Rationales, rhetoric and realities:FIFA’s World Cup in South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014

The 2010 FIFA World Cup was heralded by mainstream media outlets, the local organisers, the South African government and FIFA as an unequivocal success. The month-long spectacle saw South Africa take centre stage and host the world’s largest single sporting event. This occurred against a backdrop of rationales and promises made that the event would leave lasting legacies for all, in particular marginalised South Africans. The reality is quite different. In this article we consider the South African World Cup in the build up to Brazil 2014. We argue that the rationales and rhetoric are similar in both countries and suggest the reality for Brazil 2014 will be the same as South Africa 2010 in that the mega-event will be primarily funded by significant public investment, while the primary beneficiaries will be private capital and FIFA

A Genome-Wide Metabolic QTL Analysis in Europeans Implicates Two Loci Shaped by Recent Positive Selection

We have performed a metabolite quantitative trait locus (mQTL) study of the 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR) metabolome in humans, building on recent targeted knowledge of genetic drivers of metabolic regulation. Urine and plasma samples were collected from two cohorts of individuals of European descent, with one cohort comprised of female twins donating samples longitudinally. Sample metabolite concentrations were quantified by 1H NMR and tested for association with genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Four metabolites' concentrations exhibited significant, replicable association with SNP variation (8.6×10−11<p<2.8×10−23). Three of these—trimethylamine, 3-amino-isobutyrate, and an N-acetylated compound—were measured in urine. The other—dimethylamine—was measured in plasma. Trimethylamine and dimethylamine mapped to a single genetic region (hence we report a total of three implicated genomic regions). Two of the three hit regions lie within haplotype blocks (at 2p13.1 and 10q24.2) that carry the genetic signature of strong, recent, positive selection in European populations. Genes NAT8 and PYROXD2, both with relatively uncharacterized functional roles, are good candidates for mediating the corresponding mQTL associations. The study's longitudinal twin design allowed detailed variance-components analysis of the sources of population variation in metabolite levels. The mQTLs explained 40%–64% of biological population variation in the corresponding metabolites' concentrations. These effect sizes are stronger than those reported in a recent, targeted mQTL study of metabolites in serum using the targeted-metabolomics Biocrates platform. By re-analysing our plasma samples using the Biocrates platform, we replicated the mQTL findings of the previous study and discovered a previously uncharacterized yet substantial familial component of variation in metabolite levels in addition to the heritability contribution from the corresponding mQTL effects

A Genome-Wide Metabolic QTL Analysis in Europeans Implicates Two Loci Shaped by Recent Positive Selection

We have performed a metabolite quantitative trait locus (mQTL) study of the 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR) metabolome in humans, building on recent targeted knowledge of genetic drivers of metabolic regulation. Urine and plasma samples were collected from two cohorts of individuals of European descent, with one cohort comprised of female twins donating samples longitudinally. Sample metabolite concentrations were quantified by 1H NMR and tested for association with genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Four metabolites' concentrations exhibited significant, replicable association with SNP variation (8.6×10−11<p<2.8×10−23). Three of these—trimethylamine, 3-amino-isobutyrate, and an N-acetylated compound—were measured in urine. The other—dimethylamine—was measured in plasma. Trimethylamine and dimethylamine mapped to a single genetic region (hence we report a total of three implicated genomic regions). Two of the three hit regions lie within haplotype blocks (at 2p13.1 and 10q24.2) that carry the genetic signature of strong, recent, positive selection in European populations. Genes NAT8 and PYROXD2, both with relatively uncharacterized functional roles, are good candidates for mediating the corresponding mQTL associations. The study's longitudinal twin design allowed detailed variance-components analysis of the sources of population variation in metabolite levels. The mQTLs explained 40%–64% of biological population variation in the corresponding metabolites' concentrations. These effect sizes are stronger than those reported in a recent, targeted mQTL study of metabolites in serum using the targeted-metabolomics Biocrates platform. By re-analysing our plasma samples using the Biocrates platform, we replicated the mQTL findings of the previous study and discovered a previously uncharacterized yet substantial familial component of variation in metabolite levels in addition to the heritability contribution from the corresponding mQTL effects

Whole grain intake of Australians estimated from a cross-sectional analysis of dietary intake data from the 2011-13 Australian Health Survey

Objective: The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend Australians choose mostly whole-grain and/or high-fibre varieties within the grains (cereal) foods category, with other groups specifying a whole grain Daily Target Intake of 48 g for Australians aged 9 years or above. The USA and UK report estimates of whole grain intake that are low and declining, and no comprehensive studies on whole grain intake in the Australian population are available. The present study aimed to determine national estimates of whole grain intake, compared with current recommendations. Design: A recently updated whole grain database was applied to the most current population dietary intake data. Single 24 h dietary recall intake data were reviewed against age group, sex, relative to energy intake and whole grain recommendations. Setting: Australia. Subjects: Australians (2-85 years) participating in the 2011-13 Australian Health Survey (n 12 153). Results: The median daily whole grain intake was 21 g for adults (19-85 years) and 17 g for children/adolescents (2-18 years), or 28 and 23 g/10 MJ per d, respectively. Approximately 30% of children/adolescents consumed no whole grains on the day of the survey. Whole grain intake was lowest for the age group 14-18 years (8·7 g/d). Of all participants aged ≥9 years, 73% did not reach the recommended Daily Target Intake of 48 g. Conclusions: Whole grain intake in Australia is below recommendations in all age groups. Adolescents may be a key target for campaigns to increase whole grain consumption. This study provides the first quantification of absolute whole grain intake from all food sources in a national sample of Australians

Primitive quiescent leukemic cells from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia spontaneously initiate factor-independent growth in vitro in association with up-regulation of expression of interleukin-3

It was previously shown that patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) have a rare but consistently detectable population of quiescent (G&lt;sub&gt;0&lt;/sub&gt;) leukemic (Philadelphia chromosome-positive and &lt;i&gt;BCR-ABL&lt;/i&gt;-positive [&lt;i&gt;BCR-ABL&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/i&gt;]) CD34&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; cells. In the study described here, most such cells expressed a primitive phenotype (CD38&lt;sup&gt;-&lt;/sup&gt;, CD45RA&lt;sup&gt;-&lt;/sup&gt;, CD71&lt;sup&gt;-&lt;/sup&gt;, and HLA-DR&lt;sup&gt;lo&lt;/sup&gt;) and cultures of these cells containing growth factors produced ultimately larger, but initially more slowly growing clones than do cultures of initially cycling CD34&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; leukemic cells. Initially quiescent leukemic cells expressing &lt;i&gt;BCR-ABL&lt;/i&gt; proliferated in single-cell cultures in the absence of added growth factors, thereby demonstrating their ability to spontaneously exit G&lt;sub&gt;0&lt;/sub&gt; and enter a continuously cycling state, Interestingly, on isolation, few of these quiescent &lt;i&gt;BCR-ABL&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/i&gt; cells contained either interleukin-3 (IL-3) or granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) transcripts, whereas both were present in most cycling &lt;i&gt;BCR-ABL&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/i&gt; CD34&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; cells. However, after 4 days of culture in the absence of added growth factors and in association with their entry into the cell cycle (as indicated by up-regulation of Ki-67 and cdc25 transcripts), IL-3 transcripts became detectable. These findings show that entry of leukemic (&lt;i&gt;BCR-ABL&lt;/i&gt;-expressing) progenitors into a quiescent (G&lt;sub&gt;0&lt;/sub&gt;) state in vivo is highest among the most primitive leukemic cell populations, associated with a down-regulation of IL-3 and G-CSF gene expression, and spontaneously reversible in association with up-regulation of IL-3 expression, These results highlight the potential physiologic relevance of quiescent CML progenitors, even in treated patients, In whom these cells would be predicted to have a proliferative advantage over their quiescent normal counterparts when cytokine concentrations are low

Update of a database for estimation of whole grain content of foods in Australia

Food composition data is essential for calculating consumption based on reported dietary intake. Inclusion of the whole grain content of foods in food composition databases is limited. In Australia, quantification of whole grain composition does not include all foods within the current survey database, AUSNUT (Australian Food, Supplement and Nutrient) 2011-13. This study aimed to update an existing Australian whole grain database to include all foods and food products within AUSNUT 2011-13 (n = 5741). Whole grain content (g) per 100 g was calculated using a systematic recipe-based approach, and input from industry stakeholders, product packaging, and ingredient lists. Overall 590 foods were identified as containing whole grain. Cereals and cereal products formed the majority (43%) of the database. Foods with whole grain content 100.0 g/100 g were raw or puffed whole grains, whole grain flours, and ready to eat cereals made from 100% whole grains. Considerable variation in whole grain content exists between and within food groups. The updated database may be a useful tool for assessing whole grain content of Australian food intake data. Application will allow estimation of whole grain intake in highly varied Australian population groups