Maize based diets and possible neurobehavioural after-effects among some populations in the world

Maize is a cereal particularly lacking in tryptophan, which is the precursor of serotonin, an important neurotransmitter. Altough complementary foods may eliminate tryptophan deficiency, serotonin deficiency may often continue to exist because of competition made by other Large Neutral Amino Acids (LNAA) against tryptophan for neuron access, since they use the same carrier to cross the blood-brain barrier. Thus serotonin synthesis depends on two variables: the amount of tryptophan and the trp/LNAA ratio (R). “R” is lowest for common maize, low for beans and, as a rule, for most vegetable foods, higher for meat. So, when maize is the preponderant food in the meal, the “R” value lowers and so in parallel serotonin synthesis does. Serotonin deficiency involves several behavioural consequences, such as the tendency towards aggressive behaviour or the religious fanaticism. Among native american populations, these consequences appear, as a rule, positively correlated with maize alimentary dependence (Aztecs appear as those who greatly suffered from serotonin deficiency). In the world these are thinkable for some african populations (i.e. Zulu) or european (i.e. Balkan peoples).     

A research on the action of testosterone propionate and of ciproterone acetate on the mouse-killing behaviour of the adult rat.

Data demonstrate exactly that testosterone favour above all the killing behaviour of castrate males at birth in comparison with control males while ciproterone acetate turns out to be more effective in diminishing the killing behaviour of males having integral testicle and of androgenized females at birth in comparison with castrated males. The results point out that the killing behaviour of rats is affected by the presence of testosterone in the first days of life, and in the grown-up animal.     

Effects of the removal of olfactory bulbs on the appearance and then on the latency of the "mouse-killing reaction" in the rat of the Wistar SM strain

The 20% of male 5-6 month-old Wistar rats SM prove to be natural killers. A four-month long insulation of "surely non-killer" rats has not allowed to notice a mouse-killing behaviour in any animal. The total bilateral removal of olfactory bulbs in "non-killer rats" causes a "mouse-killing behaviour" in all the animal 24 hours after the operation, but with a latency of response that has proved different in the various rats. Precisely, while 24 hours and 15 days after the bulb operation the rats can be distinguished into "rapid killers" and "slow killers", after 30 days all the animals become "rapid killers" with a remarkably shortened period of mouse-killing latency (1 - 60 seconds).     

Multiple Sclerosis in the Mount Etna Region: Possible Role of Volcanogenic Trace Elements

Background

Trace elements have been hypothesised to be involved in the pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis and volcanic degassing is the major natural sources of trace elements. Both incidence of Multiple Sclerosis in Catania and volcanic activity of Mount Etna have been significantly increased during the last 30 years. Due to prevailing trade winds direction, volcanic gases from Etna summit craters are mostly blown towards the eastern and southern sectors of the volcano.

Objective

To evaluate the possible association between Multiple Sclerosis and exposure to volcanogenic trace elements.

Methods

We evaluated prevalence and incidence of Multiple Sclerosis in four communities (47,234 inhabitants) located in the eastern flank and in two communities (52,210 inhabitants) located in the western flank of Mount Etna, respectively the most and least exposed area to crater gas emissions.

Results

A higher prevalence was found in the population of the eastern flank compared to the population of the western one (137.6/100,000 versus 94.3/100,000; p-value 0.04). We found a borderline significantly higher incidence risk during the incidence study period (1980–2009) in the population of the eastern flank 4.6/100,000 (95% CI 3.1–5.9), compared with the western population 3.2/100,000 (95% CI 2.4–4.2) with a RR of 1.41 (95% CI 0.97–2.05; p-value 0.06). Incidence risks have increased over the time in both populations reaching a peak of 6.4/100,000 in the eastern flank and of 4.4/100.000 in the western flank during 2000–2009.

Conclusion

We found a higher prevalence and incidence of Multiple Sclerosis among populations living in the eastern flank of Mount Etna. According to our data a possible role of TE cannot be ruled out as possible co-factor in the MS pathogenesis. However larger epidemiological study are needed to confirm this hypothesis.     

Microbiological quality of Pecorino Siciliano "primosale" cheese on retail sale in the street markets of Palermo, Italy

Pecorino Siciliano (PS) "primosale" is a traditional Sicilian fresh soft cheese made from sheep's milk. Short-ripening time and production from unpasteurized or raw milk can facilitate bacterial contamination of PS "primosale". The microbiological quality of "primosale" on retail sale in the street markets of Palermo, Italy was studied by detecting the common food pathogens Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus and indicator microorganisms, such as Escherichia coli, Enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococcaceae. In our study, 4% and 44% of the samples, respectively, did not comply with the acceptability levels fixed by European regulations for S. aureus and E. coli. A high contamination of bacteria belonging to Enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococcaceae was found in 42% and 50% of the cheeses analyzed, respectively. Such results indicate poor husbandry and poor hygiene practices during milk collection or preservation or during cheese production processes and handling. In addition, the retail sale conditions may have played a role in cheese contamination since a correlation was found between poor microbiological quality and some selling parameters. This study emphasizes the need to improve production hygiene throughout the PS food chain in line with the traditional cheese-making procedures. Labelling of PS with clear information on whether the cheese was prepared from raw milk also requires improvement.     

Rapidly growing mycobacteria in TB/HIV co-infection: a report of two cases focusing on difficulties in diagnosis and management

Recent reports indicate an increase in rates of infection and disease due to rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) in patients with pre-existing chronic lung disease. Studies have described difficulties in correctly identifying closely related species, even when proper methodologies are adopted, and several different gene targets have been proposed. We describe two cases of RGM infection in a 29-year-old HIV-1 positive Congolese man and a 19-year-old HIV-1 positive Liberian woman, respectively, both with bronchiectasis due to previous Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. Mycobacterium porcinum and Mycobacterium bolletii were identified in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and sputum, respectively. After starting the patients on antiretroviral treatment and primary prophylaxis against non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), and ensuring that they adhered to their prescribed regimen, we observed an improvement in their clinical condition and mycobacteria cleared from their respiratory specimens. Management of RGM respiratory infection in immunocompromised patients has to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the patient's pulmonary sequelae, adherence to multiple treatments and immune profile.     

Preliminary characterization of wine lactobacilli able to degrade arginine

Lactobacillus strains able to degrade arginine were isolated and characterized from a typical red wine. All the strains were gram-positive, catalase-negative and produced both D- and L-lactate from glucose. Strains L2, L3, L4, and L6 were able to produce CO₂ from glucose; however, production of CO₂ from glucose was not observed in strains L1 and L5, suggesting that they belong to the homofermentative wine lactic acid bacteria (LAB) group. All of the lactobacilli were tested for their ability to ferment 49 carbohydrates. The sugar fermentation profile of strain L1 was unique, suggesting that this strain belonged to Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris, a non-typical wine LAB. Furthermore, a preliminary typing was performed by using a random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis (RAPD-PCR analysis).