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30.08.2009: Phytase in feed reduces phosphate demand in feed and reduces environmental burden of farming
The majority of the phosphorus in cereal grains and oilseed meals is organically bound as phytic acid or phytate which is nutritionally unavailable to nonruminant animals like swine and poultry. They lack phytase in their digestive tract, and must be supplemented with inorganic phosphorus. Not used phosporus passes the digestive tract and end in the environment. Biofuel production increases further environmental phosphorus and nitrogen being washed by rainwater into the open waters increasing algal bloom and fish dying. Algal bloom |  |
Adding phytase to the feed of pig and poultry may become a strategy to counter steady increasing feed phosphate prices and may reduce the heavy environmental burden of pig and poultry farming.
Rising demand of phosphate fertilizers for food and ethanol crops to feed developing nations and produce ethanol, reduce the available quantity of feed phosphates.
Recently developed bacterial phytases proved to be more effective in releasing plant-bound phytate phosphorus than traditional fungal phytases, allowing a reduction in dicalcium phosphate in feed up to 30%.
Phytase supplementation or low-phytate barley feed for finishing pigs [1]
Thacker and colleagues 2004 determine the effects of phytase supplementation on nutrient digestibility in low-phytate barleys fed to finishing pigs. They found that both supplementation with phytase and selection for low-phytate genotypes of barley increasing the digestibility of phosphorus for pigs, but no additive effects was noted in this study. The authors leave it to the decision of the swine producers to choose between low-phytate barley or supplementation with phytase. The authors stress that the yield of low-phytate barley and the additional costs of the phytase supplementation must be kept in mind
Changes of feed to reduce manure environmental impact [2]
Manure phosphorus in areas of intensive animal production has high environmental implications. Maguire and colleagues 2004 reported that turkey and broiler litters resulting from feed with non-phytate phosphorus closer to requirement decreased orthophosphate in litters by an average of 38%. The study found no increase of the concentration of orthophosphate in litters using feed supplemented with phytase, but a decrease of phytate phosphorus in litters up to 38% resulting from phytate phosphorus hydrolysis.
The authors stress that feeding non-phytate phosphorus closer to requirement and supplementing feed with phytase reduces total phosphorus concentrations in litters leaving the phosphorus solubility in litters and amended soils unaltered.
Australian study on manure impact in soil amendment [3]
Pillai and colleagues 2009 assessed the environmental impact of manure utilization in land applications, comparing the effect of standard Australian commercial diet from layer hens, with the effect of diets modified with phytase supplementation.
The authors report an increase of water soluble phosphorus by 8 to 12% in the manures, independent of the levels of nonphytase phosphorus in the diets. This feed reduced total nitrogen content by 12–31% of the manures and nitrate accumulation in the manure-amended soils increased. Net nitrification occurred together with a decrease in soil pH resulting in retention of water soluble phosphorus.
The researchers concluded that phytase supplementation of feed reduces manure total nitrogen content, increases water-soluble phosphorus, and influences total phosphorus and extractable mineral nitrogen is influenced by the nonphytase phosphorus level in the diet.
Inositol hexakisphosphate from poultry manure [4]
Dou 2009 and colleagues 2009 looked at heavily manured soils and their phosphorus loss to water. Inorganic orthophosphate was the primary form of P in manure treated and untreated soils. Also present are pyrophosphate and phosphate monoesters. Phosphate diesters were scarcely found. Polyphosphate was present in manured soils but absent in untreated soils.
Manure soils did not differ from untreated soils in relation to the concentrations of inositol hexakisphosphate, even in soils receiving poultry manure which is very rich in these compounds. The authors suggest that inositol hexakisphosphate does not accumulate in soil and is carried by rain to open waters, harming thus the environment. The potential phosphorus release is 3 to 30 times greater from treated than untreated soils.
P source coefficient (PCSs) under anoxic conditions [5]
Phosphorus source coefficients (PSC) for manures, composts, and other organic phosphorus (P) sources are indicators of P availability for transport in runoff from agricultural soils. They are an important parameter of the P Site Index (PSI) which is used in Mid-Atlantic states as part of comprehensive nutrient management planning. [6]
Shober and colleagues 2009 assess the effects of anoxic conditions on the release of phosphorus from soils amended with manures and biosolids. In this study the concentration of dissolved phosphorus released was significantly lower under reducing conditions than under oxidized conditions .
The authors suggest precipitation of Fe(II)-oxide increasing P sorption capacity of the soils or Fe(II)-phosphate decreases the solubility of P. the researchers conclude that no PSCs changes are needed PSCs when assessing phosphorus solubility of organic sources under reducing conditions under relatively static conditions, which were defined by the authors as seasonable high water table, periodically submerged soils and stagnant drainage ditches.
Effect of cereal grain, phosporus concentration and phytase on manure composition [7]
Leytem and colleagues 2008 assessed the different effects of various cereal grain diets and supplementation with phytase. Phytase supplementation had a 3-fold phytate P hydrolysis compared with unsupplemented diets. Barley diets produced the lowest water soluble phosphorus excreta compared with other cereals. The authors report further that there was a 25% reduction in water soluble phosphorus from the high P to the low P + phytase diets. Changing the diet from high phosphorus to the low phosphorus a 37% reduction of water soluble phosphorus in manure was attained. The authors do not find it likely that intrinsic phytase in grain meliorate the phytate utilization by poultry because there was no difference noted between the effect of the different cereals diets.
Beta-propeller phytases of microbes recycle biotic phosphorus [8]
Lim and colleagues 2004 point out that phytate is the most abundant organic phosphorus compound in soil and runoffs into aquatic systems. Microbial phytases mineralize phytate. From the four known classes of phytase in the microbial world only the beta-propeller phytase family is present in aquatic environments. It is also present in soil and plant bacteria.
According to the authors beta-propeller phytase genes act independently or are closely associated with a TonB-dependent receptor-like gene in operons. The linking of these two genes may be important in cycling of phosphorus and iron. The authors stress that beta-propeller phytases play a major role in phytate-phosphorus cycling in both soil and aquatic microbial communities.
Grain-based ethanol and perennial-grass–based cellulosic ethanol menaces water quality
According to Simpson and colleagues 20087 renewable fuel production, such as grain-ethanol and perennial-grass-based cellulosic ethanolgrain-based ethanol, is expanding rapidly in the USA with enormous water quality implications.
The authors estimate that these crops cause a nitrogen loss to water of 2000-4000 kg ha yr. A greater acreage of corn is estimated to increase N and P loss to water by 37% 117 000 tons and 25% 9 000 tons, respectively. These runoffs are further increased by manure phosporus and nitrogen from animal feed using dried distiller's grains.
Switchgrass and woody materials may replace grain fuel-stocks and provide environmental benefits, however, all alternative fuel production technologies will retain its environmental impacts. The authors stress the need to understand these impacts to avoid environmental consequences of biofuel production.
[1] Thacker, PA; Rossnagel, BG; Raboy, V: Effect of phytase supplementation on phosphorus digestibility in low-phytate barley fed to finishing pigs. Archives of Animal Nutrition, Volume 58, Number 1, February, 2004 , pp. 61-68(8). Doi: 10.1080/00039420310001656686
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/tandf/gaanu/2004/00000058/00000001/art00005
[2] R. O. Maguire, J. T. Sims, W. W. Saylor, B. L. Turner, R. Angel, T. J. Applegate: Waste Management, Influence of Phytase Addition to Poultry Diets on Phosphorus Forms and Solubility in Litters and Amended Soils. J. Environ. Qual. 33:2306-2316 (2004).
http://jeq.scijournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/33/6/2306
[3] U. P. P. Pillai, V. Manoharan, A. Lisle, X. Li, and W. Bryden: Phytase Supplemented Poultry Diets Affect Soluble Phosphorus and Nitrogen in Manure and Manure-amended Soil. J. Environ. Qual., June 23, 2009; 38(4): 1700 – 1708. Doi: 10.2134/jeq2008.0236
http://jeq.scijournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/38/4/1700
[4] Z. Dou, C. F. Ramberg, J. D. Toth, Y. Wang, A. N. Sharpley, S. E. Boyd, C. R. Chen, D. Williams, and Z. H. Xu Phosphorus Speciation and Sorption-Desorption Characteristics in Heavily Manured Soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., January 21, 2009; 73(1): 93 – 101. Doi: 10.2136/sssaj2007.0416
http://soil.scijournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/73/1/93
[5] A. L. Shober and J. T. Sims: Evaluating Phosphorus Release from Biosolids and Manure-Amended Soils under Anoxic Conditions. J. Environ. Qual., January 13, 2009; 38(1): 309 - 318. Doi: 10.2134/jeq2007.0660
http://jeq.scijournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/38/1/309
[6] ARS: Evaluation of Phosphorus Source Coefficients as Predictors of Runoff Phosphorus Concentrations. January 6, 2008.
http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/Publications.htm?seq_no_115=221361
[7] A. B. Leytem, G. P. Widyaratne, and P. A. Thacker: Phosphorus Utilization and Characterization of Ileal Digesta and Excreta from Broiler Chickens Fed Diets Varying in Cereal Grain, Phosphorus Level, and Phytase Addition Poult. Sci., December 1, 2008; 87(12): 2466 - 2476. Doi:10.3382/ps.2008-00043
http://ps.fass.org/cgi/content/abstract/87/12/2466
[8] Boon Leong Lim, Pok Yeung, Chiwai Cheng, Jane Emily Hill: Distribution and diversity of phytate-mineralizing bacteria. J. Environ. Qual. 33:2306-2316 (2004).
http://www.nature.com/ismej/journal/v1/n4/abs/ismej200740a.html
[9] T. W. Simpson, A. N. Sharpley, R. W. Howarth, H. W. Paerl, and K. R. Mankin
The New Gold Rush: Fueling Ethanol Production while Protecting Water Quality
J. Environ. Qual., March 1, 2008; 37(2): 318 – 324. Doi: 10.2134/jeq2007.0599
http://jeq.scijournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/37/2/318
27.08.2009 Warning label on food supplements and tea containing ginger in Finnland [1]
EVIRA, the Finnish Food Safety Authority says there is reasons to limit the consumption of ginger products as well as the abundant or long-term consumption of ginger tea during pregnancy.
A number of the chemical constituents of ginger could be harmful to foetal development; some of the chemical constituents have been found to cause e.g. cell mortality.
In order to protect consumers against health hazards Evira says that as long as the effect of ginger on the foetus is not clear, the following foodstuffs shall bear a separate warning label for pregnant women:
Food supplement containing ginger, ginger tea and corresponding drink powder must bear the following label: ”Not recommended for pregnant women”. Advertisements and other marketing efforts may not be targeted at pregnant mothers.
The known chemical constituents of ginger include e.g. zingiberen (30%), b-bisabolene (10-15%), sesquiphellandrene (15-20%), ar-curcumene, geranial, citronellol acetate and gingerols (approx. 5%).
Marcus and Snodgrass 2005 stress that the effect plant extracts are chemicals that have the same potential to cause serious adverse effects as found in conventional medicines. Rigorous scientific studies of the safety of dietary supplements during pregnancy are lacking. The authors urge obstetricians to advise women not to expose their fetuses to the risks of herbal medicines [2]
Researchers call for studies on the potential toxicity of ginger during pregnancy [3]
Chrubasik, Pittler and Roufogalis 2005 reviewed the pharmacological and clinical effects of ginger. Some antiemetic properties were found, however, clinical evidence beyond doubt is only available for pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting.
The authors stress that confirmatory study to exclude interaction of ginger preparations with platelet aggregation are needed. Pharmacokinetic data are only available for [6]-gingerol and zingiberene, and the potential toxicity should be monitored especially following ginger consumption over longer periods.
However, concerns remain about the effect of ginger on the fetus because of its uncertain mechanism of action. One proposed mechanism is inhibition of thromboxane synthetase, described in rat models, which has the potential to affect sex steroid differentiation of the fetal brain. [4]
Other studies found no safety risk of ginger use during pregnancy [5]
Portnoi and colleagues 2003 examined the safety of ginger use during pregnancy. The authors found no statistical differences in the outcomes between the ginger group and the comparison group with the exception of more infants weighing less than 2500 g in the comparison group. The authors concluded that ginger does not increase the risk of major malformations, and has a mild effect in the treatment of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.
Borelli and colleagues 2005 assessed safety of ginger (Zingiber officinale) therapy for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. The authors found no reports of adverse events during ginger treatment for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, however, call for more studies to confirm the data on ginge safety. [6]
[1] Evira requires a warning label on food supplements containing ginger as well as on ginger tea and corresponding drink powders. 23.07.2009.
http://www.evira.fi/portal/en/food/current_issues/?bid=1678
[2] Marcus DM, Snodgrass WR. : Do no harm: avoidance of herbal medicines during pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 2005 May;105(5 Pt 1):1119-22Comment in: Obstet Gynecol. 2005 Aug;106(2):409-10; author reply 410-1.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15863553
[3] Chrubasik S, Pittler MH, Roufogalis BD. Zingiberis rhizoma: a comprehensive review on the ginger effect and efficacy profiles. Phytomedicine 2005; 12: 684-701.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16194058
[4] Ginger Helpful for Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy. Annieappleseedproject.
http://www.annieappleseedproject.org/ginfornauspr.html
[5] Portnoi G, Chng LA, Karimi-Tabesh L, Koren G, Tan MP, Einarson A.: Prospective comparative study of the safety and effectiveness of ginger for the treatment of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2003 Nov;189(5):1374-7
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14634571
[6] Borelli F, Capasso R, Aviello G, Pittler MH, Izzo AA. Effectiveness and safety of ginger in the treatment of pregnancy-induced nausea and vomiting. Obstet Gynecol 2005; 105: 849-856.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15802416
27.08.2009: Non-authorised genetically modified rice ”Bt63” food product in Finnland detected [1]
EVIRA, the Finnish Food Safety Authority reports that samples of rice vermicelli were found to contain the non-authorised genetically modified rice ”Bt63”. The product was withdrawn from the market and destroyed. One soy bean jelly sample contained genetically modified soy in excess of the 0.9% labelling limit. The importer was ordered to change the labelling of the product. The expression ”genetically modified” or, e.g., ”prepared from genetically modified soy” must appear in the declaration of ingredients right after the genetically modified ingredient if it exceeds 0.9%. [2]
Food products containing soy and maize (e.g. tofu products and precooked food products) as well as from Chinese and American rice products, and organic foods were included in sampling plan. All the analysed organic samples tested negative for GM ingredients.
[1] EVIRA: Occurrence of genetically modified ingredients in food in 2008. 18.08.2009.
http://www.evira.fi/portal/en/food/current_issues/?bid=1683
http://www.evira.fi/portal/en/food/current_issues/?bid=1663
[2] EVIRA: Declarations on package labels declare genetically modified ingredients. 04.08.2009
http://www.evira.fi/portal/en/food/current_issues/?bid=1663
26.08.2009: European regulatory limits for marine biotoxins not effective to protect consumer [1]
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in a paper on marine biotoxins in shellfish concluded that the current EU regulatory limit values for okadaic acid (OA) and analogues, azaspiracid (AZA)-group toxins, saxitoxin (STX)-group toxins and domoic acid (DA), are not sufficiently protective for high consumers.
Only the limits et for yessotoxin (YTX)-group toxins, pectenotoxin (PTX)-group toxins were found to be sufficient protective. For actual regulatory limits for marine biotoxins see Regulation (EC) No 853/2004. [2]
Shortcomings of the official reference method for lipophilic biotoxins
The Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) also reported that the mouse bioassay has shortcomings and is not considered an appropriate tool for control purposes because of the high variability in results, the insufficient detection capability and the limited specificity.
Alternatives to the reference methods for the determination of the marine biotoxins with lower limits of detection (LOD) are being developed. For official reference methods for biotoxins see Regulation (EC) No 2074/2005. [3]
[1] EFSA: Marine biotoxins in shellfish – Summary on regulated marine biotoxins. Question number: EFSA-Q-2009-00685. Adopted: 13 August 2009
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/cs/BlobServer/Scientific_Opinion/contam_op_ej1306_summaryopinionregulatedmarinebiotoxins_
en.pdf?ssbinary=true
[2] Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin2 establishes maximum levels for marine biotoxins in live bivalve molluscs.
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2004:139:0055:0205:EN:PDF
[3] Commission Regulation (EC) No 2074/2005 of 5 December 2005 laying down implementing measures for certain products. This regulation establishes the testing methods for detecting marine biotoxins.
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2005:338:0027:0059:EN:PDF
25.08.2009 Modified protein production found as primary cause of colony collapse disorder (CCD) [1]
Colony collapse disorder (CCD) made one third of US bee to disapear in late 2006. The researchers linked pathogens and other environmental stresses, including pesticides to the disease. However, a convincing causal relationship could not be presented.
Berenbaum and colleagues 2009 studied the gene expression of bees sampled before CCD spread, and compared it with bees from CCD colonies. The researchers found 65 transcripts as potential markers for CCD status.
The unusual ribosomal RNA fragments are possible remnants of picorna-like viral infection, including deformed wing virus and Israeli acute paralysis virus. Ribosomals are cell structures which produce proteins. The authors speculate that viruses invaded the ribosomes resulting in heavy alterations in protein synthesis in CCD colonies.
Impaired protein production reduces resistance to pesticides, fungus or bacteria infections or even malnutrition. The authors propose that these unusual ribosomal fragments establish a link to other suggested causes of CCD. These RNA fragments are the primary cause which open the door to other factors of the disease. Ribosomal fragment abundance and presence of multiple viruses are being suggested by the authors as diagnostic markers of CCD.
Increasing toxicity of miticides [2]
According to Berenbaum and colleagues honey bee mortality may occur when tau-fluvalinate and coumaphos are simultaneously present in the hive.
Both varroa mite miticides the organophosphate coumaphos (Checkmite+), and the pyrethroid tau-fluvalinate (Apistan) are lipoohilic and build up in wax structures of the hive. Honey bees may thus become exposed to both miticides as a result of repeated treatments.
The authors found a large increase in the toxicity of tau-fluvalinate in hives when coumaphos have been used before. This synergism was less accentuated whit treatment of coumaphos followed tau-fulvinate. The authors stress that the detoxification of the miticides is mediated by cytochrome P450 monooxygenase enzymes (P450s). A competition between both chemicals for access to detoxicative P450s may cause rising toxicity which would not be lethal when only one of the chemicals is present.
[1] Reed M. Johnson, Jay D. Evans, Gene E. Robinson, May R. Berenbaum: Changes in transcript abundance relating to colony collapse disorder in honey bees (Apis mellifera). PNAS. August 18, 2009, 106 (33)Published online before print August 24, 2009, doi: 10.1073/pnas.0906970106
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2009/08/21/0906970106
[2] Johnson RM, Pollock HS, Berenbaum MR.: Synergistic interactions between in-hive miticides in Apis mellifera. J Econ Entomol. 2009 Apr;102(2):474-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19449624
24.08.2009: Fried food, particularly fast-food are high in oxycholesterol [1]
Zhen-Yu Chen and colleaugues 2009 found that oxycholesterol boosts total cholesterol levels and promotes atherosclerosis more than non-oxidized cholesterol. It also damages cells and DNA. The authors stress that fried and processed food, particularly fast-food, contains high amounts of oxycholesterol. They recommend to avoiding these foods and eating a diet that is rich in antioxidants, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, and certain herbs and spices. whole grains, seeds, and nuts.
A diet high in oxycholesterol rose blood cholesterol in Hamsters to 22 percent and developed greater deposition of cholesterol (atherosclerotic plaques) in the lining of their arteries and a tendency to develop larger deposits of cholesterol compared with hamsters which were on non-oxidized cholesterol diet. The deposition of oxycholesterol also reduced the elasticity of arteries,reducing the ability to transport more blood when needed.
It is not known if Statin is effective against oxycholesterol
Oxycholesterol or oxyphytosterol formation during processing and storage of foods [2]
Sterol oxidation products derived from cholesterol and phytosterol are formed during the processing and storage of foods.
Bang and colleagues 2008 report that a diet with both oxysterols increase 4beta-hydroxycholesterol and total oxycholesterol in the liver, but the oxycholesterol-fed mice had a lower level of cerebral 24S-hydroxycholesterol and a higher level of the serum triacylglycerols than the control and oxyphytosterol groups.
The authors concluded that both oxysterols in food are accumulated in the body, but differed in their biological effect.
Oxyphytosterol [3]
Phytosterols may undergo oxidative processes similar to the cholesterol oxidation. Consumption of phytosterols could therefore add to oxyphytosterols from foods or biologic formation from phytosterols, presenting a concern in terms of food quality and health, similar to oxycholesterol. Hovenkamp and colleagues 2008, however, stress that some data suggest that oxyphytosterols, depending on the type of oxidation product, have beneficial properties.
Oxysterols [4]
The oxysterol:cholesterol ratio in atherosclerotic plaque play an active role in plaque development. Oxysterols in plaque are derived both non-enzymatically, either from the diet and/or from in vivo oxidation, or (e.g. 27-hydroxycholesterol) are formed enzymatically during cholesterol breakdown.
Brown and Jessup 1999 accentuate that in vitro, oxysterols interferes in the biology of cellular cholesterol homeostasis, reduces vascular reactivity and are cytotoxic and/or induce cell death. Injection of oxysterols into animals causes acute heart toxicity, however, studies concerning oxysterol in diet have yielded contrary results related to heart diseases.
The authors comment that there is no direct evidence yet in humans that oxysterols contribute to atherogenesis. However, several studies found that oxysterol levels are elevated in human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) subfractions and raised plasma levels of a specific oxysterol (7beta-hydroxycholesterol) may be associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis.
[1] ACS: Little known type of cholesterol may pose the greatest heart disease risk.
Link Artikle ACS
[2] Bang HJ, Arakawa C, Takada M, Sato M, Imaizumi K: A comparison of the potential unfavorable effects of oxycholesterol and oxyphytosterol in mice: different effects, on cerebral 24S-hydroxychoelsterol and serum triacylglycerols levels. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2008 Dec;72(12):3128-33. Epub 2008 Dec 7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19060413
[3] Hovenkamp E, Demonty I, Plat J, Lütjohann D, Mensink RP, Trautwein EA.: Biological effects of oxidized phytosterols: a review of the current knowledge.
Prog Lipid Res. 2008 Jan;47(1):37-49. Epub 2007 Nov 1.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18022398
[4] Brown AJ, Jessup W.: Oxysterols and atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis. 1999 Jan;142(1):1-28
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9920502
23.08.2009: High pathogen loads in collapsed honeybee colonies [1]
The winter of 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 were marked by large-scale unexplained losses of honey bee colonies. These losses of colonies were named Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).
Vanengelsdorp and colleagues 2009 believe that CCD involves an interaction between pathogens and other stress factors. The researchers found higher loads and greater number of pathogens in CCD colonies than in healthy populations. The authors write that an increased exposure to pathogens or a reduced resistance of bees toward pathogens may be the cause of the disease.
Analysis of samples of adult bees, wax comb, pollen and brood the presence of parasites such as varroa and tracheal mites; infection by bacteria, viruses and fungi; pesticide levels; nutritional factors; and bee physiology could not specify a single factor as cause of CCD.
Pesticiddes
In this study no association between increased pesticide levels and CCD was found. In fact higher levels of the acaricide coumaphos and the pyrethroid insecticide Esfenvalerate were found in healthy colonies, compared with CCD-affected colonies.
Conclusions
The authors suggest that the condition may be contagious or the result of exposure to a common risk factor impairing the immune systems of the bees. The higher pathogen loads are likely to have caused CCD symptoms, however, the cause of the high number of pathogens found in the affected colonies remains unknown causes the bees to become infected with so many pathogens is still not known. The authors add that it seems that pathogens play a secondary role in the development of the disease, with evidence that the condition is contagious or the result of exposure to a common risk factor.
Further attention on monitoring parasite, pathogen and pesticide loads, as well as potential interactions among pesticide and pathogen loads are being suggested by the authors.
[1] Vanengelsdorp D, Evans JD, Saegerman C, Mullin C, Haubruge E, Nguyen BK, Frazier M, Frazier J, Cox-Foster D, Chen Y, Underwood R, Tarpy DR, Pettis J: Colony Collapse Disorder: A Descriptive Study PLoS One. 2009 Aug 3;4(8):e6481.
http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0006481
23.08.2009: Healthy diet should displace ham and bacon in lunchbox says World Cancer Research Fund relation to cancer [1]
The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) stresses that processed meats such as ham and salami in the diet of children may increase their risk of developing cancer later in life. This advice is based on scientific evidence that eating processed meat, such as those preserved by smoking, curing, salting or by the addition of preservatives, increases bowel cancer risk. Eating less than 70 g of processed meat a week bowel cancer could drop by 3,700 cases. This includes ham, bacon, pastrami and salami, as well as hot dogs and some sausages. Hamburgers and minced meats only count as processed meat if they have been preserved with salt or chemical additives.
For the same reason WCRF also calls to limit red meat consumption to 500 g (cooked weight) per week. A healthy eating pattern from the time they start school should include poultry, fish, low-fat cheese, houmous or small amounts of lean meat, salad, fruits and vegetables.
The WCRF says that cancer is largely preventablThe organisation helps people make choices to reduce their chances of developing the disease. This includes research into how cancer risk is related to diet, physical activity, and weight management, and education programmes that highlight the fact that about a third of cancers could be prevented through changes to lifestyle.
Report Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer [2]
Report published by WCRF studies actual effects of food, nutrition, physical activity, and body composition on risk of cancer, and gives recommendations to reduce the incidence of diseases.
FSA ecommendations on processed meat [3]
The Food Standards Agency, commenting the recommendations of the WCRF agrees that some evidences link bowel cancer to red and processed meats, however, this does not mean that occasional ham sandwich in the lunchbox increases the risk. The FSA highlights the importance of a balanced diet with limited amount of foods high in fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt. According to the FSA, processed meats, such as ham and salami, can form part of a balanced diet, however these foods often contain high levels of fat, particularly saturated fat and salt. They should not be eaten too often.
[1] World Cancer Research Fund: Parents urged to take ham off menu. 17 August 2009
http://www.wcrf-uk.org/audience/media/press_release.php?recid=71
[2] World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research: Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: A Global Perspective.
http://www.dietandcancerreport.org/downloads/Second_Expert_Report.pdf
[3] Food Standards Agency: Parents urged to take ham off menu. 17 August 2009
http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2009/aug/lunch
22.08.2009: Swine flu panic made by government and pharmaceutical industry [1]
Germany wants to start vaccination of swine flu. Costs are enormous (2 billion EUR). The risk of adverse reactions of the vaccine are expected to be high in some groups of persons.
Meanwhile H1N1 proved to be rather unspectacular. It is an influenza disease like all known flu epidemics. The virus institute of the Charité Hospital in Berlin says there are 20.000 death cases per year related to flu-diseases in Germany. At the time 13.740 H1N1 infections are reported in Germany but there are no death cases, demonstrating that it is a mild virus.
From H1N1 only scarce death cases are reported worldwide. Very little is known about other competing diseases and complications such as tuberculosis or 288 kg overweight which were reported from Mexico. Asthma, immune deficiencies and other respiratory diseases may be the reason of health collapse of these cases.
Great Britain reported 54 death cases, but stresses that all of them, but one, had concomitant health problems. UK health officials stress that most of infections are of benign nature. [2]
WHO reports global infections of over 182.166 with 1.799 deaths, however, other viral epidemics much deadlier as swine flu, such as HIV, ebola and others, should not be forgotten. [3]
H1N1 is a 2 billion EUR flop which cannot be reversed because Ulla Schmidt, the health Minister of Germany is unable to cancel the vaccine order. Spreading panic will distract from this wrong decision. Germany reports 13.740 infections. German statistics becomes questionable, because it adds cases with flu symptoms of contact persons without viral confirmation. [4]
[1] Tagesschau.de ARD: Verwirrung über Todeszahlen in Mexiko 29.04.2009
http://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/mexiko156.html
[2] Immer mehr Schweinegrippe-Tote in Grossbritannien. NZZ Online 17.07.2009
http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/panorama/immer_mehr_schweinegrippe-tote_in_grossbritannien_1.3074665.html
[3] WHO: Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 62 (revised 21 August 2009) Laboratory-confirmed cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 as officially reported to WHO by States Parties to the IHR (2005) as of 13 August 2009
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_08_21/en/index.html
[4] Aerztezeitung.de: Schweinegrippe: Deutschland hat europaweit die meisten registrierten Infektionen.
http://www.aerztezeitung.de/medizin/krankheiten/infektionskrankheiten/schweinegrippe/?sid=549457
22.09.2009: Plastics decompose releasing toxic chemicals in oceans [1]
Plastics in the oceans present a hazard to animals by swallowing it or becoming trapped in nets or other plastic artefacts. Littered plastic waste form the Great Pacific Garbage Patch between California and Hawaii. A report by Katsuhiko Saido and colleagues 2009 at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS) adds another hazard to marine life. The study says that polystyrene, such as Styrofoam, littered in the sea, begins to decompose within one year releasing chemicals which are further degraded in water and by living organisms. Mainly BPA and PS oligomer are of concern. They are not found in nature and appeared with the start of the plastic chemistry. Both substances disrupt the functioning of hormones in animals, affect reproductive systems and cause other health effects. BPA is also being released by linings of cans.
The researchers developed a method to simulate the breakdown of plastic products under oceans conditions releasing the carcinogen styrene monomer, and two suspected carcinogens styrene dimer and styrene trimer.
[1] ACS: Plastics in oceans decompose, release hazardous chemicals, surprising new study says. The American Chemical Society. August 19, 2009. ACS Link
20.08.2009: Fatty foods reduce physical endurance and brain function [1]
Murray and colleagues found that high fat diet was detrimental for physical endurance capacity and cognitive functions in rats.
The authors argue that fatty acid oxidation is less efficient than glucose oxidation. This can influence the endurance capacity. Rats fed with a diet of 55 per cent calories from fat for nine days could run 50 per cent less far , and made more mistakes on a cognition test than animals fed a standard diet of 7.5 percent calories from fat.
The authors found increased levels of a specific protein called the ‘uncoupling protein’ in the muscle and heart cells of the high-fat diet-fed rats, uncoupling the process of burning food stuffs for energy in the cells reducing thus the efficiency of the heart and muscles. Heart size in the high-fat diet-fed animals were increased. Skeletal muscle UCP3 expression was altered. This affects energy production and physical performance.
The authors stress that an optimal nutrition could improve athletes performance. Food producers should reformulate their high-fat products.
[1] Murray AJ, Knight NS, Cochlin LE, McAleese S, Deacon RM, Rawlins JN, Clarke K. Deterioration of physical performance and cognitive function in rats with short-term high-fat feeding. FASEB J. 2009 Aug 10. Epub ahead of print. Doi: 10.1096/fj.09-139691
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19667117
19.08.2009: DASH-style diet is associated with a marked decrease in kidney stone risk [1]
Foods very high in oxalate such as spinach and almonds are generally avoided to reduce the risk of kidney stones. Taylor and colleagues 2009, analysing the results of the DASH-diet and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, however, could not support the common practice of dietary oxalate restriction in calcium stone formers if such advice results in lower intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
The DASH diet is high in fruits and vegetables, moderate in low-fat dairy products, and low in animal protein. According to the authors this diet is a kidney stone prevention strategy. The authors found that consumption of fruits and vegetables increases urinary citrate which inhibits calcium stone formation, and a diet with normal to high calcium content but low in animal protein and sodium reduces the risk of calcium oxalate stone by 51%.
The study was based on a DASH score, where high scores were given to high consumption of fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes, low-fat dairy products, and whole grains, and low consumption of sodium, sweetened beverages, and red and processed meats. High DASH scores resulted in higher intakes of calcium, potassium, magnesium, oxalate, and vitamin C, and low sodium intakes. This was associated with reduced risk of kidney stones even in participants with lower calcium intake.
[1] Taylor, Eric N.; Fung, Teresa T.; Curhan, Gary C.: DASH-Style Diet Associates with Reduced Risk for Kidney Stones. Published ahead of print on August 13, 2009
Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. Doi: 10.1681/ASN.2009030276
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19679672
18.08.2009: Pneumonic plague in China worse than the svine flu pandemic [1]
Yersinia pestis (formerly Pasteurella pestis) is a Gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae. It is a facultative anaerobe that can infect humans and other animals.
Human Y. pestis infection takes three main forms: pneumonic, septicemic, and the notorious bubonic plagues. All three forms have been responsible for high mortality rates in epidemics throughout human history, including the Black Death (a bubonic plague) that accounted for the death of at least one-third of the European population in 1347 to 1353. Depending on circumstances, these forms may occur separately or in combination.
Recently Y. pestis has gained attention as a possible biological warfare agent and the CDC has classified it as category A pathogen requiring preparation for a possible terrorist attack.
Pneumonic plague erupted in the Chinese town of Ziketan in the Qinghai Province in July 2009.
Three people died and ten others were also infected, all closely associated with the diseased. The Town was shut off in an effort to avoid the spread of the disease. The authorities tracked down people who came within germ-spreading distance of the infected people. A travel alert asked all visitors to keep an eye out for flu-like symptoms of the pneumonic plague. [2]
Symptoms of pneumonic plague [3]
The first signs are fever, headache, weakness, and rapidly developing pneumonia with shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, and sometimes bloody or watery sputum. The pneumonia progresses for 2 to 4 days and may cause respiratory failure and shock. Without early treatment, patients may die.
Transmission:
- Pneumonic plague: Yersinia pestis infects the lungs. Infection spreads from person to person through the air in respiratory droplets from a person (or animal) with pneumonic plague.
- Bubonic plague is the most common form of plague. This occurs when an infected flea bites a person or when materials contaminated with Y. pestis enter through a break in a person's skin. Patients develop swollen, tender lymph glands (called buboes) and fever, headache, chills, and weakness. Bubonic plague does not spread from person to person.
- Septicemic plague occurs when plague bacteria multiply in the blood. It can be a complication of pneumonic or bubonic plague or it can occur by itself. When it occurs alone, it is caused in the same ways as bubonic plague; however, buboes do not develop. Patients have fever, chills, prostration, abdominal pain, shock, and bleeding into skin and other organs. Septicemic plague does not spread from person to person.
Early treatment of pneumonic plague is essential: To reduce the chance of death, antibiotics must be given within 24 hours of first symptoms. Streptomycin, gentamicin, the tetracyclines, and chloramphenicol are all effective against pneumonic plague. Antibiotic treatment for 7 days will protect people who have had direct, close contact with infected patients. Wearing a close-fitting surgical mask also protects against infection. A plague vaccine is not currently available for use in the United States.
Rodents are the reservoir of Yersinia pestis in western North America, southern South America, southern Africa, the Middle East, and central Asia. Infected fleas infect rats and man. [4]
[1] Wikipedia: Pneumonic Plague
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneumonic_plague
[2] Outbreak of Pneumonic Plague in China. Chinese authorities recently announced an outbreak of the Pneumonic Plague, which could be worse than the current H1N1 virus that is threatening the world. Qinghai, China. 4To40.com. 8/7/2009
http://www.4to40.com/newsat4/index.asp?id=2864&news=Bubonic_plague
[3] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC: Facts about Pneumonic Plague
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/plague/factsheet.asp
[4] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC: CDC Plague Home Page
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/plague/index.htm
18.08.2009: Release of methane from methane hydrate from the arctic seabed [1]
Methane hydrate is an ice-like substance composed of water and methane. It is stable under high pressure and low temperature.
Westbrook and colleagues 2009 found that methane hydrate is being broken down and methane rises as bubble plumes. Warming of the northward-flowing West Spitsbergen current by 1°C over the last thirty years causes the break down of the methane hydrate.
Methane released from the seabed is seen as an agent of climate change. The authors stress that if this process continues, enormous amounts of methane may come free.
[1] Westbrook, Graham K.; Thatcher, Kate E.; Rohling, Eelco J.; Piotrowski, Alexander M.; Pälike, Heiko; Osborne, Anne H.; Nisbet, Euan G.; Minshull, Tim A.; Lanoisellé, Mathias; James, Rachael H.; Hühnerbach, Veit; Green, Darryl; Fisher, Rebecca E.; Crocker, Anya J.; Chabert, Anne; Bolton, Clara; Beszczynska-Möller, Agnieszka; Berndt, Christian; Aquilina, Alfred: Escape of methane gas from the seabed along the West Spitsbergen continental margin. Geophysical Research Letters, 2009; Doi: 10.1029/2009GL039191
http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2009/2009GL039191.shtml
17.08.2009: Multidrug-Resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae [1]
Mingtao Zeng and colleagues 2009 report that Streptococcus pneumoniae 19A is resistant to all approved antimicrobial drugs for treatment of acute otitis media in children. Other S. pneumoniae isolates expressing 19A capsule were serotype 19A The authors describe the ST-2722 strain which belongs to a cluster which have 6 alleles of ST-156 expressing different capsular serotypes, such as 9V, 14, 11A, 15C, and 19F, They are antimicrobial resistant. The authors point out that such multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae strains are of serious concern.
The use of seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine [2]
Dagan accentuates the reduction of penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae carriage following the use of seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7), However, a replacement by non-vaccine pneumococci serotypes was observed, with unknown impact on the disease.
Penicillin-intermediate serotype 19A isolates increased with the use of the PCV7 vaccine. This serotype is found worldwide, is highly multidrug-resistant and cause invasive pneumococcal disease in children and the elderly after the use of vaccine. The author stresses that infections with serovar 19A increases also without vaccination in regions with heavy use of antibiotics which turn strategies to contain antibiotic resistance so important.
Routine use of vaccine [3]
Cohen 2009 reports that the Kaiser Pemanente study found a reduction of 7.8% of otitis after the introduction of the seven-valent vaccine (PCV7). In Israel a nine-valent PCV was used with a reduction of 17% in antibiotic use, and 41.9% less antibiotics treating acute otitis media were prescribed in USA and 10% less in France on account of vaccine PCV7.
According to the author the penicillin-resistant pneumococci carriage reduced from 15.4% to 6.7% and penicillin-non-susceptible strains from 47.7% to 30.4%. Vaccine-serotype pneumococci carriage dropped from 44.3% to 28.9%.
These studies, however, report a rise of carriage of non-vaccine serotypes from 9.6% to 15.8%, The serotype 19A increased from 8.6% to 12.6%, and highly penicillin-resistant strains decreased from 15.6% to 1.1%.
Cohen points to the fact that supportive education on restricting the use of antibiotics should be part of an implementation of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.
[1] Xu Q, Pichichero ME, Casey JR, Zeng M.: Novel type of Streptococcus pneumoniae causing multidrug-resistant acute otitis media in children. Emerg Infect Dis. 2009 Apr;15(4):547-51. Doi: 10.3201/eid1504.071704
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19331730
[2] Dagan R.: Impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on infections caused by antibiotic-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2009 Apr;15 Suppl 3:16-20.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19366365
[3] Cohen R.: The need for prudent use of antibiotics and routine use of vaccines. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2009 Apr;15 Suppl 3:21-3.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19366366
16.08.2009 Cities Readiness Initiative CRI-compliant mass prophylaxis campaigns not efficient in case of a large scale anthrax attack [1]
Hupert and colleagues 2009 in a study on the a large-scale anthrax attack on a large city found that such an attack would overwhelm hospital resources even with an extremely effective public health response. The authors found that such a breakdown of the health service would result primarily of expected delays in detecting the attack and initiating a response to it varying from 2.4% to 6.5% of the population which would need hospitalisation, depending on how many days the campaign would be delayed to start. The authors concluded that Cities Readiness Initiative CRI-compliant mass prophylaxis campaigns may not cope with aerosol anthrax releases in major cities. They urge for more attention on such subject.
Baccam and Boechler in a study of came to the conclusion that all protective measures and medical assistance activities are influenced by a rapid and effective post-attack activity. Uncertainty in medical efficacy and the time to initiate a post-exposure prophylaxis campaign were found to have the greatest impact on the number of predicted deaths. [2]
[1] Hupert N, Wattson D, Cuomo J, Hollingsworth E, Neukermans K, Xiong W.: Predicting Hospital Surge after a Large-Scale Anthrax Attack: A Model-Based Analysis of CDC's Cities Readiness Initiative Prophylaxis Recommendations. Med Decis Making. 2009 Jul-Aug;29(4):424-37. Epub 2009 Jul 17.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19617582
[2] Baccam, P,; Boechler, M.: Public health response to an anthrax attack: an evaluation of vaccination policy options. Biosecur Bioterror. 2007 Mar;5(1):26-34.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17437349
16.08.2009: Bone-cell control of energy generation identified [1]
Osteoblasts (bone cells) help controlling energy metabolism while expressing cell-specific regulatory genes called activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4). This gene regulates all functions linked to the maintenance of bone mass.
Karsenty and colleagues 2009 report that ATF4 inhibits insulin secretion and decreases insulin sensitivity in liver, fat, and muscle. ATF4 Atf4 increases expression of the Esp gene, which makes a protein that decreases the activity of osteocalcin. Osteocalcin is a molecule which increases the activity of insuline.
The authors concluded that endocrine functions of osteoblasts play a role in energy generation through the protein ATF4 via osteocalcin.
[1] Yoshizawa, Tatsuya; Hinoi, Eiichi; Jung, Dae Young; Kajimura, Daisuke; Ferron, Mathieu; Seo, Jin; Graff, Jonathan M.; Kim, Jason K.; Karsenty, Gerard: The transcription factor ATF4 regulates glucose metabolism in mice through its expression in osteoblasts. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2009. Doi:10.1172/JCI39366.
http://www.jci.org/articles/view/39366
16.08.2009: In utero exposure to vitamine folate may increases asthma risk inherited transgenerationally [1]
Asthma, a complex heritable disease, affects notably developed countries. Changes in DNA methylation resulting in aberrant gene transcription may enhance their risk. Hollingsworth and colleagues 2008 report that a study using mice found maternal diet supplemented with methyl donors (vitamine folate) to enhance the severity of allergic airway disease. Using a methyl-rich supplemented diet the authors found that 82 gene-associated loci were differentially methylated during gestation, increasing allergic reactions.
Important genes which were downregulated were Runt-related transcription factor 3 (Runx3), and Runx3 mRNA, which reduce the outcomes of allergic airway disease in progeny exposed in utero to a high-methylation diet. Treatment with a demethylating agent caused the opposite effect.
The authors concluded that dietary factors can modify the heritable risk of asthma through epigenetic mechanisms during fetal development in mice.
Rachel Miller, commenting the study of Hollingsworth and colleagues 2008 stresses that greater airway allergic inflammation and IgE production in F1 and, to some extent, F2 progeny were noted using high-methylation diet during gestation, but not during lactation or adulthood, suggesting that asthma-related phenotypes across multiple generations via epigenetic mechanisms is acquired during gestation. [2]
[1] Hollingsworth JW, Maruoka S, Boon K, Garantziotis S, Li Z, Tomfohr J, Bailey N, Potts EN, Whitehead G, Brass DM, Schwartz DA.In utero supplementation with methyl donors enhances allergic airway disease in mice. J Clin Invest. 2008 Oct;118(10):3462-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18802477
[2] Miller, Rachel L.: Prenatal maternal diet affects asthma risk in offspring. J. Clin. Invest. 118(10): 3265-3268 (2008). doi:10.1172/JCI37171
http://www.jci.org/articles/view/37171
15.08.2009: Swine flu, a seasonal flu, CDC says school closing is rarely indicated [1]
CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, MD reported that closure of schools is rarely indicated, even if flu is in the school.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius poited out that the disease caused by swine flu is not more severe than disease caused by seasonal flu.
The new CDC Swine Flu Rules for Schools
CDC recommends not closing schools during a wave of pandemic swine flu, and follow the advices:
Stay home when sick: If you've had the flu, don't go back to school until 24 hours after your fever goes away.
Separate ill students and staff: Students and staff who appear ill should be sent to a room separate from others until they can be sent home. They should wear surgical masks if possible; those that care for them should wear masks, too.
Wash hands, observe cough/sneeze etiquette: Frequent and thorough hand washing will be more important than ever. So will covering each cough or sneeze with a disposable tissue (or shirtsleeve or elbow if tissues aren't available).
Routine cleaning: School staff should clean areas that students and staff touch often. Use normal cleaners; bleach and special cleansers aren't necessary.
Early treatment of at-risk students and staff: People at high risk of severe swine flu disease -- for example, those who are pregnant, have asthma or diabetes, neuromuscular diseases, or immune deficiency -- should see a health provider as soon as they become ill. Early antiviral treatment is very important for them.
If swine flu becomes more severe
Active screening: Students and staff should be checked for fever and other flu symptoms every morning; those with these symptoms should be sent home. Throughout the day, students and staff should be on the lookout for people who appear ill.
High-risk students/staff should stay home: Students and staff with conditions that put them at high risk of severe flu disease -- such as pregnancy, chronic asthma, or heart disease -- should stay home from school "when a lot of flu is circulating in the community." Schools should immediately start planning for the continued education of such students.
Students with ill family members should stay home. Students should stay home for five days starting from the first day their household member got sick. This is the time they are most likely to get sick themselves.
If sick, stay home longer: Stay home for at least seven days even if you feel better before then. If you still feel ill after seven days, stay home for 24 hours after your symptoms finally go away.
Consider school closure: If it's deemed necessary to close a school, the school should remain closed for five to seven calendar days and then consider whether to reopen.
[1] CDC: Preparing for the Flu: A Communication Toolkit for Schools (Grades K-12). 08.08.2009.
http://flu.gov/plan/school/toolkit.html
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/707190
14.08.2009: Greenish colour of oats and oat products is related to leavening agents and ferrous iron [1]
Doehlert, Simsek and Wise 2009 studied greenish colouring of steel cut oath when cooked. They found that ferrous iron ( as little as 10 ppm Fe++) of tap water may cause a green gray colour on the seed coat of oats. This is more accentuated on steel cut groats where the seed coat layer is less disrupted than in oat flakes.
The authors recommend to let cooking water stand for a few hours so ferrous iron (Fe++) can react with atmospheric oxygen to form ferric iron (Fe+++) forming a cloudy precipitate which settles out. Using the supernatant water the colour of the oats will not be affected. Alkaline conditions (pH 9-12) may cause brown-green colour during cooking. Leavening agent such as bicarbonate (50 mM NaHCO3) may create such conditions during backing. This is associated with the phenolic acid or avenanthramide content of the oat. The authors also found that aleurone stained darker than the starchy endosperm. Calcium (Ca++) and magnesium (Mg++) had no colouring effect.
[1] Doehlert, D.C.; Simsek, S.; Wise, M.L.: The Green Oat Story: Possible Mechanisms of Green Color Formation in Oat Products during Cooking. Journal of Food Science. Volume 74, Number 6, Pages S226-S231
http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publications.htm?SEQ_NO_115=240802
11.08.2009: Flaxseed found to have beneficial effects on blood lipids [1]
Pan and colleagues 2009 performed a meta-analysis using studies of flaxseed, flaxseed oil and lignan on lipid profiles in adults from 1990 to 2008. The authors found that flaxseed significantly reduced circulating total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations, depending on the type of intervention, sex, and initial lipid profiles of the subjects.
Whole flaxseed reduced total Cholesterol by 0.21 mmol/L and LDL cholesterol by 0.16 mmol/L.
Lignan supplements reduced total Cholesterol by 0.28 mmol/L and LDL cholesterol by 0.16 mmol/L.
Flaxseed oil did not present beneficial effects.
Pan and colleagues point out that flaxseed consumption may be a useful dietary approach for the prevention of hypercholesterolemia, especially in some patient subgroups. The authors call for more studies on the effect of flaxseed supplementation on cardiometabolic risk factors other than blood lipids and, ultimately, on cardiovascular disease–related morbidity and mortality.
[1] An Pan, Danxia Yu, Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, Oscar H Franco, and Xu Lin:Meta-analysis of the effects of flaxseed interventions on blood lipids. Am J Clin Nutr 2009 90: 288-297. First published online June 10, 2009; doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.27469
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/90/2/288
10.08.2009: Citrus greening also known as huanglongbing [1]
Citrus greening, also known as huanglongbing (meaning Yellow Dragon for the yellow sectors of infected trees) was found on citrus trees in Asia, Africa, the Indian subcontinent and the Arabian Peninsula, Brazil and South Florida.
The spread of this disease must be carefully monitored to avoid further spread. Affected trees must be removed. It is caused by bacteria, such as 'Candidatus Liberibacter americanus' and 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus'. The bacteria invade the phloem system of plants which yellow, decline, and die within a few years. An insect, the citrus psyllid spreads the bacteria.
The symptoms of citrus greening are blotchy mottle and leaf yellowing that spreads throughout the tree with lopsided fruit that fail to colour properly, which is similar to signs of nutritional deficiencies. First symptoms of the disease appear only after three to eight months following infection.
Lopes and colleagues 2009 studed the influence of temperature on the spread of the liberacter bacteria in sweet orange trees. The liberibacter titers in the trees were determined using quantitative, real time-PCR. The authors found that the multiplication of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ is not affected at 35°C, while a temperature of 32°C is detrimental to ‘Ca. L. americanus’. Thus, ‘Ca. L. americanus’ is less heat tolerant than ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’.
[1] Lopes, S. A.; Frare, G. F.; Bertolini, E.; Cambra, M.; Fernandes, N.G.; Ayres, A. J.; Marin, D. R.; Bové, J. M. : Liberibacters Associated with Citrus Huanglongbing in Brazil: ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ Is Heat Tolerant, ‘Ca. L. americanus’ Is Heat Sensitive Plant Disease 2009 93:3, 257-262
http://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/abs/10.1094/PDIS-93-3-0257
09.08.2009: Trees emit isoprene linked to aerosol formation. [1]
Paulot and colleagues 2009 write that trees emit isoprene which represents 40% of nonmethane hydrocarbon compounds released to the atmosphere. Isoprene comes only from plants. It is readily oxidized first to hydroxyhydroperoxides, then to dihydroxyepoxides. Nearly 100 million tons of epoxides carbon are released to the atmosphere per year. The authors report that epoxides are the link between the degradation of isoprene to organic aerosols. Epoxides reacts with acids in the atmosphere to become a glue sticking to particles which make up the particulate of the air we breath. In crowded areas the OH acidic radical content of the air is high increasing the particulate formation in cities.
The authors point out that some trees produce more isoprene than others, while oaks produce the most of it. South Coast Air Quality Management District in Southern California regarded the organic carbon compound emission of trees and published a list of low emission trees. The emission of isoprene should be considered when planting big monocultures of trees.
A group around Dr. Allan Drew and Dr. Richard Smardon of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry performed a study determining the best tree combination to remove carbon dioxide and reduce the emission volatile organic compounds which contribute to the formation of ozone in air. The group recommend trees with denser wood such as hawthorn trees for best carbon- sequestring ability. Disease susceptible trees such as the American elm should be avoided. A group of 31 trees were found to provide best results, including dogwood, red hickory and hawthorn. [2]
Aerosol emission of the Amazon forest [3]
Graham and colleagues in a study of 1999 report that the Amazonia represents one of the most important sources of organic atmospheric aerosols, with organic matter accounting for up to 90% of the total aerosol mass. The aerosols were vegetation detritus, pollen and the photo-oxidation products of volatile biogenic organic compounds. Deforestation by slash-and-burn add large quantities of smoke aerosols into the atmosphere.
The emission of water soluble organic compounds within aerosols may potentially enhance the ability of aerosols to nucleate cloud droplets, and influence their chemistry. These changes alter the radiation balance and hydrological cycle and may influence global climate.
The authors stress that many polar, oxygenated compounds were identified. Anhydrosugars, produced from the combustion of plant polysaccharides were the main compounds identified in the dry season samples. Levoglucosan, a cellulose breakdown product, is found in concentrations as high as 5 μg m-3.
Sugars and sugar alcohols were found by the authors as main aerosol species in the wet season such as arabitol (6 ng/m³), manitol (5 ng/m³) and alfa and beta-glucose (2 ng/m³).
[1] Fabien Paulot, John D. Crounse, Henrik G. Kjaergaard, Andreas Kürten, Jason M. St. Clair, John H. Seinfeld, and Paul O. Wennberg: Unexpected epoxide formation in the gas-phase photooxidation of isoprene. Science 7 August 2009: 730-733.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/325/5941/730
[2] The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry: The Right Mix of Trees.
http://www.esf.edu/ecenter/eis/treemix.htm
[3] Graham, B.; Mayol-Bracero, O.L.; Guyon, P.; Roberts, G.; Andreae, M.O.; Artaxo, P.; Koell, P.; Characterisation of Water-Soluble Organic Compounds Present in Aerosols During the LBA ESTACH Campaigns.
http://lba.cptec.inpe.br/posters/bimgraham.pdf
09.08.2009: Host cell invasion strategy of Bacillus antracis discovered [1]
Lethal toxin is a virulence factor of Bacillus anthracis in the pulmonary anthrax form. This disease is fatal when not treated. The host responds with inflammatory process of the lung.
Raymond and colleagues 2009 found that Bacillus anthracis strain expressing active lethal toxin represses the inflammation in part by altering chromatin accessibility of IL-8 promoter to NF-κB in epithelial cells. The authors concluded that the epigenetic reprogramming of the lethal toxin is an efficient strategy for host invasion used by Bacillus anthracis.
[1] Raymond, B.; Batsche, E.; Boutillon, F.; Wu, Y.Z.; Leduc, D.; Balloy, V.; Raoust, E.; Muchardt, C.; Goossens, P.L.; Touqui, L.: Anthrax lethal toxin impairs IL-8 expression in epithelial cells through inhibition of histone H3 modification. PLoS Pathog. 2009 Apr;5(4):e1000359. Epub 2009 Apr 3.
http://www.plospathogens.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.ppat.1000359