Role of Vitamin-D in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of age related cognitive impairment. Aim of the present study was to see the effect of vitamin D on cognitive function in elderly. The study was conducted in Department of Physiology, King George's Medical University (KGMU). A total of 80 subjects were enrolled based on Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score < 24 and vitamin D deficiency. They were divided into two groups as Group A (case) and Group B (control), each group having 40 subjects. Intervention (Vitamin D supplementation) was given in Group A. The assessment of dementia was done by Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score. Every subject was clinically evaluated and estimation of vitamin D was done by direct ELISA kit. Gender, weight, height, BMI, residence and education were also similar between two groups. A significant (p=0.0001) change in MMSE score was observed in both Group A and Group B from baseline to 3 & 6 months and from 3 to 6 months, however, mean change was higher in Group A than Group B. In conclusion, vitamin D supplementation caused significant improvement in the cognitive performance in subjects with senile dementia.

A synbiotic combination of Bifidobacterium longum Bif10 and Bifidobacterium breve Bif11, isomaltooligosaccharides and finger millet arabinoxylan prevents dextran sodium sulphate induced ulcerative colitis in mice.

Decreased bifidobacterial abundance, disrupted gut barrier function, dysregulated immune response and ulceration have been reported in the gut microbiota of IBD patients. Non-digestible carbohydrates with bifidogenic effect enrich the gut microbiota with Bifidobacterium spp. and could help in overcoming inflammatory gut conditions. In this study, the protective effect of Bifidobacterium longum Bif10 and Bifidobacterium breve Bif11; isomaltooligosaccharides (IMOS); Finger millet arabinoxylan (FM-AX) and their Synbiotic mix were evaluated against dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) induced UC in male Balb/c mice for 25 days. All the interventions ameliorated symptoms of colitis such as disease activity index (DAI), histological damage to the colon, gut-bacterial dysbiosis and inflammation. However, the synbiotic mix was more potent in amelioration of some of the parameters such as decreased TNF-α and lipocalin levels; increased anti-inflammatory markers (IL-10 and IL-22), and improved short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) levels in the cecum content. Furthermore, mouse colitis histological scoring (MCHI) also suggested the preventive role of synbiotic mix. All the dietary interventions aid in improving the DAI and immune parameters; restoration or regeneration of the altered selected gut bacteria, enhances the SCFA production, strengthens gut barrier, prevents gut inflammation and decreases the colonic MCHI score in DSS fed mice.

Sleep quality and insulin resistance in adolescent subjects with different circadian preference: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that alterations in the sleep cycle can predispose to several disorders. Most of the previous studies were done on the adults. Hence, the aim of the study was to see the effect of circadian disruption on the health of adolescent population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 203 subjects were enrolled. Study subjects were divided into three groups: definite evening chronotype, intermediate chronotype, and definite morning chronotype. Sleep quality was measured by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Daytime sleepiness and chronotype were measured by Epworth Sleepiness Score and Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire Self-Assessment version, respectively. Two hours postprandial glucose was measured after oral glucose tolerance test. Fasting blood glucose and fasting insulin were measured. Homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. Data were summarized as mean ± standard deviation. Crude odds ratios and Karl Pearson's correlation coefficient of metabolic parameters with poor sleep were calculated. RESULTS: Statistically significant difference was found in the mean value of poor sleep quality, 2 h postprandial blood glucose level, and insulin resistance among subjects of three groups. Subjects of evening chronotype have more significant positive correlation of 2 h postprandial blood glucose level and HOMA-IR value with poor sleep quality when compared with subjects of intermediate and morning chronotypes. CONCLUSION: Subjects with evening chronotype are more prone for development of metabolic syndrome compared with subjects of intermediate and morning chronotypes if proper health policies are not adopted for adolescents.

Circadian Preference, Sleep Quality, and Health-impairing Lifestyles Among Undergraduates of Medical University.

Background/Aims Health-impairing lifestyle during adolescence is an important marker for poor health. An unhealthy lifestyle may lead to physical and psychological problems in adulthood. Most of the prior researches were done among the adult population. Therefore, we assessed the chronotype pattern and correlation of health-impairing lifestyles with sleep quality according to circadian typology in medical students. Material and Methods In this cross-sectional research, a total of 203 subjects were enrolled. All subjects were divided into definite evening chronotype (n = 73), intermediate chronotype (n = 87), and definite morning chronotype (n = 43). Electronic media use at bedtime and duration of media use, the timing of dinner, smoking, tobacco chewing, and alcohol consumption were assessed with the help of a preformed proforma. Physical activity, sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and chronotype were assessed by International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Score (ESS), and Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire Self-assessment version (MEQ-SA), respectively. Results Subjects of the evening chronotype were suffering more with poor sleep quality. Evening chronotype had a significant (p < 0.05) positive correlation between poor sleep quality and sex, tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, type of diet, and timing of dinner. Conclusion Circadian typology demonstrated the significant correlation of health-impairing lifestyles with sleep quality. From this observation, it might be a better way to plan their daily activities, in accordance with their chronotypes, benefiting not only their academic performance but also their quality of life.

Permanent genetic resources added to Molecular Ecology Resources Database 1 August 2010-30 September 2010.

This article documents the addition of 229 microsatellite marker loci to the Molecular Ecology Resources Database. Loci were developed for the following species: Acacia auriculiformis × Acacia mangium hybrid, Alabama argillacea, Anoplopoma fimbria, Aplochiton zebra, Brevicoryne brassicae, Bruguiera gymnorhiza, Bucorvus leadbeateri, Delphacodes detecta, Tumidagena minuta, Dictyostelium giganteum, Echinogammarus berilloni, Epimedium sagittatum, Fraxinus excelsior, Labeo chrysophekadion, Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi, Paratrechina longicornis, Phaeocystis antarctica, Pinus roxburghii and Potamilus capax. These loci were cross-tested on the following species: Acacia peregrinalis, Acacia crassicarpa, Bruguiera cylindrica, Delphacodes detecta, Tumidagena minuta, Dictyostelium macrocephalum, Dictyostelium discoideum, Dictyostelium purpureum, Dictyostelium mucoroides, Dictyostelium rosarium, Polysphondylium pallidum, Epimedium brevicornum, Epimedium koreanum, Epimedium pubescens, Epimedium wushanese and Fraxinus angustifolia.