Assessment of the Cow's Milk-related Symptom Score (CoMiSS) as a diagnostic tool for cow's milk protein allergy : a prospective, multicentre study in China (MOSAIC study)

Peer reviewe

Carbohydrate-Rich Foods in the Treatment of the Insulin Resistance Syndrome : Studies of the Importance of the Glycaemic Index and Dietary Fibre

The glycaemic responses to various carbohydrate-rich foods are partly dependent on the rate at which the carbohydrate is digested and absorbed. The glycaemic index (GI) is a way of ranking foods according to their glycaemic response and is recommended as a useful tool in identifying starch-rich foods that give the most favourable glycaemic response. This investigation was undertaken to determine whether carbohydrate-rich foods with a low GI and a high content of dietary fibre (DF) could have beneficial metabolic effects in the insulin resistance syndrome. This question was addressed both in single-meal studies and in randomised controlled clinical trials. Starch-rich foods with low GI values incorporated into composite meals resulted in lower postprandial responses of both glucose and insulin than foods with a high GI in meals with an identical macronutrient and DF composition, in subjects with type 2 diabetes. After three weeks on a diet including low GI starchy foods metabolic profile was improved in subjects with type 2 diabetes, compared with a corresponding high GI diet. The glucose and insulin responses throughout the day were lower, the total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol was decreased, and the fibrinolytic activity was normalised. In subjects with impaired insulin sensitivity and diabetes low GI foods rich in soluble DF for breakfast gave a more favourable metabolic profile, with smaller glucose fluctuations from baseline during the day, than a breakfast with high GI foods low in DF. A low GI breakfast high in DF also resulted in lower responses of insulin and C-peptide after breakfast and a lower triacylglycerol response after a standardised lunch. However, none of the tested breakfasts improved the glucose and insulin responses after lunch. Similar results were obtained in obese subjects after including a breakfast with a low GI high in soluble DF for a period of four weeks in comparison with a breakfast with a high GI and low content of DF. These results support the therapeutic potential of a diet with a low GI in the treatment of diabetes and also in the treatment of several of the metabolic disturbances related to the insulin resistance syndrome

The Nordic Africa Institute and social media

Syftet: Syftet med denna uppsats var att se hur Nordiska Afrikainstitutet använder sig av sociala medier och hur de tillämpar den information som organisationen kommunicerat via de sociala medierna. Teoretisk ram: Uppsatsen utgår ifrån teorier som ger överblick i hur traditionella och moderna kommunikationsredskap fungerar. Därutöver har ett analytiskt instrument använts som kartlägger kommunikationsprocesser i organisationer samt hur dessa tar tillvara på ny kunskap. Den teoretiska referensram består av följande teorier: Media Richness modellen samt de två artiklarna On using organizational knowledge capabilities to assist organizational learning samt Virtual worlds as platforms for communities of pratices från antologin Knowledge management and organizational learning. Metod: Uppsatsen bygger på en kvalitativ metod. Det empiriska materialet har samlats in genom respondentintervjuer, dessa bestod av telefonintervjuer samt epostkorrespondens. För att urskilja respondenterna har ett snöbollsurval använts. Intervjuerna har därefter analyserats utifrån den teoretiska referensramen. Resultat: Resultatet av undersökningen visar att både traditionella och sociala medier används vid institutet där de traditionella medierna anses trovärdiga men inte alltid flexibla. De sociala medier som används är Facebook, Twitter och institutets egna forum kallat NAI-forum. Undersökningen visar att de sociala medierna är en användbar kanal för nå ut till flertalet användare på ett informellt sätt. Tendenser visar att sociala medier underlättat kommunikationen för institutet då de lättare kan nå en större målgrupp och föra en dialog med dessa. Det framkom också att institutet diskuterar och kommenterar förfrågningar som görs via de sociala medierna och tar tillvara på den information som förvärvas genom de sociala medierna. Undersökningen visade också att det finns en stor potential med att använda sociala medier och respondenterna tror att inom en snar framtid kommer de också att spela en allt viktigare roll i NAI:s kommunikationsarbete.Aim: The main aim of this thesis was to explore which communication tools the Nordic Africa Institute utilizes. We also looked into how the institution maintains the information created through the new communication channels. Theories: The essay is based on theories that provide an overview of how traditional and modern communication tools work. We also used an analytical tool to map/analyze communication processes in organizations. Theoretic framework was based on the The Media Richness model and the two articles On using organizational knowledge capabilities to assist organizational learning and Virtual worlds as platforms for communities of practices from the anthology Knowledge management and organizational learning. Method: The essay is based on qualitative methods. The empirical data was gathered through informant interviews. We gathered data by telephone interviews and e-mail. To identify the respondents a snowball sampling technique was used. Main results: The result of the study shows that both traditional and social media are used within the institution, whereas the traditional media are considered reliable but not always flexible. The social media channels the institute uses are Facebook, Twitter and their own forum called, Nordic Africa Institute forum. The general attitude among our respondents shows that social media is a useful channel for reaching out to the majority of users in an informal way. The answer of our respondents also showed a general trend that social media has also eased communication for the institute where they now can more easily reach users and have a dialogue with them. It also emerged that the NAI discusses and comments on inquiries made through the social media and they utilize the information that is acquired. The institute has a policy in place for the acquisition of information gathered through social media. Our study shows that the respondents believe that there is a great potential in using social media. They also envisage that social media in the near future will play an even more important role in how they work in the communication department at the Nordic Africa Institute

The Nordic Africa Institute and social media

Syftet: Syftet med denna uppsats var att se hur Nordiska Afrikainstitutet använder sig av sociala medier och hur de tillämpar den information som organisationen kommunicerat via de sociala medierna. Teoretisk ram: Uppsatsen utgår ifrån teorier som ger överblick i hur traditionella och moderna kommunikationsredskap fungerar. Därutöver har ett analytiskt instrument använts som kartlägger kommunikationsprocesser i organisationer samt hur dessa tar tillvara på ny kunskap. Den teoretiska referensram består av följande teorier: Media Richness modellen samt de två artiklarna On using organizational knowledge capabilities to assist organizational learning samt Virtual worlds as platforms for communities of pratices från antologin Knowledge management and organizational learning. Metod: Uppsatsen bygger på en kvalitativ metod. Det empiriska materialet har samlats in genom respondentintervjuer, dessa bestod av telefonintervjuer samt epostkorrespondens. För att urskilja respondenterna har ett snöbollsurval använts. Intervjuerna har därefter analyserats utifrån den teoretiska referensramen. Resultat: Resultatet av undersökningen visar att både traditionella och sociala medier används vid institutet där de traditionella medierna anses trovärdiga men inte alltid flexibla. De sociala medier som används är Facebook, Twitter och institutets egna forum kallat NAI-forum. Undersökningen visar att de sociala medierna är en användbar kanal för nå ut till flertalet användare på ett informellt sätt. Tendenser visar att sociala medier underlättat kommunikationen för institutet då de lättare kan nå en större målgrupp och föra en dialog med dessa. Det framkom också att institutet diskuterar och kommenterar förfrågningar som görs via de sociala medierna och tar tillvara på den information som förvärvas genom de sociala medierna. Undersökningen visade också att det finns en stor potential med att använda sociala medier och respondenterna tror att inom en snar framtid kommer de också att spela en allt viktigare roll i NAI:s kommunikationsarbete.Aim: The main aim of this thesis was to explore which communication tools the Nordic Africa Institute utilizes. We also looked into how the institution maintains the information created through the new communication channels. Theories: The essay is based on theories that provide an overview of how traditional and modern communication tools work. We also used an analytical tool to map/analyze communication processes in organizations. Theoretic framework was based on the The Media Richness model and the two articles On using organizational knowledge capabilities to assist organizational learning and Virtual worlds as platforms for communities of practices from the anthology Knowledge management and organizational learning. Method: The essay is based on qualitative methods. The empirical data was gathered through informant interviews. We gathered data by telephone interviews and e-mail. To identify the respondents a snowball sampling technique was used. Main results: The result of the study shows that both traditional and social media are used within the institution, whereas the traditional media are considered reliable but not always flexible. The social media channels the institute uses are Facebook, Twitter and their own forum called, Nordic Africa Institute forum. The general attitude among our respondents shows that social media is a useful channel for reaching out to the majority of users in an informal way. The answer of our respondents also showed a general trend that social media has also eased communication for the institute where they now can more easily reach users and have a dialogue with them. It also emerged that the NAI discusses and comments on inquiries made through the social media and they utilize the information that is acquired. The institute has a policy in place for the acquisition of information gathered through social media. Our study shows that the respondents believe that there is a great potential in using social media. They also envisage that social media in the near future will play an even more important role in how they work in the communication department at the Nordic Africa Institute

Roman Jasinsky as Icare (centre) and artists of the company as Greek Youths, in Icare, The Original Ballet Russe, Australian tour, His Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, May 1940 (3) [picture] /

From: Icare : choreographic legend in one act / ballet and rhythms by Serge Lifar ; orchestrated by Antal Dorati.; Inscription: "4V/16".; Part of the collection: Hugh P. Hall collection of photographs, 1938-1940.; Choreography by Serge Lifar ; scenery and costumes by Sidney Nolan.; Also available in an electronic version via the internet at: http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn4173875. One of a collection of photographs taken by Hugh P. Hall of 28 ballet productions performed by the Covent Garden Russian Ballet (toured Australia 1938-1939) and the Original Ballet Russe (toured Australia 1939-1940). These are the second and third of the three Ballets Russes companies which toured Australasia between 1936 and 1940. The photographs were taken from the auditorium during a live performance in His Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne and mounted on cardboard for display purposes. For conservation and storage, the photographs have been demounted. The original arrangement of the photographs has been recorded, and details are available from the Pictures Branch of the National Library

Glycaemic index:Relevance for health, dietary recommendations and food labelling

The glycaemic index (GI) concept is based on the difference in blood glucose response after ingestion of the same amount of carbohydrates from different foods, and possible implications of these differences for health, performance and well-being. GI is defined as the incremental blood glucose area (0-2 h) following ingestion of 50 g of available carbohydrates in the test product as a percentage of the corresponding area following an equivalent amount of carbohydrate from a reference product. A high GI is generally accompanied by a high insulin response. The glycaemic load (GL) is the GI×the amount (g) of carbohydrate in the food/100. Many factors affect the GI of foods, and GI values in published tables are indicative only, and cannot be applied directly to individual foods. Properly determined GI values for individual foods have been used successfully to predict the glycaemic response of a meal, while table values have not. An internationally recognised method for GI determination is available, and work is in progress to improve inter- and intra-laboratory performance. Some epidemiological studies and intervention studies indicate that low GI diets may favourably influence the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and coronary heart disease, although further well-controlled studies are needed for more definite conclusions. Low GI diets have been demonstrated to improve the blood glucose control, LDL-cholesterol and a risk factor for thrombosis in intervention studies with diabetes patients, but the effect in free-living conditions remains to be shown. The impact of GI in weight reduction and maintenance as well as exercise performance also needs further investigation. The GI concept should be applied only to foods providing at least 15 g and preferably 20 g of available carbohydrates per normal serving, and comparisons should be kept within the same food group. For healthy people, the significance of GI is still unclear and general labelling is therefore not recommended. If introduced, labelling should be product-specific and considered on a case-by-case basis

Growth in Infants with Cow's Milk Protein Allergy Fed an Amino Acid-Based Formula

Purpose: The present study assessed the role of an amino acid-based formula (AAF) in the growth of infants with cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA). Methods: Non-breastfed, term infants aged 0-6 months with symptoms suggestive of CMPA were recruited from 10 pediatric centers in China. After enrollment, infants were started on AAF for two weeks, followed by an open food challenge (OFC) with cow's milk-based formula (CMF). Infants with confirmed CMPA remained on AAF until 9 months of age, in conjunction with a cow's milk protein-free complementary diet. Body weight, length, and head circumference were measured at enrollment and 9 months of age. Measurements were converted to weight-for-age, length-for-age, and head circumference-for-age Z scores (WAZ, LAZ, HCAZ), based on the World Health Organization growth reference. Results: Of 254 infants (median age 16.1 weeks, 50.9% male), 218 (85.8%) were diagnosed with non-IgE-mediated CMPA, 33 (13.0%) tolerated CMF, and 3 (1.2%) did not complete the OFC. The mean WAZ decreased from 0.119 to -0.029 between birth and enrollment (p=0.067), with significant catch-up growth to 0.178 at 9 months of age (p=0.012) while being fed the AAF. There were no significant changes in LAZ (0.400 vs. 0.552;p=0.214) or HCAZ (-0.356 vs. -0.284;p=0.705) from the time of enrollment to age 9 months, suggesting normal linear and head growth velocity. Conclusion: The amino acid-based study formula, in conjunction with a cow's milk protein-free complementary diet, supported normal growth till 9 months of age in a cohort of Chinese infants with challenge-confirmed non-IgE-mediated CMPA.</p