Improving the efficiency of essential-oil extraction from Abies sachalinensis with an underwater shockwave pretreatment

Abies sachalinensis (Sakhalin fir) is a conifer species belonging to the family Pinaceae that is native to and widely distributed throughout Sakhalin Island, the southern Kurils (Russia), and northern Hokkaido (Japan). The essential oil of A. sachalinensis has been found to be an active removal agent, similar to γ-terpinene, myrcene, and β-phellandrene, which effectively remove nitrogen dioxide. Essential oils provide a relaxing effect; the use of essential oils is expected to improve overall air quality.                Underwater shockwaves generate instantaneous high pressure that reaches the entire cell and causes multiple cracks along the tracheids, causing the pit membrane to flake off through spalling destruction. These cracks function as permeation pathways [1]; this application was expected to result in a more effective essential oil extraction by subsequent steam distillation [2]. We, herein, introduce a novel application of this pretreatment process aimed at improving the efficiency of essential-oil extraction from A. sachalinensis leaves and branches. A. sachalinensis leaves and branches were oven-dried (40-45 °C) to a moisture content of 10% or less, and were subjected to the shockwave pretreatment or left untreated before essential-oil extraction by steam distillation. Chemical analysis was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The essential-oil yields of raw untreated and untreated dried leaves were 5.1 and 2.4 g/kg of leaf dry weight (DW), respectively. Upon application of a 3.0 kV, 3.6 kJ shockwave, the essential-oil yield increased with the number of shockwave cycles; the yield was 32.7 g/kg DW after 10 cycles, a 13.6-fold increase compared to that of the untreated dried leaves. In addition, sesquiterpenes increased by more than 30-fold in content compared to that of untreated dried leaves. Thus, these results suggest that instantaneous high-pressure treatment, as a pretreatment for conventional steam distillation, has a distinct advantage in increasing the essential-oil yield and extracting the bioactive components. Furthermore, this method also can be used for the pretreatment of microwave essential-oil extraction or steam distillation under reduced pressure

Neuronal XRN1 is required for maintenance of whole-body metabolic homeostasis

Control of mRNA stability and degradation is essential for appropriate gene expression, and its dysregulation causes various disorders, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, and obesity. The 5′–3′ exoribonuclease XRN1 executes the last step of RNA decay, but its physiological impact is not well understood. To address this, forebrain-specific Xrn1 conditional knockout mice (Xrn1-cKO) were generated, as Xrn1 null mice were embryonic lethal. Xrn1-cKO mice exhibited obesity with leptin resistance, hyperglycemia, hyperphagia, and decreased energy expenditure. Obesity resulted from dysregulated communication between the central nervous system and peripheral tissues. Moreover, expression of mRNAs encoding proteins that regulate appetite and energy expenditure was dysregulated in the hypothalamus of Xrn1-cKO mice. Therefore, we propose that XRN1 function in the hypothalamus is critical for maintenance of metabolic homeostasis

Refractive errors in an elderly rural Japanese population: The Kumejima study.

The prevalence of refractive errors, which closely relates to visual function difficulties, several ocular disorders, and decreased quality of life, varies among countries and populations. One of the highest prevalence of myopia (spherical equivalent [SE] +0.5 D), refractive astigmatism (cylinder > 0.5 D), and anisometropia (difference in SE between eyes > 1.0 D) were 29.5%, 1.9%, 34.1%, 38.8%, and 15.5%, respectively. Myopia decreased with age up to 70 years old but increased slightly thereafter, whereas hyperopia increased up to 70 years old and was unchanged thereafter. The prevalence of astigmatism and anisometropia was higher in older subjects. The prevalence of myopia and high myopia was higher than most of white, Hispanic, and other Asian populations, while was considerably lower than in the urban city of Japan. The high prevalence of hyperopia should be associated with high prevalence of angle closure glaucoma in this island

The Effectiveness of Vaccine Day and Educational Interventions on Influenza Vaccine Coverage Among Health Care Workers at Long-Term Care Facilities

Objectives. We examined barriers to influenza vaccination among long-term care facility (LTCF) health care workers in Southern California and developed simple, effective interventions to improve influenza vaccine coverage of these workers. Methods. In 2002, health care workers at LTCFs were surveyed regarding their knowledge and attitudes about influenza and the influenza vaccine. Results were used to develop 2 interventions, an educational campaign and Vaccine Day (a well-publicized day for free influenza vaccination of all employees at the worksite). Seventy facilities were recruited to participate in an intervention trial and randomly assigned to 4 study groups. Results. The combination of Vaccine Day and an educational campaign was most effective in increasing vaccine coverage (53% coverage; prevalence ratio [PR]=1.45; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.24, 1.71, compared with 27% coverage in the control group). Vaccine Day alone was also effective (46% coverage; PR= 1.41; 95% CI=1.17, 1.71). The educational campaign alone was not effective in improving coverage levels (34% coverage; PR=1.18; 95% CI=0.93, 1.50). Conclusion. Influenza vaccine coverage of LTCF health care workers can be improved by providing free vaccinations at the worksite with a well-publicized Vaccine Day

Improving the Efficiency and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oil Extraction from Abies sachalinensis by Underwater Shockwave Pretreatment for the Construction of Low-Energy and Sustainable Essential Oil Extraction System

Essential oils (EOs) from Abies sachalinensis (Sakhalin fir), a conifer species found in Sakhalin Island and Hokkaido in Japan, effectively remove nitrogen dioxide and possess antifungal activity. EOs also exert a relaxing effect and enhance air quality. Underwater shock waves generate instantaneous high pressure that ruptures cell walls, enhancing the performance of steam distillation and oil extraction. In this study, we aimed to increase the yield and quality of A. sachalinensis extracts using shockwaves. Leaves and branches were subjected to shockwave pretreatment or left untreated before EO extraction by steam distillation. EO yield of untreated dried leaves was 2.4 g/kg of dry leaf weight (DW). Upon application of a 3.0 kV, 3.6 kJ shockwave, the yield increased with the number of shockwave cycles. After ten cycles, yield increased 13.6-fold. Pretreatment with shockwaves for 10 cycles resulted in approximately 6- and 13-fold reductions in total energy consumption relative to fresh and dried leaves, respectively. Antioxidant activity increased more than 30-fold in shockwave-pretreated leaves than in untreated dried leaves after 10 cycles. This novel process can significantly reduce the energy used for EO extraction in steam distillation, thereby contributing to the development of a sustainable, low-energy EO production system

National Outbreak of Multidrug Resistant Salmonella Heidelberg Infections Linked to a Single Poultry Company.

IMPORTANCE:This large outbreak of foodborne salmonellosis demonstrated the complexity of investigating outbreaks linked to poultry products. The outbreak also highlighted the importance of efforts to strengthen food safety policies related to Salmonella in chicken parts and has implications for future changes within the poultry industry. OBJECTIVE:To investigate a large multistate outbreak of multidrug resistant Salmonella Heidelberg infections. DESIGN:Epidemiologic and laboratory investigations of patients infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Heidelberg and traceback of possible food exposures. SETTING:United States. Outbreak period was March 1, 2013 through July 11, 2014. PATIENTS:A case was defined as illness in a person infected with a laboratory-confirmed Salmonella Heidelberg with 1 of 7 outbreak pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) XbaI patterns with illness onset from March 1, 2013 through July 11, 2014. A total of 634 case-patients were identified through passive surveillance; 200/528 (38%) were hospitalized, none died. RESULTS:Interviews were conducted with 435 case-patients: 371 (85%) reported eating any chicken in the 7 days before becoming ill. Of 273 case-patients interviewed with a focused questionnaire, 201 (74%) reported eating chicken prepared at home. Among case-patients with available brand information, 152 (87%) of 175 patients reported consuming Company A brand chicken. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was completed on 69 clinical isolates collected from case-patients; 67% were drug resistant, including 24 isolates (35%) that were multidrug resistant. The source of Company A brand chicken consumed by case-patients was traced back to 3 California production establishments from which 6 of 7 outbreak strains were isolated. CONCLUSIONS:Epidemiologic, laboratory, traceback, and environmental investigations conducted by local, state, and federal public health and regulatory officials indicated that consumption of Company A chicken was the cause of this outbreak. The outbreak involved multiple PFGE patterns, a variety of chicken products, and 3 production establishments, suggesting a reservoir for contamination upstream from the production establishments. Sources of bacteria and genes responsible for resistance, such as farms providing birds for slaughter or environmental reservoir on farms that raise chickens, might explain how multiple PFGE patterns were linked to chicken from 3 separate production establishments and many different poultry products