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Purpose: Although evidence suggests an inverse association between yogurt consumption and the risk of disorders, such as type 2 diabetes and certain cancers, the mechanisms remain poorly understood. We aimed to examine the association between yogurt consumption and concentrations of plasma soluble CD14, a marker of gut barrier dysfunction. Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional data from 632 women in the Nurses' Health Study (1989–1990) and 444 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (1993–1994) with soluble CD14 concentrations. We estimated yogurt consumption from food frequency questionnaires. We used multivariable-adjusted linear regression models to estimate the percentage difference (95% CI) of soluble CD14 concentrations by yogurt consumption. Results: Among men, higher consumption was associated with a lower soluble CD14 concentration (at least 2 cups/week vs. non-consumers; unadjusted % difference: − 7.6%; 95% CI − 13.0%, − 2.1%; Ptrend = 0.003). The inverse association was slightly attenuated following multivariable adjustment (% difference: − 5.8%; 95% CI − 11.0%, − 0.1%; Ptrend = 0.01). For the same comparison, yogurt consumption was inverse, but not statistically significant associated with soluble CD14 concentration in women (% difference: − 1.2%; 95% CI − 5.6%, 3.5%; Ptrend = 0.64). In stratified analyses, the inverse association between yogurt consumption and the concentrations of soluble CD14 was slightly stronger in men who consumed alcohol at least 20 g/day. Conclusions: Higher yogurt consumption was associated with lower soluble CD14 concentrations, especially in men. Our findings suggest the strengthening of gut barrier function as a plausible mechanism for the observed inverse associations of yogurt consumption with gastrointestinal diseases and disorders involving other systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a comparison study of three cumulus parameterization schemes (CPSs), Kain-Fritsch2 (KF2), Grell (GR) and Anthes-Kuo (AK), is carried out using the Pennsylvania State University-National Center for Atmospheric Research mesoscale model (i.e., MM5). The performances of three CPSs are examined in simulations of the long-term heavy Meiyu-frontal rainfall events over the middle to lower reaches of the Yangtze River Basin (YRB-ML) during the summer of 1998. The initial and lateral boundary atmosphere conditions are taken from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/Department of Energy Reanalysis-2 (R-2) data. The experiment with KF2 scheme (EX_KF2) reproduces reasonably well the major rainfall events, especially the heavy rainfall over YRB-ML during the later stage, and the middle and lower troposphere circulation patterns. In contrast, the experiments with both GR and AK schemes (EX_GR and EX_AK) only simulate the heavy rainfall during the first Meiyu rainy phase with weak intensity, and almost miss the rainfall along YRB-ML during the second phase. The analyses show that the location of 500 hPa western Pacific subtropical high during the first rainy phase, the northward advance during the transition period and the retreat during the second rainy phase, observed from the R-2 data, are successfully captured by EX_KF2, compared to the poor performance of EX_GR and EX_AK. A reasonable proportion of the subgrid-scale rainfall and smaller biases of temperature and moisture from lower to middle troposphere in EX_KF2 decide its good rainfall simulations, in contrast with the absolutely high proportions and the cold and dry biases caused by the decreased vertically convective transportation and the weak southwesterly wind in EX_GR and EX_AK. Overall, the three CPSs show substantial intersimulation differences in rainfall as well as in three-dimensional atmospheric structures, and KF2 shows superior performances. The results suggest that the realistic subgrid-scale CPS is still highly required for the high-resolution regional climate models to simulate the heavy rainfall events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sarcoidosis is a disease that is associated with occupational and environmental antigens, in the setting of a susceptible host. The aim of this study was to examine the association between sarcoidosis mortality and previously reported occupational exposures based on sex and race., Methods: The decedents enrolled in this study were derived from United States death certificates from 1988-1999. Cause of death was coded according to ICD-9 and ICD-10. The usual occupation was coded with Bureau of the Census Occupation Codes. Mortality odds ratio (MOR) were determined and multiple Poisson regression were performed to evaluate the independent exposure effects after adjustment for age, sex, race and other occupational exposures., Results: Of the 7,118,535 decedents in our study, 3,393 were identified as sarcoidosis-related, including 1,579 identified as sarcoidosis being the underlying cause of death. The sarcoidosis-related MOR of any occupational exposure was 1.52 (95% CI, 1.35-1.71). Women with any exposure demonstrated an increased MOR compared to women without (MOR 1.65, 95% CI, 1.45-1.89). The mortality risk was significantly elevated in those with employment involving metal working, health care, teaching, sales, banking, and administration. Higher sarcoidosis-related mortality risks associated with specific exposures were noted in women vs men and blacks vs whites., Conclusions: Findings of prior occupations and risk of sarcoidosis were verified using sarcoidosis mortality rates. There were significant differences in risk for sarcoidosis mortality by occupational exposures based on sex and race., (Copyright © 2016 American College of Chest Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)