Functional foods

The idea of a ‘functional’ food came from Japanin the 1980s, apparently developing as the Ministry of Healthand Welfare became concerned about the costs of caring for anageing population, and sought to encourage any methodology thatmight improve long-term health prospects. The inverted commasindicate the author's wonder at the term, and his concern aboutthe development of dysfunctional food analysis as a speciality. What does the word mean? The American Dietetic Association describesfunctional foods as ‘any potential health food or foodingredient that may provide     

Functional curriculum

A functional curriculum is a curriculum that focuses upon independent living skills and vocational skills, emphasizing communication and social skills. Students at the secondary level who are prime candidates for such a curriculum are identified. A procedure for assessing students for placement in the curriculum is described as well as methods for the teaching of social skills and the placement of students in community based jobs. Although many parts of the curriculum can be taught in a classroom setting, the need for generalizing those taught skills in the community is essential. Results with a population of students with severe emotional disturbances are described.     

Functional hyposplenism

In the past 15 years, it has become increasingly evident that diverse conditions may be linked with hyposplenism and that hyposplenic individuals are susceptible to overwhelming infection, particularly by the encapsulated organisms such as pneumococci, meningococci, and Haemophilus influenzae. Identification of Howell-Jolly bodies in the peripheral blood smear is the most important clue to the diagnosis. Associated diseases include gastrointestinal disorders, hemoglobinopathies, autoimmune disorders, amyloidosis, neoplasms, circulatory disturbances, and other diseases. Hyposplenic patients should be instructed to report immediately to their physician if they suspect any infection. These patients should receive empiric treatment with antibiotics on an emergency basis at the earliest sign or symptom of infection, and they should also receive prophylactic vaccination against pneumococcal microorganisms.