Soy,Soy Isoflavones,and Protein Intake in Relation to Mortality from All Causes,Cancers, and Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review and Dose–Response Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

ObjectiveWe conducted a systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis of prospective studies to summarize findings on the associations between intakes of soy, soy isoflavones, and soy protein and risk of mortality from all causes, cancers, and cardiovascular diseases.MethodsOnline databases were systematically searched to identify relevant articles published earlier than May 2018. We applied restricted cubic splines using random-effects analysis to assess dose–response associations. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed by I² value and Cochrane Q test. Potential publication bias was assessed by visual inspection of funnel plots and Begg regression test.ResultsIn total, 23 prospective studies with an overall sample size of 330,826 participants were included in the current systematic review and the meta-analysis. Soy/soy products consumption was inversely associated with deaths from cancers (pooled relative risk 0.88, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.99; P=0.03; I²=47.1%, 95% CI 0.0% to 75.4%) and cardiovascular diseases (pooled effect size: 0.85, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.99; P=0.04; I²=50.0%, 95% CI 0.0% to 77.6%). Such significant associations were also observed for all-cause mortality in some subgroups of the included studies, particularly those with higher quality. In addition, higher intake of soy was associated with decreased risk of mortality from gastric, colorectal, and lung cancers as well as ischemic cardiovascular diseases. Participants in the highest category of dietary soy isoflavones intake had a 10% lower risk of all-cause mortality compared with those in the lowest category. We also found that a 10-mg/day increase in intake of soy isoflavones was associated with 7% and 9% decreased risk of mortality from all cancers and also breast cancer respectively. Furthermore, a 12% reduction in breast cancer death was indicated for each 5-g/day increase in consumption of soy protein. However, intake of soy protein was not significantly associated with all-cause and cardiovascular diseases mortality.ConclusionsSoy and its isoflavones may favorably influence risk of mortality. In addition, soy protein intake was associated with a decreased risk in the mortality of breast cancer. Our findings may support the current recommendations to increase intake of soy for greater longevity.     

Does Body Position Affect Ultrasound Measurements of Bladder-Wall Elasticity?

Ultrasound bladder vibrometry (UBV) parameters have been shown in previous studies to strongly correlate with measurements from urodynamic studies. Just like urodynamic studies, UBV can be performed in supine and sitting positions. The objective of this study is to compare UBV parameters obtained in the two different positions using statistical methods. We recruited eight volunteers with healthy bladders for this purpose. The elasticity, group velocity squared and thickness of the bladder were the UBV parameters of interest, and their values were recorded at different bladder volumes for each volunteer. The results presented indicate that the measurements made in the two positions are in agreement using the Bland–Altman method and a parameter q which compares the values at each bladder volume for each volunteer. UBV parameters were also repeatable for measurements recorded in the supine and sitting positions.     

Fetal facial expressions in small-for-gestational-age and growth-restricted fetuses

Objective: To evaluate the frequencies of fetal facial expressions among appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA), small-for-gestational-age (SGA), and growth-restricted (FGR) fetuses.

Methods: Four-dimensional (4D) ultrasound was used to examine the facial expressions of 50 AGA, 25 SGA, and six FGR fetuses between 28 and 35 weeks of gestation. The frequencies of seven facial expressions during 15-minute recordings were assessed. Comparison of facial expressions among the three groups was performed.

Results: Mouthing was the commonest facial expression at 28–35 weeks, and the frequency of mouthing was significantly higher than those of the other six facial expressions in AGA fetuses. Mouthing was the most frequent facial expression, but there was no significant difference in the frequency among mouthing, smiling and blinking in SGA fetuses. Moreover, mouthing displayed a significantly higher frequency than the other facial expressions, except for yawning, smiling, and blinking in FGR fetuses. However, there was no significant difference in the frequency of each facial expression among the three groups.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that the frequencies of fetal facial expressions are not decreased in either SGA or FGR pregnancies. The absence of a decrease in the frequency of each fetal expression in FGR fetuses may be due to increased brain blood flow because of the brain-sparing effect. Moreover, accelerated maturation and development of the brain function, especially the central dopamine system, might be suspected in SGA and FGR fetuses.     

Antifungal efficiency of wild plants against human-opportunistic pathogens

BackgroundFungal infection with opportunistic fungi can cause a serious problem for immunocompromised persons such as organ-transplant recipients, cancer, and HIV/AIDS patients. Control of these organisms using natural products is an interesting strategy to avoid the use of heavy chemotherapy in patients.ObjectiveThis study aimed to use the extract of Forsskaolea tenacissima L. and Xanthium spinosum L. to suppress the growth of Candida albicans and Geotrichum candidum and to investigate their potential mode of action.Materials and methodsDifferent plant extracts were tested for their antifungal activity using disc diffusion method and their mode of action was explored using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).ResultsThe results showed that chloroform extract of X. spinosum was the most effective against G. candidum, inhibiting its growth at very low concentration (38 μg/mL). Chloroform extract of F. tenacissima was the most effective against C. albicans, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 39 μg/mL. SEM demonstrated the fungitoxicity of the plant extracts against both pathogens. C. albicans treated with plant extract were invaginated and ruptured and the treated mycelia of G. candidum were distorted and squashed. GC-MS analysis showed that the chloroform extract of both plants had 13 different compounds.ConclusionDue to these promising results, these extracts should be further investigated and tested on different strains of C. albicans and G. candidum towards validation of their efficacy as a natural drug.     

Perspectives of online surveys in dermatology

The striking rise in the Internet utilization worldwide has led to major changes in the methods of data collection and processing. Online surveying has been used to assess different health services, explore patients’ perceptions and measure interventions. The discipline of dermatology is one of the fields that gained benefits from surveying patients and dermatologists online; however, some disadvantages such as the low response rate and participation bias were suggested. This review summarizes the applications of online surveying in dermatology and discusses the methods of enhancing response to online surveys. It also offers a guide for dermatologists to formulate their online surveys and avoid the possibility of bias. The role of social network in data collection and the concerns about anonymity and data security have been discussed.     

Which Parameters Affect Biofilm Removal with Acoustic Cavitation? A Review

Bacterial biofilms are a cause of contamination in a wide range of medical and biological areas. Ultrasound is a mechanical energy that can remove these biofilms using cavitation and acoustic streaming, which generate shear forces to disrupt biofilm from a surface. The aim of this narrative review is to investigate the literature on the mechanical removal of biofilm using acoustic cavitation to identify the different operating parameters affecting its removal using this method. The properties of the liquid and the properties of the ultrasound have a large impact on the type of cavitation generated. These include gas content, temperature, surface tension, frequency of ultrasound and acoustic pressure. For many of these parameters, more research is required to understand their mechanisms in the area of ultrasonic biofilm removal, and further research will help to optimise this method for effective removal of biofilms from different surfaces.     

Antimicrobial Activity of the Solvent Fractions from Bulbine Natalensis Tuber

Bulbine natalensis Baker has been acclaimed to be used as an antimicrobial agent in the folklore medicine of South Africa without scientific evidence to substantiate or refute this claim. In view of this, the in vitro antimicrobial activity of solvent fractions (ethanol, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water) from Bulbine natalensis Tuber against 4 Gram positive and 12 Gram negative bacteria as well as 3 fungal species were investigated using agar dilution. The ethanolic extract, n-butanol and ethyl acetate fractions inhibited 75, 87.5 and 100% respectively of the bacterial species in this study. The ethanolic, n-butanol and ethyl acetate fractions produced growth inhibition at MIC range of 1–10, 3–10 as well as 1 and 5 mg/ml respectively whereas the water fraction did not inhibit the growth of any of the bacterial species. Again, it was only the ethyl acetate fraction that inhibited the growth of Shigelli flexneri, Staphyloccus aureus and Escherichia coli. The ethanolic, ethyl acetate and n-butanolic fractions dose dependently inhibited the growth of Aspergillus niger and A. flavus whereas the water fraction produced 100% growth inhibition of the Aspergillus species at all the doses investigated. In contrast, no growth inhibition was produced on Candida albicans. The growth inhibition produced by the solvent fractions of B. natalensis Tuber in this study thus justifies the acclaimed use of the plant as an antimicrobial agent. The ethyl acetate fraction was the most potent.