Nutritional Ergogenic Aids: The Influences of Carbohydrate-Protein Supplementation During Endurance Exercise

Mixed results, in terms of performance benefits, have been found when comparing carbohydrate (CHO) and carbohydrate-protein (CHO-P) supplementation during endurance exercise. Thus this study assessed performance from three different supplements (CHO-P, CHO, double carbohydrate [CHO-CHO]) as compared to a placebo (PLA) during a time trial (TT) run. Twelve male recreational runners (age = 32.4 ± 9.5 yrs; body mass index [BMI] = 22.7 ± 1.5 kg/m2; VO2max = 59.68 ± 7.53 mL/kg body weight; 100% white) individually completed four, 12-mile TT runs, 7-10 days apart, at about 75% of the their race pace. Dietary and physical activity consistency within the 24-hour time period prior to each run was controlled via individualized diet and activity prescriptions based off of the diet consumed and the physical activity engaged in prior to TT 1. Throughout each TT run, participants consumed a 600 mL load of one of the four aforementioned supplements. Supplement order was counterbalanced with a latin-square design. Endurance performance was measured by time to complete the 12-mile run, and time to complete the last 1.2 miles of the run, where participants were instructed to run at maximal effort, 100% race pace. A main effect of time occurred during the TTs for perceived exertion (RPE) and heart rate (HR). RPE (Borge 10-point scale) significantly increased from the mid-point of the TT to completion of the run (4.7 ± 0.7, 9.7 ± 0.9, p \u3c 0.001); HR significantly increased from the start of the run to the start of the maximal effort, and was significantly higher at completion of the effort (84.4 ± 14.5 bpm, 166.0 ± 8.3 bpm, 178.8 ± 7.4 bpm, p \u3c 0.001). No significant difference was found in overall time to complete the 12-mile run or maximal effort between the supplements (PLA = 88.6 ± 11.6 min, CHO = 89.1 ± 11.3 min, CHO-P = 89.1 ± 11.8 min, CHO-CHO = 89.6 ± 11.9 min; PLA = 8.3 ± 1.2 min, CHO = 8.2 ± 1.2 min, CHO-P = 8.2 ± 1.2 min, CHO-CHO = 8.4 ± 1.5 min). These findings suggest that type of supplementation (CHO, CHO-CHO, CHO-P) consumed during an endurance exercise bout has no influence on enhancing endurance performance in male recreational runners during TT runs less than 100 minutes in length

ADP-heptose enables Helicobacter pylori to exploit macrophages as a survival niche by suppressing antigen-presenting HLA-II expression

The persistence of Helicobacter pylori in the human gastric mucosa implies that the immune response fails to clear the infection. We found that H. pylori compromises the antigen presentation ability of macrophages, because of the decline of the presenting molecules HLA-II. Here, we reveal that the main bacterial factor responsible for this effect is ADP-heptose, an intermediate metabolite in the biosynthetic pathway of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) that elicits a pro-inflammatory response in gastric epithelial cells. In macrophages, it upregulates the expression of miR146b which, in turn, would downmodulate CIITA, the master regulator for HLA-II genes. Hence, H. pylori, utilizing ADP-heptose, exploits a specific arm of macrophage response to establish its survival niche in the face of the immune defense elicited in the gastric mucosa

Dysbiosis Triggers ACF Development in Genetically Predisposed Subjects

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide, characterized by a multifactorial etiology including genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors including microbiota composition. To address the role of microbial modulation in CRC, we used our recently established mouse model (the Winnie-APCMin/+) combining inflammation and genetics.Methods: Gut microbiota profiling was performed on 8-week-old Winnie-APCMin/+ mice and their littermates by 16S rDNA gene amplicon sequencing. Moreover, to study the impact of dysbiosis induced by the mother's genetics in ACF development, the large intestines of APCMin/+ mice born from wild type mice were investigated by histological analysis at 8 weeks.Results: ACF development in 8-week-old Winnie-APCMin/+mice was triggered by dysbiosis. Specifically, the onset of ACF in genetically predisposed mice may result from dysbiotic signatures in the gastrointestinal tract of the breeders. Additionally, fecal transplant from Winnie donors to APCMin/+ hosts leads to an increased rate of ACF development.Conclusions: The characterization of microbiota profiling supporting CRC development in genetically predisposed mice could help to design therapeutic strategies to prevent dysbiosis. The application of these strategies in mothers during pregnancy and lactation could also reduce the CRC risk in the offspring

Detecção de desvios de qualidade nos medicamentos manipulados: solução de ácido acético, xarope de cetoconazol e cápsulas de hormônio tireoidiano T4

Introdução: Doses incorretas do ativo nas preparações magistrais configuram erros comuns na manipulação, podendo ocasionar agravos à saúde do paciente, refletindo possível ausência das Boas Práticas de Manipulação (BPM). Objetivo: Relatar desvios de qualidade nos medicamentos solução de ácido acético, xarope de cetoconazol e cápsulas de T4. Método: Identificação por reações químicas e por CLAE, teor por titulação e CLAE, pH por potenciometria. Resultados: Identificação positiva, para ácido acético com teor de 98,20% compatível com ácido acético glacial, em desacordo com a prescrição de solução a 5%. O teor de cetoconazol de 16,20 mg/mL encontrado no xarope corresponde a 81,00% do declarado, com especificação mínima de 90,00%; pH 8,0; identificação positiva para tensoativo aniônico componente saponáceo, no xarope. Os resultados encontrados: cápsulas de T4 de 25 μg foi de 177,70 μg e as de 200 μg foi de 174,44 μg, correspondendo a 710,96% e 87,22% do teor declarado, respectivamente, em desacordo com a especificação de 90,00% a 110,00%. Conclusões: O trabalho ilustrou a detecção de desvios de qualidade em medicamentos manipulados de diferentes farmácias, decorrentes de erros farmacotécnicos, ausência de controle de qualidade e falta de implementação das BPM. A frequente fiscalização previne riscos sanitários à população

Development and validation of an art-inspired multimodal interactive technology system for a multi-component intervention for older people: a pilot study

IntroductionThe World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledges the presence of a significant body of research on the positive effects of the arts on health, considering a variety of factors including physical well-being, quality of life, and social and community impact. The model that underlies cultural welfare puts the performing arts, visual arts, and cultural heritage at the service of people personal and societal well-being. The potential connections between movements of the body and artistic content have been extensively studied over time, considering movement as a non-verbal language with a universal character.MethodsThis pilot study presents the results of the validation of an innovative multimodal system, the DanzArTe-Emotional Wellbeing Technology, designed to support active and participative experience of older people providing physical and cognitive activation through a full-body physical interaction with a traditional visual work of art of religious subject. DanzArTe supports a replicable treatment protocol for multidimensional frailty, administered through a low cost and scalable technological platform capable of generating real-time visual and auditory feedback (interactive sonification) from the automated analysis of individual as well as joint movement expressive qualities. The study involved 45 participants, 23 of whom participated in the DanzArTe program and 22 who were included in the control group.ResultsThe two groups were similar in terms of age (p = 0.465) and gender (p = 0.683). The results showed that the DanzArTe program had a positive impact on participants' self-perceived psychological health and well-being (Mean Psychological General Well-Being Index—Short T1 = 19.6 ± 4.3 Vs. T2 = 20.8 ± 4.9; p = 0.029). The same trend was not observed in the control group (p = 0.389).DiscussionThe findings suggest that such programs may have a significant impact particularly on the mental and social well-being of older adults and could be a valuable tool for promoting healthy aging and improving quality of life

Effectiveness of third-class biologic treatment in crohn’s disease : A multi-center retrospective cohort study

Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Background: Multiple studies have described the effectiveness of ustekinumab (UST) and vedolizumab (VDZ) in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) failing anti-Tumor necrosis factors (TNFs); however, the effectiveness of VDZ or UST as a third-class biologic has not yet been described. Aims and Methods: In this retrospective multicenter cohort study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of VDZ and UST as a third-class biologic in patients with CD. Results: Two-hundred and four patients were included; 156/204 (76%) patients received VDZ as a second-and UST as a third-class therapy (group A); the remaining 48/204 (24%) patients received UST as a second-and VDZ as a third-class therapy (group B). At week 16–22, 87/156 (55.5%) patients and 27/48 (56.2%) in groups A and B, respectively, responded to treatment (p = 0.9); 41/156 (26.2%) and 15/48 (31.2%) were in clinical remission (p = 0.5). At week 52; 89/103 (86%) patients and 25/29 (86.2%) of the patients with available data had responded to third-class treatment in groups A and B, respectively (p = 0.9); 31/103 (30%) and 47/29 (24.1%) were in clinical remission (p = 0.5). Conclusion: Third-class biological therapy was effective in more than half of the patients with CD. No differences in effectiveness were detected between the use of VDZ and UST as a third-class agent.Peer reviewe

Barriers and levers of enhancing animal welfare in organic and low-input outdoor production: Insights from a supply chain survey

Animal welfare is an essential part of the sustainability of animal production. While low-input farming, such as organic animal production, is often considered animal-friendly, several ways to enhance animal welfare in low-input animal production exist. However, currently there is little information on how farmers and other supply chain actors view different innovations and tools which may influence animal welfare in low-input outdoor and organic production systems. The aim of this study was to examine farmers’ and experts’ reactions to new approaches to pig and poultry production, with special attention to their animal welfare-related measures. The reactions were tested formally in by using a quantitative survey instrument in nine European countries (Finland, UK, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Romania). In the survey, respondents’ views on production practices and novel measures were asked. These included aspects such as applicability and advantages and disadvantages of various measures such as avoiding mutilations, using dual-purpose or local breeds, or in-ovo sexing. The data included altogether 218 responses from nine countries. Differences between countries were tested and groups of respondents were identified. The results suggest that supply side stakeholders foresee the welfare benefits and some disadvantages of welfare improving measures proposed to them. However, they also indicate that several measures were considered inapplicable despite their benefits. Inadequate financial provisions to adopt a measure was considered as one of the most important reasons for inapplicability of a measure. This may imply either high costs of implementing measures of low market incentives or perceived low demand for animal-friendly products. Other barriers for adopting welfare-friendly measures included farm-specific factors such as limitations imposed by housing. The respondents indicated a high relative preference for feeding, breeding, shelter from predators and the use of vaccines and anti-parasitic treatments to the provision of enrichments and nesting material to pigs, and to mutilations. Farmers agreed that environmental enrichments are important welfare-improving levers and preferred their use in low-input pig and poultry production. Animal breeding-related measures in pig production were perceived quite favorably by supply side stakeholders. Despite their welfare benefits, farmers in some countries had quite high preference towards maintaining castration and tail docking in pig and beak trimming in broiler production as part of their production method

Effectiveness of third-class biologic treatment in Crohn's disease : a multi-center retrospective cohort study

C

Colorectal Cancer Stage at Diagnosis Before vs During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

IMPORTANCE Delays in screening programs and the reluctance of patients to seek medical attention because of the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 could be associated with the risk of more advanced colorectal cancers at diagnosis. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was associated with more advanced oncologic stage and change in clinical presentation for patients with colorectal cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective, multicenter cohort study included all 17 938 adult patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer from March 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021 (pandemic period), and from January 1, 2018, to February 29, 2020 (prepandemic period), in 81 participating centers in Italy, including tertiary centers and community hospitals. Follow-up was 30 days from surgery. EXPOSURES Any type of surgical procedure for colorectal cancer, including explorative surgery, palliative procedures, and atypical or segmental resections. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was advanced stage of colorectal cancer at diagnosis. Secondary outcomes were distant metastasis, T4 stage, aggressive biology (defined as cancer with at least 1 of the following characteristics: signet ring cells, mucinous tumor, budding, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and lymphangitis), stenotic lesion, emergency surgery, and palliative surgery. The independent association between the pandemic period and the outcomes was assessed using multivariate random-effects logistic regression, with hospital as the cluster variable. RESULTS A total of 17 938 patients (10 007 men [55.8%]; mean [SD] age, 70.6 [12.2] years) underwent surgery for colorectal cancer: 7796 (43.5%) during the pandemic period and 10 142 (56.5%) during the prepandemic period. Logistic regression indicated that the pandemic period was significantly associated with an increased rate of advanced-stage colorectal cancer (odds ratio [OR], 1.07; 95%CI, 1.01-1.13; P = .03), aggressive biology (OR, 1.32; 95%CI, 1.15-1.53; P < .001), and stenotic lesions (OR, 1.15; 95%CI, 1.01-1.31; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This cohort study suggests a significant association between the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the risk of a more advanced oncologic stage at diagnosis among patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer and might indicate a potential reduction of survival for these patients

Chronic constipation: A critical review

Abstract Chronic constipation is a very common symptom that is rarely associated with life-threatening diseases, but has a substantial impact on patient quality of life and consumption of healthcare resources. Despite the large number of affected patients and the social relevance of the condition, no cost-effectiveness analysis has been made of any diagnostic or therapeutic algorithm, and there are few data comparing different diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in the long term. In this scenario, increasing emphasis has been placed on demonstrating that a number of older and new therapeutic options are effective in treating chronic constipation in well-performed randomised controlled trials, but there is still debate as to when these therapeutic options should be included in diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms. The aim of this review is to perform a critical evaluation of the current diagnostic and therapeutic options available for adult patients with chronic constipation in order to identify a rational patient approach; furthermore we attempt to clarify some of the more controversial points to aid clinicians in managing this symptom in a more efficacious and cost-effective manner