A Meticulous Food Safety Plan Today Avoids Handcuffs Tomorrow

In August 2010, thousands of people across the United States were poisoned by eating eggs unknowingly tainted with Salmonella enteritidis bacteria. Following a lengthy investigation, the owners of the facility where the outbreak began were sentenced to three months in prison. This is not a one-off case; poor food safety practices are responsible for several outbreaks and often end in incarceration. Filthy hen houses, diseased fruit storage, and negligent food processing may be the last thing we want to imagine, but these practices have much to teach today\u27s food producers. This article first examines how poor food production practices can lead to an environment ripe for spread of disease and an unacceptable level of contamination. Then, it explores what companies can do to prevent such unacceptable conditions, decrease the likelihood and severity of an outbreak and, of course, avoid incarceration

Clinical Characteristics of Allergic Rhinitis According to Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma Guidelines

ObjectivesThe Allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma (ARIA) guidelines were suggested for use to classify allergic rhinitis (AR). However, few studies have been performed in Asians. The objective of this study is to identify the clinical characteristics of AR in Korean patients according to the ARIA guidelines.MethodsFor the study, 610 patients who had been diagnosed with allergic rhinitis at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital and 545 patients who had been diagnosed with allergic rhinitis at 3 local clinics were included. All the patients were categorized into 4 groups, such as the mild intermittent, mild persistent, moderate-severe intermittent and moderate-severe persistent groups. The patients were given a questionnaire on allergic rhinitis-related symptoms and they underwent blood tests, including the blood eosinophil count and the serum total IgE level.ResultsThe most prevalent type was the moderate-severe persistent group (34.7%), and the moderate-severe intermittent group (17.1%) was the rarest. There were significant differences among the 4 groups for olfaction (P<0.001), self-awareness of rhinitis (P=0.013), a previous history of AR (P<0.001), self-awareness of asthma (P=0.001) and allergic conjunctivitis (P<0.001). On the allergy laboratory tests, there was a significant difference between the groups for the eosinophi count (P=0.004). The number of blood eosinophil was more in the persistent groups than in the intermittent groups.ConclusionAccording to the ARIA guidelines, the moderate-severe persistent group was the most prevalent for Korean patients. Blood eosinophilia and olfactory dysfunction were the most severe in the moderate-severe persistent group

Annular noncrossing permutations and minimal transitive factorizations

We give two combinatorial proofs of Goulden and Jackson's formula for the number of minimal transitive factorizations of a permutation when the permutation has two cycles. We use the recent result of Goulden, Nica, and Oancea on the number of maximal chains of annular noncrossing partitions of type $B$.Comment: 13 pages, 3 Figure

MicroRNAs: the primary cause or a determinant of progression in leukemia?

available in PMC 2011 October 10.Leukemia is a complex disease with many different types and subtypes caused by a huge diversity of genetic and epigenetic aberrations. Until recently, alterations of protein-coding genes were thought to be the sole cause of tumorigenesis. With the recent discovery of multiple types of non-coding RNAs, it has become evident that mutations in these also contribute to the development of cancer. Among the non-coding RNAs, microRNAs play a crucial role in cancer owing to their involvement in fundamental processes such as apoptosis, differentiation and proliferation. MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs (approximately 19–25 nucleotides in length) that bind to and downregulate multiple mRNA targets; in mammals, the production of over a third of all proteins is regulated by microRNAs [3]. Several studies demonstrated that microRNAs are involved in leukemia progression but their role as the primary cause or a determinant of progression in leukemia has been unclear. Some have been identified as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes, which suggests that they are playing a central role in tumorigenesis, while others appear to be associated with a specific stage in disease progression. Deciphering the exact role of microRNAs in oncogenesis is important in order to improve the diagnosis and treatment of leukemia patients.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (NIH grant DK068348)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (NIH Grant 5P01 HL066105)Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of America (Recherche sur le Cancer (ARC) fellowship

Comparison of Allergic Indices in Monosensitized and Polysensitized Patients with Childhood Asthma

Monosensitization differs both immunologically and clinically from polysensitization, and specific immunotherapy is more effective in patients sensitized only to a single pollen than in multiple-pollen sensitized patients. To further examine the differences between monosensitized and polysensitized allergies, allergic indices were examined in 68 monosensitized and 62 polysensitized patients with childhood asthma. Measurements included symptom scores, eosinophil counts, skin prick tests, serum total and specific IgE levels, and IL-10 levels, and were used to compare allergic indices between the two groups. Patients were followed for 18 months following immunotherapy to examine the effectiveness of the treatment. Symptom scores and total IgE levels were significantly higher in the polysensitized group than those in the monosensitized group (p<0.05). The levels of skin test response decreased significantly in both groups following immunotherapy. In the monosensitized group, symptom scores and specific IgE levels were significantly reduced after immunotherapy (p<0.05). In the polysensitized group, symptom scores were reduced after immunotherapy (p<0.05), but the degree of reduction was less than that of the monosensitized group (p<0.05). Moreover, in the polysensitized group, specific IgE levels after immunotherapy did not differ from that before immunotherapy. Serum IL-10 levels were not significantly increased after immunotherapy in either group. In conclusion, polysensitized patients tend to show higher allergic indices and immunotherapy might be less effective for these patients

Prevalence and classification of rhinitis in preschool children in Portugal: a nationwide study.

BACKGROUND: Information on rhinitis epidemiology in preschool children is scarce. OBJECTIVES: To estimate, in children with 3-5 years of age, current rhinitis prevalence, to describe rhinitis symptoms and associated sociodemographic characteristics, and to report allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma (ARIA) classification. METHODS: Cross-sectional, nationwide, population-based study including children aged 3-5 years. A multistep selection strategy was used to obtain a representative sample. Data were collected at kindergartens and parish centers by face-to-face interview to caregivers, using an adapted ISAAC questionnaire. 'Current rhinitis' (CR) was defined as the presence of ≥1 rhinitis symptom (repeated sneezing and/or itchy nose, blocked nose for >1 h, or runny nose without having a cold/flu) in the last year. Rhinitis lasting ≥4 days/week and ≥4 consecutive weeks was classified as persistent. Moderate-severe disease interfered 'a moderate amount' or 'a lot' in daily activities. RESULTS: Five thousand and eighteen children were included. CR prevalence was 43.4% [95% CI (42.0-44.8%); n = 2179] and that of physician-diagnosed rhinitis was 11.7% [95% CI (10.8-12.6%); n = 588]. Of children with CR, 67% reported blocked nose, 48% rhinorrhea, and 46% sneezing/itchy nose. Considering ARIA classification, 30% of the population had mild intermittent, 3% mild persistent, 7% moderate-severe intermittent, and 3% moderate-severe persistent rhinitis. Children with CR had more current wheezing, physician-diagnosed asthma, self-reported food allergy, and family history of allergic disease. These characteristics were also associated with persistent and moderate-severe rhinitis. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first nationwide population-based study reporting rhinitis prevalence and ARIA classification in preschool children. In this age-group, rhinitis is frequent and underdiagnosed. About 25% children with rhinitis presented moderate-severe disease

Assessment of Allergic Rhinitis Websites in Korea

Objectives. The internet has become an important source of medical information and a great amount of information related to allergic rhinitis (AR) is available on the internet. However, the quality of this information is still a matter of debate. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the AR-related information on Korean websites. Methods. The key word "allergic rhinitis" was entered into 4 popular search engines, and this led to identifying 40 websites. After being categorized according to authorship, the informational value of these websites was evaluated using 4 different assessment tools such as the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmarks, the DISCERN questionnaire, the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) 2008 Update and the Health On the Net (HON) code. Results. The 40 websites containing AR-related information were categorized according to their authorship as Western physician: 20, Oriental physician: 14, commercial: 1, and others: 5. The mean citation frequencies of the JAMA benchmarks and the ARIA 2008 Update concepts was 1.23 out of 4 and 4.33 out of 8, respectively, while the mean DISCERN score was 1.92 out of 5. When the websites were evaluated based on the type of authorship, the mean citation frequencies of the AMA 2008 Update concepts were Western physician: 5.35, Oriental physician: 2.64. Additionally, three websites authored by Western physicians and 13 authored by Oriental physicians contained unreliable information. Among these 16 websites, only 3 websites met the requirements for the HON code "Justification". Conclusion. AR-related information available on Korean websites is of variable quality and not all of the information provided is justifiable. Thus, performing surveillance of the medical information on these websites is necessary. Furthermore, common criteria that can be used to evaluate the websites created by both Western and Oriental physicians are also needed.Bousquet J, 2008, ALLERGY, V63, P8*HLTH NET FDN, 2006, HLTH NET COD COND VESILVA LVE, 2005, BRAZILIAN J OTHORHIN, V71, P590Park HW, 2004, J KOREAN MED SCI, V19, P364Winker MA, 2000, JAMA-J AM MED ASSOC, V283, P1600Charnock D, 1999, J EPIDEMIOL COMMUN H, V53, P105Silberg WM, 1997, JAMA-J AM MED ASSOC, V277, P1244

NRF2-driven miR-125B1 and miR-29B1 transcriptional regulation controls a novel anti-apoptotic miRNA regulatory network for AML survival

Transcription factor NRF2 is an important regulator of oxidative stress. It is involved in cancer progression, and has abnormal constitutive expression in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Posttranscriptional regulation by microRNAs (miRNAs) can affect the malignant phenotype of AML cells. In this study, we identified and characterised NRF2-regulated miRNAs in AML. An miRNA array identified miRNA expression level changes in response to NRF2 knockdown in AML cells. Further analysis of miRNAs concomitantly regulated by knockdown of the NRF2 inhibitor KEAP1 revealed the major candidate NRF2-mediated miRNAs in AML. We identified miR-125B to be upregulated and miR-29B to be downregulated by NRF2 in AML. Subsequent bioinformatic analysis identified putative NRF2 binding sites upstream of the miR-125B1 coding region and downstream of the mir-29B1 coding region. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses showed that NRF2 binds to these antioxidant response elements (AREs) located in the 5′ untranslated regions of miR-125B and miR-29B. Finally, primary AML samples transfected with anti-miR-125B antagomiR or miR-29B mimic showed increased cell death responsiveness either alone or co-treated with standard AML chemotherapy. In summary, we find that NRF2 regulation of miR-125B and miR-29B acts to promote leukaemic cell survival, and their manipulation enhances AML responsiveness towards cytotoxic chemotherapeutics

Integration of first-principles methods and crystallographic database searches for new ferroelectrics: Strategies and explorations

In this concept paper, the development of strategies for the integration of first-principles methods with crystallographic database mining for the discovery and design of novel ferroelectric materials is discussed, drawing on the results and experience derived from exploratory investigations on three different systems: (1) the double perovskite Sr(Sb$_{1/2}$Mn$_{1/2}$)O$_3$ as a candidate semiconducting ferroelectric; (2) polar derivatives of schafarzikite $M$Sb$_2$O$_4$; and (3) ferroelectric semiconductors with formula $M_2$P$_2$(S,Se)$_6$. A variety of avenues for further research and investigation are suggested, including automated structure type classification, low-symmetry improper ferroelectrics, and high-throughput first-principles searches for additional representatives of structural families with desirable functional properties.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures, 4 table