A calcareous nannofossil and organic geochemical study of marine palaeoenvironmental changes across the Sinemurian/Pliensbachian (early Jurassic, ~191Ma) in Portugal

The Sinemurian/Pliensbachian boundary (~ 191 Ma) is acknowledged as one of the most important steps in the radiation of planktonic organisms, especially primary producers such as dinoflagellates and coccolithophores. To date, there is no detailed study documenting changes in planktonic assemblages related to palaeoceanographic changes across this boundary. The aim of this study is to characterize the palaeoenvironmental changes occurring across the Sinemurian/Pliensbachian boundary at the São Pedro de Moel section (Lusitanian Basin, Portugal) using micropalaeontology and organic geochemistry approaches. Combined calcareous nannofossil assemblage and lipid biomarker data document for a decrease in primary productivity in relation to a major sea-level rise occurring above the boundary. The Lusitanian Basin was particularly restricted during the late Sinemurian with a relatively low sea level, a configuration that led to the recurrent development of black shales. After a sharp sea-level fall, the basin became progressively deeper and more open during the earliest Pliensbachian, subsequently to a major transgression. This sea-level increase seems to have been a global feature and could have been related to the opening of the Hispanic Corridor that connected the Tethys and palaeo-Pacific oceans. The palaeoceanographic and palaeoclimatic changes induced by this opening may have played a role in the diversification of coccolithophores with the first occurrence or colonization of Tethyan waters by placolith-type coccoliths

Lifestyle at Time of COVID-19: How Could Quarantine Affect Cardiovascular Risk

COVID-19 is causing a global pandemic with a high number of deaths and infected people. To contain the diffusion of COVID-19 virus, governments have enforced restrictions on outdoor activities or even collective quarantine on the population. Quarantine carries some long-term effects on cardiovascular disease, mainly related to unhealthy lifestyle and anxiety

A Comment on Griffin et al “My Quest, an Intervention Using Text Messaging to Improve Dietary and Physical Activity Behaviors and Promote Weight Loss in Low-Income Women”

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Coffee as a nutraceutical beverage

In a recent paper we found that coffee consumption was associated with a decreased risk of developing asymptomatic PAD in a selected population of pre-menopausal women (Mattioli, Migaldi, & Farinetti, 2018). Women with high coffee consumption had a good adherence to Mediterranean Diet and high levels of physical activity suggesting a healthier lifestyle, a known factor of prevention of atherosclerosis

Coffee in hypertensive women with asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease: a potential nutraceutical effect

Several studies suggest that coffee is associated with a lower risk of atherosclerosis.1,2 Coffee contains polyphenol antioxidants, which have been hypothesized to act against free oxygen radicals and lipid peroxidation and to improve endothelial function.1–3 Coffee is part of the Mediterranean diet, one of the healthiest diets. The characteristics....

Aspirin Use in Patients Undergoing Preoperative Evaluation for Minor Surgery

We found that 505 patients were treated with aspirin (16.8%), 312 men (61.8%) and 193 women (38.2%) (P < .05). In the group of patients treated with aspirin we found that 379 subjects—254 men (67%) and 125 women (33%)—were treated with aspirin according to guidelines for prevention of cardiovascular disease. In addition, 32 patients (all men) were treated with aspirin outside of guideline indications. Seven hundred ninety-eight patients (26.6%) that needed aspirin or antiplatelet therapy due to their cardiovascular risk were not treated, despite having no contraindication or allergy, and 126 patients discontinued aspirin despite appropriate indication

Energy drink consumption in young subjects: a growing problem

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Egg numbers and fecundity traits in nine species of Mantella poison frogs from arid grasslands and rainforests of Madagascar (Anura: Mantellidae)

The body size and number of eggs in dissected females were analysed in nine species of the Malagasy frog genus Mantella basing upon preserved specimens. These species were distinguished in terms of habitat and grouped as ‘grassland species’ (included M. betsileo, M. expectata, M. viridis), and ‘rainforest species’ (M. baroni, M. crocea, M. cowani, M. laevigata, M. nigricans, M. pulchra). The species with the lowest egg - number was M. cowani with a mean egg number of 37 ± 15, while the species with the highest egg-number was M. viridis with 115 ± 21 eggs. In general, the grassland species are characterised by a higher number of relatively small eggs. Moreover, their fecundity was positively and significantly correlated to female body size. Rainforest species were smaller in size and with a lower number of eggs. We interpreted these differences as possible consequences of habitat adaptations. Among the studied species, the Critically Endangered Mantella cowani is also featured by a low number and large size of eggs. This is likely correlated with the high elevation site of the central highlands where this species occurs