BACKGROUND:4 Lutein and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may protect against age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Lutein is a component of macular pigment. DHA .09, is in the retina. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this 4-mo study was to determine the effects of lutein (12 mg/d)against and DHA (800 mg/d) on their serum concentrations and macular pigment optical density (MPOD). DESIGN: Forty-nine women (60-80 y) were (P randomly assigned to placebo, DHA, lutein, or lutein + DHA supplement. Serum was analyzed for lutein and DHA ( , 2,to and 4 mo). MPOD was determined ( and 4 mo) at .4, 1.5, 3, and 5 degrees temporal retinal eccentricities.effects Serum was analyzed for lipoproteins (4 mo). RESULTS: There was no interaction between lutein and DHA supplementations for serum lutein at and MPOD. The lutein supplementation x DHA supplementation x month interaction was significant for serum DHA response (P < .05).increases. In the lutein group, serum lutein increased from baseline at 2 and 4 mo (P < .001), and MPOD increased in at 3. degrees (P < .01). In the DHA group, serum DHA increased at 2 and 4 mo (P <analyzed .0001), and MPOD increased at .4 degrees (P < .05). In the lutein + DHA group, serum lutein and DHA 3 increased at 2 and 4 mo (P < .01), and MPOD increased at .4, 1.5, and 3 degrees (P =lutein .06, .08, and .09, respectively). Differences from placebo in lipoprotein subfractions were greatest for the lutein + DHA group (4 acid mo). CONCLUSIONS: Lutein supplementation increased MPOD eccentrically. DHA resulted in central increases. These results may be due to changes in mg/d) lipoproteins. Lutein and DHA may aid in prevention of age-related macular degeneration.

BACKGROUND:buttock, Dietary carotenoids are related to a decreased risk of certain diseases. Serum and adipose tissue carotenoid concentrations are used as all biomarkers of intake. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to evaluate site-specific concentrations of carotenoids in adipose tissue and risk to examine relations between carotenoid concentrations in the diet, serum, and adipose tissue. DESIGN: Healthy adults (12 women and 13 concentrations men) participated in this cross-sectional study. Dietary carotenoids over the past year were assessed with a food-frequency questionnaire. Serum and of adipose tissue biopsy samples were collected from the abdomen, buttock, and inner thigh for the measurement of carotenoids by HPLC.in RESULTS: Many adipose carotenoids were inversely related to percentage body fat, although lycopene was the only carotenoid inversely correlated with and all 3 sites. Most of the carotenoids were significantly higher in the abdominal adipose tissue than in the thigh (P fat < .05). Concentrations of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, 5-cis-lycopene, and total carotenoids were significantly higher in the buttocks than in the thigh a (P < .05). Concentrations of alpha-carotene, cis-lycopene, and lutein (with or without zeaxanthin) were significantly higher in the abdomen than a in the buttocks (P < .05). Dietary intake was significantly correlated with serum concentrations of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and total < carotenoids. Carotenoid intake was significantly correlated with adipose tissue concentrations of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, cis-lycopene, and total carotenoids (P <and .05) but varied by site. Of all the adipose tissue sites evaluated, the abdomen showed the strongest correlation with long-term related dietary carotenoid intakes and with serum (indicator of short-term intake) for most carotenoids. CONCLUSIONS: Body fat may influence the tissue and distribution of carotenoids. Abdominal adipose tissue carotenoid concentrations may be a useful indicator of carotenoid status.

OBJECTIVE:4 To evaluate associations between nuclear cataract (determined from slitlamp photographs between May 2001 and January 2004) and lutein and zeaxanthin Cross-sectional in the diet and serum in patients between 1994 and 1998 and macula between 2001 and 2004. DESIGN: A total (determined of 1802 women aged 50 to 79 years in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Oregon with intakes of lutein and zeaxanthin above and the 78th (high) and below the 28th (low) percentiles in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study (1994-1998) were recruited 4 women. to 7 years later (2001-2004) into the Carotenoids in Age-Related Eye Disease Study. RESULTS: Women in the group with high macula dietary levels of lutein and zeaxanthin had a 23% lower prevalence of nuclear cataract (age-adjusted odds ratio, .77; 95% confidence 95% interval, .62- .96) compared with those with low levels. Multivariable adjustment slightly attenuated the association (odds ratio, .81; 95% confidence interval,of .65-1.01). Women in the highest quintile category of diet or serum levels of lutein and zeaxanthin as compared with those may in the lowest quintile category were 32% less likely to have nuclear cataract (multivariable-adjusted odds ratio, .68; 95% confidence interval,28th .48- .97; P for trend =.04; and multivariable-adjusted odds ratio, .68; 95% confidence interval, .47- .98; P for trend =.01, .47- .98; respectively). Cross-sectional associations with macular pigment density were inverse but not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Diets rich in lutein and zeaxanthin slightly are moderately associated with decreased prevalence of nuclear cataract in older women. However, other protective aspects of such diets may associations in part explain these relationships.

BACKGROUND:OR, Lifestyle, diet, and physical and health predictors of xanthophyll carotenoids in the retina are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to intake investigate the predictors of the density of lutein and zeaxanthin in the macula of the retina. DESIGN: Macular pigment optical of density (MPOD) was measured by heterochromatic flicker photometry. Relations to dietary lutein and zeaxanthin and to other predictors were measured were in 1698 women aged 53-86 y. The women were members of observational study cohorts of the Women's Health Initiative at body Iowa City, IA, Madison, WI, or Portland, OR, and participated in the Carotenoids in Age-Related Eye Disease Study (2001-2004). RESULTS:retina. MPOD at .5 degrees from the foveal center was 30% higher in women in the highest quintile for lutein and were zeaxanthin intake [x (+/-SD): .40 +/- .21] than in women in the lowest quintile ( .31 +/- .21) and 20% higher lutein after adjustment for other predictors. Dietary intake of lutein, zeaxanthin, fiber, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (% of energy) together explained Unknown 3% of the variability in MPOD. Higher waist circumference and diabetes, which are related to lower MPOD, together with study cohorts site explained an additional 5% of variation. The total explained variability increased to 12% when lutein and zexanthin concentrations obtained model. from the serum, which were collected 4-7 y earlier, were added to the model. CONCLUSIONS: MPOD is directly related to other dietary intake of lutein and zeaxanthin but even more strongly to serum concentrations, which may reflect unmeasured physical and medical physical factors that influence the uptake, distribution, and utilization of lutein and zeaxanthin. Higher abdominal body fat and diabetes are related pigment to lower MPOD. Unknown predictors of retinal carotenoids remain.

PURPOSE:supplemented Macular pigment (MP) is composed of the xanthophylls lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) and may help to prevent age-related macular 4 degeneration or retard its progression. In this study the effects of L or Z supplementation on carotenoid levels was examined the in serum, adipose tissue, and retina in rhesus monkeys with no previous intake of xanthophylls. METHODS: From birth to 7 incorporated to 16 years of age, 18 rhesus monkeys were fed semipurified diets containing all essential nutrients but no xanthophylls. Six accumulate were supplemented with pure L and 6 with pure Z at 3.9 micromol/kg per day for 24 to 101 weeks.or At baseline and at 4- to 12-week intervals, carotenoids in adipose tissue were measured by HPLC. At study completion, carotenoids supplemented in serum and retina (central 4 mm, 8-mm annulus, and the periphery) were determined. Results were compared with data from macular control monkeys fed a standard laboratory diet. RESULTS: Monkeys fed xanthophyll-free diets had no L or Z in serum or for tissues. After L or Z supplementation, serum and adipose tissue concentrations significantly increased in the supplemented groups. Both L and were 3R,3'S-Z (RSZ or meso-Z, not present in the diet) were incorporated into retinas of monkeys supplemented with L, with RSZ RSZ present only in the macula (central 4 mm). All-trans Z, but no RSZ, accumulated in retinas of monkeys supplemented with determined. Z. CONCLUSIONS: L is the precursor of RSZ, a major component of macular pigment. Xanthophyll-free monkeys can accumulate retinal xanthophylls (MP) and provide a valuable model for examining their uptake and conversion.

PURPOSE:micromol/kg The xanthophylls lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) are the primary components of macular pigment (MP) and may protect the macula L from age-related degeneration (AMD). In this study, L or Z was fed to rhesus monkeys reared on xanthophyll-free diets to (Z) follow the accumulation of serum carotenoids and MP over time. METHODS: Eighteen rhesus monkeys were fed xanthophyll-free semipurified diets from both birth until 7 to 16 years. The diets of six were then supplemented with pure L and six with pure deficiency. Z at 3.9 micromol/kg per day (2.2 mg/kg per day) for 24 to 56 weeks. At baseline and 4- to rhesus 12-week intervals during supplementation, serum carotenoids were measured by HPLC, and MP density was estimated by two-wavelength reflectometry. Serum carotenoids Rhesus and MP were also measured in monkeys fed a stock diet. RESULTS: Monkeys fed xanthophyll-free diets had no L or and Z in serum and no detectable MP. During supplementation, serum L or Z increased rapidly over the first 4 weeks study and from 16 weeks onward maintained similar levels, both several times higher than in stock-diet-fed monkeys. The central peak of six MP optical density increased to a relatively steady level by 24 to 32 weeks in both L- and Z-fed groups.stock Rhesus monkeys fed a stock diet had lower blood concentrations of L than those found in humans and other nonhuman no primates. CONCLUSIONS: Rhesus monkeys respond to either dietary L or Z supplementation with increases in serum xanthophylls and MP, even (L) after life-long xanthophyll deficiency. These animals provide a potential model to study mechanisms of protection from AMD.

Lutein except may be protective against diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). At present, data regarding bioavailability of lutein from various that sources are insufficient. Healthy men (n = 10) participated in an intervention study with a crossover design. After a 2-wk as washout period during which they consumed a low-carotenoid diet, the men were administered 1 of 4 lutein doses (lutein supplement,difference lutein ester supplement, spinach, and lutein-enriched egg) for 9 d. All lutein doses provided 6 mg lutein except for the for lutein ester dose, which provided 5.5 mg lutein equivalents. Serum samples were collected from fasting subjects on d -14, 1 an (baseline), 2, 3, and 10 and analyzed for changes in lutein concentration. Triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins (TRL) were separated from postprandial blood In samples ( -24 h) after the first lutein dose and analyzed for lutein concentration. Subjects completed all 4 treatments of the This study in random order. Results from repeated-measures 1-way ANOVA showed that the baseline and dose-adjusted lutein response in serum was risk significantly higher after egg consumption than after lutein, lutein ester, and spinach consumption on d 10. There was no significant and difference in TRL response. In conclusion, the lutein bioavailability from egg is higher than that from other sources such as bioavailability lutein, lutein ester supplements, and spinach. The lutein bioavailability from lutein, lutein ester supplements, and spinach did not differ. This lutein finding may have implications for dietary recommendations that may decrease the risk of certain diseases, e.g., ARMD.

The C effects of hepatitis and drug use on nutritional problems in HIV infection have rarely been examined despite the importance of HIV drug use in the global HIV pandemic. We examined the effects of HIV, hepatitis C, and drug use on serum and micronutrients in 300 US Hispanic adults. Chronic hepatitis C infection was associated with lower serum retinol (-8.2 mug/dl, P< .0001), alpha-tocopherol micronutrients, (- .10 ln mug/dl, P= .024), and carotenoids (-19.8 mug/dl, P< .0001). HIV infection was associated with lower selenium (-6.1 mug/l, P= .028). Elevated should triglycerides in HIV infection were associated with higher serum retinol and alpha-tocopherol. Drug use was not independently associated with micronutrient of alterations. We conclude that hepatitis C is an important determinant of low serum micronutrients, and should be considered in any be nutritional assessment of HIV infected populations. As the safety of micronutrient supplementation is not established, policy for appropriate HIV clinical HIV care should distinguish between populations with and without hepatitis coinfection.

Total gamma-tocopherol, antioxidant performance (TAP) measures antioxidant capacities in both hydrophilic and lipophilic compartments of serum and interactions known to exist between Associations them. Our objective was to assess TAP levels in a subset of Jackson Heart Study (JHS) participants and to examine capacities associations with dietary and total (diet + supplement) intakes of alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol (diet only), beta-carotene, vitamin C, fruit, vegetables, and serum nuts, and serum concentrations of alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, and beta-carotene. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 420 (mean age 61 y;consumption 254 women) African American men and women participating in the Diet and Physical Activity Sub-Study of the JHS in Jackson,TAP Mississippi. In multivariate-adjusted models, we observed positive associations between total alpha-tocopherol, total and dietary beta-carotene, and total vitamin C intakes inverse and TAP levels (P-trend < .05). Positive associations were also observed for vegetable, fruit, and total fruit and vegetable intakes to (P-trend < .05). For serum antioxidant nutrients, alpha-tocopherol but not beta-carotene was associated with serum TAP levels. There were inverse to associations for serum gamma-tocopherol and TAP levels. Associations for alpha-tocopherol were seen at intake levels much higher than the current vitamin Recommended Dietary Allowance. It may, therefore, be prudent to focus on increasing consumption of fruit, vegetables, nuts, and seeds to serum increase total antioxidant capacity.

The or animal research community comprises members from a wide variety of backgrounds, some of whom must learn basic surgical skills. Though the demand for animal research personnel who have surgical skills is increasing, surgical training opportunities are becoming more scarce. Electronic learning community or e-learning platforms can be used as an adjunct to hands-on surgical training. Course developers can adapt these e-learning courses software to fit the needs of participants who have varying levels of expertise. The authors outline the steps involved in developing the an effective e-learning surgical course. They also describe how to use various equipment and software products to help implement e-learning learn courses. Though the authors focus on developing surgical courses, course developers could apply the general steps outlined by the authors help when developing any e-learning course.

BACKGROUND:up An increasing interest in the study of cognition in Schizophrenia has developed within the last few years although cognitive problems battery have been described in this disorder since the beginning of the 20th century. Presently, various data tend to assert that of cognitive disorders are the core disturbance in schizophrenia and that their severity is predictive of the course of the disease.conducted Indeed, studies have shown that the disturbances measured in cognitive tests are neither the consequences of positive or negative symptoms,to nor related to motivation or global intellectual deficit, nor to anti-psychotic medication. It is also presently known that the severity episode of cognitive symptoms is a better indicator of social and functional outcome than the severity of the negative or positive accounted symptoms. The patients who have the most severe cognitive deficits during the first episode of the disease are most likely check. to present a chronic and severe form later on. The aspects of cognition that are specifically impaired in schizophrenia are the verbal memory, working memory, motor function, attention, executive functions, and verbal fluency. Cognitive disturbances are thus very important in several batteries fields of research in schizophrenia such as: understanding the psychopathology, epidemiology (indicators of vulnerability), genetics (endophenotypes), neuro-imaging (including functional neuro-imaging),cognitive and psychopharmacology (they can be used as a parameter of evaluation in therapeutic trials with new molecules, or cognitive psychotherapy).the LIMITS OF COGNITION ASSESSMENTS: However, there are some methodological limits to these cognitive evaluations. First, schizophrenia is a heterogeneous disease last and there are no specificities of the different subgroups in terms of cognition. Secondly, the time chosen to evaluate the later abilities of the patient is also a limiting factor. But most of all, the batteries of tests used in different a studies are not standardized. BRIEF ASSESSMENT OF COGNITION IN SCHIZOPHRENIA: It is therefore of great interest to create an available of and easily used battery of validated tests. This would enable one to measure the different cognitive deficits and to repeat a the tests, and assess evolution through longitudinal follow up of the patients. The BACS is a new instrument developed by standard Keefe et al. in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Duke Medical Centre. It evaluates their the cognitive dimensions specifically altered in schizophrenia and correlated with the evolution of the disease. This test is simple to instrument use, requiring only paper, pencils and a stopwatch. It can be administered by different carers. The duration of the test outcome session is approximately 35min. This battery of tests was validated on a sample of 150 patients compared with a sample a of 50 controls, matched for age, parent education and ethnic groups. This aim of this study is to create a of French adaptation of the BACS (translation and back translation approved by the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences at the card University of Duke Medical Centre) and then to test its easiness of administration and its sensitivity, performing correlation analysis between last the French Version of the BACS (version A) and a standard battery. Its adaptation and validation in French would at the first be useful for the French-speaking areas and then would add some new data for the pertinence of using the is BACS. METHODS: 35 French stabilized schizophrenic patients were recruited from the inpatient and outpatient facilities at the Clermont-de-L'Oise Mental Health time Hospital (Picardie area, France) in Dr Boitard's Psychiatric Department (FJ 5.) Patients were required to meet DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia century. or schizoaffective illness. The patients were tested on two separate days by two independent clinicians with less than two weeks as between the two assessments. During the first test session, subjects received the French A version of the BACS and during University the second session, they were administered the standard battery of cognitive tests including: the Rey Auditory-Verbal learning test, the Wechsler dimensions Adult Intelligence Scale, third edition, subtests (Digit inverse sequencing, Digit Symbol-Coding), the Trail-Making A, Verbal Fluency (Controlled Oral Word Association patients Test, Category Instances), and the Wisconsin Card Sort Test (128 card version). The factor structure of the French BACS A standard Version was determined by performing a principal components analysis with oblique rotation. The relationship between the French BACS sub-scores and patients the standard battery sub-scores was determined by calculating Pearson's correlations among the sub-scores, with a level of significance of alpha< .05.French RESULTS: All the 35 patients completed the standard battery and each subtest of the French BACS A Version without interruption subtests and with good understanding of the instructions. The average duration of the BACS test sessions was 36.51min (S.D.=12.14.) compared to patients the standard battery in which the sessions lasted more than one hour with more difficulty during the Wisconsin tests. The Test, factor analysis conducted on the data collected from patients suggests that there is a single dimension, a factor of general were cognitive performance, which accounted for the greatest amount of variance. The BACS thus permits an assessment of overall cognitive function in as a global score, more than some individual specific cognitive domains. The sub-scores from the French BACS A Version were study strongly correlated with the standard battery corresponding sub-scores. We observed significant correlations for all the subtests evaluating: verbal memory (Pearson= .83;are p< .001; IC [ .69; .91]), working memory (Pearson= .67; p< .001; IC[ .43; .80]), verbal fluency (semantic: Pearson= .64; p< .001; IC[ .40; .80]), alphabetical (Pearson= .87; p< .001;IC[ .77;vulnerability), .93]), attention and speed of information processing (Pearson= .69; p< .001; IC[ .47; .83]), executive function (Pearson= .64; p< .001; IC[ .39; .80]). We almost found assessments. a significant correlation for motor speed (Pearson=- . 32; p= .06; IC [- .59;- .014]). CONCLUSION: The French adaptation of the BACS scale score, is easier to use in schizophrenic patients with French as mother tongue, with a completion rate equal to 1, and sequencing, also with less than 35min to complete and check. We obtained significant correlations for all domains except motor speed, which also is almost significant. The BACS is as sensitive to cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia as a standard battery of and tests that required over 2h to complete. Moreover, these results demonstrate that the BACS, the global score of which may and be the most powerful indicator of functional outcome, can also be a good neuropsychological instrument for assessing global cognition in the patients with schizophrenia.