Trans fatty acids in human milk are an indicator of different maternal dietary sources containing trans fatty acids.

The trans fatty acid (TFA) patterns in the fats of ruminant meat and dairy products differ from those found in other (processed) fats. We have evaluated different TFA isomers in human breast milk as an indicator of dietary intake of ruminant and dairy fats of different origins. Breast milk samples were collected 1 month postpartum from 310 mothers participating in the KOALA Birth Cohort Study (The Netherlands). The study participants had different lifestyles and consumed different amounts of dairy products. Fatty acid methyl esters were determined by GC-FID and the data were evaluated by principal component analysis (PCA), ANOVA/Post Hoc test and linear regression analysis. The two major principal components were (1) 18:1 trans-isomers and (2) markers of dairy fat including 15:0, 17:0, 11(trans)18:1 and 9(cis),11(trans)18:2 (CLA). Despite similar total TFA values, the 9(trans)18:1/11(trans)18:1-ratio and the 10(trans)18:1/11(trans)18:1-ratio were significantly lower in milk from mothers with high dairy fat intake (40-76 g/day: 0.91 +/- 0.48, P < 0.05) compared to low dairy fat intake (0-10 g/day: 1.59 +/- 0.48), and lower with strict organic meat and dairy use (>90% organic: 0.92 +/- 0.46, P < 0.05) compared to conventional origin of meat and dairy (1.40 +/- 0.61). Similar results were obtained for the 10(trans)18:1/11(trans)18:1-ratio. We conclude that both ratios are indicators of different intake of TFA from ruminant and dairy origin relative to other (including industrial) sources.

Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) migrating from packaging material 'disappears' in food: reaction with food components.

Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) is widely used as a monomer for coatings and adhesives for food-contact applications. Previous publications indicate that, after migration from packaging into foodstuffs, BADGE undergoes various reactions with unidentified food components. In order to elucidate the fate of BADGE, losses were determined after incubation with different foodstuffs and food components. Food proteins were identified as the main reaction partner with BADGE. Adduct formation was found with nucleophilic side-chains of amino acids. In vitro, cysteine exhibited significant activity. The previously reported occurrence of methylthio-derivatives of BADGE in foodstuffs was shown to originate from the reaction of BADGE with methionine. BADGE-methylthio derivatives can, therefore, be used as marker substances in foodstuffs for protein reactions with BADGE. The reported results offer a new viewpoint on the evaluation of BADGE migration. The hydrolysis and hydrochlorination derivatives subject to European legislation make up only a fraction of the totally migrated BADGE, and a further concern is that the toxic or allergenic potential of the protein adducts are unknown.

Comparison of different extraction solutions for the analysis of allergens in hen's egg.

An important requirement for the correct procedure of allergen analysis in hen's egg is to obtain complete and unaltered protein extracts. Besides the aim of a quantitative extraction of the allergens from the matrix, it is equally important not to alter their allergenic potential during the extraction process. This paper describes and compares six extraction solutions for the analysis of whole-egg proteins and allergens. These requirements were examined via protein determination according to Bradford [Bradford, M. M. (1976). Rapid and sensitive method for quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing principle of protein-dye binding. Analytical Biochemistry, 72, 248-254] and Kjeldahl [Meyer, A. H. (2006). Lebensmittelrecht, Verlag C.H. Beck München, Stand: 1. February 2006, § 64, Lebensmittel- und Futtermittelgesetzbuch, Amtliche Sammlung von Untersuchungsmethoden, Nr. L 06.00-7] as well as the EAST-inhibition method. It could be demonstrated that the extraction with a urea solution (8M) led to significant interferences during the protein determination, and substantially reduced the allergenic potential of egg proteins. With all other extraction solutions adequate protein contents could be extracted. The highest protein content was achieved by the extraction with phosphate buffered saline followed by a Tween 20 solution, physiological saline, water, and acetate buffer. The results show that none of these extracts - except for the urea solution (8M) - was altered in its' allergenic potential.

Expression of heat shock protein 70 in a permanent cell line (EPC) exposed to sediment extracts from the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.

Heat shock proteins 70 (hsp70) are known to be induced by a great variety of chemical stressors. The effects of different environmental contaminants, which were identified in sediments of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea as main contaminants or as contaminants of special toxicological interest, on the extent of expression of hsp70 in a permanent cell line Epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) were investigated. Concentrations of the single contaminants leading to elevated hsp70 levels were compared to the respective concentrations of these contaminants encountered in the sediment extracts thus allowing an assessment of their contribution to the toxicity of these sediments. Analysis of hsp70 was performed using western blotting techniques with subsequent comparative quantification by densitometry. Eleven of thirteen contaminants have shown a dose-dependent increase in hsp70 levels. An expression of hsp70 was observed in most cases between 0.1 and 10 microg/mL test solution. Some of the investigated stressors led to extremely high hsp70 contents even at low concentrations. However, in most cases contaminant concentrations in sediments were too low to cause an effect. For this reason, effects of the tested sediments are attributed to other contaminants or rather to mixtures of stressors.

Consensus meeting: monosodium glutamate - an update.

OBJECTIVE: Update of the Hohenheim consensus on monosodium glutamate from 1997: Summary and evaluation of recent knowledge with respect to physiology and safety of monosodium glutamate. DESIGN: Experts from a range of relevant disciplines received and considered a series of questions related to aspects of the topic. SETTING: University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany. METHOD: The experts met and discussed the questions and arrived at a consensus. CONCLUSION: Total intake of glutamate from food in European countries is generally stable and ranged from 5 to 12 g/day (free: ca. 1 g, protein-bound: ca. 10 g, added as flavor: ca. 0.4 g). L-Glutamate (GLU) from all sources is mainly used as energy fuel in enterocytes. A maximum intake of 6.000 [corrected] mg/kg body weight is regarded as safe. The general use of glutamate salts (monosodium-L-glutamate and others) as food additive can, thus, be regarded as harmless for the whole population. Even in unphysiologically high doses GLU will not trespass into fetal circulation. Further research work should, however, be done concerning the effects of high doses of a bolus supply at presence of an impaired blood brain barrier function. In situations with decreased appetite (e.g., elderly persons) palatability can be improved by low dose use of monosodium-L-glutamate.

Syntheses of conjugated octadecadienoic acids.

Three approaches for the synthesis of octadecadienoic acids with conjugated double bond systems are presented: synthesis of (10Z, 12Z)-octadecadienoic acid via an enyne-substructure; the use of an educt with a conjugated double bond system for the synthesis of (10E, 12E)-octadecadienoic acid; and the Suzuki cross coupling for the synthesis of (7E,9Z)-octadecadienoic acid.

Analytical determination of the suitability of different processes for the treatment of odorous waste gas.

In order to determine the efficiency of different treatment systems for the reduction of odorous emissions, a gas chromatographic method followed by simultaneous mass spectrometry and olfactometry (GC-MS/O) was developed. Samples from a coffee bean roasting and a fat and oil processing plant were analyzed, respectively. The results were compared with the data obtained by olfactometric measurements. At a coffee bean roasting plant, cooling gases were analyzed prior to and after treatment in a full scale bioscrubber. The GC-MS/O analysis showed that the amounts of aldehydes and ketones decreased after treatment of cooling gases of coffee bean roasting in the bioscrubber, whereas the contents of the heterocyclic compounds, like pyridine and the pyrazines, and acetophenone and guaiacol remained almost unchanged. The amounts of dimethyl disulfide, 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, and the carboxylic acids increased after bioscrubber treatment. Furthermore, the performance of each stage of a combined experimental plant for the treatment of exhaust air of fat and oil processing was investigated. This treatment plant consisted of a bioscrubber, a biofilter, and an activated carbon adsorber. The important odor-active compounds of the exhaust air of fat and oil processing were the typical fat oxidation products (aldehydes, ketones) and with lower importance 2-pentylfuran, a few terpenes and aromates. Again, the key odor-active compounds, aldehydes and ketones, were degraded in the bioscrubber. Further degradation of aliphatic, unsaturated, methylated, and cyclic alkanes, as well as aromates, terpenes, and furans by the biofilter was observed. After the last treatment stage, the activated carbon filter, only small amounts of aliphatic, unsaturated, methylated, and cyclic alkanes and aromates remained in the waste gas. For both applications, the results of the developed GC-MS/O method correlated very well with olfactometric measurements.

Influence of maturation on the alteration of allergenicity of green pea (Pisum sativum L.).

The IgE-binding capacity of different maturation levels of green pea seeds (Pisum sativum L.) of the variety Maxigolt is examined to determine the influence of maturation on the alteration of allergenicity. Different protein extraction methods to get total protein extracts and the protein fractions glutelin, globulin, and albumin from different maturation levels of green pea seeds are applied to SDS-PAGE/silver staining as well as SDS-PAGE/immunoblotting and EAST inhibition experiments using sera of 15 green pea allergic individuals. The SDS-PAGE/silver-staining experiments show the continuous change of protein pattern during maturation. SDS-PAGE/immunoblot and EAST inhibition demonstrate that all levels of green pea seeds show relevant IgE-binding capacity, as do immature seeds. Total IgE-binding capacity rises with the progress of maturation. Although the main allergenic activity is dependent upon the albumin fraction, the glutelin and globulin fractions are also important. The implication of these results is an obvious allergenic potency of all maturation levels, even immature seeds, whereas an increase of allergenicity during maturation could be notched up. The highest allergenic potency is caused by the albumin fraction, but globulin and glutelin fractions also contribute to the allergenicity of green pea.

[Development of an active robot system for multi-modal paranasal sinus surgery]. / Entwicklung eines aktiven Robotersystems für die multimodale Chirurgie der Nasennebenhöhlen.

BACKGROUND: Severe complications in endoscopic paranasal sinus surgery are rare, however, when they occur they are often fatal. Injuries to the optic nerve or the internal carotid artery mostly occur after penetration of the sphenoid sinus' anterior wall. METHODS: We present the robot system "A 73" with its newly designed 4-canal-microendoscope and special instruments that meets the demands of endoscopic paranasal sinus surgery. A fully automated perforation of the sphenoid sinus' anterior wall was performed in five cadaveric specimens. RESULTS: The sphenoid sinus' anterior wall could be perforated without damaging the surrounding structures in all cases. Subsequently, the approach was enlarged to the desired diameter using telemanipulation mode. The analysis of both the transformation error and intraopertive accuracy showed values in the submillimeter range. CONCLUSIONS: Using a newly developed robotic system, a fully automated perforation of the sphenoid sinus' anterior wall was performed precisely and reproducibly. This approach can be enlarged in a telemanipulation mode.

[Endonasal removal of a large recurrent craniopharyngioma using intraoperative navigation]. / Endonasale Entfernung eines ausgedehnten Kraniopharyngeomrezidivs mit Hilfe der intraoperativen Navigation.

In recent years computer-navigation systems have been commonly used in the field of otorhinolaryngology. Taking its limitations and possible failures into account, this technology is considered reasonable and helpful in routine paranasal sinus surgery, particularly in revision cases and complex approaches to the lateral skull base. We report on a patient with a large recurrent craniopharyngioma, and show that the use of intraoperative navigation might even be necessary to accomplish the desired postoperative outcome in certain cases. Future developments will demonstrate whether computer assisted surgery can extend the indications for operative procedures in complex anatomical regions.

[Binaural auditory deficit during pregnancy]. / Beidseitige Hörminderung in der Gravidität.

Neurological impairment during pregnancy is also commonly found in otorhinolaryngology. Cranial nerve palsy, e.g. of the facial nerve or changes in signal processing of the hearing system, are described. Apart from changes in electrolyte balance, these neurological alterations are attributed to hormone fluctuations. The spontaneous remission of the neurological problems after delivery is frequently reported. This case report presents a 34 year pregnant patient suffering from binaural sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus in the third trimester. Three weeks after delivery there was a spontaneous remission and a measurable improvement of the audiological findings. Although treatment with cortisone and antibiotics remained without effect, a pharmacological treatment during pregnancy has to be carefully and individually coordinated. An interdisciplinary approach in diagnostic and therapeutic measures together with gynaecologists appears obligatory.

Migration from can coatings: Part 1. A size-exclusion chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of overall migration and migrating substances below 1000 Da.

The Council of Europe Resolution on coatings suggests a limit of 10 mg dm-2 for the sum of substances migrating into food simulants from an internal can coating. The Scientific Committee on Food differentiates the migrants into the substances with a molecular weight below 1000 Da, potentially being of toxicological concern, and the less toxicologically relevant species above 1000 Da. Hitherto, the determination of overall migration was based on a gravimetric method. A new method is described for the simultaneous determination of both overall migration and the migration of substances below 1000 Da based on separation by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) followed by ultraviolet detection (UVD) and evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD). The method is suitable for all volatile extraction media and simulants recommended by the European Union. For statistical comparison of both methods, the slightly modified reference method was validated in-house and extended to an additional gravimetric measurement of the migrants below 1000 Da. For the determination of the overall migration, both methods provided similar reproducibility (validated gravimetry: standard deviation (SD) = 0.16 mg dm-2; SEC-ELSD/UVD: SD = 0.12 mg dm-2) but significantly better results were obtained by the SEC-ELSD/UVD method. For migrating substances below 1000 Da, the gravimetric determination provides a poor sensitivity (limit of detection = 0.35 mg dm-2) compared with the SEC-ELSD/UVD method (limit of detection = 0.04 mg dm-2). The new method offers a lower limit of detection and higher precision as well as being less time consuming and easier to use.

Rapid and sensitive quantitative analysis of alkyl phosphates in urine after organophosphate poisoning.

Organophosphate compounds are widely used as pesticides. After ingestion by humans, organophosphates decompose into alkyl phosphates. Decomposition continues postmortem. We developed a rapid (< 3 h), quantitative, and sensitive analysis of the human organosphosphate metabolites O,O-dimethylphosphate (DMP), O,O-diethylphosphate (DEP), O,O-dimethylthiophosphate (DMTP), O,O-diethylthiophosphate (DETP), O,O-dimethyldithiophosphate (DMDTP), and O,O-diethyldithiophosphate (DEDTP). Urine is dried under azeotropic conditions with isopropanol and nitrogen. All metabolites are converted into their corresponding benzyl esters reacting with benzyl bromide and diazotoluene. The protocol prevents the isomerization of DMTP and DETP occurring when diazo compounds are used exclusively. The benzyl ester derivatives are purified on solid-phase extraction silica columns. The quantitative analysis is performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. All metabolites can be identified by the parent molecular ions. Urine samples from eight cases of fatal suicidal poisoning dialkyl phosphates were quantitated. The limits of detection ranged from 3 to 6 ng/mL. Hence, this protocol is sufficiently sensitive to detect and quantitate organophosphate metabolites beyond cases of fatal poisoning, in the clinical setting, and even following average environmental exposure.

Migration of lubricants from food packagings. Screening for lipid classes and quantitative estimation using normal-phase liquid chromatographic separation with evaporative light scattering detection.

A normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (NP-HPLC) method is introduced for the identification and quantitative estimation of 12 lipid classes (paraffin, wax esters, cholesterol esters, fatty acid methyl esters, triacyl glycerols, fatty alcohols, free fatty acids, cholesterol, 1,3-diacyl glycerols, 1,2-diacyl glycerols, monoacyl glycerols and fatty acid amide) used as lubricantsin food packaging materials. The HPLC separation is carried out on a LiChrospher Diol (100 A, 5 microm, 125 mm x 3 mm) column with gradient elution (isooctane/0.1% acetic acid in tert-butyl methyl ether) and evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD). The method has been calibrated with representatives of each class in working ranges of about 5-150 mg/l, depending on the lipid class. Intra-day variance for all representatives range from 1.9 to 5.1%, inter-day variances from 7.0 to 26.5% and the limits of detection from 0.79 to 3.65 mg/l (except for two classes). A simple sample preparation could be established for the determination of migrating lubricants obtained from packaging materials containing external or internal lubricants. Since the detector response depends on the chain length and the degree of saturation, the quantification of a lipid class with unknown composition is only semi-quantitative. The amount of migrating lubricants from an epoxy-based can coating could be estimated with 0.3 mg/dm2 and from a light weight container with 5.5 mg/dm2.

Trans fatty acids (TFA): analysis, occurrence, intake and clinical relevance.

More than one quarter of total daily calories are normally provided by fatty acids which contain at least one double bond. The usual configuration of these double bonds is the cis configuration. Trans fatty acids (TFA) are formed in technological and microbiological processes by isomerization of cis double bonds to trans double bonds. In the 1990s, there was public health concern about epidemiological studies suggesting that TFA increase the risk of coronary heart disease. High intakes of TFA may have an influence on total cholesterol and other blood parameters; but on the other hand there have been a lot of studies which have not been able to confirm these results. TFA are formed in varying amounts during the industrial hydrogenation of vegetable oils and in the first stomach of ruminants. Regular margarines contain varying contents of partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, and therefore of TFA. The main dietary TFA are the trans octadecenoic acids, which contribute to approximately 80-90 % of total TFA content in foods. The predominant isomer of milk fat is trans vaccenic acid, which is directly influenced by ruminant feeding conditions. For a reliable identification and quantification of TFA in foods and other biological matrices it is necessary to use a combination of chromatographic methods (GC-FID, GC-MS, GC-FTIR, Ag superset +-HPLC).

Identification and analysis of conjugated linoleic acid isomers (CLA).

CLA are predominantly found in milk, milk products, meat and meat products of ruminants. The distribution of CLA isomers in cheese and/or meat shows one major isomer C18:2 c9t11 with nearly 84% of total CLA. It is estimated that the daily intake of CLA using the German Nutrition Study is 0.35 g/d for women and 0.43 g/d for men.

[Facial nerve schwannoma in the inner auditory canal and geniculate ganglion]. / Schwannome des N. facialis im inneren Gehörgang und am Ganglion geniculi.

BACKGROUND: Schwannoma of the vestibular nerve is the most common tumor found in the inner auditory canal. If a schwannoma of the facial nerve is found unexpectedly during surgery, the original surgical plan may have to be changed. In our series, we describe the symptoms, diagnostic procedures and therapy of this infrequent, benign tumor. In particular, we want to analyse the influence of diagnostic techniques, such as magnetic resonance tomography and electrophysiology, on the diagnosis of these tumors. PATIENTS: Between 1975 and 2001, we diagnosed 17 cases of facial nerve schwannoma in the inner auditory canal or the geniculate ganglion. All patients were treated surgically. In 16 cases, we used the enlarged middle fossa approach and in the remaining patient the translabyrinthine approach was used. RESULTS: In 11 cases, the facial nerve could be saved but in six the nerve had to be rebuilt with a transplant. During the first years of our study, palsy of the facial nerve was a frequent finding. In the later years, a hearing impairment and tinnitus became the most frequent symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Advances in magnetic resonance imaging have, in many cases, facilitated the differentiation between schwannomas of the facial nerve and the vestibular nerve over the last years. Signal enhancement at the geniculate ganglion is important for the diagnosis of facial nerve schwannoma. In individual cases, we found significant findings using electrophysiological procedures. In three cases, the temporal delay was elongated. Based on these findings, the therapeutic procedures can be discussed together with the patients.

[Growth of sporadic vestibular schwannomas correlates with Ki-67 proliferation index]. / Das Wachstum von Schwannomen des Nervus vestibularis korreliert mit der Zellproliferation.

BACKGROUND: Sporadic vestibular schwannoma show a wide variability of their growth rate. Some tumors might remain quiescent for a long time without symptoms and other tumors might suddenly enlarge. Sometimes during surgical removal of tumors, it is useful to have a parameter for the prediction of the further growth potential of the schwannoma, especially if tumor resection results in functional impairment of the facial nerve. An often used histological parameter for growth rate of tumor cells is the proliferation index. METHODS AND PATIENTS: In our study we observed a series of 50 patients with neurinoma of the vestibular nerve by "wait and scan". After the first magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) all patients were controlled by a second MRI. The time between the MRIs ranged between 3 and 26 months (median 9). In 45 of 50 patients a surgical removal of the tumor by transtemporal approach followed. RESULTS: The proliferation index (Ki-67) was identified in the histological tumor specimens. The next step was the correlation of proliferation index and "tumor doubling time" (TDT). The volume of the tumors was provided by measuring three diameters of the tumors in MRI and calculating the volume with a formula. The volume of the tumors were used to calculate tumor growth and TDT. 10 patients showed no tumor growth during follow up. The average TDT in 40 cases was 22 months (SD 16). In 33 cases we were able to determine a proliferation index, which showed an average score of 1.99 %. Statistical analysis showed a correlation between proliferation index and TDT with a coefficient of - 0.42 (s: 0.014). In two cases with relevant clinical tumor growth (TDT: 12 months), the MIB-1 index was nearly 0 % in different areas of the tumor specimen. May be in these cases, the cell proliferation declined just before operation. On the other hand we found one patient with a high proliferation index of 3.3 % and a rather long TDT of 19 months. CONCLUSIONS: The determination of proliferation can serve as a further decision guidance during surgery of vestibular schwannoma.

Dependence of tocopherol stability on different cooking procedures of food.

The influence of the kind of treatment during the preparation of hot meals (roasting, baking, stewing) on the stability of the tocopherols, which were added to the food through the margarines used, were examined in different food matrices. All preparation methods resulted in a loss of tocopherols. They could be divided into a group of only small loss of tocopherols (lower than 20%) and into a second group with nearly 70% loss of tocopherols (roasting of meat, steaming of peas). In the first group losses of tocopherols were directly associated with the fatty acid patterns of the used margarines, especially with the share of polyunsaturated fatty acids. On the other hand, during the roasting of meat nearly 70% of the tocopherols were destroyed by direct oxidation without a prohibitive effect on the lipid oxidation. The extreme high loss of tocopherols during the steaming of peas may be caused by the catalytic effect of the metal surface of the used pot. There were no losses of tocopherols observed when the experiments were repeated under identical conditions in an inert glass pot. Only tocopherol losses during baking may have a nutritional importance because of the great fat amount which are taken in with cookies.

[Surgical therapy of Madelung's disease in the head and neck area]. / Chirurgische Therapie des Morbus Madelung im Kopf- und Halsbereich.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1995 and 2001 we treated 12 patients with benign symmetric lipomatosis in the head and neck. The group comprised 11 men and 1 woman aged 34-62 (M=47). The most frequent complaints were diminished range of motion of the head and obstruction when eating or speaking. Combined lipectomy and liposuction were performed in all patients, with liposuction being carried out in a second session. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 3 years. The functional results were very satisfactory in all patients. Of the 12 patients, 9 were also satisfied with the aesthetic outcome.A recurrence occurred in three patients 1.5, 2, or 3 years after the operation. Severe complications were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: According to our experience, combined lipectomy and liposuction represents a successful procedure in treating benign symmetric lipomatosis in the head and neck region.Nevertheless, advantages and drawbacks of the two techniques should be equally considered prior to surgery.