C-myc protein distribution - mammary adenocarcinomas of mtv/myc transgenic mice

Transgenic mice have been used to demonstrate that the myc transgene, fused to the murine mammary tumor virus LTR promoter, leads to development of mammary tumors. To study the role of the Myc protein in these tumors, a sensitive immunohistochemical method was used to compare the Myc protein expression in mammary tumors and normal mammary gland from two independent MTV/myc transgenic lines. The highest levels of staining for Myc were found in the epithelial cell nuclei of mammary tumors and foci of mammary hyperplasia. Normal transgenic epithelium had only scattered foci of low intensity staining nuclei. The nuclei of transgenic mesenchyme and of non-transgenic mammary glands of control FVB mice did not contain detectable antigen. This work supports the hypothesis that the Myc protein can play a role in mammary tumorigenesis and suggests a correlation between high levels of Myc and the development of histopathology.     

Nutrient Intake following Vertical Banded Gastroplasty or Gastric Bypass

Background: This study explored eating habits, nutrient intake, and blood vitamin and mineral levels to determine whether severely obese subjects (BMI 40-50 kg m⁻²) post-vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) or gastric bypass Roux-en-Y (GBR) are at risk of developing compounded under-nutrition. Methods: A dietary follow-up of 36 VBG and 19 GBR was maintained for 18 months via 7-day food intake diaries and 24-h recalls. Food intake was analysed for energy and nutrient composition and for its relative amount to recommended dietary allowances (RDA). Results: Weight loss was greatest during the first 6 months, continued at a slower rate for the next 6 months, nearly ceasing thereafter. The results following GBR were not substantially different from those following VBG 18 months postoperatively. The median weight loss at 1 year postoperatively was 48, 46, 48 and 36 kg; expressed as residual excess body weight: 0.2, 16, 13 and 22% for GBR Men, Women, VBG Men, Women, respectively. According to the classification proposed by Reinhold, all subjects achieved excellent treatment outcomes 18 months postoperatively. Despite the relatively low reported energy intake (20-50% below RDA), no correlation was found between rate of weight loss and energy intake at 6 months postoperatively. The intake of most vitamins and minerals was below 50% of RDA during the 18 months follow-up. The increase in energy intake did not improve the level of the nonenergy-contributing nutrients. Compliance to multivitamin and mineral supplement intake deteriorated with time. Conclusion: The low to within-normal range of blood vitamin and mineral levels 12 months postoperatively suggests the slow development of subclinical nutritional deficiency which could jeopardize the subjects' long-term health status.     

A breast feeding education and promotion program: Effects on knowledge,attitudes, and support for breast feeding

This study was undertaken to determine the effects of a partner-support, incentive-baed educational program on breast feeding knowledge, attitudes and support and to examine the relationship between feeding intentions and feeding behavior among low-income women. Women who expressed a willingness to participate in the intervention were randomly assigned to intervention and usual breast feeding (control) groups. Sixty-eight primipara women, with expected due dates between May and December, 1992, volunteered to participate in the study. Of these, 34 were randomly assigned to each of the two groups. Approximately 81 percent of the women completed the study, leaving n=29 in the control group and n-26 in the intervention group. The intervention consisted of special incentives (prizes) for women and their partners to participate in several breast feeding education and promotion activities. Intervention group women and their partners experienced positive changes in breast feeding knowledge and attitudes. Furthermore, the intervention seemed to have influenced more women in the treatment group to breast feed despite their prenatal feeding intentions. In addition, the partners of intervention group women were perceived to be more supportive of, breast feeding than control group partners. These findings suggest that incentives, such as donated prizes, can be used to attract lower socioeconomic group women and their partners to breast feeding promotion interventions. Participation in such interventions can produce positive changes in breast feeding knowledge, attitudes, and support, and can have a dramatic effect in promoting breast feeding.This study was supported through contract no. 59-3198-1-050 from the Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.     

Acculturation and Dietary Practices Among Korean Americans

OBJECTIVE: Examine variation in dietary practices and nutritional intakes of Korean Americans at different acculturation levels. DESIGN: Cross-sectional mail survey. SUBJECTS/SETTING: US national sample of 348 Korean Americans (46% of the Korean American sample to whom questionnaires were delivered). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS PERFORMED: Analysis of variance, Pearson correlation, Spearman rank correlation, chi 2 test, and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Korean Americans who were more acculturated consumed more American food and less Korean food. American foods such as oranges, low-fat milk, bagels, tomatoes, and bread were consumed regularly by Korean Americans; Korean foods such as rice, kimchi, garlic, green onions, and Korean soup were also consumed regularly. American foods were adopted the most at breakfast and the least at dinner. Bicultural people regularly incorporated more different types of foods into their diet. Despite significant differences in dietary practices, dietary quality did not vary by acculturation status. APPLICATION/CONCLUSIONS: Acculturation was influential in the dietary patterns of Korean Americans. Specific information about Korean diet related to acculturation status can be used by dietitians who work with Korean Americans. Dietitians can benefit from gathering and applying specific information about Korean diets and diets of other ethnic groups; they also need to recognize the changing nature of dietary patterns as acculturation occurs.     

Sensory Responses to Fat are Not Affected by Varying Dietary Energy Intake From Fat and Saturated Fat Over Ranges Common in the American Diet

Objective To examine the effects of manipulating dietary fat in foods on sensitivity and hedonic response to fat in selected foods.Design Twenty subjects were randomly assigned to a sequence of three 8-week experimental diets (average American diet, step 1 diet, low-saturated-fat diet) that varied in energy from fat (37%, 30%, and 26%, respectively) and saturated fat (17%, 10%, and 6%, respectively). Subjects participated in sensory tests designed to assess their sensitivity to and liking for fat in several foods, before the study (baseline), after consumption of each diet, and after the study (washout).Subjects/setting Subjects were participants in the Dietary Effects on Lipoprotein and Thrombogenic Activity (DELTA) study.Results No significant differences were found among diets for difference thresholds (ie, just noticeable differences) for fat in milk and pudding, ad libitum mixing of low- and high-fat samples of milk and soup, and hedonic scaling of fat concentrations in milk and muffins and of cheese, mayonnaise, hot dog, and pastry samples.Applications/conclusions Within the dietary fat ranges and for the fat stimuli tested in this study, dietary fat as percentage of energy from fat and saturated fat was not a significant determinant of sensitivity to and/or liking for fat. Sensory factors should not be a barrier to the implementation of low-fat diets such as the step 1 and low-saturated-fat diets. J Am Diet Assoc. 1999;99:690–696.