Food insecurity and sleep health by race/ethnicity in the United States

Food insecurity, poised to increase with burgeoning concerns related to climate change, may influence sleep, yet few studies examined the food security-sleep association among racially/ethnically diverse populations with multiple sleep dimensions. We determined overall and racial/ethnic-specific associations between food security and sleep health. Using National Health Interview Survey data, we categorised food security as very low, low, marginal and high. Sleep duration was categorised as very short, short, recommended and long. Sleep disturbances included trouble falling/staying asleep, insomnia symptoms, waking up feeling unrested and using sleep medication (all ≥3 d/times in the previous week). Adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics and other confounders, we used Poisson regression with robust variance to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CIs) for sleep dimensions by food security. Among 177 435 participants, the mean age of 47⋅2 ± 0⋅1 years, 52⋅0 % were women, and 68⋅4 % were non-Hispanic (NH)-White. A higher percent of NH-Black (7⋅9 %) and Hispanic/Latinx (5⋅1 %) lived in very low food security households than NH-White (3⋅1 %) participants. Very low v. high food security was associated with a higher prevalence of very short (PR = 2⋅61 [95 % CI 2⋅44-2⋅80]) sleep duration as well as trouble falling asleep (PR = 2⋅21 [95 % CI 2⋅12-2⋅30]). Very low v. high food security was associated with a higher prevalence of very short sleep duration among Asian (PR = 3⋅64 [95 % CI 2⋅67-4⋅97]) and NH-White (PR = 2⋅73 [95 % CI 2⋅50-2⋅99]) participants compared with NH-Black (PR = 2⋅03 [95 % CI 1⋅80-2⋅31]) and Hispanic/Latinx (PR = 2⋅65 [95 % CI 2⋅30-3⋅07]) participants. Food insecurity was associated with poorer sleep in a racially/ethnically diverse US sample.

Macadamia nut effects on cardiometabolic risk factors: a randomised trial

We sought to examine the effects of daily consumption of macadamia nuts on body weight and composition, plasma lipids and glycaemic parameters in a free-living environment in overweight and obese adults at elevated cardiometabolic risk. Utilising a randomised cross-over design, thirty-five adults with abdominal obesity consumed their usual diet plus macadamia nuts (~15 % of daily calories) for 8 weeks (intervention) and their usual diet without nuts for 8 weeks (control), with a 2-week washout. Body composition was determined by bioelectrical impedance; dietary intake was assessed with 24-h dietary recalls. Consumption of macadamia nuts led to increased total fat and MUFA intake while SFA intake was unaltered. With mixed model regression analysis, no significant changes in mean weight, BMI, waist circumference, percent body fat or glycaemic parameters, and non-significant reductions in plasma total cholesterol of 2⋅1 % (-4⋅3 mg/dl; 95 % CI -14⋅8, 6⋅1) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) of 4 % (-4⋅7 mg/dl; 95 % CI -14⋅3, 4⋅8) were observed. Cholesterol-lowering effects were modified by adiposity: greater lipid lowering occurred in those with overweight v. obesity, and in those with less than the median percent body fat. Daily consumption of macadamia nuts does not lead to gains in weight or body fat under free-living conditions in overweight or obese adults; non-significant cholesterol lowering occurred without altering saturated fat intake of similar magnitude to cholesterol lowering seen with other nuts. Clinical Trial Registry Number and Website: NCT03801837 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03801837?term = macadamia + nut&draw = 2&rank = 1.

Ascorbate attenuates red light mediated vasodilation: Potential role of S-nitrosothiols

There is significant therapeutic advantage of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) independent nitric oxide (NO) production in maladies where endothelium, and thereby NOS, is dysfunctional. Electromagnetic radiation in the red and near infrared region has been shown to stimulate NOS-independent but NO-dependent vasodilation, and thereby has significant therapeutic potential. We have recently shown that red light induces acute vasodilatation in the pre-constricted murine facial artery via the release of an endothelium derived substance. In this study we have investigated the mechanism of vasodilatation and conclude that 670 nm light stimulates vasodilator release from an endothelial store, and that this vasodilator has the characteristics of an S-nitrosothiol (RSNO). This study shows that 670 nm irradiation can be used as a targeted and non-invasive means to release biologically relevant amounts of vasodilator from endothelial stores. This raises the possibility that these stores can be pharmacologically built-up in pathological situations to improve the efficacy of red light treatment. This strategy may overcome eNOS dysfunction in peripheral vascular pathologies for the improvement of vascular health.

Phospholemman inhibition of the cardiac Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. Role of phosphorylation

We have demonstrated previously that phospholemman (PLM), a 15-kDa integral sarcolemmal phosphoprotein, inhibits the cardiac Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX1). In addition, protein kinase A phosphorylates serine 68, whereas protein kinase C phosphorylates both serine 63 and serine 68 of PLM. Using human embryonic kidney 293 cells that are devoid of both endogenous PLM and NCX1, we first demonstrated that the exogenous NCX1 current (I(NaCa)) was increased by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) but not by forskolin. When co-expressed with NCX1, PLM resulted in: (i) decreases in I(NaCa), (ii) attenuation of the increase in I(NaCa) by PMA, and (iii) additional reduction in I(NaCa) in cells treated with forskolin. Mutating serine 63 to alanine (S63A) preserved the sensitivity of PLM to forskolin in terms of suppression of I(NaCa), whereas mutating serine 68 to alanine (S68A) abolished the inhibitory effect of PLM on I(NaCa). Mutating serine 68 to glutamic acid (phosphomimetic) resulted in additional suppression of I(NaCa) as compared with wild-type PLM. These results suggest that PLM phosphorylated at serine 68 inhibited I(NaCa). The physiological significance of inhibition of NCX1 by phosphorylated PLM was evaluated in PLM-knock-out (KO) mice. When compared with wild-type myocytes, I(NaCa) was significant larger in PLM-KO myocytes. In addition, the PMA-induced increase in I(NaCa) was significantly higher in PLM-KO myocytes. By contrast, forskolin had no effect on I(NaCa) in wild-type myocytes. We conclude that PLM, when phosphorylated at serine 68, inhibits Na+/Ca2+ exchange in the heart.

The association of increased total glycosylated hemoglobin levels with delayed age at menarche in young women with type 1 diabetes

CONTEXT

Delayed menarche is associated with subsequent reproductive and skeletal complications. Previous research has found delayed growth and pubertal maturation with type 1 diabetes and poor glycemic control. The effect of diabetes management on menarche is important to clarify, because tighter control might prevent these complications.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to investigate age at menarche in young women with type 1 diabetes and examine the effect of diabetes management [e.g. total glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb) level, number of blood glucose checks, insulin therapy intensity, and insulin dose] on age at menarche in those diagnosed before menarche.

DESIGN

The Wisconsin Diabetes Registry Project is a follow-up study of a type 1 diabetes population-based incident cohort initially enrolled between 1987 and 1992.

SETTING

This study was performed in 28 counties in south-central Wisconsin.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS

The study participants were recruited through referrals, self-report, and hospital/clinic ascertainment. Individuals with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes, less than 30 yr old, were invited to participate. Of 288 young women enrolled, 188 reported menarche by 2002; 105 were diagnosed before menarche.

INTERVENTIONS

There were no interventions.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The main outcome measure was age at menarche.

RESULTS

Mean age at menarche was 12.78 yr, compared with 12.54 yr in the United States (P = 0.01). Ages at menarche and diagnosis were not associated. For those diagnosed before menarche, age at menarche was delayed 1.3 months with each 1% increase in mean total GHb level in the 3 yr before menarche.

CONCLUSIONS

Age at menarche was moderately delayed in young women with type 1 diabetes. Delayed menarche could potentially be minimized with improved GHb levels.