Nut consumption and age-related disease

Current knowledge on the effects of nut consumption on human health has rapidly increased in recent years and it now appears that nuts may play a role in the prevention of chronic age-related diseases. Frequent nut consumption has been associated with better metabolic status, decreased body weight as well as lower body weight gain over time and thus reduce the risk of obesity. The effect of nuts on glucose metabolism, blood lipids, and blood pressure is still controversial. However, significant decreased cardiovascular risk has been reported in a number of observational and clinical intervention studies. Thus, findings from cohort studies show that increased nut consumption is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality (especially that due to cardiovascular-related causes). Similarly, nut consumption has been also associated with reduced risk of certain cancers, such as colorectal, endometrial, and pancreatic neoplasms. Evidence regarding nut consumption and neurological or psychiatric disorders is scarce, but a number of studies suggest significant protective effects against depression, mild cognitive disorders and Alzheimer’s disease. The underlying mechanisms appear to include antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions, particularly related to their mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids (MUFA and PUFA, as well as vitamin and polyphenol content). MUFA have been demonstrated to improve pancreatic beta-cell function and regulation of postprandial glycemia and insulin sensitivity. PUFA may act on the central nervous system protecting neuronal and cell-signaling function and maintenance. The fiber and mineral content of nuts may also confer health benefits. Nuts therefore show promise as useful adjuvants to prevent, delay or ameliorate a number of chronic conditions in older people. Their association with decreased mortality suggests a potential in reducing disease burden, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and cognitive impairments.     

Circulating CCL20: A potential biomarker for active vitiligo together with the number of Th1/17 cells

Background

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease with varying pathological features. Activation of the CCL20-CCR6 axis plays an important role in chronic inflammatory diseases. However, whether CCL20-CCR6 and Th1/17 cells are indicative of active vitiligo is unclear.

Do I Just Look Stressed or am I Stressed? Work-related Stress in a Sample of Italian Employees

Work-related stress is becoming a significant problem in Italy and it is therefore essential to advance the theory and methodology required to detect this phenomenon at work. Thus, the aim of this paper is to propose a new method for evaluating stress at work by measuring the discrepancies between employees’ perceptions of stress and their leaders’ evaluation of the stress of their subordinates. In addition, a positive impression scale was added to determine whether workers might give socially desirable responses in organizational diagnosis. Over 1,100 employees and 200 leaders within several Italian organizations were involved in this study. Structural equation modeling was used to test such new method for evaluating stress in a model of stress at work that incorporates relationships among individual (positive impression), interpersonal (workplace bullying) and organizational factors (working conditions, welfare culture, training). Results showed that the leaders’ capacity to understand subordinates’ stress is associated with subordinates’ psychological well-being since higher disagreement between self and leaders’ ratings was related to lower well-being. We discuss the implications of healthy leadership for the development of healthy organizations.     

Decoding and rejuvenating human ageing genomes: Lessons from mosaic chromosomal alterations

One of the most curious findings emerged from genome-wide studies over the last decade was that genetic mosaicism is a dominant feature of human ageing genomes. The clonal dominance of genetic mosaicism occurs preceding the physiological and physical ageing and associates with propensity for diseases including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. These findings are revolutionizing the ways biologists thinking about health and disease pathogenesis. Among all mosaic mutations in ageing genomes, mosaic chromosomal alterations (mCAs) have the most significant functional consequences because they can produce intercellular genomic variations simultaneously involving dozens to hundreds or even thousands genes, and therefore have most profound effects in human ageing and disease etiology. Here, we provide a comprehensive picture of the landscapes, causes, consequences and rejuvenation of mCAs at multiple scales, from cell to human population, by reviewing data from cytogenetic, genetic and genomic studies in cells, animal models (fly and mouse) and, more frequently, large-cohort populations. A detailed decoding of ageing genomes with a focus on mCAs may yield important insights into the genomic architecture of human ageing, accelerate the risk stratification of age-related diseases (particularly cancers) and development of novel targets and strategies for delaying or rejuvenating human (genome) ageing.     

Frequency-Following Response Evoked by Acoustic Stimuli in Normal and Profoundly Deaf Subjects

A low-frequency acoustic stimulus was applied to the right mastoid, the right acromion and the distal phalanx of the right index finger in 10 healthy and 10 profoundly deaf subjects. The stimulus, which had a frequency of 80-120 Hz, was delivered by means of a special vibrating system, constructed for this purpose. The frequency-following response (FFR) was recorded. In all the healthy subjects, FFR appeared with a latency of about 6 ms from the stimulus onset and with a peak-to-peak amplitude of 0.3-1.2 μV. Also, in all the deaf subjects, a change in bioelectrical activity was recorded, which reproduced the stimulus frequency at a latency of about 6 ms and with a peak-to-peak amplitude of 0.3-1.2 μV. Afferent pathways by which the stimulus could be transmitted in deaf subjects are discussed.     

上海市某健康社区居民健康知识与健康行为干预效果

目的 探索健康社区建设工作对提高居民健康知识知晓程度与促进居民健康行为形成水平的效果.方法 采用多阶段抽样方法,使用统一的调查问卷,分别在2009年4月和2011年10月,对上海市某健康社区所辖11个镇/街道的768名居民进行干预前的基线调查和干预后的追踪调查.结果 干预后该健康社区居民对健康知识的知晓率(82.69％)高于干预前(70.63％),干预后的健康行为形成率(74.36％)高于干预前(63.06％),干预前后健康知识知晓率的差异和干预前后健康行为形成率的差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.01).结论 健康社区建设工作可以有效提高居民对健康知识的知晓程度,可以有效促进居民健康行为的形成水平,应持续大力推广健康社区建设工作.     

Vibration response imaging in healthy Japanesesubjects

BackgroundVibration response imaging (VRI) records the intensity and distribution of lung sounds during the respiration cycle. Our objective was to analyze VRI findings in healthy Japanese adults.MethodsVRI images of 106 healthy subjects (33.7±9.6 years, 52 male and 54 female), including 67 nonsmokers and 39 asymptomatic smokers, were recorded. The regional intensity of vibrations was assessed using quantitative lung data (QLD), and VRI dynamic images by rater assessment, left and right lung asynchrony (gap index), and regional lung asynchrony (asynchrony score).ResultsA dominance of total left lung QLD was observed in all subjects, and this phenomenon was more prominent in female subjects. However, there was no significant difference between the total left and total right lung QLD in smokers. Rater assessments showed that 81.1% of all subjects had a normal final assessment. Male subjects had a significantly higher percentage of good or normal assessments for all image scores, except dynamic image scoring. The asynchrony score was significantly higher in female subjects. There were no significant differences in these qualitative assessments between non-smokers and smokers.ConclusionsAlthough our QLD results were similar to those of a previous report, there were discrepancies between sexes for the qualitative assessments. A significantly higher number of female subjects had abnormal images as assessed by the raters. Furthermore, significantly higher asynchrony scores were observed in female subjects. The VRI variability in sex may be considered normal among the Japanese population. This study is registered with UMIN-CTR under registration number UMIN000002355.     

基于“健康中国”战略的公共图书馆健康信息服务

通过综述国内外公共图书馆健康信息服务研究文献，分析“健康中国”战略背景下公共图书馆开展公众健康信息服务的必要性和可行性，总结英国和美国的公共图书馆健康信息服务实践，提出了我国公共图书馆公众健康信息服务策略，即拓展健康信息服务功能、深化健康信息服务内容、针对服务对象提供分众服务及提升常态化应急信息服务能力。     

Self‐reported quantity of daily water intake and urine output in healthy young

Water is an essential nutrient and adequate intake and output of water is required for health maintenance. Water homeostasis is vital for life and optimal function and considerable interest surrounds the issue of recommendations for water consumption in healthy individuals. Few studies are available about self‐reported water intake and urine output. The aim of this study was to assess the quantity of water intake and urine output in 24‐h period in healthy young individuals. This prospective study was carried out on 31 students aged 18–24 years undergoing nursing education in a University during January 2011 in Sakarya, Turkey. Healthy young individuals were recruited for determination of the quantity of water taken in and urine excretion along 24 h; they recorded fluid input and urine output. The students collected the data during weekend break. In our study, the total daily fluid intake (mL) for females was 2082·6 ± 687·1 and the total daily fluid intake (mL) for males was 2720·8 ± 717·4. The total daily quantity of urine (mL) for females was 1623·4 ± 602·4 and the total daily quantity of urine (mL) for males was 1818·3 ± 420·6. This research may be the source for similar studies that could include seasonal changes, climates, cultures and different age groups.