Physiological effects of a short-term, lifestyle intervention based on the Mediterranean diet - comparison between older and younger healthy, sedentary adults

Objective: To determine whether short-term adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) is associated with improved physiological function. Research Methods and Procedures: This was a single-centre, cohort pilot study. Twenty-four healthy, sedentary younger (18-35 years) and older (55-75 years) adults took part. Participants were advised and supported to follow the Mediterranean diet for 4 weeks. We took baseline and post-intervention measurements of weight, height, waist and hip circumference, blood pressure, heart rate, as well as microvascular physiological assessments using laser Doppler Fluximetry (LDF) at rest as well as transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2) during a sub-maximal exercise assessment. Results: We identified statistically-significant improvements in axon-mediated microvascular vasodilation (2.24 (±0.56) to 3.14 (±0.84), P =0.03) and endothelial-mediated NO synthesis (2.59 (±0.67) to 3.32 (±0.87), P =0.022) in the younger group. Despite the intervention not including an exercise element, the rate of perceived exertion was reduced in both groups (p<0.001), after following the MD for a month. Conclusions: Improvements in physiological function were observed following a short-term dietary intervention based on the MD in a younger population. These were not matched in a senior group. Our findings suggest that different durations should be applied when designing dietary interventions in different age-groups, with expectations in physiological improvements differing. Keywords: Mediterranean diet, LDF, Oxygen tension, cardiovascular disease, blood pressure

Contrasting effects of short-term mediterranean and vegan diets on microvascular function and cholesterol in younger adults: A comparative pilot study

The Mediterranean diet has been shown to improve cardiovascular health. Vegan diets have demonstrated similar benefits, albeit in fewer studies. In a comparative pilot study, we compared the effects of a short-term Mediterranean Diet (MD) and Vegan Diet (VD) on microvascular function and cholesterol levels in a healthy population. Twenty-four young (aged 18 to 35 years) healthy volunteers followed a four-week intervention (MD = 12; VD = 12) ad libitum. Pre and post-intervention anthropometrics, microvascular function (assessed via LDF and expressed as raw CVC and %CVC MAX), dietary-analysis data (Calories, Protein, Carbohydrates, Total Fat, Saturated Fat, Fibre), Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP), Blood Pressure, Total Cholesterol (TC), High Density Lipoprotein (HDL-C) and TC:HDL-C were compared. MD participants reduced Total Fat intake (p = 0.05). Saturated Fat decreased (MD: p = &lt; 0.001; VD: p = 0.004) and Fibre increased (MD: p = 0.02; VD: p = &lt; 0.001) in both groups. Dietary changes reflected improvements in plateau raw CVC in the MD group (p = 0.005), and a reduction in TC (p = 0.045) and weight loss (p = 0.047) in the VD group. The MD led to improvements in microvascular function; the VD led to reduced TC and weight loss. Although both diets might offer CVD risk-reduction benefits, evidence for the MD appeared to be stronger due to changes in vasodilatory ability and NO bioavailability

Effects of Long-Versus Short-Term Exposure to the Mediterranean Diet on Skin Microvascular Function and Quality of Life of Healthy Adults in Greece and the UK

The beneficial effects of the Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence in reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and improving CVD-related physiological indices have been well-documented. However, the exact MD adherence duration needed for these effects to occur is under-researched. The aim of the present, two-arm, two-site study clinical trial was to assess the effects of long- vs. short-term MD adherence on the skin microvascular circulation, and quality of life. Two groups were recruited, one being long-term MD adherers (>5 years; from Greece; control group), and one of the non-adherers (from the UK), with the latter participating in a four-week MD intervention (intervention group). Our main outcome was skin microvascular function assessed by cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC). Secondary outcomes included quality of life, dietary intake, blood pressure and lipidemic profile. At the end of the intervention, both groups had high MD adherence. For the intervention group, significantly improved post-intervention CVC values were noted concerning the initial peak phase (2.0 ± 0.6 vs. 2.8 ± 0.8; p 0.05). CVC values of the control group, were however higher at the plateau phase in comparison to the intervention group (intervention end; 3.8 ± 0.8 vs. 3.1 ± 1.2; p 0.05). As per QoL, the physical domain was improved post-intervention (13.7 ± 1.2 vs. 15.9 ± 1.2; p 0.05). No differences were observed in the lipidemic profile between groups, or between the baseline and final intervention phases. The findings indicate that although short-term MD adherence is effective in improving certain microvascular physiological properties and QoL domains, there is room for additional improvement, observed in long-term adherers. Our findings are important in the design of future, MD-based, lifestyle interventions, with the advisable durations differing between target groups

A Small RNA Controls Expression of the Chitinase ChiA in Listeria monocytogenes

In recent years, more than 60 small RNAs (sRNAs) have been identified in the gram-positive human pathogen Listeria monocytogenes, but their putative roles and mechanisms of action remain largely unknown. The sRNA LhrA was recently shown to be a post-transcriptional regulator of a single gene, lmo0850, which encodes a small protein of unknown function. LhrA controls the translation and degradation of the lmo0850 mRNA by an antisense mechanism, and it depends on the RNA chaperone Hfq for efficient binding to its target. In the present study, we sought to gain more insight into the functional role of LhrA in L. monocytogenes. To this end, we determined the effects of LhrA on global-wide gene expression. We observed that nearly 300 genes in L. monocytogenes are either positively or negatively affected by LhrA. Among these genes, we identified lmo0302 and chiA as direct targets of LhrA, thus establishing LhrA as a multiple target regulator. Lmo0302 encodes a hypothetical protein with no known function, whereas chiA encodes one of two chitinases present in L. monocytogenes. We show here that LhrA acts as a post-transcriptional regulator of lmo0302 and chiA by interfering with ribosome recruitment, and we provide evidence that both LhrA and Hfq act to down-regulate the expression of lmo0302 and chiA. Furthermore, in vitro binding experiments show that Hfq stimulates the base pairing of LhrA to chiA mRNA. Finally, we demonstrate that LhrA has a negative effect on the chitinolytic activity of L. monocytogenes. In marked contrast to this, we found that Hfq has a stimulating effect on the chitinolytic activity, suggesting that Hfq plays multiple roles in the complex regulatory pathways controlling the chitinases of L. monocytogenes

Retreatment for hepatitis C virus direct-acting antiviral therapy virological failure in primary and tertiary settings: The REACH-C cohort

Virological failure occurs in a small proportion of people treated for hepatitis C virus (HCV) with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies. This study assessed retreatment for virological failure in a large real-world cohort. REACH-C is an Australian observational study (n = 10,843) evaluating treatment outcomes of sequential DAA initiations across 33 health services between March 2016 to June 2019. Virological failure retreatment data were collected until October 2020. Of 408 people with virological failure (81% male; median age 53; 38% cirrhosis; 56% genotype 3), 213 (54%) were retreated once; 15 were retreated twice. A range of genotype specific and pangenotypic DAAs were used to retreat virological failure in primary (n = 56) and tertiary (n = 157) settings. Following sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir availability in 2019, the proportion retreated in primary care increased from 21% to 40% and median time to retreatment initiation declined from 294 to 152 days. Per protocol (PP) sustained virological response (SVR12) was similar for people retreated in primary and tertiary settings (80% vs 81%; p = 1.000). In regression analysis, sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir (vs. other regimens) significantly decreased likelihood of second virological failure (PP SVR12 88% vs. 77%; adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.29; 95%CI 0.11–0.81); cirrhosis increased likelihood (PP SVR12 69% vs. 91%; AOR 4.26; 95%CI 1.64–11.09). Indigenous Australians had lower likelihood of retreatment initiation (AOR 0.36; 95%CI 0.15–0.81). Treatment setting and prescriber type were not associated with retreatment initiation or outcome. Virological failure can be effectively retreated in primary care. Expanded access to simplified retreatment regimens through decentralized models may increase retreatment uptake and reduce HCV-related mortality

Ensayos sobre aplicación de la Teoría del Estado en las algunas culturas del Perú antiguo

Investigations of State Theory on the cultures of ancient Peru.Capítulos de libro con investigaciones de Teoría del Estado sobre las culturas del Perú antiguo, realizado por docentes y estudiantes de la Escuela Profesional de Derecho de la Universidad Nacional del Altiplano de Puno.      

Ensayos sobre aplicación de la Teoría del Estado en las algunas culturas del Perú antiguo

Investigations of State Theory on the cultures of ancient Peru.Capítulos de libro con investigaciones de Teoría del Estado sobre las culturas del Perú antiguo, realizado por docentes y estudiantes de la Escuela Profesional de Derecho de la Universidad Nacional del Altiplano de Puno.      

Ensayos sobre aplicación de la Teoría del Estado en las algunas culturas del Perú antiguo

Investigations of State Theory on the cultures of ancient Peru.Capítulos de libro con investigaciones de Teoría del Estado sobre las culturas del Perú antiguo, realizado por docentes y estudiantes de la Escuela Profesional de Derecho de la Universidad Nacional del Altiplano de Puno.      

Ensayos sobre aplicación de la Teoría del Estado en las algunas culturas del Perú antiguo

Investigations of State Theory on the cultures of ancient Peru.Capítulos de libro con investigaciones de Teoría del Estado sobre las culturas del Perú antiguo, realizado por docentes y estudiantes de la Escuela Profesional de Derecho de la Universidad Nacional del Altiplano de Puno.      

Ensayos sobre aplicación de la Teoría del Estado en las algunas culturas del Perú antiguo

Investigations of State Theory on the cultures of ancient Peru.Capítulos de libro con investigaciones de Teoría del Estado sobre las culturas del Perú antiguo, realizado por docentes y estudiantes de la Escuela Profesional de Derecho de la Universidad Nacional del Altiplano de Puno.