The Mediterranean diet and micronutrient levels in depressive patients

Introduction: An inverse association between depression and some serum micronutrient levels (selenium, zinc, iron, magnesium, vitamin B and folic acid) has been reported. In addition, other studies reported that this micronutrient supplementation may improve depressed mood. The Mediterranean diet contains a sufficient amount of the micronutrients mentioned, although no study has reported an association between diet prescription and increased levels of them in depressive patients. Objective: To examine the impact of dietary patterns recommendations on micronutrient levels in depressive patients. Methods: 77 outpatients were randomly assigned either to the active (hygienic-dietary recommendations on diet, exercise, sleep, and sun exposure) or control group. Outcome measures were assessed before and after the six month intervention period. Results: Serum selenium and zinc levels were slightly low at basal point and serum selenium was inversely correlated with severity of depression (r=-0.233; p=0.041). A better outcome of depressive symptoms was found in the active group. Nevertheless, no significant differences in micronutrient levels were observed after the Mediterranean diet pattern prescription, probably due to an insufficient adherence. Conclusion: Selenium, zinc, iron, magnesium, vitamin B12 and folic acid serum levels didn`t increase in depressed patients after six months of the Mediterranean diet pattern prescription

Effectiveness of a healthy lifestyle promotion program as adjunctive teletherapy for treatment-resistant major depression during COVID 19 pandemic: A randomized clinical trial protocol

INTRODUCTION: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) has a high prevalence and can be exacerbated by poor physical health and economic hardships, which have become common stressors during the current COVID-19 pandemic. The therapeutic approaches used to treat these patients are not always available, may be not be accepted by some patients, and often require face-to-face interactions. OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this study will be to evaluate the effectiveness of an Internet-based adjuvant lifestyle-based intervention for patients with TRD. METHODS: This will be a parallel, randomized, and controlled clinical trial. A total of 180 patients with TRD will be randomly allocated (1:1:1) to 1 of 3 groups: treatment prescribed by the mental health team and written suggestions for lifestyle changes (placebo control group); treatment prescribed by the mental health team, written suggestions for lifestyle changes, and an 8-week mindfulness-based cognitive therapy program (active control group); or treatment prescribed by the mental health team, written suggestions for lifestyle changes, and an 8-week lifestyle change promotion program (intervention group). We will perform this study during the COVID-19 pandemic, and will administer interventions by teletherapy, and contact participants by telephone calls, text messages, and/or teleconferences. We will collect patient data using questionnaires administered at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and after 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome will be score on the Beck Depression Inventory-II. The secondary outcomes will be score on the Clinical Global Impressions Scale (used to quantify and track patient progress and treatment response over time) and health-related quality of life measured using the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions Questionnaire. DISCUSSION: Patients with TRD are especially vulnerable when face-to-face psychotherapy is unavailable. The main strength of the proposed study is the novelty of the intervention to be used as an adjuvant therapy. Our results may provide guidance for treatment of patients with TRD in future situations that require lockdown measures. CLINICALTRIALS REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04428099

A global atlas of the environmental risk of marinas on water quality

12 months embargo

A phase field model of unsaturated flow

We present a phase field model of infiltration that explains the formation of gravity fingers during water infiltration in soil. The model is an extension of the traditional Richards equation, and it introduces a new term, a fourth-order derivative in space, but not a new parameter. We propose a scaling that links the magnitude of the new term to the relative strength of gravity-to-capillary forces already present in Richards' equation. We exploit the thermodynamic framework to design a flow potential that constrains the water saturation to be between 0 and 1, its physically admissible values. The model predicts a saturation overshoot at the wetting front, which is in good agreement with experimental measurements. Two-dimensional numerical simulations predict gravity fingers with the appearance and characteristics observed in visual laboratory experiments. A linear stability analysis of the model shows that there is a direct relation between saturation overshoot and the strength of the front instability. Therefore our theory supports the conjecture that saturation overshoot, a pileup of water at the wetting front, is a prerequisite for gravity fingering.Eni S.p.A. (Firm)Atlantic Richfield Co