Inhibitory effect of Malaysian coastal plants on banana ( colla "Lakatan"), ginger ( Roscoe) and sweet potato () polyphenol oxidase.

Undesired browning reaction catalyzed by polyphenol oxidase (PPO) has reduced the nutritional quality and customer acceptance of the products. The inhibitory effects of six coastal plants including and on PPO in banana, sweet potato and ginger were studied based on oxidation of pyrocatechol. Banana exhibited the highest PPO activity (141,600 U), followed by sweet potato (43,440 U) and ginger (26,880 U).

Targeting neutrophils using novel drug delivery systems in chronic respiratory diseases.

Neutrophils are essential effector cells of immune system for clearing the extracellular pathogens during inflammation and immune reactions. Neutrophils play a major role in chronic respiratory diseases. In respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer and others, there occurs extreme infiltration and activation of neutrophils followed by a cascade of events like oxidative stress and dysregulated cellular proteins that eventually result in apoptosis and tissue damage.

Inhibitory effect of chemical and natural anti-browning agents on polyphenol oxidase from ginger (Z Roscoe).

Food browning is undesirable as it causes deterioration in food quality and appearance. This phenomenon was related to polyphenol oxidase (PPO), which catalyzes conversion of phenolic compounds into -quinones. The present work evaluated the use of chemical and natural anti-browning agents to prevent the browning of ginger PPO.

Effects of a portion design plate on food group guideline adherence among hospital staff.

Food group guideline adherence is vital to prevent obesity and diabetes. Various studies have demonstrated that environmental variables influence food intake behaviour. In the present study we examined the effect of a portion design plate with food group portion guidelines demarcated by coloured lines (ETE Plate™).

Infant body mass index peak and early childhood cardio-metabolic risk markers in a multi-ethnic Asian birth cohort.

Background: : Infant body mass index (BMI) peak has received much interest recently as a potential predictor of future obesity and metabolic risk. No studies, however, have examined infant BMI peak in Asian populations, in whom the risk of metabolic disease is higher.

Methods: : We utilized data among 1020 infants from a mother-offspring cohort, who were Singapore citizens or permanent residents of Chinese, Malay or Indian ethnicity with homogeneous parental ethnic backgrounds, and did not receive chemotherapy, psychotropic drugs or have diabetes mellitus.

A cohort evaluation on arterial stiffness and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.

Background: Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are associated with systemic endothelial dysfunction leading to impaired physiological vasodilation. Recent evidence has shown central aortic pressures obtained through pulse wave analysis, at less than 14 weeks of gestation, to be predictive of pre-eclampsia. In light of this, we aimed to evaluate the role of central aortic stiffness in the prediction and discrimination of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.

Obstetric outcomes of influenza A H1N1 (2009) infection in pregnancy--experience of a Singapore tertiary hospital.

Introduction: Influenza A H1N1 (2009) pandemic has affected countries worldwide including Singapore. Data on obstetric outcomes of women with H1N1 (2009) in pregnancy are lacking.

Materials And Methods: This was an observational study analysing the obstetric outcomes of pregnant women with influenza A H1N1 (2009) infection who had delivered at a viable gestation (24 weeks or more) in our centre.

The efficacy of influenza vaccination in healthcare workers in a tropical setting: a prospective investigator blinded observational study.

Introduction: Influenza vaccine has been shown to be highly effective in temperate regions with well-defined seasonal influenza. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are advised to receive regular influenza vaccination to protect themselves and their patients. However, there are limited data on the efficacy of influenza vaccine in HCWs in the tropics.