Nutrient Profiles and Volatile Odorous Compounds of Raw Milk After Exposure to Electron Beam Pasteurizing Doses.

Raw milk is known to contain relatively high numbers of microorganisms, some of which include microbial pathogens. Electron beam (eBeam) processing is a nonthermal pasteurization food processing technology. The underlying hypothesis was that eBeam processing will not negatively influence the composition, nutrient content, and aroma profile of raw milk. Raw milk samples were exposed to eBeam doses of 1 and 2 kGy, since our studies had shown that 2 kGy is suitable for raw milk pasteurization. The untreated and eBeam-treated raw milk samples were analyzed to detect changes in lactose, vitamin B2 , vitamin B12 , and calcium concentrations. The possible breakdown of casein and whey proteins and lipid oxidation were investigated along with the formation of volatile aroma compounds. Even though vitamin B2 showed a 31.6% decrease in concentration, the B2 content in eBeam-pasteurized raw milk met all USDA nutritional guidelines. Even though there were no indications of lipid oxidation after the 2.0-kGy eBeam treatment, there was lipid oxidation (58%) after 7 d of refrigerated storage. However, based on the GC-olfactory analysis, the lipid oxidation did not necessarily result in the development of a wide variety of off-odors.

Increased lethality and defective pulmonary clearance of Streptococcus pneumoniae in microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1-knockout mice.

The production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) increases dramatically during pneumococcal pneumonia, and this lipid mediator impairs alveolar macrophage (AM)-mediated innate immune responses. Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) is a key enzyme involved in the synthesis of PGE2, and its expression is enhanced during bacterial infections. Genetic deletion of mPGES-1 in mice results in diminished PGE2 production and elevated levels of other prostaglandins after infection. Since PGE2 plays an important immunoregulatory role during bacterial pneumonia we assessed the impact of mPGES-1 deletion in the host defense against pneumococcal pneumonia in vivo and in AMs in vitro. Wild-type (WT) and mPGES-1 knockout (KO) mice were challenged with Streptococcus pneumoniae via the intratracheal route. Compared with WT animals, we observed reduced survival and increased lung and spleen bacterial burdens in mPGES-1 KO mice 24 and 48 h after S. pneumoniae infection. While we found modest differences between WT and mPGES-1 KO mice in pulmonary cytokines, AMs from mPGES-1 KO mice exhibited defective killing of ingested bacteria in vitro that was associated with diminished inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and reduced nitric oxide (NO) synthesis. Treatment of AMs from mPGES-1 KO mice with an NO donor restored bacterial killing in vitro. These results suggest that mPGES-1 plays a critical role in bacterial pneumonia and that genetic ablation of this enzyme results in diminished pulmonary host defense in vivo and in vitro. These results suggest that specific inhibition of PGE2 synthesis by targeting mPGES-1 may weaken host defense against bacterial infections.

Microanatomy of adult zebrafish extraocular muscles.

Binocular vision requires intricate control of eye movement to align overlapping visual fields for fusion in the visual cortex, and each eye is controlled by 6 extraocular muscles (EOMs). Disorders of EOMs are an important cause of symptomatic vision loss. Importantly, EOMs represent specialized skeletal muscles with distinct gene expression profile and susceptibility to neuromuscular disorders. We aim to investigate and describe the anatomy of adult zebrafish extraocular muscles (EOMs) to enable comparison with human EOM anatomy and facilitate the use of zebrafish as a model for EOM research. Using differential interference contrast (DIC), epifluorescence microscopy, and precise sectioning techniques, we evaluate the anatomy of zebrafish EOM origin, muscle course, and insertion on the eye. Immunofluorescence is used to identify components of tendons, basement membrane and neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), and to analyze myofiber characteristics. We find that adult zebrafish EOM insertions on the globe parallel the organization of human EOMs, including the close proximity of specific EOM insertions to one another. However, analysis of EOM origins reveals important differences between human and zebrafish, such as the common rostral origin of both oblique muscles and the caudal origin of the lateral rectus muscles. Thrombospondin 4 marks the EOM tendons in regions that are highly innervated, and laminin marks the basement membrane, enabling evaluation of myofiber size and distribution. The NMJs appear to include both en plaque and en grappe synapses, while NMJ density is much higher in EOMs than in somatic muscles. In conclusion, zebrafish and human EOM anatomy are generally homologous, supporting the use of zebrafish for studying EOM biology. However, anatomic differences exist, revealing divergent evolutionary pressures.

Oncogenic pathway combinations predict clinical prognosis in gastric cancer.

Many solid cancers are known to exhibit a high degree of heterogeneity in their deregulation of different oncogenic pathways. We sought to identify major oncogenic pathways in gastric cancer (GC) with significant relationships to patient survival. Using gene expression signatures, we devised an in silico strategy to map patterns of oncogenic pathway activation in 301 primary gastric cancers, the second highest cause of global cancer mortality. We identified three oncogenic pathways (proliferation/stem cell, NF-kappaB, and Wnt/beta-catenin) deregulated in the majority (>70%) of gastric cancers. We functionally validated these pathway predictions in a panel of gastric cancer cell lines. Patient stratification by oncogenic pathway combinations showed reproducible and significant survival differences in multiple cohorts, suggesting that pathway interactions may play an important role in influencing disease behavior. Individual GCs can be successfully taxonomized by oncogenic pathway activity into biologically and clinically relevant subgroups. Predicting pathway activity by expression signatures thus permits the study of multiple cancer-related pathways interacting simultaneously in primary cancers, at a scale not currently achievable by other platforms.

The evaluation of school-based contact investigations in New York State, exclusive of New York City, 1997-2001.

Tuberculosis contact investigations conducted in school settings in New York State (exclusive of New York City) from 1997-2001 were assessed to identify current practices and develop guidance for future investigations. Site visits were made to counties where 26 school-based contact investigations were conducted during the study period. Among the 4,070 individuals tested in the first round, the skin test positivity rate was 5.1%. Second round testing of 2,886 individuals produced 102 apparent converters for a rate of 3.5%. Many school contact investigations test more people than might be expected with community-based tuberculosis contact investigations, primarily due to parental concerns and "political" pressure on school and local public health officials. The study in this article identifies tuberculin positivity rates among school children and makes recommendations to improve the contact investigation process.

Electronic medical summaries in general practice--considering the patient's contribution.

BACKGROUND: Data entry into electronic records is intrinsically complex. Errors may occur in the primary (paper) record and further errors when data is transferred to the electronic record. AIMS: To elicit patients' ideas about their personal medical summaries, specifically considering accuracy, level of agreement between doctors and patients, and patients' concerns about computerisation and access to their records. DESIGN OF STUDY: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. SETTING: Nineteen patients aged 20 to 65 years from a large training general practice (eight partners) in a deprived area in the West Midlands. METHOD: Patients agreeing to be interviewed were mailed a copy of their electronic summary, which contained 'active problems', 'significant (not active) problems', 'allergies', and 'present medication'. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, which were tape recorded and transcribed. The constant comparative method of grounded theory was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: Patients saw the summaries as a tool for the doctor's own use. They expected their general practitioners (GPs) to select the information relevant for their medical care, keep it updated, make it quickly available across the health service where needed, and limit access appropriately. The saw potential benefits of computerisation in supporting continuity of care. No patients had previously asked to see their notes, but most welcomed the opportunity to discuss the content of the summaries, correct any errors, and negotiate a description of problems that more closely reflected their perspective. Over half of the summaries were altered by the GP after discussion. CONCLUSIONS: Patients trust their personal doctors, both as caretakers of their notes and as gatekeepers for access. Electronic medical summaries in general practice are inaccurate to a worrying extent. Negotiation with patients can result in a more accurate summary that includes the patient's perspective. Further studies are needed to look at the feasibility of patient participation in such a process and to see what benefits, in terms of improved continuity of care and improved doctor-patient relationship, may result.