1,721,229 research outputs found
Mittag-Leffler Functions and their Applications in Network Science
Full text linkWe describe a complete theory for walk-based centrality indices in complex networks defined in terms of Mittag-Leffler functions. This overarching theory includes as special cases wellknown centrality measures like subgraph centrality and Katz centrality. The indices we introduce are parametrized by two numbers; by letting these vary, we show that Mittag-Leffler centralities interpolate between degree and eigenvector centrality, as well as between resolvent-based and exponential-based indices. We further discuss modelling and computational issues, and provide guidelines on parameter selection. The theory is then extended to the case of networks that evolve over time. Numerical experiments on synthetic and real-world networks are provided
Trattato italiano di nutraceutica clinica
No full textIl primo Trattato Italiano di Nutraceutica Clinica, un progetto della Società Italiana di Nutraceutica Clinica (SINut) e di Edizioni Scripta Manent, è uno strumento di formazione ed aggiornamento professionale non solo per i super-specialisti della nutraceutica, ma in generale per tutti i professionisti di area sanitaria interessati a nutrizione, alimentazione funzionale ed integrazione alimentare, come Medici di Medicina Generale e Specialisti, Farmacisti, Biologi nutrizionisti, Laureati in Scienze dietistiche ed in Scienze erboristiche, Tecnologi alimentari.
Il Trattato è rivolto a tutti coloro che vogliono trovare spunti per approfondimenti, puntualizzazioni e confronti sui vari temi affrontati.
Discipline trattate: gastroenterologia, metabolismo ed endocrinologia, malattie cardiache e
cardiovascolari, epatologia, flebologia, geriatria, disturbi dell’umore, insonnia, sistema nervoso centrale e periferico, urologia, immunologia e flogosi, ginecologia, disturbi di ossa ed articolazioni, otorinolaringoiatria, oculistica, medicina dello sport, dermatologia, cosmeceutica
Metabolic approaches to antihypertensive treatment in diabetic patients
No full textComparison of the effects of barnidipine+losartan compared with telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide on several parameters of insulin sensitivity in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus
Fourier transform based procedure for investigations on the grid frequency signal
Full text linkThe continuous growth of PV and wind sources makes the inertia of power systems decrease and creates larger frequency deviations. Frequency oscillation is a stochastic signal and, consequently, it could be complex to compare the effectiveness of different control approaches devoted to manage this problem. In this paper a Fourier transform procedure is proposed in order to define a standard frequency oscillation and to set up the dynamic model of the electric grid. The final goal is to numerically simulate a realistic transient behavior; using this grid, such a model results to be the ideal starting point for evaluating the effectiveness of different possible approaches to manage the energy balance problem
Food and plant bioactives for reducing cardiometabolic disease: How does the evidence stack up?
No full textCardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the major causes of mortality and disability in Western countries. Prevention is known to be the cornerstone to lessen the incidence of CVDs and also to reduce the economic burden of both the citizen and the healthcare system. "Interventional medicine" certainly puts lifestyle modification as the first therapeutic step, including a healthy diet and physical activity. Secondly, a large body of research individuated a number of food and plant bioactives, which are potentially efficacious in preventing and reducing some highly prevalent CV risk factors, such as hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, vascular inflammation and vascular compliance. Some lipid-and blood pressure-lowering bioactives were studied for their impact on human vascular health, particularly as regards endothelial function and arterial stiffness. Several nutraceuticals showed additive or synergistic properties in combination, sometimes (but not always) allowing a reduction of the administered dose of extracts and determining a "multi-factorial" final effect on many cardiovascular risk factors. Thus, this review focuses on available evidence regarding the effects of berberine, plant sterols, green tea extract, soy, curcumin, cocoa, pycnogenol, lycopene, olive oil, soluble fibers, garlic, resveratrol, beetroot, mineral salts and vitamins on the lipid profile, blood pressure, inflammatory and endothelial markers, and vascular compliance. Future clinical research studies will have to focus more on middle term modification of the instrumental markers of vascular aging than on short-term effects on indirect laboratory risk markers
Combinations of phytomedicines with different lipid lowering activity for dyslipidemia management: the available clinical data
No full textBACKGROUND:
Cardiovascular diseases are the primary cause of death and the leading cause of disability in industrialized countries. Dyslipidemia is a major independent and reversible risk factor for these diseases: it is estimated that a reduction of 1 mmol/l (38 mg/dl) of LDL cholesterol is associated with a risk of developing a cardiovascular complication reduced by 25%, a reduction potentially achieved by life-style improvement associated to adequate dietary supplementation with bioactive substances.
AIM:
The aim of this review is to focus on the major phytochemical nutraceuticals combinations supported by clinical trials that have demonstrated positive effects in the treatment of dyslipidemia.
MAIN TEXT:
There are many nutraceuticals with significant lipid-lowering properties: most of them are used in association with a low dosage, because that permits to reduce the risk of side effects and theoretically to improve efficacy. In fact, natural products with different synergetic lipid-lowering could be combined: they can reduce the absorption of lipids from the bowel and/or increase their excretion (soluble fibers, plant sterols, probiotics), enhance the hepatic uptake of cholesterol (berberine, soybean proteins), inhibit Hydroxy-Methil-Gglutaryl Coenzyme A reductase enzyme and consequently the hepatic synthesis of cholesterol (monacolins, policosanols, allicin, soybean proteins, bergamot); furthermore some products are able to reduce the oxidation of the LDL and increase the thermogenesis and lipid metabolism (chlorogenic acid).
CONCLUSION:
Rational combinations of nutraceuticals with different lipid-lowering activities, whether associated with an appropriate lifestyle, should provide an alternative to drug treatment in patients in primary cardiovascular disease prevention with mildly added cardiovascular risk and in some statin-intolerant patients
Questioning the associations of ω-3 fatty acid supplement use with cardiovascular disease risks
No full textno abstract availabl
The Effect of Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitors on Blood Pressure and Renal Function
No full textSeveral epidemiological studies have demonstrated the existence of a correlation between high serum uric acid (SUA) levels, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Xantine oxidase inhibitors (XOI) are the most powerful uric acid lowering drugs, with presumed beneficial effects on cardiovascular and renal system. The multifactorial mechanism linking hyperuricemia with cardiovascular and renal diseases involves both the SUA level and the xanthine oxidase (XO) activity. In this context, the clinical research has been recently focused at assessing the efficacy of urate-lowering drugs active on XO in patients with abnormal blood pressure values and renal dysfunction. The mechanism of action responsible for the beneficial effect of XOI has not completely elucidated, and long-term studies involving large population samples are needed. In particular, XOI could play an important role in the management of hypertension and CKD, especially in patients not entirely controlled by conventional therapies. In the present review, we summarize the results of recent clinical trials that largely support a positive effect of allopurinol and febuxostat on blood pressure, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and serum creatinine in different populations of patients. Will these drugs be considered a reliable choice or alternative to currently used drugs for the hypertension and kidney failure treatment? The debate is open, but much evidence is accumulating and supporting this role
Sublingual Delivery of Astaxanthin through a Novel Ascorbyl Palmitate-Based Nanoemulsion: Preliminary Data
Full text linkAstaxanthin is a carotenoid extracted from several seaweeds with ascertained therapeutic activity. With specific reference, astaxanthin is widely used in clinical practice to improve ocular tissue health and skin protection from UV ray damages. Despite its well-documented pleiotropic actions and demonstrated clinical efficacy, its bioavailability in humans is low and limited because of its hydrophobicity and poor dissolution in enteric fluids. Furthermore, astaxanthin is very unstable molecule and very sensitive to light exposure and thermal stress. Taken together, these pharmacological and chemical-physical features strongly limit pharmaceutical and nutraceutical development of astaxanthin-based products and as a consequence its full clinical usage. This work describes the preliminary in vitro investigation of sublingual absorption of astaxanthin through a novel ascorbyl palmitate (ASP) based nanoemulsion
Coenzyme Q 10: Clinical Applications in Cardiovascular Diseases
Full text linkCoenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a ubiquitous factor present in cell membranes and mitochondria, both in its reduced (ubiquinol) and oxidized (ubiquinone) forms. Its levels are high in organs with high metabolism such as the heart, kidneys, and liver because it acts as an energy transfer molecule but could be reduced by aging, genetic factors, drugs (e.g., statins), cardiovascular (CV) diseases, degenerative muscle disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. As CoQ10 is endowed with significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory features, useful to prevent free radical-induced damage and inflammatory signaling pathway activation, its depletion results in exacerbation of inflammatory processes. Therefore, exogenous CoQ10 supplementation might be useful as an adjuvant in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and myocardial infarction and in associated risk factors such as hypertension, insulin resistance, dyslipidemias, and obesity. This review aims to summarize the current evidences on the use of CoQ10 supplementation as a therapeutic approach in cardiovascular diseases through the analysis of its clinical impact on patients' health and quality of life. A substantial reduction of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers has been observed in several randomized clinical trials (RCTs) focused on several of the abovementioned diseases, even if more RCTs, involving a larger number of patients, will be necessary to strengthen these interesting findings
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