A literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (January 1, 1996, through March 31, 2011) was performed to investigate whether intensive-dose statin therapy is associated with increased risk of new-onset diabetes compared with moderate-dose statin therapy. Randomized controlled end-point trials were included that compared intensive-dose statin therapy with moderate-dose statin therapy and included more than 1000 participants who were followed up for more than one year. In a pooled analysis of data from five statin trials with 32 752 participants without diabetes at baseline, 2749 developed diabetes (1449 assigned intensive-dose therapy, 1300 assigned moderate-dose therapy, representing 2.0 additional cases in the intensive-dose group per 1000 patient-years) and 6684 experienced cardiovascular events (3134 and 3550, respectively, representing 6.5 fewer cases in the intensive-dose group per 1000 patient-years) over a mean of 4.9 years. Odds ratios were 1.12 (95% CI, 1.04-1.22) for new-onset diabetes and 0.84 (95% CI, 0.75-0.94) for cardiovascular events for participants receiving intensive therapy compared with moderate-dose therapy. The authors concluded that intensive-dose statin therapy was associated with an increased risk of new-onset diabetes compared with moderate-dose statin therapy. JAMA. 2011 Jun 22;305(24):2556-64. PMID: 21693744.

The etiology of excessive infant crying is largely unknown but perhaps it has an early nutritional origin during fetal development. This study was undertaken to explore whether (1) maternal vitamin B12 and folate status during pregnancy are associated with excessive infant crying, and (2) whether and how maternal psychological wellbeing during pregnancy affects these associations. Women were approached around the 12th pregnancy week to complete a questionnaire (n=8266) and to donate a blood sample (n=4389); vitamin B12 and folate concentrations were determined in serum. Infant crying behavior was measured through a postpartum questionnaire (±3 months; n=5218). Vitamin B12 concentration (categorized into quintiles) was associated with excessive infant crying after adjustment for maternal age, parity, ethnicity, education, maternal smoking and psychological problems (OR[95%CI]: Q1=3.31[1.48-7.41]; Q2=2.50[1.08-5.77]; Q3=2.59[1.12-6.00]; Q4=2.77[1.20-6.40]; Q5=reference). Stratified analysis suggested a stronger association among women with high levels of psychological problems during pregnancy. Folate concentration was not associated with excessive infant crying. The authors concluded that a low maternal vitamin B12 status during pregnancy could, in theory, affect infant crying behavior through two potential mechanisms: the methionine-homocysteine metabolism and/or the maturation of the sleep-wake rhythm. Early Hum Dev. 2011 Apr;87(4):309-14. PMID: 21324613.

A combination of green tea extract and l-theanine (LGNC-07) has been reported to have beneficial effects on cognition in animal studies. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, the effect of LGNC-07 on memory and attention was investigated in 91 subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) [Mini Mental State Examination-K (MMSE-K) scores between 21 and 26]. The treatment group (13 men, 32 women; 57.58 ± 9.45 years) took 1680 mg of LGNC-07, and the placebo group (12 men, 34 women; 56.28 ± 9.92 years) received an equivalent amount of maltodextrin and lactose for 16 weeks. LGNC-07 led to improvements in memory by marginally increasing delayed recognition in the Rey-Kim memory test (P = .0572). LGNC-07 also improved memory and selective attention by significantly increasing the Rey-Kim memory quotient and word reading in the subjects with MMSE-K scores of 21-23. After a single dose of LGNC-07, brain theta waves, an indicator of cognitive alertness, were increased significantly in the temporal, frontal, parietal, and occipital areas after 3 hours in the eye-open and reading states in 24 randomly selected subjects. The authors concluded that LGNC-07 might have potential as an intervention for cognitive improvement. J Med Food. 2011 Apr;14(4):334-43. PMID: 21303262.

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.