If Mediterranean Diet Could Slow Atherosclerosis Progression, Could Specific Herbal Supplement Achieve the Same?

Dietary Control has been emphasized as an important means to prevent the development of atherosclerosis. It is a form belief without scientific evidence until the early report of the Study on Coronary Diet Intervention with olive oil and Cardiovascular Prevention (CODIOPREV Study on Mediterranean Diet). The current study is using Surrogate market IMT as the objective indicator, to compare the CORDIOPREV volunteers with known cardiovascular disease, which have demonstrated objective reduction in IMT thickness after 5 to 7 years of Mediterranean diet consumption. A study done in Hong Kong since 2003 using a simple twin herb formula for the prevention of progress of atherosclerosis in 4 different groups of patients with cardiovascular diseases, and using the same surrogate marker IMT as the objective indicator, showed comparable results within a much shorter period of 6-12 months. Extensive laboratory tests have also been completed to verify the bioactivities of the twin herb formula on anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, endothelial protection and regenerative capacity related to atherosclerosis. It is suggested that before more potent therapeutic measures become available to slow atherosclerosis progression are available. The purpose of the paper is to compare the Mediterranean Diet for long term consumption and selective herbal preparations for shorter term or intermittent scheduled intake, and recommend to high-risk individuals.

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy of an App-Based Meditation Intervention to Improve Firefighter Well-Being During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Firefighters are often exposed to occupational stressors that can result in psychological distress. These occupational stressors have only intensified with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and will likely persist in the post-pandemic world. OBJECTIVE To address occupational stressors confronting firefighters and to improve their well-being, we pilot tested a novel, cost-effective smartphone-based meditation intervention created by Healthy Minds Innovations (Madison, WI) that focused on trainings in mindfulness (awareness) along with practices designed to cultivate positive relationships (connection), insight into the nature of the self (insight), as well as sense of purpose in the context of challenge (purpose) with a sample of professional firefighters from a large metropolitan area in the southwestern United States. METHODS Participants (N = 35) completed the self-guided, 10-unit meditation app over the course of 10 days, with one unit per day. We assessed several aspects of psychological well-being (anxiety, depression, burnout, and negative affect) and an objective indicator of stress-related biology, saliva diurnal cortisol rhythm, before and after use of the meditation app. RESULTS The study demonstrated the meditation app was both feasible and acceptable for use with firefighters. We also found significant reductions in firefighters’ anxiety, burnout, and negative affect, as well as changes in cortisol diurnal rhythm from before to after use of the meditation app. CONCLUSIONS Findings support future research to demonstrate efficacy of this meditation app to improve firefighter well-being.

The Emblems of Sleep Societies in Asia and the Republic of Korea

An emblem is a symbolic representational image that stands for a certain organization, concept, team, or society. This study investigated the emblems of the sleep societies in South Korea and the international sleep societies in which they were registered as members. Three South Korean sleep societies were found by searching for the keyword ‘sleep’ in the Korea Citation Index. Subsequently, we identified three international societies in which the three South Korean conferences participate. The emblems can be classified according to their composition. Taegeuk patterns represent yin and yang, electroencephalography that stands for the objective indicator of sleep, and the acronym or abbreviation indicating the name of the society. All emblems in this study were combinations of pictorial images and letters. The pictorial image of the Korean Sleep Research Society is the only emblem representing an inset with Hangeul. The emblem is a medium that conveys diverse meanings beyond representation. The societies have attempted to embody the identity as well as their directions.

Assessment of retinal photosensitivity as an objective indicator of expression psychodense effect

BACKGROUND: The retina of the eye, with its wide range of neurotransmitter systems, can be the point of application in the action of the psychotropic drugs, given their synaptotropic properties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this regard, a complex of studies was carried out with the participation of volunteers to assess the effect of psychotropic substances with a depressing (melatonin, grandaxin, motherwort tincture) type of action on the functional state of the retina, registered by the campimetric method. In the course of the research, the photosensitivity of the retina and its ability to distinguish colors were evaluated. Moreover, the capabilities of the technique made it possible to assess retinal activity in the field of view from 0 to 21. Such an approach can not only demonstrate the interest of retinal cellular elements in the action of substances, but also raise the question of the participation of the visual system in the psychopharmacological effect more broadly. RESULTS: The work of the visual apparatus was studied both in healthy volunteers of different ages and in persons with emotional disorders, which were identified using special questionnaire tests. It was found that violations of the emotional status are often accompanied by a limitation of the photosensitivity of the retina of varying severity. These facts can be interpreted in different ways. On the one hand, violations of visual functions can lead to psychoemotional disorders and be a pathogenetic link in their development, and on the other hand, primary disorders of retinal light and color sensitivity can provoke the development of psychopathology. However, regardless of the pharmacological characteristics of the studied drugs with psychodeprimating activity, the connection between their anti-anxiety effect and changes in visual function seems to be obvious, which allows us to raise the question of the advisability of taking into account the photosensitivity of the retina for a comprehensive assessment of both the mental state of emotionally labile subjects and the pharmacodynamics of psychodemitting drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, it is legitimate to conclude that taking into account the light and color sensitivity of the retina can be one of the quantitative criteria for the severity and effectiveness of psychopharmacotherapy.

Tracking excess mortality across countries during the COVID-19 pandemic with the World Mortality Dataset

Comparing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic between countries or across time is difficult because the reported numbers of cases and deaths can be strongly affected by testing capacity and reporting policy. Excess mortality, defined as the increase in all-cause mortality relative to the expected mortality, is widely considered as a more objective indicator of the COVID-19 death toll. However, there has been no global, frequently-updated repository of the all-cause mortality data across countries. To fill this gap, we have collected weekly, monthly, or quarterly all-cause mortality data from 94 countries and territories, openly available as the regularly-updated World Mortality Dataset. We used this dataset to compute the excess mortality in each country during the COVID-19 pandemic. We found that in several worst-affected countries (Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Mexico) the excess mortality was above 50% of the expected annual mortality. At the same time, in several other countries (Australia, New Zealand) mortality during the pandemic was below the usual level, presumably due to social distancing measures decreasing the non-COVID infectious mortality. Furthermore, we found that while many countries have been reporting the COVID-19 deaths very accurately, some countries have been substantially underreporting their COVID-19 deaths (e.g. Nicaragua, Russia, Uzbekistan), sometimes by two orders of magnitude (Tajikistan). Our results highlight the importance of open and rapid all-cause mortality reporting for pandemic monitoring.

Wool productivity and marketable properties of sheepskins of the new domestic dual-purpose sheep breed – Russian meat merino

The results of a comprehensive assessment of the runes and morphological studies of the skin and wool coat of a new breed of Russian meat merino in comparison with domestic breeds Manych merino and Stavropol breed have been presented in the article. The detailed characteristics and description of the main properties of the coat and histological studies of the skin have been given. The results of the research have shown that stud rams and ewes of Russian meat merino breed have had an advantage over the domestic Manych merino and Stavropol sheep breeds in terms of wool clip and yield of pure wool, respectively, by 48,8; 79,4 and 3,6; 16,0 %, and 62,3–68,1 %. The fiber fineness on the body side of rams and ewes of Russian meat merino breed was in the range of 20,5 and 19,1 microns (70 q), while in rams and ewes of Manych merino and Stavropol breed these fluctuations were 20,7–21,8 microns (64 q). It should be noted that according to the 100-point scale of the comprehensive assessment of the rune all animals of Russian meat merino breed groups were rated “excellent” (more than 95 points). The study of the commercial properties of Russian meat merino sheepskins has shown the superiority in weight of paired sheepskins and their area over rams and ewes of Manych merino, respectively, by 24,3; 38,1 and 1,8; 5,8 %. Over the animals of Stavropol breed the superiority was 8,3; 9,8 and 3,8; 5,4 %. In terms of the thickness of the leather fabric, unprocessed sheepskins of Russian meat merino breed exceeded the indicators of rams and ewes of Manych merino by 26,7 and 19,3 %, and rams and ewes of Stavropol breed by 8,6 and 12,1 %, respectively. The ratio of the pilar layer of the skin to the reticular layer in Russian meat merino breed was less by 0,8-0,11 and 0,13-0,32 units, which indicates the superior strength of the skin tissue. The ratio of secondary hair follicles to primary ones is the most objective indicator of wool productivity. So, in animals of Russian meat merino breed this ratio is higher than in the Manych merino and Stavropol breed by 1,0 or 9,3 % and 1,2 or 11,3 % in rams, and 0,9 or 10,1 % and 1,7 or 20,9 % in ewes, respectively.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FUNCTIONAL STATE OF THE MAXILLODENTAL SYSTEM ACCORDING TO THE ANALYSIS OF BIOELECTRICAL ACTIVITY OF MUSCLES IN PATIENTS WITH ASSOCIATED OCCLUSAL ABNORMALITIES WHICH REQUIRE COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT

Malocclusions that have not been eliminated in time can cause complications such as periodontal diseases, TMJ and muscle dysfunctions.An objective indicator of functional disorders is the change of bioelectrical activity of masticatory muscles. The aim of our study was to estimate thefunctional state of maxillodental system in order to develop the individualized treatment and achievement of high functional and aestheticoptimum in patients with associated occlusal abnormalities who need complex treatment. All examined patients had deviations of the averageamplitude of bioelectrical activity of muscles, asymmetry in muscle function, bursts of spontaneous bioelectrical activity at rest, chewing cyclefragmentations, changes in rest and activity ratio during chewing. One of the most important criteria for the transition to the next stage of treatment isnormalization of bioelectrical activity of the muscles. Such approach allows to achieve stable and long-lasting functional results of the treatment.

Fewer Annual Deaths in Japan with Negative Excess Mortality for COVID-19

The excess mortality would be adequate objective indicator for COVID-19 research, and was reported in 77 countries for 2020. Several representative data are: United States 420,000, Mexico 270,000, Russia 270,000, Brazil 170,000, Japan -15,000, Taiwan -4,800, Australia -4,700 and New Zealand -2,100. From demographics in Japan, the number of deaths increased by 18 thousand each year during 2015-2019. However, death in 2020 decreased by 9,373 from 2019, which indicated 27 thousand difference. A meaningful perspective showed that focusing on human life saves the economy. Future crucial factors would be new ways of working with the ability of human resources.

Role of O-polysaccharide antigen made from B. melitensis in the differential diagnosis of brucellosis in small ruminants

Out of 2942 blood serum samples from small ruminants of 10 flocks with a natural course of brucellosis caused by B. melitensis, 322 samples reacted with both antigens in the RID, of which 90 samples only with the O-PS M antigen (from B. melitensis), only with O-PS A-antigen (from B. abortus) reactive was not revealed. In healthy sheep immunized against brucellosis with the vaccine from strain 19 according to different schemes, only the O-PS M antigen was not found to react. Reaction with O-PS A- and M-antigens was observed in animals that were immunized twice subcutaneously at a dose of 40 billion mc. - after 2 months. after revaccination (60%), as well as in those reimmunized conjunctivally at a dose of 4 billion mc. according to the background of primary immunization subcutaneously at a dose of 40 billion mc. (10%) In animals immunized once or twice conjunctivally, reacting in RID with both antigens was not detected. Out of 2432 blood serum samples of small ruminants, 10 flocks with a brucellosis problem immunized against brucellosis with a vaccine from B.abortus strain 19 according to different schemes, 151 samples (6.2%) reacted positively with both O-PS antigens in RID with both O-PS antigens, of which only 86 samples (56.9%) reacted with O-PS M-antigen. The prevalence of indications of RID with O-PS M-antigen over RID with O-PS A-antigen (O-PS antigen made from Brucellae abortus) in small ruminants in one or another flock is characteristic of infection caused by brucellae melitensis at least in the absence, at least in the presence of the fact of immunization with a vaccine from the B. abortus 19 strain. RID with O-PS M-antigen is an objective indicator of epizootic danger and is able to differentiate brucellosis (B. melitensis) in small ruminants from vaccination-induced reactions (B. abortus 19).

Pituitary Deformation in High Altitude Immigrants and the Correlation with Headache：A Preliminary Study.

Aim: To investigate pituitary gland deformation (PGD) in high altitude (HA) immigrants and determine if a correlation exists between PGD with headache and the ratio of brain volume to total intracranial volume (BV/TIV), and to investigate whether PGD can be used as an objective indicator of headache in HA immigrants.Methods: A total of 34 male HA immigrants and 60 age- and gender-matched sea-level (SL) residents were enrolled in this study. 3D T1 weighted brain MRI scans and headache scales were acquired. HA participants were classified into headache positive (HA[+]) and headache negative (HA[-]) subgroups. PGD was graded visually on mid-sagittal images of the pituitary gland. All continuous variables and categorical variables were compared using Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney test and the χ2 or Fisher exact tests, respectively. Kendall's tau rank correlation coefficient and Spearman’s rho were used to investigate the relationship between PGD and headache or BV/TIV, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate whether PGD can be used as an objective indicator of headache in HA immigrants.Results: A higher proportion of HA participants had PGD (54.8%) than SL residents (23.3%) (p=0.005). The proportion of HA(-) participants with PGD (68.2%) was higher than that of HA(+) participants (22.2%) (p=0.044). PGD was negatively correlated with headache (Kendall's tau=-0.323, p=0.0097) and positively correlated with BV/TIV (r=0.454, p=0.010). The presence of PGD was an indicator of headache in HA immigrants (area under the ROC curve=0.712, p= 0.038, sensitivity=0.778, specificity=0.682). Conclusion: A greater proportion of HA immigrants had PGD, which is an adaptation to chronically altered ICP or compliance. The presence of PGD indicated a restoration of spatial compensatory capacity and compliance of intracranial system, leading to headache relief. PGD is a potential indicator of headache in HA immigrants.