Dietary fruits and vegetables and cardiovascular diseases risk

Diet is likely to be an important determinant of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. In this article, we will review the evidence linking the consumption of fruit and vegetables and CVD risk.

The initial evidence that fruit and vegetable consumption has a protective effect against CVD came from observational studies. However, uncertainty remains about the magnitude of the benefit of fruit and vegetable intake on the occurrence of CVD and whether the optimal intake is five portions or greater. Results from randomized controlled trials do not show conclusively that fruit and vegetable intake protects against CVD, in part because the dietary interventions have been of limited intensity to enable optimal analysis of their putative effects.

The protective mechanisms of fruit and vegetables may not only include some of the known bioactive nutrient effects dependent on their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and electrolyte properties, but also include their functional properties, such as low glycemic load and energy density. Taken together, the totality of the evidence accumulated so far does appear to support the notion that increased intake of fruits and vegetables may reduce cardiovascular risk. It is clear that fruit and vegetables should be eaten as part of a balanced diet, as a source of vitamins, fiber, minerals, and phytochemicals.

The evidence now suggests that a complicated set of several nutrients may interact with genetic factors to influence CVD risk. Therefore, it may be more important to focus on whole foods and dietary patterns rather than individual nutrients to successfully impact on CVD risk reduction.

A clearer understanding of the relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and cardiovascular risk would provide health professionals with significant information in terms of public health and clinical practice.     

Novel Imidazolium-Based Gemini Surfactants: Synthesis, Surface Properties, Corrosion Inhibition and Biocidal Activity Against Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria

Three novel imidazolium-based gemini surfactants had been synthesized and characterized using different spectroscopic techniques. The surface properties of the synthesized surfactants were determined using surface tension measurements at 20 °C. The surface parameters including critical micelle concentration (CMC), π _CMC, Pc₂₀, Γ_max and A _min were determined. The synthesized compounds were evaluated as corrosion inhibitors for carbon steel in 0.5 M HCl solution using the weight loss and polarization techniques. The biological activity of these surfactants was evaluated against sulfate reducing bacteria using most probable number method. The results indicate that the synthesized compounds have good surface properties and are proper corrosion inhibitors for low carbon steel, with a high inhibition efficiency observed around their CMC. These compounds exhibit a significant biocidal activity against sulfate reducing bacteria.     

Hydrogen absorption characteristics of mechanically alloyed Ti–Zr–Ni and Ti–V–Ni powders

A first investigation into the production of amorphous and nanostructured Ti-based alloys with nominal compositions Ti_41.5Zr_41.5Ni₁₇, Ti₆₁Zr₂₂Ni₁₇, Ti_41.5V_41.5Ni₁₇ and Ti₆₁V₂₂Ni₁₇ by mechanical alloying (MA) technique is presented. This technique was adopted to produce alloys' powders with high fresh surface area that were active for hydrogen storage. Hydrogen absorption characteristics and structure changes in the alloys after hydrogenation were investigated. Gas phase hydrogenation of the Ti–Zr–Ni alloys, at 573 K and an initial hydrogen pressure of 2 MPa, exhibited good hydriding properties and started at a maximal rate without induction period with a hydrogenation capacity up to 1.2 wt%. However, hydriding of Ti–V–Ni alloys at the same conditions exhibited slower rates. The Ti₆₁V₂₂Ni₁₇ composition showed high hydrogen absorption capacity of 1.8 wt% and exceeded 4 wt% at 345 K. In addition, the Ti–V–Ni alloys showed structure stability after hydrogenation and retained the amorphous structure.     

Flavor Release from a Banana Soft Drink Complex Model System: Evaluation of the Efficiency of Different Adsorbents for Trapping the Released Volatiles During Storage

The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the release of aroma compounds from a banana soft drink complex model system in comparison with their release from simple model systems, each contains individual food ingredients. The effect of different food ingredients (sweeteners and thickeners at different concentrations), used in formulation of the soft drinks, on flavor release from simple model systems containing banana flavor was evaluated separately. The optimum release of isoamyl acetate (the most potent odorant of banana aroma) was observed at a concentration of 10% of each investigated sweetener (sucrose, glucose, and corn syrup). Pectin and xanthane showed the highest release at a concentration of 2.5 and 0.8% w/w, respectively. The level of each ingredient that showed the optimum release of isoamyl acetate was selected and used in formulation of a banana soft drink complex model system. The released volatiles were trapped by tenax and activated carbon. The gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis revealed a gradual decrease (p < 0.05) in the volatile compounds release from the complex banana soft drink model system during storage for 90 days. However, the total content of the volatiles adsorbed by activated carbon trap was higher than that trapped by tenax. The percentage of isoamyl acetate to total volatiles (isoamyl acetate/total volatiles %) was calculated for each sample during storage. A distinct linear correlation was found between the calculated values and storage time (r = 0.97 and 0.92 for volatiles trapped by tenax and activated carbon, respectively). Sample stored for 60 days showed the highest value. These findings confirmed the results of aroma sensory evaluation.     

Digitally programmable second generation current conveyor‐based FPAA

A novel fully differential digitally programmable current conveyor (DPCCII) is presented in this paper. The programmability of the proposed DPCCII is achieved using three‐bit MOS R‐2R ladder current division network. The DPCCII is used to realize a field programmable analog array (FPAA). The FPAA consists of seven configurable analog blocks arranged in a hexagonal form. The FPAA power consumption is 72.3 mW from 1 V voltage supply. A second‐order programmable universal filter is realized using the proposed FPAA as an application. All the circuits are realized and simulated using 90 nm IBM CMOS technology model under balanced supply voltage of ±0.5 V. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nontoxic and Naturally Occurring Active Compounds as Potential Inhibitors of Biological Targets in Liriomyza trifolii

In recent years, novel strategies to control insects have been based on protease inhibitors (PIs). In this regard, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations have been extensively used to investigate insect gut proteases and the interactions of PIs for the development of resistance against insects. We, herein, report an in silico study of (disodium 5′-inosinate and petunidin 3-glucoside), (calcium 5′-guanylate and chlorogenic acid), chlorogenic acid alone, (kaempferol-3,7-di-O-glucoside with hyperoside and delphinidin 3-glucoside), and (myricetin 3′-glucoside and hyperoside) as potential inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase receptors, actin, α-tubulin, arginine kinase, and histone receptor III subtypes, respectively. The study demonstrated that the inhibitors are capable of forming stable complexes with the corresponding proteins while also showing great potential for inhibitory activity in the proposed protein-inhibitor combinations.     

Cytotoxic T Cell Expression of Leukocyte-Associated Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor-1 (LAIR-1) in Viral Hepatitis C-Mediated Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) pathogenesis involves liver inflammation, therefore, despite successful treatment, hepatitis C virus (HCV) may progress to HCC from initiated liver cirrhosis. Cytotoxic T cells (Tcs) are known to be involved in HCV-related cirrhotic complications and HCC pathogenesis. The inhibitory checkpoint leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 (LAIR-1) is expressed on Tcs. Therefore, we aimed to determine whether the Tc expression level of LAIR-1 is associated with HCC progression and to evaluate LAIR-1 expression as a noninvasive biomarker for HCC progression in the context of liver cirrhosis related to HCV genotype 4 (G4) in Egyptian patients’ peripheral venous blood liquid biopsy. A total of 64 patients with HCC and 37 patients with liver cirrhosis were enrolled in this case-controlled study, and their LAIR-1 expression on Tc related to the progression of liver cirrhosis was examined and compared to that of the apparently healthy control group (n = 20). LAIR-1 expression was analyzed using flow cytometry. Results: The HCC group had significantly higher LAIR-1 expression on Tc and percentage of Tc positive for LAIR-1 (LAIR-1+Tc%) than the HCV G4-related liver cirrhosis group. LAIR-1+Tc% was correlated with the HCC surrogate tumor marker AFP (r = 0.367, p = 0.001) and insulin resistance and inflammation prognostic ratios/indices. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve revealed that adding LAIR-1+Tc% to AFP can distinguish HCC transformation in the Egyptian patients’ cohort. Upregulated LAIR-1 expression on Tc could be a potential screening noninvasive molecular marker for chronic inflammatory HCV G4 related liver cirrhosis. Moreover, LAIR-1 expression on Tc may be one of the players involved in the progression of liver cirrhosis to HCC.     

Assessment of interfacial polymerization modalities on the performance of polyaniline doped polyethersulphone hollow fiber membranes

Polyethersulfone hollow fiber membranes doped with polyaniline were coated by interfacial polymerization (IP) using different monomer pairs. The coated fibers were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy, water contact angle (CA), porosity, and mechanical properties. Moreover, the performance of coated fibers has been tested at low to medium pressure by measuring pure water flux and magnesium sulfate salt solution. Characteristics and performance have been assessed and compared for all samples. Porosity decreased for all coated samples as compared to the raw sample. Optimum results were obtained using m-phenylenediamine and trimesoyl chloride depicting the lowest water CA (68°), highest Young's modulus (183 MPa), lowest pure water flux (0.28 LMH/bar), and the highest salt rejection (63% at 9 bar).     

Semi-modified okara whey diet increased insulin secretion in diabetic rats fed a basal or high fat diet

Food Science and Biotechnology - Lifestyle and diet preferences are primarily responsible for developing type 2 diabetes. In this study, okara was manufactured into okara whey crackers (OWC) to...