The search for complementary treatments in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a high-priority challenge. Grape and wine polyphenol resveratrol confers CV benefits, in part by ...exerting anti-inflammatory effects. However, the evidence in human long-term clinical trials has yet to be established. We aimed to investigate the effects of a dietary resveratrol-rich grape supplement on the inflammatory and fibrinolytic status of subjects at high risk of CVD and treated according to current guidelines for primary prevention of CVD. Seventy-five patients undergoing primary prevention of CVD participated in this triple-blinded, randomized, parallel, dose–response, placebo-controlled, 1-year follow-up trial. Patients, allocated in 3 groups, consumed placebo (maltodextrin), a resveratrol-rich grape supplement (resveratrol 8 mg), or a conventional grape supplement lacking resveratrol, for the first 6 months and a double dose for the next 6 months. In contrast to placebo and conventional grape supplement, the resveratrol-rich grape supplement significantly decreased high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (−26%, p = 0.03), tumor necrosis factor-α (−19.8%, p = 0.01), plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (−16.8%, p = 0.03), and interleukin-6/interleukin-10 ratio (−24%, p = 0.04) and increased anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 (19.8%, p = 0.00). Adiponectin (6.5%, p = 0.07) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (−5.7%, p = 0.06) tended to increase and decrease, respectively. No adverse effects were observed in any patient. In conclusion, 1-year consumption of a resveratrol-rich grape supplement improved the inflammatory and fibrinolytic status in patients who were on statins for primary prevention of CVD and at high CVD risk (i.e., with diabetes or hypercholesterolemia plus ≥1 other CV risk factor). Our results show for the first time that a dietary intervention with grape resveratrol could complement the gold standard therapy in the primary prevention of CVD.
As naturally occurring and abundant sources of non-fossil carbon, lignin and lignans offer exciting possibilities as a source of commercially valuable products, moving away from petrochemical-based ...feedstocks in favour of renewable raw materials. Lignin can be used directly in fields such as agriculture, livestock, soil rehabilitation, bioremediation and the polymer industry, or it can be chemically modified for the fabrication of specialty and high-value chemicals such as resins, adhesives, fuels and greases. Lignin and Lignans as Renewable Raw Materials presents a multidisciplinary overview of the state-of-the-art and future prospects of lignin and lignans. The book discusses the origin, structure, function and applications of both types of compounds, describing the main resources and values of these products as carbon raw materials. Topics covered include: •Structure and physicochemical properties •Lignin detection methods •Biosynthesis of lignin •Isolation methods •Characterization and modification of lignins •Applications of modified and unmodified lignins •Lignans: structure, chemical and biological properties •Future perspectives This book is a comprehensive resource for researchers, scientists and engineers in academia and industry working on new possibilities for the application of renewable raw materials. For more information on the Wiley Series in Renewable Resources, visit www.wiley.com/go/rrs
As the size of a molecular emitter becomes comparable to the dimensions of a nearby optical resonator, the standard approach that considers the emitter to be a point-like dipole breaks down. By ...adoption of a quantum description of the electronic transitions of organic molecular emitters, coupled to a plasmonic electromagnetic field, we are able to accurately calculate the position-dependent coupling strength between a plasmon and an emitter. The spatial distribution of excitonic and photonic quantum states is found to be a key aspect in determining the dynamics of molecular emission in ultrasmall cavities both in the weak and strong coupling regimes. Moreover, we show that the extreme localization of plasmonic fields leads to the selection rule breaking of molecular excitations.
Scope
The cardioprotective role of resveratrol as part of the human diet is not yet clear. Our aim was to investigate the effect of a grape supplement containing 8 mg resveratrol in oxidized LDL ...(LDLox), apolipoprotein‐B (ApoB), and serum lipids on statin‐treated patients in primary cardiovascular disease prevention (PCP).
Methods and results
A triple‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled trial was conducted. Seventy‐five patients (three parallel arms) consumed one capsule (350 mg) daily for 6 months containing resveratrol‐enriched grape extract (GE‐RES, Stilvid®), grape extract (GE, similar polyphenolic content but no resveratrol), or placebo (maltodextrin). After 6 months, no changes were observed in the placebo group and only LDL cholesterol (LDLc) decreased by 2.9% (p = 0.013) in the GE group. In contrast, LDLc (−4.5%, p = 0.04), ApoB (−9.8%, p = 0.014), LDLox (−20%, p = 0.001), and LDLox/ApoB (−12.5%, p = 0.000) decreased in the Stilvid® group, whereas the ratio non‐HDLc (total atherogenic cholesterol load)/ApoB increased (8.5%, p = 0.046). No changes were observed in hepatic, thyroid, and renal function. No adverse effects were observed in any of the patients.
Conclusion
This GE‐RES reduced atherogenic markers and might exert additional cardioprotection beyond the gold‐standard medication in patients from PCP. The presence of resveratrol in the GE was necessary to achieve these effects.
The aim of this study was to examine the association of sedentary behaviour patterns with frailty in older people.
Clinical setting.
Cross-sectional, observational study.
A triaxial accelerometer was ...used in a subsample from the Toledo Study for Healthy Aging (519 participants, 67-97 years) to assess several sedentary behaviour patterns including sedentary time per day, the number and duration (min) of breaks in sedentary time per day, and the proportion of the day spent in sedentary bouts of 10 minutes or more. Frailty was assessed using the Frailty Trait Scale (FTS). Regression analysis was used to ascertain the associations between sedentary behaviour patterns and frailty.
Sedentary time per day and the proportion of the day spent in sedentary bouts of 10 minutes or more, were positively associated with frailty in the study sample. Conversely, the time spent in breaks in sedentary time was negatively associated with frailty.
In summary, breaking up sedentary time and time spent in sedentary behaviour are associated with frailty in older people.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Objectives
To ascertain whether indicators of oxidative damage to lipids (malondialdehyde (MDA)) and proteins (protein carbonylation) are biomarkers of frailty, after adjusting for age, sex, and ...other possible confounders.
Design
Cross‐sectional cohort study.
Setting
Community.
Participants
Toledo Study for Healthy Aging participants (N = 742, aged 65–95), classified as frail (n = 54), prefrail (n = 278) and nonfrail (n = 410) according to the Fried criteria.
Measurements
Blood plasma was obtained using centrifugation (1,500 G, 15 minutes) and immediately frozen at −80°C. Plasma lipid peroxidation was determined by measuring the MDA formed from lipoperoxides using high‐performance liquid chromatography and protein carbonylation was measured using Western blot.
Results
Age‐ and sex‐adjusted levels of lipoperoxides (measured as MDA) and protein carbonylation in plasma proved to be related to frailty, even after including possible independent confounders.
Conclusion
Circulating oxidative damage biomarkers, such as MDA and protein carbonylation, are related to frailty and not to age or sex. These parameters may be considered as potential biomarkers of frailty in the context of a multidisciplinary health‐promoting approach for older adults.
We diagnosed 11 Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) cases among 71,904 COVID patients attended at 61 Spanish emergency departments (EDs) during the 2‐month pandemic peak. The relative frequency of GBS ...among ED patients was higher in COVID (0.15‰) than non‐COVID (0.02‰) patients (odds ratio OR = 6.30, 95% confidence interval CI = 3.18–12.5), as was the standardized incidence (9.44 and 0.69 cases/100,000 inhabitant‐years, respectively, OR = 13.5, 95% CI = 9.87–18.4). Regarding clinical characteristics, olfactory–gustatory disorders were more frequent in COVID‐GBS than non‐COVID–GBS (OR = 27.59, 95% CI = 1.296–587) and COVID–non‐GBS (OR = 7.875, 95% CI = 1.587–39.09) patients. Although COVID‐GBS patients were more frequently admitted to intensive care, mortality was not increased versus control groups. Our results suggest SARS‐CoV‐2 could be another viral infection causing GBS. ANN NEUROL 2021;89:598–603
Nowadays, companies are demanding better‐prepared professionals to succeed in a digital society, and the acquisition of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM)‐related ...competencies is a key issue. One of the main problems in this sense is how to integrate STEAM into the current educational curricula. This is not something related to a subject or educational trend but rather to new methodological approaches that can engage students. In this sense, such active methodologies that apply mechatronics and robotics could be an interesting path to pursue. Given this context, the first necessary task in evaluating the potential of this approach is to understand the landscape of the application of robotics and mechatronics in STEAM Education and how active methodologies are applied in this sense. To carry out this analysis in a systematic and replicable manner, it is necessary to follow a methodology. In this case, the researchers employ a systematic mapping review. This paper presents this process and its main findings. Fifty‐four studies have been selected out of 242 total studies analyzed. From these, beyond obtaining a clear vision of the STEAM landscape regarding project topics, we can also conclude that robotics and physical devices have been applied successfully with collaborative methodologies in STEAM Education. Regarding conclusions, this paper shows that robotics and mechatronics applied with active methodologies is to be a good means to engage students in STEAM disciplines and thus aid the acquisition of what is commonly known as “21st‐century skills.”
This research work intends to make an innovative contribution to the existing literature by studying the predictive effect of two relatively unexplored constructs on the adoption of an emerging ...technology, such as mobile devices, among a seldom-studied population in the European context (secondary education preservice teachers). To achieve this goal, a technology acceptance model (TAM)-based model was designed including the constructs: behavioural intention, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude towards use, subjective norm, attachment and resistance to change and it was tested using a sample of 222 Spanish secondary education preservice teachers. The results of the factor analysis evidence the significant effect of resistance to change on the four TAM variables, especially on perceived usefulness and attitude, while the attachment only has a small effect on perceived ease of use. Additionally, the analysis confirms attitude towards the use as the main predictor of the behavioural intention, as well as the influence of the subjective norm on both perceived usefulness and behavioural intention. These findings have important ramifications for the design of teacher training programmes, which are addressed in the discussion, and they also suggest the need to continue studying the effect of new factors on the technology adoption process. Author abstract
Aging is associated with a progressive decrease in bone mass (BM), and being physical active is one of the main strategies to combat this continuous loss. Nonetheless, because daily time is limited, ...time spent on each movement behavior is co-dependent. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between BM and movement behaviors in elderly people using compositional data analysis.
We analyzed 871 older people 395 men (76.9±5.3y) and 476 women (76.7±4.7y). Time spent in sedentary behavior (SB), light physical activity (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), was assessed using accelerometry. BM was determined by bone densitometry (DXA). The sample was divided according to sex and bone health indicators.
The combined effect of all movement behaviors (PA and SB) was significantly associated with whole body, leg and femoral region BM in the whole sample (p≤0.05), with leg and pelvic BM (p<0.05) in men and, with whole body, arm and leg BM (p<0.05) in women. In men, arm and pelvic BM were negatively associated with SB and whole body, pelvic and leg BM were positively associated with MVPA (p≤0.05). In women, whole body and leg BM were positively associated with SB. Arm and whole body BM were positively associated and leg BM was negatively associated with LPA and arm BM was negatively associated with MVPA (p≤0.05). Women without bone fractures spent less time in SB and more in LPA and MVPA than the subgroup with bone fractures.
We identified that the positive effect of MVPA relative to the other behaviors on bone mass is the strongest overall effect in men. Furthermore, women might decrease bone fracture risk through PA increase and SB reduction, despite the fact that no clear benefits of PA for bone mass were found.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
PDF
