Recent loss of closed forests is associated with Ebola virus disease outbreaks.

Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a contagious, severe and often lethal form of hemorrhagic fever in humans. The association of EVD outbreaks with forest clearance has been suggested previously but many aspects remained uncharacterized. We used remote sensing techniques to investigate the association between deforestation in time and space, with EVD outbreaks in Central and West Africa.

Managing diabetes in people with dementia.

Diabetes and dementia may manifest simultaneously: one is potentially life threatening, the other causes severe, progressive loss of memory and cognitive function. Where they coexist, they present nurses with challenges such as administering life-saving interventions to patients who are unable to give informed consent. This article offers guidance on the clinical and ethical challenges involved in blood glucose monitoring and medicines administration in patients with dementia.

Identification of biaryl sulfone derivatives as antagonists of the histamine H₃ receptor: discovery of (R)-1-(2-(4'-(3-methoxypropylsulfonyl)biphenyl-4-yl)ethyl)-2-methylpyrrolidine (APD916).

The design of a new clinical candidate histamine-H(3) receptor antagonist for the potential treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is described. Phenethyl-R-2-methylpyrrolidine containing biphenylsulfonamide compounds were modified by replacement of the sulfonamide linkage with a sulfone. One compound from this series, 2j (APD916) increased wakefulness in rodents as measured by polysomnography with a duration of effect consistent with its pharmacokinetic properties.

Design and evaluation of novel biphenyl sulfonamide derivatives with potent histamine H(3) receptor inverse agonist activity.

Antagonism of the histamine-H(3) receptor is one tactic being explored to increase wakefulness for the treatment of disorders such as excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) as well as other sleep or cognitive disorders. Phenethyl-R-2-methylpyrrolidine containing biphenylsulfonamide compounds were shown to be potent and selective antagonists of the H(3) receptor. Several of these compounds demonstrated in vivo activity in a rat model of (R)-alpha-methyl histamine (RAMH) induced dipsogenia, and one compound (4e) provided an increase in wakefulness in rats as measured by polysomnographic methods.

Discovery and structure-activity relationship of (1R)-8-chloro-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1-methyl-1H-3-benzazepine (Lorcaserin), a selective serotonin 5-HT2C receptor agonist for the treatment of obesity.

The synthesis and SAR of a novel 3-benzazepine series of 5-HT2C agonists is described. Compound 7d (lorcaserin, APD356) was identified as one of the more potent and selective compounds in vitro (pEC50 values in functional assays measuring [(3)H]phosphoinositol turnover: 5-HT2C = 8.1; 5-HT2A = 6.

Determining the variability associated with testing shelled corn for aflatoxin using different analytical procedures in Louisiana in 1998.

The number of elevator facilities with laboratories to test shelled corn for aflatoxin on site is increasing. The inherent difficulty in accurately determining the true aflatoxin concentration of a lot of corn may have serious implications. Deviations from the true value are of even greater significance at busy locations where a high throughput is desired.

Workgroup report: public health strategies for reducing aflatoxin exposure in developing countries.

Consecutive outbreaks of acute aflatoxicosis in Kenya in 2004 and 2005 caused > 150 deaths. In response, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization convened a workgroup of international experts and health officials in Geneva, Switzerland, in July 2005. After discussions concerning what is known about aflatoxins, the workgroup identified gaps in current knowledge about acute and chronic human health effects of aflatoxins, surveillance and food monitoring, analytic methods, and the efficacy of intervention strategies.

Feasibility of immunodiagnostic devices for the detection of ricin, amanitin, and T-2 toxin in food.

Qualitative and quantitative comparisons were conducted of commercially available immunodiagnostic devices for the detection of three select agents with oral LD50 values > or = 0.1 mg/kg of body weight. Ricin (oral LD50 > 1 mg/kg), amanitin (oral LD50 approximately 0.

Performance Tested Method multiple laboratory validation study of ELISA-based assays for the detection of peanuts in food.

Performance Tested Method multiple laboratory validations for the detection of peanut protein in 4 different food matrixes were conducted under the auspices of the AOAC Research Institute. In this blind study, 3 commercially available ELISA test kits were validated: Neogen Veratox for Peanut, R-Biopharm RIDASCREEN FAST Peanut, and Tepnel BioKits for Peanut Assay. The food matrixes used were breakfast cereal, cookies, ice cream, and milk chocolate spiked at 0 and 5 ppm peanut.

Discovery and SAR of new benzazepines as potent and selective 5-HT(2C) receptor agonists for the treatment of obesity.

We report on the synthesis, biological evaluation and structure-activity relationships for a series of 3-benzazepine derivatives as 5-HT(2C) receptor agonists. The compounds were evaluated in functional assays measuring [3H] phosphoinositol turnover in HEK-293 cells transiently transfected with h5-HT(2C), h5-HT(2A) or h5-HT(2B) receptors. Several compounds are shown to be potent and selective 5-HT(2C) receptor agonists, which decrease food intake in a rat feeding model.

U.S. perspective on mycotoxin regulatory issues.

Control programs set up by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for aflatoxin, an unavoidable natural contaminant produced by specific molds that invade a number of feedstuffs and basic foods, provide an example of forces that affect risk assessment and management strategies by a regulatory agency. More recently, on an international scale, efforts to establish international food standards for fumonisin, deoxynivalenol, ochratoxin A, zearalenone, and patulin, as well as for aflatoxin, demonstrate the complexity of developing regulations and/or standards designed to protect consumer health and ensure fair trade practices on a global scale. Current FDA regulations for aflatoxins address public health concerns for potential contamination in basic foods, residues in milk, and animal feeds for numerous commodities and applications.

Effect of processing on aflatoxin.

Naturally occurring toxicant contamination of foods with mycotoxins is unavoidable and unpredictable and poses a unique challenge to food safety. Aflatoxins are toxic mold metabolites produced by toxigenic strains of Aspergillus species. Primary commodities susceptible to aflatoxin contamination include corn, peanuts and cottonseed and animal-derived foods such as milk when the animal is fed aflatoxin-contaminated feed.

Comparison of the Microbial Quality of Raw Shrimp from China, Ecuador, or Mexico at Both Wholesale and Retail Levels.

Aerobic plate counts (APC), Listeria spp., and Vibrio spp. and antibiotic resistance patterns of Vibrio spp.

Direct Application of a New Hypochlorite Sanitizer for Reducing Bacterial Contamination on Foods.

The efficacy of the buffered sodium hypochlorite solution, Bionox, in controlling bacterial contamination was evaluated on fresh-cut poultry (chicken, light and dark meat), fish fillets, fruit, and vegetables. Food products were immersed in a nutrient broth suspension of Salmonella enteritidis (ATCC #13067) for 30 s and allowed to drip/air dry for 10 s prior to exposure to the sanitizing agent. Food products were then each vigorously washed with 100 ml of buffered peptone which was plated in serial dilution on XLD-N agar and incubated at 37°C for 24 h.

Reduction of Mutagenic Potentials in Milk: Effects of Ammonia Treatment on Aflatoxin-Contaminated Cottonseed.

Milks obtained from cows fed rations containing aflatoxin-contaminated cottonseed, ammonia-treated aflatoxin-contaminated cottonseed, and uncontaminated cottonseed were tested for mutagenic potential using the Salmonella /mammalian microsome mutagenicity assay using Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100. Standard assay protocol was used with S-9 liver homogenate added. Samples including whole milk, nonfat dry milk powder, cream, and reconstituted whole milk were applied directly to the plates in triplicate.

Dairy Herd Mastitis Quality Control Program.

Milk from 34 dairy herds was tested over a 12-month period using a mastitis evaluation program in which Streptococcus agalactiae , Staphylococcus aureus and leucocytes were counted. There was a significant decrease in the total mastitic bacterial count ( S. agalactiae plus S.

Preparation of C-Labeled Penicillic Acid with High Specific Activity and Yield.

C-Labeled penicillic acid was produced by stationary culture incubation of Penicillium cyclopium (NRRL 1888) on a modified Raulin-Thom broth medium containing C-labeled acetate. Approximately 1.2 g of radioactive compound, with a specific activity of 23.