Alcohol policy changes and 22-year trends in individual alcohol consumption in a Swiss adult population: a 1993-2014 cross-sectional population-based study.

Evidence on the impact of legislative changes on individual alcohol consumption is limited. Using an observational study design, we assessed trends in individual alcohol consumption of a Swiss adult population following the public policy changes that took place between 1993 and 2014, while considering individual characteristics and secular trends. Cross-sectional study. Swiss general adult population. Data from 18 963 participants were collected between 1993 and 2014 (aged 18-75 years). We used data from the 'Bus Santé' study, an annual health survey conducted in random samples of the adult population in the State of Geneva, Switzerland. Individual alcohol intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Individual characteristics including education were self-reported. 7 policy changes (6 about alcohol and 1 about tobacco) that occurred between 1993 and 2014 defined 6 different periods. We predicted alcohol intake using quantile regression with multivariate analysis for each period adjusting for participants' characteristics and tested significance periods. Sensitivity analysis was performed including drinkers only, the 10th centile of highest drinkers and smoker's status. Between 1993 and 2014, participants' individual alcohol intake decreased from 7.1 to 5.4 g/day (24% reduction, p<0.001). Men decreased their alcohol intake by 34% compared with 22% for women (p<0.001). The decrease in alcohol intake remained significant when considering drinkers only (28% decrease, p<0.001) and the 10th centile highest drinkers (24% decrease, p<0.001). Consumption of all alcoholic beverages decreased between 1993 and 2014 except for the moderate consumption of beer, which increased. After adjustment for participants' characteristics and secular trends, no independent association between alcohol legislative changes and individual alcohol intake was found. Between 1993 and 2014, alcohol consumption decreased in the Swiss adult population independently of policy changes

A probabilistic sediment cascade model of sediment transfer in the Illgraben

We present a probabilistic sediment cascade model to simulate sediment transfer in a mountain basin (Illgraben, Switzerland) where sediment is produced by hillslope landslides and rockfalls and exported out of the basin by debris flows and floods. The model conceptualizes the fluvial system as a spatially lumped cascade of connected reservoirs representing hillslope and channel storages where sediment goes through cycles of storage and remobilization by surface runoff. The model includes all relevant hydrological processes that lead to runoff formation in an Alpine basin, such as precipitation, snow accumulation, snowmelt, evapotranspiration, and soil water storage. Although the processes of sediment transfer and debris flow generation are described in a simplified manner, the model produces complex sediment discharge behavior which is driven by the availability of sediment and antecedent wetness conditions (system memory) as well as the triggering potential (climatic forcing). The observed probability distribution of debris flow volumes and their seasonality in 2000–2009 are reproduced. The stochasticity of hillslope sediment input is important for reproducing realistic sediment storage variability, although many details of the hillslope landslide triggering procedures are filtered out by the sediment transfer system. The model allows us to explicitly quantify the division into transport and supply-limited sediment discharge events. We show that debris flows may be generated for a wide range of rainfall intensities because of variable antecedent basin wetness and snowmelt contribution to runoff, which helps to understand the limitations of methods based on a single rainfall threshold for debris flow initiation in Alpine basins

Rapid detection of peptide markers for authentication purposes in raw and cooked meat using ambient liquid extraction surface analysis mass spectrometry

In this paper, our previously developed ambient LESA-MS methodology is implemented to analyze five types of thermally treated meat species, namely beef, pork, horse, chicken, and turkey meat, in order to select and identify heat-stable and species-specific peptide markers. In-solution tryptic digests of cooked meats were deposited onto a polymer surface, followed by LESA-MS analysis and evaluation using multivariate data analysis and tandem electrospray MS. The five types of cooked meat were clearly discriminated using principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis. A number of 23 heat stable peptide markers unique to species and muscle protein were identified following data-dependent tandem LESA-MS analysis. Surface extraction and direct ambient MS analysis of mixtures of cooked meat species was performed for the first time and enabled detection of 10% (w/w) of pork, horse, and turkey meat, and 5% (w/w) of chicken meat in beef, using the developed LESA-MS/MS analysis. The study shows, for the first time, that ambient LESA-MS methodology displays specificity sufficient to be implemented effectively for the analysis of processed and complex peptide digests. The proposed approach is much faster and simpler than other measurement tools for meat speciation; it has potential for application in other areas of meat science or food production

Multivesicular exocytosis in rat pancreatic beta cells

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: To establish the occurrence, modulation and functional significance of compound exocytosis in insulin-secreting beta cells. METHODS: Exocytosis was monitored in rat beta cells by electrophysiological, biochemical and optical methods. The functional assays were complemented by three-dimensional reconstruction of confocal imaging, transmission and block face scanning electron microscopy to obtain ultrastructural evidence of compound exocytosis. RESULTS: Compound exocytosis contributed marginally (<5% of events) to exocytosis elicited by glucose/membrane depolarisation alone. However, in beta cells stimulated by a combination of glucose and the muscarinic agonist carbachol, 15-20% of the release events were due to multivesicular exocytosis, but the frequency of exocytosis was not affected. The optical measurements suggest that carbachol should stimulate insulin secretion by ∼40%, similar to the observed enhancement of glucose-induced insulin secretion. The effects of carbachol were mimicked by elevating [Ca(2+)](i) from 0.2 to 2 μmol/l Ca(2+). Two-photon sulforhodamine imaging revealed exocytotic events about fivefold larger than single vesicles and that these structures, once formed, could persist for tens of seconds. Cells exposed to carbachol for 30 s contained long (1-2 μm) serpentine-like membrane structures adjacent to the plasma membrane. Three-dimensional electron microscopy confirmed the existence of fused multigranular aggregates within the beta cell, the frequency of which increased about fourfold in response to stimulation with carbachol. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Although contributing marginally to glucose-induced insulin secretion, compound exocytosis becomes quantitatively significant under conditions associated with global elevation of cytoplasmic calcium. These findings suggest that compound exocytosis is a major contributor to the augmentation of glucose-induced insulin secretion by muscarinic receptor activation

Clinical presentation and diagnosis of meat allergy in Switzerland and Southern Germany

STUDY/PRINCIPLES: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of meat allergy, to validate the routine diagnostic tools and to compare our results with data from the literature. METHODS: We recruited within the framework of the EU-project REDALL adult patients and children with a positive case history of meat allergy. Definitive inclusion criteria were either a history of an anaphylactic reaction to meat or a positive titrated double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge with the incriminated meat. Sensitisation to meat was assessed in all patients by skinprick-testing with meat extracts and in vitro determination of specific IgE to pork, beef and chicken (CAP-FEIA). RESULTS: Between 3/2003 to 6/2005 we identified thirteen patients with a positive case history of a meat allergy to either chicken (n = 6), beef (n = 5) or pork (n = 2), respectively. Meat allergy associated symptoms as reported by the patients ranged from contact urticaria of the oral mucosa (oral allergy syndrome, OAS) to anaphylactic reactions. Skin testing with the responsible meat was positive in nine patients, and in vitro determination of specific IgE in four patients. Under DBPCFC one patient responded with nausea and dysphagia after 10.2 g of chicken and two patients either with urticaria or nausea, diarrhoea, emesis and abdominal pain at 0.102 g and 34 g of beef, respectively. CONCLUSION: Meat allergy seems to be an uncommon food allergy in Central Europe. Meat induced symptoms range from OAS to severe anaphylactic reactions. The routine-diagnostic tools, i.e., skin testing and in vitro determination of specific IgE had a low sensitivity among our patients

Sexuell übertragbare Infektionen, STI

Towards the end of the last century some sexually transmitted infections (STI), which had been held to be almost extinct, have seen an unexpected resurgence. They mainly present as urethritis, genital ulcers or genital warts and must always be diagnosed and treated so as to prevent further transmission. The main causes of urethritis are gonorrhea and chlamydia, the latter can also cause only minor symptoms. The pathogen should always be diagnosed with direct microscopy of a urethral smear as well as culture or PCR. Antibiotic treatment is usually straightforward. Genital ulcer disease can be caused by a wide spectrum of bacteria and viruses as well as non-infectious causes. It is significant as it can facilitate the transmission of HIV. The most frequent cause is herpes simplex virus which usually presents itself with painful ulcers and a recurrent course. Syphilis occurs in different clinical stages. The first stage is usually a painless ulcer, it can be difficult to diagnose and is often missed. In the second stage, characterised by a rash and a variety of classical symptoms such as condylomata lata, the diagnosis can be made with various serologic tests. Long-acting penicillin remains the treatment of choice. Genital warts are a consequence of HPV infection and can usually easily be diagnosed based on the clinical picture. Some high-risk HPV types can lead to malignant transformation, especially in immunocompromised patients. Besides different destructive therapeutic modalities, some effective treatments can be applied locally by patients themselves

Clinical expression of nickel contact dermatitis primed by diagnostic patch test

INTRODUCTION: Persistence of allergen and immunocompetent cells at sites of healed contact dermatitis has been reported. Flare-up reactions triggered by patch testing and after systemic provocation with allergen are well-known phenomena. To our knowledge, we report the first flare-up of a previous patch test site following casual cutaneous application of nickel in an individual with hitherto latent nickel sensitization. CASE REPORT: Patch testing in a 23-year-old female patient was performed for dermatitis following application of various gels and adhesive bandages: positive delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions were noted for nickel sulfate and potassium dichromate. The patient had never noticed skin reactions to nickel-containing items before. Three weeks following these patch tests, the patient wore earrings which in the past had been well tolerated. She subsequently developed dermatitis of both earlobes within hours and dermatitis at the site of nickel patch testing within a day. CONCLUSIONS: Nickel exposure for 48 h in a patch test is sufficient to induce overt delayed-type hypersensitivity on re-exposure with a previously tolerated antigen in a previously clinically unresponsive individual. Antigen and/or antigen-specific effector cells at the site of previous positive patch testing can be recruited into a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction for a prolonged period of time