Effects of sun exposure and dietary vitamin D intake on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Vitamin D deficiency is common in hemodialysis patients. The aim of this study was to identify whether or not sun exposure and dietary vitamin D intake have effects on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) status in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The objective was to identify the main determinants of serum vitamin D status in the study subjects. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 47 HD patients (19 males and 28 females) was performed. We assessed serum 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D levels between August and September 2012 and analyzed the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in HD patients. To evaluate the determinants of serum 25(OH)D levels, we surveyed dietary vitamin D intake, degree of sun exposure, and outdoor activities. To compare biological variables, serum 25(OH)D was stratified as below 15 ng/ml or above 15 ng/ml. RESULTS: Mean 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D levels were 13.5 ± 5.8 ng/ml and 20.6 ± 11.8 pg/ml, respectively. The proportions of serum 25(OH)D deficiency (< 15 ng/ml), insufficiency (15-< 30 ng/ml), and sufficiency (≥ 30 ng/ml) in subjects were 72.4%, 23.4%, and 4.3%, respectively. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in female patients was 78.6%, whereas that in males was 63.2% (P = 0.046). Vitamin D intake and sun exposure time were not significantly different between the two stratified serum 25(OH)D levels. Dietary intake of vitamin D did not contribute to increased serum 25(OH)D levels in HD patients. The main effective factors affecting serum 25(OH)D status were found to be the sun exposure and active outdoor exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Hypovitaminosis D is common in HD patients and is higher in females than in males. Sun exposure is the most important determinant of serum 25(OH)D status in HD patients.

Wilms' tumor gene 1 enhances nutlin-3-induced apoptosis.

Nutlin-3, a human double minute 2 (HDM2) antagonist, induces cell cycle arrest or apoptosis by upregulating p53 in cancer cells. WT1, the product of Wilms' tumor gene 1, has been shown to interact with p53, but the effect of WT1 on nutlin-3-induced apoptosis has yet to be examined. To address this issue, we analyzed the inhibitory effect of nutlin-3 on cell growth as a function of Wt1 expression status using a Wt1-inducible U2OS cell line. In the absence of Wt1 expression, nutlin-3 induced cell cycle arrest with marginal cytotoxicity. Furthermore, upon Wt1 expression, nutlin-3 exerted a marked degree of cell death, as evidenced by the accumulation of hypo-diploid cells and LDH release. During cell death induction, cytochrome c was released into the cytosol, and caspase-9 and -3 were activated, suggesting that an intrinsic apoptotic pathway may be involved in this cell death. Consistent with this, z-VAD-Fmk, a pan-caspase inhibitor and the overexpression of BCL-XL attenuated the cell death. Nutlin-3 caused an increase in the mRNA levels of both BCL-XL and BAK, as well as their corresponding protein levels in mitochondria. In the presence of Wt1, nutlin-3-induced BCL-XL expression was attenuated while the expression of nutlin-3-induced BAK was potentiated. Collectively, these results suggest that WT1 potentiates nutlin-3-induced apoptosis by downregulating the expression of BCL-XL while upregulating that of BAK, which leads to the activation of an intrinsic apoptotic pathway.

The effects of elimination diet on nutritional status in subjects with atopic dermatitis.

A food allergy is an adverse health effect arising from a specific immune response that occurs reproducibly upon exposure to a given food. In those with food allergies that are thought to cause aggravation of eczema, food avoidance is important. The objective of this study was to research the nutritional status of patients with food allergies. A total of 225 subjects diagnosed with atopic dermatitis underwent a skin prick test as well as measurement of serum immunoglobulin E. Food challenge tests were conducted using seven food items: milk, eggs, wheat, soybeans, beef, pork, and chicken. At post-food challenge visits to the test clinic, participants completed a three-day dietary record, which included two week days and one weekend day, in order to evaluate energy intake and diet quality during the challenge. We analyzed nutrient intake based on differential food allergens. Subjects with a food allergy to milk showed lower intake of Ca, Zn, and vitamin B2, and subjects with a food allergy to egg showed lower intake of vitamin A, B1, B2, niacin, and cholesterol. Subjects with a food allergy to wheat and soybean showed lower intake of Ca, P, Fe, K, Zn, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, and niacin; and subjects with a food allergy to beef, pork, and chicken showed lower intake of Fe and higher intake of K, vitamin A, B2. Subjects with atopic dermatitis were lacking in several nutrients, including vitamin A and vitamin C. A greater number of food allergies showed an association with a greater number of nutrient intake deficiencies. Allergen avoidance is the basic treatment for atopic dermatitis. However, when the allergen is food, excessive restriction can lead to nutrition deficiency. Findings of this study suggest the necessity for enhanced nutritional education in order to provide substitute foods for patients with food allergies who practice food restriction.

Characterization of food allergies in patients with atopic dermatitis.

We examined the characteristics of food allergy prevalence and suggested the basis of dietary guidelines for patients with food allergies and atopic dermatitis. A total of 2,417 patients were enrolled in this study. Each subject underwent a skin prick test as well as serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) measurement. A double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge was conducted using milk, eggs, wheat, and soybeans, and an oral food challenge was performed using beef, pork, and chicken. Food allergy prevalence was found among 50.7% in patients with atopic dermatitis. Among patients with food allergies (n = 1,225), the prevalence of non-IgE-mediated food allergies, IgE-mediated food allergies, and mixed allergies was discovered in 94.9%, 2.2%, and 2.9% of the patients, respectively. Food allergy prevalence, according to food item, was as follows: eggs = 21.6%, milk = 20.9%, wheat = 11.8%, soybeans = 11.7%, chicken = 11.7%, pork = 8.9% and beef = 9.2%. The total number of reactions to different food items in each patient was also variable at 45.1%, 30.6%, 15.3%, 5.8%, 2.2%, and 1.0% for 1 to 6 reactions, respectively. The most commonly seen combination in patients with two food allergies was eggs and milk. The clinical severity of the reactions observed in the challenge test, in the order of most to least severe, were wheat, beef, soybeans, milk, pork, eggs, and chicken. The minimum and maximum onset times of food allergy reactions were 0.2-24 hrs for wheat, 0.5-48 hrs for beef, 1.0-24 hrs for soybeans, 0.7-24 hrs for milk, 3.0-24 hrs for pork, 0.01-72 hrs for eggs, and 3.0-72 hrs for chicken. In our study, we examined the characteristics of seven popular foods. It will be necessary, however, to study a broader range of foods for the establishment of a dietary guideline. Our results suggest that it may be helpful to identify food allergies in order to improve symptoms in patients with atopic dermatitis.

Cardioprotective effects of diet with different grains on lipid profiles and antioxidative system in obesity-induced rats.

In the present study, the nutritional quality of four grains including adlay (AD), buckwheat (BW), glutinous barley (GB), and white rice (WR) were evaluated in terms of plasma lipid parameters, gut transit time, and thickness of the aortic wall in rats. The rats were then raised for 4 weeks on the high-fat diet based on the American Institute of Nutrition-93 (AIN-93 G) diets containing 1 % cholesterol and 20 % dietary lipids. Forty male rats were divided into 4 groups and raised for 4 weeks with a diet containing one of the following grains: WR, AD, BW, or WB. The level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in liver was shown to be higher in rats by the order of those fed WR, AD, GB, and BW. This indicates that other grains decreased oxidative stress in vivo more than WR. The superoxide dismutase, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase levels in the AD, BW, and GB groups were significantly higher than those in the WR group (p < 0.05). Plasma lipid profiles differed significantly according to grain combination, and decreased aortic wall thickness was consistent with the finding of decreased plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (p < 0.05) and increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) in rats fed AD, BW, and GB (p < 0.001). The antioxidant and hypolipidemic capacities of grains are quite high, especially those of adlay, buckwheat, and glutinous barley. In conclusion, this study has demonstrated that the whole grains had a cardioprotective effect. This effect was related to several mechanisms that corresponded to lowering plasma lipids, decreasing TBARS, and increasing antioxidant activities.

Effects of adlay, buckwheat, and barley on transit time and the antioxidative system in obesity induced rats.

In the present study, we examined whether four grains including adlay (AD), buckwheat (BW), glutinous barley (GB), and white rice (WR) affect the duration of food residence in the gastrointestinal tract and hepatic enzyme activities in rats fed different combinations of the grains. The rats were raised for 4 weeks on a high fat diet based on the American Institute of Nutrition-93 (AIN-93G) diets containing 1% cholesterol and 20% dietary lipids. Forty male rats were divided into four groups and raised for 4 weeks with a diet containing one of the grains. Corresponding to the dietary fiber contents of the experimental grains, gut transit time was shortest in the rats fed GB and increased in the order of BW, AD, and WR. In addition, the accumulated shortest transit time occurred in the GB group. Gut transit time affected weight gain and major organ weight, as it was closely related to the absorption of nutrients. The level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) in liver was higher in rats fed WR, AD, BW, and GB, indicating that the other grains decreased oxidative stress in vivo more than WR. Glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione S-transferase levels in the AD, BW, and GB groups were significantly higher than those in the WR group. In conclusion, reduced colonic transit time has been implicated in reducing the incidence of colon cancer, as evidenced by populations consuming diets rich in fiber. Whole grains such as AD, BW, and GB may contribute to a significant supply of antioxidants to prevent oxidative stress if they are consumed in large amounts.

The effect of a healthy school tuck shop program on the access of students to healthy foods.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a healthy school tuck shop program, developed as a way of creating a healthy and nutritional school environment, on students' access to healthy foods. Five middle schools and four high schools (775 students) participated in the healthy school tuck shop program, and nine schools (1,282 students) were selected as the control group. The intervention program included restriction of unhealthy foods sold in tuck shops, provision of various fruits, and indirect nutritional education with promotion of healthy food products. The program evaluation involved the examination of students' purchase and intake patterns of healthy foods, satisfaction with the available foodstuffs, and utilization of and satisfaction with nutritional educational resources. Our results indicated that among of the students who utilized the tuck shop, about 40% purchased fruit products, showing that availability of healthy foods in the tuck shop increased the accessibility of healthy foods for students. Overall food purchase and intake patterns did not significantly change during the intervention period. However, students from the intervention schools reported higher satisfaction with the healthy food products sold in the tuck shop than did those from the control schools (all P < 0.001), and they were highly satisfied with the educational resources provided to them. In conclusion, the healthy school tuck shop program had a positive effect on the accessibility of healthy food. The findings suggest that a healthy school tuck shop may be an effective environmental strategy for promoting students' access to healthy foods.

Prooxidant properties of ascorbic acid in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system of C57BL/6 mice.

Ascorbic acid (AA) is a well-known reducing agent; however, under appropriate condition, it can facilitate oxidation. In this study, we investigated the effect of AA on dopamine (DA) and glutathione levels in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system of male seven-week-old C57BL/6 mice (weight, 23-25 g). Mice were treated with AA (400 mg/kg, i.p.) once per day for four weeks, and changes in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity, DA and its metabolites, and glutathione (reduced and oxidized) in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and striatum were measured. After repeated AA administration, TH-positive immunoreactivity (TH-IR) decreased compared to the control both in the SNpc and striatum. AA treatment also significantly reduced DA levels, and the reduction of which corresponded to changes in TH expression within the same region. In addition, AA increased DA oxidative metabolism according to increases in the DOPAC/DA ratio both in the SNpc and the striatum, whereas the O-methylation pathway in the striatum remained unchanged. Levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) in both the SNpc and striatum were decreased more in the AA treated group than in the control group. Likewise, levels of total glutathione were also decreased in the corresponding regions. Taken together, our data suggest that repeated AA injection induces dopaminergic neurotoxicity through generation of oxidative stress, and that this toxicity is related to the decline of GSH in both the SNpc and striatum. This neurotoxic mechanism may specifically involve enhancement of the oxidative pathway of DA metabolism through coupling with the antioxidant GSH system of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system.

Effect of processed foods on serum levels of eosinophil cationic protein among children with atopic dermatitis.

The prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) in school-age children has increased in industrialized countries. As diet is one of the main factors provoking AD, some studies have suggested that food additives in processed foods could function as pseudoallergens, which comprise the non-immunoglobulin E-mediated reaction. Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is an eosinophil granule protein released during allergic reactions to food allergens in patients with AD. Thus, serum ECP levels may be a useful indicator of ongoing inflammatory processes in patients with AD. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of consuming MSG in processed foods on serum ECP levels among children with AD. This study was performed with 13 patients with AD (age, 7-11 years) who had a normal range of total IgE levels (< 300 IU/ml). All participants ate normal diets during the first week. Then, six patients were allocated to a processed food-restricted group (PRDG) and seven patients were in a general diet group (GDG). During the second week, children in the PRDG and their parents were asked to avoid eating all processed foods. On the third week, children in the PRDG were allowed all foods, as were the children in the GDG throughout the 3-week period. The subjects were asked to complete a dietary record during the trial period. Children with AD who received the dietary restriction showed decreased consumption of MSG and decreased serum ECP levels and an improved SCORing score on the atopic dermatitis index (P < 0.05). No differences in serum ECP levels or MSG consumption were observed in the GDG. Serum total IgE levels were not changed in either group. In conclusion, a reduction in MSG intake by restricting processed food consumption may lead to a decrease in serum ECP levels in children with AD and improve AD symptoms.

IL-10 is predominantly produced by CD19(low)CD5(+) regulatory B cell subpopulation: characterisation of CD19 (high) and CD19(low) subpopulations of CD5(+) B cells.

IL-10 production by CD19(+)CD5(+) B cells was investigated, by determining the expression levels of CD19, a classical B cell marker. Peripheral mononuclear cells were stained with fluorescence-conjugated anti-CD5, anti-CD19, anti-IL-10, and Annexin V. Interestingly, IL-10-producing B cells were found to be localised within the CD19(low)CD5(+) B cell subset. Apoptotic changes were also observed mainly in CD19(low) cells among B cells. Thus, CD5(+) B cells should be classified as CD19(high) and CD19(low) cells, and the immunological significance of CD19 for the IL-10 production by CD5(+) B cells requires further studies.

Allergen-specific transforming growth factor-ß-producing CD19+CD5+ regulatory B-cell (Br3) responses in human late eczematous allergic reactions to cow's milk.

CD19(+)CD5(+) regulatory B cells produce transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß) in both mouse and human B-cell leukemias. In this study, TGF-ß was uniquely produced by normal human regulatory B cells. TGF-ß-producing regulatory B-cell (Br3) responses were characterized through allergic responses to cow's milk. In total, 10 subjects allergic to milk and 13 milk-tolerant subjects were selected following double-blinded, placebo-controlled food challenges. Their peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated in vitro with casein. Following allergen stimulation, the percentage of Br3s among CD5(+) B cells decreased from 11.5% ± 13.7% to 8.0% ± 9.6% (P = 0.042, n = 5) in the milk-allergy group and increased from 14.7% ± 15.6% to 18.9% ± 20.1% (P = 0.006, n = 7) in the milk-tolerant group. However, the numbers of Br3s increased only in the milk-tolerant group, from 1,954 ± 1,058 to 4,548 ± 1,846 per well (P = 0.026), whereas the numbers of Br3s in the milk-allergy group were unchanged [2,596 ± 823 to 2,777 ± 802 per well (P = 0.734)]. The numbers of apoptotic events were similar to the numbers of total Br3 responses. The percentage of non-TGF-ß-producing CD5(+) B cells with apoptotic changes increased from 13.4% ± 17.1% to 16.4% ± 20.3% (P = 0.047, n = 5) in the milk-allergy group and remained unchanged [from 9.9% ± 11.9% to 9.3% ± 11.4% (P = 0.099, n = 7)] in the milk-tolerant group. Using carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester labeling, we observed that the percentage of proliferating Br3s among CD5(+) B cells was unchanged [from 6.1% ± 2.8% to 6.4% ± 2.9% (P = 0.145)] in the milk-allergy group and increased from 6.8% ± 3.9% to 10.2% ± 5.3% (P = 0.024) in the milk-tolerant group. In conclusion, Br3s proliferated in response to allergen stimulation in the milk-tolerant group and not in the milk-allergy group. TGF-ß-producing regulatory B cells (Br3) may be involved in allergy tolerance by negatively regulating the immune system with TGF-ß, and this negative regulation may be controlled by apoptosis.

Factors related to household food insecurity in the Republic of Korea.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence of food insecurity and to identify factors that contribute to it in the Republic of Korea. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Data were selected from a secondary data set, the third Korean Welfare Panel Study. Household food insecurity was measured with a six-item Korean version of the US Household Food Security Survey Module. The differences in proportions or means of household characteristics, householder's characteristics, economic status and social benefits by food insecurity status were tested with the χ2 or t test. The independent associations of food insecurity with each characteristic were assessed with multivariate logistic regression analysis. SUBJECTS: The sample size consisted of 6238 households. RESULTS: The prevalence of food insecurity was 5.3 % among all households and 25.7 % among low-income households. Risk factors that were associated with a higher risk of food insecurity included living alone, unemployment, no job, low household income and living in a leased or rented home. For low-income households, living in a leased or rented home increased the risk of food insecurity. Among food-insecure households, 26.1 % of the full sample of households and 34.3 % of low-income households were participating in food assistance programmes. CONCLUSIONS: Food insecurity among the Korean population was related to household type, income, job status and housing. Food assistance programmes were not enough to completely alleviate food insecurity.

The effects of uncoupling protein 1 and beta3-adrenergic receptor gene polymorphisms on weight loss and lipid profiles in obese women.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the genetic polymorphisms of the uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and beta 3 adrenergic receptor (beta3-AR) were associated with differences in weight loss and lipid profiles in obese premenopausal women exposed to low-calorie meal replacements over a period of six weeks. Forty women between the ages of 20 and 35 were randomly divided into two groups, each of which consumed one of two low-calorie meal replacements containing either white rice or mixed rice. Although body weight, body mass index (BMI), blood glucose concentration, triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were not significantly different by the UCP1 genotype in the white rice group, there were significant differences in body weight (p = 0.041), BMI (p = 0.027), and blood glucose concentration (p = 0.047) between carriers and non-carriers of the G allele in the mixed rice group after the six-week meal replacement intervention. The beta3-AR polymorphism showed no apparent affect on these parameters. Dietary fiber affects weight gain since it is closely related with absorption of nutrients. As a result, the AA type UCP1 genotype produced significant weight loss in the mixed rice group, but not in the white rice group.

The effects of yellow soybean, black soybean, and sword bean on lipid levels and oxidative stress in ovariectomized rats.

Soy isoflavones have been reported to decrease the risk of atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women. However, the effects of dietary consumption of soybean have not been explored. In this study, we evaluated the effects of consuming yellow soybeans, black soybeans (Glycine max), or sword beans (Canavalia gladiate) on lipid and oxidative stress levels in an ovariectomized rat model. Forty-seven nine-week-old female rats were ovariectomized, randomly divided into four groups, and fed one of the following diets for 10 weeks: a diet supplemented with casein (NC, n = 12), a diet supplemented with yellow soybean (YS, n = 12), a diet supplemented with black soybean (BS, n = 12), or a diet supplemented with sword bean (SB, n = 11). Plasma triglyceride (TG) levels in the BS and SB groups were significantly lower than that in the NC group. Notably, the BS group had significantly lower plasma total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels than the other groups. Hepatic total lipid levels were significantly lower in the YS and SB groups, and cholesterol levels were significantly lower in the SB group than in the NC group. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were significantly higher in the groups fed beans compared to the NC group. Hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels were also significantly lower in the BS and SB groups than the NC group. In conclusion, our results suggest that consumption of various types of beans may inhibit oxidative stress in postmenopausal women by increasing antioxidant activity and improving lipid profiles. Notably, intake of black soybean resulted in the greatest improvement in risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease.

Characterisation of allergen-specific responses of IL-10-producing regulatory B cells (Br1) in Cow Milk Allergy.

CD19+CD5+ regulatory B cells regulate immune responses by producing IL-10. IL-10-producing regulatory B cell (Br1) responses by allergen stimulation were investigated in human food allergy. Six milk allergy patients and eight milk-tolerant subjects were selected according to DBPCFC. PBMCs were stimulated by casein in vitro and stained for intracellular IL-10 and apoptosis. In response to allergen stimulation, Br1 decreased from 26.2+/-18.3 to 15.5+/-8.9% (p=0.031, n=6) in the milk allergy group and increased from 15.4+/-9.0 to 23.7+/-11.2% (p=0.023, n=8) in the milk-tolerant group. Apoptotic non-IL-10-producing regulatory B cells increased from 21.8+/-9.3 to 38.0+/-16.1% (p=0.031, n=6) in the milk allergy group and unchanged from 28.8+/-13.8 to 28.0+/-15.0% (p=0.844, n=8) in the milk-tolerant group. Br1 may be involved in the immune tolerance of food allergies by producing IL-10 and simultaneously undergoing apoptosis in humans. The exact roles for Br1 in immune tolerance needs to be further investigated.

Effect of soybeans and sword beans on bone metabolism in a rat model of osteoporosis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Soy isoflavones have been reported to prevent bone loss in rat models of osteoporosis. However, the effect of the natural soybeans that people consume in their diet needs to be explored. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of yellow and black soybeans (Glycine max), and sword beans (Canavalia gladiate) on bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and bone biomarkers in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. METHODS: Seven-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were raised for 2 weeks on a calcium-free diet based on the American Institute of Nutrition (AIN)-93M diets. All the rats received OVX, were randomized to one of four groups, and given one of the diets supplemented with casein, yellow soybean, black soybean, and sword bean for 10 weeks. BMD, BMC, osteocalcin (OC; a bone formation biomarker), deoxypyridinoline (DPD; a bone resorption biomarker), and TNF-alpha (a bone resorption cytokine) were assessed. RESULTS: In the femur and lumbar spine, BMD and BMC were significantly higher in the various bean groups than in the casein group. Among the bean groups, femur and spine BMD were significantly higher in the yellow soybean and sword bean groups than in the black soybean group. Femur BMC was the highest in the yellow soybean group, and spine BMC was not significantly different between the various bean groups. Plasma OC concentrations and urinary DPD excretion were significantly higher in the casein group than in the various bean groups. The sword bean group showed significantly lower OC and DPD levels than the yellow and black soybean groups. There were no significant differences between the yellow and black soybean groups. TNF-alpha concentrations were not significantly different between the four groups. CONCLUSION: Consumption of yellow and black soybeans, and sword beans had a definite protective effect on bone loss in OVX rats by inhibiting bone turnover and preventing bone resorption. Furthermore, consumption of sword beans may help prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis.

The factors affecting pregnancy outcomes in the second trimester pregnant women.

Adequate nutrient intake during pregnancy is important to fetal and maternal health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting birth weight and gestational age and to provide basic data to promote more favorable pregnancy outcomes. Data were collected from 234 pregnant women at two hospitals in Seoul. Demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements and health related habits were obtained using a questionnaire at the hospital visit during the second trimester. Dietary intakes were estimated by 24 hour recall at the hospital visit during the second trimester. Data on pregnancy outcomes, including birth weights and gestational ages, were obtained from hospital records after delivery. Birth weights were divided into a low birth weight group (birth weight<3.1 kg), a normal birth weight group (3.1-3.6 kg) and a high birth weight group (>3.6 kg). Gestational ages were divided into tertiles according to the gestational age of the subjects: group 1 (<38.53 weeks), group 2 (38.53-40.00 weeks) and group 3 (>40.00 weeks). The number of family members was significantly lower in the low birth weight group than in the normal birth weight group (p<0.05). In the low birth weight group, pregnancy weight was significantly lower than in the high birth weight group (p<0.05). Health related habits were not significantly different among any of the groups. Intakes of fiber, phosphorous, iron, vitamin B(6) and folic acid were significantly higher in the high birth weight group than the low birth weight group (p<0.05). Gestational age was not significantly affected by nutrient intakes, but birth weight was affected by nutrient intake in the results of this study. Therefore, the adequacy of nutrient intake is important for the improvement of pregnancy outcomes.

A pilot study of interferon-gamma-induced specific oral tolerance induction (ISOTI) for immunoglobulin E-mediated anaphylactic food allergy.

Food-induced anaphylaxis is a life-threatening, IgE-mediated disease. No specific therapeutic recommendations, aside from the avoidance of offending foods, exist at this time. However, specific oral tolerance induction for food allergy has been investigated by several groups. In this study, specific oral tolerance induction was attempted using interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) as an adjuvant for IgE-mediated anaphylactic food allergies. A total of 25 patients with IgE-mediated anaphylactic food allergy to milk, eggs, or wheat were selected. IFN-gamma-induced specific oral tolerance induction (ISOTI) was conducted on 10 patients, while five patients were only treated with food, five patients received only IFN-gamma therapy, and five patients did not receive any treatment. Tolerance for IgE-mediated anaphylactic food allergy was successfully induced in all patients (10/10) with ISOTI, while no patients acquired tolerance for allergenic foods in the control groups. Food-specific IgE levels were increased, and skin prick test reactions significantly decreased after the completion of ISOTI. IFN-gamma-induced specific oral tolerance induction (ISOTI) is a promisingly effective treatment for IgE-mediated anaphylactic food allergy. IFN-gamma may be an important cytokine in tolerance induction. Simultaneous allergen stimulation with nonspecific immunomodulation of IFN-gamma was essential for specific tolerance induction in IgE-mediated anaphylactic food allergy.

Planar-lightwave-circuit-based duplexer for gigabit-capable passive optical network/gigabit Ethernet passive optical network applications.

We suggest a compact and efficient duplexer using the multimode interference (MMI) effect and the extraneous self-imaging phenomenon for gigabit-capable passive optical network and gigabit Ethernet passive optical network applications. To experimentally evaluate the suggested duplexer, silica-based MMI couplers were tested using light sources with wavelengths of 1310 and 1490 nm. From the experimental results, this device showed relative output powers of -0.3 and -0.7 dBm for the light sources with 1490 and 1310 nm wavelengths, respectively. The return power was measured to be less than -40 dBm.

Meal replacement with mixed rice is more effective than white rice in weight control, while improving antioxidant enzyme activity in obese women.

The physiologic consequences of using white rice or mixed rice were evaluated in overweight Korean women (body mass index > or = 25 kg/m(2)) over a period of 6 weeks. Forty women between 20 and 35 years of age were randomly divided into 2 groups who consumed 1 of 2 low-energy meal replacements containing either white rice (WR group) or mixture of brown rice and black rice (BRBL group). The subjects were not allowed to have any food other than the low-energy meal replacement 3 times a day and snacks provided by the researcher. The changes in anthropometric indices and blood parameters such as lipid levels and antioxidant activities were measured every 3 weeks during the dietary intervention. The subjects showed a significant reduction in weight, body mass index, and body fat (%) during the experimental period, with the BRBL group exhibiting levels of all 3 parameters significantly lower than those of the WR group (P < .05). The levels of total cholesterol and triacylglycerols decreased gradually and significantly after intervention in both groups, with no significant difference between groups. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly elevated in the BRBL group but not in the WR group. Superoxide dismutase activity was not affected by dietary intervention, but glutathione peroxidase activity in the BRBL group was higher than in the WR group, and the level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance was lower in the BRBL group compared to the WR group. In conclusion, meal replacement with mixed rice was superior to replacement with white rice in weight control, improving antioxidant enzyme activity, and as such, should be recommended for diet therapy in obese women.