Project description:The 11th International Conference on Human Herpesviruses (HHV)-6A, -6B, and -7 was held in Quebec City, from 23 to 26 June 2019. It attracted 144 basic, translational, and clinical scientists from 20 countries. Important new information was presented regarding: the mechanisms of chromosomal integration for HHV-6A and -6B; the biology of inherited chromosomally integrated HHV-6A and -6B; animal models for, and animal viruses with similarities to, HHV-6A, -6B, and -7; established and possible disease associations, including provocative new information suggesting these viruses may be one trigger of Alzheimer's disease, and new treatment strategies. In this review, we summarize presentations that were of particular interest. The full text of the Abstracts cited in the manuscript is available in the online Supporting Information Materials.
Project description:Background:The Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNRs) constitute the scientific basis for national dietary reference values (DRVs) and food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) in the Nordic and Baltic countries. Objective:To define principles and methodologies for the sixth edition of NNR to be published in 2022 (NNR2022). Design:The principles and methodologies of the previous edition of NNR were used as a starting point. Recent nutrition recommendations commissioned by other national food and health authorities or international food and health organizations were examined and dissected. Updated principles and methodologies were agreed by the NNR2022 Committee in a consensus-driven process. Results:An organizational model with 'checks and balances' was developed to minimize the influence of subjective biases of the committee members and experts. Individual chapters on all included nutrients and food groups will be updated as scoping reviews. Systematic reviews (SRs), which are the main basis for evaluating causal effects of nutrients or food groups on health outcomes, will be embedded in each chapter. A NNR SR Centre will be established for performing de novo SRs on prioritized topics. To avoid duplication and optimize the use of resources, qualified SRs commissioned by other national and international organizations and health authorities will also inform DRVs and FBDGs in NNR2022. Discussion:The evidence-based methods defined in the NNR2022 project are compatible with most contemporary methods used by leading national food and health authorities. Global harmonization of methodological approaches to nutrition recommendations is strongly encouraged. Conclusion:Evidence-informed principles and methodologies underpinned by SRs will ensure that DRVs and FBDGs defined in the NNR2022 project are based on the best available evidence and as far as possible free from overt bias.
Project description:BackgroundDietary guidelines play a key role in promoting health and preventing chronic diseases. The Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR) 2023 provide updated recommendations for healthy eating relevant for the Nordic and Baltic countries, but the potential benefits have yet to be quantified.ObjectivesThis study aimed to project the population health benefits, specifically, potential gains in life expectancy in Nordic and Baltic countries resulting from long-term dietary changes from current dietary patterns within each country to NNR2023.MethodsFor this population-based mathematical model, using the Food4HealthyLife 2.0 calculator, data were obtained from meta-analyses on associations between each food group and mortality, and background mortality data were derived from the Global Burden of Disease study. Standard life-table methods were used, accounting for the correlation between 14 food groups and the anticipated time delay between dietary changes and health effects.ResultsFor 40-y-old females and males, projected life expectancy gains were from 1.8 and 2.1 y in Finland to 3.4 and 4.1 y, respectively, in Lithuania, changing to feasible NNR2023. Correspondingly, when changing to full-potential NNR2023, gains ranged from 4.4 and 5.0 y in Finland to 6.1 and 7.3 y, respectively, in Lithuania. The largest gains in life expectancy were linked to consuming more legumes (18%), nuts (17%), whole grains (12%), and less processed meat (14%) and added sugars (13%).ConclusionsAdopting dietary patterns in line with the NNR2023 is associated with considerable gains in life expectancy in the Nordic and Baltic countries. The study contributes to the evidence base to support policy measures to achieve NNR2023.