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

Radiation-damage produced in BaHfO₃ irradiated with thermal and fast-neutrons

Samples of BaHfO₃ were irradiated with fast and thermal neutrons to produce ^181Hf. Attenuations of the gamma-gamma perturbed angular correlations in ^181Ta were observed, and they may have been caused by the interaction between defects (produced during or after neutron irradiation) and oxygen vacancies. Several defect structures were detected. For one of the structures, an excitation energy of 12 meV was measured, which was attributed to an electron state below the conduction band. The values of the dielectric constant and of the effective electron mass were also deduced

Nova shema za izravno upravljanje momentom asinkronih motora napajanih iz trofaznog izmjenjivača

This paper presents a novel controller based on Direct Torque Control (DTC) strategy. This controller is designed to be applied in the control of Induction Motors (IM) fed with a three-level Voltage Source Inverter (VSI). This type of inverter has several advantages over the standard two-level VSI, such as a greater number of levels in the output voltage waveforms, lower dV/dt, less harmonic distortion in voltage and current waveforms and lower switching frequencies. In the new controller, torque and stator flux errors are used together with the stator flux angular frequency to generate a reference voltage vector. Experimental results of the novel system are presented and compared with those obtained for Classical DTC system employing a two-level VSI. The new controller is shown to reduce the ripple in the torque and flux responses. Lower current distortion and switching frequency of the semiconductor devices are also obtained in the new system presented.U ovome se članku opisuje novi regulator zasnovan na strategiji izravnog upravljanja momentom i razvijen za primjenu u upravljanju asinkronim motorima napajanim iz trorazinskih izmjenjivača napona. Taj tip izmjenjivača ima nekoliko prednosti u odnosu na standardne dvorazinske izmjenjivače napona, kao što je veći broj razina u izlaznom valnom obliku napona, niži du/dt, manja distorzija harmonika u valnim oblicima napona i struje i niže frekvencije komutacije. U novom regulatoru moment i pogreške u statorskom toku koriste se zajedno s kutnom frekvencijom statora za tvorbu referentne vrijednosti vektora napona. Eksperimentalni su rezultati novog sustava prikazani i uspoređeni s rezultatima klasičnog sustava koji koristi dvorazinski pretvarač napona. Novi regulator pokazuje smanjeni šum u odzivima momenta i toka motora. U predloženom je sustavu također postignuta i manja distorzija struje i manja frekvencija komutacije poluvodičkih sklopova

Nova shema za izravno upravljanje momentom asinkronih motora napajanih iz trofaznog izmjenjivača

This paper presents a novel controller based on Direct Torque Control (DTC) strategy. This controller is designed to be applied in the control of Induction Motors (IM) fed with a three-level Voltage Source Inverter (VSI). This type of inverter has several advantages over the standard two-level VSI, such as a greater number of levels in the output voltage waveforms, lower dV/dt, less harmonic distortion in voltage and current waveforms and lower switching frequencies. In the new controller, torque and stator flux errors are used together with the stator flux angular frequency to generate a reference voltage vector. Experimental results of the novel system are presented and compared with those obtained for Classical DTC system employing a two-level VSI. The new controller is shown to reduce the ripple in the torque and flux responses. Lower current distortion and switching frequency of the semiconductor devices are also obtained in the new system presented.U ovome se članku opisuje novi regulator zasnovan na strategiji izravnog upravljanja momentom i razvijen za primjenu u upravljanju asinkronim motorima napajanim iz trorazinskih izmjenjivača napona. Taj tip izmjenjivača ima nekoliko prednosti u odnosu na standardne dvorazinske izmjenjivače napona, kao što je veći broj razina u izlaznom valnom obliku napona, niži du/dt, manja distorzija harmonika u valnim oblicima napona i struje i niže frekvencije komutacije. U novom regulatoru moment i pogreške u statorskom toku koriste se zajedno s kutnom frekvencijom statora za tvorbu referentne vrijednosti vektora napona. Eksperimentalni su rezultati novog sustava prikazani i uspoređeni s rezultatima klasičnog sustava koji koristi dvorazinski pretvarač napona. Novi regulator pokazuje smanjeni šum u odzivima momenta i toka motora. U predloženom je sustavu također postignuta i manja distorzija struje i manja frekvencija komutacije poluvodičkih sklopova

Effects of mindfulness-based interventions on biomarkers in healthy and cancer populations: a systematic review

Background: Only a small number of articles have investigated the relationship between mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) and biomarkers. The aim of this systematic review was to study the effect of MBIs on specific biomarkers (cytokines, neuropeptides and C-reactive protein (CRP)) in both healthy subjects and cancer patients. Methods: A search was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO and the Cochrane library between 1980 and September 2016. Results: A total of 13 studies with 1110 participants were included. In the healthy population, MBIs had no effect on cytokines, but were found to increase the levels of the neuropeptide insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). With respect to neuropeptide Y, despite the absence of post-intervention differences, MBIs may enhance recovery from stress. With regard to CRP, MBIs could be effective in lower Body Mass Index (BMI) individuals. In cancer patients, MBIs seem to have some effect on cytokine levels, although it was not possible to determine which specific cytokines were affected. One possibility is that MBIs might aid recovery of the immune system, increasing the production of interleukin (IL)-4 and decreasing interferon gamma (IFN-gamma). Conclusions: MBIs may be involved in changes from a depressive/carcinogenic profile to a more normalized one. However, given the complexity and different contexts of the immune system, and the fact that this investigation is still in its preliminary stage, additional randomized controlled trials are needed to further establish the impact of MBI programmes on biomarkers in both clinical and non-clinical populations.Instituto de Salud Carlos III of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and CompetitivenessNetwork for Prevention and Health Promotion in primary Care from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Spain)European Union ERDF fundsAragon Hlth Sci Inst IACS, Zaragoza, SpainShowa Univ, Dept Psychiat, Sch Med, Tokyo, JapanPrimary Care Prevent & Hlth Promot Res Network RE, Barcelona, SpainUniv Zaragoza, Miguel Servet Univ Hosp, Dept Psychiat, Zaragoza, SpainUniv Zaragoza, Fac Social & Human Sci, Dept Psychol & Sociol, Teruel, SpainFed Univ Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Prevent Med, Mente Aberta Brazilian Ctr Mindfulness & Hlth Pro, Sao Paulo, BrazilHosp Israelita Albert Einstein, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Zaragoza, Fac Hlth Sci & Sports, Huesca, SpainUniv Balearic Isl, Res Inst Hlth Sci IUNICS, Palma De Mallorca, SpainFed Univ Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Prevent Med, Mente Aberta Brazilian Ctr Mindfulness & Hlth Pro, Sao Paulo, BrazilInstituto de Salud Carlos III of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness: PI13/01637Network for Prevention and Health Promotion in primary Care from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Spain): RD12/0005Web of Scienc

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

Molecular Characteristics of Extraintestinal Pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC), Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC), and Multidrug Resistant E. coli Isolated from Healthy Dogs in Spain. Whole Genome Sequencing of Canine ST372 Isolates and Comparison with Human Isolates Causing Extraintestinal Infections

Under a one health perspective and the worldwide antimicrobial resistance concern, we investigated extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC), uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC), and multidrug resistant (MDR) E. coli from 197 isolates recovered from healthy dogs in Spain between 2013 and 2017. A total of 91 (46.2%) isolates were molecularly classified as ExPEC and/or UPEC, including 50 clones, among which (i) four clones were dominant (B2-CH14-180-ST127, B2-CH52-14-ST141, B2-CH103-9-ST372 and F-CH4-58-ST648) and (ii) 15 had been identified among isolates causing extraintestinal infections in Spanish and French humans in 2015 and 2016. A total of 28 (14.2%) isolates were classified as MDR, associated with B1, D, and E phylogroups, and included 24 clones, of which eight had also been identified among the human clinical isolates. We selected 23 ST372 strains, 21 from healthy dogs, and two from human clinical isolates for whole genome sequencing and built an SNP-tree with these 23 genomes and 174 genomes (128 from canine strains and 46 from human strains) obtained from public databases. These 197 genomes were segregated into six clusters. Cluster 1 comprised 74.6% of the strain genomes, mostly composed of canine strain genomes (p < 0.00001). Clusters 4 and 6 also included canine strain genomes, while clusters 2, 3, and 5 were significantly associated with human strain genomes. Finding several common clones and clone-related serotypes in dogs and humans suggests a potentially bidirectional clone transfer that argues for the one health perspective