Socioeconomic differences among Australian adults in consumption of fruit and vegetables and intakes of vitamins A, C and folate

Objective To determine whether socioeconomic groups differ in their food intakes for fruit and vegetables, their consumption of fruit and vegetables dense in vitamin A, folate and vitamin C, and their nutrient intakes of vitamin C, folate and vitamin A. Methods The 1995 Australian National Nutrition Survey collected food intake data from 8883 adults aged 18–64 years using a 24‐h dietary recall. Fruit and vegetables were measured as amount (g) consumed. Intakes of nutrients were estimated from the 24‐h dietary recall data. Participants were categorized by whether or not they consumed fruit or vegetables high in vitamin A, folate and vitamin C. Gross annual household income was used to measure socioeconomic position. Results Participants from low‐income households consumed a smaller quantity of fruit and vegetables. They were also less likely to consume fruit and vegetables high in vitamin C, folate and vitamin A. Consistent with these findings, men and women from disadvantaged socioeconomic groups had lower intakes of vitamin C and folate compared with their more affluent counterparts. These differences were small to moderate in magnitude. Vitamin A intakes were not significantly related to income. Conclusion As well as promoting healthy dietary practices, nutrition‐promotion strategies should target the nutrient intakes of lower socioeconomic groups. These programmes should focus on improving the quantity and choice of fruit and vegetables consumed by people from low‐income households.     

Quantitative analysis of toxin extracts from various tissues of wild and cultured puffer fish by an electrophysiological method.

We observed the effects of the toxin extracted from various tissues of wild and cultured puffer fish on voltage-dependent sodium current (I(Na)) using single rat CA1 neurons, and compared the results with that of tetrodotoxin (TTX). Toxin extracts from wild puffer fish inhibited I(Na) in a dilution-dependent manner, and toxin extracts from liver or ovary produced 300 times greater inhibition than that from muscle, and corresponded to about 65 microg TTX/g tissue. We also used puffer fish cultured in net cages or in tanks set up on land, in an attempt to isolate them from the food chain. The toxin extracts from cultured puffer fish also suppressed I(Na), but the inhibition was much weaker, and the effects of toxin extracts were almost the same in all tissues examined including liver, ovary, muscle, etc. We calculated the maximum edible amount for each tissue, assuming that the lethal dose of TTX is 1-10 microg/kg, and we found that the liver or ovary was edible in the case of cultured puffer fish.     

Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities of skins and seeds of five wild grapes and two hybrids native to Japan

Grape skins and seeds are sources of phenolic compounds that contribute to the sensory characteristics and beneficial bioactivity of wines and other processed foods. Hence, the study was aimed to evaluate and characterize the phenolic composition and antioxidant activities of five wild grapes native to Japan and two hybrids derived from the wild ones. Finally, the results were compared with those of two cultivated grapes (Vitis vinifera cv. Muscat of Alexandria, a white and V. labruscana cv. Bailey Alicante A, a tenturier-type grape). Among the skins of wild grapes, those of Shiohitashibudou (V. sp., an unidentified wild grape) contained the highest amount of total phenolics (13.8 mg g⁻¹ gallic acid equivalent of fresh weight) and antiradical activities (61.7 mmol g⁻¹ trolox equivalent of fresh weight). In contrast, Shiragabudou (V. shiragai) contained highest amount of seed total phenolics (16.5 mg g⁻¹ gallic acid equivalent of fresh weight). All wild grape seeds were rich in procyanidin monomers. The total phenolics and antiradical activities in skins of a hybrid grape Kadainou R-1 were higher than those of its parents. This study demonstrates that wild grapes are potential sources of neutraceutical phenolics and can thus be utilized as novel breeding resources.     

Detection of glycosidic residues in carpal glands of wild and domestic pig revealed by basic and lectin histochemistry

Carpal glands are compound tubuloalveolar glands, located on the medial surface of the carpus. This study was carried out on samples from carpal glands of adult wild and domestic pigs of both sexes. We elucidated the glycosidic composition of carpal gland secretion in situ using traditional histochemical methods and lectin histochemistry. Some secretory cells exhibited an intense reaction with PAS in both wild and domestic pigs. Lectin histochemistry showed differences in the localization and composition of glycoconjugates secreted by carpal glands. A cytoplasmic positivity was revealed in the wild pig by the sequence sialidase-PNA and WGA, whereas in the domestic pig the reactivity was localized at the apical surface of some cells. LTA positive cells were found only in the carpal glands of the domestic pig.     

Wild and commercial mushrooms as source of nutrients and nutraceuticals

In order to promote the use of mushrooms as source of nutrients and nutraceuticals, several experiments were performed in wild and commercial species. The analysis of nutrients included determination of proteins, fats, ash, and carbohydrates, particularly sugars by HPLC-RI. The analysis of nutraceuticals included determination of fatty acids by GC-FID, and other phytochemicals such as tocopherols, by HPLC-fluorescence, and phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids and ascorbic acid, by spectrophotometer techniques. The antimicrobial properties of the mushrooms were also screened against fungi, Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. The wild mushroom species proved to be less energetic than the commercial sp., containing higher contents of protein and lower fat concentrations. In general, commercial species seem to have higher concentrations of sugars, while wild sp. contained lower values of MUFA but also higher contents of PUFA. alpha-Tocopherol was detected in higher amounts in the wild species, while gamma-tocopherol was not found in these species. Wild mushrooms revealed a higher content of phenols but a lower content of ascorbic acid, than commercial mushrooms. There were no differences between the antimicrobial properties of wild and commercial species. The ongoing research will lead to a new generation of foods, and will certainly promote their nutritional and medicinal use.     

Effect of prescribed burning on wildfire severity: a landscape-scale case study from the 2003 fires in Victoria

This study examined the effect of previous fuel reduction burning (FRB) on the severity of the >1 million ha 2003 Alpine Fire in eastern Victoria. Sixty-five paired observations (130 total) of fire severity were completed across the broad fire area using GIS (Geographic Information System) analysis. Despite the broad scatter in this large data set, a number of strong trends were evident. A Fire Severity Index (FSI) was calculated from the correlated fire, weather and topographic variables, with a three-factor model using the forest fire danger index (FFDI), fire or FRB age and percentage of north-western aspect, best explaining the variation in measured fire-severity data. The most important finding was that the reduction in fire severity and suppression assistance effects of previous fuel-reduction burning started to decline substantially when the FFDI exceeded 50. Above FFDI 50, landscape-scale fires became ‘weather-dominated’ and variation in fuel and topography became less important to continued fire spread. The greatest effects of previous FRB in reducing wildfire severity and in assisting fire suppression occurred when (1) the FFDI fell to 25 or less (late in the evening and overnight); (2) the age of the FRB was less than 3 years (i.e. when all three components of fuel—surface, bark and elevated material—were still substantially reduced). Some fire-severity reduction effects were still evident for FRBs up to 10 years old, but there was almost no evidence of FRBs older than 10 years having any effect on fire severity. FRBs up to 10 years old also had measurable effects on increasing burnt area patchiness and decreasing canopy loss, both of which have ecological implications. This study provides fire managers planning rotational landscape FRB with important information on likely effects of the burning on fire severity.     

Anti-cancer effects of traditional Korean wild vegetables in complementary and alternative medicine

This research study explored the anti-cancer effects of natural materials in South Korea. Although South Korea has a long history of traditional medicine, many natural materials of South Korea have not yet been introduced to the rest of the world because of language barriers and inconsistent study conditions. In the past 3 years, 56 papers introducing 56 natural materials, which have anti-cancer effects, have been published by scientists in South Korea. Further, these studies have introduced five kinds of natural materials presented in research papers that were written in Korean and are therefore virtually unknown overseas. The anti-cancer effects were confirmed by 2–3 cancer markers in the majority of the studies, with the most common targets being breast cancer cells and gastric cancer cells. These cancers have the greatest incidence in South Korea. The natural materials studied not only exhibit anti-cancer activity but also display anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, and anti-diabetic activities. They have not yet been used for the direct treatment of disease but have potential as medicinal materials for alternative and complementary medicine for the treatment of many modern diseases. Many natural materials of South Korea are already known all over the world, and with this study, we hope to further future research to learn more about these natural medicines.     

不同居群野生半夏的生长节律及产量和质量比较研究

目的:观察不同居群野生半夏的生长节律,比较其不同居群产量和品质的差异,为川半夏的引种和良种选育提供依据。方法:将来源于四川主产区和部分省外的野生半夏种质共12份,引种于四川雅安,在生育期内详细考察各居群出苗、开花抽薹、珠芽产生情况;收获后考察各自的增殖率和增重率,并测定其主要化学成分。结果:不同居群半夏的生长节律基本表现一致;增殖率、增重率和可溶蛋白含量差异较大;生物碱和β-谷甾醇含量差异不大。采自四川渠县的S07-28居群产量和品质较优,值得进一步研究。结论:本试验结果可为川半夏的引种栽培和育种提供理论支持。     

Recruitment to a Randomized Web-Based Nutritional Intervention Trial: Characteristics of Participants Compared to Non-Participants

Background

Web-based behavioral programs efficiently disseminate health information to a broad population, and online tailoring may increase their effectiveness. While the number of Internet-based behavioral interventions has grown in the last several years, additional information is needed to understand the characteristics of subjects who enroll in these interventions, relative to those subjects who are invited to enroll.

Objective

The aim of the study was to compare the characteristics of participants who enrolled in an online dietary intervention trial (MENU) with those who were invited but chose not to participate, in order to better understand how these groups differ.

Methods

The MENU trial was conducted among five health plans participating in the HMO Cancer Research Network in collaboration with the University of Michigan Center for Health Communication Research. Approximately 6000 health plan members per site, between the ages of 21 and 65, and stratified by gender with oversampling of minority populations, were randomly selected for recruitment and were mailed an invitation letter containing website information and a US$2 bill with the promise of US$20 for completing follow-up surveys. Administrative and area-based data using geocoding along with baseline survey data were used to compare invitees (HMO members sent the introductory letter), responders (those who entered a study ID on the website), and enrollees (those who completed the enrollment process). Generalized estimating equation multivariate and logistic regression models were used to assess predictors of response and enrollment.

Results

Of 28,460 members invited to participate, 4270 (15.0%) accessed the website. Of the eligible responders, 2540 (8.9%) completed the consent form and baseline survey and were enrolled and randomized. The odds of responding were 10% lower for every decade of increased age (P < .001), while the likelihood of enrolling was 10% higher for every decade increase in age (P < .001). Women were more likely to respond and to enroll (P < .001). Those living in a census tract associated with higher education levels were more likely to respond and enroll, as well as those residing in tracts with higher income (P < .001). With a 22% (n = 566) enrollment rate for African Americans and 8% (n = 192) for Hispanics, the enrolled sample was more racially and ethnically diverse than the background sampling frame.

Conclusions

Relative to members invited to participate in the Internet-based intervention, those who enrolled were more likely to be older and live in census tracts associated with higher socioeconomic status. While oversampling of minority health plan members generated an enrolled sample that was more racially and ethnically diverse than the overall health plan population, additional research is needed to better understand methods that will expand the penetration of Internet interventions into more socioeconomically diverse populations.

Trial Registration

Clinicaltrials.gov {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00169312","term_id":"NCT00169312"}}NCT00169312; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/{"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00169312","term_id":"NCT00169312"}}NCT00169312 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/5jB50xSfU)