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Int J Biol Macromol 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Near East University, Nicosia, P. O. Box: 99138, North Cyprus via Mersin 10, Turkey; Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials Research Centre, Near East University, P. O. Box: 99138, North Cyprus via Mersin 10, Turkey.

Poly(N-hydroxy ethyl acrylamide) was grafted onto chitosan in aqueous acidic medium using potassium per sulphate initiator to obtain polymer surfaces with blood compatibility for potential biomedical applications. Thermally cross-linked products were obtained upon drying at 60 °C overnight. Chemically cross-linked films were prepared using methylene bis acrylamide (MBA) cross-linker. Read More

Expert Rev Endocrinol Metab 2018 Nov 29:1-12. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

a Midwest Biomedical Research/Center for Metabolic and Cardiovascular Health , Glen Ellyn , IL , USA.

Introduction: Insulin resistance (IR) and pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction are core pathophysiologic features of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Select lifestyle and pharmacologic interventions, including weight loss, physical activity, a Mediterranean diet intervention, and hypoglycemic agents, have been shown to prevent or delay T2DM. However, dietary factors other than weight loss may also impact risk, mainly through effects to enhance insulin sensitivity, although some may also directly or indirectly impact pancreatic beta-cell function. Read More

J Comp Neurol 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.

Neural development of echinoderms has always been difficult to interpret, as larval neurons degenerate at metamorphosis and a tripartite nervous system differentiates in the adult. Despite their key phylogenetic position as basal echinoderms, crinoids have been scarcely studied in developmental research. However, since they are the only extant echinoderms retaining the ancestral body plan of the group, crinoids are extremely valuable models to clarify neural evolution in deuterostomes. Read More

Neotrop Entomol 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Embrapa Uva e Vinho, Bento Gonçalves, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.

The development of appropriate methodologies for bioassays is of paramount importance to study the methodological factors that may interfere in the experimental design. Thus, laboratory bioassays have become increasingly important for the determination of data that are realistic and replicable. The objective of the study was to develop a bioassay methodology with the ready-to-use toxic bait Success™ 0. Read More

PeerJ 2018 29;6:e6049. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Department of Biogeography, Trier University, Trier, Germany.

The orb-weaver spider Simon 1922 (Araneae: Tetragnathidae) is one of the most common cave predators occurring in the Mediterranean basin. Although the congeneric represented the model species in several studies, our knowledge of is only founded on observations performed on a handful of populations. In this study spiders were studied in caves of Monte Albo (Sardinia, Italy) over a year. Read More

New Microbes New Infect 2019 Jan 21;27:9-13. Epub 2018 Oct 21.

UMR VITROME, Aix-Marseille Université, IRD, Service de Santé des Armées, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, IHU Méditerranée-Infection, Marseille, France.

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne virus belonging to the genus related to the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex of family. It is transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes. The virus is maintained in a mosquito-bird-mosquito transmission cycle. Read More

Bone Marrow Transplant 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

International Centre for Transplantation in Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Anaemia, Mediterranean Institute of Haematology, Rome, Italy.

To candidate children as bone marrow donors raises two main concerns: donor safety and adequate marrow cell dose. Data in the field are limited and guidelines for child donor care management are lacking. In this context, we herein report the experience collected in our center by comparing very-young donors (defined as age ≤ 3 years) with young donors (defined as age > 3 years) who donated bone marrow (BM) for patients affected by beta-globin disorders. Read More

J R Soc Interface 2018 Dec 5;15(149). Epub 2018 Dec 5.

School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.

Statistical inference and mechanistic, process-based modelling represent two philosophically different streams of research whose primary goal is to make predictions. Here, we merge elements from both approaches to keep the theoretical power of process-based models while also considering their predictive uncertainty using Bayesian statistics. In environmental and biological sciences, the predictive uncertainty of process-based models is usually reduced to parametric uncertainty. Read More

Nutrients 2018 Dec 4;10(12). Epub 2018 Dec 4.

The University of Sydney, Physical Activity, Lifestyle, Ageing and Wellbeing Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Lidcombe, NSW 2141, Australia.

The Mediterranean diet is associated with multiple health benefits. Yet, no tool has been specifically developed to assess adherence to the 'traditional' Mediterranean diet and cuisine within a Western cohort, and validated for online use. We tested the reliability and validity of online administration of the Mediterranean Diet and Culinary Index (MediCul) among middle-aged and older adults. Read More

Nutrients 2018 Dec 4;10(12). Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Second Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, University General Hospital Attikon, 124 62 Haidari, Greece.

The role of nutrition in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease has long been debated. The established notion of the deleterious effects of fat is recently under question, with numerous studies demonstrating the benefits of low-carbohydrate, high-fat diets in terms of obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and metabolic derangement. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially -3 PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids), are the types of fat that favor metabolic markers and are key components of the Mediterranean Diet, which is considered an ideal dietary pattern with great cardioprotective effects. Read More

Nutrients 2018 Dec 4;10(12). Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Lipid Clinic, Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Villarroel 170, Edifici Helios, despatx 8, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.

Randomized controlled trials on diet and shortening of leukocyte telomere length (LTL) mostly focus on marine-derived -3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Walnuts are a sustainable source of -3 PUFA. We investigated whether inclusion of walnuts (15% of energy) in the diet for 2 years would maintain LTL in cognitively healthy elders (63⁻79 years old) compared to a control group (habitual diet, abstaining from walnuts). Read More

Nutrients 2018 Dec 4;10(12). Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.

Background: The Mediterranean Diet has been proposed as an effective strategy to reduce inflammaging, a chronic low grade inflammatory status, and thus, to slow down the aging process. We evaluated whether a Mediterranean-like dietary pattern specifically targeting dietary recommendations of people aged over 65 years (NU-AGE diet) could be effective to shift dietary intake of older adults towards a healthful diet.

Methods: Adults aged 65⁻80 years across five EU-centers were randomly assigned to a NU-AGE diet group or control group. Read More

Med Princ Pract 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Objective: To report a rare case of maculopapular rash on the scalp in a patient with Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF).

Clinical Presentation And Intervention: A 58-year-old woman with breast cancer and chemotherapy-induced alopecia contracted MSF. Her clinical features were typical, except for a maculopapular rash covering the scalp. Read More

Nutrition 2018 Aug 23;60:1-5. Epub 2018 Aug 23.

Center of Investigation of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Medical School, Department of Endocrinology and Investigation, Hospital Clinico Universitario, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain.

Objectives: The role of ADIPOQ gene variants on weight loss after a dietary intervention remain unclear. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of rs266729 of the ADIPOQ gene on cardiovascular risk factors and adiposity parameters after adherence to a Mediterranean-type hypocaloric diet.

Method: Eighty-three obese patients were studied before and after 12 wk on a Mediterranean-type hypocaloric diet. Read More

Genet Mol Biol 2018 Nov 29. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Laboratório de Genética Humana e Médica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDd) and Duffy-negative blood group are two red blood cells variants that confer protection against malaria. In this study, the distribution of the most common G6PD variants (G6PD*A-, GGPD*A and G6PD Mediterranean) and the major alleles of the Duffy blood group (FY*A, FY*B and FY*BES) were investigated in an Afro-descendant population from state of Pará, Brazilian Amazon. G6PD variants and Duffy blood group alleles were determined by TaqMan SNP genotyping assay. Read More

Plant Signal Behav 2018 Dec 3:1-6. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

a Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies , University of Palermo , Palermo , Italy.

Sexually deceptive orchid flowers use visual, tactile and olfactory cues of female insects in order to attract males of one or a few closely related species as pollinators. Ophrys L. is the most species-rich genus of sexually deceptive orchids in the Mediterranean Basin. Read More

Pest Manag Sci 2018 Dec 2. Epub 2018 Dec 2.

Dep. Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden.

Background: Small-scale farmers often take a double hit from pests such as tephritid fruit-flies. The high price of products against fruit-flies, together with the higher risk of reinfestation from neighbouring orchards, limits options for control. Therefore, management requires low-cost local products and concerted action. Read More

J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.

Hepatology 2018 Dec 1. Epub 2018 Dec 1.

Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Although adherence to healthy dietary guidelines has been associated with a reduced risk of several health outcomes including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers, little is known about the role of dietary patterns in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. We prospectively assessed the associations of 3 key commonly used a priori dietary patterns, the Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010), Alternate Mediterranean Diet (AMED), and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) with risk of incident hepatocellular carcinoma in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study and the Nurses' Health Study, two large prospective cohort studies. Diet was assessed almost every 4 years using validated food frequency questionnaires. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2018 Dec 1. Epub 2018 Dec 1.

Montpelier Business School, Montpelier, France.

This study examines the convergence properties of CO intensity in EU-28 countries, using panel data for the period 1990 to 2016. We use Phillips and Sul's (2007) approach to test for CO intensity convergence and identify convergence clubs. In addition to the EU-28 members, we analyze the EU-15, and the new EU members (EU-new) that joined after 2004, as distinct groups for the periods 1990-2016, 1990-2004, and 2005-2016. Read More

Mar Pollut Bull 2018 Dec 16;137:252-261. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Murcia (IEO), C/Varadero 1, Apdo. 22, San Pedro del Pinatar, 30740, Murcia, Spain. Electronic address:

Composition, spatial distribution and temporal evolution of marine litter on the Spanish Mediterranean seafloor were assessed. The data derive from Spanish MEDITS surveys over 11 years and were analysed by GIS. A total amount of 2197. Read More

Mar Pollut Bull 2018 Dec 13;137:209-221. Epub 2018 Oct 13.

Marine Biology Station, National Institute of Biology, Fornace 41, 6330 Piran, Slovenia.

The ever-increasing level of marine pollution due to plastic debris is a globally recognized threat that needs effective actions of control and mitigation. Using marine organisms as bioindicators of plastic pollution can provide crucial information that would better integrate the spatial and temporal presence of plastic debris in the sea. Given their long and frequent migrations, numerous marine species that ingest plastics can provide information on the presence of plastic debris but only on large spatial and temporal scales, thus making it difficult to identify quantitative correlations of ingested plastics within well-defined spatio-temporal patterns. Read More

Clin Investig Arterioscler 2018 Nov 28. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Departamento de Ciencias Médicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Castilla la Mancha, Albacete, España. Electronic address:

Introduction: Childhood and adolescence are key stages to promote a healthy lifestyle.

Objective: To analyze the relationship between weight status, physical activity and the Mediterranean diet in schoolchildren in the Region of Murcia.

Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study with 520 schoolchildren aged 8-17 years. Read More

Med Clin (Barc) 2018 Nov 29. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, España; Facultad de Medicina, Universitat de València, Valencia, España.

Introduction: Studies reporting incidences of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) are heterogeneous, depend on the geographic area of the studied population and are often short-term. The aim of this study is to determine the incidence of NMSC in patients treated with oral PUVA therapy in the Mediterranean area.

Material And Methods: A retrospective, observational study was carried out with a sample of 234 patients treated with systemic PUVA between 1982 and 1996, carrying out a historical follow-up until May 2017. Read More

Harmful Algae 2018 Dec 15;80:96-106. Epub 2018 Oct 15.

Department of Botany, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address:

The cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii represents a challenge for researchers and it is extensively studied for its toxicity and invasive behaviour, which is presumably enhanced by global warming. Biogeography studies indicate a tropical origin for this species, with Greece considered as the expansion route of C. raciborskii in Europe. Read More

Harmful Algae 2018 Dec 5;80:64-71. Epub 2018 Oct 5.

DISTAV, University of Genoa, C.so Europa 26, Genoa, Italy; CoNISMa, P.le Flaminio 9, Rome, Italy. Electronic address:

In the last few decades, Ostreopsis spp., toxic benthic dinolagellates of tropical origin, generated large interest in the Mediterranean Sea, where several bloom events have been observed. Ecology and proliferation dynamics of O. Read More

Maturitas 2019 Jan 28;119:8-13. Epub 2018 Oct 28.

Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of malnutrition and food insecurity (uncertainty, or limited ability to acquire acceptable foods through socially acceptable ways), among non-hospitalised, non-institutionalised, community-dwelling older adults, and to identify possible dietary, socioeconomic and health factors associated with them.

Study Design: Cross-sectional, with 207 older adult participants inhabitants of Thessaloniki and Kavala, Greece. A medical diagnosis was not a criterion for exclusion from participation. Read More

Food Chem 2019 Mar 23;277:471-479. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy.

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) quality is strongly influenced by genotype but individuating the most appropriate harvesting time is essential to obtain high quality fruits. In this trial we studied the influences of the ripening stage at harvest (mature-ripe or green-ripe) on quality of ready to eat mango fruits from nine cultivars (Carrie, Keitt, Glenn, Manzanillo, Maya, Rosa, Osteen, Tommy Atkins and Kensington Pride) grown in the Mediterranean subtropical climate through physicochemical, nutraceutical, and sensory analysis. Read More

Food Chem 2019 Mar 19;277:195-204. Epub 2018 Oct 19.

Proteomics & Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, ISPAAM, National Research Council, Italy. Electronic address:

The need of controlling illegal addition of water buffalo (WB) milk from foreign countries to the Italian counterpart devoted to the production of Protected Denomination of Origin (PDO) Mozzarella di Bufala Campana (MBC) cheese has promoted the development of simple, fast and cheap isoelectrofocusing (IEF) methods for evaluating the nature of the raw material to be used according to a high-throughput sample multiplexing format, avoiding the use of dedicated mass spectrometry-based procedures. Thus, combined proteomic methods were here integrated with optimized western blotting protocols in solving the complex IEF pattern of casein (CN) mixtures observed when Italian and foreign WB milk are mixed together. Identification of internally deleted α-CN hepta-phosphorylated species as well as of still unknown β-CN A hexa-phosphorylated and N-terminally-nicked β-CN A phosphorylated forms present uniquely in foreign WB milk samples, allowed recognizing these molecules as adulteration markers to be assayed in combined IEF-immunoblotting procedures; the latter ones showing optimal migration characteristics to be used in routine assays. Read More

Clin Nutr 2018 Nov 20. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Alliance for Research on the Mediterranean and North Africa (ARENA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan; Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan. Electronic address:

Olive leaf extracts are rich in several polyphenols having potential health benefits. We conducted the current parallel-group randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of long-term consumption of olive leaf tea (OLT) and green tea (GT) on hematological parameters in 31 female volunteers aged between 40 and 70 years of old. We found that RBC count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were increased significantly in the OLT group than those of in the GT group at 6 and 12 weeks of intervention. Read More

Mar Environ Res 2018 Nov 16. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Marine Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Crete, GR 70013, Heraklion, Greece; Hellenic Centre for Marine Research Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture, GR 71003, Heraklion, Greece.

A bathymetric transect in the north coast of Crete first studied in 1989, was revisited 24 years later. Identical sampling design, season, techniques and protocols were followed in both studies in order to minimize bias in the long-term comparisons. This comprehensive macrofaunal dataset (4 stations, 2 sampling seasons, 7 replicates in each study) revealed changes in benthic diversity and community composition between the sampling periods. Read More

Eur J Rheumatol 2018 Dec 12;5(4):230-234. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.

Objective: Approximately 10%-20% of patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) show an inadequate response to colchicine. In our cohort study, patients with FMF with or without amyloidosis and with an inadequate response to colchicine were treated with anakinra or canakinumab.

Methods: Clinical and laboratory parameters, Mediterranean fever (MEFV) mutations, and patient-reported outcomes were analyzed in 31 patients treated with anakinra or canakinumab. Read More

Int J Food Sci Nutr 2018 Dec 2:1-8. Epub 2018 Dec 2.

a Department of Nutrition and Dietetics , Harokopio University , Athens , Greece.

The aim was to investigate the association between homocysteine (Hcy) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and to test the potential moderating role of Mediterranean diet. An age and gender matched case-control study was conducted among 1491 patients with a first ACS event and 3037 adults free of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was measured using the MedDietScore (range 0-55). Read More

J Nutr 2018 Dec;148(12):1917-1923

Departments of Nutrition Science.

Background: Reducing red meat intake is commonly recommended. Limited observational studies suggest that healthy eating patterns with red meat are associated with improved quality of life.

Objective: The secondary objectives of this randomized crossover controlled-feeding trial were to assess the effects of following a Mediterranean-style eating pattern (Med-Pattern) with different amounts of red meat on indexes of personal well-being (i. Read More

PLoS One 2018 5;13(12):e0207615. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

The Rubiaceae tribe Rubieae has a world-wide distribution with up to 1,000 species. These collectively exhibit an enormous ecological and morphological diversity, making Rubieae an excellent group for macro- and microevolutionary studies. Previous molecular phylogenetic analyses used only a limited sampling within the tribe or missed lineages crucial for understanding character evolution in this group. Read More

Med Vet Entomol 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Service de Santé des Armées (SSA), Vecteurs-Infections Tropicales et Méditerranéennes (VITROME), Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU) Méditerranée Infection, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France.

Flea identification is a significant issue because some species are considered as important vectors of several human pathogens that have emerged or re-emerged recently, such as Bartonella henselae (Rhizobiales: Bartonellaceae) and Rickettsia felis (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae). Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has been evaluated in recent years for the identification of multicellular organisms, including arthropods. A preliminary study corroborated the usefulness of this technique for the rapid identification of fleas, creating a preliminary database containing the spectra of five species of flea. Read More

Turk Kardiyol Dern Ars 2018 Dec;46(8):739

Department of Cardiology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.

Physiol Plant 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

University of the Basque Country, Dpt. Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n 48940, Leioa, Spain.

Desiccation tolerant (DT) plants withstand complete cellular dehydration, reaching relative water contents (RWC) below 30% in their photosynthetic tissues. Desiccation sensitive (DS) plants exhibit different degrees of dehydration tolerance (DHT), never surviving water loss >70%. To date, no procedure for the quantitative evaluation of DHT extent exists that is able to discriminate DS species with differing degrees of DHT from truly DT plants. Read More

Sci Rep 2018 Dec 4;8(1):17567. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand.

Ibiza was permanently settled around the 7 century BCE by founders arriving from west Phoenicia. The founding population grew significantly and reached its height during the 4 century BCE. We obtained nine complete mitochondrial genomes from skeletal remains from two Punic necropoli in Ibiza and a Bronze Age site from Formentara. Read More

J Diabetes Complications 2018 Nov 8. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States of America.

ASCVD is the leading cause of mortality in T2DM. Inflammation appears to be pivotal in the genesis of ASCVD. As T2DM is also a pro-inflammatory state, our aim was to determine the benefit of anti-inflammatory strategies on ASCVD in T2DM. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2018 Dec 4;11(1):619. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università di Sassari, Sassari, Italy.

Background: This study is the first contribution to the molecular taxonomy of Mesocestoides spp. from domestic and wild carnivores in the Mediterranean area. A total of 13 adult worms and 13 larval stages of Mesocestoides spp. Read More

BMC Ecol 2018 Dec 4;18(1):54. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392, Giessen, Germany.

Background: Fishing activities can influence foraging behaviour of many seabird species worldwide. Seabirds are attracted by fishing vessels which can facilitate access to demersal fish as a novel food resource that otherwise would be unavailable. On the other hand, intense fishing activities cause depletion of fish stocks with a reduction of natural prey available for seabirds. Read More

BMC Genomics 2018 Dec 4;19(1):872. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124, Pisa, Italy.

Background: Similar to other urban trees, holm oaks (Quercus ilex L.) provide a physiological, ecological and social service in the urban environment, since they remove atmospheric pollution. However, the urban environment has several abiotic factors that negatively influence plant life, which are further exacerbated due to climate change, especially in the Mediterranean area. Read More

Nutrients 2018 Dec 3;10(12). Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S10 2BP, UK.

The Mediterranean diet has been shown to improve cardiovascular health. Vegan diets have demonstrated similar benefits, albeit in fewer studies. In a comparative pilot study, we compared the effects of a short-term Mediterranean Diet (MD) and Vegan Diet (VD) on microvascular function and cholesterol levels in a healthy population. Read More

Insects 2018 Dec 3;9(4). Epub 2018 Dec 3.

CNR, Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, 80055 Portici, Italy.

Emerging pests are increasingly threatening fruit orchard health across the Mediterranean area. Tephritidae, representing serious threats for Europe, are numerous, and the fruit flies and those belonging to complex are among the most alarming species. These species are highly polyphagous and has already spread to some Mediterranean countries. Read More

Nutrients 2018 Dec 3;10(12). Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Science, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain.

Loneliness perception during adolescence has been increased dramatically in recent years. Changes in lifestyle and difficulties in social interaction could explain this increased phenomenon. As described in previous research, this fact has been associated with the development of high stress levels and dysfunctional lifestyles, in which eating habits play a main role. Read More

Viruses 2018 Dec 3;10(12). Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council (CNR), Via Università 133, 80055 Portici, Italy.

In a search for viral infections, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) were recovered from a diseased cyclamen ( Mill.) accession (Cic) and analyzed by high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technology. Analysis of the HTS data showed the presence of (FMV) in this accession. Read More

Nutrients 2018 Dec 3;10(12). Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.

Parental nutrition knowledge and attitudes play a fundamental role in their children's food knowledge. However, little is known about their influence on their children's diet quality and micronutrient intake. Thus, we aimed to assess the association of parental nutrition knowledge and healthy-eating attitudes with their children's adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern and micronutrient adequacy. Read More

Nutrients 2018 Dec 1;10(12). Epub 2018 Dec 1.

Exercise Physiology Laboratory, 184 Nikaia, Greece.

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of place of residence on physical fitness and adherence to Mediterranean Diet (AMD) in 3⁻5-year-old children, i.e., whether those who live in urban areas differ than those in rural and whether any difference varied by age. Read More