Metabolic Health, Obesity, and the Risk of Developing Open-Angle Glaucoma: Metabolically Healthy Obese Patients versus Metabolically Unhealthy but Normal Weight Patients

Background@#This study sought to investigate the associations between metabolic health status, obesity, and incidence of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). @*Methods@#In this nationwide, population-based, longitudinal prospective cohort study conducted using the Korean National Health Insurance System, we categorized all subjects based on presence and severity of metabolic syndrome and obesity. Insurance claims data were used to identify POAG development. Then, Cox regression was applied to calculate the hazard of developing POAG in people with various components of metabolic syndrome, obesity, or their combination. @*Results@#Of the total 287,553 subjects, 4,970 (1.3%) developed POAG. High fasting glucose, blood pressure, and total cholesterol levels were all associated with increased risk of developing POAG. Regarding obesity level, people with body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m 2 were more likely to develop POAG than those with normal BMI. Also, people with greater number of metabolic syndrome components showed a greater POAG incidence. People who are metabolically unhealthy and obese (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.574; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.449 to 1.711) and those who are metabolically unhealthy nonobese (MUNO: adjusted HR, 1.521; 95% CI, 1.405 to 1.645) but not those who are metabolically healthy obese (MHO: adjusted HR, 1.019; 95% CI, 0.907 to 1.144) had an increased hazard of developing POAG compared with metabolically healthy nonobese (MHNO) subjects. @*Conclusion@#Metabolic health status and obesity were significantly associated with increased risk of POAG incidence. MUNO subjects but not MHO subjects showed a higher risk of POAG development than did MHNO subjects, suggesting that metabolic status is more important than obesity in POAG.

Flora béntica y reproducción de las algas Batophora spp. (Chlorophyta: Dasycladaceae) de una laguna costera contaminada (Bahía de Chetumal, México) / Benthic flora and reproduction of Batophora spp. algae (Chlorophyta: Dasycladaceae) in a polluted coastal lagoon (Chetumal Bay, Mexico)

The benthic flora, and the vegetative and reproductive characters of the algae Batophora oerstedii and B. occidentalis (Chlorophyta) were recorded from five sites of Chetumal Bay, Quintana Roo, Mexico. A sewage gradient has been reported along those sites. Plants were sampled in May and October 1999, which corresponded to dry and rainy seasons, respectively. Forty taxa were found, 11 are new records for the Chetumal Bay, and 6 are new records for the Mexican Caribbean. Enteromorpha species were present in sites known as rich in organic matter (both from anthropogenic and natural sources). Batophora spp. is the dominant algae in all Chetumal Bay. However, it was absent next to sewage outfalls. The morphological characters of B. oerstedii and B. occidentalis did not change significantly along the sites reported as polluted. The length and width of gametophores, as well as the diameter of the gametangia were clearly different for both species. Different reproductive strategies may help B. oerstedii and B. occidentalis to closely coexist in the Chetumal Bay.

Los componentes de la flora béntica, y mediciones de partes vegetativas y reproductivas de Batophora oerstedii y B. occidentalis (Chlorophyta) se registraron en cinco sitios de la costa Oeste de la Bahía de Chetumal, donde se ha registrado la existencia de un gradiente de contaminación orgánica. La colecta de flora se realizó en mayo y Octubre de 1999, meses incluidos en las épocas climáticas e secas y lluvias, respectivamente. Se registraron 40 taxa de vegetación béntica, de los cuales 11 representan nuevos registros para la Bahía de Chetumal, y 6 para el Caribe Mexicano. Especies de Enteromorpha estuvieron presentes en ambientes ricos en materia orgánica, tanto de origen urbano, como natural. En los desagües de la Bahía de Chetumal existen especies indicadoras de contaminación, pero la ausencia de Batophora spp., dominante en esta laguna costera. Los caracteres morfológicos de B. occidentalis y B. oerstedii a lo largo de los cinco sitios de muestreo no reflejaron la presencia de contaminantes. Ambas especies presentaron diferencias significativas en su largo y ancho de gametóforos, y en el diámetro de gametangios Las diferencias en estrategias reproductivas probablemente ayudan a que B. oerstedii y B. occidentalis puedan coexistir cercanamente en la Bahía de Chetumal.

Algas epífitas de Bajo Pepito, Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, México / Epiphytic algae from Bajo Pepito, Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, Mexico

A total of 96 epiphytic algae species were identified from Bajo Pepito, Quintana Roo, México. 60.4% (58) belonged to the Rhodophyta, 19.79% (19) to the Phaeophyta, 16.6% (16) to the Chlorophyta and 3.1% (3) to the Cyanophyta; 49 species (50.5%) were found only in one month, while Heterosiphonia crispella was found in all of the sampled months. That species provided the largest contribution to the biomass of epiphytes. During January we registered the greater biommass and richness of epiphytes species, coincidently with high values of host species cover and rainfall.

Se identificó un total de 96 especies de algas epífitas de Bajo Pepito, Quintana Roo, México; el 60.4% (58) pertenecieron a la división Rhodophyta, 19.79% (19) a la división Phaeophyta, 16.6% (16) a la división Chlorophyta y 3.1% (3) a la división Cyanophyta; 49 especies (51%) se presentaron solamente en un mes de muestreo. Heterosiphonia crispella se presentó en todos los meses de muestreo, y fue la que tuvo mayor contribución en la biomasa de epífitas. En enero se registró la mayor biomasa y riqueza de algas epífitas, lo cual coincidió con valores altos de cobertura de especies hospederas y precipitación pluvial.

Choline supplementation facilitates short-term memory consolidation into intermediate long-term memory of young Sprague-Dawley rats / La suplementación con colina facilita la consolidación de la memoria a corto plazo y su transformación en memoria intermedia a largo plazo, en las Ratas Sprague-Dawley jóvenes

Choline is important for the synthesis of acetylcholine, an integral neurotransmitter involved in memory formation. In order to investigate the effect of choline supplementation on memory consolidation, the study utilized a T-maze to facilitate passive avoidance learning and memory in young female Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were placed in two groups; choline-supplemented that received choline chloride daily for two weeks, and control that received vehicle daily for two weeks. Rats were evaluated to determine their ability to avoid an aversive electric foot-shock (0.1 mA at 60V) when they characteristically entered the preferred dark area (DA) of the T-maze. Both groups of rats showed preference, without significant difference, for entry into DA of the T-maze. However, fifteen minutes after passive avoidance both choline supplemented and control rats avoided entry into DA. This display of DA avoidance 15 minutes after training, suggests that both groups of rats had acquired short-term memory of the aversive stimulus. However, when the test was repeated 24 hours after training, the control group did not avoid entry into DA, whereas the choline-supplemented group either avoided entry or entered after a significantly longer latency period (p < 0.01). These results suggest that supplementation with choline facilitated the consolidation of short-term memory of the avoidance learning into intermediate long-term memory in young rats.

La colina es importante para la síntesis de la acetilcolina – un neurotransmisor integral que participa en la formación de la memoria. Para investigar el efecto de la suplementación con colina en la consolidación de la memoria, el estudio utilizó un laberinto T para facilitar la memoria y el aprendizaje de evitación pasiva en ratas hembras jóvenes Sprague-Dawley. Las ratas fueron colocadas en dos grupos: uno que recibió cloruro de colina diariamente por espacio de dos semanas, y uno de control que recibió vehículo diariamente por dos semanas. Las ratas fueron evaluadas a fin de determinar su habilidad para evitar un choque eléctrico aversivo (0.1mA a 60V) cuando entraban característicamente a la preferida área oscura (AO) del laberinto en T. Ambos grupos de ratas mostraron preferencia – sin diferencia significativa – por entrar en el área oscura del laberinto en T. Sin embargo, quince minutos después de la evitación pasiva, tanto las ratas que recibieron la suplementación con colina como las ratas de control, evitaban entrar al área oscura. El hecho de que se observe la evitación del área oscura15 minutos después del entrenamiento, sugiere que ambos grupos de ratas habían adquirido una memoria a corto plazo del estímulo aversivo. Sin embargo, cuando la prueba se repitió 24 horas después del entrenamiento, el grupo de control no evitó el entrar al AO, mientras que el grupo que recibió el complemento de colina, o evitó entrar o entró luego de un período de latencia significativamente más largo (P < 0.01). Por lo tanto, estos resultados sugieren por consiguiente que la suplementación con colina facilitó la consolidación de la memoria a corto plazo del aprendizaje de la evitación, y su transformación en memoria a largo plazo en las ratas jóvenes.