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The Drosophila model is used to investigate the effects of diet on physiology as well as the effects of genetic pathways, neural systems and environment on feeding behavior. We previously showed that Blue 1 works well as a dye tracer to track consumption of agar-based media in Drosophila in a method called Con-Ex. Here, we describe Orange 4 as a novel dye for use in Con-Ex studies that expands the utility of this method. Con-Ex experiments using Orange 4 detect the predicted effects of starvation, mating status, strain, and sex on feeding behavior in flies. Orange 4 is consumed and excreted into vials linearly with time in Con-Ex experiments, the number of replicates required to detect differences between groups when using Orange 4 is comparable to that for Blue 1, and excretion of the dye reflects the volume of consumed dye. In food preference studies using Orange 4 and Blue 1 as a dye pair, flies decreased their intake of food laced with the aversive tastants caffeine and NaCl as determined using Con-Ex or a more recently described modification called EX-Q. Our results indicate that Orange 4 is suitable for Con-Ex experiments, has comparable utility to Blue 1 in Con-Ex studies, and can be paired with Blue 1 to assess food preference via both Con-Ex and EX-Q.

BackgroundExclusive BF till the age of 6 months is rare in developing countries and complimentary feeding (CF) are introduced at an early age which is linked to the development of chronic conditions such as childhood obesity, celiac disease, diabetes, and eczema. The aim of our work is to assess complementary feeding practices of infants under the age of 2 years and to study their impact on their growth and development. This study is a cross-sectional study that was carried out over 3 years between March 2016 and March 2019, included 1000 apparently healthy infants aged less than 2 years old who attended University Children Hospital, Egypt. Practices among mothers including timing and types of foods introduced. Semi-structured questionnaire used for data collection and anthropometric measurements analyzed following the WHO Growth Charts.ResultsThe study found that about 80% of infants were introduced to solid foods before 4 months of age. Also, a large number of infants were given liquids other than breast milk before completing their fourth month of age.ConclusionDespite the better mental development of the infants, there is a considerable gap between WHO Guiding Principles for Complementary Feeding and the practices among mothers of infants aged less than 2 years in Egypt.

In particular, in solid foods such as baking goods, the texture mainly influences the release of aroma compounds during consumption, and ascorbic acid and monoglycerides are among the well-known ingredients influencing the texture of, e.g. white bread also during ageing. To study the role of both baking additives on the texture of steamed, yeasted dumplings, and consequently on the aroma release, the dynamic changes in five compounds previously characterized as key odorants (2-phenylethanol, 3-methylbutanol, 3-methylbutanal, methylpropanol and hexanal) were measured in fresh and aged dumplings by means of an artificial mouth coupled to a proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometer. A texture analysis of the dumpling crumb indicated an increased crumb firmness by ascorbic acid addition, while a monoglyceride led to a clear decrease in crumb firmness compared to the control sample without additive. Interestingly, the aroma release measurement showed a higher release of odorants from the firmer crumb containing ascorbic acid as compared to the control sample as well as to the sample prepared with monoglyceride. A sensory evaluation of the dumplings confirmed the results of the aroma release measurements: the firmer dumpling was rated to be much more intense in overall aroma as compared to the softer crumb. By contrast, a comparison of the aged crumb samples indicated a stronger aroma release from the crumb with monoglyceride.

Purpose of review The ‘ideal’ age to commence introduction to any solid foods, or specific ‘more allergenic’ foods, as an allergy prevention strategy has been debated for the last two decades.

BACKGROUND Timing of solid food introduction in infancy has been associated with several chronic diseases. To explore potential mechanisms, we investigated the relationship between timing of solid food introduction and F2-isoprostanes – a marker of oxidative stress. METHODS Urinary F2-isoprostanes were assessed in 336 healthy children

Purpose of Review Infants are traditionally introduced to solid foods using spoon-feeding of specially prepared infant foods. Recent Findings However, over the last 10–15 years, an alternative approach termed ‘baby-led weaning’ has grown in popularity. This approach involves allowing infants to self-feed family foods, encouraging the infant to set the pace and intake of the meal. Proponents of the approach believe it promotes healthy eating behaviour and weight gain trajectories, and evidence is starting to build surrounding the method. This review brings together all empirical evidence to date examining behaviours associated with the approach, its outcomes and confounding factors. Summary Overall, although there is limited evidence suggesting that a baby-led approach may encourage positive outcomes, limitations of the data leave these conclusions weak. Further research is needed, particularly to explore pathways to impact and understand the approach in different contexts and populations.

A novel analytical methodology that could be used to identify ethyl carbamate (EC) in fermented solid foods was developed and validated. The method was based on selective pressurized liquid extraction with a simultaneous in-cell cleanup combined with gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The final method was performed at 50 °C for 2 × 5 min using ethyl acetate. Florisil was placed inside the extraction cell downstream of the sample to remove interfering compounds. The proposed method showed a limit of detection of 0.3 μg kg−1 and a limit of quantitation of 1.0 μg kg−1. The recoveries ranged from 98 to 107 % with relative standard deviations of

Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) after hepatectomy affects the quality of life of patients, although the causes and related conditions have not been investigated. This study evaluated the relationship between hepatectomy and DGE by the objective assessment of gastric emptying (GE).Nineteen patients who underwent major hepatectomy were prospectively enrolled in the study. Their GE was studied using the (13)C-acetic acid breath test before and after hepatectomy. The results of the GE analysis were correlated with the postoperative course after hepatectomy.Clinically evident DGE, which was defined as the inability to take in an appropriate amount of solid food orally by postoperative day 14, was not found in these patients, but the gastric half-emptying times before and after hepatectomy were 20.2 ± 9.7 and 28.6 ± 12.2 min, respectively (P = 0.01). The GE time was significantly delayed in patients aged ≥ 41 years, or who underwent right hemihepatectomy.Gastric emptying was significantly inhibited in patients who underwent major hepatectomy, and aging and a right-sided hemihepatectomy may be related to the development of DGE.

Timing of the first introduction of solid food during infancy may have potential effects on life-long health. To understand the characteristics that are associated with the timing of infants’ initial exposure to solid foods. The 2000 National Survey of Early Childhood Health (NSECH) was a nationally representative telephone survey of 2,068 parents of children aged 4–35 months, which profiled content and quality of health care for young children. African-American and Latino families were over-sampled. Analyses in this report include bivariate tests and logistic regressions. 62% of parents reported introducing solids to their child between 4–6 months of age. African-American mothers (OR = 0.5 [0.3, 0.9]), English-speaking Latino mothers (OR = 0.4 [0.2, 0.7]), White mothers with more than high school education (OR = 0.5 [0.2, 1.0]), and mothers who breastfed for 4 months or longer (OR = 0.4 [0.3, 0.7]) were less likely to introduce solids early. Most parents (92%) of children 4–9 months of age reported that their pediatric provider had discussed introduction of solids with them since the child’s birth, and provider discussion of feeding was not associated with the timing of introduction of solids. Although most parents recall discussing the introduction of solid foods with their child’s physician, several subgroups of mothers introduce solid foods earlier than the AAP recommendation of 4–6 months. More effective discussion of solid food introduction linked to counseling and support of breastfeeding by the primary health care provider may reduce early introduction of solids.

The kinship theory of genomic imprinting predicts that imprinted genes affect mother-child and child-child interactions. According to this theory paternally expressed genes will promote behaviours that increase costs of maternal investments and enable children to compete with siblings. Maternally expressed genes will promote behaviours that reduce the mother’s costs of child-rearing and enable children to engage in collaborative actions. Prader-willi syndrome and angelman syndrome are caused by the absence of expression of imprinted genes in 15q11-q13. Children with prader-willi syndrome lack the expression of paternally expressed genes; children with angelman syndrome lack maternally expressed genes. The current paper discusses the role of imprinted genes in the development of communicative behaviours during the transition from breastfeeding to (consuming) solid food. Its focus is the possible role of imprinted genes in the development of empathy out of (reactive) crying, and in the development of behaviours necessary for joint action. Observed behavioural differences between children with angelman and prader-willi syndrome, and data from mouse models on the effects of imprinted genes on brain development, are used to explore possible effects of imprinted genes. (netherlands journal of psychology, 65, 78-88).

I tested the hypothesis that mother-young cofeeding correlates with a systematic similar food selection in wild Mayotte brown lemurs (Eulemur fulvus). I simultaneously recorded the feeding behavior of 4 maternal dyad members, from infant birth to weaning, and 10–12 mo of juvenile age, during 10-min focal periods, each separated by 5-min intervals over 10 mo. I recorded the solid food items selected for each feeding behavior at the level of specific plant part, along with the distance between the 2 individuals. I considered feeding behaviors simultaneous (between the young lemurs and their mothers) when the young began to eat a food item while the mother was already eating, regardless of the separation distance. During their first year, most of the feeding events of the young brown lemurs were initiated by their mothers. However, infants also selected different food items from those chosen by their mothers in almost one-third of cases, and the food selection dissimilarity was not attributable to an increase in the distance of separation. For juveniles, dissimilar food selection was significantly lower and linked to an increase in mother-juvenile separation distance. Thus, the substantial proportion of dissimilarity in solid foods selected by the infant during the synchronized feeding behaviors strongly suggests that social influences were not food-specific and might instead drive the acquisition of group feeding activity rhythm rather than food selection habits.

Sleeve gastrectomy (SG), which, thus far, is showing good resolution of comorbidities and good weight loss, shows increasing popularity among bariatric surgeons. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical outcome and the gastric emptying of solid foods, 24 months after SG.Fourteen morbidly obese patients, four males and ten females, median age 41 years (range 29-65), median body mass index (BMI) 49.46 kg/m(2) (range 41.14-55.63), who underwent SG for weight loss, were studied prospectively. Nine patients underwent gastric emptying studies, using radioisotopic technique before, 6 months and 24 months after the operation. The remaining five patients underwent gastric emptying studies, 6 months and 24 months after the operation.A significant reduction in patients' weight and BMI was evident at 6, 12 and 24 months postoperatively. In the nine patients who underwent gastric emptying studies pre-, 6 and 24 months postoperatively, the T-lag phase duration significantly decreased, following the SG, from 17.30 (range 15.50-20.90) min, to 12.50 (range 9.20-18.00) min at 6 months and 12.16 (range 10.90-20.00) min at 24 months postoperatively (P0.05). The gastric emptying half time (T1/2) accelerated significantly postoperatively from 86.50 (range 77.50-104.60) min, to 62.50 (range 46.30-80.00) min at 6 months and 60.80 (range 54.80-100.00) min at 24 months after SG (P0.05). The percentage of gastric emptying (%GE) increased significantly postoperatively, from 52 (range 43-58) % to 72 (range 57-97) % at 6 months and 74 (range 45-82) % at 24 months, following SG (P0.05). No differences in gastric emptying were observed, when values at 24 months were compared to those at 6 months postoperatively. When the whole group of 14 patients was studied, there were also no significant changes in T-lag, T1/2 and %GE between 6 and 24 months postoperatively.Our study indicates the constant effect of SG in the acceleration of gastric emptying of solids, which occurs faster, not only in short but also in long-term postoperatively. Such effects on gastric motility, in combination with the reported alterations in gut hormones, may explain how this 'food limiting' operation results in weight loss.

This review focuses on applying nanotechnology to foodborne pathogen detection. Because of low infectious doses for most foodborne pathogens, the rapid and sensitive detection methods are essential to ensure the food safety. The advances in the development of nanomaterials have stimulated worldwide research interests in their applications for bioanalysis. The conjugation of biomolecules with nanomaterials is the foundation of nano-biorecognition. A variety of strategies including antibody–antigen, adhesin–receptor, antibiotic, and complementary DNA sequence recognitions have been explored for specific recognition between target bacterial cells and bio-functionalized nanomaterials. The incorporation of these bio-functionalized nanomaterials into current pathogen detection methods has led to rapid and nearly real-time pathogen detection (as short as a few minutes), improved sensitivity (single bacterial cell), and simultaneous detection of multiple micro-organisms from either nutrient broth, liquid or solid food products, or biofilms. The unique properties of nanomaterials in physical strength, chemical reactivity, electrical conductance, magnetism and optical effects make them promising in the development of practical biosensors with emphasis on device portability and simplicity in sample preparation, and the improvement of current pathogen detection methods.

Porapak has been studied as a solid-food simulant in experiments on paper and board packaging. Three samples of paper with different recycled pulp content and surface treatment, and of different grammage and thickness, were used for the studies. Kinetic behaviour from 25 degrees C to 100 degrees C and different contact times ranging from 5 min at 100 degrees C to 10 days at 25 degrees C were studied using Porapak or, occasionally, Tenax or milk powder. Similar results were obtained with Porapak and Tenax but those from Porapak were more stable with temperature. Porapak behaves as good solid-food simulant even at high temperature.

Body mass changes of Eurasian lynxLynx lynx Linnaeus, 1758 kittens during the first four months of their life were studied in 1989–1999 in captivity. Four hundred thirteen records of body mass from 63 lynx kittens were analysed. The body mass of lynx kittens up to four months of age increased as a linear function with age. Daily growth rate (in grams) was minimal when the kittens were switching from milk to solid food at the age 41–60 days and was maximal at the age 61–80 days. Body mass dynamic and daily growth rates of kittens depended on the husbandry conditions of adult animals (or probably on their subspecies) and litter size, but did not depend on the sex of the kittens. Specific spontaneous fights during kittens’ ontogenesis showed the trend to affect kittens’ body mass dynamic and daily growth rate on some stages of kittens’ development.

A method based on superheated water extraction has been developed for the removal of cholesterol from solid food thus providing a clean approach by avoiding the use of organic solvents. A preconcentration step was also studied with the aim of solving the problem derived from low-cholesterol-content samples and dilution effect. The research also involved the optimisation of the parameters affecting the extraction process by a central composite experimental design as well as a univariate study of the optimisation of the preconcentration step. The time required for total removal of the target compound was 60 min. The method was validated using a certified reference material (NIST-CRM 1845) and was used to analyse food samples within a wide range of cholesterol concentrations. The efficiency for the CRM was 105%. The precision of the method yielded values less than 6.5% (expressed as relative standard deviation) in all instances.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to identify current infant feeding practices among carers of preterm infants. Design: Structured interviews on milk and complementary feeding practices were conducted with mothers of preterm infants at intervals until infants were 12 months corrected age. Setting: Recruitment took place in three local Surrey hospitals over a 2 y period. Subjects: Two-hundred and fifty-three preterm infants (139 male, 114 female) including 33 sets of twins and three sets of triplets were recruited. Results: Forty-nine percent of the preterm infant group received first solid foods (the commencement of ‘weaning’) before the current Department of Health (DoH) guideline. The mean±s.e.m. weaning age from birth was 17.1±0.23 weeks. Ninety-five percent of the infants were weaned before the DoH guideline when the data was examined from term (mean 11.5±s.e.m. 0.21 weeks). Twenty-one percent were weaned before the DoH guideline for preterm infants which is that ‘the infant weighs at least 5 kg’ (mean 5.61±s.e.m. 0.01 kg). Human milk-fed infants were significantly lighter at weaning than combined milk-fed infants (5.32±0.12 vs 5.72±0.01 kg; P

We investigated the bodily mass of infants and postpartum adult females longitudinally in provisioned free-ranging Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) troops of the Takasakiyama Natural Zoo, Oita, Japan. We investigated whether the rate of mass change in postpartum adult females and infants is more strongly associated with season (or calendar date) as opposed to the length of time since delivery/birth. Focal adult females' postpartum mass ranged between 7 and 10 kg for a year after delivery. For postpartum adult females, calender date (season) influenced the rate of mass change more than the length of time since delivery did. Rate of mass change in postpartum adult females was high in October (autumn) and April and May (spring) and low between December and February (winter). This may reflect seasonality in energy and protein intake from natural foods. Infant mass increased steadily from birth. Mass of infants varied between individuals, some infants reached 2 kg by about 240 days of age, and others by about 400 days of age. It was unclear, however, whether the rate of mass change in infants was influenced more by age or calendar date (season). Differences in trends between adult females and infants may reflect, to some degree, differences in sources of energy intake, i.e. solid foods for adult females and suckling and solid foods for infants.

Among most nonhuman primates, juveniles must acquire most of their solid food independently. Information gleaned from adults results from efforts initiated by the juveniles. Donation of food or foraging information by adults to immatures is rare among apes and virtually unknown among monkeys. We report 3 observations in which wild adult golden lion tamarins appear to have directed their immature offspring to a location where a hidden prey item was located. According to the definition of Caro and Hauser (1992), the tamarins were tutoring their young.

Dietary vitamin B(12) (vitB(12)) deficiency, although common in the elderly, is rare in childhood. We report on an exclusively breastfed 8-month-old infant, presenting with persistent refusal of solid foods. Three months later, developmental regression and failure to thrive led to the diagnosis of vitB(12) deficiency, as a consequence of a subclinical pernicious anaemia with vitB(12) deficiency in the mother. Treating the infant with parenteral vitB(12) induced prompt recovery including acceptance of weaning food.This case illustrates refusal of complementary foods as a presenting symptom of vitB(12) deficiency in a breastfed infant. Symptoms, diagnostic tests and treatment of vitamin B(12) deficiency are reviewed. Early diagnosis and treatment are important to prevent irreversible neurological damage.

Associations studies were attempted between the type of feeding, duration, and time of starting of solid foods in infancy and the incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus ( IDDM). The study subjects comprised 52 IDDM patients and 52 control subjects matched for sex, age, social status, country, geographical location and selected from pediatric departments of different hospitals in Tehran. Diabetic children (21 boys, 31 girls) were of the ages of 1.5 to 14 years. Information about the pattern of their feeding at the first two years of life were collected through questionnaires administered to the mothers. The questionnaire was designed to evaluate the duration of complete or partial breast-feeding and the age at which dietary products containing cow’s milk were introduced into the diet. A large proportion of the diabetic children rather than the control children had been breast-fed, and the risk of IDDM among children who had not been breast-fed was below unity. No significant difference in the duration of breast-feeding was observed between diabetic and control group. Our data do not support the existence of a protective effect of breast-feeding on the risk of IDDM, nor do the data indicate that early exposure to cow’s milk and dairy products has any influence on the development of IDDM.

Vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) is the most frequently performed operation in bariatric surgery. Since the beginning, this intervention has been favorably accepted by bariatric surgeons for its simplicity and the absence of late metabolic and nutritional complication. Furthermore, VBG represented a different option from malabsorptive operations or gastric bypass. Many years later, however, VBG performance has decreased; some authors have questioned its efficacy because some patients have experienced intolerance to solid food and poor results in weight 10ss.‘-~ These authors subsequently preferred biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) or the gastric bypass. Other surgeons continued to perform VBG, because with better experience and progressive technical improvements, it was demonstrated to be a satisfactory technique, able to ensure fairly good weight loss. Recently, VBG has shown a resurgence because of its feasibility by the laparoscopic approach.5-9 The laparoscopic technique, with its reduction of operative risks, seems to be particularly suitable for morbidly obese patients.

Modified food starches were developed as a stabilizer, providing desirable consistency, texture, and storage ability. They are used primarily in strained and junior foods and, to a minor extent, in infant formulas. However, despite the fact that there is an increasing tendency to introduce solid foods to infants at a very early age, there is few long-term studies to delineate the effect of starch feeding on the growth of young infants. Modified food starches used by the food industry for infants and young children are of concern and there is an urgent need for additional data regarding their bioavailability, effect on nutrient absorption, intestinal changes, and toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic effects. Therefore, the inclusion of modified food starches should be used prudently and sparingly.

The objective of this study was to determine the inter- and intrarater reliability in evaluating videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS). Participants included 4 physicians (3 physiatrists and 1 internist) and 5 speech-language pathologists with at least 5 years experience in evaluating VFSS. The main outcomes of the study were reliability ratios of positive and negative tests in inter- and intrarater evaluations. Raters independently rated each of 20 VFSS on two separate occasions. Traits evaluated included oral stage impairment, aspiration, pharyngeal retention, and several functional components: timing of swallow onset, adequacy of velopharyngeal apposition, laryngeal elevation, epiglottic tilt, pharyngeal contraction, and pharyngoesophageal (PE) segment opening. Reliability varied widely depending on food type and the trait under evaluation. Inter- and intrarater reliability ratios did not differ widely. Reliability ratios values typically were highest (greater than 90%) for aspiration, especially with solid food, and lowest for the functional components. It was concluded that inter- and intrarater reliability in VFSS are adequate for evaluating oral stage, laryngeal penetration, and aspiration and pharyngeal retention, but questionable for functional components.

The plasticization of many biosolids can take place over a fairly broad temperature range. The resulting loss of stiffness is primarily expressed by a drastic drop of G′(T) whose magnitude is usually higher than G″(T) by one or two orders of magnitude. Both G′(T) and G″(T) have characteristic properties that can vary widely among biomaterials. Consequently, the tan δ(T) peak need not be a mark of the transition center and it can be observed at temperatures where different materials have undergone a very different degree of plasticization as judged by the magnitude of G′(T). This is demonstrated by computer simulations using typical functions that describe G′(T) and G″(T) at the glass transition region and with published data on the dynamic mechanical behavior of a variety of biosolids.

The selenium (Se) intake and status of 82 very low birth weight infants (birth weight 1110 +/- 286 g, gestational age 29.2 +/- 3 wk, mean +/- SD) was assessed at 36.3 +/- 3 postconceptional wk, at 40.1 +/- 4 wk (hospital discharge), and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 +/- 0.75 mo corrected for gestational age. Infants were fed formula containing 0.13 mumol/L (10 micrograms/L) Se. Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity in red blood cells declined corresponding to low Se intakes (micrograms/kd/d) for the first 6 mo. With increased consumption of solid foods, intakes of dietary Se and Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity increased at 9 mo, suggesting that the earlier supply of Se was suboptimal. Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity and intakes of Se were lower in males than in females (p0.05). We suggest that infant formulas should probably contain 0.26-0.33 mumol/L (20-25 micrograms/L) Se, particularly those formulas consumed by very low birth weight infants.

In an attempt to document the infant feeding practices among patients of pediatricians and general practitioners, a study was carried over a period of one month and data of 10,374 infants were recorded using a pre-printed proforma marked by a simple 'tick' for each patient. The results showed: (i) initiation of breastfeeding was delayed in nearly half of the cases beyond 24 hours; (ii) introduction of bottle feeding in more than half of infants by the age of 4 months and (iii) introduction of solid foods later than eight months in almost half of infants. While breastfeeding is practised by 78% of women, only one in five practice exclusive breastfeeding till 4-6 months, and very few avoid bottle feeds. Much education and change in behaviour is needed if optimal benefit of breastfeeding in India is to be realised.

Insects are an essential component of squirrel monkey natural food. Eight of ten socially inexperienced infant squirrel monkeys, during their 2nd and 3rd month of age, directed their attention to living insects or film presentations of moving insects. They attempted to catch them with gradually improving success, and on at least two occasions consumed them. For comparison, group-living squirrel monkeys begin to eat solid food around their 2nd month of age, continuing with some nursing until about 11 or 13 months, and were only at this age seen to successfully catch and eat insects. Thus, as infant squirrel monkeys proved to be able to catch and eat insects before their first experience with conspecifics, an innate basis for this behavior can be assumed.

This is a case report of a 1-year-old, otherwise healthy, girl who presented with the history of refusal of solid foods and vomiting of 1-month duration. She underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, which revealed an eye-catching endoscopic finding and the cause of her symptoms.

Sufficient preoperative fasting time is essential for safe induction of anesthesia to prevent aspiration of gastric contents. However, the time recommended for sufficient preoperative fasting varies greatly, depending on the nature of the oral intake, from 2 h for clear liquids to 6 h for solid foods. We report the case of a 30-year-old man who drank about 600 ml of the carbonated, glucose-rich soft drink, 7-UP, 2 h before surgery and absorbed nearly all of it within these 2 preoperative hours.

An inexpensive (less than $35) solid food reinforcement dispenser was developed using commercially available parts for commonly found vending machines. This device proved to be reliable and efficient in repeated use with laboratory primates in a video task testing situation.

Background: There are minimal data regarding mineral absorption in older infants who are fed solid foods (beikost) in addition to milk. Use of stable isotope techniques allows for the measurement of mineral absorption in this population.

RANDOMIZED TRIAL OF EARLY VS LATE INTRODUCTION OF SOLID FOODS ON GROWTH AND BODY COMPOSITION. • 666

A detailed study on aspects of feeding behaviour of the Indian musk shrew,Suncus murinus viridescens, was made. The first solid food intake commenced on the 14th day and weaning occurred on the 20th day after birth. Olfaction was the primary sense involved in food searching. Prey killing was effected by a characteristic neck-bite. Death-shake could be seen when the shrews predate on earthworm or on rodents such as rats. Shrews hoard food when a large number of insects as food was offered. A thorough mastication of the food was observed before swallowing.

After at least two weeks of decontamination, rhesus monkeys were submitted to a total body irradiation of 8.5 Gy, followed by a bone marrow graft. In the following weeks, a number of colonizations were found. Twenty-seven colonizations were known to be present on the day of irradiation. Sixteen colonizations were due to microorganisms suppressed before irradiation. Thirty-two colonizations were considered as exogenous. Only a few colonizations in the irradiated animals could not be controlled. Irradiation caused severe diarrhoea in decontaminated animals, leading to a life-threatening loss of water and electrolytes. When this loss was corrected, the monkeys survived for prolonged periods following irradiation. The amount of food consumed, which contained antibiotics, had no effect on the faecal concentration. The addition of solid food particles, however, resulted in a much lower faecal concentration. No significant antibiotic serum levels were found.

To assess carnitine levels during prolonged sole breast feeding we measured serum and breast milk carnitine concentrations in 37 lactating mothers and their healthy term infants from birth to the age of 1 yr. The number of solely breast-fed infants decreased to 31 at 2 months of age, to 28 at 6 months, and to seven at 9 months, because formula and/or solid food was added when there was not enough breast milk. In mothers the mean serum carnitine increased from 35 to 50 mumol/liter during the first 2 months after delivery and remained unchanged thereafter. Irrespective of the type of feeding, the mean serum carnitine in infants increased from 29 to 59 mumol/liter during the first 2 months, remained unchanged during 2-9 months, and decreased to the mean level of mothers thereafter. The mean carnitine concentration of breast milk was high (106 mumol/liter) immediately after delivery. During the first 2 months the mean carnitine concentration of milk decreased to the mean serum level of mothers and remained unchanged thereafter. The carnitine concentrations of serum and breast milk did not correlate, however. The mean daily carnitine intake of the breast-fed infants was 5.7 mumol/kg at 4 months of age, 4.7 mumol/kg at 6 months, and 6.0 mumol/kg at 9 months whereas the mean daily carnitine intake of the infants receiving formula was 28.9 mumol/kg at 1 month of age and 30.7 mumol/kg at 2 months. The serum concentration of carnitine in our infants did not correlate with carnitine intake. Our results indicate that serum carnitine concentrations are maintained during prolonged sole breast feeding.

Three groups of rats were fed, respectively, a chemically defined diet intragastrically (IG), an equivalent diet intravenously (IV) and solid food orally (CH) for 8 days, and their small intestines and colons compared. All received equal calories. The small intestine was divided into equal proximal (A), middle (B), and distal (C) segments for measurements. Mucosal weight per cm in segments A and B of IG were, respectively, 65 and 38% higher than in IV (P less than 0.01), but 27 and 33% lower than in CH (P less than 0.01). However, in the distal segment, C, mucosal weight in IG was similar to IV and CH was 79% higher (P less than 0.01). DNA and protein followed the same pattern. Segment A sucrase activities were similar in CH and IG and were much higher than in IV (P less than 0.01). Sucrase in IG dropped very rapidly distally so that it became much lower than in CH (P less than 0.05) and similar to IV. Mucosal weight, DNA, and protein in the colon were not significantly different in IG and IV, which were both significantly lower than in CH (P less than 0.01). The results indicate that a chemically defined diet maintains intestinal mass well in the proximal small intestine, but the effect diminishes rapidly in a distal direction so that distal small intestine and colon become atrophied and similar to those in intravenous feeding.

Rats and rabbits were subjected to bilateral subdiaphragmatic vagotomy or laparotomy (sham vagotomy) and maintained on a diet of solid food. Measurement of stomach size was done following fasting for 0, 4, 8, or 12 h in rats or 0, 12, or 24 h in rabbits. Comparison of data from vagotomized and laparotomized animals that underwent an electrophysiological verification procedure indicated that the stomachs of vagotomized animals declined only slightly in size across the full range of fasting intervals, whereas the stomachs of fasted laparotomized animals decreased to a minimum size within 0–4 h in rats and 12–24 h in rabbits. This effect of vagal destruction on gastric function provides a partial explanation for changes in the feeding pattern observed subsequent to vagotomy. In addition, measurement of stomach size provides a reliable means of verifying the completeness of vagal damage produced by a vagotomy procedure.

A dual radioisotopic method was employed to study the rate of gastric emptying of meals in ten males with an average age of 31 years and 10 elderly males with an average age of 76.4 years. All study subjects were fed a standardized 900-g meal labeled with a liquid (111indium-DTPA) and solid (99mtechnetium-tagged liver) phase isotopic marker. There were no significant differences in solid food emptying rates between the young and aged men. A delay in liquid emptying, however, was observed in the aged men. The clinical significance of this observation is unknown.

The effect of intravenous pentagrastin (4 microgram/kg-hr) on the rate of gastric emptying of solid food was studied in 6 normal men. A mean consisting of one 99mTc-tagged chicken liver mixed with beef stew and taken with 200 ml of water was followed on its passage through the gastrointestinal tract by intermittent scanning with a gamma camera. The rate of the linear gastric emptying pattern was slowed by pentagastrin in every individual. The pH and titratable acidity of the gastric contents were similar in the pentagastrin and the control infusions. Neutralization of the gastric contents with bicarbonate in the pentagastrin studies did not alter gastric emptying rates. The results indicate that pentagastrin slows gastric emptying of solid food in man by an effect apart from acid secretion. The myoelectrical correlates of such an observation are uncertain.

Food and water intakes were measured in pregnant rats to determine whether parturition in rats is preceded by significant changes in food and water intake. Three diets of different palatability and caloric value were used. Over the last 5 days of pregnancy, pregnant rats were found to ingest more calories/day than nonpregnant rats, and females with prior parturitional experience (multiparous) ingested more than virgin or primiparous females. Pregnant rats also ingested significantly greater amounts of fluid when compared to nonpregnant rats, and multiparous rats (pregnant or not) ingested greater amounts of fluid than did virgin or primiparous pregnant rats. On the last day of pregnancy, the intake of solid foods or a liquid diet did not change significantly, but the intake of either water or 5% sucrose solution was significantly reduced.

1. Detailed feeding histories of 538 children between the ages 1 month and 5 years have been collected from an urban population of the lower socio-economic groups in Calcutta and analysed. 2. It is found that only a small number of mothers is capable of feeding their children at the breast after six months. 3. About sixty per cent of the mothers add carbohydrate gruels as supplementary foods. 4. Solid foods are added mostly at the age of 1 to 11/2 years, and the common solid foods given at this age are carbohydrate in nature. 5. The effects of feeding habits and suggestions for their improvement are discussed.

The rate of evacuation of solid food from the stomach was investigated in chronic experiments on dogs with fistulas of the stomach and proximal part of the duodenum. After exclusion of the pyloric spincter (by the operations of pyloroplasty or gastroduodenostomy) the evacuatory function of the stomach remained basically compensated although, judging from the free passage of edible rubber balls 3 mm in diameter from the stomach into the duodenum, no structures replacing the pyloric sphincter could be found. Compensation of the evacuatory function of the stomach under these conditions is achieved through a marked increase in the role of the enterogastric reflex.

WE believe that the more an animal experiences diversity of flavours at one time the more it will accept novel flavours later. Thus, rats given several distinctive flavours early in life would be more likely to accept an unfamiliar flavour later than would rats whose early gustatory experiences have been less varied. This hypothesis has had some empirical support in the literature. Kuo1, for example, mentions pilot research suggesting that cats, dogs and mynah birds raised on restricted diets for extended periods avoided new food, while others of their kind reared on varied diets ate novel foods readily. We have now found a similar effect with rats using flavoured solutions rather than solid foods.

In one experiment 10 C57BL/6J and 10 DBA2/J mice received saccharin in daily 1/2-h sessions for 19 days while hungry or satiated. A second experiment involved giving these same mice saccharin or glucose and saccharin plus glucose for 24-h periods with or without solid food. It was found in Experiment 1 that saccharin consumption is related to drive; hungry mice at first drank more than did nonhungry mice until the 11th day, after which the former group dropped off and was equalled by the latter. The effect was more pronounced for C57 than for DBA mice—apparently related to strain differences in natural preferences for saccharin. Both strains drank large amounts of saccharin plus glucose in Experiment 2, especially when hungry. The results are discussed within the context of research on food habits.

Thirty male hooded rats received seven sessions of barpress training with sucrose (16% or 4%) and saccharin (.10% or 1.5%) as reward, followed by a shift from 16% to 4% sucrose and.10% to 1.5% saccharin. Four dependent measures indicated that concentrations of sucrose and saccharin that produced equivalent levels of performance produced equivalent negative contrast effects. In Experiment 2, 18 male hooded rats received four sessions of barpress training with (.10% or 1.5%) saccharin under an FR 7 schedule of reinforcement followed by a shift from.10% to 1.5%. Four of the five measures indicated negative contrast effects. Confounding inherent in the use of solid food or sucrose does not appear to account for negative incentive contrast effects.

The experiment reported below examined the role of the ingestion of food samples at the nest site on the feeding preferences of wild rat pups during weaning. The results indicated that although food preferences during the first few days of feeding on solid food were not affected by ingestion at the nest site, later preferences were. These data were interpreted as providing additional evidence of the insufficiency of the ingestion of food samples in the nest site to determine pups’ choice of diet for early ingestion and of the role of neophobia in maintaining adult-initiated food preferences.

The behavioural specificity of the eating elicited by the serotonergic agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) was investigated. In non-deprived rats 8-OH-DPAT (60-240 micrograms/kg) increased the consumption of solid food pellets. The consumption of an 18% glucose solution was unaffected by 60 micrograms/kg 8-OH-DPAT, and markedly reduced by 120 micrograms/kg 8-OH-DPAT. When rats were pre-fed glucose, to reduce glucose intake under control conditions, 60 micrograms/kg 8-OH-DPAT significantly decreased subsequent glucose consumption. The failure of 8-OH-DPAT to induce a hyperphagic response to glucose suggests that this compound does not elicit eating by an action upon feeding motivation. Observational analyses showed that 8-OH-DPAT-treated rats exhibited several oro-facial motor responses, including gnawing, which were attenuated by pretreatment with haloperidol. It is likely, therefore, that the increase in solid food intake elicited by 8-OH-DPAT is incidental to drug-induced gnawing. Possible mechanisms of this action are discussed.

Certain interactions between ants and plants can be classified as mutualisms1–3, with benefit accruing to both members. The plant provides a source of energy, either as solid food or as nectar, and sometimes a domicile such as a hollow stem (or a stem capable of being made hollow by the ants) or hollow stipular thorns. The ants provide the plant with defence against herbivory and/or vine overgrowth. Whether the plant relies entirely or only in part on the ants for its defence, in relationships studied so far it always produces a source of food irrespective of the ants' presence. However, we report here that in the mutualistic relationship between the plant Piper cenocladum and the ant Pheidole bicornis, the production of food bodies is closely tied to the presence of the ants, so that when they are removed, production of food bodies nearly ceases and when ants reinvade the plant, production begins again. This is the first description of such a relationship in which the food tissue of the plant is induced by the insect.