ClearScope: a fully integrated light sheet theta microscope for sub-cellular resolution imaging without lateral size constraints.

Three-dimensional (3D) ex vivo imaging of cleared intact brains of animal models and large human and non-human primate postmortem brain specimens is important for understanding the physiological neural network connectivity patterns and the pathological alterations underlying neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders. Light-sheet microscopy has emerged as a highly effective imaging modality for rapid high-resolution imaging of large cleared samples. However, the orthogonal arrangements of illumination and detection optics in light sheet microscopy limits the size of specimen that can be imaged. Recently developed light sheet theta microscopy (LSTM) technology addressed this by utilizing a unique arrangement of two illumination light paths oblique to the detection light path, while allowing perpendicular arrangement of the detection light path relative to the specimen surface. Here, we report development of a next-generation, fully integrated, and user-friendly LSTM system for rapid sub-cellular resolution imaging uniformly throughout a large specimen without constraining the lateral (XY) size. In addition, we provide a seamlessly integrated workflow for image acquisition, data storage, pre- and post-processing, enhancement, and quantitative analysis. We demonstrate the system performance by high-resolution 3D imaging of intact mouse brains and human brain samples, and complete data analysis including digital neuron tracing, vessel reconstruction and design-based stereological analysis in 3D. This technically enhanced and user-friendly LSTM implementation will enable rapid quantitative mapping of molecular and cellular features of interests in diverse types of very large samples.

Corrigendum: Estimated Sweetness in US Diet Among Children and Adults Declined From 2001 to 2018: A Serial Cross-Sectional Surveillance Study Using NHANES 2001-2018.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.777857.].

Acute cognitive performance and mood effects of coffee berry and apple extracts: A randomised, double blind, placebo controlled crossover study in healthy humans.

Background: Polyphenols from coffee berry (chlorogenic acid) and apple (flavanol) have been shown to improve mood and increase cerebral blood flow in healthy humans. These effects may underpin the cognitive effects of polyphenols seen previously.Objective: The aim of the present paper was to extend previous research by investigating the effects of coffee berry at high and low doses when combined with apple extract on cognitive performance and mood.Design: This randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled, crossover trial included 46 healthy males and females,18-49 years of age (mean age 23 years),consuming: 1100 mg coffee berry extract, 1100 mg coffee berry extract plus 275 mg apple extract, 100 mg coffee berry extract plus 275 mg apple extract or placebo on 4 separate occasions, completing cognitive and mood assessments pre-dose and then again at 1-, 3- and 6 hrs post-dose.Results: Analysis revealed a consistent pattern of alerting effects following 1100 mg coffee berry extract. Limited effects on cognitive function were observed. Specifically, faster peg and ball performance (executive function) was observed following 1100 mg coffee berry plus apple extract and accuracy on the Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVIP) task increased on the third of four repetitions following 1100 mg coffee berry alone. Interestingly, more false alarms on RVIP were observed following the same intervention.Conclusions: In line with previous findings, 1100 mg coffee berry engendered increased arousal. The absence of effects on mood when an apple extract was added, and the potential for the low dose of caffeine within the coffee berry to act synergistically with polyphenols, raise interesting future avenues of research.Abbreviations: Cognitive demand battery (CDB), Profile Of Mood States (POMS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVIP).

Estimated Sweetness in US Diet Among Children and Adults Declined From 2001 to 2018: A Serial Cross-Sectional Surveillance Study Using NHANES 2001-2018.

An agreed-upon measure of total dietary sweetness is lacking hindering assessments of population-level patterns and trends in dietary sweetness. This cross-sectional study used 24-h dietary recall data for 74,461 participants aged ≥ 2 y from nine cycles (2001-2018) of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to evaluate trends in the sweetness of the diet in the United States (US). LCS-containing items were matched to a sugar-sweetened counterpart (e.g., diet cola-regular cola or sucralose sugar). The matched pair was used to estimate the sugar equivalents from LCS-sweetened foods or beverages to estimate dietary level sweetness, which was described as grams of approximate sugar equivalent (ASE) per day. Trends in ASE were estimated overall and by subgroup, and trends were further disaggregated by food or beverage category. Overall, LCS sources contributed about 10.5% of ASE. Total ASE declined from 152 g/d to 117 g/d from 2001-2002 to 2017-2018 (p-trend < 0.001), with comparable declines in children and adults. Declines in total ASE were predominantly driven by beverages (-36.7% from 2001-2002 to 2017-2018) and tabletop sweeteners (-23.8%), but not food (-1.5%). Observed trends were robust to sensitivity analyses incorporating random, systematic, and sensory trial informed estimates of sweetness and also an analysis excluding possible under-reporters of dietary energy. This practical approach and underlying data may help researchers to apply the technique to other dietary studies to further these questions.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in girls aged 4-8 y living in the southeastern United States.

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that adults and adolescents throughout the United States are at risk of poor vitamin D status. However, vitamin D concentrations in young American children have not been assessed. OBJECTIVE: The relations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and bone were examined in prepubertal girls. DESIGN: In the present cross-sectional study, serum 25(OH)D concentration was assessed in 168 prepubertal girls aged 4-8 y living in the southeastern United States with the use of radioimmunoassay. Bone area, bone mineral content, and areal bone mineral density were measured from total body, lumbar spine, proximal femur, and forearm with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Data were analyzed with analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, stepwise multiple regression, and partial correlations. RESULTS: The mean (+/-SD) serum 25(OH)D was 93.8 +/- 28.1 nmol/L (range: 31.1-181.4 nmol/L). In a multiple regression analysis, race and season were the strongest predictors of vitamin D status. The black girls had lower mean 25(OH)D values than did the white girls (P < 0.01), and 25(OH)D values were significantly different in the total sample between the seasons (P < 0.001), ranging from 74.4 nmol/L during the winter months to 107 nmol/L during the summer. After adjustment for season, age, race, and body mass index, 25(OH)D values were negatively correlated with forearm bone mineral content (r = -0.18; P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Unlike prior reports of adults and adolescents living in the southeastern United States, vitamin D status was adequate in the children of the present study. 25(OH)D concentrations were not positively associated with higher bone mineral.

Initial years of recreational artistic gymnastics training improves lumbar spine bone mineral accrual in 4- to 8-year-old females.

UNLABELLED: Gymnasts' bone mineral characteristics are generally not known before starting their sport. Prepubertal females who enrolled in beginning artistic gymnastics (n = 65) had lower bone mineral than controls (n = 78). However, 2 years of gymnastics participation versus no participation led to a significantly greater accrual of forearm bone area and lumbar spine areal BMD. INTRODUCTION: The skeletal response to exercise in children compared with adults is heightened because of the high bone turnover rate and the ability of bone to change its size and shape. Whereas child gymnasts generally have greater rates of bone mineral accrual compared with nongymnasts, it is unknown if some of these skeletal advantages are present before the onset of training or are caused entirely by training. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Changes in bone area (BA; cm2), BMC (g), and areal BMD (aBMD; g/cm2) over 24 months were examined in prepubertal females, 4-8 years of age, who selected to perform recreational gymnastics (GYM; n = 65), nongymnastic activities, or no organized activity (CON; n = 78). Participants had essentially no lifetime history of organized athletic participation (< 12 weeks). Pubertal maturation was assessed annually by a physician. Total body, lumbar spine, total proximal femur, and forearm BA, BMC, and aBMD were measured every 6 months using DXA (Hologic QDR-1000W). Independent samples t-tests determined baseline group differences. Nonlinear mixed effects models were used to model 24-month changes in bone data. In subset analyses, high-level gymnasts advancing to competition (HLG; n = 9) were compared with low-level nonadvancing gymnasts (LLG; n = 56). RESULTS: At baseline, GYM were shorter, lighter, and had lower BA, BMC, and aBMD compared with CON (p < 0.05), whereas HLG did not differ significantly in these measurements compared with LLG (p > 0.05). Controlling for differences in race, baseline measures of body mass, height, and calcium intake, and change in breast development beyond stage II at 24 months, GYM had greater long-term (asymptotic) mean responses for total body aBMD and forearm BMC (p < 0.04) and greater rates of increase in the mean responses of lumbar spine aBMD and forearm BA compared with CON over 24 months. Over time, forearm BA increased to a greater extent in HLG compared with LLG (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Females participating in recreational gymnastics initiated during childhood have enhanced bone mineral gains at the total body, lumbar spine, and forearm over 24 months. Higher-level training promotes additional gains in forearm BA.

Disagreement of energy and macronutrient intakes estimated from a food frequency questionnaire and 3-day diet record in girls 4 to 9 years of age.

BACKGROUND: The Block98 food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) has been validated for dietary assessment of usual intakes in adults, but not in children. OBJECTIVE: To assess the agreement of the Block98 FFQ and 3-day diet records for measuring dietary intakes in young girls. SUBJECTS/SETTING: Healthy 4- to 9-year-old girls (N=61; 6.5+/-1.6 years) were recruited from the Athens/Clarke county area in Georgia. DESIGN: Dietary intakes were measured using the Block98 FFQ and 3-day diet records, with nutrient analysis of the 3-day diet records conducted using the Food Processor computer program (ESHA; version 7.21, 1998, ESHA Research, Salem, OR). The Block98 FFQ was completed by a trained interviewer and parent, with input from the child, if able. Food models and portion size pictures were used to increase reporting accuracy. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Paired sample t tests and simple regression were conducted to determine whether the two diet instruments reported similar values for energy and macronutrients. RESULTS: Block98 FFQ overestimated intakes from 3-day diet records for energy (2,180+/-692 vs 1,749+/-328 kcal), protein (68.3+/-25.9 vs 57.9+/-14.8 g/day), carbohydrate (298.7+/-97.0 vs 244.7+/-46.1 g/day) and fat (83.6+/-30.5 vs 62.3+/-14.7 g/day) (P<.05). Furthermore, the nutrients assessed using the two different methods were only moderately correlated (range: r=0.40 to 0.55). APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: The Block98 FFQ agreed weakly to moderately with the 3-day diet records, and resulted in consistently higher intakes of all nutrients. These findings suggest that additional work is needed to develop a FFQ that reflects young children's energy and macronutrient intakes.

Body images of 4-8-year-old girls at the outset of their first artistic gymnastics class.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this investigation was to compare body images of 54 girls (4-8 years old) who were beginning their first gymnastics class to 54 age-matched (+/-1 year) and % body fat-matched (+/-3%) girls not participating in gymnastics. METHOD: Ratings of actual and ideal body size and a computed measure of body dissatisfaction (actual minus ideal) were obtained. Body composition was measured with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Girls beginning gymnastics did not differ significantly from controls on (mean +/- SD) actual (2.2 +/- 1.4 vs. 2.1 +/- 1.4), ideal (1.8 +/- 1.3 vs. 1.8 +/- 1.5), or body dissatisfaction (0.39 +/- 1.8 vs. 0.26 +/- 1.4) scores. DISCUSSION: Body images of 4-8-year-old girls beginning their first artistic gymnastics class do not differ from non-gymnast controls matched on age and % body fat. This observation casts doubt on the idea that young girls who are dissatisfied with their body and want to be smaller are more likely to enroll in gymnastics classes than girls without this type of body dissatisfaction.