Market samples as a source of chronic aflatoxin exposure in Kenya

Surveillance of food and feed quality in Kenya has not reached effective level due to the expensive procedures of mycotoxin analysis and poor structures in quality control. Most foodstuffs and feeds sold in local markets do not go through any quality control measures. The outbreaks of aflatoxicoses every year since the major outbreak that occurred in 2004 (CDC, 2004; Muture and Ogana, 2005, Azziz-Baumgartner et al., 2005) suggests that the population is exposed to aflatoxins in their diet. Chronic exposure could be a more serious problem than the outbreaks of aflatoxicosis that attract attention at the time they occur. This paper analyses the extent to which market food and feed samples expose the residents of urban Nairobi Province to aflatoxins. Using TLC method of aflatoxins analysis, maize for food and feed samples collected randomly as part of routine surveillance between the years 2006-2009 were tested. Only 17% of the total maize sampled and 5% of feed were fit for human and animal consumption respectively. Maize Grain Grade 11 and maize milled products were significantly highly contaminated compared with Maize Grain Grade 1 throughout the period of sampling. There was no significant difference in level of contamination among the feeds tested

First-in-class thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-based compound binds to a pharmacologically distinct TRH receptor subtype in human brain and is effective in neurodegenerative models

JAK4D, a first-in-class thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-based compound, is a prospective therapeutic candidate offering a multifaceted approach to treating neurodegeneration and other CNS conditions. The purpose of these studies was to determine the ability of JAK4D to bind to TRH receptors in human brain and to evaluate its neuropharmacological effects in neurodegenerative animal models. Additionally, JAK4D brain permeation was examined in mouse, and initial toxicology was assessed in vivo and in vitro. We report that JAK4D bound selectively with nanomolar affinity to native TRH receptors in human hippocampal tissue and showed for the first time that these receptors are pharmacologically distinct from TRH receptors in human pituitary, thus revealing a new TRH receptor subtype which represents a promising neurotherapeutic target in human brain. Systemic administration of JAK4D elicited statistically significant and clinically-relevant neuroprotective effects in three established neurodegenerative animal models: JAK4D reduced cognitive deficits when administered post-insult in a kainate (KA)-induced rat model of neurodegeneration; it protected against free radical release and neuronal damage evoked by intrastriatal microdialysis of KA in rat; and it reduced motor decline, weight loss, and lumbar spinal cord neuronal loss in G93A-SOD1 transgenic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis mice. Ability to cross the blood–brain barrier and a clean initial toxicology profile were also shown. In light of these findings, JAK4D is an important tool for investigating the hitherto-unidentified central TRH receptor subtype reported herein and an attractive therapeutic candidate for neurodegenerative disorders. •First-in-class TRH-based compound JAK4D detects new receptor subtype in human brain.•JAK4D elicits statistically significant effects in neurodegenerative animal models.•JAK4D crosses the blood–brain barrier and has a clean initial toxicology profile.•JAK4D is a tool to study central pharmacologically-distinct TRH receptor subtype.•JAK4D is an attractive therapeutic candidate for neurodegenerative diseases