Relation of habitual cocoa consumption to aortic stiffness and wave reflections, and to central hemodynamics in healthy individuals

The effect of habitual cocoa consumption on arterial stiffness and wave reflection indexes, as well as on peripheral and central blood pressure, was assessed in 198 healthy subjects. In conclusion, higher cocoa intake was an independent determinant of low arterial stiffness and wave reflection indexes and was also independently associated with significantly lower central (aortic) pulse pressure.     

Rapid tests for sexually transmitted diseases

Many molecular diagnostic tests for sexually transmitted diseases (STD_s) have been described recently but are not often accessible to clinicians in practice. There is a need for rapid, easy-to-perform, and accurate diagnostic tests for clinicians, especially for use in developing countries, where sophisticated laboratory support is often unavailable. Rapid tests, often termed “point-of-care” (POC) tests, can be performed in less than an hour in the doctor’s office, clinic, or in a field setting. If simple laboratory equipment is available, a health care worker or clinician can make an immediate diagnosis of a STD. Progress has been made in the development of POC tests for HIV, syphilis, trichomonas, and bacterial vaginosis, but more work is needed for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Improvements in POC_s will allow for faster treatment or provision of interventions in infected persons, in order to prevent transmission to partners or infants, thereby enabling effective control efforts for STDs.