Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Nutrition & Dietary Life Education for Preschoolers

The purpose of this study was to objectively quantify the effects of nutrition and dietary life education on preschoolers through meta-analysis. In addition, it provides basic data for the implementation of nutrition education and development of systematic nutrition and dietary life education programs. In this study, a meta-analysis of 27 papers was conducted that conformed to the selection criteria in the study conducted from January 2012 to August 2019 to derive objective data on the effects of education. As a result of the analysis, the overall effective size of nutrition and dietary life education for preschoolers was 0.829, which indicates a strong effect. According to the education method, the effect size of general education was 0.562, which indicates a medium effect size, the vegetable playing-based experience education was 0.685, which indicates a medium effect size, and cooking activity-based experience education was 1.101, which indicates a large effect size. Judging from this result, experience activity education was more effective than general nutrition education. In addition, the combined size of convergence education conducted through a combination of general and experience education was found to be the most effective at 1.301. In terms of educational effect, it was confirmed that the effect size was 0.898 for improving nutrition knowledge, 0.858 for improving dietary habits, 0.836 for improving unbalanced diet, and 0.756 for improving food preference and intake, and the sizes of effects were all found to be large. As frequency of education increased, the number of education participants decreased and the effect of education increased.

Consumption behaviors of sugar-sweetened beverages and blood lipid profiles according to food-related lifestyles of adults in Incheon / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the consumption behaviors of sugar-sweetened beverages and blood lipid profiles according to food-related lifestyles of adults in Incheon. METHODS: Subjects were recruited from 19 to 64 year old adults residing in Incheon who visited for the purpose of a health examination at D hospital. A total of 110 subjects consented to participate in this study and to allow their health examination records to be used at D hospital. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and anthropometric data, and blood lipid profiles were collected from health examination records. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 20.0 program. RESULTS: In the factor analysis, food-related lifestyles were categorized into four factors: planned purchase seeking, taste seeking, well-being seeking, and convenience seeking. Using the K-average clustering method, food-related lifestyles of subjects were categorized into two groups: health and rationality-oriented group (HRG) and convenience purchase-oriented group (CPG). Average total scores of sugar-related nutrition knowledge in the HRG were significantly higher compared to the CPG, and average scores of consumption habits regarding sugar-containing foods in the HRG were significantly lower compared to the HRG. When subjects chose sugar-sweetened beverages, the CPG showed a significantly higher frequency of checking food labeling and considering nutrition compared to the CPG. Drinking frequency of carbonated beverages in the CPG was significantly higher compared to the HRG. CONCLUSION: There were significant differences in sugar-related nutrition knowledge and consumption habits of sugar-sweetened beverages between the two food-related lifestyle groups. These results could be useful for establishing guidelines for reducing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. In addition, it is necessary to continue sugar-related nutrition education by considering the food-related lifestyles of adults.

Neural-Induced Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promote Cochlear Cell Regeneration in Deaf Guinea Pigs

OBJECTIVES: In mammals, cochlear hair cell loss is irreversible and may result in a permanent sensorineural hearing loss. Secondary to this hair cell loss, a progressive loss of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) is presented. In this study, we have investigated the effects of neural-induced human mesenchymal stem cells (NI-hMSCs) from human bone marrow on sensory neuronal regeneration from neomycin treated deafened guinea pig cochleae. METHODS: HMSCs were isolated from the bone marrow which was obtained from the mastoid process during mastoidectomy for ear surgery. Following neural induction with basic fibroblast growth factor and forskolin, we studied the several neural marker and performed electrophysiological analysis. NI-hMSCs were transplanted into the neomycin treated deafened guinea pig cochlea. Engraftment of NI-hMSCs was evaluated immunohistologically at 8 weeks after transplantation. RESULTS: Following neural differentiation, hMSCs expressed high levels of neural markers, ionic channel markers, which are important in neural function, and tetrodotoxin-sensitive voltage-dependent sodium currents. After transplantation into the scala tympani of damaged cochlea, NI-hMSCs-injected animals exhibited a significant increase in the number of SGNs compared to Hanks balanced salt solution-injected animals. Transplanted NI-hMSCs were found within the perilymphatic space, the organ of Corti, along the cochlear nerve fibers, and in the spiral ganglion. Furthermore, the grafted NI-hMSCs migrated into the spiral ganglion where they expressed the neuron-specific marker, NeuN. CONCLUSION: The results show the potential of NI-hMSCs to give rise to replace the lost cochlear cells in hearing loss mammals.

Effect of Platelet Rich Plasma on Facial Nerve Regeneration in Acute Nerve Injury Model / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The object of this study was to evaluate the effect of platelet rich plasma (PRP) on facial nerve regeneration from an axotomy injury in the guinea pig model. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Experiments involved the transection and repair of right facial nerve. The right facial nerve of 14 albino guinea pigs were completely transected and immediately sutured, followed by fibrin glue only (control group) or fibrin glue +PRP (PRP group). Western blot assay was used to detect neurotrophic factors secreted by PRP. Nerve regeneration was assessed by motor function, electrophysiology, and histology studies. RESULTS: High levels of neurotrophin-3, angiopoietin-1, glial cell line derived neurotrophic factors, nerve growth factors and brain derived neurotrophic factors were demonstrated in PRP. Motor function recovery, compound motor action potentials, and axon count showed significant improvement in guinea pig treated with PRP. CONCLUSION: There was an improved functional outcome with the use of PRP in comparison with control. The increased nerve regeneration found in this study may be due to the neurotrophic factors secreted by PRP.

How Mothers Recognize Intake Status on Street Food of Elementary School Students in the Jeon Buk Region / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This research has been surveyed on street food and snack intake status of elementary school students in the Jeon Buk region and the recognition of mothers has been observed for the objective of providing base materials for appropriate eating habits and nutritional education. As for status on intake of street food, most students (97.3%) have shown to have eaten from the street vendors while mothers assume low frequency in their child's intake of street food. Favorite street food choices had an agreement between mother and student as ddukbokki and dakkochi. Students were more tolerant in sanitation and necessity of street food than the mothers. This research shows that there is a difference in the recognition of street food between the students and their mothers. There a need required for improvement in the system as to provide quality food and to prevent poor quality food being exposed to the students. Furthermore, practical and appropriate education must be conducted at home and at school for better choices of food and a better lifestyle.

Protein Kinase C-mediated Neuroprotective Action of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate against Abeta1-42-induced Apoptotic Cell Death in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells

The neurotoxicity of amyloid beta (Abeta) is associated with an increased production of reactive oxygen species and apoptosis, and it has been implicated in the development of Alzheimer's disease. While (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) suppresses Abeta-induced apoptosis, the mechanisms underlying this process have yet to be completely clarified. This study was designed to investigate whether EGCG plays a neuroprotective role by activating cell survival system such as protein kinase C (PKC), extracellular-signal-related kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic genes in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. One microM Abeta1-42 decreased cell viability, which was correlated with increased DNA fragmentation evidenced by DAPI staining. Pre-treatment of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells with EGCG (1microM) significantly attenuated Abeta1-42-induced cytotoxicity. Potential cell signaling candidates involved in this neuroprotective effects were further examined. EGCG restored the reduced PKC, ERK, and JNK activities caused by Abeta1-42 toxicity. In addition, gene expression analysis revealed that EGCG prevented both the Abeta1-42-induced expression of a pro-apoptotic gene mRNA, Bad and Bax, and the decrease of an anti-apoptotic gene mRNA, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl. These results suggest that the neuroprotective mechanism of EGCG against Abeta1-42-induced apoptotic cell death includes stimulation of PKC, ERK, and JNK, and modulation of cell survival and death genes.