Feeding practice of infants and their correlates in urban areas of Beijing, China

BACKGROUND: Optimal feeding practice in the first year of life is crucial for the survival and health of infants, and has long-term consequences in later life. However, non-optimal feeding practices exist widely. The present study aims to explore various constraints to optimal feeding practices in the first year of life of infants in urban areas of Beijing, China. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in urban areas of Beijing from 4 July to 20 August, 1998. Two hundred and fifty-one mothers of infants aged 6-12 months were chosen from six child health centers in three different urban districts in Beijing. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data regarding feeding practices and potentially related factors. RESULTS: Feeding practice for most of the infants was in accordance with the national and international recommendations. However, the rate of incidence of exclusive breast-feeding at 3 months of age was lower than that recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) (55.8%), and the introduction of solid/semisolid food before 4 months of age was found in approximately 19.3% of the infants. Cow's milk was given to 21.2% of infants from 6 months of age as the sole source of milk or as a supplement. Maternal education level (OR = 2.44, 95% CI: 1.42-4.19, P < 0.05), employment (OR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.13-3.74, P < 0.05) and antenatal nonexclusive breast-feeding plans (OR = 4.10, 95% CI: 2.24-7.50, P < 0.001) were found to be correlated to inappropriate feeding practices. CONCLUSIONS: The feeding practices for most of the urban infants was found to be in accordance with the Chinese government and WHO recommendations; however, non-optimal feeding practices presenting as the early cessation of breast-feeding and the introduction of solid/semisolid foods existed. Information regarding optimal feeding practices should be disseminated to mothers and medical professionals in China, to ensure optimal infant health.     

A mixture of ammonium perchlorate and sodium chlorate enhances alterations of the pituitary-thyroid axis caused by the individual chemicals in adult male F344 rats

Ammonium perchlorate (AP) and sodium chlorate (SC) have been detected in public drinking water supplies in many parts of the United States. These chemicals cause perturbations in pituitary-thyroid homeostasis in animals by competitively inhibiting iodide uptake, thus hindering the synthesis of thyroglobulin and reducing circulating T(4) (thyroxine). Little is known about the short-term exposure effects of mixtures of perchlorate and chlorate. The present study investigated the potential for the response to a mixture of these chemicals on the pituitary-thyroid axis in rats to be greater than that induced by the individual chemicals. Adult male F-344 rats were exposed, via their drinking water, to the nominal concentrations of 0.1, 1.0, 10 mg/L AP or 10, 100, 1000 mg/L SC and their mixtures for 7 days. Serum T(4) levels were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in rats following exposure to the mixtures, but not after exposure to the individual chemicals. Serum T(3) (triiodothyronine) was not altered by treatment and TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) was only increased after the high-dose chlorate treatment. Histological examination of the thyroid gland showed colloid depletion and hypertrophy of follicular epithelial cells in high-dose single chemical and all mixture-treated rats, while hyperplasia was observed only in some of the rats treated with mixtures (AP 10 + SC 100, AP 0.1 + SC 1000, and AP 10 + SC 1000 mg/L). These data suggest that short-term exposure to the mixture of AP and SC enhances the effect of either chemical alone on the pituitary-thyroid axis in rats.     

Comparison of efficacy and safety of intralesional triamcinolone and combination of triamcinolone with 5-fluorouracil in the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars: Randomised control trial

The treatment of keloid and hypertrophic scar is challenging with no universally accepted mode for permanent ablation. Conventional therapies yield unpredictable results, significant complications and require elaborate hardware.

Immunological appraisal of wheat varieties in relation to chapatti-making characteristics

The current research work was conducted to characterize wheat proteins through immunochemical techniques and to find out their relationship with wheat quality traits. The results revealed that wheat variety AARI-11 possessed higher protein content (11.96%), wet gluten (31.39%), dry gluten (9.66%), Pelshenke value (190.52 min), and SDS-Sedimentation value (28.27 ml) than other tested varieties. The chapattis prepared from the wheat variety AARI-11 got significantly higher sensory scores owing to its higher protein contents. The wheat variety AARI-11 also exhibited significantly the highest antibody response against all the assessed protein fractions. The results of the present study suggest that anti-glutenin and anti-high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) antibody response was found positively correlated to the quality characteristics of flours and chapattis. The present study suggests that the use of antibodies response against glutenin and HMW-GS offers good tool for predicting quality and suitability of wheat to chapatti-making quality.     

Immunological appraisal of modified gluten to trim down celiac toxicity

The aim of the present research was to modify wheat gluten by binding methionine to gluten proteins to develop bread for celiac disease (CD) patients. The highest protein content, wet gluten content, dry gluten content and sodium dodecyl sulphate-sedimentation value were shown by the wheat variety AARI-11, therefore, it was selected for gluten modification. The bound methionine to gluten proteins was found increasing along the reaction time as the reaction proceeds and at a maximum near to 60 minutes and then it starts decreasing. The lowest immunoreactivity of the modified gluten was obtained near to 60 min of reaction at pH 10. The results for immunoglobulin A (IgA) index showed that the serum of each patient had positive IgA index to gliadins from unmodified gluten, but just sera of two patients had positive IgA index to gliadins from modified gluten and when these proteins were digested, the sera of no patient's serum had positive IgA reactivity. Among physical characteristics of breads 2 hours after baking, the specific volume of the modified gluten containing bread (4.13 ± 0.14 cm³/g) was lower than the control bread (4.59 ± 0.21 cm³/g). However, bread made with modified gluten had higher specific volumes than other gluten-free breads. Texture of the modified gluten was also affected by modification. Finally, the gluten content in the modified gluten bread was 79 ppm which is under the limits set by the Codex Alimentarius for food with reduced gluten content should have from 20 to 100 ppm. The study concludes that the incorporation of steric immensity into gluten proteins in order to shun immune recognition is the most promising approach to acquire wheat-based products that are tolerated by CD patients.     

The leukocyte response to fluid stress

Leukocyte migration from a hemopoietic pool across marrow endothelium requires active pseudopod formation and adhesion. Leukocytes rarely show pseudopod formation while in circulation. At question then is the mechanism that serves to minimize leukocyte pseudopod formation in the circulation. We tested the hypothesis that fluid shear stress acts to prevent pseudopod formation. When individual human leukocytes (neutrophils, monocytes) spreading on glass surfaces in vitro were subjected to fluid shear stress (≈1 dyn/cm²), an instantaneous retraction of pseudopods was observed. Removal of the fluid shear stress in turn led to the return of pseudopod projection and cell spreading. When steady shear stress was prolonged over several minutes, leukocyte swelling occurs together with an enhanced random motion of cytoplasmic granules and a reduction of cytoplasmic stiffness. The response to shear stress could be suppressed by K⁺ channel blockers and chelation of external Ca²⁺. In rat mesentery microvessels after occlusion, circulating leukocytes project pseudopods in free suspension or when attached to the endothelium, even though immediately after occlusion only few pseudopods were present. When flow was restored, pseudopods on adhering leukocytes were retracted and then the cells began to roll and detach from the endothelium. In conclusion, plasma shear stress in the circulation serves to reduce pseudopod projection and adhesion of circulating leukocytes and vice versa reduction of shear stress leads to pseudopod projection and spreading of leukocytes on the endothelium.     

B-cell lymphoma mimicking multiple myeloma

A 75-year-old white male presented with a one-month history of pain in the left shoulder. Early laboratory data revealed hypercalcemia. Extensive skeletal survey was remarkable for multiple lytic lesions in skull, right scapula, right humerus and left iliac crest. A bone marrow biopsy of the left iliac crest did not show evidence of plasma cell dyscrasia. A computed tomographic scan (CT) of the abdomen revealed a right renal mass and multiple lesions in the liver. A CT-guided biopsy of liver showed lymphoma cells strongly positive for CD19 and CD20 stains: findings consistent with B-cell lymphoma. Our case illustrates that B-cell lymphomas can clinically present in a fashion that mimics multiple myeloma in the form of hypercalcemia, renal failure and lytic bone lesions.     

Endotoxin potentiates hepatocyte apoptosis in cholestasis

BACKGROUND:

Cholestasis is a component of liver disease of almost any etiology, including septic liver injury. The cellular mechanisms of liver injury in cholestasis and sepsis remain unresolved. We evaluated apoptosis, a well-orchestrated and potentially reversible mechanism of cell death, in bile duct-ligated and endotoxin-injected rats.

STUDY DESIGN:

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to six groups (n = 6–9): bile duct-ligated+endotoxin (B+E), sham+endotoxin (S+E), bile duct-ligated (B), sham (S), endotoxin (E), and normal (N). On day 1, the bile ducts of B+E and B rats were ligated and severed. S+E and S animals underwent biliary manipulation only. On day 3, B+E, S+E, and E groups received 3 mg/kg endotoxin IV. On day 4, livers from all rats were excised, fixed, and stained (hematoxylin and eosin and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling [TUNEL]). Portions were frozen for DNA fragmentation analysis. Caspase 3 activity was determined using isolated hepatocytes.

RESULTS:

Livers from all groups (B+E, S+E, E, and B) except normal and sham displayed apoptosis by hematoxylin and eosin staining, TUNEL staining, and DNA fragmentation. Histologic evaluation revealed 10% to 20% necrosis in endotoxin-treated animals (B+E, S+E, and E). Caspase 3 activity was significantly higher in endotoxin-treated animals versus animals without endotoxin (treated 0.450 ± 0.08 versus nontreated 0.135 ± 0.05, p < 0.0001) (mean ± SD).

CONCLUSIONS:

Cholestatic livers had apoptosis without progression to necrosis. When exposed to the second insult of endotoxin, cholestatic livers received an acute on chronic apoptotic trigger, and proceeded to necrosis. Endotoxin was a potent hepatotoxic insult because all treated rat livers displayed both apoptosis and necrosis.