Background: Maternal diet during pregnancy has been suggested to be an important early-life exposure that influences immune tolerance and the development of allergic diseases in offspring. Methods: We examined the relationship between maternal dietary patterns assessed using 24-h recalls and food diaries at 26-28 weeks of pregnancy and the subsequent development of allergic outcomes in the offspring in the Growing Up in Singapore towards Healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) birth cohort. Exploratory factor analysis was used to characterize maternal dietary patterns during pregnancy. During repeated visits in the first 36 months of life, questionnaires were administered to ascertain allergic symptoms, namely, eczema, rhinitis, and wheeze. At ages 18 and 36 months, we administered skin-prick testing to inhalant and food allergens. Results: Of the 3 maternal dietary patterns that emerged, the seafood and noodles pattern was associated with a reduced risk of developing allergen sensitization at both 18 months (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.7 [0.5-0.9]) and 36 months (0.7 [0.6-0.9]) after adjustment for a family history of allergy, and ethnicity, sex, and maternal education levels. No associations between the patterns vegetables, fruit, and white rice or pasta, cheese, and processed meat were observed with any of the allergic outcomes in the first 18 and 36 months of life. Conclusion: Maternal diet during pregnancy can influence the subsequent development of allergic outcomes in offspring.

Understanding the molecular mechanisms of antimicrobial peptide-membrane interactions is crucial in predicting the design of useful synthetic antimicrobial peptide analogues. Defensins are small (3-5 kDa) cysteine-rich cationic proteins which constitute the front line of host innate immunity. In this study, a series of eight 10 AA C-terminal analogues of hBD3 [sequence: RGRKXXRRKK, X = W, F, Y, V, L, I, H, C(Acm); net charge = +7, coded as W2, F2, Y2, V2, L2, I2, H2, and C2] and covalent V2-dimer [(RGRKVVRR)(2)KK] (18 AA, net charge = +11) were synthesized using solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) in Fmoc chemistry. Wild-type hBD3 was used as a control in all analyses. W2, V2, and especially Y2 showed high activity selectively against Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the concentration range of 4.3-9.7 microM. The covalent dimeric form of V2-monomer, V2-dimer, showed increased antibacterial killing compared to the monomeric form, V2-monomer. Cytotoxicity assays on a human conjunctival epithelial cell line (IOBA-NHC cells) showed that no change in viable cell number 24 h after constant exposure to all the eight peptide analogues even at concentrations up to 200 microg/ml. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) was used to study the interaction of these peptides against POPC vesicles (neutral; mammalian cell membrane mimic) and POPG vesicles (negatively charged; bacterial cell membrane mimic). Using FCS, significant aggregation and some leakage of Rhodamine dye were observed with POPG with Y2, W2 and V2 at the concentration of 5-10 mmicroM and no significant aggregation or disruption of vesicles was observed for all peptide analogues tested against POPC. V2-dimer induced more leakage and aggregation than the monomeric form. Overall, V2-dimer is the most effective antimicrobial peptide, with aggregation of POPG vesicles observed at concentrations as low as 1 microM. The concentration of 5-10 microM for Y2 from FCS correlated with the concentration of 5 microM (6.25 microg/ml), at which Y2 showed a cooperative increase in the activity. This suggests a structural transition of Y2 in the 2.5-5 microM concentration range resulting in the correlated increased antimicrobial activity. These results and the FCS together with previous NMR and molecular dynamics (MD) suggested that the charge density-based binding affinity, stable covalent dimerization, the ability to dimerize or even oligomerize and adopt a well-defined structure are important physicochemical properties distinguishing more effective cationic antimicrobial peptides.

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We aimed to determine the optimum timing of midazolam administration prior to propofol to achieve the maximal reduction in the dose of propofol required to induce anaesthesia. Female (ASA 1-2) patients, aged 18 to 45 years, weighing 40 to 75 kg and scheduled for gynaecological surgery were eligible for the study. Consenting patients were randomly assigned to six groups. Group 1 received saline and Groups 2 to 6 received midazolam 3 mg at 1, 2, 4, 6 or 10 minutes respectively prior to propofol (n=20 to 22 per group) in a blinded manner. Propofol was administered IV over 10 seconds and flushed in with saline 5 ml. Two minutes later, the patient's response to pressure applied to the finger was determined as an index of loss of consciousness. The ED50 of propofol in each group was determined by the up-and-down method. Propofol ED50 was reduced to 34 to 67% (P<0.001) in the midazolam treated groups. There was no significant (P=0.14) difference in propofol ED50 among the five groups which received midazolam. Patients who received midazolam had less recollection of events surrounding induction (P<0.001) and recalled the induction experience as being more pleasant (P=0.03) than those who did not receive midazolam. These results indicate that midazolam may be given up to 10 minutes prior to propofol and still achieve a substantial dose reduction.

This paper investigates the mechanical performance of Knitted Fabric Reinforced Polymer (KFRP) composite when subjected to tensile loading. In particular, the effects of the fabric orientation (anisotropy) and temperature are examined. Polypropylene (PP) is used for the matrix, while plain weft knitted Kevlar29 fiber fabric is used for the reinforcement. Tensile tests are conducted at both room and elevated temperatures. The deformation of the KFRP composite when subjected to tensile loading is observed to be distinctly ductile and predominantly plastic. While the tensile modulus is observed to decrease from the wale direction to a minimum between 45∞ and 60∞ with respect to the wale direction before increasing slightly towards the course direction, the ultimate tensile strength is observed to decrease from the wale direction to a minimum at the course direction. There are three different modes of failure which can be defined at the wale, 45∞ and course directions. Failure at other orientations is found to be a combination of any of these three modes of failure. INTRODUCTIONK NITTED FABRIC REINFORCED POLYMER (KFRP) composites are known to possess flexibility, high impact strength and good drapeability [1-3]. These qualities are mainly due to two factors: the ability of the curved fabric loop to straighten and the formability and ductility of most polymers. Hence application of KFRP composites in sheet forming processes such as deep drawing is ideal because the fabric reinforcement allows better distribution of the loading stress [4,5]. However, the mechanical performance of KFRP composites are very much dependent on factors such as material, knit pattern, size of knit loops, volume fraction, fabrication, test methods and direction of loading.J. investigated the effects of anisotropy on the stiffness 685