Craniovertebral anomalies associated with pituitary gland duplication

Background: An extremely rare occurrence of the pituitary gland duplication inspired us to examine in detail the accompanying craniovertebral congenital anomalies in a patient involved. Materials and methods: T1-wighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed, as well as the multislice computerised tomography (MSCT) and MSCT angiography in our patient, as well as in a control group of 10 healthy subjects. Results: In a 20-year-old male a double pituitary gland was identified, as well as hypothalamic enlargement, tuberomamillary fusion and hamartoma. In addition, the patient also showed a duplicated hypophyseal fossa and posterior clinoid processes, notch of the upper sphenoid, prominent inner relief of the skull, inverse shape of the foramen magnum, third occipital condyle, partial aplasia of the anterior and posterior arches of the atlas with a left arcuate foramen, duplication of the odontoid process and the C2 body, and fusion of the C2–C4 and T12–L1 vertebrae. The MSCT angiography presented a segmental dilatation of both vertebral arteries and the A2 segment of the anterior cerebral artery, as well as a duplication of the basilar artery. Conclusions: This patient is unique due to complex craniovertebral congenital anomalies associated with a duplication of the pituitary gland

Listeria monocytogenes contamination in ready to eat foods

Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne pathogen responsible for listeriosis, a sickness with a high mortality rate. Listeriosis is largely associated with ready-to-eat (RTE) foods. It is well established that foods that pose the greatest risk of foodborne listeriosis are those RTE foods that have intrinsic characteristics such as pH and water activity that support the growth of L. monocytogenes. RTE foods can also become re-contaminated during further processing and handling. Increased handling leads to a higher probability of contamination. Sources of contamination can be food contact surfaces, processing machinery and workers. In our research, L. monocytogenes was detected in a RTE salad. Food safety criteria for Listeria monocytogenes in RTE foods have been applied from 2006 (Commission Regulation (EC) 2073/2005). Still, human invasive listeriosis was reported to increase during 2009-2013 in the European Union and European Economic Area. Time series analysis for the 2008-2015 period in this area showed an increasing trend of the monthly notified incidence rate of confirmed human invasive listeriosis of the over 75 age groups and female age group between 25 and 44 years old (probably related to pregnancies)

A Vinča potscape: formal chronological models for the use and development of Vinča ceramics in south-east Europe.

Recent work at Vinča-Belo Brdo has combined a total of more than 200 radiocarbon dates with an array of other information to construct much more precise narratives for the structural history of the site and the cultural materials recovered from it. In this paper, we present the results of a recent attempt to construct formal models for the chronology of the wider Vinča potscape, so that we can place our now detailed understanding of changes at Belo Brdo within their contemporary contexts. We present our methodology for assessing the potential of the existing corpus of more than 600 radiocarbon dates for refining the chronology of the five phases of Vinča ceramics proposed by Milojčić across their spatial ranges, including a total of 490 of them in a series of Bayesian chronological models. Then we outline our main results for the development of Vinča pottery. Finally, we discuss some of the major implications for our understanding of the source, character and tempo of material change

Effect of Packaging Methods and Storage Time on Oxidative Stability of Traditional Fermented Sausage

In this paper influence of packaging method (vacuum and modified atmosphere packaging) on lipid oxidative stability and sensory properties of odor and taste of the traditional sausage Petrovská klobása were examined. These parameters were examined during storage period (7 months). In the end of storage period, vacuum packed sausage showed better oxidative stability. Propanal content was significantly lower (P<0.05) in vacuum packed sausage compared to these values in unpacked and modified atmosphere packaging sausage. Hexanal content in vacuum packed sausage was 1.85 µg/g, in MAP sausage 2.98 µg/g and in unpacked sausage 4.94 µg/g. After 2 and 7 months of storage, sausages packed in vacuum had the highest grades for sensory properties of odor and taste

Changes of calcium in blood and urine during different salt intake regimens in hypertensive subjects

The findings of this study support the opinion of altered calcium metabolism in hypertensive subjects sensitive to salt intake. By demonstrated results we tried to define clinically different pathophysologic and potentially different therapeutic subgroups in hypertensive population and to point to clinical and biochemical heterogeneity of primary hypertension

Lactobionic acid as antioxidant and moisturizing active in alkyl polyglucoside-based topical emulsions: the colloidal structure, stability and efficacy evaluation

Synopsis Cosmeceutical antioxidants may protect the skin against oxidative injury, involved in the pathogenesis of many skin disorders. However, an unsuitable topical delivery system with compromising safety profile can affect the efficacy of an antioxidant active. This study investigated the antioxidant potential of lactobionic acid (LA), a newer cosmeceutical active, per se (in solution) and incorporated into natural alkyl polyglucoside (APG) emulsifier-based system using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibition assays. The a-tocopherol was used as a reference compound. The physical stability (using rheology, polarization microscopy, pH and conductivity measurements) of an Alkyl glucoside-based emulsion was evaluated with and without the active (LA); colloidal structure was assessed using polarization and transmission electron microscopy, rheology, thermal and texture analysis. Additionally, the safety profile and moisturizing potential were investigated using the methods of skin bioengineering. Good physical stability and applicative characteristics were obtained although LA strongly influenced the colloidal structure of the vehicle. LA per se and in APG-based emulsion showed satisfying antioxidant activity that promotes it as mild multifunctional cosmeceutical efficient in the treatment and prevention of the photoaged skin. Employed assays were shown as suitable for the antioxidant activity evaluation of LA in APG-based emulsions, but not for a-tocopherol in the same vehicle

Two alkyl polyglucoside natural surfactants varying in chain length in stabilization of lactobionic acid containing emulsions: physicochemical characterization and in vitro irritation potential assessment

There is a growing need for research into new skin and environmentally-friendly actives and surfactants in the field of cosmetics. This paper focuses on different natural alkylpolyglucoside (APG) emulsifiers (cetearyl alcohol and coco glucoside; arachidyl behenyl alcohol and arachidyl glucoside), which can form lyotropic liquid crystals, in order to promote them as cosmetic excipients. APG-based emulsions as carriers for extremely hygroscopic and acidic cosmetic active, lactobionic acid (LA), belonging to alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) were also studied. In the first part of the study, physicochemical properties (assessed by rheology, polarization microscopy and pH and conductivity measurements) and in vitro safety profile (skin irritation test using a cytotoxicity assay) of vehicles were determined in order to compare and estimate their applicability as cosmetic excipients. In the second part, the same methods were conducted in order to establish how those emulsions perform as carriers for different percents of LA. The study showed that both vehicles based on different APGs could be promoted as cosmetic excipients. Either of the APG based emulsions could be vehicles for 6% LA. Cetearyl alcohol and coco glucoside, more hydrophillic emulsifier, is acceptable carrier for 10% LA due to better cytotoxicity profile. The importance of a better cytotoxicity profile without neglecting satisfying physical stability for cosmetic formulations was emphasized