Feeding growing rats a diet deficient in magnesium results in a deficiency condition whose major characteristic, that of kidney calcification, exhibits a mechanism very similar to that of urolithiasis in humans. Work done with lysosomal stabilizers and rats fed this deficient diet shows a reduction in calcification with the administration of these drugs. Accordingly, a study was undertaken to examine the mechanism of this process more closely with regards to a possible involvement of kidney lysosomes or the vacuolar apparatus. Lysosomal enzyme levels in the kidneys of rats fed either a low magnesium or a control diet were examined and an attempt made to determine if there were any differences due to treatments. While biochemical evidence suggests no differences, histochemically we see what appears to be a shift in activity to the area where calcification occurs. At the same time, while there is no effect from treatment, there appears to be a time effect, enzyme activity decreasing or increasing significantly with day. This seems to appear histochemically in the form of increased PAS sustainability in sections from rats on either low magnesium or control diet compared to rats on a rat pellet diet. / Master of Science

Previous epidemiological evidence from a number of studies supports the hypothesis that the risk of essential hypertension, coronary heart disease and non-insulin dependent diabetes is, in part, programmed by intrauterine nutritional status. An increasing number of human studies indicate that the developing kidney is particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of fetal growth retarding influences. In animals growth retarding diets or other insults, which have an impact on the development of cardiovascular functions, also appear to impact upon nephron number. In this study, the feeding of a 9% casein diet to pregnant rats, a mild protein restriction, reduced nephron number in the offspring, which progressively declined with age compared to those exposed to an 1 8% control diet. At weaning low-protein exposed offspring had hypertension and evedence of renal insufficiency. On natural death, the kidneys from aged male rats exposed to both low-protein and control maternal diets had a higher incidence glornerulosclerosis and renal disruption than females. Supplementing the maternal 9% casein diet with 3% glycine, 1.5% urea and 3% alanine in the rat normalised nephron number in the offspring. Only the addition of glycinc in the maternal low- protein diet prevented the appearance of high blood pressure in the offspring. In this study it has been demonstrated that in humans, those of a low birth weight or ponderal index, a marker of fetal undernutrition, had evidence of increased glomerular permeability, but not elevated blood pressure at age 10. This association was not evident at age 12 or in a separate cohort of young adults. It is possible that hypertension and a reduced nephron reserve are not causally associated. The evidence from this thesis suggest that prenatal undernutrition may programme renal structure in later life, but that renal programming is not one of the primary mechanisms leading to hypertension

Kelpak®, a seaweed concentrate (SWC) prepared from the brown seaweed Ecklonia maxima (Osbeck) Papenfuss, improves overall plant mass and fruit yield in a variety of crops. The main active principals isolated from Kelpak® are cytokinins and auxins. Although these compounds are partly responsible for the growth promoting effect observed with Kelpak® application, they do not fully account for the complete effect of Kelpak® treatment. For this reason the focus has turned to polyamines (PAs) which are found in all cells of plants, animals and microorganisms, including eukaryotic algae. Polyamines also have growth promoting effects in plants. A study was carried out to investigate the PA levels in E. maxima and Kelpak® through a biennial cycle and to investigate if the PAs present in Kelpak® may have an effect on root growth, alleviating nutrient deficiency and the transport and accumulation of PAs in plants. To determine the amount of PA in the stipes, fronds and SWC prepared from E. maxima, samples were collected monthly over a two-year period (June 2009-June 2011). Extracts were benzoylated and quantified using a Varian HPLC. Putrescine concentrations ranged from 15.98-54.46 μg.g⁻¹, 6.01-40.46 μg.g⁻¹ and 50.66-220.49 μg.g⁻¹ DW in the stipe, fronds and SWC, respectively. Spermine concentrations ranged from 1.02-35.44 μg.g⁻¹, 1.05-26.92 μg.g⁻¹ and 7.28-118.52 μg.g⁻¹ DW in the stipe, fronds and SWC, respectively. Spermidine concentrations fell below the detection threshold. This is the first report of PAs being detected in a SWC. The seasonal pattern established for the stipe, frond and SWC followed the same trend over a biennial cycle. Polyamines accumulated in the seaweed tissue during periods of active growth and as a stress response elicited by rough wave action. This PA trend was similar to the cytokinin trend reported by MOONEY and VAN STADEN (1984b) for Sargassum heterophyllum which suggests that PAs play an important role in the hormone cascade during active growth. Routine monthly screening of Kelpak® carried out in the Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development indicated that Kelpak® consistently resulted in more rooting in the mung bean bioassay than the IBA control. The potential root promoting effect of PAs were investigated. Individually applied PAs did not increase rooting in the mung bean bioassay, but a synergistic relationship was observed between Put (10⁻³ M) and IBA (10⁻⁴ M). When applied together, rooting increased significantly above Put (10⁻³ M) and IBA (10⁻⁴ M) applied separately. The Put-auxin combination produced a similar number of roots to those treated with Kelpak®. It is possible that the PAs present in Kelpak® have a synergistic effect with auxins present in Kelpak® to promote root development and growth. Several physiological effects of Kelpak® and PAs on plant growth were investigated in a series of pot trials. Kelpak® significantly improved the growth of P- and K-deficient okra seedlings and masked the detrimental effects exerted by P- and K-deficiency. The application of PAs (10⁻⁴ M) significantly improved the seedling vigour index (SVI) of okra seedlings subjected to N-deficiency. The statistical difference was attributed to the N-containing growth regulators and polyamines being degraded and metabolized by the okra seedlings. Polyamine application did not alleviate P- and K-deficiency but increased root growth significantly in seedlings receiving an adequate supply of nutrients. It is likely that the additional PAs supported auxin-mediated root growth. A pot trial with okra plants was conducted to establish if the PAs in Kelpak®, applied as a soil drench or foliar application, are absorbed and translocated in a plant. Plants were also treated with Put, Spm, Spd to establish if PAs can be absorbed and translocated. Once the fruit had matured, plants were harvested and the endogenous PA content quantified by HPLC in the roots, stems and fruits. Applying PAs as a soil drench was not as effective as a foliar spray at increasing the PA content in the different plant parts. Kelpak® treatment (0.4%) did not contribute more PAs in any plant part. Spermidine concentrations were higher, in the various plant parts, than Put or Spm, irrespective of the mode of application. The application of Put, Spd and Spm increased Spd concentrations in the roots. Considering that Spd is the main PA produced in the roots and that exogenously applied PAs are readily converted to Spd, it seems evident that Spd is the preferred PA for long-distance transport in plants. The cytokinins and auxins in Kelpak® play an important role in stimulating growth in plants. It is, however, the totality of different compounds in Kelpak® that gives it its unique growth stimulating ability. Polyamines, occurring within the seaweed contribute to this activity, having an active role in root production and thus increased plant growth. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.

Introdução O intenso crescimento e desenvolvimento da criança nos dois primeiros anos de vida inserem este grupo populacional em situação de alto risco à desnutrição e deficiências nutricionais específicas, especialmente em situações socioeconômicas desfavoráveis. Objetivo Identificar a prática da alimentação de crianças de 06 a 23 meses de idade atendidas pela Estratégia Saúde da Família no Maranhão. Métodos Dados secundários do projeto Prevalência e Determinantes da Anemia em Mulheres e Crianças no Estado do Maranhão. Estudo transversal de base populacional e abordagem quantitativa. O consumo foi avaliado através do inquérito Recordatório de 24 horas. A avaliação da adequação de consumo foi realizada através do Guia Alimentar para Crianças Menores de 2 anos, do Guia Alimentar para a População Brasileira e pelo proposto pela Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde. A prática alimentar foi caracterizada pela frequência de refeições, participação dos grupos de alimentos e quantificação de energia, ferro e vitamina A, distribuídos por faixa etária. Resultados Das 401 crianças com idade entre 06 e 23 meses, 52 por cento ainda eram amamentadas, sendo para 17 por cento a única fonte láctea. O grupo dos leites e derivados foi o mais frequente em todas as crianças com 65 por cento entre 6 a 8 meses, 53 por cento de 9 a 11 meses, 41 por cento de 12 a 17 meses e 29 por cento de 18 a 23 meses, declinando expressivamente com o aumento da idade. O grupo de cereais, tubérculos e derivados, o segundo mais expressivo, aumenta com a idade, com frequência de 11 por cento , 16 por cento , 24 por cento e 28 por cento , respectivamente em cada faixa etária. Os alimentos mais consumidos em cada grupo foram leite materno associado ao leite de vaca, arroz, banana, legumes como ingrediente principal da papa salgada, feijão, carne bovina, açúcar, margarina e refresco. Frutas, legumes e verduras, considerados marcadores de padrão alimentar saudável, tiveram um consumo de 13,3 por cento , 14,0 por cento , 14,8 por cento e 16,1 por cento , por faixa etária. O consumo de alimentos marcadores de padrão alimentar não saudável variou de 6 por cento entre 6 e 8 meses a 16 por cento entre 18 a 23 meses. A quantidade média de energia, ferro e vitamina A foram de 880 Kcal, 5,2 mg e 395gRE e inadequação em relação às recomendações de 41 por cento , 75 por cento e 57 por cento , respectivamente, para crianças de todas as faixas etárias. Valores de inadequação de ferro foram elevados principalmente na faixa etária entre 9 e 11 meses de idade com 97 por cento de inadequação. Em relação à vitamina A, verificamos 76,3 por cento de inadequação entre 18 e 23 meses de idade. A adequação de energia foi de 95,4 por cento . Conclusão Constatou-se que a alimentação de grande parte da população não atende às recomendações nutricionais de ferro e vitamina A. Igualmente, por ser constituído basicamente por uma dieta láctea, consumo elevado de alimentos energéticos e reduzido consumo de frutas, legumes e verduras, não atende à segurança alimentar. Os resultados obtidos mostram o risco de anemia e hipovitaminose A. Igualmente, a prática alimentar aponta para o risco do desenvolvimento de doenças crônicas, evidenciando a necessidade de aprimoramento das ações de orientação de hábitos alimentares saudáveis na Atenção Básica. / Introduction - The intense growth and development of children in the first two years of life insert this population group at high risk for malnutrition and specific nutritional deficiencies, especially in unfavorable socioeconomic situations. Objective - To identify the practice of feeding children 06-23 months old served by the Family Health Strategy in Maranhão. Methods Secondary data from Prevalence and Determinants Projects of anemia in women and children in the state of Maranhão projects. Transversal population-based study and a quantitative approach. Consumption was assessed by dietary recall survey of 24 hours. The assessment of consumption was performed using the Food Guide for Children under two years, the Food Guide for the Brazilian Population and proposed by the National Health Survey. A diet was characterized by frequency of meals, participation in food groups and quantification of energy, iron and vitamin A, divided by age group. Results From 401 children within 06 to 23 months, 52 per cent were still being breastfed and for 17 per cent from this group it was the only milk source. The group of milk and dairy products was the most common in all children with 65 per cent between 6-8 months 53 per cent 9-11 months 41 per cent 12-17 months and 29 per cent 18-23 months falling significantly as their age increase. The group derived from cereals and tubers, the second most significant, increases with age, often 11 per cent , 16 per cent , 24 per cent and 28 per cent respectively in each age group. The most consumed foods in each group were breast milk associated to cow\'s milk, rice, banana, soups rich with vegetables, beans, beef, sugar, margarine and artificial fruit refreshment. Fruits and vegetables, that are considered healthy eating pattern markers, had a consumption average of 13,3 per cent , 14,0 per cent , 14,8 per cent and 16,1 per cent , by age group. The consumption of unhealthy foods in pattern markers ranged from 6 per cent between 6 and 8 months to 16 per cent between 18-23 months. The average amount of energy, iron and vitamin A were 880 kcal, 5.2 mg and 395gRE and inadequacy in relation to the recommendations of 41 per cent , 75 per cent and 57 per cent , respectively, for children of all ages. Inadequacy of iron values were high especially in 9 and 11 months age with 97 per cent of inadequacy. With regard to vitamin A, we found 76.3 per cent inadequacy between 18 and 23 months old. The adequacy of energy was 95.4 per cent . Conclusion - It was noticed that a big part of the population doesnt have access to the nutritional recommendation of iron and vitamin A. Also, since it is basically constituted by a milk diet, high consumption of energy foods and low consumption of fruits and vegetables, does not attend the food safety. The results show the risk of anemia and hypovitaminosis A. Likewise, the feeding practice points to the risk of developing chronic diseases, highlighting the need to improve the orientation of shares of healthy eating habits in primary care.

Adequate nutrition is fundamental to optimal physical and cognitive growth in the second year of life. Toddlers, however, are particularly vulnerable to poor nutrition due to their high nutrient needs in relation to their body size and energy intakes. Nutrient-dense diets are therefore essential during this period. However, no practical quantitative food-based dietary guidelines directed at this age group are available to help caregivers choose nutrient-rich foods for their toddler. Such guidelines are needed not only to ensure adequate intakes of all nutrients during the period of dietary transition from infant to family foods, but also to emphasise intakes of nutrients for which toddlers are at particular risk of deficiency. Biochemical evidence suggests that iron nutrition requires special attention in New Zealand toddlers. The overall aim of this thesis was to design and assess the efficacy of practical food-based strategies for toddlers to ensure optimal nutritional status of 12-24 month old New Zealand children, with a specific focus on iron nutrition. To achieve these overall aims, the research was carried out in three stages. In the first stage, secondary data analysis of food intake data for New Zealand toddlers identified the foods commonly consumed by New Zealand toddlers, the serving sizes and frequency of consumption of these foods, and the nutrients that New Zealand toddlers are at risk of consuming in suboptimal amounts. The food intake data were obtained from 3-day weighed food intakes that had been collected on non-consecutive days in an earlier community-based cross-sectional survey of 188 randomly selected non-breastfeeding 12-24 month old urban South Island New Zealand children. In addition to describing the food consumption patterns of New Zealand toddlers, the secondary data analysis also identified that nearly 40% of New Zealand toddlers were at risk of suboptimal iron intakes. The results of these analyses were used in the second stage of the thesis to develop three food-based strategies. To do this a 4-phase approach based on linear and goal programming was used to design and hypothetically evaluate three sets of food-based strategies for 12-24 month old non-breastfeeding New Zealand children, and to identify the key problem nutrients for each set of strategies. The three sets of strategies were based on: (1) all foods consumed by toddlers including iron-fortified infant and toddler foods, (2) family foods only, or (3) family foods that are not fortified with iron. The mathematical modelling confirmed that iron was the key problem nutrient in the diets of New Zealand toddlers. The analysis showed that only food-based strategies that included a recommendation for the replacement of non-fortified cow�s milk with an iron-fortified toddler milk (500 mL), i.e. strategy set 1, achieved the Australian-New Zealand Recommended Dietary Intakes for all nutrients, including iron. In fact, inclusion of a recommendation for a substantially increased consumption of flesh foods was identified as the only possible alternative to the iron-fortified toddler milk recommendation for improving iron nutrition in New Zealand toddlers. Although the set of strategies including this flesh food recommendation did not provide as much total iron as those including the iron-fortified toddler milk recommendation, the bioavailability of the iron is likely to be greater because flesh foods provide highly bioavailable haem iron (red meat being a particularly rich source) and have an enhancing effect on the absorption of non-haem iron. The two key recommendations for achieving New Zealand toddlers� iron needs were, therefore, a recommendation to consume an iron-fortified toddler milk and a recommendation to consume substantial amounts of red meat. In the third stage, the efficacy of an increased intake of red meat or the use of an iron-fortified milk for improving biochemical iron status in healthy non-anaemic 12-20 month old New Zealand children was investigated in a 20-week partial double-blind randomised placebo-controlled intervention trial. The study also examined the effect of these two interventions on dietary iron intakes and growth, and investigated the association between the amount of meat consumed and biochemical iron parameters. Participants (n=225) were assigned to one of three groups: Meat Group (n=90), Fortified Milk Group (n=45), or Placebo Group (n=90). Children in the Meat Group were encouraged to consume two red meat dishes per day (~ 2.6 mg of iron). In the Fortified Milk Group and Placebo Group, the children�s regular milk was replaced with iron-fortified cow�s milk (1.5 mg of iron per 100 g of prepared milk), or non-fortified cow�s milk (< 0.1 mg of iron per 100 g of prepared milk), respectively. Geometric mean dietary iron intakes (95% CI) increased from 4.7 (4.1, 5.3) to 5.3 (4.7, 6.0) mg per day in the Meat Group (P=0.007), and from 4.3 (3.7, 5.0) to 10.4 (9.0, 12.2) mg per day in the Fortified Milk Group (P<0.001). These increased iron intakes differed significantly from the Placebo Group (both P<0.001), which declined from 5.1 (4.5, 5.7) to 4.6 (4.1, 5.2) mg per day during the intervention (P=0.047). Over 20 weeks, adjusted geometric mean serum ferritin concentration increased by 44% (95% CI: 14%, 82%) in the Fortified Milk Group (P=0.002), tended to decrease in the Placebo Group (14% decrease (95% CI: -27%, 1%; P=0.063)), and did not significantly change in the Meat Group (10% increase (95% CI: -7%, 30%; P=0.241)). However, because iron status declined in the Placebo Group, both groups fared significantly better than the Placebo Group: serum ferritin concentration at 20 weeks was 68% (95% CI: 27%, 124%; P<0.001) greater in the Fortified Milk Group than in the Placebo Group, and 29% (95% CI: 2%, 63%; P=0.033) greater in the Meat Group than in the Placebo Group. There were no intervention effects on haemoglobin or serum transferrin receptor concentration. The cross-sectional analysis showed that a daily intake of 1 g of red meat was associated with 0.65% (95% CI: 0.18%, 1.11%; P=0.007) higher serum ferritin concentration. No adverse effects of the interventions on the toddlers� growth were detected. In conclusion, this thesis shows that food-based strategies can be designed that, if adhered to, should ensure adequate iron status in New Zealand toddlers. Although both the iron-fortified milk recommendation and the increased red meat recommendation are likely to prevent the decline in body iron stores that can occur during the second year of life, only consumption of iron-fortified milk can successfully increase iron stores. Therefore, food-based strategies for New Zealand toddlers will need to include a recommendation that encourages the consumption of foods developed specifically for toddlers that are fortified with iron.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / "May 2006" The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 156-168). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 156-168). Also available on the Internet.