June 2009       OurFood - NEWS  Here food related news are posted.  Use the archives to search past  food reports

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30.06.2009: Bacterium E.coli H7:157 detected in refrigerated cookie dough  [1]
The deadly bacteria was found in a tub of Nestle’s chocolate cookie dough expiration date of June 10, made in February. The contaminated sample was examined on June 25, after 69 people from 29 states have been infected with the outbreak strain.

Thirty-four have been hospitalized, nine with a severe complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome. There have been no reported deaths.

The products involved in the voluntary recall include all varieties of Nestlé TOLL HOUSE refrigerated Cookie Bar Dough, Cookie Dough Tub; Cookie Dough Tube; Limited Edition Cookie Dough items; Seasonal Cookie Dough and Ultimates Cookie Bar Dough. Variety information is included in the list below. [2]

This outbreak of the pathogen Escherichia coli highlights the importance of the HACCP system which must be performed meticulously also in so called “low risk products”.

[1] Nestlé Toll House refrigerated cookie dough voluntary recall. June 29, 2009.
http://www.verybestbaking.com/products/tollhouse/dough.aspx

[2] FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Nestlé USA’s Baking Division Initiates Voluntary Recall. June 19, 2009
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm167954.htm


30.06.2009: Greek EPIC study found moderate wine, little meat, many vegetables to be linked to longer life [1]
The largest effects on reduced mortality came from drinking moderate amounts of alcohol, eating little meat, eating lots of vegetables, eating fruits and nuts, and using olive oil. However, the individual components of the Mediterranean diet had an additive protective effect.

The authors stress the importance of overall diet ibeing more important than individual components, with emphasis on moderate wine consumption during meals, preference for olive oil, low consumption of meat, and high consumption of vegetables, fruits, and legumes
The study of Trichpoulou and colleagues 2009 used data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) trial.

The contribution of each of the diet components to lower mortality were: moderate consumption of alcohol (23.5% of the effect), low consumption of meat (16.6%), high consumption of vegetables (16.2%), high consumption of fruits and nuts (11.2%), high monounsaturated-to-saturated lipid ratio (10.6%), and high consumption of legumes (9.7%).

The authors point out that eating lots of cereal products and few dairy products contributed to only 5% of the effect, and consumption of fish was associated with a nonsignificant increase in mortality.

The study supports affirmations of other authors which say that it is not one single component of the Mediterranean diet that is driving reduced risk of mortality. Focusing on one food such as blueberries or folic acid supplements is not enough, but a healthy lifestile and a balanced diet like the Mediterranean diet is of importance.

[1] Trichopoulou A, Bamia C, Trichopoulos D.: Anatomy of health effects of Mediterranean diet: Greek EPIC prospective cohort study. BMJ. 2009 Jun 23;338:b2337. doi: 10.1136/bmj.b2337. Doi:10.1136/bmj.b2337
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/338/jun23_2/b2337?view=long&pmid=19549997


26.06.2009: Vinegar medicinal uses, antiglycemic effect and weight reduction [1]
Johnston and Gaas 2006 write that scientific investigations do not support the use of vinegar as an anti-infective agent, reduced risk for hypertension and cancer.

Vinegar ingestion, however, reduces postprandial responses of blood glucose and insulin, and increased satiety. Ostman and colleagues 2005 point to thr potential of fermented and pickled products containing acetic acid. [2]

Future investigations,however, are needed to explain how vinegar alters postprandial glycemia and to determine whether regular vinegar ingestion favourably influences glycemic control. Johnston and Gaas calls for more studies to determine whether vinegar is a useful for the therapy of diabetes or prediabetes.

Kondo and colleagues 2009 studied the effect of 0.3 or 1.5% acetic acid on the prevention of obesity in high-fat-fed mice. The administration inhibited the accumulation of body fat and hepatic lipids without changing food consumption or skeletal muscle weight.

The authors suggest that weight reduction where due to the effect of the acetic acid increasing fatty oxidation and thermogenesis in the liver through PPAR-alpha. The acetic acid upregulated the expression genes for PPAR-alfa and fatty-acid-oxidation-related enzymes in the liver. [3]

[1] Johnston, Carol S.; Gaas, Cindy A.: Vinegar: Medicinal Uses and Antiglycemic Effect. MedGenMed. 2006; 8(2): 61.
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=16926800

[2] Ostman, E.; Granfeldt, Y.; Persson, L.; Björck, I.: Vinegar supplementation lowers glucose and insulin responses and increases satiety after a bread meal in healthy subjects
Eur J Clin Nutr 59: 983-988; advance online publication, June 29, 2005; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602197
http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v59/n9/abs/1602197a.html

[3] Kondo, Tomoo; Kishi, Mikiya; Fushimi, Takashi; Kaga, Takayuki: Acetic Acid Upregulates the Expression of Genes for Fatty Acid Oxidation Enzymes in Liver To Suppress Body Fat Accumulation. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Doi: 10.1021/jf900470c
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf900470c


26.06.2009: Acetic acid bacteria [1]
The acetic acid bacteria are obligate aerobes that oxidise sugars, sugar alcohols, and ethanol with the production of acetic acid as the major end product. They are important in food and beverage production, as well as in the bioproduction of industrial chemicals, but they are also known to spoil food and beverages. The classification of acetic bacteria is being rearranged using 16S rRNA sequence analysis.

Acetic acid bacteria belong to the family of Acetobacteraceae, the Alphaproteobacteria: The family comprises ten genera: Acetobacteer, Gluconobacter, Acidomonas, Gluconacetobacter, Asaia, Kozakia, Swaminathania, Saccharibacter, Neoasaia and Granulibacter.

The genus Gluconobacter was proposed in 1935 for strains with intense oxidation of glucose to gluconic acid rather than oxidation of ethanol to acetic acid and no oxidation of acetate.

Later other genera were described:
The genus "Acetomonas" with polar flagellation and no oxidation of acetate, the genus Acetobacter, and the genus Gluconacetobacter comprising G. liquefaciens and G xylinus.
Vinegar is produced by conversion of carbohydrates of ethanol by yeasts, followed by the oxidation of ethanol to acetic acid by acetic acid bacteria, such as Acetobacter, Gluconacetobacter, and Gluconobacter. [2]

Other uses of acetic acid bacteria are important in cocoa production, production of microbial cellulose. Bioproduction uses the enzymes such as 2-keto-L-gulonic acid for the production of vitamin C, the sweetener D-tagatose, and shikimate, an intermediate product for the synthesis of antibiotics.

Macauley and colleagues 2001 evaluated the utility of the genus Gluconobacter in biotechnology and future industrial processes. [3]

A pathogenic acetic acid bacterium was described, representing the tenth genus of acetic acid bacteria:

Granulibacter bethesdensis a new pathogenic acetic acid bacteria [4]
Granulibacter bethesdensis, was isolated from lymph nodes of chronic granulomatous disease patient. The genome of this pathogenic acetic acid bacteria includes the 967 ORFs important for virulence, adherence, DNA uptake, and methanol utilization. G. bethesdensis is a genetically diverse emerging human pathogen that may have recently acquired virulence factors new to this family of organisms.

Grouping acetic acid bacteria by 16S rDNA sequence [5]
De Vero Luciana and Giudici Paolo 2008 developed a method for grouping acetic acid bacteria genera for preliminary screening acetic acid bacteria species used in vinegar production. The authors screened Acetobacter, Gluconobacter, Gluconacetobacter, Asaia, Neoasaia, Saccharibacter, Frateuria and Kozakia acetic acid babcteria strains focusing on 16S rDNA sequences. Using this method it is possible to group the species recovered from vinegar fermentation, being most frequently of the genera Acetobacter, Gluconobacter and Gluconacetobacter say the authors.

Most prominent Gluconobacter genra are:
Gluconobacter frateurii
Gluconobacter thailandicus
Gluconobacter oxydans
Gluconobacter cerinus
Gluconobacter albidus
Gluconobacter kondonii

Gluconobacter japonicus [6]
Malimas and colleagues 2009 describe a cluster of five strains. They were found to differ from the type strains of Gluconobacter frateurii, Gluconobacter thailandicus, Gluconobacter oxydans, Gluconobacter cerinus, Gluconobacter albidus and Gluconobacter kondonii.

The authors propose the name Gluconobacter japonicus sp. Nov for the new cluster. Gluconobacter japonicus produces weakly dihydroxyacetone from glycerol, but not 2,5-diketo-d-gluconate or a water-soluble brown pigment from d-glucose and contained ubiquinone-10.

Intragenic structure of the Genus Gluconobacter using 16S rDNA and ITS sequences [7]
Taqkahashi and colleagues 2006 re-examined the species of the genus gluconobacter analysing The sequences of the 16S rDNA and 16S-23S rDNA internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS). Five cluster were identifien which coorespond to Gluconobacter albidus, G. cerinus, G. frateurii, G. oxydans (type species), and G. thailandicus.

The type strain of G. asaii, NBRC 3276T was included in the G. cerinus cluster.
Gluconobacter cerinus, G. frateurii and G. oxydans clusters were heterogeneous. They contained clusters of other species. The authors stress that the species definition must be re-evaluated.

Gluconobacter sphaericus [8]
The strain NBRC 12467T was found by Malimas and colleagues 2008, applying 16S-23S rRNA gene ITS sequences, to form an independent cluster. The strain produced a water-soluble brown pigment and 2,5-diketo-D-gluconate from D-glucose, differing from the type strains of the eight Gluconobacter species. The authors propose the name of Gluconobacter sphaericus (Ameyama 1975) comb. nov.

Gluconobacter thailandicus [9]
Four strains of acetic acid bacteria were isolated from a flower of the Indian cork tree (Millingtonia hortensis) collected in Bangkok, Thailand by Tanasupawat and colleagues 2004. The researchers proposed the name of Gluconobacter thailandicus sp. nov.

Nitrogen fixating bacteria [10]
To avoid or reduce the use of Nitrogen-fertilizers the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria, was proposed by Pedraza 2007. Promising genera include Azospirillum, Azotobacter, Herbaspirillum, Bacillus, Burkholderia, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, and Gluconacetobacter and others.

They are capable of promoting plant growth through different mechanisms including (in some cases), the biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), the enzymatic reduction of the atmospheric dinitrogen (N(2)) to ammonia, catalyzed by nitrogenase.

Well studied nitrogen-fixing species are Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus found in sugar plants, Gluconacetobacter johannae and Gluconacetobacter azotocaptans in coffee plants from Mexico, and salt-tolerant bacterium named Swaminathania salitolerans in wild rice plants, which is salt-tolerant. In India Acetobacter peroxydans and Acetobacter nitrogenifigens were found associated with rice plants and Kombucha tea as nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

According to Bhattacharjee and colleagues 2008 nitrogen-fixing bacteria could significantly reduce the use of the nitrogenous fertiliser which contributes to the green house emission (N2O) and underground water leaching. Non-leguminous plants like rice, sugarcane, wheat and maize were also found to be associated with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

The authors stress the importance of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in non-leguminous plants in face of a higher demand of these crops. [11]

Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus [12]
Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus a nitrogen-fixating bactera is important in low nitrogen fertilized sugarcane fields.

Saravanan and colleagues 2007 discusses the survival and transmission of the bacterium. Other nitrogen fixating Acetobacteraceae, such as Gluconacetobacter azotocaptans, Gluconacetobacter johannae and Swaminathania salitolerans, from coffee, corn and rice and other plant-growth-promoting traits of this group of bacteria, such as phytohormone synthesis, P and Zn solubilization and biocontrol, are discussed by the authors.

Munoz-Rojas and Caballero-Mellado 2003 studied the growth effect of Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus on strains in the different sugarcane varieties. The authors found that the bacterial populations decreased drastically in relation to plant age. The inoculation of Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus was found beneficial for sugarcane plant growth, but depends on the bacteria genotype and the sugarcane variety. The authors stress the importance of the sugarcane variety for the persistence of the plant-bacteria interaction. [13]

Inoculating sugarcane plants with Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus and Herbaspirillum sp. was found by Muthukumarasamy and colleagues 2006 to increase nitrogen content in leaves of sugarcane of Co 86032 in South India. The authors found that the number of Herbaspirillum sp. remained stable with the age, but G. diazotrophicus were reduced in old plants.

The authors report that total bio-mass and leaf N were higher in plants inoculated with G. diazotrophicus and Herbaspirillum sp. without fertilization than in plants fertilized with recommended dose of inorganic N (280 kg ha(-1)). This experiment showed that inoculation with these bacteria in sugarcane variety Co 86032 could mitigate fertilizer N application considerably in sugarcane cultivation. [14]

Cocking, Stone and Darwey 2004 recommend the use of Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus as a substitute of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers in maize, rice and wheat cropping systems for higher yields and environmental protection. The authors perform reseaches witch maize culture under4 zero nitrogen fertiliser input. [15]

Fox and colleagues 2007 stress that the use of synthetic nitrogenous fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation promoted by the "Green Revolution" doubled the grain production in the past, but crop yields are diminishing. The authors call for a common strategy to reduce dependence on nitrogenous fertilizers by rotating leguminous crops with nonleguminous crops. They point out that organochlorine pesticides, agrichemicals, and environmental contaminants inhibited or delay symbiosis of rhizobia bacteria with host plant roots, reducing overall plant yield. Synthetic chemicals compromise symbiotic nitrogen fixation and increases dependence on synthetic nitrogenous fertilizer and reduces soil fertility. [16]

Biotechnology application of Gluconobacter strains [17]
Gluconobacter strains uses dehydrogenases connected to the respiratory chain located in the periplasmic space. Deppenmeier, Hoffmeister and Prust 2002 explain that transport of substrates and products into, and out of, the cell is, therefore, not necessary. This turns Gluconobacter highly interesting for the production of L-sorbose (vitamin C synthesis), 6-amino- L-sorbose (synthesis of the antidiabetic drug miglitol), dihydroxyacetone, gluconate and ketogluconates.

Adachi and colleagues discusses the oxidative fermentation of Gluconobacter species. The authors highlight two different types of membrane-bound enzymes: The quinoproteins produce 5-keto- D-gluconate and L-sorbose from D-gluconate and D-sorbitol, respectively. The flavoproteins D-gluconate dehydrogenase and D-sorbitol dehydrogenase were shown to produce 2-keto- D-gluconate and D-fructose,

The quinate dehydrogenase is a new quinoprotein which produces 3-dehydroquinate from the oxidation of quinate

The quinate dehydrogenase can be used to produce shikimate entangled in the production of antibiotics, herbicides, and aromatic amino acids synthesis. [18]

[1]  Raspor P, Goranovic D.: Biotechnological applications of acetic acid bacteria. Crit Rev Biotechnol. 2008;28(2):101-24.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18568850

[2] Yamada Y, Yukphan P.: Genera and species in acetic acid bacteria. Int J Food Microbiol. 2008 Jun 30;125(1):15-24. Epub 2007 Dec 5.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18199517

[3] Macauley S, McNeil B, Harvey LM.: The genus Gluconobacter and its applications in biotechnology. Crit Rev Biotechnol. 2001;21(1):1-25.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11307843

[4] David E. Greenberg, Stephen F. Porcella, Adrian M. Zelazny, Kimmo Virtaneva, Dan E. Sturdevant, John J. Kupko, III, Kent D. Barbian, Amenah Babar, David W. Dorward, Steven M. Holland: Genome Sequence Analysis of the Emerging Human Pathogenic Acetic Acid Bacterium Granulibacter bethesdensis. J Bacteriol. 2007 December; 189(23): 8727–8736. doi: 10.1128/JB.00793-07.
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2168926

[5] De Vero Luciana; Giudici Paolo: Genus-specific profile of acetic acid bacteria by 16S rDNA PCR-DGGE. International journal of food microbiology 2008;125(1):96-101.
http://www.biomedexperts.com/Abstract.bme/17919758

[6] Gluconobacter japonicus sp. nov., an acetic acid bacterium in the Alphaproteobacteria.
Malimas T, Yukphan P, Takahashi M, Muramatsu Y, Kaneyasu M, Potacharoen W, Tanasupawat S, Nakagawa Y, Tanticharoen M, Yamada Y. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2009 Mar;59(Pt 3):466-71.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19244423

[7] Takahashi M, Yukphan P, Yamada Y, Suzuki K, Sakane T, Nakagawa Y.: Intrageneric structure of the genus Gluconobacter analyzed by the 16S rRNA gene and 16S-23S rRNA gene internal transcribed spacer sequences. J Gen Appl Microbiol. 2006 Jun;52(3):187-93.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16960335

[8] Malimas T, Yukphan P, Takahashi M, Muramatsu Y, Kaneyasu M, Potacharoen W, Tanasupawat S, Nakagawa Y, Tanticharoen M, Yamada Y. Gluconobacter sphaericus (Ameyama 1975) comb. nov., a brown pigment-producing acetic acid bacterium in the Alphaproteobacteria. J Gen Appl Microbiol. 2008 Aug;54(4):211-20.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18802320

[9] Tanasupawat S, Thawai C, Yukphan P, Moonmangmee D, Itoh T, Adachi O, Yamada Y.
Gluconobacter thailandicus sp. nov., an acetic acid bacterium in the alpha-Proteobacteria.
J Gen Appl Microbiol. 2004 Jun;50(3):159-67.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15486825

[10] Pedraza RO.: Recent advances in nitrogen-fixing acetic acid bacteria. Int J Food Microbiol. 2008 Jun 30;125(1):25-35. Epub 2007 Dec 5.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18177965

[11] Bhattacharjee RB, Singh A, Mukhopadhyay SN.: Use of nitrogen-fixing bacteria as biofertiliser for non-legumes: prospects and challenges. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2008 Aug;80(2):199-209. Epub 2008 Jul 4.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18600321

[12] Saravanan VS, Madhaiyan M, Osborne J, Thangaraju M, Sa TM.: Ecological occurrence of Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus and nitrogen-fixing Acetobacteraceae members: their possible role in plant growth promotion. Microb Ecol. 2008 Jan;55(1):130-40. Epub 2007 Jun 17.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17574542

[13] Munoz-Rojas J, Caballero-Mellado J.: Population dynamics of Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus in sugarcane cultivars and its effect on plant growth. Microb Ecol. 2003 Nov;46(4):454-64. Epub 2003 Aug 14.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14722690

[14] Muthukumarasamy R, Govindarajan M, Vadivelu M, Revathi G.: N-fertilizer saving by the inoculation of Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus and Herbaspirillum sp. in micropropagated sugarcane plants. Microbiol Res. 2006;161(3):238-45. Epub 2005 Nov 14.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16765840

[15] Cocking EC, Stone PJ, Davey MR.: Symbiosome-like intracellular colonization of cereals and other crop plants by nitrogen-fixing bacteria for reduced inputs of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.
Sci China C Life Sci. 2005 Dec;48 Spec No:888-96
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16512210

[16] Fox JE, Gulledge J, Engelhaupt E, Burow ME, McLachlan JA: Pesticides reduce symbiotic efficiency of nitrogen-fixing rhizobia and host plants. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Jun 12;104(24):10282-7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17548832

[17] Deppenmeier U, Hoffmeister M, Prust C.: Biochemistry and biotechnological applications of Gluconobacter strains. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2002 Nov;60(3):233-42. Epub 2002 Oct 12.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12436304

[18][14] Adachi O, Moonmangmee D, Toyama H, Yamada M, Shinagawa E, Matsushita K.: New developments in oxidative fermentation. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2003 Feb;60(6):643-53. Epub 2002 Dec 18.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12664142


21.06.2009: Salmon an trout is endangered by a multi-host parasite [1]
The infectious pathogen, a rosette-like intracellular parasite Sphaerothecum destruens carried by invasive cyprinids threatens Stocks of Atlantic salmon along with varieties of domestic brown trout.

In 2005 Dr. Gozlan warned that the parasite poses a severe threat to some freshwater fish species in Europe. The parasite causes high morbidity and mortality in North American salmonid species including Atlantic salmon, brown and rainbow trout. [2]

According to DNA findings conducted by the authors, the European strain of the parasite was found to present a degree of isolation toward the North American agent. It is found on healthy invasive fishes which spread the agent to sympatric populations of native fishes. Freshwater fish such as bream, carp and roach are endangered by the parasite.

The authors call to develop more sensitive detection tools of the rosette agent to counter future outbreaks which may pose a risk for fisheries and commercial aquaculture. Movement of fish for stocking purposes may further facilitate its spread. The decrease of the number of the sunbleak (Leucaspius delineatus) in parts of Europe is to be associated with the spread of a healthy carrier, the Asian topmouth gudgeon.

[1] Gozlana,Rodolphe E.; Whippsb, Christopher M.; Andreouc, Demetra;Arkushe. Kristen D.: Identification of a rosette-like agent as Sphaerothecum destruens, a multi-host fish pathogenstar, open. International Journal of Parasitology, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2009.04.012
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19477179

[2] Gozlan, R.E.; St-Hilaire, S.; Feist, S.W.; Martin, P.; Kent, M.L.: Biodiversity: disease threat to European fish. Nature. 2005 Jun 23;435(7045):1046.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15973399


21.06.2009: German court undermines consumer safety and fundamental principles of HACCP [1]
A consumer eating a pastry with cherries baked into, broke a tooth biting on a cherry pit. The land court of Hagen ruled that the pastry with a cherry pit was unsafe violating the to article 3 of the directive on general product safety 2001/95/EC [2].

The Judges stressed that despite the fact that the consumer might reason that any product might have certain numbers of runaways it does not justify that fact that the product was unsafe. Specifically for such a case, the Directive foresees a strict liability. [3]


The federal supreme court was asked to clear the case. It ruled that the harmed claimant had no right of compensation of his lost tooth. The court wrote that the pastry with cherries is a natural product which cannot be expected to be completely safe. According to the court the producer must take all objective measures to avoid hazards, however these measures must be objectively reasonable. [4]

The verdict waters the intention of the directive to protect the consumer. It undermines the principles of the HACCP system. Following the verdict of the federal supreme court there is no warranty for broken teeth resulting from pits of stone fruits, or splinters from pits of peaches or plums. The consumer must be aware of splinters of broken chicken bones or fish bones. Even stones in the stomach of kings crabs must be considered, because they are of natural origin.

The compensation for a broken tooth of Elizabeth Taylor due to a stone in a crab in a NY restaurant must now be revised. The verdict legalises careless production methods and endangers the consumer.

[1] PHi - Haftpflicht international: Deutschland - Neues Produkthaftungsurteil, oder:
Muss der Verbraucher tatsaechlich mit Kirschkernen in einem Kirschkuchen rechnen? 22.04.2009
http://www.genre.com/page/0,,ref=PublicationsPHiWhatsNew-de,00.html

[2] Directive 2001/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 December 2001 on general product safety
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32001L0095:EN:HTML

[3] Land court Hagen, veredict 21.05.2005 Az: 10 S 14/08.

[4] Federal Supreme Court BGH Az.: 6 ZR 176/08


20.06.2009: Artificial sweeteners may alter sensory of drinking water in Germany [1]
According to Marco Scheurer and colleagues 2009 artificial sweeteners are not removed in waste water treatment.

All sweeteners used in the EU are approved and safe, however they pose an environmental problem because they pass sewage treatment plants. They were found in surface water and may cause sweet taste in tap water.

The researchers used a new method to analyse drinking water. The method focussed on the simultaneous detection of cyclamate, acesulfame, saccharine, aspartame, neotame, neohesperidin dihydrochalcone and sucralose in German waste and surface water .

Samples from sewage treatment plants and from a soil aquifer treatment site that treats secondary effluent from a sewage treatment plant showed that artificial sweeteners are incompletely eliminated by the treatment process.

The authors found levels of 190 µg/l, 40 µg/l for acesulfame and saccharine, and under 1µg/l for sucralose in influents of German sewage treatment plants. In surface waters acesulfame concentrations exceeded 2 micro gram/L, being of primary concern.

The authors suggest the use of sucralose and acesulfame as tracers for anthropogenic contamination.

[1] Scheurer, Marco; Brauch, Heinz-J; Lange, Frank T. : Analysis and occurrence of seven artificial sweeteners in German waste water and surface water and in soil aquifer treatment. Analytical & Bioanalytical Chemistry. Doi: 10.1007/s00216-009-2881-y
http://www.springerlink.com/content/a15x761724884206/


19.06.2009: German anthropology professor at the University of Frankfurt, Germany, is sentenced to one year and 6 month imprisonment [1] [2]

The former professor Reiner Rudolph Robert Protsch (von Zieten) was sentenced to 1 year and 6 month imprisonment for several deep wrongs. The verdict says the court ruled only over illegal appropriation of objects and falsification of documents, it did not judge the scientific frauds committed by the former professor of the University of Frankfurt, Germany. The court stressed that it would leave it to the scientific community to judge on that.

The fraudulent publications of Protsch may mean an entire tranche of the history of man's development will have to be rewritten. [3]

The university admitted that it should have discovered the professor’s fabrications far earlier. The administration  of the University had ignored the professor's misconduct for 30 years despite existing proof for his mistakes.

There is a sour smell of fraud left back on scientific papers and some of the glamour and respect toward the title of academic professor has vanished.

[1] Spiegel Online: Verurteilter Schädelforscher: Der Professor an dem nichts stimmt
http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/mensch/0,1518,631481,00.html

[2] Skeptic's Dictionary: Reiner Rudolph Robert Protsch (von Zieten)
http://www.skepdic.com/protsch.html

[3] Harding, Luke. (2005). "History of modern man unravels as German scholar is exposed as fraud," The Guardian, February 19.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2005/feb/19/science.sciencenews


18.06.2009: Aldi Australia banned six food colourings [1]
Aldi Australia said it will no longer wait for the food regulator to act. The supermarket chain has voluntary banned six food colourings from its products following the results of a research published by The Lancet in 2007. The artificial colours sunset yellow (E110), tartrazine (E102), carmoisine (E122), ponceau 4R (E124), quinoline yellow (E104), and allura red (E129) have been linked to behavioural problems in children such as ADHD.

The Lancet Study [2]
The British Southampton study published in the "Lancet" in 2007 found a link between hyperactivity in children who consumed drinks that contained these additives.

The study tested two combinations of colours and a preservative most likely to be found in foods popular with children such as soft drinks, confectionery, and ice cream.

According to Professor Jim Stevenson from Southampton University, and author of the report, the consumption of certain mixtures of artificial food colours and sodium benzoate preservative are associated with increases in hyperactive behaviour in children.

List of additives you should avoid [3]
A list of food additives which should be avoided is given by Food Intolerance Network   PDF Download.

The European situation [4]
The European Parliament voted in July for products containing the colours to be labelled "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children".

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reviewing the methodology and results of the Southampton study stated it found no scientific evidence for altering intake recommendations of any of the additives, but will look again at the safety data on all food additives, including the Southampton colours. [5]

Aldi Australia  banned the colours                             Aldi Europe and Lidl still sell products with the
                                                                                                                       Southampton colours

The power of marketing Aldi Australia demonstrated a high level of quality and responsibility for the health of its customers. Aldi Europe and Lidl Europe still sell products with the Southampton colours. The marketing department should be aware of the possible image damage selling products which might harm children. Changing the six questioned artificial colours to other innocuous ones clears the situation and demonstrates a precautious way to handle health issues.

[1] Aldi bans food colourings linked to ADHD. The World Today - Thursday, 11 June, 2009 12:34:00
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2008/s2595445.htm

[2] McCann D, Barrett A, Cooper A, Crumpler D, Dalen L, Grimshaw K, et al: Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9 year-old children in the community a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet 2007; 370:1560-70 DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61306-3
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673607613063/abstract

[3] Food Intolerance Network: Nasty additives
http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/information/nastyadditivecard.pdf

[4] EurActiv: Parliament adopts stricter rules for food additives. 09.07.2008
http://www.euractiv.com/en/cap/parliament-adopts-stricter-rules-food-additives/article-174047

[5] EFSA: EFSA to consider new UK study on behavioural changes associated with certain food colours 06.09.2007.
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_1178637756847.htm

16.06.2009: Hugo Chavez expropriates staple food monopolists
According to UN food and agriculture organization (FAO) 2008 record prices for staple foods have hit developing countries the most. International food corporations, are growing steadily in these countries because small farms and local family hold food processors cannot withstand the competition of high technology of Nestlé, Parmalat, Cargil, TetraPack or Unilever. Indigenous food production is systematically being displaced by a worldwide food corporation network. Prices, quality and flavour is standardized all over the world because it is developed by one producer. It is like the big Mac, which has the same taste all over the world.

Facing an inflation over 28% per year and the disruption of local staple food production such as rice and milk, Hugo Chavez intervenes in the process of ongoing monopolization of the biggest business of mankind which is the staple food for daily survival.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez threatened in February 2009 to nationalize the milk factories of Nestle and Parmalat, accusing the transnational food companies of bribing producers and leaving the network of state-owned and cooperative milk processing plants without the product. The shortage of basic foodstuffs in Venezuela was 25%, while milk shortages reached 80%, according to the Venezuelan polling firm Datanalisis.

Nestle is one of several transnational corporations which hire paramilitary troops to suppress worker organizing in their Colombian facilities, according to Caracas-based German Political Scientist Darío Azzellini, who attended Sunday's Chavez broadcast of Aló Presidente. [1]

President Hugo Chávez seized in March an eucalyptus tree farm owned by Ireland's Smurfit Kappa which uses the trees in the production of cardboard boxes and paper packaging products. Chavez said that Venezuela will clear the trees and use the land for food crops like yucca and beans. Eucalyptus trees consumes much water and dry out the land, the presiden argued. [2]

Cargill’s rice processing plant and the rice processing Polar plant in Guárico state were expropriated in March by the Venezuelan government. They had evaded the price controls for basic white rice allegating they were producing parboiled rice and not the basic white rice mentioned in the decree. [3]

In May the Venezuelan government imposed price checks on a number of staple food items in Venezuela to ensure its poorest citizens have access to basic foods. The government took over the US-owned Cargill plant for 90 days to oversee operations and make sure that it meets the government-imposed threshold of producing at least 70 percent of its pasta at approved prices. [4]

On June 2009 Chavez questions patents and wants to replicate Tetra Pak milk containers. This will be a heavy loss for the Swiss company Tetra Pak, owner of the patent. Venezuela has to pay high sums of money to import packaging material which is mostly used by the milk and beverage industry. [5]

Global players fear that activities of Hugo Chaves may be followed by other developing countries such as India, where small farmers are being driven in bankrupt by great corporations. Dr. Vandana Shiva protects indigenous knowledge and culture, created awareness on the hazards of genetic engineering, defended people's knowledge from biopiracy and food rights in the face of globalisation. [6]

It is unfair to compare the work of Chávez with that of Dr. Shiva, but both set the beginning of the consciousness of a regional independent agrarian structure based on small indigenous farms.

[1] Hands Off Venezuela: Chavez Threatens to Nationalize Nestle and Parmalat Plants in Venezuela
By James Suggett – Venezuelanalysis.com. 14 February 2008
http://www.handsoffvenezuela.org/chavez_threatens_nationalize_nestle_parmalat_plants.htm

[2] Irishtimes.com: Smurfit has plantation seized in Venezuela. March 7, 2009
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2009/0307/1224242448208.html

[3] Venezuelannalysis.com: Venezuela Expropriates Cargill Rice Plant that Evaded Price Controls
March 5th 2009, by James Suggett
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/4267

[4] Venezuelanalysis.com: Venezuelan Government Takes Temporary Control of Cargill Pasta Plant
May 19th 2009, by Tamara Pearson
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/4452

[5] Bloomberg: Chavez Questions Patents, May Replicate Tetra Pak Technology. 14.June 2009
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=asiB1jRS68ks

[6] Navdanya.org: Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology (RFSTE)
http://www.navdanya.org/


15.06.2009: Whiteflies [1]
According to the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) whiteflies are found throughout the tropics and subtropics, but can be troublesome in greenhouses and other growing environments as well. Both immature and adult stages ingest plant sap and cause damage directly, by feeding and transmitting plant viruses, or indirectly, by excreting a sticky substance called honeydew onto leaves and fruit.

Sooty mold fungi colonize the contaminated surfaces, further interfering with photosynthesis and ultimately resulting in reduced quality of fruit and fiber. In addition to ornamentals, whiteflies attack cassava, cotton, sweet potato, legumes and many other vegetables grown in mixed or annual cropping systems.

Control of whiteflies
The USDA maintains an online guide on whiteflies. The importance of crop hygiene, pre- and post-planting practices, insecticide recommendations and the need to control whiteflies early, before they spread to neighbouring fields is stressed.

Proper use of insecticides is important for whitefly management, particularly with respect to avoiding development of insecticide resistance in whiteflies. Insecticide misuse may result in silverleaf whitefly populations that cannot be controlled. The online guide stresses that the Q-biotype whitefly is already resistant to a number of products commonly used. Chemical overspray could easily lead to B-biotype resistance. Biotyping of whiteflies should be made to decide between the strategy to be applied. Samples of white flies may be sent to the given addresses which will see if it is the Q or the B biotype.

It is recommended that insecticides be rotated between chemical classes and should be applied a minimum of two times, at a five- to seven-day interval, to allow for egg hatch between applications and ensure that adults, nymphs and newly hatched individuals are all killed.

The USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) online guide can be accessed at http://www.mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/LSO/bemisia/bemisia.htm

Possible New Control for Whiteflies Discovered
The silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii (previously known as B. tabaci biotype B), injures plants directly by feeding and indirectly by transmitting plant viruses. The plants become a yellow, mottled look and eventually die.
White flies have a naural resistance to pesticides. Repeated applications are needed resulting in hazard for environment, animal life or humans. Therefore biologic by natural enemies of the fly was studied by Cabanillas which proposed in 2001, the fungus Isaria propawskii. This fungus kills larval and adult stages of silverleaf whitefly. Isaria propawskii include establishment itself in a semiarid region where temperatures can reach 42°C and persists, even in the absence of insect hosts. It is also highly pathogen to the glassy-winged sharpshooter, Homalodisca vitripennis (previously known as H. coagulata). [2]

The female Eretmocerus mundus wasps may become another biocontrol of whiteflies. It produces marking pheromones, which are specialized lipids for marking whitefly nymphs they have chosen as egg hosts. This makes other wasps to choose another egg to lay their eggs. This avoids double-parasitizing turning the whitefly control very effective. The pheromones used by the wasps as markers were found to b e C31 and C33 dimethylalkanes. [3]

[1] USDA: New Online Help for Managing Whiteflies. August 22, 2007
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2007/070822.htm

[2] USDA: Possible New Control for Whiteflies Discovered. May 11, 2007
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2007/070511.htm

[3] USDA: Scientists Identify Wasp's Chemical Cue for Marking Whiteflies. September 24, 2003
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2003/030924.htm

15.06.2009: Biological control of the invasive chilli thirps, Scirtothrips dorsalis [1]
The invasive chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood poses a significant risk to many food and ornamental crops in the Caribbean, Florida and Texas. It feeds on leaves, turns them brown, kills new growth and attacks up to 150 crops, including peppers, strawberries, tomatoes, peanuts, cotton and a variety of ornamentals.

Arthurs and colleagues tested two species of phytoseiid mites Neoseiulus cucumeris and Amblyseius swirskii as predators of Scirtothrips dorsalis. Biological control may avoid chilli thirps to become resistant to insecticides.
According to the authors, the mites were effective in reduction of the number of thrips, whereas Amblyseius swirskii was the most effective compared with Neoseiulus cucumeris.
A good foto documentation may be found at http://www.mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/lso/thripslinks.htm.

[1] Arthurs, Steven; McKenzie, Cindy L.; Chen, Jianjun; Dogramaci, Mahmut; Brennan, Mary; Houben, Katherine; Osborne, Lance: Evaluation of Neoseiulus cucumeris and Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae) as biological control agents of chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on pepper. Biological Control, Volume 49, Issue 1, April 2009, Pages 91-96
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2009/090428.htm


14.06.2009: Short DNA segments called pyknons are found to be highly important [1]
Cooper and colleagues 2008 found that intergenic DNA playing a physical role in protecting and linking chromosomes are accompanied by short segments of DNA which seem to be coding DNA. These non-random sequence patterns are called pyknons. They have the same sequence and size as small segments of RNA that regulate gene expression through gene silencing.

Pyknons had been discovered only in human genome. Analysing the genome of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana the author found pyknons which are similar to the human pyknons. The authors stress that Arabidopsis thaliana has approximately the same number of genes as the human genome but a higher number of their genes are silenced. The authors suggest that pyknons are involved. A better understanding of the effects of pyknons may be applied in the improvement of transgenic plants by regulating gene silencing.

Pyknons play a role in the evolution of human genome [2]
Non-coding DNA outside of genes had been considered material without biological function, such as tandem repeats, short stretches of DNA and are now called pyknons.

The repeats determine how tightly the local DNA is wrapped around specific proteins called 'nucleosomes', and this packaging structure dictates to what extent genes can be activated. These tandem repeats are very unstable and the changes affect the local DNA packaging, which in turn alters gene activity. This allows fast shifts in gene activity to match changing environments boosting the evolution.

Experimenting with yeasts cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the authors found that when a repeat is present near a gene, it is possible to select yeast mutants that show vastly increased activity of this gene. However, when the repeat region was removed, this fast evolution was impossible. only cells with the repeats would be able to swiftly adapt to changes, thereby beating their repeat-less counterparts in the game of evolution. As many as 25% of all gene promoters contain tandem repeat sequences.

Sequencing Method confirms importance of small DNA structures unknown before [3]
Kim, Waterman and Li 2007 infered a complete sequence of the chromosomes of Ciona intestinalis, a marine invertebrate, from existing sequencing data. The applied method focused on the high rate of genetic mutations in this organism. Other organisms with high genetic variability, such as certain fish, also may be suitable. The method is not suitable to be applied to the human genome because of the low human mutation rate.
However, sequencing parts of the human genome that display high variability may be possible wqith this methode. The authors stress that small DNA structures, called pyknons, may express proteins which may regulate gene function, and were highly conserved during evolution.

Tiny RNAs Controlling Genes [4]
In 2006 Yin and Lin discovered tiny piRNAs structures in mammalian reproductive cells which may control gene functions. In a study published in 2007 both scientists found more than 13,000 Piwi-associated piRNAs in fruit flies. The most prominent piRNA was found to form a complex with the Piwi protein which binds to chromatin which controls the activity of the gene.

The authors explain that the role of chromatin is to package DNA so that it will fit into the cell, to strengthen the DNA to allow cell division, and to serve as a mechanism to control gene expression.
The authors call for more researches on the silenced part which comprises 99% of the genome. These studies may be important to understand essentials for germline stem-cell maintenance.

[1] Feng, Jian; Naiman, Daniel Q.; Cooper, Bret: Coding DNA repeated throughout intergenic regions of the Arabidopsis thaliana genome: evolutionary footprints of RNA silencing. Molecular BioSystems, 2009; DOI: 10.1039/b903031j
http://www.rsc.org/publishing/journals/MB/article.asp?doi=b903031j

[2] Marcelo D. Vinces, Matthieu Legendre, Marina Caldara, Masaki Hagihara, and Kevin J. Verstrepen.: Unstable Tandem Repeats in Promoters Confer Transcriptional Evolvability. Science, 2009; 324 (5931): 1213 DOI: 10.1126/science.1170097
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/324/5931/1213

[3] Kim, Jong Hyun; Waterman, Michael S.; Li, Lei M.: Diploid genome reconstruction of Ciona intestinalis and comparative analysis with Ciona savignyi. July 2007 17: 1101-1110; Published in Advance June 13, 2007, doi:10.1101/gr.5894107
http://genome.cshlp.org/content/17/7/1101.abstract

[4] Yin, Hang; Lin, Haifan: An epigenetic activation role of Piwi and a Piwi-associated piRNA in Drosophila melanogaster. Nature 450, 304-308 (8 November 2007) | :10.1038/nature06263; Received 28 May 2007; Accepted 17 September 2007; Published online 21 October 2007
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v450/n7167/full/nature06263.html


14.06.2009: The Federation of German Dairy Farmers (BDM) fights decrepit structures of the agrarian politics [1] [2] [3]
A third of the country's milk farmers could go bankrupt if prices continue to fall. The EU milk production has come to a point where the price paid to the farmers does not cover expenses for feed and energy. Farmers with up to 1.000 cows are on the verge of bankruptcy.

Romuald Schaber, a German milk farmer, facing a dreadful EU and German agrarian politics, founded the Federation of German Dairy Farmers (BDM). All milk farmers immediately joined the BDM leaving a huge void in the mighty German Farmers Association which is failing to look after the needs of small and middle sized farms.

Now the mighty German Farmers Association (Deutscher Bauernverband) fights back and started a blogger campaign to regain the lost members. The decadence of the German Farmers Association bears resemblance to the dusk of the almighty Central Marketing Association of the German Agrarian Economy (CMA)

The German CMA, an example of failed management [4] [5]
The Central Marketing Association of the German Agrarian Economy (CMA) employed 150 advertising specialists. It will be closed following the verdict of the highest German Constitutional Court which declared the association not to comply with the German constitution. The court followed a lawsuit issued by one single farmer.

The CMA was an association which raised duties on all activities of agrarian businesses. These duties were used to advertise in the media to promote German products. Producers from abroad were found to carry the German quality CMA label, thus making competition to the German farmer who had payed for the quality label. Sexist marketing actions of CMA had been criticised by German farmers as inappropriate and ineffective.

It was an example of the decadence of media, marketing strategy and decrepit structures of the agrarian politics. The CMA announced now to shut its homepage and close its business activities. This shows that intrepid work of isolated persons may erode the basis of the work of the lobby of financial empires.

[1] Spiegel Online: Landwirte als Blogger: Bauernverband will Internet-Foren unterwandern. 13.06.2009
http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/0,1518,630212,00.html

[2] DW -World.de Deutsche Welle: German milk farmers threaten strike as prices plunge. 11.05.20090
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4242019,00.html

[3] Bauernaufstand gegen die Union "Die waehl ich nimmer"
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,627569,00.html

[4] Spiegel Online Agrar-Marketing: CMA wird endgueltig abgewickelt
http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/0,1518,611695,00.html

[5] CMA: Closing business.
http://www.cma.de/b2b/business-service/index.html


12.06.2009: Origin of the swine flu virus described [1]
Andrew Rambaut and colleagues 2009 showed that the H1N1 virus is a mixture of other viruses that had been circulating in pigs and includes human and avian-like genetic sequences. The initial transmission to humans occurred several months before recognition of the outbreak.

The authors say that movement of live pigs between Eurasia and North America seems to have facilitated the mixing of diverse swine influenza viruses and the lack of systematic swine surveillance allowed for the undetected evolution for many years.

Analysing the molecular structure of the virus, the authors dated their appearance between 9.2 and 17.2 years ago and remained undetected for about a decade.

The pork industry protested against the use of the term "swine flu" and exerted pressure on the WHO to use the generic designation of "influenza A(H1N1)" fearing pork prices to be affected,

Influenza threat of the North American swine [2]
Gerardo Nava and colleagues 2009 reported that their genetic analysis also pointed to North American swine as a potential source of the new virus. The researchers call for a systemic surveillance system which integrates phylogenetic information of influenza viruses circulating in humans and livestock.

Meanwhile entire poultry flocks are slaughtered to control outbreaks of avian influenza, no action is take in face of outbreaks of swine flu. Pork farmers wait out outbreaks among their flocks because the infection rarely kills the animals. According to Nava and colleagues this may permit the virus to recombine in the pig and elaborate new sequences, new genes.

Nava and colleagues said that officials focused on avian flu and ignored the new threat coming from pigs and the people who work with them.

The authors point to the fact that the United States invested 3.8 billion dollars to prevent and contain the foreign threat of Asian avian flu, neglecting the influenza threat that the North American swine population presents. Protecting itself from foreign avian flu USA neglected to protect the world from the swine flu whose origin is now being tracked to be the North American swine.

[1] Smith GJ, Vijaykrishna D, Bahl J, Lycett SJ, Worobey M, Pybus OG, Ma SK, Cheung CL, Raghwani J, Bhatt S, Peiris JS, Guan Y, Rambaut A.: Origins and evolutionary genomics of the 2009 swine-origin H1N1 influenza A epidemic. Nature. 2009 Jun 11.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19516283

[2] Nava, G. M.; Attene-Ramos, M. S.; Ang, J. K. Escorcia, M.: Origins of the new influenza A(H1N1) virus: time to take action. Rapid communications. Eurosurveillance, Volume 14, Issue 22, 04 June 2009.
http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=19228



12.06.2009: WHO Increases Pandemic Alert Level to Phase 6 [1] [2]
On 11 June 2009 The World Health Organisation's director-general Dr. Margaret Chan has officially declared the swine flu to have entered the pandemic phase 6.

Phase 6, the pandemic phase, is characterized by community level outbreaks in at least one other country in a different WHO region. Designation of this phase will indicate that a global pandemic is under way.

Dr. Chan pointed to the fact that actually the swine flu pandemic coexists with the H5N1 avian flu in phase 3 pandemic alert status. This is considered to be an extremely unusual situation. She pointed out that pregnant women are at increased risk for complications, and the virus preferentially infects younger age groups, under age 25 years.

Although there have not been large numbers of severe cases in USA so far, severity may increase toward fall. H1N1 immunization campaign should therefore start in late September.
Swine Flu virus A/1H1N is a super flu that consists of 3 known swine flu strains, 3 known bird flu strains and a human flu virus. The combination of these strains makes the A/1H1N Swine Flu an unusual strain of the flu with unknown outcomes.

If you had contact with persons which may be suffering from this new hybrid strain of Swine Flu, in special travellers from USA and Mexico, seek immediate medical advice.

WHO recommends a measured fever over 100, along with either cough or sore throat an also has an underlying condition, whether you have asthma, diabetes, or are pregnant, or an infant under the age of 2, see your doctor right away to see if you should be treated for influenza with antiviral medication.

Travel restrictions immediately needed
The WHO says that it continues to put no restrictions on travel. The reason of WHO hesitation to impose travel restrictions may result from pressure of USA who fears economic losses. However, the pandemic spreads worldwide by travellers coming from USA and Mexico. WHO must undergo criticism for the lapse of not imposing travel restrictions. There are worldwide about 300.000 cases of swine flu human infection known of which 13.000 in USA.

[1] WHO: The Current WHO phase of pandemic alert
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/phase/en/index.html

[2]A Time's Memory: USA. CDC Press Briefing Transcript June 11, 2009.
http://hygimia69.blogspot.com/2009/06/usa-cdc-press-briefing-transcripts-june_12.html


11.06.2009: Water for the desert from air humidity [1]
The Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB in Stuttgart, Germany, develops a system to collect drinking water from air humidity. The Institute says that there is humidity in the atmosphere of deserts and cite the Negev desert in Israel, with an annual average relative air humidity of 64 percent and 11.5 millilitres of water in every cubic meter of air.

Siegfried Egner from the Frauenhofer Institute explains that their system uses hygroscopic salt brine which absorbs moisture from the air. The diluted brine is transferred to a vacuum tank heated by solar energy. There the water evaporates, is cooled and drops in a storage tank. On its way down the droplets create the vacuum for the distillation tank. The reconcentrated brine is reused for new moisture absorption.

The device can be dimensioned as single-person unit or as plants to supply water to entire hotels. This could alleviate the water scarcity in the desert and arid regions.

[1] Frauenhofer Institute: Drinking water from air humidity. June 2009.
http://www.fraunhofer.de/EN/press/pi/2009/06/ResearchNews062009Topic2.jsp



11.06.2009 Benzophenone and 4-methylbenzophenone in breakfast cereals [1] [2]
Benzophenone and 4-methylbenzophenone are chemicals used in printing inks for food packaging.
They are used as initiators for printing inks cured by UV radiation. Due to their volatility they can migrate through the packaging to the food if there is no functional barrier.

In February 2009 certain breakfast cereals were found to be contaminated with 4-methylbenzophenone. EFSA’s expert Panel on food contact materials considers there is no health risks from the short-term consumption of breakfast cereals contaminated with 4-methylbenzophenone. However, for children, based on the highly conservative scenario (high consumption of breakfast cereals, highest concentration of 4-methylbenzophenone), a health concern could not be excluded. Should the use of the substance go on a full risk assessment will be necessary.

The Panel considered the safety threshold for benzophenone which was used as the basis of EFSA’s urgent advice to the Commission in March to be very cautious, as it was based upon adaptive (i.e. reversible) changes reported in experimental animals as a result of their exposure to benzophenone rather than adverse effects as such.

The Panel rose the 1992 benzophenone TDI of 0.01mg/kg bw to 0.03mg per kilogram of bodyweight. The TDI of benzophenone should not be applied to 4-methylbenzophenone and hydroxybenzophenone.

[1] European Food Safety Authority: EFSA updates advice on 4-methylbenzophenone in breakfast cereals. 11.06.2009
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_1211902570831.htm

[2] EFSA: Toxicological evaluation of benzophenone. 14.05.2009
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_1211902570801.htm


10.06.2009: High vitamin D may increase pancreatic cancer risk in male smokers says a Finnish study [1]
The 25-(OH)D is the major circulating vitamin D metabolite found in human serum and is determined by diet and exposure to sun. Several recent studies advocate a high level of vitamin D to reduce risk of coronary and other diseases, such as pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cells express 25-(OH) D(3)-1alpha-hydroxylase that generates the biologically active 1,25-dihydroxy(OH)(2) D form, and a high vitamin D status may affect the cells of the pancreas.

Stolzenberg-Solomon 2009, however, cites a nested case-control study conducted in a population of male Finnish smokers which showed a 3-fold increased risk for pancreatic cancer with high vitamin D status. This study was conducted in male smokers, limiting therefore its conclusions to this group. The author writes that there are more studies necessary to make a final conclusion on the association of vitamin D and pancreatic cancer.

The Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Screening Trial [2]
In a nested case-control study in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Screening Trial cohort of men and women prediagnostic serum 25(OH)D concentrations study Stolzenberg-Solomon and colleagues found no association of Vitamin D with pancreatic cancer overall. This study could not support the strong positive association of 25(OH)D and pancreatic cancer of the foregoing Finnish study. However, increased risk of pancreatic cancer was found in persons with low solar exposure, but not in those with moderate to high annual exposure, which is similar to the Finish study. [3]

[1] Stolzenberg-Solomon RZ: Vitamin D and pancreatic cancer. Ann Epidemiol. 2009 Feb;19(2):89-95. Epub 2008 May 27.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18504144

[2] National Cancer Institute: Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial
http://prevention.cancer.gov/programs-resources/groups/ed/programs/plco

[3] Stolzenberg-Solomon RZ, Hayes RB, Horst RL, Anderson KE, Hollis BW, Silverman DT. Serum vitamin D and risk of pancreatic cancer in the prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian screening trial. Cancer Res. 2009 Feb 15;69(4):1439-47. Epub 2009 Feb 10.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19208842


10.06.2009: Hypothesis says that vitamin D may reduce risk of dementia [1]
Wiliam B. Grant hypothesises that vitamin D can reduce the risk of developing dementia based on observational evidences that vitamin D deficiency, associated with increased risk for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, depression, dental caries, osteoporosis, and periodontal disease, may also be a risk factor for dementia. The laboratory evidence included findings of neuroprotection and inflammation reduction related to vitamin D.

The author calls for observational studies of incidence of dementia with respect to prediagnostic serum 25(OH)D or vitamin D supplementation.

[1] Grant, B. William: Hypothesis: Does Vitamin D Reduce the Risk of Dementia? Pages 151-159
J Alzheimers Dis. 2009 May;17(1):151-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19494440


10.06.2009: Vitamin E supplementation in Alzheimer’s Disease may prevent Loss of cognition in some individuals, in others it may be detrimental. [1]
Ana Lloret and colleagues 2009 studying vitamin E prevention of oxidative stress and loss of cognition in Alzheimer's Disease found that some individuals responded to a supplementation of 800 IU of vitamin E per day for six month. The blood oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels were lower after the treatment and scores on the cognitive tests were maintained. No prevention of oxidative stress, however, was found at other individuals which presented a detrimental effect of cognitive functions.
The authors recommend, therefore, that supplementation of Alzheimer's Disease patients with vitamin E should be monitored by determining the oxidative stress indicator GSSG in each patient.

[1] Lloret A, Badía MC, Mora NJ, Pallardó FV, Alonso MD, Viña J.: Vitamin E paradox in Alzheimer's disease: it does not prevent loss of cognition and may even be detrimental. J Alzheimers Dis. 2009 May;17(1):143-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19494439

09.06.2009: Low levels of vitamin D are linked to several diseases
Low levels of vitamin D are associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality [1]
Harald Dobnig and colleagues 2008 say that low 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels are independently associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.

Thes authors write that these findings base on the correlation of low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels of inflammation indicators (C-reactive protein and interleukin 6 levels), oxidative burden (serum phospholipid and glutathione levels), and cell adhesion (vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 levels).

The authors point out that urbanization, demographic shifts, decreased outdoor activity, air pollution and global dimming, and decreases in the cutaneous production of vitamin D with age may account for 50% to 60% of people to have low vitamin-D status.

The minimum desirable serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D has been suggested to be 20 to 30 ng/mL, and levels lower than this are clearly related to compromised bone-mineral density, falls, and fractures and more recently have also been linked to cancer and immune dysfunction, as well as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome, the authors report.

The study used data from the Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health (LURIC) study which investigated the effect of genetic polymorphisms and plasma biomarkers on cardiovascular health status. [2]

The authors concluded that low 25-hydroxyvitamin-D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin-D levels are associated with increased risk in all-cause and cardiovascular mortality compared with patients with higher serum vitamin-D levels. A serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D level of 20 ng/mL or higher is being sugested by the authors.

However, they stress that aside of the effect of low vitamin D status, other factors may be associated with mortality including matrix metalloproteinases.

Nonvertebral Fracture Prevention With 482-770 IU/d Vitamin D [3]
Foregoing vitamin D studies said it could only reduce fracture risk in combination with calcium. However, according to Heike A. Bischoff-Ferrari and colleagues 2009 the prevention of nonvertebral fractures with vitamin D is dose-dependent for individuals aged 65 years or older.

The authors found that a high supplemental vitamin D dose (482-770 IU/d) should reduce nonvertebral fractures by at least 20% and hip fractures by at least 18%. The use of low-dose vitamin D with or without calcium in the prevention of fractures among older individuals is not being recommended by the authors, and greater benefits may be achieved if vitamin D supplementation starts earlier.

[1] Dobnig H, Pilz S, Scharnagl H, et al. Independent association of low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Arch Intern Med 2008; 168:1340-1349.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18574092

[2] Winkelmann BR, März W, Boehm BO, Zotz R, Hager J, Hellstern P, Senges J; LURIC Study Group (LUdwigshafen RIsk and Cardiovascular Health): Rationale and design of the LURIC study--a resource for functional genomics, pharmacogenomics and long-term prognosis of cardiovascular disease. Pharmacogenomics. 2001 Feb;2(1 Suppl 1):S1-73. Review.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11258203

[3] Bischoff-Ferrari, Heike A.; Willett, Walter C. ; Wong, John B.; Stuck, Andreas E.; Staehelin, Hannes B.; Orav, E. John ;Thoma, Anna; Kiel, Douglas P.; Henschkowski, Jana. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(6):551-561.
http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/169/6/551


09.06.2009: Western dietary pattern in women is linked to cardiovascular, cancer and all-cause mortality [1]
Christin Heidemann and colleagues 2008 found that women who eat a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, fish and poultry may reduce their risk for death from cardiovascular disease and from all causes, according to the results of a prospective study. In contrast, women who follow a traditional "Western" diet of red and processed meat, refined grains, french fries, and sweets are at a higher risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all causes.

[1] Dietary patterns and risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all causes in a prospective cohort of women. Heidemann C, Schulze MB, Franco OH, van Dam RM, Mantzoros CS, Hu FB. Circulation. 2008 Jul 15;118(3):230-7. Epub 2008 Jun 23.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18574045


04.06.2009: Milk Farmer changes German agrarian politics [1] [2]
A third of the country's milk farmers could go under if prices continue to fall. The EU milk production has come to a point where the price paid to the farmers does not cover expenses for feed and energy. Farmers with up to 1.000 cows are on the verge of bankruptcy.

Romuald Schaber, a German milk farmer, facing a dreadful EU and German agrarian politics, founded the Federation of German Dairy Farmers (BDM). All milk farmers immediately joined the BDM leaving a huge void in the mighty German Farmers Association which is failing to look after the needs of small and middle sized farms.

The Bavarian Premier Horst Seehofer has called for German Chancellor Angela Merkel to take measures. Both are very concerned with next elections where the votes of the farmers may play a role.

Romuald Schaber makes pressure on the German and the European politicians to reintroduce the milk quota system to set an upper limit of milk production in order to avoid overproduction and erosion of milk price which is already under production cost.

Another concern of farmers is the infiltration of the market with GM feed such as the Monsnto GM corn Mon 810. Christoph Fischer campaigns against the introduction of GM Food in Europe. His work made the politicians to ban the Monsanto corn Mon 810. Corn is an important feedstuff for milk farming. Farmers were afraid of the bad image of GM feed for their cows.
Christoph Fischer is founder of “Civil Courage Rosenheim”. He advocates the Regional Structured Agriculture which is closely related to the work of Vandana Shiva protecting the environment and peasant agriculture in India. These activities try to correct undesirable development of our civilisation caused by mismanagement of politics. [3]

[1] DW -World.de Deutsche Welle: German milk farmers threaten strike as prices plunge. 11.05.20090
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4242019,00.html

[2] Bauernaufstand gegen die Union "Die waehl ich nimmer"
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,627569,00.html

[3] Civil Courage: Vandana Shiva: Rückblick über die Veranstaltung am 16. 02.2009 in Rosenheim in der Inntalhalle
http://www.zivilcourage.ro/wp/vandana-shiva


03.06.2009: Nuclear waste alliance between German politics and nuclear corporations turned repository to a deadly problem [1]

Asse II is a closed salt mine, which was used to store nuclear waste in Germany. The salt mine had been considered to be safe as repository for nuclear waste.

Water infiltration corroded iron barrels bearing the nuclear waste after 30 years of storage. Radioactive brine leaks out and contaminates the groundwater. Entrance of the mine is not possible any more because parts of the mine my collapse any time.

The Helmholtz Centre Munich [2]
According to Green peace there are documents proving a secrete alliance between German politics and the nuclear corporations. A memorandum of December 1974 from the GSF, now called the Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Researche Centre for Environmental Health, says that the nuclear corporations, RWE, E.ON, Vattenfall and EnBW demanded from the GSF suitable conditions for the storage of radioactive waste to meet the minimum of cost and economic solutions. The corporations considered the embedding of the iron barrels in concrete not useful for an optimal use of the available storage volume. [3]  See the pictures showing how it was handled:    Asse II    Storage

The storage documentation was very deficient. It was now found that the Asse II storage of tritium exceeds by 4.5 times of what was documented by the Helmholz Center. The Centre says it has forwarded all documents and responsibilities related to Asse II to the German Government. [4]

Situation of nuclear waste in USA [5]
The safety situation of nuclear waste in USA is completely differen. Experts say there is no production of nuclear waste. They document that 1 percent of the fuel rods m ay be recycled to be used in new rods. The remaining 99 percent , together with inorganic aids and other chemicals needed for the recycling process result in and end-volume of 400 percent of the fuel rods. This material is still radioactive and is returned to nature by deep sea dumping and littering in low population regions. Returning those things to nature makes the US nuclear energy one of cleanest and most efficient way to sterilise life on earth. The Dr. Frank Settle says that French see reprocessing as ecologically sound, economical and profitable and as demonstrating scientific leadership on a world stage. [6]

[1] Allianz mit Ausichtsbehoerden. Energiekonzerne drueckten Sicherheitsstandards im Atommuelllager
http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/0,1518,628204,00.html

[2] Schachtanlage Asse: Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen stellt alte GSF-Akten zur Verfuegung.
Link article

[3] Wer zahlt für Sanierung von Asse II?
Ralf Streck 24.02.2009
http://www.heise.de/tp/r4/artikel/29/29801/1.html

[4] Mehr radioaktives Tritium in der Asse als angegeben. Greenpeace-Recherchen decken Widersprüche in Einlagerungsdaten auf.
Article link

[5] Greenpeace: Von Recycling kann gar keine Rede sein!

http://www.greenpeace.de/themen/atomkraft/atommuell_wiederaufarbeitung/

[6] Settle, Frank: Process Waste - A Continuing Chemical and Political Problem. Chemcases.com
http://www.chemcases.com/nuclear/nc-11.htm


01.06.2009: Researches on HIV and antiretroviral drugs strategies, the HPTN 035 Study
Genetic engineered plant production of a complex HIV drug unites efficiency and low production cost [1]
Sexton and colleages 2009 describe a fusion protein molecule which may be useful as HIV microbicide. It is the combination of the HIV-neutralizing mAb b12 expressed in transgenic plants. This substance has gp120 binding activity and HIV-neutralizing activity in vitro. A combinational protein, also obtained by genetically modifying the plant, unites the mAb b12 with cyanovirin-N, both microbicides act synergistically to control the HIV virus. The fusion protein molecule is predicted to have four binding sites for HIV gp120.

The authors stress that genetic engineering of plant can make the drug affordable for developing countries and turn the production of high quantities possible. Its efficiency was only tested in vitro. The authors deplore the high legislation barriers for new drugs, meanwhile no regulations are set regarding new food supplements to be put on market.

Microbicide gel to prevent HIV infection of women [2]
Sharon Hillier and colleagues 2009, leading the HPTN 035 study reports the prevention of HIV infections in women using a vaginal 0.5% microbicide gel preventing the HIV virus from attaching to cells in the genital tract.

The authors claim that the gels was 30% effective. Several candidate microbicides are being tested in clinical trials, although none is yet approved or available for use.  Condoms are very effective to prevent HIV infection, but are often not accepted by the male partner. Applying the gel, women could protect themselves. Infection male to female is more frequent as the infection of men.

The study was conducted in Africa an in the USA during 2005 – 2008, assessing the effectiveness of BufferGel and 0.5% PRO 2000/5 Gel (P) in preventing the following among women at risk for sexually-transmitted HIV infection: bacterial vaginosis, chlamydia infection, genital ulcer disease, gonorrhea infection, herpes simplex virus-2 infection, pregnancy, syphilis infection, trichomoniasis.

HPTN 035 tested two candidate microbicides with different mechanisms of action: BufferGel and PRO 2000 (0.5% dose). BufferGel is designed to boost the natural acidity of the vagina in the presence of seminal fluid. Semen reduces the acidity of the vagina making it more receptive for pathogens that cause sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV. PRO 2000 is an entry/fusion inhibitor that is designed to hamper HIV’s ability to attach to and infect healthy cells.

Although the participants in the PRO 2000 study arm had a 30 percent lower rate of HIV infection compared with the Buffer gel, tha placebo gel and a no-gel group. However, 33 percent effectiveness would have been needed to considered the results statistically significant. The authors call therefore for more studies whether PRO 2000 prevents HIV infection in women. [3]

Mathematical models predict higher protection rate in men than women using vaginal microbicides [4]
Results of mathematical models of 2008 simulating clinical trials and population-level transmission of HIV, found that if HIV-positive women using microbicides may develop drug-resistant strains of HIV that are then less likely to be transmitted to men. In the high-risk scenario, the mathematical models predict for the use of microbicides prevention of infection of 21 percent for women and 27 percent for men. In the low-risk scenario, the microbicide would be 17% and 18% respectively.

Sally Blower, professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences said that vaginal microbicides are being developed to provide direct protection to women in case of non-acceptance of condom use by men. However, there are also concerns that microbicides could lead to drug resistance if they are used by HIV-positive women.

[1] Sexton, Amy; Harman, Sarah; Shattock, Robin J.; Ma, Julian K.-C.: Design, expression, and characterization of a multivalent, combination HIV microbicide. The FASEB Journal, 2009; DOI: 10.1096/fj.09-131995
http://www.fasebj.org/cgi/content/abstract/fj.09-131995v1

[2] HIV Prevention Trials Network: HPTN 035 Phase II/IIb Safety and Effectiveness Study of the Vaginal Microbicides BufferGel and 0.5% PRO2000/5 Gel (P) for the Prevention of HIV Infection in Women
http://www.hptn.org/research_studies/hptn035.asp

[3] National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: The HPTN 035 Study of Two Candidate Microbicides, BufferGel and PRO 2000 (0.5% dose). February 9, 2009.
http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/news/QA/HPTN_035_qa.htm

[4] The paradoxical effects of using antiretroviral-based microbicides to control HIV epidemics.
Wilson DP, Coplan PM, Wainberg MA, Blower SM. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Jul 15;105(28):9835-40. Epub 2008 Jul 7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18606986