Eat to live, not live to eat

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists Toward Lifestyle Screening and Education: A Descriptive Study

Introduction. Lifestyle-focused rehabilitation plans need to become part of the standard system of care for the treatment of chronic diseases. To achieve this goal, the KAP of rehabilitation professionals toward lifestyle medicine needs to be understood. This study investigated the niche of orthopedic manual physical therapy and is purposed as a foundational model for continued research. Method. A survey instrument was designed to investigate the KAP of orthopedic manual physical therapists toward lifestyle screening and education. Results. There were 155 participants of which 58.1-72.3% reported frequently talking to their patients about lifestyle topics, while 78.1-80.6% felt highly confident and competent while doing so. Additionally, 92.9-94.8% thought that lifestyle screening and education was important and that physical therapists should be doing it. Participants discussed exercise most frequently with their patients (96.1%) and alcohol the least (12.9%). Participants with advanced degrees (ie, PhD or DSc) had significantly higher Practice (MΔ= −3.755, P = .001) and Knowledge (MΔ= −4.14904, P = .020) ratings than those with entry-level physical therapy degrees. Conclusion. There was strong acceptance of lifestyle screening and education in orthopedic manual physical therapy with an emphasis on exercise. This study provides a foundational basis for continued research.

Dietary Adequacy among Multi-Ethnic Urban Youth in Edmonton: Findings from the Wellness and Health in Youth - Aboriginal and All Communities in Transition NOW (WHY ACT NOW) Project

OBJECTIVE

The development of obesity and chronic diseases in adulthood often results from a childhood pattern of dietary excesses. This study aimed to identify dietary inadequacies and excesses of multiethnic youth in Edmonton.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of 473 multiethnic youth between 11 and 18 years was conducted in 12 schools in Edmonton between October 2013 and March 2014. Data were analyzed to determine for each participant mean daily energy and nutrient intakes, dietary adequacy, and nutrient densities. Participants were divided by self-identified ethnicity (Indigenous, European, African and Middle Eastern, and Asian).

RESULTS

For all nutrients examined, the mean percentage of calories from fat was higher among European (31.7%) and Indigenous youth (31.8%) compared to African and Middle Eastern (28.3%) and Asian youth (29.0%), while Asian youth had the highest percentage of calories from protein (17.7%) compared to other ethnic groups (Indigenous = 15.5%; African & Middle Eastern = 16.5%; European = 16.2%). The majority of youth fell below the recommended values for dietary fiber (83.3-92.0%), vitamins D (84.4-90.2%), and E (89.5-92.0%). More than 50% fell below the dietary reference intakes (DRIs) for vitamin A, vitamin B5, calcium, and magnesium; >30% were below the DRI for folate, zinc, and vitamins B6, and C. The diet of girls contained a greater density of fiber compared to boys (9.3 vs. 8.0 g/1000 kcal; p-value = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Inadequate dietary intake is evident among the majority of multiethnic youth in Edmonton. There is a need to develop strategies to reduce the burden of poor nutrition status for youth.

Dual binding mode of "bitter sugars" to their human bitter taste receptor target

The 25 human bitter taste receptors (hTAS2Rs) are responsible for detecting bitter molecules present in food, and they also play several physiological and pathological roles in extraoral compartments. Therefore, understanding their ligand specificity is important both for food research and for pharmacological applications. Here we provide a molecular insight into the exquisite molecular recognition of bitter β-glycopyranosides by one of the members of this receptor subclass, hTAS2R16. Most of its agonists have in common the presence of a β-glycopyranose unit along with an extremely structurally diverse aglycon moiety. This poses the question of how hTAS2R16 can recognize such a large number of "bitter sugars". By means of hybrid molecular mechanics/coarse grained molecular dynamics simulations, here we show that the three hTAS2R16 agonists salicin, arbutin and phenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside interact with the receptor through a previously unrecognized dual binding mode. Such mechanism may offer a seamless way to fit different aglycons inside the binding cavity, while maintaining the sugar bound, similar to the strategy used by several carbohydrate-binding lectins. Our prediction is validated a posteriori by comparison with mutagenesis data and also rationalizes a wealth of structure-activity relationship data. Therefore, our findings not only provide a deeper molecular characterization of the binding determinants for the three ligands studied here, but also give insights applicable to other hTAS2R16 agonists. Together with our results for other hTAS2Rs, this study paves the way to improve our overall understanding of the structural determinants of ligand specificity in bitter taste receptors.

Essential Oils from Lamiaceae Species as Promising Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Agents

Overproduction of free radicals in organisms and lipid peroxidation in cell membranes have been implicated in various pathophysiological disorders, including cardiovascular diseases, atherogenesis, mutagenesis, diabetes, etc. Furthermore, the oxidation of lipids in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, together with the growth of undesirable microorganisms result in off-flavour, spoilage and deterioration, rendering such products unfit for human consumption. Increasing environmental pressure for industry to use “clean technology” and to utilize sustainable sources of materials for the manufacturing process, have concentrated recent investigations towards natural sources of antioxidants and antimicrobials. Although plant phenolics have been recognized as the most powerful natural antioxidants, recent studies suggest that terpenoids in essential oil could also contribute to the overall antioxidant capacity of many spice plants. This review summarizes the scientific evidence regarding the antioxidative and antimicrobial efficiency of essential oils of aromatic plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family, and consequently their possible utilization as safe and healthy food supplements.

Adherence to Canada's Food Guide recommendations among Alberta's multi-ethnic youths is a major concern: findings from the WHY ACT NOW project

BACKGROUND

Dietary habits formed during youth may result in the development of obesity and chronic diseases in adulthood. We aimed to determine the frequency of the consumption of foods and beverages and the degree of adherence to Canada's Food Guide recommendations among multi-ethnic youths.

METHODS

Participants were recruited from 12 schools in the Edmonton, Alberta area by use of posters, school newsletters and advertisements. A 30-item food frequency questionnaire was administered by a trained interviewer to assess dietary intake in a convenience sample of 557 (328 females and 229 males) youths aged 11-23 years; for the purpose of the present study, only the 14-18 years age group was considered in the analysis. Participants were divided by sex and self-identified ethnicity into four groups [Indigenous, African & Middle Eastern (AME), Asian, and European]. Statistical analysis of the data was undertaken using t-tests, Welch's analysis of variance and Games-Howell tests. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Vegetables and Fruit recommendations were the least likely to be followed, with 90.7-96.8% of participants in all groups not consuming the recommended number of servings day^-1 . The mean frequency of fruit consumption was lower among Indigenous youths compared to Asian youths (0.90 versus 1.37 times day^-1 ). A greater proportion of males than females (55.9% versus 44.3%) did not meet the minimum recommendations for Meat and Alternatives (P = 0.016). The percentage of youths not adhering to recommendations for Milk and Alternatives was 81.7% for Indigenous, 73.3% for AME, 78.6% for Asian and 63.5% for European youths. Indigenous youths more frequently consumed potato chips and soft drinks compared to other ethnic youths. The most frequently consumed beverage was milk (1.25 times day^-1 ).

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of youths did not consume minimum daily recommended servings of Vegetables and Fruit, Milk and Alternatives, and/or Meat and Alternatives food groups. Evidence-based dietary interventions and public health strategies are needed.

The Relationship of Stage of Change for Smoking Cessation to Stage of Change for Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Physical Activity in a Health Plan Population

Purpose.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between stage of change for smoking cessation and stage of change for (1) fruit and vegetable consumption and (2) physical activity.

Design.

The data come from a cross-sectional telephone survey administered to a stratified random sample of health plan members (n = 9675).

Setting.

This study was conducted at a mixed-model health plan with approximately 1 million adult members.

Subjects.

Respondents were adults age 18 and older, who were randomly selected from five health plan product groups: commercial fully insured, commercial self-insured, two publicly subsidized plans, and Medicare supplemental insurance. Response rates ranged from 74.7% to 90.1% across these groups.

Measures.

The assessment included demographics and stage of change for smoking cessation, physical activity, and fruit and vegetable intake. Bivariate relationships among variables were analyzed with the use of contingency tables. Ordered logistic regression was used to examine the effects of stage of change for fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity on stage of change for smoking while controlling for other factors.

Results.

Stage of change for smoking is more clearly related to stage of change for fruit and vegetable consumption (χ2 = 161.3, p < .001; Cramer's V = .11, p < .001) than to stage of change for physical activity (χ2 = 89.7, p < .001; Cramer's V = .08, p < .001). However, stage of change for fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity are not strong predictors of stage of change for smoking.

Conclusions.

This study indicates that stage of change for both fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity are independent constructs from stage of change for smoking cessation.

Bitter taste genetics--the relationship to tasting, liking, consumption and health

Bitter is the most complex of human tastes, and is arguably the most important. Aversion to bitter taste is important for detecting toxic compounds in food; however, many beneficial nutrients also taste bitter and these may therefore also be avoided as a consequence of bitter taste. While many polymorphisms in TAS2R genes may result in phenotypic differences that influence the range and sensitivity of bitter compounds detected, the full extent to which individuals differ in their abilities to detect bitter compounds remains unknown. Simple logic suggests that taste phenotypes influence food preferences, intake and consequently health status. However, it is becoming clear that genetics only plays a partial role in predicting preference, intake and health outcomes, and the complex, pleiotropic relationships involved are yet to be fully elucidated.

N-3 fatty acids for prevention of cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the USA. A diet enriched with n-3 fatty acids (FA) has been reported to play an important role in preventing the development of CVD. Prior studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of n-3 FA on hypertriglyceridemia, blood pressure, inflammation, endothelial function, and platelet function. However, data on the relation of n-3 FA consumption with CVD risk remain inconsistent. This paper reviews current evidence on the effects of n-3 FA on CVD, CVD risk factors, and potential biologic mechanisms. Last, we discuss major limitations of currently available data and future directions in the field.

2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) is selectively toxic to primary dopaminergic neurons in vitro

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. Much data has linked the etiology of PD to a variety of environmental factors. The majority of cases are thought to arise from a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. Chronic exposures to dietary factors, including meat, have been identified as potential risk factors. Although heterocyclic amines that are produced during high-temperature meat cooking are known to be carcinogenic, their effect on the nervous system has yet to be studied in depth. In this study, we investigated neurotoxic effects of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), a highly abundant heterocyclic amine in cooked meat, in vitro. We tested toxicity of PhIP and the two major phase I metabolites, N-OH-PhIP and 4'-OH-PhIP, using primary mesencephalic cultures from rat embryos. This culture system contains both dopaminergic and nondopaminergic neurons, which allows specificity of neurotoxicity to be readily examined. We find that exposure to PhIP or N-OH-PhIP is selectively toxic to dopaminergic neurons in primary cultures, resulting in a decreased percentage of dopaminergic neurons. Neurite length is decreased in surviving dopaminergic neurons. Exposure to 4'-OH-PhIP did not produce significant neurotoxicity. PhIP treatment also increased formation of oxidative damage markers, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) and 3-nitrotyrosine in dopaminergic neurons. Pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine was protective. Finally, treatment with blueberry extract, a dietary factor with known antioxidant and other protective mechanisms, prevented PhIP-induced toxicity. Collectively, our study suggests, for the first time, that PhIP is selectively toxic to dopaminergic neurons likely through inducing oxidative stress.

Anticlastogenic effect of β-glucan, extracted from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, on cultured cells exposed to ultraviolet radiation

β-glucan is an important polysaccharide due to its medicinal properties of stimulating the immune system and preventing chronic diseases such as cancer. The aim of the present study was to determine the anticlastogenic effect of β-glucan in cells exposed to ultraviolet radiation (UV). Chromosome aberration assay was performed in drug-metabolizing cells (HTC) and non drug-metabolizing cells (CHO-K1 and repair-deficient CHO-xrs5), using different treatment protocols. Continuous treatment (UV + β-glucan) was not effective in reducing the DNA damage only in CHO-xrs5 cells. However, the pre-treatment protocol (β-glucan before UV exposition) was effective in reducing DNA damage only in CHO-K1 cells. In post-treatment (β-glucan after UV exposition) did not show significative anticlastogenic effects, although there was a tendency toward prevention. The data suggest that β-glucan has more than one action mechanism, being capable of exerting desmutagenic as well as bio-antimutagenic action. The findings also suggest that the presence of the xenobiotic metabolizing system can reduce the chemopreventive capacity of β-glucan. Therefore, these results indicate that β-glucan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be used in the prevention and/or reduction of DNA damage.

Pancreatic cancer risk: associations with meat-derived carcinogen intake in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial (PLCO) cohort

BACKGROUND

Epidemiological studies report positive associations between high-temperature cooked meat intake and pancreatic cancer. We assessed associations between dietary intake of heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)-mutagens formed in meat cooked at high temperatures-and incident exocrine pancreatic cancer in a prospective cohort.

METHODS

The 62 581 subjects randomized to screening in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Screening Trial (PLCO) who completed an initial dietary survey that assessed meat intake, cooking methods, and doneness preferences defined the cohort. Subjects were surveyed annually for incident cancers through 2007. A National Cancer Institute research database (CHARRED) was used to estimate HCA and BaP intake and a Mutagenic Activity Index (MAI) from survey data. Proportional hazard ratios (HRs) for risk of pancreatic cancer were estimated from multi-variate Cox regression models by quintile of intake, with the lowest quintile as the referent.

RESULTS

During follow-up (median: 10 yr), 248 cases of exocrine pancreatic cancer were confirmed. Preferences for well and very well done meat were generally associated with increased risks. Significant elevations in pancreatic cancer risk were found in upper quintiles of MAI, and individual mutagens 2-amino-3,4,8-trimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (DiMeIQx) and 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx). Compared to the lowest quintile of MAI, the third and fifth quintiles brought HRs of 1.86 (1.22, 2.85) and 1.87 (1.16, 3.02), respectively. These three exposures exhibited significant (P-trend: 0.01-0.03) positive trends in risk as their levels increased

CONCLUSION

Consuming well-done meat cooked at high temperatures, which contains high mutagen levels, appears to confer increased risk of pancreatic cancer.

Determinants of fruits and vegetables consumption among persons with doctor-diagnosed chronic diseases

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to examine the factors associated with fruits and vegetables consumption pattern among persons with doctor-diagnosed chronic diseases.

METHOD

The authors examined cross-sectional, random-digit-dialed health survey data collected in 2008 in Houston, Texas, a city with a diverse ethnic population. The survey sample, which was designed to represent all households with telephones, was drawn using standard list-assisted random-digit-dialing methodology from telephone exchanges that serve the study area. A total of 1001 households were interviewed, and data obtained were subjected to both bivariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Findings from this study indicate that fruits and vegetables consumption for persons with single chronic disease was significantly predicted (R (2) = 0.83) by the participants' age, educational level, and insurance status. None of the covariates considered in the study were significant predictors of fruits and vegetables consumption pattern among persons who had multiple chronic diseases. But when the subpopulation with any number of chronic diseases was considered, only gender (P < .05) and marital status (P < .001) were noted as the significant predictors of fruits and vegetables (R (2) = 0.34).

CONCLUSION

More public health efforts are needed to make individuals with chronic diseases aware of the importance of consumption of fruits and vegetables. Clinicians and health care professionals should be encouraged to emphasize the importance of consumption of fruits and vegetables in their routine practice to the patients with chronic disease(s), especially to those who are unmarried and male.

Substance use and dietary practices among students attending alternative high schools: results from a pilot study

Background

Substance use and poor dietary practices are prevalent among adolescents. The purpose of this study was to examine frequency of substance use and associations between cigarette, alcohol and marijuana use and selected dietary practices, such as sugar-sweetened beverages, high-fat foods, fruits and vegetables, and frequency of fast food restaurant use among alternative high school students. Associations between multi-substance use and the same dietary practices were also examined.

Methods

A convenience sample of adolescents (n = 145; 61% minority, 52% male) attending six alternative high schools in the St Paul/Minneapolis metropolitan area completed baseline surveys. Students were participants in the Team COOL (Controlling Overweight and Obesity for Life) pilot study, a group randomized obesity prevention pilot trial. Mixed model multivariate analyses procedures were used to assess associations of interest.

Results

Daily cigarette smoking was reported by 36% of students. Cigarette smoking was positively associated with consumption of regular soda (p = 0.019), high-fat foods (p = 0.037), and fast food restaurant use (p = 0.002). Alcohol (p = 0.005) and marijuana use (p = 0.035) were positively associated with high-fat food intake. With increasing numbers of substances, a positive trend was observed in high-fat food intake (p = 0.0003). There were no significant associations between substance use and fruit and vegetable intake.

Conclusions

Alternative high school students who use individual substances as well as multiple substances may be at high risk of unhealthful dietary practices. Comprehensive health interventions in alternative high schools have the potential of reducing health-compromising behaviors that are prevalent among this group of students. This study adds to the limited research examining substance use and diet among at-risk youth.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01315743

Lipid Peroxidation and Antioxidant Status in Stomach Cancer

BACKGROUND

Considerable evidences have linked oxidative damage and cancer. In this article, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide metabolites' levels (NO(x)) were investigated in patients with stomach cancer.

METHODS

All measurments were done by spectrophotometric techniques.

RESULTS

We observed a significant decrease in the activities of SOD and CAT in tumour tissues when compared with control tissues. The different of GSHPx activities and NO metabolite' levels were not statistically significant. MDA levels were significantly increased.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that increased MDA levels and decreased antioxidant enzyme activities can be valuable parameters in assessing the possible risk of cancer.

Disponibilidade familiar de alimentos na Zona da Mata e Semi-Árido do Nordeste do Brasil

OBJETIVO: Este trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar a disponibilidade de alimentos em domicílios de Gameleira (PE) e São João do Tigre (PB), municípios das referidas regiões, considerando a freqüência dos alimentos, o número de pessoas no domicílio e a escolaridade do chefe da família. MÉTODOS: A amostra foi constituída de 502 e 458 famílias, em Gameleira (PE) e São João do Tigre (PB), respectivamente, de área urbana e rural de cada município. As informações, referentes aos sete dias anteriores à entrevista, foram fornecidas pelo responsável pela preparação dos alimentos. RESULTADOS: Verifica-se a disponibilidade de 33 alimentos em Gameleira (PE) e 30 em São João do Tigre (PB), em mais de 20% das famílias; restringindo-se a 16 e 15 alimentos nos dois municípios respectivamente, quando considerada a disponibilidade em 50% das famílias. Os alimentos disponíveis na maioria dos domicílios possuíam alto valor energético e pertenciam aos grupos de cereais e leguminosas, em detrimento de hortaliças, frutas e produtos de origem animal. A disponibilidade alimentar sofreu pouca variação em decorrência do número de pessoas no domicílio e da escolaridade do chefe da família. CONCLUSÃO: O estímulo ao aumento qualitativo e quantitativo da disponibilidade familiar de alimentos deve ser o foco dos esforços governamentais em programas sociais de combate à fome.

Sociodemographic differences in selected eating practices among alternative high school students

BACKGROUND

Students attending alternative high schools are an at-risk group of youth for poor health behaviors and obesity. However, little is known about their dietary practices.

OBJECTIVE

To examine associations between sex, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status and selected dietary practices, including consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, high-fat foods, and fruits and vegetables and fast-food restaurant use, among students attending alternative high schools.

DESIGN

Population-based, cross-sectional study.

SUBJECTS/SETTING

A convenience sample of adolescents (n=145; 52% men; 63% aged <18 years; and 39% white, 32% African American, and 29% other/multiracial) attending six alternative high schools in the St Paul/Minneapolis, MN, metropolitan area completed a survey. Students were participants in the Team COOL (Controlling Overweight and Obesity for Life) pilot study, a group randomized obesity prevention trial.

STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED

Descriptive statistics were used to describe dietary practices. Mixed model multivariate analyses were used to assess differences in dietary practices by sex, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.

RESULTS

Regular soda was consumed at least five to six times per week by more than half of students. One half of students reported eating or drinking something from a fast-food restaurant at least three to four times a week. African-American students had the highest consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (P=0.025), high-fat foods (P=0.002), and highest frequency of fast-food restaurant use (P<0.025). Mean fruit/vegetable intake was 3.6 servings/day; there were no sociodemographic differences in fruit/vegetable consumption. Higher socioeconomic status was associated with a higher consumption of regular soda (P=0.027).

CONCLUSIONS

Racial/ethnic and sex differences in the consumption of regular soda, high-fat foods, and fast-food restaurant use among alternative high school students underscores the importance of implementing health promotion programs in alternative high schools.

Cancer among the Sami--a review on the Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish Sami populations

OBJECTIVES

The Sami are the Indigenous people of the northernmost parts of Sweden, Finland and Norway, and of the Kola Peninsula of Russia. The present review summarizes the main results from studies on cancer morbidity and mortality among the Sami and discusses these results in relation to exposure of known risk factors.

STUDY DESIGN

Literature review.

METHODS

A systematic search over the time period 1966-2008 for relevant articles was conducted on MEDLINE. Updates and recalculations of some of the results from the original data were also done.

RESULTS

Nine articles whose main focus is on cancer incidence or mortality among the Sami were identified. In all studies, the overall incidence of cancer or cancer mortality was lower among the Sami in comparison with the national populations. The differences were less striking in relation to regional reference populations, but the rates were still significantly lower for all populations of Sami, except for Swedish Sami women. Beyond the general trend of a lower cancer incidence among the Sami, there were some notable differences between the various Sami subpopulations.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of developing and dying from cancer is low among the Sami. A life-style that includes cancer-protective factors, such as certain dietary components and physical activity, is the most likely explanation for the lower incidence of cancer among the Sami.

Walk Texas! 5-A-Day intervention for Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) clients: a quasi-experimental study

This study was conducted to evaluate the Walk Texas! Clinical Counseling Guide for Nutrition, which is a brief, stage-based nutritional counseling guide designed for use in clinical settings. This study utilized a pre-test post-test quasi-experimental design, with two intervention and two comparison clinics that were matched for size and ethnicity. Intervention participants were staged for readiness to meet the 5-A-Day criteria for fruits and vegetables (F&V) and provided stage-based counseling. Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) counselors were trained to utilize the Walk Texas! brief staging instrument and to provide all counseling. Primary measures included: stage of change, barriers to change, attitudes toward F&V, self-efficacy, and self-reports of F&V consumption. These were collected at baseline and during follow-up visits to the WIC clinic. A total of 433 participants completed pre-test data across the four sites. A number of individuals transferred from their original clinic or did not return to their clinic during the study (n=62). Of the remaining 371 participants, a total of 225 participants returned at least two surveys, for a response rate of 60.6%. These were primarily native Spanish speaking, Hispanic women, of low educational level. Results were mixed. Although there was no significant increase in the cognitive constructs (self-efficacy, attitudes, etc.), participants in the intervention clinics reported a significant increase in stage of change and a composite measure of F&V in-take. In contrast, participants in the control clinics reported no change in these variables. Thus, there appears to be some utility in the use of the Walk Texas! Clinical Counseling Guide for Nutrition in this population.

Zerumbone, a bioactive sesquiterpene, induces G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells via a Fas- and mitochondria-mediated pathway

We demonstrated here for the first time that zerumbone (ZER), a natural cyclic sesquiterpene, significantly suppressed the proliferation of promyelocytic leukemia NB4 cells among several leukemia cell lines, but not human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), by inducing G2/M cell cycle arrest followed by apoptosis with 10 microM of IC50. Treatment of NB4 cells with growth-suppressive concentrations of ZER resulted in G2/M cell cycle arrest that was associated with a decline of Cyclin B1 protein, but with the phosphorylation of ATM/ Chk1/Chk2. In addition, ZER induced the phosphorylation of Cdc25C at the Thr48 residue and Cdc2 at the Thr14/Tyr15 residues. Furthermore, ZER-induced apoptosis in NB4 cells was initiated by the expression of Fas (CD95)/Fas Ligand (CD95L), concomitant with the activation of caspase-8. ZER was also found to induce the cleavage of Bid, a mediator that is known to connect the Fas/CD95 cell death receptor to the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. ZER also induced the cleavage of Bax and Mcl-1 proteins, but not Bcl-2 or Bcl-XL. ZER-induced apoptosis took place in association with a loss of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential as well as the activation of caspase-3 and -9, resulting in the degradation of the proteolytic poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). ZER also triggered a release of cytochrome c into the cytoplasm. Both antagonistic anti-Fas antibody ZB4 and pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD inhibited ZER-induced apoptosis in NB4 cells. Taken together, ZER is an inducer of apoptosis in leukemic cells that specifically triggers the Fas/CD95- and mitochondria-mediated apoptotic signaling pathway.

Protective effect of beta-glucan extracted from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, against DNA damage and cytotoxicity in wild-type (k1) and repair-deficient (xrs5) CHO cells

A large number of functional foods, including those that contain beta-glucan, have been shown to prevent the development of cancer and other chronic diseases. The aim of the present study was to elucidate its mechanism of action, as well as to understand its effects as an antigenotoxic, anticlastogenic agent, and to determine its capacity to preserve cell viability. The investigation was carried out in the CHO-k1 and CHO-xrs5 cell lines. The cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus assay indicated that the different doses of beta-glucan examined (5, 10, 20 and 40 microg/ml) did not show clastogenic effects. In the CHO-k1 cell line, a chemopreventive effect could be observed in all the protocols tested: pre-treatment (% reduction of 35.0-57.3), simultaneous treatment (simple--5 reduction of 19.7-55.6 and with pre-incubation--of 42.7-56.4) and post-treatment (% reduction of 17.9-37.6). This finding indicates mechanisms of action involving desmutagenesis and bioantimutagenesis, albeit the latter having a lesser role. However, in the repair-deficient CHO-xrs5 cells, beta-glucan did not show a protective effect with post-treatment (% reduction of 2.96), thus supporting the involvement of bioantimutagenesis. The comet assay in CHO-k1 cells demonstrated that beta-glucan has neither a genotoxic nor an antigenotoxic effect. Cell viability tests indicated that beta-glucan preserves cell viability in both cell lines, preventing apoptotic events. These findings suggest that beta-glucan, when present in foods, could provide them with nutraceutical characteristics and act as a dietary supplement, or that beta-glucan could be used in new drug development.

Diverse tastes: Genetics of sweet and bitter perception

Humans will eat almost anything, from caribou livers to rutabagas, but there are some types of foods, and their associated taste qualities, that are preferred by large groups of people regardless of culture or experience. When many choices are available, humans chose foods that taste good, that is, create pleasing sensations in the mouth. The concept of good taste for most people encompasses both flavor and texture of food, and these sensations merge with taste proper to form the concept of goodness. Although we acknowledge the universality of the goodness (sweet) or badness (bitter) of basic taste qualities, we also find that people differ, sometimes extremely so, in their ability to perceive and enjoy these qualities and, by extension, food and drink. The reasons for these differences among people are not clear but are probably due to a combination of experience beginning at an early age, perhaps in utero; learning, for example, as with conditioned taste aversions; sex and maturity; and perceptual differences that arise from genetic variation. In this review, we focus on individual variations that arise from genetic differences and review two domains of science: recent developments in the molecular biology of taste transduction, with a focus on the genes involved and second, studies that examine biological relatives to determine the heritability of taste perception. Because the receptors for sweet, savory (umami), and bitter have recently been discovered, we summarize what is known about their function by reviewing the effect of naturally occurring and man-made alleles of these receptors, their shape and function based on receptor modeling techniques, and how they differ across animal species that vary in their ability to taste certain qualities. We discuss this literature in the context of how taste genes may differ among people and give rise to individuated taste experience, and what is currently known about the genetic effects on taste perception in humans.

Involvement of reactive oxygen species in the immunosuppressive effect of 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1), a food-born carcinogenic heterocyclic amine

A heterocyclic amine, 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1) is one of the potent food-borne dietary carcinogens derived mainly from burnt meat products. In the present study, we investigated the immunosuppressive effect of Trp-P-1 on the blastogenesis of lymphocytes prepared from spleen and thymus of Balb/c mice. Trp-P-1 inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, proliferation of splenocytes in response to a B-cell mitogen, lipopolysaccharide and of both splenocytes and thymocytes in response to T-cell mitogens, concanavalin A and phytohemagglutinin, or non-receptor-mediated stimuli, phobol 12-myristate 13-acetate/ionomycin. Interestingly, Trp-P-1-inhibited proliferation in the splenocytes was restored almost completely by N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) and partially by glutathione (GSH), whereas no effect was found when superoxide dismutase and catalase were used. Moreover, Trp-P-1 enhanced the mitogen-induced NF-kappaB binding activity to its cognate binding sequences, which is known to be mediated by intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Collectively, these results suggest that the immunosuppressive effect of Trp-P-1 is mediated by suppressing blastogenesis of lymphocytes via intracellular generation of ROS sensitive to NAC and/or GSH.

Chocolate and prevention of cardiovascular disease: a systematic review

Background

Consumption of chocolate has been often hypothesized to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to chocolate's high levels of stearic acid and antioxidant flavonoids. However, debate still lingers regarding the true long term beneficial cardiovascular effects of chocolate overall.

Methods

We reviewed English-language MEDLINE publications from 1966 through January 2005 for experimental, observational, and clinical studies of relations between cocoa, cacao, chocolate, stearic acid, flavonoids (including flavonols, flavanols, catechins, epicatechins, and procynadins) and the risk of cardiovascular disease (coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke). A total of 136 publications were selected based on relevance, and quality of design and methods. An updated meta-analysis of flavonoid intake and CHD mortality was also conducted.

Results

The body of short-term randomized feeding trials suggests cocoa and chocolate may exert beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk via effects on lowering blood pressure, anti-inflammation, anti-platelet function, higher HDL, decreased LDL oxidation. Additionally, a large body of trials of stearic acid suggests it is indeed cholesterol-neutral. However, epidemiologic studies of serum and dietary stearic acid are inconclusive due to many methodologic limitations. Meanwhile, the large body of prospective studies of flavonoids suggests the flavonoid content of chocolate may reduce risk of cardiovascular mortality. Our updated meta-analysis indicates that intake of flavonoids may lower risk of CHD mortality, RR = 0.81 (95% CI: 0.71–0.92) comparing highest and lowest tertiles.

Conclusion

Multiple lines of evidence from laboratory experiments and randomized trials suggest stearic acid may be neutral, while flavonoids are likely protective against CHD mortality. The highest priority now is to conduct larger randomized trials to definitively investigate the impact of chocolate consumption on long-term cardiovascular outcomes.

Dietary Intake of Heterocyclic Amines and Benzo(a)Pyrene: Associations with Pancreatic Cancer

OBJECTIVE

Heterocyclic amines (HCA) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, formed in temperature- and time-dependent manners during the cooking of meat, are mutagens and carcinogens. We sought to assess the association between dietary intake of HCA and benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] and exocrine pancreatic cancer in a population-based case-control study.

METHODS

Subjects (193 cases and 674 controls) provided information on their usual meat intake and preparation method, e.g., stewed, fried, or grilled/barbecued, etc. Meat doneness preferences were measured using photographs that showed internal doneness and external brownness. We used a meat-derived HCA, B(a)P, and mutagen database with a questionnaire to estimate intake of PhIP, DiMeIQx, MeIQx, B(a)P, and mutagenic activity (revertants/g of daily meat intake). Data were analyzed with unconditional logistic regression.

RESULTS

In analyses adjusted for age, sex, smoking, education, race, and diabetes, the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for the highest compared with the lowest quintile were as follows: PhIP, 1.8 (1.0-3.1); DiMeIQx, 2.0 (1.2-3.5); MeIQx, 1.5 (0.9-2.7); B(a)P, 2.2 (1.2-4.0); and mutagenic activity, 2.4 (1.3-4.3).

CONCLUSIONS

HCAs and B(a)P from well-done barbecued and pan-fried meats may be associated with increased risk for pancreatic cancer.

COMPETING DIETARY CLAIMS FOR WEIGHT LOSS: Finding the Forest Through Truculent Trees

In response to an accelerating obesity pandemic, competing weight-loss diets have propagated; those touting carbohydrate restriction are currently most in vogue. Evidence that sustainable weight loss is enhanced by means other than caloric restriction, however, is lacking. Whereas short-term weight loss is consistently achieved by any dietary approach to the restriction of choice and thereby calories, lasting weight control is not. Competing dietary claims imply that fundamental knowledge of dietary pattern and human health is lacking; an extensive literature belies this notion. The same dietary and lifestyle pattern conducive to health promotion is consistently associated with weight control. A bird's eye view of the literature on diet and weight reveals a forest otherwise difficult to discern through the trees. Competing diet claims are diverting attention and resources from what is actually and urgently needed: a dedicated and concerted effort to make the basic dietary pattern known to support both health and weight control more accessible to all.

Genotoxicity of vegetable cooking oils in the Drosophila wing spot test

Seven vegetable oils consumed by humans were tested for genotoxic activity in the Drosophila somatic mutation and recombination test. The oils included five seed oils (sesame, sunflower, wheat germ, flax, and soy oil) and both first-class extra-virgin and low-grade (refined) olive oil. Larvae of the standard (STD) and highly bioactive (NORR) crosses of Drosophila melanogaster were fed medium containing 6% and 12% of each of the oils. Flax oil produced the strongest response, while sesame, wheat germ, and soy oil showed some genotoxic activity. Sunflower and the low-grade olive oil gave inconclusive results, and extra-virgin olive oil was clearly nongenotoxic. It is argued that the genotoxicity is probably due to the fatty acid composition of the oils, which after peroxidation can form specific DNA-adducts.

Vitamins, Phytochemicals, Diets, and Their Implementation in Cancer Chemoprevention

With progressive "Westernization" of the dietary pattern in Asian countries, such as Korea and Japan, unhealthy signs, such as increases in obesity and incidence rate of cancers, are starting to appear in recent statistics. These results support the hypothesis that a dietary pattern of low fats and high antioxidants based on plant foods will reduce the risk of cancer Recently, antioxidative vitamins and phenolic phytochemicals derived from our daily diet have received much attention because of their potential chemopreventive activities. Their chemopreventive mechanisms have been suggested mainly due to their protective effects against oxidative DNA damage. However. several studies have shown that dietary antioxidant supplements, such as vitamins and phenolic phytochemicals, are not beneficial; they may rather, cause DNA damage. These results suggest that a metabolomics approach might demonstrate that antioxidant rich whole diets play a more important role, rather than individual antioxidants in cancer prevention. On the other hand, the chemopreventive mechanisms of dietary vitamins and phenolic phytochemicals may be associated with the inhibition of other carcinogenic processes, particularly tumor promotion, rather than that of tumor initiation. In this article, possible cancer-preventive mechanisms of dietary vitamins and phenolic phytochemicals, are reviewed.

The Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I) provides an effective tool for cross-national comparison of diet quality as illustrated by China and the United States

A composite measure of diet has been preferred to an index of a single nutrient or food in the area of dietary assessment. However, the lack of such a tool for cross-national comparisons has restricted the ability to compare diet quality between countries using an overall measure of diet. In this study, we created a tool called the Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I) for global monitoring and exploration of diet quality across countries. The major categories of the index components are variety, adequacy, moderation and overall balance. Using the tool, this research presents a cross-national comparison of diet quality between China and the United States, incorporating comparable national in-depth diet data. The mean of the DQI-I score was slightly higher in China than in the United States. By major categories of the DQI-I, dietary variety was better achieved in the U.S. diet; moderation and overall balance of intakes were better accomplished in China. The DQI-I was successful in capturing variability in intakes of food and nutrients in both countries. Some distinct patterns of poor quality diet in each country were also identified. As demonstrated in this study, the DQI-I provides an effective means of cross-national comparative work for global understanding of diet quality. Furthermore, the dietary problem areas identified by the DQI-I may be useful in guiding the development of programs to improve public health.

Effects of the olive, extra virgin olive and canola oils on cisplatin-induced clastogenesis in Wistar rats

Cisplatin is one of the mostly used antineoplastic drugs in the treatment of cancer, but its clastogenic potential has become of great interest. In patients treated with long-term cisplatin, genetic damage can be observed during chemotherapy or many years later. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible anticlastogenic effect of pretreatment with olive, extra virgin olive, canola or corn oils on cisplatin-induced chromosomal aberrations in Wistar rat bone marrow cells. The animals received pretreatment with a single dose of vegetable oils (5 ml/kg b.w.) by gavage before cisplatin i.p. (5 mg/kg b.w.), and were sacrificed 24 h after cisplatin injection. The pretreatment with a single dose of olive, extra virgin olive and canola oils caused a statistically significant decrease in the total of chromosomal aberrations and abnormal metaphases induced by cisplatin when compared with the groups treated with cisplatin alone. The possible explanation for the anticlastogenic effects observed in the pretreatment with olive, extra virgin olive and canola oils is ascribed to the oil contents. In conclusion, from the findings we suggest that these oils have some antioxidant effect, and the anticlastogenesis mechanisms of these oils need to be explored further before their use during cisplatin chemotherapy.

Antitumor activity of extract of Zingiber aromaticum and its bioactive sesquiterpenoid zerumbone

The anticancer properties of zerumbone (2,6,9 humulatriene-8-one, a sesquiterpenoid) from Zingiber aromaticum were compared with those of curcumin from Curcuma longa in an in vitro MTT tetrazolium salt assay using HT-29, CaCo-2, and MCF-7 cancer cells and in an azoxymethane (AOM)-induced animal model of colon cancer using aberrant crypt foci (ACFs) as a preneoplastic marker. The IC50 of zerumbone was approximately 10 mM and that of curcumin was 25 mM. Cell cycle arrest in HT-29 cells was observed at G0/G1 for 10 and 12.5 mM and G2/M for 25 mM after 24 h at concentrations of 10-25 mM of zerumbone, and a concentration-dependent increase in apoptosis (2-6% of viable cells) was observed after 48 h using the same concentration range. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed extracts in an AIN diet prepared from the equivalent of 4% by weight of dried rhizomes of Z. aromaticum and C. longa. ACFs were induced by two doses (15 mg/kg body weight) subcutaneously of AOM 1 wk apart, the rats were killed 10 wk later, and the ACFs were assessed in the colon. Total ACFs were significantly reduced by Z. aromaticum extract (down 21%, P < 0.05) relative to control, the effect being most evident with large ACFs (>3 aberrant crypts per focus). Similar reductions were observed with 4% C. longa extract in the diet (down 24%, P < 0.01) and with 2,000 ppm curcumin, the effect being particularly evident with large ACFs. The concentration of zerumbone in the Z. aromaticum extract diet was assayed at 300 ppm and of curcumin in the C. longa extract diet was also 300 ppm, i.e., the extract of C. longa was as effective at one-seventh the concentration of curcumin as the positive control. Zerumbone is effective as an anticancer agent, possibly by its apoptosis-inducing and antiproliferative influences. This latter possibility is currently being investigated.

Target discovery

Target discovery, which involves the identification and early validation of disease-modifying targets, is an essential first step in the drug discovery pipeline. Indeed, the drive to determine protein function has been stimulated, both in industry and academia, by the completion of the human genome project. In this article, we critically examine the strategies and methodologies used for both the identification and validation of disease-relevant proteins. In particular, we will examine the likely impact of recent technological advances, including genomics, proteomics, small interfering RNA and mouse knockout models, and conclude by speculating on future trends.

Vegetable intake and long-term survival among middle-aged men in Italy

PURPOSE

To examine prospectively the relationship between vegetable consumption and long-term survival.

METHODS

In 1965, a total of 1536 Italian males from two Italian rural cohorts of the Seven Countries Study, aged 45-65 years, were examined. Information on lifestyle and food consumption collected at this visit, and total and cause-specific mortality data collected in 30 years of follow-up were analyzed for the present study.

RESULTS

During a period of 30 years, 1096 deaths occurred (308 from coronary heart disease, 325 from cancer, 158 from cerebrovascular disease and 305 from all other causes). The age-adjusted life expectancy for men consuming more than 60 g/day of vegetables was nearly 2 years longer than for men consuming less than 20 g/day. This increase in survival was more striking in smokers than nonsmokers (2.1 vs. a 1 year gain). The association also held for both geographic cohorts, although the pattern of vegetable consumption was very different in the two villages.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest a positive association between vegetable intake and life expectancy. Vegetable intake may be especially protective for smokers although the biological explanation for such an effect is unclear.

Blueberry supplementation enhances signaling and prevents behavioral deficits in an Alzheimer disease model

Previously, we showed that blueberry (BB) supplementation reversed the deleterious effects of aging on motor behavior and neuronal signaling in senescent rodents. We now report that BB-fed (from 4 months of age) APP + PS1 transgenic mice showed no deficits in Y-maze performance (at 12 months of age) with no alterations in amyloid beta burden. It appeared that the protective mechanisms are derived from BB-induced enhancement of memory-associated neuronal signaling (e.g. extracellular signal-regulated kinase) and alterations in neutral sphingomyelin-specific phospholipase C activity. Thus, our data indicate for the first time that it may be possible to overcome genetic predispositions to Alzheimer disease through diet.

Cancer risk in the reindeer breeding Saami population of Sweden, 1961-1997

The Saami people are the natives of northern Scandinavia and the Kola Peninsula. In a cohort of 2033 Swedish reindeer breeding Saamis, the cancer risks between 1961 and 1997 were studied. In total, 193 cases of cancer were observed versus 322 expected in the general Swedish population and 249 in a geographically matched reference population of non-Saamis. In comparison to non-Saamis living in the same area, the reindeer breeding Saamis showed a statistically significant lower risk of developing cancer of the prostate and of malignant lymphoma, whereas the risk of stomach cancer was significantly higher. Although there were no statistically significant changes of cancer risks over time, temporal trends were indicated towards a decreased risk of cancer in the stomach and the prostate. The results suggest that the explanations of the low cancer risk of the reindeer breeding Saamis, in relation to the non-Saamis in the same environment, are to be found among lifestyle and/or genetic factors.

Cocoa extract protects against early alcohol-induced liver injury in the rat

Oxidants have been shown to be involved in alcohol-induced liver injury. This study was designed to determine whether cocoa flavonoid extract, composed mostly of epicatechin and epicatechin oligomers, protects against early alcohol-induced liver injury in rats. Male Wistar rats were fed high-fat liquid diets with or without ethanol (10-14 g/kg per day) and cocoa extract (400 mg/kg per day) continuously for 4 weeks using an enteral feeding protocol. Mean body weight gains ( approximately 4 g/day) were not significantly different between treatment groups. Cocoa extract did not affect average daily urine ethanol concentrations ( approximately 200mg/dL). After 4 weeks, serum alanine amino transferase levels of the ethanol group were increased nearly fourfold (110+/-16 IU/L) compared to control values (35+/-3 IU/L); this effect of ethanol was blocked by cocoa extract (60+/-6 IU/L). Additionally, enteral ethanol caused severe fat accumulation, mild inflammation, and necrosis in the liver; cocoa extract significantly blunted these changes. Increases in liver TNFalpha protein levels caused by ethanol were completely blocked by cocoa extract. Further, ethanol significantly increased the accumulation of protein adducts of 4-hydroxynonenal, a product of lipid peroxidation serving as an index of oxidative stress; again this was counteracted by the addition of cocoa extract. These results indicate that dietary flavanols such as those found in cocoa can prevent early alcohol-induced liver injury.