Impact of calcium on salivary α-amylase activity, starch paste apparent viscosity and thickness perception

Thickness perception of starch-thickened products during eating has been linked to starch viscosity and salivary amylase activity. Calcium is an essential cofactor for α-amylase and there is anecdotal evidence that adding extra calcium affects amylase activity in processes like mashing of beer. The aims of this paper were to (1) investigate the role of salivary calcium on α-amylase activity and (2) to measure the effect of calcium concentration on apparent viscosity and thickness perception when interacting with salivary α-amylase in starch-based samples. α-Amylase activity in saliva samples from 28 people was assessed using a typical starch pasting cycle (up to 95 °C). The activity of the enzyme (as measured by the change in starch apparent viscosity) was maintained by the presence of calcium, probably by protecting the enzyme from heat denaturation. Enhancement of α-amylase activity by calcium at 37 °C was also observed although to a smaller extent. Sensory analysis showed a general trend of decreased thickness perception in the presence of calcium, but the result was only significant for one pair of samples, suggesting a limited impact of calcium enhanced enzyme activity on perceived thickness

Multicenter study of device-associated infection rates in hospitals of Mongolia: Findings of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC)

Methods: A device-associated health care-associated infection prospective surveillance study in 3 adult intensive care units (ICUs) from 3 hospitals using the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) definitions and INICC methods. Results: We documented 467 ICU patients for 2,133 bed days. The central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rate was 19.7 per 1,000 central line days, the ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) rate was 43.7 per 1,000 mechanical ventilator days, and the catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) rate was 15.7 per 1,000 urinary catheter days; all of the rates are higher than the INICC rates (CLABSI: 4.9; VAP: 16.5; and CAUTI: 5.3) and CDC-NHSN rates (CLABSI: 0.8; VAP: 1.1; and CAUTI: 1.3). Device use ratios were also higher than the CDC-NHSN and INICC ratios, except for the mechanical ventilator device use ratio, which was lower than the INICC ratio. Resistance of Staphylococcus aureus to oxacillin was 100%. Extra length of stay was 15.1 days for patients with CLABSI, 7.8 days for patients with VAP, and 8.2 days for patients with CAUTI. Extra crude mortality in the ICUs was 18.6% for CLABSI, 17.1% for VAP, and 5.1% for CAUTI. Conclusion: Device-associated health care-associated infection rates and most device use ratios in our Mongolian hospitals' ICUs are higher than the CDC-NSHN and INICC rates

The impact of the environment on health in Mongolia: A systematic review

Mongolia has significant exposure to environmental risk factors because of poor environmental management and behaviors, and children are increasingly vulnerable to these threats. This study aimed to assess levels of exposure and summarize the evidence for associations between exposures to environmental risk factors and adverse health outcomes in Mongolia, with a particular focus on children. A systematic review was conducted using the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Global Health Library, CINAHL, CABI, Scopus, and mongolmed.mn electronic databases up to April 2014. A total of 59 studies meeting the predetermined criteria were included. Results indicate that the Mongolian population has significant exposure to outdoor and indoor air pollution, metals, environmental tobacco smoke, and other chemical toxins, and these risk factors have been linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases among adults and respiratory diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders among children. Well-designed epidemiological investigations in vulnerable populations especially in pregnant women and children are recommended