Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Psychosocial Risk Factors for Stroke

Background Several studies have assessed the link between psychosocial risk factors and stroke; however, the results are inconsistent. We have conducted a systemic review and meta-analysis of cohort or case-control studies to ascertain the association between psychosocial risk factors (psychological, vocational, behavioral, interpersonal and neuropsychological) and the risk of stroke. Methods Systematic searches were undertaken in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycInfo and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews between 2000 and January 2017. Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts and full texts. One reviewer assessed quality and extracted data, which was checked by a second reviewer. For studies that reported risk estimates, a meta-analysis was performed. Results We identified 41 cohort studies and five case-control studies. No neuropsychological papers were found. Overall pooled adjusted estimates showed that all other psychosocial risk factors were independent risk factors for stroke. Psychological factors increased the risk of stroke by 39% (HR 1.39 95% CI:1.27;1.51), vocational by 35% (HR 1.35 95% CI: 1.20;1.51), and interpersonal by 16% (HR 1.16 95% CI:1.03;1.31). and the effects of behavioral factors were equivocal (HR 0.94 95% CI: 0.20;4.31). The meta-analyses were affected by heterogeneity. Conclusions Psychosocial risk factors are associated with an increased risk of strok

Gold nanoplasmonic particles in tunable porous silicon 3D scaffolds for ultra-low concentration detection by SERS

A composite material of plasmonic nanoparticles embedded in the scaffold of nanoporous Silicon offers unmatched capabilities to use it as a SERS substrate. The marriage of these components presents an exclusive combination of tightly focused amplification of Localised Surface Plasmon (LSP) fields inside the material with extremely high surface-to-volume ratio. This provides favourable conditions for a single molecule or extremely low concentration detection by SERS. In this work the advantage of the composite is demonstrated by SERS detection of Methylene Blue at the concentration as low a few picomolars. We systematically investigate the plasmonic properties of the material by imaging its morphology, establishing composition and their effect on the LSP resonance optical spectra

Aryloxyethyl thiocyanates are potent growth inhibitors of Trypanosoma cruzi and Toxoplasma gondii

As a part of our project aimed at searching new safe chemotherapeutic agents against parasitic diseases, several compounds structurally related to the antiparasitic agent WC-9 (4-phenoxyphenoxyethyl thiocyanate), which were modified at the terminal phenyl ring, were designed, synthesized and evaluated as growth inhibitors against Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease and Toxoplasma gondii, the parasite responsible of toxoplasmosis. Most of the synthetic analogues exhibited similar antiparasitic activity being slightly more potent than our lead WC-9. For example, the trifluoromethyl derivatives 15 and 16 exhibited ED50 values of 10.0 uM and 9.2 uM, respectively, against intracellular T. cruzi, whereas they showed potent action against tachyzoites of T. gondii (ED50 values 1.6 uM and 1.9 uM against T. gondii, respectively). In addition, the WC-9 analogues 48 and 61, in which the terminal aryl group was meta with respect to the alkyl chain bearing the thiocyanate group, showed potent inhibitory action against both T. cruzi and T. gondii at the very low micromolar range suggesting that para-phenyl substitution pattern is not necessarily required for biological activity.Fil: Chao, Maria Noelia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica; ArgentinaFil: Exeni Matiuzzi, Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica; ArgentinaFil: Storey, Melissa. University of Georgia; Estados UnidosFil: Li, Catherine. University of Georgia; Estados UnidosFil: Szajnman, Sergio Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica; ArgentinaFil: Docampo, Roberto. University of Georgia; Estados UnidosFil: Moreno, Silvia N. J.. University of Georgia; Estados UnidosFil: Rodriguez, Juan Bautista. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica; Argentin

Influence of sugar type on the bioavailability of cocoa flavanols.

The beneficial effects of cocoa on vascular function are mediated by the absorption of monomeric flavanols into the circulation from the small intestine. As such, an understanding of the impact of the food matrix on the delivery of flavanols to the circulation is critical in assessing the potential vascular impact of a food. In the present study, we investigated the impact of carbohydrate type on flavanol absorption and metabolism from chocolate. A randomised, double-blind, three-arm cross-over study was conducted, where fifteen volunteers were randomly assigned to either a high-flavanol (266 mg) chocolate containing maltitol, a high-flavanol (251 mg) chocolate with sucrose or a low-flavanol (48 mg) chocolate with sucrose. Test chocolates were matched for micro- and macronutrients, including the alkaloids theobromine and caffeine, and were similar in taste and appearance. Total flavanol absorption was lower after consumption of the maltitol-containing test chocolate compared with following consumption of its sucrose-containing equivalent (P = 0·002). Although the O-methylation pattern observed for absorbed flavanols was unaffected by sugar type, individual levels of unmethylated ( - )-epicatechin metabolites, 3'-O-methyl-epicatechin and 4'-O-methyl-epicatechin metabolites were lower for the maltitol-containing test chocolate compared with the sucrose-containing equivalent. Despite a reduction in the total plasma pool of flavanols, the maximum time (T max) was unaffected. The present data indicate that full assessment of intervention treatments is vital in future intervention trials with flavanols and that carbohydrate content is an important determinant for the optimal delivery of flavanols to the circulation