Vegetarians have a lower fasting insulin level and higher insulin sensitivity than matched omnivores: A cross-sectional study

Background and aims

Potential associations of vegetarian diet patterns with fasting insulin (FI) and insulin sensitivity remain unclear. We aimed to investigate whether vegetarian diets were associated with FI and insulin sensitivity in a cross-sectional study in Chinese vegetarians and matched omnivores and then to test whether it is independent of body mass index (BMI).

Effects of inversion time on inversion recovery prepared ultrashort echo time (IR‐UTE) imaging of bound and pore water in cortical bone

Water is present in cortical bone in different binding states. In this study we aimed to investigate the effects of inversion time (TI) on the signal from bound and pore water in cortical bone using an adiabatic inversion recovery prepared ultrashort echo time (IR‐UTE) sequence on a clinical 3 T scanner. In total ten bovine midshaft samples and four human tibial midshaft samples were harvested for this study. Each cortical sample was imaged with the UTE and IR‐UTE sequences with a TR of 300 ms and a series of TI values ranging from 10 to 240 ms. Five healthy volunteers were also imaged with the same sequence. Single‐ and bi‐component models were utilized to calculate the T₂* and relative fractions of short and long T₂* components. Bi‐component behavior of the signal from cortical bone was seen with the IR‐UTE sequence, except with a TI of around 80 ms, where the short T₂* component alone were seen and a mono‐exponential decay pattern was observed. In vivo imaging with the IR‐UTE sequence provided high contrast‐to‐noise images with direct visualization of bound water and reduced signal from long T₂ muscle and fat. Our preliminary results demonstrate that selective nulling of the pore water component can be achieved with the IR‐UTE sequence with an appropriate TI, allowing selective imaging of the bound water component in cortical bone in vivo using clinical MR scanners. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

In vitro degradation of polyurethane orthodontic elastomeric modules

The objectives of this study were to investigate the structural characteristics of orthodontic polyurethane elastomeric modules and their changes produced by mechanical and chemical ageing. Three products were tested (Generation II, Dentaurum, Alastic). For each product four groups of modules were studied under the following conditions: as-received (A(0)); after 3 weeks stretching at 50% elongation in air (B(0)); after 3 weeks immersion in an ethanol/water solution (3:1 v/v) to induce accelerated ageing (A(1)); and after 3 weeks immersion in the ethanol/water solution at 50% elongation, as above (B(1)). The chains and the solution extracts were characterized by micro-MIR FTIR spectroscopy. Specimens of group B(0) exhibited changes in peak intensities relative to the control group (A(0)), attributed to molecular orientation of poly (methylene glycol) soft segments and chain extenders such as butanediol. Moreover, group B(0) showed differences in the omega(CH(2))b peak at 1364 cm(-1), attributed to oxidative degradation of alpha-methylene groups by formation of ester, carboxylic acid or aldehyde groups due to hydrogen abstraction. Comparison of A(1) and B(1) groups with the controls (A(0), B(0)) showed no major differences between their respective spectra, apart from the loss of the 1639 cm(-1) peak attributed to ethylene NN bis (stearamide) wax. However, comparison of the spectra of the extracts from the elongated modules with the extracts of the controls revealed differences in the concentration of alcohol and alkene groups. The structural changes identified were the same in all the products tested and may indicate degradation mechanisms that could potentially hold intraorally.     

Anisotropy in the anodic dissolution of silicon elucidated by in situ infrared spectroscopy

The anodic dissolution of silicon in dilute HF electrolyte exhibits some anisotropy in the region of the first electropolishing plateau. This anisotropy can plausibly be assigned to an orientation-dependent surface chemistry. The silicon|dilute fluoride electrolyte interface has been investigated by in situ infrared vibrational spectroscopy in the differential mode, in the potential region where the surface turns from hydrogenated to oxidised. Silicon surfaces of different orientations exhibit closely similar behaviour. However, careful analysis of the ν OH region reveals a significant difference in the concentration of SiOH groups at (1 0 0)- and (1 1 1)-oriented Si surfaces. This observation points to the key role of the SiOH groups in determining the anisotropic behaviour of the electrochemical dissolution of silicon.     

Metabolic syndrome: pathogenesis, medical care and dental implications

BACKGROUND: The dental literature contains little information about metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its dental implications. TYPES OF STUDIES REVIEWED: The authors conducted a MEDLINE search for the period 2000 through 2005, using the term "metabolic syndrome" to define its pathophysiology, medical treatment and dental implications. RESULTS: MetS is the co-occurrence of abdominal obesity, hyper-triglyceridemia, reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, hypertension and impaired fasting glucose, which results from consumption of a high-calorie diet and decreased levels of physical activity superimposed on the appropriate genetic setting. Components of MetS synergistically promote the development of atherosclerosis, resulting in myocardial infarction and stroke. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Deteriorating oral health status is associated with worsening of the atherogenic profile. Tooth loss often results in chewing difficulties because of inadequate occlusive surfaces and may lead to alterations in food selection and dietary quality. This, in turn, adversely affects body composition and nutritional status, both of which are related to vascular health. Dentists should develop treatment plans that preserve and restore the dentition, thus ensuring maximum masticatory efficiency and affording patients the optimum opportunity to consume food that will not foster atherogenesis.     

Exercising with blocked muscle glycogenolysis: Adaptation in the McArdle mouse

Background

McArdle disease (glycogen storage disease type V) is an inborn error of skeletal muscle metabolism, which affects glycogen phosphorylase (myophosphorylase) activity leading to an inability to break down glycogen. Patients with McArdle disease are exercise intolerant, as muscle glycogen-derived glucose is unavailable during exercise. Metabolic adaptation to blocked muscle glycogenolysis occurs at rest in the McArdle mouse model, but only in highly glycolytic muscle. However, it is unknown what compensatory metabolic adaptations occur during exercise in McArdle disease.

Efficacy of Probiotics in Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases

Deaths from infectious diseases and deep concerns about increases in microbial resistance make it necessary for scientists to develop innovative therapeutic solutions and complementary therapies. Growing evidence is available on the therapeutic effects of probiotics. There are also documents about the beneficial effects of probiotics, but it is difficult to draw a definitive conclusion regarding the results of these studies because of the small sample size, the limitations of the study methods, and the use of different strains of probiotic bacteria. This review study summarizes the articles available on the scientific and electronic databases Embase, Medline, and Scopus until the end of 2017, including case studies describing beneficial microbes as tools for improving the process of controlling infectious diseases. Until the development of novel vaccines or other approaches occurs, the use of probiotics seems to be a logical way to attempt to control certain infectious diseases.