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Mediterranean countries' food consumption and sourcing patterns:An Ecological Footprint viewpoint
No full textAbstractSecuring food for growing populations while minimizing environmental externalities is becoming a key topic in the current sustainability debate. This is particularly true in the Mediterranean region, which is characterized by scarce natural resources and increasing climate-related impacts.This paper focuses on the pressure Mediterranean people place on the Earth ecosystems because of their food consumption and sourcing patterns and then explores ways in which such pressure can be reduced. To do so, it uses an Ecological-Footprint-Extended Multi-Regional Input-Output (EF-MRIO) approach applied to 15 Mediterranean countries. Results indicate that food consumption is a substantial driver of the region's ecological deficit, whereby demand for renewable resources and ecosystems services outpaces the capacity of its ecosystems to provide them. Portugal, Malta and Greece are found to have the highest per capita food Footprints (1.50, 1.25 and 1.22 global hectares (gha), respectively), while Slovenia, Egypt and Israel have the lowest (0.63, 0.64 and 0.79gha, respectively). With the exception of France, all Mediterranean countries rely on the biocapacity of foreign countries to satisfy their residents' demand for food.By analyzing the effect of shifting to a calorie-adequate diet or changing dietary patterns, we finally point out that the region's Ecological Footprint – and therefore its ecological deficit – could be reduced by 8% to 10%
QSAR studies of antimicrobial activity of 1,3-disubstituted-1H-naphtho[1,2-e][1,3]oxazines using topological descriptors
No full textAbstractThe antimicrobial activity of 1,3-disubstituted-1H-naphtho[1,2-e][1,3]oxazines was correlated with their physicochemical parameters using Hansch analysis for first time. The QSAR models were developed by both linear and multiple linear regression and the developed models were cross validated by the “leave one out” technique. The QSAR studies indicated that the antibacterial activity of synthesized compounds was governed by topological parameters, Balaban index (J), Kier's second order molecular index (κα2) and third order molecular connectivity index (3χ) and the antifungal activity was governed by valance first order molecular connectivity index (1χv). The practical applicability of developed models was explored by the design of new compounds based on the information derived from the developed equations
Incretin treatment and atherosclerotic plaque stability: Role of adiponectin/APPL1 signaling pathway
No full textAbstractAimsGlucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1) analogues and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-4) inhibitors reduce atherosclerosis progression in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and are associated with morphological and compositional characteristics of stable plaque phenotype. GLP-1 promotes the secretion of adiponectin which exerts anti-inflammatory effects through the adaptor protein PH domain and leucine zipper containing 1 (APPL1). The potential role of APPL1 expression in the evolution of atherosclerotic plaque in TDM2 patients has not previously evaluated.MethodsThe effect of incretin therapy in the regulation of adiponectin/APPL1 signaling was evaluated both on carotid plaques of asymptomatic diabetic (n=71) and non-diabetic patients (n=52), and through in vitro experiments on endothelial cell (EC).ResultsAtherosclerotic plaques of T2DM patients showed lower adiponectin and APPL1 levels compared with non-diabetic patients, along with higher oxidative stress, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), vimentin, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels. Among T2DM subjects, current incretin-users presented higher APPL1 and adiponectin content compared with never incretin-users. Similarly, in vitro observations on endothelial cells co-treated with high-glucose (25mM) and GLP-1 (100nM) showed a greater APPL1 protein expression compared with high-glucose treatment alone.ConclusionsOur findings suggest a potential role of adiponectin/APPL1 signaling in mediating the effect of incretin in the prevention of atherosclerosis progression or plaque vulnerability in T2DM
Influence of Myocardial Ischemia Extent on Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain in Patients After ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction
No full textTwo-dimensional echocardiographic left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is moderately correlated with infarct size and reflects the residual LV systolic function. This correlation may be influenced by the presence of myocardial ischemia. The present study investigated how myocardial ischemia modulates the correlation between LV GLS and infarct size determined with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in patients with first STEMI treated with primary coronary intervention. A total of 1,128 patients (age 60 ± 11 years) who underwent SPECT MPI for the evaluation of infarct size and residual ischemia were evaluated. LV GLS was measured on transthoracic echocardiography. The time interval between echocardiography and SPECT MPI was 1 ± 1 month. A moderate correlation between echocardiographic LV GLS and infarct size on SPECT MPI was observed (r = 0.58, p <0.001). This correlation was weakened by the presence or extent of ischemia; in the group of patients without ischemia, the correlation between LV GLS and infarct size on SPECT MPI was r = 0.66 (p <0.001), whereas in patients with mild or moderate-to-severe ischemia, the correlations were r = 0.56 and 0.38, respectively (both p <0.001). Moderate-to-severe myocardial ischemia was independently associated with more impaired LV GLS after adjusting for infarct size, age, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension (β 0.60, 95% confidence interval 013 to 1.06). In conclusion, the presence of myocardial ischemia after STEMI impacts on the correlation between echocardiographic LV GLS and infarct size measured on SPECT MPI. Residual ischemia is independently associated with more impaired LV GLS
Dataset of tear film cytokine levels in dry eye disease (DED) patients with and without HIV infection
No full textAbstractThe tear film cytokine profiling data in this article was obtained from a prospective case-control study with a sample size of 34 dry eye disease (DED) patients with HIV infection and 32 DED patients without HIV infection, see “A distinct cytokines profile in tear film of dry eye disease (DED) patients with HIV infection” (R. Agrawal, P.K. Balne, A. Veerappan, V.B. Au, B. Lee, E. Loo, A. Ghosh, L. Tong, S.C. Teoh, J. Connolly, P. Tan, 2016) [1]. Tear samples were collected from all the subjects using Schirmer׳s strips and cytokine profiling was done using the Luminex bead based multiplex assay with a panel of 41 analytes. The cytokine level differences in each group of subjects were analyzed using logistic regression models
Effect of Alirocumab on Lipoprotein(a) Over ≥1.5 Years (from the Phase 3 ODYSSEY Program)
No full textElevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is independently associated with increased cardiovascular risk. However, treatment options for elevated Lp(a) are limited. Alirocumab, a monoclonal antibody to proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9, reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by up to 62% from baseline in phase 3 studies, with adverse event rates similar between alirocumab and controls. We evaluated the effect of alirocumab on serum Lp(a) using pooled data from the phase 3 ODYSSEY program: 4,915 patients with hypercholesterolemia from 10 phase 3 studies were included. Eight studies evaluated alirocumab 75 mg every 2 weeks (Q2W), with possible increase to 150 mg Q2W at week 12 depending on LDL-C at week 8 (75/150 mg Q2W); the other 2 studies evaluated alirocumab 150-mg Q2W from the outset. Comparators were placebo or ezetimibe. Eight studies were conducted on a background of statins, and 2 studies were carried out with no statins. Alirocumab was associated with significant reductions in Lp(a), regardless of starting dose and use of concomitant statins. At week 24, reductions from baseline were 23% to 27% with alirocumab 75/150-mg Q2W and 29% with alirocumab 150-mg Q2W (all comparisons p <0.0001 vs controls). Reductions were sustained over 78 to 104 weeks. Lp(a) reductions with alirocumab were independent of race, gender, presence of familial hypercholesterolemia, baseline Lp(a), and LDL-C concentrations, or use of statins. In conclusion, in addition to marked reduction in LDL-C, alirocumab leads to a significant and sustained lowering of Lp(a)
Management of the open abdomen using negative pressure wound therapy with instillation in severe abdominal sepsis A review of 48 cases in Hospital Mexico, Costa Rica
No full textAbstractIntroductionDespite the numerous advances in recent years, severe abdominal sepsis (with associated organ failure associated with infection) remains a serious, life-threatening condition with a high mortality rate. OA is a viable alternative to the previously used scheduled repeat laparotomy or continuous peritoneal lavage. The use of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) has been described as a successful method of management of the open abdomen. Adding instillation of saline solution to NPWT in a programmed and controlled manner, could offer the clinician an additional tool for the management of complex septic abdomen.ObjectivesTo explore if the concept of active two-way therapy (Negative pressure wound therapy with instillation or NPWT-I) yields superior control of underlying, life-threatening abdominal infections and its effects on survival and morbidity in patients with severe abdominal sepsis when management with an open abdomen is required.MethodsA retrospective review of 48 patients with severe abdominal sepsis, who were managed with and open abdomen and NPWT-I was performed. NPWT-I was initiated utilizing the same parameters on all patients, this consisted of cycles of instillation of saline solution, which was removed through negative pressure after a short dwell period. We observed the effects on primary fascia closure rate, mortality, hospital and SICU length of stay and associated complications.ResultsOur patient group consisted of 20 (42%) males and 28 (58%) females. Average age was 48 years. Mortality in these patients was attributed to pulmonary embolism (n=1), acute renal failure (n=2) and cardiopulmonary arrest (n=1). Average total hospital stay was 24days, and stay in the SICU (n=26) averaged 7.5days.No acute complications related to the NPWT-I. All patients presenting with abdominal compartment syndrome resolved after initiation of the NPWT-I. A total of 46 patients (96%) patients achieved fascia closure after NPWT-I therapy after an average of 6days. Four patients (8%) died during the course of treatment of causes unrelated to NPWT-I.ConclusionThis therapy showed added benefits when compared to traditional methods such as ̈Bogota bag̈, Wittmann patch, or NPWT traditional in the management of the open abdomen pertaining to severe abdominal sepsis.NPWT-I in patients with severe abdominal sepsis had promising results, since we obtained higher fascia closure rates, lower mortality and reduced hospital and ICU length of stay with no complications due to this therapeutic approach
Comparison of the effect of green, white and black tea on Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus spp. in yogurt during refrigerated storage
No full textAbstractThis study investigated the effects of green, white and black tea (Camellia sinensis) on lactic acid production and the viability of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus spp. in yogurt during 3weeks of refrigerated storage. Three types of tea water extracts were added into a milk-starter culture mixture and incubated at 42°C until the pH was reduced to 4.5. All yogurts were then refrigerated (4°C) for up to 21days and samples were analyzed for pH, titratable acid and viable counts of yogurt bacteria. Higher pH values (p<0.05) were shown in tea yogurts than plain yogurt (PY). Green tea yogurt (GTY) showed the highest pH followed by black tea yogurt (BTY) and white tea yogurt (WTY), respectively for the overall storage period. However, higher acid production was observed in all tea yogurts (0.78–0.99% lactic acid equivalent; LAE) than plain yogurt (0.70–0.91% LAE). Inclusion of three types of tea extracts did not affect significantly (p>0.05) the viability of Lactobacillus spp. and S. thermophilus compared to PY during storage. All the three types of tea yogurt maintained a high level of S. thermophilus and Lactobacilllus spp. counts through refrigerated storage and this can ensure health benefits to be delivered to consumers on daily consumption