Adherence to healthy dietary patterns and its association with physical fitness in military personnel

INTRODUCTION

Poor nutritional status might impact in unintentional weight loss and decreased muscle mass and strength. The levels of physical fitness (PF) is a predictor of chronic diseases in future years. Also, evaluation of fitness is an essential factor for duty in occupations which are sensitive to time and emergency reaction. Since there is no literature that study the association between dietary patterns and the PF level in physically strenuous occupations, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between dietary patterns and the PF level in military staffs.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was carried out in military zones of Iran. Typical dietary intakes were assessed by using a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Mediterranean diet (MD) score and healthy diet indicator (HDI) score were calculated. PF tests were designed to test the muscular strength, endurance and cardiovascular respiratory fitness (CRF).

RESULTS

Mean age of participants was 33.03±4.65 in the study. Referring to the performance in the PF tests, there was a correlation between tertiles of MD (OR 4.37, p=0.048) and HDI (OR 5.21, p=0.019) scores and suitable PF level in the crude and confounder adjusted models. Also, a negative relationship was found between body mass index and waist circumference with fitness score.

CONCLUSIONS

We concluded that accompanying a medium or high adherence to a healthy dietary pattern will have an impact on good level of PF and will result in a better working power and long-term health consequences among physically strenuous occupations.

The dietary inflammatory index is associated with aerobic performance and anthropometric measures of marines

Evidence propose that dietary intake affects physical performance and body composition. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between dietary inflammatory index (DII) with physical function and anthropometric indices in the marine. This cross-sectional study was performed on 300 males aged 18 to 45 years serving in the Navy. A general questionnaire was used to collect demographic data of participants. Also, the anthropometric indices (height, weight, waist circumference, and hip circumference) were measured to calculate a body shape index (ABSI), abdominal volume index (AVI), body adiposity index (BAI), and conicity as new anthropometric indices. Moreover, the 12-min Cooper, sit up, pull up, and push up were used to assess physical performance. Food intake over the past year was assessed using a 147-item food frequency questionnaire, and then the DII score was calculated for each subject. Aerobic performance was assessed using the Cooper test. Also, the repetitions of sit up, pull up and push up in 1 minute were recorded to assess muscular endurance. The present study showed that the increase in DII is directly related to body mass index (BMI) (P=0.04), body fat percentage (P=0.03), and BAI (P=0.010) and inversely related to VO2max (P=0.001). However, after adjusting for the effect of energy intake in regression model, only the association between DII and VO2max was statistically significant (β=-1.69, standard error=0.67, P=0.01). The increase in the dietary inflammatory potential is associated to a higher BMI and body adiposity and a lower aerobic capacity in military personnel. However, the observed relationship between DII and anthropometric indices seems to be influenced by the energy intake. Further well-designed studies with a prospective method are warranted.

Acute localized exanthematous pustulosis caused by enoxaparin

Notably, enoxaparin has not been described to cause acute localized exanthematous pustulosis (ALEP). Herein, we present a case of a woman with a cutaneous drug reaction consistent with ALEP that occurred after enoxaparin. This case highlights enoxaprin as a novel causative agent for this type of drug reaction.

Acoustogalvanic Effect in Dirac and Weyl Semimetals

The acoustogalvanic effect is proposed as a nonlinear mechanism to generate a direct electric current by passing acoustic waves in Dirac and Weyl semimetals. Unlike the standard acoustoelectric effect, which relies on the sound-induced deformation potential and the corresponding electric field, the acoustogalvanic one originates from the pseudoelectromagnetic fields, which are not subject to screening. The longitudinal acoustogalvanic current scales at least quadratically with the relaxation time, which is in contrast to the photogalvanic current where the scaling is linear. Because of the interplay of pseudoelectric and pseudomagnetic fields, the current could show a nontrivial dependence on the direction of sound wave propagation. Being within the experimental reach, the effect can be utilized to probe dynamical deformations and corresponding pseudoelectromagnetic fields, which are yet to be experimentally observed in Weyl and Dirac semimetals.

Development a smart edible nanocomposite based on mucilage of Melissa officinalis seed/montmorillonite (MMT)/curcumin

The aim of the present study was, first to fabricate Melissa officinalis seed gum (MOSG)-based films incorporated with montmorillonite (MMT) at various concentrations and subsequently, evaluate of the physicochemical properties of the developed films. Afterward, the anti-bacterial and anti-mold activities of the developed nanocomposites were assessed. Finally, curcumin was incorporated into formulation of the fabricated film at optimal condition to sense pH changes. Incorporating MMT nanoparticles into MOSG-based films could reduce the thickness, water solubility and moisture content of the samples. Tensile strength (TS) and elongation at break (EB) values significantly increased with increase of MMT concentration. The nanoparticle addition specifically at higher levels resulted in increase of agglomeration. Neither anti-mold and nor anti-microbial activity were observed for the tested nanocomposites. The films containing curcumin had good antibacterial and anti-mold activities and can be used as smart package due to their ability to sense the pH change.

Local Xenotransplantation of Bone Marrow Derived Mast Cells (BMMCs) Improves Functional Recovery of Transected Sciatic Nerve in Cat: A Novel Approach in Cell Therapy

Objective

To determine the effects of bone marrow derived mast cells (BMMCs) on functional recovery of transected sciatic nerve in animal model of cat.

Method

A 20-mm sciatic nerve defect was bridged using a silicone nerve guide filled with BMMCs in BMMC group. In Sham-surgery group (SHAM), the sciatic nerve was only exposed and manipulated. In control group (SILOCONE) the gap was repaired with a silicone nerve guide and both ends were sealed using sterile Vaseline to avoid leakage and the nerve guide was filled with 100 μL of phosphate-buffered saline alone. In cell treated group ([SILOCONE/BMMC) the nerve guide was filled with 100 μL BMMCs (2× 106 cells/100 μL). The regenerated nerve fibers were studied, biomechanically, histologically and immunohiscochemically 6 months later.

Results

Biomechanical studies confirmed faster recovery of regenerated axons in BMMCs transplanted animals compared to control group (p<0.05). Morphometric indices of the regenerated fibers showed that the number and diameter of the myelinated fibers were significantly higher in BMMCs transplanted animals than in control group (p<0.05). In immunohistochemistry, location of reactions to S-100 in BMMCs transplanted animals was clearly more positive than that in control group.

Conclusion

BMMCs xenotransplantation could be considered as a readily accessible source of cells that could improve recovery of transected sciatic nerve.

Texturing and polishing. The final attempt at value control

This article reviews methods for developing surface texture and controlling the luster of ceramic restorations. The authors discuss the characteristics of embryology and age, and profile characteristics of teeth that are vital in creating natural, anatomic restorations. A technique is proposed to enhance the scattering of light and the amount of luster desired in the restoration. The authors recommend hand polishing over autoglazing as a more efficient way to obtain the desired luster. The combination of developing the proper texture and luster is important for the overall value of the restoration.

Interindividual variability of coumarin 7-hydroxylation in a Turkish population

One hundred healthy Turkish volunteers (70 male, 30 female) aged from 19 to 56 years were given 5 mg coumarin p.o. after an overnight fast. Urine samples were collected before and 2, 4 and 8 h after drug administration. The extent and rate of formation of 7-OH-coumarin (7OHC) was determined by the urinary excretion of the metabolite as measured with the fluorometric method. On average, 80% of 7OHC formed was excreted in 2 h. The total amount of 7OHC formed was 59.8% (21.5%) (mean and SD, n = 100, range 17-100%) of the given dose. The percentage of 7OHC excreted during the first 2 h compared with the 7OHC excretion at 8 h was a constant and stable individual characteristic for the rate of the formation of 7OHC ('2 h coumarin test'). Although four individuals had relatively slow coumarin test values (34-40%), no clear-cut polymorphism in the rate of 7OHC formation was found. However, 7OHC formation was lower in males and in cigarette smokers.

Very low density lipoprotein metabolism in domestic pigs

Patterns of triacylglycerol (TG) turnover in plasma and liver, and the hepatic secretion of very density lipoprotein triacylglycerol (VLDL TG) into the circulation, have been studied in young Large White female pigs, using i.v. tracer [1,3-14C]- and [2-3H]glycerol. Serial measurements were made of plasma [14C]glycerol and [14C]glucose and of liver TG and plasma VLDL TG specific activities. In other studies VLDL TG obtained from a donor pig was reinjected into recipient animals to measure the early disappearance (dilution) of VLDL TG. Multicompartmental analysis revealed a mean rate of hepatic TG turnover somewhat slower than the rate of VLDL TG turnover, suggesting that almost all of the hepatic TG turnover was due to secretion of VLDL TG, and that the intestine probably contributed an appreciable part of the newly synthesized plasma VLDL TG. The t1/2 of reinjected VLDL TG, whether prepared by the most rapid possible techniques and reinjected immediately or stored for several days, was approximately 10 min. This was much faster than the t1/2 of the falling limb of the plasma VLDL TG curve seen after injection of labelled glycerol (t1/2 approximately 2 H). Thus, in these respects, the pig resembled all other species studied rather than human subjects as described by Farquhar et al.

Evaluation of glucose turnover, body mass and recycling with reversible and irreversible tracers

1. Methods are presented for the calculation of rates of synthesis or loss, mean transit time and total body pool of compounds from specific-radioactivity curves, without assuming a multicompartmental model and without fitting the data by exponential expressions. The methods apply to the steady state after either single injection or continuous infusion of a labelled compound. 2. The use of irreversible and reversible tracers and the effects of recycling of carbon on the estimations of the parameters of glucose metabolism are discussed. Methods for quantitatively determining recycling of glucose carbon by the use of glucose doubly labelled with (14)C and (3)H are presented.

Effect of glucose ingestion on the metabolism of free fatty acids in human subjects

The rate of appearance of (14)CO(2) in expired air after the injection of a single dose of NaH(14)CO(3) has been determined in normal individuals both in the fasted and fed states. These data were combined with previously obtained results on the rate of disappearance of injected palmitate-(14)C from the bloodstream, to give a multicompartmental analysis of free fatty acid oxidation and esterification. The results confirm that glucose feeding promptly inhibits the rate of free fatty acid oxidation to CO(2). The "irreversible disposal rate," or irreversible flux of free fatty acids from the plasma, was also consistently reduced by glucose feeding. The diminution in irreversible disposal, not accounted for entirely by reduction of direct oxidation, must indicate suppression of other disposal mechanisms, including net esterification of free fatty acids. An average drop of 49% in "net esterification" when glucose was given may be compared with the 65% inhibition of rapid free fatty acid oxidation.

Effect of glucose feeding on net transport of plasma free fatty acids

The effect of a single glucose feeding upon the net inflow and outflow transport of plasma free fatty acids (FFA) has been studied in 75 unanesthetized rats. The animals were fasted for 22 +/- 2 hr; then 50 rats were refed 2 ml of 50% glucose by gastric intubation. At 0, 10-15, and 30-35 min after glucose refeeding, the rats were injected with palmitate-1-(14)C complexed to rat serum. The tracer dose included (131)I-labeled albumin. Plasma FFA concentration, (131)I concentration, and FFA-(14)C were measured at five time intervals after injection of the tracer dose. From these data the irreversible disposal rate, or net outflow transport, and the net inflow transport of plasma FFA were calculated. Estimations were based upon a special case of a general solution for measuring net inflow and outflow transport of a circulating metabolite. The general solution is independent of the number of compartments, how they are interconnected, the number of nonradioactive inflows, and where the inflows enter the system. Net inflow = net outflow transport = 7.6 micro eq/min in the fasted state and 3.5 micro eq/min in the new steady state that is reached 30-40 min after glucose refeeding. A very slight imbalance between the rates of net inflow and outflow transport could account for the rapid fall in plasma FFA concentration that results from a single glucose feeding. Theoretical and practical problems associated with studying inflow and outflow transport by means of the technique using a single injection of racer are discussed.