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Copyright of American Heart Journal is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study broadens the understanding around the topics of e-rating and e-complaining by adopting a value-based approach. In the consumer behaviour literature, value is understood as a "relativistic preference experience" (i.e. an evaluation outcome that varies across subjects, objects and contexts). E-ratings and e-complaints can be analysed through this theoretical lens to investigate whether any significant differences exist relating to tourists' socio-demographic characteristics (variation across subjects: gender and nationality), the characteristics of the hotels rated (across objects: hotel category and size) and the party with which the tourists are travelling and the time of their stay (across contexts). This study measures and interprets these differences in a sample of 727 reviews in which tourists expressed their experience of hotels located in Arzachena-Costa Smeralda (Sardinia, Italy). The findings reveal that significant variations in travellers' rating behaviour exist only across objects (i.e. hotel category and size) and contexts (i.e. time of the stay). However, when complaining behaviour is considered, significant variations are reported to exist across subjects (i.e. gender and country of origin), objects (hotel category and size) and contexts (i.e. travel party). Contributions to the theory and managerial implications are discussed, and suggestions for further research are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Background The role of polyphenol intake on cardiovascular risk factors is little explored, particularly in people with diabetes. Aim: To evaluate the association between the intake of total polyphenols and polyphenol classes with the major cardiovascular risk factors in a population with type 2 diabetes. Methods Dietary habits were investigated in 2573 males and females participants of the TOSCA.IT study. The European Prospective Investigation on Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) questionnaire was used to assess dietary habits. In all participants, among others, we assessed anthropometry, plasma lipids, blood pressure, C-reactive protein and HbA1c following a standard protocol. The USDA and Phenol-Explorer databases were used to estimate the polyphenol content of the habitual diet. Results Average intake of polyphenols was 683.3 ± 5.8 mg/day. Flavonoids and phenolic acids were the predominant classes (47.5% and 47.4%, respectively). After adjusting for potential confounders, people with the highest intake of energy-adjusted polyphenols (upper tertile) had a more favorable cardiovascular risk factors profile as compared to people with the lowest intake (lower tertile) (BMI was 30.7 vs 29.9 kg/m 2 , HDL-cholesterol was 45.1 vs 46.9 mg/dl, LDL-cholesterol was 103.2 vs 102.1 mg/dl, triglycerides were 153.4 vs 148.0 mg/dl, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were respectively 135.3 vs 134.3 and 80.5 vs 79.6 mm/Hg, HbA1c was 7.70 vs 7.67%, and C-reactive Protein was 1.29 vs 1.25 mg/dl, p < .001 for all). The findings were very similar when the analysis was conducted separately for flavonoids or phenolic acids, the two main classes of polyphenols consumed in this population. Conclusions Polyphenol intake is associated with a more favorable cardiovascular risk factors profile, independent of major confounders. These findings support the consumption of foods and beverages rich in different classes of polyphenols particularly in people with diabetes. Clinical trial http://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Study ID number: NCT00700856 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing summer drought stress is affecting the nutritional value of pastures, no longer sufficient to support the nutritional status of sheep in extensive rearing. Adipokines affect organ and tissue functionality can be useful to evaluate animal welfare and prompt an improvement in the management of the grazing animals. Leptin (Lep) is an adipokine mainly produced by adipose tissue that regulates food intake by an anorexigenic action. Lep has also been detected in the human and rat gastrointestinal tract, where it regulates the rate of gastric emptying. In this study, Lep system was evaluated in the abomasum of 15 adult sheep reared on Apennine pastures and subjected to different diets. Until the maximum pasture flowering (MxF group), the sheep fed on fresh forage; from that moment until the maximum pasture dryness (MxD group), the experimental group (Exp group) received a feed supplementation in addition to MxD group feeding. The Lep system was investigated in the abomasum samples by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and RT-qPCR. Double-label localisation of Lep and leptin receptor (LepR) with neuroendocrine hormones was conducted to distinguish the gland cell types. The analysis performed revealed the presence of Lep and LepR in the chief and neuroendocrine cells of the fundic glands of the abomasum. RT-qPCR evidenced the transcript for Lep and LepR also identifying the long isoform (LepRb). No significant differences were observed among the three groups of sheep subjected to different diets. The abundant immunostaining observed in the fundic glands suggests that the Lep intervenes in the regulation of abomasum in sheep with a similar pattern to monogastric species while long term food supplementation seems do not influence the local function of the Lep system. A better understanding of the gastrointestinal system can contribute to improving sheep management and optimising the sustainability of livestock production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Few studies have been performed to explore parameters that influence liver stiffness measurement (LSM) using transient elastography in general population. Aim To explore factors influencing LSM in healthy and in subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods LSM was performed in a well-characterized cohort of subjects aged between 30 and 63 years. After exclusion of any causes of liver disease, the healthy cohort was defined and was compared with participants with NAFLD. The 95th percentile value of LSM in healthy was used as a cutoff suggesting relevant fibrosis. Results Among 780 subjects evaluated, 331 were defined as healthy. The median value was 4.4 kPa (3.7–5.2) and the 95th percentile was 6.8 kPa. LSM was not influenced by gender, age, anthropometrics and biochemical parameters. Only insulin resistance was independently associated with increasing of LSM. In the cohort of 157 subjects with NAFLD, LSM was higher than in healthy (5.6 ± 1.9 vs 4.6 ± 1.3 kPa; p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, the degree of steatosis was independently associated with increasing of LSM in NAFLD cohort ( β = 0.271; 95% CI = 0.026–0.095; p < 0.001). Participants with diabetes and/or severe steatosis had the highest probabilities of relevant fibrosis. Conclusions LSM varies between 3.7 and 5.2 kPa in healthy Caucasians and is influenced only by insulin resistance. In NAFLD, severe steatosis and diabetes are factors influencing LSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: The role of temperament traits in shaping the outcome of gastric bypass for severe obesity has not been established yet. This study evaluated whether temperament traits influence weight loss 1 year after gastric bypass, controlling for the potential confounding effect of Axis I and II disorders. Methods: Forty-nine patients with severe obesity (body mass index = 46.4±6.7) undergoing gastric bypass completed a thorough psychiatric evaluation before surgery, including structured interviews, rating scales, and questionnaire assessing the presence and severity of co-morbid Axis I and II disorders. Temperament was evaluated with the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Weight loss 1 year after surgery was calculated as percent total weight loss (%TWL). Predictors of weight loss were investigated with multivariate linear hierarchical regression. Results: After accounting for psychiatric covariates, higher TCI persistence scores independently predicted 1-year outcome of gastric bypass and explained 40% of the variance in %TWL. Patients with low persistence scores showed a significantly lesser weight loss than patients with high scores. Conclusion: Temperament traits denoting the ability to persevere in one’s goals in spite of immediate frustration (persistence) are associated with greater weight loss 1 year after gastric bypass. These data suggest the utility of preoperatively assessing and reinforcing such capacity to optimize surgical outcome. Future research will clarify the behavioral mechanisms mediating this relationship as well as the influence of temperament on weight maintenance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: To study the effects of passive rest (PR) and sports massage with (SMOZO) and without (SM) ozonised oil on sports performance psycho-physiological indices in competitive amateur cyclists after 3 pre-fatiguing Wingate cycle and post-recovery ramp tests. Design: An intra-subjects experimental design with repeated measures. Setting: Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, University of Padua. Participants: Fifteen male competitive cyclists (age: 27 ± 3.5 years, body weight: 77.6 ± 8.3 kg, height: 178 ± 7.7 cm) were studied. Main outcome measures: Subjects’ power output (P), heart rate (HR), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and blood lactate (BL) clearance in response to PR, SMOZO and SM recoveries were compared. Results: There were no significant differences in cyclists’ heart rate patterns in the three experimental conditions (p > 0.05). After SMOZO recovery, athletes showed a higher Pmax (p < 0.05) and a lower perceived fatigue VAS score (p < 0.033) in the ramp test. Blood lactate decreased more at T2 (mid-time point of treatment) and T3 (final time point of treatment) than T1 (beginning of treatment) compared to SM and PR conditions. Conclusions: These findings suggest that use of ozonised oil during sports massage increases blood lactate removal, improves performance and reduces the perception of fatigue in cyclists from 3 Wingate tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Reumatológica Portuguesa is the property of Sociedade Portuguesa de Reumatologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this paper we study the collusion in Knaster's procedure, starting from the paper of Fragnelli and Marina (2009). First, we introduce a suitable dynamic mechanism, so that the coalition enlargement is always non-disadvantageous. Then, we define a new class of TU-games in order to evaluate the collusion power of the agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background & aims: Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) stimulates cell proliferation and inhibits cell apoptosis. Recent studies underline its importance as anabolic hormone and nutritional marker in older individuals. IGF-1 synthesis and bioactivity are modulated by nutritional factors including selenium intake. However, whether circulating IGF-1 levels are positively influenced by plasma selenium, one of the most important human antioxidants, is still unknown. Methods: Selenium and total IGF-1 were measured in 951 men and women≥65 years from the InCHIANTI study, Tuscany, Italy. Results: Means (SD) of plasma selenium and total IGF-1 were 0.95 (0.15)μmol/L and 113.4 (31.2)ng/mL, respectively. After adjustment for age and sex, selenium levels were positively associated with total IGF-1 (β ±SE: 43.76±11.2, p =0.0001). After further adjustment for total energy and alcohol intake, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), congestive heart failure, selenium remained significantly associated with IGF-1 (β ±SE: 36.7±12.2, p =0.003). The association was still significant when IL-6 was introduced in the model (β ±SE: 40.1±12.0, p =0.0008). Conclusions: We found an independent, positive and significant association between selenium and IGF-1 serum levels in community dwelling older adults. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Alfa: Revista de Lingüística is the property of Alfa: Revista de Linguistica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)