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Abstract : Preventive Effects of Health-Food Drinks on the Obesity and DNA Damage of Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet under a Mild Stress
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Abstract: The body weight gain of mice fed an obesity-inducing diet is suppressed by a mild restraint stress, but at the same time, as previously reported, the stress induces DNA damage in the cells of multiple organs. In the present study, we attempted to prevent not only the obesity but also the DNA damage of mice fed an obesity-inducing diet under a mild restraint with commercially available health-food drinks such as fruit and vegetable juices, soymilks, vinegars and lactic acid bacteria drinks, which are rich in antioxidants. The body weight gain of young female mice fed a high-fat diet containing 20% fat for 4 weeks was considerably inhibited by restraint for 15 min per day in weeks 2 to 4 of 4-week period. The inhibition was further promoted with the concomitant administration of health-food drinks noted above, and was accompanied by a decrease of periovular fat, a major abdominal fat in the female mice. The definite loss of energy intake in the mice given health-food drinks was approximately compensated by the energy of the drink administered. On the other hand, the increase of DNA damage generated by restraint in the cells of five organs – the liver, pancreas, spleen, heart and bone marrow – was markedly suppressed with the administration of these drinks. The results suggest that a combination of mild stress and intake of suitable health-food containing some antioxidants may inhibit lifestyle-related diseases including hyperlipidemia and obesity, which may contribute to the inhibition of metabolic syndrome and childhood obesity. Keywords: health-food drinks, high-fat diet, restraint stress, obesity, DNA damage, dyslipidemia. |
Abstract : Relationship between Ponderal Index, Mid-Arm Circumference/ Head Circumference Ratio and Clinical Assessment of Nutritional Status Score (CANSCORE) in the Determination of Nutritional Status of Newborn at Birth in Nigeria
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Abstract: Background: Early and accurate assessment of the nutritional status of newborns is important to many clinicians because of the potential immediate and late sequelae of malnutrition. Objective: To assess the relationship between different methods of assessing the nutritional status of neonates. Methods: Subjects were consecutive, live, singleton, full term neonates delivered in the hospital. The birth weights, Ponderal index, Mid arm circumference/head circumference ratio, birth weight for gestational age using intrauterine growth charts and Clinical Assessment of Fetal Nutritional Status Score (CANSCORE) were used to determine the nutritional status in the first 24 hours of life. Results: Of 386 subjects, 172 (44.6%) were males and 214 (55.4%) females. Nutritional status assessment using various indices showed the following prevalence of malnutrition: using birth weights, 54 (14.0%) were LBW; MAC/HC ratio showed 56 (14.5%), with PI, 64(16.6%), weight for gestational age, 112(29.0%) were SGA and CANSCORE showed 90(23.3%) as malnourished among the babies.MAC/HC showed a better specificity and had a more positive correlation than PI when compared to CANSCORE whilst PI showed a better sensitivity than MAC/HC when evaluated against CANSCORE. Conclusions: Prevalence of FM is high in this study. Intrauterine growth charts and CANSCORE appeared to identify more babies with FM than other methods. CANSCORE in this study has revealed the rising trend in the prevalence of FM when compared with other studies with similar methodology. Early routine assessment of the nutritional status of newborns should be carried out so as to reduce the risk of increased morbidity and mortality associated with fetal malnutrition. Keywords: Ponderal index, Mid-arm circumference/head circumference ratio, CANSCORE, Nigeria. |
Abstract : HIV Sero-Prevalence among Infants Attending Immunization Centers in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State, Southern, Nigeria
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Abstract: Introduction: Pediatric Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection accounts for over 2.3% of all pediatric infections. Many HIV-infected infants are not identified until they develop symptoms and present with illness at health facilities. However, the six weeks immunization visit provides an opportunity for HIV-infected mothers and their exposed infants to be identified before symptoms occur. This study was therefore conducted to determine the HIV status of infants attending immunization clinics in Calabar with a view to enrolling them into treatment. Subjects and Method: This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in two Local Government Areas of Calabar consisting 22 selected immunization centers. Using the multistage sampling method, 330 infants were screened. Ethical clearance was obtained from the supervising Ministry of Health. Rapid test was conducted, reactive specimens had Deoxyribonucleic Acid Polymerase Chain Reaction (DNA PCR) done using Dried Blood Spots (DBS). Results: A total of 330 infants aged 6 to 14 weeks were recruited, 173 (52.4%) were males while 157(47.6%) were females giving male to female ratio of 1.1:1. Mean age of the infants was 9.20 ± 3.1 weeks. Twenty four (24) tested positive for HIV antibodies, after HIV DNA PCR test, 14(4.2%) infants were infected. Antenatal care registration (ANC) and maternal ANC HIV status were statistically significant P=0.03 and P= 0.02 respectively. Conclusion: HIV exposed and infected infants are still been missed and only diagnosed later in life. Therefore, maternal HIV status determination and early diagnosis at immunization centers is recommended to bridge the Prevention of Mother To child Transmission (PMTCT) gap. Keywords: DBS, HIV, Infants, DNA PCR, PMTCT, ARV. |
Abstract : Relating Use of Effective Responsive, Structure, and Non-Directive Control Vegetable Parenting Practices to Subscales from the Model of Goal Directed Behavior
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Abstract: Parents may positively influence children’s vegetable consumption through effective vegetable parenting practices (VPP). Research has demonstrated three dimensions of effective VPP: Effective Responsiveness, Structure, and Non-Directive Control, but there is limited research investigating each separately. This study presents the modeling of Effective Responsive, Structure, and Non-Directive Control VPP using constructs from the Model of Goal Directed Vegetable Parenting Practices (MGDVPP). Parents (n=307) completed a survey on demographics, MGDVPP constructs, and effective VPP. Block regression modeling tested three models: one for each dimension of effective VPP as the dependent variable. Independent variables included validated subscales representing MGDVPP constructs: Intention, Desire, Perceived Barriers, Autonomy, Relatedness, Self-Efficacy, Habit, Anticipated Emotions, Perceived Behavioral Control, Attitudes, and Norms. Participants were racially diverse, and a majority was female, of higher socioeconomic status, and with a male child. Effective Responsive VPP was positively related to a Habit subscale. Effective Structure VPP was positively related to a Barrier, two Habit, and an Attitude subscales. Effective Non-Directive Control VPP was positively related to being a high school or GED graduate, having younger children, a Habit, and two Intentions subscales, and negatively related to an Intentions and a Perceived Behavioral Control subscales. The adjusted R2 for the Effective Responsive, Structure, and Non-Directive Control VPP models were 0.432, 0.310, and 0.515, respectively. This was the first study to relate constructs from a theoretical model to effective VPP dimensions. Research is needed to longitudinally assess the MGDVPP and test its utility in vegetable-related interventions. Keywords: Eating behavior, food parenting practices, nutrition, pre-school child, theory. |
