Lessons learned from inter-laboratory studies of carbon isotope analysis of honey.

Forensic application of carbon isotope ratio measurements of honey and honey protein to investigate the degree of adulteration with high fructose corn syrup or other C plant sugars is well established. These measurements must use methods that exhibit suitable performance criteria, particularly with regard to measurement uncertainty and traceability - low levels of adulteration can only be detected by methods that result in suitably small measurement uncertainties such that differences of 1‰ or less can be reliably detected. Inter-laboratory exercises are invaluable to assess the state-of-the art of measurement capabilities of laboratories necessary to achieve such performance criteria.

Food-chain selenium and human health: spotlight on speciation.

There is a growing appreciation that it is not just the total intake of dietary Se that is important to health but that the species of Se ingested may also be important. The present review attempts to catalogue what is known about Se species in foods and supplements and the health effects in which they are implicated. The biosynthetic pathways involved in Se assimilation by plants and the way in which Se species are metabolised in animals are presented in order to give an insight into the species likely to be present in plant and animal foods.

The relationship between menstrual cycle phase and anterior cruciate ligament injury: a case-control study of recreational alpine skiers.

Background: Female athletes suffer a greater incidence of anterior cruciate ligament tears compared with male athletes when participating in common sports; however, very little is known about the factors that explain this disparity.

Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods: Female recreational alpine skiers with an anterior cruciate ligament rupture and age-matched control skiers provided a serum sample and self-reported menstrual history data immediately after injury.