The use of a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cissus quadrangularis/Irvingia gabonensis</Emphasis> combination in the management of weight loss: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

Aim  

To evaluate the effects of two formulations, Cissus quadrangularis -only and a Cissus quadrangularis/Irvingia gabonensis combination, on weight loss in overweight and obese human subjects.     

Protracted outbreak of <Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>. Enteritidis PT 21c in a large Hamburg nursing home

Background  

During August 2006, a protracted outbreak of Salmonella (S.) Enteritidis infections in a large Hamburg nursing home was investigated.     

Studies on the antihypertensive and antidyslipidemic activities of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Viola odorata</Emphasis> leaves extract

Background  

This study was undertaken to provide pharmacological basis for the medicinal use of Viola odorata Linn. in hypertension and dyslipidemia using the in vivo and in vitro assays.     

Differential effect of corn oil-based low <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis> structured fat on the plasma and hepatic lipid profile in an atherogenic mouse model: comparison to hydrogenated <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis> fat

Background  

Trans fat are not desirable in many aspects on health maintenance. Low trans structured fats have been reported to be relatively more safe than trans fats.     

The effect of phosphatidylserine administration on memory and symptoms of attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomised,double‐blind,placebo‐controlled clinical trial

Background

Attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed behavioural disorder of childhood, affecting 3–5% of school‐age children. The present study investigated whether the supplementation of soy‐derived phosphatidylserine (PS), a naturally occurring phospholipid, improves ADHD symptoms in children.

Methods

Thirty six children, aged 4–14 years, who had not previously received any drug treatment related to ADHD, received placebo (n = 17) or 200 mg day^–1 PS (n = 19) for 2 months in a randomised, double‐blind manner. Main outcome measures included: (i) ADHD symptoms based on DSM‐IV‐TR; (ii) short‐term auditory memory and working memory using the Digit Span Test of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children; and (iii) mental performance to visual stimuli (GO/NO GO task).

Results

PS supplementation resulted in significant improvements in: (i) ADHD (P < 0.01), AD (P < 0.01) and HD (P < 0.01); (ii) short‐term auditory memory (P < 0.05); and (iii) inattention (differentiation and reverse differentiation, P < 0.05) and inattention and impulsivity (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in other measurements and in the placebo group. PS was well‐tolerated and showed no adverse effects.

Conclusions

PS significantly improved ADHD symptoms and short‐term auditory memory in children. PS supplementation might be a safe and natural nutritional strategy for improving mental performance in young children suffering from ADHD.     

Reinterpreting a community outbreak of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmonella enterica</Emphasis>serotype Enteritidis in the light of molecular typing

Background  

In November 2005, a large outbreak due to Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) was observed within children who had eaten their meals at 53 school cafeterias in Florence and the surrounding area. A total of 154 isolates of S. Enteritidis were recovered from human cases between November 2005 and January 2006. All strains were assigned phage type 8 (PT8) and a common Xba I pulsotype.     

An investigation into the nutritional composition and cost of gluten‐free versus regular food products in the UK

Background

The gluten‐free (GF) food market has expanded considerably, although there is limited comparative evidence for the nutritional quality and cost of GF food products. The present study aims to compare the nutrient composition and cost of GF and gluten‐containing (regular) foods across 10 food categories in the UK.

Methods

Nutritional information and the cost of GF foods available in the UK (n = 679) and comparable regular foods (n = 1045) were systematically collected from manufacturer and supermarket websites. Foods were classified using UK front‐of‐pack labelling for content of fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt and nutrient content, and cost per 100 g were identified and compared between GF and regular foods.

Results

Overall, more GF foods were classified as containing high and medium fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt than regular foods, although this was not universally consistent. More GF bread and flour products contained high fat and sugar, whereas fewer GF crackers contained high fat and sugar compared to regular foods. High salt content was found more frequently in GF than regular products. On average, GF products were 159% more expensive than regular (£0.44/100 g versus £1.14/100 g). GF items were also more likely to be lower in fibre and protein content than regular foods.

Conclusions

Differences exist in the nutritional composition of GF and regular food. GF food is unlikely to offer healthier alternatives to regular foods, except for those who require a GF diet for medically diagnosed conditions, and it is associated with higher costs.     

Aqueous extract of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Piper sarmentosum</Emphasis> decreases atherosclerotic lesions in high cholesterolemic experimental rabbits

Background  

Piper sarmentosum (P.s) has flavonoid component in its leaves which has antioxidative effect. To date, its effect on atherosclerosis has not been studied histologically.     

No difference in self‐reported frequency of choking between infants introduced to solid foods using a baby‐led weaning or traditional spoon‐feeding approach

Background

Baby‐led weaning (BLW) where infants self‐feed family foods during the period that they are introduced to solid foods is growing in popularity. The method may promote healthier eating patterns, although concerns have been raised regarding its safety. The present study therefore explored choking frequency amongst babies who were being introduced to solid foods using a baby‐led or traditional spoon‐fed approach.

Methods

In total, 1151 mothers with an infant aged 4–12 months reported how they introduced solid foods to their infant (following a strict BLW, loose BLW or traditional weaning style) and frequency of spoon‐feeding and puree use (percentage of mealtimes). Mothers recalled if their infant had ever choked and, if so, how many times and on what type of food (smooth puree, lumpy puree, finger food and specific food examples).

Results

In total, 13.6% of infants (n = 155) had ever choked. No significant association was found between weaning style and ever choking, or the frequency of spoon or puree use and ever choking. For infants who had ever choked, infants following a traditional weaning approach experience significantly more choking episodes for finger foods (F_2,147 = 4.417, P = 0.014) and lumpy purees (F_2,131 = 6.46, P = 0.002) than infants following a strict or loose baby‐led approach.

Conclusions

Baby‐led weaning was not associated with increased risk of choking and the highest frequency of choking on finger foods occurred in those who were given finger foods the least often. However, the limitations of noncausal results, a self‐selecting sample and reliability of recall must be emphasised.     

Completeness and timeliness of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmonella</Emphasis> notifications in Ireland in 2008: a cross sectional study

Background  

In Ireland, salmonellosis is the second most common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis. A new electronic system for reporting (Computerised Infectious Disease Reporting - CIDR) of Salmonella cases was established in 2004. It collates clinical (and/or laboratory) data on confirmed and probable Salmonella cases. The authors studied the completeness and the timeliness of Salmonella notifications in 2008.     

Evaluation of change in dietitians’ perceived comprehensibility and difficulty of the Patient‐Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG‐SGA) after a single training in the use of the instrument

Background

The Patient‐Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG‐SGA) is an instrument used to assess malnutrition and its risk factors. Some items of the PG‐SGA may be perceived as hard to comprehend or as difficult by healthcare professionals. The present study aimed to determine whether and how dietitians’ perceptions of comprehensibility and difficulty of the PG‐SGA change after a single training in PG‐SGA use.

Methods

In this prospective evaluation study, Dutch PG‐SGA‐naïve dietitians completed a questionnaire regarding perceived comprehensibility and difficulty of the PG‐SGA before (T0) and after (T1) receiving a single training in the use of the instrument. Perceived comprehensibility and difficulty were operationalised by calculating item and scale indices for comprehensibility (I‐CI, S‐CI) and difficulty (I‐DI, S‐DI) at T0 and T1. An item index of 0.78 was considered acceptable, a scale index of 0.80 was considered acceptable and a scale index of 0.90 was considered excellent.

Results

A total of 35 participants completed the questionnaire both at T0 and T1. All item indices related to comprehensibility and difficulty improved, although I‐DI for the items regarding food intake and physical examination remained below 0.78. Scale indices for difficulty and comprehensibility of the PG‐SGA changed significantly (P < 0.001) from not acceptable at T0 (S‐CI = 0.69; S‐DI = 0.57) to excellent for comprehensibility (S‐CI = 0.95) and acceptable for difficulty (S‐DI = 0.86) at T1.

Conclusions

The findings of the present study suggest that significant improvement in PG‐SGA‐naïve dietitians’ perception of comprehensibility and difficulty of the PG‐SGA can be achieved quickly by providing a 1 day of training in the use of the PG‐SGA.     

Hypocholesterolemic effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nostoc commune var. sphaeroides Kützing,</Emphasis> an edible blue-green alga

Background  

Intake of an edible blue-green alga Nostoc commune var. sphaeroides Kützing (N. Commune) has been shown to lower plasma total cholesterol concentration, but the mechanisms behind the hypocholesterolemic effect have not been elucidated.     

Cost-effectiveness of six strategies for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter pylori</Emphasis>diagnosis and management in uninvestigated dyspepsia assuming a high resource intensity practice pattern

Background  

Initial assessment of dyspepsia often includes noninvasive testing for Helicobacter pylori infection. Commercially available tests vary widely in cost and accuracy. Although there is extensive literature on the cost-effectiveness of H. pylori treatment, there is little information comparing the cost-effectiveness of various currently used, noninvasive testing strategies.     

Prevalence of multidrug-resistant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmonella enteric</Emphasis> serotype typhi and paratyphi A of human cases from the Tiruchirappalli district,India, and their associated virulent markers

Aim  

The study sought to determine the multidrug resistance (MDR) of Salmonella enterica typhi and paratyphi A isolates in correlation with the presence of virulent markers detected by a PCR-based approach.     

Risk analysis of the re-emergence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plasmodium vivax</Emphasis> malaria in Japan using a stochastic transmission model

Objectives  

This study analyzed the risk of infection with Plasmodium vivax in local residents through a stochastic simulation in which an infected tourist, local resident, or immigrants from an endemic area would visit Himi-shi, Toyama prefecture, which is a formerly endemic area in Japan.     

Are liver and renal lesions in East Greenland polar bears (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ursus maritimus</Emphasis>) associated with high mercury levels?

Background  

In the Arctic, polar bears (Ursus maritimus) bio-accumulate mercury as they prey on polluted ringed seals (Phoca hispida) and bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus). Studies have shown that polar bears from East Greenland are among the most mercury polluted species in the Arctic. It is unknown whether these levels are toxic to liver and kidney tissue.     

Epidemiology of Shiga toxin producing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> in Australia, 2000-2010

Background  

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are an important cause of gastroenteritis in Australia and worldwide and can also result in serious sequelae such as haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). In this paper we describe the epidemiology of STEC in Australia using the latest available data.     

Evaluating the <Emphasis Type="Italic">SOS</Emphasis>suicide prevention program: a replication and extension

Background  

Suicide is a leading cause of death for children and youth in the United States. Although school based programs have been the principal vehicle for youth suicide prevention efforts for over two decades, few have been systematically evaluated. This study examined the effectiveness of the Signs of Suicide (SOS) prevention program in reducing suicidal behavior.     

Knowledge of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chlamydia trachomatis</Emphasis> among men and women approached to participate in community-based screening,Scotland, UK

Background  

Poor awareness and knowledge of Chlamydia trachomatis could be a barrier to uptake of screening. This study aimed to determine the level of awareness and knowledge of chlamydia among young people who were being approached in a variety of community settings and offered opportunistic screening.