Acute effects of nitrate-rich beetroot juice on blood pressure, hemostasis and vascular inflammation markers in healthy older adults: A randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study

Aging is associated with a vasoconstrictive, pro-coagulant, and pro-inflammatory profile of arteries and a decline in the bioavailability of the endothelium-derived molecule nitric oxide. Dietary nitrate elicits vasodilatory, anti-coagulant and anti-inflammatory effects in younger individuals, but little is known about whether these benefits are evident in older adults. We investigated the effects of 140 mL of nitrate-rich (HI-NI; containing 12.9 mmol nitrate) versus nitrate-depleted beetroot juice (LO-NI; containing ≤0.04 mmol nitrate) on blood pressure, blood coagulation, vascular inflammation markers, plasma nitrate and nitrite before, and 3 h and 6 h after ingestion in healthy older adults (five males, seven females, mean age: 64 years, age range: 57–71 years) in a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Plasma nitrate and nitrite increased 3 and 6 h after HI-NI ingestion (p < 0.05). Systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure decreased 3 h relative to baseline after HI-NI ingestion only (p < 0.05). The number of blood monocyte-platelet aggregates decreased 3 h after HI-NI intake (p < 0.05), indicating reduced platelet activation. The number of blood CD11b-expressing granulocytes decreased 3 h following HI-NI beetroot juice intake (p < 0.05), suggesting a shift toward an anti-adhesive granulocyte phenotype. Numbers of blood CD14++CD16+ intermediate monocyte subtypes slightly increased 6 h after HI-NI beetroot juice ingestion (p < 0.05), but the clinical implications of this response are currently unclear. These findings provide new evidence for the acute effects of nitrate-rich beetroot juice on circulating immune cells and platelets. Further long-term research is warranted to determine if these effects reduce the risk of developing hypertension and vascular inflammation with aging

Assessing electronic device use behaviours in healthy adults: development and evaluation of a novel tool

This is the final version. Available on open access from BMC via the DOI in this recordAvailability of data and materials: The dataset supporting the conclusions of this article is available in the UQeSpace repository, https://doi.org/10.48610/61b97b1BACKGROUND: Chronic exposure of the macula to blue light from electronic devices has been identified as a potential macular health concern. The impacts remain poorly investigated as no validated methods to capture usual device use behaviours exist. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to develop and validate the Electronic Device Use Questionnaire (EDUQ) against multiple 24-h electronic device use diaries in healthy Australian and United Kingdom adults. METHODS: The EDUQ and diaries were developed to capture device use across categories (television, computer and handheld devices). Over eight weeks 56 Australian and 24 United Kingdom participants completed three questionnaires and eight diaries via online platforms. Tool validity was determined through Bland-Altman plot analysis of mean daily hours of device use between the tools. RESULTS: The EDUQ demonstrated poor validity in both cohorts with poor agreement when compared with the diaries. When the device categories were combined, a mean difference between the tools of 1.54 h/day, and 95% limits of agreement between -2.72 h/day and 5.80 h/day was observed in the Australian cohort. Across both cohorts and all device categories the mean differences indicated individuals were more likely to report higher device use through the questionnaire rather than diaries. CONCLUSIONS: The EDUQ is a novel tool and demonstrated the difficulty for participants of accurately recalling usual behaviour of device use. Poor agreement in reported device use occurred across all device categories. The poor agreement may be related to factors such as memory recall bias, and the number of diaries captured not being reflective of usual use. Future studies should look to address these factors to improve validity of device use capture.QUEX Institut

Building food composition tables: extraction methods to measure lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations in select Australian foods

This is the final version. Available on open access from Wiley via the DOI in this recordData availability statement: The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.The lutein and zeaxanthin (L/Z) in food composition tables has infrequently utilised methods optimised for L/Z and comprehensive data are absent, such as in Australia. These absences limit quality dietary intake research. This study investigated optimisation of extraction methods for lutein and zeaxanthin in five Australian foods analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography and photodiode array detection. The foods were broccoli, broccolini, baby spinach, baby orange capsicum, and dried goji berry. Twelve variations in extraction methods were investigated, including saponification, sonication, and solvent choice. L/Z concentrations differed by up to more than 125% between variations. Variation nine was best for all foods except zeaxanthin in broccoli where variation five or seven were best. The L/Z concentrations measured differed in Australian and United States data; existing data may therefore not be representative of the current food supply. Development of local Australian food composition data for lutein and zeaxanthin is warranted

Nice attack: Could it happen here?

Not an elaborate homemade bomb or a machine-gun rampage - the wicked gift of terrorism now is to turn the everyday instruments of modern society into tools of horror. Without diminishing the shock of the Bastille Day events, the terrorist's warning had been, sadly, plain to see

Euro Terrorism

Amid the pandemic and US election, Europe has been reeling from terror attacks in France and Austria, a stark reminder of pre-covid security issues

...on Nice attack and Turkish coup attempt

The Turkish government declares the situation as "largely under control" after dozens are killed during an attempted military coup in the country

Fears of terrorist merger from 'poison' in south-east Asia

Jakarta/Bangkok: A merger of terrorist groups pledging allegiance to Islamic State in the Philippines could signal a new threat to the region should radicals from Indonesia also join forces, according to an expert on violent extremism..

Microbiota and the nitrogen cycle: Implications in the development and progression of CVD and CKD

© 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with an increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD). One factor involved in CVD development is nitric oxide (NO), which acts as a powerful vasodilator. NO is produced via the nitrogen cycle, through the reduction of nitrate to nitrite with the process mainly occurring in the mouth by commensal microbiota. People with CKD have compromised microbiota (dysbiosis) with an increased abundance of potentially pathogenic and pro-inflammatory bacteria capable of producing uremic toxins that contribute to CKD development and reduce enzymatic NO production. However, to date, few studies have comprehensively documented the gut or saliva microbiota in the CKD population or investigated the role of NO in people with CKD. This review will discuss NO pathways that are linked to the progression of CKD and CVD and therapeutic options for targeting these pathways

Microbiota and the nitrogen cycle: Implications in the development and progression of CVD and CKD

© 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with an increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD). One factor involved in CVD development is nitric oxide (NO), which acts as a powerful vasodilator. NO is produced via the nitrogen cycle, through the reduction of nitrate to nitrite with the process mainly occurring in the mouth by commensal microbiota. People with CKD have compromised microbiota (dysbiosis) with an increased abundance of potentially pathogenic and pro-inflammatory bacteria capable of producing uremic toxins that contribute to CKD development and reduce enzymatic NO production. However, to date, few studies have comprehensively documented the gut or saliva microbiota in the CKD population or investigated the role of NO in people with CKD. This review will discuss NO pathways that are linked to the progression of CKD and CVD and therapeutic options for targeting these pathways