Detection of Ochratoxin a Using Molecular Beacons and Real-Time PCR Thermal Cycler

We developed a simple and cheap assay for quantitatively detecting ochratoxin A (OTA) in wine. A DNA aptamer available in literature was used as recognition probe in its molecular beacon form, i.e., with a fluorescence-quenching pair at the stem ends. Our aptabeacon could adopt a conformation allowing OTA binding, causing a fluorescence rise due to the increased distance between fluorophore and quencher. We used real-time PCR equipment for capturing the signal. With this assay, under optimized conditions, the entire process can be completed within 1 h. In addition, the proposed system exhibited a good selectivity for OTA against other mycotoxins (ochratoxin B and aflatoxin M1) and limited interference from aflatoxin B1 and patulin. A wide linear detection range (0.2–2000 µM) was achieved, with LOD = 13 nM, r = 0.9952, and R² = 0.9904. The aptabeacon was also applied to detect OTA in red wine spiked with the same dilution series. A linear correlation with a LOD = 19 nM, r = 0.9843, and R² = 0.9708 was observed, with recoveries in the range 63%–105%. Intra- and inter-day assays confirmed its reproducibility. The proposed biosensor, although still being finalized, might significantly facilitate the quantitative detection of OTA in wine samples, thus improving their quality control from a food safety perspective.     

High density lipoprotein as a protective factor against coronary heart disease. The Framingham Study.

Lipid and lipoprotein values, including fasting triglycerides and high density lipoproteins (HDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL) and total cholesterol levels, were obtained on 2,815 men and women aged 49 to 82 years chiefly between 1969 and 1971 at Framingham. In the approximately four years following the characterization of lipids, coronary heart disease developed in 79 of the 1,025 men and 63 of the 1,445 women free of coronary heart diseases. At these older ages the major potent lipid risk factor was HDL cholesterol, which had an inverse association with the incidence of coronary heart disease (p less than 0.001) in either men or women. This lipid was associated with each major manifestation of coronary heart disease. These associations were equally significant even when other lipids and other standard risk factors for coronary heart disease were taken into consideration. A weaker association with the incidence of coronary heart disease (p less than 0.05) was observed for LDL cholesterol. Triglycerides were associated with the incidence of coronary heart disease only in women and then only when the level of other lipids was not taken into account. At these ages total cholesterol was not associated with the risk of coronary heart disease.     

Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara spp. co-infection

Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara spp. infections can cause systemic and ocular disease. To estimate the prevalence of infection with these organisms, we tested serum samples from persons > or = 12 years of age obtained in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994). Among those tested for both T. gondii and Toxocara spp. (n = 16,646), the age-adjusted T. gondii antibody prevalence was 23.6% (95% confidence limit [CL] = 22.1-25.1%) and the Toxocara spp. antibody prevalence was 14.0% (95% CL = 12.7-15.4%). Multivariate analysis controlling demographic and risk factors showed that persons infected with Toxocara spp. were more likely to be infected with T. gondii (odds ratio [OR] = 1.93, 95% CL = 1.61-2.31), and similarly, persons infected with T. gondii were more likely to be infected with Toxocara spp. (OR = 1.91, 95% CL = 1.59-2.28). Infection with T. gondii and Toxocara spp. are common and can be prevented by many similar interventions.     

Distribution and anomalies of coronary arteries in tetralogy of Fallot (author's transl)]

Anomalies in the course and distribution of coronary arteries may complicate the surgical correction of tetralogy of Fallot (TF). With the aim of preventing possible serious, and even lethal, cardiac events caused by the injury of aberrant vessels, 119 patients with TF were subjected to selective coronary angiography. Apart from demonstrating anastomoses between the coronary and bronchial arteries in 31 cases, small fistulas between the coronary arteries and pulmonary artery (in 14 cases) and hypoplasia of the entire coronary tree in 1 case, this investigation revealed anomalies in the origin of coronary branches in 11 cases. In some cases the first septal branch was absent and the diagonal branches were poorly developed. An injury to the coronary system, following the closure of the interventricular septal defect, may possibly explain the onset of a "left anterior hemiblock" after total correction of TF. Selective coronary angiography in small children presents no riskes provided it is correctly performed. In our cases no complications arose.     

Recombinant human erythropoietin in very elderly patients with myelodysplastic syndromes: results from a retrospective study

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are common in elderly patients. Recombinant human erythro-poietin (rHuEPO) has been widely used to treat anemia in lower risk MDS patients, but few data are known about rHuEPO treatment in the very elderly patient group. In order to investigate the role of rHuEPO treatment in terms of response, overall survival (OS), and toxicity in a very elderly MDS patient group, 93 MDS patients treated with rHuEPO when aged ≥80 years were selected among MDS cases enrolled in a retrospective multicenter study by the cooperative group Gruppo Romano Mielodisplasie (GROM) from Jan 2002 to Dec 2010. At baseline, median age was 82.7 (range 80–99.1) with a median hemoglobin (Hb) level of 9 g/dl (range 6–10.8). The initial dose of rHuEPO was standard (epoetin alpha 40,000 IU/week or epoetin beta 30,000 IU/week) in 59 (63.4 %) pa-tients or high in 34 (36.6 %) (epoetin alpha 80,000 IU/week) patients. We observed an erythroid response (ER) in 59 (63.4 %) patients. No thrombotic event was reported. Independent predictive factors for ER were low transfusion requirement before treatment (p?=?0.004), ferritin <200 ng/ml (p?=?0.017), Hb >8 g/dl (p?=?0.034), and a high-dose rHuEPO treatment (p?=?0.032). Median OS from rHuEPO start was 49.3 months (95 % CI 27.5–68.4) in responders versus 30.6 months (95 % CI 7.3–53.8) in resistant patients (p?=?0.185). In conclusion, rHuEPO treatment is safe and effective also in the very elderly MDS patients. However, further larger studies are warranted to evaluate if EPO treatment could be worthwhile in terms of quality of life and cost-efficacy in very old patients.     

Abnormal linear growth in paediatric adrenal diseases: Pathogenesis,prevalence and management

Abnormal adrenal function can interfere with linear growth, potentially causing either acceleration or impairment of growth in paediatric patients. These abnormalities can be caused by direct effects of adrenal hormones, particularly glucocorticoids and sex steroids, or be mediated by indirect mechanisms such as the disturbance of the growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor-1 axis and aromatization of androgens to oestrogens. The early diagnosis and optimal treatment of adrenal disorders can prevent or minimize growth disturbance and facilitate improved height gain. Mechanisms of growth disturbance in the following abnormal states will be discussed; hypercortisolaemia, hyperandrogenaemia and obesity. Prevalence and features of growth disturbance will be discussed in ACTH-dependent and ACTH-independent Cushing's syndrome, adrenocortical tumours, premature adrenarche, congenital adrenal hyperplasia and adrenal insufficiency disorders. Recommendations for management have been included.     

The eye contact effect in request and emblematic hand gestures

Request and emblematic gestures, despite being both communicative gestures, do differ in terms of social valence. Indeed, only the former are used to initiate/maintain/terminate an actual interaction. If such a difference is at stake, a relevant social cue, i.e. eye contact, should have different impacts on the neuronal underpinnings of the two types of gesture. We measured blood oxygen level‐dependent signals, using functional magnetic resonance imaging, while participants watched videos of an actor, either blindfolded or not, performing emblems, request gestures, or meaningless control movements. A left‐lateralized network was more activated by both types of communicative gestures than by meaningless movements, regardless of the accessibility of the actor's eyes. Strikingly, when eye contact was taken into account as a factor, a right‐lateralized network was more strongly activated by emblematic gestures performed by the non‐blindfolded actor than by those performed by the blindfolded actor. Such modulation possibly reflects the integration of information conveyed by the eyes with the representation of emblems. Conversely, a wider right‐lateralized network was more strongly activated by request gestures performed by the blindfolded than by those performed by the non‐blindfolded actor. This probably reflects the effect of the conflict between the observed action and its associated contextual information, in which relevant social cues are missing.