The application of traffic-light food labelling in a worksite canteen intervention in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated customer attitudes, perceptions, and utilisation of a traffic-light food labelling (TFL) programme before and after the TFL was implemented in a worksite canteen in Taiwan. STUDY DESIGN: A one-arm intervention was implemented in the canteen and buffet of a research park in Taiwan. Phase 1 consisted of dissemination of information regarding the TFL, targeting the customers (June-July, 2014); phase 2 consisted of implementation of the TFL in the buffet starting in August 2014. The TFL included red, yellow and green labels, indicating 'unhealthy/stop', 'moderately unhealthy/wait' and 'healthy/go', respectively. METHODS: The evaluation was based on two independent anonymous surveys in July 2014 (in phase 1) and April 2015 (in phase 2). Customers were invited to take a survey regarding the TFL programme, the food environment in the canteen, and their lunch choices. Logistic regression models examined the changes in customers' attention and attitudes towards the labelling and their food choices between the two surveys. RESULTS: The customers reported positive attitudes towards the TFL. The proportion of customers who reported choosing foods based on the recommendations increased from 38% to 50% (P < 0.01). The proportion of the buffet customers who chose green-light entrées and red-light entrées changed from 13% and 63% to 36% and 21%, respectively (P < 0.001). The availability of green-light entrées in the buffet increased as well. CONCLUSIONS: This first report of a TFL intervention in an Asian worksite suggests that TFL is acceptable and well understood by this population and may assist customers in choosing healthier items when healthier choices are available.

Inhibition of platelet aggregation by shikonin derivatives isolated from Arnebia euchroma.

Four antiplatelet components were isolated from Arnebia euchroma. They inhibited the aggregation of washed rabbit platelets caused by collagen, arachidonic acid, platelet-activating factor, ADP, or thrombin. The potency of inhibiting collagen-induced platelet aggregation is in the following order: acetylshikonin (IC50 = 2.1 microM), teracrylshikonin (2.8 microM), beta, beta-dimethylacrylshikonin (4.2 microM), and shikonin (10.7 microM). In rat aorta, acetylshikonin and shikonin inhibited high potassium and norepinephrine-induced contractions, while beta, beta-dimethylacrylshikonin and teracrylshikonin potentiated the phasic contraction caused by norepinephrine.

An infrared probe of iro n porphyrin oxidation state and axial ligation.

Carbonyl stretching frequencies of acyl groups conjugated with porphyrin rings are useful probes of the effective electronegativities of corrdinated iron atoms in iron porphyrins. Acetyl carbonyl stretching frequencies for 2,4-diacetyldeuteroporphyrin IX dimethyl ester derivatives exhibit both metal oxidation state and axial ligand effects. Infrared spectra of chloroform and pyridine solutions, corrected for solvation, showed the sequences of acetyl carbonyl stretching frequencies: dipyridine iron(II) less than mu-oxo bisiron(III) less than bromo iron(III) approximately equal to chloro iron(III) and dipyridine nickel(II) less than nickel(II). Applications of the probe to the study of hemeproteins are indicated.