Household endotoxin reduction in the Louisa Environmental Intervention Project for rural childhood asthma

Endotoxin exacerbates asthma. We designed the Louisa Environmental Intervention Project (LEIP) and assessed its effectiveness in reducing household endotoxin and improving asthma symptoms in rural Iowa children. Asthmatic school children (N = 104 from 89 homes) of Louisa and Keokuk counties in Iowa (aged 5-14 years) were recruited and block-randomized to receive extensive (education + professional cleaning) or educational interventions. Environmental sampling collection and respiratory survey administration were done at baseline and during three follow-up visits. Mixed-model analyses were used to assess the effect of the intervention on endotoxin levels and asthma symptoms in the main analysis and of endotoxin reduction on asthma symptoms in exploratory analysis. In the extensive intervention group, dust endotoxin load was significantly reduced in post-intervention visits. The extensive compared with the educational intervention was associated with significantly decreased dust endotoxin load in farm homes and less frequent nighttime asthma symptoms. In exploratory analysis, dust endotoxin load reduction from baseline was associated with lower total asthma symptoms score (Odds ratio: 0.52, 95% confidence interval: 0.29-0.92). In conclusion, the LEIP intervention reduced household dust endotoxin and improved asthma symptoms. However, endotoxin reductions were not sustained post-intervention by residents.     

Measles, polio and tetanus toxoid antibody levels in Gambian children aged 3 to 4 years following routine vaccination

A nation-wide cross-sectional survey of 816 children 3-4 years old was carried out in The Gambia between September 1990 and July 1991 to assess the seroprevalence of antibodies against 3 diseases included in the expanded programme on immunization: measles, poliomyelitis and tetanus. Among 689 children whose records were available, 94.5% were fully immunized. Measles vaccine was administered to 97% of the children and 91% of these had detectable antibodies at the time of the survey. Antibodies against type 1 and type 3 polioviruses, after up to 6 doses of oral polio vaccine, were present in 88.1% and 89.3% of the children respectively. Ninety-seven percent of the children who had received 4 doses of diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine (DPT) and 91% of those who received 3 doses had detectable tetanus toxoid antibodies at the age of 3-4 years. This study shows that serological responses to EPI vaccines given in infancy persist at very satisfactory levels throughout early childhood.     

Employees’ witnessed presence in changing organisations

In recent years, governments, businesses and other organisations have increasingly been forced to attempt to survive by reorganising themselves fundamentally. Although this happens at present on a large scale, it is not unprecedented. In fact, most organisations have had to change their working practises at some time for some reason—for example, when the competition catches up or when technology threatens to make production obsolete. The usual strategy is to fire part of the staff and to redistribute tasks. This tends to put a heavy burden on staff. They have to search for other jobs or attempt re-skilling. Those remaining may face substantial changes in their relations to their managers, who will require changes … ‘or else’. The study reported in the paper focuses on people’s reactions to this approach. Some employees accept and leave. Others become aware of an opportunity to damage their company. Others again see a way to resist and change the way the managers behave and thereby turn around the company and maintain or increase the number of jobs. The study focuses on two questions. The first is how one should model or describe the behaviour of people in the third category, i.e. those wishing to contribute. It does not seem useful to follow one’s first hunch, i.e. to search for quantifiable patterns. People’s behaviour will always be contextualised as a reaction to what managers do. This suggests the use of qualitative methods. The second question is whether the concept of presence may clarify the behaviour and identify ways for employees to contribute positively to changes in their organisations. An obstacle to answering the second question is that qualitative methods focus on people’s experiences in some context, and on the emergence of their behaviour, but do not necessarily lead to suggestions on how to behave with what effect. It is attempted to answer the second question and thereby the first question with the aim of identifying what people may do who are not immediately fired or made redundant when fundamental organisational changes are introduced. Data have been collected from four companies that decided to initiate such changes in 2003–2004.     

Effects of different dietary intake of essential fatty acids on C20∶3ω6 and C20∶4ω6 serum levels in human adults

Four diets which differed in fatty acid composition were provided for five months each to a group of 24 healthy nun volunteers. The diets contained 54% carbohydrates, 16% proteins and 30% lipids. One-third of the lipid part remained unchanged during the whole study, and two-thirds were modified during each period. For this latter portion, one of the following dietary fats was used: sunflower oil, peanut oil, low erucic acid rapeseed (LEAR) oil or milk fats. This procedure allowed an evaluation of the effects of various amounts of dietary linoleic acid (C18∶2ω6) and alpha-linolenic acid (C18∶3ω3) on the serum level of their metabolites. A diet providing a large amount of linoleic acid (14% of the total caloric intake) resulted in low levels of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (C20∶3ω6) and arachidonic acid (C20∶4ω6) in serum phospholipids and cholesteryl esters. A diet providing a small amount of linoleic acid (0.6% to 1.3% of the total caloric intake) induced high levels of ω6 fatty acid derivatives. Intermediate serum levels of C20∶3ω6 and C20∶4ω6 were found with a linoleic acid supply of about 6.5% of the total caloric intake. Serum levels of ω6 metabolites were not different after two diets providing a similar supply of C18∶2ω6 (4.5% to 6.5% of the total caloric intake), although in one of them the supply of C18∶3ω3 was higher (1.5% for LEAR oil versus 0.13% for peanut oil). Under our experimental conditions (healthy human adults fed on a normo-caloric diet with 30% lipids), we tried to determine PUFA (linoleic and linolenic acid) allowances which should be recommended for adults. The aim of the study was to obtain a hypocholesterolemic or normocholesterolemic effect while keeping normal 20∶3ω6 and 20∶4ω6 serum levels which would evidence a normal linoleic acid metabolism. The amounts recommended are: linoleic acid 5 to 6% of the total calories; alpha-linolenic acid 0.5 to 1% of the total calories.     

A review on the use of carbon nanostructured materials in electrochemical capacitors

Sustainable and renewable energy resources, as well as energy storage systems (ESSs), are amongst the current and critical global requirements. A comparative discussion on batteries, fuel cells and electrochemical capacitors (ECs) is presented. The mechanisms involved in various classes of ECs are also elaborated. Additionally, a historical background highlighting some of the major steps associated with EC development over the years is discussed in this review. In particular, carbon nanostructured materials have high potential in the development of ESSs, and hence this review presents an insight on the current ESSs with a strong bias towards these materials as ECs. The current status of carbon nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes, nanofibers, nano‐onions, nanorods, fullerenes and graphene nanosheets, in ECs is reviewed. The associated effects of nanostructural parameters, such as pore sizes and specific electro‐active areas, amongst others, in terms of energy storage capabilities are also discussed. Typical physicochemical characterisation techniques, which enrich understanding of their characteristics, are also reviewed. The discussion views set platforms for a variety of unique carbon nanomaterial designs with high prospective specific capacitance. Key porosity tailoring protocols, such as chemical activation, introduction of heteroatoms in carbon nanostructures and template synthesis methods, are also reviewed. The effects of other device components, such as electrolyte ion size and solvent system, electrode design and use of binders, to the overall capability of EC, are also discussed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hospital Diet Enriched With Rapeseed or Sunflower Oils Is Associated With a Decrease in Plasma 16:1n‐7 and Some Metabolic Disorders in the Elderly

We recently demonstrated that the prevalence of dysglycemia was high among hospitalized elderly people who were fed a low fat diet (27.7% of energy) and was positively associated with plasma 16:1n‐7, an indicator of de novo lipogenesis (DNL). Fatty acids in the DNL pathway have been shown to be associated with a higher risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential beneficial effects of fat enrichment (up to 34.1%en) of the hospital diet in 111 patients (30 men and 81 women, 84 ± 7 years) during 6 weeks. Based on gender, they were randomly given a diet supplemented either with rapeseed oil (RO) or with sunflower oil (SO). Fatty acids of cholesteryl esters and erythrocyte phospholipids and markers of metabolic disorders were evaluated before and after dietary intervention. Both enriched diets significantly, and to a similar extent, decreased (1) the overall prevalence of dysglycemia (by 25–33%) and MetS (by 31–43%) and (2) plasma 16:1n‐7 mol% in men and women. Dysglycemia prevalence adjusted by the diets was reduced in men versus baseline; no change was found in women. Enrichment of the diet with RO or SO resulted in a difference in fatty acid compositions, that is, EPA (mol%) and the omega‐3 index increased with RO, while proportions of 18:1n‐7, 18:1n‐9, and EPA decreased with SO. These findings highlight the need for adequate fat intake in the elderly. For supplementation of the hospital diet, RO, which led to a higher proportion of circulating n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and is known to be beneficial, may be preferred to SO.     

What level of hepatitis B antibody is protective?

This study assessed the level of vaccine-induced hepatitis B surface antibody that is protective against hepatitis B infection and carriage in The Gambia. Sera from 700 of a cohort of 1041 children vaccinated against hepatitis B in infancy were serially tested for markers of hepatitis B until age 7 years. No absolute level of protection against infection was found, but all children who attained a peak antibody response to vaccination of >=10 IU/L were protected against carriage of hepatitis B surface antigen. Two-thirds of 45 infected children experienced brief infection (determined by loss of core antibody). This transient infection was likely related to surface antibody level. The data support the use of the peak antibody response as the best indicator of protection against carriage and suggest that most infections after vaccination are short-lived.     

Transformation of arachidonic acid into monohydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acids by mouse peritoneal macrophages

Mouse peritoneal macrophages synthesize 6 monohydroxylated eicosatetraenoic acids when incubated with exogenous arachidonic acid. These compounds were identified by chromatographic techniques (high pressure liquid chromatography and high efficiency glass capillary column gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The chromatographic and spectrometric data are presented. These results show that peritoneal macrophages constitute one of the best systems to study in evaluating the metabolism of oxygenated products of arachidonic acid. Presented in part at the 22nd International Conference on the Biochemistry of Lipids, Milan, May 26–28, 1980.     

Enteral absorption in man of eicosapentaenoic acid in different chemical forms

After administering the equivalent of 1 g of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in four different chemical forms, the kinetics of EPA incorporation into plasma triglycerides (TG) were compared by gas liquid chromatography on a capillary column following separation of the lipid fraction by thin layer chromatography. EPA incorporation into plasma TG was markedly smaller and later when EPA was administered as an ethyl ester rather than as EPA free fatty acid, EPA arginine salt or 1,3-dioctanoyl-2-eicosapentaenoyl glycerol (2-EPA). Our results and the data in the literature are compatible with the hypothesis that 2-EPA is absorbed with minimum hydrolysis and escapes random distribution between the other positions of the glycerol molecule during the absorption process.     

Moderate Dietary Intake of Myristic and Alpha-Linolenic Acids Increases Lecithin-Cholesterol Acyltransferase Activity in Humans

Cholesterol removal from tissues into HDL depends on the activity of lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT; E.C. 2.3.1.43) that is associated with lower cardiovascular diseases risk. HDL cholesterol concentration and LCAT activity can be modulated by dietary fatty acids. Original data with substrate models have shown a positive effect of myristic acid (MA) on the esterification rate of cholesterol. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of moderate intakes of MA associated with recommended intake of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) on LCAT activity in humans. Two experimental diets were tested for 3 months each. Diet 1-MA 1.2% of total energy (TE) and ALA 0.9% TE, diet 2-MA 1.8% and ALA 0.9% TE; a control diet (MA 1.2% and ALA 0.4% TE) was given 3 months before diet 1 and diet 2. The endogenous activity of LCAT was determined at completion of each diet. Compared with the control diet (13.2 ± 3.1 μmol CE/(L.h)), LCAT activity increased significantly (P < 0.001) with diet 1 (24.2 ± 3.6 μmol CE/(L.h)) and diet 2 (33.3 ± 7.4 μmol CE/(L.h)); the increase observed with diet 2 was significantly (P < 0.001) greater than that due to diet 1. These results suggest that ALA (from rapeseed oil, mainly in sn-2 position) and MA (from dairy fat, mainly in sn-2 position) favor LCAT activity, by respective increases of 83 and 38%. When they are supplied together, a complementary effect was observed (average increase of 152%). Moreover, these observations were associated with a decrease of the ratio of total to HDL-cholesterol. In conclusion, our results suggest that moderate supply of MA (1.8% TE) associated with the recommended intake of ALA (0.9% TE) contributes to improve LCAT activity.