7,014 research outputs found
The particularity of emotional words. A grounded approach
This work focuses on emotional concepts. We define concepts as patterns of neural activation
that re-enact a given external or internal experience, for example the interoceptive experience related to
fear. Concepts are mediated and expressed through words. In the following, we will use “words” to refer
to word meanings, assuming that words mediate underlying concepts. Since emotional concepts and the
words that mediate them are less related to the physical environment than concrete ones, at first sight
they might be depicted as abstract concepts. Evidence coming from several studies shows, instead, that
the issue is more complex. In this work, we will briefly outline the debate and illustrate results from recent
studies on comprehension of concrete, emotional and abstract words in children and adults. We will argue
that emotional words can be accounted for from a grounded perspective and will contend that emotional
words represent a particular set of words that differs from both the concrete and purely abstract ones
Coffee and blood pressure: exciting news!
A growing number of epidemiological studies have reported the beneficial effects of habitual coffee consumption on incident cardiovascular disease (CVD), and mortality. However, the effects of coffee on arterial hypertension are still objects of active discussion mainly because of the debated effects of caffeine on blood pressure and cardiovascular system. In particular, the negative impact of caffeine would involve the whole cardiovascular system and could be responsible for an excess in the relative risk of new onset of hypertension and a worsening of blood pressure control. Recent evidence has been published excluding a significant effect of coffee consumption on hypertension development and blood pressure control in treated and untreated hypertensive supporting a protective role for the antioxidant components of coffee that may counteract the claimed negative effect of caffeine. The presence and amount of caffeine and cardio-protective chemical constituents of coffee is largely dependent on the type, production, and method of preparation and this can partially explain the divergent opinions on the effects of coffee intake on blood pressure and cardiovascular system. In addition, some genetic aspect of caffeine metabolism can contribute to the heterogeneity of published evidence while the most recent cardiovascular guidelines largely endorse coffee consumption in hypertension and CV disease. The purpose of this short review is to briefly summarise some of the recent information available in the literature on coffee and blood pressure.Key points According to the considerable amount of observational evidence we can suggest that: • While acute coffee administration in non-habitual users may induce a blood pressure rise, habitual coffee consumption in medium-high dosages (from 3 to 5 cups/day), has neutral or even beneficial impact on blood pressure values and the new onset of hypertension. • The same intake significantly reduces the incidence of cardiovascular disease, as well as all-cause mortality. • The consumption of coffee is compatible with a correct and balanced lifestyle and should therefore not be discouraged in subjects with hypertension and cardiovascular diseases
Synergistic actions between angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and statins in atherosclerosis
Aims: Hypertension and hypercholesterolemia are independent risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) by acting directly on the endothelium and activating the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) and mevalonate pathways. This review examines how the severity and duration of these risk factors may influence the cardiovascular risk through a reciprocal interplay leading to oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory response.
Data synthesis: The review highlights the clinical evidence supporting the benefits of statins and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors for hypertension, lipid disorders and ASCVD management, both individually and combined, at all stages of the cardiovascular continuum.
Conclusion: Drug strategies incorporating an ACE-inhibitor and a statin, and in particular perindopril and atorvastatin, have consistently demonstrated reductions in the rate of ASCVD events in patients with hypertension and lipid disorders, cementing their position as first-line therapies for the management of atherosclerosis complications
Fixed combination of lercanidipine and enalapril in the management of hypertension: focus on patient preference and adherence.
Hypertension is one of the most important and widespread risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease. Once, combination therapy was traditionally reserved as a third-line or fourth-line approach in the management of hypertension. However, several major intervention trials in high-risk patient populations have shown that an average of 2-4 antihypertensive agents are required to achieve effective blood pressure control. Combination treatment should be considered as a first choice in patients at high cardiovascular risk and in individuals for whom blood pressure is markedly above the hypertension threshold (eg, more than 20 mmHg systolic or 10 mmHg diastolic), or when milder degrees of blood pressure elevation are associated with multiple risk factors, subclinical organ damage, diabetes, renal failure, or associated cardiovascular disease. A number of clinical trials have demonstrated that a fixed combination of lercanidipine and enalapril has better efficacy and tolerability than monotherapy with either agents. The fixed-dose formulation of lercanidipine-enalapril was well tolerated in all clinical trials, with an adverse event rate similar to that of the component drugs as monotherapy. The advantages of combination therapy include improved adherence to therapy and minimization of blood pressure variability. In addition, combining two antihypertensive agents with different mechanisms of action may provide greater protection against major cardiovascular events and the development of end-organ damage
'Use of lipid-lowering therapy: the guidelines, the drugs or the patient?'
The current step up approach in the therapy of dyslipidemias aims to reduce the amount of LDL cholesterol below a threshold that varies according to the patient's risk category, with a pharmacological approach that sees statins as a fundamental cornerstone. Although absolutely functional in reducing cardiovascular events, this therapeutic algorithm does not yet take into consideration the innumerable phenotypic variables that we can find in dyslipidemic subjects. The ever finer understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying dyslipidemias in combination with the novelties obtained through DNA genotyping will allow, in the near future, the development of a 'tailor-made' therapy for each category of patients. This article will summarize the most recent evidence regarding the therapy of dyslipidemias, with particular attention to the concept of cumulative exposure and some hypotheses on possible initial therapeutic proposals in patients with diabetes, vasculopathy, with hypertriglyceridaemia and with high levels of Lp (a)
RF communication with implantable wireless device: effects of beating heart on performance of miniature antenna
The frequency response of an implantable antenna is key to the performance of a wireless implantable sensor. If the antenna detunes significantly, there are substantial power losses resulting in loss of accuracy. One reason for detuning is because of a change in the surrounding environment of an antenna. The pulsating anatomy of the human heart constitutes such a changing environment, so detuning is expected but this has not been quantified dynamically before. Four miniature implantable antennas are presented (two different geometries) along with which are placed within the heart of living swine the dynamic reflection coefficients. These antennas are designed to operate in the short range devices frequency band (863-870 MHz) and are compatible with a deeply implanted cardiovascular pressure sensor. The measurements recorded over 27 seconds capture the effects of the beating heart on the frequency tuning of the implantable antennas. When looked at in the time domain, these effects are clearly physiological and a combination of numerical study and posthumous autopsy proves this to be the case, while retrospective simulation confirms this hypothesis. The impact of pulsating anatomy on antenna design and the need for wideband implantable antennas is highlighted
Intervalo hĂdrico Ăłtimo e compactação do solo com cultivo consorciado de milho e braquiária.
O cultivo consorciado entre a espĂ©cie forrageira e a cultura produtora de grĂŁos garante a produção de forragem no outono-inverno, alĂ©m de palha para cobertura do solo em sistema semeadura direta. O aporte de matĂ©ria seca radicular no perfil do solo possibilita a melhoria da qualidade estrutural do solo. Objetivou-se com este experimento verificar as alterações nos atributos fĂsicos e fĂsicohĂdricos do solo com o cultivo de milho solteiro e consorciado com Brachiaria brizantha. O experimento foi conduzido na Fazenda Experimental Lageado (UNESP, Botucatu-SP), entre os anos agrĂcolas de 2002/2003 e 2003/2004. Foram coletadas amostras com estrutura preservada de solo, por meio de anĂ©is volumĂ©tricos, nas camadas de 0 a 20 e 20 a 40 cm de profundidade, em trincheiras abertas em parcelas cultivadas com milho e mantidas em pousio na entressafra, bem como em parcelas cultivadas com milho consorciado com B. brizantha na linha de semeadura, mantendo a forrageira para pastagem apĂłs a colheita do milho. A partir dessas amostras, foi avaliado o Intervalo HĂdrico Ă“timo (IHO), por meio de curvas de resistĂŞncia Ă penetração e de retenção de água, em amostras com diferentes densidades do solo. O cultivo solteiro de milho na safra de verĂŁo Ă© suficiente para melhorar as caracterĂsticas fĂsicas e estruturais do solo na camada de 0 a 20 cm. O cultivo de braquiária em consĂłrcio com o milho por dois anos consecutivos melhora as condições fĂsicas e estruturais do solo na camada de 20 a 40 cm, com redução da resistĂŞncia mecânica Ă penetração e aumento da densidade crĂtica do solo
Manejo de espécies forrageiras em consórcio com milho safrinha.
O propĂłsito deste documento Ă© fornecer algumas informações sobre o cultivo consorciado de milho com espĂ©cies forrageiras dos gĂŞneros Urochloa e Panicum, de forma a proporcionar maiores subsĂdios na tomada de decisĂŁo quanto Ă adoção deste sistema visando a sustentabilidade de sistemas produtivos de grĂŁos e de carne/leite, pela utilização do componente forrageiro em duplo propĂłsito para fornecer forragem no perĂodo de maior escassez de alimento e, ainda, viabilizar o SPD pelo resĂduo depositado na superfĂcie do solo.Editado por: Germani Concenço, Gessi Ceccon
Manejo de espécies forrageiras em consórcio com milho safrinha.
O propĂłsito deste documento Ă© fornecer algumas informações sobre o cultivo consorciado de milho com espĂ©cies forrageiras dos gĂŞneros Urochloa e Panicum, de forma a proporcionar maiores subsĂdios na tomada de decisĂŁo quanto Ă adoção deste sistema visando a sustentabilidade de sistemas produtivos de grĂŁos e de carne/leite, pela utilização do componente forrageiro em duplo propĂłsito para fornecer forragem no perĂodo de maior escassez de alimento e, ainda, viabilizar o SPD pelo resĂduo depositado na superfĂcie do solo.Editado por: Germani Concenço, Gessi Ceccon
Vitamin D Supplementation and COVID-19 Outcomes: Mounting Evidence and Fewer Doubts
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has already killed more than 6 million people around the world. A growing body of epidemiological evidence suggests that low 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OH-vitamin D) plasma levels are associated with an increased risk of developing COVID-19 and -most importantly-with a higher risk of developing more severe COVID-19 and dying. On the other hand, vitamin D supplementation during the early phases of COVID-19 has been related to a decreased length of hospital stay, less frequent need for oxygen, and a reduced mortality rate in inpatients. This seems to be particularly true when high dosages are used. In light of this evidence, further studies are needed to define the best timing for vitamin D supplementation and the most effective dosage schedule
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