Bioactive Compounds in Dried Plum Enhance Osteoblast Activity via Bmp Pathways and Decrease Osteoclast Activity by Suppressing Intracellular Calcium and Activation of Mapks

Dietary supplementation with dried plum has been shown to improve bone health in clinical and pre-clinical studies. This is due to the fruit�s anabolic and anti-resorptive properties. A crude ethanol polyphenolic extract from dried plum has been found to enhance bone formation and suppress bone resorption in vitro and in vivo, but the components within this crude extract that exert these anabolic and anti-resorptive effects are not known. These studies were designed to identify the most bioactive components of the total polyphenolic extract of dried plum in enhancing osteoblast activity and reducing osteoclast activity under normal and inflammatory conditions. In addition, mechanisms by which the bioactive components of the polyphenolic extract affect osteoblast and osteoclast function were examined. Extraction with increasing methanol concentration was used to yield six polyphenolic fractions from the total polyphenolic extract of dried plum. It was determined that the two fractions with the lowest organic content (i.e., DP-FrA and DP-FrB) enhanced osteoblast activity under normal conditions in primary bone marrow-derived osteoblasts. This was due to increased BMP signaling and Runx2 expression. DP-FrA and DP-FrB did not have as robust of an effect on osteoblast activity under inflammatory conditions. The fractions with the higher organic content (i.e. DP-FrE and DP-FrF) were the most bioactive in suppressing osteoclast differentiation and activity. These fractions downregulated the expression of Nfatc1 under normal and inflammatory conditions in mono-cultures of bone marrow-derived osteoclasts, as well as under inflammatory conditions in osteoblast and osteoclast co-cultures. The downregulation of Nfatc1 was due to a suppression of MAPK and calcium signaling. In addition, the fractions downregulated Rankl expression in the co-culture system, thereby suppressing the differentiation signal to osteoclast precursors. These studies are the first to identify fractions of the polyphenolic extract of dried plum that are most bioactive in enhancing osteoblast activity and suppressing osteoclast activity in primary cell culture models. These findings provide valuable insight into the mechanisms by which dried plum improves bone health in vivo, as well as the types of dietary compounds that should be targeted for use as potential preventative or treatment measures for osteoporosis.Nutritional Scienc

Open innovation to bolster research and development for neglected and emerging infectious diseases

Infections remain a significant cause of disease, disability, and death in developing countries. Unfortunately, many of these infections, including centuries-old neglected diseases such as malaria and newly emerging and re-emerging diseases such as Ebola virus disease (EVD), have limited products available to prevent, diagnose, and treat them. One barrier that hinders the development of these products is neglected and emerging disease experts’ limited access to the biopharmaceutical industry’s small molecules, technologies, and know-how. Conversely, the biopharmaceutical industry’s lack of attention to and expertise in these diseases impedes the development of much-needed products. Organisations are addressing these challenges by developing platforms through which disease experts can access industry’s knowledge and assets. Strategic partnerships are applying a synergistic approach to leverage respective strengths of academia and industry. The following article describes two open innovation platforms, the Pool for Open Innovation against Neglected Tropical Diseases (POINT) and WIPO Re:Search, and two strategic, cross-sector collaborative efforts to develop therapeutics for EVD

Associations Between Community Nutrition Environments and Early Care and Education Classroom Nutrition Practices

Poor child diet is influenced by nutrition environments surrounding schools and homes; influence of these environments on Early Care and Education (ECE) settings is not understood. The purpose of this study was to determine associations between community nutrition environments and ECE classroom nutrition practices, by ECE context [Head Starts, community-based childcare (CBCs), and family child care homes (FCCHs)]. Conclusions: Contrary to studies in residential areas and schools, nutrition environments were not related to nutrition practices in ECEs. This suggests that ECEs may serve as protective microenvironments supporting health for children more vulnerable to the health environments of their nearby residing communities. Supporting health practices for ECEs may be achieved most effectively through within-center intervention and policy

Relationships between proximity to grocery stores and Oklahoma Early Care and Education classroom nutrition practices

The study purpose was to determine associations between proximity to grocery stores and Early Care and Education programs’ (i.e., ECEs) classroom nutrition practices and barriers, by ECE context (Head Start, community-based childcare [CBC], and family child care homes [FCCHs]). A statewide cross-sectional survey was implemented in Oklahoma ECEs. Directors reported classroom nutrition practices with the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment tool, and barriers to implementation. Locations of 457 grocery stores statewide were determined by in-person audit. Geocoded ECEs were considered within a “low proximity” area if no grocery stores were available within a 0.25-mile radius for urban, or 10-mile radius for rural, ECEs. From November 2019 to February 2020, 54 Head Starts, 159 CBCs, and 160 FCCHs participated. 31.0 % were considered as low proximity. Head Starts demonstrated the highest classroom nutrition scores for mealtime practices, and nutrition education and policy. While proximity to grocery stores was not related to classroom nutrition practices for any ECE context (p \u3e 0.05), FCCHs located within a low proximity area reported barriers to implementing those practices more often compared to FCCHs in an area within accessible proximity of grocery store. Thus, proximity to grocery stores was related to barriers in FCCHs only; those provider’s experiences and perceptions may be most susceptible to influence of the community nutrition environment, compared to other ECE contexts. Contrary to studies in residential areas and schools, nutrition environments were not related to nutrition practices in ECEs. ECEs may serve as protective micro-environments supporting health for children residing in nearby low-access communities

Pre-workout consumption of Celsius® enhances the benefits of chronic exercise on body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness

The functional beverage Celsius®, has recently been shown, after acute and chronic (28 days) consumption, to increase resting metabolism and serum blood markers of lipolysis in healthy, college-aged men and women. The purpose of this study was to examine the combined effects of a 10-week exercise program while consuming Celsius® on body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness changes in sedentary men and women

Beta-alanine supplementation and high-intensity interval training augments metabolic adaptations and endurance performance in college-aged men

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to evaluate the effects β-alanine supplementation and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on endurance performance

Effects of β-alanine supplementation and high-intensity interval training on endurance performance and body composition in men; a double-blind trial

Background: Intermittent bouts of high-intensity exercise result in diminished stores of energy substrates, followed by an accumulation of metabolites, promoting chronic physiological adaptations. In addition, β-alanine has been accepted has an effective physiological hydrogen ion (H+) buffer. Concurrent high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and β-alanine supplementation may result in greater adaptations than HIIT alone. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effects of combining β-alanine supplementation with high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on endurance performance and aerobic metabolism in recreationally active college-aged men. Methods: Forty-six men (Age: 22.2 ± 2.7 yrs; Ht: 178.1 ± 7.4 cm; Wt: 78.7 ± 11.9; VO2peak: 3.3 ± 0.59 l·min-1) were assessed for peak O2 utilization (VO2peak), time to fatigue (VO2TTE), ventilatory threshold (VT), and total work done at 110% of pre-training VO2peak (TWD). In a double-blind fashion, all subjects were randomly assigned into one either a placebo (PL – 16.5 g dextrose powder per packet; n = 18) or β-alanine (BA – 1.5 g β-alanine plus 15 g dextrose powder per packet; n = 18) group. All subjects supplemented four times per day (total of 6 g/day) for the first 21-days, followed by two times per day (3 g/day) for the subsequent 21 days, and engaged in a total of six weeks of HIIT training consisting of 5–6 bouts of a 2:1 minute cycling work to rest ratio. Results: Significant improvements in VO2peak, VO2TTE, and TWD after three weeks of training were displayed (p < 0.05). Increases in VO2peak, VO2TTE, TWD and lean body mass were only significant for the BA group after the second three weeks of training. Conclusion: The use of HIIT to induce significant aerobic improvements is effective and efficient. Chronic BA supplementation may further enhance HIIT, improving endurance performance and lean body mass