Long-term lifestyle and dietary habits in relation to cardiovascular mortality and life expectancy: a prospective cohort study

Introduction: In prospective cohort studies, information on lifestyle and dietary habits is generally only assessed at the baseline examination, assuming that these habits are relatively constant over the entire study period. Repeated measures can take into account changes in these habits, reduce measurement error due to a reduction in within-subject variation, and can give more insight into the etiology of diseases. The main objective of this thesis is to assess the relationships of recent and long-term exposure to known lifestyle and dietary risk factors with cardiovascular mortality and life expectancy. Methods: We used data from the Zutphen Study, a prospective cohort study among 1373 men born between 1900 and 1920. These men were examined repeatedly in seven examination rounds between 1960 and 2000. In addition to hazard ratios (HR), we presented some of our results in terms of differences in life expectancy at age 50. Main findings on lifestyle factors: We found that both the number of cigarettes smoked and smoking duration were strongly associated with mortality risk. Compared to never or long-term former smoking, cigarette smoking decreased life expectancy by about 7 years and exclusive cigar or pipe smoking decreased life expectancy by about 5 years. Stopping smoking cigarettes at age 50 increased life expectancy by 3.3 years. Furthermore, we observed that long-term light alcohol intake, i.e. Main findings on dietary factors: We observed that average trans unsaturated fatty acid intake decreased from 7 to about 1 percent of energy intake between 1960 and 2000 and that each additional 2 percent of long-term energy intake from trans unsaturated fatty acids was positively associated with sudden coronary death (HR: 1.62 [1.01 to 2.60]). In contrast, long-term fatty fish consumption was inversely associated with sudden coronary death (HR: 0.46 [0.27 to 0.78]). The strength of the association between long-term total fish consumption and coronary heart disease (CHD) death decreased from age 50 (HR: 0.32 [0.13 to 0.80]) until age 80 (HR: 1.34 [0.58 to 3.12]). We observed no clear dose-response relationship between the intake of the n-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, and (sudden) coronary death. Finally, we found that each additional 10 grams of recent dietary fiber intake was associated with a lower risk of CHD (HR: 0.83 [0.70 to 0.98]) and all-cause (HR: 0.91 [0.82 to 1.00]) mortality. Conclusions: The studies described in this thesis emphasize the importance of lifestyle and diet for public health. Our results suggest that non-smoking and a low level of wine consumption decrease the risk of (cardiovascular) mortality and will increase life expectancy at age 50. The long-term consumption of fatty fish and the reduction in long-term trans unsaturated fatty acid intake may prevent sudden coronary deaths, and a higher recent dietary fiber intake may reduce both CHD and all-cause mortality risk. <br/

Long-term wine consumption is related to cardiovascular mortality and life expectancy independently of moderate alcohol intake: the Zutphen Study

Background: Light to moderate alcohol intake lowers the risk of cardiovascular mortality, but whether this protective effect can be attributed to a specific type of beverage remains unclear. Moreover, little is known about the effects of long-term alcohol intake on life expectancy. Methods: The impact of long-term alcohol intake and types of alcoholic beverages consumed on cardiovascular mortality and life expectancy at age 50 was investigated in the Zutphen Study, a cohort of 1373 men born between 1900 and 1920 and examined repeatedly between 1960 and 2000. Hazard ratios (HRs) for total alcohol intake and alcohol from wine, beer and spirits were obtained from time-dependent Cox regression models. Life expectancy at age 50 was calculated from areas under survival curves. Results: Long-term light alcohol intake, that is =20 g per day, compared with no alcohol, was strongly and inversely associated with cerebrovascular (HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.70), total cardiovascular (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.89) and all-cause mortality (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.91). Independent of total alcohol intake, long-term wine consumption of, on average, less than half a glass per day was strongly and inversely associated with coronary heart disease (HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.89), total cardiovascular (HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.86) and all-cause mortality (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.87). These results could not be explained by differences in socioeconomic status. Life expectancy was about 5 years longer in men who consumed wine compared with those who did not use alcoholic beverages. Conclusion: Long-term light alcohol intake lowered cardiovascular and all-cause mortality risk and increased life expectancy. Light wine consumption was associated with 5 years longer life expectancy; however, more studies are needed to verify this resul

Bell-LaPadula model of computer security

The exact description is given of Bell and La Padula security model with use of modern notation. The document is intended serve as a basis for more precise formal and academic discussion model. The Bell-La Padula security model created conceptual tools for the analysis and design of safe computer systems. When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/2882

Summation of reinforcement rates when conditioned stimuli are presented in compound

Three experiments used delay conditioning of magazine approach in rats to examine the summation of responding when two conditioned stimuli (CSs) are presented together as a compound. The duration of each CS varied randomly from trial-to-trial around a mean that differed between the CSs. This meant that the rats’ response rate to each CS was systematically related to the reinforcement rate of that CS, but remained steady as time elapsed during the CS (Harris & Carpenter, in press; Harris, Gharaei, & Pincham, in press). When the rats were presented with a compound of two CSs that had been conditioned separately, they responded more during the compound than during either of the CSs individually. More significantly, however, in all three experiments, the rats responded to the compound at the same rate as they responded to a third CS that had been reinforced at a rate equal to the sum of the reinforcement rates of the two CSs in compound. We discuss the implications of this finding for associative models (e.g., Rescorla & Wagner, 1972) and rate-based models (Gallistel & Gibbon, 2000) of conditioning.Grant DP1092695 from the Australian Research Counci

Cholesterol metabolism: A review of how ageing disrupts the biological mechanisms responsible for its regulation

Cholesterol plays a vital role in the human body as a precursor of steroid hormones and bile acids, in addition to providing structure to cell membranes. Whole body cholesterol metabolism is maintained by a highly coordinated balancing act between cholesterol ingestion, synthesis, absorption, and excretion. The aim of this review is to discuss how ageing interacts with these processes. Firstly, we will present an overview of cholesterol metabolism. Following this, we discuss how the biological mechanisms which underpin cholesterol metabolism are effected by ageing. Included in this discussion are lipoprotein dynamics, cholesterol absorption/synthesis and the enterohepatic circulation/synthesis of bile acids. Moreover, we discuss the role of oxidative stress in the pathological progression of atherosclerosis and also discuss how cholesterol biosynthesis is effected by both the mammalian target of rapamycin and sirtuin pathways. Next, we examine how diet and alterations to the gut microbiome can be used to mitigate the impact ageing has on cholesterol metabolism. We conclude by discussing how mathematical models of cholesterol metabolism can be used to identify therapeutic interventions

Long-term lifestyle and dietary habits in relation to cardiovascular mortality and life expectancy: a prospective cohort study

Introduction: In prospective cohort studies, information on lifestyle and dietary habits is generally only assessed at the baseline examination, assuming that these habits are relatively constant over the entire study period. Repeated measures can take into account changes in these habits, reduce measurement error due to a reduction in within-subject variation, and can give more insight into the etiology of diseases. The main objective of this thesis is to assess the relationships of recent and long-term exposure to known lifestyle and dietary risk factors with cardiovascular mortality and life expectancy. Methods: We used data from the Zutphen Study, a prospective cohort study among 1373 men born between 1900 and 1920. These men were examined repeatedly in seven examination rounds between 1960 and 2000. In addition to hazard ratios (HR), we presented some of our results in terms of differences in life expectancy at age 50. Main findings on lifestyle factors: We found that both the number of cigarettes smoked and smoking duration were strongly associated with mortality risk. Compared to never or long-term former smoking, cigarette smoking decreased life expectancy by about 7 years and exclusive cigar or pipe smoking decreased life expectancy by about 5 years. Stopping smoking cigarettes at age 50 increased life expectancy by 3.3 years. Furthermore, we observed that long-term light alcohol intake, i.e. <20 grams per day, compared to no alcohol intake, lowered cardiovascular (HR: 0.70 [95% confidence interval: 0.55 to 0.89]) and all-cause (HR: 0.75 [0.63 to 0.91]) mortality risk. Compared to men who do not consume alcohol, wine consumers had a 5 years longer life expectancy. Main findings on dietary factors: We observed that average trans unsaturated fatty acid intake decreased from 7 to about 1 percent of energy intake between 1960 and 2000 and that each additional 2 percent of long-term energy intake from trans unsaturated fatty acids was positively associated with sudden coronary death (HR: 1.62 [1.01 to 2.60]). In contrast, long-term fatty fish consumption was inversely associated with sudden coronary death (HR: 0.46 [0.27 to 0.78]). The strength of the association between long-term total fish consumption and coronary heart disease (CHD) death decreased from age 50 (HR: 0.32 [0.13 to 0.80]) until age 80 (HR: 1.34 [0.58 to 3.12]). We observed no clear dose-response relationship between the intake of the n-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, and (sudden) coronary death. Finally, we found that each additional 10 grams of recent dietary fiber intake was associated with a lower risk of CHD (HR: 0.83 [0.70 to 0.98]) and all-cause (HR: 0.91 [0.82 to 1.00]) mortality. Conclusions: The studies described in this thesis emphasize the importance of lifestyle and diet for public health. Our results suggest that non-smoking and a low level of wine consumption decrease the risk of (cardiovascular) mortality and will increase life expectancy at age 50. The long-term consumption of fatty fish and the reduction in long-term trans unsaturated fatty acid intake may prevent sudden coronary deaths, and a higher recent dietary fiber intake may reduce both CHD and all-cause mortality risk