Diseases, Vol. 4, Pages 6: Preventive Effects of Cocoa and Cocoa Antioxidants in Colon Cancer

Colorectal cancer is one of the main causes of cancer-related mortality in the developed world. Carcinogenesis is a multistage process conventionally defined by the initiation, promotion and progression stages. Natural polyphenolic compounds can act as highly effective antioxidant and chemo-preventive agents able to interfere at the three stages of cancer. Cocoa has been demonstrated to counteract oxidative stress and to have a potential capacity to interact with multiple carcinogenic pathways involved in inflammation, proliferation and apoptosis of initiated and malignant cells. Therefore, restriction of oxidative stress and/or prevention or delayed progression of cancer stages by cocoa antioxidant compounds has gained interest as an effective approach in colorectal cancer prevention. In this review, we look over different in vitro and in vivo studies that have identified potential targets and mechanisms whereby cocoa and their flavonoids could interfere with colonic cancer. In addition, evidence from human studies is also illustrated.

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Surface activation of CNT Webs towards layer by layer assembly of Biosensors

Analyst, 2016, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/C5AN02547H, Paper

Mustafa M Musameh, Chi Huynh, Mark Hicky, Ilias Louis Kyratzis
Several surface activation methods such as chemical, electrochemical and plasma have been used for enhancing the electrochemical performance of carbon based electrodes for various applications. However, some of these surface...
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Parental support has positive effect on children’s eating behaviours

Parental support programmes in areas with the greatest needs can have a positive effect on the consumption of unhealthy food and drink and on weight increases in obese children. This according to a randomised study conducted by Karolinska Institutet and the Stockholm County Council published in the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity. Even though school-based programmes promoting healthy eating and physical activity and preventing overweight have had a demonstrable effect, more knowledge is needed on how to best involve the children's parents. The En frisk skolstart (lit: A healthy school start) programme was therefore launched to support parents in their attempts to promote good dietary habits and physical activity in their preschool children. The present study was carried out in the Stockholm region in areas of low socioeconomic status and where the incidence of overweight and obesity is the highest in the county. The researchers compared 16 preschool classes that were participating in the programme with 15 preschool classes that received no intervention. The researchers found that the intervention programme gave rise to a significant reduction in the consumption of unhealthy food and drink, such as snacks, ice cream, biscuits, sweets, soft drinks, flavoured milk and fruit juice. Children with obesity at the start of the programme also had an observable reduction in BMI. "The results are promising, and demonstrate that school initiatives and parental support can promote healthy eating behaviours in six-year-olds with the greatest need," says project leader Gisela Nyberg, PhD, at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Public Health Sciences and the Stockholm County Council's Centre for Epidemiology and Community Medicine. "However, the programme needs enhancing if it is to have a stronger and more lasting impact." Two motivational interviews During the six months of the programme, the parents in the intervention group received health information to read and two motivational interviews. In the school, ten classroom activities were performed with the children, who received assignments to complete at home with their parents. Data on height, weight, diet, physical activity were taken for all of the children at the start of the programme, shortly afterwards and five months after its conclusion. At this fifth-month follow-up, the positive effects of the lower consumption of unhealthy food remained amongst the boys. The programme had no effect on physical activity, but the children's level of activity was high already from the start. "The project makes an important contribution to the further development of evidence-based programmes for promoting healthy eating and physical activity and preventing overweight and obesity in children," says Dr Nyberg. "In the long run, this can help to improve public health and reduce health inequality." The study was a collaboration between the "Community nutrition and physical activity" research group at Karolinska Institutet and the Stockholm County Council's Centre for Epidemiology and Community Medicine. It was financed by the Stockholm County Council, the Martin Rind Foundation and the Sven Jerring Foundation. Text: Karin Söderlund Leifler (in translation from Swedish) Publication Effectiveness of a universal parental support programme to promote health behaviours and prevent overweight and obesity in 6-year-old children in disadvantaged areas, the Healthy School Start Study II, a cluster-randomised controlled trial  G Nyberg, Å Norman, E Sundblom, Z Zeebari och LS Elinder Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act, online 21 January 2016, doi: 10.1186/s12966-016-0327-4

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