Japan’s Mos Burger Chain Launched The Vegan Green Burger

The burger features a soy-based patty blended with cabbage and konjac, which is served on a green-hued bun colored with spinach purée. While Mos Burger options typically feature a meat-based sauce, the Green Burger is slathered with a vegan tomato sauce made with carrots and burdock root.

Source: Veg News

Crispy Scallion Pancakes

Ingredients

2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 cup room temperature water
Canola or other neutral oil, for preparing and cooking
1-1/2 cup chopped scallions
1-1/2 tsp
1-1/2 tsp salt

Dipping Sauce

1 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 tbsp white distilled vinegar or sesame oil
chili oil to taste
1 tbsp chopped scallions

Method

1. In a large bowl, mix the all-purpose flour and salt. Using chopsticks or spatula, slowly pour in the water into the four while mixing continuously. Then use your hands to mix the flour and water until there are no traces of the flour and a dough has formed.
2. Flour your work surface. I have a marble surface but you can also opt to use a wooden surface or large board. Knead the dough together for 5-6 minutes until stretchy. Shape into a ball. Brush the mixing bowl with a little oil then place the ball of dough. Cover with a towel and leave to sit for at least 1 hour.
3. Take out the dough from the bowl. Divide it into 8 pieces of around 65-70g each, and then roll each piece into a ball. Transfer the balls back into the bowl and cover the rest while you work on one piece at a time. Lightly brush your work surface with a little oil.
4. Roll out 1 ball of dough into a thin rectangular shape. If your rolling pin tends to stick to the dough, you can sprinkle a little flour on to the dough and flour your rolling pin as well.
5. You’ll be able to almost see your work surface through the dough. Don’t worry about creating a perfect rectangular shape, a long oblong/rectangle shape is fine. Also, don’t worry about ripped parts when rolling.
6. Lightly sprinkle a pinch of salt and Chinese five spice powder on the rolled out dough. Then spread some of the chopped scallions. The amount of scallions is totally up to you. Also, don’t worry about ripped edges upon folding, this is okay.
7. Fold the dough by carefully holding the top left and right edges of the dough. Fold it hallway towards you. Grab the bottom edges and fold it away from you. Do not fold them too tightly—air bubbles are totally fine. It’s also okay if part of the dough tears upon folding. Afterward, grab the end of the folded dough and carefully roll it towards the other end, until you have what looks like a cinnamon roll. Again, do not roll it too tightly and leave some air bubbles. Repeat this for the rest of the dough until you have 8 rolls.
8. Grease your work surface, if needed. Grease your work surface. Take one of the rolls and then lightly press down. Roll out into a thin circle, around 6” thick. It’s okay if you don’t create a perfect circle shape.
9. Heat a non-stick pan. Add around 1/2-1 tbsp canola or neutral oil. Once hot, place one rolled out pancake. Cook for 3-4 minutes until lightly browned. Flip over and then cook the other side. Place the pancakes on a cooling rack so they can stay crisp longer.
10. Repeat the cooking step for the rest of the pancakes. Enjoy with the dipping sauce while hot!

Makes 8 pancakes.

Source: Plant Based News

In Pictures: Home-cooked Vegan One-pot Dishes

Mexican Quinoa

BBQ Crock Pot Lentil Chili

Pad Thai Noodles

Vegan Mac and Cheese

Chickpea Sweet Potato Spinach Curry

Asparagus and Spinach Gnocchi

What is a Breathing Machine (Mechanical Ventilator) and What Does It Do?

Some patients need help to breath. In this situation a “breathing machine” – also known as a mechanical ventilator – is used to assist the function of the lungs.

• The ventilator blows air into the lungs, helping to maintain proper levels of oxygen in the blood.
• To use a mechanical ventilator, the medical team needs some form of access to the patient’s lungs.Intubated patient
• A tube can be inserted into the mouth or nose to reach the lungs. This is called intubation.
• Or, a tube can be inserted into the windpipe, medically known as the trachea. The procedure to create an opening in the windpipe is called a tracheostomy.

Mechanical ventilators are complex machines that can be adjusted to meet the needs of each patient.

• Contemporary ventilation equipmentThe most common adjustments will affect how much effort the patient needs to make, and how much oxygen is delivered.
• Adjustments are made fairly frequently throughout the day to improve the patient’s comfort level and ensure proper oxygen levels in the blood.
• Respiratory therapists and physicians use protocols, or guidelines, to adjust the controls, and they discuss changes and improvements with the team on a daily basis.

Source : Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

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Watch video at You Tube (12:10 minutes):

e-Learning: Mechanical Ventilator System Concept . . . . .

Study: Commonly Used Mouthwash Could Make Saliva Significantly More Acidic

Toby Leigh wrote . . . . . . . . .

The first study looking at the effect of chlorhexidine mouthwash on the entire oral microbiome has found its use significantly increases the abundance of lactate-producing bacteria that lower saliva pH, and may increase the risk of tooth damage.

A team led by Dr Raul Bescos from the University of Plymouth’s Faculty of Health gave a placebo mouthwash to subjects for seven days, followed by seven days of a chlorhexidine mouthwash.

At the end of each period, the researchers carried out an analysis of the abundance and diversity of the bacteria in the mouth – the oral microbiome – as well as measuring pH, saliva buffering capacity (the ability to neutralise acids in the mouth), lactate, glucose, nitrate and nitrite concentrations.

The research, published in Scientific Reports, found using chlorhexidine mouthwash over the seven days led to a greater abundance of species within the families of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, and fewer Bacteroidetes, TM7 and Fusobacteria. This change was associated with an increase in acidity, seen in lower salivary pH and buffering capacity.

Overall, chlorhexidine was found to reduce microbial diversity in the mouth, although the authors cautioned more research was needed to determine if this reduction in diversity itself increased the risk of oral disease.

One of the primary roles of saliva is to maintain a neutral pH in the mouth, as acidity levels fluctuate as a result of eating and drinking. If saliva pH gets too low, damage can occur to the teeth and mucosa – tissue surrounding the teeth and on the inside of the mouth.

The research also confirmed findings from previous studies indicating that chlorhexidine disrupted the ability of oral bacteria to turn nitrate into nitrite, a key molecule for reducing blood pressure. Lower saliva and blood plasma nitrite concentrations were found after using chlorhexidine mouthwash, followed by a trend of increased systolic blood pressure. The findings supported earlier research led by the University that showed the blood pressure-lowering effect of exercise is significantly reduced when people rinse their mouths with antibacterial mouthwash rather than water.

Dr Bescos said: “There is a surprising lack of knowledge and literature behind the use of these products. Chlorhexidine mouthwash is widely used but research has been limited to its effect on a small number of bacteria linked to particular oral diseases, and most has been carried out in vitro.

“We believe this is the first study to look at the impact of 7-day use on the whole oral microbiome in human subjects.”

Dr Zoe Brookes and Dr Louise Belfield, Lecturers in the Peninsula Dental School at the University of Plymouth, are co-authors of the study.

Dr Belfield said: “We have significantly underestimated the complexity of the oral microbiome and the importance of oral bacteria in the past. Traditionally the view has been that bacteria are bad and cause diseases. But we now know that the majority of bacteria – whether in the mouth or the gut – are essential for sustaining human health.”

Dr Brookes added: “As dental clinicians, we need more information on how mouthwashes alter the balance of oral bacteria, so we can prescribe them correctly. This paper is an important first step in achieving this.

“In the face of the recent COVID-19 outbreak many dentists are now using chlorhexidine as a pre-rinse before dental procedures. We urgently need more information on how it works on viruses”

Source: University of Plymouth

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