Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet in the Prevention of Non-communicable Diseases as the Epidemic of the 21st century

Non-communicable diseases are known as the epidemic of the 21st century. In Romania, these are responsible for almost 91% of all the deaths. A balanced diet and regular physical activity (at least 30 minutes throughout the day) are the keys to a healthy and long living life. Mediterranean diet is shown to be the optimal diet for preventing non-communicable diseases and preserving good health. The concept of the Mediterranean diet is defined by the food pyramid, which is meant to provide an overall impression of healthy food choices, rather than to define recommended weights of certain foods or proportions of energy obtained from them. In Romania the concept of Mediterranean diet is unknown to most ordinary people. Even in medicine field there are few doctors who really know about this diet and its effects on patients’ health. Our purpose in writing this article was to draw a warning signal about the impact of Mediterranean diet on the health of people, in hope that through media, the importance of a healthy and active life in raising quality of life and decreasing morbidity and mortality can be fully understood.</span

The Effect of Climate Change and Air Pollution on Allergenic Potential of Pollens

Climate change is associated with atmospheric warming due to continuous increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentration following the industrial revolution. The urban areas are more responsible for these changes. Europe for example has experienced a progressive warming +0.9°C for 1901-2005. Climate change is unequivocal and represents a possible threat for patients affected by allergic conditions because it is related with an increased distribution and concentration of pollen. Higher temperature, wet condition (especially thunderstorms), wind speed, transition of cold fronts, environmental changes (allergenic pollens arrived in new areas), are mechanisms which involve changes of production, dispersion and allergen content of pollen. Prolonged and more severe pollen seasons are leading to worsened asthma and allergies. The interaction of pollen with urban air pollutants could also lead to an increased effect of aero allergens on allergic patients, with a greater likelihood of the development of an allergic respiratory disease in sensitized subjects and exacerbation of symptomatic patients. Air pollution could induce damage to airways mucosa, thus promoting sensitization of the airways; also it could increase the expression of allergenic proteins (allergen contents of pollen produce by plants is increased by higher temperature and CO2 enriched atmosphere). By increasing pollen concentration or making the airways susceptible to allergens, the climate change and air pollution have a negative impact on human health

The Effect of Climate Change and Air Pollution on Allergenic Potential of Pollens

Climate change is associated with atmospheric warming due to continuous increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentration following the industrial revolution. The urban areas are more responsible for these changes. Europe for example has experienced a progressive warming +0.9°C for 1901-2005. Climate change is unequivocal and represents a possible threat for patients affected by allergic conditions because it is related with an increased distribution and concentration of pollen. Higher temperature, wet condition (especially thunderstorms), wind speed, transition of cold fronts, environmental changes (allergenic pollens arrived in new areas), are mechanisms which involve changes of production, dispersion and allergen content of pollen. Prolonged and more severe pollen seasons are leading to worsened asthma and allergies. The interaction of pollen with urban air pollutants could also lead to an increased effect of aero allergens on allergic patients, with a greater likelihood of the development of an allergic respiratory disease in sensitized subjects and exacerbation of symptomatic patients. Air pollution could induce damage to airways mucosa, thus promoting sensitization of the airways; also it could increase the expression of allergenic proteins (allergen contents of pollen produce by plants is increased by higher temperature and CO2 enriched atmosphere). By increasing pollen concentration or making the airways susceptible to allergens, the climate change and air pollution have a negative impact on human health

Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet in the Prevention of Non-communicable Diseases as the Epidemic of the 21st century

Non-communicable diseases are known as the epidemic of the 21st century. In Romania, these are responsible for almost 91% of all the deaths. A balanced diet and regular physical activity (at least 30 minutes throughout the day) are the keys to a healthy and long living life. Mediterranean diet is shown to be the optimal diet for preventing non-communicable diseases and preserving good health. The concept of the Mediterranean diet is defined by the food pyramid, which is meant to provide an overall impression of healthy food choices, rather than to define recommended weights of certain foods or proportions of energy obtained from them. In Romania the concept of Mediterranean diet is unknown to most ordinary people. Even in medicine field there are few doctors who really know about this diet and its effects on patients’ health. Our purpose in writing this article was to draw a warning signal about the impact of Mediterranean diet on the health of people, in hope that through media, the importance of a healthy and active life in raising quality of life and decreasing morbidity and mortality can be fully understood.</span

One-Step Preparation of Carboxymethyl Cellulose&mdash;Phytic Acid Hydrogels with Potential for Biomedical Applications

Hydrogels based on natural, biodegradable materials have gained considerable interest in the medical field due to their improved drug delivery profiles and tissue-mimicking architecture. In this regard, this study was devoted to the preparation and characterization of new physically crosslinked hydrogels based on carboxymethyl cellulose and an unconventional crosslinking agent, phytic acid. Phytic acid, in addition to its antioxidant and antibacterial effects, can improve the biological properties and stability of gels, without adding toxicity. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, rheological studies and thermal analysis confirmed the hydrogel formation. The influence of the ratio between the cellulose derivative and the crosslinker upon the morphological structure and water uptake was evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and swelling measurements in simulated body fluids. Furthermore, procaine was entrapped within the hydrogels and used as a model drug for in vitro studies, which highlighted the dependence of the drug release on the phytic acid content of the matrix. The materials demonstrated antibacterial effects against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The biocompatibility was assessed on fibroblast cells, and according to our results, hydrogels can improve cell viability highlighting the potential of these systems as therapeutic scaffolds for skin tissue engineering