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Matcha contains several bioactive compounds that contribute to the facilitation of thermogenesis. However, the effects of a single intake of matcha on brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity remain to be elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the association between matcha intake and BAT activity. Healthy young women (n = 30) were enrolled in a randomized single-blind crossover trial. Participants consumed 3 g of matcha powder or a placebo and then received the alternate condition in a subsequent trial. BAT activity was analyzed using thermography with cold exposure. A stratified analysis was performed based on tertiles of maximal changes in BAT activity. BAT activity was increased for all participants following cold exposure; however, no significant difference in the increased levels was found between the matcha and placebo trials. Stratified analysis showed that BAT activity was significantly different in the placebo trial across the low, middle, and high tertile groups; however, this was not found in the matcha trial. Differences in maximal BAT activity between the matcha and placebo trials were significantly higher in the low activity group than in the other groups. These results suggest that matcha powder has beneficial effects on BAT thermogenesis in young women with lower BAT activity. © 2026 The Author(s). Physiological Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Physiological Society and the American Physiological Society.

AIM: To evaluate and compare the gingival and periodontal health status in patients after using Matcha mouthrinse and 2% chlorhexidine (CHX) gluconate mouthwash and also evaluate the efficacy of Matcha extract on Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) and Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY: It is a randomized clinical trial study with 32 adult patients having mild-to-moderate gingivitis and periodontitis. They were divided into two groups, each with 16 patients. Group A was given Matcha extract, and group B was given 2% CHX gluconate. All participants were brought to baseline by oral prophylaxis. They were asked to use their particular group mouth rinse for rinsing twice a day for 1 minute. Indices were taken at baseline, 7, 14, and 28 days. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was checked for Matcha extract on both P. gingivalis and S. mutans bacteria, and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was taken at baseline and after 28 days to check colony-forming units (CFUs) of the samples. RESULTS: Matcha mouthrinse significantly reduced the inflammatory condition of gingivitis and periodontitis (p < 0.05) and is comparable with 2% CHX gluconate. In vitro evaluation of Matcha extract at various concentrations of MIC shows its effectiveness on P. gingivalis and S. mutans. CONCLUSION: To conclude, Matcha mouthrinse may be recommended as an alternative mouthrinse for improving oral health status. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The findings of this study suggest that Matcha mouthrinse, a natural and antioxidant-rich alternative, is effective in reducing gingival and periodontal inflammation, with outcomes comparable to the gold standard 2% CHX gluconate. Additionally, Matcha extract demonstrated antibacterial efficacy against key periodontal pathogens P. gingivalis and S. mutans. This highlights its potential as a safer, herbal-based adjunct in periodontal therapy, especially for patients seeking non-chemical or side-effect-free options for maintaining oral hygiene and preventing disease progression. How to cite this article: Gadekar AV, Dodamani AS, Vishwakarma PK, et al. Comparative Evaluation of Herbal Matcha Extract and 2% Chlorhexidine Gluconate on Pe

BACKGROUND: Mindfulness practices, such as breathing meditation (BM), reduce stress and enhance mood. One such practice is mindful eating, where a practitioner focuses on the five senses while eating or drinking. A novel set of prototypes has been developed, incorporating principles of mindful eating. These prototypes include matcha green tea and a mobile app that provides audio guidance for meditation during the preparation and consumption of the beverage (hereafter referred to as guided tea meditation [GTM]). OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the feasibility and efficacy of GTM, evaluating meditation time, frequency, and prototype acceptability over 8 weeks, alongside changes in stress and mood. Additionally, other benefits of GTM were explored. METHODS: A comparator group was established in which participants performed traditional BM without an app or audio guide (active control). This unblinded randomized controlled trial involved 100 healthy American volunteers (n=49 GTM, n=51 BM). During the 8-week study period, participants were encouraged to perform either GTM or BM for 10 minutes daily. The meditation activity was self-reported the following day. Only the GTM group assessed the prototype acceptability. The Perceived Stress Scale-10 was used to measure stress levels, while the Two-Dimensional Mood Scale was used to evaluate mood changes. Other meditation benefits were explored using a questionnaire. All questionnaires were presented and completed via an app. An intention-to-treat analysis was performed. RESULTS: No significant between-group differences were found in total meditation time (P=.15) or frequency (P=.36). However, the weekly time and frequency of the GTM group remained above 50 minutes per week and 4 days per week, respectively. Over half of the GTM participants (≥28/49, ≥57%) accepted the prototype. The GTM group exhibited significant stress reductions at weeks 4 and 8 (both P<.001), similar to the BM group. Improvements in mood metrics were observed after a single GTM session on days 1 and 56, similar to the BM group. Moreover, increases in premeditation scores for relaxed and calm from day 1 to day 56 were significantly higher for the GTM gro

Although theanine in matcha improves sleep quality and cognitive function, the caffeine in green tea is thought to worsen sleep quality. Therefore, this study investigated the factors behind the observed improvements in subjective sleep quality in matcha. A placebo-controlled randomized double-blind parallel-group study was conducted on healthy Japanese men and women aged 27-64 years. After 4 weeks of consuming 2.7 g of matcha daily (containing 50.3 mg theanine, 301.4 mg catechins, and 71.5 mg caffeine), no significant differences were observed between the control and matcha groups on total sleep time, sleep latency, wake after sleep onset, or sleep efficiency measured by electroencephalography (EEG). However, the sleep questionnaire Oguri-Shirakawa-Azumi Sleep Inventory, the Middle-age and Aged version (OSA-MA), administered immediately after waking showed a trend toward increased satisfaction with sleep time (p < 0.1), and EEG measurements indicated significantly shortened wake-up times after waking with matcha intake (p < 0.05). The Beck Depression Inventory-II scores also tended to decrease (p < 0.1). The continuous intake of matcha may offer improved subjective sleep quality and emotional stability despite not offering significant changes in objective sleep parameters.

OBJECTIVE: Lifestyle habits after middle age significantly impact the maintenance of cognitive function in older adults. Nutritional intake is closely related to lifestyle habits; therefore, nutrition is a pivotal factor in the prevention of dementia in the preclinical stages. Matcha green tea powder (matcha), which contains epigallocatechin gallate, theanine, and caffeine, has beneficial effects on cognitive function and mood. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study over 12 months to examine the effect of matcha on cognitive function and sleep quality. METHODS: Ninety-nine participants, including 64 with subjective cognitive decline and 35 with mild cognitive impairment were randomized, with 49 receiving 2 g of matcha and 50 receiving a placebo daily. Participants were stratified based on two factors: age at baseline and APOE genotype. Changes in cognitive function and sleep quality were analyzed using a mixed-effects model. RESULTS: Matcha consumption led to significant improvements in social acuity score (difference; -1.39, 95% confidence interval; -2.78, 0.002) (P = 0.028) as evaluated by the perception of facial emotions in cognitive function. The primary outcomes, that is, Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study Activity of Daily Living scores, showed no significant changes with matcha intervention. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores indicated a trend toward improvement with a difference of 0.86 (95% confidence interval; -0.002, 1.71) (P = 0.088) between the groups in changes from baseline to 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests regular consumption of matcha could improve emotional perception and sleep quality in older adults with mild cognitive decline. Given the widespread availability and cultural acceptance of matcha green tea, incorporating it into the daily routine may offer a simple yet effective strategy for cognitive enhancement and dementia prevention. Copyright: © 2024 Uchida et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in a

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the changes in salivary levels of catalase (CAT), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and IL-1β (primary outcomes) as well as gingival health and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL) 1 month after the consumption of matcha and green tea in adult patients with gingivitis. METHODS: This study was a parallel randomized clinical trial. Forty gingivitis adult patients were randomly assigned to drink either matcha or green tea cup twice daily for a duration of 1 month. They were asked to keep their habitual oral hygiene measures. Plaque index (PI) and bleeding on probing (BOP) were recorded. In addition, saliva was collected at baseline and 1 month after tea consumption. Salivary levels of CAT, TAC and IL-1β were determined by ELISA. Each participant was asked to fill OHIP-14 questionnaire before and after tea consumption. RESULTS: Following tea intake, 40.6% of the study sample had healthy gingiva. Both groups similarly showed reductions in PI (0.32 ± 0.11-0.22 ± 0.08) and BOP (0.24 ± 0.08-0.13 ± 0.07) scores after tea consumption. There was a significant difference between mean TAC before and after matcha tea consumption only. Non-significant reductions in salivary levels of CAT and IL-1β were detected after tea consumption. OHRQOL of participants was improved after tea, both types, consumption. CONCLUSION: Despite study limitations, daily consumption of matcha and green tea might be beneficial as they potentially enhance OHRQOL of individuals with gingivitis and reduce the extent of gingivitis despite non-significant changes in salivary antioxidants and IL-1β levels. © 2024 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

BACKGROUND: Resistance training adaptively increases muscle strength and mass, contributing to athletic performance and health promotion. Dietary intervention with natural foods provides nutrients that help accelerate muscle adaptation to training. Matcha green tea contains several bioactive factors such as antioxidants, amino acids, and dietary fibers; however, its effect on muscle adaptation is unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of matcha beverage intake on muscle adaptation to resistance training. METHODS: Healthy, untrained men were randomized into placebo and matcha groups. Participants consumed either a matcha beverage containing 1.5 g of matcha green tea powder or a placebo beverage twice a day and engaged in resistance training programs for 8 (trial 1) or 12 weeks (trial 2). RESULTS: In trial 1, maximum leg strength after training tended to increase more in the matcha group than that in the placebo group. In the matcha group, subjective fatigue after exercise at 1 week of training was lower than that in the placebo group. Gut microbe analysis showed that the abundance of five genera changed after matcha intake. The change in Ruminococcus, Butyricimonas, and Oscillospira compositions positively correlated with the change in maximum strength. In trial 2, the change in skeletal muscle mass in response to training was larger in the matcha group. In addition, the salivary cortisol level was lower in the matcha group than that in the placebo group. CONCLUSION: Daily intake of matcha green tea beverages may help in muscle adaptation to training, with modulations in stress and fatigue responses and microbiota composition. © 2023. The Author(s).

Matcha, a type of green tea, has a higher amino acid content than other types of tea. We previously examined the ability of matcha to improve cognitive function in older adults and determined that continuous matcha intake improves attention and executive function. This study aimed to compare the effects of matcha and caffeine and clarify the differences between these effects. The study was registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN000036578). The effect of single and continuous intake was compared, and the usefulness of continuous intake was evaluated under the stress condition. The Uchida-Kraepelin test (UKT) was used to induce mild acute stress, and the Cognitrax was used to evaluate cognitive function. A single dose of caffeine improved attentional function during or after stress loading. The reduced reaction time in the Cognitrax, observed following a single dose of matcha, was likely due to caffeine. The matcha group showed an increase in the amount of work after continuous intake, whereas the caffeine group only showed an increase in the amount of work for the UKT after a single dose. Ingesting matcha with caffeine improves both attention and work performance when suffering from psychological stress compared with caffeine alone.

The concurrent use of herbal dietary supplements with prescription medications raises safety concerns due to the potential for clinically significant interactions. Matcha, a shade-grown green tea consumed as an ultra-fine powder, is rich in catechins that may inhibit the transport of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrates such as nadolol. This study investigated the effects of administering single and multiple doses of matcha on the pharmacokinetics of nadolol in an in vivo animal model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 32) were randomly assigned to four groups. Group 1 (negative control) was administered normal saline followed by a single oral dose of nadolol (10 mg/kg). Group 2 (matcha single-dose) was administered a single dose of matcha (250 mg/kg) whisked in normal saline, followed by nadolol (10 mg/kg) after 30 min. Group 3 (positive control) received itraconazole (50 mg/kg), followed by nadolol (10 mg/kg) after 30 min. Group 4 (matcha multiple-dose) received matcha (250 mg/kg daily for 21 days) before administering nadolol (10 mg/kg) on day 21. Blood samples were collected at 0, 0.33, 0.66, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 24 h. Nadolol concentrations in plasma were measured by a validated high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FL) method. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using the PK solver add-in for Microsoft Excel. To ensure quality control, caffeine, a key marker compound of matcha green tea, was quantified using HPLC with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV). A single oral dosage of matcha (250 mg/kg) had no statistically significant effects on the pharmacokinetics of nadolol compared to the control group (p > .05). Although the multiple-dose matcha group showed an increase in Cmax (~45%), AUC0-t (~18%), and AUC0-∞ (~22%) for nadolol compared to the control group, these differences were not statistically significant (p > .05). In contrast, the t½ (h) of nadolol increased significantly from 4.0 ± 1.6 in the control group to 7.7 ± 4.2 (p = .039) in the matcha multiple-dose group. Itraconazole co-administration significantly increased systemic exposure (AUC) of nadolol (p = .009), confirming the validity of the animal model. Caffe

36. Aust Vet J. 2004 Mar;82(3):130. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2004.tb12632.x. Don't mix and match--a message from our national veterinary chemicals regulator. Dyke T. Comment in Aust Vet J. 2004 May;82(5):271.

11. Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Oct 31;26(21):10631. doi: 10.3390/ijms262110631. Natural Products in Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials and Underlying Molecular Mechanisms. Bayo Jimenez MT(1), Rivas-García L(1), Sánchez-González C(1), Grosso G(2), Lipari V(3)(4), Vera-Ramírez L(

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Neonatal pharmacotherapy has gained attention from clinicians and regulatory agencies for optimizing the dosage of the drug which improves therapeutic outcomes in this special population. Piperacillin-tazobactam antibiotic is commonly used as a therapeutic option for treatment of severe infection in neonatal intensive care units. There are few population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) studies of piperacillin and tazobactam published for this specific population and which were not validated in other study settings. The aim of this study was to externally evaluate the published population pharmacokinetic models for piperacillin-tazobactam. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted through Scopus, PubMed, and Embase databases to identify PopPK models. Clinical data collected in neonates treated with piperacillin-tazobactam were used for evaluation of these models. Various prediction-based metrics were used for assessing the bias and precision of PopPK models using individual predictions. RESULTS: Three PopPK models were identified for external evaluation. A total of 53 plasma samples were collected from 46 neonates admitted in the neonatal intensive care unit. The PopPK models reported by Cohen-Wolkowiez et al. for piperacillin and Li et al. for tazobactam were able to predict well for our clinical data. CONCLUSION: The PopPK models by Cohen-Wolkowiez et al. and Li et al. predicted our data well for piperacillin and tazobactam with the lower relative median absolute predictive error (rMAPE) of 8.61% and 16.48% and relative root mean square error (rRMSE) of 0.01 and 0.03, respectively. External evaluation of the published PopPK models of piperacillin and tazobactam resulted in enhancing their credibility to be implemented in clinical practice. © 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Chronic myeloid leukemia is a myeloproliferative neoplasm associated with the specific chromosomal translocation known as the Philadelphia chromosome. Imatinib is a potent BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor, which is approved as the first line therapy for CML patients. There are various population pharmacokinetic studies available in the literature for this population. However, their use in other populations outside of their cohort for the model development has not been evaluated. This study was aimed to perform the predictive performance of the published population pharmacokinetic models for imatinib in CML population and propose a dosing nomogram. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted through PubMed, and WoS databases to identify PopPK models. Clinical data collected in adult CML patients treated with imatinib was used for evaluation of these models. Various prediction-based metrics were used for assessing the bias and precision of PopPK models using individual predictions. RESULTS: Eight imatinib PopPK model were selected for evaluating the model performance. A total of 145 plasma imatinib samples were collected from 43 adult patients diagnosed with CML and treated with imatinib. The PopPK model reported by Menon et al. had better performance than all other PopPK models. CONCLUSION: Menon et al. model was able to predict well for our clinical data where it had the relative mean prediction error percentage ≤ 20%, relative median absolute prediction error ≤ 30% and relative root mean square error close to zero. Based on this final model, we proposed a dosing nomogram for various weight groups, which could potentially help to maintain the trough concentrations in the therapeutic range. © 2024. The Author(s).

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is the treatment of choice for neonates diagnosed with perinatal asphyxia (PA). Dosing recommendations of various therapeutic agents including antimicrobials were not specifically available for the neonates undergoing TH. METHODS: A systematic search methodology was used to identify pharmacokinetic (PK) studies of antimicrobials during TH. Antimicrobials with multiple PK studies were identified to create a generalizable PK model. Pharmacometric simulations were performed using the PUMAS software platform to reproduce the results of published studies. A suitable model that could reproduce the results of all other published studies was identified. With the help of a generalizable model, an optimal dosage regimen was designed considering the important covariates of the identified model. RESULTS: With the systematic search, only gentamicin had multiple PK reports during TH. A generalizable model was identified and the model predictions could match the reported/observed concentrations of publications. Birth weight and serum creatinine were the significant covariates influencing the PK of gentamicin in neonates. A dosage nomogram was designed using pharmacometric simulations to maintain gentamicin concentrations below 10 μg/mL at peak and below 2 μg/mL at trough. CONCLUSIONS: A generalizable PK model for gentamicin during TH in neonates was identified. Using the model, a dosing nomogram for gentamicin was designed. IMPACT: Dosing guidelines for antimicrobials during TH in neonates is lacking. This is the first study to identify the generalizable model for gentamicin during TH in neonates. Nomogram, proposed in the study, will aid the clinicians to individualize gentamicin dosing regimen for neonates considering the birth weight and serum creatinine. © 2021. The Author(s).

Background/Objectives: Mood disorders include symptoms of depression, anxiety, and or stress, and have increased in prevalence. Green tea and its bioactive components (epigallocatechin gallate [EGCG] and L-theanine) have been investigated for their health benefits and neuroprotective properties. As adults seek integrative and alternative treatment modalities, it is relevant to determine the effects of natural and non-pharmacological treatments on humans. This study aimed to assess current evidence from published randomized controlled trials testing the effects of green tea, green tea extracts, or its bioactive compounds on mood disorder symptomology and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Methods: We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Embase, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist and utilizing predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: A total of 445 studies were identified, 395 screened, and thirteen met inclusion criteria. Seven used one of the bioactive compounds found in green tea for intervention, while six used green tea extract, matcha, or traditional green tea. Mood disturbance was assessed with several tools, with studies reporting improvements in depressive (n = 4), anxiety (n = 6), stress (n = 5), and sleep (n = 1) symptoms. No studies found a statistically significant effect of green tea or its bioactive compounds on BDNF. Conclusions: Our findings suggest green tea, GTE, L-theanine, and EGCG may

Hospital at home is designed to offer patients hospital level care in the comfort of their own home. The process by which clinicians select eligible patients that are clinically and socially appropriate for this model of care requires labor-intensive manual chart reviews. We addressed this problem by providing a predictive model, web application, and data pipeline that produces an eligibility score based on a set of clinical and social factors that influence patients' success in the program. Providers used this predictive model to prioritize the order in which they perform chart reviews and patient screenings. Training performance area under the curve (AUC) was 0.77. Testing 'in production' had an AUC of 0.75. Admission criteria in training rapidly changed over the course of the study due to the novelty of the clinical model. The current algorithm successfully identified many inconsistencies in enrollment and has streamlined the process of patient identification. ©2022 AMIA - All rights reserved.

The earlobe crease (ELC) has been linked to coronary artery disease, but there is limited information on the association between ELC and extracranial atherosclerosis. Using the Atahualpa Project cohort, we aimed to assess the association between ELC and increased carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). Atahualpa residents aged ≥40 years underwent visual inspection of both earlobes to evaluate ELC presence, and ultrasound examinations of carotid arteries to calculate the cIMT. The association between both variables was assessed by logistic regression and predictive models, after adjusting for relevant confounders. Mean age of 570 enrolled individuals was 61.5 ± 12.4 years (58% women). ELC was present in 221 (39%) participants. The mean cIMT was 0.85 ± 0.19 mm, with 81 individuals (14%) having an increased cIMT (>1 mm). Univariate logistic regression showed a significant association between ELC presence and increased cIMT (OR: 1.67; 95% C.I.: 1.04-2.69), which disappeared when age (OR: 1.09; 95% C.I.: 0.65-1.85) and other covariables (OR: 1.06; 95% C.I.: 0.62-1.84) were added to the model. Predictive cIMT margins did not differ according to ELC presence or absence, with participants stratified in quartiles of age. This study shows that the effect of the increase in cIMT in subjects with ELC is related to aging.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Evidence of an association between sleep disorders and extracranial atherosclerosis is limited and has not been studied in remote rural settings, where living conditions and cardiovascular risk factors are different than in urban centers. We assessed the relationship between the carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and sleep quality in stroke-free individuals aged ≥40 years living in rural Ecuador. METHODS: Applying a population-based study design, participants underwent face-to-face interviews using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to assess sleep quality, and sonographic examinations for measurement of the carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). The association between the cIMT and sleep quality (as the dependent variable) was assessed by means of generalized linear models, adjusted for relevant confounders. RESULTS: The mean age of 561 participants was 60.4 ± 12.6 years (58% women). The mean PSQI was 4.6 ± 2.2 points. Of those, 79 (14%) individuals had an increased cIMT (>1 mm). A model adjusted for demographics showed a significant association between increased cIMT and the PSQI score (β: 0.602; 95% C.I.: 0.027-1.177; p = 0.040). This relationship was reduced when cardiovascular risk factors were added to the model (β: 0.514; 95% C.I.: -0.072 - 1.101; p = 0.086). When the model was adjusted for demographics and psychological distress, the association betwe

The atherosclerotic origin of abdominal aorta (AA) aneurysms is controversial. Using the Atahualpa Project Cohort, we aimed to assess the relationship between the AA diameter and two surrogates of cervicocephalic atherosclerosis, including the carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and the presence of carotid siphon calcifications (CSC). Atahualpa residents aged ≥60 years undergoing ultrasound examinations of the abdominal aorta and the carotid arteries (to calculate the AA diameter and the cIMT), and head CT (to assess CSC severity) were included. Associations between AA diameter and cIMT and CSC severity were assessed by generalized linear models, after adjusting for relevant confounders. Of 256 participants, 64 (25%) had an increased cIMT and 85 (33%) had high calcium content in the carotid siphons. In univariate analysis, being male (p < 0.001) and having total cholesterol blood levels <240 mg/dL (p = 0.022) were associated with a higher AA diameter. Also in univariate analysis, the mean AA diameter was higher in individuals with an increased cIMT (p = 0.021), but such association disappeared in adjusted models. The AA diameter was not associated with high calcium content in the carotid siphons in either univariate or multivariate analyses. This population study shows no association between the AA diameter and cervicocephalic atherosclerosis in community-dwe

INTRODUCTION: Information on the relationship between the diameters of the abdominal aorta (AA) and the basilar artery (BA) is limited. Using the Atahualpa Project cohort, we aimed to assess this association in Atahualpa residents aged ≥ 60 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Atahualpa residents aged ≥ 60 years underwent abdominal ultrasound and MRA of intracranial vessels. The independent association between both arterial diameters was estimated in a generalized linear model adjusted for demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, the presence of a fetal-type Circle of Willis, and severity of white matter hyperintensities. Fractional polynomials were fitted to model the relationship between AA and BA diameters. RESULTS: The mean age of 277 participants was 69.5 ± 7.7 years (61% women). The mean AA diameter was 19.8 ± 3.3 mm, and the mean BA diameter was 3.1 ± 0.7 mm. The mean diameters of both arteries were significantly higher in men than in women. Locally weighted scatterplot smoothing showed a non-linear relationship between both arterial diameters. Fractional polynomial models showed that AA and BA diameters had a significant non-linear association in men (p = 0.005), but not in women (p = 0.315). When sex was excluded from a generalized linear model, the relationship between both arterial diameters became

The carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) is a predictor of cardiovascular events. The neck circumference (NC) has been investigated as a risk factor for increased cIMT with contradictory results. This study assessed the relationship between NC and cIMT in Atahualpa residents aged ≥40 years who had sonographic examination of carotid arteries (n = 590). We also discussed on potential pathogenetic mechanisms underlying this association. Participants belonged to the Native Ecuadorian (Amerindians) ethnic group. Non-parametric regression models were used to assess the aforementioned relationship, after adjusting for relevant confounders. The mean age of participants was 60.9 ± 12.7 years (58% women). The mean value of the cIMT was 0.85 ± 0.19 mm. The mean NC was 35.8 ± 34 cm. The NC was normally distributed, but the cIMT was not. Mean values of NC and cIMT were significantly greater in men than in women. Non-parametric models showed significant differences in median cIMT values according to quartiles of NC. Predictive cIMT margins increased by quartiles of NC, significantly among individuals in the 1st quartile as compared to the 3rd quartile. In this population of Amerindians, smaller NC is associated with lower values

BACKGROUND: No information is available on the distribution of cervicocephalic atherosclerosis in Amerindians. We aimed to assess the distribution of these lesions and their correlation with cardiovascular risk factors in Amerindians living in rural Ecuador. METHODS: Atahualpa residents aged ≥40years underwent head CT for assessment of carotid siphon calcifications (CSC) and sonographic examination for measurement of the carotid intima media thickness (cIMT). CSC were used as a surrogate of intracranial atherosclerosis and the cIMT as a surrogate of extracranial atherosclerosis. Linear regression and multinomial logistic regression models were fitted to assess the association between cIMT and CSC, and to evaluate differences in risk factors across individuals with atherosclerosis involving both arterial beds when compared with those with extra- or intracranial atherosclerosis alone, or no atherosclerosis. RESULTS: Of 590 participants, 145 had high calcium content in the carotid siphons and 87 had a cIMT