Propolis, a resinous compound produced by Apis mellifera L. bees, possesses a variety of biological activities and is applied in the therapy of various infectious diseases. The current study was conducted to evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of propolis ethanol extract (PE) and propolis microparticles (PMs) obtained from a sample of Brazilian propolis against clinical yeast isolates in vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). PE was used to prepare the microparticles. Yeast isolates (n = 89), obtained from vaginal exudates of patients with VVC, were exposed to the PE and the PMs, as well as to the main antifungal drugs used in the treatment of VVC (Fluconazole, Voriconazole, Itraconazole, Ketoconazole, Miconazole and Amphotericin B). All yeasts were inhibited by PE and PMs, with small variation, independent of the species of yeast. Some Candida albicans isolates showed resistance or dose-dependent susceptibility for the azolic drugs and Amphotericin B. Non-Candida albicans isolates showed more resistance and dose-dependent susceptibility for the azolic drugs than Candida albicans. However, all of them were sensitive or dose-dependent susceptible for Amphotericin B. The authors concluded that PMs may have potential application in the prevention or therapy of VVC. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011:201953. PMID: 21607012.

Obesity is a chronic disease associated with an inflammatory process resulting in oxidative stress that leads to morpho-functional microvascular damage. This study was undertaken to assess the effect of Brazil nuts (Bertholletia excelsa) on antioxidant capacity, lipid and metabolic profiles and nutritive skin microcirculation in obese adolescents. Obese female adolescents (n=17; mean age 15.4 years; mean BMI 35.6 kg/m2) were randomized into two groups with their diet supplemented either with Brazil nuts [BNG, 15-25g/day (equivalent to 3 to 5 units/day)] or placebo [PG (lactose), one capsule/day] and followed for 16 weeks. At baseline, both groups shared similar characteristics. After the intervention, intra-group analysis revealed that BNG had increased selenium levels (p=0.02), red blood cell velocity (RBCV) (p=0.03) and peak red blood cell velocity (RBCVmax) (p=0.03) and reduced total (TC) (p=0.02) and LDL-cholesterol (p=0.02). Compared to PG, Brazil nuts intake reduced TC (p=0.003), triglycerides (p=0.05) and LDL-ox (p=0.02) and increased RBCV (p=0.03). The authors concluded that consumption of Brazil nuts improved the lipid profile and microvascular function in obese adolescents, possibly due to its high level of unsaturated fatty acids and bioactive substances, such as selenium, α- e γ- tocopherol, and folate. HYPERLINK “http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Brazil%20 nuts%20intake%20improves%20lipid%20profile%2C%20oxidative%20stress%20and%20microvascular%20function%20in%20obese%20 adolescents%3A%20a%20randomized%20controlled%20trial”Nutr Metab (Lond). 2011 May 28;8(1):32. PMID: 21619692

The protective effects of plant polyphenol intake on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are widely acknowledged. Caffeine-free chicory coffee has phenylpyruvate tautomerase enzymatic activity of the proinflammatory cytokine, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), and is a rich source of plant phenolics, including caffeic acid, which inhibits in vitro platelet aggregation. To assess whether chicory coffee consumption might confer cardiovascular benefits, a clinical trial was undertaken that included 27 healthy volunteers who consumed 300 ml chicory coffee every day for one week. The chicory intervention produced variable effects on platelet aggregation, with whole blood and plasma viscosity and serum MIF levels being significantly decreased after one week of chicory coffee consumption. Moreover, significant improvements were seen in red blood cell deformability. No changes in hematocrit, fibrinogen level or red blood cell counts were detected. The full spectrum of these effects is unlikely to be attributable to a single compound present in chicory coffee, nevertheless, the phenolics, including caffeic acid, are expected to play a substantial role. The authors concluded that their study offers an encouraging starting-point to delineate the antithrombotic and antiinflammatory effects of phenolic compounds found in chicory coffee. Phythother Res. 2011 May;25(5):744-8. PMID: 21425378.

This study examined whether high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) levels at the time of diagnosis of breast cancer were associated with overall survival, disease-free survival, death from breast cancer, and recurrence of breast cancer. Plasma levels of CRP were evaluated in 2910 women who were followed for up to seven years after they were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Elevated CRP levels across tertiles at the time of diagnosis were associated with reduced overall and disease-free survival and with increased risk of death from breast cancer (P <0.001), but not with recurrence. Dividing CRP levels into octiles resulted in a stepwise increased risk of reduced overall survival (P <0.001) and the multifactor-adjusted hazard ratios (HR) among women in the highest versus lowest octile of CRP was 2.51 (95% CI, 1.53 to 4.12). Compared to women with CRP levels in the 0 to 25% percentile, the multifactor-adjusted HR of reduced overall survival among women with CRP levels ≥95% percentile was 3.58 (2.36 to 5.42). Therefore, elevated CRP levels at the time of diagnosis of breast cancer are associated with reduced overall and disease-free survival and with increased risk of death from breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res. 2011 Jun 3;13(3):R55. PMID: 21639875.

The beneficial effects of prenatal and early postnatal intakes of omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on cognitive development during infancy are well recognized but few studies have examined the extent to which these benefits continue throughout childhood. In this prospective, longitudinal study in Arctic Quebec, Inuit children (n = 154; mean age: 11.3 years) were assessed using a continuous visual recognition task to measure 2 event-related potential components related to recognition memory processing: the FN400 and the late positive component (LPC). Neurobehavioral assessments of memory were also made using the Digit span forward from Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children and the California Verbal Learning Test–Children’s Version. Children with higher cord plasma concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were found to have a shorter FN400 latency and a larger LPC amplitude. Interestingly, these effects were observed regardless of seafood-contaminant amounts. Multiple regression analyses also showed positive associations between cord DHA concentrations and performance on neurobehavioral assessments of memory. The authors concluded that this study provides neurophysiologic and neurobehavioral evidence of long-term beneficial effects of n−3 PUFA intake in utero on memory function in school-age children. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 May;93(5):1025-37. PMID: 21389181.

This study was undertaken to compare the therapeutic effect between acupuncture at Shiqizhui only and multi acupoints on dysmenorrhea. Thirty-eight cases were randomly divided into a single acupoint group and a multi-acupoints group. The single acupoint group was treated by acupuncture at Shiqizhui only and the multi-acupoints group by acupuncture at Shiqizhui, SP6, SP8, and BL32. For three menstrual cycles, subjects were treated once daily for three days starting with the first day of intense pain. The therapeutic effect and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were compared and the score of general frequency and severity of dysmenorrhea by using Cox Menstrual Symptom Scale (CMSS) were evaluated. The cured rate was 68.4% and the effective rate was 31.6% in the single acupoint group, being similar to 78.9% and 21.1% in the multi-acupoints group (P > 0.05). VAS and the scores of general frequency and severity of dysmenorrhea were all significantly decreased after treatment in both groups (all P < 0.001), with no significant difference between the two groups (all P > 0.05). The authors concluded that acupuncture at Shiqizhui only can be as effective as selecting multi-acupoints in the treatment of dysmenorrhea. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2011 Mar;31(3):199-202. PMID: 21644298.

An acute uncontrolled study (n = 15) and a chronic placebocontrolled crossover study (n = 44) were conducted to examine the effects of cranberry juice on vascular function in subjects with coronary artery disease. In the acute study, brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (P = 0.01) and digital pulse amplitude tonometry ratio (P = 0.001) improved four hours after consumption of a single 480-mL portion of cranberry juice. In the chronic crossover study, subjects with coronary heart disease consumed cranberry juice (54% juice, 835 mg total polyphenols, and 94 mg anthocyanins) or a matched placebo beverage for four weeks each, with a two-week washout period. Mean carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, which is a measure of central aortic stiffness, decreased after cranberry juice compared to an increase after placebo (P = 0.003) but brachial artery flow-mediated dilation, digital pulse amplitude tonometry, blood pressure, and carotidradial pulse wave velocity did not change. Therefore, an acute benefit of cranberry juice consumption was noted while chronic cranberry juice consumption was found to reduce carotid femoral pulse wave velocity with no further effects noted on endothelial vasodilator function. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 May;93(5):934-40. PMID: 21411615.

A range of intakes of plant stanols and plant sterols were evaluated to determine if: (1) greater reductions in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol can be achieved with higher daily dosages and (2) to assess whether plant stanols and plant sterols have similar LDL-cholesterol lowering efficacies at higher daily intakes than they do at current recommended daily intakes. Dose – response relationships were evaluated separately for plant stanols and plant sterols and reductions in LDL cholesterol were assessed using a first-order elimination function. One hundred thirteen publications and one unpublished study report (representing 182 strata) were included in the assessment and the maximal LDL cholesterol reductions for plant stanols (16.4%) and plant stanol ester (17.1%) were found to be significantly greater than the maximal LDL cholesterol reductions for plant sterols (8.3%) and plant sterol ester (8.4%). These findings persisted in several additional analyses. The authors concluded that the intake of plant stanols in excess of the recommended 2grams per day dose are associated with additional and dose-dependent reductions in LDL-cholesterol, possibly resulting in further reductions in the risk of coronary heart disease. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2011 Jul;85(1):9-28. PMID: 21345662.

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This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of active video games over a 6-month period on weight, body composition, physical activity, and physical fitness. In a 2-arm, parallel, randomized controlled trial, 322 overweight and obese children aged 10-14 years who were current users of sedentary video games were randomly assigned to receive either an active video game upgrade (n = 160) or to have no change (n = 162). At 24 weeks, the treatment effect on body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.02) favored the intervention group, with baseline BMI change (±SE) increasing in the control group (0.34 ± 0.08) but remaining the same in the intervention group (0.09 ± 0.08). There was also a reduction in body fat in the intervention group (P = 0.02). The change in daily time spent playing active video games at 24 weeks increased (P < 0.0001) and the change in daily time spent playing nonactive video games decreased (P = 0.06) within the intervention group. The authors concluded that an active video game intervention had a small but definite effect on BMI and body composition in overweight and obese children. HYPERLINK “http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21562081”Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Jul;94(1):156-63. PMID: 21562081.

Thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, and vitamin B12 are required to synthesize neurotransmitters that are potentially involved in the pathophysiology of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). A case-control study nested within the Nurses’ Health Study II cohort was conducted to evaluate whether B vitamin intake is associated with the initial development of PMS. Participants were free of PMS at baseline and after 10 years of follow up, 1057 women were confirmed as cases and 1968 were confirmed as controls. Dietary information was collected by using food-frequency questionnaires and intakes of thiamine and riboflavin from food sources were each inversely associated with incident PMS. Women in the highest quintile of riboflavin intake 2–4 years before the diagnosis year had a 35% lower risk of developing PMS than did those in the lowest quintile (P = 0.02). No significant associations between incident PMS and dietary intakes of niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, or vitamin B supplements were observed. The authors concluded that a significantly lower risk of PMS was noted in women with high intakes of thiamine and riboflavin from food sources only. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 May;93(5):1080-6. PMID: 21346091.