Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are characterized by wasting and chronic intestinal inflammation triggered by various cytokine-mediated pathways. In recent years, it was shown that T helper 17 (Th17) cells are involved in the pathogenesis of IBD, which makes them an attractive therapeutic target. Th17 cells preferentially produce interleukin (IL)-17A–F as signature cytokines. The role of the interplay between host genetics and intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of IBD was demonstrated. Probiotics are live microorganisms that when orally ingested in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit to the host by modulating the enteric flora or by stimulating the local immune system. Several studies indicated the effectiveness of probiotics in preventing and treating IBD (ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease). Furthermore, there is mounting evidence of probiotics selectively targeting the Th17 lineage in the prevention and management of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as IBD. This review highlights critical roles of Th17 cells in the pathogenesis of IBD and the rationale for using probiotics as a novel therapeutic approach for IBD through manipulation of Th17 cells. The potential molecular mechanisms by which probiotics modulate Th17 cells differentiation and production are also discussed.

Whether being overweight or obese is associated with increased risk of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) remains controversial. We evaluated the dietary intakes and risk for IDA in relation to body mass index (BMI). One thousand two hundred and seventy-four females aged ≥19 years, enrolled in the third Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT) 2005–2008, were selected. Half of the women were either overweight (24.0%) or obese (25.3%). The overall prevalence of anemia, iron deficiency and IDA among adult women was 19.5%, 8.6% and 6.2%. BMI showed a protective effect on IDA: overweight (odds ratio, OR: 0.365 (0.181–0.736)) and obese (OR: 0.480 (0.259–0.891)) when compared with normal weight. Univariate analysis identified increased IDA risk for overweight/obese women who consumed higher dietary fat but lower carbohydrate (CHO) (OR: 10.119 (1.267–80.79)). No such relationship was found in IDA women with normal weight (OR: 0.375 (0.036–4.022)). Analysis of interaction(s) showed individuals within the highest BMI tertile (T3) had the lowest risk for IDA and the risk increased with increasing tertile groups of fat/CHO ratio; OR 0.381 (0.144–1.008; p = 0.051), 0.370 (0.133–1.026; p = 0.056) and 0.748 (0.314–1.783; p = 0.513); for T1, T2 and T3, respectively. In conclusion, a protective effect of BMI on IDA may be attenuated in women who had increased fat/CHO ratio.

Proximate analysis for moisture, crude protein, crude fat and total ash was carried out on dagaa (Rastrineobola argentea), a small pelagic fish specie found in Lake Victoria. The first phase of the study involved sampling of fresh, sundried (for 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days) and retail market dagaa. The second phase of the study involved pre-washing of fresh dagaa with selected solutions namely, salted solution (3% NaCl), chlorinated solution (100 ppm) or potable tap water (control) and thereafter oven-drying the respective pre-washed samples at 30^oC (31hrs), 40^oC (23hrs) or 50^oC (15hrs). Results showed that the crude protein composition of fresh dagaa (74.4% dry weight basis, dwb) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than values in market samples (62.5% dwb). After oven-drying at 30oC, the salted-wash treatments resulted to significantly lower (p<0.05) crude protein content of 60.4% (dwb) when compared with the chlorinated (64.6% dwb) and control-wash treatments (64.1% dwb).The crude fat content in fresh dagaa (14.8% dwb) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than levels in market samples (13.9% dwb).The salted-wash treatments showed significantly lower (p<0.05) crude fat content (15.9% dwb) than the chlorinated (17.0% dwb) and control (16.9% dwb) wash treatments after ovendrying at 30^oC.The total ash content in fresh dagaa (10.3% dwb) was significantly lower (p<0.05) than levels in market samples (13.5% dwb).The salted and chlorinated-wash treatments exhibited significantly higher (p<0.05) total ash content (19.9%, 16.7% dwb, respectively) than the control-wash treatment (15.9% dwb) after drying at 40^oC. In this study, oven-drying of dagaa at 40^oC after washing with chlorinated (100ppm) solution was suggested with regard to the optimal retention of the crude protein and fat levels of the dried dagaa.These conditions are achievable at the local community level through use of solar driers whereas sodium hypochlorite products are accessible to most of the households involved in dried fish processing. Key words: fish, moisture, protein, fat, ash