Accidents and resulting injuries in premobile infants: data from the ALSPAC study.
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BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Little is known about injuries resulting from accidents in premobile infants. We aimed to describe the pattern of minor accidents in infants and their resulting injuries. METHODS: The ALSPAC study collected data in successive postal questionnaires. At 6 months of age, parents were asked to describe any accident since birth. The type of fall, distance fallen, resulting injury, and help sought were independently coded. Burns were similarly coded. RESULTS: A total of 11 466 responses were available. In 2554 children, 3357 falls were reported; 53% fell from beds or settees and 12% fell from arms or while being carried. Only 14% reported visible injury, of which 56% were bruises; 97% of injuries specified involved the head. Only 21 falls (<1%) resulted in concussion or fracture. A burn or scald occurred in 172 cases (1.5%). The main causes of scalds were hot drinks and water, with contact burns caused by radiators, cookers, and hot food. CONCLUSIONS: Falls in young infants are common while burns are rare. Injuries from falls are infrequent, predominantly trivial, and almost entirely confined to the head. Falls from beds and settees did not result in skull fractures. Serious injury was the result of complex accidents. (+info)
Pomegranate juice supplementation to atherosclerotic mice reduces macrophage lipid peroxidation, cellular cholesterol accumulation and development of atherosclerosis.
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Inhibition of lipid peroxidation contributes to the attenuation of macrophage cholesterol accumulation, foam-cell formation and atherosclerosis. Evidence suggests that nutritional antioxidants such as pomegranate juice (PJ) can contribute to the reduction of oxidative stress and atherogenesis. The goals of the present study were to determine whether such beneficial effects of PJ exist when supplemented to apolipoprotein E-deficient (E(0)) mice with advanced atherosclerosis and to analyze the antiatherosclerotic activity of a tannin-fraction isolated from PJ. Mice (4-mo-old) were supplemented with PJ in their drinking water for 2 mo and compared with age-matched placebo-treated mice, as well as to young (4-mo-old) control mice, for their mouse peritoneal macrophage (MPM) oxidative state, cholesterol flux and mice atherosclerotic lesion size. PJ supplementation reduced each of the proatherogenic variables determined in the present study compared with age-matched placebo-treated mice. It significantly induced serum paraoxonase activity and reduced MPM lipid peroxide content compared with placebo-treated mice and control mice. PJ administration to E(0) mice significantly reduced the oxidized (Ox)-LDL MPM uptake by 31% and MPM cholesterol esterification and increased macrophage cholesterol efflux by 39% compared with age-matched, placebo-treated mice. PJ consumption reduced macrophage Ox-LDL uptake and cholesterol esterification to levels lower than those in 4-mo-old, unsupplemented controls. PJ supplementation to E(0) mice with advanced atherosclerosis reduced the lesion size by 17% compared with placebo-treated mice. In a separate study, supplementation of young (2-mo-old) E(0) mice for 2 mo with a tannin fraction isolated from PJ reduced their atherosclerotic lesion size, paralleled by reduced plasma lipid peroxidation and decreased Ox-LDL MPM uptake. PJ supplementation to mice with advanced atherosclerosis reduced their macrophage oxidative stress, their macrophage cholesterol flux and even attenuated the development of atherosclerosis. Moreover, a tannin-fraction isolated from PJ had a significant antiatherosclerotic activity. (+info)
A longitudinal investigation of aggregate oral intake of copper.
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Four-day composite solid food and beverage duplicate plates and 1-L samples of drinking water were collected from a stratified random sample of 80 individuals as part of the National Human Exposure Assessment Survey in Maryland. The media were obtained from each participant in up to six equally spaced sampling cycles over a year and analyzed for copper by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Copper concentrations (microg/kg) and consumption rates (kg/d) of solid food, beverage and drinking water were used to derive average daily aggregate oral intake of copper (microg/d). The mean aggregate copper intake of 263 measurements obtained from 68 people was 923.2 +/- 685.6 microg/d (mean +/- SD). Intake through solid food accounted for the majority of aggregate daily intake of copper contributing 87% on average. According to results from mixed model analysis of variance procedures, the mean log-transformed average daily copper intake in each medium except beverage exhibited significant (P < 0.05) variability among sampling cycles. Between-person variability accounted for 50% of the total variance in aggregate copper intake. As measured by the coefficient of variation, distributions of copper intake consisting of one observation per individual were more variable than the distribution consisting of the long-term average intake for each person. These results suggest that estimates of the fraction of a population at risk from chronic copper deficiency or excess copper intake can be overestimated if based upon short-term measures of copper intake. In addition, these results indicate that longitudinal information is required for accurate assessment of aggregate oral intake of copper for an individual. (+info)
Fortification contributed greatly to vitamin and mineral intakes in the United States, 1989-1991.
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The objective of this work was to quantify the contribution of fortification (defined here as adding nutrients beyond traditional enrichment standards) to dietary nutrient intakes in the United States. A list of fortified foods was developed that was relevant at the time of the analyses, and prefortification (naturally occurring) nutrients in the fortified foods were determined from industry-supplied data. Using dietary data from the 1989-1991 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII), intakes of nine nutrients were determined both as reported in the CSFII (i.e., postfortification) and also by using prefortification nutrient levels for the identified fortified foods. We report data for the total population age >/= 1 y based on respondents (n = 11,710) with 3 d of dietary data, as well as select age/gender subgroups. All data were weighted. Fortification substantially increased the intakes of all nutrients examined except calcium, in all age/gender groups but especially in children. In numerous cases, fortification was responsible for boosting median or 25th percentile intakes from below to above the RDA. The breakfast cereal category was responsible for nearly all the intake of nutrients from fortified foods, except vitamin C for which juice-type beverages made as great or a greater contribution. These data from 1989 to 1991 serve as a useful baseline with which to compare contributions of fortification as the practice expands. The large contribution of fortification even in 1989-1991 suggests that continued monitoring of fortification practices, using methods such as those presented here, is important. (+info)
Evaluation of the surface roughness of compomer by laser scanning microscopy.
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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of alcoholic and low pH soft drinks on the surface roughness of compomer restorative materials. There were five tested materials and four immersion media. Specimens were immersed in test solutions for a 10-day period at a temperature of 37 degrees C. Measurement of the surface texture was carried out using a laser scanning microscope (a non-contact laser stylus tracing method). This was also used to produce the Laser Scanning Microscope Image (LSM Image). Specimens immersed in orange juice and whisky displayed higher values for Ra & Rz than specimens immersed in soft drinks and deionized water. LSM Image showed a difference between the control and the examined side, especially for specimens immersed in low pH soft drinks this could be due to the erosive effect of the media. Alcoholic and low pH soft drinks caused deterioration of the materials surface, which may lead to a clinically detectable rough and dull surface. (+info)
Joint effects of citrus peel use and black tea intake on the risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.
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BACKGROUND: Differences in tea drinking habits and/or citrus peel use are likely to vary by populations and could contribute to the inconsistencies found between studies comparing their consumption and cancer risk. METHODS: A population-based case-control study was used to evaluate the relationships between citrus peel use and black tea intake and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin. Moreover, we assessed the independent and interactive effects of citrus peel and black tea in the development of SCC. RESULTS: Hot and iced teas were consumed by 30.7% and 51.8% of the subjects, respectively. Peel consumption was reported by 34.5% of subjects. Controls were more likely than were cases to report citrus peel use (odds ratio (OR) = 0.67) and hot tea intake (OR = 0.79). After adjustment for hot and iced tea intake, the ORs associated with citrus peel use were 0.55 and 0.69, respectively, whereas the corresponding adjusted ORs for hot and iced tea intake after adjustment for citrus peel use were 0.87 and 1.22 respectively. Compared with those who did not consume hot black tea or citrus peel, the adjusted ORs associated with sole consumption of hot black tea or citrus peel were 0.60 and 0.30, respectively. Subjects who reported consumption of both hot black tea and citrus peel had a significant marked decrease (OR= 0.22; 95% CI = 0.10 - 0.51) risk of skin SCC. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that both citrus peel use and strong (hot) black tea have independent potential protective effects in relation to skin SCC. (+info)
A prospective study of drinking patterns in relation to risk of type 2 diabetes among men.
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Using data from a 12-year prospective study, we determined the importance of the pattern of alcohol consumption as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes in a cohort of 46,892 U.S. male health professionals who completed biennial postal questionnaires. Overall, 1,571 new cases of type 2 diabetes were documented. Compared with zero alcohol consumption, consumption of 15-29 g/day of alcohol was associated with a 36% lower risk of diabetes (RR = 0.64; 95% CI 0.53-0.77). This inverse association between moderate consumption and diabetes remained if light drinkers rather than abstainers were used as the reference group (RR = 0.60, CI 0.50-0.73). There were few heavy drinkers, but the inverse association persisted to those drinking >/=50 g/day of alcohol (RR = 0.60, CI 0.43-0.84). Frequency of consumption was inversely associated with diabetes. Consumption of alcohol on at least 5 days/week provided the greatest protection, even when less than one drink per drinking day was consumed (RR = 0.48, CI 0.27-0.86). Compared with infrequent drinkers, for each additional day per week that alcohol was consumed, risk was reduced by 7% (95% CI 3-10%) after controlling for average daily consumption. There were similar and independent inverse associations for beer, liquor, and white wine. Our findings suggested that frequent alcohol consumption conveys the greatest protection against type 2 diabetes, even if the level of consumption per drinking day is low. Beverage choice did not alter risk. (+info)
Choose beverages and foods to moderate your intake of sugars: the 2000 dietary guidelines for Americans--what's all the fuss about?
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As part of the 2000 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the public is advised to choose beverages and foods to moderate their intake of sugars. The term sugars is conventionally used to describe the mono- and disaccharides. However, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans distinguish between added sugars and other sources of carbohydrates. The concept of added sugars provides consumers with useful information, especially if they are trying to limit excessive use of caloric sweeteners. Added sugars are defined as sugars that are eaten separately at the table or used as ingredients in processed or prepared foods. Consumption of added sugars has increased steadily as documented by both food supply data and nationwide food consumption survey data. The largest source of added sugars in the U.S. diet is nondiet soft drinks, accounting for one third of total intake. Diets high in sugars have been associated with various health problems, including dental caries, dyslipidemias, obesity, bone loss and fractures, and poor diet quality. Research gaps are identified. (+info)