Verjuice is a sour-tasting juice obtained from the mechanical pressing of unripe grapes. The significance of verjuice as food product includes but not limited to its richness in antioxidant compounds, its usage as an alternative to lemon and vinegar, and also its production which can reduce the losses of lower quality grapes and waste from grape thinning. In this study, a survey for the common Lebanese traditional preparation methods for verjuice was done and physicochemical properties of four Lebanese verjuice varieties Tfayfihi, Baytamoni, Black, and Obeideh along with their sensory evaluation by consumers were studied. Results showed that “Black” grape verjuice has the highest density (1.01 ± 0.003 g/L), titratable acidity (4.51 g/L ± 0.03), total soluble solids (5.38°Brix ± 0.3), and polyphenol content (676.1 mg/L ± 6.8); verjuice processed from the Baytamoni grape variety has the highest browning index (0.432 ± 0.002) and color intensity (1.18 ± 0.007); “Obeideh” grape verjuice has the highest pH (2.55 ± 0.006); and “Tfayfihi” grape verjuice has the highest radical scavenging potential (91.76% ± 0.43) and moisture content (95.85% ± 0.19). Both “Tfayfihi” and “Black” grape verjuice has the highest total suspended solids (40 g/L ± 1.3 and 40 g/L ± 2.9, respectively) among all studied verjuice. There is no difference in taste between the four verjuice varieties which we studied, but there is a color preference for the “Tfayfihi” verjuice. The use of different varieties of grapes in the processing of verjuice affects the physicochemical and sensory properties and results in selection of grape varieties being favorable in the processing of verjuice with respect to factors such as polyphenol content and color of the final product.

Dyslipidemia and hypertension are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

The study sought to evaluate the effects of

-fortified bread on metabolic risk factors among CVD outpatients.

From August 2016 to April 2017, a pilot study using a single-blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial was conducted by administering

-fortified bread (150 g) and indistinguishable placebo (150 g white flour bread) daily to 122 CVD outpatients at 37 Military Hospital, Accra, Ghana, for 90 days. Body composition, blood pressure, and biochemical parameters were evaluated before and after the intervention.

Following the intervention, the mean waist circumference (before 98.3 ± 14.6 cm, after 95.9 ± 15.8 cm,

= 0.030), BMI (before 31.4 ± 6.9 kg/m

, after 28.0 ± 5.8 kg/m

,

= 0.027), and visceral fat (before 10.4 ± 3.2, after 9.9 ± 3.0,

= 0.013), as well as systolic (from 161.2 ± 25.5 to 137.6 ± 22.9and diastolic (from 99.2 ± 13.6 to 85.1 ± 10.8) blood pressure, were significantly reduced among the experimental group. Likewise, serum total cholesterol (TC), LDL, and HDL were significantly reduced within the experimental group before (TC 5.9 ± 1.1, LDL 3.4 ± 1.1, and HDL 2.2 ± 0.5) and after the intervention (TC 4.9 ± 1.1, LDL 2.8 ± 0.9, and HDL 1.5 ± 0.4) (TC

= 0.001, LDL

= 0.016, and HDL

< 0.001, in mmol/L). These reductions were not observed in the controls.

The

-fortified bread significantly reduced blood pressure and improved lipid profile and other metabolic risk factors among the CVD outpatients studied. Therefore, its potential in the management of CVDs and other metabolic-related diseases should be looked at.

The Borassus-fortified bread significantly reduced blood pressure and improved lipid profile and other metabolic risk factors among the CVD outpatients studied. Therefore, its potential in the management of CVDs and other metabolic-related diseases should be looked at.

Postnatal period is six weeks after birth. It is critical but is the most neglected period. A large proportion of maternal and neonatal deaths occur during 48 hours following childbirth. The utilization of the recommended three postnatal checkups within seven days after delivery, which plays a vital role in preventing maternal and neonatal deaths, is low in Nepal.

This study is aimed at identifying the factors associated with the utilization of complete postnatal care (PNC) among mothers.

A cross-sectional study was carried out among 318 mothers in wards 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Baglung municipality, Nepal. Data was collected by semi-structured interviews. Descriptive analysis and comparison of characteristics of women/families with complete vs. partial postnatal checkups using multivariable logistic regression were done.

Among 314 respondents receiving at least one PNC, 78% had partial and 22% had complete PNC. Relatively advantaged caste/ethnicity- Brahman/Chhetri (aOR = 3.18, 95% CI 1.24-8.12) and Janajati (aOR = 2.87, 95% CI 1.09-7.53) – compared to Dalits, husbands working as a job holder in Nepal (aOR = 3.49, 95% CI 1.50-8.13), and delivery in a private hospital (aOR = 11.4, 95% CI 5.40-24.2) were associated with having complete PNC.

Although PNC attendance at least once was high, utilization of complete PNC was low. CORT125134 supplier More focus to mothers from disadvantaged caste/ethnicity, those whose husbands are in foreign employment, and improvement in quality of care in government health facilities may increase the use of complete PNC.

Although PNC attendance at least once was high, utilization of complete PNC was low. More focus to mothers from disadvantaged caste/ethnicity, those whose husbands are in foreign employment, and improvement in quality of care in government health facilities may increase the use of complete PNC.

In sub-Saharan Africa, there is high coverage of the recommended four or more times antenatal care (ANC) visits during pregnancy without complications; notwithstanding this achievement, the negative birth outcomes related to childbirth such as low birth weights and stillbirths are still high despite the increased access to antenatal services. Hence, the study assessed the association between antenatal attendance and birth weight in the Wa East District.

The cross-sectional study design was used with a semistructured questionnaire to collect data from mothers who delivered within a one-year period through a review of antenatal and birth records from health facilities where the women delivered and interviewed. The chi-squared test and univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to establish the association between normal birth weight and ANC services the woman received and other predictor variables, and

value < 0.05 was considered a significant association between dependent and independent variables.