Publications

<div>Abstract<p>Observational studies report that physical activity and metformin are associated with improved clinical outcome in patients with cancer. Inflammation is one biological mechanism hypothesized to mediate these associations. In this phase II, multicenter, 2 × 2 factorial trial, 139 patients with breast and colorectal cancer who completed standard therapy were randomized to one of four treatment groups for 12 weeks: exercise alone, metformin alone, exercise and metformin, or control. Inflammation outcomes included high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), soluble tumor necrosis factor alpha receptor two (sTNFαR2), and IL6. The primary modeling strategy evaluated the trial product estimand that was quantified using a generalized linear mixed model. Compared with control, exercise alone reduced hs-CRP [−30.2%; 95% confidence interval (CI), −50.3, −1.0] and IL6 (−30.9%; 95% CI, −47.3, −9.5) but did not change sTNFαR2 (1.0%; 95% CI, −10.4, 13.9). Compared with control, metformin alone did not change hs-CRP (−13.9%; 95% CI, −40.0, 23.4), sTNFαR2 (−10.4%; 95% CI, −21.3, 2.0), or IL6 (−22.9%; 95% CI, −42.3, 2.0). Compared with control, exercise and metformin reduced sTNFαR2 (−13.1%; 95% CI, −22.9, −1.0) and IL6 (−38.7%; 95% CI, −52.3, −18.9) but did not change hs-CRP (−20.5%; 95% CI, −44.0, 12.7). The combination of exercise and metformin was not synergistic for hs-CRP, sTNFαR2, or IL6. In survivors of breast and colorectal cancer with low baseline physical activity and without type 2 diabetes, exercise and metformin reduced measures of inflammation that are associated with cancer recurrence and mortality.</p></div>

Importance The associations of low-carbohydrate diets (LCDs) with long-term weight management remains unclear, and the source and quality of macronutrients within LCDs are less explored. Objectives To prospectively examine associations between changes in LCD indices and weight change among US adults. Design, Setting, and Participants This prospective cohort study included initially healthy participants at baseline from the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS; 1986-2010), Nurses’ Health Study II (NHSII; 1991-2015), and Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS; 1986-2018). Data analysis was performed between November 2022 and April 2023. Exposures Five LCD indices were examined: (1) a total LCD (TLCD) emphasizing overall lower carbohydrate intake; (2) an animal-based LCD (ALCD) that emphasized animal-sourced protein and fat; (3) a vegetable-based LCD (VLCD) that emphasized plant-sourced protein and fat; (4) a healthy LCD (HLCD) emphasizing less refined carbohydrates, more plant protein, and healthy fat; and (5) an unhealthy LCD (ULCD) emphasizing less healthful carbohydrates, more animal protein, and unhealthy fat. Main Outcomes and Measures The outcome of interest was 4-year changes in self-reported body weight. Results A total of 123 332 participants (mean [SD] age, 45.0 [9.7] years; 103 320 [83.8%] female) were included in this study. The median carbohydrate intake (as a percentage of energy) of the highest quintiles of TLCD score at baseline ranged from 38.3% in HPFS to 40.9% in NHSII. Mean weight gain over 4-year intervals among participants varied from 0.8 kg in the HPFS to 1.8 kg in the NHSII. After adjusting for demographics and baseline and concomitant changes of selected lifestyle factors, each 1-SD increase in TLCD score was associated with 0.06 (95% CI, 0.04-0.08) kg more weight gain over the 4-year periods. Similarly, participants gained 0.13 (95% CI, 0.11 to 0.14) kg per each 1-SD increase in ALCD score and 0.39 (95% CI, 0.37 to 0.40) kg per each 1-SD change in ULCD score. In contrast, each 1-SD increase in VLCD score was associated with 0.03 (95% CI, 0.01 to 0.04) kg less weight gain, and each 1-SD increase in HLCD score was associated with 0.36 (95% CI, 0.35 to 0.38) kg less weight gain. The associations were more pronounced among obese individuals (per 1-SD increase in HLCD score: BMI ≥30, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.80, 0.97] kg less weight gain; BMI <25, 0.23 [95% CI, 0.20, 0.26] kg less weight gain; P for interaction < .001). Conclusions and Relevance These findings suggest that the quality of LCDs may play a critical role in modulating long-term weight change. Only LCDs that emphasized high-quality protein, fat, and carbohydrates from whole grains and other plant-based foods were associated with less weight gain.

Introduction There are no studies on association between early childhood body mass index and lumbar disk degeneration (DD) later. Materials and Methods The Oulu back study includes children who belong to the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 and have been followed up to 21 years. Data from child health clinic records were used to derive BMI at birth, at adiposity peak (AP), and at adiposity rebound (AR). Lumbar MRI was performed using a 1.5-T scanner at the age of 21. Lumbar intervertebral disks were graded as normal (0), mildly (1), moderately (2), or severely (3) degenerated. The sum score of lumbar DD was categorized as 0, 1 to 2, or at least 3. The associations of BMI at birth, AP, and AR with DD were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression with and without adjustment for relevant confounders. All analyses were stratified by gender. Results Of the 520 scanned subjects, 46% had no DD, 38% had sum score of 1 or 2, and 16% had sum score of at least 3. In the univariate models, BMI at birth among females and BMI at AR among males were positively associated with DD sum score of at least 3 (OR 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0–1.7 and OR 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1–2.7, respectively). In adjusted models, the results weakened among females, while among males the associations between BMI at AP and AR with DD sum score of at least 3 strengthened (OR 2.0; 95% CI, 1.1–3.7 and OR 2.2; 95% CI, 1.4–3.7). Conclusion High BMI at AP and AR in early childhood increased the likelihood of lumbar DD at the age of 21 among males. This novel finding may help to understand the pathomechanisms of DD. I confirm having declared any potential conflict of interest for all authors listed on this abstract Yes Disclosure of Interest None declared

Abstract : Two and three dimensional assemblies self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and hydrogen-bonded co-crystals, respectively show substantial changes in their supramolecular structures with seemingly minor changes in the structure of their molecular atomic constituents. The structure of SAMs obtained by adsorption of alkanethiols onto silver and copper are indistinguishable, although the atomic radii of silver and copper are different. The structure of the SAM on silver is different from that on gold, although the atomic radii of these metals are essentially the same. A macroscopic property of the SAMs, wetting, is not affected by these structural differences. Co-crystals formed from derivatives of barbiturates and melamines form hydrogen bonded tapes in the solid state. These tapes provide a template for studying the packing forces within crystals.

Several studies have shown that healthy individuals with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels at the high end of the normal range have an increased risk of mortality. To identify genetic determinants that contribute to interindividual variation in FPG, we tested 392,935 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 654 normoglycemic participants for association with FPG, and we replicated the most strongly associated SNP (rs560887, P = 4 × 10 –7 ) in 9353 participants. SNP rs560887 maps to intron 3 of the G6PC2 gene, which encodes glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit–related protein (also known as IGRP), a protein selectively expressed in pancreatic islets. This SNP was associated with FPG (linear regression coefficient β = –0.06 millimoles per liter per A allele, combined P = 4 × 10 –23 ) and with pancreatic β cell function (Homa-B model, combined P = 3 × 10 –13 ) in three populations; however, it was not associated with type 2 diabetes risk. We speculate that G6PC2 regulates FPG by modulating the set point for glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in pancreatic β cells.

Background The healthiest dietary pattern for myocardial infarction ( MI ) survivors is not known. Specific long‐term benefits of a low‐carbohydrate diet ( LCD ) are unknown, whether from animal or vegetable sources. There is a need to examine the associations between post‐ MI adherence to an LCD and all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality. Methods and Results We included 2258 women from the Nurses' Health Study and 1840 men from the Health Professional Follow‐Up Study who had survived a first MI during follow‐up and provided a pre‐ MI and at least 1 post‐ MI food frequency questionnaire. Adherence to an LCD high in animal sources of protein and fat was associated with higher all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratios of 1.33 [95% CI : 1.06 to 1.65] for all‐cause mortality and 1.51 [95% CI : 1.09 to 2.07] for cardiovascular mortality comparing extreme quintiles). An increase in adherence to an animal‐based LCD prospectively assessed from the pre‐ to post‐ MI period was associated with higher all‐cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratios of 1.30 [95% CI : 1.03 to 1.65] for all‐cause mortality and 1.53 [95% CI : 1.10 to 2.13] for cardiovascular mortality comparing extreme quintiles). An increase in adherence to a plant‐based LCD was not associated with lower all‐cause or cardiovascular mortality. Conclusions Greater adherence to an LCD high in animal sources of fat and protein was associated with higher all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality post‐ MI . We did not find a health benefit from greater adherence to an LCD overall after MI .

Abstract ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.