Oleic acid and peanut oil high in oleic acid reverse the inhibitory effect of insulin production of the inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha both in vitro and in vivo systems
BACKGROUND: Chronic inflammation is a key player in pathogenesis. The inflammatory cytokine; tumor necrosis factor-alpha is a well known inflammatory protein; and has been a therapeutic target for the treatment of diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis and Crohn's Disease. Obesity is a well known risk factor for developing non-insulin dependent diabetes melitus. Adipose tissue has […]
Effectiveness of Sanitizers; Dry Heat; Hot Water; and Gas Catalytic Infrared Heat Treatments to Inactivate Salmonella on Almonds
The majority of almond-related foodborne outbreaks have been associated with Salmonella. Therefore; it is necessary to find an effective method to inactivate these organisms on raw almond prior to market distribution. This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of sanitizers (strong or mild electrolyzed water; ozonated water; and distilled water); dry heat treatment; and […]
Identification of two pistachio allergens; Pis v 1 and Pis v 2; belonging to the 2S albumin and 11S globulin family
BACKGROUND: IgE-mediated allergic reactions to pistachio appear to be occurring more frequently; however; little is known about its allergenic proteins. OBJECTIVE: We attempted to identify pistachio allergens and to clone the encoding genes. METHODS: Pistachio proteins were extracted and separated by SDS-PAGE. Immunolabelling was performed with sera from 28 pistachio-allergic individuals. Proteins of interest were […]
Component-resolved in vitro diagnosis of hazelnut allergy in Europe
BACKGROUND: Food allergy to hazelnut occurs both with and without concomitant pollen allergy. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate a panel of hazelnut allergens for diagnosis of hazelnut allergy in Spain; Switzerland; and Denmark. METHODS: Fifty-two patients with a positive double-blind; placebo-controlled food challenge result with hazelnuts; 5 patients with a history of anaphylaxis; 62 patients […]
Analysis of beta-sitosterol in seeds and nuts using pressurized liquid extraction and liquid chromatography
Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) has been used for the extraction of beta-sitosterol from food samples. In the present work; extractions were performed by mixing ground samples with Hydromatrix celite with methanol at 50 degrees C and 110 bar; using two 5-min cycles. After extraction; beta-sitosterol was analyzed directly by liquid chromatography with diode array detection. […]
Clinical features of four cases with cashew nut allergy and cross-reactivity between cashew nut and pistachio
BACKGROUND: Few cases of cashew nut (CN) allergy have been reported in Japan. We evaluated the clinical features of 4 cases with CN allergy and investigated the allergens involved. METHODS: In order to investigate the cross-reactivity between CN and pistachios; we performed ImmunoCAP inhibition tests using sera of 4 cases with positive histories of CN […]
Dietary omega-3 fatty acids; cyclooxygenase-2 genetic variation; and aggressive prostate cancer risk
PURPOSE: Dietary intake of long-chain omega-3 (LC n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids may reduce inflammation and in turn decrease risk of prostate cancer development and progression. This potential effect may be modified by genetic variation in cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2); a key enzyme in fatty acid metabolism and inflammation. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We used a case-control study of 466 […]
A systematic review of the evidence supporting a causal link between dietary factors and coronary heart disease
BACKGROUND: Although a wealth of literature links dietary factors and coronary heart disease (CHD); the strength of the evidence supporting valid associations has not been evaluated systematically in a single investigation. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search of MEDLINE for prospective cohort studies or randomized trials investigating dietary exposures in relation to CHD. We used […]
Prospective study of nut consumption; long-term weight change; and obesity risk in women
BACKGROUND: Data concerning the long-term association between nut consumption and weight change in a free-living population are sparse. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine the relation between nut consumption and long-term weight change. DESIGN: The participants were 51;188 women in the Nurses' Health Study II aged 20-45 y; who had no cardiovascular disease; diabetes; or […]
Almonds have a neutral effect on serum lipid profiles: a meta-analysis of randomized trials
Almond consumption may be associated with improvements in serum lipid profiles. The aim was to evaluate the influence of almonds on lipid parameters to help define the role of almonds as a lipid modulator. MEDLINE; EMBASE; Cochrane CENTRAL; and the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database were searched through July 2008; with no language restrictions; for randomized […]