Food elimination based on IgG antibodies in irritable bowel syndrome: a randomised controlled trial

Background: Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) often feel they have some form of dietary intolerance and frequently try exclusion diets. Tests attempting to predict food sensitivity in IBS have been disappointing but none has utilised IgG antibodies. Aims: To assess the therapeutic potential of dietary elimination based on the presence of IgG antibodies to food. Patients: A total of 150 outpatients with IBS were randomised to receive, for three months, either a diet excluding all foods to which they had raised IgG antibodies ( enzyme linked immunosorbant assay test) or a sham diet excluding the same number of foods but not those to which they had antibodies. Methods: Primary outcome measures were change in IBS symptom severity and global rating scores. Non-colonic symptomatology, quality of life, and anxiety/depression were secondary outcomes. Intention to treat analysis was undertaken using a generalised linear model. Results: After 12 weeks, the true diet resulted in a 10% greater reduction in symptom score than the sham diet ( mean difference 39 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 5 - 72); p = 0.024) with this value increasing to 26% in fully compliant patients ( difference 98 ( 95% CI 52 - 144); p< 0.001). Global rating also significantly improved in the true diet group as a whole ( p = 0.048, NNT = 9) and even more in compliant patients ( p = 0.006, NNT = 2.5). All other outcomes showed trends favouring the true diet. Relaxing the diet led to a 24% greater deterioration in symptoms in those on the true diet ( difference 52 ( 95% CI 18 - 88); p = 0.003). Conclusion: Food elimination based on IgG antibodies may be effective in reducing IBS symptoms and is worthy of further biomedical research

Tensile properties of Poly Lactic Acid (PLA)–Tungsten Trioxide (WO3) nano composites for 3D printing process

Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) is one of the most crucial aliphatic polyesters which is considered as one of the favourable options in environmentally friendly thermoplastic polymers since it could be biodegraded in certain conditions. PLA has been extensively used in the packaging, electronic industries, and household applications. As a result, the improvement of mechanical properties of PLA is necessary, which can be achieved through heat resistant materials such as Tungsten trioxide (WO3). The objective of this research was to investigate the tensile properties of PLA-WO3. The 3D printing process was employed to fabricate PLA-WO3 (3wt% WO3) and Neat PLA (control sample). The tensile test was conducted to investigate the effect of WO3 to the PLA. The results show that the tensile properties of PLA-WO3 were improved up to 75% as compared to Neat PLA. This result shows positive indication to the PLA-WO3 for many industrial applications

Ultraviolet filters in sunscreens and cosmetic products—A market survey

Background: As several reports have raised a variety of environmental, health, and safety issues related to ultraviolet (UV) filters, it is crucial to understand the trends in the exposure of the population to UV filters. Objective: To determine the frequency of UV filter usage in sunscreens and other cosmetic products in Thai market. Methods: We surveyed the UV filter labelling on sunscreens and cosmetic products sold in the Thai market. In all, 312 sunscreens and 1350 other cosmetic products were investigated. Results: Titanium dioxide was the most frequently used UV filter in both sunscreens (66.7%) and other cosmetic products (68.4%). Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate was the most common organic UVB filter, whereas butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane was the most common organic UVA filter. In sunscreens aimed at children, bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine was the most commonly used UV filter. The most frequent co-occurrence of UV filters was titanium dioxide and ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate. Conclusions: Titanium dioxide was the most commonly used UV filter, which differs from the findings of previous surveys. Knowing the availability and frequency of each UV filter provides valuable information about consumer exposure levels, facilitates refinements of the allergen series in patch testing, and enhances the monitoring of adverse effects of UV filters