Unemployment an Unauthorized Unique Road About Apathy and Poverty the Macedonian Man Without Knowledge and Skills

The topic was aimed at debating the reality that Macedonia as a welfare state and unemployment, ie poverty, constitutional freedom and the right to seek or work to protect from poverty. The aim was the different directions to the concepts of anomalies: unemployment, apathy, poverty, and knowledge related to the concept - Macedonian social state. The topic of socialization was relevant not only for Macedonia but also for all countries in the world now that we are in transition and transformation, dynamism and complexity of the activity of social processes. Macedonian current conditions have changed for the social order of the lost values of the previous rules by taking risks because they are inevitable and more complex. It is the beginning to its characteristics representing qualitative changes in morality, which has not led to turbulence. The lack of value, but also the normative solidarity of social existence, did not lead to a situation of threatening the state of the complex - integrity and autonomy

Cocoa and chocolate, their clinical benefits:Insights in study design

Randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses have demonstrated the potential protective effect of cocoa and chocolate consumption with respect to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk markers. Findings from experimental studies are in concordance with observational data, which include reduction in clinical disease (especially stroke) being associated with chocolate consumption. However, the effect size of any benefit, and the exact mechanism of action due to variability in reporting of dose and type potential bioactive compounds remains unclear. Thus, the present review aimed to analyse the published work where cocoa and chocolate have been assessed for their potential to protect against CVD and highlight the role of study design and type of product used in the variances of outcomes and how that might be used in formulating health advice

Effects of the Consumption of Prickly Pear Cacti (Opuntia spp.) and its Products on Blood Glucose Levels and Insulin: A Systematic Review

Background and Objectives: There is confusion as to which component of the Opuntia spp. cacti has demonstrated anti-hyperglycemic effects or anti-diabetic properties. It is important to clarify these health benefits due to the increasing need for prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. The aim of this review is to identify the effects of Opuntia spp. cacti consumption on biomedical measures; glucose and insulin with consideration of its' components; fruit, leaf and combined or unidentified Opuntia spp. products. Materials and Methods: Prior to commencing the searches, this systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42018108765). Following the PRISMA 2009 guidelines, six electronic databases (Food Science and Technology Abstracts (EBSCO), Medline, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science and Cochrane) were searched for articles investigating the effect of Opuntia spp. consumption on glucose and insulin in humans. Results: Initially, 335 articles were sourced and filtered by exclusion criteria (human interventions, control trials and articles published in English) resulting in 20 relevant articles. The included studies were characterized by such plant components as fruit (n = 4), cladode (n = 12), and other Opuntia spp. products (n = 4), further separated by clinical populations ('healthy', hyperlipidemic, hypercholesterolemic, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus). The findings of this review indicate variations in effects between cacti components and products. Cladode and select Opuntia spp. products predominately demonstrated significant reductions in serum glucose and insulin, indicating potential as a functional food candidate. Prickly Pear fruit was predominately reported to have no significant effects on glucose or insulin. The quality of evidence appeared to vary based on the type of Opuntia spp. product used. Studies that used specifically the fruit or cladode had high risk of bias, whereas studies which used combined Opuntia spp. products had a lower risk of bias. Numerous mechanisms of action were proposed where positive findings were reported, with emphasis on dualistic glucose-dependent and independent actions, however, mechanisms require further elucidation. Conclusion: Currently, there is a lack of evidence to support the recommendation of using Opuntia spp. fruit products as an alternative or complementary therapy in the reduction of risk or management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. The Cladode does however show promise in potential glucose-lowering effects which warrant further investigation

Tocotrienols, health and ageing: A systematic review

Objectives A systematic review of studies was undertaken to evaluate the potential effect of intake of tocotrienols or circulating levels of tocotrienols on parameters associated with successful ageing, specifically in relation to cognitive function, osteoporosis and DNA damage. Methods Following PRISMA guidelines a systematic review of epidemiological observational studies and clinical trials was undertaken. Inclusion criteria included all English language publications in the databases PubMed and Scopus, through to the end of July 2016. Results Evidence from prospective and case-control studies suggested that increased blood levels of tocotrienols were associated with favorable cognitive function outcomes. A clinical trial of tocotrienol supplementation for 6 months suggested a beneficial effect of intake on DNA damage rates, but only in elderly people. Regarding osteoporosis, only in vitro studies with cultures of human bone cells were identified, and these demonstrated significant inhibition of osteoclast activity and promotion of osteoblast activity. Conclusions Research in middle-aged and elderly humans suggests that tocotrienols have a potential beneficial anti-ageing action with respect to cognitive impairment and DNA damage. Clinical trials are required to elucidate these effects

Is Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Connected with Cognition? The Complex Interplay between Liver and Brain

The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its progressive form, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is increasing in parallel with the rising rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Approximately one in four adults are diagnosed with liver steatosis globally. NAFLD is associated with insulin resistance, hypertension, obesity, visceral adiposity, and dyslipidaemia. These risk factors are often accompanied by inflammation and oxidative stress, which also play a role in extrahepatic diseases, including conditions related to the central nervous system, such as mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. The number of people living with dementia is approximately 55 million and is estimated to increase to approximately 2 billion people by 2050. Recent studies have found that NAFLD is associated with poorer cognition. The aim of this review was to summarise the findings of hitherto studies that have linked NAFLD with cognition and dementia, as well as to discuss the potential liver–brain pathways

The Effects of Dietary Polyphenols on Circulating Cardiovascular Disease Biomarkers and Iron Status:A Systematic Review

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is rising worldwide, remaining the major cause of death in developed countries. Polyphenols have been shown to have cardioprotective properties; however, their impact on iron bioavailability and potential impact on other aspects of health is unclear. A systematic review was undertaken to evaluate the current status of the relationship between habitual polyphenol consumption, iron status, and circulating biomarkers of CVD. Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) 2009 guidelines, searches were performed across 5 electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL) to identify randomized controlled trials which investigated the effects of polyphenol consumption on inflammatory markers, serum lipid profile, and iron absorption and bioavailability. In total, 1174 records were identified, with only 7 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. The selected studies involved 133 participants and used a variety of foods and supplements, including olive oil and cherries, rich in polyphenols including hydroxytyrosol, quercetin, and resveratrol, as well as catechin enriched drinks. The duration of the studies ranged from between 56 and 145 days, with total polyphenolic content of the food items and supplements ranging from 45 to 1015 mg (per 100 g). Polyphenols did not appear to interfere with iron status, and most studies reported improvements in inflammatory markers and lipid profile. While these results are promising, the limited number of studies and considerable heterogeneity across the interventions support the need for more extensive trials assessing the relationship between polyphenol intake, iron bioavailability, and CVD risk

The Effect of L-Theanine Incorporated in a Functional Food Product (Mango Sorbet) on Physiological Responses in Healthy Males: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial

Consumption of L-Theanine (L-THE) has been associated with a sensation of relaxation, as well as a reduction of stress. However, these physiological responses have yet to be elucidated in humans where L-THE is compared alongside food or as a functional ingredient within the food matrix. The aim of this study was to determine the physiological responses of a single intake of a potential functional food product (mango sorbet) containing L-THE (ms-L-THE; 200 mgw/w) in comparison to a flavour and colour-matched placebo (ms). Eighteen healthy male participants were recruited in this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The participants were required to consume ms-L-THE or placebo and their blood pressure (BP) (systolic and diastolic), heart rate (HR), and heart rate variability (HRV) were monitored continuously over 90 minutes. Eleven males (age 27.7 ± 10.8 years) completed the study. Changes in area under the curve for systolic and diastolic blood pressure and HRV over the 90 minute observation period indicated no differences between the three conditions (all p > 0.05) or within individual groups (all p > 0.05). The values for heart rate were also not different in the placebo group (p = 0.996) and treatment group (p = 0.066), while there was a difference seen at the baseline (p = 0.003). Based on the findings of this study, L-THE incorporated in a food matrix (mango sorbet) demonstrated no reduction in BP or HR and showed no significant parasympathetic interaction as determined by HRV high-frequency band and low-frequency/high-frequency ratio. Further studies should be focussed towards the comparison of pure L-THE and incorporation within the food matrix to warrant recommendations of L-THE alongside food consumption

Adherence to Mediterranean diet ; not olive oil consumption alone predicts hypercholesterolemia in elderly : the MEDIS study

Background/Aims: This analysis aimed to compare the role of olive oil consumption with that of Mediterranean diet on their diagnostic value for the presence of hypercholesterolemia. Methods: Mediterranean islands study (MEDIS) recruited 2749 older (over 65 years of age) individuals between 2005-2015. Recruitment occurred from 21 Mediterranean islands and the rural Mani region (Peloponnesus) of Greece. Dietary habits, energy intake, physical activity status, sociodemographic characteristics (altitude in residing area, lifestyle parameters) and clinical profile aspects (including blood lipids) were measured. The level of adherence to Mediterranean diet was assessed using the a-priori index MedDietScore and olive oil consumption was assessed with a validated FFQ. The diagnostic value of the food data was assessed using the AUC for the presence of hypercholesterolemia. The p value for the comparison of AUC with 0.5 was performed with Likelihood Ratio test. [Excerpt]peer-reviewe

Residential altitude and fish consumption : effect on systolic blood pressure in elderly : MEDIS study cross-sectional results

Background/Aims: Frequent consumption of fish is associated with decreased SBP levels. Both aging and living at high altitude are associated with significant increases in Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) levels. The aim of this analysis was to examine the potential interaction between fish consumption and high altitude on SBP in elderly cohort. Methods: Mediterranean islands study (MEDIS) recruited 2749 older (aged 65+ years) individuals from 2005-2015. Participants were selected from 21 Mediterranean islands and the rural Mani region (Peloponnesus) of Greece. Dietary habits, energy intake, physical activity status, socio-demographic characteristics and clinical profile aspects (blood pressure) were measured. The altitude of the area was also recorded. [excerpt]peer-reviewe