Relationships between cardiovascular disease risk, neuropathic pain, mental health, and autonomic function in chronic spinal cord injury.

Study Design: Multicentre, cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To determine if clinical measures of poor mental health (MH-) and neuropathic pain (NP) are related to increased CVD risk in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI), and further elucidate the relationships between CVD risk, autonomic function, NP, and MH-.

Setting: Eight SCI rehabilitation centres in the Netherlands.

Multiple Functional Brain Networks Related to Pain Perception Revealed by fMRI.

The rise of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has led to a deeper understanding of cortical processing of pain. Central to these advances has been the identification and analysis of "functional networks", often derived from groups of pre-selected pain regions. In this study our main objective was to identify functional brain networks related to pain perception by examining whole-brain activation, avoiding the need for a priori selection of regions.

Evaluation of cardiovascular disease risk in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury.

Study Design: Multicentre, cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To identify which markers of obesity, injury characteristics and autonomic function variables are related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk after spinal cord injury (SCI), and establish cut-points for detection and risk management.

Setting: Eight SCI rehabilitation centres in the Netherlands.

Recovery after traumatic thoracic- and lumbar spinal cord injury: the neurological level of injury matters.

Study Design: Multicenter prospective cohort.

Objective: To discern neurological- and functional recovery in patients with a traumatic thoracic spinal cord injury (TSCI), conus medullaris syndrome (CMS), and cauda equina syndrome (CES).

Setting: Specialized spinal cord injury centers in Europe.

Myelin water imaging data analysis in less than one minute.

Purpose: Based on a deep learning neural network (NN) algorithm, a super fast and easy to implement data analysis method was proposed for myelin water imaging (MWI) to calculate the myelin water fraction (MWF).

Methods: A NN was constructed and trained on MWI data acquired by a 32-echo 3D gradient and spin echo (GRASE) sequence. Ground truth labels were created by regularized non-negative least squares (NNLS) with stimulated echo corrections.

The Effect of Non-Gabapentinoid Anticonvulsants on Sensorimotor Recovery After Human Spinal Cord Injury.

Background: Recent observational studies have shown an association between gabapentinoid anticonvulsants and greater motor recovery after spinal cord injury. There is preclinical evidence to suggest that other anticonvulsants, such as sodium channel blockers, may also confer beneficial effects.

Purpose: The aim of the current study was to determine if non-gabapentinoid anticonvulsants were associated with neurological recovery after acute, traumatic spinal cord injury.

Pan-Canadian Estimates of Chronic Pain Prevalence From 2000 to 2014: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Survey Analysis.

Recent temporal trends in the population prevalence of chronic pain in Canada on a national and provincial level are unknown. Five cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey (2000/2001, 2007/2008, 2009/2010, 2011/2012, and 2013/2014) were used to derive population-based estimates of the self-reported prevalence of chronic pain. Sensitivity analyses examined chronic pain prevalence among those reporting no other chronic health conditions.

Prevalence of chronic pain among individuals with neurological conditions.

Background: The prevalence of pain among people with a variety of individual neurological conditions has been estimated. However, information is limited about chronic pain among people with neurological conditions overall, and about the conditions for which chronic pain is most prevalent. To fill these information gaps, a common method of pain assessment is required.

Early Administration of Gabapentinoids Improves Motor Recovery after Human Spinal Cord Injury.

The anticonvulsant pregabalin promotes neural regeneration in a mouse model of spinal cord injury (SCI). We have also previously observed that anticonvulsants improve motor outcomes following human SCI. The present study examined the optimal timing and type of anticonvulsants administered in a large, prospective, multi-center, cohort study in acute SCI.

An assessment of the fatty acid composition of horse-meat available at the retail level in northern Spain.

The objective of the present study was to assess the fatty acid composition of horse-meat available at the retail market in northern Spain. Horse steaks (Longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle; n=82) were purchased from butcher-shops and large grocery stores throughout six northern regions of Spain in two different seasons. Fat content differed significantly among regions (1.

Developing FT-NIR and PLS1 Methodology for Predicting Adulteration in Representative Varieties/Blends of Extra Virgin Olive Oils.

It was previously demonstrated that Fourier transform near infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy and partial least squares (PLS1) were successfully used to assess whether an olive oil was extra virgin, and if adulterated, with which type of vegetable oil and by how much using previously developed PLS1 calibration models. This last prediction required an initial set of four PLS1 calibration models that were based on gravimetrically prepared mixtures of a specific variety of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) spiked with adulterants. The current study was undertaken after obtaining a range of EVOO varieties grown in different countries.

Characterization of the fatty acid composition of lamb commercially available in northern Spain: Emphasis on the trans-18:1 and CLA content and profile.

A survey of commercially available lamb meat was performed in northern Spain in order to evaluate their fatty acid (FA) composition with emphasis on trans fatty acid (TFA) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers. Samples were collected in spring (n=24) and winter (n=24) of 2013, and were obtained in about equal numbers from grocery stores and butcher-shops. Subcutaneous fat, known to be a sensitive indicator of TFA content in ruminants, was analyzed by GC-FID.

Effects of Pain and Pain Management on Motor Recovery of Spinal Cord-Injured Patients: A Longitudinal Study.

Background Approximately 60% of patients suffering from acute spinal cord injury (SCI) develop pain within days to weeks after injury, which ultimately persists into chronic stages. To date, the consequences of pain after SCI have been largely examined in terms of interfering with quality of life. Objective The objective of this study was to examine the effects of pain and pain management on neurological recovery after SCI.

Spinal Cord Injury and Migraine Headache: A Population-Based Study.

Migraine headaches are a common neurological condition, negatively impacting health and quality of life. The association between migraines and spinal cord injury (SCI) is intriguing to consider from the perspective that migraine headaches may be acquired in response to damage in the spinal cord [corrected].The primary objective of this study was to further examine the association between SCI and migraine headache, controlling for potential confounding variables.

Novel, Rapid Identification, and Quantification of Adulterants in Extra Virgin Olive Oil Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Chemometrics.

A new, rapid Fourier transform near infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopic procedure is described to screen for the authenticity of extra virgin olive oils (EVOO) and to determine the kind and amount of an adulterant in EVOO. To screen EVOO, a partial least squares (PLS1) calibration model was developed to estimate a newly created FT-NIR index based mainly on the relative intensities of two unique carbonyl overtone absorptions in the FT-NIR spectra of EVOO and other mixtures attributed to volatile (5280 cm(-1)) and non-volatile (5180 cm(-1)) components. Spectra were also used to predict the fatty acid (FA) composition of EVOO or samples spiked with an adulterant using previously developed PLS1 calibration models.

Horse-meat for human consumption - Current research and future opportunities.

The consumption of horse-meat is currently not popular in most countries, but because of its availability and recognized nutritional value consumption is slowly increasing in several western European countries based on claims that it could be an alternative red meat. In this review, horse-meat production, trade and supply values have been summarized. In addition, the advantage of horse production is noted because of its lower methane emissions and increased uptake, particularly of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which is based on its digestive physiology.

Neuropathic pain, depression, and cardiovascular disease: a national multicenter study.

Background: Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) have a more than twofold increased risk of heart disease and stroke compared with able-bodied individuals. The increased risk appears to be in excess of the risk conferred by several well-established risk factors, including diabetes, hypertension, and sex. This raises the question whether other factors, secondary to SCI, are also contributing to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

A Canada-wide survey of chronic respiratory disease and spinal cord injury.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between chronic respiratory diseases (asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and spinal cord injury (SCI) in a large representative sample.

Methods: Data were compiled from more than 60,000 individuals from the 2010 cycle of the cross-sectional Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine this relationship, adjusting for confounders, and using probability weighting to account for the CCHS sampling method.

First direct body fat content measurement during pregnancy using Fourier transform near-infrared spectroscopy.

Currently, there are no direct and reliable methods to measure the body fat content of women during pregnancy. Estimates of fat accretion can significantly affect calculations of energy requirements. We report here the first direct measurement of determining the body fat content of two women during pregnancy using the Fourier transform near-infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIR) method.

Separation of the fatty acids in menhaden oil as methyl esters with a highly polar ionic liquid gas chromatographic column and identification by time of flight mass spectrometry.

The fatty acids contained in marine oils or products are traditionally analyzed by gas chromatography using capillary columns coated with polyethylene glycol phases. Recent reports indicate that 100 % cyanopropyl siloxane phases should also be used when the analyzed samples contain trans fatty acids. We investigated the separation of the fatty acid methyl esters prepared from menhaden oil using the more polar SLB-IL111 (200 m × 0.

Breed effect on quality veal production in mountain areas: emphasis on meat fatty acid composition.

This study was designed to compare the quality of veal produced from 'Tudanca×Charolais' cross (n=6) and Limousin (n=6) breeds when allowed to feed freely on mountain pastures and suckle naturally from birth to 7 months of age. After 80 days of age calves also had access to concentrate (maximum of 3 kg/day), while mothers did not. At slaughter, Limousin calves were heavier (P<0.

Evaluating the in vitro metabolism of docosahexaenoic acid in sheep rumen fluid.

Rumen metabolism (e.g., biohydrogenation) of dietary unsaturated fatty acids (FA) is one of the main reasons why ruminant fats tend to be highly saturated and contain many isomerized FA intermediates.

Profile of trans fatty acids (FAs) including trans polyunsaturated FAs in representative fast food samples.

The content of trans fat in foods is most commonly determined by summing the levels of individual trans fatty acids (FAs), analyzed as FA methyl esters (FAME) by gas chromatography. Current Official Methods of the American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS) enable quantitation of total trans fat in foods but were not designed for the determination of transFA isomeric compositions. In the present study, the content of trans fat in 32 representative fast food samples ranged from 0.