1. The absorption of 64Cu from closed duodeno-jejunal loops in anaesthetized rats was significantly less in the presence of pancreatic juice compared with that in the presence of saline (9 g sodium chloride/1). The inhibition of 64Cu absorption caused by pancreatic juice was similar to that achieved with bile.

2. Studies using solutions of electrolytes and of pancreatic extracts showed that the inhibitory effect of pancreatic secretions was due to its protein-enzyme content and not to its bicarbonate content.

Pancreatic secretion and bile influence Cu absorption and thereby affect Cu homeostasis.

Whole-grain foods have been reported to affect body weight and satiety. However, we are aware of no study in this regard among children. The present study aimed to determine the effects of whole grain consumption on anthropometric measures in overweight or obese children. In this randomised crossover clinical trial, forty-four overweight or obese girls participated. After a 2-week run-in period, subjects were randomly assigned to either intervention (n 44) or non-intervention (n 44) groups. Subjects in the intervention group were given a list of whole-grain foods and were asked to obtain half of their grain servings from these foods each day for 6 weeks. Individuals in the non-intervention group were asked not to consume any of these foods. A 4-week washout period was applied. Then, participants were crossed over to the alternate arm. The measurements were done before and after each phase. Mean age, weight and BMI of participants were 11·2 (sd 1·49) years, 51·2 (sd 10·2) kg and 23·5 (sd 2·5) kg/m2, respectively. Despite the slight reduction in weight and BMI, there were no significant differences in changes in these anthropometric measures. We found a significant effect of whole grain intake on waist circumference (−2·7 v. 0·3 cm, P = 0·04). No significant changes in hip circumference were observed. Changes in the prevalence of overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity were not significantly different. This study indicated a beneficial effect of whole-grain foods on waist circumference in overweight children; however, these foods did not influence weight and BMI.

Insulin binding to erythrocyte receptors was compared in malnourished and control rats. Percentage specific insulin binding to malnourished rat erythrocytes was significantly lower than to control erythrocytes (P < 0.001). The low insulin binding in the malnourished rat erythrocytes was accompanied by low insulin receptor affinity (P = 0.035).

In recent years, the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score has increasingly became an effective indicator associated with tumor prognosis. This study was conducted to synthesise data on the prognostic value of CONUT score on patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) or renal cell carcinoma (RCC) undergoing nephrectomy. We designed and performed a systematic analysis of studies that verified the correlation between preoperative CONUT score and prognosis for UTUC and RCC using PubMed, Web of Science and Embase. The conclusion was clarified by pooled hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Subgroup analysis were further conducted in accordance with different primary tumor. Six studies involving 3529 patients were included in this evidence synthesis, which revealed that the CONUT score had a potential role to predict the survival of UTUC and RCC patients accepting surgery. Pooled analysis showed that the overall survival (OS, HR 2·32, p < 0·0001), cancer-specific survival (CSS, HR 2·68, p < 0·0001) and disease-free survival (DFS, HR 1·62, p < 0·00001) were inferior in the high CONUT score group when compared with low score group. Subgroup analysis revealed that this result was in line with UTUC (OS: HR 1·86, p = 0·02; CSS: HR 2·24, p = 0·01; DFS: HR 1·54, p < 0·00001) and RCC (OS: HR 3·05, p < 0·00001; CSS: HR 3·47, p < 0·00001; DFS: HR 2·21, p = 0·0005) patients respectively. Consequently, the CONUT score is a valuable preoperative index to predict the survival of patients with UTUC or RCC undergoing nephrectomy.

1. The effect of a penicillin-enriched diet (100 mg or 1000 mg penicillin-G/kg food) on the active transport of D-glucose and L-histidine has been investigated by the use of sacs of everted small intestine of normal young adult rats and golden hamsters. The antibiotic was given for up to several weeks.

2. The penicillin made no difference to the final concentration gradients of D-glucose or L-histidine achieved by rat small intestine, although with the hamster these appeared somewhat improved. Water entry into the serosal fluid remained unchanged.

3. The lengths and the dry weights of the small intestines of both species were not altered by the dietary regimen.

1. Sheep were fed on different diets of juice-extracted herbage to determine what effect juice-extraction had on reticulo-rumen motility.

2. The frequency of A and B sequences of contraction of the reticulo-rumen were recorded during eating, rumination and inactivity for continuous periods of 24–72 h by using integrated electromyograms obtained from electrodes implanted in the musculature of the reticulum and cranial dorsal rumen.

3. Animals were fed on herbage in which approximately 200 g/kg dry matter had been removed in juice extracted from ryegrass (Lolium perenne), white clover (Trifolium repens), mixed ryegrass–white clover and lucerne (Medicago saliva).

4. Over all the frequency of A sequences of contraction did not differ in animals fed on pressed herbage or the unpressed material from which it was derived, although it was slower during rumination on some of the pressed material. In contrast, the frequency of B sequences was higher on the pressed material. The frequencies of contraction of A and B sequences in animals fed on pressed herbage was related to the activity of the animals in the order eating > rumination > inactivity.

5. Changes in reticulo-rumen motility due to juice extraction were small and the frequencies of A and B sequences of contraction in sheep fed on pressed herbage were in the range encountered in ruminants consuming more conventional foods.

Despite the increasing market share of commercial complementary foods, their nutritional characteristics and those associated with the price of products are still unknown in Japan. We compared the nutritional characteristics of commercially available complementary foods of different price levels in Japan. Data were obtained from the websites of Japanese brands of infant and young children’s food. Nutrient profiles (unit/100 g), ingredients and food additives were compared between low- and high-priced products by product type. Sixty-three dry meals, 425 soft meals, 187 snacks and sweets, and 60 drinks were analysed. One-fifth of meals and snacks exceeded the CODEX-defined limit (200 mg Na/100 g). Most products lacked content information on nutrients non-mandated to be indicated. High-priced soft meals contained more protein (2·5 v. 1·9 g/100 g) and less Na (0·18 v. 0·46 g/100 g), less frequently used ≥ 1 added sugar (23 % v. 82 %), and less frequently used food additives than low-priced products; however, they had a lower variety of ingredients. The prevalence of products containing ≥ 1 added sugar was higher in low-priced snacks and sweets (91 % v. 77 %) but lower in drinks (48 % v. 84 %) than in their high-priced counterparts. High Na content is a concern among commercial complementary foods in Japan. Nonetheless, the relationship between the price and nutritional profile of these foods differs by product type. High-priced soft meals might be more favourable regarding nutrient content but not the variety of ingredients than low-priced counterparts. These findings elucidate the nutritional characteristics of commercial complementary foods in Japan.

Corticosteroids (CS) and exclusive and partial enteral nutrition (EEN and PEN) are effective therapies in paediatric Crohn’s disease (CD). This systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCT) and cohort studies analyses the impact of EEN/PEN v. CS on intestinal microbiota, mucosal healing as well as other clinically important outcomes, including clinical remission, relapse, adherence, adverse events and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in paediatric CD. Three RCT (n 76) and sixteen cohort studies (n 1104) compared EEN v. CS. With limited available data (one RCT), the effect on intestinal microbiome indicated a trend towards EEN regarding Shannon diversity. Based on two RCT, EEN achieved higher mucosal healing than CS (risk ratio (RR) 2·36, 95 % CI (1·22, 4·57), low certainty). Compared with CS, patients on EEN were less likely to experience adverse events based on two RCT (RR 0·32, 95 % CI (0·13, 0·80), low certainty). For HRQL, there was a trend in favour of CS based on data from two published abstracts of cohort studies. Based on thirteen cohort studies, EEN achieved higher clinical remission than CS (RR 1·18, 95 % CI (1·02, 1·38), very low certainty). Studies also reported no important differences in relapse and adherence. Compared with CS, EEN may improve mucosal healing with fewer adverse events based on RCT data. While limited data indicate the need for further trials, this is the first systematic review to comprehensively summarise the data on intestinal microbiome, mucosal healing and HRQOL when comparing enteral nutrition and CS in paediatric CD.

The Grocery Purchase Quality Index (GPQI) reflects concordance between household grocery purchases and US dietary recommendations. However, it is unclear whether GPQI scores calculated from partial purchasing records reflect individual-level diet quality. This secondary analysis of a 9-month randomised controlled trial examined concordance between the GPQI (range 0–75, scaled to 100) calculated from 3 months of loyalty-card linked partial (≥50 %) household grocery purchasing data and individual-level Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores at baseline and 3 months calculated from FFQ (n 209). Concordance was assessed with overall and demographic-stratified partially adjusted correlations; covariate-adjusted percentage score differences, cross-classification and weighted κ coefficients assessed concordance across GPQI tertiles (T). Participants were middle aged (55·4 (13·9) years), female (90·3 %), from non-smoking households (96·4 %) and without children (70·7 %). Mean GPQI (54·8 (9·1) %) scores were lower than HEI scores (baseline: 73·2 (9·1) %, 3 months: 72·4 (9·4) %) and moderately correlated (baseline r 0·41 v. 3 months r 0·31, P < 0·001). Correlations were stronger among participants with ≤ bachelor’s degree, obesity and children. Scores showed moderate agreement (κ = 0·25); concordance was highest in T3. Participants with high (T3) v. low (T1) GPQI scores had 7·3–10·6 higher odds of having HEI scores >80 % at both time points. Household-level GPQI was moderately correlated with self-reported intake, indicating their promise for evaluating diet quality. Partial purchasing data appear to moderately reflect individual diet quality and may be useful in interventions monitoring changes in diet quality.

1. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were given 630 g/kg sucrose or starch with 2 mg/kg aflatoxin B1 for periods of 75, 145 and 200 d, and the 24 h urinary excretion of aflatoxin M1 was measured.

2. Less aflatoxin M1 was excreted by the rats fed on the sucrose-rich diet compared to those fed on the starch-rich diet. This difference was especially marked when expressed per g metabolizing tissue.

3. It is concluded that sucrose probably decreases the activity of aflatoxin B1 metabolism in a similar way to its previously found effect on the drug-metabolizing enzyme.

The association between alcohol intake and the risk of glioma has been widely studied, but these results have yielded conflicting findings. Therefore, we conducted this systematic review and updated meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the association between alcohol intake and the risk of glioma. A systematic literature search of relevant articles published in PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI and Wan fang databases up to December 2021 was conducted. Pooled estimated of relative risk (RR) and 95 % CI were calculated using fixed-effects models. A total of eight articles with three case–control studies involving 2706 glioma cases and 2 189 927 participants were included in this meta-analysis. A reduced risk of glioma was shown for the low–moderate alcohol drinking v. non-drinking (RR = 0·87; 95 % CI (0·78, 0·97); P = 0·014). In addition, there was no evidence of an increased risk of glioma in the heavy alcohol drinking compared with non-drinking (RR = 0·89; 95 % CI (0·67, 1·18); P = 0·404). The findings suggest an inverse association between low–moderate alcohol drinking and the risk of glioma, in the absence, however, of a dose–response relationship. More prospective studies are needed to provide further insight into the association between alcohol drinking and glioma risk.

This study aimed to determine the association between hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and Hb change, during early to mid-pregnancy with the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This was a clinic-based retrospective cohort study of 1951 healthy pregnant women (18–45 years old) with a singleton gestation attending antenatal care at government health clinics. Hb concentration at first prenatal visit and each trimester was extracted from the antenatal cards. Hb changes from first prenatal visit to first and second trimester as well as from second to third trimester were calculated. Multivariate logistic regression was used with adjustment for covariates. Women with GDM had significantly higher Hb concentrations (Hb 1) at first prenatal visit (< 12 weeks) compared with non-GDM women (11·91 g/dl v.11·74 g/dl). Hb 1 and Hb changes (Hb change 2) from first prenatal visit to the second trimester (23–27th weeks) were significantly associated with GDM risk, with an adjusted OR of 1·14 (95 % CI 1·01, 1·29) and 1·25 (95 % CI 1·05, 1·49), respectively. The significant associations between Hb 1 and Hb change 2 with the risk of GDM were found among non-Malays, overweight/obese and women aged 35 years and above. Women with higher Hb concentrations in early pregnancy were at higher risk of GDM, and such association was significant among women aged 35 years and above, non-Malays and overweight/obese. This raises a potential concern for elevated Fe status in early pregnancy as a risk factor of GDM among Fe-replete women.

The present study aimed to explore the association between healthy lifestyle pattern and childhood early onset of puberty. Based on a cohort study in Xiamen of China, a total of 1294 children was followed for three and a half years. Children’s lifestyles, including dietary behaviour, physical activity, sleep duration, smoking and drinking behaviour and sedentary behaviour, were collected by questionnaires. Healthy lifestyle pattern was determined mainly according to the recommendations by the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese school-age children and Canadian Guidelines for children and youth. The pubertal development was assessed by clinical examination according to Tanner stages. The association between pre-pubertal lifestyle and early onset of puberty was estimated using linear regression and log-binomial regression. We found that children who adhered to a healthy lifestyle had a 0·36-year delay of the age of puberty onset (coef = 0·36, 95 % CI (0·08, 0·65)) and 53 % lower risk of early onset of puberty (risk ratio = 0·47, 95 % CI (0·27, 0·80)), compared with those who had a poor lifestyle. However, the beneficial effect of favourable lifestyles on the early onset of puberty was found only in boys with normal weight. Boys who adhered to active physical activity and low sedentary behaviour had a relatively delayed age of puberty onset (coef = 0·49, 95 % CI (0·26, 0·72)). This is the first time to find that healthy lifestyle pattern was associated with a substantially lower risk of early onset of puberty, especially in boys with normal weight. Advocating an integrated healthy lifestyle is essential for the development of children.

This work aims to examine the interaction between apo A2 (Apo A-II) –265T > C SNP and dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) on inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The present cross-sectional study included 180 patients (35–65 years) with identified Apo A-II genotype. Dietary intakes were assessed by a FFQ. DTAC was computed using the international databases. IL-18 (IL18), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), pentraxin (PTX3), serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and 8-isoprostaneF2α (PGF2α) markers were obtained according to standard protocols. General linear model was used to evaluate the interaction. The interaction of gene and DTAC (PFRAP = 0·039 and PORAC = 0·042) on PGF2α level was significant after adjusting for confounders. A significant interaction was observed on IL18 level (PORAC = 0·018 and PFRAP = 0·048) and SOD (PTEAC = 0·037) in obese patients. Among patients whose DTAC was higher than the median intake, the levels of hs-CRP and PGF2α were significantly higher only in individuals with CC genotype. Serum TAC (PFRAP = 0·030, PORAC = 0·049) and SOD were significantly lower in the CC genotype. There was a favourable relationship between the high-DTAC and SOD (obese: PTEAC = 0·034, non-obese: PFRAP = 0·001, PTRAP < 0·0001, PTEAC = 0·003 and PORAC = 0·001) and PGF2α (non-obese: PORAC = 0·024) in T-allele carriers. The rs5082 SNP interacts with DTAC to influence several cardiometabolic risk factors. Also, we found dietary recommendations for antioxidant-rich foods intake might be useful in the prevention of diabetes complications in the T carrier more effectively than the CC genotype. Future large studies are required to confirm these results.

The glycaemic index (GI) characterises foods by using the incremental area under the glycaemic response curve relative to the same amount of oral glucose. Its ability to differentiate between curves of different shapes, the peak response and other aspects of the glycaemic response is contentious. The present pilot study aimed to explore the possibility of using 1H NMR spectroscopy to better understand in vivo digestion characteristics as reflected in the glycaemic response of carbohydrate-rich foods; such an approach might be an adjunct to the in vivo GI test. The glycaemic response of two types of raw wheat flour (2005 from Griffith NSW, Chara, Row 10, Plot 6:181 and store-bought Coles™ Plain Flour) and a cooked store-bought flour was tested and compared with results recorded during the in vitro enzymatic digestion of the wheat flour samples by glucoamylase from Aspergillus niger (EC 3.2.1.3) as monitored by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Comparing the digestion time courses of raw and cooked wheat starch recorded in vitro strongly suggests that the initial rate of glucose release in vitro correlates with the glycaemic spike in vivo. During the in vitro time courses, approximately four times as much glucose was released from cooked starch samples than from raw starch samples in 90 min. Monitoring enzymatic digestion of heterogeneous mixtures (food) by 1H NMR spectroscopy showcases the effectiveness of the technique in measuring glucose release and its potential use as the basis of an in vitro method for a better understanding of the GI.