Effect of an herbal extract of sideritis scardica and B-vitamins on cognitive performance under stress: A pilot study

Chronic stress can impair cognitive functions including learning and memory. The current study investigated the reduction of (mental) stress and improvement of stress tolerance in 64 healthy men and women after six weeks intake of a dietary supplement containing an extract of Sideritis scardica and selected B-vitamins. Mental performance and visual attention were measured by Trail-Making Test (TMT) and Colour-Word-Test (CWT)before/after an acute stress stimulus (noise, CW-Interference). TMT improved upon product intake. The CWT reaction time accelerated upon product intake in situations of CW-Congruence (overall) (p=0.014), CW-conflict (overall) (p=0.024), CW-conflict (with noise) (p=0.001), CW-Congruence (without noise) (p=0.004) and CW-conflict (without noise) (p=0.017).CWT-changes upon product intake, differentiated for noise and CW-interference, showed (i) a bisection of CW-interference-related impairment of the reaction time in the presence of noise from 27 ms to 13.5 ms, (ii) a bisection of noise-related impairment of the reaction time in the presence of CW-conflict from 34 ms to 17 ms, (iii) an improvement of the impairment of the reaction time due to combined stress (noise plus CW-conflict) by 14.5 ms from 66 ms to 51.5 ms, (iv) despite of the improvement of the reaction time, no increase of the error rate. Safety blood parameters and the reporting of no adverse events argue for the product’s safety. These results may be relevant for persons solving cognitive tasks under conflict and/or noise (e.g. open-plan offices or car-driving) andsupport that the tested product alleviatesstress-induced impairment of executive functioning (working memory, cognitive flexibility, controlled behavioural inhibition).Schaper & Brümmer GmbH & Co. KG, Salzgitter, German

Effect of an herbal extract of Sideritis scardica and B-vitamins on cognitive performance under stress: a pilot study

Chronic stress can impair cognitive functions including learning and memory. The current study investigated the reduction of (mental) stress and improvement of stress tolerance in 64 healthy men and women after six weeks intake of a dietary supplement containing an extract of Sideritis scardica and selected B-vitamins.Mental performance and visual attention were measured by Trail-Making Test (TMT) and Colour-Word-Test (CWT) before/after an acute stress stimulus (noise, CW-Interference).TMT improved upon product intake. The CWT reaction time accelerated upon product intake in situations of CW-Congruence (overall) (p=0.014), CW-conflict (overall) (p=0.024), CW-conflict (with noise) (p=0.001), CW-Congruence (without noise) (p=0.004) and CW-conflict (without noise) (p=0.017). CWT-changes upon product intake, differentiated for noise and CW-interference, showed (i) a bisection of CW-interference-related impairment of the reaction time in the presence of noise from 27 ms to 13.5 ms, (ii) a bisection of noise-related impairment of the reaction time in the presence of CW-conflict from 34 ms to 17 ms, (iii) an improvement of the impairment of the reaction time due to combined stress (noise plus CW-conflict) by 14.5 ms from 66 ms to 51.5 ms, (iv) despite of the improvement of the reaction time, no increase of the error rate. Safety blood parameters and the reporting of no adverse events argue for the product’s safety.These results may be relevant for persons solving cognitive tasks under conflict and/or noise (e.g. open-plan offices or car-driving) and support that the tested product alleviates stress-induced impairment of executive functioning (working memory, cognitive flexibility, controlled behavioural inhibition)

On the hidden significance of differing micro-sites on tree-ring based climate reconstructions

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Incorporation of EPA and DHA into plasma phospholipids in response to different omega-3 fatty acid formulations - a comparative bioavailability study of fish oil vs. krill oil

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bioavailability of omega-3 fatty acids (FA) depends on their chemical form. Superior bioavailability has been suggested for phospholipid (PL) bound omega-3 FA in krill oil, but identical doses of different chemical forms have not been compared.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In a double-blinded crossover trial, we compared the uptake of three EPA+DHA formulations derived from fish oil (re-esterified triacylglycerides [rTAG], ethyl-esters [EE]) and krill oil (mainly PL). Changes of the FA compositions in plasma PL were used as a proxy for bioavailability. Twelve healthy young men (mean age 31 y) were randomized to 1680 mg EPA+DHA given either as rTAG, EE or krill oil. FA levels in plasma PL were analyzed pre-dose and 2, 4, 6, 8, 24, 48, and 72 h after capsule ingestion. Additionally, the proportion of free EPA and DHA in the applied supplements was analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The highest incorporation of EPA+DHA into plasma PL was provoked by krill oil (mean AUC_{0-72 h}: 80.03 ± 34.71%*h), followed by fish oil rTAG (mean AUC_{0-72 h}: 59.78 ± 36.75%*h) and EE (mean AUC_{0-72 h}: 47.53 ± 38.42%*h). Due to high standard deviation values, there were no significant differences for DHA and the sum of EPA+DHA levels between the three treatments. However, a trend (<it>p = </it>0.057) was observed for the differences in EPA bioavailability. Statistical pair-wise group comparison's revealed a trend (<it>p </it>= 0.086) between rTAG and krill oil. FA analysis of the supplements showed that the krill oil sample contained 22% of the total EPA amount as free EPA and 21% of the total DHA amount as free DHA, while the two fish oil samples did not contain any free FA.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Further studies with a larger sample size carried out over a longer period are needed to substantiate our findings and to determine differences in EPA+DHA bioavailability between three common chemical forms of LC n-3 FA (rTAG, EE and krill oil). The unexpected high content of free EPA and DHA in krill oil, which might have a significant influence on the availability of EPA+DHA from krill oil, should be investigated in more depth and taken into consideration in future trials.</p

Glycemic index and microstructure analysis of a newly developed fiber enriched cookie

A diet with a high glycemic index (GI) is associated with an elevated risk for obesity or type 2 diabetes. We investigated the GI of a newly-developed fiber enriched cookie and characterized the microstructure of ingredients used. In a study with 26 non-diabetic healthy volunteers it was shown that the fiber enriched cookie has a GI of 58.9 in relation to white bread as reference. Using a conversion factor of 1.4, the GI of the fiber enriched cookie in relation to a glucose-solution is 42.0 and can be classified as a low-GI food. Postprandial insulin concentration was significantly lower after consumption of fiber enriched cookies compared to white bread. Glucose release after in vitro digestion was significantly lower from fiber enriched cookies compared to other cookies tested. In addition to its high percentage of fiber, the cookies’ low GI can be attributed to the limited gelatinization potential of the starch granules found in the ingredients used. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy it is shown that starch granule surface area of whole grain barley flour, spelt flour and oat flakes bears cluster-shaped protein–NSPS complexes that preferentially absorb water in conditions of water shortage and thereby prevent starch gelatinization

Spanning Fermi arcs in a two-dimensional magnet

The discovery of topological states of matter has led to a revolution in materials research. When external or intrinsic parameters break certain symmetries, global properties of topological materials change drastically. A paramount example is the emergence of Weyl nodes under broken inversion symmetry, acting like magnetic monopoles in momentum space. However, while a rich variety of non-trivial quantum phases could in principle also originate from broken time-reversal symmetry, realizing systems that combine magnetism with complex topological properties is remarkably elusive due to both considerable experimental and theoretical challenges. Here, we demonstrate that giant open Fermi arcs are created at the surface of ultrathin hybrid magnets. The Fermi-surface topology of an atomically thin ferromagnet is substantially modified by the hybridization with a heavy-metal substrate, giving rise to Fermi-surface discontinuities that are bridged by the Fermi arcs. Due to the interplay between magnetism and topology, we can control both the shape and the location of the Fermi arcs by tuning the magnetization direction. The hybridization points in the Fermi surface can be attributed to a non-trivial "mixed" topology and induce hot spots in the Berry curvature, dominating spin and charge transport as well as magneto-electric coupling effects.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figure

Expression of 3q Oncogene SEC62 Predicts Survival in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients Treated with Primary Chemoradiation

Primary chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is an established treatment option for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) usually combining intensity modified radiotherapy with concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy. Though the majority of patients can be cured with this regimen, treatment response is highly heterogeneous and can hardly be predicted. SEC62 represents a metastasis stimulating oncogene that is frequently overexpressed in various cancer entities and is associated with poor outcome. Its role in HNSCC patients undergoing CRT has not been investigated so far. A total of 127 HNSCC patients treated with primary CRT were included in this study. The median follow-up was 5.4 years. Pretherapeutic tissue samples of the primary tumors were used for immunohistochemistry targeting SEC62. SEC62 expression, clinical and histopathological parameters, as well as patient outcome, were correlated in univariate and multivariate survival analyses. High SEC62 expression correlated with a significantly shorter overall survival (p = 0.015) and advanced lymph node metastases (p = 0.024). Further significant predictors of poor overall and progression-free survival included response to therapy (RECIST1.1), nodal status, distant metastases, tobacco consumption, recurrence of disease, and UICC stage. In a multivariate Cox hazard proportional regression analysis, only SEC62 expression (p = 0.046) and response to therapy (p < 0.0001) maintained statistical significance as independent predictors of the patients’ overall survival. This study identified SEC62 as an independent prognostic biomarker in HNSCC patients treated with primary CRT. The role of SEC62 as a potential therapeutic target and its interaction with radiation-induced molecular alterations in head and neck cancer cells should further be investigated

Characterization of a porcine model of atrial arrhythmogenicity in the context of ischaemic heart failure

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major healthcare challenge contributing to high morbidity and mortality. Treatment options are still limited, mainly due to insufficient understanding of the underlying pathophysiology. Further research and the development of reliable animal models resembling the human disease phenotype is therefore necessary to develop novel, innovative and ideally causal therapies. Since ischaemic heart failure (IHF) is a major cause for AF in patients we investigated AF in the context of IHF in a close-tohuman porcine ischaemia-reperfusion model. Myocardial infarction (AMI) was induced in propofol/fentanyl/ midazolam-anaesthetized pigs by occluding the left anterior descending artery for 90 minutes to model ischaemia with reperfusion. After 30 days ejection fraction (EF) was significantly reduced and haemodynamic parameters (pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), right atrial pressure (RAP), left ventricular enddiastolic pressure (LVEDP)) were significantly elevated compared to age/weight matched control pigs without AMI, demonstrating an IHF phenotype. Electrophysiological properties (sinus node recovery time (SNRT), atrial/AV nodal refractory periods (AERP, AVERP)) did not differ between groups. Atrial burst pacing at 1200 bpm, however, revealed a significantly higher inducibility of atrial arrhythmia episodes including AF in IHF pigs (3/15 vs. 10/16, p = 0.029). Histological analysis showed pronounced left atrial and left ventricular fibrosis demonstrating a structural substrate underlying the increased arrhythmogenicity. Consequently, selective ventricular infarction via LAD occlusion causes haemodynamic alterations inducing structural atrial remodeling which results in increased atrial fibrosis as the arrhythmogenic atrial substrate in pigs with IHF