Search

A randomized study was performed in Belgium concerning the relationship between diet and serum lipids in 5485 men and 4856 women with a mean age of 49 years. In men 17.3% of total energy was provided by saturated fat, 15.2% by monounsaturated fat and 7.5% by polyunsaturated fat. The fat intake in women was very similar. The P/S ratio was 0.51 in men and 0.52 in women. The alcohol intake was significantly higher in men (5.2% of total energy) than in women (2% of total energy). In men and women total serum cholesterol increased with saturated fat intake (p <0.001) and decreased with polyunsaturated fat intake (p <0.01). Saturated fat intake raised the HDL-cholesterol level in men and women (p <0.001) and monounsaturated fat raised it in men only (p <0.01). Dietary cholesterol increased the HDL-cholesterol level in women only (p <0.01). HDL-cholesterol increased with alcohol consumption (p <0.001) and decreased with cigarette smoking (p <<0.001). All these changes were adjusted for differences in age, height and weight. The study confirms the existence, within a population, of a significant relationship between fat intake and serum lipid levels. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An elderly Belgian population group anno 1986 consisting of 53 men and 110 women above the age of 75 years with a mean age of 80 and 81 years, respectively, is characterized by relative obesity and low diastolic blood pressure, both in men and women. The SBP/DBP ratio is 1.91 in men and 1.88 in women. HDL-cholesterol levels are relatively high In men. Women still have slightly higher HDL-cholesterol levels than men, the difference between women and men being 3.4 mg/dl. In both sexes HOL-cholesterol correlates negatively with body weight The 24-hour urinary sodium/potassium ratio is 23 in men and 2.5 in women. Factors significantly related to diastolic blood pressure in a multiple regression analysis included being on a low-salt diet the level of 24-hour urinary potassium excretion and of 24-hour urinary creatinine excretion in men, and body weight heart rate and the level of 24-hour urinary calcium excretion in women. It may be concluded that significant differences exist between the distribution of cardiovascular risk factors in older compared to middle-aged subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In a Belgian population group of 15 954 male and 2116 female subjects, an epidemiological survey has been conducted to investigate the relationship between dietary fat intake and serum total and HDL-cholesterol. The study has established, both in men and in women, a significant positive relationship between serum total cholesterol and the dietary intake of saturated fat and a significant positive relationship between serum total cholesterol and the dietary intake of saturated fat and a significant negative one between serum total cholesterol and the intake of polyunsaturated fat and the P/S-ration of the diet. At equal levels of consumption, polyunsaturated fat has a decreasing effect on serum total cholesterol which is about half the increasing effect due to saturated fat. Polyunsaturated fat and the P/S-ratio decrease the HDL-cholesterol value but only with borderline significance. The present study demonstrates the importance of dietary fat as a determinant of the serum lipid level within a Population. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

HLA tissue typing was performed in 43 unrelated white persons with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) living in the northern part of Belgium. The frequency distribution of the 14-HLA-A, 18 HLA-B, 5 HLA-C and 10 HLA-D antigens, which were tested, was similar in patients with obstructive, provocable obstructive or non-obstructive HCM to that of a control group of 800 normal persons. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

During the year 1982 serum cholesterol and apolipoprotein A and B levels were measured in 1319 male subjects (mean age 20 years) from different provinces of Belgium. The serum cholesterol level and the apolipoprotein B level were distinctly lower in Dutch-speaking than in French-speaking subjects. An increase of 1.1 mg% of total cholesterol was found per kg per consumer unit per year of butter consumed and a decrease of 1.1 mg% per kg per consumer unit per year of margarine consumed. The higher cholesterol value in French-speaking subjects correlated significantly with a high regional mortality from all causes and from ischaemic heart disease in male subjects of the 45–64-year age group. A 10mg% difference in serum cholesterol at the age of 20 years corresponds with an increase in mortality from all causes of 20% and from ischaemic heart disease of 21%. A significant difference in log GGT (gamma glutamyl-transpeptidase) — possibly due to differences in alcohol consumption — was observed between the provinces of Belgium. The difference in cholesterol and apolipoprotein B level remained significant after adjustment for log GGT. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The effects of xamoterol on exercise capacity have been evaluated in 10 patients with angina pectoris and well-preserved left ventricular function. Compared to placebo a single 200 mg dose of xamoterol produced a slight but insignificant increase in exercise capacity. At maximum work load, ST-T segment depression was reduced (3 mm and 2.19 mm after placebo and xamoterol, respectively; p<0.05). The changes paralleled an insignificant reduction in maximal heart rate and pressure-rate product. At rest, xamoterol increased the heart rate from 80 to 86 beats/min. Thus, at rest, when sympathetic tone is low, xamoterol acts as a beta-receptor agonist but during exercise, when sympathetic tone is high, xamoterol acts as an antagonist and reduces myocardial ischaemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Authentic researcher-youth partnerships in patient-oriented research (POR) where the research responds to the needs expressed by youth themselves are essential to make research meaningful. While patient-oriented research (POR) is increasingly practiced, few training programs exist in Canada and none, to our knowledge, are tailored for youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDD). Our primary objective was to explore the training needs of youth (ages 18-25) with NDD to enhance their knowledge, confidence, and skills as research partners. Our secondary objective was to identify the benefits and challenges of engaging youth with NDD in a POR approach., Methods: Our team of four youth and one parent with lived experience [Youth Engagement in Research (YER) partners] and six researchers engaged in POR to investigate the primary objective via two phases: (1) individual interviews with youth living with NDD and (2) a two-day virtual symposium with focus groups with youth and researchers. Collaborative qualitative content analysis was employed to synthesize the data. Our secondary objective was assessed by asking our YER partners to complete the Public and Patient Engagement Evaluation Tool (PPEET) survey and participate in reflective discussions., Results: Phase 1 participants (n = 7) identified various barriers and facilitators to their engagement in research and offered suggestions to meet their needs through minimizing barriers and integrating facilitators, which would subsequently enhance their knowledge, confidence, and skills as research partners. Informed by phase 1, phase 2 participants (n = 17) prioritized the following POR training needs: researcher-youth communication, research roles and responsibilities, and finding partnership opportunities. For delivery methods, participants stated the importance of youth representation, using Universal Design for Learning, and co-learning between youth and researchers. Based on the PPEET data and subsequent discussions, YER partners agreed that they were able to express views freely, feel that their views were heard, and that their participation made a meaningful difference. Challenges included scheduling difficulties, ensuring multiple methods for engagement, and working under short timelines., Conclusion: This study identified important training needs for youth with NDD and for researchers to engage in meaningful POR, which can subsequently inform the co-production of accessible training opportunities with and for youth., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tests for the rapid detection of individuals infected with Mycobacterium leprae, the causative pathogen of leprosy, represent efficient tools to guide therapeutic and prophylactic treatment strategies in leprosy control programs, thus positively contributing to clinical outcome and reducing transmission of this infectious disease. Levels of antibodies directed against the M. leprae-specific phenolic glycolipid I (PGL-I) closely correlate with an individual's bacterial load and a higher risk of developing leprosy. We describe herein the assembly of a set of PGL glycans carrying the characteristic phenol aglycon and featuring different methylation patterns. The PGL trisaccharides were applied to construct neoglycoproteins that were used to detect anti-PGL IgM antibodies in leprosy patients. ELISAs and quantitative lateral-flow assays based on up-converting nanoparticles (UCP-LFAs) showed that the generated PGL-I and PGL-II trisaccharide neoglycoconjugates can be applied for the detection of anti M. leprae IgM antibodies in POC tests., (© 2020 The Authors. ChemBioChem published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Acetylene to butadiene direct synthesis, via enyne cross-metathesis, is demonstrated with commercial ruthenium carbene catalysts. Using excess of ethylene, yields greater than 50% are obtained. High activity is observed in the first minute of the reaction (TOF > 800 h(-1) based on butadiene). Catalyst reusability and poisoning are discussed.

The catalytic valorization of cellulose is currently subject of intense research. Isosorbide is among the most interesting products that can be formed from cellulose as it is a potential platform molecule and can be used for the synthesis of a wide range of pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and polymers. A promising direct route from cellulose to isosorbide is presented in this work. The strategy relies on a one-pot bifunctional catalytic concept, combining heteropoly acids, viz. H(4)SiW(12)O(40), and redox catalysts, viz. commercial Ru on carbon, under H(2) pressure. Starting from pure microcrystalline cellulose, a rapid conversion was observed, resulting in over 50% isosorbide yield. The robustness of the developed system is evidenced by the conversion of a range of impure cellulose pulps obtained by organosolv fractionation, with isosorbide yields up to 63%. Results were compared with other (ligno)cellulose feedstocks, highlighting the importance of fractionation and purification to increase reactivity and convertibility of the cellulose feedstock., (Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) are a class of graphitic support materials with considerable potential for catalytic conversion of biomass. Earlier, we demonstrated the hydrolytic hydrogenation of cellulose over reshaped nickel particles attached at the tip of CNFs. The aim of this follow-up study was to find a relationship between the acid/metal balance of the Ni/CNFs and their performance in the catalytic conversion of cellulose. After oxidation and incipient wetness impregnation with Ni, the Ni/CNFs were characterized by various analytical methods. To prepare a selective Ni/CNF catalyst, the influences of the nature of oxidation agent, Ni activation, and Ni loading were investigated. Under the applied reaction conditions, the best result, that is, 76 % yield in hexitols with 69 % sorbitol selectivity at 93 % conversion of cellulose, was obtained on a 7.5 wt % Ni/CNF catalyst prepared by chemical vapor deposition of CH(4) on a Ni/γ-Al(2)O(3) catalyst, followed by oxidation in HNO(3) (twice for 1 h at 383 K), incipient wetness impregnation, and reduction at 773 K under H(2). This preparation method leads to a properly balanced Ni/CNF catalyst in terms of Ni dispersion and hydrogenation capacity on the one hand, and the number of acidic surface-oxygen groups responsible for the acid-catalyzed hydrolysis on the other., (Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Acid-catalyzed condensation of levulinic acid and phenol into high yields of diphenolic acid (>50%) is possible with a combination of sulfonated hyperbranched polymers and thiol promotors, either added as a physical mixture or bound to the polymer by ion-pairing., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2012)

While conjugated vegetable oils are currently used as additives in the drying agents of oils and paints, they are also attractive molecules for making bio-plastics. Moreover, conjugated oils will soon be accepted as nutritional additives for "functional food" products. While current manufacture of conjugated vegetable oils or conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) uses a homogeneous base as isomerisation catalyst, a heterogeneous alternative is not available today. This contribution presents the direct production of CLAs over Ru supported on different zeolites, varying in topology (ZSM-5, BETA, Y), Si/Al ratio and countercation (H(+), Na(+), Cs(+)). Ru/Cs-USY, with a Si/Al ratio of 40, was identified as the most active and selective catalyst for isomerisation of methyl linoleate (cis-9,cis-12 (C18:2)) to CLA at 165 °C. Interestingly, no hydrogen pre-treatment of the catalyst or addition of hydrogen donors is required to achieve industrially relevant isomerisation productivities, namely, 0.7 g of CLA per litre of solvent per minute. Moreover, the biologically most active CLA isomers, namely, cis-9,trans-11, trans-10,cis-12 and trans-9,trans-11, were the main products, especially at low catalyst concentrations. Ex situ physicochemical characterisation with CO chemisorption, extended X-ray absorption fine structure measurements, transmission electron microscopy analysis, and temperature-programmed oxidation reveals the presence of highly dispersed RuO(2) species in Ru/Cs-USY(40)., (Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The hydrolytic hydrogenation of cellulose in the presence of Ru-loaded zeolites and trace amounts of mineral acid shows excellent yields (>90%) for hexitols., (© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011)

A combination of heteropolyacids and Ru on carbon catalyzes the conversion of concentrated cellulose feeds into hexitols under H(2) pressure. Quantitative conversion of ball-milled cellulose was observed with remarkable hexitol volume productivity.