40 research outputs found
Dietary vegetable oil and wood derived plant stanol esters reduce atherosclerotic lesion size and severity in apoE*3-Leiden transgenic mice.
No full textAtherosclerosis 2001 Aug;157(2):375-81 Related Articles, Books, LinkOut Dietary vegetable oil and wood derived plant stanol esters reduce atherosclerotic lesion size and severity in apoE*3-Leiden transgenic mice. Volger OL, Mensink RP, Plat J, Hornstra G, Havekes LM, Princen HM. Gaubius Lab. TNO-PG, PO Box 2215, 2301 CE Leiden, The Netherlands. The hypolipidemic and anti-atherosclerotic effects of vegetable oil- and wood-based dietary plant stanol esters were compared in female apoE*3-Leiden transgenic mice at relevant plasma cholesterol levels. The plant stanol esters derived from vegetable oil (sitostanol 65.7%, campestanol 30.1%) had different contents of sitostanol and campestanol than the plant stanol esters derived from wood (sitostanol 87.6%, campestanol 9.5%) or from a mixture of vegetable oil and wood (sitostanol 73.0%, campestanol 24.7%). The mice (10 per group) received for 38 weeks a control diet or diets containing 1.0% (w/w) plant stanol esters derived from either vegetable oil, wood or a mixture of both. Vegetable oil (-46%), wood (-42%) and vegetable oil/wood (-51%) plant stanol esters decreased the plasma cholesterol levels (P<0.0001) by reducing the cholesterol content in plasma very low density-, intermediate density- and to a lesser extent in low density-lipoprotein. Plant stanol ester feeding did not change plasma triglyceride levels. Dietary plant stanol esters reduced the atherosclerotic lesion area by 91+/-13% (vegetable oil), 97+/-4% (wood) and 78+/-34% (vegetable oil/wood) (P<0.0001) and the severity from regular intimal fatty streaks/mild plaques (on average type 2--3 lesions) in controls to individual intimal foam cells (<type 1 lesions) in the treatment groups (P<0.0001). Plant stanol esters had no effect on adherence of monocytes to the vessel wall. Feeding of plant stanol esters dramatically reduced, independent of its sources, the extent and severity of atherosclerotic lesions, by decreasing VLDL-, IDL- and to a lesser extent LDL-cholesterol in apoE*3-Leiden transgenic mice
Alternative fuels on board of carbon-neutral cruise vessels: The selection, implementation and design impact of alternative fuels on board of carbon-neutral cruise vessels
No full textThe growth of the cruise industry throughout recent years and the changing public opinion on cruise ships has led to increasing concerns regarding the impact cruise vessels have on the world’s climate and environ- ment. Cruise passengers prefer not to be related with heavy polluting vessels. In fact, trends like responsible tourism and sustainable travel are increasing, especially among younger generations. In order to maintain a viable business model, cruise operators are compelled to consider exploring new energy sources and energy carriers to power their cruise vessels. Alternative carbon-neutral fuels are found to be a potential solution. As such, this research aims to evaluate the viability of possible alternative carbon-neutral fuels on board cruise ships
Dietary plant stanol esters reduce VLDL cholesterol secretion and bile saturation in apolipoprotein E*3-Leiden transgenic mice.
No full text: Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2001 Jun;21(6):1046-52 Related Articles, Books, LinkOut Dietary plant stanol esters reduce VLDL cholesterol secretion and bile saturation in apolipoprotein E*3-Leiden transgenic mice. Volger OL, van der Boom H, de Wit EC, van Duyvenvoorde W, Hornstra G, Plat J, Havekes LM, Mensink RP, Princen HM. TNO Prevention and Health, Leiden, the Netherlands. Dietary plant stanols lower serum cholesterol levels in humans and in hyperlipidemic rodents, mainly by inhibition of the intestinal cholesterol absorption. We used female apolipoprotein E*3-Leiden transgenic mice to investigate the consequences of this effect on serum lipid levels and hepatic lipid metabolism. Five groups of 6 or 7 mice received for 9 weeks a diet containing 0.25% cholesterol and 0.0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, or 1.0% (wt/wt) plant stanols (sitostanol 88% [wt/wt], campestanol 10% [wt/wt]) esterified to fatty acids. Compared with the control diet, plant stanol ester treatment dose-dependently reduced serum cholesterol levels by 10% to 33% (P<0.05), mainly in very low density lipoproteins (VLDLs), intermediate density lipoproteins, and low density lipoproteins. Furthermore, 1.0% of the dietary plant stanols significantly decreased the liver contents of cholesteryl esters (-62%), free cholesterol (-31%), and triglycerides (-38%) but did not change the hepatic VLDL-triglyceride and VLDL-apolipoprotein B production rates. However, plant stanol ester feeding significantly decreased the amounts of cholesteryl esters and free cholesterol incorporated in nascent VLDLs by 72% and 30%, respectively, resulting in a net 2-fold decreased VLDL cholesterol output. Liver mRNA levels of low density lipoprotein receptors, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A synthase, cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase, and sterol 27-hydroxylase were not changed by plant stanol ester feeding. Nevertheless, the serum lathosterol-to-cholesterol ratio was significantly increased by 23%, indicating that dietary plant stanol esters increased whole-body cholesterol synthesis. Plant stanol esters also significantly decreased the cholesterol saturation index in bile by 55%. In conclusion, in apolipoprotein E*3-Leiden transgenic mice, plant stanol ester feeding dose-dependently lowered serum cholesterol levels as a result of a reduced secretion of VLDL cholesterol. This was caused by a decreased hepatic cholesterol content that also resulted in a lowered biliary cholesterol output, indicative of a reduced lithogenicity of bile in these mice
Evaluating a public health policy: the effect of a sugar-sweetened beverage portion cap on food and beverages purchased, calories consumed and consumer perception
No full textPolicy makers have proposed implementing sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) portion size cap policies as a public health initiative to curb SSB consumption and prevent obesity. Such a policy would eliminate larger portion-sizes of SSB and render the smaller-sized portion as the healthier, default option. This study evaluated the effects of an SSB portion-size cap on food and beverages purchased, consumed and caloric intake in three projects.
First, a systematic scoping review of obesity prevention efforts in young children described obesity prevention efforts in the United States. Next, a cross-sectional survey study examined the association between a 16 ounces (oz) SSB portion-size cap at the Barclays Center and SSBs oz and food calories purchased and consumed compared to Madison Square Garden, an arena with no SSB portion restrictions. The final study examined the impact of the SSB portion-size limit and offering free SSB refills on food, beverage and SSB calories purchased and consumed during a randomized controlled simulated restaurant dining experience.
The scoping review found a limited number of community and societal public health obesity policy initiatives targeting young children. Study two found the portion-size cap was associated with Barclays customers’ purchasing 2.24 fewer beverage oz (95% confidence interval [CI]= 4.19, .29, p=.024) and purchasing and consuming 11.03 (95% CI= 17.21, 4.86, p<.001) and 12.10 (95% CI= 18.42, 5.78, p<.001) fewer SSB oz, after adjusting for sex, age, BMI, ethnicity, race, marital status, education, and income without impacting food calories and arena-event experience. Study three did not find any association between an SSB portion-size restriction and food, beverage and SSB calories consumed during the simulated restaurant dinner meal but found that offering free SSB refills along with a 16 oz portion-sized SSB was associated with ordering a greater number of SSB compared with the current restaurant portion, purchase refill condition (0.66 vs. 0.40, p=.048).
This study provides preliminary real-world evidence of the effectiveness of an SSB portion-size cap in sporting arenas and suggests that SSB portion cap policies may be an effective public health strategy to reduce SSB consumption but may be limited by promotions such as free-refills.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical reference
Bubble property determination: Comparison between bubble data from a fibre probe, and a camera
No full textAn optical fibre probe was tested in liquids with biotechnologically relevant compounds, to determine if any limits arise in bubble property determination due to these compounds. The data from this fibre probe was compared to the data from a camera for which an image processing algorithm was developed. This algorithm was able to successfully filter objects using configurable parameters. Objects had to be in focus, within a certain size range and elliptical in shape. The filtering was able to work with partially out of focus bubbles, and bubbles at the edges of the image within tolerances specified by the parameters. To provide insight into the relation between the fibre probe data and camera data a control measurement was performed in pure water, after which measurements were performed in a mixture containing 100g/L ethanol and a mixture containing 0.4M NaCl. The data sets from both measurement methods were compared for bubble velocity and bubble size. The velocity would be directly comparable,the size was however the local height at the point where the fibre probe pierced the bubbles. As such the height directly below the fibre probe of the bubbles was determined from the images to serve as comparable data. The comparison between the probe data and camera data was inconclusive due to a dissimilarity between the distributions. Mainly the overestimation of the comparable size from the camera data was a problem. Which was likely due to the camera showing only a 2D projection of the bubble and as such the entire height would be used for this comparison. For the velocity the camera data had a narrower distribution as compared to the fibre probe data. This could be caused by the camera averaging the speed of bubbles between two or even three frames if a bubble was not detected in the middle frame, the probe might be more sensitive to these variations and as such yield a wider distribution. The image processing algorithm showed a correct processing of the images to yield usable data, the exact comparable data however still needs to be improved for this specific application.Applied Science
Comparing the immunosuppressive effects of cyclosporin A on mouse splenocytes in vivo with mouse and human T-cells in vitro by transcriptome profiling
No full textComparing the immunosuppressive effects of cyclosporin A on mouse splenocytes in vivo with mouse and human T-cells in vitro by transcriptome profiling
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Mining moon & mars with microbes: Biological approaches to extract iron from Lunar and Martian regolith
No full textThe logistical supply of terrestrial materials to space is costly and puts limitations on exploration mission scenarios. In-situ resource utilization (ISRU) can alleviate logistical requirements and thus enables sustainable exploration of space. In this paper, a novel approach to ISRU, utilizing microorganisms to extract iron from Lunar or Martian regolith, is presented. Process yields, and kinetics are used to verify the theoretical feasibility of applying four different microorganisms. Based on yields alone, three of the four organisms were not investigated further for use in biological ISRU. For the remaining organism, Shewanella oneidensis, the survivability impact of Martian regolith simulant JSC-MARS1 and Mars-abundant magnesium perchlorate were studied and found to be minimal. The payback time of the infrastructure installation needed for the process with S. oneidensis on Mars was analyzed and the sensitivity to various parameters was investigated. Water recycling efficiency and initial regolith concentration were found to be key to process performance. With a water recycling efficiency of 99.99% and initial regolith concentration of 300 g/L, leading to an iron concentration of approximately 44.7 g/L, a payback time of 3.3 years was found.Accepted Author ManuscriptBN/Stan Brouns La
