This study investigated the effect of low-intensity pulsed electric field (PEF) (0.3-0.7 kV/cm) and/or germination (0-72 h, 20 °C) on faba beans prior to flour- and breadmaking. PEF (0.5 and 0.7 kV/cm) had no significant effect on the germination performance of faba bean but had a positive effect on in vitro starch and protein hydrolysis of PEF-treated beans germinated for 72 h. The incorporation of flour from soaked, germinated, PEF-treated, and PEF-treated+germinated faba beans into wheat bread, at 30% mass level, improved the nutritional composition (total starch and protein contents) and protein digestibility but it reduced the specific volume and increased the density, brownness, and hardness of the bread. This finding shows for the first time that PEF-treatment (<0.7 kV/cm) of faba beans followed by germination (72 h) improved in vitro starch and protein hydrolysis of its flour and the protein digestibility at gastric phase of its enriched wheat bread.

Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) also called phytic acid is a polyphosphorylated carbohydrate naturally found in cereals, nuts, grains, and high-fiber-containing foods. It has been shown to inhibit the growth of many different tumor cell lines both in vitro and in vivo like colon, pancreas, liver, prostate, and even melanoma. Vitamin B inositol is a precursor of IP6 and another naturally occurring compound with anticancer properties. We present a case report of a patient with metastatic melanoma who declined traditional therapy and opted to try over the counter supplement IP6+inositol instead. To our surprise, the patient achieved a complete remission and remains in remission 3 years later. On the basis of this case and previous preclinical studies, we believe further research is indicated in exploring antiproliferative and potential immune stimulating effects of IP6+inositol in patients with metastatic melanoma.

We reported a 24-year-old female patient with the history of ectopic axillary breast cancer which was removed surgically. Sentinel node mapping was performed for lymphatic axillary staging of this patient with two injections of the 99m-Tc-phytate in both ends of the surgical scar. Lymphoscintigraphy showed an axillary sentinel node which was harvested during surgery and was not pathologically involved. Our case showed that sentinel node mapping is possible for ectopic axillary breast cancer patients even after excisional biopsy of the index lesion.

The hemoglobin (Hb) substitution His-->Gln at position alpha89, very common in avian Hbs, is considered to be responsible for the weak Bohr effect of avian Hbs. Phoenicopterus ruber ruber is one of the few avian Hbs that possesses His at alpha89, but it has not been functionally characterized yet. In the present study the Hb system of the greater flamingo (P. ruber roseus), a bird that lives in Mediterranean areas, has been investigated to obtain further insight into the role played by the alpha89 residue in determining the strong reduction of the Bohr effect. Functional analysis of the two purified Hb components (HbA and HbD) of P. ruber roseus showed that both are characterized by high oxygen affinity in the absence of organic phosphates, a strong modulating effect of inositol hexaphosphate, and a reduced Bohr effect. Indeed, in spite of the close phylogenetic relationship between the two flamingo species, structural analysis based on tandem mass spectrometry of the alpha(A) chain of P. ruber roseus Hb showed that a Gln residue is present at position alpha89.

Patients with Crohn\'s disease (CD) often experience Fe deficiency (ID) and frequently alter their diet to relieve abdominal symptoms. The present study set out to assess whether patients with CD have dietary habits that lead to low Fe intakes and/or reduced bioavailable Fe compared with control subjects. Patients with asymptomatic CD were matched to controls (n 91/group). Dietary intakes of Fe and contributions from different food groups were compared using a 7 d food diary. Promoters and inhibitors of non-haem Fe absorption were investigated and a recently published algorithm was applied to assess bioavailable Fe. Fewer patients than controls met the reference nutrient intake for Fe (32% CD patients v. 42% controls). Overall, patients had significantly lower mean Fe intakes (by 2.3 mg/d) and Fe density (by 0.26 mg/MJ (1.1 mg/1000 kcal)) compared with controls (both P<0.001). Differences were mainly due to a preference among CD patients for low-fibre non-Fe fortified cereals, particularly breakfast cereals. In particular, control subjects had higher Fe intakes than matched CD subjects for men (P<0.001) and women less than 50 years (P=0.03). Intakes of both ascorbic acid (P<0.001) and phytic acid (P<0.01), but not animal tissue (P=1.0), were lower in patients with CD, but these had no overall effect on the predicted percentage of bioavailable Fe. Thus total bioavailable Fe was reduced in patients with CD due to lower intakes (P<0.01). Dietary Fe intakes are low in CD patients, which may contribute to an increased risk of ID and anaemia. Changing dietary advice may compromise perceived symptoms of the disease so the need for Fe supplementation should be carefully considered.

A community-based dietary diversification/modification intervention, employing a quasiexperimental design with a nonequivalent control group, was conducted in two intervention and two control villages in rural Southern Malawi. The aim was to enhance the content and bioavailability of micronutrients in maize-based diets of stunted children ages 30-90 mo. Efficacy was evaluated through a comparison of the changes in knowledge and practices, anthropometry, malaria screening, hemoglobin and hair zinc after 12 mo, common infections monthly postintervention and nutrient adequacy postintervention via 24-h recalls. Intervention diets were more diverse and of higher quality than the control diets, supplying significantly more animal source foods, especially soft-boned fish, but less phytic acid (p < 0.01). Median intakes of energy, protein, calcium, available zinc, heme iron and vitamin B-12 were greater (p < 0.05) in intervention compared to the control groups; some spread of knowledge and practices to the control groups occurred. Intervention enhanced Z-scores for mid-upper-arm circumference and arm muscle area (p < 0.001), but had no impact on weight or height gain. After controlling for baseline variables, mean hemoglobin was higher (107 vs. 102 g/L; p < 0.01) postintervention, whereas incidence of anemia and common infections were lower in the intervention groups compared to the control groups, with no change in malaria or hair zinc status. Dietary strategies reduced the prevalence of inadequate intakes of protein, calcium, zinc and vitamin B-12, but not iron, because fish was the major source of animal food consumed. More efforts to raise small animals and promote their consumption are needed to enhance dietary quality and ensure optimal growth, health and cognitive development in young Malawian children.

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A rare case of diaphragm hernia containing an accessory spleen and great omentum is reported. Tc-99m phytate SPECT showed tracer accumulation in the accessory spleen and was useful in the evaluation of the disease.

We encountered a very rare case of an intra-atrial tumor thrombus from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Conventional XCT and US gave evidence of HCC. In nuclear medicine studies performed incidentally, the first study with 99mTc-phytate liver scintigraphy showed 2 SOLs and evidence of chronic liver disease, and the second study with 67Ga-citrate scintigraphy demonstrated 2 hot lesions within the liver parenchyma, and also another unexpected hot area just above the left lobe of the liver, seemingly beyond the diaphragm. When echocardiography was performed, in addition to ECG, because the patient began to complain of dyspnea, an oblong mass lesion was detected within the right atrium. Reexamination with XCT and angiography clearly proved the existence of an intraatrial tumor thrombus. These results indicate the need for routine examination by echocardiography for HCC patients complaining of dyspnea.

Focal hyperactivity indicative of metastases is a rare finding in bone marrow imaging. In a lung cancer patient with multiple bony metastases, the Tc-99m phytate bone marrow imaging revealed multiple focal areas of increased radioactivity corresponding to the bone scan findings. The findings presented are consistent with a previous animal study, which found that phytate distribution was similar to that of diphosphonate in the skeletal system of rats and rabbits. The authors conclude that Tc-99m phytate should not be used as a bone marrow imaging agent. Further studies of Tc-99m phytate bone marrow scintigraphy on human beings are under way.