The paper focuses on the COVID-19 as a stress test to the Sino-Russian strategic partnership: has it driven Russia and China closer together, farther apart, or made no difference? Employing content ...analysis of official Russian discourse as expressed by the Kremlin, the Government, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), both via their official web pages (104 online publications) and Twitter accounts (260 tweets), this study focuses on the Russian twiplomacy as a more suitable mean to reflect the real-time changes of an evolving crisis. The analysis demonstrates that the Sino-Russian relationship extends beyond the “axis of convenience.” It does not, however, correspond to the support expected from a consolidated (comprehensive) strategic partnership, nor does it achieve the intensity of soft balancing (vis-à-vis the USA) in a particularly polarized and politicized international context.
Purpose
The present review critically evaluates existing literature on the effects of short- and long-term low energy availability (EA) on bone metabolism and health in physically active individuals.
...Methods
We reviewed the literature on the short-term effects of low EA on markers of bone metabolism and the long-term effects of low EA on outcomes relating to bone health (bone mass, microarchitecture and strength, bone metabolic markers and stress fracture injury risk) in physically active individuals.
Results
Available evidence indicates that short-term low EA may increase markers of bone resorption and decrease markers of bone formation in physically active women. Bone metabolic marker responses to low EA are less well known in physically active men. Cross-sectional studies investigating the effects of long-term low EA suggest that physically active individuals who have low EA present with lower bone mass, altered bone metabolism (favouring bone resorption), reduced bone strength and increased risk for stress fracture injuries.
Conclusions
Reduced EA has a negative influence on bone in both the short- and long-term, and every effort should be made to reduce its occurrence in physically active individuals. Future interventions are needed to explore the effects of long-term reduced EA on bone health outcomes, while short-term low EA studies are also required to give insight into the pathophysiology of bone alterations.
Abstract
Aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol, ochratoxin A and zearalenone are the most important mycotoxins that everyone on its own, in groups or simultaneously contaminate cereals. The external layers of ...cereal grains (bran) apart from health promoting ingredients are also the most contaminated part with reference to mycotoxin's presence. Therefore, consumption of a high fiber wheat-based diet represent an increased risk to consumer's health. The objective of this study was to develop a simple and reliable high performance liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous determination of these mycotoxins in wheat bran (WB). A double extraction was applied with phosphate buffered saline/methanol and for the clean-up a multi-immunoaffinity column was utilized. The detection was carried out with diode-array and fluorescence detectors linked with a post-column photochemical reactor. After optimization of the chromatographic conditions, all mycotoxins were eluted within ~26 min. Limits of detection for each mycotoxin (0.12–12.58 µg/kg) were below the maximum levels provisioned by European Union regulations. Good linearity was observed for the analytes (r
2 ≥ 0.9980). The recovery of analyzed mycotoxins ranged from 70.2 to 105.8%, with a relative standard deviation <12%. The method was successfully applied to quantify mycotoxins in 34 WB samples obtained after pearling of grains that were collected from different regions of Greece.
One of the World Health Organization's targets for the 2030 viral hepatitis elimination strategy is to reduce new hepatitis C (HCV) infections. In Athens, Greece, people who inject drugs (PWID) have ...a high HCV prevalence, with increasing trends since the 2000s. This analysis aims to assess primary HCV incidence among PWID during 2012-2020. Two community-based interventions were implemented in 2012-2013 and 2018-2020 with repeated sero-behavioural surveys in each period. Participants enrolled in multiple surveys were identified through linkage. To assess trends in HCV transmission, three indicators were estimated: (i) anti-HCV prevalence among 'new' injectors (those injecting ≤2 years), (ii) indirect HCV incidence among 'new' injectors, assuming infection occurred at the midpoint between initiating injection and the first positive test, and (iii) HCV incidence from repeat participants. There were 431 and 125 'new' injectors, respectively, in 2012-2013 and 2018-2020. Αnti-HCV prevalence 95% CI declined from 53.6% 48.8%, 58.3% in 2012-2013 to 40.0% 31.3, 49.1% in 2018-2020 (25.4% reduction, p = .007). The indirect estimate 95% CI of HCV incidence among 'new' injectors decreased from 56.1 49.3, 63.8 to 39.0/100 person-years (PYs) 29.6, 51.5 (30.5% reduction, p = .020). HCV incidence 95% CI based on seroconversions in repeat participants (16/63 in 2012-2013 and 9/55 in 2018-2020) declined from 64.6 39.6105.4 to 13.8/100 PYs 7.2, 26.5, respectively (78.6% reduction, p < .001). Primary HCV incidence remains high among PWID in Athens. Consistent implementation of combined interventions, including high-coverage harm reduction programs and initiatives tailored to increase access to HCV treatment, is essential to sustain the declining trends documented during 2012-2020.
Gluten-free products have come into the market in order to alleviate health problems such as celiac disease. In this review, recent advances in gluten-free bread are described along with plant-based ...gluten-free proteins. A comparison with animal-based gluten-free proteins is made reporting on different high protein sources of animal origin. Sea microorganisms- and insect-based proteins are also mentioned, and the optimization of the structure of gluten-free bread with added high protein sources is highlighted along with protein digestibility issues. The latter is an issue for consideration that can be manipulated by a careful design of the mixture in terms of phenolic compounds, soluble carbohydrates and fibres, but also the baking process itself. Additionally, the presence of enzymes and different hydrocolloids are key factors controlling quality features of the final product.
Early handling (EH), the brief separation of pups from their mother during early life, has been shown to exert beneficial effects. However, the impact of EH in a high anxiety background as well as ...the role of brain mitochondria in shaping EH-driven responses remain elusive.Here, we used a high (HAB) vs. normal (NAB) anxiety-related behavior mouse model to study how EH affects pup and dam behavior in divergent anxiety backgrounds. We also investigated EH-induced effects at the protein and mRNA levels in adult male HAB mice in the hypothalamus, the prefrontal cortex, and the hippocampus by examining the same mitochondrial/energy pathways and mitochondrial dynamics mechanisms (fission, fusion, biogenesis, and mitophagy) in all three brain regions.EH exerts anxiolytic effects in adult HAB but not NAB male mice and does not affect HAB or NAB maternal behavior, although basal HAB vs. NAB maternal behaviors differ. In adult HAB male mice, EH does not impact oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and oxidative stress in any of the brain regions studied but leads to increased protein expression of glycolysis enzymes and a correlation of anxiety-related behavior with Krebs cycle enzymes in HAB mice in the hypothalamus. Intriguingly, EH alters mitochondrial dynamics by increasing hypothalamic DRP1, OPA1, and PGC1a protein levels. At the mRNA level, we observe altered, EH-driven mitochondrial dynamics mRNA signatures which predominantly affect the prefrontal cortex.Taken together, our results show that EH exerts anxiolytic effects in adulthood in high anxiety and modulates mitochondrial dynamics pathways in a brain region-specific manner.
The short-term effects of low energy availability (EA) on bone metabolism in physically active women and men are currently unknown.
We evaluated the effects of low EA on bone turnover markers (BTMs) ...in a cohort of women and a cohort of men, and compared effects between sexes.
These studies were performed using a randomised, counterbalanced, crossover design. Eleven eumenorrheic women and eleven men completed two 5-day protocols of controlled (CON; 45kcal·kgLBM−1·d−1) and restricted (RES; 15kcal·kgLBM−1·d−1) EAs. Participants ran daily on a treadmill at 70% of their peak aerobic capacity (VO2 peak) resulting in an exercise energy expenditure of 15kcal·kgLBM−1·d−1 and consumed diets providing 60 and 30kcal·kgLBM−1·d−1. Blood was analysed for BTMs β-carboxyl-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (β-CTX) and amino-terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen (P1NP), markers of calcium metabolism parathyroid hormone (PTH), albumin-adjusted calcium (ACa), magnesium (Mg) and phosphate (PO4) and regulatory hormones sclerostin, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), triiodothyronine (T3), insulin, leptin, glucagon-like-peptide-2 (GLP-2).
In women, β-CTX AUC was significantly higher (P=0.03) and P1NP AUC was significantly lower (P=0.01) in RES compared to CON. In men, neither β-CTX (P=0.46) nor P1NP (P=0.12) AUCs were significantly different between CON and RES. There were no significant differences between sexes for any BTM AUCs (all P values>0.05). Insulin and leptin AUCs were significantly lower following RES in women only (for both P=0.01). There were no differences in any AUCs of regulatory hormones or markers of calcium metabolism between men and women following RES (all P values>0.05).
When comparing within groups, five days of low EA (15kcal·kgLBM−1·d−1) decreased bone formation and increased bone resorption in women, but not in men, and no sex specific differences were detected.
•The effects of low energy availability (EA) on bone turnover markers (BTMs) in physically active women and men were explored.•In women, reduced EA at 15kcal·kgLBM−1·d−1 resulted in decreased bone formation and increased bone resorption.•Overall, reduced EA at 15kcal·kgLBM−1·d−1 did not impact any BTM in men.•The high inter-individual variability in men suggests that BTMs changed following reduced EA in some men, but not in others.•There were no sex differences in BTM responses to reduced EA, with their magnitude being similar in men and women.
Despite major progress in the understanding of the pathophysiology and therapeutic options for common ageing-related musculoskeletal conditions (i.e. osteoporosis and associated fractures, sarcopenia ...and osteoarthritis), there is still a considerable proportion of patients who respond sub optimally to available treatments or experience adverse effects. Emerging microbiome research suggests that perturbations in microbial composition, functional and metabolic capacity (i.e. dysbiosis) are associated with intestinal and extra-intestinal disorders including musculoskeletal diseases. Besides its contributions to disease pathogenesis, the role of the microbiome is further extended to shaping individuals’ responses to disease therapeutics (i.e. pharmacomicrobiomics). In this review, we focus on the reciprocal interactions between the microbiome and therapeutics for osteoporosis, sarcopenia and osteoarthritis. Specifically, we identify the effects of therapeutics on microbiome’s configurations, functions and metabolic output, intestinal integrity and immune function, but also the effects of the microbiome on the metabolism of these therapeutics, which in turn, may influence their bioavailability, efficacy and side-effect profile contributing to variable treatment responses in clinical practice. We further discuss emerging strategies for microbiota manipulation as preventive or therapeutic (alone or complementary to available treatments) approaches for improving outcomes of musculoskeletal health and disease.
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