Assessment of aflatoxin B1 contamination in rice and maize

Introduction: Aflatoxins B1 are among the most common poisonous mycotoxins produced by certain fungi that harm animals and crops. Mycotoxins can cause a variety of adverse health effects and pose a serious health threat to humans. The Maximum Residue Limits of aflatoxin B1 in processed cereals and ingredients are 2 parts per billion (ppb) and 5 ppb, respectively. Objectives: To evaluate the status of aflatoxin B 1 contamination in rice, corn and staple food produced in Ha Giang province compared with the maximum permitted levels. Methods: A total of 210 rice and maize samples were analyzed to quantify the level of aflatoxin B1. Analysis of mycotoxins was conducted by High Performance Liquid Chromatography using a fluorescence detector. Results: It was found that rice, rice products, maize, and maize products had a mean aflatoxin B1 content of 1.79 ppb, 2.55 ppb, 2.19 ppb, and 6.35 ppb, respectively. The results also showed that 71.9% of samples were contaminated with mycotoxins, and 14.28% of samples exceeded the maximum allowable limit. Conclusion: The concentration of aflatoxin B1 in 14.28% of the samples are over permissible limits by nationwide regulations

Redondoviridae: High Prevalence and Possibly Chronic Shedding in Human Respiratory Tract, But No Zoonotic Transmission

Redondoviridae is a recently discovered DNA virus family consisting of two species, vientovirus and brisavirus. Here we used PCR amplification and sequencing to characterize redondoviruses in nasal/throat swabs collected longitudinally from a cohort of 58 individuals working with animals in Vietnam. We additionally analyzed samples from animals to which redondovirus DNA-positive participants were exposed. Redondoviruses were detected in approximately 60% of study participants, including 33% (30/91) of samples collected during episodes of acute respiratory disease and in 50% (29/58) of baseline samples (with no respiratory symptoms). Vientovirus (73%; 24/33) was detected more frequently in samples than brisaviruses (27%; 9/33). In the 23 participants with at least 2 redondovirus-positive samples among their longitudinal samples, 10 (43.5%) had identical redondovirus replication-gene sequences detected (sampling duration: 35–132 days). We found no identical redondovirus replication genes in samples from different participants, and no redondoviruses were detected in 53 pooled nasal/throat swabs collected from domestic animals. Phylogenetic analysis described no large-scale geographical clustering between viruses from Vietnam, the US, Spain, and China, indicating that redondoviruses are highly genetically diverse and have a wide geographical distribution. Collectively, our study provides novel insights into the Redondoviridae family in humans, describing a high prevalence, potentially associated with chronic shedding in the respiratory tract with lack of evidence of zoonotic transmission from close animal contacts. The tropism and potential pathogenicity of this viral family remain to be determined

Redondoviridae: High Prevalence and Possibly Chronic Shedding in Human Respiratory Tract, But No Zoonotic Transmission

Redondoviridae is a recently discovered DNA virus family consisting of two species, vientovirus and brisavirus. Here we used PCR amplification and sequencing to characterize redondoviruses in nasal/throat swabs collected longitudinally from a cohort of 58 individuals working with animals in Vietnam. We additionally analyzed samples from animals to which redondovirus DNA-positive participants were exposed. Redondoviruses were detected in approximately 60% of study participants, including 33% (30/91) of samples collected during episodes of acute respiratory disease and in 50% (29/58) of baseline samples (with no respiratory symptoms). Vientovirus (73%; 24/33) was detected more frequently in samples than brisaviruses (27%; 9/33). In the 23 participants with at least 2 redondovirus-positive samples among their longitudinal samples, 10 (43.5%) had identical redondovirus replication-gene sequences detected (sampling duration: 35–132 days). We found no identical redondovirus replication genes in samples from different participants, and no redondoviruses were detected in 53 pooled nasal/throat swabs collected from domestic animals. Phylogenetic analysis described no large-scale geographical clustering between viruses from Vietnam, the US, Spain, and China, indicating that redondoviruses are highly genetically diverse and have a wide geographical distribution. Collectively, our study provides novel insights into the Redondoviridae family in humans, describing a high prevalence, potentially associated with chronic shedding in the respiratory tract with lack of evidence of zoonotic transmission from close animal contacts. The tropism and potential pathogenicity of this viral family remain to be determined

A review of the Pleistocene hominoid fauna of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (excluding Hylobatidae). Anthropological papers of the AMNH ; no. 76

24 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 24)We review the nonhylobatid hominoid fauna currently known from all significant Pleistocene sites in Vietnam. Almost all of the sample examined consists of isolated teeth. In a previous study of material from the cave of Tham Khuyen (Schwartz et al., 1994) we identified, but did not name, a new species of Pongo as well as a new genus and species of thick-enameled, nonhominid hominoid. These new taxa are named and characterized in this contribution, as are four new subspecies of Pongo pygmaeus. We additionally note sparse evidence for other taxa whose affinities are not determinable on the basis of available specimens. Most large-bodied hominoid fossils from Vietnam are attributable to the genus Pongo; at most sites only the species Pongo pygmaeus is found. Positive evidence is extremely rare for both Homo and Gigantopithecus in the Pleistocene of Vietnam

A Diverse hominoid fauna from the Late Middle Pleistocene breccia cave of Tham Khuyen, Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Anthropological papers of the AMNH ; no. 73

11 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 10-11)The cave of Tham Khuyen in Lang Son Province, northeastern Vietnam, has yielded a large mammalian fauna of probable late middle Pleistocene date. A series of isolated hominoid primate teeth, formerly allocated to the extant orangutan Pongo pygmaeus, has recently been reexamined and found to represent more than one species. These specimens are described in detail in this paper and are analyzed as follows. Some of the teeth are indeed clearly identifiable as those of Pongo pygmaeus, but the majority appear to belong to a species related to the orangutan but not identical with it. A few teeth are distinct from either of the above, both in size and morphology, and are interpreted here as representing a previously undescribed genus and species of a large-bodied hominoid. In addition, a few teeth are regarded as indeterminate at present. With the recognition of this multiplicity of hominoid species at Tham Khuyen, it is evident that the large-bodied hominoid fauna of middle Pleistocene Vietnam was considerably more diverse than formerly supposed, including Gigantopithecus blacki) and Homo sp. in addition to the species noted above

ROR2 regulates the survival of murine osteosarcoma cells in lung capillaries

Aim: Lung metastasis is a leading cause of death in patients with osteosarcoma (OS). No effective therapy exists that improves the five-year overall survival rate of OS patients with metastasis. Therefore, finding novel therapeutic targets will help develop new treatment strategies for OS patients with lung metastasis.Methods: Based on analysis of gene expression profiles between sublines of the Dunn OS LM8 cell line with high (LM8-H) and low (LM8-L) metastatic ability, we have identified Wnt signal-related genes that play an important role in lung metastasis of OS. Function of the genes was investigated by establishing sublines of gene knockout and assessing their metastatic ability using a mouse lung metastasis model. The molecular mechanism underlying the function of the genes was further investigated by in vitro experiments.Results: We have identified that receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 2 (ROR2), a receptor of the non-canonical Wnt signaling pathway, was involved in OS cell survival in lung capillaries during metastasis. LM8-H knocked out of Ror2 (H/Ror2-KO) significantly reduced lung metastasis by decreasing the viability in lung capillaries 48 h after intravenous injection. In vitro study revealed that ROR2 increased anoikis resistance through AKT activation. Reconstitution of ROR2 expression in H/Ror2-KO cells restored their metastatic ability and viability in lung capillaries.Conclusion: The results demonstrate a novel ROR2 function in OS lung metastasis and may inform new treatment strategies for OS patients