The association between ownership of common household devices and obesity and diabetes in high,middle and low income countries

Background:

Household devices (e.g., television, car, computer) are common in high income countries, and their use has been linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. We hypothesized that device ownership is associated with obesity and diabetes and that these effects are explained through reduced physical activity, increased sitting time and increased energy intake.

Methods:

We performed a cross-sectional analysis using data from the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology study involving 153 996 adults from high, upper-middle, lower-middle and low income countries. We used multilevel regression models to account for clustering at the community and country levels.

Results:

Ownership of a household device increased from low to high income countries (4% to 83% for all 3 devices) and was associated with decreased physical activity and increased sitting, dietary energy intake, body mass index and waist circumference. There was an increased odds of obesity and diabetes with the ownership of any 1 household device compared to no device ownership (obesity: odds ratio [OR] 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.32–1.55; diabetes: OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.28–1.50). Ownership of a second device increased the odds further but ownership of a third device did not. Subsequent adjustment for lifestyle factors modestly attenuated these associations. Of the 3 devices, ownership of a television had the strongest association with obesity (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.29–1.49) and diabetes (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.23–1.44). When stratified by country income level, the odds of obesity and diabetes when owning all 3 devices was greatest in low income countries (obesity: OR 3.15, 95% CI 2.33–4.25; diabetes: OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.53–2.53) and decreased through country income levels such that we did not detect an association in high income countries.

Interpretation:

The ownership of household devices increased the likelihood of obesity and diabetes, and this was mediated in part by effects on physical activity, sitting time and dietary energy intake. With increasing ownership of household devices in developing countries, societal interventions are needed to mitigate their effects on poor health.The increasing global prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus has been driven predominantly by increases in high income countries.^1,2 However, increases are expected in low and middle income countries, due in part to rapid development and industrialization.Proximal determinants of obesity and diabetes include energy expenditure and intake;^3–5 however, the upstream factors are complex and entail numerous environmental factors. Of these, the increased use of common household devices (e.g., televisions, cars, computers) has been linked to increased sitting, decreased physical activity, obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes.^6–12 Time spent watching television has also been linked to poor diet¹³ and increased caloric intake.¹⁴ However, these findings are based on studies in high income countries where the ownership of these devices is common.^15,16 In low and middle income countries, such household devices are less prevalent, but their prevalence is rapidly increasing. Studies in countries with greater variability in the ownership of household devices are needed to understand the full effect of owning such devices on the risk of obesity and diabetes.We hypothesized that the ownership of a television, car or computer would be associated with an increased risk of obesity and diabetes and that these effects would be explained by reduced physical activity, increased sitting time and increased energy intake.     

Prevalence of genetic variants associated with cardiovascular disease risk and drug response in the Southern Indian population of Kerala

BACKGROUND AND AIM:

This study reports the prevalence of five clinically significant variants associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disorders, and variable responses of individuals to commonly prescribed cardiovascular drugs in a South Indian population from the state of Kerala.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Genomic DNA isolated from 100 out-patient samples from Kerala were sequenced to examine the frequency of clinically relevant polymorphisms in the genes MYBPC3 (cardiomyopathy), SLCO1B1 (statin-induced myopathy), CYP2C9, VKORC1 (response to warfarin) and CYP2C19 (response to clopidogrel).

RESULTS:

Our analyses revealed the frequency of a 25 bp deletion variant of MYBPC3 associated with risk of cardiomyopathy was 7%, and the SLCO1B1 “C” allele associated with risk for statin-induced myopathy was 15% in this sample group. Among the other variants associated with dose-induced toxicity of warfarin, VKORC1 (c.1639G>A), was detected at 22%, while CYP2C9*3 and CYP2C9*2 alleles were present at a frequency of 15% and 3% respectively. Significantly, the tested sample population showed high prevalence (66%) of CYP2C19*2 variant, which determines response to clopidogrel therapy.

CONCLUSIONS:

We have identified that certain variants associated with cardiovascular disease and related drug response in the five genes, especially those in VKORC1, CYP2C19 and MYBPC3, are highly prevalent in the Kerala population, with almost 2 times higher prevalence of CYP2C19*2 variant compared with other regions in the country. Since the variants chosen in this study have relevance in disease phenotype and/or drug response, and are detected at a higher frequency, this study is likely to encourage clinicians to perform genetic testing before prescribing therapy.     

Virtual screening of natural inhibitors to the predicted HBx protein structure of Hepatitis B Virus using molecular docking for identification of potential lead molecules for liver cancer

The HBx protein in Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is a potential target for anti-liver cancer molecules. Therefore, it is of interest to screen known natural compounds against the HBx protein using molecular docking. However, the structure of HBx is not yet known. Therefore, the predicted structure of HBx using threading in LOMET was used for docking against plant derived natural compounds (curcumin, oleanolic acid, resveratrol, bilobetin, luteoline, ellagic acid, betulinic acid and rutin) by Molegro Virtual Docker. The screening identified rutin with binding energy of -161.65 Kcal/mol. Thus, twenty derivatives of rutin were further designed and screened against HBx. These in silico experiments identified compounds rutin01 (-163.16 Kcal/mol) and rutin08 (- 165.76 Kcal/mol) for further consideration and downstream validation.     

Ho3+‐doped strontium–aluminium–bismuth–borate glasses for green light emission

Strontium–aluminium–bismuth–borate glasses (SAlBiB) doped with different concentrations of Ho³⁺ were prepared using conventional melt quenching technique and their structural and optical properties investigated. X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analysis were used to study the structural properties. Optical properties were studied by measuring the optical absorption and visible luminescence spectra. The Judd–Ofelt (J‐O) theory was applied to evaluate J‐O intensity parameters, Ω_λ (λ = 2, 4 and 6). Using J‐O intensity parameters, radiative properties such as spontaneous transition probabilities (A_R), branching ratios (β_R) and radiative lifetimes (τ_R) were determined. From the emission spectra, a strong green emission nearly at 549 nm corresponding to the transition, ⁵S₂(⁵F₄)→⁵I₈ was observed. Emission peak positions (λ_P), effective bandwidths (Δλ_eff) and stimulated emission cross‐sections (σ_p) were calculated for the observed emission transitions, ⁵F₃→⁵I₈, ⁵S₂(⁵F₄)→⁵I₈ and ⁵F₅→⁵I₈ of Ho³⁺ in all the glass matrices. Chromaticity color coordinates were calculated using the emission spectra. The experimental results suggest that SAlBiB glass matrix with 1.5 mol% of Ho³⁺ has better emission properties. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Response surface methodology as a decision-making tool for optimization of culture conditions of green microalgae Chlorella spp. for biodiesel production

We have evaluated process optimization and the interactive effects of a number of variables using a Box–Behnken design of response surface methodology (RSM). The process variables nitrate, phosphate, glucose and pH were optimized to enhance the cell growth rate, lipid accumulation and other biochemical parameters of Chlorella spp. The most significant increase in lipid production (dry cell weight basis) occurred at limited concentrations of nitrate and phosphate, 1 % glucose and pH 7.5. The addition of nitrates during the mid-lag and mid-exponential phases produced the maximum inhibitory effect on lipid accumulation and the presence of yeast extract led to a further enhancement of lipid accumulation. Of all the media tested, BG-11 was the best suited medium for algal biomass production and chlorophyll content. A significant increase in algal biomass was observed in BG-11 supplemented with bicarbonate and glucose (1 %). The maximum specific growth rate observed was on 9th day of culturing. Results of optimization of process variables through response surface methodology and optimization of various other conditions reflect cutting edge research directed towards increasing algal biomass and lipid content for biodiesel production using an efficient economical technological approach.     

An efficient in vitro system for somatic embryogenesis and podophyllotoxin production in Podophyllum hexandrum Royle

Podophyllum hexandrum Royle known as Indian mayapple is an important medicinal plant found only in higher altitudes (2,700 to 4,200 m) of the Himalayas. The highly valued anticancer drug Podophyllotoxin is obtained from the roots of this plant. Due to over exploitation, this endemic plant species is on the verge of extinction. In vitro culture for efficient regeneration and the production of podophyllotoxin is an important research priority for this plant. Hence, in the present study, an efficient plant regeneration system for mass multiplication through somatic embryogenesis was developed. We have screened P. hexandrum seeds collected from three different regions in the Himalayas to find their regenerative potentials. These variants showed variation in germination percentage as well as somatic embryogenic frequency. The seeds collected from the Milam area of Pithoragarh district showed better germination response (99.3 %) on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium fortified with Gibberellic acid (GA₃ [5 mg/l]) and higher direct somatic embryogenic frequency (89.6 %). Maximum production of embryogenic callus (1.2 g fresh weight [FW]) was obtained when cotyledons containing the direct somatic embryo clusters were cultured in MS medium supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D [1.5 mg/l]) after 4 week of culture in complete darkness. In the present investigation, somatic embryogenesis was accomplished either by direct organogenesis or callus mediated pathways. The latter method resulted in a higher frequency of somatic embryo induction in hormone-free MS medium yielding 47.7 embryos/50 mg of embryogenic callus and subsequent germination in MS medium supplemented with GA₃ (5 mg/l). Seventy-nine percent of embryos attained complete maturity and germinated into normal plants with well-developed roots. Systematic histological analysis revealed the origin of somatic embryo and their ontogenesis. The higher level of podophyllotoxin (1.8 mg/g dry weight [DW]) was recorded in germinated somatic embryos when compared to field grown plants. The present system can be widely used for mass propagation, transgenic recovery, and podophyllotoxin production for commercial utilization.     

A new high-elevation scorpion species of the genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae: Scorpiopinae) from the Himalayas,India

A new high-elevation scorpion species of the genus Scorpiops is described from the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Scorpiops spitiensis sp. nov. is the second highest-elevation scorpion species in Asia and the first one from India occurring at elevations above 4200 m. The new species closely resembles Scorpiops petersii, but it can be distinguished from it based on a suit of characters, one of which is the presence of 16 trichobothria on the external aspect of the patella, which is unique to the new species.