Residual behaviour of phosphine in different commodities: Presentation

Phosphine is one of the most common active substances used in storage protection worldwide. As it is very efficient amongst a broad range of living organisms, it has become the favoured product after phasing out methyl bromide in 2010, as it can be used in many commodities. In 2005, the regulation 396/2005 was enacted and came into force in 2008. With this, the European commission started to evaluate residues arising from the use of a pesticide and to set maximum residue levels (MRLs) for safe and regulated food trade. To proof residue levels are below MRL and therefore far below concerning concentrations of phosphine in food or feed, residue studies are permanently conducted. In addition to support MRL settings, the intention of these trials is to determine withholding periods needed in storage protection, corresponding to PHI (pre harvest interval) for field and glasshouse treatments. Results of those studies show different levels and differences in decrease of residues after defined time periods. Thus, withholding periods for various commodities can differ. Residue trials with repeated exposure were conducted as well to determine possible additive effects.Phosphine is one of the most common active substances used in storage protection worldwide. As it is very efficient amongst a broad range of living organisms, it has become the favoured product after phasing out methyl bromide in 2010, as it can be used in many commodities. In 2005, the regulation 396/2005 was enacted and came into force in 2008. With this, the European commission started to evaluate residues arising from the use of a pesticide and to set maximum residue levels (MRLs) for safe and regulated food trade. To proof residue levels are below MRL and therefore far below concerning concentrations of phosphine in food or feed, residue studies are permanently conducted. In addition to support MRL settings, the intention of these trials is to determine withholding periods needed in storage protection, corresponding to PHI (pre harvest interval) for field and glasshouse treatments. Results of those studies show different levels and differences in decrease of residues after defined time periods. Thus, withholding periods for various commodities can differ. Residue trials with repeated exposure were conducted as well to determine possible additive effects

Technical improvement of the Detia Degesch Phosphine Tolerance Test Kit: Presentation

Phosphine is the most important commonly used fumigant for the control of stored product insects in warehouses and processing facilities globally. However, the improper and extensive use has led to reduced susceptibility to phosphine for several insect species and strains in many parts of the world. To evaluate and quantify this phenomenon, Detia Degesch developed the Detia Degesch Phosphine Tolerance Test Kit (DDPTTK) more than 10 years ago. The use of DDPTTK is based on the exposure of the insects on a high concentration of phosphine (e.g. 3000 ppm) for short exposure periods (e.g. 8-15 min). This kit can be used on site by the fumigation and food industry, and can provide immediate results on the tolerance status of the insect strains that are to be treated. So far, the instructions of DDPTTK refer only to a six insect species. In this work, data for the expansion of knowledge about other species is provided, in order to broaden the spectrum of cases where the kit can be used. Moreover, certain improvements for the use of the kit are introduced, i.e. practical recommendations on the procedure and safety instructions.Phosphine is the most important commonly used fumigant for the control of stored product insects in warehouses and processing facilities globally. However, the improper and extensive use has led to reduced susceptibility to phosphine for several insect species and strains in many parts of the world. To evaluate and quantify this phenomenon, Detia Degesch developed the Detia Degesch Phosphine Tolerance Test Kit (DDPTTK) more than 10 years ago. The use of DDPTTK is based on the exposure of the insects on a high concentration of phosphine (e.g. 3000 ppm) for short exposure periods (e.g. 8-15 min). This kit can be used on site by the fumigation and food industry, and can provide immediate results on the tolerance status of the insect strains that are to be treated. So far, the instructions of DDPTTK refer only to a six insect species. In this work, data for the expansion of knowledge about other species is provided, in order to broaden the spectrum of cases where the kit can be used. Moreover, certain improvements for the use of the kit are introduced, i.e. practical recommendations on the procedure and safety instructions

Treatment of thyroid dysfunctions decreases the risk of cerebrovascular events in men but not in women: results of the MONICA/KORA Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE:Thyroid disorders are well known to be associated with cardiovascular diseases. Some studies have shown that the negative effects of thyroid disorders are partially reversible after adequate treatment. The aim of this analysis was to assess the risk of incident ischemic cerebrovascular diseases in study participants treated for thyroid dysfunctions in a population-based cohort study. METHODS:For the presented analyses data from 8564 male and 8714 female individuals aged 25 to 74 years of the MONICA/KORA cohort were used (median follow-up 14.0 years). A combined binary variable "thyroid disorder" (TDC) was created utilizing data on self-reported physician-treated thyroid disorders and information about medication use. To examine the association between TDC and incident ischemic cerebrovascular events, we performed multiple adjusted Cox proportional hazard regression models and calculated hazard ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (HR, 95%CI). RESULTS:During follow-up between 1984 and 2008/2009, 514 incident fatal and non-fatal ischemic cerebrovascular events occurred in men and 323 in women. At baseline, 3.5% of men and 15.6% of women reported TDC. In the fully adjusted model, males who reported TDC had a significantly reduced risk of ischemic cerebrovascular events (HR = 0.52, 95%CI = 0.29-0.92). A similar result was obtained in men, when we utilized information on thyroid hormones use only. For the total study population and for women with TDC we found no association with ischemic cerebrovascular events. CONCLUSIONS:In our longitudinal analyses subjects with treated thyroid diseases had no increased risk of incident ischemic cerebrovascular events. Surprisingly in males, even a significantly reduced risk of incident ischemic cerebrovascular events was found, a result that deserves further clarification

Evaluation of tolerance/resistance to phosphine of stored product beetle populations from Europe, by using different diagnostic methods: Presentation

We evaluated the susceptibility to phosphine in different populations originated from 14 European countries, by following different diagnostic protocols. In total, more than 200 populations were screened during these tests, classified to 9 beetle species: Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Silvanidae), Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Sitophilus granarius (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae) and Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (Coleoprtera: Anobiidae). The different bioassay-related diagnostic protocols that were followed were based on different exposure intervals and phosphine concentrations, ranging between 90 min and 4 d, and between 30 and 3000 ppm, respectively. Our results indicated that one of the populations that had been sampled from Europe was strongly resistant to phosphine. Moreover, the different protocols provide comparable results, which means that a standardized diagnostic can be further designed and adopted. Moreover, molecular assays indicated that the mutations P49S in R. dominica and P45S in T. castaneum are common among different populations, regardless of the degree of resistance to phosphine. Our results suggest that there are reliable quick tools for the evaluation of resistance to phosphine and that insect sampling in target areas should be conducted on a regular basis.We evaluated the susceptibility to phosphine in different populations originated from 14 European countries, by following different diagnostic protocols. In total, more than 200 populations were screened during these tests, classified to 9 beetle species: Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Silvanidae), Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Sitophilus granarius (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae) and Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (Coleoprtera: Anobiidae). The different bioassay-related diagnostic protocols that were followed were based on different exposure intervals and phosphine concentrations, ranging between 90 min and 4 d, and between 30 and 3000 ppm, respectively. Our results indicated that one of the populations that had been sampled from Europe was strongly resistant to phosphine. Moreover, the different protocols provide comparable results, which means that a standardized diagnostic can be further designed and adopted. Moreover, molecular assays indicated that the mutations P49S in R. dominica and P45S in T. castaneum are common among different populations, regardless of the degree of resistance to phosphine. Our results suggest that there are reliable quick tools for the evaluation of resistance to phosphine and that insect sampling in target areas should be conducted on a regular basis

Changes in Alcoholic Beverage Choice and Risky Drinking among Adolescents in Europe 1999–2019

This paper explores trends in beverage preference in adolescents, identifies related regional differences, and examines cluster differences in key drinking measures. Data were obtained from the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD), covering 24 European countries between 1999 and 2019. Trends in the distribution of alcoholic beverages on the participants’ most recent drinking occasion were analysed by sex and country using fractional multinomial logit regression. Clusters of countries based on trends and predicted beverage proportions were compared regarding the prevalence of drinkers, mean alcohol volume and prevalence of heavy drinking. Four distinct clusters each among girls and boys emerged. Among girls, there was not one type of beverage that was preferred across clusters, but the proportion of cider/alcopops strongly increased over time in most clusters. Among boys, the proportion of beer decreased, but was dominant across time in all clusters. Only northern European countries formed a geographically defined region with the highest prevalence of heavy drinking and average alcohol volume in both genders. Adolescent beverage preferences are associated with mean alcohol volume and heavy drinking at a country-level. Future approaches to drinking cultures need to take subpopulations such as adolescents into account

Changes in Alcohol Consumption during the COVID-19 Pandemic Are Dependent on Initial Consumption Level: Findings from Eight European Countries

Evidence suggests that changes in alcohol consumption during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic were unevenly distributed over consumer groups. We investigated possible inter-country differences in how changes in alcohol consumption are contingent on initial consumption (before or at the start of the pandemic), and how changes in consumption translate into possible changes in the prevalence of heavy drinking. We used data from the European Survey on Alcohol use and COVID-19 (ESAC) conducted in Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, Poland, Spain, and the UK (N = 31921). Past-year alcohol consumption and changes in consumption were measured by AUDIT-C. Drinking habits were compared according to percentiles of pre-pandemic consumption levels, below versus above the 90th percentile. Across countries, drinkers in the highest 10% for pre-pandemic consumption increased their drinking during the pandemic, whereas absolute changes among those initially drinking below this level were modest. The percentage of people reporting >28 alcohol units/week increased significantly in seven of eight countries. During the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, alcohol consumption in the upper decile of the drinkers increased as did the prevalence of heavy drinkers, in contrast with a declining consumption in other groups in the sample

Magnetic Resonance-Guided Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy of Liver Tumors: Initial Clinical Experience and Patient-Reported Outcomes

Purpose/ObjectiveStereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has emerged as a valid treatment alternative for non-resectable liver metastases or hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). Magnetic resonance (MR) guided SBRT has a high potential of further improving treatment quality, allowing for higher, tumoricidal irradiation doses whilst simultaneously sparing organs at risk. However, data on treatment outcome and patient acceptance is still limited.Material/MethodsWe performed a subgroup analysis of an ongoing prospective observational study comprising patients with liver metastases or HCC. Patients were treated with ablative MR-guided SBRT at the MRIdian Linac in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Heidelberg University Hospital between January 2019 and February 2020. Local control (LC) and overall survival (OS) analysis was performed using the Kaplan–Meier method. An in-house designed patient-reported outcome questionnaire was used to measure patients’ experience with the MR-Linac treatment. Toxicity was evaluated using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE v. 5.0).ResultsTwenty patients (with n = 18 metastases; n = 2 HCC) received MR-guided SBRT for in total 26 malignant liver lesions. Median biologically effective dose (BED at α/β = 10) was 105.0 Gy (range: 67.2–112.5 Gy) and median planning target volume was 57.20 ml (range: 17.4–445.0 ml). Median treatment time was 39.0 min (range: 26.0–67.0 min). At 1-year, LC was 88.1% and OS was 84.0%. Grade I° gastrointestinal toxicity °occurred in 30.0% and grade II° in 5.0% of the patients with no grade III° or higher toxicity. Overall treatment experience was rated positively, with items scoring MR-Linac staff’s performance and items concerning the breath hold process being among the top positively rated elements. Worst scored items were treatment duration, positioning and low temperature.ConclusionMR-guided SBRT of liver tumors is a well-tolerated and well-accepted treatment modality. Initial results are promising with excellent local control and only mildest toxicity. However, prospective studies are warranted to truly assess the potential of MR-guided liver SBRT and to identify which patients profit most from this new versatile technology

Estimating the global burden of endemic canine rabies

Background: Rabies is a notoriously underreported and neglected disease of lowincome countries. This study aims to estimate the public health and economic burden of rabies circulating in domestic dog populations, globally and on a country-by-country basis, allowing an objective assessment of how much this preventable disease costs endemic countries.<p></p> Methodology/Principal Findings: We established relationships between rabies mortality and rabies prevention and control measures, which we incorporated into a model framework. We used data derived from extensive literature searches and questionnaires on disease incidence, control interventions and preventative measures within this framework to estimate the disease burden. The burden of rabies impacts on public health sector budgets, local communities and livestock economies, with the highest risk of rabies in the poorest regions of the world. This study estimates that globally canine rabies causes approximately 59,000 (95% Confidence Intervals: 25- 159,000) human deaths, over 3.7 million (95% CIs: 1.6-10.4 million) disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and 8.6 billion USD (95% CIs: 2.9-21.5 billion) economic losses annually. The largest component of the economic burden is due to premature death (55%), followed by direct costs of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP, 20%) and lost income whilst seeking PEP (15.5%), with only limited costs to the veterinary sector due to dog vaccination (1.5%), and additional costs to communities from livestock losses (6%).<p></p> Conclusions/Significance: This study demonstrates that investment in dog vaccination, the single most effective way of reducing the disease burden, has been inadequate and that the availability and affordability of PEP needs improving. Collaborative investments by medical and veterinary sectors could dramatically reduce the current large, and unnecessary, burden of rabies on affected communities. Improved surveillance is needed to reduce uncertainty in burden estimates and to monitor the impacts of control efforts.<p></p&gt