Inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Apple Juice by Irradiation

Three strains (932, Ent-C9490, and SEA13B88) of Escherichia coli O157:H7 were used to determine the effectiveness of low-dose gamma irradiation for eliminating E. coli O157:H7 from apple juice or cider and to characterize the effect of inducing pH-dependent, stationary-phase acid resistance on radiation resistance. The strains were grown in tryptic soy broth with or without 1% dextrose for 18 h to produce cells that were or were not induced to pH-dependent stationary-phase acid resistance. The bacteria were then transferred to clarified apple juice and irradiated at 2°C with a cesium-137 irradiator. Non-acid-adapted cells had radiation D values (radiation doses needed to decrease a microbial population by 90%) ranging from 0.12 to 0.21 kGy. D values increased to 0.22 to 0.31 kGy for acid-adapted cells. When acid-adapted SEA13B88 cells were tested in five apple juice brands having different levels of suspended solids (absorbances ranging from 0.04 to 2.01 at 550 nm), radiation resistance increased with increasing levels of suspended solids, with D values ranging from 0.26 to 0.35 kGy. Based on these results, a dose of 1.8 kGy should be sufficient to achieve the 5D inactivation of E. coli recommended by the National Advisory Committee for Microbiological Criteria for Foods.     

Analysis of plastid DNA-like sequences within the nuclear genomes of higher plants

A wide-ranging examination of plastid (pt)DNA sequence homologies within higher plant nuclear genomes (promiscuous DNA) was undertaken. Digestion with methylation-sensitive restriction enzymes and Southern analysis was used to distinguish plastid and nuclear DNA in order to assess the extent of variability of promiscuous sequences within and between plant species. Some species, such as Gossypium hirsutum (cotton), Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco), and Chenopodium quinoa, showed homogenity of these sequences, while intraspecific sequence variation was observed among different cultivars of Pisum sativum (pea), Hordeum vulgare (barley), and Triticum aestivum (wheat). Hypervariability of plastid sequence homologies was identified in the nuclear genomes of Spinacea oleracea (spinach) and Beta vulgaris (beet), in which individual plants were shown to possess a unique spectrum of nuclear sequences with ptDNA homology. This hypervariability apparently extended to somatic variation in B. vulgaris. No sequences with ptDNA homology were identified by this method in the nuclear genome of Arabidopsis thaliana.      

Incidence and levels of fumonisin contamination in Colombian corn and corn products

A survey was conducted to determine the levels of fumonisins B1 and B2 in corn and corn-based products available in Colombia for human and animal consumption. A total of 120 samples were analyzed by acetonitrile-water extraction, cleanup with a strong-anion-exchange column, and liquid chromatography with o-phthaldialdehyde-2-mercaptoethanol derivatization and fluorescence detection. The samples of corn and corn-based products for animal intake were taken at different feed manufacturing plants, whereas the samples used for human foods where purchased from local retail stores. The number of positive samples for fumonisin B1 was 20.0% higher in corn and corn-based products for animal intake (75.0%) than in corn and corn-based products for human consumption (55.0%). The levels of fumonisin B1 were also higher in corn and corn-based products for animal intake (mean = 694 μg/kg; range = 32–2964 μg/kg), than in corn and corn-based products for human intake (mean = 218 μg/kg; range = 24–2170 μg/ kg). The incidence and levels of fumonisin B2 were lower than those for fumonisin B1. Corn and corn-based products for animal consumption had an incidence of fumonisin B2 of 58.3%, with a mean value of 283 μg/kg, and a range of 44–987 μg/kg. The incidence of fumonisin B2 in corn-based products for human intake was 35.0%, with a mean value of 118 μg/kg and a range of 21–833 μg/kg. The highest incidence and levels of fumonisins were found in samples of hominy feed, with concentrations ranging from 86 to 2964 μg/kg fumonisin B1 and 57 to 987 μg/kg fumonisin B2.     

The Level of Expression of Thioredoxin is Linked to Fundamental Properties and Applications of Wheat Seeds

Work with cereals （barley and wheat） and a legume （Medicago truncatula） has established thioredoxin h （Trx h） as a central regulatory protein of seeds. Trx h acts by reducing disulfide （S-S） groups of diverse seed proteins （storage proteins, enzymes, and enzyme inhibitors）, thereby facilitating germination. Early in vitro protein studies were complemented with experiments in which barley seeds with Trx h overexpressed in the endosperm showed accelerated germination and early or enhanced expression of associated enzymes （α-amylase and pullulanase）. The current study extends the transgenic work to wheat. Two approaches were followed to alter the expression of Trx h genes in the endosperm： （1） a hordein promoter and its protein body targeting sequence led to overexpression of Trx hS, and （2） an antisense construct of Trx h9 resulted in cytosolic underexpression of that gene （Arabidopsis designation）. Underexpression of Trx h9 led to effects opposite to those observed for overexpression Trx h5 in barley--retardation of germination and delayed or reduced expression of associated enzymes. Similar enzyme changes were observed in developing seeds. The wheat lines with underexpressed Trx showed delayed preharvest sprouting when grown in the greenhouse or field without a decrease in final yield. Wheat with overexpressed Trx h5 showed changes commensurate with earlier in vitro work： increased solubility of disulfide proteins and lower aUergenicity of the gliadin fraction. The results are further evidence that the level of Trx h in cereal endosperm determines fundamental properties as well as potential applications of the seed.     

Impaired Glucose Tolerance or Newly Diagnosed Diabetes Mellitus Diagnosed during Admission Adversely Affects Prognosis after Myocardial Infarction: An Observational Study

Objective

To investigate the prognostic effect of newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus (NDM) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) post myocardial infarction (MI).

Research Design and Methods

Retrospective cohort study of 768 patients without preexisting diabetes mellitus post-MI at one centre in Yorkshire between November 2005 and October 2008. Patients were categorised as normal glucose tolerance (NGT n = 337), IGT (n = 279) and NDM (n = 152) on pre- discharge oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Primary end-point was the first occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) including cardiovascular death, non-fatal MI, severe heart failure (HF) or non-haemorrhagic stroke. Secondary end-points were all cause mortality and individual components of MACE.

Results

Prevalence of NGT, impaired fasting glucose (IFG), IGT and NDM changed from 90%, 6%, 0% and 4% on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) to 43%, 1%, 36% and 20% respectively after OGTT. 102 deaths from all causes (79 as first events of which 46 were cardiovascular), 95 non fatal MI, 18 HF and 9 non haemorrhagic strokes occurred during 47.2 ± 9.4 months follow up. Event free survival was lower in IGT and NDM groups. IGT (HR 1.54, 95% CI: 1.06–2.24, p = 0.024) and NDM (HR 2.15, 95% CI: 1.42–3.24, p = 0.003) independently predicted MACE free survival. IGT and NDM also independently predicted incidence of MACE. NDM but not IGT increased the risk of secondary end-points.

Conclusion

Presence of IGT and NDM in patients presenting post-MI, identified using OGTT, is associated with increased incidence of MACE and is associated with adverse outcomes despite adequate secondary prevention.     

Association of serum markers with improvement in clinical response measures after treatment with golimumab in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis despite receiving methotrexate: results from the GO-FORWARD study

Introduction  

The goal of this study was to identify serum markers that are modulated by treatment with golimumab with or without methotrexate (MTX) and are associated with clinical response.     

Living together: behavior and welfare in single and mixed species groups of capuchin (Cebus apella) and squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus)

There are potential advantages of housing primates in mixed species exhibits for both the visiting public and the primates themselves. If the primates naturally associate in the wild, it may be more educational and enjoyable for the public to view. Increases in social complexity and stimulation may be enriching for the primates. However, mixed species exhibits might also create welfare problems such as stress from interspecific aggression. We present data on the behavior of single and mixed species groups of capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) and squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) housed at the Living Links to Human Evolution Research Centre in the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland's Edinburgh Zoo. These species associate in the wild, gaining foraging benefits and decreased predation. But Cebus are also predators themselves with potential risks for the smaller Saimiri. To study their living together we took scan samples at ≥15 min intervals on single (n=109) and mixed species groups (n=152), and all occurrences of intraspecific aggression and interspecific interactions were recorded. We found no evidence of chronic stress and Saimiri actively chose to associate with Cebus. On 79% of scans, the two species simultaneously occupied the same part of their enclosure. No vertical displacement was observed. Interspecific interactions were common (>2.5/hr), and equally divided among mildly aggressive, neutral, and affiliative interactions such as play. Only one aggressive interaction involved physical contact and was non‐injurious. Aggressive interactions were mostly (65%) displacements and vocal exchanges, initiated almost equally by Cebus and Saimiri. Modifications to the enclosure were successful in reducing these mildly aggressive interactions with affiliative interactions increasing in frequency and diversity. Our data suggest that in carefully designed, large enclosures, naturally associating monkeys are able to live harmoniously and are enriched by each other. Am. J. Primatol. 72:33–47, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.