Proficiency of European GMO control laboratories to quantify MON89788 soybean in a meat pâté matrix.

GMO control laboratories in the EU routinely monitor the presence and content of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food and feed products collected from the EU market. As the vast majority of GMOs comprize genetically modified plants, most control samples have a plant-based origin. For the first time, a pilot proficiency test was organised requiring the analysis of GMOs in a meat matrix. Meat pâté, a product in which soybean is occasionally identified, was spiked with GM soybean event MON89788, homogenised by mixing, aliquoted in sachets and frozen. The assigned value was determined by two independent expert laboratories. Several DNA extraction methods were tested and proved to be insufficient for the removal of PCR inhibitors present in the DNA extracts, resulting in a GM content underestimated by at least 30%. This problem was solved either by using hot-start qPCR chemistry or by applying the same method in a digital PCR format. A total of 52 laboratories participated in the study. They were requested to verify the presence of any GM soybean in the test item and to quantify the GM event(s) identified by their method of choice. All but one laboratory identified the MON89788 soybean event present in the pâté matrix. The majority of the quantitative results reported were below the assigned value, but did not deviate more than 50% from it. This study demonstrated the proficiency of most GMO control laboratories for the analysis of GMOs in a meat-based product. It also shows that method optimisation for GMO analysis in meat products is nevertheless advisable.

Evaluation of Taenia solium and Taenia crassiceps cysticercal antigens for the serodiagnosis of neurocysticercosis.

We evaluated the usefulness of seven cysticercal antigen extracts, four from Taenia solium cysticerci (whole parasite-TsoW, membrane-TsoMe, vesicular fluid-TsoVF and scolex-TsoSc) and three from T. crassiceps cysticerci (whole parasite-TcraW, membrane-TcraMe and vesicular fluid-TcraVF), for serodiagnosis of neurocysticercosis with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cysticercus-specific IgG were screened in serum samples from 23 patients with neurocysticercosis, 32 patients with other infections and 48 healthy persons. The best results were obtained with the TsoVF-ELISA (91.3% sensitivity; 96.2% specificity) and TcraVF-ELISA (91.3% sensitivity; 95% specificity). The ELISA done with whole parasite and membrane extracts from cysts of T. solium and T. crassiceps and the scolex extract from T. solium cysts showed a low performance in terms of sensitivity, ranging from 47.8% to 73.9%. None of the antigen preparations from T. solium and T. crassiceps cysticerci used in this study showed outstanding performance for the serodiagnosis of neurocysticercosis. However, considering the results obtained with the seven antigen preparations, vesicular fluid from T. solium and T. crassiceps cysticerci may be useful for detecting specific antibodies in sera from patients with neurocysticercosis.

The pharmacokinetics of cefodizime in children.

The single-dose pharmacokinetics of cefodizime were studied in ten hospitalized children aged between two and 15 years and weighing 12.5-26.2 kg. Six subjects received the drug (25 mg/kg) im and four received it iv. Cefodizime concentrations in blood and urine (iv dosage only) sampled up to 12h post dose were measured by microbiological assay and pharmacokinetic parameters were derived on the basis of a two-compartment open model. Peak serum concentrations were 131 +/- 22.7 mg/l (15 min post iv dose) and 54.8 +/- 17.8 mg/l (60 min post im dose). Mean T1/2 beta were 1.9 +/- 0.13 h (iv) and 1.88 +/- 0.25 h (im). Mean AUCs were 217.2 +/- 37.9 mg.h/l (iv) and 150.85 +/- 22.98 mg.h/l (im). Mean volumes of distribution were 7.6 +/- 2.5 l (iv) and 7.9 +/- 1.41 (im). Twelve hours after the iv administration the cumulative urinary excretion was 78-87% of the dose. The pharmacokinetic behaviour of cefodizime in children is thus similar to that of other compounds in this class.

[A case of complete amelia in a newborn infant. (Contribution on the etiology of breech presentation)]. / Ein Fall von vollkommener Amelie beim Neugeborenen. (Beitrag zur Ursache der Beckenendlage)

The authors related a case of complete absence of all extremities (amelia) in a newborn delivered by the breech. The cause of the breech presentation has been attributed to the shape of the fetus and to lack a fetal movements. The reflexes of the fetus are important for establishing a normal presentation.