Basket-weave structure in the stratum corneum is an important factor for maintaining the physiological properties of human skin as studied using reconstructed human epidermis and tape stripping of human cheek skin.

BACKGROUND: The normal stratum corneum (SC) has an upper basket-weave (BW) pattern layer and a lower compact layer. The transition from compact to BW SC is well associated with a transition from diffuse to peripheral distributions of corneodesmosomes (CDs). The loss of transition from compact SC to BW SC appears to cause structural and barrier-function impairments. OBJECTIVES: To show the involvement of the BW SC in maintaining the physiological properties of the skin. METHODS: Reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) with a complete BW structure was created by treatment with prepared emulsion-A, an oil-in-water emulsion. The RHE tissues were subjected to histological analysis, and the distribution of CDs on the SC with or without BW SC was analysed by anti-desmoglein (Dsg)1 antibody immunofluorescence and ultrastructural and Western blotting analyses. Ultrastructural analysis of intercellular lipids was performed. The mechanical properties of the RHE were evaluated. RESULTS: Emulsion-A successfully generated the BW SC in the RHE in which the degradation of CDs was promoted. The intercellular space of the BW SC generated by emulsion-A was filled with multilamellar lipid sheets. The softness of the SC with a BW structure formed with emulsion-A was higher than that of the compact SC in RHE. The outermost SC Dsg1 degradation (formation of the BW SC as determined with Dsg1 pixels) was correlated with water-barrier functions and the SC softness of healthy human cheek, which varied widely. CONCLUSIONS: Emulsion-A successfully generated the BW SC in RHE for the first time. This method is suggested to be a useful tool for investigating the physiological significance of the BW SC in vitro. Determination of Dsg1 content in the SC obtained by tape stripping from human skin allows study of the effects of external stimulants, such as creams and ointments, including cosmetics, on the completeness of the BW SC in situ without biopsy. What's already known about this topic? The normal stratum corneum (SC) has two layers, an upper basket-weave (BW) pattern layer and a lower compact layer. Epidermal diseases such as ichthyosis vulgaris and X-linked ichthyosis have an incomplete or no BW SC and impaired SC barrier functions, in which corneodesmosome (CD) degradation in a peripheral distribution is impaired. The roles of the BW SC in the physiological properties of human skin have not been clearly elucidated. What does this study add? Reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) with a complete BW structure was generated for the first time by treatment with oil-in-water emulsion-A. The formation of the BW SC was associated with a decrease in Dsg1 content, which represents the CD number in the SC. The intercellular space of the BW SC generated by emulsion-A, but not compact SC, was filled with multilamellar lipid sheets. The softness of the SC with a BW structure formed by emulsion-A treatment was higher than that of the compact SC in RHE. What is the translational message? RHE with a complete BW SC generated by emulsion-A treatment is suggested to be a useful tool for investigating effects on the physiological functions of the BW SC, as in treatments with creams and ointments including cosmetics. Determination of desmoglein 1 content in the SC obtained by tape stripping from human skin can make it possible to study the effects of external stimulants, such as creams and ointments, including cosmetics, on the completeness of the BW SC in situ without biopsy.

Environmental pollution in the Gulf of Guinea--a regional approach.

Environmental pollution in the Gulf of Guinea (GOG) coastal zone has caused eutrophication and oxygen depletion in the lagoon systems, particularly around the urban centres, resulting in decreased fish (reproduction) levels and waterborne diseases. A pollution sources assessment was undertaken by six countries in the region as a first step in defining a region-wide Environmental Management Plan. Results show that households produce 90% of solid waste. Industry, however, is responsible for substantial amounts of hazardous waste, specifically the Nigerian petroleum industry. The latter is also responsible for the spilling of large amounts of oil. BOD load from industrial effluents is slightly larger than domestic loads in the industrialised coastal zone. Wastewater treatment systems are either absent or inadequate. Apart from large-scale gas flaring in Nigeria, air pollution, in terms of COx, HC, NOx and SO2 emissions, is contributed mainly by traffic. Particulates, originate mainly from industries and domestic biomass burning.

Flavor production from a non-stick oil by moulds.

Natural flavor was accidentally produced from rice cake products in Japan. A non-stick oil had been sprayed on the products during the production process. It was found that a Penicillium corylophilum strain, a contaminant of the oil, produced the flavor from the oil. The ingredients of the flavor were four volatile substances, 2-heptanone, 2-nonanone, 2-heptanol, and 2-nonanol. Challenge tests with the mould strain in a rice cake system were performed under various conditions. The volatile substances were produced in the largest amounts at 25 degrees C, followed by 20 or 30 degrees C then 10 degrees C. 2-Heptanone was produced most remarkably at 25 degrees C, followed by 2-nonanone, 2-heptanol, and 2-nonanol. The growth patterns of the mould were similar between 20-30 degrees C, and the growth at 10 degrees C was delayed. The non-stick oil itself had neither flavor nor volatile substance. The flavor was also produced from coconut oil, which was one of the materials of the non-stick oil. No bacteria or yeasts tested produced any flavor from the non-stick oil, whereas most of the moulds tested produced flavor components.

[Formation of ethyl carbamate in umeshu (plum liqueur)].

Samples of umeshu, a Japanese plum liqueur made from unripe plums, shochu and crystal sugar, were stored under fluorescent light, in the dark and in the refrigerator. The amount of ethyl carbamate formed in umeshu exposed to light or room temperature was larger than that in the dark or at low temperature. The amount of ethyl carbamate formed in umeshu to which cyanide had been added was larger than that in the absence of added cyanide. Thus, the amount of ethyl carbamate formed in the umeshu was increased by not only light and higher temperature, but also cyanide. Samples of model alcoholic beverages were stored under various conditions using red, yellow and blue cellophanes. The amount of ethyl carbamate formed in the model alcoholic beverage with blue cellophane was larger than in the cases of red and yellow cellophanes. It was found that the amount of ethyl carbamate formed in the model alcoholic beverage was increased by light in the wavelength range of 375-475 nm.

Eclampsia in Enugu, eastern Nigeria.

A retrospective analysis of 83 cases of eclampsia managed at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital over a ten year period was carried out. Incidence of eclampsia was 1.7/1000 deliveries. Antepartum eclampsia constituted 84% of the cases managed. The incidence of eclampsia among unbooked cases was 14.3/1000 births and of these, the maternal mortality was 15.6% while the incidence of eclampsia for the booked patients was 1.1/1000 births of which the maternal mortality was 7.8%. Selection of high risk cases for hospital confinement, early referral of cases of eclampsia and careful use of drugs to control eclamptic fits are recommended to reduce morbidity and mortality from eclampsia.

PIP: Eclampsia is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in Nigeria. The etiology of the condition may be genetic, and treatment regimens differ. It is agreed, however, that adequate prenatal care can reduce the occurrence of eclampsia. Researchers analyzed the 83 cases of eclampsia which were treated at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu from January 1977 to December 1986. The 49,883 deliveries during this decade led to an eclampsia rate of 1.7/1000. Of the 47,638 women who received prenatal care at the hospital (booked women), 51 experienced eclampsia (1.1/1000); the 2245 referred deliveries included 32 cases of eclampsia (14.3/1000). This difference is significant (p .0.05). Some booked patients, however, had only 1 prenatal consultation. The mean parity of eclampsia patients was 1.6, and median age was 27 years. Eclampsia occurred at or= 28 weeks gestation in 4, at 29-36 weeks in 37, at term in 38, and postpartum in 13 women. Blood pressure at time of occurrence ranged from 130/95-250/160 mmHg. Most of the complications and 7 of the 9 deaths occurred with systolic pressure 200 mmHg. The comparatively high 10.8% maternal deaths of these patients included 15.6% of referred and 7.8% of the booked patients. This difference was not significant. The perinatal mortality rate was 33% for referred patients and 11% for booked (not statistically significant), for a combined rate of 18.5%. Diazepam was most often used in treatment because it was available; however, the Cesarean rate was highest with this drug. (Magnesium sulfate, well-regarded for eclampsia treatment in the US, was not available). The perinatal mortality rate is in line with the experience of others; Cesarean sections led to the most perinatal deaths. Postpartum eclampsia led to 2 deaths of women after they left the hospital. High-risk cases should receive early referral and hospitalization. It would also be useful to monitor the efficiency of the drugs used for treatment.

Aflatoxin contamination in foods and foodstuffs in Tokyo: 1986-1990.

Aflatoxins were determined in 3054 samples of foods or foodstuffs, including cereals, nuts, beans, spices, dairy products, dry fruits, and edible oil. Samples were collected in Tokyo from 1986 to 1990. Aflatoxins were found in rice products, adlay, corn, crude sugar, peanut products, pistachio nuts, brazil nuts, sesame products, butter beans, white pepper, red pepper, paprika, nutmeg, and mixed spices. The highest incidence of aflatoxin contamination was observed in nutmeg (80%), and the highest level of aflatoxin B1 was observed in pistachio nuts (1382 ppb).

Quantitative determination of amines in wine by liquid chromatography.

A liquid chromatographic (LC) procedure is described for the determination by dansylation of the following 16 kinds of biogenic amines found in wine: monomethylamine (MM), ethylamine (EM), iso- and n-propylamine (Pr), iso- and n-butylamine (Bu), iso- and n-amylamine (Am), pyrrolidine (PY), 2-phenethylamine (PH), tryptamine (TR), putrescine (PU), cadaverine (CA), histamine (HI), tyramine (TY), and spermidine (SP). The amines in white and red wine were applied to a column of Amberlite CG-50 type I resin (Na-form) after the column had been washed with water and eluted with 1N hydrochloric acid. This eluate was evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure and derivatized with dansyl chloride (DNS). LC separations were performed on Finepak SIL C18S and LiChrosorb RP-8 columns with an acetonitrile-water elution gradient. In the survey of commercial wines by this method, most of the samples were found to contain 12 amines, including iso-Am, CA, PU, TY, and others. The highest levels of these amines were 4.84 micrograms PU/mL in red wine, and 5.11 micrograms iso-Am/mL in white wine. The total levels of amines in red wine were comparatively higher than in white wine.

Simultaneous detection of several Fusarium mycotoxins in cereals, grains, and foodstuffs.

A systematic method is described for the simultaneous determination of Fusarium mycotoxins (nivalenol, deoxynivalenol, fusarenon-x, diacetoxyscirpenol, neosolaniol, T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, butenolide, moniliformin, and zearalenone) in cereals, grains, and foodstuffs. Mycotoxins were extracted with aqueous methanol and purified by a 2-step chromatographic procedure using Amberlite XAD-4 and Florisil columns. The column eluates were concentrated and spotted on a thin layer chromatographic (TLC) plate which was then developed in CHCL3-methanol (93 + 7) and toluene-acetone-methanol (5 + 3 + 2). Each mycotoxin was quantitated by gas chromatography (GC) and TLC densitometry. The minimum detectable concentrations (microgram/kg) in various test materials were: nivalenol, deoxynivalenol, and fusarenon-x, 2.0; diacetoxyscirpenol, neosolaniol, T-2 toxin, and HT-2 toxin, 80; zearalenone, 10; butenolide, 30; and moniliformin, 50. Recoveries of the mycotoxins added to various cereal samples at 1.0-2.0 microgram/g were greater than 71% and averaged 85%.