The current consumer demands together with the international regulations have pushed the cosmetic industry to seek new active ingredients from natural renewable sources for manufacturing more ...eco-sustainability and safe products, with botanical extract being an almost unlimited source of these new actives. Essential oils (EOs) emerge as very common natural ingredients in cosmetics and toiletries as a result of both their odorous character for the design and manufacturing of fragrances and perfumes, and the many beneficial properties of their individual components (EOCs), e.g., anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, and, nowadays, the cosmetic industry includes EOs or different mixtures of their individual components (EOCs), either as active ingredients or as preservatives, in various product ranges (e.g., moisturizers, lotions and cleanser in skin care cosmetics; conditioners, masks or antidandruff products in hair care products; lipsticks, or fragrances in perfumery). However, the unique chemical profile of each individual essential oil is associated with different benefits, and hence it is difficult to generalize their potential applications in cosmetics and toiletries, which often require the effort of formulators in seeking suitable mixtures of EOs or EOCs for obtaining specific benefits in the final products. This work presents an updated review of the available literature related to the most recent advances in the application of EOs and EOCs in the manufacturing of cosmetic products. Furthermore, some specific aspects related to the safety of EOs and EOCs in cosmetics will be discussed. It is expected that the information contained in this comprehensive review can be exploited by formulators in the design and optimization of cosmetic formulations containing botanical extracts.
Small guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) of the Ras superfamily are key regulators of many key cellular events such as proliferation, differentiation, cell cycle regulation, migration, or apoptosis. ...To control these biological responses, GTPases activity is regulated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), GTPase activating proteins (GAPs), and in some small GTPases also guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitors (GDIs). Moreover, small GTPases transduce signals by their downstream effector molecules. Many studies demonstrate that small GTPases of the Ras family are involved in neurodegeneration processes. Here, in this review, we focus on the signaling pathways controlled by these small protein superfamilies that culminate in neurodegenerative pathologies, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Specifically, we concentrate on the two most studied families of the Ras superfamily: the Ras and Rho families. We summarize the latest findings of small GTPases of the Ras and Rho families in neurodegeneration in order to highlight these small proteins as potential therapeutic targets capable of slowing down different neurodegenerative diseases.
The aim of this review is to summarize the incidence, prevalence, trend in mortality, and general prognosis of coronary heart disease (CHD) and a related condition, acute coronary syndrome (ACS). ...Although CHD mortality has gradually declined over the last decades in western countries, this condition still causes about one-third of all deaths in people older than 35 years. This evidence, along with the fact that mortality from CHD is expected to continue increasing in developing countries, illustrates the need for implementing effective primary prevention approaches worldwide and identifying risk groups and areas for possible improvement.
Exercise is the real polypill Fiuza-Luces, Carmen; Garatachea, Nuria; Berger, Nathan A ...
Physiology (Bethesda, Md.)
28, Številka:
5
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The concept of a "polypill" is receiving growing attention to prevent cardiovascular disease. Yet similar if not overall higher benefits are achievable with regular exercise, a drug-free intervention ...for which our genome has been haped over evolution. Compared with drugs, exercise is available at low cost and relatively free of adverse effects. We summarize epidemiological evidence on the preventive/therapeutic benefits of exercise and on the main biological mediators involved.
Although intermittent increases in inflammation are critical for survival during physical injury and infection, recent research has revealed that certain social, environmental and lifestyle factors ...can promote systemic chronic inflammation (SCI) that can, in turn, lead to several diseases that collectively represent the leading causes of disability and mortality worldwide, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders. In the present Perspective we describe the multi-level mechanisms underlying SCI and several risk factors that promote this health-damaging phenotype, including infections, physical inactivity, poor diet, environmental and industrial toxicants and psychological stress. Furthermore, we suggest potential strategies for advancing the early diagnosis, prevention and treatment of SCI.
To explore whether being physically active can decrease Alzheimer disease (AD) risk.
We conducted a meta-analysis of prospective observational cohort studies reporting the association between ...physical activity (PA) and incident AD. Relevant articles were identified by title and abstract in the electronic databases PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus using the keywords Alzheimer, Alzheimer disease, Alzheimer's, Alzheimer's disease, physical activity, sport, exercise, sedentary, fitness, and combinations thereof for articles published in any language up to February 15, 2016. Criteria for consideration included division of the study cohort by PA levels and sample size specification for each PA level group, quantification (number) of persons who had development of AD, and PA assessment during time off work (not just work time). We followed the MOOSE (Meta-analyses of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) recommendations and used the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for study quality assessment.
Ten high-quality studies were included in meta-analysis I (23,345 participants). Follow-up ranged from 3.9 to 31 years, and the participants' age ranged from 70 to 80 years. The pooled odds ratio for development of AD in participants who were more vs less physically active was 0.65 (95% CI, 0.56-0.74; P<.001; no publication bias P=.24 but with heterogeneity among studies I(2)=31.32%). We could identify participants' adherence to international PA recommendations in 5 studies, which constituted meta-analysis II (10,615 participants). The pooled odds ratio for development of AD in participants who were active vs those who were inactive was 0.60 (95% CI, 0.51-0.71; P<.001; no publication bias P=.34 and no heterogeneity I(2)=5.63%).
Although the limitations of self-reported PA data must be considered, regular PA performed by elderly people might play a certain protective role against AD.
Physical exercise is beneficial to reduce the risk of several conditions associated with advanced age, but to our knowledge, no previous study has examined the association of long-term exercise ...interventions (≥ 1 year) with the occurrence of dropouts due to health issues and mortality, or the effectiveness of physical exercise versus usual primary care interventions on health-related outcomes in older adults (≥ 65 years old).
To analyze the safety and effectiveness of long-term exercise interventions in older adults.
We conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis examining the association of long-term exercise interventions (≥ 1 year) with dropouts from the corresponding study due to health issues and mortality (primary endpoint), and the effects of these interventions on health-related outcomes (falls and fall-associated injuries, fractures, physical function, quality of life, and cognition) (secondary endpoints).
Ninety-three RCTs and six secondary studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analyses (n = 28,523 participants, mean age 74.2 years). No differences were found between the exercise and control groups for the risk of dropouts due to health issues (RR = 1.05, 95% CI 0.95-1.17) or mortality (RR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.83-1.04), although a lower mortality risk was observed in the former group when separately analyzing clinical populations (RR = 0.67, 95% CI 0.48-0.95). Exercise significantly reduced the number of falls and fall-associated injuries, and improved physical function and cognition. These results seemed independent of participants' baseline characteristics (age, physical function, and cognitive status) and exercise frequency.
Long-term exercise training does not overall influence the risk of dropouts due to health issues or mortality in older adults, and results in a reduced mortality risk in clinical populations. Moreover, exercise reduces the number of falls and fall-associated injuries, and improves physical function and cognition in this population.
Introduction
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the cause of more than two-thirds of all dementia cases. Although there is no effective treatment against this disorder, its association with ...neuroinflammation suggests that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) might represent a potential therapeutic option.
Objective
The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of NSAIDs in the treatment of AD using a meta-analysis approach.
Methods
MEDLINE, Web of Science, Science Direct, and the Cochrane Library were used to search all the randomized controlled trials that have evaluated the efficacy of NSAIDs as a treatment for AD (up to 1 October 2014). The overall effect of NSAIDs versus placebo was determined using a random effects model meta-analysis where we compared changes (i.e., mean differences pre- vs. post-treatment) between the two conditions in test scores indicative of cognition, disease severity, and related outcomes.
Results
Seven studies were finally included in the meta-analysis. Diclofenac/misoprostol, nimesulide, naproxen, rofecoxib, ibuprofen, indomethacin, tarenflurbil, and celecoxib were the NSAIDs used in these reports. The results of the AD Assessment Scale–cognitive subscale (ADAS–cog), the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale sum-of-boxes (CDR-SOB), and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) showed no statistical or clinical significance of NSAIDs treatment compared with placebo, i.e., mean differences of −0.24 (95 % Confidence Interval (CI) −1.04 to 0.57;
P
= 0.52), −0.07 (95 % CI −0.7 to 0.56;
P
= 0.82), and 0.35 (95 % CI −0.34 to 1.04;
P
= 0.32), respectively.
Conclusion
Current preliminary evidence suggests no beneficial effect of NSAIDs on cognition or overall AD severity. Thus, although more research is needed in the field, the evidence available does not support the use of NSAIDs for AD treatment.
To assess the potential multi-domain benefits of exercise interventions on patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), as well as to determine the specific effects of different exercise modalities ...(aerobic, strength, or combined training).
A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science until March 2021 for randomized controlled trials assessing the effect of exercise interventions (compared with no exercise) on patients with AD. Outcomes included cognitive function (mini-mental state examination MMSE test), physical function (e.g., 6-minute walking test 6MWT), functional independence (Barthel index), and neuropsychiatric symptoms (Neuropsychiatric Inventory NPI). A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted.
28 studies (total n = 1337 participants, average age 79–90 years) were included in the systematic review, of which 21 could be meta-analyzed. Although considerable heterogeneity was found, exercise interventions induced several significant benefits, including in Barthel index (n = 147 patients, mean difference MD=8.36 points, 95% confidence interval CI=0.63–16.09), 6MWT (n = 369, MD=84 m, 95% CI=44–133)), and NPI (n = 263, MD=−4.4 points, 95% CI=−8.42 to −0.38). Benefits were also found in the MMSE test, albeit significance was only reached for aerobic exercise (n = 187, MD=2.31 points, 95% CI 0.45–4.27).
Exercise interventions appear to exert multi-domain benefits in patients with AD.
•Exercise can be beneficial for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) but some questions still remain open.•Exercise improves AD patients’ functional independence and neuropsychiatric symptoms.•Evidence suggests that only aerobic exercise seems to significantly improve AD patients’ cognition.•More research is needed to identify the optimal type of exercise program (modality of exercise and dosage).
PDF
