Sensitive to music? Examining the crossmodal effect of audition on sweet taste sensitivity

Previous research has shown that music can influence taste perception. While most studies to date have focused on taste intensity ratings, less is known about the influence of musical stimuli on other parameters of taste function. In this within-subjects experiment (N = 73), we tested the effects of three sound conditions (High Sweetness soundtrack - HS; Low Sweetness soundtrack - LS; and Silence - S) on sweet taste sensitivity, namely, detection and recognition. Each participant tasted nine samples of sucrose solutions (from 0 g/L to 20 g/L) under each of the three sound conditions in counterbalanced order. We assessed the lower concentrations at which participants were able to detect (detection threshold) and correctly identify (recognition threshold) a taste sensation. Additionally, the intensity and hedonic ratings of samples above the recognition threshold (7.20 g/L) were analyzed. Affective variations (valence and arousal) in response to the sound conditions were also assessed. Although music did not lead to significant differences in mean detection and recognition thresholds, a larger proportion of sweet taste recognitions was observed at a near-threshold level (2.59 g/L) in the HS condition. The intensity and hedonic ratings of supra-threshold conditions were unaffected by the music condition. Significant differences in self-reported mood in response to the sound conditions were also observed. The present study suggests that the influence of music on the sweet taste perception of basic solutions may depend on the parameter under consideration.

Prevent2Protect Project: Regulatory Focus Differences in Sexual Health Knowledge and Practices

The way people perceive risks and make decisions about their health is regulated by two motivational systems-prevention of harm or promotion of pleasure. People more focused on prevention strive to avoid negative outcomes and enact more health-protective behaviors. In contrast, people more focused on promotion strive to attain positive outcomes and take more risks with their health. Building upon recent evidence extending this framework to sexual behaviors and health, we conducted a pre-registered online survey ( OSF ) with Portuguese and Spanish adults (N = 742; M_age = 31.42, SD = 9.16) to examine whether self-reported STI knowledge and sexual health practices differ based on predominant regulatory focus. This study was part of the Prevent2Protect project ( OSF ). Results showed that prevention-focused participants had heard about more STIs and retrieved more of their knowledge from scientific sources but had been tested for fewer STIs in the past. In contrast, promotion-focused participants indicated they had specific knowledge about more STIs, retrieved more of their knowledge from medical and peer sources, and had been tested for more STIs in the past. They also reported more frequent STI testing, using free testing facilities or asking their family practice doctor to get tested, more routine sexual health check-ups, and more use of other contraceptive methods, such as birth control pills. These results remained unchanged after controlling for demographic differences. Overall, our findings showed that different motives in sexuality shape sexual health knowledge and sexual health practices.

Condom Use Beliefs Differ According to Regulatory Focus: A Mixed-Methods Study in Portugal and Spain

Reports worldwide have been showing increasing rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and condomless sex in recent years. Research has identified several individual and situational variables that can determine the decision to use condoms or forgo their use. We argue that such a decision can also be shaped by motives related to pleasure and safety (i.e., regulatory focus in sexuality). Using open ended questions, we asked 742 Portuguese and Spanish adults to indicate situations and reasons that could inform the decision making process with casual partners and the functions/attributes related to condoms. Using thematic analyses, we coded the drivers of condomless sex and condom use into themes and subthemes, and computed their frequencies. Using quantitative measures, we also asked participants to indicate their condom use expectancies and perceived barriers. Comparing participants according to regulatory focus revealed some differences. Pleasure promotion participants were more likely to consider that condom use decision making is driven by unexpectedness, pleasure, and intimacy pursuit, attached more pleasure reduction functions to condoms, expected more negative outcomes in condom use, and endorsed more sensation and partner barriers in condom use. In contrast, disease prevention participants were more likely to consider that condom use decision making is driven by adequate sexual education, responsibility, and behavioral control, and attached more health protective functions to condoms. These differences can inform the development of tailored intervention and awareness campaigns aimed at helping people to use condoms more consistently with casual partners and to avoid behaviors that put them at risk of STI transmission.

Budget impact analysis of anakinra in the treatment of familial Mediterranean fever in Italy

INTRODUCTION

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is a hereditary autoinflammatory disease that significantly reduces occupational productivity and quality-of-life in affected patients. Italy has an estimated FMF prevalence of 1 in 60,000 people. While colchicine is the primary treatment for FMF, biologics are administered to intolerant and non-responder patients. Anakinra and canakinumab are the only biologics approved and reimbursed for FMF in Italy. Both medicines have demonstrated efficacy in FMF patients yet differ in treatment costs. This study aimed to perform a budget impact analysis (BIA) following anakinra's reimbursement for FMF treatment, considering pharmaceutical costs from the Italian National Healthcare Service (NHS) perspective.

METHODS

A 'Reference scenario' (all patients treated with canakinumab) was compared to an 'Alternative scenario', with increased anakinra market shares. The target population was estimated based on the Italian population, epidemiological and market research data. Drugs costs were estimated based on Summary of Product Characteristics and net ex-factory prices. Sensitivity analyses were implemented to test results' robustness.

RESULTS

The base case analysis showed an overall cumulative expenditure of €30,586,628 for 'Reference scenario' and € 16,465,548 for 'Alternative scenario'. A cumulative savings of €14,121,080 (46.2%) was calculated over 3 years as a result of the reimbursement and increasing uptake of anakinra. The sensitivity analyses, even considering a discount of 50% for canakinumab, confirmed the base case results.

CONCLUSIONS

Anakinra's introduction, in FMF treatment, provides a financially sustainable option for Italian patients, with savings increasing according to greater use of anakinra.

Evaluating the Adequacy of Emoji Use in Positive and Negative Messages from Close and Distant Senders

Computer-mediated communication allows people to communicate across several contexts (e.g., friends, professional settings) by using video-based or text-based channels. In the latter case, communication lacks nonverbal cues (e.g., tone of voice) that are critical to message interpretation. Including emoji can help express emotion and reinforce or clarify the meaning of a message. However, the benefits of using emoji are likely to depend on the context (e.g., the relationship between interlocutors) and the messages' features (e.g., the valence of the message). To date, studies have not systematically and empirically examined how the use of emoji is perceived across different communication scenarios. In the current study, we asked 175 participants (49.5 percent women; M_age = 36.32, SD = 12.22) to imagine receiving either a negative or a positive message from 22 senders (e.g., friend; bank manager) and to indicate, for each case, how much they would like to receive an emoji and how useful and appropriate they considered the use of emoji. These ratings were combined into a single index of emoji use adequacy. Based on factor analysis, the 22 scenarios were aggregated in distant and close scenarios. Overall, results showed that participants considered emoji use more inadequate in distant (vs. close) scenarios and for negative (vs. positive) messages. These findings suggest that the perceived benefits of emoji use for text-based communication may not be generalized to all text-based communication contexts, such that relationship proximity and message valence should not be overlooked. Implications for the fields of consumer psychology and communication are discussed.

An appetite for meat? Disentangling the influence of animal resemblance and familiarity

Consumers in modern society are often less exposed to meat that resembles the animal, and thus are less familiar with it, making it difficult to disentangle the influence of these two inputs (familiarity vs. animal resemblance) on meat appetite. Across three studies, we sought to systematically disentangle the impact of familiarity and animal resemblance on meat appetite using inductive (Study 1) and experimental (Studies 2a-2b) approaches. In Study 1 (N = 229) we separated familiarity and animal resemblance into orthogonal dimensions using 28 meat products. Participants provided free associations and rated the products on familiarity, animal resemblance, and appetitive appeal. In Studies 2a and 2b (N = 514) we experimentally examined the independent contributions of familiarity and animal resemblance, using stimuli normed in Study 1. We hypothesized that animal resemblance has its most pronounced influence on appetite when meat products are unfamiliar. Participants' free associations and ratings of the products were in line with this conditional hypothesis (Study1), as were the experimental manipulations of familiarity and animal resemblance (Studies 2a-2b), confirmed by a mini meta-analysis. In all three studies, familiarity had a pervasive influence on appetite. These findings suggest that product familiarity can attenuate the psychological impact that animal reminders have on appetite. Thus, interventions aimed at eliciting animal associations with meat should consider the familiarity of the products employed.

Examining the Relationship between Sugar Content, Packaging Features, and Food Claims of Breakfast Cereals

Excessive free-sugar intake has become highly prevalent in numerous countries, and Portugal is not the exception. One product category that contributes to the daily intake of free sugars is breakfast cereals. In the current work, we identified 289 exemplars from two major retailers in Portugal and collected information on their nutritional profile (e.g., sugar, salt, fiber per 100 g), price, packaging features, type of food claims present (e.g., statements about the composition, sensory features, the origin of the product), and ingredients list. Overall, the sugar content of breakfast cereals was high (Mean = 19.9 g), and less than 10% of the products complied with the current national guidelines (i.e., 5 g of sugar per 100 g of product). Sugar (or other sugar sources) was listed in the top three ingredients for over 85% of the products. On average, each product included about four claims (Mean = 3.9), and sugar content was lower when the claims were related to the product composition. Critically, the sugar content was particularly high for children-oriented products (Mean = 26.4 g). Correlation analysis showed that breakfast cereals with higher sugar content also were cheaper and had lower quantities of fiber, proteins, and salt. Our findings suggest the need to implement strategies to reduce sugar in this product category (e.g., incentivize manufacturers to reformulate products). Also, our results may inform strategies aimed at promoting consumers' awareness about the sugar content in breakfast cereals and other processed foods, facilitating healthier decision-making.

Knowledge about Sugar Sources and Sugar Intake Guidelines in Portuguese Consumers

In this work, we examined knowledge about sugars and guidelines for its consumption and explored the relationship between knowledge and measures related to nutritional information processing as well as sugar consumption. Specifically, we asked participants (n = 1010 Portuguese) to categorize a set of ingredients (e.g., glucose, aspartame) regarding their composition (i.e., intrinsic vs. added/free sugars) and origin (e.g., natural vs. artificial) and if they were aware of the WHO guidelines for sugar intake. Overall, despite using information about sugar frequently and considering attending to such information as very important to stay healthy, most participants were unaware of the WHO guidelines and revealed difficulties in the categorization task. Women, participants with a higher level of education, and those with children in the household reported higher use of sugar content information present in nutritional labels, higher perceived knowledge of nutritional guidelines, and higher hit rates in categorizing sugar sources. Almost one-fourth of the population exceeds the daily limit recommended by the WHO. Therefore, characterizing the knowledge of a Portuguese sample regarding sugar sources and sugar intake guidelines is particularly relevant, and our results emphasize the need to implement effective strategies to reduce sugar intake.

Experienced Category Variability Modulates the Impact of Context on Evaluative Judgments

Data from two experiments show that the experienced structure of a category (i.e., as having high vs. low variability) modulates the impact of context on evaluative judgments of individual exemplars. Target objects (unfamiliar in Experiment 1 and familiar in Experiment 2) were primed with positive and negative images while varying the number (Experiment 1) or typicity (Experiment 2) of exemplars known from a category prior to the judgment task. The results show that evaluations of object valence were more influenced by valenced context cues in high than in low variability category conditions. These results are taken as evidence that more varied exemplar-based category representations facilitate context effects on stimulus evaluation.

Perceived sexual self-control and condom use with primary and casual sex partners: age and relationship agreement differences in a Portuguese sample

OBJECTIVE

Consistent condom use is still not ideal. Research showed that perceived sexual self-control is associated with greater likelihood of using condoms. However, this association seems to vary according to age and relationship agreement (i.e. non-consensual non-monogamy, NCNM vs. consensual non-monogamy, CNM).

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study with 307 heterosexual users of a dating web site for romantically involved individuals (81.8% men; M_age = 42.24, SD = 9.65, range: 23-76 years). All individuals were in a romantic relationship (M_length = 13.47 years, SD = 9.39).

MEASURES

Demographic information, perceived sexual self-control, condom use frequency (casual sex partners; primary partner in the last 3 months) and relationship agreement.

RESULTS

Independently of relationship agreement, perceived sexual self-control was positively associated with condom use frequency with casual sex partners among younger and middle age participants, but not older ones (>49 years). Regarding the primary partner, a similar pattern emerged for CNM participants. In contrast, no significant association between perceived sexual self-control and condom use frequency with the primary partner emerged for NCNM individuals, regardless of age.

CONCLUSION

Our findings can inform evidence-based strategies to promote consistent condom use as an effective behaviour to prevent sexually transmitted infections, especially among older and NCNM individuals.

Motivations for Sexual Behavior and Intentions to Use Condoms: Development of the Regulatory Focus in Sexuality Scale

Despite recurrent efforts to prevent sexually transmitted diseases through the use of condoms, HIV infections are still prevalent across Europe. Recent research framed by the regulatory focus theory has shown that prevention (vs. promotion)-focused individuals are more likely to adopt strategies to protect their health. Therefore, these individuals should also be more motivated to use condoms, because they are more likely to perceive greater health threats. In two cross-sectional preregistered studies (combined N = 520 Portuguese participants; databases available at https://doi.org/10.17605/osf.io/zzkc2 ), we developed the new Regulatory Focus in Sexuality scale (Study 1), and tested if the association between prevention focus and intentions to use condoms was mediated by the perception of health threat (Study 2). Results from Study 1 suggested that the scale is reliable and valid. Results from Study 2 showed, as expected, that a predominant focus on prevention was associated with more condom use intentions with casual and regular sexual partners, because individuals perceived greater threat to their health. Additional exploratory analyses further showed that this mediation occurred only for individuals without a romantic relationship and was independent of how salient the condom use norm was. In contrast, for romantically involved individuals, there was no evidence for the mediation by perceived health threat. Instead, a predominant focus on prevention was positively associated with condom use intentions with the regular partner, but only when the condom use norm was more salient. Taken together, these results emphasize the importance of examining individual motivations for safe sex practices.

Resonance Microwave Measurements of an Intrinsic Spin-Orbit Coupling Gap in Graphene: A Possible Indication of a Topological State

In 2005, Kane and Mele [Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 226801 (2005)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.95.226801] predicted that at sufficiently low energy, graphene exhibits a topological state of matter with an energy gap generated by the atomic spin-orbit interaction. However, this intrinsic gap has not been measured to this date. In this Letter, we exploit the chirality of the low-energy states to resolve this gap. We probe the spin states experimentally by employing low temperature microwave excitation in a resistively detected electron-spin resonance on graphene. The structure of the topological bands is reflected in our transport experiments, where our numerical models allow us to identify the resonance signatures. We determine the intrinsic spin-orbit bulk gap to be exactly 42.2  μeV. Electron-spin resonance experiments can reveal the competition between the intrinsic spin-orbit coupling and classical Zeeman energy that arises at low magnetic fields and demonstrate that graphene remains to be a material with surprising properties.

Subjective ratings and emotional recognition of children's facial expressions from the CAFE set

Access to validated stimuli depicting children's facial expressions is useful for different research domains (e.g., developmental, cognitive or social psychology). Yet, such databases are scarce in comparison to others portraying adult models, and validation procedures are typically restricted to emotional recognition accuracy. This work presents subjective ratings for a sub-set of 283 photographs selected from the Child Affective Facial Expression set (CAFE [1]). Extending beyond the original emotion recognition accuracy norms [2], our main goal was to validate this database across eight subjective dimensions related to the model (e.g., attractiveness, familiarity) or the specific facial expression (e.g., intensity, genuineness), using a sample from a different nationality (N = 450 Portuguese participants). We also assessed emotion recognition (forced-choice task with seven options: anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, surprise and neutral). Overall results show that most photographs were rated as highly clear, genuine and intense facial expressions. The models were rated as both moderately familiar and likely to belong to the in-group, obtaining high attractiveness and arousal ratings. Results also showed that, similarly to the original study, the facial expressions were accurately recognized. Normative and raw data are available as supplementary material at https://osf.io/mjqfx/.

KDEF-PT: Valence, Emotional Intensity, Familiarity and Attractiveness Ratings of Angry, Neutral, and Happy Faces

The Karolinska Directed Emotional Faces (KDEF) is one of the most widely used human facial expressions database. Almost a decade after the original validation study (Goeleven et al., 2008), we present subjective rating norms for a sub-set of 210 pictures which depict 70 models (half female) each displaying an angry, happy and neutral facial expressions. Our main goals were to provide an additional and updated validation to this database, using a sample from a different nationality (N = 155 Portuguese students, M = 23.73 years old, SD = 7.24) and to extend the number of subjective dimensions used to evaluate each image. Specifically, participants reported emotional labeling (forced-choice task) and evaluated the emotional intensity and valence of the expression, as well as the attractiveness and familiarity of the model (7-points rating scales). Overall, results show that happy faces obtained the highest ratings across evaluative dimensions and emotion labeling accuracy. Female (vs. male) models were perceived as more attractive, familiar and positive. The sex of the model also moderated the accuracy of emotional labeling and ratings of different facial expressions. Each picture of the set was categorized as low, moderate, or high for each dimension. Normative data for each stimulus (hits proportion, means, standard deviations, and confidence intervals per evaluative dimension) is available as supplementary material (available at https://osf.io/fvc4m/).

Seeing the Big Picture: Size Perception Is More Context Sensitive in the Presence of Others

This paper tests the hypothesis that social presence influences size perception by increasing context sensitivity. Consistent with Allport's prediction, we expected to find greater context sensitivity in participants who perform a visual task in the presence of other people (i.e., in co-action) than in participants who perform the task in isolation. Supporting this hypothesis, participants performing an Ebbinghaus illusion-based task in co-action showed greater size illusions than those performing the task in isolation. Specifically, participants in a social context had greater difficulty perceiving the correct size of a target circle and ignoring its surroundings. Analyses of delta plot functions suggest a mechanism of interference monitoring, since that when individuals take longer to respond, they are better able to ignore the surrounding circles. However, this type of monitoring interference was not moderated by social presence. We discuss how this lack of moderation might be the reason why the impact of social presence on context sensitivity is able to be detected in tasks such as the Ebbinghaus illusion.

'Indeterminate for malignancy' (Tir3/Thy3 in the Italian and British systems for classification) thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology reporting: morphological criteria and clinical impact

BACKGROUND

The British system (Thy1-5), the Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology (BSRTC) and the Italian Society of Anatomic Pathology and Cytology (SIAPEC) classification represent the most important international classifications for thyroid cytopathology. Irrespective of the system used, the 'indeterminate' categories are still debated among cytopathologists, particularly with regard to diagnostic criteria, clinical impact of subclassification and role of molecular techniques.

AIM

We aimed to find answers to the following questions: Are there shared criteria in cytological preparations that allow the division of indeterminate follicular lesions into subcategories? What is the true clinical impact of this possible subclassification?

METHODS

Among 1150 consecutive thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA) specimens, 80 patients had nodules with a final cytological report of Tir3 (SIAPEC)/Thy3. These 80 cases were re-evaluated and subclassified according to morphological criteria into three groups: pure follicular proliferations, Hürthle cell follicular lesions and atypical proliferations.

RESULTS

Sixteen (20%) cases were categorized as pure follicular proliferations, 40 (50%) as Hürthle cell follicular lesions and 24 (30%) as atypical proliferations. Surgery was performed in 57 cases (71%). Cyto-histological correlation showed that follicular adenoma was the most frequent final diagnosis in the cases treated by surgery (24/57, 42%). The overall malignancy rate in the Tir3 category was 28% (16/57). Atypical proliferations were more often malignant than either of the follicular groups (53% versus 19%, P = 0.019).

CONCLUSIONS

A five-tiered classification, subdividing the 'indeterminate for malignancy' class into 'follicular proliferations' and 'atypical lesions' could be adopted. As a result of their higher risk of malignancy, surgical management of the atypical lesions would be justified. In future, the introduction of a genetic panel might contribute to their stratification, to the determination of a more accurate risk of malignancy of the atypical lesions and to the verification of follicular proliferations that are benign.

The US National Cholesterol Education Programme Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III): prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal Latin American women

BACKGROUND

Metabolic syndrome (METS) is a strong predictor of cardiovascular risk. Since the prevalence of METS increases after menopause, gynecological routine consultation offers an excellent screening opportunity.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the prevalence of METS in Latin American postmenopausal women and factors modifying its risk; as well as to assess the role of simple routine care measurements in the diagnosis of the METS.

METHODS

A total of 3965 postmenopausal women, aged 45-64 years, seeking health care at 12 gynecological centers in major Latin American cities were included in this cross-sectional study. The US National Cholesterol Education Programme Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) guidelines were applied to assess METS. This was present if three or more of the following conditions were present: waist circumference > or = 88 cm; blood pressure > or = 130/85 mmHg; fasting plasma triglycerides > or = 150 mg/dl; high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol < 50 mg/dl; glucose > or = 110 mg/dl or subjects were receiving treatment for their condition.

RESULTS

The prevalences of having at least two, three, four or five components were 62.5, 35.1, 13.5 and 3.2%, respectively. The prevalence increased from 28.1% in those aged 40-44 years to 42.9% in those aged 60-64 years. The risk of METS detection (multivariate analysis) increased with age (odds ratio (OR) 1.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-1.43), time elapsed since menopause (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.00-1.38), smoking cigarettes (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.19-1.65), obesity (OR 13.01, 95% CI 10.93-15.49) and hypertension (OR 9.30, 95% CI 7.91-10.94). In contrast, hormone therapy reduces this risk (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.51-0.70).

CONCLUSION

There is a high prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal Latin American women seeking gynecologic health care. Age, years since menopause, obesity and hypertension are strong predictors of this condition.

Androgens in relationship to cardiovascular risk factors in the menopausal transition

OBJECTIVE

To establish the relationship between androgens and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in the menopausal transition.

METHODS

A total of 124 women were divided into four groups: 29 premenopausal (PreM), 35 women in the menopausal transition still menstruating (MTM), 29 women in the menopausal transition with 3-6 months amenorrhea (MTA), and 31 postmenopausal women (PostM). Levels of triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, glucose and insulin were assayed in all samples and waist circumference was measured. In a subgroup of 83 women (19 PreM, 21 MTM, 28 MTA and 15 PostM), levels of total testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and estradiol were determined. The free androgen index, Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) index, Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI) and McAuley index, estradiol/total testosterone and triglyceride/HDL cholesterol ratios were calculated.

RESULTS

Androstenedione was higher in MTA vs. PostM women (p < 0.05); DHEAS was higher in PreM women vs. the other three groups (p < 0.05). Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in MTM women was higher than in MTA women (p < 0.05); the free androgen index was lower in MTM women than in MTA and PostM women. SHBG and the free androgen index showed negative and positive correlations, respectively with waist circumference, insulin resistance and lipids. In a multiple regression analysis, considering waist circumference, neither free androgen index nor SHBG showed significant differences between groups. The waist circumference correlated only with SHBG (p = 0.022) and correlations between SHBG and insulin resistance markers continued to be significant, but relationships between SHBG and lipoproteins and all correlations found with free androgen index were lost.

CONCLUSIONS

An increment in the androgenic milieu that correlates with abdominal fat, insulin resistance and atherogenic lipoproteins becomes evident after the menopausal transition and suggests that evaluation of cardiovascular disease risk in these women should include androgens, considering that abdominal obesity is one of the main determinants of the relationship between androgenic parameters and cardiovascular risk factors.

Metabolic syndrome throughout the menopausal transition: influence of age and menopausal status

OBJECTIVE

To assess the relationship between the main components of both the metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance and menopausal status in the menopausal transition.

METHODS

A total of 124 healthy women were divided into four groups according to their menstrual status: the first group consisted of 35 women in menopausal transition with menstrual bleeding (MTM) and with cycles between 35 and 80 days; the second group was composed of 29 women in menopausal transition with 3-6 months of amenorrhea (MTA). The third group consisted of 31 postmenopausal women (PostM) and the fourth group of 29 premenopausal women (PreM) with regular cycles. The metabolic syndrome was evaluated following the ATP III criteria. Evaluation of insulin resistance was made through the HOMA, QUICKI and McAuley indices and the triglycerides/high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio.

RESULTS

The triglycerides/HDL cholesterol ratio increased in MTM, MTA and PostM women in comparison with PreM women. A slight decrease in the QUIKI index (p = 0.06) and a decrease in the McAuley index (p < 0.001) were observed in MTM, MTA and PostM women in comparison to PreM women. The relative frequencies of metabolic syndrome in the four groups were: PreM, 0%; MTM, 20%; MTA, 21%; and PostM, 22% (p = 0.0001). The most frequent markers of the metabolic syndrome were increased waist circumference, low HDL cholesterol levels and hypertension. Linear regression between menopausal status and metabolic syndrome was lost when age was added to the model.

CONCLUSIONS

The frequency of metabolic syndrome increased from the time of the menopausal transition to the postmenopause. Abdominal obesity was the most frequent feature observed. Nevertheless, aging erased the effect of the menopause on the metabolic syndrome. In order to prevent cardiovascular disease, the metabolic syndrome must be evaluated from the time of the menopausal transition.

Lipid and lipoprotein profile in menopausal transition. Effects of hormones, age and fat distribution

The behavior of lipoproteins during the menopausal transition and their relationship with sex hormones and body fat distribution is still unclear. Our aim was to evaluate atherogenic IDL, LDL, Lp(a) and antiatherogenic HDL lipoproteins in four groups of women: premenopausal (n = 20), menopausal transition women with menstrual bleeding (n = 31), menopausal transition women with 3 to 6 months amenorrhea (n = 36), and postmenopausal women (n = 30). We also measured their FSH, LH and estradiol levels along with BMI and waist circumference. Menopausal transition and postmenopausal women showed higher values of waist circumference (p < 0.0032), LDL-cholesterol (p < 0.002), IDL-cholesterol (p < 0.002) and apoprotein B (p < 0.0001) than premenopausal women. Total-cholesterol (p < 0.0001), triglycerides (p < 0.004), IDL-cholesterol and Lp(a) were higher in menopausal transition women with amenorrhea and in postmenopausal women in comparison with premenopausal women. After adjustment according to age and waist circumference, multiple regression analysis showed the increase in total-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol to be linearly associated to menopausal status and estradiol concentration, whereas Lp(a) was only related to menopausal status. Age was found to be an independent variable in relation to apoprotein B concentration changes. The effect of menopausal status on TG levels did not remain in the model when age, waist and BMI were included (beta = 0.05, p = 0.356). HDL-cholesterol levels were the same in all the groups. Menopause, age and the increase in abdominal fat distribution were three independent and significant factors impairing lipoprotein profiles from the beginning of the menopausal transition.

Diet score is associated with plasma homocysteine in a healthy institutionalised elderly population

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Among other dietary and non-dietary factors, B vitamins, such as folate, riboflavin and cobalamin, are primary determinants of tHcy in the general population. However, research has concentrated on the relationship of these nutrients with tHcy, and little is known about overall eating patterns and tHcy.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this study, we analysed whether a diet score based on the consumption of folate-, riboflavin- and cobalamin-rich food groups was associated with tHcy in a sample of 140 institutionalised elderly subjects (59 men and 81 women aged 60-80 years) from Northern Spain. The food groups identified as the major contributors to the intake of the three vitamins were vegetables, fruit, fish, meat and milk and dairy products. The mean tHcy level was 13.3+/-5.1 micromol/L (range: 3.9-30.7 micromol/L). None of the food groups predicted tHcy levels individually, but the overall diet score was inversely associated with tHcy in a multiple linear regression analysis. High tHcy levels (>16 micromol/L) were almost twice as prevalent in the groups scoring less than 7 than in those scoring 7 or more (37.5 vs 19.6%, p=0.021).

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that a dietary pattern characterised by high intakes of B vitamin-rich foods is associated with a lower tHcy concentration and a reduced percentage of high tHcy levels in elderly subjects. They also support the use of dietary pattern approaches to evaluate the relationships between diet and health outcomes that go beyond single nutrient analyses.

Thymomodulin: biological properties and clinical applications

Thymomodulin (Ellem Industria Farmaceutica s.p.a., Milan, Italy) is a calf thymus acid lysate derivative, composed of several peptides with a molecular weight range of 1-10 kD. Thymomodulin did not exhibit any mutagenic effect. Furthermore, thymomodulin used in animal studies showed no toxicity even when used at high concentrations. Of major significance are the observations in murine and human systems that thymomodulin remains active when administered orally. In vitro and in vivo administered thymomodulin was able to induce the maturation of T-lymphocytes. Additionally, studies in vitro showed that this thymic derivative can enhance the functions of mature T-lymphocytes with cascading effects on B-cell and macrophage functions. Extensive human clinical trials with thymomodulin showed that this agent can improve the clinical symptoms observed with various disease processes, including infections, allergies and malignancies, and can improve immunological functions during ageing.

Synthesis and antiarrhythmic activity of new 3-[2-(omega-aminoalkoxy)phenoxy]-4-phenyl-3-buten-2-ones and related compounds

A number of the title compounds (1) and a few related hydroquinone derivatives (2) have been synthesized and tested for antiarrhythmic activity in vivo (protection against CaCl2-induced ventricular fibrillation in anesthetized rat) and in vitro (ability to reduce the maximum driven frequency of an electrical stimulus in isolated rabbit atria). The effects induced by modification of the enol ether moiety in the parent compound 1a were also examined. Many of the compounds exhibited antiarrhythmic properties stronger than quinidine and procainamide, associated with a more favorable LD50/ED50 ratio. Compounds 1a (LR-18,460, 3-[2-[2-(diethylamino)ethoxy]phenoxy]-4-phenyl-3-buten-2-one) and 1h (LR-18,795, 3-[2-[3-(dimethylamino)propoxy]phenoxy]-4-phenyl-3-buten-2-one) were submitted to further antiarrhythmic testing, which confirmed their effectiveness and superiority to quinidine in all the experiments. After safety evaluation studies, both were selected for clinical investigation.

Influence of work during pregnancy on fetal weight

To discover the influence of maternal work upon fetal birth weight, we compared 1,140 women who worked during pregnancy to a random, equal sample of women not working during pregnancy. Work during pregnancy appears to reduce the mean fetal weight in both primigravidas and multigravidas . Rest during the last six weeks of pregnancy improves fetal weight significantly. This finding underscores the importance of rest in cases of insufficient fetal growth.

Successful pregnancy in acute promyelocytic leukemia

A successful pregnancy with a normal baby in a woman with acute promyelocytic leukemia treated with daunorubicin from the ninth week of gestation is reported. Daunorubicin is an effective agent against this leukemia during pregnancy. That daunorubicin may be safely used, when required during the early gestation, is suggested.