Nutritional status and eating habits of bus drivers during the day and night

The aim of this study was to compare anthropometry and food intake patterns in bus drivers working during the day and night. One hundred and fifty males (81 night workers and 69 day workers) participated in the study. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Measurements of height, weight, waist circumference (WC), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, blood glucose, and lipid profile were obtained. A significant difference between groups was observed for mean WC (98.5?±?10.7?cm in day workers versus 103.2?±?9.7?cm in night workers; p?=?0.005). Night workers had higher prevalence of being overweight and obese (BMI?≥?25?kg/m²) than day workers (78.2% day workers versus 90.2% night workers; p?=?0.004) and increased WC (>94?cm) (72.4% day workers versus 86.4% night workers; p?=?0.03). Significant differences were found for meat consumption (2.3 servings ±0.9 for night workers versus 2.0 servings ±0.7 day workers, p?=?0.04) and fruit intake (0.9 servings ±0.4 for night workers versus 0.7 servings for day workers ±0.5; p?=?0.006). Night workers had a lower intake of vegetables than recommended compared to day workers (100 versus 92.7%, respectively, p?=?0.01) and higher intake of oil (40.7 versus 24.6%, p?=?0.03). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that night work was associated with being overweight (OR?=?2.94, 95% IC: 1.14–7.66, p?=?0.03) and abnormal values of WC (OR?=?2.82, 95% IC: 1.20–6.69, p?=?0.009) after adjusting for potential confounders. It is concluded that night workers had a higher prevalence and risk of being overweight/obese and increased WC compared with day workers. Night workers also presented a higher proportion of inappropriate intakes of food groups when compared to day workers, even though both groups were eating poor diets. These results demonstrate the need of lifestyle-intervention programs in these workers.     

Freerunning and entrained circadian rhythms in activity,eating and drinking in the cat

Abstract

Because cats with pontile lesions exhibit an abnormal behavior that is under photoperiodic control, and because circadian rhythms are implicated in photoperiodic control mechanisms, an effort was made to detect circadian rhythms in the cat. Cats were isolated from all extraneous stimuli in soundproof chambers for extended periods of time. Photocells were used to monitor activity, eating and drinking in different LD cycles, in constant light at two intensities, and in constant dark. Freerunning circadian rhythms were found in the constant conditions, and entrained nocturnal patterns occurred in most of the LD cycles. The higher intensities of ambient illumination disrupted the freerunning rhythms. The freerunning rhythms were always greater than 24 h, ranging from 24.2 to 25 h. Measurements of food intake of cats living in a large colony room, obtained by weighing the food, revealed that a nocturnal pattern of entrainment was not present in the majority of the cats. Instead, most cats in the colony exhibited a random pattern of eating throughout the light and dark period of the LD cycle. However, the variation among the cats in the colony was considerable, extending from nocturnal to diurnal patterns of eating. A diurnal pattern of human activity was present in the colony and may account for the disruption of a basic nocturnal pattern. The presence of circadian rhythms in the cat leads us to consider the coincidence models for photoperiodic induction as possible explanations of the photoperiodic control of the lesion‐induced abnormal behavior.     

Cardiovascular autonomic response to food ingestion in patients with gastritis: a comparison between Helicobacter pylori-positive and -negative patients

BACKGROUND: Feeding evokes a cardiovascular response associated to an increased sympathetic drive. The role of the parasympathetic component in this regard is less clear. Improvement of postprandial vasovagal complaints after Helicobacter pylori eradication in three cases led us to assess autonomic response to feeding in H. pylori-positive patients in search for an exacerbated parasympathetic response. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with mild or moderate chronic histologic gastritis were studied. Subjects with the same diagnosis but testing negative for H. pylori were used as controls. Noninvasive cardiovascular tests were applied before and after feeding. RESULTS: On sympathetic tests, standing postprandial blood pressure was lower than preprandially in 5/12 H. pylori-positive patients and in 0/9 controls, p = .045. Resting postprandial BP on handgrip test was significantly lower than preprandially only in H. pylori-positive patients (71 +/- 8 versus 76 +/- 6 mmHg, p = .0068). Regarding parasympathetic tests, the 4-s unloaded exercise revealed greater initial heart rate response to unloaded cycling after feeding than preprandially again only in H. pylori-positive patients (1.40 +/- 0.20 versus 1.33 +/- 0.17, p = .0195). On tests influenced by both branches of the autonomic system, a difference was seen in the chronotropic response to handgrip. Postprandial heart rate on effort of H. pylori-positive patients was not higher than preprandially in contrast to controls [intervals between 2 consecutive R waves on electrocardiogram (R-R intervals) of 666 +/- 39 versus 685 +/- 62 ms, p = .0195], suggesting blunted sympathetic activation in the former. CONCLUSION: Supporting the observations that motivate the study, our findings indicate blunted sympathetic reactivity and exacerbated vagal response to feeding in H. pylori-positive patients.     

A comparison of the nutritional status and food security of drug-using and non-drug-using Hispanic women in Hartford,Connecticut

This study compared food insecurity, nutritional status (as measured through anthropometry and dietary intake), and food preparation patterns of low-income Puerto Rican female out-of-treatment drug users with that of low-income Puerto Rican women who reported no drug use. A convenience sample of 41 drug users was compared with 41 age-matched non-drug-users from inner-city Hartford, Connecticut. A culturally appropriate food frequency questionnaire was administered and anthropometric measurements were taken. The findings suggest a high degree of poverty among all study participants, but in particular among drug users. Drug users were more likely than the controls to be food insecure (P < 0.05) and to be exposed to increasingly severe food sufficiency problems. The daily frequency of consumption of vegetables was lower (P = 0.03) for drug users than non-drug-users. Conversely, the frequency of consumption for sweets/ desserts was significantly higher for drug users than the controls (P = 0.0001). Drug users, who were classified as food insecure were less likely to consume vegetables (P = 0.004) and fish (P = 0.03) than were controls who were food insecure. When comparing drug users with controls, the former group reported consuming fewer meals during a usual week than the latter group (P < 0.0001). Drug users were more likely to fry foods (P = 0.02) while the controls were more likely to bake (P = 0.005), boil (P = 0.02), and steam (P = 0.002) foods. All anthropometric measurements, except for height, were significantly lower for drug users. The results show that drug users generally maintain poorer nutritional status than non-drug-users. Nutrition interventions as part of drug treatment are needed. Am J Phys Anthropol 107:351–361, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Effects of ICV administration of the alpha1A-adrenoceptor antagonist 5-methylurapidil on concurrent measures of eating and locomotion after cocaine in the rat

Psychostimulants including amphetamine and cocaine induce locomotion and stereotypy and suppress eating. Although the capacity of cocaine to alter locomotion is usually viewed as related to dopamine neurotransmission, recent studies suggest that norepinephrine, acting through alpha1-adrenergic receptors (alpha1-ARs) can facilitate cocaine-stimulated locomotion. Of the three alpha1-AR subtypes (alpha(1A), alpha(1B), and alpha(1D)) identified to date, inactivation of the alpha(1B)-AR subtype diminishes cocaine-stimulated locomotion, whereas the impact of inactivation of the alpha(1A)-AR subtype on either eating or locomotion is unknown. In the present study, we assessed the relative impact of ICV administration of the alpha(1B)-AR antagonist 5-methylurapidil (5-MU) on cocaine-stimulated hyperlocomotion and hypophagia, using a concurrent method [Wellman, P.J., Ho, D.H., Davis, K.W., 2005. Concurrent measures of feeding and locomotion in rats. Physiology of Behavior 84 (5), 769-774.]. Rats were infused ICV with one of 3 doses of 5-MU (0, 3, or 30 nmol) and then injected (i.p.) with 0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, or 20.0 mg/kg cocaine HCl on each of five tests. Rats always received the same 5-MU dose, but a different cocaine dose on each trial. Feeding and locomotion were assessed concurrently during a 45-min postinjection period. Significant suppression of eating was noted at 2.5 mg/kg cocaine, a dose that does not alter forward locomotion in the rat. Administration of 5-MU did not alter locomotion in rats treated with saline, but did significantly increase baseline food intake. Neither cocaine-induced hypophagia nor hyperlocomotion was altered by ICV administration of 5-MU. These results suggest that the capacity of alpha1-AR agonists (e.g. phenylpropanolamine) to suppress eating may be related to activation of the alpha(1A)-AR subtype, whereas cocaine does not act through the alpha(1A)-AR subtype to suppress eating nor does this subtype modulate cocaine-induced hyperlocomotion.     

The relationship between dietary intake and the number of teeth in elderly Japanese subjects

Objective: This study used a precise weighing method to assess whether tooth loss was related to nutrient intake in elderly Japanese subjects. Material and methods: Fifty‐seven subjects aged 74 years were randomly selected from a longitudinal interdisciplinary study of ageing. Complete 3‐day food intake data were obtained by a precise weighing method. The dietary intakes of energy and nutrients were calculated based on the Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan (5th ed.). A clinical evaluation of the number of teeth present was carried out. Multiple regression standardised coefficients for each nutrient was estimated based on a continuous scale adjusted for gender, smoking habits, and educational level. After dividing the subjects into two groups according to the number of teeth present (0–19, 20+), the difference in the intake of nutrients and the amount of food consumed per day was evaluated. Results: The number of teeth present had a significant relationship with the intake of several nutrients. In particular, total protein, animal protein, sodium, vitamin D, vitamin B₁, vitamin B₆, niacin, and pantothenic acid were significantly associated with the number of teeth present and with the two groups (0–19, 20+). The intake of vegetables and fish, shellfish, and their products was significantly lower among subjects with fewer teeth. Conclusion: This study suggests that there was a significant relationship between nutrient intake, such as minerals and vitamins from food, and tooth loss.     

A longitudinal study of the relationship between diet intake and dental caries and periodontal disease in elderly Japanese subjects

Objective: We hypothesise that a difference in nutrition influences dental caries and periodontal disease. There are few previous studies especially longitudinal ones which have evaluated this hypothesis. This study investigated the relationship between nutritional intake, including milk and milk products (MMP), and dental disease, controlling for several confounding factors. Material and methods: A group of 600 subjects aged 70, randomly selected for this study, included approximately the same number of male and female subjects. The number of teeth on which root caries had occurred or where there was a periodontal event over a 6‐year period was measured. To determine quantitative food intake at baseline, a semi‐quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used during face‐to‐face interviews by dieticians. The stepwise method of multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of the number of root caries or periodontal disease events during the 6 years. Intake of the six food groups includes (i) fish, shellfish, meat, beans and eggs; (ii) MMP; (iii) dark green and yellow vegetables (DYV); (iv) other vegetables and fruits; (v) cereals, nuts and seeds, sugar and sweeteners, confectioneries (CNSC) and (vi) fats and oils. The alcohol, gender and anthropometric evaluation including measurements of weight and height for the calculation of body mass index, educational level, the number of family members and the number of remaining teeth were used as independent variables. Results: According to stepwise multiple regression analysis, two variables (quantity of MMP, and gender) were negatively associated with the number of root caries events during the 6 years. The standardised coefficients were ?0.14 (p = 0.035) and ?0.17 (p = 0.007) respectively. In addition, DYV were negatively, and three other variables (CNSC; alcohol; and the number of remaining teeth at baseline) were positively associated with the number of periodontal disease events during the 6 years. The standardised coefficients were ?0.16 (p = 0.001), 0.11 (p = 0.042), 0.10 (p = 0.041) and 0.58 (p < 0.001) respectively. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the intake of MMP in this elderly population correlated with root caries events. In addition, intake of vegetables negatively correlated, and intake of ‘CNSC’ positively correlated with periodontal disease events.     

Measurement of, and some reasons for, differences in eating habits between night and day workers

A questionnaire was designed to assess the following: why working people chose to eat or not to eat at a particular time of day; the factors that influenced the type of food eaten; and subjective responses to the meal (hunger before, enjoyment during, satiety afterward). Self-assessments were done every 3 h during a typical week containing work and rest days, by one group of 50 day workers and another group of 43 night workers. During the night work hours compared to rest days, night workers evidenced a significantly altered food intake, with a greater frequency of cold rather than hot food (p < 0.001). The type and frequency of meals were influenced significantly more (p < 0.05) by habit and time availability and less by appetite. This pattern continued into the hours immediately after the night shift had ended. In day workers food intake during work hours, compared to rest days, was also influenced significantly more often (p < 0.05) by time availability than hunger, but less so than with night workers. Moreover, day workers were less dependent than night workers upon snacks (p = 0.01), and any significant differences from rest days did not continue beyond work hours. Not only did night workers change their eating habits during work days more than did day workers but also they looked forward to their meals significantly less (p < 0.001) and felt more bloated after consuming them (p < 0.05), such effects being present to some extent during their rest days also. These findings have clear implications for measures designed to ease eating problems that are commonly problematic in night workers.     

Emergence,Echolocation, Diet and Foraging Behavior of Molossus ater (Chiroptera: Molossidae)1

Between 4 and 16 January 1996, during a period of cool weather, we studied the emergence and foraging behavior of Molossus ater at a site near Akumal, in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. The bats, a colony of at least 32 individuals, roosted in a north-facing cinder block wall, and emerged about sunset. Emerging bats were usually clustered in time, while those returning usually were not. Radio-tracking revealed that the bats foraged for short periods (mean 26.8 min) and captures of returning individuals indicated that 27 of 28 had fed, taking, on average, 4.4 g of insects, mainly hydrophilid beetles. On some nights, few or none of the radio-tagged bats emerged from the roost. Calculations concerning the costs of flight and roosting show that they were more than covered by the energy intake the bats achieved. Molossus ater have high aspect ratio (8.3–9.1) wings and high wing-loadings of 17.55–24.15 N/m². When searching for prey, these bats produce long (12.3 ms), narrowband(3.8 kHz), echolocation calls that sweep from 27.6–23.8 kHz. Energy was not limiting for these bats at the time of our study.     

A comparison of sciatic nerve neuropathy in diabetic and aged rats

We compared the development of sciatic nerve neuropathy in young diabetic rats with that in non-diabetic aged rats. Diabetes was induced in six-month old rats by injection with alloxan and was moderately controlled by single daily injections of insulin. Blood insulin levels in diabetic rats were significantly reduced compared to the aged animals, and glucose was significantly higher in diabetic rats. Sciatic nerve conduction velocities were measured monthly. Both motor and sensory conduction velocities decreased in the diabetic rats to a level that was similar to those in 36-month old rats. The decreases in conduction velocities in the diabetic rats were most dramatic during months 6 through 12 of diabetes. After 6 and 12 months of diabetes, sciatic nerves were examined by electron microscopy and compared to nerves from 24- and 36-month old rats respectively. Ultrastructural changes in the sciatic nerves of diabetic rats at 6 months included disruptions of myelin and dense axoplasm. In comparison, the 24-month old rats only had distorted contours of the nerve fibres. After 12 months of diabetes, the axoplasm had large spaces and the myelin was thickened and deformed. The axoplasm of 36-month old rats was normal in appearance; however the myelin sheath was thickened and split into layers. The Schwann cells were vacuolated and irregular in shape. These observations indicate that diabetes results in the early onset of age-like changes in the sciatic nerve. It suggests that the control of hyperglycemia in humans may preserve sciatic nerve structure and function.     

A record of acorn eating by sika deer in western Japan

The rumen contents of 14 sika deer (Cervus nippon) collected in November 1996 in Yamaguchi Prefecture, the western end of Honshu, Japan, were analyzed by the point-frame method. The contents were composed of high-quality foods like deciduous and evergreen browse and acorns. The composition, which consisted of a significant amount of acorns (27.8 ± 22.5%, mean ± SD), was in contrast to that of northern sika deer populations which exclusively eat graminoid leaves including dwarf bamboos. This is the first record of acorns being a major contributor to diet for wild sika deer. By the point-frame method, acorns were underestimated, and the weight contribution was much greater.     

A quantitative morphometric study of rectal mucosa in adult and aged healthy subjects

Rectal mucosa is relatively susceptible to pathological processes and frequently it is affected by various diseases. However, there is a notable lack of quantitative data regarding normal rectal mucosa, which would provide a reference for histoquantitative studies of the pathologically changed tissue. Therefore, we obtained the tissue from 27 healthy patients subjected to diagnostic rectoscopy during active screening for asymptomatic cancer of the large intestine, in which no disease was found. Using computer-aided morphometric analysis, we studied all structural elements of the rectal mucosa. The patients were divided into four groups according to the age and sex: adult males, elderly males, adult females and elderly females. The patients under 60 years of age were grouped as adult and those older than 60 years as aged subjects. A decreased height of surface epithelium was registered in both elderly male and female groups. This finding, however, was significant only when adult and elderly male groups were compared. The tendency towards reduction of the mucosal height was also registered comparing male adult and elderly groups. The number of crypts per 0.1 mm2 of tissue increased with aging in both males and females, whereby the crypts were always more numerous in males than in females. The increase in number of crypts in male subjects was accompanied by a decrease in their diameter and perimeter. The changes associated with ageing were discrete and affected only the male subjects.     

Differences in hemoglobin adduct levels of acrylamide in the general population with respect to dietary intake, smoking habits and gender

The variation in dietary exposure to acrylamide (AA) has been studied through measurement of hemoglobin adduct levels from AA, as a measurement of internal dose, in a sample from the blood bank of the Malmö Diet and Cancer Cohort (n = 28,098). The blood donors are well characterised with regard to their food habits, and 142 individuals were selected to obtain highest possible variation in the adduct levels from AA (none, random or high intake of coffee, fried potato, crisp bread and snacks, food items estimated to have high levels of AA).Among 70 non-smokers the AA-adduct levels varied by a factor of 5, and ranged between 0.02 and 0.1 nmol/g, with considerable overlap in AA-adduct levels between the different dietary groups. There was a significant difference between men with high dietary exposure to AA compared to men with low dietary exposure (P = 0.04). No such difference was found for women. As expected a higher level (range: 0.03–0.43 nmol/g) of the AA-adduct, due to AA in tobacco smoke, was found in smokers. Smoking women with high dietary exposure to AA had significantly higher AA-adduct levels compared to smoking women with low dietary exposure (P = 0.01). No such significant difference was found in smoking men. The median hemoglobin (Hb) adduct level in the randomly selected group of non-smokers was compatible with earlier studies (0.031 nmol/g).The variation in the average internal dose, measured as Hb adducts, was somewhat smaller than estimated for daily intake by food consumption questionnaires in other studies. Thus, the observed relatively narrow inter-individual variation in AA-adduct levels means that estimates of individual dietary AA intake have to be very precise if they should be useful in future cancer epidemiology.     

食品工程类专业微生物学教学改革与实践

《微生物学》是食品科学类专业重要的专业基础课,课程组结合学校粮油食品学科传统特色专业,对食品微生物学教学内容、多媒体课件运用及实验教学等进行了改革。结果显示,改革后的课程教学组织方式有利于加强学生对理论知识的理解和应用,有利于提高学生的动手能力、创新能力和科学思维能力。     

Decrease in plasma tryptophan after a tryptophan-free amino acid solution. A comparison between cirrhotic and control subjects

In healthy subjects the administration of an amino acid mixture devoid of tryptophan causes a marked decrease of plasma tryptophan. This is because amino acid mixtures induce protein synthesis and tryptophan in blood is incorporated into newly synthesized proteins. We hypothesized that a tryptophan-free mixture could differently affect plasma tryptophan levels in subjects with an impaired protein synthesis such as chronic liver patients. We studied tryptophan levels after a tryptophan-free amino acid solution in controls and cirrhotics fasting 12 hours. Plasma total tryptophan fell to 91% of the initial level 60 minutes after the administration of the diet, to 71% after 120, and to 50% after 210' in controls. In cirrhotics the solution caused a decrease of plasma tryptophan that began significantly later than in controls, the delay being proportional to the severity of the disease. Cirrhotics were subdivided into two groups in accordance to the Pugh modification of the Child-Turcotte criteria. Total plasma tryptophan was 100% of base line levels after 60', 88% after 120', and 65% after 210' in less severe clinical condition; total plasma tryptophan was 102% of base line levels after 60', 98% after 120', and 75% after 210' in more severe clinical condition.     

A 2-year study of Candida-associated denture stomatitis treatment in aged care subjects

Objective: To test the efficacy of two methods of treatment for denture stomatitis in aged care institutions. Background data: Candida‐associated denture stomatitis has been associated with a lack of denture hygiene. Materials and methods: Sixty subjects with denture stomatitis were randomly divided into three groups: sodium hypochlorite denture soak, microwaving and control. Both methods of treatment were carried out on a nightly basis for 1 week, excepting the control group. Standardised photographs of the palate and microbial samples of palate, upper and lower dentures were taken before and after treatment. Results: Both hypochlorite and microwave irradiation significantly reduced the numbers of Candida and aerobic bacteria on both dentures and both methods significantly reduced Candida on the palate. However, palatal aerobic bacteria were not significantly reduced by either method and the controls showed insignificant changes at all three sites for both Candida and aerobes. Conclusion: While both methods of denture disinfection were successful, except for the counts of palatal aerobic bacteria, three independent observers of the clinical photographs had difficulty in identifying the controls but were more successful with the treatments. The raters also showed that there was no difference between both methods of disinfection and this agreed with the microbiological analysis.     

Population status and feeding habits of the translocated sub-population of Hunter's antelope or hirola (Beatragus hunteri,Sclater, 1889) in Tsavo East National Park,Kenya

The population status and feeding habits of Hunter's antelope or hirola (Beatragus hunteri) in Tsavo East National Park were determined in this study in 1995. This is the first study that has ever been undertaken on the hirola population of about 20 animals that were translocated to Tsavo East National Park from South Garissa District in 1963. Relevant data and information were collected using different ecological research techniques. A total of eight nursery herds (5–11 individuals per herd) comprising 60 individuals, five lone bulls and 11 lone sub-adults was observed. This gave a total population estimate of 76 animals in the entire study area. Adult animals dominated the population (60.53%), indicating a population skew towards adults. The adult sex ratio was biased towards females (43.42%). Hirola were observed to feed mainly on short, green grasses. The dominant feed species were Panicum infestum, Digitaria rivae, Latipes senegalensis and Cenchrus ciliaris. Occasionally, hirola was observed to feed on forbs (e.g. Portulaca oleraceae, Tephrosia subtriglora and Commelina erecta). Results of this study show that the population growth of the hirola sub-population in the Park has been low (1.8 individuals per year). Factors thought to contribute to this low growth include predation and low genetic variability.