RESUMO
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Diets rich in plant-based foods such as vegetables, fruits and soy foods have been suggested to have beneficial effects on health. However, phytochemicals contained in plant-based foods are generally bitter and acrid. We investigated whether intake of vegetables, fruits and soy foods is associated with sensitivity to bitterness and reluctance to eat new foods (food neophobia) in Japanese preschool children. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Subjects of this cross-sectional study were healthy Japanese, 167 boys and 156 girls, aged 4-6 years. Intake of vegetables, fruits and soy foods was estimated from 3-day dietary records. Subjects were classified as either tasters or non-tasters of 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) based on their ability to taste 0.56 mmol/l PROP. Information on each child's age, height, weight, food neophobia status and food variety, as well as maternal diet and parental control over the child's eating, was obtained by a parent-administered questionnaire. Food neophobia was assessed using the Child Food Neophobia Scale (CFNS). RESULTS: A high intake of vegetables was significantly associated with a low CFNS score in boys after controlling for covariates (P=0.0008). Among the boys, soy food intake was significantly higher in PROP non-tasters than in tasters, except those with low CFNS scores (P=0.0019). High intake of soy foods was significantly associated with a low neophobia score in PROP tasters but not in non-tasters (P=0.0024). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that sensitivity to bitter taste and food neophobia may influence the consumption of vegetables and soy foods among Japanese preschool boys.
Assuntos
Dieta , Preferências Alimentares , Plantas Comestíveis , Propiltiouracila , Limiar Gustativo , Paladar , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Frutas , Humanos , Japão , Masculino , Valores de Referência , Fatores Sexuais , Alimentos de Soja , Inquéritos e Questionários , VerdurasRESUMO
The ability of plasmid DNA encoding various influenza viral proteins from the A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) virus to protect against influenza was compared in BALB/c mice. The plasmid DNA encoded hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), matrix protein (M1), nucleoprotein (NP) or nonstructural protein (NS1) in a chicken beta-actin-based expression vector (pCAGGS). Each DNA was inoculated twice 3 weeks apart at a dose of 1 microgram per mouse by particle-mediated DNA transfer to the epidermis (gene gun). Seven days after a second immunization, mice were challenged with the homologous virus and the ability of each DNA to protect mice from influenza was evaluated by decreased lung virus titers and increased survival. Mice, given HA- or NA-expressing DNA, induced a high level of specific antibody response and protected well against the challenge virus. On the other hand, mice given M1-, NP-, or NS1-DNA failed to provide protection, although M1- and NP-DNAs did induce detectable antibody responses. These results indicate that both HA- and NA-expressing DNAs for the surface glycoproteins are most protective against influenza from among the various viral protein-expressing DNAs used here.
Assuntos
DNA Viral/genética , DNA Viral/imunologia , Hemaglutininas/genética , Hemaglutininas/imunologia , Vacinas contra Influenza/uso terapêutico , Influenza Humana/prevenção & controle , Neuraminidase/genética , Neuraminidase/imunologia , Vacinas de DNA/uso terapêutico , Proteínas Virais/genética , Animais , Anticorpos Antivirais/biossíntese , Anticorpos Antivirais/sangue , Biolística , Galinhas , Humanos , Vacinas contra Influenza/genética , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Plasmídeos , Vacinas de DNA/genética , Proteínas Virais/imunologiaRESUMO
The basis of pleiotropy shown by the pet18 mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (rho-0,KIL-0 and temperature sensitive growth) was examined by cloning the fragment which complements the defect in growth at 37 degrees C of the pet18 mutants. The cloned DNA could complement the defect in the maintenance of the killer plasmid but did not give the cell the ability to maintain mitochondrial DNA. Sequence analysis of the cloned DNA revealed the presence of four open reading frames, at least two of which are necessary for the complementation activity. By using the cloned DNA as a probe, we found that two independent pet18 mutants have a deletion covering the entire sequence contained in the probe. From these results we predict that the traits of the pet18 mutants that concern temperature sensitivity and killer of the pet18 mutants are controlled by a separate gene(s) from that which participates in the maintenance of mitochondrial DNA.
Assuntos
Genes Fúngicos , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genética , Sequência de Bases , Southern Blotting , Clonagem Molecular , DNA Fúngico/ultraestrutura , Teste de Complementação Genética , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Fenótipo , Plasmídeos , Mapeamento por Restrição , Temperatura , Transformação GenéticaRESUMO
From the studies on the stability of cefmetazole and cefazolin in feces of animals and children, and the determination of the fecal concentration of cefmetazole in three pediatric patients, the following results were obtained. 1) When cefmetazole was kept at 37 degrees C for 24 approximately 48 hours in feces of rats, rabbits, dogs and children, it showed no decrease of the potency. On the other hand, cefazolin kept in the same condition as that of cefmetazole showed a remarkable decrease of the potency. 2) Fecal excretions of cefmetazole were 0, 0.22 and 0.65% of total doses, respectively, in two pediatric patients of scarlet fever and one pediatric patient of serous meningitis.