This 14-day multicentre randomized, double-blind, doubledummy, non-inferiority trial was conducted to compare short-term efficacy of an alginate (Gaviscon®, 4 × 10 mL/day) and omeprazole (20 mg/day) on gastroesophageal (GERD) reflux symptoms. Subjects included 278 patients who experienced two to six day heartburn episodes weekly without alarm signals (120 and 121 in the Gaviscon® and omeprazole groups, respectively). The mean time to onset of the first 24-hour heartburn-free period after initial dosing was 2.0 (± 2.2) days for Gaviscon® and 2.0 (± 2.3) days for omeprazole (P = 0.93); mean intergroup difference was 0.01 ± 1.55 days (95% CI -0.41 to 0.43). The mean number of heartburn-free days by day seven (D7) was significantly greater in the omeprazole group: 3.7 ± 2.3 days vs. 3.1 ± 2.1 (P = 0.02). On D7, overall quality of pain relief was slightly in favor of omeprazole (P = 0.049). No significant differences were found in the reduction of pain intensity between groups by D7 or day 14 (D14). Tolerance and safety were good and comparable in both groups. Therefore, Gaviscon® is a relevant effective alternative treatment to omeprazole in moderate GERD. BMC Gastroenterol. 2012 Feb 23;12:18. PMID: 22361121

In this study, two single-blinded randomized crossover acute studies were conducted with 24 and 20 subjects, respectively, to compare (I) control vs. flax drink; and (II) flax drink vs. flax tablets. The treatments were iso-caloric and iso-volumeric: the control treatment was a 300mL drink; the flax drink treatment was the control drink with an additional 2.5 grams of flax fiber extract; and the flax tablet treatment was the control drink with tablets containing 2.5 grams of flax fiber. Following an overnight fast, the subjects were exposed to one of the treatments and rated appetite sensation for 120 minutes using visual analog scales (VAS). Afterwards, they consumed an ad libitum early lunch to assess energy intake. The flax drink increased sensation of satiety and fullness and decreased subsequent energy intake compared to control (2937 vs. 3214kJ). Appetite ratings were similar for the flax tablets and flax drink as they did not differ by more than 1 to 4%. Subsequent energy intake was also similar after the flax tablets and flax drinks (3370 vs. 3379kJ). Therefore, a small dose of flaxseed fiber administered as a drink or tablets can significantly suppress appetite and energy intake. Appetite. 2012 Apr;58(2):490-5. PMID: 22245724

This colonoscopy-based case-control study was conducted to examine the associations of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) intake on risk of colorectal adenomatous and hyperplastic polyps. Subjects included 3,166 polyp-free control subjects, 1,597 adenomatous polyp cases, and 544 hyperplastic polyp cases. Dietary PUFA intake was calculated from food-frequency questionnaires and urinary prostaglandin E2 metabolite was measured in 896 participants by using liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. ω−6 PUFA were not associated with adenomatous or hyperplastic polyps in either men or women. In women only, marine-derived ω−3 PUFA were associated with reduced risk of colorectal adenomas for the highest versus lowest quintile of intake (adjusted OR 0.67; 95% CI 0.47-0.97; P-trend = 0.01) and negatively correlated with urinary prostaglandin E2 production (r = −0.18; P = 0.002). Dietary intake of α-linolenic acid was associated with an increased risk of hyperplastic polyps in men (P-trend = 0.03) but this was not seen in women. Therefore, higher intakes of marine-derived ω−3 PUFA are associated with lower risk of adenomatous polyps in women and the association may be mediated in part through a reduction in the production of prostaglandin E2. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 Mar;95(3):703-12. PMID: 22277551

This prospective study was conducted to assess whether dietary experience with foods containing sodium is associated with development of infant salty taste preference. Infants (N = 61) were tested at two and six months to assess their response to 0.17 and 0.34 mol NaCl/L in water. Intake tests consisted of randomized doubleblind 120-s exposure to salt solutions and water. Acceptance was calculated as solution intake relative to water. Dietary exposure to starchy foods, a source of sodium, was defined by maternal report. Control comparisons were based on exposure to fruit. A subset of 26 subjects returned at 36–48 months for assessment of salty taste hedonics and preference. Only those infants previously exposed to starchy foods (N = 26) preferred the salty solutions at six months (P = 0.007) while fruit exposure was not associated with NaCl acceptance. Infants eating starchy foods at six months were more likely to lick salt from food at preschool age (P = 0.007) and tended to be more likely to eat plain salt (P = 0.08). These findings suggest an influential role of early dietary experience in shaping salty taste responses of infants and young children. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 Jan;95(1):123-9. PMID: 22189260

The current systematic review was conducted to establish the relationship between diets high in iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) and cognitive decline or Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Two meta-analyses, two systematic reviews, 11 placebo-controlled trials, five observational studies, 45 case–control studies, 30 autopsy and five uncontrolled studies, and one case report were identified. Eleven interventional trials tried to either supplement or deplete Fe and Cu but none of them provided clear evidence of a beneficial effect on cognitive performance in patients with AD. The prospective studies revealed an association between a diet simultaneously high in saturated fatty acids (SFA) and Cu and cognitive decline. Case–control and autopsy studies showed elevated Fe levels in the brains of AD patients, whereas the evidence was less consistent for Cu. In most of the studies, Cu concentrations were unchanged in the cerebrospinal fluid and the brain but increased in the serum. The authors concluded that the existing data suggest that diets excessive in Fe or Cu, together with a high intake of SFA, should be avoided in the elderly who are not at risk of anemia. Br J Nutr. 2012 Jan;107(1):7-19. PMID: 21767446

Short-term exposure to high levels of air pollution may trigger myocardial infarction (MI), but this association remains unclear. This study was conducted to assess and quantify the association between short-term exposure to major air pollutants (ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter ≤10 μm [PM10] and ≤2.5 μm [PM2.5] in diameter) on MI risk. EMBASE, Ovid MEDLINE in-process, nonindexed citations, Ovid MEDLINE, EBM Reviews–Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and EBM Reviews–Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched for a combination of keywords related to the type of exposure and to the type of outcome. After a detailed screening of 117 studies, 34 studies were identified. All the main air pollutants, with the exception of ozone, were significantly associated with an increase in MI risk (carbon monoxide: 1.048; 95% CI 1.026-1.070; nitrogen dioxide: 1.011; 95% CI 1.006-1.016; sulfur dioxide: 1.010; 95% CI 1.003-1.017; PM10: 1.006; 95% CI 1.002-1.009; and PM2.5: 1.025; 95% CI 1.015-1.036). For ozone, the RR was 1.003 (95% CI 0.997-1.010; P = 0.36). Therefore, all of the main air pollutants, with the exception of ozone, were significantly associated with a near-term increase in MI risk. JAMA. 2012 Feb 15;307(7):713-21. PMID: 22337682

This study investigated the effect of weight loss on urinary incontinence in overweight/obese women with type 2 diabetes after one year of intervention. Women (N = 2,739, mean BMI 36.5 kg/m2) were randomized into an intensive lifestyle weight loss intervention or a diabetes support and education control condition. At baseline, 27% of participants reported urinary incontinence. After one year, the intensive lifestyle intervention group reported more weight loss and less urinary incontinence (7.7 ± 7.0 kg and 25.3%, respectively) compared to the diabetes support and education group (0.7 ± 5.0 kg and 28.6%, respectively). Among participants without urinary incontinence at baseline, 10.5% of intensive lifestyle intervention and 14.0% of diabetes support and education participants experienced urinary incontinence after one year (P = 0.02). No significant group differences in the resolution of urinary incontinence were found (P > 0.17). Each kg of weight lost was associated with a 3% reduction in the odds of urinary incontinence developing (P = 0.01), and weight losses of 5% to 10% reduced these odds by 47% (P = 0.002). Therefore, weight loss interventions should be considered for the prevention of urinary incontinence in overweight/obese women with diabetes. J Urol. 2012 Mar;187(3):939-944. PMID: 22264468

The current study investigated physicians offering brief advice to quit smoking versus offering assistance to quit to determine the incidence of attempts to stop and quit success in smokers. Thirteen relevant trials were included from the Cochrane reviews of physician advice for smoking cessation, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), varenicline, and bupropion. Compared to no intervention, advice to quit on medical grounds increased the frequency of quit attempts (RR 1.24; 95% CI 1.16-1.33), but not as much as behavioral support for cessation (RR 2.17; 95% CI 1.52-3.11) or offering NRT (RR 1.68; 95% CI 1.48-1.89). In a direct comparison, offering assistance generated more quit attempts than giving advice to quit on medical grounds (RR 1.69, 95% CI 1.24-2.31 for behavioural support; RR 1.39, 95% CI 1.25-1.54 for offering medication). There was evidence that medical advice increased the success of quit attempts and inconclusive evidence that offering assistance increased their success. Therefore, physicians may be more effective in promoting attempts to stop smoking by offering assistance to all smokers than by advising smokers to quit and only offering assistance to those expressing an interest in doing so. Addiction. 2011 Dec 16. PMID: 22175545

This study aimed to characterize the association between chronic urticaria (CU), autoimmune diseases, and autoimmune/inflammatory serologic markers. Patients given a diagnosis of CU by either allergy or dermatology specialists during 17 years were included (N = 12,778). Information on diagnosis of major, well-defined autoimmune diseases, and autoimmunityand inflammatory-related serologic markers was collected. Similar data were collected for a control group of patients without CU who visited dermatologists, family physicians, or allergy specialists (N = 10,714). Having CU was found to be associated with an increased odds ratio for hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and antithyroid antibodies. Female patients with CU had a significantly higher incidence of rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren syndrome, celiac disease, type I diabetes mellitus, and systemic lupus erythematosus, mostly diagnosed during the ten years after diagnosis of CU. High mean platelet volume, positive rheumatoid factor, and antinuclear antibodies were all significantly more prevalent in patients with CU. The authors concluded that CU and major autoimmune diseases are strongly associated and that a common pathogenic mechanism is implied by the high prevalence of autoantibodies and the existence of a chronic inflammatory process expressed by the high mean platelet volume. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012 Feb 13. PMID: 22336078

This study was conducted to assess lipid profile changes in post-menopausal women treated with testosterone gel. Thirty-six oophorectomized women on estradiol treatment who received transdermal testosterone gel (5 mg daily) were enrolled into the study. Cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), and lipoprotein (a) were tested before and after six months of treatment. The selected participants had a mean age of 50.9 ± 4.6 years and a body mass index of 30.1 ± 3.8 kg/m2. Significantly decreased cholesterol levels were found after six months of treatment (204.5 ± 35.1 mg/dL before treatment compared to 183.1 ± 21.9 mg/dL after treatment; P < 0.05). A significant reduction was also seen in LDL-C levels after six months of treatment compared to baseline (130.9 ± 29.7 mg/dL versus 118.5 ± 21.3 mg/dL; P < 0.05). No differences were found in triglyceride, HDL-C, VLDL-C, and lipoprotein (a) levels (P = NS). The authors concluded that testosterone gel applied to oophorectomized women receiving estrogen treatment resulted in decreased cholesterol and LDL-C levels after six months of treatment, without affecting serum triglyceride, HDL-C, VLDL-C, and lipoprotein (a) levels. Endocrinol Nutr. 2012 Jan;59(1):44-9. PMID: 22115702