Dietary intake and biomarkers of alpha linolenic acid and risk of all cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of cohort studies

OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between dietary intake and tissue biomarkers of alpha linolenic acid (ALA) and risk of mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar to 30 April 2021. STUDY SELECTION: Prospective cohort studies that reported the risk estimates for death from all causes, CVD, and cancer. DATA SYNTHESIS: Summary relative risks and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for the highest versus lowest categories of ALA intake using random effects and fixed effects models. Linear and non-linear dose-response analyses were conducted to assess the dose-response associations between ALA intake and mortality. RESULTS: 41 articles from prospective cohort studies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis, totalling 1 197 564 participants. During follow-up ranging from two to 32 years, 198 113 deaths from all causes, 62 773 from CVD, and 65 954 from cancer were recorded. High intake of ALA compared with low intake was significantly associated with a lower risk of deaths from all causes (pooled relative risk 0.90, 95% confidence interval 0.83 to 0.97, I2=77.8%, 15 studies), CVD (0.92, 0.86 to 0.99, I2=48.2%, n=16), and coronary heart disease (CHD) (0.89, 0.81 to 0.97, I2=5.6%, n=9), and a slightly higher risk of cancer mortality (1.06, 1.02 to 1.11, I2=3.8%, n=10). In the dose-response analysis, a 1 g/day increase in ALA intake (equivalent to one tablespoon of canola oil or 0.5 ounces of walnut) was associated with a 5% lower risk of all cause (0.95, 0.91 to 0.99, I2=76.2%, n=12) and CVD mortality (0.95, 0.91 to 0.98, I2=30.7%, n=14). The pooled relative risks for the highest compared with lowest tissue levels of ALA indicated a significant inverse association with all cause mortality (0.95, 0.90 to 0.99, I2=8.2%, n=26). Also, based on the dose-response analysis, each 1 standard deviation increment in blood concentrations of ALA was associated with a lower risk of CHD mortality (0.92, 0.86 to 0.98, I2=37.1%, n=14). CONCLUSIONS: The findings show that dietary ALA intake is associated with a reduced risk of mortality from all causes, CVD, and CHD, and a slightly higher risk of cancer mortality, whereas higher blood levels of ALA are associated with a reduced risk of all cause and CHD mortality only. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42021229487

The association between plant-based diet indices and metabolic syndrome in Iranian older adults

BACKGROUND: We investigated the association between plant-based diets indices - an overall plant-based diet index; a healthful plant-based diet index; and an unhealthful plant-based diet index - and metabolic syndrome among Iranian older adults.AIM: We aimed to examine the relationship between plant-based diet indices and metabolic syndrome.METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 178 older adults (51 men and 127 women), with a mean age of 67.04 (60-83) who were referred to health centers in Tehran, Iran. Blood and urine samples were collected to measure serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides. We created an overall plant-based diet index, healthful plant-based diet index, and unhealthful plant-based diet index from semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire data. Anthropometric measures were done.RESULTS: Our crude model results showed that triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and waist circumference did not significantly differ between tertiles of plant-based diet index and healthful plant-based diet index; also triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, and waist circumference did not significantly differ between tertiles of unhealthful plant-based diet index, but high-density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly differed between tertiles of unhealthful plant-based diet index. After adjusting for confounders the results remained non-significant for plant-based diet index but high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significant for healthful and unhealthful plant-based diet indices. There was also no significant association between plant-based diet index (OR: 1.11; 95% CI: 0.53-2.33), healthful plant-based diet index (OR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.39-1.68), and unhealthful plant-based diet index (OR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.38-1.72) with metabolic syndrome, even after adjustment for confounders.CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that plant-based diets are not significantly associated with risk of metabolic syndrome in older adults. To confirm the veracity of these findings, more studies should be conducted.</p

The link between plant-based diet indices with biochemical markers of bone turn over, inflammation, and insulin in Iranian older adults

Background: The association of plant-based diets and biomarkers of bone, insulin, and inflammation is still unclear. Objectives: We investigated the associations between biomarkers of bone, insulin, and inflammation and three plant-based diet indices: an overall plant-based diet index (PDI); a healthy plant-based diet index (hPDI); and an unhealthy plant-based diet index (uPDI). Methods: We included 178 elderly subjects who referred to health centers in Tehran. Blood and urine samples were collected to measure osteocalcin. The Human C-telopeptide of type â collagen (u-CTX-I), highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25(OH) D, and insulin resistance and sensitivity. We created an overall PDI, hPDI, and uPDI from semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) data. Results: Dietary groups of Vegetables (r =.15, p =.03), nuts (r =.16, p =.03), dairy (r =.25, p =.001), eggs (r =.27, p <.001), red meat, and animal products (r =.25, p =.001) were directly correlated with osteocalcin. Refined grains were also had a positive association with serum insulin concentration (r =.14, p =.04). PTH levels are inversely associated with PDI score (β = â��0.18, p =.01). Also, serum insulin concentration was negatively associated with PDI score (β = â��0.10, p =.04). Urine CTX-1 levels were significantly associated with hPDI score (β = â��0.06, p =.04). u-CTX-1 levels are inversely associated with uPDI score. This significance did not change with the adjustment of the confounders (β = â��0.28, p <.001). Conclusions: More adherence to PDI and hPDI and less in uPDI may have a beneficial effect on biomarkers of bone, inflammation, and insulin thus preserving chronic diseases. © 2021 The Authors. Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LL

Dietary linoleic acid intake in relation to breast cancer: A case-control study

Background: The present study aimed to investigate the association between dietary linoleic acid (LA) intake and breast cancer in women. Methods: In this population-based case-control study, we enrolled 350 pathologically confirmed breast cancer cases and 700 controls which were matched with cases in terms of age and socioeconomic status. Dietary intakes were assessed using a 106-item Willett-format semi-quantitative dish-based food frequency questionnaire (DS-FFQ). Odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. Results: A significant inverse association was found between LA intake and odds of breast cancer (OR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.30-0.56). After adjusting for potential confounders, women in the highest tertile of dietary LA intake were 48% less likely to have breast cancer compared with those in the lowest tertile (OR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.28-0.95). Such a significant inverse association was also seen among normal-weight women (OR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.14-0.63), and premenopausal women (OR: 0.15, 95% CI: 0.02-0.95). Conclusion: The findings of current study provide evidence for a protective role of LA against breast cancer particularly among normal-weight and premenopausal women. Prospective studies are needed to confirm this association

Effects of oleoylethanolamide supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers, oxidative stress and antioxidant parameters of obese patients with NAFLD on a calorie-restricted diet: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Oxidative stress is considered a major factor in the pathophysiology of non-alcoholic liver disease (NAFLD). A growing body of evidence indicates that oleoylethanolamide (OEA), a bioactive lipid mediator, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This trial investigated the effects of OEA administration on inflammatory markers, oxidative stress and antioxidant parameters of patients with NAFLD.Methods: The present randomized controlled trial was conducted on 60 obese patients with NAFLD. The patients were treated with OEA (250 mg/day) or placebo along with a low-calorie diet for 12 weeks. Inflammatory markers and oxidative stress and antioxidant parameters were evaluated pre-and post-intervention.Results: At the end of the study, neither the between-group changes, nor the within-group differences were significant for serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis-factor α (TNF-α). Serum levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) significantly increased and serum concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and oxidized-low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) significantly decreased in the OEA group compared to placebo at study endpoint (p = 0.039, 0.018, 0.003 and 0.001, respectively). Although, no significant between-group alterations were found in glutathione peroxidase and catalase. There were significant correlations between percent of changes in serum oxidative stress and antioxidant parameters with percent of changes in some anthropometric indices in the intervention group.Conclusion: OEA supplementation could improve some oxidative stress/antioxidant biomarkers without any significant effect on inflammation in NAFLD patients. Further clinical trials with longer follow-up periods are demanded to verify profitable effects of OEA in these patients.Clinical Trial Registration:www.irct.ir, Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20090609002017N32

Influence of placental removal method on the incidence of post postcesarean

Introduction: Postpartum endometritis is 1-8% and cesarean section is one of its risk factor. Thepresent study was performed to compare the effect of manual removal and spontaneous delivery ofplacenta on post-cesarean endometritis and duration of cesarean operation.Materials and Methods: In this prospective (control–case) study, 280 pregnant women undergoingelective cesarean delivery in Shahid Sadoughi (Yezed, Iran) teaching hospital were randomly assignedto two groups: manual placental delivery (140 women) and spontaneous placental delivery (140women). Antibiotic prophylaxis was administered in both groups. The operation time concluded fromskin incision to skin repair. Endometritis was diagnosed in patients who developed clinical signs offever (>38°C) 24 h after delivery, supra-pubic tenderness and vaginal discharge. Data analysis wascarried out using t-test and chi square test by SPSS15.0.Results: The total rate of endometritis was 12.1% (34 women); 12 women in the spontaneousplacental delivery group (8.6%) and 22 women in the manual placental removal group (16%). Thisdifference was statistically significant between two groups (P=0.006). There was no statisticallysignificant difference in duration of operation between two groups (P=0.1).Conclusion: Our finding indicate that manual removal of the placenta increased postpartumendometritis in compared with the spontaneous method of placental removal, but had no influence onthe duration of cesarean

Augmented Portable X-ray Fluorescence Technology for Application to Soils: Towards Modular Soil-Specific pXRF Instrumentation for SOC Quantification

Soil organic matter and organic carbon are variables of critical environmental importance in terms of soil productivity and function, global food security, and climate change mitigation. The global population is projected to reach approximately 11 billion by the year 2100 which will necessitate increased global food production output. United Nations’ multi-models also predict atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations to reach between 794 and 1142 ppm by the year 2100 which would exacerbate climate change, and is detrimental to society. In response to these problems, the United Nations has championed the 4p1000 initiative which aims to mitigate climate change via the sequestration of atmospheric carbon into agricultural soils (thereby potentially reducing atmospheric CO2 concentrations, increasing crop productivity, and global food security). As a result, participating countries are attempting to sequester atmospheric carbon into agricultural soils necessitating advances in rapid and accurate soil organic carbon (SOC) quantification technologies to monitor these efforts. Portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) is a rapid, potentially high throughput, and cost-effective technique capable of elemental assessment. Portable X-ray fluorescence instruments are widely used to rapidly measure and map soil elements, however quantification of light elements that constitute the majority of organic materials is not yet possible with this technique (e.g. carbon). A novel modular sensor attachment for pXRF instrumentation was prototyped enabling concurrent volumetric SOC quantification during pXRF analyses. The novel sensor attachment was situated orthogonal to the analyzer surface area near the samples undergoing analyses (referred to as the “Z-Plane” sensor). The decay of X-rays in a sample is related to the bulk attenuation coefficient of the material and thus, radiation detected at the Z-Plane sensor is potentially relatable to sample organic content. This novel sensor attachment detected errant radiation near sample vessels during analyses and related those signals to SOM and SOC thereby extending pXRF capabilities as detailed in this thesis. This primary prototype was initially tested on soils (sand, Vertisol, Cambisol) spiked with SOM surrogates (sucrose, Lucerne), and produced quantitative soil specific simple linear regression (SLR) calibrations (R2 0.89-0.96) where the independent and dependent variable were sensor response and SOC via dry combusion respectively. The effects of sample depth and density on Z-Plane sensor response was assessed and methods were investigated to mitigate random variability in measurements associated with sample preparation and homogenization. Quantitative SOC data was generated on real-world woodland Nitisol samples using the novel Z-Plane sensor attachment (R 2 = 0.88, RSD = 19.09%, RPD = 2.67). The Z-Plane sensor, which cost approximately 100 U.S. dollars to build, produced SOC data that was comparable with existing spectroscopy instrumentation. The effects of geochemical variability in prevalent elements targeted by pXRF users was assessed using samples spiked with arsenic, zinc, and lead while employing different but commonly applied settings (detailed in the thesis), and using two pXRF instruments from different manufacturers (Bruker Tracer III SD and SciAps X250) (all R2 &gt; 0.71). A diverse group of different real-world soils (Vertisol, Luvisol, Ferralsol, Nitisol) from different land uses (uncultivated lands, farmlands, woodlands) were also investigated. An assortment of different, but common parameters and settings were applied and yielded varying results, from qualitative to quantitative (R 0.71). A diverse group of different real-world soils (Vertisol, Luvisol, Ferralsol, Nitisol) from different land uses (uncultivated lands, farmlands, woodlands) were also investigated. An assortment of different, but common parameters and settings were applied and yielded varying results, from qualitative to quantitative (R2 ≤ 0.90) supporting the potential of the Z-Plane sensor for quantifying SOC in parallel to pXRF analyses at a 30 second scan time. The sensor had difficulty when used in soils with low SOC content (approximately 0.3-0.5%) and future research vectors were suggested that may potentially increase efficacy and performance of this primary prototype including methods to better homogenize samples, and integration of more advanced components

Augmented Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Technology for Application to Soils: Towards Modular Soil-Specific pXRF Instrumentation for SOC Quantification - Dataset

This dataset contains the primary data generated and subsequently used in the data analysis. A nested filing system is used where each file is named according the data contained within and consists of spectrometer and/or Z-Plane measurements. The file paths and folder names will indicate the instrument, type of sensor data, employed settings, and individual sample information (where applicable). File names containing a “%” symbol indicate the measured SOC % for that sample

Successful treatment of calciphylaxis with pamidronate

Calciphylaxis is a complication of chronic kidney disease characterized by necrotic lesion in the skin. Histological examination reveals microcalcification of medium-sized blood vessels. We report on a 21-month-old girl with end-stage renal disease with severe calcium-phosphate imbalance. Calciphylaxis process started when she received calcium gluconate intravenously the day before the surgery to correct hypocalcemia and continued progressively despite peritoneal dialysis and forced stopping calcium-containing medication. Pamidronate, 0.5 mg/kg/d, was administered for 6 days and then once a week for 5 weeks. After 1 week, the skin lesion started to heal and circulation improved, and after 6 weeks, all skin lesions completely recovered. Pamidronate was effective to stop calciphylaxis in this case with advanced renal insufficiency and severe calcium-phosphate imbalance. Medical or surgical debridement are not suggested and lesions might recover without scar by pamidronate. © 2015, Iranian Society of Nephrology. All rights reserved

Frequency Distribution Candidal Vaginitis in Women Referred to Health Centers in Yazd

Introduction: The vaginal flora is a dynamic ecosystem that can be easily altered. Although, there are four causes of vaginal discharges which cover almost 95% of vaginaitis. Candidal Vaginaitis is an infection of the vagina’s mucous membranes by Candida albicans (CA). Present study attempted to Candidal Vaginitis in women referred to health centers in Yazd and the role of innate & cell-mediated immunity against Candidal Vaginitis. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted from September 2011 to September 2012 in Yazd city. A total of 360 women were recruited. The collection of material for diagnosis is ideally performed during a comprehensive pelvic examination using a speculum for diagnosis of CA with identify vaginal pH; smear preparing and staining and culturing. Results: Finally all of 360 women that observed and tested, 120 (33.33%) of them have involved and 240 (66.67%) have not involved. from 120 infected women, 55paitents had Bacterial vaginosis (15.6%) 40 patients had Ca (10.8%) and 25 patients had Trichomonas vaginalis (5.9%). Despite the role for cell-mediated immunity in host protection against the majority of mucosal CA infections, studied has been in women with recurrent vaginitis, in HIV-infected women. Thus, current investigations have been focused specifically on innate and acquired immune responses against CA at the vaginal mucosa instead of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis being caused by defective or dysfunctional CD4+ T helper 1-type cell-mediated immune reactivity. Conclusion: Strongly suggest that distinct vaginal lymphocyte subsets participate in the adaptive anti-Candida immunity at the vaginal level, with the vaginal CD4_ T cells probably playing a major role