The Association between Social Engagement, Loneliness, and Risk of Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

It has been reported that social engagement may be associated with dementia risk. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, LILACS, Biomed Central, Scopus, and Web of Science from January 2012 - May 2017, supplemented by extraction from previous reviews. We included cohort and case-control studies examining the association between social engagement or loneliness and dementia risk, pooling data using a random-effects model.

Exercise or physical activity and cognitive function in adults with type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance or impaired glucose tolerance: a systematic review.

Background: Diabetes is an important risk factor for cognitive impairment. Although some studies suggest that physical exercise can minimize age-related cognitive declines or improve brain morphology or function, benefits in diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance are unclear. Therefore, our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of exercise or physical activity on cognition in adults with type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance or impaired glucose tolerance.

Effect of intradialytic resistance training on pulse wave velocity and associated cardiovascular disease biomarkers in end stage renal disease.

Aims: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) receiving maintenance haemodialysis treatment. This study investigated the effect of a 12-week intradialytic progressive resistance training (PRT) intervention on pulse wave velocity (PWV) and associated haemodynamic, anthropometric, and hematologic outcomes in patients with ESRD.

Methods: Twenty-two patients with ESRD (59% men, 71.

Primary analysis of the Mandarin-speaking sub-study within the Sydney diabetes prevention program.

Aim: There is strong and consistent evidence from large scale randomised controlled trials that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed through lifestyle modification which improves diet quality, increases physical activity and achieves weight loss in people at risk. Worldwide, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing in individuals of Chinese descent. Culturally tailored programs are required to address the risk in the Chinese population.

Level of nutrition knowledge and its association with fat consumption among college students.

Background: Intake of saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol has been associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease. The aim of this study was to explore whether increased nutrition knowledge is associated with a reduction in the consumption of unhealthy fats in a sample of university students.

Methods: A sample of 231 students, with a mean age of 20 years, was recruited from university campus during spring 2012.

Development, feasibility, and efficacy of a customized exercise device to deliver intradialytic resistance training in patients with end stage renal disease: Non-randomized controlled crossover trial.

Introduction This study assessed the feasibility and efficacy of a novel resistance training device used within an intradialytic progressive resistance training (PRT) intervention. Methods Non-randomized, within-subjects crossover design with outcomes assessed at baseline (week 0), postcontrol (week 13) and post-PRT intervention (week 26). Twenty-two hemodialysis patients (59% men, 71 ± 11 years) performed PRT three sessions per week for 12 weeks.

The effect of resistance training on markers of immune function and inflammation in previously sedentary women recovering from breast cancer: a randomized controlled trial.

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to determine the effects of resistance training (RT) on markers of inflammation and immune function in breast cancer survivors. Thirty-nine breast cancer survivors were randomly assigned to a RT (n = 20) or control (n = 19) group. RT performed supervized exercise three times per week.

Resistance training improves fatigue and quality of life in previously sedentary breast cancer survivors: a randomised controlled trial.

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of resistance training (RT) on quality of life (QOL) and fatigue in breast cancer survivors as an adjunct to usual care. We recruited 39 women who had survived breast cancer [mean age (y) 51.9 ± 8.

Gamma-carboxylation and fragmentation of osteocalcin in human serum defined by mass spectrometry.

Serum osteocalcin (Oc) concentration is a highly specific measure of bone turnover, but its circulating proteoform(s) have not been well defined. Based on immunological methods, the major forms are thought to be the intact polypeptide and a large N-terminal-mid molecule fragment for which there is no consensus on the precise sequence. Vitamin K-dependent gamma (γ)-carboxylated variants of Oc are also found in circulation but there have been no methods that can define how many of the three potential γ-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) residues are γ-carboxylated or provide their relative abundances.

Association between statin use and serum cholesterol concentrations is modified by whole-grain consumption: NHANES 2003-2006.

Background: Statins are used to lower cardiovascular disease risk in part because of their effects on plasma lipid profiles. Dietary whole grains have been reported to improve plasma lipid profiles. Little is known about potential interactions between statins and whole grains.

Xenobiotic metabolism and berry flavonoid transport across the blood-brain barrier.

A compelling body of literature suggests berry phytochemicals play beneficial roles in reversing age-related cognitive impairment and protect against neurodegenerative disorders. Anthocyanins are bioactive phytochemicals in berries suspected to be responsible for some of these neuroprotective effects. The plausible mechanisms of anthocyanin bioactivity in brain tissue are dependent on their bioavailability to the brain.

Stable isotopes in obesity research.

Obesity is recognized as a major public health problem. Obesity is a multifactorial disease and is often associated with a wide range of comorbidities including hypertension, non-insulin dependent (Type II) diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease, all of which contribute to morbidity and mortality. This review deals with stable isotope mass spectrometric methods and the application of stable isotopes to metabolic studies of obesity.

HDL in atherosclerosis: actor or bystander?

Despite dramatic improvement in treatments for reducing risk for coronary heart disease (CHD), it is still the leading cause of mortality in the developed world. In the past decade, a major improvement in reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol has been achieved with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins). This approach has been shown to be beneficial in both primary and secondary prevention of CHD.

Change in alpha1 HDL concentration predicts progression in coronary artery stenosis.

Objective: We examined the effects of simvastatin-niacin and antioxidant vitamins on changes in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) subpopulations and alterations in coronary artery stenosis, as assessed by angiography.

Methods And Results: Lipids, lipoproteins, and HDL particles were measured on and off treatment in 123 subjects of the HDL-Atherosclerosis Treatment Study. Patients were assigned to 4 treatment groups, simvastatin-niacin, simvastatin-niacin-antioxidant vitamins, antioxidant vitamins, and placebo.

Effects of atorvastatin on the HDL subpopulation profile of coronary heart disease patients.

We investigated the effects of atorvastatin on the lipid and the apoA-I-containing HDL subpopulation profiles in 86 patients with established coronary heart disease (CHD). The entire drug treatment period lasted 12 weeks (4-week periods of 20 then 40, then 80 mg/day). Each dose of atorvastatin treatment resulted in significant reductions in plasma total-C, LDL-C, and triglyceride (TG), and non-significant increases in HDL-C levels compared with placebo treatment.

Comparing the effects of five different statins on the HDL subpopulation profiles of coronary heart disease patients.

We compared the effects of five different statins (atorvastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin, lovastatin, and fluvastatin) on the lipid, lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein (apo) A-I-containing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) subpopulation profiles of 86 coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. Patients with established CHD, and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (C)>130 mg/dl, and triglyceride (TG)<400 mg/dl, were treated with atorvastatin 20, 40, and 80 mg/day and one of the other four statins at 20, 40, and when available 80 mg/day in increasing doses (4 weeks of each dose) in a randomized crossover fashion. There was an 8-week placebo controlled washout period between different drug treatments.

Distribution of ApoA-I-containing HDL subpopulations in patients with coronary heart disease.

High density lipoproteins (HDLs) and their subspecies play a role in the development of coronary heart disease (CHD). HDL subpopulations were measured by 2-dimensional nondenaturing gel electrophoresis in 79 male control subjects and 76 male CHD patients to test the hypothesis that greater differences in apolipoprotein (apo)A-I-containing HDL subpopulations would exist between these 2 groups than for traditional lipid levels. In CHD subjects, HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) was lower (-14%, P<0.

Association of the A-204C polymorphism in the cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase gene with variations in plasma low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the Framingham Offspring Study.

The first reaction of the catabolic pathway of cholesterol is catalyzed by CYP7 and serves as the rate-limiting step and major site of regulation of bile acid synthesis in the liver. A common A to C substitution at position -204 of the promoter of CYP7 gene has been associated with variations in plasma LDL-cholesterol concentrations but the effect of this polymorphism is unknown in the general population. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate the association of this polymorphism to lipoprotein levels in a population-based sample of 1139 male and 1191 female Framingham Offspring participants.