Medical Bulletin 26/December/2022

Preeclampsia is a serious blood pressure condition that develops during pregnancy and puts stress on the mother's heart. Left untreated, the condition can cause serious complications like weakened kidney and liver function and decreased blood supply to the fetus.

In a new study evaluating the Mediterranean diet and adverse pregnancy outcomes, investigators from the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai found that women who conceived while adhering to the anti-inflammatory diet had a significantly lower risk of developing preeclampsia during pregnancy.

Reference:

Natalie Bello et al,Association of a Mediterranean Diet Pattern With Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Among US Women, JAMA Network Open, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.48165

Walking inefficiently per day could help adults meet physical activity targets

The inefficient walking styles of Mr Teabag and Mr Putey, acted by John Cleese and Michael Palin in the 1971 Monty Python Ministry of Silly Walks sketch, have been shown to be more variable than usual walking, but their energy expenditure has never been measured.

To fill this vital research gap, a team of US researchers set out to compare the energy expenditure of low efficiency walking with high efficiency walking.

Reference:

Quantifying the benefits of inefficient walking: Monty Python inspired laboratory based experimental study doi: 10.1136/ bmj-2022-072833

Fast Facts: Measuring human energy expenditure: public health application to counter inactivity doi: 10.1136/ bmj.o2937

White matter hyperintensity load linked to premature brain aging: Study

Brain age is an MRI-derived estimate of brain tissue loss that has a similar pattern to aging-related atrophy. White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are neuroimaging markers of small vessel disease and may represent subtle signs of brain compromise.

A new research paper was published in Aging (listed as "Aging (Albany NY)" by MEDLINE/PubMed and "Aging-US" by Web of Science) Volume 14, Issue 23, entitled, "White matter hyperintensity load is associated with premature brain aging."

Reference:

Natalie Busby et al, White matter hyperintensity load is associated with premature brain aging, JOURNAL:Aging-US, DOI 10.18632/aging.204397

Key neurons that maintain body temperature at 37°C in mammals identified

Body temperature in humans and many other mammals is regulated at around 37°C (98.6°F), which optimizes all regulatory functions. When their body temperature noticeably deviates from the normal range, the functions are impaired, which could lead to heat stroke, hypothermia, and, in the worst case, death. However, these conditions might be treated if body temperature can be artificially adjusted to the normal range.

A research group at Nagoya University in Japan has reported that a group of neurons, called EP3 neurons, in the preoptic area of the brain play a key role in regulating body temperature in mammals. The finding could pave the way for the development of a technology that artificially adjusts body temperature to help treat heat stroke, hypothermia, and even obesity. The new study was published in the journal Science Advances.

Reference:

Yoshiko Nakamura et al, "Prostaglandin EP3 receptor-expressing preoptic neurons bidirectionally control body temperature via tonic GABAergic signaling" in Science Advances on December 23, 2022, at DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add5463.