Influence of dietary phytochemicals and microbiota on colon cancer risk.

Colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in the United States. Lifestyle and dietary patterns influence colon cancer risk both positively and negatively. Among the dietary factors, several plant-derived compounds have been found to afford colon cancer protection. These compounds potentially influence all aspects of colonic cellular regulation and develop complex interrelationships with the colonic microbiome. Increasing understanding of the role of microorganisms in determining the colonic environment has led to awareness of this important interrelationship among dietary factors and the microbial population. Plant-derived polyphenols are active mediators of cellular events, target key carcinogenic pathways, and modulate colonic microbial populations. In turn, the colonic microorganisms metabolize dietary compounds and mediate cellular events. In addition, the role of estrogen receptors in colon cancer and the importance of dietary components that mediate estrogen receptor-β are increasingly being discovered. Hence, dietary bioactive compounds and the intestinal microbiota create a complex milieu that directly affects the carcinogenic events of the colon. These relationships must be carefully characterized in future research to provide dietary recommendations that will reduce colon cancer risk

Soy Protein Isolate Extruded with High Moisture Retains High Nutritional Quality

High-moisture extrusion of soy protein isolate generates a highly palatable meat substitute. No systematic evaluation of the nutritional quality of soy processed in this manner has been performed. This study compared the growth rate of male and female mice fed diets containing soy protein isolate without extrusion or with high-moisture extrusion. Other measures of overall growth and animal health were examined. Minor differences in the parameters were observed. Overall, the extruded soy protein was equally nutritious as the unextruded soy protein for the animals. Hence, high-moisture extrusion may be considered a useful method to generate high-quality protein foods. A longer term feeding trial may be recommended to further define the nutritional adequacy of this protein

Bostonia: The Boston University Alumni Magazine. Volume 20

Founded in 1900, Bostonia magazine is Boston University's main alumni publication, which covers alumni and student life, as well as university activities, events, and programs

Hypervirulent K. Pneumoniae Secretes More and More Active Iron-Acquisition Molecules than “Classical” K. Pneumoniae Thereby Enhancing its Virulence

A new hypervirulent (hypermucoviscous) clinical variant of Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP) has emerged over the last decade. Our goal is to identify new mechanisms, which increase the virulence hvKP compared to "classic" K. pneumoniae (cKP).Various growth assays were performed in human ascites, human serum, and laboratory medium with the hvKP strain hvKP1 (wt), randomly chosen blood isolates of cKP strains (cKP1-4), and mutant constructs deficient in the secretion of selected compounds. An in vivo mouse model that mimics infection due to hvKP and a quantitative siderophore assay were also used. It was established that a molecule(s)/factor(s) was secreted by hvKP1 significantly enhanced its growth and/or survival in human ascites. This molecule(s)/factor(s) also increased the growth and/or survival of hvKP1 in serum ex vivo and in an in vivo mouse model that measures metastatic spread after subcutaneous challenge, thereby further establishing biologic significance. Although features such as a size of <3kD, heat stability, and growth characteristics in ascites suggested this molecule(s) was a quorum-sensing compound, data presented demonstrates that this molecule(s)/factor(s) is involved in iron uptake and is likely a siderophore(s) or another iron-acquisition molecule. Although it is known that iron acquisition is critical for virulence, a novel aspect of this observation is that hvKP1 produces quantitatively more siderophores that appear to be biologically more active (increased affinity for iron or more resistant to host factors) than those produced by cKP strains.The data presented delineates a new mechanism by which hvKP increases its pathogenic potential compared to cKP strains. This paradigm may be broadly applicable to other extraintestinal gram-negative bacilli

Impact of multiple cardiovascular medications on mortality after an incidence of ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack

BACKGROUND: To manage the risk factors and to improve clinical outcomes, patients with stroke commonly receive multiple cardiovascular medications. However, there is a lack of evidence on the optimum combination of medication therapy in the primary care setting after ischemic stroke. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of multiple cardiovascular medications on long-term survival after an incident stroke event (ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)). METHODS: This study consisted of 52,619 patients aged 45 and above with an incident stroke event between 2007 and 2016 in The Health Improvement Network database. We estimated the risk of all-cause mortality in patients with multiple cardiovascular medications versus monotherapy using a marginal structural model. RESULTS: During an average follow-up of 3.6 years, there were 9230 deaths (7635 in multiple cardiovascular medication groups and 1595 in the monotherapy group). Compared with patients prescribed monotherapy only, the HRs of mortality were 0.82 (95% CI 0.75-0.89) for two medications, 0.65 (0.59-0.70) for three medications, 0.61 (0.56-0.67) for four medications, 0.60 (0.54-0.66) for five medications and 0.66 (0.59-0.74) for ≥ six medications. Patients with any four classes of antiplatelet agents (APAs), lipid-regulating medications (LRMs), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs)/angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), beta-blockers, diuretics and calcium channel blockers (CCBs) had the lowest risk of mortality (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.46-0.57) versus any one class. The combination containing APAs, LRMs, ACEIs/ARBs and CCBs was associated with a 61% (95% CI 53-68%) lower risk of mortality compared with APAs alone. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that combination therapy of four or five cardiovascular medications may be optimal to improve long-term survival after incident ischemic stroke or TIA. APAs, LRMs, ACEIs/ARBs and CCBs were the optimal constituents of combination therapy in the present study

Genetic information: important but not "exceptional"

Much legislation dealing with the uses of genetic information could be criticised for exceptionalising genetic information over other types of information personal to the individual. This paper contends that genetic exceptionalism clouds the issues, and precludes any real debate about the appropriate uses of genetic information. An alternative to “genetically exceptionalist” legislation is to “legislate for fairness”. This paper explores the “legislating for fairness” approach, and concludes that it demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of both how legislation is drafted, and how it is interpreted. The uncomfortable conclusion is this: policy-makers and legislators must tackle head-on the difficult policy questions concerning what should and should not be done with genetic information. Only by confronting this crucial issue will they achieve a workable legislative solution to the problems caused by genetic information

Exploring liminality in the co-design of rehabilitation environments: The case of one acute stroke unit.

This paper describes an Experience-based Co-design (EBCD) project that aimed to increase patient activity within an acute stroke unit. We apply the concept of liminality to explore ways in which the EBCD process, a form of Participatory Action Research, may dilute or even dissolve social hierarchies and challenge assumptions about practices and constraints in this care setting, thereby opening up possibilities for transformation that enhances the therapeutic value of the space for patients and care providers alike. By occasioning a liminal phase of possibility for change, the work of one co-design group explored in detail here suggests that, in this process, the sociomaterial interactions involving patients, family members, staff, and the physical space are refashioned and re-inscribed in transformed 'emplaced' relationships of care

Exile Vol. XXVIII No. 1

Group Poems From Sake Circle / Monologue. Polylogue. Mollylogue. (or: A musing of young writer as a poor man. Hee hee hee.) by Chris Brougham Untitled Prose by Chris Paul In A Room by Robert F. Youngblood The Escape by Anne Gilson Untitled Poem by Becky Hinshaw A Cruel Hand by Chad Hussey Shaking Heads in Copley Square by Gregory MacDonald The Coming Age by Lynn Greene Seduction by Jacqueline Ondy Pointless Polarities by Ruth Wick The Ladies From The Fairmont Unitarian Church Poverty Relief Fund by Sharon S. McCartney Confessions of a Book Burner by Andy Acker The Congress of the Gods by Tage Danielsson (translated by Ari Kokko) Marble Bags by Mike Augusta Monsters by Sharon S. McCartney Unction by Bruce Leonard Dust of Allah by Andy Acker Buffalo Mountain by Sharon S. McCartney One Marriage by Becky Hinshaw Experience by Barry Pailet The Wings by Leonora Cravotta The Tale of Frankenstein\u27s Average by Tage Danielsson (translated by Ari Kokko) Want by Roger Butler / Cornpoem by Mike Augusta Cover Drawing By Peter Brook