Vitamin Values of Foods in Hawaii

Many of the data on the vitamin content of foods grown, used, and/or produced in Hawaii which are given in this bulletin were first published in mimeographed form in April. 1942, by the Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Station, as Progress Notes No. 36 to make available information on local and semitropical foods that might be of use in connect ion with food planning during the war. Because of the many requests for these Notes, a revision with some additional data was published in June, 1944. This bulletin includes all data contained in Progress Notes No. 36, material that could not be included at that time, and material which has accumulated since.In addition to many familiar American foods. there are available in Hawaii many foods of tropical and semitropical origin and foods characteristic of the diets of the racial groups which make up the population of the Islands. To provide information about the vitamin content of these foods, which are not included in published tables but which are of importance in local diets, and to determine the comparative vitamin value of fruits and vegetables produced locally with those produced elsewhere, a general survey of the vitamin values of foods in Hawaii was undertaken. The results of this survey are presented in this bulletin. Following a brief discussion of the vitamins and their importance in nutrition, and a statement of the methods used, the vitamin A, vitamin B1 (thiamine), and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) contents of a large number of foods are summarized in table form, with a brief discussion of the resuits. Results are also given for some detailed ascorbic acid studies and for a few foods tested for vitamin D. Detailed supporting data are included in the appendix

Na, K-ATPase α3 is a death target of Alzheimer patient amyloid-β assembly

Neurodegeneration correlates with Alzheimer's disease (AD) symptoms, but the molecular identities of pathogenic amyloid β-protein (Aβ) oligomers and their targets, leading to neurodegeneration, remain unclear. Amylospheroids (ASPD) are AD patient-derived 10- to 15-nm spherical Aβ oligomers that cause selective degeneration of mature neurons. Here, we show that the ASPD target is neuron-specific Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase α3 subunit (NAKα3). ASPD-binding to NAKα3 impaired NAKα3-specific activity, activated N-type voltage-gated calcium channels, and caused mitochondrial calcium dyshomeostasis, tau abnormalities, and neurodegeneration. NMR and molecular modeling studies suggested that spherical ASPD contain N-terminal-Aβ-derived "thorns" responsible for target binding, which are distinct from low molecular-weight oligomers and dodecamers. The fourth extracellular loop (Ex4) region of NAKα3 encompassing Asn(879) and Trp(880) is essential for ASPD-NAKα3 interaction, because tetrapeptides mimicking this Ex4 region bound to the ASPD surface and blocked ASPD neurotoxicity. Our findings open up new possibilities for knowledge-based design of peptidomimetics that inhibit neurodegeneration in AD by blocking aberrant ASPD-NAKα3 interaction

Detection of Transgenes in Gene Delivery Model Mice by Adenoviral Vector Using ddPCR

With the rapid progress of genetic engineering and gene therapy, the World Anti-Doping Agency has been alerted to gene doping and prohibited its use in sports. However, there is no standard method available yet for the detection of transgenes delivered by recombinant adenoviral (rAdV) vectors. Here, we aim to develop a detection method for transgenes delivered by rAdV vectors in a mouse model that mimics gene doping. These rAdV vectors containing the mCherry gene was delivered in mice through intravenous injection or local muscular injection. After five days, stool and whole blood samples were collected, and total DNA was extracted. As additional experiments, whole blood was also collected from the mouse tail tip until 15 days from injection of the rAdv vector. Transgene fragments from different DNA samples were analyzed using semi-quantitative PCR (sqPCR), quantitative PCR (qPCR), and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). In the results, transgene fragments could be directly detected from blood cell fraction DNA, plasma cell-free DNA, and stool DNA by qPCR and ddPCR, depending on specimen type and injection methods. We observed that a combination of blood cell fraction DNA and ddPCR was more sensitive than other combinations used in this model. These results could accelerate the development of detection methods for gene doping

Foods Used by Filipinos in Hawaii

The study this bulletin was based upon examined the foods and dietary habits of Filipinos in the low-income category in Hawaii. Many of the plants described were relatively unusual home-garden species brought by immigrants from the Philippines. Plants discussed included winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonoloba), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), and bitter melon (Moringa); mention was also made of Hawaiian sea weeds. Recipes for Filipino dishes (bagoong, dinengdeng, and others) were given, as were nutrient and vitamin contents of the foods