Psychosocial influences on fruit, vegetable and milk consumption among a cohort of Houston-area 5th graders

Epidemiological evidence suggests that fruit and vegetable intake is negatively associated with the development of several chronic diseases, including heart disease, some cancers and diabetes mellitus. Inadequate consumption of milk during developmental years is associated with osteoporosis. Consumption of fruit, vegetable and milk (FVM) declines from childhood to adolescence. Adolescent eating habits persist into adulthood; thus, understanding psychosocial factors such as self-efficacy, norms and preferences, is important for developing effective interventions. Preferences, one of the most consistent correlates of fruit and vegetable consumption in children and adolescents, may mediate the relationships between self-efficacy and norms and fruit and vegetable consumption. ^ Fifth grade students from one middle school in South Texas were followed for two years. Students completed lunch food records and questionnaires assessing fruit, vegetable and milk self-efficacy and norms and fruit and vegetable preferences. Principal component analyses identified four scales: Fruit Self-Efficacy, Vegetable Self-Efficacy, Fruit and Vegetable Norms, and Milk Influences. Reliability and validity of the four scales and emerging subscales were assessed using Cronbach's alpha and consumption data, respectively. Associations between longitudinal FVM consumption and self-efficacy and norms were tested. Additionally, the influence of preferences on the relationship of self-efficacy, norms and fruit and vegetable consumption was examined. ^ Confirmatory factor analyses confirmed four scales and subscales. Internal consistency and test-retest reliabilities were acceptable. Self-efficacy and norms were related to FVM consumption and changes in fruit and high fat vegetable consumption over the two-year period. While intake over the two-year period differed statistically, eating patterns were stable. Preferences mediated the relation between fruit self-efficacy and FV norms and fruit consumption. ^ In conclusion, self-efficacy and norms about consuming FVM at school appear to influence FVM consumption. Because eating patterns were similar over the two-year period, establishing healthy eating habits in elementary school is important. While FVM self-efficacy and norms influenced FVM consumption in children, only fruit preferences mediated the relationship of fruit consumption, self-efficacy and norms. Since the influences of FVM consumption appear to differ, interventions designed to increase consumption should target these differences and consider the specificity of self-efficacy and norms. ^

Secondary left ventricular ejection fraction response to beta blocker therapy in heart failure patients

Chronic β-blocker treatment improves survival and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with systolic heart failure (HF). Data on whether the improvement in LVEF after β-blocker therapy is sustained for a long term or whether there is a loss in LVEF after an initial gain is not known. Our study sought to determine the prevalence and prognostic role of secondary decline in LVEF in chronic systolic HF patients on β-blocker therapy and characterize these patients. Retrospective chart review of HF hospitalizations fulfilling Framingham Criteria was performed at the MEDVAMC between April 2000 and June 2006. Follow up vital status and recurrent hospitalizations were ascertained until May 2010. Three groups of patients were identified based on LVEF response to beta blockers; group A with secondary decline in LVEF following an initial increase, group B with progressive increase in LVEF and group C with progressive decline in LVEF. Covariate adjusted Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine differences in heart failure re-hospitalizations and all cause mortality between the groups. Twenty five percent (n=27) of patients had a secondary decline in LVEF following an initial gain. The baseline, peak and final LVEF in this group were 27.6±12%, 40.1±14% and 27.4±13% respectively. The mean nadir LVEF after decline was 27.4±13% and this decline occurred at a mean interval of 2.8±1.9 years from the day of beta blocker initiation. These patients were older, more likely to be whites, had advanced heart failure (NYHA class III/IV) more due to a non ischemic etiology compared to groups B & C. They were also more likely to be treated with metoprolol (p=0.03) compared to the other two groups. No significant differences were observed in combined risk of all cause mortality and HF re-hospitalization [hazard ratio 0.80, 95% CI 0.47 to 1.38, p=0.42]. No significant difference was observed in survival estimates between the groups. In conclusion, a late decline in LVEF does occur in a significant proportion of heart failure patients treated with beta blockers, more so in patients treated with metoprolol.^

Racial differences in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in the ambulatory heart failure population

Racial differences in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) have rarely been studied in an ambulatory, financially "equal access" cohort, although the majority of such patients are treated as outpatients. ^ Retrospective data was collected from 2,526 patients (2,240 Whites, 286 African American) with HFpEF treated at 153 VA clinics, as part of the VA External Peer Review Program (EPRP) between October 2000 and September 2002. Kaplan Meier curves (stratified by race) were created for time to first heart failure (HF) hospitalization, all cause hospitalization and death and Cox proportional multivariate regression models were constructed to evaluate the effect of race on these outcomes. ^ African American patients were younger (67.7 ± 11.3 vs. 71.2 ± 9.8 years; p < 0.001), had lower prevalence of atrial fibrillation (24.5 % vs. 37%; p <0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (23.4 % vs. 36.9%, p <0.001), but had higher blood pressure (systolic blood pressure > 120 mm Hg 77.6% vs. 67.8%; p < 0.01), glomerular filtration rate (67.9 ± 31.0 vs. 61.6 ± 22.6 mL/min/1.73 m2; p < 0.001), anemia (56.6% vs. 41.7%; p <0.001) as compared to whites. African Americans were found to have higher risk adjusted rate of HF hospitalization (HR 1.52, 95% CI 1.1 - 2.11; p = 0.01), with no difference in risk-adjusted all cause hospitalization (p = 0.80) and death (p= 0.21). ^ In a financially "equal access" setting of the VA, among ambulatory patients with HFpEF, African Americans have similar rates of mortality and all cause hospitalization but have an increased risk of HF hospitalizations compared to whites.^

C. H. Chalmers.- Bacteriología de la leche. (Bacteria in relation to the milk supply). 271 pp., 3ª ed., 1945, reimpresa en 1949. Editado por Edward Arnol & Co., Londres

Fil: H. G. C..

MRI texture analysis as means for addressing rehydration and milk diffusion of cereals

Cereals microstructure is one of the primary quality attributes of cereals. Cereals rehydration and milk diffusion depends on such microstructure and thus, the crispiness and the texture, which will make it more palatable for the final consumer. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a very powerful topographic tool since acquisition parameter leads to a wide possibility for identifying textures, structures and liquids mobility. It is suited for non-invasive imaging of water and fats. Rehydration and diffusion cereals processes were measured by MRI at different times and using two different kinds of milk, varying their fat level. Several images were obtained. A combination of textural analysis (based on the analysis of histograms) and segmentation methods (in order to understand the rehydration level of each variety of cereals) were performed. According to the rehydration level, no advisable clustering behavior was found. Nevertheless, some differences were noticeable between the coating, the type of milk and the variety of cereals

A portable NIR device for the optical supervision of milk coagulation process

The coagulation of milk is the fundamental process in cheese-making, based on a gel formation as consequence of physicochemical changes taking place in the casein micelles, the monitoring the whole process of milk curd formation is a constant preoccupation for dairy researchers and cheese companies (Lagaude et al., 2004). In addition to advances in composition-based applications of near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), innovative uses of this technology are pursuing dynamic applications that show promise, especially in regard to tracking a sample in situ during food processing (Bock and Connelly, 2008). In this way the literature describes cheese making process applications of NIRS for curd cutting time determination, which conclude that NIRS would be a suitable method of monitoring milk coagulation, as shown i.e. the works published by Fagan et al. (Fagan et al., 2008; Fagan et al., 2007), based in the use of the commercial CoAguLite probe (with a LED at 880nm and a photodetector for light reflectance detection).

Effects of cross sections tables generation and optimization on rod ejection transient analyses

Best estimate analysis of rod ejection transients requires 3D kinetics core simulators. If they use cross sections libraries compiled in multidimensional tables,interpolation errors – originated when the core simulator computes the cross sections from the table values – are a source of uncertainty in k-effective calculations that should be accounted for. Those errors depend on the grid covering the domain of state variables and can be easily reduced, in contrast with other sources of uncertainties such as the ones due to nuclear data, by choosing an optimized grid distribution. The present paper assesses the impact of the grid structure on a PWR rod ejection transient analysis using the coupled neutron-kinetics/thermal-hydraulicsCOBAYA3/COBRA-TF system. Forthispurpose, the OECD/NEA PWR MOX/UO2 core transient benchmark has been chosen, as material compositions and geometries are available, allowing the use of lattice codes to generate libraries with different grid structures. Since a complete nodal cross-section library is also provided as part of the benchmark specifications, the effects of the library generation on transient behavior are also analyzed.Results showed large discrepancies when using the benchmark library and own-generated libraries when compared with benchmark participants’ solutions. The origin of the discrepancies was found to lie in the nodal cross sections provided in the benchmark.

Occurrence of moulds associated with ovine raw milk and cheeses of the Spanish region of Castilla La Mancha

The distribution of mould species was examined at several points of the processing chain in a Manchego cheese plant and associated dairy farms. Geotrichum and Fusarium were the most frequent genera isolated in milk samples as well as in 1-month ripened cheeses, evidencing a direct transfer from raw milk. Conversely, the mycobiota of long-ripened cheeses consisted mainly of Penicillium species, which gained entry to the cheese through the air of ripening rooms. This study contributes to the understanding of the dynamics of fungal populations in semihard and hard cheeses, highlighting that airborne transfer from the stables could have a direct impact on their quality.

Sensitive detection of major food allergens in breast milk: first gateway for allergenic contact during breastfeeding

Food allergy is recognized as a major public health issue, especially in early childhood. It has been hypothesized that early sensitization to food allergens maybe due to their ingestion as components dissolved in the milk during the breastfeeding, explaining reaction to a food, which has never been taken before. Thus, the aim of this work has been to detect the presence of the food allergens in breast milk by microarray technology. We produced a homemade microarray with antibodies produced against major food allergens. The antibody microarray was incubated with breast milk from 14 women collected from Fundación Jiménez Díaz Hospital. In this way, we demonstrated the presence of major foods allergens in breast milk. The analysis of allergens presented in breast milk could be a useful tool in allergy prevention and could provide us a key data on the role of this feeding in tolerance induction or sensitization in children.

The major allergens of birch pollen and cow milk, Bet v 1 and Bos d 5, are structurally related to human licocalin 2, enabling them to manipulate T-helper cells depending on their load with siderophore-bound iron

We conclude that Bet v 1 and Bos d 5 not only structurally mimic human LCN2, but also functionally by their ability to bind iron via siderophores. The apo-forms promote Th2 cells, whereas the holo-forms appear to be immunosuppressive. These results provide for the first time a functional understanding on the principle of allergenicity of major allergens from entirely independent sources, like birch and milk.

Instrumental Colour Evaluation and Visual Consumer Study of Commercial Beverages Made with Fruit Juice and Milk

Análisis del color de bebidas formuladas con leche y frutas mediante análisis de imagen y estudio de la aceptación del color por los consumidores

Human milk lactoferrin inactivates two putative colonization factors expressed by Haemophilus influenzae

Haemophilus influenzae is a major cause of otitis media and other respiratory tract disease in children. The pathogenesis of disease begins with colonization of the upper respiratory mucosa, a process that involves evasion of local immune mechanisms and adherence to epithelial cells. Several studies have demonstrated that human milk is protective against H. influenzae colonization and disease. In the present study, we examined the effect of human milk on the H. influenzae IgA1 protease and Hap adhesin, two autotransported proteins that are presumed to facilitate colonization. Our results demonstrated that human milk lactoferrin efficiently extracted the IgA1 protease preprotein from the bacterial outer membrane. In addition, lactoferrin specifically degraded the Hap adhesin and abolished Hap-mediated adherence. Extraction of IgA1 protease and degradation of Hap were localized to the N-lobe of the bilobed lactoferrin molecule and were inhibited by serine protease inhibitors, suggesting that the lactoferrin N-lobe may contain serine protease activity. Additional experiments revealed no effect of lactoferrin on the H. influenzae P2, P5, and P6 outer-membrane proteins, which are distinguished from IgA1 protease and Hap by the lack of an N-terminal passenger domain or an extracellular linker region. These results suggest that human milk lactoferrin may attenuate the pathogenic potential of H. influenzae by selectively inactivating IgA1 protease and Hap, thereby interfering with colonization. Future studies should examine the therapeutic potential of lactoferrin, perhaps as a supplement in infant formulas.

Crystal structures of bovine milk xanthine dehydrogenase and xanthine oxidase: Structure-based mechanism of conversion

Mammalian xanthine oxidoreductases, which catalyze the last two steps in the formation of urate, are synthesized as the dehydrogenase form xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) but can be readily converted to the oxidase form xanthine oxidase (XO) by oxidation of sulfhydryl residues or by proteolysis. Here, we present the crystal structure of the dimeric (Mr, 290,000) bovine milk XDH at 2.1-Å resolution and XO at 2.5-Å resolution and describe the major changes that occur on the proteolytic transformation of XDH to the XO form. Each molecule is composed of an N-terminal 20-kDa domain containing two iron sulfur centers, a central 40-kDa flavin adenine dinucleotide domain, and a C-terminal 85-kDa molybdopterin-binding domain with the four redox centers aligned in an almost linear fashion. Cleavage of surface-exposed loops of XDH causes major structural rearrangement of another loop close to the flavin ring (Gln 423—Lys 433). This movement partially blocks access of the NAD substrate to the flavin adenine dinucleotide cofactor and changes the electrostatic environment of the active site, reflecting the switch of substrate specificity observed for the two forms of this enzyme.