scholarly journals Body size and physical exercise, and the risk of multiple sclerosis

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 270-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianna Cortese ◽  
Trond Riise ◽  
Kjetil Bjørnevik ◽  
Kjell-Morten Myhr ◽  

Background: Whether large body size increases multiple sclerosis (MS) risk in men is not well understood. Concurrently, physical exercise could be an independent protective factor. Objective: To prospectively investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and aerobic fitness, indicators of body size and exercise, and MS risk in men. Methods: We performed a population-based nested case-control study within the historical cohort of all Norwegian men, born in 1950–1975, undergoing mandatory conscription at the age of 19 years. 1016 cases were identified through linkage to the Norwegian MS registry, while 19,230 controls were randomly selected from the cohort. We estimated the effect of BMI and fitness at conscription on MS risk using Cox regression. Results: Higher BMI (≥25 vs 18.5–<25 kg/m2) was significantly associated with increased MS risk (adjusted relative risk (RRadj) = 1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05–1.76). We also found a significant inverse association between aerobic fitness (high vs low) and MS risk independent of BMI (RRadj = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.55–0.88, p-trend = 0.003), remaining similar when men with MS onset within 10 years from conscription were excluded ( p-trend = 0.03). Conclusion: These findings add weight to evidence linking being overweight to an increased MS risk in men. Furthermore, they suggest that exercise may be an additional modifiable protective factor for MS.

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 388-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin Wesnes ◽  
Trond Riise ◽  
Ilaria Casetta ◽  
Jelena Drulovic ◽  
Enrico Granieri ◽  
...  

Background: Obesity may be a risk factor for developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective: We examined if body size influences the risk of MS in a population-based, case control study. Methods: A total of 953 cases and 1717 controls from Norway and 707 cases and 1333 controls from Italy reported their body size by choosing a silhouette 1 to 9 (largest) every fifth year from age 5 to 30 and at time of study. The body size-related MS risk was defined by odds ratios (ORs) in logistic regression analyses adjusting for age, smoking and outdoor activity. Results: In Norway a large body size (silhouettes 6–9) compared to silhouette 3 increased the risk of MS, especially at age 25 (OR 2.21; 95% CI 1.09–4.46 for men and OR 1.43; 95% CI 0.90–2.27 for women). When comparing silhouette 9 to 1, we found a significant dose-response from age 10 until age 30 peaking at age 25 (sex-adjusted OR 2.83; 95% CI 1.68–4.78). The association was present for at least 15 years prior to disease onset. No significant associations were found in Italy. Conclusions: Obesity from childhood until young adulthood is a likely risk factor for MS with a seemingly stronger effect in Norway than in Italy.


2020 ◽  
pp. 135245852097436
Author(s):  
Pietro Iaffaldano ◽  
Giuseppe Lucisano ◽  
Francesco Patti ◽  
Vincenzo Brescia Morra ◽  
Giovanna De Luca ◽  
...  

Background: No uniform criteria for a sensitive identification of the transition from relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) to secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) are available. Objective: To compare risk factors of SPMS using two definitions: one based on the neurologist judgment (ND) and an objective data-driven algorithm (DDA). Methods: Relapsing-onset MS patients ( n = 19,318) were extracted from the Italian MS Registry. Risk factors for SPMS and for reaching irreversible Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 6.0, after SP transition, were estimated using multivariable Cox regression models. Results: SPMS identified by the DDA ( n = 2343, 12.1%) were older, more disabled and with a faster progression to severe disability ( p < 0.0001), than those identified by the ND ( n = 3868, 20.0%). In both groups, the most consistent risk factors ( p < 0.05) for SPMS were a multifocal onset, an age at onset >40 years, higher baseline EDSS score and a higher number of relapses; the most consistent protective factor was the disease-modifying therapy (DMT) exposure. DMT exposure during SP did not impact the risk of reaching irreversible EDSS 6.0. Conclusion: A DDA definition of SPMS identifies more aggressive progressive patients. DMT exposure reduces the risk of SPMS conversion, but it does not prevent the disability accumulation after the SP transition.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 129 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luc Djousse ◽  
Andrew Petrone ◽  
John Gaziano

Background: Previous studies have suggested that nut consumption, a good source of unsaturated fatty acids, magnesium, potassium, fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins is associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and sudden cardiac death. However, limited data are available on the association between nut intake and all-cause mortality. Objective: To test the hypothesis that nut consumption is inversely associated with the risk of all-cause mortality. Methods: A prospective cohort study of 20,742 male physicians from the Physicians’ Health Study. Nut intake was assessed between 1999 and 2002 using a food frequency questionnaire and deaths were ascertained by an endpoint committee. We used Cox regression to estimate multivariable adjusted relative risk of death according to nut consumption. In secondary analyses, we evaluated associations of nut consumption with cause-specific mortality (coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancer deaths). Results: During a median follow-up of 9.5 years, there were 2,732 deaths. The mean age at baseline was 66.6 ± 9.3 years. Median intake of nuts was 1 time per week. Multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) were: 1.0 (ref), 0.91 (0.83-1.00), 0.85 (0.76-0.95), 0.86 (0.75-0.98), and 0.74 (0.63-0.87) for nut consumption of never, 1-3/month, 1/week, 2-4/week, and 5+/week, respectively (p for linear trend <0.0001), after adjustment for age, body mass index, alcohol use, smoking, exercise, energy intake, saturated fat, fruit and vegetables, red meat intake, and prevalent diabetes and hypertension. In a secondary analysis, nut intake was inversely related to CVD death; however, only a suggestive and non-statistically significant relation was seen for cancer mortality (Table). Conclusions: Our data are consistent with an inverse association between nut consumption and risk of all-cause mortality in US male physicians.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (06) ◽  
pp. 654-659
Author(s):  
Sandra Gualtero ◽  
Sandra Valderrama ◽  
Margarita Valencia ◽  
Diana Rueda ◽  
Oscar Muñoz-Velandia ◽  
...  

Introduction: There is little information about weigh of factors possibly associated with mortality, in infections caused by Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) in Latin America. Methodology: A case-controls study nested in a historical cohort was performed including all patients with CRE infections diagnosed between June 2013 and December 2018 at Hospital Universitario San Ignacio in Bogotá, Colombia. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to compare cases of mortality within the first month after the infection diagnosis with surviving patients. Results: A total of 131 patients were included. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 38.17%. In the multivariate analysis, a direct association was found between mortality and septic shock (OR 26.7 CI6.6-107.3 p < 0.01), post-chemotherapy febrile neutropenia (OR 3.3 CI1.06–10.8 p = 0.04) and Charlson Index ≥ 3 (OR 5.5 CI 1.5-20.06 p < 0.01). An inverse association was found with interventions to control the infectious focus (OR 0.3 CI0.1-0.7 p < 0.01). The MIC of different antibiotics and the use of combined antibiotic therapy (triple therapy vs. double therapy or monotherapy) were not associated with mortality. Conclusions: In patients with CRE infections, septic shock, a Charlson comorbidity index ≥ 3, and post-chemotherapy febrile neutropenia are independently related to an increase in mortality. The control of the infectious focus is a protective factor. A rapid identification of these patients, and the implementation of measures to control infectious focus and to detect CRE colonization in patients who are going to be taken to myelosuppressive chemotherapy could impact positively the prognosis of these patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 278-283
Author(s):  
S.G. Ermilov

The oribatid mite subgenus Scheloribates (Topobates) Grandjean, 1958, is recorded from the Neotropical region for the first time. A new species of this subgenus is described from the leaf litter collected in Cayo Agua Island, Panama. Scheloribates (Topobates) panamaensis sp. nov. differs from its related species by the very large body size and presence of a strong ventrodistal process on the leg femora II–IV.


Author(s):  
Ricardo Wilches ◽  
William H Beluch ◽  
Ellen McConnell ◽  
Diethard Tautz ◽  
Yingguang Frank Chan

Abstract Most phenotypic traits in nature involve the collective action of many genes. Traits that evolve repeatedly are particularly useful for understanding how selection may act on changing trait values. In mice, large body size has evolved repeatedly on islands and under artificial selection in the laboratory. Identifying the loci and genes involved in this process may shed light on the evolution of complex, polygenic traits. Here, we have mapped the genetic basis of body size variation by making a genetic cross between mice from the Faroe Islands, which are among the largest and most distinctive natural populations of mice in the world, and a laboratory mouse strain selected for small body size, SM/J. Using this F2 intercross of 841 animals, we have identified 111 loci controlling various aspects of body size, weight and growth hormone levels. By comparing against other studies, including the use of a joint meta-analysis, we found that the loci involved in the evolution of large size in the Faroese mice were largely independent from those of a different island population or other laboratory strains. We hypothesize that colonization bottleneck, historical hybridization, or the redundancy between multiple loci have resulted in the Faroese mice achieving an outwardly similar phenotype through a distinct evolutionary path.


BMC Neurology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nazanin Razazian ◽  
Mohsen Kazeminia ◽  
Hossein Moayedi ◽  
Alireza Daneshkhah ◽  
Shamarina Shohaimi ◽  
...  

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A435-A435
Author(s):  
T J Braley ◽  
A L Kratz ◽  
D Whibley ◽  
C Goldstein

Abstract Introduction The majority of sleep research in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) has been siloed, restricted to evaluation of one or a few sleep measures in isolation. To fully characterize the impact of sleep disturbances in MS, multifaceted phenotyping of sleep is required. The objective of this study was to more comprehensively quantify sleep in PwMS, using a recently developed multi-domain framework of duration, continuity, regularity, sleepiness/alertness, and quality. Methods Data were derived from a parent study that examined associations between actigraphy and polysomnography-based measures of sleep and cognitive function in MS. Actigraphy was recorded in n=55 PwMS for 7-12 days (Actiwatch2®, Philips Respironics). Sleep metrics included: duration=mean total sleep time (TST, minutes); continuity=mean wake time after sleep onset (minutes), and regularity=stddev wake-up time (hours). ‘Extreme’ values for continuity/regularity were defined as the most extreme third of the distributions. ‘Extreme’ TST values were defined as the lowest or highest sixth of the distributions. Sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale score) and sleep quality [Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) sleep quality item] were dichotomized by accepted cutoffs (&gt;10 and &gt;1, respectively). Results Sleep was recorded for a mean of 8.2 days (stddev=0.95). Median (1st, 3rd quartile) values were as follows: duration 459.79 (430.75, 490.60), continuity 37.00 (23.44, 52.57), regularity 1.02 (0.75, 1.32), sleepiness/alertness 8 (4, 12), and sleep quality 1.00 (1.00, 2.00). Extreme values based on data distributions were: short sleep &lt;=426.25 minutes (18%), long sleep &gt;515.5 minutes (16%), poor sleep continuity ≥45 minutes (33%), and poor sleep regularity ≥1.17 hours (33%). Sleepiness and poor sleep quality were present in 36% and 40% respectively. For comparison, in a historical cohort of non-MS patients, the extreme third of sleep regularity was a stddev of 0.75 hours, 13% had ESS of &gt;10, and 16% had poor sleep quality. Conclusion In this study of ambulatory sleep patterns in PwMS, we found greater irregularity of sleep-wake timing, and higher prevalence of sleepiness and poor sleep quality than published normative data. Efforts should be made to include these measures in the assessment of sleep-related contributions to MS outcomes. Support The authors received no external support for this work.


2009 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Zipoli ◽  
Benedetta Goretti ◽  
Bahia Hakiki ◽  
Gianfranco Siracusa ◽  
Sandro Sorbi ◽  
...  

Significant cognitive impairment has been found in 20—30% of patients with clinically isolated syndromes suggestive of multiple sclerosis. In this study we aimed to assess the prognostic value of the presence of cognitive impairment for the conversion to multiple sclerosis in patients with clinically isolated syndromes. All patients with clinically isolated syndromes consecutively referred to our centre since 2002 and who had been followed-up for at least one year underwent cognitive assessment through the Rao’s Battery and the Stroop test. Possible predictors of conversion to clinically definite multiple sclerosis were evaluated through the Kaplan Meier curves and Cox regression analysis. A total of 56 patients (41 women; age 33.2 ± 8.5 years; expanded disability scale score 1.2 ± 0.7) were recruited. At baseline, 32 patients (57%) fulfilled McDonald’s criteria for dissemination in space. During the follow-up (3.5 ± 2.3 years), 26 patients (46%) converted to a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. In particular, 64% of patients failing ≥ 2 tests and 88% of patients failing ≥ 3 tests converted to multiple sclerosis. In the Cox regression model, the failure of at least three tests (HR 3.3; 95% CI 1.4—8.1; p = 0.003) and the presence of McDonald’s dissemination in space at baseline (HR 3.8; 95% CI 1.5—9.7; p = 0.005), were found to be predictors for conversion to multiple sclerosis. We conclude that cognitive impairment is detectable in a sizable proportion of patients with clinically isolated syndromes. In these subjects cognitive impairment has a prognostic value in predicting conversion to multiple sclerosis and may therefore play a role in therapeutic decision making.


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