Improvement of fruit allergenic extracts for immunoblotting experiments

A method based on ion-exchange column chromatography to enhance the protein content of fruit allergenic extracts was found to help make the subsequent SDS-PAGE immunoblotting assays possible; otherwise, they were difficult to achieve due to the high carbohydrate content. Fractionated extracts of apple, pear, and peach (peel and pulp) were obtained by anion-exchange chromatography (Q-Sepharose^TM column), providing clear electrophoretic patterns which allowed IgE detection by enzymatic assays of the transferred membranes. This chromatographic method produced in one single step an enriched extract directly from the standard crude aqueous one, with an increment in the protein content of more than sixfold, on average; thus, it proved to be more suitable than the usual chemical fractionation procedures.     

青豌豆气调包装工艺及其质量评价

摘要：包装内气氛与包装材料选择性透气性是影响果蔬气调包装质量的主要因素。对青豌豆采用6组不同初始气体组分、3种包装材料进行气调包装，在5℃，相对湿度85％的环境下贮藏7d后，测定青豌豆的相关质量指标，并与未包装产品进行比较，结果表明气调包装对青豌豆保鲜效果显著；在此基础上，用主成分分析法构造了气调包装产品质量的综合评价模型，对气调包装青豌豆质量进行综合评价，得出青豌豆气调包装的最佳初始气体组分，分析了不同包装材料对青豌豆气调包装质量的影响。     

油茶肉质果和肉质叶开发价值及食用安全性分析

研究了油茶肉质果和肉质叶营养成分及食用安全性。成熟的肉质果（叶）各成分质量分数分别为：水分91．36％（91．58％）、蛋白质7．81％（6．56％）、脂肪3．7％（2．90％）、还原糖30．41％（21．83％）、总糖37．23％（29．28％）、茶皂素2．44％（1．46％）、灰分3．45％。（4．55％）、酸度0．35％（0．46％）。测定的矿物元素中，肉质叶、果的钙含量分别为411．3mg、359mg；锰的含量分别为31．35mg和33．06mg；含有16种氨基酸；所测的6种维生素中，维生素C和叶酸含量较高。毒性试验结果显示，样品为无毒野生果。微核试验和致畸试验结果表明：小鼠微核率与对照组比较，差异不显著（P〉0．05）。小鼠精子致畸率与阳性对照组比较无显著差异（P〉0．05）。样品对金黄色葡萄球菌抑制效果明显。该野生果基本无毒、无致突变物质，证明油茶肉质果、肉质叶是一种食用安全的野生果和食品资源。     

The Bactrocera tryoni homologue of the Drosophila melanogaster sex-determination gene doublesex

A homologue of the bifunctional sex-determining gene, doublesex (dsx), has been identified in the tephritid fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni, and has been found to be expressed in a sex-specific manner in adult flies. The male- and female-specific cDNAs are identical at their 5′ ends but differ at their 3′ ends and appear to be the products of alternate splicing. The level of identity of the sex-specific DSX proteins of B. tryoni with the D. melanogaster DSX proteins, across the region corresponding to the DNA binding domain and the oligomerization domains, is greater than 85%. Four sequence motifs which are ten to thirteen bases identical to the TRA/TRA-2 binding sites (thirteen-nucleotide repeat sequences) are present in the female-specific exon of the B. tryoni dsx gene.     

楮实对小鼠学习和记忆的促进作用

本试验采用食饵迷宫法和一次训练被动回避性条件反应——跳台法,观察了楮实对小鼠学习和记忆的促进作用。结果表明,楮实对正常小鼠的空间辨别学习、记忆获得有促进作用;可拮抗东莨菪碱造成的记忆获得障碍;改善氯霉素和亚硝酸钠造成的记忆巩固不良;改善30％乙醇引起的记忆再缺损,并对亚硝酸钠中毒缺氧有明显的改善作用。     

Hypersensitivity reactions to latex in patients having topical treatment applied by health professionals wearing latex gloves

Pomegranate is the fruit of the pomegranate tree ( Punica granatum ), native to Africa, introduced into the Mediterranean area, and now widely cultivated. The tree be-longs to the Myrtaceae family and is currently used therapeutically for gingivitis and gastric-duodenal trait. The fruit pulp is made up of a cluster of red-violet seeds.     

浏阳市居民新鲜水果摄入频率与脑卒中发病的关联

目的 了解湖南省浏阳市居民新鲜水果摄入频率情况,探讨新鲜水果摄入频率与脑卒中发病关联。 方法 利用中国慢性病前瞻性研究湖南省浏阳市项目点30～79岁常住居民基线调查数据和随访获得的脑卒中发病数据,利用Cox比例风险模型,在调整混杂因素后,评估新鲜水果摄入频率与脑卒中发病的关联。 结果 共57 288名研究对象纳入分析,浏阳市仅7.38%的研究对象每周有4 d及以上吃新鲜水果 。男性、家庭年收入水平低、文化程度低、吸烟、饮酒人群新鲜水果摄入频率较低(P<0.001)。2015—2019年共随访观察到2 720例脑卒中发病。增加新鲜水果摄入频率对脑卒中的发病有保护作用,与不吃或极少吃新鲜水果相比,每周有4 d及以上吃新鲜水果脑卒中的发病风险降低了28%(HR=0.72,95%CI:0.61~0.85),缺血性脑卒中的发病风险降低了25%(HR=0.75,95%CI:0.60~0.94),出血性脑卒中的发病风险降低了51%(HR=0.49,95%CI:0.35~0.76)。 结论 新鲜水果摄入频率增加能降低脑卒中发病风险。浏阳市居民新鲜水果摄入频率情况不容乐观,针对这一问题,需要采取适当措施以增加居民新鲜水果摄入频率。     

Evaluation of the effect of a school garden as an educational didactic tool in vegetable and fruit consumption in teenagers

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESIncreasing the consumption of vegetables and fruits in Mexico remains a challenge. Promoting sustainable food production systems through schools may be an effective way to educate young people about food and nutrition issues. A study of nutritional education in adolescents, based on the school garden, is necessary in order to evaluate its effects on the consumption of fruits and vegetables among middle- and upper-income segments of the population. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of an educational intervention, accompanied by a school garden as an educational teaching tool, to improve vegetable and fruit consumption by Mexican teenagers attending a private middle/high school.SUBJECTS/METHODSTeenagers between 12 and 18 years of age (n = 126) attending a private middle/high school in Queretaro, Mexico participated in a 3-arm, controlled, comparative impact study using a vegetable and fruit consumption frequency questionnaire, food consumption diaries, a psychosocial factor assessment questionnaire of vegetable and fruit consumption, and structured interviews. The participants were randomized into 3 experimental groups: 1) food education + school garden (FE + SG), 2) FE only, and 3) control group (CG).RESULTSThe FE + SG and FE groups significantly increased the frequency and daily intake of vegetables and fruits compared to the CG. The FE + SG group showed greater understanding of, reflection upon, and analysis of the information they received about vegetable and fruit consumption, as well as a greater willingness to include these in their daily diet.CONCLUSIONSFE accompanied by a SG as a teaching tool is more effective at promoting vegetable and fruit consumption than either education alone or control in teenagers in middle-upper income segments of the population.     

Dietary Fiber and Its Source Are Associated with Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Korean Adults

We examined the associations of dietary fiber and its source with cardiovascular risk factors in Korean adults. This cross-sectional study involved 16,792 adults from the 2013–2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. Dietary data were obtained using a 24 h recall method and used to evaluate intakes of total dietary fiber and its source and fruit consumption. Cardiovascular risk factors included obesity, abdominal obesity, metabolic syndrome, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the associations of dietary fiber and its source with cardiovascular risk factors by sex. Total fiber and fruit fiber intake in men were inversely associated with metabolic syndrome (Q5 vs. Q1: odds ratios (OR) = 0.69, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 0.53–0.92 for total fiber; Q4 vs. Q1: OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.61–0.93 for fruit fiber). Among women, a higher intake of fruit fiber was related to a reduced prevalence of obesity (Q4 vs. Q1: OR = 0.85, p trend = 0.029) and abdominal obesity (Q4 vs. Q1: OR = 0.82, p trend = 0.026). Total fruit and whole fruit consumption was inversely associated with obesity, abdominal obesity, and metabolic syndrome in men and hypertension in women. The amount and sources of fiber are associated with metabolic diseases in Korean adults and should be considered in the context of overall dietary quality.     

Trends in Vitamin C Consumption in the United States: 1999–2018

Low intakes of fruits and vegetables have resulted in suboptimal intakes of several micronutrients, including vitamin C. This cross-sectional study used data from 84,902 children/adults (≥1 y) who completed a 24-h dietary recall as part of the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2018). Mean vitamin C intakes from foods/beverages were calculated as were trends in major food/beverage sources of vitamin C. Percentages below the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) were estimated. Overall, mean vitamin C consumption declined by 23% (97–75 mg/d; p-value for trend < 0.001). 100% fruit juice was the leading source of vitamin C (25.6% of total or 21.7mg/d), but this declined by 48% (25–13 mg/d; p-value for trend < 0.001). Whole fruit increased among children/adolescents (+75.8%;10–17 mg/d; p-value for trend < 0.001), but not adults, while the vegetable contribution was generally unchanged. The proportion of the population below the EAR increased by 23.8% on a relative scale or 9 percentage points on an absolute scale (38.3–47.4%). Declines in vitamin C intake is driven largely by decreases in fruit juice coupled with modest increases in whole fruit. Due to associations between vitamin C intake and numerous health outcomes these trends warrant careful monitoring moving forward.