BACKGROUND Xylitol, a commonly used sweetener, is effective in preventing dental caries. As it inhibits the growth of pneumococci, we evaluated whether xylitol could be effective in preventing acute otitis media (AOM). DESIGN Altogether, 857 healthy children recruited from day care centers were randomized to one of five treatment groups to receive control syrup (n = 165), xylitol syrup (n = 1...

The influence of salinity on the different polyamine fractions (free, conjugated, and bound) was compared in a natrophilic halophyte (Beta vulgaris L. cv. IC) and a salt sensitive glycophyte (Nicotiana rustica L. cv. Basmas). Low-level salinity (25 mM NaCl) and high salinity (150 and 50 mM NaCl for sugar beet and tobacco, respectively) were supplied in hydroponics. Under low salinity shoot dry ...

The current study is an attempt to contribute for efficient and cost-effective substrates for xanthan gum production. In this context, the sugar cane molasses wastes can be used as a cheap substrate for xanthan gum production. Xanthan biopolymer production by a novel Xanthomonas campestris strain IBRC-M 10644 was optimized with statistical approaches. Based on the results ...

In this study, we have explored the prospect of assessing and following level of total denture adaptation by use of EMG signals recorded during gum chewing. Total of 14 edentulous patients, 6 women and 8 men, with an average age of 63±9 years, were recruited. Separate EMG recordings were obtained from left and right temporalis and masseter muscles of the patients for a period of 10 seconds, whi...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the proportion of foods that are unhealthy to which children are exposed at the checkout of convenience supermarkets. DESIGN We performed a cross-sectional survey of foodstuffs displayed at the checkout. Products displayed at or below children's eye-level were designated as healthy, unhealthy or unclassifiable using the Food Standards Agency's scoring criteria. SETT...

For preliminary screening for and characterization of free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria from rhizoplane microflora, we used Winogradsky's mineral mixture-based nitrogen-free medium solidified with 0.3% gellan gum. The soft gel medium enabled some reference and wild free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria to grow in characteristic colonies, including their reaction to oxygen and their motility c...

INTRODUCTION Some long-term nicotine gum users are addicted to nicotine and may need assistance to stop. There is no published evidence on the use of nicotine patches for this purpose. CASE DESCRIPTION A 45-year old man presented with a 30-year history of high-dose nicotine gum use (up to 200mg nicotine per day). He was highly nicotine dependent and had failed repeatedly to stop using nicotin...

A number of recommendations for policy and program interventions to limit excess free sugar consumption have emerged, however there are a lack of data describing the amounts and types of sugar in foods. This study presents an assessment of sugar in Canadian prepackaged foods including: (a) the first systematic calculation of free sugar contents; (b) a comprehensive assessment of total sugar and...