Cardiovascular Function During Supine Rest in Endurance Trained Males with New Zealand Blackcurrant: A Dose-Response Study

Purpose Blackcurrant contains anthocyanins that could alter cardiovascular function and reduce cardiovascular disease risk. We examined dose responses of New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) extract on cardiovascular function during supine rest. Methods Fifteen endurance trained male cyclists (age: 38±12 years, height: 178±5 cm, body mass: 76±10 kg, V?O2max: 56±8 mL?kg-1?min-1, mean±SD) were randomly assigned using a counterbalanced Latin square design to complete four conditions, a control of no NZBC, or one of three doses (300, 600 or 900 mg?day-1) of NZBC extract (CurraNZTM) for seven-days with a fourteen-day washout. Cardiovascular function (i.e. blood pressure, heart rate, ejection time, cardiac output, stroke volume and total peripheral resistance) during supine rest was examined (Portapres® Model 2). Results Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and ejection time were unchanged by NZBC. A dose effect (P<0.05) was observed for cardiac output, stroke volume and total peripheral resistance. A trend for a dose effect was observed for mean arterial blood pressure. Cardiac output increased by 0.6±0.6 L·min-1 (15%) and 1.0±1.0 L·min-1 (28%) and stroke volume by 5±8 mL (7%) and 6±17 mL (18%) between control and 600, and 900 mg?day-1, respectively. Total peripheral resistance decreased by 4±3 mmHg·L-1·min-1 (20%) and 5±9 mmHg·L-1·min-1 (20%) for 600, and 900 mg?day-1. Conclusion Seven-days intake of New Zealand blackcurrant extract demonstrated dose-dependent changes on some cardiovascular parameters during supine rest in endurance-trained male cyclists

A discussion and extension of &quot;A Transparent Schema-Evolution System Based on Object-Oriented View Technology&quot; by Young-Gook Ra and Elke A. Rundensteiner

In the article, Ra and Rundensteiner discuss a system which is the solution to the problem of updating a multi-user database for a particular user. When the user makes an update of his personal view, then there is a possibility that other users of the database cannot run their own applications due to this update. This problem can be solved when a particular user updates his own view first and then integrate this view with the total global schema of the database. This system is called schema evolution using view facilities. In order to make changes to his personal view, the person uses object algebra. Object algebra uses a kind of hierarchical structure with a basic element called class (object), together with methods, attributes and inheritance possibilities. Algorithms which are described in the article are using this object algebra. In the extension of this article I will describe these algorithms along with some complexity-analysis. Furthermore I will make a comparison with PSM and ..

Population-based nutrikinetic modeling of polyphenol exposure

The beneficial health effects of fruits and vegetables have been attributed to their polyphenol content. These compounds undergo many bioconversions in the body. Modeling polyphenol exposure of humans upon intake is a prerequisite for understanding the modulating effect of the food matrix and the colonic microbiome. This modeling is not a trivial task and requires a careful integration of measuring techniques, modeling methods and experimental design. Moreover, both at the population level as well as the individual level polyphenol exposure has to be quantified and assessed. We developed a strategy to quantify polyphenol exposure based on the concept of nutrikinetics in combination with population-based modeling. The key idea of the strategy is to derive nutrikinetic model parameters that summarize all information of the polyphenol exposure at both individual and population level. This is illustrated by a placebo-controlled crossover study in which an extract of wine/grapes and black tea solids was administered to twenty subjects. We show that urinary and plasma nutrikinetic time-response curves can be used for phenotyping the gut microbial bioconversion capacity of individuals. Each individual harbours an intrinsic microbiota composition converting similar polyphenols from both test products in the same manner and stable over time. We demonstrate that this is a novel approach for associating the production of two gut-mediated γ-valerolactones to specific gut phylotypes. The large inter-individual variation in nutrikinetics and γ-valerolactones production indicated that gut microbial metabolism is an essential factor in polyphenol exposure and related potential health benefits