This paper aims to describe the sociocultural context of areca nut use through exploring people's norms and values and the meaning underlying a wide range of different practices. A historical review is followed by an examination of more recent evidence, including quantitative and qualitative research conducted in the United Kingdom. It is concluded that some reports involving the various uses of areca nut and the conclusions drawn are confusing and that future studies need to be more explicit. While a sound scientific background is required, important sociocultural and religious issues around areca nut use must also be understood if health promotion initiatives are to be considered.
Among trophic factors already known, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and other members of its family have potent and specific action on dopaminergic neurons. In the present investigation an attempt has been made to validate the role of GDNF co-transplantation with fetal ventral mesencephalic cells (VMC) on functional viability and restoration using neurobehavioral, neurochemical and immunohistochemical parameters at 6 weeks post-transplantation in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesioned rat model of Parkinson's disease (PD). A significant restoration (P<0.01) in D-amphetamine induced rotations, spontaneous and apomorphine induced locomotor activity in rats co-transplanted with VMC and GDNF was observed as compared to VMC alone transplanted rats. Level of dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxy-phenyl acetic acid (DOPAC) and dopamine D2 (DA-D2) receptors in the caudate putamen (CPu) were significantly (P<0.001) restored in co-transplanted group as compared to VMC transplanted or GDNF administered animals. The functional viability of transplanted VMC was confirmed by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression and quantification of TH-positive cells by image analysis revealed a significant restoration in TH-IR fibers density as well as TH-IR neurons counts in co-transplanted animals over VMC transplanted animals. Results suggest that co-transplantation of VMC and GDNF may be a better approach towards functional restoration in 6-OHDA lesioned rat model of Parkinson's disease.
Milk is considered a wholesome food and is largely consumed globally. The bovine and caprine are the foremost source of milk, which also played a noteworthy role in the social-economic development of both developed and under-developed countries. The composition of milk significantly depends upon the environmental conditions, genetics, type of breed, and other internal and external factors. The protein, carbohydrate, lipid and vitamin and mineral content together makes milk into a wholesome nutritious fluid. Bovine milk is majorly consumed among milk from other species. On the other hand, the goats or caprine were the first domesticated animals by humans which also regard as "poor man cow". Milk of both varieties is highly nutritious and have potential benefits. The amount of water in the milk of both varieties is somewhat similar while on the other hand cow milk have a comparatively higher carbohydrate content than goat milk. The casein and whey protein (WPs) ratio in cow and goat milk is almost similar i.e., 80:20. Lipid content is an essential factor that regulates the physical and sensory values of milk. Goat milk is known for its better digestibility as compared to cow milk due to the existence of small-sized lipid globules. The poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in goat milk account for their anti-cancerous properties. In the context of the bioavailability of minerals, goat milk is preferred and high levels of vitamin A is also recorded in goat milk. It has lesser content of vitamin B9, B12 and vitamin E than cow milk. Emerging evidence from the scientific research suggests that both goat and cow are comprised of an adequate number of bioactive constituents viz immunoglobins, lactoferrin, lysozyme and others that offer the medical application in the prevention and pre-treatment of numerous ailments.
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