Major reduction of malaria morbidity with combined vitamin A and zinc supplementation in young children in Burkina Faso: a randomized double blind trial

Background  

Vitamin A and zinc are crucial for normal immune function, and may play a synergistic role for reducing the risk of infection including malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum.     

Dental Zirconia Adhesion with Silicon Compounds Using Some Experimental and Conventional Surface Conditioning Methods

Background  

Clinically, in dental practice the durability of zirconia adhesion is the key to successful long-term all-ceramic structures, e.g. fixed partial dentures (FPDs).     

Effects of a probiotic soy product and physical exercise on formation of pre-neoplastic lesions in rat colons in a short-term model of carcinogenic

Purpose  

In this study the influence of moderate or intense physical exercise, alone or in combination with the consumption of a soya product fermented with Enterococcus faecium, on the development of colon cancer induced chemically in rats with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH), was investigated.     

Different particle determinants induce apoptosis and cytokine release in primary alveolar macrophage cultures

Background  

Particles are known to induce both cytokine release (MIP-2, TNF-α), a reduction in cell viability and an increased apoptosis in alveolar macrophages. To examine whether these responses are triggered by the same particle determinants, alveolar macrophages were exposed in vitro to mineral particles of different physical-chemical properties.     

Effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Curcuma longa</Emphasis> (turmeric) on postprandial plasma glucose and insulin in healthy subjects

Background  

Previous animal studies have shown that Curcuma (C.) longa lowers plasma glucose. C. longa may thus be a promising ingredient in functional foods aimed at preventing type 2 diabetes. The purpose of the study is to study the effect of C. longa on postprandial plasma glucose, insulin levels and glycemic index (GI) in healthy subjects.     

Cruciferous vegetable supplementation in a controlled diet study alters the serum peptidome in a <Emphasis Type="Italic">GSTM1</Emphasis>-genotype dependent manner

Background  

Cruciferous vegetable intake is inversely associated with the risk of several cancers. Isothiocyanates (ITC) are hypothesized to be the major bioactive constituents contributing to these cancer-preventive effects. The polymorphic glutathione-S-transferase (GST) gene family encodes several enzymes which catalyze ITC degradation in vivo.     

Chronic and acute effects of walnuts on antioxidant capacity and nutritional status in humans: a randomized,cross-over pilot study

Background  

Compared with other common plant foods, walnuts (Juglans regia) are consistently ranked among the highest in antioxidant capacity. In vitro, walnut polyphenols inhibit plasma and LDL oxidation, while in animal models they lower biomarkers of oxidative stress and raise antioxidant capacity. A limited number of human feeding trials indicate that walnuts improve some measures of antioxidant status, but not others.     

The clinical effect of a new infant formula in term infants with constipation: a double-blind,randomized cross-over trial

Background  

Nutrilon Omneo (new formula; NF) contains high concentration of sn-2 palmitic acid, a mixture of prebiotic oligosaccharides and partially hydrolyzed whey protein. It is hypothesized that NF positively affects stool characteristics in constipated infants.     

Evaluation of the functional efficacy of an antioxidative probiotic in healthy volunteers

Background  

In persons without clinical symptom it is difficult to assess an impact of probiotics regarding its effect on health. We evaluated the functional efficacy of the probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum ME-3 in healthy volunteers by measuring the influence of two different formulations on intestinal lactoflora, fecal recovery of the probiotic strain and oxidative stress markers of blood and urine after 3 weeks consumption.     

Cytotoxicity screening of 23 engineered nanomaterials using a test matrix of ten cell lines and three different assays

Background  

Engineered nanomaterials display unique properties that may have impact on human health, and thus require a reliable evaluation of their potential toxicity. Here, we performed a standardized in vitro screening of 23 engineered nanomaterials. We thoroughly characterized the physicochemical properties of the nanomaterials and adapted three classical in vitro toxicity assays to eliminate nanomaterial interference. Nanomaterial toxicity was assessed in ten representative cell lines.     

Single and repeated moderate consumption of native or dealcoholized red wine show different effects on antioxidant parameters in blood and DNA strand breaks in peripheral leukocytes in healthy volunteers: a randomized controlled trial [ISRCTN68505294]

Background  

Red wine (RW) is rich in antioxidant polyphenols that might protect from oxidative stress related diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. Antioxidant effects after single ingestion of RW or dealcoholized RW (DRW) have been observed in several studies, but results after regular consumption are contradictory. Thus, we examined if single or repeated consumption of moderate amounts of RW or DRW exert antioxidant activity in vivo.     

Highly Efficient Oxidation of Toluene to Benzoic Acid Catalyzed by Manganese Dioxide and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Hydroxyphthalimide

Abstract  

Benzoic acid could be efficiently prepared from aerobic oxidation of toluene using manganese dioxide (MnO₂) and N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) as catalysts. The conditions of oxidation, including temperature, amount of catalyst, dioxygen pressure and reaction time, were studied in details. Thus 94.4% conversion of toluene and 98.4% selectivity of benzoic acid could be obtained at 110 °C under 0.3 MPa for 3 h in the presence of 10 mol% NHPI and 4 mol% MnO₂.     

Clinical and biochemical effects of a combination botanical product (ClearGuard™) for allergy: a pilot randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial

Background  

Botanical products are frequently used for treatment of nasal allergy. Three of these substances, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Malpighia glabra, and Bidens pilosa, have been shown to have a number of anti-allergic properties in-vitro. The current study was conducted to determine the effects of these combined ingredients upon the nasal response to allergen challenge in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.     

Is <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bifidobacterium breve</Emphasis>effective in the treatment of childhood constipation? Results from a pilot study

Background  

Probiotics are increasingly used in the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders. Studies in constipated adults with a Bifidus yoghurt (containing Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus) showed a significant increase in defecation frequency. The aim of this pilot study was to determine if Bifidobacterium breve is effective in the treatment of childhood constipation.     

Correlating Enantioselectivity with Activation Energies in the Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Acetophenone Catalysed by Noyori-Type Complexes

Abstract  

The reduction of acetophenone catalysed by Ru(diphosphine)(diamine) complexes, with various diphosphine and diamine ligands, has been investigated theoretically using density functional theory. The results show a correlation between differences in the calculated activation energy (ΔE _a) and enantiomeric excess (ee) in ruthenium-based asymmetric hydrogenation catalysts, suggesting that computational procedures may be able to predict the effect on the ee of ligand substitutions.     

An iron-based beverage, HydroFerrate fluid (MRN-100), alleviates oxidative stress in murine lymphocytes in vitro

Background  

Several studies have examined the correlation between iron oxidation and H₂O₂ degradation. The present study was carried out to examine the protective effects of MRN-100 against stress-induced apoptosis in murine splenic cells in vitro. MRN-100, or HydroFerrate fluid, is an iron-based beverage composed of bivalent and trivalent ferrates.     

N-Heterocyclic Carbene–Rhodium(I) Complexes Derived from Proline for the 1,4-Conjugate Addition of Arylboronic Acids to Enones in Neat Water

Abstract  

N-Heterocyclic carbene–rhodium(I) complexes derived from N-benzyl substituted proline have been successfully synthesized and were found to be efficient catalysts for the 1,4-conjugate addition of arylboronic acids to enones in neat water at 40 °C. Under the optimal reaction conditions, all reactions gave the addition products in good to high yields.     

Proprietary arabinogalactan extract increases antibody response to the pneumonia vaccine: a randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled,pilot study in healthy volunteers

Background  

Arabinogalactan from Larch tree (Larix spp.) bark has previously demonstrated immunostimulatory activity. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that ingestion of a proprietary arabinogalactan extract, ResistAid™, would selectively enhance the antibody response to the pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine in healthy adults.     

A dose-controlled system for air-liquid interface cell exposure and application to zinc oxide nanoparticles

Background  

Engineered nanoparticles are becoming increasingly ubiquitous and their toxicological effects on human health, as well as on the ecosystem, have become a concern. Since initial contact with nanoparticles occurs at the epithelium in the lungs (or skin, or eyes), in vitro cell studies with nanoparticles require dose-controlled systems for delivery of nanoparticles to epithelial cells cultured at the air-liquid interface.     

Synergic Effects of Ionic Liquid and Microwave Irradiation in Promoting Trifluoromethylpyrazole Synthesis

Abstract  

The synthesis of 5-trifluoromethyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazoles from the reactions of 4-alkoxy-1,1,1-trifluoro-3-alken-2-ones [CF₃C(O)CH=C(R¹)OR, where R = Me, Et; R¹ = H, Me, Bu, i-Bu, Ph, 4-MeC₆H₄, 4-FC₆H₄, 4-ClC₆H₄, 4-BrC₆H_4, 4-IC₆H_4, fur-2-yl] with phenyl hydrazine in the presence of ionic liquid [BMIM][BF₄] is reported. Synergic effects of ionic liquid and microwave irradiation in promoting pyrazole synthesis have been shown for the first time.