scholarly journals The impact of pathogen burden on leukocyte telomere length in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

2017 ◽  
Vol 145 (14) ◽  
pp. 3076-3084 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. E. AIELLO ◽  
B. JAYABALASINGHAM ◽  
A. M. SIMANEK ◽  
A. DIEZ-ROUX ◽  
L. FEINSTEIN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Telomere Length ◽  
Chlamydia Pneumoniae ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Leukocyte Telomere Length ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Telomere Shortening ◽  
Ethnic Study ◽  
Persistent Pathogens ◽  
Pathogen Burden ◽  
The Impact

SUMMARYSeveral infections have been linked to telomere shortening and in some cases these associations have varied by sex. We assessed the association between seropositivity to four persistent pathogens (cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus-1,Helicobacter pylori,Chlamydia pneumoniae), and total pathogen burden on leukocyte telomere length in a diverse US sample. Data came from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, a population-based cohort study. We utilized cross-sectional survey data, and biological samples from participants tested for pathogens and telomere length (N= 163). Linear regression was used to examine the association between seropositivity for individual pathogens as well as total pathogen burden and telomere length, adjusting for various confounders. CMV seropositivity and increased total pathogen burden level were significantly associated with shorter telomere length among females (β= −0·1204 (standard error (s.e.) 0·06),P= 0·044) and (β= −0·1057 (s.e.= 0·05),P= 0·033), respectively. There was no statistically significant association among males. Our findings suggest that prevention or treatment of persistent pathogens, in particular CMV, may play an important role in reducing telomere shortening over the life course among women. Future research is needed to confirm these novel findings in larger longitudinal samples.

scholarly journals Engagement with daily testing instead of self-isolating in contacts of confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex F. Martin ◽  
Sarah Denford ◽  
Nicola Love ◽  
Derren Ready ◽  
Isabel Oliver ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Service Evaluation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Negative Test ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Close Contacts

Abstract Background In December 2020, Public Health England with NHS Test and Trace initiated a pilot study in which close contacts of people with confirmed COVID-19 were given the option to carryout lateral flow device antigen tests at home, as an alternative to self-isolation for 10–14 days. In this study, we evaluated engagement with daily testing, and assessed levels of adherence to the rules relating to behaviour following positive or negative test results. Methods We conducted a service evaluation of the pilot study, examining survey responses from a subset of those who responded to an evaluation questionnaire. We used an online cross-sectional survey offered to adult contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases who consented to daily testing. We used a comparison group of contacts who were not offered testing and instead self-isolated. Results Acceptability of daily testing was lower among survey respondents who were not offered the option of testing and among people from ethnic minority groups. Overall, 52% of respondents reported being more likely to share details of people that they had been in contact with following a positive test result, if they knew that their contacts would be offered the option of daily testing. Only 2% reported that they would be less likely to provide details of their contacts. On the days that they were trying to self-isolate, 19% of participants reported that they left the house, with no significant group differences. Following a negative test, 13% of respondents reported that they increased their contacts, but most (58%) reported having fewer risky contacts. Conclusions Our data suggest that daily testing is potentially acceptable, may facilitate sharing contact details of close contacts among those who test positive for COVID-19, and promote adherence to self-isolation. A better understanding is needed of how to make this option more acceptable for all households. The impact of receiving a negative test on behaviour remains a risk that needs to be monitored and mitigated by appropriate messaging. Future research should examine attitudes and behaviour in a context where infection levels are lower, testing is more familiar, and restrictions on activity have been reduced.

scholarly journals Exploring the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical education: an international cross-sectional study of medical learners

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison Brown ◽  
Aliya Kassam ◽  
Mike Paget ◽  
Kenneth Blades ◽  
Megan Mercia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
Medical Training ◽  
Well Being ◽  
World Health ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The World ◽  
Geographic Regions ◽  
The Impact

Background: The evidence surrounding the impact of COVID-19 on medical learners remains anecdotal and highly speculative despite the anticipated impact and potential consequences of the current pandemic on medical training. The purpose of this study was to explore the extent that COVID-19 initially impacted medical learners around the world and examine global trends and patterns across geographic regions and levels of training. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of medical learners was conducted between March 25–June 14, 2020, shortly after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Results: 6492 learners completed the survey from 140 countries. Most medical schools removed learners from the clinical environment and adopted online learning, but students reported concerns about the quality of their learning, training progression, and milestone fulfillment. Residents reported they could be better utilized and expressed concerns about their career timeline. Trainees generally felt under-utilized and wanted to be engaged clinically in meaningful ways; however, some felt that contributing to healthcare during a pandemic was beyond the scope of a learner. Significant differences were detected between levels of training and geographic regions for satisfaction with organizational responses as well as the impact of COVID-19 learner wellness and state-trait anxiety. Conclusions: The disruption to the status quo of medical education is perceived by learners across all levels and geographic regions to have negatively affected their training and well-being, particularly amongst postgraduate trainees. These results provide initial empirical insights into the areas that warrant future research as well as consideration for current and future policy planning.

scholarly journals Association Between Short Leukocyte Telomere Length, Endotoxemia, and Severe Periodontitis in People With Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Diabetes Care ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 1140-1147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Masi ◽  
Nikolaos Gkranias ◽  
KaWa Li ◽  
Klelia D. Salpea ◽  
Mohamed Parkar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Telomere Length ◽  
Leukocyte Telomere Length ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Severe Periodontitis

scholarly journals Association Between Dietary Selenium Intake and Leukocyte Telomere Length in a Nationally Representative Sample of US Adults (OR11-06-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Buyun Liu ◽  
Yangbo Sun ◽  
Guifeng Xu ◽  
Shuang Rong ◽  
Wei Bao
Keyword(s):  
Telomere Length ◽  
Representative Sample ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Biological Aging ◽  
Leukocyte Telomere Length ◽  
Telomere Shortening ◽  
Dietary Selenium ◽  
Selenium Intake ◽  
Nationally Representative

Abstract Objectives DNA damage induced by oxidative stress is implicated in accelerated telomere shortening, a biomarker of biological aging. Although selenium has antioxidant properties, its impact on telomere length is largely unknown. This study aimed to examine the association between dietary selenium intake and leukocyte telomere length in a nationally representative sample of US adults. Methods We included 7409 adults aged 20 years or older who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2002. Dietary selenium intake was calculated using data collected in the 24-hour dietary recall. Leukocyte telomere length was assayed using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction method. The association between selenium intake and telomere length was estimated by weighted linear regression models adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors, body mass index, supplements intake, and leukocyte cell type composition. Results The average dietary selenium intake was 109.1 mg/d (standard error [SE] 1.15). We didn't find a significant association between dietary selenium intake and telomere length in US adults. The average telomere length (SE) was 1.01 (0.02), 1.01 (0.01), and 1.04 (0.01) across increasing tertiles of dietary selenium intake. However, a significant interaction was observed for age (P = 0.02). Among individuals aged 20–44 years, the β coefficient of log-transformed telomere length, compared to lowest tertile of dietary selenium intake, was −0.041 (SE 0.012, P = 0.002) and −0.033 (SE 0.018, P = 0.07) for middle tertile and the highest tertile of selenium intake, respectively. The corresponding β coefficient was 0.009 (SE 0.016, P = 0.59) and −0.001 (SE 0.012, P = 0.95), respectively, for adults 45–64 years old, and 0.017 (SE 0.015, P = 0.28) and 0.059 (SE 0.021, P = 0.01), respectively, for those aged 65 years or older. The results were not appreciably changed even after additionally adjustment for dietary intake of vitamin A, vitamin E, and zinc. Conclusions The association between dietary selenium intake and telomere length differed significantly by age groups, indicating that higher selenium intake may prevent telomere shortening in older adults but not in younger or middle-aged adults. Further studies about the underlying mechanisms are warranted. Funding Sources NA.

scholarly journals Parallel telomere shortening in multiple body tissues owing to malaria infection

2016 ◽  
Vol 283 (1836) ◽  
pp. 20161184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Asghar ◽  
Vaidas Palinauskas ◽  
Nadège Zaghdoudi-Allan ◽  
Gediminas Valkiūnas ◽  
Andrey Mukhin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Telomere Length ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Telomere Shortening ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Telomere Attrition ◽  
Body Tissues ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Avian Malaria Parasite ◽  
Systemic Stress ◽  
The Impact

Several studies have shown associations between shorter telomere length in blood and weakened immune function, susceptibility to infections, and increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Recently, we have shown that malaria accelerates telomere attrition in blood cells and shortens lifespan in birds. However, the impact of infections on telomere attrition in different body tissues within an individual is unknown. Here, we tested whether malarial infection leads to parallel telomere shortening in blood and tissue samples from different organs. We experimentally infected siskins ( Spinus spinus ) with the avian malaria parasite Plasmodium ashfordi , and used real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to measure telomere length in control and experimentally infected siskins. We found that experimentally infected birds showed faster telomere attrition in blood over the course of infection compared with control individuals (repeatedly measured over 105 days post-infection (DPI)). Shorter telomeres were also found in the tissue of all six major organs investigated (liver, lungs, spleen, heart, kidney, and brain) in infected birds compared with controls at 105 DPI. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study showing that an infectious disease results in synchronous telomere shortening in the blood and tissue cells of internal organs within individuals, implying that the infection induces systemic stress. Our results have far-reaching implications for understanding how the short-term effects of an infection can translate into long-term costs, such as organ dysfunction, degenerative diseases, and ageing.

scholarly journals Mental health and risk behaviors of children in rural China with different patterns of parental migration: a cross-sectional study

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Wang ◽  
Jingjing Lu ◽  
Leesa Lin ◽  
Xudong Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Behaviors ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Full Data ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background One in seven members of China’s population are migrants. There are an estimated 41 million children left behind in rural areas who are living without one or both of their parents. The impact of two- and single-parent migration on child mental health and risk behaviors is unclear. The aim of this study was to compare the mental health and risk behaviors among children whose parents are either both migrating (B-LBC), have one parent migrating (O-LBC) or those whose parents do not migrate (N-LBC). Methods This study was a cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire conducted in rural areas with high proportions of left behind children (LBC) in Anhui Province, southeast China. The tools used were the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaires, Youth Risk Behavior Survey and the Young’s Internet Addiction Test for Chinese. Results Full data were available for 699 B-LBC, 552 O-LBC and 741 N-LBC. After adjusting for gender, age, grade, number of siblings and self-rated socio-economic status, B-LBC were significantly more likely to have higher emotional symptoms scores (B(SE) = 0.36(0.11), p < 0.01), higher hyperactivity scores (B(SE) = 0.22(0.11), p < 0.01) and higher total difficulties scores (B(SE) = 0.79(0.29), p < 0.01) than N-LBC. B-LBC were also more likely to be an addicted internet user (OR(95%CI) = 1.91(1.33, 2.76), p < 0.01) compared to N-LBC. However, there were no identified differences between O-LBC and N-LBC or between O-LBC and B-LBC in any measures. Conclusions Our findings found that living with one parent or both parents was associated with better mental health and fewer risk behaviors than was being separated from both parents. Future research is needed to consider the implications of these findings for policies and programs to protect LBC, especially for those with two migrating parents.

scholarly journals Impact of Snoring on Telomere Shortening in Adolescents with Atopic Diseases

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 766
Author(s):  
T.-S. (Keith) Tung ◽  
S. (Rosa) Wong ◽  
Hing-Wai Tsang ◽  
T. (Gilbert) Chua ◽  
Y.-T. (Dicky) Chan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Allergic Rhinitis ◽  
Telomere Length ◽  
Cellular Level ◽  
Buccal Swab ◽  
Atopic Diseases ◽  
Telomere Shortening ◽  
Cellular Marker ◽  
Significant Burden ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Impact

Atopic diseases can impose a significant burden on children and adolescents. Telomere length is a cellular marker of aging reflecting the impact of cumulative stress exposure on individual health. Since elevated oxidative stress and inflammation burden induced by chronic atopy and snoring may impact telomere length, this study aimed to investigate whether snoring would moderate the relationship between atopic diseases and telomere length in early adolescence. We surveyed 354 adolescents and their parents. Parents reported the adolescents’ history of atopic diseases, recent snoring history as well as other family sociodemographic characteristics. Buccal swab samples were also collected from the adolescents for telomere length determination. Independent and combined effects of atopic diseases and snoring on telomere length were examined. Among the surveyed adolescents, 174 were reported by parents to have atopic diseases (20 had asthma, 145 had allergic rhinitis, 53 had eczema, and 25 had food allergy). Shorter TL was found in participants with a history of snoring and atopic diseases (β = −0.34, p = 0.002) particularly for asthma (β = −0.21, p = 0.007) and allergic rhinitis (β = −0.22, p = 0.023). Our findings suggest that snoring in atopic patients has important implications for accelerated telomere shortening. Proper management of atopic symptoms at an early age is important for the alleviation of long-term health consequences at the cellular level.

scholarly journals Perceived Social Support predicts Psychological Problems among University Students

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr. Syeda Razia Bukhari ◽  
Firdous Afzal
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
University Students ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Psychological Problems ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Future Research ◽  
University Management ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Depression Anxiety Stress Scale ◽  
The Impact

Background: psychological problems are prevailing among university students, which need the attention of university management, government, social workers, and counsellors as well. Aims: to find out the prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress among students, and their level of perceived social support. Study also aims to find the impact of perceived social support on psychological problems (depression, anxiety, and stress). Methodology: Cross sectional survey designed was used to collect data, from 200 university students (m=100; f=100). They were selected through purposive sampling technique from various universities of Karachi, Pakistan with mean age (21.79 ±2.970). Depression anxiety stress scale (DASS-21) was used to measure the student’s level of depression, anxiety and stress (Lovibond & lovibond, 1995). Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MPSS) (Zimet et al. 1988) was used to measure social support. Regression analysis was used to test assumption. Results: In our sample out of 200 students, 58%, 69%, 40% have mild to severe level of depression, anxiety and stress respectively. Perceived social supports predict 6%depression and 2% anxiety in our sample respectively. Conclusion: Depression, Anxiety and Stress are highly prevailing among university students. Perceived social support is negatively associated with depression, anxiety and stress. While perceived social support is a significant negative predictor of depression and anxiety. Implications: It is implicated that university students needs counselling services as they are having high rate of psychological problems and low levels of perceived social support. University management should develop policies and programs for increasing perceived social support among students. Future research should look at role of coping in influence of perceived social support on psychological problems.

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