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Introduction: Moderate wine consumption is a characteristic of the Mediterranean diet. Studies around the world have shown a beneficial effect of moderate alcohol intake, especially wine, on health. This review aims to critically summarise the most recent studies that investigate the beneficial effects of moderate wine intake on human health. Methods: The PubMed database was comprehensively searched to identify trials published from 2013 to 2018 that investigated the association between moderate wine consumption and health. Results: The most recent studies confirm the valuable role of moderate wine consumption, especially red wine, in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, cognitive decline, depression, and cancer. In the meantime, recent studies also highlight the beneficial role of red wine against oxidative stress and in favour of desirable gut bacteria. The beneficial role of red wine has been attributed to its phytochemical compounds, as highlighted by clinical trials, where the effect of red wine has been compared to white wine, non-alcoholic wine, other alcoholic drinks, and water. Conclusions: Moderate wine intake, at 1–2 glasses per day as part of the Mediterranean diet, has been positively associated with human health promotion, disease prevention, and disease prognosis.

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No studies have evaluated the relationship between the detection points for dental bacterial plaque (DBP or biofilm) and gender, age, socioeconomic status, body mass index (BMI), and oral health, hence the need to investigate and clarify their possible association. This study aimed to map out the occurrence of DBP, investigate and evaluate the factors affecting its localization, and design preventive interventions. The research was conducted on 588 public school children aged 4-18 years in a provincial area of Greece. The subjects' oral health status and anthropometric characteristics were examined by a dentist (A.F.) and a dietitian (E.P.), respectively. To identify DBP, chewable double-staining disclosing tablets were used. The results of the present study indicate the following: (1) Age and socioeconomic status seem to be associated with DBP development, particularly in the oral cavity. (2) Overweight schoolchildren show more DBP on the upper posterior occlusal and upper posterior buccal surfaces compared to normal-weight children. (3) Moderate caries disease is associated with DBP detection on almost all tooth surfaces and especially on the tongue and lower anterior labial surface. (4) Severe caries disease is most strongly associated with DBP in the upper posterior palatal, lower posterior buccal, and lower posterior lingual spaces, as well as on the tongue. (5) Sex is the only variable without a significant impact on DBP detection surfaces. In conclusion, DBP identification in specific areas of the mouth seems to be influenced by age, socioeconomic level, BMI, and oral health. Gender has no influence on DBP detection points. Disclosing agents can be used in oral health prevention programs, both for more effective guidance on the use of oral hygiene tools and for their evaluation.

Continuous honeycomb selection and testing in the absence of competition in a single environment, resulted in the isolation of recombinant inbreds in tomato that outperformed the hybrid only in that particular environment. Alternating selection and testing in two environments (open field v. glasshouse) reduced selection efficiency, by preventing exploitation of the whole constellation of genes contributing to heterosis. Selection in the F2 generation was most critical, as evidenced by the appearance of recombinant lines outperforming the hybrid as early as in the F3 generation. Exploitable genetic variation existed in advanced generations and even after the point of achieving theoretical homozygosity (F7 generation). In the future, and in order to fully exploit the unique possibilities offered by the honeycomb methodology (control of soil heterogeneity, high selection pressures, crop yield components), selection for reduced GE interaction should be practiced simultaneously over the target environments of adaptation.

BackgroundMany studies have been performed over time in order to determine the reliability of metabolic rate prediction equations.PurposeTo evaluate the agreement, in terms of bias, absolute bias and accuracy between metabolic rate prediction equations and measured metabolic rate using indirect calorimetry system (IC), investigating also the factors affecting this agreement.MethodsThe anthropometric features of 383 Caucasian participants of all Body Mass Index (BMI) classes were recorded and Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) was measured by using the IC Fitmate portable device. The resulting values were compared with the predictive values of Harris & Benedict, Schofield, Owen, FAO-WHO-UNU, Mifflin and Harrington equations.ResultsA closer approximation in agreement was obtained using the Harrington equation (based on BMI, age and gender). The equations using variables, such as weight, height, age and gender demonstrated higher agreement than the equations using merely weight and gender. Higher educational level was associated with normal weight, while higher calorific ratio was found in the class of normal-weighted individuals. An inverse relationship between ΒΜΙ and RMR was also observed and a logarithmic equation for calculating RMR was created, which was differentiated in relation to BMI classes, using the weight and gender variables.ConclusionA better measurement agreement between RMR prediction equations and IC may be achieved due to BMI consideration. The present findings contributed to a better understanding of the measured parameters, confirming the inverse relationship between BMI and RMR. Age group and gender variables may also exert significant role on the bias response of some RMR equations.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12986-018-0278-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Publications commenting on the possibility of fixing heterosis and the possibility to transgress heterosis through partition of crop yield into genetic components have prompted us to reconsider our views on the relative importance of hybrid versus inbred vigour. The three genetic components of crop yield, all assessed in the absence of competition, are : (1) yield per plant assessed by the progeny mean, (2) tolerance to stresses assessed by the progeny standardized mean, and (3) responsiveness to inputs assessed by the progeny standardized selection differential. Although fixation of heterosis using the top commercial tomato hybrids was based only on the first genetic component of crop yield and quality, inbreds outyielding the original hybrid were obtained relatively easily. The results indicated that selection for homozygote superiority on the basis of the three genetic components of crop yield and quality, would lead to the development of tomato inbreds outperforming the hybrids.