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Treating hospital patient textiles with ionic silver after each washing results in a significant decrease in microbial contamination. Although further study is needed to better understand the role textiles play in hospital-acquired infections and to quantify the influence of silver textile treatment on health care-associated infection risk and patient outcomes, ionic silver treatment of textiles may prove useful in hospital-acquired infection reduction strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We investigated cross-sectional associations of neighborhood deprivation, problems, safety, and cohesion with circulating levels of fibrinogen, interleukin-6, and C-reactive protein (n=5370) and longitudinal associations with changes in IL-6 over a 3–4 year period (n=946). In cross-sectional analyses, higher levels of neighborhood deprivation and problems were associated with higher levels of all three inflammatory markers, whereas higher levels of safety were associated with lower levels. Fibrinogen remained associated with all neighborhood characteristics except cohesion and IL-6 remained associated with safety after adjustment for race and SES. In longitudinal analyses, higher levels of neighborhood deprivation and problems, and lower levels of safety were associated with greater longitudinal increases in IL-6 after adjustment for age, sex, race, and SES. These findings were not substantially modified by further risk factor adjustment. Although findings regarding different inflammatory markers were mixed, the longitudinal results that are less limited by race confounding suggest that inflammatory pathways may contribute to neighborhood differences in cardiovascular disease risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Socioeconomic factors are associated with cardiovascular disease. C-reactive protein (CRP) is increasingly implicated as a candidate linking conventional risk factors and atherosclerosis. The impact of early- and later-life socioeconomic status (SES) on CRP levels has not been widely investigated and a handful of studies from high-income countries are inconsistent. We set out to examine the associations between lifecourse socioeconomic indicators (family income at birth, maternal education, family income at age 23 and own education) on CRP levels in young adults belonging to the 1982 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study (n =5914). Early-life SES showed significant and graded associations with CRP levels at age 23 independently of later SES. For example, men with higher family income at birth showed higher CRP levels at age 23 (p=0.001 for trend) and women with less educated mothers showed higher CRP levels (p=0.01 for trend). Notably, differential directions of association between SES indicators and CRP levels between men and women were found. When adjusted for SES at age 23, men with the lowest family income at birth showed 42% lower CRP levels when compared to men in the highest family income group (−42; 95% CI: -60,-16). In contrast women born to the least educated mothers had the highest CRP levels (35; 95% CI -2, 86). In both sexes, adiposity accounted for the overwhelming majority of the associations between SES and CRP levels. Sex and gender roles specific to middle-income countries, socio-cultural and environmental conditions that may impact adiposity, and the level of epidemiological transition may be key factors that are linked to the associations between lifecourse SES and CRP levels. Public health strategies aimed at decreasing the burden of cardiovascular disease in middle-income settings, in addition to highlighting the risks associated with adult obesity, should not overlook the wide-ranging impacts of lifecourse social determinants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: This study was aimed at assessing the effect of maternal smoking during pregnancy on metabolic cardiovascular risk factors in early adulthood in a Brazilian birth cohort, after controlling for possible confounding variables and health behaviors in early adulthood. Methods: In 1982, the maternity hospitals in Pelotas, southern Brazil, were visited and all births were identified. Those livebirths whose family lived in the urban area of the city were studied prospectively. In 2004–2005, we attempted to follow the whole cohort, the subjects were interviewed, examined and blood sample was collected. The following outcomes were studied: blood pressure; HDL cholesterol; triglycerides; random blood glucose and C-reactive protein. To explore the effect of maternal smoking, we adjusted the coefficients for the following possible mediators: perinatal factors (low birthweight and preterm births); adult behavioral factors (physical activity, dietary pattern, intake of fat and fiber, and tobacco smoking) and adult anthropometry (body mass index and waist circumference). Results: In 2004–2005, we interviewed 4297 subjects, with a follow-up rate of 77.4%. The only significant finding in the unadjusted analyses was lower HDL cholesterol among females. After adjustment for lifestyle variables in early adulthood, birthweight and waist circumference, the difference in HDL levels between offspring of smokers and non-smokers reduced from −2.10mg/dL (95% confidence interval: −3.39; −0.80) to −1.03mg/dL (−2.35; 0.30). Conclusion: Evidence that maternal smoking during pregnancy programs offspring metabolic cardiovascular risk factors are scarce, and reported associations are likely due to postnatal exposure to lifestyle patterns. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Previous studies suggest that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants purchase less produce than nonparticipants. Whether this is due to buying smaller amounts or to being less likely to buy any produce is unclear. Purchase patterns may also differ over the monthly distribution cycle. To examine differences in the likelihood and amounts of fruits and vegetables purchased between SNAP household compared with nonparticipant households and to determine differences in produce purchases among SNAP households at different time points in the monthly distribution cycle. Cross-sectional. Data from 4708 households in the National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey (April 2012 to January 2013). Participants recorded all foods acquired over 7 days. Fruits and vegetables acquired over a 7-day period. Weighted logistic and linear regression models adjusting for household and primary respondent characteristics were used to compare odds of purchasing fruits and vegetables and amounts purchased across 3 categories: SNAP participants, SNAP-eligible nonparticipants, and ineligible nonparticipants. SNAP participants were further subdivided according to weeks since last receiving benefits. In adjusted analyses, SNAP participants and nonparticipants were similarly likely to purchase fruits and vegetables. However, SNAP households within a week of receiving benefits were more likely than SNAP households later in the benefit cycle to buy fruit overall, especially frozen or canned fruit, and vegetables overall, including fresh, frozen or canned, starchy, and nonstarchy vegetables (fruit odds ratio [OR] 1.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12, 2.53; vegetable OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.04, 2.55 vs households in middle of cycle). In contrast, those in the last week of the benefit cycle were less likely to purchase fruit, especially fresh fruit, and vegetables, especially fresh and nonstarchy vegetables (fruit OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.35, 0.94; vegetable OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.42, 0.79 vs. households in middle of cycle), and when they bought vegetables, they bought significantly less. Considering all SNAP households together at different points in their distribution cycle masks substantial declines in purchasing fruits and vegetables over the monthly cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The US Dietary Guidelines (USDG) and MyPlate do not reflect the reality of the modern food environment, which is replete with unhealthy ultra-processed food products. These products represent 60% of the calories consumed by Americans, but they are also difficult to categorize using conventional "food group" (i.e. nutrient-based) frameworks. The NOVA food classification system categorizes foods based on level of processing, but its utility in nutrition education has not been widely tested. To assess the impact of a proof-of-concept nutrition education intervention on nutrition knowledge. Two hundred and fifty three university students were invited to participate in this randomized, controlled trial with three arms: MyPlate intervention, combined MyPlate + NOVA intervention, and control group. Intervention groups received one educational flyer via email. Electronic baseline and follow-up surveys assessed nutrition knowledge of 25 common foods. Outcomes of interest were correct classification of: MyPlate food groups, MyPlate sugar, salt, and fat 'limit' status, and NOVA food category. Paired t-test compared pre and post intervention differences and simple linear regression was used to calculate percent change in intervention groups compared to control. Data were available for 174 participants (69%). The MyPlate intervention group improved only for the MyPlate limit status question, 3.6%-point increase (95% CI 0.6, 6.7). The MyPlate+NOVA group improved significantly across all three questions, with increases of 4.0 (95% CI 1.0, 7.0), 6.0 (95% CI 3.2, 9.0), and 11.1% points (95% CI 6.8, 15.3) for the three survey questions, respectively. Performance in the control group was mixed. This study employed a simple "low-dose" intervention to explore the impact of a novel intervention and generate new hypotheses. Our results suggest that NOVA principles may be more easily understood and applied than those of MyPlate. Education strategies focusing on level of food processing may be more effective in the context of the modern food environment compared to the conventional "food group" approach. None. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Compare saturated fat, sugar, and sodium in the US Department of Agriculture sample menu with a version in which menu items were replaced with comparable ultra-processed foods. Design and Setting The authors modified 7 days of a US Department of Agriculture sample menu providing approximately 2,000 kcal/d by replacing foods with comparable ultra-processed alternatives and then visited 2 chain supermarkets in San Luis Obispo, CA (August, 2016) to locate shopping list items for the 2 menu versions. Product-specific bar codes were entered into an application for recording dietary intake and analyzing nutrient content. Variables Measured/Analysis Paired t tests (with Bonferroni correction, α = .003) were performed to compare the menus' percent energy from saturated fat and sugar, and energy and sodium content. Results Mean energy was lower (1,618 vs 1,892 kcal/d; P  = .002) whereas percent energy from sugar (24.9% vs 21.4%; P  ≤ .001) and sodium content (2,784 vs 2,101 mg/d; P  = .001) were higher in the ultra-processed vs original menu. In secondary analyses, mean cost of the ultra-processed version exceeded that of the original menu by $36.87. Conclusions and Implications In a sample menu developed to meet US Dietary Guidelines, substituting items with ultra-processed foods provided fewer calories but more sugar and sodium. Distinguishing ultra-processed from less processed foods may help consumers make healthier choices when using MyPlate tools, particularly in a food environment that presents a wide range of alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]