Associations between healthy food groups and platelet-activating factor, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A and C-reactive protein: a cross-sectional study.

Purpose: To investigate the association between pro-inflammatory markers platelet-activating factor (PAF), lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A (Lp-PLA), hsCRP, and intake of core food groups including fruit, cruciferous and other vegetables, grains, meat and poultry, fish and seafood, nuts and legumes, and dairy.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. 100 adults (49 ± 13 years, 31% male) with variable cardiovascular disease risk were recruited.

Interrelationships among platelet-activating factor and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A activity and traditional cardiovascular risk factors.

Traditionally cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk has been assessed through blood lipids and inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Recent clinical interest in novel pro-inflammatory markers platelet-activating factor (PAF) and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A (Lp-PLA ) recognizes that vascular damage can exist in the absence of traditional risk factors. This cross-sectional study investigated the potential relationship between circulating PAF, Lp-PLA , hsCRP, and traditional risk factors for CVD.

The association between dietary patterns and the novel inflammatory markers platelet-activating factor and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2: a systematic review.

Context: Atherosclerosis is a disease of chronic inflammation. Recent research has identified 2 novel inflammatory biomarkers: platelet-activating factor (PAF) and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2). Diet has been proposed as a mediator of inflammation, but to date, the focus for these novel biomarkers has been on individual foods and nutrients rather than overall dietary patterns.

Cross-validation study between the HRRT and the PET component of the SIGNA PET/MRI system with focus on neuroimaging.

Background: The Siemens high-resolution research tomograph (HRRT - a dedicated brain PET scanner) is to this day one of the highest resolution PET scanners; thus, it can serve as useful benchmark when evaluating performance of newer scanners. Here, we report results from a cross-validation study between the HRRT and the whole-body GE SIGNA PET/MR focusing on brain imaging. Phantom data were acquired to determine recovery coefficients (RCs), % background variability (%BG), and image voxel noise (%).

Exercise increases caudate dopamine release and ventral striatal activation in Parkinson's disease.

Background: The objective of this study was to examine the effects of aerobic exercise on evoked dopamine release and activity of the ventral striatum using positron emission tomography and functional magnetic resonance imaging in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: Thirty-five participants were randomly allocated to a 36-session aerobic exercise or control intervention. Each participant underwent an functional magnetic resonance imaging scan while playing a reward task before and after the intervention to determine the effect of exercise on the activity of the ventral striatum in anticipation of reward.

Phytoplankton blooms in Lake Winnipeg linked to selective water-gatekeeper connectivity.

Lake Winnipeg was coined "Canada's sickest lake" and "the most threatened lake in the World" due to its recurrent algal blooms caused by nutrient-rich water inputs. While conceptual frameworks link bloom occurrence to hydrologic connectivity, data-based validation is lacking. We analyzed 355 multi-year satellite-derived images to quantify phytoplankton biomass in Lake Winnipeg and the timing of runoff activation and hydrologic connectivity in the Lake Winnipeg Watershed.