CFA impaired EIA and the developmental potential of mouse oocytes by decreasing sCa and downregulating CaSR expression. Because mouse oocytes routinely treated for activation (18 h post hCG) are equipped with a full sCa complement and CaSR, the present results suggest that, while calcium influx is not essential, CaSR is required for the EIA of oocytes.