Mammalian gastrointestinal tract parameters modulating the integrity, surface properties, and absorption of food-relevant nanomaterials.

Many natural chemicals in food are in the nanometer size range, and the selective uptake of nutrients with nanoscale dimensions by the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a normal physiological process. Novel engineered nanomaterials (NMs) can bring various benefits to food, e.g., enhancing nutrition. Assessing potential risks requires an understanding of the stability of these entities in the GI lumen, and an understanding of whether or not they can be absorbed and thus become systemically available. Data are emerging on the mammalian in vivo absorption of engineered NMs composed of chemicals with a range of properties, including metal, mineral, biochemical macromolecules, and lipid-based entities. In vitro and in silico fluid incubation data has also provided some evidence of changes in particle stability, aggregation, and surface properties following interaction with luminal factors present in the GI tract. The variables include physical forces, osmotic concentration, pH, digestive enzymes, other food, and endogenous biochemicals, and commensal microbes. Further research is required to fill remaining data gaps on the effects of these parameters on NM integrity, physicochemical properties, and GI absorption. Knowledge of the most influential luminal parameters will be essential when developing models of the GI tract to quantify the percent absorption of food-relevant engineered NMs for risk assessment.

Methods to Evaluate Uptake of Engineered Nanomaterials by the Alimentary Tract.

This article is one of a series of 4 that report on a task of the NanoRelease Food Additive project of the International Life Science Institute Center for Risk Science Innovation and Application to identify, evaluate, and develop methods that are needed to confidently detect, characterize, and quantify intentionally produced engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) released from food along the alimentary tract. This particular article focuses on the problem of detecting and characterizing ENMs in the various compartments of the alimentary tract after they have been ingested from dietary sources. An in depth analysis of the literature related to oral toxicity of ENMs is presented, paying particular attention to analytical methodology and sample preparation. The review includes a discussion of model systems that can be used to study oral uptake of ENMs in the absence of human toxicological data or other live-animal studies. The strengths and weaknesses of various analytical and sample preparation techniques are discussed. The article concludes with a summary of findings and a discussion of potential knowledge gaps and targets for method development in this area.

[Plantar fibromatosis and Dupuytren's contracture in an adolescent].

BACKGROUND: Fibromatosis represents a wide group of benign, locally proliferative disorders of fibroblasts. Dupuytren's disease is a benign proliferative disease of palmar aponeurosis which usually affects adults between 40 and 60 years of age. Ledderhose's disease or plantar fibromatosis is plantar equivalent of Dupuyten's disease most often affecting middle-aged and older men, usually bilateral, represented with painless nodule in the medial division of plantar fascia. CASE REPORT: We presented a 19-year old adolescent that turned to a plastic surgeon complaining to his small finger contracture. He noticed palmar thickening with nodule over the metacarpophalangeal joint of small finger of his right hand when he was 16 years old. A year later a finger started to band. During physical checkup we noticed plantar nodule that also had his father and grandmother. Magnetic resonance and tumor biopsy confirmed a suspicion on plantar fibromatosis - Ledderhose's disease. Clinical exam of the hand clearly led to a conclusion that the patient had Dupuytren's contracture with pretendinous cord over the small finger flexor tendons and lack of extension of proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint. On the extensor side of the PIP joints there were Garrod's nodes. The patient refused surgical treatment of plantar tumor, but agreed to surgical correction of finger contracture. CONCLUSION: Despite the fact that Dupuytren's disease and plantar fibromatosis are diseases of adults, the possibility of conjoint appearance of these forms of fibromatosis in adolescent period of life should be kept in mind especially in patients with strong genetic predisposition.

[The most frequent injury with mechanical corn picker during harvest--possibility of prevention].

INTRODUCTION: Inappropriate machine operating, long work hours and decreased concentration of machine operators create conditions for getting injured A corn picker is the most often cause of hand injuries among agricultural machineries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 43 persons with hand injuries during corn harvest, treated in the four-year period (2006-2009). The study subjects were analysed by sex, age, season, type of injury, affected parts of the hands, length of treatment and data on being trained to work with the corn picker. RESULTS: In the observed period hand injuries caused by a corn picker occurred 10.75 times a year on average on the territory gravitating to the Clinical Centre of Vojvodina. The most frequent hand injuries were recorded in male operators, most of them aged 21-59, and the greatest number of injuries happened in October. According to the type, crushing of hand was the dominant type of injury. Fingers of hand were most frequently grabbed The average duration of treatment was 14.37 days, and the majority of patients were treated in hospital up to 14 days. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The average occurrence of hand injuries reported in this paper is significantly lower than it was reported in one study conducted earlier. The data regarding training to operate the respective machinery indicate that 93.2% of the injured have not been trained appropriately, and 37.12% did not have any personal protective devices. Training of farmers to operate agricultural machinery should be carried out continually in future, as it has been regulated by the Law on Safety at Work and Health.

Development of immunoassay for detection of meat and bone meal in animal feed.

An immunoassay system was developed for efficient detection of prohibited meat and bone meal (MBM) in animal feed. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were raised against bovine smooth muscle autoclaved at 130 degrees C for 20 min. Among the 1,500 supernatants of hybridoma cells screened, MAbs 3E1, 1G3, and 3E10 were selected and characterized in this study. The first set of MAbs produced, 3E1 and 1G3, had stronger reactivity against MBM than against smooth muscle that was heat treated at 90 degrees C for 10 min. However, reactivity gradually increased against smooth muscle that was autoclaved at 130 degrees C for up to 1 h. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of MBM in animal feed was optimized with the MAb 3E10 because of its superior performance. MAb 3E10 diluted to 100-fold was used to differentiate bovine MBM from that of other species in ingredients used for commercial animal feeds and could detect down to 0.05% MBM mixed in animal feed.

Mechanical cornpicker hand injuries.

Mechanical cornpicker hand injuries are not frequent in comparison to general hand trauma, but they have a specific mechanism of occurrence and are very severe. This investigation included 221 hand injuries. The sex distribution shows a general male dominance (85.25%) in their active age (84.44%). These are, seasonal injuries mostly occurring in October (75.11%). By type of injuries, mutilating crush injuries are most frequent (64.25%). After completing the treatment, in most cases the functional result were estimated as bad (50.68%). Data concerning education and trainig for operating agricultural machines (96.38%--patients without training) and carrying out safety measures (63.35% of injured patients did not apply any protection measures) are devastating. The number of these injuries, as well as consequent permanent disabilities, may be considerably reduced by preventive measures, inclulding public health services and media. Use of contempoarary agricultural machinery, as well as obligatory training for operating these machines and application of protective measures, may also reduce the incidence of hand injuries during corn picking.

[Topical agents used in the treatment of burns]. / Sredstva za lokalnu primenu u lecenju opekotina.

INTRODUCTION: Understanding of fluid shifts and recognition of the importance of early and appropriate fluid replacement therapy have significantly reduced mortality in the early postburn period. After the burn patient successfully passes the resuscitation period, the burn wound represents the greatest threat to survival. HISTORY: Since the dawn of civilization, man has been trying to find an agent which would help burn wounds heal, and at the same time, not harm general condition of the injured. It was not until the XX century, after the discovery of antibiotics, when this condition was fulfilled. In 1968, combining silver and sulfadiazine, Fox made silver-sulphadiazine, which is a 1% hydrosoluble cream and a superior agent in topical treatment of burns today. CURRENT TOPICAL AGENTS: None of the topical antimicrobial agents available today, alone or combined, have the characteristics of ideal prophylactic agents, but they eliminate colonization of burn wound, and invasive infections are infrequent. With an excellent spectrum of activity, low toxicity, and ease of application with minimal pain, silver-sulfadiazine is still the most frequently used topical agent. CONCLUSION: The incidence of invasive infections and overall mortality have been significantly reduced after introduction of topical burn wound antimicrobial agents into practice. In most burn patients the drug of choice for prophylaxis is silver sulfadiazine. Other agents may be useful in certain clinical situations.