Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy is fundamental for halting anthropogenic climate change. However, renewable energy facilities can be land‐use intensive and impact conservation ...areas, and little attention has been given to whether the aggregated effect of energy transitions poses a substantial threat to global biodiversity. Here, we assess the extent of current and likely future renewable energy infrastructure associated with onshore wind, hydropower and solar photovoltaic generation, within three important conservation areas: protected areas (PAs), Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and Earth's remaining wilderness. We identified 2,206 fully operational renewable energy facilities within the boundaries of these conservation areas, with another 922 facilities under development. Combined, these facilities span and are degrading 886 PAs, 749 KBAs and 40 distinct wilderness areas. Two trends are particularly concerning. First, while the majority of historical overlap occurs in Western Europe, the renewable electricity facilities under development increasingly overlap with conservation areas in Southeast Asia, a globally important region for biodiversity. Second, this next wave of renewable energy infrastructure represents a ~30% increase in the number of PAs and KBAs impacted and could increase the number of compromised wilderness areas by ~60%. If the world continues to rapidly transition towards renewable energy these areas will face increasing pressure to allow infrastructure expansion. Coordinated planning of renewable energy expansion and biodiversity conservation is essential to avoid conflicts that compromise their respective objectives.
We found that over 2,200 operational wind, solar and hydropower facilities fall within and are degrading important areas for biodiversity conservation. A new wave of renewable energy facilities is currently being built in important conservation areas, substantially increasing the number of sites impacted. Coordinated planning of renewable energy expansion and biodiversity conservation is essential to avoid conflicts that compromise their respective objectives.
Background
Various dietary components have been studied in relation to overall mortality; however, little is known about the relationship between the inflammatory potential of overall diet and ...mortality.
Materials and methods
We examined the association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and mortality in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III follow-up study. The DII was computed from baseline dietary intake assessed using 24-h dietary recalls (1988–1994). Mortality was determined from the National Death Index records through 2006. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI). During the follow-up, 2795 deaths were identified, including 1233 due to cardiovascular disease (CVD), and 615 due to cancer, 158 of which were due to digestive-tract cancers.
Results
Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses, adjusting for age, race, diabetes status, hypertension, physical activity, body mass index, poverty index, and smoking, revealed positive associations between higher DII scores and mortality. Comparing subjects in DII tertile 3 versus tertile 1, significant associations were noted for all-cause mortality (HR
Tertile3vs1
1.34; 95 % CI 1.19–1.51,
P
trend
< 0.0001), CVD mortality (HR
Tertile3vs1
1.46; 95 % CI 1.18–1.81,
P
trend
= 0.0006), cancer mortality (HR
Tertile3vs1
1.46; 95 % CI 1.10–1.96,
P
trend
= 0.01), and digestive-tract cancer mortality (HR
Tertile3vs1
2.10; 95 % CI 1.15–3.84,
P
trend
= 0.03).
Conclusion
These results indicate that a pro-inflammatory diet, as indicated by higher DII scores, was associated with higher risk of all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality.
Diet is known to play a key role in atherogenesis and in the development of cardiovascular events. Dietary factors may mediate these processes acting as potential modulators of inflammation. ...Potential Links between inflammatory properties of diet and the occurrence of cardiovascular events have not been tested previously.
We aimed to assess the association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII), a method to assess the inflammatory potential of the diet, and incident cardiovascular disease.
In the prospective, dynamic SUN cohort, 18,794 middle-aged, Spanish university graduates were followed up for 8.9 years (median). A validated 136-item food-frequency questionnaire was used to calculate the DII. The DII is based on scientific evidence about the relationship between diet and inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α). Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between the DII and incident cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, stroke or cardiovascular death).
The risk for cardiovascular events progressively increased with each increasing quartile of DII (ptrend = 0.017). The multivariable-adjusted HR for participants in the highest (most pro-inflammatory) vs. the lowest quartile of the DII was 2.03 (95% CI 1.06-3.88).
A pro-inflammatory diet was associated with a significantly higher risk for developing cardiovascular events.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Scope
Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is an important biomarker of aging. This study examined whether inflammatory potential of diet, as measured by the Dietary Inflammatory IndexTM (DII) has an ...impact on telomere shortening in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). We also carried out validation of the DII with C‐reactive protein (CRP).
Methods and results
Data came from NHANES 1999–2002. LTL and CRP were assayed from leukocyte DNA and serum specimens, respectively. The DII was calculated from food intakes assessed using 24‐h dietary recalls and expressed per 1000 calories consumed. Associations were examined using survey‐based multivariable linear regression for log‐transformed LTL. After multivariable adjustment, higher DII scores (i.e. relatively more pro inflammatory) were associated with shorter LTL both when used as continuous (b = –0.003; 95% confidence interval CI = –0.005, –0.0002) and as quartiles (bDIIquartile4vs1 = –0.013; 95% CI = –0.025, –0.001; Ptrend = .03). In this same sample the DII also was associated with CRP ≥3 mg/L (ORDIIcontinuous = 1.10; 95% CI = 1.06, 1.16).
Conclusion
In these NHANES data there was an association between DII and LTL. This study also provided a successful construct validation of the DII using CRP in a nationally representative sample. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that diet‐associated inflammation determines LTL.
Telomeres are distinctive structures found at the ends of our chromosomes which shorten with age and diet along with inflammation play an important role in the rate of shortening. A pro‐inflammatory diet as evidenced by higher DII scores is associated with increased levels of serum C‐reactive protein and decreased leukocyte telomere length in NHANES 1999–2002. Hence, a diet rich in anti‐inflammatory components like green leafy vegetables and poor in pro‐inflammatory components like red meat and sugary drinks may play an important role in preventing LTL reduction.
Land free of direct anthropogenic disturbance is considered essential for achieving biodiversity conservation outcomes but is rapidly eroding. In response, many nations are increasing their protected ...area (PA) estates, but little consideration is given to the context of the surrounding landscape. This is despite the fact that structural connectivity between PAs is critical in a changing climate and mandated by international conservation targets. Using a high-resolution assessment of human pressure, we show that while ~40% of the terrestrial planet is intact, only 9.7% of Earth's terrestrial protected network can be considered structurally connected. On average, 11% of each country or territory's PA estate can be considered connected. As the global community commits to bolder action on abating biodiversity loss, placement of future PAs will be critical, as will an increased focus on landscape-scale habitat retention and restoration efforts to ensure those important areas set aside for conservation outcomes will remain (or become) connected.
Epidemiological studies have documented that insulin resistance and diabetes not only constitute metabolic abnormalities but also predispose to hypertension, vascular stiffness, and associated ...cardiovascular disease. Meanwhile, excessive arterial stiffness and impaired vasorelaxation, in turn, contribute to worsening insulin resistance and the development of diabetes. Molecular mechanisms promoting hypertension in diabetes include inappropriate activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and sympathetic nervous system, mitochondria dysfunction, excessive oxidative stress, and systemic inflammation. This review highlights recent studies which have uncovered new underlying mechanisms for the increased propensity for the development of hypertension in association with diabetes. These include enhanced activation of epithelial sodium channels, alterations in extracellular vesicles and their microRNAs, abnormal gut microbiota, and increased renal sodium-glucose cotransporter activity, which collectively predispose to hypertension in association with diabetes. This review also covers socioeconomic factors and currently recommended blood pressure targets and related treatment strategies in diabetic patients with hypertension.
Hydrogen generated from solar-driven water-splitting has the potential to be a clean, sustainable and abundant energy source. Inspired by natural photosynthesis, artificial solar water-splitting ...devices are now being designed and tested. Recent developments based on molecular and/or nanostructure designs have led to advances in our understanding of light-induced charge separation and subsequent catalytic water oxidation and reduction reactions. Here we review some of the recent progress towards developing artificial photosynthetic devices, together with their analogies to biological photosynthesis, including technologies that focus on the development of visible-light active hetero-nanostructures and require an understanding of the underlying interfacial carrier dynamics. Finally, we propose a vision for a future sustainable hydrogen fuel community based on artificial photosynthesis.
Obesity poses a severe threat to human health, including the increased prevalence of hypertension, insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, cancer, inflammation, sleep apnoea and other chronic ...diseases. Current therapies focus mainly on suppressing caloric intake, but the efficacy of this approach remains poor. A better understanding of the pathophysiology of obesity will be essential for the management of obesity and its complications. Knowledge gained over the past three decades regarding the aetiological mechanisms underpinning obesity has provided a framework that emphasizes energy imbalance and neurohormonal dysregulation, which are tightly regulated by autophagy. Accordingly, there is an emerging interest in the role of autophagy, a conserved homeostatic process for cellular quality control through the disposal and recycling of cellular components, in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and organ function by selectively ridding cells of potentially toxic proteins, lipids and organelles. Indeed, defects in autophagy homeostasis are implicated in metabolic disorders, including obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis. In this Review, the alterations in autophagy that occur in response to nutrient stress, and how these changes alter the course of obesogenesis and obesity-related complications, are discussed. The potential of pharmacological modulation of autophagy for the management of obesity is also addressed.
Red blood cells in thrombosis Byrnes, James R.; Wolberg, Alisa S.
Blood,
10/2017, Letnik:
130, Številka:
16
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Red blood cells (RBCs) have historically been considered passive bystanders in thrombosis. However, clinical and epidemiological studies have associated quantitative and qualitative abnormalities in ...RBCs, including altered hematocrit, sickle cell disease, thalassemia, hemolytic anemias, and malaria, with both arterial and venous thrombosis. A growing body of mechanistic studies suggests that RBCs can promote thrombus formation and enhance thrombus stability. These findings suggest that RBCs may contribute to thrombosis pathophysiology and reveal potential strategies for therapeutically targeting RBCs to reduce thrombosis.
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