A comparative physicochemical analysis of maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) syrup produced in North America with special emphasis on seasonal changes in Nova Scotia maple syrup composition

Maple syrup is produced by concentrating the maple tree sap. The physicochemical profile of maple syrup can be varied depending on the processing method, microbial contamination, seasonal and geographical variations etc. Apart from being a better alternative to refined sugar, the minerals and phenolics in maple syrup may provide additional health benefits owing to their bioactivities. We studied the physicochemical profiles of maple syrup samples from North America and the seasonal compositional changes of the syrup from Nova Scotia (NS). Syrup pH, color, Brix were significantly differ depending on the location. Brix values ranged from 61.6 to 70.2°. Thirteen different phenolics including protocatechuic acid, coniferyl alcohol, vanillin, and syringic aldehyde were identified and quantified. The total mineral content ranged from 2.6 to 4.8 g/L of syrup. Potassium was the most abundant, followed by calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, and zinc. Analyses of NS syrup during early, mid and late seasons revealed that, total phenolics and minerals increased and the syrup color became darker towards late season. Syrup pH, brix and sugars did not differ among the seasons. Interestingly, vanillin, syringic acid and syringic aldehyde were the main phenolics in early maple syrup samples while protecatechuic acid was the predominant in late season.     

个旧矿粉诱导的肺癌细胞中分化抗原9的表达及基因突变分析

目的探讨分化抗原9（CD9）在个旧矿粉诱导永生化人支气管上皮细胞（BEAS-2B）恶性转化为肺癌细胞过程中的异常表达和基因突变。方法以BEAS-2B为对照组（20瓶），以个旧矿粉体外诱导BEAS-2B所产生的恶性转化细胞为实验组（20瓶）。采用免疫细胞化学技术检测CD9蛋白在BEAS-2B和恶性转化细胞中的表达。采用逆转录一聚合酶链反应（RT—PCR）技术检测CD9mRNA在BEA-2B和恶性转化细胞中的表达；并对其RT-PCR产物进行DNA序列测定。结果CD9蛋白在BEAS-2B中的表达率（100％，20／20）与其在恶性转化细胞中的表达率（35％，7／20）差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。CD9mRNA在BEAS-2B中的表达强度（0．91±0．09）明显高于其在恶性转化细胞中的表达强度（0．34±0．14），差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。DNA序列测定显示，在BEAS-B的恶性转化细胞中CD9基因存在2处点突变，在第231位置发生G—T转换；在第119位置发生T→A转换，而且这2处的替代引起的错译突变均导致了编码氨基酸的改变，第40位氨基酸由谷胺酰胺（Gin，Q）变为组氨酸（His，H）；第3位氨基酸由缬氨酸（Va1，V）变为天冬氨酸（Asp，D）。结论CD9的表达缺失或下调以及基因突变在个旧矿粉诱导BEAS．2B恶性转化为肺癌细胞的过程中可能发挥重要作用。     

Chemical and biological characterisation of nutraceutical compounds of broccoli

People's diet offers a greater and more diverse group of plant bioactives than do drugs, and they often do not realise that many drugs are derived from the compounds originally discovered in plant foods.

Numerous epidemiological studies indicate that Brassica vegetables in general, and broccoli in particular, protect humans against cancer since they are rich sources of glucosinolates as well as possessing a high content of flavonoids, vitamins and mineral nutrients.

One unusual phytotherapic role of broccoli is for skin diseases—the juice of the leaves is used to treat warts. However, the main use of broccoli stems from its health-promoting properties. Some criteria have been proposed to evaluate the possibilities of developing new “functional foods” to reduce the risk of specific cancers; largely in broccoli, which is associated with cancer protection. Processing conditions, transport, domestic cooking, etc., affect the health-promoting properties of broccoli and these have been widely studied. This review makes an in-depth study of the chemical and biological characterization of the phytochemicals of broccoli and the effects on the bioactive composition of broccoli.     

Attenuation coefficients of soils and some building materials of Bangladesh in the energy range 276–1332 keV

The linear and mass attenuation coefficients of different types of soil, sand, building materials and heavy beach mineral samples from the Chittagong and Cox's Bazar area of Bangladesh were measured using a high-resolution HPGe detector and the γ-ray energies 276.1, 302.8, 356.0, 383.8, 661.6 and 1173.2 and 1332.5 keV emitted from point sources of ¹³³Ba, ¹³⁷Cs and ⁶⁰Co, respectively. The linear attenuation coefficients show a linear relationship with the corresponding densities of the samples studied. The variations of the mass attenuation coefficient with γ-ray energy were exponential in nature. The measured mass attenuation coefficient values were compared with measurements made in other countries for similar kinds of materials. The values are in good agreement with each other in most cases.     

Nutrient Profiles of Vegetarian and Nonvegetarian Dietary Patterns

BackgroundDifferences in nutrient profiles between vegetarian and nonvegetarian dietary patterns reflect nutritional differences that can contribute to the development of disease.ObjectiveOur aim was to compare nutrient intakes between dietary patterns characterized by consumption or exclusion of meat and dairy products.DesignWe conducted a cross-sectional study of 71,751 subjects (mean age=59 years) from the Adventist Health Study 2. Data were collected between 2002 and 2007. Participants completed a 204-item validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Dietary patterns compared were nonvegetarian, semi-vegetarian, pesco vegetarian, lacto-ovo vegetarian, and strict vegetarian. Analysis of covariance was used to analyze differences in nutrient intakes by dietary patterns and was adjusted for age, sex, and race. Body mass index and other relevant demographic data were reported and compared by dietary pattern using χ² tests and analysis of variance.ResultsMany nutrient intakes varied significantly between dietary patterns. Nonvegetarians had the lowest intakes of plant proteins, fiber, beta carotene, and magnesium compared with those following vegetarian dietary patterns, and the highest intakes of saturated, trans, arachidonic, and docosahexaenoic fatty acids. The lower tails of some nutrient distributions in strict vegetarians suggested inadequate intakes by a portion of the subjects. Energy intake was similar among dietary patterns at close to 2,000 kcal/day, with the exception of semi-vegetarians, who had an intake of 1,707 kcal/day. Mean body mass index was highest in nonvegetarians (mean=28.7 [standard deviation=6.4]) and lowest in strict vegetarians (mean=24.0 [standard deviation=4.8]).ConclusionsNutrient profiles varied markedly among dietary patterns that were defined by meat and dairy intakes. These differences are of interest in the etiology of obesity and chronic diseases.     

中学生营养平衡米膳食最佳模式矿物质营养评价

目的 论证营养平衡米膳食、改善中学生的钙、铁、锌、硒营养状况。方法采用称重法作三天膳食调查，调查了中国平衡米膳食最佳模式。结果中学生的Ca、Fe、Zn、Se全部达DRIs标准。结论中学生营养平衡米膳食最佳模式每人每日TE摄入量分别为Ca1345mg、Fe21．52mg、Zn24．51mg、Se168．07μg，比原来普通稻米膳食的Ca523mg、Fe10．72mg、Zn10．91mg、Se58．07μg高，这是全面改善学生营养。则中国营养平衡米膳食Ca、Fe、Zn、Se全部达到DRIs标准。建议在中学生中推广食用中国营养平衡米膳食最佳模式。     

Interactions between antiretroviral therapy and complementary and alternative medicine: a narrative review

BackgroundThe use of complementary and alternative medicine including herbal medicine (phytotherapy), vitamins, minerals and food supplements is frequent among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) who take antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, but is often not known by their prescribing physicians. Some drug–supplement combinations may result in clinically meaningful interactions.AimsIn this literature review, we aimed to investigate the evidence for complementary and alternative medicine interactions with ARVs.SourcesA bibliographic search of all in vitro, human studies and case reports of the PubMed database was performed to assess the risk of interactions between complementary and alternative self-medication products and ARVs. The ‘HIV drug interaction’ (https://www.hiv-druginteractions.org) and ‘Natural medicines comprehensive database’ (https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com) interaction checkers were also analysed.ContentSt John's wort, some forms of garlic, grapefruit and red rice yeast are known to have significant interaction and thus should not be co-administered, or should be used with caution with certain ARV classes. Data on other plant-based supplements come from in vitro studies or very small size in vivo studies and are thus insufficient to conclude the real in vivo impact in case of concomitant administration with ARVs. Some polyvalent minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and iron salts can reduce the absorption of integrase inhibitors by chelation. Potential interactions with vitamin C and quercetin with some ARVs should be noted and efficacy and tolerance of the treatment should be monitored.ImplicationsThis review shows the importance of screening all PLWHAs for complementary and alternative medicine use to prevent treatment failure or adverse effects related to an interaction with ARVs. Further human studies are warranted to describe the clinical significance of in vitro interactions between numerous complementary and alternative medicine and ARVs.     

Assessment of dietary adequacy for important brain micronutrients in patients presenting to a traumatic brain injury clinic for evaluation

Objective

To evaluate dietary adequacy of patients presenting for evaluation at an outpatient traumatic brain injury (TBI) clinic.

Methods

We identified 14 key micronutrients with defined dietary intake reference ranges that are considered important for brain health. Adult patients completed the Brief NutritionQuest Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) to calculate estimated nutrient intake. Medical records were abstracted for diagnoses, body mass index, and neurobehavioral subscale scores. Nutrients were assessed individually and were also summarized into a summary score. Associations between individual nutrients, summary nutrient intake, and neurobehavioral scores were assessed.

Results

A total of 39 FFQs were completed by subjects, and 25 (64%) had recorded neurobehavioral scores. No subjects met the recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) for all 14 micronutrients. Ten (26%) met the RDAs for 6 or fewer nutrients, and 10 met the RDAs for 11–12 nutrients. Of 12 nutrients with sufficient sample size for analysis, 11 (92%) were associated with worse mean somatic scores, 9 (75%) were associated with worse cognitive scores, and 8 (67%) were linked with worse affective scores for those with the lowest nutrient intake compared with those who had the highest intake. However, only four nutrients were statistically associated with the somatic mean score: folate (P = 0.010), magnesium (P = 0.082), vitamin C (P = 0.021), and vitamin K (P = 0.024). None were linked with cognitive or affective scores.

Discussion

Diets failing to meet RDAs for important brain nutrients were common in an outpatient TBI clinic, with the worst mean neurobehavioral scores for those patients not meeting the estimated average requirements.     

Comparative evaluation of serum levels of main minerals and postmenopausal osteoporosis

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between serum main minerals and postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Study design

A total of 728 postmenopausal women were included in this study. Women were separated into two groups according to presence or absence of osteoporosis (OP). BMD was measured in total femur (TF), femoral neck (FN) and lumbar spine (L1–L4) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Risk factors for OP were recorded by using a structured questionnaire.

Main outcome measures

Women's blood were collected and serum concentrations of iron, copper, zinc, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, ionized calcium, inorganic phosphorus were measured.

Results

Low serum copper levels were significantly associated with OP according to BMD values for TF, FN and L1–L4. There was a significant relationship between low serum zinc levels and OP for L1–L4 spines. Low iron serum levels were also significantly associated with OP in BMD measurements of TF. Low serum magnesium levels had significant association with OP of L1–L4 spines and TF. Serum levels of calcium, ionized calcium, potassium, sodium and inorganic phosphorus were not associated with OP.

Conclusions

In postmenopausal women, the low serum levels of copper, zinc, iron and magnesium appear to be an important risk factor for OP.