Dietary blueberry before and/or after exposure to HZE particle radiation attenuates neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, glial cell activation, and memory deficits in rats.

Background: Acute neuroinflammatory and oxidative-stress (OS)-inducing stressors, such as high energy and charge (HZE) particle irradiation, produce accelerated aging in the brain. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant foods, such as blueberries (BB), attenuate neuronal and cognitive deficits when administered to rodents before or both before and after HZE particle exposure. However, the effects of post-stressor treatments are unknown and may be important to repair initial damage and prevent progressive neurodegeneration.

Galactic Cosmic Ray Particle Exposure Does Not Increase Protein Levels of Inflammation or Oxidative Stress Markers in Rat Microglial Cells In Vitro.

Astronauts on exploratory missions will be exposed to galactic cosmic rays (GCR), which can induce neuroinflammation and oxidative stress (OS) and may increase the risk of neurodegenerative disease. As key regulators of inflammation and OS in the CNS, microglial cells may be involved in GCR-induced deficits, and therefore could be a target for neuroprotection. This study assessed the effects of exposure to helium (He) and iron (Fe) particles on inflammation and OS in microglia in vitro, to establish a model for testing countermeasure efficacy.

Clinical evaluation of a novel plasma pTau217 electrochemiluminescence immunoassay in Alzheimer's disease.

A growing literature suggests that plasma levels of tau phosphorylated at amino acid 217 (pTau217) performs similarly to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers and PET imaging to detect amyloid pathology and to provide diagnostic and prognostic information in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but a significant limiting factor thus far has been a lack of widely available immunoassays. We evaluated a novel pTau217 S-PLEX® assay developed by Meso Scale Discovery (MSD; Rockville, MD) in plasma from 131 individuals with AD confirmed by CSF biomarkers and controls. Technical performance of the assay was excellent with an LLOQ of 1.

Effects of HZE-Particle Exposure Location and Energy on Brain Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Rats.

Astronauts on exploratory missions will be exposed to particle radiation of high energy and charge (HZE particles), which have been shown to produce neurochemical and performance deficits in animal models. Exposure to HZE particles can produce both targeted effects, resulting from direct ionization of atoms along the particle track, and non-targeted effects (NTEs) in cells that are distant from the track, extending the range of potential damage beyond the site of irradiation. While recent work suggests that NTEs are primarily responsible for changes in cognitive function after HZE exposures, the relative contributions of targeted and non-targeted effects to neurochemical changes after HZE exposures are unclear.

Blueberry treatment administered before and/or after lipopolysaccharide stimulation attenuates inflammation and oxidative stress in rat microglial cells.

Microglia are key regulators of inflammation and oxidative stress (OS) in the CNS. Microglia activation can lead to chronic inflammation, OS, and neurodegeneration. Blueberries (BB) reduce inflammation and OS when administered to microglia before stressors such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), but the therapeutic value of BBs administered after activation by stressors has not been examined.

Phytochemical Combination Is More Effective than Individual Components in Reducing Stress Signaling in Rat Hippocampal Neurons and Microglia In Vitro.

Age-related decrements in the central nervous system (CNS) are thought to result from: (1) increased susceptibility to and accumulating effects of free radicals and inflammation; and (2) dysregulation in Ca2+ homeostasis, which affects numerous signaling pathways. Certain bioactive phytochemicals exhibit potent anti-inflammatory activities which may mitigate these age-related CNS decrements. This study investigated the individual and combination effects of green tea catechin (epigallocatechin gallate, EGCG), curcumin from turmeric, and broccoli sprouts which contain the isothiocyanate sulforaphane on inflammation and dysregulation in Ca2+ homeostasis to determine if the individual compounds were working synergistically and/or through independent mechanisms.

Vitamin D intakes and health outcomes in infants and preschool children: Summary of an evidence report.

Background: A systematic review was commissioned to support an international expert group charged to update the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO)/World Health Organisation (WHO)'s vitamin D intake recommendations for children aged 0-4 years.

Materials And Methods: Multiple electronic databases were searched to capture studies published from database inception to the 2 week of June 2020 according to key questions formulated by the FAO/WHO. Relevant studies were summarised and synthesised by key questions and by health outcomes using the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

Perspective: Appraisal of the Evidence Base to Update DRI Values-Lessons from the Past, Thoughts for the Future.

Updating evidence-based nutrient guidance is challenging. One set of recommendations for which a robust evidence base is essential is the DRIs. In the past 10 y, DRI values for 4 essential nutrients have been re-evaluated in 2 groups: vitamin D and calcium, and sodium and potassium.

Calcium Intake and Metabolism in Infants and Young Children: A Systematic Review of Balance Studies for Supporting the Development of Calcium Requirements.

Determining calcium requirements for infants and children is vital due to high calcium needs for growth. Balance studies enable comprehensive measurement of calcium metabolism and can support nutrient requirement development. This systematic review summarizes evidence from mass balance and isotopic studies in children aged 0-4 y to address key questions on calcium loss and absorption/retention identified by an expert group developing calcium requirements.

Walnut-Associated Fatty Acids Inhibit LPS-Induced Activation of BV-2 Microglia.

Walnuts have high levels of the omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3n-3, ALA) and the omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid (C18:2n-6, LA). Previous research has demonstrated that pre-treatment of BV-2 microglia with walnut extract inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of microglia. As an extension of that study, the effects of walnut-associated fatty acids on BV-2 microglia were assessed.