Ideal cardiovascular health and incident cardiovascular disease among adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: To investigate the association between ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics and incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Methods: The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases were searched from January 1, 2010 through July 31, 2017, for studies that met the following criteria: (1) prospective studies conducted in adults, (2) with outcome data on CVD incidence and (3) a measure of ideal CVH metrics. Results: Twelve studies (210,443 adults) were included in this analysis. Compared with adults who met 0 to 2 of the ideal CVH metrics (high-risk individuals), a significantly lower hazard for CVD incidence was observed in those who had 3 to 4 points for the ideal CVH metrics (hazard ratio [HR]=0.53; 95% CI, 0.47-0.59) and 5 to 7 points (HR=0.28; 95% CI, 0.23-0.33). Weaker associations were observed in studies with older individuals, suggesting that there is a positive relationship between age and HR. Conclusion: Although meeting 5 to 7 metrics is associated with the lowest hazard for CVD incidence, meeting 3 to 4 metrics still offers an important protective effect for CVD. Therefore, a realistic goal in the general population in the short term could be to promote at least an intermediate ideal CVH profile (3 to 4 metrics)

Principales medidas de profilaxis en endoscopia bariátrica. Guía Española de Recomendación de Expertos

Bariatric endoscopy (BE) encompasses a number of techniques -some consolidated, some under development- aiming to contribute to the management of obese patients and their associated metabolic diseases as a complement to dietary and lifestyle changes. To date different intragastric balloon models, suture systems, aspiration methods, substance injections and both gastric and duodenal malabsorptive devices have been developed, as well as endoscopic procedures for the revision of bariatric surgery. Their ongoing evolution conditions a gradual increase in the quantity and quality of scientific evidence about their effectiveness and safety. Despite this, scientific evidence remains inadequate to establish strong grades of recommendation allowing a unified perspective on prophylaxis in BE. This dearth of data conditions leads, in daily practice, to frequently extrapolate the measures that are used in bariatric surgery (BS) and/or in general therapeutic endoscopy. In this respect, this special article is intended to reach a consensus on the most common prophylactic measures we should apply in BE. The methodological design of this document was developed while attempting to comply with the following 5 phases: Phase 1: delimitation and scope of objectives, according to the GRADE Clinical Guidelines. Phase 2: setup of the Clinical Guide-developing Group: national experts, members of the Grupo Español de Endoscopia Bariátrica (GETTEMO, SEED), SEPD, and SECO, selecting 2 authors for each section. Phase 3: clinical question form (PICO): patients, intervention, comparison, outcomes. Phase 4: literature assessment and synthesis. Search for evidence and elaboration of recommendations. Based on the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine classification, most evidence in this article will correspond to level 5 (expert opinions without explicit critical appraisal) and grade of recommendation C (favorable yet inconclusive recommendation) or D (inconclusive or inconsistent studies). Phase 5: External review by experts. We hope that these basic preventive measures will be of interest for daily practice, and may help prevent medical and/or legal conflicts for the benefit of patients, physicians, and BE in general

Global ecological predictors of the soil priming effect.

Identifying the global drivers of soil priming is essential to understanding C cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. We conducted a survey of soils across 86 globally-distributed locations, spanning a wide range of climates, biotic communities, and soil conditions, and evaluated the apparent soil priming effect using 13C-glucose labeling. Here we show that the magnitude of the positive apparent priming effect (increase in CO2 release through accelerated microbial biomass turnover) was negatively associated with SOC content and microbial respiration rates. Our statistical modeling suggests that apparent priming effects tend to be negative in more mesic sites associated with higher SOC contents. In contrast, a single-input of labile C causes positive apparent priming effects in more arid locations with low SOC contents. Our results provide solid evidence that SOC content plays a critical role in regulating apparent priming effects, with important implications for the improvement of C cycling models under global change scenarios

Análisis de pedigrí en la determinación de la diversidad genética de poblaciones bovinas para carne mexicanas

The objective of this study was to evaluate genetic diversity of seven Mexican beef cattle populations, using pedigree analyses. The analyses were carried out with the Endog software, using information of the registered animals on national herd-book of each breed. The size of the populations studied were: Angus (AN)= 73,271; Black Brangus (BN)= 68,474; Red Brangus (BR)= 12,925; Hereford (HE)= 13,248; Limousin (LI)= 53,221; Salers (SA)= 14,065; and Braunvieh (SE)= 184,788. In general, the populations showed important improvements in pedigree integrities for the more recent 10 yr, with comparative parameters to other published in cattle populations. The generation interval varied among breeds from 5.1 to 7.2 yr. The average inbreeding and relatedness coefficients were relatively low in the different populations (0.9-4.2 and 0.3-6.5 %, respectively); although increases of these indicators during the 10 more recent years were detected in some breeds (BN, BR and HE). The effective population size of studied populations fluctuated between 24 and 192, with values lower than 50 in BR and SA. The parameters related with probability of gene origin indicated that the unbalanced contribution of founders, the bottlenecks and genetic drift have had an important effect on the current populations with the consequent losses in genetic diversity. It is recommended to continue or adopt mating strategies that minimize inbreeding and the intensive use of few animals to maintain genetic variability in future generations, and to increase the genetic diversity through the strategical use of genes from other countries.El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la diversidad genética de siete poblaciones de bovinos para carne en México, mediante análisis de sus pedigríes. Los análisis se realizaron con el programa Endog, utilizando información de los animales inscritos en el libro genealógico nacional de cada raza. Los tamaños de los pedigríes estudiados fueron: Angus (AN)= 73,271; Brangus Negro (BN)= 68,474; Brangus Rojo (BR)= 12,925; Hereford (HE)= 13,248; Limousin (LI)= 53,221; Salers (SA)= 14,065; y Suizo Europeo (SE)= 184,788. En general, las poblaciones mostraron mejoras importantes en la integridad de sus pedigríes en los 10 años más recientes, con parámetros comparables a los publicados en otras poblaciones de bovinos. El intervalo generacional varió de 5.1 a 7.2 años entre razas. Los coeficientes de consanguinidad y de relación genética aditiva promedio fueron relativamente bajos en las diferentes poblaciones (0.9-4.2 y 0.3-6.5 %, respectivamente); aunque en algunas razas (BN, BR y HE) se detectaron incrementos de estos indicadores en los 10 años más recientes. El tamaño efectivo de población fluctuó entre 24 y 192, con valores menores que 50 en BR y SA. Los parámetros relacionados con la probabilidad de origen de los genes indican que las contribuciones desbalanceadas de los animales fundadores, los cuellos de botella y la deriva genética, han tenido un efecto importante en las poblaciones actuales, con la consecuente pérdida de diversidad genética. Se recomienda continuar o adoptar estrategias de apareamiento que minimicen la consanguinidad, y el uso intensivo de pocos animales para mantener la variabilidad genética de futuras generaciones, así como ampliar la diversidad genética mediante el uso estratégico de genes provenientes de otros países.

Patterns of healthy lifestyle behaviours in older adults: findings from the Chilean National Health Survey 2009–2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate healthy lifestyle behaviours across age categories in the older population in Chile. Data from 1390 older adults (≥60 years), in the 2009–2010 Chilean National Health Survey were analyzed. We derived the following age categories: 60–65, 66–70, 71–75, 76–80 and >80 years. The association between age and compliance with healthy lifestyle behaviours (smoking, sitting time, physical activity, sleep duration and intake of salt, alcohol, fruit and vegetables) were investigated using logistic regression. The probability of meeting the guidelines for alcohol intake (OR trend: 1.35 [95% CI: 1.11; 1.64], p = 0.001) and smoking (OR trend: 1.23 [95% CI: 1.13; 1.33], p < 0.0001) increased with age, whereas spending <4 h per day sitting time or engaging in at least 150 min of physical activity per week or sleep on average between 7 and 9 h per day were less likely to be met with increasing age (OR trend: 0.77 [95% CI: 0.71; 0.83], p < 0.000; OR trend: 0.73 [95% CI: 0.67; 0.79], p < 0.0001, and OR trend: 0.89 [95% CI: 0.82; 0.96], p = 0.002, respectively). No significant trend across age categories was observed for fruit and vegetables, and salt intake. The probability of meeting at least 3 out of 7 healthy lifestyle behaviours across the age categories was also lower in older age categories compared to those aged 60 to 65 years. Overall, in older adults the probability of having the healthy lifestyle behaviours of physical activity, sitting time and sleeping behaviours was low but not for smoking or alcohol consumption. With an increasingly ageing population, these findings could inform stakeholders on which lifestyle behaviours could be targeted in the older adults and therefore which interventions should take place to promote healthy ageing

Is saffron able to prevent the dysregulation of retinal cytokines induced by ocular hypertension in mice?

Cytokine- and chemokine-mediated signalling is involved in the neuroinflammatory process that leads to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) damage in glaucoma. Substances with anti-inflammatory properties could decrease these cytokines and chemokines and thus prevent RGC death. The authors of this study analysed the anti-inflammatory effect of a hydrophilic saffron extract standardized to 3% crocin content, focusing on the regulation of cytokine and chemokine production, in a mouse model of unilateral laser-induced ocular hypertension (OHT). We demonstrated that following saffron treatment, most of the concentration of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-17), anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10), Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), and fractalkine were unaffected in response to laser-induced OHT in both the OHT eye and its contralateral eye. Only IL-6 levels were significantly increased in the OHT eye one day after laser induction compared with the control group. These results differed from those observed in animals subjected to unilateral OHT and not treated with saffron, where changes in cytokine levels occurred in both eyes. Therefore, saffron extract regulates the production of proinflammatory cytokines, VEGF, and fractalkine induced by increasing intraocular pressure (IOP), protecting the retina from inflammation. These results indicate that saffron could be beneficial in glaucoma by helping to reduce the inflammatory proces