Additional Health Benefits Research Articles

Effects of Dietary Inclusion of Dry Hydrastis canadensis on Laying Performance, Egg Quality, Serum Biochemical Parameters and Cecal Microbiota in Laying Hens.

Simple SummaryExtensive studies on alternative sources of feed additives to replace antibiotics are required. Plants of the Ranunculaceae family have been used as medicines or dyes. The representative plant is goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), which has a long history of use in North America, with berberine considered the most effective ingredient in goldenseal. Some natural compounds in Hydrastis canadensis function as efflux pump inhibitors and thus may have bactericidal effects against pathogens with antibiotic resistance. However, no conclusive beneficial effects of goldenseal on the livestock industry have been reported. The objective of this study was to examine whether the alternative use of goldenseal roots or leaves has potential health benefits in chickens. Our data demonstrate that Hydrastis canadensis can improve the egg quality and modulate the microbiota composition of laying hens.Alternative growth promoters are able to not only effectively replace the traditional use of antibiotics but also provide additional health benefits for livestock and reduce food safety concerns. This study investigated the effects of dry Hydrastis canadensis on the laying performance and fecal microbial community of laying hens. Twenty-four Lohmann (LSL, white layer strain) hens were reared from 40 to 48 weeks of age and randomly allotted to four dietary treatments (six birds/treatment). The dietary treatments comprised a basal diet with no treatment as control, a basal diet plus 0.6% powder of dry Hydrastis canadensis roots (R) or leaves (L), and a basal diet plus 0.6% powder of a mixture of dry Hydrastis canadensis roots and leaves (1:1, LR). No mortality was observed in the whole experimental period. The results indicated that albumen height in the LR group was significantly greater than that in the control group. The diet supplemented with Hydrastis canadensis had no significant effects on egg production rate, egg weight, eggshell strength, eggshell thickness, Haugh unit, or yolk height during the whole experimental phase. However, principal coordinate analysis, comparative heat map analysis, and cluster dendrogram analysis of cecal microbiota showed distinct clusters among the groups treated with Hydrastis canadensis and the control group. Regarding blood biochemical parameters, serum cholesterol levels were significantly lower in all Hydrastis canadensis-treated groups compared with those in the control group. Moreover, serum low-density lipoprotein levels were lower in hens supplemented with the leaf of Hydrastis canadensis. The abundances of the phyla Fusobacteria and Kiritimatiellaeota were increased (p < 0.05) in laying hens fed with 0.6% Hydrastis canadensis leaves, whereas the abundance of the phylum Firmicutes in cecum digesta decreased in response to treatment with Hydrastis canadensis roots and leaves. The relative abundance of the Fusobacterium genus was higher in the LR group compared with that in the control. On the contrary, we found a different trend in the Synergistes genus. The potential influences of these microbiota on the performance of laying hens were discussed. The results demonstrate that Hydrastis canadensis can improve the egg albumen height and modulate the cecum digesta microbiota composition of laying hens.

Environmental Assessment of Upgrading Horticultural Side Streams—The Case of Unharvested Broccoli Leaves

To facilitate transition to a sustainable food system, it is necessary to address food losses. A large proportion of waste occurs during primary production, with large quantities of edible crop parts left in the field at harvest. One such product is broccoli, where normally only around one-third of the edible parts of the plant are harvested in Sweden. Much of the broccoli plant consists of edible leaves and this side stream represents an unused resource with great potential. This study assessed the potential environmental savings that can be achieved by utilising broccoli side streams as a powder in soups and bread. Consequential and attributional life cycle assessments were conducted, based on scenarios relevant for growers in southern Sweden. The results showed that the scenario with the largest saving potential was to process the broccoli side streams into a powder for use in broccoli soup. The main saving was due to substitution of imported broccoli powder, which was assumed to be produced from broccoli florets using a more fossil-based energy mix. The second best scenario was to use the side-stream broccoli powder as a wheat substitute in bread but, since wheat flour is less resource-demanding than imported broccoli powder, the emission savings were lower in this case. However, replacing wheat flour with a vegetable-based product could provide additional health benefits that are important in achieving a healthy, locally available, and environmentally friendly diet suitable for a sustainable food system.

091 The Feasibility of At-home Sleep Extension in Adolescents and Young adults: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

Abstract Introduction Insufficient sleep duration has negative consequences for health and performance and is alarmingly common in adolescents and young adults. The primary aim of the meta-analysis and systematic review was to assess whether at-home sleep extension is a feasible means to improve sleep duration and daytime sleepiness without negative consequences for sleep quality or efficiency in adolescents and young adults. An additional aim of the review was to provide a qualitative summary of the health and performance outcomes associated with at-home sleep extension. Methods Peer-reviewed journal articles and doctoral dissertations available in English were searched and screened. Eligible studies had at least five consecutive days of at-home sleep extension, measurement of sleep duration during baseline/habitual sleep and extension of sleep opportunity, and participants 13–30 years of age. Information on primary sleep outcome (i.e., sleep duration), available secondary sleep outcomes (i.e., sleep opportunity, sleep efficiency, sleep quality, daytime sleepiness), and health and performance outcomes were extracted for quantitative synthesis and qualitative review. Results Of the 2254 articles assessed for eligibility, 17 studies (seven in adolescents and ten in young adults) met the eligibility criteria for this review. The average number of days of sleep manipulation was 14.29 (range: 5 to 49 nights). At-home extension of sleep opportunity reliably increased objective (ES = 0.97) and subjective sleep duration (ES = 2.19) and sleep quality (ES = 0.24), and decreased daytime sleepiness (ES = -0.39), when compared to unmanipulated sleep opportunity. Sleep extension was also found to have additional health (e.g., lower psychological stress) and performance benefits (e.g., better athletic performance) across ages and populations. A potential upward publication bias was found based on the distribution of within-subject effect sizes of actigraphic sleep duration. Conclusion The review indicates that at-home sleep extension is feasible in adolescents and young adults to improve sleep duration and daytime sleepiness, and maintain or improve sleep quality. However, the degree of improvement in sleep duration, sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness varied by study population and sleep extension method. Future research should investigate how variations in population and methods of sleep extension impact health and performance outcomes. Support (if any):

The effect of neomycin inclusion in milk replacer on the health, growth, and performance of male Holstein calves during preweaning

The prophylactic use of oral antimicrobials, such as neomycin, in milk replacer (MR) or whole milk is a common practice in calf-rearing that is thought to aid in preventing disease. Heavy reliance on antimicrobials is of concern not only because of the development of antimicrobial resistance, but also because of the potentially negative effects on health. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of neomycin on calf health and growth performance. One hundred and sixty calves (approximately 3-10 d of age), distributed across 2 experimental periods, were stratified by body weight (BW) and serum total protein, and assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: control (CON; nonmedicated MR, n = 60), short-term antibiotic (ST; neomycin mixed in MR from d 1-14, n = 50), or long-term antibiotic (LT; neomycin in ​MR from d 1-28, n = 50). Arrival BW (47.69 ± 0.87 kg) and serum total protein (5.67 ± 0.09 g/dL) were not different between treatment groups. Neomycin in ST and LT was dosed in MR at a rate of 20 mg/kg of BW and was adjusted weekly according to BW. Calf BW was measured weekly for 49 d, and health indicators (fecal score, attitude score, respiratory score, and rectal temperature), MR intake, starter intake, and the use of additional electrolytes and antimicrobials were recorded daily. Calves in the CON group experienced a higher proportion of days with diarrhea (20.32 ± 0.02%) compared with ST (14.70 ± 0.02%) or LT (13.80 ± 0.02%) calves, as well as longer bouts of diarrhea (7.45 ± 0.38 d, 5.69 ± 0.46 d, and 5.62 ± 0.45 d for CON, ST, and LT calves, respectively). Calves in the CON group also experienced higher fecal scores (score of 0.64 ± 0.04) than ST (score of 0.53 ± 0.04) or LT (score of 0.49 ± 0.04) calves, especially at d 7. However, no differences were observed in other health-related measures. The time to reach first diarrhea and first respiratory illness was not different between treatments, nor was the time to recover from respiratory illness. The time to intervention with additional electrolytes or antimicrobials was not different between treatment groups. Furthermore, growth performance, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were not different. No differences were found when comparing ST and LT, except in the defined daily dose of total antimicrobials received. Calves in the LT group received a higher overall dose than ST calves, and both ST and LT calves received a higher dose than CON calves, which received no prophylactic antimicrobials. Given that there were no differences in performance variables and no additional health benefits aside from reduced fecal scores in calves fed neomycin, current practices involving the use of antimicrobials on dairy and veal operations need to be considered more prudently.

How sugar-sweetened beverage tax revenues are being used in the United States.

We sought to describe how revenues from sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) excise taxes in 7 U.S. cities are being allocated, who is benefiting from these investments, and whether allocations are consistent with the original intent of tax legislation. We collected information from public documents and key informants about allocations in the most recent fiscal year available (ranging from 2018 to 2021). Across the 7 U.S. cities with taxes, the average annual revenue from SSB taxes totaled $133.9M. In the fiscal year studied, cities allocated a total of $133.2M in SSB tax revenues. Human and community capital investments totaled $89.6M (67% of all allocations) funding early childhood development, community infrastructure improvements, and youth and workforce development. Health-related investments totaled $36.9M (28% of total allocations), funding access to healthy foods and beverages; support for physical activity opportunities; promotion of overall physical, mental or social health and wellbeing; health and nutrition education; chronic-disease prevention and management; and reducing SSB consumption. In the 3 cities that specified how tax revenues would be spent, allocations were consistent with promised uses of revenues. In addition, 85% of aggregated revenues ($112.9M) were targeted to support work and programs in impacted communities (communities that experience health inequities, discrimination and exclusion). SSB tax revenues are supporting initiatives to improve community health, develop human and community capital, and advance equity. These investments may yield additional health benefits beyond those resulting from lower SSB consumption. Consistent tracking and public reporting on revenue allocations would increase transparency and accountability.

Understanding the impact of an intergenerational arts and health project: a study into the psychological well-being of participants, carers and artists

ObjectivesThere is growing interest in arts practices in relation to public health, including their potential to support psychological well-being. This study sought to understand the impact of Hear and Now, an intergenerational arts and health project, upon indicators of psychological well-being among all groups involved: young people, older people with a diagnosis of dementia and their carers and partners and the project's artistic team. Study designThis was a descriptive exploratory qualitative study, using focus groups and observation as data collection methods. MethodsStudy participants were 65 people representing the four groups participating in the 2019 Hear and Now project: older adults living with a diagnosis of dementia, their carers and partners, young people and a team of professional artists and facilitators. Of these, 27 participated in one or more of seven focus groups. Participants were asked about their previous engagement with music and dance, thoughts about the intergenerational element of the project and other aspects of their experiences that related to indicators of well-being. In order to investigate the project's impact on participants' well-being, Seligman's PERMA model was adopted, which sets out five indicators of well-being: positive emotions, engagement, positive relationships, meaning and achievement/accomplishment. ResultsExperiences relating to all five areas of the PERMA model were evidenced by all groups in relation to their involvement in the project. Additional health benefits were also cited by some, as well as enhanced perceptions of other members of the project cohort. ConclusionsThe findings support existing literature that intergenerational and arts activities can be beneficial for individuals' psychological health. Experiences relating to all five dimensions of the PERMA model of well-being (positive emotion, engagement, positive relationships, meaning, achievement/accomplishment) were cited by the four participant groups, which suggests examining the impact of such projects on all project collaborators is worthy of further study. Understanding the impact these projects can have on the various groups involved will enable artistic and healthcare communities to better collaborate and value each other's practices.

Improving food safety on the farm: Experimental evidence from Kenya on incentives and subsidies for technology adoption

• Technologies to combat fungal toxins in stored maize are not widely used. • We test how subsidies and a food safety incentive affect farmers’ practices. • Pure subsistence farmers use better post-harvest practices than those who sell maize. • Both a price incentive and technology subsidies partially close this gap. • Providing training and drying sheets is the most cost-effective option considered. Evidence is emerging that foodborne illness accounts for a staggering health burden in developing countries. However, standard approaches used by developed country governments to ensure food safety are not appropriate in settings where regulatory enforcement capacity is weak and most firms are small and informal. Using a randomized field experiment, we test the impacts of subsidies and a price premium for safer produce on farmer adoption of technologies that improve food safety. We find that the food safety practices of farmers who produce maize for sale are inferior to those of farmers who produce maize only for household consumption, but that both a price incentive and technology subsidies can partially close this gap. We combine our experimental adoption results with prior evidence on the efficacy of the technologies studied to simulate the public health impacts of alternative policies. Our simulations show that interventions to reduce aflatoxin exposure are likely to be cost-effective based on averted poisoning deaths and cancer cases alone. Potential impacts on stunting, which are not as well established and more difficult to value, would imply additional health benefits. Of the policy options considered, providing training and plastic drying sheets to farmers free of charge is the most cost-effective.

Assessment of the prebiotic potential of seed coats from green gram (Vigna radiata) and black gram (Vigna mungo).

Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients which beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of intestinal bacteria. In the present work, an attempt is made to show the in-vitro prebiotic ability of husks of the pulses, Green Gram (Vigna radiata) and Black Gram (Vigna mungo), using the known standard probiotic strains: Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014 and Pediococcus acidilactici ATCC 8042. The husks are found to be resistant to in-vitro gastrointestinal digestion, and thus contain non-digestible constituents, and support the growth of beneficial microorganisms commonly present in the gastrointestinal tract. Pediococcus sp. showed growth up to 80% relative to inulin for the husks. The study also demonstrates the antioxidant activity of husks that can be an additional health benefit. Thus, the husks could be considered as potential prebiotic candidates. This work is the foremost of its kind to demonstrate the prebiotic activities of Green Gram and Black Gram husks.

Investigation of textural, functional, and sensory properties of muffins prepared by adding grape seeds to various flours

Functional muffins were developed by whole wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), whole siyez wheat (Triticum monococcum L.), and whole oat (Avena sativa L.) flours with grape seed flour (GSF) at 7.5% and 15% ratio which is an important by-product of the food industry. Antioxidant capacities, physicochemical, color, textural, and sensorial properties of muffins were evaluated. Total phenolic contents and antioxidant capacities of muffins were enhanced significantly (p < .05) with GSF addition. Whole oat flour muffins exhibited higher total phenolic contents and antioxidant capacities than others. Hardness and chewiness values (p < .05) of all muffins were significantly different from each other. L, a, and b values were decreased in crumb and crust with increased amounts of GSF. According to sensory analysis results, there were no significant differences (p > .05) between muffins of whole wheat, whole siyez, and whole oat flours. Based on the results, GSF can be used for the enrichment of bakery products to prepare functional food. Practical applications This study has been carried out to produce functional muffins that may provide additional health benefits, besides finding a solution of food waste management. Grape seeds have been associated with positive health effects according to their high antioxidant capacity related to their rich content of polyphenols. The processes of wine, fruit, pekmez, and vinegar produce significant quantities of solid organic waste and by-products, including grape pomace, seed, and skins after pressing the grape. The usage of these valuable by-products in food is important for the reduction of food waste, improvement of public health according to their high antioxidant capacity and sustainability. The present study focuses on total phenolics, antioxidant capacities, physicochemical, color, textural, and sensory properties of functional muffins. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that has focused on the effect of adding grape seed flour (in two different doses 7.5% and 15%) for the development of innovative functional muffins produced using different types of flours including whole wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) flour, whole siyez wheat (Triticum monococcum L.) flour, and whole oat (Avena sativa L.) flour.

Centralized softening as a solution to chloride pollution: An empirical analysis based on Minnesota cities.

Chloride is a key component of salt, used in many activities such as alkali production, water treatment, and de-icing. Chloride entering surface and groundwater is a concern due to its toxicity to aquatic life and potential to degrade drinking water sources. Minnesota being a hard-water state, has a high demand for water softening. Recent research has found that home-based water softeners contribute significantly to chloride loading at municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Because of this, many WWTPs would now require water quality based effluent limits (WQBELs) to comply with the state's chloride water quality standards (WQS), unless they install chloride treatment technologies, which are limited and cost-prohibitive to most communities. A potential solution to this problem, is shifting from home-based water softening to a system where water is softened at drinking water plants, before reaching homes, i.e. centralized softening, analyzed in this paper based on its ability to address both chloride pollution and water softening needs, at reasonable cost. We estimate lifetime costs of three alternative solutions: centralized softening, home-based softening, and a Business as Usual (BAU) or baseline alternative, using annualized 20-year loan payments and Net Present Value (NPV), applied to 84 Minnesota cities with matching data on drinking water plants and WWTPs. We find that centralized softening using either Reverse Osmosis (RO) or lime-softening technologies is the more cost-effective solution, compared to the alternative of home-based softening with end-of-pipe chloride treatment, with a cost ratio in the range 1:3-1:4. Between the two centralized softening options, we find RO-softening to be the lower cost option, only slightly more costly (1.1 cost ratio) than the BAU option. Considering additional environmental and public health benefits, and cost savings associated with removal of home-based softeners, our results provide helpful information to multiple stakeholders interested in an effective solution to chloride pollution.

Plant Extracts Obtained with Green Solvents as Natural Antioxidants in Fresh Meat Products.

Plants are rich in bioactive compounds (BACs), mainly polyphenols, which are valuable choices to replace synthetic antioxidants in meat products. These natural antioxidants from plants, in the form of extracts and essential oils (EOs), have been obtained from different sources such as fruits (dragon fruit, guarana, pomegranate), vegetables, (cabbage, onion), herbs, and spices (epazote, ginger, rosemary, sage, thyme, turmeric, winter savory) by several extraction processes. However, in the context of current directives there is a notable incentive for “green” solvents to replace organic ones and conventional techniques, in order to avoid harm to the environment, operator, and consumer health. In addition, the recycling of co-products from the processing of these plant materials allow us to obtain valuable BACs from under-exploited materials, contributing to the revalorization of these wastes. The resulting extracts allow us to maintain the quality of meat products, exhibiting similar or better antioxidant properties compared to those shown by synthetic ones. Their incorporation in fresh meat products would maintain the oxidative stability, stabilizing colour parameters, decreasing the formation of metmyoglobin, lipid, and protein oxidation and the generation of lipid-derived volatile compounds, without affecting sensory attributes. In addition, these novel ingredients contribute to improve both technological and functional characteristics, thus diversifying the offer of so-called “wellness foods”. In this review, the application of plant extracts as natural antioxidants in several fresh meat products is presented, showing their efficacy as scavenging radicals and imparting additional health benefits.

The comparison and interaction of age and gender effects on cycling mode-share: An analysis of commuting in England and Wales

IntroductionThe physical and mental health benefits of cycling are well established. During the COVID-19 pandemic cycling has also presented additional health benefits by enabling social distancing compared to public transport modes. In low-cycling countries these benefits are unevenly realised, with substantial differences in cycling mode share by age and gender. In England and Wales women are four times less likely to commute by bicycle than men; and commuters aged 35–49 cycle more than other age categories. MethodsThis paper explores these demographic effects and their interactions. It uses logit models to examine the relationship between 17 determinants of cycling mode share and cycling rates for six demographic groups (males and females in age categories of 18-34, 35–49 and 50–74) across 29,694 small geographic units in England and Wales. The determinants comprise: distance; population density; cycle paths; cycle lanes; traffic density; hilliness; temperature; sun; rain; wind; wealth; lower social status; children; green votes; bicycle performance; traffic risk and parking costs. ResultsDeterminants associated with physical effort (hilliness and distance) and traffic (traffic density and cycle lanes) are more important in the older age groups for both men and women. More important than the qualitative mix of determinants is their combined effect, or utility. Women require a higher threshold of utility to start cycling than men; and in higher utility environments gender differences are almost non-existent. Differences in cycling rates by age-group also reduce in higher utility environments, although the effects are less pronounced and older commuters still cycle less than other age-groups even in the highest utility environemnts. ConclusionsThe results provide insight into the relative importance of gender versus age, and illustrate that cycling rates are more strongly associated with gender than age. For both dimensions, better cycling environments are shown to be more equal cycling environments.

Evaluation of the Bioactive Compounds Found in Tomato Seed Oil and Tomato Peels Influenced by Industrial Heat Treatments.

The circular economy action plan involves principles related to food waste reduction and integration of recovered nutrients to the market. In this context, the present study aims to highlight the valuable bioactive components found in tomato processing by-products (carotenoids, phenolic compounds and fatty acids) influenced by industrial pre-treatments, particularly cold break (CB) process at 65–75 °C and hot break (HB) process at 85–95 °C. The fatty acid profile of the tomato seed oil was examined by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS), individual carotenoid and phenolic compositions were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the viscoelastic properties were evaluated by rheological measurements. The physicochemical properties revealed appropriate characteristics of the tomato seed oil to fit the standards of generally accepted edible oils, for both CB and HB derived samples, however, significant qualitative and quantitative differences were detected in their phenolic composition and carotenoids content. Lycopene (37.43 ± 1.01 mg/100 mL) was a major carotenoid in the examined samples, linoleic acid was the main fatty acid (61.73%) detected in the tomato seed oil and syringic acid appeared to be one of two major phenolic acids detected in the samples of CB process. Our findings extend the boundaries of tomato processing industry by validating that tomato seed oil is a bioactive rich edible oil with additional health benefits, which can be integrated in functional food products.

Organising Support for Carers of Stroke Survivors (OSCARSS): a cluster randomised controlled trial with economic evaluation

ObjectiveInvestigated clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a person-centred intervention for informal carers/caregivers of stroke survivors.DesignPragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) with economic and process evaluation.SettingClusters were services, from a UK...

So different, yet so alike Pancrustacea: Health benefits of insects and shrimps

Abstract Insects and shrimps represent the clade Pancrustacea of the phylum Arthropods. Being valuable sources of nutrients and bioactive compounds, insects and shrimps possess several physiological similarities but are processed and consumed in different ways. This review provides a comparative overview of the additional health benefits of insects and shrimps to assess their potential as a functional food. Hydrolysates, their antioxidant and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory activities, fatty acids, cholesterol, minerals, vitamins, carotenoids, phenolic compounds, dietary fiber, as well as, in vivo studies on the consumption of insects and shrimps are discussed. Both organisms could be viewed as marine and terrestrial counterparts of high nutritional importance and valuable sources of bioactive compounds and proteins needed for designing new functional food and supplements. However, more in vivo and clinical studies are needed along with the safety and allergy assessment of insects to ensure their safety for human consumption.

Using principal component analysis to explore consumers' perception toward quinoa health and nutritional claims in Gweru, Zimbabwe.

Quinoa is one of the ancestral grains now considered as the “superfoods of the future” due to their characteristics as functional foods with great environmental adaptability. The Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund has introduced quinoa in Zimbabwe to increase resilience of farming systems in light of environmental shocks. In order to improve adoption of the crop, it is important to understand the combined effects of socio‐demographic variables on consumer perceptions of the crop. However, there is limited literature on the combined effects of socio‐demographic variables on quinoa health and nutritional benefits in Zimbabwe. In this study, we used principle component analysis to identify consumers' perception about health and nutritional benefits of quinoa in Gweru Urban District, Gweru, Zimbabwe. A questionnaire was designed and applied to 200 participants. However, only 167 forms were valid for analysis. Age, education, and income level are main factors that determine consumer perceptions on health and nutritional claims. The results indicate that quinoa need to be promoted a as a crop that goes beyond food and income security by placing additional emphasis on health and nutritional aspects. This is very insightful in light of the need to improve the uptake of the crop by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. However, the use of self‐reporting survey method has received criticism for failing to get detailed information on perceptions of individuals. These findings could be handy to promote quinoa as a climate smart crop with additional health and nutritional benefits. This is one of the novel research studies exploring the motives of Zimbabwean consumers towards quinoa as a functional food crop. The work also contributes to knowledge on consumer food preferences.

Resveratrol: A Pleiotropic Phytoconstituent

Resveratrol (RSV) is a plant polyphenol or phytolexin phytoconstituents obtained from the grapes, berries, peanut, and wine. RSV is obtained from natural source and regarded as safe, effective, and hepatoprotective drug with no other serious organ toxicities are reported yet. This property of RSV makes it advantageous over the allopathic medicine having symptomatic cure and plethora of adverse effects. It’s a cheap and widely available phytoconstituent approved in the global market in the active form as trans-resveratrol. It has multiple pharmacological actions including, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, anti-parkinsonian, anti-alzheimers, antioxidant, antidepressant, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-atherosclerotic effects. These effects are mediated via modulation of diverse underlying endogenous molecules like reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide, malonaldehyde, neutrophil, sirtulin, cyclo-oxygenase, inducible nitric oxide syntheses, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione s-transferase, alpha-secretase, metalloproteinases, C-reactive protein, dopamine, nor-adrenaline, serotonin, cytokines (interleukins), nuclear factor kappa, signal transducer activator of transcription, brain derived neural nactor, neuropeptide, hypothalamo-pitutary axis, astroglia, mitochondrial dysfunction, glutamate, adrenergic, cholinergic, opioidergic, and purinergic receptors. Researchers are trying to explore its additional health benefits and preparing new analogues for better survival in the field. Present review will help to enlighten the multi-target pleiotropic pharmacological nature of a RSV in relation to the variety of the molecular targets modulation through extensive web science literature survey.

Cost-Effectiveness of PBO versus Conventional Long-Lasting Insecticidal Bed Nets in Preventing Symptomatic Malaria in Nigeria: Results of a Pragmatic Randomized Trial.

ABSTRACTInsecticide treated nets (ITNs) have been the major tool in halving malaria’s burden since 2000, but pyrethroid insecticide resistance threatens their ongoing effectiveness. In 2017, the WHO concluded that long-lasting ITNs (LLINs) with a synergist, piperonyl butoxide (PBO), provided additional public health benefit over conventional (pyrethroid-only) LLINs alone in areas of moderate insecticide resistance and endorsed them as a new class of vector control products. We performed an economic appraisal of PBO nets compared with conventional LLINs in 2019 US$ from prevention and health systems perspectives (including treatment cost offsets). We used data from a pragmatic randomized 2012–2014 trial in Nigeria with epidemiological outcomes in an area with confirmed pyrethroid resistance. Each village had 50 months of epidemiologic data, analyzed by village by month, using negative binomial regression. Compared with LLINs, although adding $0.90 per net delivered, PBO nets reduced symptomatic malaria cases by 33.4% (95% CI 10.2–50.6%). From a prevention perspective, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was $11 (95% CI $8–$37) per disability-adjusted life year averted. From the health systems perspective, PBO nets were significantly cost-saving relative to conventional LLINs. The benefit–cost analysis found that the added economic benefits of PBO nets over LLINs were $201 (95% CI $61–$304) for every $1 in incremental costs. Growing pyrethroid resistance is likely to strengthen the economic value of PBO nets over LLINs. Beyond their contribution to reducing malaria, PBO nets deliver outstanding economic returns for a small additional cost above conventional LLINs in locations with insecticide resistance.

Colonic metabolites from digested Moringa oleifera leaves induced HT-29 cell death via apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy

Colorectal cancer is an important concern in modern society. Risk factors such as the diet indicate the need to find healthy food products displaying additional health benefits. This study aimed to characterise and evaluate the impact of the colonic metabolites from the fermented non-digestible fraction of Moringa oleifera (MO) leaves (FNFM) on cell death mechanisms from HT-29 cells. MO leaves were digested in vitro, and the 12 h-colonic extract was obtained. FNFM mainly contained morin and chlorogenic acids (41.97 and 25.33 µg/g sample). Butyric acid was ranked as the most important metabolite of FNFM. The FNFM exerted antiproliferative effect against HT-29 colorectal cancer cells (half lethal concentration, LC50: 5.9 mL/100 mL). Compared to untreated control, LC50 increased H2O2 production (149.43%); induced apoptosis (119.02%), autophagy (75.60%), and necrosis (87.72%). These results suggested that digested MO colonic metabolites exert antiproliferative effect against HT-29 cells, providing additional health benefits associated with MO consumption.

Improving oral health in the Middle East - recommendations from the first Middle East Oral Hygiene Advisory Board meeting

Chronic periodontitis may be a sequela of chronic gingivitis, usually because of accumulation of plaque and calculus. Consistent good dental hygiene can help prevent gingivitis and periodontitis. Mechanical removal of plaque through frequent and efficacious brushing and flossing is the principal means of preventing periodontal diseases and diminishing the risk of caries. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), antimicrobial mouth-washes may provide additional oral health benefits, in addition to brushing and flossing, for preventing and reducing gingivitis and plaque. There is a multitude of mouthwashes available for these purposes. The consensus panel of the Middle East Oral Hygiene Advisory Board has recommended that an antiseptic mouthwash should be used as a daily adjunct to mechanical cleaning for prevention of oral disease. Recommending particular mouthwashes should take into consideration the patient's ability to perform good oral hygiene practices (tooth brushing and dental flossing), the condition of the patient's teeth, gingivae and oral mucosa, and the proven efficacy of the mouthwash along with its potential adverse effects. Of the many mouth rinses available, only a few contain chemical agents that have some ability to penetrate biofilm and to kill plaque biofilm bacteria. Currently, only chlorhexidine mouthrinse and Listerine (an essential oil-containing mouth rinse) products, with the claim of plaque and gingivitis reduction, have been accepted for that purpose by the ADA and have a proven record of safety and efficacy. Essential oil-containing mouthrinses have been clinically proven as effective in reducing plaque and gingivitis. Dental care professionals should spend time discussing biofilm control with their patients, and be an information source for the best oral care products. Therefore, it is essential that dental care professionals should continue to monitor published research and work with their colleagues to make evidence-based decisions. In this way, patients will be directed to dental hygiene aids, including antiseptic mouthwashes that can be most effective for improving their oral health.