Higher Intake Levels Research Articles

Cooking Oil and Salt Intakes Among Children Aged 6-17 Years - China, 2016-2017.

What is already known on this topic? High-level intakes of both cooking oil and salt are issues of concern in China as they can lead to an increased risk of chronic diseases later in life. Reducing intakes of cooking oil and salt should be prioritized in children. What is added by this report? Among children aged 6–17 years in China in 2016–2017, the median intake of cooking oil and salt were 27.7 and 6.1 g/d, respectively. The percentages of children with intake of cooking oil and salt that exceeded the recommended guidelines were 50.4% and 67.8%, respectively. What are the implications for public health practice? Understanding the consumption levels of cooking oil and salt among children aged 6–17 years in China is vital for reducing associated health effects later in life. This study provided scientific evidence to recommend policymakers formulate effective policies to reduce intake of cooking oil and salt for the target population.

Calcium intake, calcium supplementation and cardiovascular disease and mortality in the British population: EPIC-norfolk prospective cohort study and meta-analysis

The role of dietary calcium in cardiovascular disease prevention is unclear. We aimed to determine the association between calcium intake and incident cardiovascular disease and mortality. Data were extracted from the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer, Norfolk (EPIC-Norfolk). Multivariable Cox regressions analysed associations between calcium intake (dietary and supplemental) and cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, aortic stenosis, peripheral vascular disease) and mortality (cardiovascular and all-cause). The results of this study were pooled with those from published prospective cohort studies in a meta-analsyis, stratifying by average calcium intake using a 700 mg/day threshold. A total of 17,968 participants aged 40–79 years were followed up for a median of 20.36 years (20.32–20.38). Compared to the first quintile of calcium intake (< 770 mg/day), intakes between 771 and 926 mg/day (second quintile) and 1074–1254 mg/day (fourth quintile) were associated with reduced all-cause mortality (HR 0.91 (0.83–0.99) and 0.85 (0.77–0.93), respectively) and cardiovascular mortality [HR 0.95 (0.87–1.04) and 0.93 (0.83-1.04)]. Compared to the first quintile of calcium intake, second, third, fourth, but not fifth quintiles were associated with fewer incident strokes: respective HR 0.84 (0.72–0.97), 0.83 (0.71–0.97), 0.78 (0.66–0.92) and 0.95 (0.78–1.15). The meta-analysis results suggest that high levels of calcium intake were associated with decreased all-cause mortality, but not cardiovascular mortality, regardless of average calcium intake. Calcium supplementation was associated with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality amongst women, but not men. Moderate dietary calcium intake may protect against cardiovascular and all-cause mortality and incident stroke. Calcium supplementation may reduce mortality in women.

Validation of New Interactive Nutrition Assistant - Diet in India Study of Health (NINA-DISH) FFQ with multiple 24-h dietary recalls among pregnant women in Pune, India.

Adequate dietary intake is critical to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes. India has a high burden of maternal and child morbidity and mortality, but there is a lack of adequate tools to assess dietary intake. We validate an FFQ, New Interactive Nutrition Assistant - Diet in India Study of Health (NINA-DISH), among pregnant women living with and without HIV in Pune, India. Women were selected from a cohort study investigating immune responses to HIV and latent tuberculosis during pregnancy. The FFQ was administered during the third trimester and validated against multiple 24-h dietary recalls (24-HDR) collected in second and third trimesters. Data for analysis were available from fifty-eight women out of seventy enrolled into this sub-study, after excluding those with incomplete data or implausible energy intake. The median (Q1, Q3) age of study participants was 23 (20, 25) years. Median (Q1, Q3) daily energy intakes were 10 552 (8000, 11 958) and 10 673 (8510, 13 962) kJ by 24-HDR and FFQ, respectively, with FFQ overestimating nutrient intake. Pearson correlations between log-transformed estimates from FFQ and 24-HDR for energy, protein, carbohydrate, fat, Fe and Zn were 0·47, 0·48, 0·45, 0·33, 0·4 and 0·54, respectively. Energy-adjusted and de-attenuated correlations ranged from 0·41 (saturated fat) to 0·73 (Na). The highest misclassification into extreme tertiles was observed for fat (22 %), saturated fat (21 %) and Na (21 %). Bias existed at higher intake levels as observed by Bland-Altman plots. In conclusion, NINA-DISH is a valid and feasible tool for estimating dietary intakes among urban pregnant women in Western India.

Phenotypic changes in the metabolic profile and adiponectin activity during seasonal fattening and hibernation in female Daurian ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus).

Seasonal hibernation has provided an opportunity to study animals' phenotypic plasticity in adaptation to changing environment. In the present study focusing on the female Daurian ground squirrel (Spermophilus dauricus)-a well demonstrated seasonal hibernator-we examined their behavioral, morphological, and metabolic changes during fattening, hibernation, and emergence. Our data indicated high levels of food intake, fat deposition, and body mass increases during fattening compared to hibernation. The levels of serum glucose and triglycerides were also higher during fattening than during hibernation and emergence. Interestingly, although squirrels showed signs of obesity and elevated triglycerides in serum during fattening, triglyceride levels in the liver and skeletal muscles remained unchanged. Our data also indicated that adiponectin levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid were different between fattening and hibernation. Levels of adiponectin receptor 1 in the skeletal muscle remained low during fattening but peaked in late hibernation. In contrast, adiponectin receptor 2 in the liver showed a steady increase during fattening, which was followed by a significant decrease at early hibernation. Our data indicate that adiponectin may play an important role in preventing heterotopic fat accumulation in a receptor- and organ-specific manner, as well as in facilitating the switch from glucose metabolism to lipid metabolism during fattening and hibernation in female Daurian ground squirrels.

Threshold values to discriminate grazing activity of dairy cows by an uni-axial accelerometer as affected by grazing season and herbage mass

Recording grazing time is important because the time allocated for each grazing event is one of the limitations to achieving high intake levels. Grazing time can be measured via visual observation or, more recently, by devices calibrated for this purpose. The Kenz Lifecorder Plus (Suzuken Co. Ltda., Nagoya, Japan) has been used to record daily grazing time with high accuracy, but none of the previous studies have analyzed how pasture characteristics and grazing management influence the recording sensitivity of this device. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pre-grazing herbage mass and season of the year on the activity level recorded by the Lifecorder Plus and its resulting threshold value used to determine a grazing event for dairy cows. A randomized 2 × 2 factorial design was used to evaluate the effect of two pre-grazing herbage masses (HM), medium herbage mass (MHM) and high herbage mass (HHM), in two seasons, winter (WIN) and spring (SPR), on the observed and predicted grazing time. In each period, two groups of six Holstein Friesian cows were fitted with a Lifecorder Plus in a collar attached to their neck. The pasture characteristics and observed and predicted grazing times were measured. There was no effect (P > 0.05) of HM on the observed grazing time. The grazing time in SPR was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than that in WIN. There was no effect (P> 0.05) of HM on the threshold value. The threshold value for SPR was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than that for WIN. The mean relative prediction error of all treatments was 0.07, which implies a precision of 0.93 in grazing detection and demonstrates a high level of precision in the estimation of daily grazing time. Determining an independent threshold value for each treatment was necessary to obtain a high degree of precision in estimating grazing time. In conclusion, changes in the structural sward characteristics caused by grazing management or the annual cycle of growth of the pasture affect both the activity level recorded using a Lifecorder Plus and the threshold value obtained to detect grazing events in dairy cows. When studies incorporate factors that might alter grazing behavior, a specific threshold value for the study conditions needs to be determined to estimate the grazing time of dairy cows with higher precision.

Could high serum folate be associated with adverse effects?

Folate is an important water-soluble vitamin that is presented naturally in foods in particular vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. To which extent is this vitamin needed in our daily regimen is not fully known. Several studies have indicated that many complications, such as megaloblastic anemia, cardiovascular disease, neural tube defects, and numerous cancers, occur in humans when the body becomes deficient in folic acid. On the other hand, a few studies have shown thier concerns regarding the supplementation of folic acid, resulting in the development of existing tumors and alteration of normal patterns of DNA methylation. Although there is no clear evidence of aberrant DNA methylation and gene expression changes in response to “high” levels of folate or folic acid intake, there are still some concerns. Therefore, its adverse effects especially on fetus and later stages of life should be carefully investigated.

The estimated intake of palm oil in Spain and Germany

Palm oil is one of the most widely used vegetable oils by the food industry but there is limited information on actual intake. A detailed intake assessment of palm oil for Spain and Germany was conducted. For Spain, mean palm oil intakes ranged from 2.06 g/day in the elderly to 4.54 g/day in children and adolescents, while high-level intakes ranged from 10.34 g/day in the elderly to 20.88 g/day in toddlers. For Germany, mean palm oil intakes ranged from 3.06 g/day in toddlers to 6.22 g/day in the very elderly, while high-level intakes ranged from 13.61 g/day in toddlers to 30.10 g/day in the elderly. For both countries, the main contributing food categories to mean palm oil intake were biscuits, cakes, bread, breakfast cereal and margarine. In summary, the present paper provides a realistic assessment of the intake of palm oil in two EU countries for different population groups.

The Effect of Dairy Products Intake on Dental Caries across Adolescent Females in Al Thahab Al Abyedh Village Baghdad

Background: Milk is an important part of human diets and consideration has been given for the possibility that the dairy food intake could help in preventing oral health problems. This study aimed to estimate the effect of milk and other dairy products on the dental caries and plaque among the adolescents. Materials and Methods: The study subjects were 405 adolescent females from the secondary school in Al-Thahab Al-Abyedh village aged 13-18 years. The information on the dairy intake was assessed by using a self-administered food frequency questionnaire for the adolescents. To represent the dairy products consumption clearly, it was divided into three levels. The dental caries and plaque were assessed by the visual and tactile examination using the dental mirrors and community periodontal index probes. Results: The mean plaque index value among 13-15 years was found to be higher than 16-18 years females (0.951, 0.940) respectively but with no statistical difference (P>0.05). The means of (DS, MS, FS, DMFS and DMFT) were lower among the younger group. Significant differences were detected among the yogurt consumption levels regarding the mean of plaque index specifically between the low and high levels, whereas no significant differences among all levels of dairy intake and the caries experience. Conclusions: These data suggested that no differences were occurred between the levels of dairy intake and the dental caries. Nevertheless, a high level of yogurt intake might be associated with lower prevalence of the dental plaque among the adolescents.

MDPV self-administration in female rats: influence of reinforcement history.

A subset of male rats that self-administer 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) have unusually high levels of drug intake; however, factor(s) that influence this behavior (e.g., reinforcement history and sex) are unknown. Characterize the reinforcing potency and effectiveness of MDPV in female rats to determine whether (1) a subset of females also develop high levels of MDPV self-administration (i.e., a high-responder phenotype) and (2) the degree to which the high-responder phenotype is influenced by various reinforcement histories (i.e., responding for cocaine or food). Female Sprague Dawley rats initially responded for MDPV (0.032mg/kg/infusion), cocaine (0.32mg/kg/infusion), or food (45-mg grain pellet) under fixed ratio (FR) 1 and FR5 schedules of reinforcement. After 20 sessions, the cocaine- and food-history rats responded for MDPV for 20 additional sessions. Dose-response curves for MDPV were generated under FR5 and progressive ratio (PR) schedules of reinforcement. A subset of rats responding for MDPV developed high levels of MDPV intake. A history of responding for cocaine, but not food, inhibited the development of high levels of MDPV intake. Large individual differences were observed in the level of self-administration when MDPV was available under an FR5, but not PR, schedule of reinforcement. MDPV functions as a powerful reinforcer in female rats, as has been previously reported in male rats. The substantial variability in MDPV self-administration between subjects may be related to individual differences in human drug-taking behavior.

Estimation of feed intake and digestibility in Zebu type Arsi steers fed natural pasture using the n-alkane technique

An experiment was conducted to validate the use of n-alkanes technique to estimate feed intake and digestibility in cattle under the sub-humid tropical conditions. The experiment was conducted using Zebu type Arsi steers fed natural pasture at different levels of dry matter (DM) intake (DMI). Eight steers, blocked into four groups based on body weight (BW), were used for the experiment. The steers in each group were randomly assigned to either low intake (11 g DM/kg BW) or high intake (ad libitum at 50 g refusal per kg diet offered) diet. The steers were housed in individual pens, and each steer was dosed twice daily with paper bung containing 400 mg C32 alkane using a balling gun for 15 days. Steers received pasture diets twice a day (at 8:00 and 16:00 h) with half of the daily allocation offered at each feeding. Feed intake, refusal, and total fecal outputs were recorded, weighed and sub sampled for proximate and n-alkane concentrations analysis. The odd-chain n-alkanes comprised the highest percentage during both wet and dry seasons. The alkanes C29, C31 and C33 were present in concentrations greater than 59 mg/kg DM in the two seasons. The mean fecal recovery rates ranged from 0.49 to 0.79 for low and 0.62 to 0.99 for high intake group, respectively during the wet season, whereas 0.68 to –1.05 for low and 0.61 to 0.9 for high intake group during the dry season, respectively. The DMI predictions using the double n-alkane technique were affected by season (P < 0.05) after fecal recovery correction. The C31/C32 and C33/C32 pairs accurately estimated the DMI regardless of intake levels during the wet season. During the dry season, the prediction for the low intake level improved after feacal recovery corrections, whereas that for the high intake level was accurate both with and without fecal recovery corrections. Moreover, using C35 alkane as internal marker provided an accurate estimate of DM digestibility (DMD) during both seasons for low intake group. The results obtained in this study confirm the accuracy of the n-alkane markers to estimate DMI and DMD in cattle consuming different levels of wet and dried pasture. However, accuracy can be reduced for digestibility estimation at higher levels of intake which need further validation.

Epidemiological Analysis of Penile Neoplasms in Brazil and Its Social Determinants

Introduction: Penile neoplasms, although preventable, are frequent even among young persons. Penile neoplasms have a high risk of not only morbidity and mortality but also important psychosocial repercussions.Objective: To describe the epidemiology of penile neoplasms in Brazil. Method: This was an epidemiological, descriptive and cross-sectional study. Data on all the notified cases of penile neoplasms in Brazil between 1985 and 2015 were obtained from RCPBP/INCA and DATASUS databases.Results: Of 9 625 notified cases of penile neoplasms, a higher proportion of cancer patients was observed among patients aged between 40 and 70 years (63.5%) and among smokers (21%), in Brown and Caucasian patients (80%), those who were married (54.2%), had high alcohol intake levels (16%) and with lower levels of education: illiterate people (21.5%), those with incomplete elementary school education (36.6%) and those with complete elementary school education (10.3%). The lesions were located in the glans (22.6%), prepuce (7.5%) and the penile body (7.5%). Higher mortality rates were observed in the age-group 50 to 80 years and in among patients from the Northeast (31.4%) and Southeast (39.2%) regions of the country.Conclusion: Penile neoplasms, which mainly affect young people that are economically active, are prevalent in Brazil and the majority of patients present with an advanced stage of the disease. They are Brown and Caucasian, married, with poor education and live in the Northeast and Southeast regions of the country.

A Global Perspective on White Rice Consumption and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes.

Preventive policies to improve diet and physical activity are urgently needed to stem the rising global burden of type 2 diabetes (1). In randomized trials, both high-carbohydrate diets (low in saturated fat and high in fiber), combined with physical activity and caloric restriction, and moderate-fat Mediterranean diets reduced diabetes risk (2). These findings suggest that diets with variable carbohydrate intakes are compatible with diabetes-prevention lifestyles but do not identify the optimal amount and type of dietary carbohydrates. Furthermore, the impact of high carbohydrate intakes in other parts of the world beyond the range studied in Western populations remains unclear. Rice provides ∼20% of the world's calorie intake (3). Of the 10 countries with the largest number of diabetes cases, 6 countries in Asia and South America have rice as the main staple food (4). Rice is predominantly consumed as white rice, a refined grain resulting from a milling process that removes the bran and germ and leaves the starchy endosperm. As a result, white rice is low in fiber, polyphenols, and micronutrients such as magnesium that may benefit glucose metabolism (5–7). White rice also has a high glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL), reflecting high postprandial blood glucose levels (5). In several (8–10) but not all (9–11) prospective cohort studies in Asian countries, higher white rice consumption was associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. Therefore, it is crucial to determine whether white rice consumption contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes, particularly in populations with high intake levels. Bhavadharini et al. (12) evaluated the association between …

Deficient or Excess Folic Acid Supply During Pregnancy Alter Cortical Neurodevelopment in Mouse Offspring.

Folate is an essential micronutrient required for both cellular proliferation through de novo nucleotide synthesis and epigenetic regulation of gene expression through methylation. This dual requirement places a particular demand on folate availability during pregnancy when both rapid cell generation and programmed differentiation of maternal, extraembryonic, and embryonic/fetal tissues are required. Accordingly, prenatal neurodevelopment is particularly susceptible to folate deficiency, which can predispose to neural tube defects, or when effective transport into the brain is impaired, cerebral folate deficiency. Consequently, adequate folate consumption, in the form of folic acid (FA) fortification and supplement use, is widely recommended and has led to a substantial increase in the amount of FA intake during pregnancy in some populations. Here, we show that either maternal folate deficiency or FA excess in mice results in disruptions in folate metabolism of the offspring, suggesting diversion of the folate cycle from methylation to DNA synthesis. Paradoxically, either intervention causes comparable neurodevelopmental changes by delaying prenatal cerebral cortical neurogenesis in favor of late-born neurons. These cytoarchitectural and biochemical alterations are accompanied by behavioral abnormalities in FA test groups compared with controls. Our findings point to overlooked potential neurodevelopmental risks associated with excessively high levels of prenatal FA intake.

Dietary Inflammatory Index is associated with Healthy Eating Index, Alternative Healthy Eating Index, and dietary patterns among Iranian adults.

BackgroundRecent investigations have evaluated the effect of the inflammatory potential of diet in several populations by calculating the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) score. We aimed to evaluate the association of the DII with the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), and dietary pattern (DP) among healthy Iranian adults.MethodsA cross‐sectional study was conducted among 4365 middle‐aged adults. Major DPs and DII score were identified using a validated semi‐quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Poisson regression was used to evaluate the association of DPs, HEI, and AHEI across tertiles of DII.ResultsAfter adjustment for confounding variables, a low HEI (HEI < 55) and AHEI (AHEI < 56.5) were more prevalent among the participants in the highest tertile of DII compared to the first tertile (PR: 1.13, P‐value <.05; PR: 1.10, P‐value <.05; respectively). Adherence to a balanced healthy dietary pattern was significantly lower in subjects with a diet that was more pro‐inflammatory compared to those with anti‐inflammatory diet (PR: 0.85, P‐value P < .01). No significant association was found between the DII and a western DP. High levels of HDL and hip and waist circumference were observed in the highest tertile of DII, and high levels of dietary intake of protein and fiber, minerals, fasting blood glucose, and monounsaturated fat were reported in the lowest tertile of DII.ConclusionThe highest tertile of the DII (a pro‐inflammatory diet) was associated with a lower HEI, AHEI, and lower adherence to balanced DP in a representative sample of adults in Iran.

Effect of isoflavone consumptions on the recurrence and survival rate among breast cancer patients: an evidence-based case report

Background: isoflavones possess both anti-estrogenic and estrogenic-like properties. Tempeh is a traditional dish from Indonesia which rich in isoflavone content. It remains controversial whether women diagnosed with breast cancer should be advised to avoid or increase the intake of food products that contain isoflavone to improve survival.Objective: to identify the association between post-diagnosis isoflavone food consumption with the recurrence and survival rate among women with breast cancer. Methods: the search was conducted with advanced searching on PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, and ProQuest according to the clinical question. The screening of title and abstract using inclusion and exclusion criteria, filtering double, and reading full text led to six useful articles. The selected studies were critically appraised for validity, importance, and applicability.Results: five prospective cohort studies and one meta-analysis were found with comparable validity. Women at the high level of isoflavone intake (&gt;10 mg/day) had a significant reduction in the risk of recurrence and mortality of breast cancer.Conclusion: isoflavone food intake is associated with better survival, low recurrence, and low mortality among breast cancer patients.

Risk assessment of iodine intake from the consumption of red seaweeds (Palmaria palmata and Chondrus crispus).

Seaweeds are a basic food in the Asian diet. The search for functional and healthy foods has increased the seaweed consumption in Europe and the USA. Seaweeds are a source of essential elements such as iodine. However, high intake levels of iodine can cause damages to human health. Red seaweeds like dulse (Palmaria palmata) and Irish moss (Chondrus crispus) are common in shops and large stores. The iodine level in 30 samples of red seaweeds (dulse and Irish moss) has been determined by redox volumetry with sodium thiosulfate to determine the iodine content of both species and to assess the iodine dietary exposure from dulse and Irish moss consumption. Irish moss (3.86 ± 1.49 mg/kg dry weight) has the highest average iodine content. Four grams per day of dehydrated Irish moss seaweeds contributes greatly to the iodine recommended daily intake (DRI) for children (25.7%). The consumption of analyzed seaweeds (4 g/day) does not pose a health risk. However, the consumption of 286 g/day of Irish moss would lead to exceeding the UL for the adult population set at 1100 μg/day. It is necessary that the consumer respects the consumption guidelines of the seaweed packers.

Dietary patterns during pregnancy and health-related quality of life: The Japan Environment and Children's Study.

BackgroundLimited research exists on how dietary pattern (DP) influences pregnant women’s health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This study aimed to identify DPs in a cohort of 92,448 pregnant Japanese women using fixed data from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS) to investigate the associations of DP with HRQOL.MethodsDuring the first trimester, DPs were assessed using the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), and HRQOL was assessed using the 8-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-8). DPs such as Western, Japanese and Unbalanced DP were identified through principal component analysis (PCA). Multivariable logistic model analysis was used to assess the associations between DP and HRQOL as good or poor.ResultsWe found a significant association between poor mental HRQOL in the univariate analysis for the Western DP (p = 0.014). However, this association was not significant in the multivariate analysis adjusted for basic confounders (p = 0.078). Western DP was not highly associated with poor physical HRQOL (from low-medium to high levels of intake; adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.87–0.88, all p≤0.001, when comparing highest to lowest intake levels). A high intake of the Japanese DP was significantly associated with poor mental HRQOL and physical HRQOL (adjusted OR 1.20, p<0.0001 and adjusted OR 1.12, p = 0.005, respectively). A medium-high intake of the Unbalanced DP was not highly associated with poor physical HRQOL (adjusted OR 0.93, p = 0.048) but with poor mental HRQOL (adjusted OR 1.29, p<0.0001).ConclusionThis is the first known prospective study to establish an association between DP and HRQOL in pregnant women. We hope that our findings will help in the field of nutritional science.

Taking Rapid and Intermittent Cocaine Infusions Enhances Both Incentive Motivation for the Drug and Cocaine-induced Gene Regulation in Corticostriatal Regions

A goal in addiction research is to distinguish forms of neuroplasticity that are involved in the transition to addiction from those involved in mere drug taking. Animal models of drug self-administration are essential in this context. Here, we compared in male rats two cocaine self-administration procedures that differ in the extent to which they evoke addiction-like behaviours. We measured both incentive motivation for cocaine using progressive ratio procedures, and cocaine-induced c-fos mRNA expression, a marker of neuronal activity. Rats self-administered intravenous cocaine (0.25 mg/kg/infusion) for seven daily 6-hour sessions. One group had intermittent access (IntA; 6 minutes ON, 26 min OFF × 12) to rapid infusions (delivered over 5 s). This models the temporal kinetics of human cocaine use and produces robust addiction-like behaviour. The other group had Long access (LgA) to slower infusions (90 s). This produces high levels of intake without promoting robust addiction-like behaviour. LgA-90 s rats took twice as much cocaine as IntA-5 s rats did, but IntA-5 s rats showed greater incentive motivation for the drug. Following a final self-administration session, we quantified c-fos mRNA expression in corticostriatal regions. Compared to LgA-90 s rats, IntA-5 s rats had more cocaine-induced c-fos mRNA in the orbitofrontal and prelimbic cortices and the caudate-putamen. Thus, a cocaine self-administration procedure (intermittent intake of rapid infusions) that promotes increased incentive motivation for the drug also enhances cocaine-induced gene regulation in corticostriatal regions. This suggests that increased drug-induced recruitment of these regions could contribute to the neural and behavioural plasticity underlying the transition to addiction.

Ruminal metabolism of ammonia N and rapeseed meal soluble N fraction

The present study was conducted to investigate ruminal N metabolism in dairy cows using 15N labeled N sources [ammonia N (AN), soluble non-ammonia N (SNAN) from rapeseed meal, and insoluble non-ammonia N (NAN) from rapeseed meal]. To describe the observed pattern of 15N transactions in the rumen, dynamic compartmental models were developed. The experiment consisted of 3 experimental treatments allocated to 4 cows according to a changeover design. The results from 2 treatments (AN and rapeseed meal SNAN) are reported in this paper. Ammonia N and rapeseed SNAN, both labeled with 15N, were administered intraruminally. Rumen evacuations in combination with grab samples from the rumen contents were used to determine ruminal N pool sizes. The 15N-atom% excess was determined in N fractions of rumen digesta samples that were distributed between 0 and 82 h after dosing. For the AN treatment, a 2-compartment model was developed to describe the observed pattern in 15N-atom% excess pool sizes of AN and bacterial N and to estimate kinetic parameters of ruminal 15N transactions. For the SNAN treatment, an additional compartment of SNAN was included in the model. Model simulations were used to estimate N fluxes in the rumen. Both models described the observed pattern of 15N-atom% excess pool sizes accurately, based on small residuals between observed and predicted values. Immediate increases in 15N-atom% excess of bacterial N with AN treatment suggested that microbes absorbed AN from extracellular pools rapidly to maintain sufficient intracellular concentrations. Proportionally 0.69 of the AN dose was recovered as NAN flow from the rumen. A rapid disappearance of labeled SNAN from rumen fluid and appearance in bacterial N pool indicated that, proportionally, 0.56 of SNAN was immediately either adsorbed to bacterial cell surfaces or taken up to intracellular pools. Immediate uptake of labeled SNAN was greater than that of AN (proportionally 0.56 vs. 0.16 of the dose). Degradation rate of SNAN to AN was relatively slow (0.46/h), but only 0.08 of the SNAN dose was estimated to escape ruminal degradation because of rapid uptake by the bacteria. Overall, losses of the 15N dose as AN absorption and outflow from the rumen were higher (P < 0.01) for the AN than the SNAN treatment (0.31 and 0.11 of the dose, respectively). Consequently, recovery as NAN flow was greater for SNAN than for AN treatment (0.89 vs. 0.69 of the dose). Estimated rate of bacterial N recycling to AN was on average 0.006/h, which suggests that N losses due to intraruminal recycling are small in dairy cows fed at high intake levels. We conclude that SNAN isolated from rapeseed meal had better ruminal N utilization efficiency than AN, as indicated by smaller ruminal N losses as AN (0.11 vs. 0.31 of the dose) and greater bacterial N flow (0.81 vs. 0.69 of the dose). Furthermore, the current findings indicate that rapid adsorption of soluble proteins to bacterial cells plays an important role in ruminal N metabolism.

Effects of Betel Quid, Smoking and Alcohol on Oral Cancer Risk: A Case–Control Study in Hunan Province, China

Background: The high prevalence of betel quid chewing is associated with a serious burden of oral diseases. However, there is limitertd research on the effects of betel quid, smoking, and alcohol on oral cancer in the Hunan province, China. Objectives: We investigated the relationship between oral cancer and betel quid chewing, smoking, and alcohol consumption in the betel quid endemic area of Hunan province. Methods: A paired case-control study from January 2014 to September 2015 was conducted in the Hunan province, China. We recruited 304 oral cancer patients and 304 controls as subjects, and both groups were treated in the same provincial cancer hospital. Control subjects and cancer patients were matched by sex, age (3-year groups), education level, and residential district. Conditional logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations between oral cancer and betel quid, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Results: A significantly increased risk of oral cancer was associated with smoking, alcohol consumption, and betel quid chewing (odds ratio [OR] of 1.49, 1.56, and 5.80, respectively; p < .05). The risk of cancer was significantly elevated at high levels of intake and prolonged duration of consumption of betel quid, smoking, and alcohol. After adjusting for confounders, betel quid chewers were found to have almost 5 times increased risk for oral cancer (OR = 5.41, 95% confidence interval: 3.32–8.80, p < .001). Conclusions: There was a positive correlation between betel quid chewing and risk of oral cancer in the Hunan Province.