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Despite the lack of English literature about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) food therapy, there is abundant Chinese literature about the application of food therapy for hypertension control. This paper summarizes basic concepts of TCM, the principles of food therapy and its application for hypertension control according to Chinese literature. In TCM, food is conceptualized according to both nutritional and functional aspects, and can be used to treat illnesses. Four principles of TCM food therapy including light eating, balancing the “hot” and “cold” nature of food, the harmony of the five flavors of food, and consistency between dietary intake and different health conditions, can be used to facilitate hypertension control. Based on a statistical analysis of antihypertensive foods recommended in 20 books on the application of food therapy for hypertension control, the 38 most frequently recommended are celery, tomato, banana, hawthorn, garlic, onion, seaweed, apple, corn, green beans, persimmon, laver, kiwi, watermelon, eggplant, carrots, mushroom, peanut, soy products, sea cucumber, buckwheat, garland chrysanthemum, spinach, honey, dairy products, vinegar, black fungus, jellyfish, green onion, shepherd's purse, soybean, potato, pear, winter melon, bitter melon, oat, pea, and tea. Food therapy emphasizes the therapeutic effects of food, considering its nature, taste, and function on human balanced health, which leads to optimal blood pressure control. Current literature suggests that food therapy is effective in blood pressure control and can be incorporated into blood pressure self-management in the Chinese population.

This paper uses data compiled by John Lossing Buck from his rural China survey conducted between 1929 and 1933 to analyze the impact of weather calamities and conflict on agricultural productivity, farm wages and nutrition intake. Our results support the conditions required for a Nutritional Poverty Trap (NPT) to be present, while anecdotal evidence points to the potential presence of a nutritional poverty trap for large segments of China’s agricultural economy. We find a lagged effect of climate shock on nutrition, but find no evidence that the many conflicts of the day affected nutrition. This is more likely due to the avoidance of conflict zones by surveyors, but may also support the notion that the effects from conflicts were local and short-lived due to the resilience of farmers.

Design: Preoperative hematological markers were used. Objectives: The aim was to assess the preoperative nutritional status of hip fracture patients. Background data: There were only a few studies, related to the preoperative nutritional and immune status of the fracture patients. None conducted solely the preoperative nutritional status of the hip fracture patients up to now in Korea. Material and Methods: One hundred and sixteen hip fracture patients, ranged from 4th decade up to over 10th decade, were subjected to this study on the basis of the listed survey chart, particularly the serum albumin level, albumin/globulin ratio, lymphocyte count, and lymphocyte–monocyte ratio. Results: Overall average three physical factors, such as height, weight, and body mass index, were 159$\pm$2.6cm, 56$\pm$11.1kg, and 22.2$\pm$3.6kg/m². Average hemoglobin, lymphocyte count, monocyte count, L/M ratio, serum albumin and globulin, and A/G ratio were 11.7$\pm$2.0g/dL, 1490$\pm$994mm³, 514$\pm$250/mm³, 1 versus 2.8, 3.6$\pm$0.49g/dL, 2.8$\pm$0.45g/dL and 1.2, respectively. Twenty-seven patients (22.6%) had normal nutrition, whereas the incidence of single hypoalbuminemia and single lymphocytopenia was 18 (15.1%) and 43 (36.1%) patients. Patients’ numbers showing the combined hypoalbuminemia and lymphocytopenia were 31 (26.5%) out of 116 patients. Conclusion: About 77.3% of elderly hip fracture patients had preoperative malnutrition, although the cause of such high rate was not clarified yet. In those cases, pre- and postoperative nutritional management is essential to bring about the early physical recovery including wound healing and to reduce the infection risk.

The Impact of SARS on Chinese Taipei Economy and Action Taken in Response.

Biotechnology Answers the Nutrition Issue in Asia?

Geographic pathology provides information that a disease may have a quite different incidence and mortality as function of area of residence. Research in animals can model fairly precisely what is learned through geographic pathology, and provides the basis for understanding possible mechanisms of action. These approaches can yield public health recommendations and health promotion activities. Frequent intake of foods with saturated fats such as meat and dairy products raises the risk of coronary heart disease, especially so in smokers. The total mixed fat intake accounts for the high incidence of the nutritionally linked cancers, i.e. of the post-menopausal breast, distal colon, prostate, pancreas, ovary and endometrium, in Western countries, and of increasing impact in Asia, as people there adopt Western eating habits. Monounsaturated oils such as olive oil are low risk fats, as found in animal models, and through the fact that the incidence of coronary heart and neoplastic diseases is lower in the Mediterranean region, where such oils are customarily used. Fish and fish oils are protective, as is noted in countries with a high intake. The genotoxic carcinogens for a number of these cancers are heterocyclic amines that are produced during the broiling or frying of meaty foods that contain creatinine. Excessive salt intake can cause high blood pressure and with stomach cancer, especially with inadequate intake of potassium, from fruits and vegetables, and calcium from certain vegetables and low fat dairy products. Bran cereal fiber intake, especially with adequate calcium, yields an increased stool bulk, eliminating factors involved in colon and breast cancer. Vegetables and fruits, as well as soy products, are rich in antioxidants that are essential to lower disease risk stemming from reactive oxygen species in the body. Green and black tea are excellent sources of such beneficial antioxidants of a polyphenol nature, as is cocoa and chocolates. Antioxidants also extend healthy aging and may protect against Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Nutritional lifestyles can be described for most populations in the world that offer the possibility of a healthy long life.

Biotron Hepatitis C Phase lla Trial Gives Positive Results.

WuXi PharmaTech Acquires China-Based Clinical Research Services Companies.

AztraZeneca Increases Investment in China with New $200 Million Manufacturing Facility.

Otsuka Commits $A25 Million to JV with LCT.

Norgine and Jubilant Announce Discovery Collaboration in Gastrointestinal Therapeutic Area.

SIRO Clinpharm and Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Highlight Successful Collaboration.

CMS Biologics Announces Agreement with Daiichi Sankyo Company to Develop and Manufacture Antibodies.

Chr. Hansen Partners with Amino Up to Develop Breakthrough Nutritional Formulations.

SK to Work with Chinese Company on Depression Meds.

Galderma & Singapore Immunology Network Work to Deepen Understanding of Acne.

Intertwining Agriculture and Nutrition.

Looking into Nutrition.

Food as Medicine.

Agriculture's Challenge: To Make Insects the New Protein.

SINGAPORE – NUS Study Uncovers Novel Genetic Alterations Contributing to Development of Leukaemia.

AUSTRALIA – Meat Consumption Contributing to Global Obesity.

AUSTRALIA – Warmer Climate Could Lower Dengue Risk.

UNITED KINGDOM – Treatment Option for Alzheimer’s Disease Possible.

UNITED STATES – Hot News Flash! Menopause, Sleepless Nights Make Women’s Bodies Age Faster.

UNITED STATES – Innovative Technology Improves Detection of Bladder Cancer.

UNITED STATES – Research Shows New Neurons Created Through Exercise Don’t Cause You to Forget Old Memories.

INDIA – Praj to be the First Indian Technology Provider to Launch ‘Green Fund’ for 2G Ethanol Projects.

MALAYSIA – Tunku Laksamana Johor Cancer Foundation Partners Singapore-based Asian American Medical Group to Conduct Feasibility of Establishing Centre of Excellence in Southern Malaysia to Treat Cancer.

TAIWAN – Curcumin Derivatives May Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease by Promoting Amyloid-β Clearance.

Imagene Labs Introduces Region’s First Complete Genetics-Based Wellness Solutions.

ASLAN Pharmaceuticals and A*STAR Enter RON Antibody Licensing and Research Collaboration Agreement.

Hidden HIV Revealed: New Insights into Latent HIV Infections.

Agilent Technologies Introduces Transformational Technology for Gas Chromatography.

Merck Joins DiViNe Consortium to Address Low Yields, High Costs of Vaccine Purification Processes.

FEI Celebrates Shipment of 1,000th Helios DualBeam System.

Innovations driving the Indian dental consumables market.

A breath of hope.

Cybersecurity tips to prevent healthcare organizations from having to swallow a bitter pill.

Nutritional solutions to reduce harmful impact of air pollution on cardiovascular health.

Empowering nutrition via biotechnology

Feeding Asia’s children

DSM opens new office in Thailand.

Corteva Agriscience invests in research to help secure the future of food in APAC.

DuPont combines nutrition and biosciences business.

Ekso Bionics exoskeleton adopted in Singapore for stroke patients.

BlueChilli launches HealthTech Accelerator for Southeast Asia.

Inovio and Plumbline Life Sciences collaborate to develop vaccine for African Swine Fever virus.

The following topics are under this section:

• Implications of ALTAIR study on clinical practice and patient experience
• Meeting nutritional needs for mother and child
• Micro-organisms and digestive health

The following topics are under this section:

• Lower your risk of chronic diseases with good nutrition
• Empowering sustainability through innovation
• Meeting clinical needs in Asia with HealthTech
• Showcasing Innovations and Technologies in the Food Industry

The following topics are under this section:

• Value-Based Healthcare: A paradigm shift for better patient outcomes
• Precision agriculture for future nutritional needs

For the month of March 2021, APBN takes a look at these aspects in our features section. We explore the potential use of loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay (LAMP) in molecular diagnostics in an article written by Mark Carascal, a scientist, science illustrator, and science communicator advocate. Also, in the Features section, we look at the rising prevalence of genetic disorders as well as gene editing technologies across the world in an article contribution by Saloni Walimbe. In our Columns section, we evaluate the sufficiency and feasibility of current policies in protecting patient health data and how there is room for improvement. Gain insight to how to improve healthcare access in a sustainable way in Thailand through closer collaboration between organizations. The Spotlights section for this month sheds light on a variety of topics, first we look at liquid biopsies as a cancer diagnostic tool in ensuring proper treatment in an interview with Dr Steven Olsen, CMO at Guardant Health AMEA. In another interview with Dr Agnes Siew Ling Tey, Senior Clinical Scientist, Nutrition R&D Centre for Asia Pacific, Abbott on the recent Phase Two findings from the SHIELD study on nutrition in the elderly. Finally, we share highlights from the ISPE Singapore Conference and Exhibition held in November 2020.

The upcoming generation is at high risk of developing many health issues like heart diseases, metabolic diseases and other life-threatening problems with high mortality as a consequence of obesity due to intake of unhealthy food which is totally deviated from a normal balanced diet with appropriate calories, proteins, vitamins and carbohydrates. In this work, the nutrient intake is calculated using food image. Our system provides efficient segmentation algorithms for separating food items from the plate. The given 2D image of food is converted into 3D image by generating its depth map for volume generation and color, texture and shape features are extracted. These features are fed as input into multi-class support vector machine classifier for learning. The learning phase involves training of various mixed and non mixed food items. The testing phase includes query image segmentation and classification for identifying the type of food and then finding calories using the nutrition data table. We have also estimated the ingredient and decay of food items. Our result shows accurate calorie estimation for various kinds of food items.

Food security is a complex phenomenon made up of multiple dimensions — food availability, physical access to food, economic access to food, food utilization — each of which has a stability dimension which underpins it. This review provides details on these dimensions and links them to two published indices which provide assessments of the state of food security in a country. The paper further provides analyses of the main supply and demand factors in the food security equation. Food security faces natural and anthropogenic threats such as loss of productive land and water, climate change and declining crop productivity, all of which are potentially amenable to solutions provided by science and technology. Demographic and accompanying diet changes further exacerbate the demands made on the natural resource base for food production. Finally, possible responses to the challenges confronting a secured food future are discussed from technological, policy and system level perspectives.

This paper investigates the "children fare better" view, that children tend to be better fed if their mother has control over household decisions, using three household surveys in Egypt. It suggests an approach which might improve current economic analysis of household spending, by incorporating "Gender-Based Violence": there appears to be a link between undernutrition of household members, and violence against mothers (violent men often misspend a large fraction of household income on themselves). Child welfare improves dramatically if the child's mother earns enough for food. Unfortunately, few mothers in Egypt are employed, putting many children at risk. Agencies such as the Egyptian government could protect children, by paying child benefit to mothers or encouraging female employment.

Our chapter evaluates the impact of invasive plant species (IPS) on ensuring human food, food security, and food safety. From a survey of 80 IPS, about 58 are directly involved in human food and nutrition. Identified species are categorised into grains (8), vegetables (27), fruits (10), oil (2), and food additives (11); flour and beverages can be complementary sources of human food, providing sufficient nutrients, antioxidants, and phytochemicals for human health. An IPS contains 30 g of carbohydrates, 11 g of protein, 2.1 g of fat, 0.12 g of vitamins, and 0.93 g of minerals. Meanwhile, everyday food consists of 35.43, 11.57, 15.14, 0.15, and 1.07 g of carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals, respectively. About 100 g of rice contains 78.24 g of carbohydrates, 7.94 g of proteins, 0.25 g of fat, 0.01 g of vitamins, and 0.13 g of minerals. In contrast, 100 g of Kodo millet contains 66.19, 8.92, 2.55, 0.04, and 0.25 g, respectively. This chapters explores a range of beneficial uses for IPS, for instance IPS can indirectly benefit human by improving soil health through manuring, composting, biormediation and erosion control, and they can also act as pollutant purifiers in soil and water. Additionally, IPS can act as indirect sources of protein for humans by providing quality fodder to domestic animals. Multiple utilisation techniques are explored which are more sustainable, affordable, and environmentally friendly measures to control IPS than conventional control measures. Diversified sectors can sustainably manage resources through contributions to medicine, food, fuel, energy, and community participation. It is also revealing that IPS use depends on the social perspectives of different countries or regions. These measures will ensure sufficient safe and nutritious food, increase social safety to outweigh its negative effects, and thus achieve 11 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).