Treatment of cardiovascular risk factors to prevent cognitive decline and dementia: a systematic review

Suzanne A Ligthart1, Eric P Moll van Charante1, Willem A Van Gool2, Edo Richard21Department of General Practice, 2Department of Neurology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsBackground: Over the last decade, evidence has accumulated that vascular risk factors increase the risk of Alzheimer disease (AD). So far, few randomized controlled trials have focused on lowering the vascular risk profile to prevent or postpone cognitive decline or dementia.Objective: To systematically perform a review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating drug treatment effects for cardiovascular risk factors on the incidence of dementia or cognitive decline.Selection criteria: RCTs studying the effect of treating hypertension, dyslipidemia, ­hyperhomocysteinemia, obesity, or diabetes mellitus (DM) on cognitive decline or dementia, with a minimum follow-up of 1 year in elderly populations.Outcome measure: Cognitive decline or incident dementia.Main results: In the identified studies, dementia was never the primary outcome. Statins (2 studies) and intensified control of type II DM (1 study) appear to have no effect on prevention of cognitive decline. Studies on treatment of obesity are lacking, and the results of lowering homocysteine (6 studies) are inconclusive. There is some evidence of a preventive effect of antihypertensive medication (6 studies), but results are inconsistent.Conclusion: The evidence of a preventive treatment effect aimed at vascular risk factors on cognitive decline and dementia in later life is scarce and mostly based on secondary outcome parameters. Several important sources of bias such as differential dropout may importantly affect interpretation of trial results.Keywords: cardiovascular risk factors, cognitive decline, dementia, preventio

Branch&Rank: Non-Linear Object Detection

Branch&rank is an object detection scheme that overcomes the inherent limitation of branch&bound: this method works with arbitrary (classifier) functions whereas tight bounds exist only for simple functions. Objects are usually detected with less than 100 classifier evaluation, which paves the way for using strong (and thus costly) classifiers: We utilize non-linear SVMs with RBF- 2 kernels without a cascade-like approximation. Our approach features three key components: a ranking function that operates on sets of hypotheses and a grouping of these into different tasks. Detection efficiency results from adaptively sub-dividing the object search space into decreasingly smaller sets. This is inherited from branch&bound, while the ranking function supersedes a tight bound which is often unavailable (except for too simple function classes). The grouping makes the system effective: it separates image classification from object recognition, yet combines them in a single, structured SVM formulation. A novel aspect of branch&rank is that a better ranking function is expected to decrease the number of classifier calls during detection. We demonstrate the algorithmic properties using the VOC'07 dataset

Lysine blockage of milk proteins in infant formula impairs overall protein digestibility and peptide release

During heat processing of milk and dairy products, for example infant formula, the Maillard reaction occurs. In vitro and animal studies suggest that Maillard reaction induced lysine blockage impairs protein digestibility. Most studies that investigate the effect of glycation on protein digestion use a mixture of isolated milk protein with reducing sugars. In this study, infant formulas with 6.5%, 8.4%, 11.2%, 14.8%, 20.8%, and 44.5% of blocked lysine (BL) were digested in an in vitro infant digestion model and tested for protein hydrolysis and peptide release. OPA (o-phthalaldehyde) assay was used to assess the degree of protein hydrolysis. SDS-PAGE was conducted to monitor the hydrolysis of specific proteins. Peptides formed after gastric and intestinal digestion were identified by LC/MS. Protein hydrolysis of the 6.5% BL sample was significantly higher after 10 minutes of intestinal digestion compared to all other samples. Most differences were observed after intestinal digestion. A significant change in peptide patterns was observed for the 45% BL sample resulting in a relatively higher number of peptides with more than 14 amino acids. Mainly casein-derived peptides were affected. Overall, the average peptide length was significantly increased for the 44.5% BL glycated product (on average 10.2 amino acids for 6-21% BL vs. 11.4 amino acids for 45% BL; p < 0.001). In conclusion, glycation of milk proteins in an infant formula product can impair overall protein digestibility. These findings emphasize the importance of mild processing and having low BL levels in infant formula to ensure optimal digestion of proteins.</p

Monitoring mosselzaadinvang met het Pasmosnet op locatie Waddenzee 2006

EMERGO is een consortium van enkele vissers. Het consortium heeft in 2006 proeven uitgevoerd om een nieuwe manier van mosselzaadinvang te testen op verschillende percelen in de Waddenzee. Hierbij werd gebruik gemaakt van een speciaal ontwikkeld invangnet, het “Padmosnet”. Enerzijds werd door de ondernemer de commerciële mogelijkheden geëvalueerd (door het Consortium EMERGO.), anderzijds werd de invangcapaciteit en de invangefficiëntie en de groei-efficiëntie op de mosselnetten bepaald (Wageningen IMARES). De monitoring van de zaadinvang heeft zich in 2006 gericht op het effect van verschillende netdichtheden. Tevens worden observaties van de kweker gerapporteerd. Dit betreft (1) op de robuustheid en de werking van de Padmosnetten, (2) de oogst, (3) de visuele kenmerken van de invangsystemen, waarbij de landschappelijke effecten met behulp van foto’s in beeld zijn gebracht, en (4) de aanwezigheid van vogels en zeezoogdieren. Voor effecten op bodem en bodemfauna wordt gerefereerd aan het PRODUS project

Mass Spectrometry for Identification, Monitoring, and Minimal Residual Disease Detection of M-Proteins

BACKGROUND: Monoclonal gammopathies (MGs) are plasma cell disorders defined by the clonal expansion of plasma cells, resulting in the characteristic excretion of a monoclonal immunoglobulin (M-protein). M-protein detection and quantification are integral parts of the diagnosi

The importance of both setting and intensity of physical activity in relation to non-clinical anxiety and depression

Physical activity is associated with good physical and mental health. Current recommendations suggest that people should achieve 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity most days of the week to gain health benefits. This activity may be accumulated in leisure time, in active commuting, at work or in the home. Here we look at the cross-sectional relationship between physical activity and mental health as measured by the HADS anxiety and depression scores in a sample of 1,742 participants from a Scottish general population survey. The participants were men and women in three age cohorts aged around 24, 44 and 64 years who, in 1995, were interviewed face to face and also self-completed the HADS depression and anxiety scale. Respondents reported their levels of physical activity at work, in the home and in leisure time; the intensities of activity were also determined. Physical activity was related to depression scores but not to anxiety scores. There was no relationship between work physical activity and depression score. Among women, depression score increased with each additional episode of vigorous home activity. In both sexes, depression score decreased with each additional episode of vigorous leisure activity, but among men the decrease in depression score with moderate leisure activity was reversed if a lot of moderate activity was undertaken. We have found a variable relationship between depression scores and various settings for physical activity. Researchers, policymakers and practitioners who are interested in the relationship between physical activity and mental health should take into account the setting for activity as well as frequency, duration and intensity of activity