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OBJECTIVES: To summarize the major activities of the International Academy of Health Sciences Informatics (IAHSI) from 2018 until 2019, and to provide an outline of actions planned for 2020. METHOD: Reporting about these activities and actions by the members of the Academy's first Board. RESULTS: Academy bylaws were accepted by the Academy Plenary and the IMIA General Assembly on August 25th, 2019 and August 26th, 2019, respectively. Academy's strategy and focus areas were developed. Based on the Academy's eligibility criteria, the 2018/2019 Class made of 26 new Academy Fellows was elected. Future activities will concentrate on building taskforces for developing and implementing major Academy focus areas. CONCLUSIONS: We are glad to report that the Academy is strong and thriving.

BACKGROUND: The International Academy of Health Sciences Informatics (IAHSI) is the Academy of the International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA). As an international forum for peers in biomedical and health informatics, the Academy shall play an important role in exchanging knowledge, providing education and training, and producing policy documents. OBJECTIVES: A major priority of the Academy's activities in its inaugural phase was to define its strategy and focus areas in accordance with its objectives and to prioritize the Academy's work, which can then be transferred to respective taskforces. METHOD: This document reflects the major outcomes of intensive discussions that occurred during 2019. It was presented at the Academy's 3rd Plenary on August 25th, 2019, in Lyon, France. RESULTS: Regardless of the 'living nature' of the strategy and focus areas document, it was concluded during the Plenary that the first version, which will be used as a base for decisions on the Academy's future activities, should be made available to a broad audience. Three out of eight 'Visions for IAHSI', presented in the IMIA Yearbook of Medical Informatics 2018, were identified as central for developing, implementing, and evaluating the Academy's strategic directions: (1) advise governments and organizations on developing health and health sciences through informatics, (2) stimulate progress in biomedical and health informatics research, education, and practice, and (3) share and exchange knowledge. Taskforces shall be implemented to work in the following areas, which were considered as priority themes: (1) artificial intelligence in health: future collaboration of entities with natural and with artificial intelligence in health care, and (2) current landscape of standards for digital health. CONCLUSIONS: Taskforces are now being established. Besides specific key performance indicators, suggested for monitoring the work of theses taskforces, the strategy to monitor the progress o

Background - Laboratory studies have shown that the resistance of isolated low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol or linoleic acid to oxidation is increased in incubations with chilli extracts or capsaicin - the active ingredient of chilli. It is unknown if these in vitro antioxidative effects also occur in serum of people eating chilli regularly. Objective: To investigate the effect of daily ingestion of chilli on serum oxidation in adult men and women Design - This study investigated the effects of regular consumption of chilli on in vitro serum lipoprotein oxidation and total antioxidant status, in healthy adult men and women. In a randomized cross over study, twenty seven participants (13 men and 14 women) ate 30g/day of Freshly chopped chilli-blend (55% cayenne chilli) and no chilli (bland) diets, for four weeks each. Use of other spices such as cinnamon, ginger, garlic, mustard was restricted to minimum amounts. At the end of each dietary period serum samples were analysed for lipids, lipoproteins, total antioxidant status (TAS) and copper-induced lipoprotein oxidation. Lag time (before initiation of oxidation), and rate of oxidation (slope of propagation phase) were calculated. Outcomes - There was no difference in the serum lipids, lipoproteins and TAS at the end of the two dietary periods. In the whole group, the rate of oxidation was significantly lower (mean difference MD -0.23 A*10-3/min; p = 0.04) after the chilli diet, compared to the bland diet. In women, lag time was higher (MD 9.61min; p < 0.001) after the chilli diet, compared to the bland diet. Conclusions -Regular consumption of chilli for four weeks increases the resistance of serum lipoproteins to oxidation.

Background: There remains debate about the relative benefits of high monounsaturated fat diets or high carbohydrate diets in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. Intake of lycopene from tomatoes and tomato products has been suggested as inversely related to the risk of coronary heart disease and some forms of cancer. However little is known about the effects of combination of olive oil and lycopene on the risk factors of heart disease. Objective: To compare the effect of two diets (a monounsaturated fat enriched olive oil diet and high carbohydrate low olive oil diet), with controlled carotenoid content on serum lycopene, lipids and susceptibility of serum to in vitro oxidation. Design: A randomised crossover dietary intervention study, in human subjects (20-70 years), of two dietary periods (olive oil enriched, and high carbohydrate low olive oil) of 10 days duration. Both the diets were matched for basic foods and were controlled for carotenoid content, which was high in lycopene. Results: Both diets similarly increased serum lycopene levels. Serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were higher; and triglycerides and low density lipoprotein to high density lipoprotein ratio were lower at the end of the high olive oil diet compared to the high carbohydrate low olive oil diet. No difference was seen in susceptibility of serum to in vitro oxidation between the two diets. Conclusion: A high olive oil diet with high lycopene content may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by increasing serum lycopene levels and improving serum lipid profile. Sponsorship: The study was funded by the Clifford Craig Medical Research Trust, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. H.J. Heinz, Melbourne, Australia and IGA Moonah, Tasmania, Australia respectively provided the tomato products and olive oil. Jane Pittaway kindly assisted with technical aspects.

The active ingredient of chilli pepper, capsaicin, produces dose-dependent vasoconstriction in experimental animals (Griffiths et al., 1996). Although application of capsaicin locally to the skin induces vasodilation (Munce & Kenney, 2003), there is no information available on the effects of regular capsaicin consumption (in the form of chilli) on vascular function in humans. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of chilli supplementation on endothelium-independent and endothelium-dependent vasodilatation. Fifteen non-smokers (M/F 7/8; aged 47.3 +/- 11.8 (+/- SD) years; weight 78.9 +/- 14.2 kg; body mass index 27.3 +/- 3.7 kg/m2) with no history of hypercholesteremia, diabetes mellitus or renal dysfunction consumed a chilli-free diet (normal diet with no chilli and minimal black pepper, ginger, etc) or chilli-supplemented diet (normal diet plus 30g/day Freshly chopped chilli(MasterFoods, Australia) for three weeks each. After three weeks on each diet, fasting peripheral and central (aortic) blood pressure, augmentation pressure (AP), augmentation index (AIx), AIx@HR75, heart rate and subendocardial viability ratio (Buckberg index) were determined using a sphygmomanometer and pulse wave analysis (SphygmoCor, AtCor, Australia) (Wilkinson et al, 2002). After adjusting for order and period of diet, mean (+/-SD) baseline AIx (27.97+/-2.70) and AIx@HR75 (19.40+/-2.00) were significantly lower (P<0.05) after the chilli diet compared to control diet (AIx, 23.97 +/- 2.73; AIx@HR75, 15.77 +/- 2.22). All parameters were then measured at regular intervals for 30 min after sublingual GTN (600 ug) and for 20 min after inhaled salbutamol (200 ug). Compared with the chilli-free period, there was no difference in the maximal change in any measured parameter or overall vasodilator response (AUC) in response to GTN or salbutamol after the chilli diet. These results suggest that regular chilli consumption reduces baseline vascular stiffness but has no significant ef

Background - Chickpeas are a common constituent of many ethnic diets and are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), dietary fibre and resistant starch. However, little information is available regarding the effects of regular chickpea consumption and their health effects. Objective - To compare the effects of a diet supplemented with chickpeas to a wheat-supplemented diet of similar fibre content and a wheat based diet of low fibre content on serum lipids, glucose tolerance, satiety and bowel function. Design - Twenty-seven free-living adults followed two randomized, crossover dietary interventions each of five weeks duration. The chickpea diet included canned chickpeas (140g/day), bread and biscuits containing 30% chickpea flour. The diets were isoenergetic to the participants' usual diet, matched for macronutrient content and controlled for dietary fibre. Following on from the second randomised intervention, a sub-group of 18 participants underwent a third lower-fibre wheat diet. End of the diet comparisons were made by repeated measures ANOVA for serum total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), glucose and insulin concentrations. Perceived bowel health and satiety were also measured. Outcomes - Reductions in serum TC of 0.25 mmol/L (p< 0.01) and LDL-C of 0.20 mmol/L (p=0.02) following the chickpea diet compared to the wheat diet. An unintended significant increase in PUFA and corresponding decrease in MUFA consumption occurred during the chickpea diet and statistical adjustment for this reduced the effect on serum lipids by about 50%. There was no significant difference in glucose tolerance. Perceived general bowel health improved significantly during the chickpea diet although there was considerable individual variation. Greater satiety was reported by some participants but was not significantly different between the diets. Conclusions - The small but significant decrease in serum TC and LDL-C during the chickpea diet compared to the wheat die