Modelling transport energy demand : a socio-technical approach

Peer reviewedPostprin

Scientific opinion of Flavouring Group Evaluation 502 (FGE.502): grill flavour ‘Grillin’ 5078’

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Scientific opinion of Flavouring Group Evaluation 503 (FGE.503): grill flavour ‘Grillin’ CB-200SF’

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TSH-Lowering Effect of Metformin in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: Differences between euthyroid, untreated hypothyroid, and euthyroid on L-T4 therapy patients

OBJECTIVE: To assess the interplay between metformin treatment and thyroid function in type 2 diabetic patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The acute and long-term effects of metformin on thyroid axis hormones were assessed in diabetic patients with primary hypothyroidism who were either untreated or treated with levothyroxine (L-T4), as well as in diabetic patients with normal thyroid function. RESULTS: No acute changes were found in 11 patients with treated hypothyroidism. After 1 year of metformin administration, a significant thyrotropin (TSH) decrease (P < 0.001) was observed in diabetic subjects with hypothyroidism who were either treated (n = 29; from 2.37 +/- 1.17 to 1.41 +/- 1.21 mIU/l) or untreated (n = 18; 4.5 +/- 0.37 vs. 2.93 +/- 1.48) with L-T4, but not in 54 euthyroid subjects. No significant change in free T4 (FT4) was observed in any group. CONCLUSIONS: Metformin administration influences TSH without change of FT4 in patients with type 2 diabetes and concomitant hypothyroidism. The need for reevaluation of thyroid function in these patients within 6-12 months after starting metformin is indicated

Effects of abasic sites on structural, thermodynamic and kinetic properties of quadruplex structures

Abasic sites represent the most frequent lesion in DNA. Since several events generating abasic sites concern guanines, this damage is particularly important in quadruplex forming G-rich sequences, many of which are believed to be involved in several biological roles. However, the effects of abasic sites in sequences forming quadruplexes have been poorly studied. Here, we investigated the effects of abasic site mimics on structural, thermodynamic and kinetic properties of parallel quadruplexes. Investigation concerned five oligodeoxynucleotides based on the sequence d(TGGGGGT), in which all guanines have been replaced, one at a time, by an abasic site mimic (dS). All sequences preserve their ability to form quadruplexes; however, both spectroscopic and kinetic experiments point to sequence-dependent different effects on the structural flexibility and stability. Sequences d(TSGGGGT) and d(TGGGGST) form quite stable quadruplexes; however, for the other sequences, the introduction of the dS in proximity of the 3′-end decreases the stability more considerably than the 5′-end. Noteworthy, sequence d(TGSGGGT) forms a quadruplex where dS does not hamper the stacking between the G-tetrads adjacent to it. These results strongly argue for the central role of apurinic/apyrimidinic site damages and they encourage the production of further studies to better delineate the consequences of their presence in the biological relevant regions of the genome

Multimodal neuroimaging in patients with disorders of consciousness showing "functional hemispherectomy".

Beside behavioral assessment of patients with disorders of consciousness, neuroimaging modalities may offer objective paraclinical markers important for diagnosis and prognosis. They provide information on the structural location and extent of brain lesions (e.g., morphometric MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI-MRI) assessing structural connectivity) but also their functional impact (e.g., metabolic FDG-PET, hemodynamic fMRI, and EEG measurements obtained in "resting state" conditions). We here illustrate the role of multimodal imaging in severe brain injury, presenting a patient in unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS; i.e., vegetative state, VS) and in a "fluctuating" minimally conscious state (MCS). In both cases, resting state FDG-PET, fMRI, and EEG showed a functionally preserved right hemisphere, while DTI showed underlying differences in structural connectivity highlighting the complementarities of these neuroimaging methods in the study of disorders of consciousness.Peer reviewe

Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 501 (FGE.501) : Grill flavour concentrate (vegetable)

Acknowledgements: The FAF Panel wishes to thank the Working Groups on Flavourigs and on Genotoxicity of the former EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF) for the preparatory work on this scientific opinion, in particular Leon Brimer, Gerard Mulder, Mona-Lise Binderup, Francesca Marcon and Pasquale Mosesso. The Panel wishes to thank the hearing experts: Vibe Beltoft and Karin Nørby and EFSA staff: Fabiola Pizzo and Giorgia Vianello for the support provided to this scientific output.Publisher PD

Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 73, Revision 5 (FGE.73Rev5) : consideration of alicyclic alcohols, aldehydes, acids and related esters evaluated by JECFA (59th, 63rd and 86th meeting) and structurally related to substances evaluated in FGE.12Rev5

Acknowledgments: The Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF) wishes to thank the hearing experts Vibe Beltoft, Karin Nørby and Giorgia Vianello for the support provided to this scientific output. Reproduction of the images listed below is prohibited and permission must be sought directly from the copyright holder: Figure A.2 is reproduced from the 82nd JECFA report, 2016 (http://www.fao.org/3/a-bl839e.pdf, p. 13). Permission may be sought from the copyright holder (i.e. FAO/WHO/JECFA) for the reproduction of the image, as indicated in the report. Figure A.2: © FAO/WHO/JECFAPublisher PD

Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 5, Revision 3 (FGE.05Rev3) : Branched- and straight-chain unsaturated aldehydes, dienals, unsaturated and saturated carboxylic acids and related esters with saturated and unsaturated aliphatic alcohols and a phenylacetic acid related ester from chemical groups 1, 2, 3, 5 and 15

Acknowledgements: The Panel wishes to thank the hearing experts: Vibe Beltoft and Karin Nørby for the support provided to this scientific output.Publisher PD

Beneficial use of immunoglobulins in the treatment of Sydenham chorea

This double case report indicates that treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) is effective in patients with Sydenham chorea (SC). SC is a rare but impressive clinical manifestation following streptococcal infection. This movement disorder characterised by chorea, emotional lability and muscle weakness, is one of the major criteria of acute rheumatic fever. Treatment of SC is typically limited to supportive care and palliative medications. Curative treatment is still in the experimental stage. Recent research on patients with SC proved that antibodies against the group A streptococcus cross-react with epitopes of neurons in the basal ganglia, namely, intracellular tubulin and extracellular lysoganglioside. Therefore, immune modulating therapy by means of prednisone, plasma exchange and IVIG are mentioned in the literature as possible effective treatment. Beneficial effect of IVIG has been shown in several diseases with molecular mimicry as the underlying pathophysiology. In this paper, we describe two girls aged 11 and 13 years, respectively, who presented with SC having severe disabilities in their daily live. We treated both patients with IVIG 400 mg/kg/day for 5 days. Treatment was tolerated well and had a pronounced positive effect. Shortly after the drug was administered, all signs and symptoms disappeared in both patients. Based upon these patients, we highlight IVIG as a serious treatment option for SC