Fish protein concentrates in the treatment of kwashiorkor

Fifty-seven children suffering from kwashiorkor were hospitalized and given diets in which the major source of protein was from either fish protein concentrate (FPC) or skim milk. Diets containing fish protein concentrates were not well accepted by a large proportion of the children. In those who did consume it, both the clinical and biochemical responses compared favorably with those obtained in children receiving the diets containing skim milk, except for the increase in body weight after the disappearance of edema. Analysis of the cooked diets showed that the amounts of available lysine were lower in the FPC diets than in the skim milk diets. However, supplementation studies, using pure l-lysine, suggested that the lower gain in body weight could not be ascribed to this factor. Fish flour does not appear to be a satisfactory substitute for skim milk in the treatment of kwashiorkor, not only because of its non-acceptance by a large number of children but also because of its inability to promote body weight gains

Kwashiorkor and mental development

Nineteen children successfully treated for kwashiorkor were followed up to see the effect of early malnutrition on growth and mental functions. These children were compared with appropriately matched controls selected from the same locality and the school from which the experimental children were derived. These controls were matched for age, sex, religion, caste, socioeconomic status, family size, birth order, and educational level of the parents and the subjects. Suitable intelligence tests and sensory development tests were constructed and these tests were applied to both the experimental and control groups of children. In addition to these tests, anthropometric measurements were also taken on all children. The salient features of the study are: a) There was a significant difference between the performance of the control and the experimental subjects with regard to the intelligence tests. This difference was particularly marked in the younger age group (8-9 years) and tended to diminish in the older age group (10-11 years). b) Intersensory organization was poorer in the experimental subjects than in the control subjects. The performance in the intersensory tests was markedly poorer in the younger age group and tended to improve in the older age group (10-11 years). c) The retardation was noticeable mainly with regard to perceptual and abstract abilities

Hypocholesteremic effect of phenoxybenzamine (Dibenzyline), an adrenergic blocking agent: experimental studies with monkeys and human volunteers

The effect of an orally effective adrenergic blocking agent, Dibenzyline, on serum cholesterol levels was studied in human subjects and in monkeys on high-fat diets. In addition, the effect of the phenoxyethyl analogue of Dibenzyline, G-D 131, was also investigated in monkeys. The studies showed that the increase in serum cholesterol level brought about by a high-fat diet in monkeys could be considerably reduced by supplementation with Dibenzyline. This hypocholesteremic action was also observed with the analogue of Dibenzyline, G-D 131, which does not possess the adrenergic blocking property. It appears, therefore, that the hypocholesteremic action of Dibenzyline is independent of its adrenergic blocking activity. When a high-fat diet which also contained a high amount of cholesterol was used, Dibenzyline retarded the increase in serum cholesterol of monkeys for a considerable length of time. Administration of Dibenzyline, 10 mg. daily for 11 days, brought about a fall in serum cholesterol in two of the three human subjects and arrested the further increase in serum cholesterol in the third subject on a high-butterfat diet. All the subjects showed increased fecal elimination of cholic and dihydroxycholanic acids during the Dibenzyline-supplemented period, suggesting that the hypocholesteremic effect of the drug is at least partly mediated through increased elimination of cholesterol as bile acids

Biochemical changes in the skin in kwashiorkor

The total nitrogen, dermal nitrogen, and collagen nitrogen content of the skin and the amino acid pattern of the dermis were determined in the skin obtained from 10 normal children and in 19 children suffering from kwashiorkor, 7 of whom had characteristic cutaneous lesions. The skin of children with kwashiorkor had lower levels of total nitrogen, dermal nitrogen, and collagen nitrogen compared with normal children, and the reduction in all these components was of a greater magnitude in children who had cutaneous lesions. There was a significant reduction in the hydroxyproline content of the dermis in all children and a rise in the arginine and ammonia content. In the dermis of children with cutaneous lesions, hydroxyproline, tyrosine, proline, and glycine levels were lowered. These findings provide a biochemical explanation for the occurrence of cutaneous lesions in kwashiorkor

Pattern of nicotinamide nucleotides in the erythrocytes of pellagrins

Nicotinamide nucleotides in the erythrocytes of normal human subjects and of patients suffering from pellagra were separated by paper chromatography and their concentrations determined. Though no differences were observed in the concentration of total nicotinamide nucleotides in erythrocytes of pellagrins and normals, significant differences were observed with regard to concentration of the individual nucleotides. The erythrocytes of pellagrins had significantly higher amounts of NMN than the erythrocytes of normal subjects, while levels of NAD and NADP tended to be lower in the pellagrins as compared to normals

Effect of the mode of feeding of fats on serum cholesterol levels and plasma fibrinolytic activity of monkeys

The effects of "continuous" and "intermittent" feeding of a high fat diet to two groups of monkeys have been compared. Although the food intake was nearly the same in both groups, body weight was higher in animals fed intermittently that in those fed continuously at the end of the experimental period. This difference, however, was not statistically significant. Serum cholesterol concentration was significantly higher and plasma fibrinolytic activity significantly lower in the intermittently fed group than in the continuously fed group. The results indicate the importance of the mode of distribution of fat in the daily diet

Development Discourse and Practice: Alternatives and New Directions from Postcolonial Perspectives

Development and aid programs, such as those aimed at promoting economic growth and prosperity in ‘Third World’ nations and transition economies, often arise out of Western and neo-liberal policy ideologies and practices. These programs may, in some cases, provide useful guidelines for restructuring institutional structures and governance mechanisms in nations that have long struggled with poverty, economic instability, health crises, and social and political turmoil. However, a growing number of critical voices are raising concerns over the guiding assumptions and inclusiveness of these policies and programs in their aims to promote economic development and social well-being in non-Western nations. We join these critical perspectives by way of postcolonial frameworks to highlight some of the problematic assumptions and oversights of development programs, while offering new alternatives and directions. By doing so, we contribute to organizational theorizing in a global context, as postcolonial insights provide much needed engagement with international aid policies and programs, as well as development organizations and institutions. To accomplish this, we offer a historical perspective on development, present a critique of the policies and practices guiding many aid programs, and conclude with suggestions emanating from postcoloniality

The proximate composition of three marine pelagic fish: blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou), boarfish (Capros aper) and Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus)

peer reviewedThis study presents data from an in-depth proximate compositional analysis of three marine fish species: blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou), boarfish (Capros aper) and Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus). These fish contained significant amounts of protein (16–17%), lipids (4–11%) and minerals (2–6% ash). The proteins, particularly from boarfish, had close to optimum amino acid profiles for human and fish nutrition. They compared favourably with other fish species in terms of total lipids and relative concentration of the omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid (11.8–13.3% and 5.9–8.1% in triacylglycerols [TG] and 24.6–35.4% and 5.8–12.0% in phospholipids [PL]). Atlantic herring had the highest lipid content among the three fish and was found to contain high levels of PL poly-unsaturated fatty acids, including omega-3 fatty acids. Minerals detected in the fish included calcium (272–1,520 mg/100 g), phosphorus (363–789 mg/100 g), iron (1.07–2.83 mg/100 g), magnesium (40.70–62.10 mg/100 g), potassium (112.00–267.00 mg/100 g), selenium (0.04–0.06 mg/100 g), sodium (218.00–282.00 mg/100 g) and zinc (1.29–5.57 mg/100 g). Boarfish had the highest ash fraction and also the highest levels of all the minerals, except potassium. Atlantic herring had considerably lower mineral content compared with the other two species and, levels detected were also lower than those reported in previously published studies. Heavy metals contents were quantified, and levels were significantly below the maximum allowable limits for all elements except arsenic, which ranged from 1.34 to 2.44 mg/kg in the three fish species. Data outlined here will be useful for guiding product development. Future studies would benefit from considering catch season, sex and developmental stage of the fish

Nutritional oedema in children

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