Biography:

Xolile Mkhize is a PhD student in the field of Food and Nutrition at Durban University of Technology. Her research project focuses on legume production and consumption within elderly farmers in addressing food insecurity. She is currently working as a Senior Lecturer in the field of Food and Nutrition in Department of Community Extension at Mangosuthu University of Technology for the past three years and has also worked at other academic institutions such (Durban University of Technology and University of Zululand). She has worked in various community research projects focusing on food and nutrition security among vulnerable groups and also involved in the promotion of urban agriculture in city of Durban. She has over eight years of industrial experience in the food industry.

Abstract:

Adulthood obesity particularly among women is a growing concern that can be exacerbated by menopause. This also leads to a declining metabolic rate causing obesity as well as central obesity. These factors impact women’s health and can compromise agricultural production. The objective of the study was to determine the nutritional status which included anthropometrics to determine BMI, WC, WTHR scores among women who are actively involved in farming which is perceived as a form of physical exercise. The study was descriptive in nature comprised of 89 women between ages of 43- 85 years with a mean age of 63.3. All participants selected were part of the municipal agricultural programme database. Participants gave willing consent to participate in the study. This investigation was part of the Ethekwini municipality initiative. Results indicated that the majority of the women were generally obese (>30->40) at 70.7% followed by those overweight (25-29.99) at 18.0% which suggests that almost 88.7% of the population was over-nourished. Respondents who were within the normal weight (18.5-24.99) were 7.9% while only 3.4% were underweight (<18.5). The majority of women exceeded (84.3%) the cut off points for waist circumference (˃88 cm) while a minority (15.7%) were within the recommended scores (≤ 88 cm). These results correlate with the BMI of women being obese in two forms. However, central obesity was a higher form of obesity detected when comparing the two. Waist to hip ratio (Wthr) as metabolic risk factor was exceeded (≥05) by 88.8% of the population while 11.2% were within the recommended scores (<0.5). Agricultural activity as a form of physical exercise among small holder farmers did not address obesity prevalence. Interventions should investigate dietary intake as well as other risk factors to address this challenge among these farmers.

Biography:

Isabel M Perez de Vargas Sansalvador received her BSc in Chemistry (2005), MSc (2008) and PhD in Analytical Chemistry (2011) from University of Granada, Spain. Her Post-doctoral experience started at Cranfield University, UK and later at Dublin City University, Ireland. She is currently a Marie Curie Fellow at University of Granada. Her research interests include chemical sensors for environmental and food analysis applications.

Abstract:

We present MultiSens, an innovative intelligent packaging platform that alerts the customer of packaged fresh meat quality. If the CO2 level changes during storage it is a clear indicator that bacteria are growing inside the package and/or the package is not well sealed and the modified atmosphere has been compromised. NH3 is a clear indicator of deterioration, as it is a product of microbial degradation and H2S is obtained by decomposition of cysteine, it is produced during meat spoilage. Therefore, these three gases have been selected as target gases for the development of the freshness sensors. First, the correlation of meat freshness with the concentration of gases has been studied inside packages. Pseudomonas and total viable count (TVC) are key parameters to evaluate this. It has been accepted that 107 cfu/g /mL is a threshold for meat spoilage. The correlation between bacteria count and gas release has been studied in terms of time and hence the threshold of these gas concentrations for meat freshness has been established. Sensors for each of the target gases have been developed by the use of water soluble inks containing pH indicators and ionic liquids, extending the lifetime of conventional organic-based sensors. Reproducibility, cross-sensitivity, lifetime, and dynamic response have been studied obtaining good results to transfer this platform to the market. Since there is an increasing interest in the use of smartphones and similar devices such as tablets, the development of an Android/iOS application is being carried out. This implementation simplifies the whole system as no sophisticated expensive instruments shall be used, just a mobile phone, avoiding the necessity for specialized training.

Biography:

Aditya Lal completed his PhD in Agricultural Process Food Engineering from SHUATS, Allahabad, India; ME in Food Engineering and Bioprocess Engineering from Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand; MTech in Agricultural Process Food Engineering in 2008 from Allahabad Agricultural Institute–Deemed University, India and; BTech in Agricultural Engineering from Allahabad Agricultural Institute–Deemed University, India. He is involved in teaching, research and extension work.

Abstract:

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) grown easily throughout the year in high altitudes and it can strongly resist the conditions of drought. India is known to be the leading producer of finger millet (ragi). Finger millet is ranked fourth in the world among most important millets after sorghum, pearl millet and foxtail millet. Mostly it is subject to milling, malting, fermentation, popping, and decortications. The whole grain finger millet is high in protein, minerals and excellent source of iron. The amino acids lecithin and methionine help to cut down the cholesterol levels by eliminating extra fat from liver and threonine helps to block fat deposition in liver. Regular consumption of finger millet can reduce the chance of various lives threatening disease. It is not common in our diets so the chance of incorporating it into various types of food products holds a vast scope to study and research. And moreover variety of finger millet can probably transform food products into a magical food product. Based on finger millet the development of novel food products and value addition of food products can aid to nutritional security. Finger millet proves to be cheap source of health booster. Therefore, using traditional and modern or advance techniques to process finger millet for value addition or convenient food products can be a great idea to introduce it for better consumption. Mainly using it for the value addition of traditional food product, can diversify the food territory for nutritionally sustainable food availability to the common people who cannot afford expensive food products. Additional benefit of finger millet after processing is to use husk from it in underground storage for packaging material in pillows and cushions. The straw is a good fodder and it is also used to prepare beds for animals.

Biography:

Susruta Sen He has completed his Medical graduation from Calcutta Medical College; MD from University of Burdwan in 2005 and; PG Diploma in Diabetology from Annamalai University in 2007. At present, he is the sectional Head of Biochemistry at Calcutta Medical Research Institute and BM Birla Heart Research Center. He has validated biological reference intervals of different clinical biochemistry parameters among eastern Indian population. He investigated a comparative study of lipid profile between hypothyroid and euthyroid patients along with elucidation of the effect of alcohol on blood lipid profile. At present, he is investigating the exact relation involved in urinary micro albumin excretion and blood lipid profile changes in different stages of controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus. He is also investigating the relation between HbA1c% and blood glucose value, and the interferences of different hemoglobin variants in the estimation of glycosylated hemoglobin among the subjects with poor glycemia.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Diabetes has become a modern epidemic. Worldwide increase in the prevalence of type-2 diabetes is posing a massive health problem in both developed and developing countries. Unfortunately, more than 50% of the diabetic subjects remain unaware of their diabetes status, which adds to the disease burden. Till now estimation of blood glucose is the highly effective method for diagnosing diabetes mellitus but it provides a short-term picture of control. That is why, to study the patterns of glycemic control in diabetic subjects, measurement of hemoglobin (Hb)A1c by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has become a widely used tool to monitor long-term glycemic control in diabetic patients. But it has been found that hemoglobin variants strongly interferes and affect HbA1c measurements in this process. Hence, the objective of this study was to compare the HbA1c values measured on HPLC in patients who were detected to have hemoglobin variant after HbA1c analysis in order to avoid mismanagement of glycemic status in diabetic patients.

Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: In the present study, we have investigated glycosylated hemoglobin and hemoglobin variants by the HPLC method. The rest of hematological tests were done in the Beckman Coulter instrument. We have enrolled all over 1200 study subjects in the present study. Among them 456 people were enrolled as non-diabetic and rest of the study subjects have type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus. All of the study subjects enrolled in the present study was more than 19 years of age. The study was carried out in accordance with the code of ethics of the World Medical Association (Declaration of Helsinki).

Findings: Our findings revealed that 65% of diabetic population have normal hemoglobin pattern, 23% subjects were found with beta thalassaemia trait, 7% subjects with HbE trait, 1.5% subjects were found to have HbE homozygous and rest of the subjects were found to have other kinds of hemoglobin variants like HbD, HbD Punjab heterozygous among the diabetic individuals. Average results of HbA1c, HbF, HbA and HbA2 were calculated and the mean value of each variable were compared by unpaired student’s two tailed t test to find out the significant difference between different variables.

Conclusion: So, we can conclude that HbA1c can be significantly altered by HbE trait and HbE homozygous variant. The more HbA2 or HbE concentration in blood, the more is the interference and lower is the HbA1c value. In case of beta thalassaemia trait, abnormal hemoglobin was found not so high, therefore, the interferences in HbA1c results is less than those with HbE trait and HbE homozygous variant.

Biography:

Subhadip Choudhuri is investigating the role of different lipoproteins, advanced glycation and lipoxidation end products, cell migration and adhesion molecules in the development of diabetic microvascular diseases. Major area of research interest includes investigating the cellular and molecular mechanism involved in the metabolic deregulation and pathophysiology of pre-diabetes & type 2 diabetes mellitus and related microvascular dysfunction. He is the Fellow of National Academy of Biochemistry (American Association of Clinical Chemistry). He has completed his PhD in Biochemistry from University of Calcutta in 2013. He is the Reviewer of several international journals and has 20 international publications in high impact journals. At present, he is a Chief Biochemist and Research Scientist at GD Hospital and Diabetes Institute, Kolkata.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a form of microangiopathy, is one of the leading causes of blindness across the world. Among the different biochemical pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of DR, the process of formation and accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and their mode of actions have been considered as major initiator of retinal micro vascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). AGEs are non-enzymatically glycated and oxidized proteins or lipids, which accumulate in the vessel wall, where they may perturb vascular endothelial and pericyte cell structure and function. Apart from hyper-glycemic events, irreversibly proteins are also modified by non-enzymatic reaction of reactive carbonyl species, produced by lipid peroxidation and lipid metabolism among diabetic individuals. However, the term advanced lipoxidation end products (ALEs) comprises modified protein adducts, derived from malondialdehyde as well as other lipid peroxidation products.

Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: In the present study, we have investigated whether AGEs and its late oxidative products in normal individuals without diabetes (HC), patients of type 2 DM without retinopathy (DNR) and patients of DR i.e. in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) were significantly different. We have also measured serum lipoproteins, cholesterol, triglycerides, hexanoyl-lysine (HEL), and malondialdehyde (MDA) protein adduct (a potential ALE species) to understand the cross-talk of diabetes associated hyperlipidemia and ALEs in the occurrence of NPDR. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, spectrophotometry and flow cytometry techniques were employed to measure different glyco or lipoxidative products, lipids and reactive oxygen species from blood.

Findings: Serum AGEs and Nε-CML level was significantly elevated in subjects with PDR and NPDR compared to DNR subjects. Further vitreous AGEs and Nε-CML level was found extensively high among PDR subjects compared to control group. Reactive oxygen species production was found strikingly high among NPDR and PDR subjects as compared to DNR group. Serum and cellular total thiol level was decreased remarkably in NPDR and PDR subjects than those were considered as DNR. A robust linear relationship was observed in between MDA protein adduct and LDL or cholesterol or triglyceride level, and HEL and LDL or cholesterol or triglyceride level among MNPDR subjects.

Conclusion & Significance: Our findings suggest that AGEs mediated ROS are the key modulator for the development of NPDR among poorly controlled type 2 diabetic subjects whereas AGEs under persistent oxidative stress and deprived antioxidant state might instigate the pathogenic process of retinopathy from non-proliferative to proliferative state. Hyperlipidemia is also an important factor associated with increased ALEs formation in NPDR. Increased ALEs generation was found to be associated with the decreased availability of principle cellular reductants in NPDR, suggesting their detrimental role in the occurrence of early NPDR.

Biography:

Nazma Shaheen has her expertise in research and teaching in Nutrition particularly food composition, food functionality, micronutrient malnutrition and health. She has made significant achievements in food-composition-model that links at global level. Currently, she has been serving the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka as Director. Her research covered the areas of nutrient content of foods, functionality of commonly consumed foods and heavy metals with food safety concerns.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Protein is a source of energy and the major functional and structural constituent of all cells of the body. Despite of protein’s endeavor of the anticipated roles, there is lack of valid and reliable information on amino acid composition and protein quality of commonly consumed foods of Bangladesh. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and determines the worth of amino acid composition of the dietary protein by estimation of amino acid composition in 10 prioritized key foods of Bangladesh as major dietary protein sources.

Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: Concentrations of standard amino acids were determined in the composite samples (representing 30 agro-ecological zones of Bangladesh) of 10 prioritized key dietary protein sources: Oryza sativa (rice), Triticum aestivum (wheat flour), Lens culinaris (lentils), Pangasius pangasius (pangas), Labeo rohita (rohu), Oreochromis mossambicus (tilapia), Bos taurus (milk), Gallus bankiva murgha (egg) and Gallus bankiva murgha (chicken leg & breast). Indispensable amino acids (IAAs) profile determines the quality of food protein rather than quantity of protein in a food.

Findings: IAAs contents (mg IAA/g protein), found to be highest in pangas (430) and lowest in wheat (336), of all these analyzed foods exceeded the FAO recommended daily allowance (277 mg IAA/g protein) and contributed on average 40% to total amino acid content. Digestible indispensable amino acid scores (DIAAS) was calculated using published data on amino acids digestibility to evaluate the protein quality of these foods.

Conclusion & Significance: Un-truncated DIAAS values ranged from 51% (lysine) in wheat to 106% (histidine) in pangas and distinguished pangas, rohu, and tilapia containing excellent quality protein (DIAAS>100%) with potential to complement lower quality protein of cereals, fruits, and vegetables. Explore new approaches of protein quality evaluation and its implications in the local context for complimentary feeding and food supplementation to promote growth of young children.