Loneliness has social and health implications. The aim of this article is to evaluate the association of loneliness with all-cause mortality.
Pubmed, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Scopus databases were ...searched through June 2016 for published articles that measured loneliness and mortality. The main characteristics and the effect size values of each article were extracted. Moreover, an evaluation of the quality of the articles included was also carried out. A meta-analysis was performed firstly with all the included articles and secondly separating by gender, using a random effects model.
A total of 35 articles involving 77220 participants were included in the systematic review. Loneliness is a risk factor for all-cause mortality pooled HR = 1.22, 95% CI = (1.10, 1.35), p < 0.001 for both genders together, and for women pooled HR = 1.26, 95% CI = (1.07, 1.48); p = 0.005 and men pooled HR = 1.44; 95% CI = (1.19, 1.76); p < 0.001 separately.
Loneliness shows a harmful effect for all-cause mortality and this effect is slightly stronger in men than in women. Moreover, the impact of loneliness was independent from the quality evaluation of each article and the effect of depression.
Objective
This study aimed to examine the association of loneliness and social isolation on cognition over a 3‐year follow‐up period in middle‐ and older‐aged adults.
Methods
Data from a Spanish ...nationally representative sample were analyzed (n = 1691; aged 50 years or older). Loneliness, social isolation, and cognition (immediate recall, delayed recall, verbal fluency, forward digit span, backward digit span, and a composite cognitive score) were assessed both at baseline and at follow‐up. Adjusted generalized estimating equations models were performed.
Results
Loneliness was significantly associated with lower scores in the composite cognitive score, immediate and delayed recall, verbal fluency, and backward digit span (B = −0.14 to B = −3.16; P < .05) and with a more rapid decline from baseline to follow‐up in two out of six cognitive tests. Higher social isolation was associated with lower scores in the composite cognitive score, verbal fluency, and forward digit span (B = −0.06 to B = −0.85; P < .05). The effect of loneliness and social isolation on cognition remained significant after the exclusion of individuals with depression.
Conclusions
Both loneliness and social isolation are associated with decreased cognitive function over a 3‐year follow‐up period. The development of interventions that include the enhancement of social participation and the maintenance of emotionally supportive relationships might contribute to cognitive decline prevention and risk reduction.
Quercetin is a hydrophobic flavonoid with high antioxidant activity. However, for biological applications, the bioavailability of quercetin is low due to physiological barriers. For this reason, an ...alternative is the protection of quercetin in matrices of biopolymers as zein. The objective of this work was to prepare and characterize quercetin‐loaded zein nanoparticles by electrospraying and its study of in vitro bioavailability. The physicochemical parameters such as viscosity, density, and electrical conductivity of zein solutions showed a dependence of the ethanol concentration. In addition, rheological parameters demonstrated that solutions of zein in aqueous ethanol present Newtonian behavior, rebounding in the formation of nanoparticles by electrospraying, providing spherical, homogeneous, and compact morphologies, mainly at a concentration of 80% (v/v) of ethanol and of 5% (w/v) of zein. The size and shape of quercetin‐loaded zein nanoparticles were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), observing that it was entrapped, distributed throughout the nanoparticle of zein. Analysis by Fourier transform‐infrared (FT‐IR) of zein nanoparticles loaded with quercetin revealed interactions via hydrogen bonds. The efficacy of zein nanoparticles to entrap quercetin was particularly high for all quercetin concentration evaluated in this work (87.9 ± 1.5% to 93.0 ± 2.6%). The in vitro gastrointestinal release of trapped quercetin after 240 min was 79.1%, while that for free quercetin was 99.2%. The in vitro bioavailability was higher for trapped quercetin (5.9%) compared to free quercetin (1.9%), than of gastrointestinal digestion. It is concluded, that the electrospraying technique made possible the obtention of quercitin‐loaded zein nanoparticles increasing their bioavailability.
Practical Application
This type of nanosystems can be used in the food and pharmaceutical industry. Quercetin‐loaded zein nanoparticles for its improvement compared to free quercetin can be used to decrease the prevalence of chronic degenerative diseases by increasing of the bioavailability of quercetin in the bloodstream. Other application can be as an antioxidant system in functional foods or oils to increase shelf life.
The Mediterranean Diet (MD) is recognized as heart-healthy, but the economic cost associated with this type of diet has scarcely been studied. The objective of the present study is to explore the ...cost and adherence of a low-income region population to the MD and its relationship with income.
A population-based study was carried out on 2,833 subjects between 25 and 79 years of age, 54% women, selected at random from the municipalities of Vegas Altas, La Siberia and La Serena in the province of Badajoz, Extremadura (Spain). Average monthly cost of each product included in the MD was computed and related to adherence to the MD using the Panagiotakos Index and average disposable income.
The monthly median cost was 203.6€ (IQR: 154.04-265.37). Food-related expenditure was higher for men (p<0.001), age cohort between 45 and 54 years (p<0.013) and those living in urban areas (p<0.001). A positive correlation between food-related expenditure and the MD adherence was found. Monthly median cost represents 15% of average disposable income, ranging between 11% for the group with low MD adherence and 17% for the group with high MD adherence.
The monthly cost of the MD was positively correlated with the degree of adherence to this dietary pattern. Given that the estimated monthly cost is similar to that of other Spanish regions with a higher income level, the economic effort required to be able to afford the Mediterranean diet is higher. This may represent a barrier to access, which should be analyzed in detail by public decision-makers.
Gallic Acid‐Loaded Zein Nanoparticles by Electrospraying Process Tapia‐Hernández, José Agustín; Del‐Toro‐Sánchez, Carmen Lizette; Cinco‐Moroyoqui, Francisco Javier ...
Journal of food science,
April 2019, 2019-Apr, 2019-04-00, 20190401, Letnik:
84, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Currently, electrospraying is a novel process for obtaining the nanoparticles from biopolymers. Zein nanoparticles have been obtained by this method and used to protect both hydrophilic and ...hydrophobic antioxidant molecules from environmental factors. The objective of this work was to prepare and characterize gallic acid‐loaded zein nanoparticles obtained by the electrospraying process to provide protection to gallic acid from environmental factors. Thus, it was related to the concentration of gallic acid in physicochemical and rheological properties of the electrosprayed solution, and also to equipment parameters, such as voltage, flow rate, and distance of the collector in morphology, and particle size. The physicochemical properties showed a relationship in the formation of a Taylor cone, in which at a low concentration of gallic acid (1% w/v), low viscosity (0.00464 ± 0.00001 Pa·s), and density (0.886 ± 0.00002 g/cm3), as well as high electrical conductivity (369 ± 4.3 µs/cm), forms a stable cone‐jet mode. The rheological properties and the Power Law model of the gallic acid‐zein electrosprayed solution demonstrated Newtonian behavior (n = 1). The morphology and size of the particle were dependent on the concentration of gallic acid. Electrosprayed parameters with high voltage (15 kV), low flow rate (0.1 mL/hr), and short distance (10 cm) exhibited a smaller diameter and spherical morphology. FT–IR showed interaction in the gallic acid‐loaded zein nanoparticle by hydrogen bonds. Therefore, the electrospraying process is a feasible technique for obtaining gallic acid‐loaded zein nanoparticles and providing potential protection to gallic acid from environmental factors.
The aims of the study were to assess whether subjective well-being is a protective factor for mortality in the general population and to analyze the differential impact of evaluative, experienced, ...and eudaimonic well-being.
Systematic review of articles in the PsycINFO, Web of Science, and PubMed databases. Data on the studies' characteristics, quality, and the effects of variables were extracted. A meta-analysis was conducted on the studies included in the systematic review.
A total of 62 articles that investigated mortality in general populations, involving 1,259,949 participants, were found, and added to those considered in a previously published review (n = 14). The meta-analysis showed that subjective well-being was a protective factor for mortality (pooled hazard ratio = 0.920; 95% confidence interval = 0.905-0.934). Although the impact of subjective well-being on survival was significant in both men and women, it was slightly more protective in men. The three aspects of subjective well-being were significant protective factors for mortality. The high level of heterogeneity and the evidences of publication bias may reduce the generalizability of these findings.
Our results suggest that subjective well-being is associated with a decreased risk of mortality. Longitudinal studies examining changing levels of well-being and their relationship to longevity would be required to establish a cause-effect relationship. Establishing such a causal relationship would strengthen the case for policy interventions to improve the population subjective well-being to produce longevity gains combined with optimizing quality of life.
Objective
To compare the efficacy of infliximab (IFX) versus adalimumab (ADA) as a first‐line biologic drug over 1 year of treatment in a large series of patients with refractory uveitis due to ...Behçet's disease (BD).
Methods
We conducted an open‐label multicenter study of IFX versus ADA for BD‐related uveitis refractory to conventional nonbiologic treatment. IFX or ADA was chosen as the first‐line biologic agent based on physician and patient agreement. Patients received 3–5 mg/kg intravenous IFX at 0, 2, and 6 weeks and every 4–8 weeks thereafter, or 40 mg subcutaneous ADA every other week without a loading dose. Ocular parameters were compared between the 2 groups.
Results
The study included 177 patients (316 affected eyes), of whom 103 received IFX and 74 received ADA. There were no significant baseline differences between treatment groups in main demographic features, previous therapy, or ocular sign severity. After 1 year of therapy, we observed an improvement in all ocular parameters in both groups. However, patients receiving ADA had significantly better outcomes in some parameters, including improvement in anterior chamber inflammation (92.31% versus 78.18% for IFX; P = 0.06), improvement in vitritis (93.33% versus 78.95% for IFX; P = 0.04), and best‐corrected visual acuity (mean ± SD 0.81 ± 0.26 versus 0.67 ± 0.34 for IFX; P = 0.001). A nonsignificant difference was seen for macular thickness (mean ± SD 250.62 ± 36.85 for ADA versus 264.89 ± 59.74 for IFX; P = 0.15), and improvement in retinal vasculitis was similar between the 2 groups (95% for ADA versus 97% for IFX; P = 0.28). The drug retention rate was higher in the ADA group (95.24% versus 84.95% for IFX; P = 0.042).
Conclusion
Although both IFX and ADA are efficacious in refractory BD‐related uveitis, ADA appears to be associated with better outcomes than IFX after 1 year of follow‐up.
The presence of biochar with high carbon accumulation capacity and nutrient adsorption is causally associated with archeological soils. Although this type of soil organic matter has been known for a ...long time, the knowledge of its structure and environmental behavior is still limited. This work used Raman spectroscopy to obtain structural information and identify alterations in biochar particles. To this end, we studied biochar particles found in an archaeological site with a temporal window lasting 12451 to 11080 yr cal BP. The molecular, structural and sp2/sp3 characteristics of the charcoal particles were determined at the time of burning and associated with the temperature, time and characteristics of the burnt material. We propose that the process of oxidation of the biochar occurs during the first 2000 years after its genesis. The oxidation process is a reflection of decreases in the number of defects related to sp2 bonds on amorphous carbons and increases in the number of defects associated with ionic impurities, which clearly indicate the interaction between biochar particles and the soil matrix. The data confirm the hypothesis that the persistence of biochar in the environment is due to its graphite structure and suggest that over a 12000 year timeframe, biochar particles undergo several changes that occur in the disordered phase and are rapidly oxidized.
Micro- and nanotechnology are tools being used strongly in the area of food technology. The electrospray technique is booming because of its importance in developing micro- and nanoparticles ...containing an active ingredient as bioactive compounds, enhancing molecules of flavors, odors, and packaging coatings, and developing polymers that are obtained from food (proteins, carbohydrates), as chitosan, alginate, gelatin, agar, starch, or gluten. The electrospray technique compared to conventional techniques such as nanoprecipitation, emulsion–diffusion, double-emulsification, and layer by layer provides greater advantages to develop micro- and nanoparticles because it is simple, low cost, uses a low amount of solvents, and products are obtained in one step. This technique could also be applied in the agrifood sector for the preparation of controlled and/or prolonged release systems of fertilizer or agrochemicals, for which more research must be conducted.
Quaternary fossils from limestone caves bear various diagenetic features due to the complex nature of sedimentary processes. However, few studies have addressed the problem of diagenetic changes in ...fossils from tropical-wet environments. We study Quaternary fossil bones from different sites of a tropical limestone cave in northeastern Brazil. These fossils show diverse diagenetic features. The approach encompassed the use of scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction to understand the modification of the fossil bone structure, chemical composition, and mineral assemblage during the diagenesis processes. We describe a model for fossil diagenesis in tropical limestone caves that involves early and advanced diagenetic stages, which produce two routes with different endmembers. The diagenesis in the cave alters the crystallinity and ordering of hydroxyapatite. The recrystallization of hydroxyapatite appears to be strongly influenced by dripping water that is rich in calcium carbonate, which leads to crystal formation with higher crystallinity. In the absence of calcium carbonate, hydroxyapatite diagenesis involves crystal growth but not necessarily dissolution of the original material, which enables remarkable preservation of the biological structure.
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