Identification and genomic sequence of an HIV type 1 group N isolate from Cameroon

HIV-infected plasma specimens, collected in Cameroon between 1999 and 2002, were screened for HIV-1 group N and SIVcpz infections using a serological screening algorithm based on immunoassays with antigens derived from HIV-1 group M, N, and O, and SIVcpz strains. Specimens with reactivity to group N and SIVcpz antigens were characterized by RT-PCR and sequence analysis to identify the infecting virus. Although several specimens were serotyped as potential group N or SIVcpz infections, only one group N infection was confirmed. The specimen, 02CM-DJO0131, was collected in 2002 from a hospital patient at the D'Joungolo Hospital, Yaoundé. The virus genome was amplified as seven overlapping fragments comprising 8938 nucleotides. Phylogenetic analysis shows that 02CM-DJO0131 branches with group N sequences. With this study, three near full-length sequences are now available for group N. While we confirm the presence of group N in the Cameroonian population, group N infections continue to be rare and difficult to identify.     

Deficits in beat perception and dyslexia: evidence from French

Recent research has suggested a novel link between deficits in the perception of cues relevant to speech rhythm (i.e., deficits in amplitude envelope rise time processing, or beat perception) and the phonological deficits seen in most dyslexic children. In this research, we investigated whether these beat perception deficits were specific to a stress-timed language, such as English, or whether they would generalize to languages with different rhythmic properties, such as French. Eighteen dyslexics, 18 reading level controls, and 20 chronological age controls were tested on a battery of phonological tasks, reading tasks and psychoacoustic tests. The results suggest that deficits in the perception of cues important for speech rhythm may be universal in developmental dyslexia.     

Environmental quality criteria for organic chemicals predicted from internal effect concentrations and a food web model

Environmental quality criteria (EQC) for hydrophobic organic chemicals were calculated with a model for bioaccumulation in food webs. The model was calibrated and verified using polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in food webs of shallow lakes. The EQCs in water and sediment were derived based on internal effect concentrations (IECs) for several modes of toxic action. By reverse calculation with the food web model for each organism in the web, a different water or sediment concentration is calculated corresponding to the IEC in each organism. A statistical procedure with an acute-to-chronic value is used to derive chronic EQCs based on bioaccumulation. The model-based chronic EQCs were compared with previously established EQCs. The EQCs calculated with the food web model generally are within an order of magnitude of the previously derived EQCs based on toxicity data on individual chemicals. Some previously derived EQCs are much lower than model predictions and usually based on small samples of toxicity data such as no-observed-effect concentrations (NOECs) with large assessment factors. When faced with data gaps, it is proposed to use model-based chronic EQCs for (polar) narcotic chemicals. Other modes of action require a different model concept to account for receptor-based toxicity.     

The DONALD Study

Summary. Nutrition during childhood and adolescence is an important determinant of development and health, both for the child and the later adult. In industrialised countries as well as in many countries of economic transition, emphasis has moved from combating nutrient deficiencies to research on the effects of overnutrition and food selection. Prevention of chronic diseases including obesity have become a major focus in research. However, the complex relation between infant growth and its related endocrine and metabolic changes on the one hand and the influence of nutrition and nutritional status on the other hand still need to be understood in detail. Studies aiming to elucidate this have to follow children and adolescents during their growth period. The following pages display the features of the German DONALD Study (DOrtmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed Study) which was specifically designed to address these complex research questions. Finally, comparisons to other studies are made and the specific strength and weaknesses of this study are discussed. As the DONALD study offers unique research opportunities and due to its long follow-up an abundance of data, collaborative research is encouraged.     

Estimation of the dietary intake of acrylamide by German infants, children and adolescents as calculated from dietary records and available data on acrylamide levels in food groups

Dietary intakes of acrylamide for the general population were estimated by FAO/WHO to be in the range of 0.3 to 0.8 microg/(kg(bw) *d). It was supposed that children and adolescents would generally have intakes twice to three times higher than adults. However, relevant data is rare. Therefore, 3- or 7-day dietary records (n = 2956) from infants, children and adolescents aged 0.5 to 18 years from the DONALD study (2001) and other studies (RUB studies) were evaluated to estimate the potential dietary intake of acrylamide. Statistical data of the intake of 6 food groups relevant for acrylamide exposure were combined with available data for ranges of acrylamide concentrations in more than 1500 foods in Germany. Scenarios were calculated assuming minimum, median and maximum acrylamide concentration in food groups. Assuming median (minimum; maximum) acrylamide concentrations in foods and mean consumed food amounts, the calculated intake of acrylamide ranged from 0.21-0.43 (0.12-0.19; 0.98-1.79) microg/(kg(bw) *d) between the age groups from <1 to <19 years in the DONALD study and was 0.61 (0.21; 2.58) microg/(kg(bw) *d) from 1 to <7 years in the RUB studies. The highest intake was calculated for children aged 1-<7 years. The highest proportions of total intake of acrylamide came from the intake of commercial baby food (86-91%) in infants, and bread (18-46%), pastries (16-35%), and potato products (7-35%) in children and adolescents, depending on scenario and age. Our estimated data are in the range of reports from the literature for adolescents and adults in Germany and other European countries and lower than reports for infants. Our results do not confirm that children and adolescents will have higher exposures to acrylamide than adults. Practical suggestions to lower the risk of acrylamide exposure by food without decreasing the quality of the nutrition in the diet are given.     

Über die Varianten des Herpesvirus hominis

Zusammenfassung Es wurden vergleichende Untersuchungen an 12 von der Verfasserin selbst isolierten Herpesvirus hominis-Stämmen angestellt. In HeLa-, M.E.- und H.E.-Gewebekulturen ziegten 10 Stämme einen cytopathischen Effekt vom Rundzellen-(P-) und 2 vom syncytialen (GC-) Typ. Auf der CAM bildeten die beiden letzteren Stämme Makropocken, 4 Stämme gingen nicht an. Serologisch waren die Stämme auf Grund der Neutralisationsproben in drei Gruppen zu teilen.     

Vitamin intakes from supplements and fortified food in German children and adolescents: results from the DONALD study

Frequent consumption of supplements is a common behavior in adults, as well as children and adolescents. We report on vitamin intake from consuming supplements, taking into account the vitamin intake from fortified and usual foods. A total of 5990 3-d weighed dietary records from 931 German subjects (452 males, 479 females, 2-18 y of age) between 1986 and 2003 from the Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed (DONALD) Study were evaluated. We identified 133 different vitamin-containing supplements in 451 records (7.5%). Slightly more males (8.0%) than females (7.1%) consumed supplements, with highest frequencies found between ages 15 and 18 y. For the majority (10 of 13) of vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, niacin, biotin, and vitamin C), intake from usual and fortified food already reached or exceeded 80% of the recommended dietary allowances in all age groups. In the case of folate and pantothenic acid, intake from supplements was necessary to achieve at least 80% of recommended dietary allowances for half of the age groups, especially in females. Supplements with vitamin D considerably helped increase vitamin intake but failed to achieve 80% of references in almost all age groups. Intakes of vitamin A and folic acid exceeded the tolerable upper level most frequently in many age groups and were most pronounced in up to 32% and 13% of children aged 2-3 y. Intake of vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin C exceeded the tolerable upper level in single age groups only (<7% of subjects). For the other vitamins, no exceeded limits were identified. The ubiquitous availability of supplements might indicate that even healthy children and adolescents profit by taking them. However, it is difficult to evaluate whether consumers receive more benefits or risks from the unrestricted consumption of supplements as they are marketed today.     

Metabolic imaging by hyperpolarized 13C magnetic resonance imaging for in vivo tumor diagnosis

The "Warburg effect," an elevation in aerobic glycolysis, may be a fundamental property of cancer cells. For cancer diagnosis and treatment, it would be valuable if elevated glycolytic metabolism could be quantified in an image in animals and humans. The pyruvate molecule is at the metabolic crossroad for energy delivery inside the cell, and with a noninvasive measurement of the relative transformation of pyruvate into lactate and alanine within a biologically relevant time frame (seconds), it may be possible to quantify the glycolytic status of the cells. We have examined the metabolism after i.v. injection of hyperpolarized (13)C-pyruvate in rats with implanted P22 tumors. The strongly enhanced nuclear magnetic resonance signal generated by the hyperpolarization techniques allows mapping of pyruvate, lactate, and alanine in a 5 x 5 x 10 mm(3) imaging voxel using a 1.5 T magnetic resonance scanner. The magnetic resonance scanning (chemical shift imaging) was initiated 24 seconds after the pyruvate injection and had a duration of 14 seconds. All implanted tumors showed significantly higher lactate content than the normal tissue. The results indicate that noninvasive quantification of localized Warburg effect may be possible.