Quanti-qualitative evaluation of pectins in the dietary fibre of 24 foods

The dietary fibre of 24 foods was analysed for its proportions of insoluble and soluble (SDF) fractions and for its contentof high methoxyl pectins (HM), low methoxyl pectins (LM) and protopectin. The fractional extraction and quantitativedetermination of pectins were performed on the total dietary fibre residue, following the procedure suggested byRobertson (1979). Total pectin content (TP), calculated as sum of the three fractions, ranged from 2.4 to 49.8 g/kg ofdry matter. The variation coefficient of TP measurements repeated on the same foods were, on average, 2%. Total pectincontent was 49.8 g/kg DM in dried beet pulp and averaged 33.8+_0.3 g/kg DM in fruits and vegetables, 13.2+_8.4 g/kgDM in legumes and tubers and only 2.8+_0.5 g/kg DM in cereals. HM fraction prevailed in apple and pear samples (>40%of TP), while LM and protopectin largely prevailed in legumes and vegetables. A strong variability among foods was foundfor the TP/SDF ratio. In general, within each food category, increasing levels of SDF were associated with decreasing valuesof TP/SDF ratio. Since many foods contain low amounts of pectins, care in the development of calibration curves forspectrophotometric reading is required. Finally, the whole procedure for pectin extraction and quantification on dietaryfibre of food is very complex and time-consuming

The Redox Enzyme p66Shc Contributes to Diabetes and Ischemia-Induced Delay in Cutaneous Wound Healing

OBJECTIVE: The redox enzyme p66Shc produces hydrogen peroxide and triggers proapoptotic signals. Genetic deletion of p66Shc prolongs life span and protects against oxidative stress. In the present study, we evaluated the role of p66Shc in an animal model of diabetic wound healing. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Skin wounds were created in wild-type (WT) and p66Shc(-/-) control and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice with or without hind limb ischemia. Wounds were assessed for collagen content, thickness and vascularity of granulation tissue, apoptosis, reepithelialization, and expression of c-myc and beta-catenin. Response to hind limb ischemia was also evaluated. RESULTS: Diabetes delayed wound healing in WT mice with reduced granulation tissue thickness and vascularity, increased apoptosis, epithelial expression of c-myc, and nuclear localization of beta-catenin. These nonhealing features were worsened by hind limb ischemia. Diabetes induced p66Shc expression and activation; wound healing was significantly faster in p66Shc(-/-) than in WT diabetic mice, with or without hind limb ischemia, at 1 and 3 months of diabetes duration and in both SV129 and C57BL/6 genetic backgrounds. Deletion of p66Shc reversed nonhealing features, with increased collagen content and granulation tissue thickness, and reduced apoptosis and expression of c-myc and beta-catenin. p66Shc deletion improved response to hind limb ischemia in diabetic mice in terms of tissue damage, capillary density, and perfusion. Migration of p66Shc(-/-) dermal fibroblasts in vitro was significantly faster than WT fibroblasts under both high glucose and hypoxia. CONCLUSIONS: p66Shc is involved in the delayed wound-healing process in the setting of diabetes and ischemia. Thus, p66Shc may represent a potential therapeutic target against this disabling diabetes complication

Packages of Care for Depression in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

In the first in a series of six articles on packages of care for mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries, Neerja Chowdary and colleagues discuss the treatment of depression

Agreement in children’s evaluations of their relationships with siblings and friends

Congruence constitutes a relevant topic in studying interpersonal relationships from a theoretical and methodological point of view but it has rarely been analysed systematically. The main goal of this study was to explore the grade of congruence in sibling and friend dyads. Forty-eight children, their sibling closest in age and their best friend were recruited. Subjects were between 6 and 11 years of age (M = 8.8, SD = 1.4). Friend dyads were of the same age and mostly also of the same gender. An age gap ranging from 1 to 4 years characterized sibling dyads (M = 2.5; SD = .9), which varied in terms of gender pairings. Children completed a verbal and a pictorial task. Analyses of their responses focused on four dimensions: Affection, Conflict, Power and Similarity. Members of friend dyads showed significant agreement on Affection and Conflict. Moreover members of the same sibling dyad appeared to be not related in presenting Affection, Conflict, Power and Similarity. These results seem not to be affected by the sample characteristics in terms of the dyads’ gender composition and age gap. Findings are discussed in relation to the differences in nature between the sibling and friend relationship. Congruence in friends may reflect similarities between partners and a strategy to protect the relationship. Independence between siblings may be explained by differences between partners and by the permanent character of the relationship, which is not threatened by the existence of differences of opinion

Using Distance-Bounding Protocols to Securely Verify the Proximity of Two-Hop Neighbours

Distance-bounding protocols allow devices to cryptographically verify the physical proximity of two parties and is a prominent secure neighbour detection method. We describe how existing distance-bounding protocols could be modified to verify the proximity of both next-hop and two-hop neighbours. This approach allows a node to verify that another node is a physical next-hop neighbour, and also detects legitimate neighbours who make dishonest claims as to who their neighbours are. This approach could prevent dishonest neighbours from hoarding traffic as the result of advertising false two-hop routes