Perinatal Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Status and Obesity Risk

High obesity rates in almost all regions of the world prompt an urgent need for effective obesity prevention. Very good scientific evidence from cell culture and rodent studies show that the availability of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and their long-chain polyunsaturated derivatives, namely, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, influence adipogenesis; for this reason, early life status may influence later obesity risk. The respective PUFA effects could be mediated via their eicosanoid derivatives, their influence on cell membrane properties, the browning of white adipose tissue, changes to the offspring gut microbiome, their influence on developing regulatory circuits, and gene expression during critical periods. Randomized clinical trials and observational studies show divergent findings in humans, with mostly null findings but also the positive and negative effects of an increased n-3 to n-6 PUFA ratio on BMI and fat mass development. Hence, animal study findings cannot be directly extrapolated to humans. Even though the mechanistic data basis for the effects of n-3 PUFA on obesity risk appears promising, no recommendations for humans can be derived at present.

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Diploma Democracy

10.1093/oso/9780198790631.001.0001 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Mark Bovens ◽

Anchrit Wille

Keyword(s):

Political Parties ◽

Political Institutions ◽

Western Europe ◽

Educational Background ◽

University Graduates ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Organized Interests ◽

Political Office ◽

Political Meritocracy ◽

Almost All

Lay politics lies at the heart of democracy. Political offices are the only offices for which no formal qualifications are required. Contemporary political practices are diametrically opposed to this constitutional ideal. Most contemporary democracies in Western Europe are diploma democracies—ruled by those with the highest formal qualifications. Citizens with low or medium educational qualification levels currently make up about 70 per cent of the electorates, yet they have become virtually absent from almost all political arenas. University graduates have come to dominate all relevant political institutions and venues, from political parties, parliaments and cabinets, to organized interests, deliberative settings, and internet consultations. This rise of a political meritocracy is part of larger trend. In the information society, educational background, like class, or religion, is an important source of social and political divides. Those who are well educated tend to be cosmopolitans, whereas the lesser educated citizens are more likely to be nationalists. This book documents the context, contours, and consequences of this rise of a political meritocracy. It explores the domination of higher educated citizens in political participation, civil society, and political office in Western Europe. It discusses the consequences of this rise of political meritocracy, such as descriptive deficits, policy incongruences, biased standards, and cynicism and distrust. Also, it looks at ways to remedy, or at least mitigate, some of the negative effects of diploma democracy.

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An Emulation of Randomized Trials of Administrating Antipsychotics in PTSD Patients for Outcomes of Suicide-Related Events

Journal of Personalized Medicine ◽

10.3390/jpm11030178 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 178

Author(s):

Noah R. Delapaz ◽

William K. Hor ◽

Michael Gilbert ◽

Andrew D. La ◽

Feiran Liang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Randomized Clinical Trials ◽

Previous History ◽

Current Treatment ◽

Careful Consideration ◽

P Value ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Increased Risk ◽

History Of ◽

Almost All

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent mental disorder marked by psychological and behavioral changes. Currently, there is no consensus of preferred antipsychotics to be used for the treatment of PTSD. We aim to discover whether certain antipsychotics have decreased suicide risk in the PTSD population, as these patients may be at higher risk. A total of 38,807 patients were identified with a diagnosis of PTSD through the ICD9 or ICD10 codes from January 2004 to October 2019. An emulation of randomized clinical trials was conducted to compare the outcomes of suicide-related events (SREs) among PTSD patients who ever used one of eight individual antipsychotics after the diagnosis of PTSD. Exclusion criteria included patients with a history of SREs and a previous history of antipsychotic use within one year before enrollment. Eligible individuals were assigned to a treatment group according to the antipsychotic initiated and followed until stopping current treatment, switching to another same class of drugs, death, or loss to follow up. The primary outcome was to identify the frequency of SREs associated with each antipsychotic. SREs were defined as ideation, attempts, and death by suicide. Pooled logistic regression methods with the Firth option were conducted to compare two drugs for their outcomes using SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). The results were adjusted for baseline characteristics and post-baseline, time-varying confounders. A total of 5294 patients were eligible for enrollment with an average follow up of 7.86 months. A total of 157 SREs were recorded throughout this study. Lurasidone showed a statistically significant decrease in SREs when compared head to head to almost all the other antipsychotics: aripiprazole, haloperidol, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, and ziprasidone (p < 0.0001 and false discovery rate-adjusted p value < 0.0004). In addition, olanzapine was associated with higher SREs than quetiapine and risperidone, and ziprasidone was associated with higher SREs than risperidone. The results of this study suggest that certain antipsychotics may put individuals within the PTSD population at an increased risk of SREs, and that careful consideration may need to be taken when prescribed.

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Can Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Enhance Functionality in Older Adults? A Systematic Review

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10132981 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (13) ◽

pp. 2981

Author(s):

Andrés Pino-Esteban ◽

Álvaro Megía-García ◽

David Martín-Caro Álvarez ◽

Hector Beltran-Alacreu ◽

Juan Avendaño-Coy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Older Adults ◽

Direct Current ◽

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Randomized Clinical Trials ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Sham Stimulation ◽

Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Potential Benefits

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive, easy to administer, well-tolerated, and safe technique capable of affecting brain excitability, both at the cortical and cerebellum levels. However, its effectiveness has not been sufficiently assessed in all population segments or clinical applications. This systematic review aimed at compiling and summarizing the currently available scientific evidence about the effect of tDCS on functionality in older adults over 60 years of age. A search of databases was conducted to find randomized clinical trials that applied tDCS versus sham stimulation in the above-mentioned population. No limits were established in terms of date of publication. A total of 237 trials were found, of which 24 met the inclusion criteria. Finally, nine studies were analyzed, including 260 healthy subjects with average age between 61.0 and 85.8 years. Seven of the nine included studies reported superior improvements in functionality variables following the application of tDCS compared to sham stimulation. Anodal tDCS applied over the motor cortex may be an effective technique for improving balance and posture control in healthy older adults. However, further high-quality randomized controlled trials are required to determine the most effective protocols and to clarify potential benefits for older adults.

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Application of Hyperspectral Imaging in the Assessment of Drought and Salt Stress in Magneto-Primed Triticale Seeds

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10050835 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 835

Author(s):

Jose Alvarez ◽

Elvira Martinez ◽

Belén Diezma

Keyword(s):

Salt Stress ◽

Hyperspectral Imaging ◽

Human Observer ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Stress Symptoms ◽

Data Variability ◽

Drought And Salt Stress ◽

The One ◽

Almost All ◽

Germination Parameters

Hyperspectral imaging is an appropriate method to thoroughly investigate the microscopic structure of internally heterogeneous agro-food products. By using hyperspectral technology, identifying stress symptoms associated with salinity, before a human observer, is possible, and has obvious benefits. The objective of this paper was to prove the suitability of this technique for the analysis of Triticale seeds subjected to both magneto-priming and drought and salt stress conditions, in terms of image differences obtained among treatments. It is known that, on the one hand, drought and salt stress treatments have negative effects on seeds of almost all species, and on the other hand, magneto-priming enhances seed germination parameters. Thus, this study aimed to relate hyperspectral imaging values—neither positive nor negative in themselves—to the effects mentioned above. Two main conclusions were reached: Firstly, the hyperspectral application is a feasible method for exploring the Triticale structure and for making distinctions under different drought and salt stress treatments, in line with the data variability obtained. Secondly, the lower spectral reflectance in some treatments—in the 400–1000 nm segment—is the result of a great number of chemical compounds in the seed that could be related to magneto-priming.

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Advertisements for Medicines in Leading Medical Journals in 18 Countries: A 12-Month Survey of Information Content and Standards

International Journal of Health Services ◽

10.2190/1ak2-x8cx-qq9e-f6ed ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 161-172 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Andrew Herxheimer ◽

Cecilia Stålsby Lundborg ◽

Barbro Westerholm

Keyword(s):

Information Content ◽

Medical Information ◽

Industrialized Countries ◽

Brand Name ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Medical Journals ◽

National Medical ◽

Ethical Criteria ◽

Almost All ◽

Medicinal Drug

The information content of 6,710 advertisements for medicines in medical journals was surveyed to provide a baseline for monitoring the effect of WHO's Ethical Criteria for Medicinal Drug Promotion. The advertisements (ads) appeared during 12 months (1987–1988) in 23 leading national medical journals in 18 countries. Local participants, mostly doctors or pharmacists, examined them. The presence or absence in each ad of important information was noted. In most ads the generic name appeared in smaller type than the brand name. Indications were mentioned more often than the negative effects of medicines. The ads gave less pharmacological than medical information. However, important warnings and precautions were missing in half, and side effects and contraindications in about 40 percent. Prices tended to be given only in countries where a social security system pays for the medicines. The information content of ads in the developing countries differed surprisingly little from that in the industrialized countries. Almost all the ads (96 percent) included one or more pictures; 58 percent of these were considered irrelevant. The authors believe it is a mistake to regard ads as trivial. If they are not considered seriously they will influence the use of medicines as they are intended to do, but read critically they can provide useful information.

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Supplementation with High Doses of Vitamin D to Subjects without Vitamin D Deficiency May Have Negative Effects: Pooled Data from Four Intervention Trials in Tromsø

ISRN Endocrinology ◽

10.1155/2013/348705 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Rolf Jorde ◽

Moira Strand Hutchinson ◽

Marie Kjærgaard ◽

Monica Sneve ◽

Guri Grimnes

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Vitamin D Deficiency ◽

Serum Lipids ◽

Randomized Clinical Trials ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Vitamin D Supplementation ◽

High Dose ◽

Negative Effects ◽

The Mean ◽

Hs Crp

Data were pooled from four randomized clinical trials with vitamin D performed in Tromsø with weight reduction, insulin sensitivity, bone density, and depression scores as endpoints. Serum lipids, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein, (HS-CRP) were measured at baseline and after 6–12 months of supplementation with vitamin D 20 000 IU–40 000 IU per week versus placebo. A total of 928 subjects who completed the interventions were included. At baseline the mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level in those given vitamin D was 55.9 (20.9) nmol/L and the mean increase was 82.4 (40.1) nmol/L. Compared with the placebo group there was in the vitamin D group at the end of the studies a slight, but significant, increase in HbA1c of 0.04%, an increase in HS-CRP of 0.07 mg/L in those with serum 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L, and in those with low baseline HDL-C and serum 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L a slight decrease serum HDL-C of 0.08 mmol/L (P<0.05). No serious side-effects were seen. In conclusion, in subjects without vitamin D deficiency, there is no improvement in serum lipids, HbA1c, or HS-CRP with high dose vitamin D supplementation. If anything, the effect is negative.

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Medicinal Plants Used for the Traditional Management of Diabetes in the Eastern Cape, South Africa: Pharmacology and Toxicology

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules23112759 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (11) ◽

pp. 2759 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Samuel Odeyemi ◽

Graeme Bradley

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Medicinal Plants ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Traditional Healers ◽

Bioactive Molecules ◽

Eastern Cape ◽

Insulin Mimetic ◽

Almost All

The use of medicinal plants for the management of diabetes mellitus is on the rise in the developing countries, including South Africa. There is increasing scientific evidence that supports the claims by the traditional healers. In this review, we compare the families of previously reported anti-diabetic plants in the Eastern Cape by rating the anti-diabetic activity, mode of action and also highlight their therapeutic potentials based on the available evidence on their pharmacology and toxicity. Forty-five plants mentioned in ethnobotanical surveys were subjected to a comprehensive literature search in the available electronic databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar and Elsevier, by using “plant name” and “family” as the keywords for the primary searches to determine the plants that have been scientifically investigated for anti-diabetic activity. The search returned 25 families with Asteraceae highly reported, followed by Asphodelaceae and Alliaceae. Most of the plants have been studied for their anti-diabetic potentials in vivo and/or in vitro, with most of the plants having a higher percentage of insulin release and inhibition against carbohydrate digesting enzymes as compared with insulin mimetic and peripheral glucose uptake. Almost all the investigated plants also inhibit oxidative stress as part of their hypoglycemic activity with less toxicity. However, the isolation of their bioactive molecules is still lacking. This review provides a resource to enable thorough assessments of the therapeutic profiles of available medicinal plants used for the management of diabetes in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Further studies such as the identification of the active ingredients of potent plants still need to be carried out; this may lead to new molecules in drug discovery and development.

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The effect of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone blockers on SARS-CoV-2 infection in adults: a systematic review of studies and meta-analyzes

Medical Council ◽

10.21518/2079-701x-2021-4-26-33 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 26-33

Author(s):

М. V. Leonova

Keyword(s):

Cohort Studies ◽

Randomized Clinical Trials ◽

Ace Inhibitor ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Renin Angiotensin ◽

Risk Of Death ◽

Risk Of Mortality ◽

Duration Of Hospitalization ◽

Severity Of The Disease

The article discusses the role of immune dysregulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 infection, the participation of ACE2 for the penetration of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus into cells and the possible role of RAAS blockers, which have a direct effect on the pathological activity of the RAAS, in the development of and the severity of the disease. It is noted that the beneficial organoprotective effects of ACE inhibitors and ARBs may protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection, and their withdrawal may lead to clinical decompensation in patients at high risk of cardiovascular risk. Since then, a number of observational cohort studies have been carried out to address the main questions: does the use of an ACE inhibitor or ARB increase the risk of contracting the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, and whether the use of RAAS blockers is associated with worse outcomes of COVID-19 disease. The article provides an overview of the scientific evidence on the relationship between the use of RASS blockers and COVID-19 infection. Several cohort studies and two meta-analyzes found no association between prior use of an ACE inhibitor/ARB and the risk of COVID-19 infection (RR 0.96–0.99). In studies on the study of clinical and laboratory features of the action of RAAS blockers in COVID-19, a significantly larger number of subpopulations of T-lymphocytes CD3+ and CD8+, lower concentrations of biomarkers (C-reactive protein, ferritin, IL-6, procalcitonin), as well as a lower viral load. In clinical outcomes, with the use of an ACE inhibitor/ARB, there was a lower incidence of severe/critical forms, and a shorter duration of hospitalization. In large cohort studies with >1000 patients, the use of an ACE inhibitor/ARB was not associated with an increase in the risk of death in patients with COVID-19 (RR < 1.0), and some studies showed a 37–67% decrease in RR. Meta-analyzes also confirmed the absence of the effect of RAAS blockers on the risk of mortality, and in the population of patients with hypertension, a significant reduction in the risk of mortality and severe course of COVID-19 was revealed. Most international associations of specialists, as well as the Russian Cardiological Society, are recommended to continue the use of RAAS blockers in patients with cardiovascular diseases and not to be canceled in case of COVID-19 disease. Further randomized clinical trials are needed to generate new evidence.

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A semi-dominant mutation in OsCESA9 improves biomass enzymatic digestibility and salt tolerance by relatively remodeling cell walls in rice

10.21203/rs.3.rs-63488/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Yafeng Ye ◽

Shuoxun Wang ◽

Kun Wu ◽

Yan Ren ◽

Hongrui Jiang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Salt Tolerance ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Rice Straw ◽

Enzymatic Saccharification ◽

Cellulose Content ◽

Normal Plant ◽

Wild Type ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Straw Return ◽

Almost All

Abstract Background: Cellulose synthase (CESA) mutants have potential use in straw processing due to their lower cellulose content, but almost all of the mutants exhibit defective phenotypes in plant growth and development. Balancing normal plant growth with reduced cellulose content remains a challenge, as cellulose content and normal plant growth are typically negatively correlated with one another. Result: Here, the rice (Oryza sativa) semi-dominant brittle culm (sdbc) mutant Sdbc1, which harbors a substitution (D387N) at the first conserved aspartic acid residue of OsCESA9, exhibits lower cellulose content and reduced secondary wall thickness as well as enhanced biomass enzymatic saccharification compared with the wild type (WT). Further experiments indicated that the OsCESA9D387N mutation may compete with the wild-type OsCESA9 for interacting with OsCESA4 and OsCESA7, further forming non-functional or partially functional CSCs. The OsCESA9/OsCESA9D387N heterozygous plants increase salt tolerance through scavenging and detoxification of ROS and indirectly affecting related gene expression. They also improve rice straw return to the field due to their brittle culms and lower cellulose content without any negative effects in grain yield and lodging. Conclusion: Hence, manipulation of OsCESA9D387N can provide the perspective of the rice straw for biofuels and bioproducts due to its improved enzymatic saccharification.

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Religion, Moral and Modernisation of Urban Society: A Study on the Roles of Religion in Youth Development in Lampung, Republic of Indonesia

Asian Social Science and Humanities Research Journal (ASHREJ) ◽

10.37698/ashrej.v2i2.47 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 109-116

Author(s):

Suhandi ◽

Azhar Jaafar

Keyword(s):

Youth Development ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Reduction Process ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Process Data ◽

The People ◽

Negative Impacts ◽

Multi Access ◽

Almost All ◽

Role Of Religion

Modernisation is the consequence of the demands of the development that brings negative impacts to the society. It is undeniable that modernization also brings abundance of positive impacts that ease the life of people and that modernization and humanization cannot be separated. In this context, the youth are considered as unstable being, who easily being controlled by multi-access communication technology; from social, fashion, behaviour, lifestyle, and ideology. Almost all of the damaging sides of technology affect the youth. Religion as the spiritual agent has a major role in combating this change in the society. Religion can act as the social control to hinder from immoral behaviour and worthless actions among the society. The main issue in the current study is to investigate the role of religion in strengthening the moral among the teenagers. This research was conducted by using qualitative method. Data were collected through observation, interview and documentation. The participants of this research were the people of the rural areas in Bandar Lampung. After data collection was carried out, the data were processed qualitatively using the data reduction process, data exposure, and data verification. To conclude, the existence of the negative effects of modernization resulted from lack of religious virtues and parents’ control over their children’s social behaviour.

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