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The demand for functional foods is expanding as more consumers become obese or allergic to dairy, eggs and gluten. Functional food products could increase well-being, yet the undesired ingredients need to be replaced to restore the textural properties. Mucilage is a hydrocolloid gum, extracted from cactus pear cladodes that could transfer its function in plants to foods and be developed into a profitable functional ingredient. The investigation of the functional properties of extracted freeze-dried powders was necessary to predict the potential of South African cultivars as healthy ingredients. Freeze-dried powders of four cultivars (Opuntia ficus-indica ‘Algerian’, ‘Morado’, ‘Gymno-Carpo’ and Opuntia robusta ‘Robusta’) were dissolved in water or oil. After centrifugation (10 min at 5938.816 × g) and oven drying at 102°C for 24 h, the solubility-, swelling power, water and oil holding- and absorption capacity of the mucilage powders were determined. Emulsification capacity was determined by homogenizing freeze-dried powder with equal amounts of water and oil. The Leco Nitrogen analyzer was used to determine the crude protein content. Freeze-dried mucilage powders had a very high solubility index (78.8%), water (0.89 mL g(‑1)) and oil absorption (3.56 mL g(‑1)) as well as water (8.04 mL g(‑1)) and oil holding (1.22 g g(‑1)) capacities. It displayed high emulsification capacity (98.31%) and stability (87.79%). The protein content for the three O. ficus-indica cultivars was not significantly different (2.74-3.23 g 100 g(‑1)), but significantly higher in O. robusta (4.79 g 100 g(‑1)). None of the cultivars possessed significantly better functional properties. Native mucilage was applied in fat-, dairy and egg-replacement products. Mucilage showed promise as emulsifier and fat-replacer in mayonnaise products and was described as creamy with a highly acceptable mouthfeel. Mucilage is a natural, health improving product that the food industry could benefit from. It showed strong potential as a functional ingredient.

The core objective of this study was to create a social vulnerability map based on generally accepted variables that are indicative of drivers of social vulnerability, capturing the unique attributes of South African communities. This chapter explains the need for an index to measure the social vulnerability of various communities throughout South Africa and looks at international literature as the base for the study. Such an index is deemed essential in decision making, specifically in reducing the susceptibility of various communities to the risks associated with multiple stressors. Fourteen unique (South African specific) variables were chosen and a principal component analysis (PCA) was preformed to build an appropriate index to measure social vulnerability across South Africa. This index is essential and required by the South African National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) in terms of the National Disaster Management Framework of 2005.

Increased frequencies in unipolarmajor depression and dysthymia evolve into chronic depression (Gotlib & Hammen, 1992:ll). Depression is reportedly the most common disorder, comprising 75% of all psychiatric hospitalisations (Gotlib & Hammen, 1992:17). In the South African context there are few effective manual-based therapy programmes for the treatment of unipolar major depression or dysthymia. This study aimed to develop a manual-based therapy programme for the treatment of unipolar major depression as well as dysthymia, comprising a short-term intervention strategy (a minimum of eight sessions, and a follow-up session) influenced by a cognitive behavioural model focusing on exercise therapy and medication. The control group received non-specific treatment. The research results indicated a shift in different mood constructs for the sample group, as measured by the Nowlis Mood Adjective Checklist. Furthermore, negative emotional states decreased in severity and positive states increased, during andafter the intervention. A significant decrease in depression scales was also found, as measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Millon Multi-Axial lnventory 11. Furthermore, the personal accounts of the clients were used to gain insight into changing cognitive structures andperspectives, which indicated an increase in concentration, motivation and sense of control. Keywords: manual-based programme; shott-term intervention; cognitive behavioural model; exercise therapy; medication; depression; major depression; dysthymia; individual therapy; Hamilton Depression Rating Scale; Millon Clinical Multi-Axial Inventory I I ; Nowlis Mood Adjective ChecklistHealth SA Gesondheid Vol. 9 (4) 2004: pp. 28-41

P975 DYNAMIC CHANGES OF THE INFLAMMATION BASED INDEX (IBI) AS A PREDICTOR OF MORTALITY FOLLOWING TRANS-ARTERIAL CHEMOEMBOLIZATION FOR HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA D.J. Pinato, G. Karamanakos, A. Goyal, D. Adjogatse, A.B. Siegel, J.L. Weintraub, J. Stebbing, J.W. Jang, R. Sharma. Division of Experimental Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Hepatobiliary Oncology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, United States; Department of Oncology, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Korea Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital, Seoul, Korea, Republic of E-mail: david.pinato09@imperial.ac.uk Background and Aims: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a standard treatment for unresectable, intermediate stage

The more widely used divalent forms of iron (Fe2+) supplementation often lead to gastrointestinal symptoms in preterm infants although little is known about the use of nonionic trivalent iron preparations (FeIII) in these patients. It is especially under this nonionic form that dietary iron is available. For this reason, a randomized controlled study was undertaken to compare the efficacy and the extent of possible side effects in two groups of preterm infants. In one group, the elemental iron was given in the Fe2+ form, while the other group received a nonionic trivalent iron (FeIII) complexed with polysaccharides of low molecular weight. Both groups received 7.5 mg elemental iron daily. Measured parameters in the two study groups did not differ significantly throughout the study period of 14 weeks. Both forms of iron supplementation were well tolerated. However, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation occurred slightly more often in the group receiving iron supplementation in the Fe2+ form without reaching statistical difference. The authors found a nonionic trivalent polysaccharide-iron complex given as iron supplementation as effective as the generally more favored ferrous sulphate. Since iron therapy is mandatory in the preterm infant, the use of trivalent iron complexes can be considered as a good alternative.

Assessment of Patient-Ventilation Interaction: in Neonatal Intensive Care by Means of a “On Line” Flow Pressure Plot. 65