Detection of heat treatment of honey with near infrared spectroscopy

Heat treatment of honey is usually applied due to crystallized form is not preferred by the consumers and makes handling harder to producers and beekeepers. Our aim is to find a method that can detect heat treatment of honey even at lower levels. In the study honeys were heated at 40°C, 60°C, 80°C, 100°C for one, two, three and four hours. Moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, HMF, color were determined, and spectra of honeys were recorded with NIRS. Results showed that NIRS could distinguish the honeys heated at 40°C while HMF was able to detect higher than 60°C treatment at significant level

Focal amplification of the androgen receptor gene in hormone-naive human prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Androgen receptor (AR)-gene amplification, found in 20-30% of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPCa) is proposed to develop as a consequence of hormone-deprivation therapy and be a prime cause of treatment failure. Here we investigate AR-gene amplification in cancers before hormone deprivation therapy. METHODS: A tissue microarray (TMA) series of 596 hormone-naive prostate cancers (HNPCas) was screened for chromosome X and AR-gene locus-specific copy number alterations using four-colour fluorescence in situ hybridisation. RESULTS: Both high level gain in chromosome X (≥4 fold; n=4, 0.7%) and locus-specific amplification of the AR-gene (n=6, 1%) were detected at low frequencies in HNPCa TMAs. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation mapping whole sections taken from the original HNPCa specimen blocks demonstrated that AR-gene amplifications exist in small foci of cells (≤ 600 nm, ≤1% of tumour volume). Patients with AR gene-locus-specific copy number gains had poorer prostate cancer-specific survival. CONCLUSION: Small clonal foci of cancer containing high level gain of the androgen receptor (AR)-gene develop before hormone deprivation therapy. Their small size makes detection by TMA inefficient and suggests a higher prevalence than that reported herein. It is hypothesised that a large proportion of AR-amplified CRPCa could pre-date hormone deprivation therapy and that these patients would potentially benefit from early total androgen ablation

Incidental MALT Type Lymphoma Exhibiting Prominent Plasma Cell Differentiation Associated with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. A Two Case Report

We present here two cases of incidental extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) showing prominent plasma cell differentiation associated with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT). Histological examination demonstrated that both lesions exhibited HT including lymphoplasmacytic infiltration with the formation of germinal centers, destruction of the normal thyroid follicular architecture, Hürthle cell changes, and squamous metaplasia. The dominant tumor nodules of both cases contained large, well-circumscribed but unencapsulated aggregation of mature plasma cells and scattered centrocyte-like cells (CCL-cells). Both lesions contained a few lymphoepithelial lesions. Moreover, immunohistochemical study demonstrated that plasma cells and CCL-cells of these two lesions contained monotypic intracytoplasmic kappa light chain. Other small B-cell lymphomas, plasmacytoma and plasmablastic lymphoma were excluded using stains for CD5, CD10, CD23, CD43, CD56. Cyclin D1, human herpes virus type-8

The oxytocin analogue carbetocin prevents emotional impairment and stress-induced reinstatement of opioid-seeking in morphine-abstinent mice.

The main challenge in treating opioid addicts is to maintain abstinence due to the affective consequences associated with withdrawal which may trigger relapse. Emerging evidence suggests a role of the neurohypophysial peptide oxytocin (OT) in the modulation of mood disorders as well as drug addiction. However, its involvement in the emotional consequences of drug abstinence remains unclear. We investigated the effect of 7-day opioid abstinence on the oxytocinergic system and assessed the effect of the OT analogue carbetocin (CBT) on the emotional consequences of opioid abstinence, as well as relapse. Male C57BL/6J mice were treated with a chronic escalating-dose morphine regimen (20-100 mg/kg/day, i.p.). Seven days withdrawal from this administration paradigm induced a decrease of hypothalamic OT levels and a concomitant increase of oxytocin receptor (OTR) binding in the lateral septum and amygdala. Although no physical withdrawal symptoms or alterations in the plasma corticosterone levels were observed after 7 days of abstinence, mice exhibited increased anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors and impaired sociability. CBT (6.4 mg/kg, i.p.) attenuated the observed negative emotional consequences of opioid withdrawal. Furthermore, in the conditioned place preference paradigm with 10 mg/kg morphine conditioning, CBT (6.4 mg/kg, i.p.) was able to prevent the stress-induced reinstatement to morphine-seeking following extinction. Overall, our results suggest that alterations of the oxytocinergic system contribute to the mechanisms underlying anxiety, depression, and social deficits observed during opioid abstinence. This study also highlights the oxytocinergic system as a target for developing pharmacotherapy for the treatment of emotional impairment associated with abstinence and thereby prevention of relapse

Performance analysis of cables with attached tuned-inerter-dampers

Cables are structural elements designed to bear tensile forces and experience vibration problems due to their slenderness and low mass. In the field of civil engineering, they are mostly used in bridges where the vibrations are mainly induced by wind, rain, traffic and earthquakes. This paper proposes the use of a tuned-inerter-damper (TID) system, mounted on cables to suppress unwanted vibrations. These are to be attached transversally to the cable, in the vicinity of the support, connected between the deck and the cable. The potential advantage of using a TID system consists in the high apparent mass that can be produced by the inerter. Our analysis showed that the modal damping ratio obtained is much higher than in the case of traditional dampers or tuned mass dampers, leading to an improved overall response. An optimal tuning methodology is also discussed. Numerical results are shown with a cable subjected to both free and forced vibrations and the TID performance is improved when compared with equivalent dampers

Bacterial dormancy: a subpopulation of viable but non-culturable cells demonstrates better fitness for revival

This is the final version. Available on open access from Public Library of Science via the DOI in this recordData Availability: The data is all found in this manuscript.The viable but non culturable (VBNC) state is a condition in which bacterial cells are viable and metabolically active, but resistant to cultivation using a routine growth medium. We investigated the ability of V. parahaemolyticus to form VBNC cells, and to subsequently become resuscitated. The ability to control VBNC cell formation in the laboratory allowed us to selectively isolate VBNC cells using fluorescence activated cell sorting, and to differentiate subpopulations based on their metabolic activity, cell shape and the ability to cause disease in Galleria mellonella. Our results showed that two subpopulations (P1 and P2) of V. parahaemolyticus VBNC cells exist and can remain dormant in the VBNC state for long periods. VBNC subpopulation P2, had a better fitness for survival under stressful conditions and showed 100% revival under favourable conditions. Proteomic analysis of these subpopulations (at two different time points: 12 days (T12) and 50 days (T50) post VBNC) revealed that the proteome of P2 was more similar to that of the starting microcosm culture (T0) than the proteome of P1. Proteins that were significantly up or down-regulated between the different VBNC populations were identified and differentially regulated proteins were assigned into 23 functional groups, the majority being assigned to metabolism functional categories. A lactate dehydrogenase (lldD) protein, responsible for converting lactate to pyruvate, was significantly upregulated in all subpopulations of VBNC cells. Deletion of the lactate dehydrogenase (RIMD2210633:lldD) gene caused cells to enter the VBNC state significantly more quickly compared to the wild-type, and adding lactate to VBNC cells aided their resuscitation and extended the resuscitation window. Addition of pyruvate to the RIMD2210633:lldD strain restored the wild-type VBNC formation profile. This study suggests that lactate dehydrogenase may play a role in regulating the VBNC stateLyons Seafoods LimitedBiotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC

Effect of Calcium Supplementation on Blood Lead Levels in Pregnancy: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background: Prenatal lead exposure is associated with deficits in fetal growth and neurodevelopment. Calcium supplementation may attenuate fetal exposure by inhibiting mobilization of maternal bone lead and/or intestinal absorption of ingested lead. Objective: Our goal was to evaluate the effect of 1,200 mg dietary calcium supplementation on maternal blood lead levels during pregnancy. Methods: In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted from 2001 through 2003 in Mexico City, we randomly assigned 670 women in their first trimester of pregnancy to ingest calcium (n = 334) or placebo (n = 336). We followed subjects through pregnancy and evaluated the effect of supplementation on maternal blood lead, using an intent-to-treat analysis by a mixed-effects regression model with random intercept, in 557 participants (83%) who completed follow-up. We then conducted as-treated analyses using similar models stratified by treatment compliance. Results: Adjusting for baseline lead level, age, trimester of pregnancy, and dietary energy and calcium intake, calcium was associated with an average 11% reduction (0.4 μg/dL) in blood lead level relative to placebo (p = 0.004). This reduction was more evident in the second trimester (−14%, p lesss than 0.001) than in the third (−8%, p = 0.107) and was strongest in women who were most compliant (those who consumed ≥ 75% calcium pills; −24%, p less than 0.001), had baseline blood lead greater than 5 μg/dL (−17%, p less than 0.01), or reported use of lead-glazed ceramics and high bone lead (−31%, p less than 0.01). Conclusion: Calcium supplementation was associated with modest reductions in blood lead when administered during pregnancy and may constitute an important secondary prevention effort to reduce circulating maternal lead and, consequently, fetal exposure

Sexual risk behavior and pregnancy in detained adolescent females: a study in Dutch detention centers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The purpose of this study was to investigate the lifetime prevalence of teenage pregnancy in the histories of detained adolescent females and to examine the relationship between teenage pregnancy on the one hand and mental health and sexuality related characteristics on the other.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Of 256 admitted detained adolescent females aged 12–18 years, a representative sample (N = 212, 83%) was examined in the first month of detention. Instruments included a semi-structured interview, standardized questionnaires and file information on pregnancy, sexuality related characteristics (sexual risk behavior, multiple sex partners, sexual trauma, lack of assertiveness in sexual issues and early maturity) and mental health characteristics (conduct disorder, alcohol and drug use disorder and suicidality).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Approximately 20% of the participants reported having been pregnant (before detention), although none had actually given birth. Sexuality related characteristics were more prevalent in the pregnancy group, while this was not so for the mental health characteristics. Age at assessment, early maturity, sexual risk behavior, and suicidality turned out to be the best predictors for pregnancy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The lifetime prevalence of pregnancy in detained adolescent females is high and is associated with both sexuality related risk factors and mental health related risk factors. Therefore, prevention and intervention programs targeting sexual risk behavior and mental health are warranted during detention.</p