Caffeine is a substance presented in foods such as coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolates and medicines and is commonly consumed by pregnant women. Due to its ability to cross the placental membrane and accumulate in th...Caffeine is a substance presented in foods such as coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolates and medicines and is commonly consumed by pregnant women. Due to its ability to cross the placental membrane and accumulate in the fetus body, caffeine and its metabolites have been contraindicated or recommended in small doses during pregnancy. Studies in rodents relate caffeine intake to lower rates of fertilization, embryonic implantation, changes in placental structure, increased occurrence of low fetal and placental weights, abortion and stillbirth. However, in humans, studies involving caffeine consumption are inconclusive. Methodological complexity, difficulty for measuring caffeine intake and ethical reasons are limiting factors for a more accurate conclusion. So far, caffeine recommendation ranges from 100 to 300 mg/day. Even though researches have recommended low caffeine consumption by pregnant women in order to avoid deleterious consequences during gestation, a safe dose has not been established until now. The aim of the present review is to describe the main findings on the effects of caffeine consumption during pregnancy in both human and rodent experimental models.展开更多
Laevistrombus canarium is one of the marine gastropod mollusks that have high commercial value, particularly in the aquaculture sector in Malaysia. This study was conducted to determine the feeding and food items of L...Laevistrombus canarium is one of the marine gastropod mollusks that have high commercial value, particularly in the aquaculture sector in Malaysia. This study was conducted to determine the feeding and food items of L. canarium at different ontogenetic stages （juveniles, sub-adults and adults） from Merambong shoals, Malaysia. Field observations on feeding activity were conducted, followed by detailed laboratory analysis on the stomach content. Five-minutes observations on randomly selected individuals were conducted at the field sampling site and their feeding activities were recorded with reference to age stage. Various shell sizes from each ontogenetic stage were randomly collected and quickly anaesthetized with ice and preserved in 10% formalin before being transported to the laboratory for stomach content analyses. Field observations showed that L. canarium mainly grazed on epiphytes occurring on seagrass （46.67%）, followed by sediment surface （40%） and epiphytes occurring on macroalgae （13.33%）. Stomach content analyses showed a significant difference （P〈0.05） in gastro-somatic index （Gasi） between the juveniles （0.39±0.05）, sub-adults （0.68±0.09） and adults （0.70±0.05） （P〈0.05）. Food items found in the conch stomach include diatoms, detritus, foraminifera, seagrass and macroalgae fragments, sand particles and shell fragments. The Index of Relative Importance （%IRI） indicates three main types of food dominated the three ontogenetic stages namely diatoms, sand particles and detritus. However, no significant difference （P〉0.05） was detected between the three main food items （diatoms, sand particles and detritus） among the ontogenetic stages. Therefore, feeding activity revealed the role of the dog conch in the marine food network. While, classification of the types of food consumed by L. canarium through stomach content analysis determines the particular position of the gastropod in the food chain. Further studies are needed to provide a better insight between trophic relationships ofL. eanarium with marine ecosystem.展开更多
Calorie restriction(CR)is a dietary regime based on low calorie intake.CR without malnutrition extends lifespan in a wide range of organisms from yeast to rodents,and CR can prevent and delay the onset of age-related ...Calorie restriction(CR)is a dietary regime based on low calorie intake.CR without malnutrition extends lifespan in a wide range of organisms from yeast to rodents,and CR can prevent and delay the onset of age-related functional decline and diseases in human and non-human primates.CR is a safe and effective intervention to reduce vascular risk factors in humans.In recent years,studies in rodents have provided mechanistic insights into the beneficial effects of CR on vascular homeostasis,including reduced oxidative stress,enhanced nitric oxide(NO)bioactivity,and decreased inflammation.A number of important molecules,including sirtuins,AMP-activated protein kinase,mammalian targets of rapamycin,endothelial nitric oxidase and their regulatory pathways are involved in the maintenance of vascular homeostasis.Evidence has shown that these pathways are responsible for many aspects of CR’s effects,and that they may also mediate the effects of CR on vasculature.展开更多
文摘Caffeine is a substance presented in foods such as coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolates and medicines and is commonly consumed by pregnant women. Due to its ability to cross the placental membrane and accumulate in the fetus body, caffeine and its metabolites have been contraindicated or recommended in small doses during pregnancy. Studies in rodents relate caffeine intake to lower rates of fertilization, embryonic implantation, changes in placental structure, increased occurrence of low fetal and placental weights, abortion and stillbirth. However, in humans, studies involving caffeine consumption are inconclusive. Methodological complexity, difficulty for measuring caffeine intake and ethical reasons are limiting factors for a more accurate conclusion. So far, caffeine recommendation ranges from 100 to 300 mg/day. Even though researches have recommended low caffeine consumption by pregnant women in order to avoid deleterious consequences during gestation, a safe dose has not been established until now. The aim of the present review is to describe the main findings on the effects of caffeine consumption during pregnancy in both human and rodent experimental models.
基金Supported by the Ministry of Science,Technology and Innovation,Malaysia (MOSTI) through UKM Fundamental Research Grant(No.FRGS/2/2014/STWN10/UKM/02/1)the Centre for Research and Innovation Management Grant(CRIM)(No.AP-2012-013)
文摘Laevistrombus canarium is one of the marine gastropod mollusks that have high commercial value, particularly in the aquaculture sector in Malaysia. This study was conducted to determine the feeding and food items of L. canarium at different ontogenetic stages （juveniles, sub-adults and adults） from Merambong shoals, Malaysia. Field observations on feeding activity were conducted, followed by detailed laboratory analysis on the stomach content. Five-minutes observations on randomly selected individuals were conducted at the field sampling site and their feeding activities were recorded with reference to age stage. Various shell sizes from each ontogenetic stage were randomly collected and quickly anaesthetized with ice and preserved in 10% formalin before being transported to the laboratory for stomach content analyses. Field observations showed that L. canarium mainly grazed on epiphytes occurring on seagrass （46.67%）, followed by sediment surface （40%） and epiphytes occurring on macroalgae （13.33%）. Stomach content analyses showed a significant difference （P〈0.05） in gastro-somatic index （Gasi） between the juveniles （0.39±0.05）, sub-adults （0.68±0.09） and adults （0.70±0.05） （P〈0.05）. Food items found in the conch stomach include diatoms, detritus, foraminifera, seagrass and macroalgae fragments, sand particles and shell fragments. The Index of Relative Importance （%IRI） indicates three main types of food dominated the three ontogenetic stages namely diatoms, sand particles and detritus. However, no significant difference （P〉0.05） was detected between the three main food items （diatoms, sand particles and detritus） among the ontogenetic stages. Therefore, feeding activity revealed the role of the dog conch in the marine food network. While, classification of the types of food consumed by L. canarium through stomach content analysis determines the particular position of the gastropod in the food chain. Further studies are needed to provide a better insight between trophic relationships ofL. eanarium with marine ecosystem.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31271227,91339201)the Beijing Nova Program (XX2013064)the National Basic Research Program of China (2011CB503902)
文摘Calorie restriction(CR)is a dietary regime based on low calorie intake.CR without malnutrition extends lifespan in a wide range of organisms from yeast to rodents,and CR can prevent and delay the onset of age-related functional decline and diseases in human and non-human primates.CR is a safe and effective intervention to reduce vascular risk factors in humans.In recent years,studies in rodents have provided mechanistic insights into the beneficial effects of CR on vascular homeostasis,including reduced oxidative stress,enhanced nitric oxide(NO)bioactivity,and decreased inflammation.A number of important molecules,including sirtuins,AMP-activated protein kinase,mammalian targets of rapamycin,endothelial nitric oxidase and their regulatory pathways are involved in the maintenance of vascular homeostasis.Evidence has shown that these pathways are responsible for many aspects of CR’s effects,and that they may also mediate the effects of CR on vasculature.
