Flow-mediated dilation in athletes: influence of aging.

Purpose: Controversy exists on whether endothelial function is enhanced in athletes. We sought to systematically review the literature and determine whether endothelial function, as assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), is greater in athletes across all ages relative to that in their age-matched counterparts.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search on MEDLINE, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science since their inceptions until July 2013 for articles evaluating FMD in athletes.

The impact of aerobic exercise training on arterial stiffness in pre- and hypertensive subjects: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Debate concerning aerobic exercise decreasing arterial stiffness in pre- and hypertensive individuals still exists. We sought to systematically review and quantify the effect of aerobic exercise training on arterial stiffness in pre- and hypertensive subjects.

Methods: MEDLINE, Cochrane, Scopus and Web of Science were searched up until August 2013 for trials assessing the effect of aerobic exercise interventions lasting 4 or more weeks on arterial stiffness in (pre)hypertensive subjects.

Incidence rates and trends of hip/femur fractures in five European countries: comparison using e-healthcare records databases.

Hip fractures represent a major public health challenge worldwide. Multinational studies using a common methodology are scarce. We aimed to estimate the incidence rates (IRs) and trends of hip/femur fractures over the period 2003-2009 in five European countries.

Effect of aerobic exercise training on arterial stiffness in obese populations : a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Objective: Controversy exists as to whether aerobic exercise training decreases arterial stiffness in obese subjects. The aim of this study was to systematically review and quantify the effect of aerobic exercise training on arterial stiffness in obese populations.

Methods: MEDLINE, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched up until May 2013 for trials assessing the effect of aerobic training interventions lasting 8 weeks or more on arterial stiffness in obese populations (body mass index ≥30 kg/m(2)).

Effects of a lifestyle program on vascular reactivity in macro- and microcirculation in severely obese adolescents.

Context And Objective: This study aimed to comprehensively assess the macro- and microcirculation of severely obese adolescents (SOA) and normal-weight counterparts and to determine the longitudinal effects of weight loss on vascular function in SOA. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, AND OUTCOME MEASURES: Seventeen SOA (body mass index z-score = 4.22 ± 0.

Improved health and growth of fish fed mannan oligosaccharides: potential mode of action.

Nowadays, aquaculture industry still confronts several disease-related problems mainly caused by viruses, bacteria and parasites. In the last decade, the use of mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) in fish production has received increased attention due to its beneficial effects on fish performance and disease resistance. This review shows the MOS use in aquaculture with a specific emphasis on the effectiveness of the several MOS forms available in the market related to disease resistance, fish nutrition and the possible mechanisms involved.

Intracellular glutathione pools are heterogeneously concentrated.

Glutathione is present in millimolar concentrations in the cell, but its relative distribution among cellular compartments remains elusive. We have chosen the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as an example organelle to study compartment-specific glutathione levels. Using a glutaredoxin sensor (sCGrx1pER), which rapidly and specifically equilibrates with the reduced glutathione (GSH)-glutathione disulfide (GSSG) redox couple with known equilibrium constant, we showed that the [GSH]:[GSSG] ratio in the ER of intact HeLa cells is less than 7:1.

Effect of antioxidant vitamin supplementation on endothelial function in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Controversy exists among trials assessing whether prolonged antioxidant vitamin supplementation improves endothelial function in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) subjects. The aim of this study was to systematically review and quantify the effect of antioxidant vitamin supplementation on endothelial function in T2DM subjects. MEDLINE, Cochrane, Scopus and Web of Science were searched up to February 2013 for randomized controlled trials assessing the effect of antioxidant vitamin E and/or C supplementation on endothelial function in T2DM subjects.

Decreased microvascular myogenic response to insulin in severely obese adolescents.

By means of flowmotion analysis, it is mainly accepted that, in normal conditions, insulin specifically increases the activity of microvascular smooth muscle. The objective of this study was to compare this effect in severely obese and normal-weight adolescents. Laser Doppler measurements were used to assess cutaneous blood flux (CBF) and flowmotion in response to transdermal iontophoresis of insulin in 20 severely obese adolescents (SOA) aged 12-17 years (BMI = 33.

In vitro toxicity of nanoceria: effect of coating and stability in biofluids.

Due to the increasing use of nanometric cerium oxide in applications, concerns about the toxicity of these particles have been raised and have resulted in a large number of studies. We report here on the interactions between 7 nm anionically charged cerium oxide particles and living mammalian cells. By a modification of the particle coating including low-molecular weight ligands and polymers, two generic behaviours are compared: particles coated with citrate ions that precipitate in biofluids and particles coated with poly(acrylic acid) that are stable and remain nanometric.

Effects of exercise training on arterial function in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Objective: Controversy exists among trials assessing whether exercise can improve arterial function in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) subjects. Therefore the aim of this study was to systematically review and quantify the effects of exercise on arterial function in T2DM subjects.

Methods: MEDLINE, Cochrane, Scopus and Web of Science were searched up until January 2013 for randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of exercise interventions lasting 4 weeks or more on arterial function in T2DM subjects.

Vascular smooth muscle function in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims/hypothesis: In type 2 diabetes, in contrast to the well-documented endothelial dysfunction, studies assessing vascular smooth muscle (VSM) function have yielded discrepant results over the last two decades. We therefore sought to determine whether or not VSM function is impaired in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search of MEDLINE, Cochrane, Scopus and Web of Science databases, from their respective inceptions until December 2012, for articles evaluating VSM function in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Remote interrogation of WDM fiber-optic intensity sensors deploying delay lines in the virtual domain.

In this work a radio-frequency self-referencing WDM intensity-based fiber-optic sensor operating in reflective configuration and using virtual instrumentation is presented. The use of virtual delay lines at the reception stage, along with novel flexible self-referencing techniques, and using a single frequency, avoids all-optical or electrical-based delay lines approaches. This solution preserves the self-referencing and performance characteristics of the proposed WDM-based optical sensing topology, and leads to a more compact solution with higher flexibility for the multiple interrogation of remote sensing points in a sensor network.

Enhanced intestinal epithelial barrier health status on European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fed mannan oligosaccharides.

The study assesses the effects of dietary mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) posterior intestinal lipid class composition and its possible relation to the potential prostaglandins production and Gut Associated Lymphoid Tissue (GALT) stimulation. Fish were fed 4 g kg(-1) MOS (Bio-Mos(®) Aquagrade, Alltech, Inc., USA) for eight weeks.

Physiological pathways involved in nutritional muscle dystrophy and healing in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) larvae.

The potential muscle regeneration after nutritional dystrophy caused by high dietary DHA contents in fish and the physiological pathways involved are still unknown. To better understand this process, an experiment was conducted for 3 weeks in 14 day-old European sea bass larvae using different DHA ratios (1 or 5%). After this period, part of the larvae fed 5% DHA diet was switched to 1% DHA diet ("wash-out") for another 2 weeks.

Total substitution of fish oil by vegetable oils in Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) diets: effects on fish performance, biochemical composition, and expression of some glucocorticoid receptor-related genes.

To study the substitution of fish oil by vegetable oils in fish diets, juveniles Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) were fed diets (56 % crude protein, 12 % crude lipid) containing either linseed (100LO) or soybean (100SO) oils in comparison with a 100 % fish oil-based diet (100FO) for 90 days. Samples of muscle, liver, and intestine were collected for biochemical analysis and for glucocorticoid receptor-related genes, including GR1 and GR2, and the associated heat shock proteins HSP70, HSP90AA, and HSP90AB. Besides, basal levels of plasma cortisol were also determined.

Effects on mortality and stress response in European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax (L.), fed mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) after Vibrio anguillarum exposure.

The effects of dietary mannan oligosaccharides (MOS; 4 g kg(-1) ; Bio-Mos, Alltech Inc, USA) in diets for European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax (L.), juveniles in relation to disease and stress resistance, combining intestinal infection with Vibrio anguillarum and stress challenge by confinement, were assessed in this study. After 8 weeks of MOS supplementation, fish were exposed to a pathogen challenge test against V.