Dietary patterns and adult asthma: population-based case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies of diet and asthma have focused on relations with intakes of individual nutrients and foods and evidence has been conflicting. Few studies have examined associations with dietary patterns. METHODS: We carried out a population-based case-control study of asthma in adults aged between 16 and 50 in South London, UK. Information about usual diet was obtained by food frequency questionnaire and we used principal components analysis to define five dietary patterns in controls. We used logistic and linear regression, controlling for confounders, to relate these patterns to asthma, asthma severity, rhinitis and chronic bronchitis in 599 cases and 854 controls. RESULTS: Overall, there was weak evidence that a 'vegetarian' dietary pattern was positively associated with asthma [adjusted odds ratio comparing top vs bottom quintile of pattern score 1.43 (95% CI: 0.93-2.20), P trend 0.075], and a 'traditional' pattern (meat and vegetables) was negatively associated [OR 0.68 (0.45-1.03), P trend 0.071]. These associations were stronger amongst nonsupplement users (P trend 0.030 and 0.001, respectively), and the association with the 'vegetarian' pattern was stronger amongst whites (P trend 0.008). No associations were observed with asthma severity. A 'prudent' dietary pattern (wholemeal bread, fish and vegetables) was positively associated with chronic bronchitis [OR 2.61 (1.13-6.05), P trend 0.025], especially amongst nonsupplement users (P trend 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Overall there were no clear relations between dietary patterns and adult asthma; associations in nonsupplement users and whites require confirmation. The finding for chronic bronchitis was unexpected and also requires replication

Antiulcerative Properties of Cabbage Juice on Indomethacin Induced Ulcer in Albino Rats

Cabbage (Brassica oleracae) is a leafy green biennal plant widely used as spice all over the world. It is usually grown as an annual vegetable crop and is available in various shades of green, as well as purple varieties. When cabbage is shredded and blended, it gives pure cabbage juice. Cabbage juice contains beta-carotene, vitamin C and fiber. This present study investigates the antiulcerative properties of cabbage juice on indomethacin- induced ulcer in adult wister rats. A total of twenty – five (25) male albino rats weighing between 120g – 160g was used for this study and were randomly selected into five (5) groups of six (6) rats per group.Gastric ulceration was induced in the animals by oral administration of 30mg/kg of indomethacin in all the groups of animals after fasting them for 24hours. they were deprived of food but had free access to water 24 hours prior to ulcer induction. Various degrees of ulceration have manifested in four hours after indomethacin administration. The animals were anaesthetized using diethylether and stomach was incised along the greater curvature and ulceration were scored. Data were analyzed using SPSS (Version 16) software package. The result shows that Brassica oleracae juice had a more significant healing effect at 750mg/kg than the other treated groups when compared with control, , this healing effect of the extract is as a result of the nutritional constituent (L-glutamine, S-methylmethionine, gefarnate and L-arginine).&nbsp

Improvement of diabetic dyslipidemia by legumes in experimental rats

Grain legumes are a valuable source of food proteins; hence, their exploitation is expected to grow in relation to a growing world's food needs. Apart from high level of dietary fibre, their protein composition makes them useful in managing diabetes. This paper reports a study conducted to evaluate the effects of four different non-soy legume-based (Vigna unguiculata ssp. dekindtiana var dekindtiana, Vigna unguiculata ssp. unguiculata, Sphenostylis stenocarpa and Vigna subterranea) diets in rats administered with alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg bodyweight). Concentration of plasma glucose, triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and HDL-triacyglycerol as well as hepatic levels of cholesterol and triacylglycerols were determined spectrophotometrically in alloxan-induced diabetic rats fed on these legumes for five weeks. Induction of rats with alloxan monohydrate led to significant (p<0.05) elevation of fasting plasma glucose and reduction in body weight. Consumption of each of the four legumes led to a significant reduction in the fasting plasma glucose concentrations in the diabetic rats (p<0.05) with V. subterranean causing about 60% reduction. Vigna unguiculata ssp. dekindtiana var dekindtiana and Sphenostylis stenocarpa caused a reversal of the diabetes-induced reduction of hepatic cholesterol (p<0.05). Plasma dyslipidemia was observed in the alloxan-induced diabetic rats as significant (p<0.05) increases in total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, HDL-cholesterol, HDL-triacylglycerols and LDL-cholesterol levels were observed. The legumes improved the plasma lipid profile as shown by a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the ratios of total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol (ranging from 1.25-2.25 for control groups to 1.00-1.35 for the legume-fed groups) and LDL-Cholesterol/HDL-Cholesterol (ranging from 0.50-1.75 for control groups to 0.50-0.75 for the legume fed groups). The results suggest that wild cowpea, white cowpea, african yam bean and bambara groundnut equally reversed diabetes-associated dyslipidemia as indicated by the indexes of cardiovascular disorder. This, therefore, underscores the potential of these underutilized legumes in managing dyslipidemia associated with diabetes in experimental rats. These data should contribute toward enhancing the nutraceutical potential and utility of these legumes.Keywords: Diabetes, lipid profile, rats, legumesAfrican Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, Volume 13 No. 2, April 201

Functional Cellular Anti-Tumor Mechanisms are Augmented by Genetic Proteoglycan Targeting.

While recent research points to the importance of glycans in cancer immunity, knowledge on functional mechanisms is lacking. In lung carcinoma among other tumors, anti-tumor immunity is suppressed; and while some recent therapies boost T-cell mediated immunity by targeting immune-checkpoint pathways, robust responses are uncommon. Augmenting tumor antigen-specific immune responses by endogenous dendritic cells (DCs) is appealing from a specificity standpoint, but challenging. Here, we show that restricting a heparan sulfate (HS) loss-of-function mutation in the HS sulfating enzyme Ndst1 to predominantly conventional DCs (Ndst1f/f CD11cCre+ mutation) results in marked inhibition of Lewis lung carcinoma growth along with increased tumor-associated CD8+ T cells. In mice deficient in a major DC HS proteoglycan (syndecan-4), splenic CD8+ T cells showed increased anti-tumor cytotoxic responses relative to controls. Studies examining Ndst1f/f CD11cCre + mutants revealed that mutation was associated with an increase in anti-tumor cytolysis using either splenic CD8+ T cells or tumor-infiltrating (TIL) CD8+ T cells purified ex-vivo, and tested in pooled effector-to-target cytolytic assays against tumor cells from respective animals. On glycan compositional analysis, HS purified from Ndst1f/f CD11cCre + mutant DCs had reduced overall sulfation, including reduced sulfation of a tri-sulfated disaccharide species that was intriguingly abundant on wildtype DC HS. Interestingly, antigen presentation in the context of major histocompatibility complex class-I (MHC-I) was enhanced in mutant DCs, with more striking effects in the setting of HS under-sulfation, pointing to a likely regulatory role by sulfated glycans at the antigen/MHC-I - T-cell interface; and possibly future opportunities to improve antigen-specific T cell responses by immunologic targeting of HS proteoglycans in cancer

Causes and Architectural Solution to Heat and Nonconducive Air Condition in the Congregation Space of Worship Facilities

Passive Solar building aspire to maintain interior thermal comfort allthrough the sun’s daily and annual cycles at the same time as reducing the requirement for active cooling and heating systems. Passive solar building design is one fraction of green building design and does not consist of active systems such as mechanical ventilation or photovoltaic; on this premise of green solution lay architectural explanations and way out of the problems of heat and non conducive air condition in interior spaces irrespective of the facility type and use. This paper outlines the importance of creating and or finding green resolutions to thermal discomfort using the tool of architecture rather than machines in congregation spaces. It also reveals the demonstration/ case study of an existing worship facility experiencing severe internal thermal discomfort during worship activities, including processes required to finding solution against such challenges.Key words- Heat and Insulatio

Perencanaan Manajemen Lanskap Zonasi Destinasi Wisata Budaya Kota Tua Jakarta

Kota Tua is just like other historical old towns in various cities in developing countries, generally preserved even put to improve simultaneously historic and economic value of sustainable revitalization program which involves all stakeholders. The historical value and the architecture of the Kota Tua Jakarta are no less attractive compred to other cities in the world. Thus, Kota Tua has become a historical mainstay tourism destination objects for Jakarta and has broad potential to bring a lot of domestic and foreign tourists. Study on this research describes the identification of direction of planning and development of landscape management in historical tourism destinations of Kota Tua Jakarta. After conducting various studies and literature, then the spatial obtained existing condition, studies the potential of historical tourism, studies history, typology and building reserves, cultural space and Setup zoning patterns, which can be used for consideration and direction for management zoning landscape historical tourism in Kota Tua Jakarta

Analisis Sistem Informasi yang Sedang Berjalan dan Rencana Proyek E-Procurement dengan Pendekatan Metode New Information Economics

PT PLN (Persero) is a state owned which manages the biggest electricity businesses that cover the entire territory of Indonesia. His position is very potential for the Indonesian public life requires that PLN is able to manage the investment means the supply of electricity to customers. This is done with the information systems that support business processes in the body of PLN. PT PLN (Persero) has some application systems, infrastructure, service, and management used to increase the ability of the company. In PLN, there is an application that is capable of supporting PLN to conduct the procurement process is procurement information system (e-procurement). PSI Sub-party service providers as e-procurement to see investment information system (SI) and Information Technology (IT) which is proportional to the amount issued benefits and bottom-line impact for companies and can find out the level of funds / investment budgets and alignment of Information Technology there is a project in accordance with company requirements. Those needs based on business needs and applications currently running in the intersection so as to project better. Based on this, the author proposes to analyze the benefits of information technology investments by using the method of New Information Economics (NIE) that combines the two approaches both financial and non-financial. In the method NIE (New Information Economics) will be used four of the five practices that NIE Strategic Demand / Supply Planning, Innovation, Prioritization, and Alignment. The results are expected to help the company to allocate investments SI / IT is more appropriate and supports the company\u27s performance, especially in providing added value to the parties concerned