Regulated Mycotoxin Occurrence and Co-Occurrence in Croatian Cereals

A total of 209 samples of various cereal crops (maize, wheat, barley, rye and oats) grown in Croatian fields during 2016 and 2017 were collected to analyze and determine the occurrence and co-occurrence of EU regulated mycotoxins in cereals (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2, DON, FB1, FB2, ZEA, T-2, HT-2 and OTA). The analysis, performed by a validated confirmatory LC-MS/MS method based on a dilute and shoot principle, highlighted Fusarium mycotoxins as the main contaminants, often co-occurring in samples from both years (50.0% in 2016 and 33.7% in 2017). DON was found to be the most frequent mycotoxin, present in 72.5% of the 2016 samples and 32.6% of the 2017 samples, while maize proved to be the most contaminated cereal type of both years with FUM as the most abundant mycotoxins, with an average concentration of 1180 µg/kg. Moderate temperatures with periods of high humidity favored the accumulation of DON in wheat samples instead of other Fusarium mycotoxins, while similar conditions favored maize contamination with FUM. A total of 8.3% of all the 2016 harvest samples and 7.9% of the 2017 harvest samples were assessed as non-compliant, containing mycotoxins in concentrations higher than the levels set by the EU legislation for food.     

气象及气象因素与中医时间医学

应用阴阳五行、五运六气及天人相应理论,从时间与空间角度论述了气象与中医时间医学的关系,说明辨析气象因素对人体病证的影响是临床辨证及因时、因地制宜的前提和基础。     

气象体质因素与脑梗塞冠心病2型糖尿病的相关性研究

论述气象因素与体质因素与脑梗塞、冠心病、2型糖尿病的相关性,认为气象、体质因素与脑梗塞、冠心病、2型糖尿病的发生、发展、转归及预后密切相关,临床上必须结合气象与体质因素进行辨证施治与预防。     

Weather and suicide: the present state of knowledge on the association of meteorological factors with suicidal behaviour

OBJECTIVE: To review the available literature on the association between daily and longer-term weather data and the incidence of attempted and completed suicide. METHOD: A computerized search supplemented by a cross-check of the references sections of the thereby identified papers was performed. RESULTS: A total of 27 studies looking for a relationship between attempted or completed suicide and weather or climate data were found. Most of the papers reported a statistical association of suicidal acts with at least one weather factor. However, the results are not conclusive and in part contradictory. CONCLUSION: Possibly due to the high variance in methodological approaches of the studies it is not possible to identify a specific weather condition associated with a generally higher risk for suicide. Weather and seasonal effects may interact with each other. Environmental effects on brain function and weather-related interactions of people may be involved in the occurrence of suicidal behaviour.     

Seasonal patterns of invasive pneumococcal disease

Pneumococcal infections increase each winter, a phenomenon that has not been well explained. We conducted population-based active surveillance for all cases of invasive pneumococcal disease in seven states; plotted annualized weekly rates by geographic location, age, and latitude; and assessed correlations by time-series analysis. In all geographic areas, invasive pneumococcal disease exhibited a distinct winter seasonality, including an increase among children in the fall preceding that for adults and a sharp spike in incidence among adults each year between December 24 and January 7. Pneumococcal disease correlated inversely with temperature (r -0.82 with a 1-week lag; p<0.0001), but paradoxically the coldest states had the lowest rates, and no threshold temperature could be identified. The pattern of disease correlated directly with the sinusoidal variations in photoperiod (r +0.85 with a 5-week lag; p<0.0001). Seemingly unrelated seasonal phenomena were also somewhat correlated. The reproducible seasonal patterns in varied geographic locations are consistent with the hypothesis that nationwide seasonal changes such as photoperiod-dependent variation in host susceptibility may underlie pneumococcal seasonality, but caution is indicated in assigning causality as a result of such correlations.     

天津地区气象因素对不同人群血压影响的探索研究

[目的]初步探讨气温、相对湿度、天气状况等气象因素对1级高血压、正常高值血压及正常血压人群血压影响的规律。[方法]同期筛选天津市符合纳入排除标准的1级高血压、正常高值血压及正常血压受试者各10例,每日规定时间点测量并连续记录血压1 a;同步记录血压测量期间天津市的气象数据,建立数据库,运用SPSS 19.0软件进行统计分析。[结果]1级高血压组日均收缩压(SBP)、日均舒张压(DBP)和正常高值血压组日均SBP与候均温、日平均气温及相对湿度均呈负相关(r-0.5,P0.05);1级高血压组及正常高值血压组晨SBP与候平均气温、日平均气温及相对湿度负相关程度均最高(r-0.6,P0.01)。1级高血压组SBP、DBP与正常高值血压组SBP升高与雾霾相关(P0.05)、降低与雨天相关(P0.05)。[结论]气象因素对1级高血压、正常高值血压人群血压有明显影响,需加强气象因素变化时对该两组人群早晨血压的管理。     

Infectious Disease in a Warming World: How Weather Influenced West Nile Virus in the United States (2001–2005)

Background

The effects of weather on West Nile virus (WNV) mosquito populations in the United States have been widely reported, but few studies assess their overall impact on transmission to humans.

Objectives

We investigated meteorologic conditions associated with reported human WNV cases in the United States.

Methods

We conducted a case–crossover study to assess 16,298 human WNV cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2001 to 2005. The primary outcome measures were the incidence rate ratio of disease occurrence associated with mean weekly maximum temperature, cumulative weekly temperature, mean weekly dew point temperature, cumulative weekly precipitation, and the presence of ≥ 1 day of heavy rainfall (≥ 50 mm) during the month prior to symptom onset.

Results

Increasing weekly maximum temperature and weekly cumulative temperature were similarly and significantly associated with a 35–83% higher incidence of reported WNV infection over the next month. An increase in mean weekly dew point temperature was significantly associated with a 9–38% higher incidence over the subsequent 3 weeks. The presence of at least 1 day of heavy rainfall within a week was associated with a 29–66% higher incidence during the same week and over the subsequent 2 weeks. A 20-mm increase in cumulative weekly precipitation was significantly associated with a 4–8% increase in incidence of reported WNV infection over the subsequent 2 weeks.

Conclusions

Warmer temperatures, elevated humidity, and heavy precipitation increased the rate of human WNV infection in the United States independent of season and each others’ effects.