Chocolate enriched by extra virgin olive oil improves endothelial function and oxidative stress in patients with diabetes.

Objective: Endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress are among the most relevant mechanisms underlying the atherosclerotic process in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2 DM). Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) reduces postprandial glycemia with a mechanism counteracting oxidative stress-mediated incretin down-regulation in healthy subjects and in patients with impaired fasting glucose. The aim of this study was to evaluate if the intake of chocolate enriched by EVOO had positive effects on endothelial function and oxidative stress in patients with T2 DM.

Oleuropein-enriched chocolate by extra virgin olive oil blunts hyperglycaemia in diabetic patients: Results from a one-time 2-hour post-prandial cross over study.

Background & Aims: Oleuropein, a component of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), reduces post-prandial glycemia with a mechanism counteracting oxidative stress-mediated incretin down-regulation. In this study we evaluated if the intake of an oleuropein-enriched chocolate could have positive effects on glycaemia and insulin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and healthy subjects (HS).

Methods: Twenty-five consecutive T2DM patients and 20 HS were recruited.

[Well-being and physical activity in the frail elderly].

Physical inactivity damage the elderly patients. The Authors stressed the concept about the very important role of daily, moderate, physical activity on self-sufficiency and mental health and the importance of the house-care for the efficiency and well-being of elderly patients.

[Hepatic steato-fibrosis and non-alcoholic liver disease in elderly].

The critical role of the hepatic stellate cells in pathogenesis and evolution of hepatic fibrosis is stressed. The authors, also, illustrate the most recent acquisitions about morphological and bioumoral aspects of complex sinusoidal-Disse space-stellate cells and their importance for the risk of evolution towards non-alcoholic liver disease.

[Cirrhotic spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in the elderly].

The cirrhotic patients are at increased risk of infection greater than patients with other chronic diseases, due to differences in inflammatory and immune reactions. In cirrhotic patients with ascites, you must pay close attention to the prevention of complications such as hyponatremia, hepatorenal syndrome and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis SBP.The hospital mortality after an episode of SBP is 12-15% in the elderly, less than 10% in adults.

[Relationship between atrial fibrillation and other cardiovascular risk factors in Alzheimer's disease. New prevention opportunities].

Dementia is one of the most frequent neurological disorders in the elderly. Several vascular risk factors such as atrial fibrillation have been found to be associated with vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Early interventions at reducing atrial fibrillation may have a strong impact on future incidence and prevalence of cognitive impairment.

[Adverse drug reactions: a common cause of hospitalization of the elderly].

Aging is associated with various physiological changes and multiple diseases which alter the pharmacological response to a drug in elderly patient. Moreover, elderly people are more sensitive to frequently used drugs like NSAIDs, benzodiazepines, opioids, etc. There is an urgent need to develop better preventive strategies to reduce the burden of adverse drug reactions.