The Bioterrorism Act of the USA and international food trade: Evaluating WTO conformity and effects on bilateral imports

The September 11th event focused the world's attention on the threat of bioterrorism to the food chain. As a consequence, the U.S. implemented the Bioterrorism Act (BTA). These new administrative import rules will be evaluated regarding WTO conformity and trade impact. This analysis is based on an inventory approach systematizing the BTA, and a trade flow analysis. The BTA do not significantly deviate from WTO rules, however, the findings are driven by existing flexibility in international administrative import guidelines. The trade analysis highlights that products and countries with prior expedited or less regulated procedures and small import quantities are affected.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, International Relations/Trade,

Long-term impact of myocardial inflammation on quantitative myocardial perfusion-a descriptive PET/MR myocarditis study

PURPOSE Whether myocardial inflammation causes long-term sequelae potentially affecting myocardial blood flow (MBF) is unknown. We aimed to assess the effect of myocardial inflammation on quantitative MBF parameters, as assessed by 13N-ammonia positron emission tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (PET-MPI) late after myocarditis. METHODS Fifty patients with a history of myocarditis underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging at diagnosis and PET/MR imaging at follow-up at least 6 months later. Segmental MBF, myocardial flow reserve (MFR), and 13N-ammonia washout were obtained from PET, and segments with reduced 13N-ammonia retention, resembling scar, were recorded. Based on CMR, segments were classified as remote (n = 469), healed (inflammation at baseline but no late gadolinium enhancement [LGE] at follow-up, n = 118), and scarred (LGE at follow-up, n = 72). Additionally, apparently healed segments but with scar at PET were classified as PET discordant (n = 18). RESULTS Compared to remote segments, healed segments showed higher stress MBF (2.71 mL*min$^{-1}$*g$^{-1}$ [IQR 2.18-3.08] vs. 2.20 mL*min$^{-1}$*g$^{-1}$ [1.75-2.68], p < 0.0001), MFR (3.78 [2.83-4.79] vs. 3.36 [2.60-4.03], p < 0.0001), and washout (rest 0.24/min [0.18-0.31] and stress 0.53/min [0.40-0.67] vs. 0.22/min [0.16-0.27] and 0.46/min [0.32-0.63], p = 0.010 and p = 0.021, respectively). While PET discordant segments did not differ from healed segments regarding MBF and MFR, washout was higher by ~ 30% (p < 0.014). Finally, 10 (20%) patients were diagnosed by PET-MPI as presenting with a myocardial scar but without a corresponding LGE. CONCLUSION In patients with a history of myocarditis, quantitative measurements of myocardial perfusion as obtained from PET-MPI remain altered in areas initially affected by inflammation. CMR = cardiac magnetic resonance; PET = positron emission tomography; LGE = late gadolinium enhancement

Long-term impact of myocardial inflammation on quantitative myocardial perfusion-a descriptive PET/MR myocarditis study.

PURPOSE Whether myocardial inflammation causes long-term sequelae potentially affecting myocardial blood flow (MBF) is unknown. We aimed to assess the effect of myocardial inflammation on quantitative MBF parameters, as assessed by 13N-ammonia positron emission tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (PET-MPI) late after myocarditis. METHODS Fifty patients with a history of myocarditis underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging at diagnosis and PET/MR imaging at follow-up at least 6 months later. Segmental MBF, myocardial flow reserve (MFR), and 13N-ammonia washout were obtained from PET, and segments with reduced 13N-ammonia retention, resembling scar, were recorded. Based on CMR, segments were classified as remote (n = 469), healed (inflammation at baseline but no late gadolinium enhancement [LGE] at follow-up, n = 118), and scarred (LGE at follow-up, n = 72). Additionally, apparently healed segments but with scar at PET were classified as PET discordant (n = 18). RESULTS Compared to remote segments, healed segments showed higher stress MBF (2.71 mL*min-1*g-1 [IQR 2.18-3.08] vs. 2.20 mL*min-1*g-1 [1.75-2.68], p < 0.0001), MFR (3.78 [2.83-4.79] vs. 3.36 [2.60-4.03], p < 0.0001), and washout (rest 0.24/min [0.18-0.31] and stress 0.53/min [0.40-0.67] vs. 0.22/min [0.16-0.27] and 0.46/min [0.32-0.63], p = 0.010 and p = 0.021, respectively). While PET discordant segments did not differ from healed segments regarding MBF and MFR, washout was higher by ~ 30% (p < 0.014). Finally, 10 (20%) patients were diagnosed by PET-MPI as presenting with a myocardial scar but without a corresponding LGE. CONCLUSION In patients with a history of myocarditis, quantitative measurements of myocardial perfusion as obtained from PET-MPI remain altered in areas initially affected by inflammation. CMR = cardiac magnetic resonance; PET = positron emission tomography; LGE = late gadolinium enhancement

The Bioterrorism Act of the USA and international food trade: Evaluating WTO conformity and effects on bilateral imports

The September 11th event focused the world's attention on the threat of bioterrorism to the food chain. As a consequence, the U.S. implemented the Bioterrorism Act (BTA). These new administrative import rules will be evaluated regarding WTO conformity and trade impact. This analysis is based on an inventory approach systematizing the BTA, and a trade flow analysis. The BTA do not significantly deviate from WTO rules, however, the findings are driven by existing flexibility in international administrative import guidelines. The trade analysis highlights that products and countries with prior expedited or less regulated procedures and small import quantities are affected

Influence of Electronically and Sterically Tunable Cinnamate Ligands on the Spectroscopic, Kinetic, and Thermodynamic Properties of Bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) Olefin Complexes

A detailed study of the influence of electronic and steric characteristics of cinnamic acid esters on the spectroscopic, kinetic, and thermodynamic properties of bis­(triphenylphosphine)­palladium(0) cinnamic acid ester complexes is presented (51 different new complexes included). These complexes show a dynamic behavior on the NMR spectroscopic time scale. Therefore, the rotational barriers of the olefin about the metal–olefin bond as well as the dissociation entropy and enthalpy of the olefin and the dissociation mechanism could be determined. These findings are interpreted together with the NMR spectroscopic, IR spectroscopic, and X-ray structural data (7 new structures included) concerning the influence of the different olefin ligands on the complex properties by means of Hammett plots. DFT calculations were performed to support the mechanistic conclusions

Influence of Electronically and Sterically Tunable Cinnamate Ligands on the Spectroscopic Properties and Reactivity of Bis(triphenylphosphine)platinum(0) Olefin Complexes

A total of 48 new bis­(triphenylphosphine)­(cinnamic acid ester)­platinum(0) complexes were synthesized to examine electronic and steric influences on their behavior as inhibited precatalysts and to correlate this with ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁹F, ³¹P and ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR spectroscopic, IR spectroscopic, and X-ray structural properties (9 X-ray structures included). The substituent at the 4-position of the phenyl group proved to be a valuable moiety in controlling the electronic properties of the olefin ligand and, therefore, the metal–ligand bond strength. Reactivity and NMR spectroscopic data correlate with the Hammett parameters of this substituent: in particular, the coupling constants ²<i>J</i>_PP and ¹<i>J</i>_PPt. The reactivity of the complexes was determined via NMR titration with triphenylphosphine (¹H NMR; triggering ligand substitution) and reaction with diphenylsilane (¹H and ²⁹Si NMR; triggering oxidative addition). The determined equilibria correlate with the electron density of the olefin. As one quintessence the reactivity can be predicted indirectly from the NMR ²<i>J</i>_PP coupling constants of the complexes, as was also found for the related Pd complexes

Influence of Electronically and Sterically Tunable Cinnamate Ligands on the Spectroscopic Properties and Reactivity of Bis(triphenylphosphine)platinum(0) Olefin Complexes

A total of 48 new bis­(triphenylphosphine)­(cinnamic acid ester)­platinum(0) complexes were synthesized to examine electronic and steric influences on their behavior as inhibited precatalysts and to correlate this with ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁹F, ³¹P and ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR spectroscopic, IR spectroscopic, and X-ray structural properties (9 X-ray structures included). The substituent at the 4-position of the phenyl group proved to be a valuable moiety in controlling the electronic properties of the olefin ligand and, therefore, the metal–ligand bond strength. Reactivity and NMR spectroscopic data correlate with the Hammett parameters of this substituent: in particular, the coupling constants ²<i>J</i>_PP and ¹<i>J</i>_PPt. The reactivity of the complexes was determined via NMR titration with triphenylphosphine (¹H NMR; triggering ligand substitution) and reaction with diphenylsilane (¹H and ²⁹Si NMR; triggering oxidative addition). The determined equilibria correlate with the electron density of the olefin. As one quintessence the reactivity can be predicted indirectly from the NMR ²<i>J</i>_PP coupling constants of the complexes, as was also found for the related Pd complexes

Very-low-density lipoprotein triglyceride and free fatty acid plasma kinetics in women with high or low brown adipose tissue volume and overweight/obesity.

Although a high amount of brown adipose tissue (BAT) is associated with low plasma triglyceride concentration, the mechanism responsible for this relationship in people is not clear. Here, we evaluate the interrelationships among BAT, very-low-density lipoprotein triglyceride (VLDL-TG), and free fatty acid (FFA) plasma kinetics during thermoneutrality in women with overweight/obesity who had a low (&lt;20&nbsp;mL) or high (≥20&nbsp;mL) volume of cold-activated BAT (assessed by using positron emission tomography in conjunction with 2-deoxy-2-[18F]-fluoro-glucose). We find that plasma TG and FFA concentrations are lower and VLDL-TG and FFA plasma clearance rates are faster in women with high BAT than low BAT volume, whereas VLDL-TG and FFA appearance rates in plasma are not different between the two groups. These findings demonstrate that women with high BAT volume have lower plasma TG and FFA concentrations than women with low BAT volumes because of increased VLDL-TG and FFA clearance rates. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02786251)