2,397 research outputs found
Health, wellbeing and social sciences
No full textFor social interventions aimed at improving nutrition behavior evidence from randomized trials is essential but cannot be the only approach of research activities. Interventions on dietary habits require considerations on food security, economic and environmental sustainability, and a broad meaning of wellbeing which includes, but also goes beyond, health effects. The model of research in nutrition requires a new consideration of observational studies, mainly through different analytical models. Nutrition and food studies need research programs where medical (nutrition and health), psychology (how we behave), economics (how resources are used and their impact on wellbeing) and sociology (how social determinant shape behavior) collaborate
Palm oil and blood lipid-related markers of cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of dietary intervention trials
No full textBACKGROUND:
Palm oil (PO) may be an unhealthy fat because of its high saturated fatty acid content.
OBJECTIVE:
The objective was to assess the effect of substituting PO for other primary dietary fats on blood lipid-related markers of coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD).
DESIGN:
We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of dietary intervention trials. Studies were eligible if they included original data comparing PO-rich diets with other fat-rich diets and analyzed at least one of the following CHD/CVD biomarkers: total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, TC/HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol, triacylglycerols, apolipoprotein A-I and B, very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and lipoprotein(a).
RESULTS:
Fifty-one studies were included. Intervention times ranged from 2 to 16 wk, and different fat substitutions ranged from 4% to 43%. Comparison of PO diets with diets rich in stearic acid, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) showed significantly higher TC, LDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, HDL cholesterol, and apolipoprotein A-I, whereas most of the same biomarkers were significantly lower when compared with diets rich in myristic/lauric acid. Comparison of PO-rich diets with diets rich in trans fatty acids showed significantly higher concentrations of HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I and significantly lower apolipoprotein B, triacylglycerols, and TC/HDL cholesterol. Stratified and meta-regression analyses showed that the higher concentrations of TC and LDL cholesterol, when PO was substituted for MUFAs and PUFAs, were not significant in young people and in subjects with diets with a lower percentage of energy from fat.
CONCLUSIONS:
Both favorable and unfavorable changes in CHD/CVD risk markers occurred when PO was substituted for the primary dietary fats, whereas only favorable changes occurred when PO was substituted for trans fatty acids. Additional studies are needed to provide guidance for policymaking
Zonisamide in the management of epilepsy in the elderly
No full textAndrea Romigi,1,2 Eti A Femia,3 Cinzia Fattore,4 Giuseppe Vitrani,1 Giancarlo Di Gennaro,1 Valentina Franco4 1Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo, IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli (IS), Italy; 2Neurophysiopathology Department, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; 3Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy; 4Clinical Trial Centre & Antiepileptic Drugs, C. Mondino National Neurological Institute, Pavia, Italy Abstract: Zonisamide (ZNS), a second-generation antiepileptic drug, indicated as add-on treatment of focal epilepsy, has been recently approved as monotherapy for the treatment of partial seizures in adults affected by newly diagnosed epilepsy in Europe. Evidence on the efficacy and tolerability of antiepileptic drugs in the elderly is still lacking as these patients are frequently excluded from clinical trials. Here, a comprehensive overview of available data regarding the use of ZNS in the treatment of epilepsy in elderly people is provided. In a pooled analysis conducted in patients aged ≥65 years, no new/unexpected safety findings have emerged. Few data from uncontrolled investigations suggest that ZNS may be effective and well tolerated when administered as monotherapy or adjunctive antiepileptic treatment in the elderly. However, evidence from these observational studies is less than satisfactory, and randomized controlled trials focused on these patients are still needed. Keywords: zonisamide, elderly, epilepsy, safety, efficac
Occupational exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and cancer risk
No full textPolychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a class of chemicals characterized by a long-term persistence and diffusion in the environment, and by bioaccumulation through the food chain. The highest exposures occurred in occupational cohorts through inhalation or skin absorption in work environments. These cohorts can therefore provide important information on health risk from exposure to PCBs in the general population. To provide comprehensive evidence on cancer risk from PCB exposure, we have thus reviewed the epidemiological studies on workers occupationally exposed to PCBs. Overall, no excess for all cancer mortality was observed in the six studies providing information (573 cancer deaths versus 630.4 expected, corresponding to a standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of 91). Among neoplasms potentially related to PCB exposure, there were 12 deaths from liver cancer compared with 9.5 expected (SMR=126). No excess was found for cancers of the breast (40 observed versus 47.4 expected, SMR=84) and of the lymphatic and haematopoietic system (51 observed versus 53.2 expected, SMR=96). Therefore, studies on occupational exposure to PCBs do not show any excess in all cancer mortality, or in mortality for specific cancer sites of interest. (C) 2003 Lippincott Williams Wilkins
Environmental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and breast cancer: a systematic review of the epidemiological evidence
No full textSome PCB congeners have shown oestrogenic effects, and this has raised concern that they may increase the risk of breast cancer. In this article we provide a quantitative review of the epidemiologic evidence on environmental exposure to PCBs and breast cancer risk. The vast majority of prospective and retrospective studies did not find any association between total PCB concentrations and breast cancer risk. No association was found for congeners in groups I (potentially oestrogenic) and III (biologically persistent phenobarbital-type cytochrome P450 inducers), according to the classification proposed by Wolff and Toniolo, while less consistent results were reported for group II (potentially antioestrogenic and immunotoxic, dioxin-like). Two studies found a threefold risk of postmenopausal breast cancer for women with an A2455G base change in exon 7 of the polymorphic CYP1A1 gene (a member of the cytochrome P450 family) and high PCB levels, compared with women with two wild-type alleles and low PCB, based however on very few cases. Thus, the epidemiological evidence does not support the hypothesis of an association of environmental exposure to PCBs in adulthood in the general population and risk of breast cancer, although uncertainties remain for selected subgroups of women or individual PCB congeners. (C) 2003 Lippincott Williams Wilkins
Conservation of military heritage: the defensive wall of Cartegena de Indias, Colombia
No full textThe city of Cartagena de Indias (in the north of Colombia) boasts the largest and one of the most complete military defence systems of South America. Defined as ‘the Pearl of the Caribbean’ for its colonial characteristics and for its strategic location, it was the unquestioned leader in the routes of exploration of the West Indies. It is an example of the Italian and Spanish school of military engineering; it was conceived and designed by Battista Antonelli and built by his cousin Cristobal de Roda. Both of them contributed to the development of the system called ‘abaluartado’, typical of Central and South America, opening the ways to modern military systems. During 1700 reforms were enacted to strengthen the fortifications in Cartagena de Indias, which required significant changes to the characteristics of the walls. In 1966, the Spanish historian Juan Manuel Zapatero wrote a series of guidelines for the preservation of those walls. The walls have a simple and regular shape in which each block, with its geometric variation, forms the thickness of the wall, realized using a local stone called ‘caliza’; this stone is of coral origin and rich in water. The preservation of a monument is not just its own conservation, in recognition of its historical and cultural value or in the characterization of its degradation. A monument could be used by the people, with a new awareness, that will ensure the survival – over time – of the historical memory of the past, going over the logic of the ‘crystallization’ of the monument in a museum of itself
Critical review of economic evaluation studies of interventions promoting low-fat diets
No full textVarious national and local policies encouraging healthy eating have recently been proposed. This study aims to summarize and critically assess economic evaluation studies of direct (e.g., diet counseling) and indirect (e.g., food labeling) interventions aimed at improving dietary habits.
We performed a systematic literature review by searching three databases (PubMed, Ovid Medline, Embase) using a combination of diet-related (fat, diet, intake, nutrition) and economics-related (cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit, cost-utility, health economics, economic evaluation) keywords.
Our search yielded 38 studies. The studies varied in target populations (e.g., healthy or unhealthy subjects), study designs (e.g., modeling, experiments), economic evaluation methods and health/economic outcomes. In general, all provide limited experimental evidence and adopt the framework of economic evaluations in healthcare. Certain important aspects are not well considered: (i) the non-health-related effects of nutrition interventions on well-being; (ii) the private nature of food expenditures ; (iii) the distributional effects on food expenditures across socio-economic groups; and (iv) the general economic implications (e.g., agro-foods, import/export) of such interventions. Overall, the methodology for the economic evaluation of nutrition interventions should be substantially improved
Health implications of dietary habits in transition countries : a life course perspective
No full textGamma-hydroxybutyric acid: an evaluation of its rewarding properties in rats and mice
No full textGamma-hydroxybutyric acid, an endogenous compound present in mammalian brain and supposed to be a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator, has been shown to affect several aspects of dependence from some drugs of abuse. It has been successfully used in clinical practice to alleviate both alcohol and opiate withdrawal symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate whether gamma-hydroxybutyric acid possesses rc warding properties by means of conditioned place preference and intravenous self-administration paradigms. In the present study, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid induced conditioned place preference in rats, was intravenously self-administered by drug naive mice, and altered cocaine intravenous self-administration in rats. Although to date the physiological role of this compound still re mains unclear, there is no doubt that gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, in addition to its proved effect on alcohol and opiate dependence, possesses reinforcing properties of its own and may interfere with the neurochemical events in the rewarding effects produced by psychostimulant drugs. Our investigation points out the abuse: liability of this drug, suggesting the use of particular precaution in handling gamma-hydroxybutyric acid as a clinically useful drug. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights: reserved
Sulla stima del fattore colturale della USLE-MM per coperture forestali ad eucalitto
No full textIl fattore colturale C della Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) esprime l’efficacia antierosiva della copertura vegetale nei riguardi del suolo. Per il caso di terreni coltivati esso varia con la rotazione colturale, con le pratiche agronomiche, con il livello di produttività del suolo, con la durata delle varie fasi vegetative e con la distribuzione temporale delle precipitazioni. Nell’ambito di suoli caratterizzati da copertura forestale il fattore C risulta legato, oltre che alle precipitazioni, anche alla percentuale di suolo effettivamente coperto, alla presenza o meno di pascolo, alle pratiche selvicolturali (tagli), al verificarsi di danni a seguito di incendi o fitopatologie, all’eventuale attivazione di lavori preparatori agli impianti. La sua valutazione può essere comunque effettuata correttamente se si dispone di misure sperimentali di perdita di suolo e di un modello capace di interpretare sinteticamente il processo erosivo. Nella memoria, ipotizzata la validità dello schema USLE-MM, messo recentemente a punto per alcuni siti sperimentali italiani, è stato calcolato il fattore C corrispondente ad una copertura forestale ad eucalitto in un bacino sperimentale calabrese. L’indagine ha anzitutto messo in evidenza l’effetto di un intervento selvicolturale sulla variazione temporale di C e, più in generale, la dipendenza di tale fattore dalle caratteristiche di erosività della precipitazione
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