Salt/Sodium Intake Estimation in Children and Adolescents of Costa Rica

The objectives of this study were to estimate sodium intake and to identify the main dietary sources of this nutrient in young people. Cross-sectional study performed in 2685 students from 64 schools and high-schools of Costa Rica. A food frequency survey was applied to study the food and beverage intake habits of the participants. The average daily sodium intake for children and adolescents 7 to 18 years of age was 3214 mg. Around 97% of the students had sodium intakes > 2300 mg per day with significant differences by age subgroup, sex and nutritional status due to excess body weight (p < 0.001). The average sodium density of the diet was 1698 mg sodium/1000kcal, and the average addition of salt to the food was 445 mg of sodium (1.1 grams of salt). Including the amount added to the served food, the average sodium intake for children and adolescents from 7 to 18 years of age increased to 3434 mg and the overall average sodium density increased to 1821 mg of sodium/1000kcal, maintaining significant differences by age subgroups (p < 0.001). These results justify carrying out social marketing campaigns that include educational processes with sense and meaning for children, adolescents and families, in such a way that these groups of the population become motivated to modify gradually their eating habits, such as reducing the use of sauces, seasonings and salt in food preparation and at the table. If the habit of adding salt to the served food is gradually reduced or avoided, the children and adolescents in Costa Rica could decrease the intake of salt per day from 1 to 2 grams. This decrease could be even more effective if youngsters additionally would remove the intake of sauces, contributing in this way to achieve the maximum salt intake recommendation (5 g per day).

Synthesis and Determination of Antitumor Activity of Jacaranone and Synthetic Analogs

Natural product jacaranone, 1, and three analog derivatives were synthesized and their apoptotic and necrotic activity against four cancer cell lines was tested. One of these derivatives 7, was more active than the natural product, and exhibited an important necrotic effect against three of the cell lines tested (ovarian carcinoma, liver cancer and breast cancer cells). Derivative 6 was more active than the natural product, and showed a significant apoptotic activity against breast cancer and ovarian carcinoma cells. Some derivatives analyzed in this study showed promising anti-tumor results, nevertheless, further studies have to be done in order to determine their in vivo activity, their mechanism as well as their safety and stability.

Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity of Aromatic Homopropargyl Alcohols

Several aromatic homopropargyl alcohols, and derivatives were prepared by one-pot reaction of 1,3-dilithiopropyne (or its equivalent) with aldehydes and ketones. The antibacterial activity, of alcohols thus prepared, against Gram (+) and Gram (-) bacteria was tested. This activity varies depending upon substitution on the homopropargyl alcohol unit. Apparently, the benzene ring and the free hydroxyl group (or its alcoxide) are needed, in the homopropargyl alcohol unit, to be biologically active.

Probiotics with anti-type 2 diabetes mellitus properties:targets of polysaccharides from traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides is a biologically active ingredient that is not easy to be digested.It is fermented by intestinal microflora to promote qualitative and selective changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiome,which often result in beneficial effects on the health of the host.People call it“prebiotics”.In this review,we systematically summarized the anti-diabetic effect of traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides.These polysaccharides regulate the metabolism of sugar and lipids by inter-influence with the intestinal microflora,and maintain human health,while improving type 2 diabetes-like symptoms such as high blood glucose,and abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism.

Fungal contamination of stored automobile-fuels in a tropical environment

Because of the lack of reports, the base levels of microbial contamination on stored fuels are unknown in tropical regions and it is unclear whether these levels have some influence on fuel quality parameters. Therefore, fungal quality in automobile fuels stored across Costa Rican territory was evaluated during two years according to the standard ASTM D6974-04. For a total of 96 samples, counts and identification of molds and yeasts were performed on regular gas, premium gas and diesel taken from the bottom and superior part of the container tanks. The highest contamination was found on the bottom of the tanks, where an aqueous phase was usually identified, showing populations over the ones present in the hydrocarbon itself （up to 108 CFU/L）. Diesel was the most contaminated fuel （up to 107 CFO/L）; however, an alteration on the physicochemical parameters was not observed in any kind of fuel. Seventy-five mold strains were isolated, Penicillium sp. being the most common genus （45.8% of the samples）, and ten yeast strains, from the genera Candida sp. and Rhodotorula sp. Four of the yeasts were able to grow on diesel as the sole carbon source, at concentrations ranging from 0.5% to 25%. Increasing the frequency of tank cleaning, adding antimicrobial agents and monitoring microbial populations are recommended strategies to improve microbial quality of stored fuels.