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Selected AbstractsInadequacies of absolute threshold levels for diagnosing prediabetesDIABETES/METABOLISM: RESEARCH AND REVIEWS, Issue 1 2010Michael Bergman Abstract Prediabetes comprising Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG) and Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) represents an intermediate stage of altered glucose metabolism between normal glucose levels and type 2 diabetes mellitus and is associated with an increased risk for the development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. There is considerable evidence that glucose levels lower than those meeting the current definition of prediabetes may also be associated with similar risks particularly in high-risk individuals. Prediabetes is often unrecognized and therefore constitutes a major public health concern suggesting the need for earlier intervention than is currently recommended. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] FUNGI AND PATULIN IN APPLES AND THE ROLE OF PROCESSING ON PATULIN LEVELS IN JUICES: A STUDY ON NATURALLY CONTAMINATED APPLESJOURNAL OF FOOD SAFETY, Issue 2 2010JULIANE ELISA WELKE ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to determine the predominant fungal species, including toxigenic strains, patulin levels in apples used for juice production and in produced juices. The possibility of use of apple highly contaminated with patulin to produce juice with lower patulin levels than the limit permitted by Codex Alimentarius was also checked. Sixteen lots of apples and juices were analyzed. The most prevalent fungal population was Penicillium spp. (93%) followed by the Aspergillus spp. (3.5%) and the Rhizopus spp. (3.5%). The mycoflora of apples was composed mainly of species that produce patulin. P. expansum was identified as the most frequently isolated species (66%). Species able to produce patulin were P. expansum and P. griseofulvum. Patulin levels in apples from cold storage ranged from 254.6 to 653.4 µg/kg. Apple juice processing caused average reduction of 95% in patulin levels. Patulin levels ranged from 14.3 to 46.7 µg/L in apple juices. In all samples were found patulin levels lower than the limit of 50 µg/L considered acceptable by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS This study was performed to define the mycoflora of apples and patulin levels in apples that were used for juice production. This approach is useful to evaluate the quality of apples and the effect of processing on patulin to determine if the toxin level can be managed through postharvest procedures. Besides, information about patulin levels in juices is important to contribute for establishing national regulation. [source] A Risk of Alzheimer's Disease and Aluminum in Drinking WaterPSYCHOGERIATRICS, Issue 4 2002Shunsuke Meshitsuka Abstract: The epidemiological studies on the relation between Alzheimer's disease and aluminum in drinking water are reviewed. In descriptive studies, case-control studies, and also cohort studies aluminum in drinking water turned out to be positive for the senile dementia of Alzheimer type. Negative results were obtained in the studies of presenile dementia or alminum levels lower than 0.1 mg/L. Aluminum is the third abundant element on earth, therefore, exposure to aluminum is inevitable in daily life. It is known that as over 95% of cases with Alzheimer's disease are sporadic, some environmental factors are expected to be etiological. Aluminum has been so far studied as a candidate for a neurotoxic factor. It is not known why attention has been given to only aluminum in drinking water as the cause of the neuro-degenerative disease other than aluminum in foods or medications, and how aluminum acts as a toxicant in brain. Nonetheless, reduction of aluminum in drinking water is recommended, as well as investigations on the mechanism of neurotoxicity of aluminum to find out the way to be free from the fear of aluminum. [source] Determination of urine melamine by validated isotopic ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometryRAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY, Issue 12 2009Wei-Chih Cheng Little is known about melamine (MEL) analysis in children's urine. In this study, an isotopic ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS/MS) method was developed and systematically validated for the analysis of MEL in urine. The method is easily performed and comprises acidification, solid-phase extraction (SPE) and UPLC/MS/MS analysis. 13C3N3(15NH2)3 was used as the internal standard (IS) for calibration. Transition ions m/z 127,>,85 of MEL and m/z 133,>,89 of the IS were used for quantification and m/z 127,>,68 of MEL was used for quantitative confirmation. Recovery and precision were assessed to guarantee the applicability of the method. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.01,µg/mL while the calculated method detection limit was 0.006,µg/mL. The mean recoveries ranged from 96,99%. The method was then applied to analyze urine samples from children who had potentially consumed MEL-tainted dairy products during screening in Taiwan. Ten nephrolithiasis cases and 20 age- and gender-matched controls were selected for this study. Three out of the 10 nephrolithiasis cases had elevated levels of MEL. Comparatively, twenty age- and gender-matched non-nephrolithiasis controls consuming Taiwan brand milk powder all showed MEL levels lower than the detection limit except for two children with background levels of 0.02,µg/mL. The background level in these children urine samples was established by UPLC/MS/MS analysis. Positive results of urine MEL tests might be associated with nephrolithiasis in these candidates. Measurement of urine MEL concentration can be helpful in confirming MEL-related nephrolithiasis, but its clinical application needs further clarification. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | |||||||||||||