Time-trend analysis of fruit and vegetable intake in Hong Kong, 2004-2016.

OBJECTIVES: In 2005, the Hong Kong government launched a series of large-scale dietary promotion campaigns aiming to increase fruit and vegetable intake. This study aimed to investigate changes in mean fruit and vegetable intake in the population between 2004 and 2016. STUDY DESIGN: Time-trend analysis. METHODS: Fruit and vegetable intake data from adults aged 18-64 years between 2004 and 2016 were extracted from government online databases. Descriptive analyses were conducted. One-way analysis of variance was employed to compare population-weighted age-specific and sex-specific mean fruit and vegetable intake at 95% confidence levels in SPSS. RESULTS: Between 2004 and 2016, mean fruit intake (males: 0.70-1.22 servings/day; females: 0.95-1.59 servings/day) and mean vegetable intake (males: 1.80-2.51 servings/day; females: 2.10-2.83 servings/day) among Hong Kong adults across all age groups were lower than recommended. Adults aged 45-54 years and over ate more fruit than younger adults. However, decreasing fruit intake trends were observed among both females and males across all ages. The decreased mean fruit intake among males aged 35-54 years and females aged 35-44 years and below has become statistically significant in more recent years, which may indicate a slow transitioning toward significantly lower mean fruit intake across these age groups. Although statistically non-significant, increasing vegetable intake trends were observed among adults aged 35-44 years and below, which may indicate a slow transitioning process toward significantly higher mean vegetable intake among these age groups. However, there is concern about the downward vegetable intake trends among adults aged 45-64 years. CONCLUSIONS: More research is needed to investigate the effectiveness of dietary promotion campaigns, especially in terms of promotion coverage and population age ranges. More effective strategies are needed to increase fruit and vegetable intake in the population.

Dietary exposure of the Hong Kong adult population to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs): results of the first Hong Kong Total Diet Study.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a group of industrial chemicals that are persistent and can bioaccumulate. In the first Hong Kong Total Diet Study, the dietary exposure of Hong Kong adults to PBDEs was estimated to assess the associated health risks. Food samples, which represented the Hong Kong people's diet, were collected and prepared in table-ready form for analysis. Concentrations of PBDEs were determined in 142 composite samples. The dietary exposures were estimated by combining the analytical results with the local food consumption data of the adults. The mean and 95th percentile of dietary PBDEs exposures of the Hong Kong people were 1.34 and 2.90 ng kg(-1) body weight day(-1), respectively. The main dietary source of PBDEs was "fish and seafood and their products", which contributed 27.3% of the total exposure, followed by "meat, poultry and game and their products" (20.7%), "cereals and their products" (15.9%), and "fats and oils" (15.9%). The large margins of exposure (MOE) (>2.5) calculated following the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) approach for four important congeners, BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-153 and BDE-209, indicate that the estimated dietary exposures are unlikely to be a significant health concern.

Kinetic resolution of acyclic secondary allylic silyl ethers catalyzed by chiral ketones.

Kinetic resolution of acyclic secondary allylic silyl ethers by chiral dioxiranes generated in situ from chiral ketones (R)-1 and (R)-2 and Oxone was investigated. An efficient and catalytic method has been developed for kinetic resolution of those substrates with a CCl(3), tert-butyl, or CF(3) group at the alpha-position. In particular, high selectivities (S up to 100) were observed for kinetic resolutions of racemic alpha-trichloromethyl allylic silyl ethers 7 and 9-15 catalyzed by ketones (R)-2. Both the recovered substrates and the resulting epoxides were obtained in high enantiomeric excess. On the basis of steric and electrostatic interactions between the chiral dioxiranes and the racemic substrates, a model was proposed to rationalize the enantioselectivities and diastereoselectivities in the chiral ketone-catalyzed kinetic resolution process.

De novo formation of adhesions in endometriosis: the role of iron and free radical reactions.

OBJECTIVE: To show that raised iron levels in the peritoneal fluid (PF) of patients with endometriosis catalyze free radical reactions that results in the tissue destruction and fibrosis seen in these patients. DESIGN: A case-controlled study of the iron levels (microgram/mL) in the pelvic PF of 12 patients with moderate-to-severe disease, 15 patients with minimal-to-mild disease and in 17 women with normal pelvises were compared. As an index of free radical reactions through lipid peroxidation, the levels of malondialdehyde levels (ng/mL) were assessed simultaneously in the same specimens. RESULTS: Controlling for the phase of the menstrual cycle, significantly higher levels of iron were seen in patients with endometriosis, the levels being correlated with the severity of the disease. However no such corresponding relationship was seen in the malondialdehyde levels in the PF. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that raised iron levels in the PF do not play a role in catalyzing free radical reactions as judged by the degree of lipid peroxidation.

Menstrual flow duration and spotting following Multiload Copper 250 intra-uterine device insertion.

PIP: As part of a wider evaluation of the Multiload Copper 250 IUD, bleeding patterns were studied longitudinally during the 1st year following insertion in 150 women. The women were menstruating regularly and had not been pregnant or on hormone or intrauterine contraception in the preceding 2 months. Detailed counseling was given, including instruction on collection of menstrual data. The mean age of the patients was 28 years (19-35) and mean parity was 2-3; none was nulliparous. 12 subjects could not be contacted after insertion and were not considered further. At 12 months, there were 11 terminations: pain and/or bleeding, 2; other medical reasons, 1; accidental pregnancy, 1; planning pregnancy, 5f other personal reasons, 1; and lost to follow-up, 1. Following device insertion menstrual duration was initially increased, followed by a fall to levels which were not significantly different from preinsertion values after about 6-9 months of use. Similar trends were noted when menstrual bleeding and spotting were separately analyzed. The mean number of bleeding days decreased from 4.5 during the first 90 days to 4.2 and then 3.9, respectively, in the last 2 segments; the corresponding figures for menstrual spotting were 3.5, 2.8, 2.7, and 2.8 days. Intermenstrual bleeding and spotting were common after insertion but their frequency rapidly decreased with time. To a large extent, bleeding disturbances determine IUD acceptability. Thus, its perceived improvement would tend to encourage continued use and suggests that the potential risk of anemia in longterm users need not necessarily be serious.^ieng

Pattern of acute pelvic inflammatory disease in abortion-related admissions.

We evaluated 3,066 consecutive women admitted during 1 year to two major hospitals of Kuala Lumpur and the adjacent urban area of Malaysia. Indicators of acute pelvic inflammatory disease were more common among patients with induced abortions. PID was thought to be a major contributor to the higher costs associated with management of patients with induced abortions.