Humoral immune response after COVID-19 in multiple sclerosis: A nation-wide Austrian study

Background: Knowledge on immunity after SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) and the impact of disease-modifying treatment (DMT) is limited. Objective: To evaluate degree, duration and potential predictors of specific humoral immune response in pwMS with prior COVID-19. Methods: Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing was performed in pwMS with PCR-confirmed diagnosis of symptomatic COVID-19 from a nation-wide registry. Predictors of seropositivity were identified by multivariate regression models. Results: In 125 pwMS (mean age = 42.4 years (SD = 12.3 years), 70% female), anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 76.0% after a median of 5.2 months from positive PCR. Seropositivity rate was significantly lower in patients on IS-DMT (61.4%, p = 0.001) than without DMT or immunomodulatory DMT (80.6%; 86.0%, respectively). In multivariate analysis, IS-DMT was associated with reduced probability of seropositivity (odds ratio (OR): 0.51; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.17–0.82; p < 0.001). Predefined subgroup analyses showed marked reduction of seropositivity in pwMS on rituximab/ocrelizumab (OR 0.15; 95% CI: 0.05–0.56; p < 0.001). Rate of seropositivity did not change significantly over 6 months. Conclusions: Humoral immunity is stable after SARS-CoV-2 infection in MS, but is reduced by immunosuppressive DMT, particularly anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies. This provides important evidence for advising pwMS as well as for planning and prioritizing vaccination.

The Effect of Elevated Protein Intake on DNA Damage in Older People: Comparative Secondary Analysis of Two Randomized Controlled Trials

A high protein intake at old age is important for muscle protein synthesis, however, this could also trigger protein oxidation with the potential risk for DNA damage. The aim of this study was to investigate whether an increased protein intake at recommended level or well above would affect DNA damage or change levels of reduced (GSH) and oxidised glutathione (GSSG) in community-dwelling elderly subjects. These analyses were performed in two randomized intervention studies, in Austria and in New Zealand. In both randomized control trials, the mean protein intake was increased with whole foods, in the New Zealand study (n = 29 males, 74.2 ± 3.6 years) to 1.7 g/kg body weight/d (10 weeks intervention; p < 0.001)) in the Austrian study (n = 119 males and females, 72.9 ± 4.8 years) to 1.54 g/kg body weight/d (6 weeks intervention; p < 0.001)). In both studies, single and double strand breaks and as formamidopyrimidine—DNA glycosylase-sensitive sites were investigated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells or whole blood. Further, resistance to H2O2 induced DNA damage, GSH, GSSG and CRP were measured. Increased dietary protein intake did not impact on DNA damage markers and GSH/GSSG levels. A seasonal-based time effect (p < 0.05), which led to a decrease in DNA damage and GSH was observed in the Austrian study. Therefore, increasing the protein intake to more than 20% of the total energy intake in community-dwelling seniors in Austria and New Zealand did not increase measures of DNA damage, change glutathione status or elevate plasma CRP.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Families´ Utilization of Well Child Clinics and Pediatric Practice Attendance in Germany

ObjectiveThe COVID-19 pandemic and the measures implemented to stop the pandemic had a broad impact on our daily lives. Besides work and social life, health care is affected on many levels. In particular, there is concern that attendance in health care programs will drop or hospital admissions will be delayed due to COVID-19-related anxieties, especially in children. Therefore, we compared the number of weekly visits to 78 German pediatric institutions between 2019 and 2020. ResultsWe found no significant differences during the first ten weeks of the year. However, and importantly, from April, the weekly number of visits was more than 35% lower in 2020 than in 2019 (p=0.005). In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic seems to relate to families´ utilization of well-child clinics and pediatric practice attendance in Germany. Of note is that an Austrian study shows that delays in accessing acute pediatric health care may outweigh the risks of COVID-19 because diagnostics and treatments of severe diseases might be delayed during the pandemic.

The Association of Potassium Status with Parameters of Glucose Metabolism is influenced by Age in Adults

Background: Potassium status has been found to affect glucose homeostasis. Objective: his study therefore aimed at investigating relationships between potassium status or dietary intake and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) or glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) in a sample of Austrian adults (18-80 years, n = 421, 61% women) from the Austrian Study on Nutritional Status 2012. Methods: Dietary potassium intake was obtained by two 24 h recalls. FPG, plasma K+, and urinary K+ were determined photometrically, HbA1c by HPLC. Associations between the parameters were studied using multiple regression analysis after controlling for confounders and after age stratification of the sample (18-64 y vs. 65-80 y). Results: Most of the participants had a potassium intake of less than the estimated adequate daily intake of 4000 mg/d. In the multiple regression analyses in the whole sample plasma K+ had a statistically significant positive effect on FPG only in the crude model (ß = 0.128, p < 0.01) and on HbA1c also in the fully adjusted model (ß = 0.129, p - 0.05). The small effects on HbA1c were also detected in the younger age group but were absent in the older population. However, in this latter, a reverse association of urinary K+ on HbA1c was observed as well as of dietary potassium intake on FPG with no effects in the younger sample. Conclusion: We suggest that age dependent differences in the association between parameters of potassium status and blood glucose regulation should also be taken into account.

Use of soil organic biomarkers for tracing the origin of eroded sediment: case study in Petzenkirchen (Austria)

&lt;p&gt;Compound-specific stable isotopes (CSSI) technique based on the measurement of &amp;#948;&lt;sup&gt;13&lt;/sup&gt;C signatures of organic biomarker compounds such as fatty acids (FAs) has been used since the end of the 2000s to reinforce the knowledge about sediment production and budget in various ecosystems.&lt;br&gt;The watershed of Petzenkirchen, located 100 km west from Vienna (Austria), was selected to establish the origin of the sediment produced at its outlet using &amp;#948;&lt;sup&gt;13&lt;/sup&gt;C-FAs analysis. The climatic conditions of the area are temperate with continental influences with a mean temperature of 9.5&amp;#730; C and yearly precipitation of 823 mm. The dominant soil types are Cambisols and Planosols. Based on existing land-use records, most of the agricultural fields are dominated by a rotation of winter wheat followed by maize cultivation.&lt;br&gt;Considering the specific geomorphology, the flow of the runoff, the significant interaction of roads, the distance and connection of the potential sources to the outlet, the contributing area of the site has been set to around 50 ha and 7 sources most likely to contribute to the sediment at the outlet were investigated. Using the mixing polygons approach, the &amp;#948;&lt;sup&gt;13&lt;/sup&gt;C of saturated long chain FAs (i.e. C24:0 and C26:0) allowed the best discrimination for establishing the contribution of sources to the sediment collected at the exit of the watershed (i.e. the mixture). The relative contribution to the soil mixture of the different source soils identified has been determined using the Stable Isotope Mixing Models in R (SIMMR) and the specific organic carbon content of each source. The simulated results derived with SIMMR highlights that more than half of the sediment reaching the outlet of the watershed originates from stream bank.&amp;#160;&lt;br&gt;This Austrian study confirms that the information gained with &amp;#948;&lt;sup&gt;13&lt;/sup&gt;C-FAs analysis could provide unique support for allowing effective agroecosystems management.&lt;/p&gt;

Potassium Intake in Austrian Adults

IntroductionBeing the predominant osmotically active element inside cells, potassium is a central regulator of the osmotic balance and the electrochemical membrane potential. As such, it has an effect on blood pressure and therefore counteracts the effects of excess dietary sodium intake. Furthermore, potassium affects glucose homeostasis by influencing insulin secretion from the pancreatic β-cells. Due to the health-promoting effects of potassium, the German-speaking countries have recently updated the reference values for potassium. The revised estimates of adequate potassium intake are 4000 mg/d instead of previously recommended 2000 mg/d. However, a typical Western diet on average contains less potassium and more sodium.Materials and methodsThe presented data were collected within the Austrian Study on Nutrition 2014/2016, a regularly conducted representative cross-sectional survey to monitor food consumption in Austria. Altogether, data from 2129 adults aged between 18 and 64 years were included in the analysis. In the course of two years, and thus with the consideration of seasonal variations, the survey was conducted on the basis of two non-consecutive 24 hour recalls in accordance with the guidelines of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The survey was approved by the Ethical Committee of the University of Vienna (reference number: 00284).ResultsAfter exclusion of misreporters the final sample consisted of 2018 individuals, of which 1282 (63.5%) were women. The mean age was 38.8 ± 11.9 years.Median dietary potassium intake was 2783 mg/d (IQR: 1245). Men had a higher median intake than women (3018 mg/d (IQR: 1303) vs. 2546 mg/d (IQR: 1112), p < 0.001). Significant differences between sexes existed in all age groups (p < 0.001). However, there was no significant correlation between age and dietary potassium intake.The estimates of adequate potassium intake of 4000 mg/d (DGE et al., 2017) were met by only 13.3% of the participants, 7.4% of women and 19.2% of men. Moreover, only 479 participants (23.8%, 16.7% of women and 30.9% of men) had intakes equal to or above 3500 mg/d, the adequate intake established by EFSA (2016).DiscussionOur data show that potassium intake has to be improved in all gender and age groups by increasing the consumption of potassium-rich foods. However, since the estimates of adequate potassium intake have doubled recently, it seems even more difficult to achieve these recommendations in daily food routine.

The “Aachen sings” study (“Aachen choir engagement study into GERD symptoms”): moderate singing and breathing exercises in a choir reduce reflux symptoms – a cohort study in non-specialist choristers

Background The influence of singing activities and breathing exercises on the presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms is not clear. While an Austrian study found symptom reduction, an Italian study showed more symptoms in professional opera choristers. These contradictory results may be due to differential intensity of the singing exercises. We therefore developed a questionnaire to investigate the presence of GERD typical symptoms and defined GERD in nonprofessional choristers with moderate singing activity and breathing exercises and compared the results to those from related non-singing control persons. Methods 434 actively engaged lay-choir persons and 310 non-singing friends or relatives answered questions in a questionnaire regarding basic data, singing habits, GERD symptoms, and past or present diagnostic events and medications. Results Non-singing control persons experienced more frequently heartburn (1.1 ± 4.1 vs. 0.5 ± 1.2 episodes/week, p = 0.001) and acid regurgitation (0.9 ± 4.1 vs. 0.5 ± 1.3 episodes/week, p < 0.001) and had more often already received the diagnosis of GERD (16.8 % vs. 10.4 %, p = 0.011). From the persons without known GERD, members of the control cohort more often fulfilled the simplified diagnostic criteria of GERD (14.3 % vs. 5.1 %, p < 0.001). A multivariate analysis identified non-singing, high body mass index, and smoking as significant risk factors for the presence of GERD symptoms. Conclusion The frequency of reflux symptoms and GERD is probably still increasing. Moderate singing activities and breathing exercises seem to be helpful in avoiding reflux symptoms such as heartburn and acid regurgitation.