Time-trend analysis of fruit and vegetable intake in Hong Kong, 2004-2016

OBJECTIVES

In 2005, the Hong Kong government launched a series of large-scale dietary promotion campaigns aiming to increase fruit and vegetable intake. This study aimed to investigate changes in mean fruit and vegetable intake in the population between 2004 and 2016.

STUDY DESIGN

Time-trend analysis.

METHODS

Fruit and vegetable intake data from adults aged 18-64 years between 2004 and 2016 were extracted from government online databases. Descriptive analyses were conducted. One-way analysis of variance was employed to compare population-weighted age-specific and sex-specific mean fruit and vegetable intake at 95% confidence levels in SPSS.

RESULTS

Between 2004 and 2016, mean fruit intake (males: 0.70-1.22 servings/day; females: 0.95-1.59 servings/day) and mean vegetable intake (males: 1.80-2.51 servings/day; females: 2.10-2.83 servings/day) among Hong Kong adults across all age groups were lower than recommended. Adults aged 45-54 years and over ate more fruit than younger adults. However, decreasing fruit intake trends were observed among both females and males across all ages. The decreased mean fruit intake among males aged 35-54 years and females aged 35-44 years and below has become statistically significant in more recent years, which may indicate a slow transitioning toward significantly lower mean fruit intake across these age groups. Although statistically non-significant, increasing vegetable intake trends were observed among adults aged 35-44 years and below, which may indicate a slow transitioning process toward significantly higher mean vegetable intake among these age groups. However, there is concern about the downward vegetable intake trends among adults aged 45-64 years.

CONCLUSIONS

More research is needed to investigate the effectiveness of dietary promotion campaigns, especially in terms of promotion coverage and population age ranges. More effective strategies are needed to increase fruit and vegetable intake in the population.

Kinetic resolution of acyclic secondary allylic silyl ethers catalyzed by chiral ketones

Kinetic resolution of acyclic secondary allylic silyl ethers by chiral dioxiranes generated in situ from chiral ketones (R)-1 and (R)-2 and Oxone was investigated. An efficient and catalytic method has been developed for kinetic resolution of those substrates with a CCl(3), tert-butyl, or CF(3) group at the alpha-position. In particular, high selectivities (S up to 100) were observed for kinetic resolutions of racemic alpha-trichloromethyl allylic silyl ethers 7 and 9-15 catalyzed by ketones (R)-2. Both the recovered substrates and the resulting epoxides were obtained in high enantiomeric excess. On the basis of steric and electrostatic interactions between the chiral dioxiranes and the racemic substrates, a model was proposed to rationalize the enantioselectivities and diastereoselectivities in the chiral ketone-catalyzed kinetic resolution process.

De novo formation of adhesions in endometriosis: the role of iron and free radical reactions

OBJECTIVE

To show that raised iron levels in the peritoneal fluid (PF) of patients with endometriosis catalyze free radical reactions that results in the tissue destruction and fibrosis seen in these patients.

DESIGN

A case-controlled study of the iron levels (microgram/mL) in the pelvic PF of 12 patients with moderate-to-severe disease, 15 patients with minimal-to-mild disease and in 17 women with normal pelvises were compared. As an index of free radical reactions through lipid peroxidation, the levels of malondialdehyde levels (ng/mL) were assessed simultaneously in the same specimens.

RESULTS

Controlling for the phase of the menstrual cycle, significantly higher levels of iron were seen in patients with endometriosis, the levels being correlated with the severity of the disease. However no such corresponding relationship was seen in the malondialdehyde levels in the PF.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that raised iron levels in the PF do not play a role in catalyzing free radical reactions as judged by the degree of lipid peroxidation.

Pattern of acute pelvic inflammatory disease in abortion-related admissions

We evaluated 3,066 consecutive women admitted during 1 year to two major hospitals of Kuala Lumpur and the adjacent urban area of Malaysia. Indicators of acute pelvic inflammatory disease were more common among patients with induced abortions. PID was thought to be a major contributor to the higher costs associated with management of patients with induced abortions.