Calixarene bulk modified screen-printed electrodes (SPCCEs) as a one-shot disposable sensor for the simultaneous detection of lead(II), copper(II) and mercury(II) ions: Application to environmental samples

Calixarene bulk modified screen-printed electrodes (SPCCEs) have been designed, fabricated and utilized as one-shot disposable electrochemical sensors towards the simultaneous measurement of toxic metal ions lead(II), copper(II) and mercury(II) within environmental samples. These SPCCEs have been fabricated upon polyester strips, which have been modified over a range of different calixarene compositions. These bespoke sensors have been utilized as disposable electrochemical sensors and quantified in model aqueous solution of 0.1 M HCl giving rise to the simultaneous sensing of lead(II), copper(II) and mercury(II) using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry techniques. These SPCCEs have additionally been applied for the sensing of lead(II), copper(II) and mercury(II) within industrial and environmental samples such as industrial effluents and wastewater samples, furthermore the presented method has been subjected to a comprehensive interference study and further validated with an atomic absorption spectrometric method. © 2017 Elsevier B.V

Figure 1. Self Centering Steady Rest. Case Study On Circularity Deviation Of Top Arm Holes In Self Centering Steady Rest

Abstract: A study conducted in an Small and Medium scale Enterprise (SME) revealed that a Vertical Milling Centre (VMC) frequently faces circularity deviations while machining the Arm of a Self Centering Steady Rest. A cause and effect analysis is carried out to determine the probable causes of deviations. Further more a statistical analysis of the deviations using ANOVA revealed that the circularity deviations are related to the linear worktable movement of the VMC. In order to overcome the deviations VMC was recalibrated. After recalibration of VMC, an analysis on new sample revealed that there was no circularity deviations observed beyond the specified tolerance limits

Dietary Inflammatory Index and Renal Cell Carcinoma Risk in an Italian Case-Control Study

Background: The relation between diet-related inflammation and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has not been investigated. Methods: In this study, we explored the association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and RCC in an Italian case-control study conducted between 1992 and 2004. Cases were 767 patients with incident, histologically confirmed RCC. Controls were 1534 subjects admitted to the same hospitals as cases for various acute, nonneoplastic conditions. The DII was computed based on dietary intake assessed using a reproducible and valid 78-item food frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated through logistic regression models conditioned on age, sex, and center, and adjusted for recognized confounding factors, including total energy intake. Results: Subjects in the highest quartile of DII scores (i.e., with the most proinflammatory diets) had a higher risk of RCC compared to subjects in the lowest quartile [OR 1.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02, 1.97; p-trend = 0.04)]. Apparently stronger associations were observed among females (OR 1.68, 95% CI 0.93, 3.03), subjects aged <60yr (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.05, 2.98), body mass index 25 kg/m(2) (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.07, 2.51), and ever smokers (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.08, 2.57), in the absence of significant heterogeneity. Conclusion: A proinflammatory diet is associated with increased RCC risk

Association between the inflammatory potential of diet and stress among female college students

A pro-inflammatory diet may have an adverse influence on stress and inflammatory biomarker levels among college students. The dietary inflammatory index (DII®) is a tool used to assess the inflammatory potential of a diet. However, evidence for the association between DII and stress is limited. We examined the association between energy-adjusted DII (E-DIITM), high sensitivity-C-reactive protein [hs-CRP], and stress among female college students. This cross-sectional study included 401 randomly selected female students, aged 19-35 years. Data collection included blood, anthropometric measurements, a healthy-history questionnaire, the perceived stress scale (PSS-10), the Saudi food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and E-DII. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine the association between FFQ-derived E-DII score, hs-CRP, and PSS. A higher E-DII score per 1SD (1.8) was associated with a 2.4-times higher PSS score (95% CI: 1.8, 3.1). Higher hs-CRP per 1SD (3.3 mg/L) was associated with a 0.9 (95% CI: 0.7-1.1) times higher PSS score, independent of lifestyle and dietary factors. Our findings indicate that pro-inflammatory diets were highly prevalent among Saudi college students and were associated with higher stress levels. Consideration of the role of stress and focusing on anti-inflammatory foods may be key for healthier dietary habits

Diet quality and a traditional dietary pattern predict lean mass in Australian women: Longitudinal data from the Geelong Osteoporosis Study

Low muscle mass is associated with reduced independence and increased risk for falls and fractures. Identification of modifiable risk factors for low muscle mass is thus imperative. This study aimed to examine the longitudinal relationship between both diet quality and patterns and lean mass in Australian women. Data from n = 494 participants of the Geelong Osteoporosis Study's 10- and 15-year women's follow-ups were used (conducted in 2004–08 and 2011–14, respectively), and participants were aged 21–89 years. Self-reported lifestyle and demographics were collected, and food frequency questionnaire data informed the dietary exposure variables: the Australian Recommended Food Score (ARFS); the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII); and a posteriori dietary patterns. The outcome, Skeletal Muscle Index (SMI), was calculated from DXA-derived appendicular lean mass (ALM) relative to height (ALM kg/m2). Analyses employed Generalised Estimating Equations. A higher ARFS score positively predicted SMI over 5-years, and adjustments for age and physical activity did not attenuate this relationship (B:0.044, (95%CI 0.004, 0.084) kg/m2). Following adjustment, both an anti-inflammatory diet (B:-0.034, (95%CI −0.070, −0.002) kg/m2) and a ‘traditional’ dietary pattern predicted higher SMI (B:0.081, (95%CI 0.004, 0.158) kg/m2). No other associations were observed. Our study reinforces the importance of diet quality for healthy, aging muscle mass. Furthermore, a less inflammatory diet and a diet comprising a wide variety of plant and animal foods may be conducive to maintenance of muscle mass in women. Further studies investigating diet quality's impact on various muscle health measures over longer time periods are warranted

Proinflammatory diet is associated with increased risk of squamous cell head and neck cancer

Diets high in fruits and vegetables and low in red meat intake have been associated with decreased risk of head and neck cancer. Additionally, chronic inflammation pathways and their association with cancer have been widely described. We hypothesized a proinflammatory diet, as measured by the dietary inflammatory index (DII®), is associated with increased risk of head and neck cancer. We used the Carolina Head and Neck Cancer (CHANCE) study, a population-based case–control study of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Cases were recruited from a 46-county region in central North Carolina. Controls, frequency-matched on age, race, and sex were identified through the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicle records. The DII score, adjusted for energy using the density approach (E-DII), was calculated from a food frequency questionnaire and split into four quartiles based on the distribution among controls. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were estimated with unconditional logistic regression. Cases had higher E-DII scores (i.e., a more proinflammatory diet) compared with controls (mean: −0.14 vs. −1.50; p value &lt; 0.001). When compared with the lowest quartile, the OR for the highest quartile was 2.91 (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.16–3.95), followed by 1.93 (95% CI: 1.43–2.62) for the third quartile, and 1.37 (95% CI: 1.00–1.89) for the second quartile. Both alcohol and smoking had a significant additive interaction with E-DII (smoking relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI): 2.83; 95% CI: 1.36–4.30 and alcohol RERI: 1.75; 95% CI: 0.77–2.75). These results provide additional evidence for the association between proinflammatory diet and head and neck cancer

Dietary inflammatory index and inflammatory biomarkers in adolescents from LabMed physical activity study

Background/objectives The dietary inflammatory index (DII) is a tool to measure the diet’s inflammatory potential and has been used with adults to predict low-grade inflammation. The present study aims to assess whether this dietary score predicts low-grade inflammation in adolescents. Subjects/methods The sample comprises 329 adolescents (55.9% girls), aged 12–18 years, from LabMed Physical Activity Study. DII score was calculated based on a food-frequency questionnaire and categorized into tertiles. We collected blood samples to determine the follow inflammatory biomarkers: C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), complement component 3 (C3), and 4 (C4). In addition we calculated an overall inflammatory biomarker score. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were computed from binary logistic regression models. Results DII score, comparing first with third tertile, was positively associated with IL-6 in crude model (OR = 1.88, 95% CI:1.09–3.24, ptrend = 0.011) and in fully adjusted (for biological and lifestyle variables) (OR = 3.38, 95%CI:1.24–9.20, ptrend = 0.023). Also, DII score was positively associated with C4, when fully adjusted (OR = 3.12, 95%CI:1.21–8.10, ptrend = 0.016). DII score was negatively associated with C3 in crude model, comparing first with second but not with third tertile, and no significant associations in fully adjusted model were observed, although a trend was found (OR = 1.71, 95% CI:0.63–4.66, ptrend = 0.044). No significant associations were observed between DII score and CRP. However, DII score was positively associated with the overall inflammatory biomarker score, when fully adjusted (OR = 5.61, 95% CI:2.00–15.78, ptrend = 0.002). Conclusions DII score can be useful to assess the diet’s inflammatory potential and its association with low-grade inflammation in adolescents.The authors gratefully acknowledged the participation of all adolescents and their parents, teachers and schools of the LabMed and Physical Activity Study, the cooperation of volunteer’s, the Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology (University of Porto) for the conversion food frequency questionnaire data into nutrients, and the Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (University of Porto) for the sponsoring the LabMed and Physical Activity Study.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Dietary inflammatory index and prevalence of overweight and obesity in Brazilian graduates from the Cohort of Universities of Minas Gerais (CUME project)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the independent association of the dietary inflammatory index (DII ) score with overweight and obesity in Brazilian participants of the Cohort of Universities of Minas Gerais (CUME project). Methods: This was a cross-sectional study consisting of 3,151 graduates and postgraduates (2197 women) with a mean (SD) age of 36.3 y (§9.4 y). Sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, and anthropometric data were assessed via online self-reported questionnaire. Additionally, a validated food frequency questionnaire with 144 food items was used to generate energy-adjusted DII (E-DIITM) scores, which evaluated the inflammatory potential of the diet. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity were 28.2% and 11%, respectively. Participants in the highest E-DII quartile (most proinflammatory diet) were more likely to be smokers/former smokers; sedentary; and consumers of red and ultra-processed meats, fats and oils (excluding olive oil), bottled fruit juices and soft drinks, sugars, sweets, and higher overall caloric intake, compared with the first quartile of E-DII. Both men and women in the fourth E-DII quartile had the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity (prevalence ratio [PR], 1.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14 1.59 and PR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.20 3.22, respectively, in men; PR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.17 to 1.65 and PR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.31 2.90, respectively, in women). Conclusion: The most proinflammatory dietary pattern was associated with a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity and other unhealthy lifestyles including being sedentary, smoking, and consuming a obesogenic diet

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF HERBAL GEL CONTAINING Allium cepa EXTRACT

Herbal medicines widely improved for primary health care because of better cultural acceptability and better compatibility with human body and lesser side effects. The aim of present study was to formulate and evaluate of herbal gel containing Allium cepa extract. Topical gel formulation was designed by using Allium cepa extract and carbopol 934 as a gelling agent and different excipients. The herbaceous plant Allium cepa (onion). It has great health significance and is consumed for nutritional and health benefits for last centuries. It contains flavonoids compound. Plant extract used for prevention of hair loss. Raw onion eaten in salad form this is play very important role in health benefits. Gel was prepared by incorporating extract of Allium cepa in gel at a particular step in order to prepare non greasy formulation. Gel Formulation F3 Batch was optimized in the concentration 1.5% of Carbopol 934. Different gel formulations were evaluated for their physical appearance; pH, Spreadability, Homogeneity in-vitro diffusion ,Viscosity and Drug Excipients comparability study are carried out