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Food Ingestion (food + ingestion)
Selected AbstractsSeasonal dynamics of the hepatotoxic microcystins in various organs of four freshwater bivalves from the large eutrophic lake Taihu of subtropical China and the risk to human consumptionENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 6 2005Jun Chen Abstract So far, little is known on the distribution of hepatotoxic microcystin (MC) in various organs of bivalves, and there is no study on MC accumulation in bivalves from Chinese waters. Distribution pattern and seasonal dynamics of MC-LR, -YR and -RR in various organs (hepatopancreas, intestine, visceral mass, gill, foot, and rest) of four edible freshwater mussels (Anodonta woodiana, Hyriopsis cumingii, Cristaria plicata, and Lamprotula leai) were studied monthly during Oct. 2003,Sep. 2004 in Lake Taihu with toxic cyanobacterial blooms in the summer. Qualitative and quantitative determinations of MCs in the organs were done by LC,MS and HPLC. The major toxins were present in the hepatopancreas (45.5,55.4%), followed by visceral mass with substantial amount of gonad (27.6,35.5%), whereas gill and foot were the least (1.8,5.1%). The maximum MC contents in the hepatopancreas, intestine, visceral mass, gill, foot, and rest were 38.48, 20.65, 1.70, 0.64, 0.58, and 0.61 ,g/g DW, respectively. There were rather good positive correlation in MC contents between intestines and hepatopancreas of the four bivalves (r = 0.75,0.97, p < 0.05). There appeared to be positive correlations between the maximum MC content in the hepatopancreas and the ,13C (r = 0.919) or ,15N (r = 0.878) of the foot, indicating that the different MC content in the hepatopancreas might be due to different food ingestion. A glutathione (GSH) conjugate of MC-LR was also detected in the foot sample of C. plicata. Among the foot samples analyzed, 54% were above the provisional WHO tolerable daily intake (TDI) level, and the mean daily intakes from the four bivalves were 8,23.5 times the TDI value when the bivalves are eaten as a whole, suggesting the high risk of consuming bivalves in Lake Taihu. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 20: 572,584, 2005. [source] Construction of a taste-blind medaka fish and quantitative assay of its preference,aversion behaviorGENES, BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR, Issue 8 2008Y. Aihara In vertebrates, the taste system provides information used in the regulation of food ingestion. In mammals, each cell group within the taste buds expresses either the T1R or the T2R taste receptor for preference,aversion discrimination. However, no such information is available regarding fish. We developed a novel system for quantitatively assaying taste preference,aversion in medaka fish. In this study, we prepared fluorescently labeled foods with fine cavities designed to retain tastants until they were bitten by the fish. The subjects were fed food containing a mixture of amino acids and inosine monophosphate (AN food), denatonium benzoate (DN food) or no tastant (NT food), and the amounts of ingested food were measured by fluorescence microscopy. Statistical analysis of the fluorescence intensities yielded quantitative measurements of AN food preference and DN food aversion. We then generated a transgenic fish expressing dominant-negative G,i2 both in T1R-expressing and in T2R-expressing cells. The feeding assay revealed that the transgenic fish was unable to show a preference for AN food and an aversion to DN food. The assay system was useful for evaluating taste-blind behaviors, and the results indicate that the two taste signaling pathways conveying preferable and aversive taste information are conserved in fish as well as in mammals. [source] Dialysis adequacy and nutritional status of hemodialysis patientsHEMODIALYSIS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2008Fernanda TEIXEIRA NUNES Abstract To characterize the nutritional status of renal failure patients and its relationship with hemodialysis adequacy measured by Kt/V, a study was carried out with a population of 44 adult patients with renal failure and mean age 51±15 years. Anthropometric data, such as dry weight, height, arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, mid-arm muscle circumference, and body mass index were assessed, and biochemical tests were conducted for urea, potassium, creatinine, serum albumin, and phosphorus levels, in addition to hemogram and quarterly urea reduction rate average (Kt/V). In order to evaluate calorie intake, a dietary questionnaire on habitual daily food ingestion was administered, taking into consideration the hemodialysis date. The patients were divided into 2 separate groups for the statistical analysis, with 50% of the patients in each group: A (Kt/V<1.2) and B (Kt/V>1.2). The data were tabulated as mean and standard deviation, with differences tested by Student's t test. The correlations between variables were established by the coefficient p of Pearson. Most of the patients (43%) were considered eutrophic, based on the BMI, and presented inadequate calorie intake, corresponding to 88.5±24% (30.8 kcal/kg actual weight) of the total energy required and adequate protein intake, reaching 109.9±40% of the recommended daily allowance (1.24 g/kg of actual weight). There was a correlation of Kt/V with anthropometric parameters such as body mass index, arm circumference, and mid-arm muscle circumference. The biochemical parameters related to dialysis adequacy were albumin, ferritin, and urea (predialysis). Well-dialyzed patients presented better levels of serum albumin. There was an influence of gender and age on correlations of the analyzed variables. Female and younger patients presented better dialysis adequacy. The dialysis adequacy was related to the nutritional status and influenced by the protein intake and body composition. Gender and age had an important influence in the dialysis adequacy, as men presented lower dialysis adequacy and younger adults presented better dialysis adequacy. Further research is necessary to understand better how to facilitate effective and efficient techniques for the nutritional status assessment of hemodialysis patients. [source] Management of cow's milk protein allergy in infants and young children: An expert panel perspectiveJOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 9 2009Katrina J Allen Abstract Cow's milk protein allergy is a condition commonly managed by general practitioners and paediatricians. The diagnosis is usually made in the first 12 months of life. Management of immediate allergic reactions and anaphylaxis includes the prevention of accidental food ingestion and provision of an adrenaline autoinjector, if appropriate. By contrast, the clinical course of delayed food-allergic manifestations is characterised by chronicity, and is often associated with nutritional or behavioural sequelae. Correct diagnosis of these non-IgE-mediated conditions may be delayed due to a lack of reliable diagnostic markers. This review aims to guide clinicians in the: (i) diagnostic evaluation (skin prick testing or measurement of food-specific serum IgE levels; indications for diagnostic challenges for suspected IgE- and non-IgE-mediated food allergy), (ii) dietary treatment, (iii) assessment of response to treatment, (iv) differential diagnosis and further diagnostic work-up in non-responders, (v) follow-up assessment of tolerance development and (vi) recommendations for further referral. [source] MULTIPLE TIME-INTENSITY ANALYSIS AND ACCEPTANCE OF RASPBERRY-FLAVORED GELATINJOURNAL OF SENSORY STUDIES, Issue 5 2009ALESSANDRA B. PALAZZO ABSTRACT Face to face with the scenario of current human nutrition, there is an ever-growing preoccupation with the provision of healthy and rapidly prepared diets, gelatin being an important product, taking into consideration its properties, such as muscular regeneration and bone strengthening. The objective of this work is to evaluate different brands of raspberry-flavored gelatin, both traditional and diet, by multiple time-intensity analysis for sweet, acid and raspberry flavor, as well as an acceptance test with 120 consumers. The statistical analysis included variance analysis, Tukey tests and Internal Preference Map. The results showed that there was no significant difference between all the samples to the time in which the maximum intensity of sweetness and acidity occurs. The results indicated a greater acceptance of the traditional samples, which were preferred by the majority (85% regarding intention to purchase). The aspartame/acessulfame-potassium edulcorants were those that recorded behavior most distant from sucrose, compared with sodium saccharine and sodium cyclamate edulcorants. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The time-intensity analysis is important to provide how the flavor behavior is for the consumers during the food ingestion and is used in order to obtain the temporal profile of an attribute in a certain product. This analysis is different from the conventional descriptive analysis because it allows the verification of changes in the perception of a product's attribute over time. The sensory results showed in this study should be useful to researchers and product developers who are working with different edulcorants in food, especially in gelatin products. Observing both multiple time-intensity curves and affective data at the same time, it is possible to determine which intensity and duration of sensory characteristics have influenced the consumer's preference. [source] Testing for IgG4 against foods is not recommended as a diagnostic tool: EAACI Task Force Report,ALLERGY, Issue 7 2008Steven O. Stapel Serological tests for immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) against foods are persistently promoted for the diagnosis of food-induced hypersensitivity. Since many patients believe that their symptoms are related to food ingestion without diagnostic confirmation of a causal relationship, tests for food-specific IgG4 represent a growing market. Testing for blood IgG4 against different foods is performed with large-scale screening for hundreds of food items by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-type and radioallergosorbent-type assays in young children, adolescents and adults. However, many serum samples show positive IgG4 results without corresponding clinical symptoms. These findings, combined with the lack of convincing evidence for histamine-releasing properties of IgG4 in humans, and lack of any controlled studies on the diagnostic value of IgG4 testing in food allergy, do not provide any basis for the hypothesis that food-specific IgG4 should be attributed with an effector role in food hypersensitivity. In contrast to the disputed beliefs, IgG4 against foods indicates that the organism has been repeatedly exposed to food components, recognized as foreign proteins by the immune system. Its presence should not be considered as a factor which induces hypersensitivity, but rather as an indicator for immunological tolerance, linked to the activity of regulatory T cells. In conclusion, food-specific IgG4 does not indicate (imminent) food allergy or intolerance, but rather a physiological response of the immune system after exposition to food components. Therefore, testing of IgG4 to foods is considered as irrelevant for the laboratory work-up of food allergy or intolerance and should not be performed in case of food-related complaints. [source] Salivary free radical-scavenging activity is affected by physical and mental activitiesORAL DISEASES, Issue 6 2008T Atsumi Objective and design:, Free radicals/reactive oxygen species (ROS) are related to inflammation, aging, and cancer. However, living systems have essential antioxidant mechanisms by which these harmful radicals can be scavenged, i.e., free radical-scavenging activity (FRSA). We measured the circadian rhythm of such activities by detecting salivary FRSA in healthy adults, and also examined how salivary FRSA is affected by physical and mental activities, which included (1) ingestion of beverage, (2) exercise, (3) comfortable/uncomfortable stimulation, and (4) smoking. Methods:, FRSA was determined by using the DPPH (1,1,-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) method. Statistical analysis for experimentally obtained median values was carried out using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results:, In circadian rhythm, FRSA was increased by food ingestion and relaxation. As to the individual activities, green tea and coffee ingestion increased FRSA, whereas swimming (P < 0.05) and dance lessons (P < 0.01) decreased it. Watching an amusing video program (P < 0.001) or stimulation by a pleasant aroma (P < 0.01) increased FRSA. In contrast, an unpleasant odor had no effect on FRSA. FRSA decreased immediately after smoking (P < 0.05), but increased thereafter (P < 0.01). Conclusion:, Salivary FRSA was affected not only by physical activities, but also by mental activities. It may be a parameter for reflecting the health status of individuals. [source] Technical note: Occlusal fingerprint analysis: Quantification of tooth wear patternAMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, Issue 4 2009Ottmar Kullmer Abstract Information about food ingestion and mastication behavior during the lifespan of an individual is encoded in the dental occlusal wear pattern. To decode this information, we describe a new method called occlusal fingerprint analysis (OFA). Structural parameters of wear facets on the occlusal surface of teeth are quantified from digitized casts for the interpretation of occlusal aspects. The OFA provides an individual three-dimensional dental occlusal compass that indicates the major pathways of interaction between antagonists, revealing information about development, spatial position, and enlargement of wear facets. Humans develop a very similar overall pattern of crown contacts, although specific characteristics of wear facets reflect an individual's occlusal relationships and masticatory behavior. We hypothesize that the wear pattern is a unique character and therefore valuable for individual identification. Furthermore we suggest that OFA, when further developed, may be useful for identification of behavioral, biological, and chemical factors affecting crown morphology. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Activity pattern of the marine shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone 1931) in laboratory as a function of different feeding frequenciesAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 1 2009Patrícia Pereira De Lima Abstract Management practices on most Brazilian shrimp farms have resulted in high expenses for producers and damage to the environment. Applied ethology could provide information on the pattern of shrimp activity, enabling more efficient feeding frequencies. Behavioural activities of the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei were recorded during different feeding frequencies. The shrimp were kept in aquariums on a 12:12 h light/dark cycle. They were fed commercial ration three (at 6:00, 12:00 and 18:00 hours), four (at 6:00, 10:00, 14:00 and 18:00 hours) or seven times per day (at 6:00. 8:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 and 18:00 hours). We observed animals at 15 min,1 aquarium,1 time periods, recording feeding, substrate exploration, swimming and inactivity. Feeding and exploration were the highest for shrimp fed three times per day, swimming was greatest when animals received four feedings, whereas inactivity was higher for shrimp fed seven times per day. There was greater food ingestion between 12:00 and 14:00 hours for animals fed three and four times per day, whereas swimming was high mainly at 18:00 hours for shrimp fed three and seven times per day. The results indicate higher forage-related activities (exploration/ingestion) when feed was offered three or four times, suggesting optimization in the pattern of shrimp activities based on these feeding frequencies. [source] Serum ghrelin concentrations in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing dialysisCLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 1 2006Pedro Iglesias Summary Background, ,Ghrelin is a recently discovered protein hormone mainly synthesized in the gastric endocrine cells. This hormone not only is a potent growth hormone secretagogue but also is involved in the regulation of food ingestion and energy metabolism. Derangements in ghrelin secretion in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) have not been fully evaluated. Objective, ,Our aim has been to quantify serum concentrations of total ghrelin in a group of patients with CRF on chronic therapy with both haemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) in comparison with a group of patients on conservative management (predialysis). Patients and measurements, ,We studied 68 CRF patients treated by HD (n = 30, 16 men, age 61·2 ± 1·8 years) and PD groups (n = 38, 21 men, age 54·4 ± 1·7 years). A group of 19 uraemic patients on conservative management served as the control. Serum concentrations of ghrelin, leptin, insulin, IGF I and GH were measured in all subjects. Results, ,Patients undergoing HD showed similar concentrations of ghrelin in comparison with the control group (9491 ± 787 vs 9280 ± 918 pg/ml, NS). However, PD patients exhibited baseline ghrelin concentrations significantly lower than those found in patients on conservative management (3230 ± 216 pg/ml, P < 0·0001). Men and women showed similar serum ghrelin levels in both HD (9845·9 ± 1071 vs 9085 ± 1194 pg/ml) and PD patients (3214 ± 297 vs 3250 ± 324 pg/ml). Hypertension and diabetes mellitus did not influence ghrelin levels. Serum GH levels were positively correlated with serum ghrelin concentrations in both HD (r = 0·46, P < 0·05) and PD (r = 0·53, P < 0·001) patients; however, no relationships between ghrelin, leptin, insulin and IGF I were found. Conclusions, ,These results suggest that PD is accompanied by a striking decrement in baseline ghrelin concentrations in comparison with values found both in HD and control patients. Further studies are necessary to determine mechanisms involved in ghrelin regulation in uraemic patients. [source] | ||||||||||||||||