The Impact of Fermentation on Aflatoxin and Fumonisin Levels in Sorghum Kernels and Flour Used to Prepare Complementary Food in Kerio Valley, Kenya.

Sorghum is a major ingredient used in the production of complementary foods in Kenya's drylands, particularly in areas like Kerio Valley. However, it is known to be susceptible to aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination, which have adverse effects on human health. The current study aimed to assess the levels of aflatoxin and fumonisin in sorghum kernels and flour from Kerio Valley and to investigate whether fermentation (spontaneous or innoculum facilated) could reduce the levels of toxins.

Determinants of knowledge about aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination in sorghum and postharvest practices among caregivers of children aged 6-59 months in Kerio Valley, Kenya.

Stunting among children under five years old is still a problem in many developing countries including Kenya. However, there is little information linking stunting with mycotoxin contamination of complementary foods. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge about aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination in sorghum alongside postharvest handling and storage practices among caregivers of children under five years old in Kerio Valley, Kenya.

Variation in the Factors Associated With Diet Quality of Children Aged 6 to 23 Months in Low and High Agroecological Zones of Rongai Subcounty, Kenya.

Background: Adequate quality complementary diets and appropriate feeding practices are important for proper growth and development of young children.

Objective: To assess factors associated with diet diversity, meal frequency, and acceptable diet of children aged 6 to 23 months in two agroecological zones of Rongai subcounty, Kenya.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 384 mothers/caregivers with children aged 6 to 23 months.

Association of hyperuricemia with metabolic syndrome among university workers: sex and occupational differences.

Background: The relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and hyperuricemia is not fully understood.

Objective: To examine the association of hyperuricemia with MetS and the component of MetS that is mostly influenced by hyperuricemia among university workers.

Methods: Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, glucose, lipid profiles, renal function tests were measured in 1198 male and 1075 female (22-60 years old) workers on annual medical examination.

Determinants of dietary diversity among women of reproductive age in two different agro-ecological zones of Rongai Sub-County, Nakuru, Kenya.

Background: Empirical evidence on the link between agrobiodiversity and dietary diversity appears to be inconclusive. Thus, there arises a need to determine other factors that could significantly influence dietary diversity in different agro-ecological zones, as factors may vary from region to region.

Objective: The objective of this study was to document the status of agrobiodiversity and dietary diversity and to assess the determinants of dietary diversity among women of reproductive age in two different agro-ecological zones of Rongai Sub-County in Kenya.

Cardioprotective effects of lipoic acid, quercetin and resveratrol on oxidative stress related to thyroid hormone alterations in long-term obesity.

This study investigated possible mechanisms for cardioprotective effects of lipoic acid (LA), quercetin (Q) and resveratrol (R) on oxidative stress related to thyroid hormone alterations in long-term obesity. Female C57BL/6 mice were fed on high-fat diet (HFD), HFD+LA, HFD+R, HFD+Q and normal diet for 26weeks. Body weight, blood pressure, thyroid hormones, oxidative stress markers, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and ion pump activities were measured, and expression of cardiac genes was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Mechanism of antifungal activity of antimicrobial peptide APP, a cell-penetrating peptide derivative, against Candida albicans: intracellular DNA binding and cell cycle arrest.

We investigated the antifungal properties and anti-candidal mechanism of antimicrobial peptide APP. The minimum inhibitory concentration of APP was 8 μM against Candida albicans and Aspeogillus flavus, the concentration against Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Cryptococcus neoformans was 16 μM, while 32 μM inhibited Aspergilla niger and Trichopyton rubrum. APP caused slight depolarization (12.

Elevated plasma dityrosine in patients with hyperlipidemia compared to healthy individuals.

Background: Dityrosine, the modification of tyrosine residues, may contribute to metabolic disorders. This study was undertaken to investigate plasma dityrosine concentrations in patients with hyperlipidemia and to examine the correlation between dityrosine and lipid profiles.

Methods: Fluorescence spectrophotometry was used to measure dityrosine in the plasma of healthy subjects (n = 203) and dyslipidemic subjects, which included patients with mild hyperlipidemia (n = 246) and hyperlipidemia (n = 179).

[Comparison of serum lipid and protein oxidation products levels in patients with different types of dyslipidemia].

Objective: To explore serum redox status differences among different types of dyslipidemia patients.

Method: One hundred and nineteen healthy people and two hundred and ninety four dyslipidemic participants on clinical examination were divided into six groups: control group, hypercholesterolemia (HTC), hypertriglyceridemia (HTG), combined hyperlipidemia (CH), low level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LHDL) and hyperlipidemia with LHDL (HBL + LHDL) according to blood lipid profiles. Malonaldehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and dityrosine (DT) in serum were measured.

A cell-penetrating peptide analogue, P7, exerts antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli ATCC25922 via penetrating cell membrane and targeting intracellular DNA.

The antibacterial activities and mechanism of a new P7 were investigated in this study. P7 showed antimicrobial activities against five harmful microorganisms which contaminate and spoil food (MIC=4-32 μM). Flow cytometry and scanning electron microscopy analyses demonstrated that P7 induced pore-formation on the cell surface and led to morphological changes but did not lyse cell.

Disparities in the Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome (MS) and its Components Among University Employees by Age, Gender and Occupation.

Background: Metabolic Syndrome (MS), a known risk factor for Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and type II diabetes is an emerging epidemic in China. Studies carried out on the general population indicate a varied clustering of cardiovascular risks in many parts of the country. However, there is limited data on its prevalence in the working population.

Evaluation of the relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism and metabolic syndrome components among workers.

Objectives: Both hyperthyroidism and overt hypothyroidism are associated with increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components, while data on subclinical hypothyroidism is currently limited especially in working populations. The aim of this study was to examine the association between subclinical hypothyroidism and metabolic syndrome components in workers; and to evaluate whether there are differences by sex and occupation.

Material And Methods: A total of 1150 university employees (male - 792, female - 358) aged 30-60 years who came for an annual medical check-up were studied.

Antibacterial activity and dual mechanisms of peptide analog derived from cell-penetrating peptide against Salmonella typhimurium and Streptococcus pyogenes.

A number of research have proven that antimicrobial peptides are of greatest potential as a new class of antibiotics. Antimicrobial peptides and cell-penetrating peptides share some similar structure characteristics. In our study, a new peptide analog, APP (GLARALTRLLRQLTRQLTRA) from the cell-penetrating peptide ppTG20 (GLFRALLRLLRSLWRLLLRA), was identified simultaneously with the antibacterial mechanism of APP against Salmonella typhimurium and Streptococcus pyogenes.

Nutritional vulnerability of older persons living in urban areas of Lake Victoria Basin in East Africa: a cross sectional survey.

The aim of this study was to (1) determine the prevalence of malnutrition and (2) investigate factors affecting nutritional status of older persons living in urban areas of Lake Victoria Basin. The prevalence of underweight was 16.5%, with men (24.