Effects of ursodeoxycholic acid and/or low-calorie diet on steatohepatitis in rats with obesity and hyperlipidemia

AIM:To evaluate the effects of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and/or low-calorie diet (LCD) on a rat model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). METHODS: Fifty-five Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups. The control group (n = 9) was fed with standard rat diet for 12 wk, NASH group (n = 10) was fed with high-fat diet consisted of normal diet, 10% lard oil and 2% cholesterol for 12 wk, UDCA group (n = 10) was fed with high-fat diet supplemented with UDCA at a dose of 25 mg/(kg · d) in drinking water for 12 wk, LCD group (n = 10) was fed with high-fat diet for 10 wk and then LCD for 2 wk, and UDCA+LCD group (n = 15) was fed with high-fat diet for 10 wk, followed by LCD+UDCA for 2 wk. At the end of the experiment, body weight, serum biochemical index, and hepatopathologic changes were examined. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, rats in the NASH group had significantly increased body weight, liver weight, and serum lipid and aminotransferase levels. All rats in the NASH group developed steatohepatitis, as determined by their liver histology. Compared with the NASH group, there were no significant changes in body weight, liver weight, blood biochemical index, the degree of hepatic steatosis, and histological activity index (HAI) score in the UDCA group; however, body and liver weights were significantly decreased, and the degree of steatosis was markedly improved in rats of both the LCD group and the UDCA+LCD group, but significant improvement with regard to serum lipid variables and hepatic inflammatory changes were seen only in rats of the UDCA+LCD group, and not in the LCD group. CONCLUSION: LCD might play a role in the treatment of obesity and hepatic steatosis in rats, but it exerts no significant effect on both serum lipid disorders and hepatic inflammatory changes. UDCA may enhance the therapeutic effects of LCD on steatohepatitis accompanied by obesity and hyperlipidemia. However, UDCA alone is not effective in the prevention of steatohepatitis induced by high-fat diet.

Antioxidant Capacity and Total Phenol Content of Commonly Consumed Indigenous Foods of Asian Tropical Regions

In order to screen the antioxidant capacity of commonly consumed indigenous foods of tropical region, vegetables, fruits, tea, oil seeds, legumes, spices and cereal were analyzed. Among the vegetables, green chili showed the highest total oxygen radical absorbance capacity （ORACFL） and lipophilic ORAC （L-ORACFL）; whereas, bean showed highest hydrophilic ORAC （H-ORACFL） content. The H-ORACFL of vegetable samples varied between 2.26 to 23.08 ~tmol of Trolox equivalent （TE）/g of fresh weight （FW） and L-ORACFL content widely varied from 0.20 （sweet pumpkin） to 16.95 （green chili）. The range of H-ORACFL values of fruits showed large variation （0.45-178 Ixmol of TE/g FW）. All four different types of tea showed high H-ORACFL （1,295.84-2,709.11 lamol of TE/g）, in contrast to negligible amount of L-ORACFL. In legumes, H-ORACFL content ranged from 16.22 to 140.54; whereas, L-ORACFL ranged from 4.43 to 25.78. Porso millets showed higher L-ORACFL value （19.4） as compared to H-ORACFL （0.8）. In case of spices, L-ORACFL content varied from 29.75 ± 0.00 to 1,575.24 ± 39.63, which is considerably higher as compared to H-ORACFL （61.68 ± 1.71 to 272.82± 1.05） content. Comparatively, spices showed much higher H-ORACFL values as compared to fruits analyzed. In case of selective vegetables, fruits and tea samples, the total phenol content was highly correlated with the H-ORACFL content.

Effects of breakfast with different calorigenic amounts on blood glucose, insulin and glucagon levels

This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between breakfast and serum glucose, insulin and glucagon concentrations in order to establish a model breakfast appropriate for Chinese. Twenty four volunteers were randomly assigned to four study groups: high carbohydrate breakfast, high fat and protein breakfast, the typical breakfast and fasting. Each subject had serum and urine samples collected while fasting and at 1,2 and 3.5 hours following the meal. The concentration of serum glucose, insulin and glucagon was measured. The levels of serum glucose in group A,B and C differed significantly at 1 and 2 hour after meal compared to those at fasting ( P <0.05). The serum glucose in group A increased insignificantly after meal. The serum insulin levels were in group A,B and C significant different compared with control group( P <0.05).Those peaked at 1 hour after meal ,with group C rising the furthest. Compared with the fasting group, the serum glucagons rose and maintained the increase after breakfast in group A,B and C ( P <0.05).The data suggested that various diets with different calorigenic amounts increased hormone concentration to various extents. We found that a breakfast rich in carbohydrates could maintain proper blood glucose level.

Characterization of Starch Granules Affected by Processing in Some Cereal Foods

To understand how baking processes influence starch quality, twelve samples of cereal foods products have been studied. Damaged starch determined by a-amylase hydrolysis to characterize and quantify the molecular composition of cereal foods starches treated with different conditions during processing that had been physically damaged to different extents, by preparation and processing provide the physicochemical data to understand more fully the effects of mechanical damage on amylase, amylopectin content and differential scanning calorimetric （DSC） for selected cereal foods products. There were significant difference between treatments in term of damaged starch content of cereal foods flours which were 0.64% to 36.40%, while the DSC results for the starches were the gelatinisation onset （To）, peak temperature （Tp） and conclusion temperature （To）, and temperatures of selected food starches ranged from 34.86 ℃ to 75.20 ℃, 54.04 ℃ to 85.94 ℃, and 63.5 ℃ to 95.16 ℃. There were significant differences between all cereal foods starches in term of amylose and its contents ranged from 70.3% to 87% and also there were significant differences between the amylopectin content of cereal foods flours ranged from 13.3% to 29.6%.

Computer Controlled High Precise, High Voltage Pules Generator

High precise, high voltage pulse generator made up of high-power IGBT and pulse transformers controlled by a computer are described. A simple main circuit topology employed in this pulse generator can reduce the cost meanwhile it still meets special requirements for pulsed electric fields (PEFs) in food process. The pulse generator utilizes a complex programmable logic device (CPLD) to generate trigger signals. Pulse-frequency, pulse-width and pulse-number are controlled via RS232 bus by a computer. The high voltage pulse generator well suits to the application for fluid food non-thermal effect in pulsed electric fields, for it can increase and decrease by the step length 1.

Industrial High Pressure Processing of Foods： Review of Evolution and Emerging Trends

High Pressure Processing （HPP）, in the range of 200 MPa to 600 MPa/29,000 psi to 87,000 psi, is the most advanced emerging non-thermal processing technology for food. The constant improvements of high pressure equipment concerning productivity and production costs have facilitated the increase of industrial uses of the technology. This paper reviews some of these advances in high pressure food processing including development of new functional beverages the new value proposals being offered by copackers substitution of traditional thermal techniques for novel product manufacturing and refrigerated services suppliers. Substitution of thermal treatments for meat processing and tenderisation of low value meat cuts.

Gradients in predation risk in a tropical river system

The importance of predation risk as a key driver of evolutionary change is exemplified by the Northern Range in Trinidad, where research on guppies living in multiple parallel streams has pro- vided invaluable insights into the process of evolution by natural selection. Although Trinidadian guppies are now a textbook example of evolution in action, studies have generally categorized predation as a dichotomous variable, representing high or low risk. Yet, ecologists appreciate that community structure and the attendant predation risk vary substantially over space and time. Here, we use data from a longitudinal study of fish assemblages at 16 different sites in the Northern Range to quantify temporal and spatial variation in predation risk. Specifically we ask： 1） Is there evidence for a gradient in predation risk？ 2） Does the ranking of sites （by risk） change with the defi- nition of the predator community （in terms of species composition and abundance currency）, and 3） Are site rankings consistent over time？ We find compelling evidence that sites lie along a contin- uum of risk. However, site rankings along this gradient depend on how predation is quantified in terms of the species considered to be predators and the abundance currency is used. Nonetheless, for a given categorization and currency, rankings are relatively consistent over time. Our study sug- gests that consideration of predation gradients will lead to a more nuanced understanding of the role of predation risk in behavioral and evolutionary ecology. It also emphasizes the need to justify and report the definition of predation risk being used.

Thermal preference, thermal tolerance and the thermal dependence of digestive performance in two Phrynocephalus lizards （Agamidae）, with a review of species studied

We reported data on thermal preference, thermal tolerance and the thermal dependence of digestive performance for two Phrynocephalus lizards （P. frontalis and P. versicolor）, and compared data among lizards so far studied worldwide. Mean values for selected body temperature （Tsel） and critical thermal maximum （CTMax） were greater in P versicolor, whereas mean values for critical thermal minimum （CTMin） did not differ between the two species. The two lizards differed in food intake, but not in food passage time, apparent digestive coefficient （ADC） and assimilation efficiency （AE）, across the experimental tem- peratures. Four general conclusions can be drawn from published data. Firstly, thermal preference and thermal tolerance differ among lizards differing in distribution, temporal activity pattern and habitat use. Lizards in thermally more variable regions are better able to tolerate low and high temperatures. Diurnal lizards generally select higher body temperatures than nocturnal lizards, and lizards using habitats with direct sun exposure generally selected higher body temperatures and are better able to tolerate high temperatures. Secondly, CTMax is positively correlated with Tsel. Lizards more likely exposed to extremely high temperatures while active select higher body temperatures than those using shaded habitats. Thirdly, the effects of body temperature on food intake, food passage time, ADC and AE differ among lizards, but it seems to be common among lizards that ADC and AE are less thermally sensitive than food intake and food passage time. Lastly, ADC is dependent on the type of food ingested, with insectivorous lizards digesting food more efficiently than herbivorous lizards

Spearfishing-induced behavioral changes of an unharvested species inside and outside a marine protected area

By prohibiting fishing, marine protected areas （MPAs） provide a refuge for harvested species. Humans are often perceived as predators by prey and therefore respond fearfully to humans. Thus, fish responses to humans inside and outside of an MPA can provide insights into their perception of humans as a predatory threat. Previous studies have found differences in the distance that har- vested species of fish initiate flight （flight initiation distance--FID） from humans inside and outside an MPA, but less is known about unharvested species. We focused on whether the lined bristle- tooth Ctenochaetus striatus, an unharvested surgeonfish, can discriminate between a snorkeler and a snorkeler with a spear gun inside and outside of a no-take MPA in Mo＇orea, French Polynesia. Additionally, we incorporated starting distance （the distance between the person and prey at the start of an experimental approach）, a variable that has been found to be important in as- sessing prey escape decisions in terrestrial species, but that has not been extensively studied in aquatic systems. Lined bristletooth FID was significantly greater in the presence of a spear gun and varied depending on if the spear gun encounter was inside or outside of the MPA. These results imply a degree of sophistication of fish antipredator behavior, generate questions as to how a non- targeted species of fish could acquire fear of humans, and demonstrate that behavioral surveys can provide insights about antipredator behavior.