Characterization of microplastics in skim-milk powders.

The diffusion of microplastics in the food supply chain is prompting public concern as their impact on human health is still largely unknown. The aim of this study was to qualitatively and quantitatively characterize microplastics in skim-milk powder samples (n = 16) from different European countries (n = 8) through Fourier-transform infrared micro-spectroscopy in attenuated total reflectance mode analysis. The present study highlights that the use of hot alkaline digestion has enabled the efficacious identification of microplastics in skim-milk powders used for cheese-making across European countries. The adopted protocol allowed detection of 29 different types of polymeric matrices for a total of 536 plastic particles. The most abundant microplastics were polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate. Microplastics were found in skim-milk powders in 3 different shapes (fiber, sphere, and irregular fragments) and 6 different colors (black, blue, brown, fuchsia, green, and gray). Results demonstrate the presence of microplastics in all skim-milk powder samples, suggesting a general contamination. Results of the present study will help to evaluate the impact of microplastics intake on human health.

Assessment of energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) for quantification of iodine in non-lyophilized milk.

Iodine represents a fundamental element for human health, with particular regard to thyroid function. Dietary intake of milk naturally rich in iodine becomes of primary importance in the prevention of syndromes related to iodine deficiency. The concentration of iodine in milk is characterized by wide variability, mainly related to animal feed and level of mineral supplementation. Therefore, there is interest in the development of fast analytical techniques which are able to predict milk iodine concentration. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) for the prediction of iodine in cow milk. Results showed moderate accuracy of the ED-XRF technique, with a coefficient of determination in cross validation of 0.60. This study represents a first contribution towards the possibility to discriminate milk with high or low iodine concentration, as an essential preliminary step for the introduction into the market of naturally fortified milk.

Grazing affects metabolic pattern of individual cow milk.

Effective traceability tools able to characterize milk from pasture are important to safeguard low-input farming systems, niche dairy products, and local traditions. The aims of the present study were to investigate the ability of proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy to discriminate between milk produced from cows before and after the beginning of the grazing season, and to assess the effects of grazing on milk metabolites. The research trial involved a single alpine holding with 72 lactating cows. Individual milks were repeatedly sampled from the same animals before (i.e., d -3 and -1) and after (i.e., d 2, 3, 7, 10, and 14) the onset of the grazing period. One-dimensional 1H NMR spectra of milk extracts were collected through a Bruker spectrometer. Random forest discriminant analysis was applied to 1H NMR spectra to predict the period of collection for each sample. Data concerning the relative abundance of milk metabolites were analyzed through a linear mixed model, which included the fixed effects of period of sampling, cow breed, stage of lactation, and parity, and the random effect of cow nested within breed. The random forest model exhibited great accuracy (93.1%) in discriminating between samples collected on d -3, -1, 2, and 3 and those collected on d 7, 10, and 14. Univariate analysis performed on the 40 detected metabolites highlighted that milk samples from pasture had lower levels of 14 compounds (with fumarate being the most depressed metabolite) and greater levels of 15 compounds (with methanol and hippurate being the most elevated metabolites). Results indicate that milk 1H NMR spectra are promising to identify milk produced in different conditions. Also, our study highlights that grazing is associated with significant changes of milk metabolic profile, suggesting the potential use of several metabolites as indicators of farm management.

MRI and visual-evoked potentials in partners of multiple sclerosis patients.

OBJECTIVE: Some epidemiological evidence, particularly concerning the role of Epstein Barr Virus implies that multiple sclerosis (MS) may be transmissible and if correct, this might be revealed by increased prevalence of MS in cohabiting partners. METHODS: We addressed this problem by neurological assessment, visual-evoked potentials (VEP) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 112 partners of patients with MS in comparison to a control group of 93 individuals with clinically non-significant head or neck pain and in comparison to UK prevalence. RESULTS: We found one instance of conjugal definite MS. Including this case, VEP were abnormal in five instances with either significant delay (n = 3) or increased interocular latency difference (IOLD) (n = 2) in partners of MS patients thus raising the possibility of subclinical optic nerve demyelination. The mean absolute value of IOLD in partners was greater than the value in controls (P = 0.033). There were no significant differences in MRI findings between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The finding of one conjugal pair and abnormal VEP in a further four MS partners could have several explanations. It is compatible with the concept of a transmissible agent, although our observations could be due to several biases as well as the play of chance alone.

[Is there an interest in the addition of hyaluronan to human embryo culture in IVF/ICSI attempts?]. / Y a-t-il un intérêt à utiliser un milieu de transfert embryonnaire enrichi en acide hyaluronique lors de tentatives de FIV/ICSI ?

OBJECTIVE: Several studies have been performed up to date, in order to assess whether the addition of hyaluronan (HA) in human embryo culture could improve the probability of pregnancy, leading, however, to controversies. The aim of the present study was to analyze whether the use of a HA-enriched transfer medium increases clinical pregnancy (PR) and implantation rates (IR), compared with the use of a conventional transfer medium. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All IVF/ICSI attempts from unselected women were included from January 2009 to July 2009 (study group). All embryo transfers (ET) were performed using a HA-enriched media. IVF outcomes of this series were compared to those of a retrospective series, including continuous IVF/ICSI attempts from January 2008 to July 2008 where ET were classically performed (control group). Primary endpoints were PR and IR, compared firstly in all patients of the study and control groups and then regarding woman's age and presence of previous implantation failures. RESULTS: In all, 292 (study group) and 296 (control group) IVF/ICSI attempts were included. PR (32.9%) and IR (22.2%) were significantly increased in the study group compared with those of the control group (PR=25.0%; IR=15.4%; p<0.05). We observed that PR and IR were statistically increased only in subgroups of women >or=35 years or in case of at least one previous implantation failure (p<0.05). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The use of a HA-enriched embryo transfer medium is beneficial since associated with increased PR and IR. This type of media should be used in infertile women >or=35 years or needing at least a second IVF/ICSI attempt.

[Development of a new strategy for minimal residual disease monitoring in children with B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia]. / Mise en place d'une stratégie de suivi de la maladie résiduelle chez les enfants atteints de leucémies aiguës lymphoblastiques préB.

Despite modern regimen of chemotherapy, one-third of children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia relapse. Recent studies have shown that a high level of minimal residual disease (MRD) at the end of induction is associated with an increased risk of relapse. We have developed and validated a real-time PCR method (RQ-PCR) to quantify MRD. We monitored 57 patients using IgH and TCR (Vdelta2Ddelta3) genes rearrangements as PCR targets. RQ-PCR was performed with a primer and a TaqMan probe designed to consensus sequences in VH segments in combination with one allele specific oligonucleotide primer complementary to the junctionnal region. A sensitivity of 10(-4) was reached for 72% of the IgH alleles (n = 50) and for 54,5% of the Vdelta2Ddelta3 alleles (n = 22). We compared the results with those obtained by competitive PCR in 53 patients: no discordance between the two methods was observed. Seventeen patients were found positive (32%) and 27 negative (51%) with both techniques and 9 children (17%) were positive only with TaqMan technology. RQ-PCR is more sensitive and more specific than competitive PCR. We thus propose that RQ-PCR might be used in first intention for MRD analysis.

[Extensive cardiac angiosarcoma in the course of immunosuppressive therapy after kidney transplant]. / Esteso angiosarcoma cardiaco in corso di terapia immunosoppressiva post-trapianto renale.

We present a case of a 49-year-old man who underwent a kidney transplant. Treatment with azathioprine and steroid was increased due to an initial rejection of the allograft. Six months later, the patient experienced palpitations and precordial pain: the electrocardiogram recorded atrial fibrillation and the echocardiogram showed moderate pericardial effusion and the presence of a right atrial mass with infiltration into the interatrial septum and right ventricle. Computed tomography imaging confirmed the tumoral mass and magnetic resonance imaging revealed the extensive involvement of the right atrium, right ventricle and superior vena cava, suggesting the presence of an angiosarcoma of the heart. Despite chemotherapy the patient died within 1 month. The diagnosis was confirmed by autopsy, histological section, and electron microscopy examination.

[Coding and identification of heart failure]. / Codifica ed identificazione dello scompenso cardiaco.

The prevalence of the diagnosis of heart failure (HF) presents large differences, comparing the data of hospital discharge obtained from USA and Italy through te code 428 of ninth revision of International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9). As possibly the difference is related to classification, we reviewed homogeneous diagnosis in Padua General Hospital as a whole and the diagnosis at discharge in the department of Cardiology of the same hospital. Hospital HF discharge rate is on average 0.43% (0.37-0.51); while from department of Cardiology is on average 0.7% (0.15-0.85). Medical records of a group of patients (the first hundred of 1992) are analysed and recorded using the Boston criteria for scoring the certainty of HF diagnosis. The group with unlikely HF (68%) does'nt codes 428; there is 2 code 428 in group with possible (16%) and 2 in group with definite (16%) diagnosis of HF. The physician probably prefers sometimes an anatomical rather than a functional classification and therefore he underscores the impairment of left ventricular systolic function. A better code-use is needed before comparing prevalence rate from different centres.

Ultrasonography in the evaluation of osteogenesis in fractures treated with Hoffmann external fixation.

The possibilities of ultrasonography demonstrating periosteal callus and osteogenesis at the fracture focus are described. Illustrative cases are presented and the advantages of this technique are discussed. It is emphasized that ultrasonography is a noninvasive technique that may be repeated as often as is necessary. It provides images of appositional periosteal callus much earlier than radiography, thus facilitating early evaluation of the treatment employed.

Water-path echotomography in differential diagnosis of scrotal masses.

Experience with Octoson water-path echotomography in examining 21 testicular masses is reported. Sonographic results were confirmed by surgical and pathologic findings in all cases. We believe this procedure to be of value in differential diagnosis of intrascrotal swellings.