Acute influence of cigarette smoke in platelets, catecholamines and neurophysins in the normal conditions of daily life

Cigarette smoking is firmly linked to the occurrence of acute coronary events. In twenty-two healthy volunteers in normal conditions of daily life we studied the acute influence of smoking on the following parameters: beta-thromboglobulin, thromboxane B2, epinephrine, norepinephrine, estrogen-stimulated neurophysin, and nicotine-stimulated-neurophysin. Our results show that in our population and following our protocol, smoking did not induce platelet activation, thromboxane formation, catecholamine release or estrogen-stimulated-neurophysin secretion. However, smoking did provoke a significant increase of nicotine-stimulated-neurophysin (p<0.05) which reflects vasopressin increase and which might explain the high incidence of ischaemic accidents in cigarette smoking via the vasoactive properties of vasopressi

Ethanol drinking, brain mitochondrial DNA, polyunsaturated fatty acids and effects of dietary anthocyanins

Background This study aimed at exploring whether moderate ethanol drinking may have adverse effects on the fatty acids composition and on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of rat brain. A secondary aim was to examine whether dietary antioxidant anthocyanins (ACN) can be protective. Methods One group of rats received ethanol 12% and another water as an exclusive liquid to drink for 8 weeks. In order to test the impact of ACN consumption, two other groups of rats were fed an ACN-rich diet in combination with either ethanol or water. Brain fatty acids were measured by gas chromatography and mtDNA alterations, markers of mitochondrial suffering, were studied through an original real-time qPCR-based protocol. Results Linoleic acid (LA, 18:2n-6) and eicosadienoic acid (20:2n-6) were significantly decreased, by 12% and 31% respectively, in the brains of both ethanol groups. The other brain lipids, including arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, were not modified. These changes were associated with a significant increase in deleted mtDNA (by 28%) in the ethanol group, without total mtDNA depletion. The ACN-rich diet prevented the increase in mtDNA common deletion (mtDNA CD). Conclusion These data demonstrate that moderate ethanol drinking reduces certain brain n-6 and results in mtDNA injury. The antioxidant anthocyanins protect brain mtDNA but do not restore normal n-6 levels. Further studies are required to investigate the consequences of a decrease in n-6 levels in brain

Examples of multi-sensor determination of eruptive source parameters of explosive events at mount etna

International audienceMulti-sensor strategies are key to the real-time determination of eruptive source parameters (ESPs) of explosive eruptions necessary to forecast accurately both tephra dispersal and deposition. To explore the capacity of these strategies in various eruptive conditions, we analyze data acquiredby two Doppler radars, ground- and satellite-based infrared sensors, one infrasound array, visible video-monitoring cameras as well as data from tephra-fallout deposits associated with a weak and a strong paroxysmal event at Mount Etna (Italy). We find that the different sensors provide complementary observations that should be critically analyzed and combined to provide comprehensive estimates of ESPs. First, all measurements of plume height agree during the strong paroxysmal activity considered, whereas some discrepancies are found for the weak paroxysm due to rapid plume and cloud dilution. Second, the event duration, key to convert the total erupted mass (TEM) in the mass eruption rate (MER) and vice versa, varies depending on the sensor used, providing information on different phases of the paroxysm (i.e., unsteady lava fountaining, lava fountain-fed tephra plume, waning phase associated with plume and cloud expansion in the atmosphere). As a result, TEM and MER derived from different sensors also correspond to the different phases of the paroxysms. Finally, satellite retrievals for grain-size can be combined with radar data to provide a first approximation of total grain-size distribution (TGSD) in near real-time. Such a TGSD shows a promising agreement with the TGSD derived from the combination of satellite data and whole deposit grain-size distribution (WDGSD)

Tephra sedimentation and grainsize associated with pulsatory activity: the 2021 Tajogaite eruption of Cumbre Vieja (La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain)

Long-lasting eruptions are of complex characterization and are typically associated with challenging risk assessment and crisis management due to the usual occurrence of multiple interacting hazards evolving at different temporal and spatial scales (e.g., lava, tephra, and gas). The 2021 Tajogaite eruption of Cumbre Vieja (La Palma) demonstrated how even hybrid events that are mostly effusive can be associated with widespread and impacting tephra deposits as a result of a complex interplay among gas flux, conduit geometry, and magma feeding rate. In this novel study, direct observations, syn-eruptive and post-eruptive sampling, and statistical analysis of pulsatory activity have been combined to provide new insights into eruption dynamics. They show how rapid gas segregation and high magma ascent rate modulated the gas flux at multiple vents, resulting in short-time fluctuations among the different explosive styles (ash-poor gas puffing, Strombolian, violent Strombolian, and lava fountaining) and unsteady tephra ground accumulation. Various size-selective sedimentation processes were also observed, including particle aggregation and ash fingers, which have impacted the overall tephra dispersal. In fact, even though both local and total grainsize distributions of selected layers, units, and of the whole tephra blanket are unimodal with a low fine-ash content, grainsize analysis of 154 samples suggests no correlation of particles &lt;63&nbsp;μm with distance from vents. Our analyses demonstrate the need to include a detailed characterization of all products of hybrid eruptions for a comprehensive interpretation of eruptive dynamics and to use multiple classification strategies that can capture eruptive styles at different temporal scales

Does the Mediterranean diet predict longevity in the elderly? A Swedish perspective

Dietary pattern analysis represents a useful improvement in the investigation of diet and health relationships. Particularly, the Mediterranean diet pattern has been associated with reduced mortality risk in several studies involving both younger and elderly population groups. In this research, relationships between dietary macronutrient composition, as well as the Mediterranean diet, and total mortality were assessed in 1,037 seventy-year-old subjects (540 females) information. Diet macronutrient composition was not associated with mortality, while a refined version of the modified Mediterranean diet index showed a significant inverse association (HR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.89; 0.98). As expected, inactive subjects, smokers and those with a higher waist circumference had a higher mortality, while a reduced risk characterized married and more educated people. Sensitivity analyses (which confirmed our results) consisted of: exclusion of one food group at a time in the Mediterranean diet index, exclusion of early deaths, censoring at fixed follow-up time, adjusting for activities of daily living and main cardiovascular risk factors including weight/waist circumference changes at follow up. In conclusion, we can reasonably state that a higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet pattern, especially by consuming wholegrain cereals, foods rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, and a limited amount of alcohol, predicts increased longevity in the elderly

Validity and reproducibility of an interviewer-administered food frequency questionnaire for healthy French-Canadian men and women

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the validity (study 1) and the reproducibility (study 2) of an interviewer-administered food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). METHOD: The FFQ was designed at Laval University and contains 91 items and 33 subquestions. Study 1: The FFQ was compared against a 3-day food record (2 week-days and 1 weekend-day), at week 0, 6 and 12 of a nutritional intervention. Study 2: In order to evaluate the reproducibility of the FFQ, 2 registered dietitians administered the FFQ 4-weeks apart among subjects who were not part of the nutritional intervention. RESULTS: Study 1: Mean values for intake of most nutrients assessed by the FFQ and by the 3-day food record were not statistically different. Energy-adjusted correlation coefficients for major macronutrients ranged from 0.36 for proteins to 0.60 for carbohydrates (p ≤ 0.01). Agreement analysis revealed that on average, 35% of the subjects were classified in the same quartile when nutrients were assessed by either the 3-day food record or the FFQ. Study 2: Significant associations were observed between dietary measurements derived from the two FFQs administered 4 weeks apart. Correlation coefficients for the reproducibility of macronutrients ranged from 0.66 for carbohydrates to 0.83 for lipids after energy adjustment. On average, 46% of the subjects were classified in the same quartile when nutrient intakes were assessed by either FFQ. CONCLUSION: These data indicated that the FFQ developed has a good validity and is reproducible

Health effects of omega-3,6,9 fatty acids: Perilla frutescens is a good example of plant oils

Perilla frutescens seeds are a good source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). The seeds of perilla are small end globular weight about 4 g/1000, contained approximately 35–45% oil. However the leaves are a very poor source of oil, since they contain only 0.2%. In addition, only the seed oil contains the omega 3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). In comparing to other plant oils, perilla seed oil consistently contains the one of the highest proportion of omega-3 (ALA) fatty acids, at 54–64%. The omega-6 (linoleic acid) component is usually around 14% and omega-9 (Oleic acid) is also present in perilla oil. These polyunsaturated fatty acids are most beneficial to human health and in prevention of different diseases like cardiovascular disorders, cancer, inflammatory, rheumatoid arthritis etc

Hypercholesterolemia and Myocardial function evaluated via Tissue Doppler Imaging

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