High Adherence to the Mediterranean Dietary Pattern Is Inversely Associated with Systemic Inflammation in Older but Not in Younger Brazilian Adults.

The Mediterranean dietary pattern (MPD) has shown promise in preventing low-grade systemic inflammation (LGSI). This study tested if a high adherence to the MDP by younger and older Brazilian adults is associated with lower LGSI and investigated which Mediterranean food components may contribute to these associations. We performed a secondary study on 2015 ISA-Nutrition (290 younger adults (20-59 years old) and 293 older adults (≥60 years old)), a cross-sectional population-based study in São Paulo, SP, Brazil. The adherence to the MDP was assessed using the Mediterranean Diet Score (MedDietScore), obtained from two non-consecutive 24 h dietary recalls (24HDRs). The LGSI score (from plasma CRP, TNF-α, and adiponectin) identified the inflammatory status. Linear regression models assessed the association between LGSI and the MedDietScore. In older adults only, a high adherence to the MDP signified an 11.5% lower LGSI score. Older adults, classified with high adherence to the MDP, differed by consuming lower meat intake and full-fat dairy. Between older adults, the intake of vegetables and olive oil was inversely associated with the levels of LGSI. Thus, among older adults, the intake of some specific Mediterranean food determined high adherence to the MDP and was associated with decreased LGSI.

The effects of age and postural constraints on prehension.

Older adults adapt the execution of complex motor tasks to use compensatory strategies in the reaching-to-grasping (i.e., prehension) movement. The presence of postural constraints may exacerbate these compensatory strategies. Therefore, we investigated the reach-to-grasp action with different postural constraints (sitting, standing, and walking) in younger and older people and evaluated the postural stability during the reach-to-grasp action. Thirty individuals (15 younger and 15 older adults) performed the prehension under three postural tasks: sitting, standing, and walking. The reaching movement was slower in the walking task than in the other two postural tasks; however, there was no difference between the age groups. For the grasping action, the older adults presented a larger grip aperture, and the peak grip aperture occurred earlier during hand transportation in sitting and standing tasks. In the standing task, the margin of stability was smaller for older adults. In the walking task, there was no difference between the groups for the margin of stability. Also, prehension during sitting and standing tasks were similar, and both differed from walking across age groups. Finally, older adults reduced their margin of stability compared to younger adults, but only in the standing task. The margin of stability was similar between age groups during the walking task. We concluded that age affected grasping (distal component) but not reaching (proximal component), suggesting that healthy older adults have more difficulty controlling distal than proximal body segments.

Actinomyces sp. en muestras de placa bacteriana de personas adultas jóvenes y adultas mayores / Actinomyces sp. in samples of bacterial plaque in young adults and the elderly

Introducción y Objetivo: Los Actinomyces se asocian a diversas patologías bucodentales; su presencia varía con la higiene oral, el flujo salival y los movimientos de los músculos periorales; aspectos potencialmente comprometidos en ancianos. El objetivo de este trabajo fue identificar la presencia los Actinomyces sp en la placa dentobacteriana y determinar la asociación de su presenciacon la edad. Materiales y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional analítico de corte transversal. La muestra la integraron 100 personas que cumplieron con los criterios establecidos. Se recolectaron variables sociodemográficas, condición sistémica; presencia y cantidad de Actinomyces sp y Actinomyces viscosus; a nivel oral: Condición periodontal (IPCNT), caries radicular (RCI) e higiene oral (ICP). En el análisis univariado se calcularon las medidas de resumen según la naturaleza de las variables; el bivariado relacionó presencia de Actinomyces sp con cada variable en estudio, mediante test de Chi cuadrado o test exacto de Fisher para variables cualitativas y prueba t de student y Ude Mann Whitney para las cuantitativas. Resultados: En el 13.9% (14) de los pacientes se aisló Actinomyces sp, y la especie Actinomyces viscosus en el 4% (4) de los sujetos. Los Actinomyces spse observaron con mayor frecuencia en personas comprometidas sistémicamente (92.9%) y entrelos sujetos con una higiene dental regular (78.6%). Conclusión: La presencia de Actinomyces enla población evaluada no parece asociarse con la edad; sin embargo, los sujetos en los que se aislóeste microorganismo podrían tener mayor riesgo de desarrollar abscesos cervico-faciales o patologíaa nivel respiratorio o gastrointestinal.

Introduction and Objective: Actinomyces are associated to several oral diseases; their levels vary with oral hygiene, salivary flow and movements of perioral muscles; these tissues could be affected in the elderly. The objective of this study was to identify the presence of Actinomyces sp in bacterial oral plaque and to determine its association with age. Materials and Methods: An analytical observational study was carried out with a sample consistent of one-hundred individuals who complied with established criteria. Social-demographics, systemic condition, oral presence and amount of Actinomyces sp and Actinomyces viscosus, periodontal disease (IPCNT), root decay (RCI) and oral hygiene (ICP) variables were evaluated. In the univariate analysis, calculation of summary measures according to the nature of the variables was done. Actinomyces sp presence was related to each variable in study, by Chi square or Fisher Exact test for qualitative variables, and t-test and U Mann Whitney test for quantitative variables. Results: In 13.9% (14) of patients, Actinomyces sp was isolated, and Actinomyces viscosus in 4% (4) of subjects. Actinomyces sp were observed most frequently in individuals with systemic compromise (92.9%), and in subjects with deficient dental hygiene (78.6%). Conclusion: Presence of Actinomyces in the evaluated population does not seem to be associated with age. Nevertheless, subjects in which the microorganism was isolated could be at a major risk of developing cervico-facial abscesses or remote pathologies at a respiratory or gastrointestinal level.