Power Ultrasound

The use of ultrasound as a processing aid has been explored in various industrial sectors for over fifty years, but the application of this physical energy in food processing is relatively new. In this article, the current research and development activities of power ultrasound centered on food and bioprocessing applications are summarized. The mode of action of ultrasonication is attributed to several mechanical and chemical actions caused by cavitation, which include localized hot spots, formation of shock waves, microsteaming, and liquid jets, as well as the production of chemical species that will also impact the process kinetics and food quality attributes. Means to enhance cavitation activity is addressed. The research needs for the future development of ultrasound food processing are also discussed.

Endogenous hydrogen sulfide is involved in regulation of respiration in medullary slice of neonatal rats

The purpose of the present study was to verify our assumption that rhythmic respiratory activity may be regulated by endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) in the medullary slices of neonatal rats. We found that a moderate concentration of donor of H(2)S, NaHS, mainly induced diphasic respiratory responses indicated by changes of discharge frequency (DF) of hypoglossal rootlets, an initial inhibitory stage followed by a later excitatory one. Cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) substrate, cysteine (CYS), exerted similar effects. CBS inhibitor, NH(2)OH, could eliminate both inhibitory and excitatory effects in the two stages induced by CYS. K(ATP) channel blocker, glibenclamide (Gl), could eliminate the decrease in DF in the initial stage, but not the increase in the later one. On the other hand, adenyl cyclase (AC) inhibitor, SQ-22536 (SQ) could eliminate the increase in DF in the later stage, but not the decrease in the initial one, of the rootlets caused by NaHS. Co-application of Gl and SQ eliminated both inhibitory and excitatory effect induced by NaHS. The cAMP level was increased in the later stage but not in the initial one by NaHS, and the increase in the cAMP level could be eliminated by SQ. It can be concluded that the endogenous H(2)S could be produced through the CBS-H(2)S pathway and could be involved in the control of the central rhythmic respiration in the in vitro medullary slices of neonatal rats by opening K(ATP) channels and activating AC-cAMP pathway of the neurons.

Genetic polymorphism of inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase is a determinant of mercaptopurine metabolism and toxicity during treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia

The influence of genetic polymorphism in inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase (ITPA) on thiopurine-induced adverse events has not been investigated in the context of combination chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This study investigated the effects of a common ITPA variant allele (rs41320251) on mercaptopurine metabolism and toxicity during treatment of children with ALL. Significantly higher concentrations of methyl mercaptopurine nucleotides were found in patients with the nonfunctional ITPA allele. Moreover, there was a significantly higher probability of severe febrile neutropenia in patients with a variant ITPA allele among patients whose dose of mercaptopurine had been adjusted for TPMT genotype. In a cohort of patients whose mercaptopurine dose was not adjusted for TPMT phenotype, the TPMT genotype had a greater effect than the ITPA genotype. In conclusion, genetic polymorphism of ITPA is a significant determinant of mercaptopurine metabolism and of severe febrile neutropenia, after combination chemotherapy for ALL in which mercaptopurine doses are individualized on the basis of TPMT genotype.

Global burden of obesity in 2005 and projections to 2030

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the overall prevalence and absolute burden of overweight and obesity in the world and in various regions in 2005 and to project the global burden in 2030.

DESIGN

Pooling analysis.

DATA SOURCES

We identified sex- and age-specific prevalence of overweight and obesity in representative population samples from 106 countries, which cover approximately 88% of the world population, using MEDLINE and other computerized databases, supplemented by a manual search of references from retrieved articles.

METHODS

Sex- and age-specific prevalence of overweight and obesity were applied to the 2005 population to estimate the numbers of overweight and obese individuals in each country, each world region and the entire world. In addition, the prevalence, with and without adjusting for secular trends, were applied to the 2030 population projections to forecast the number of overweight and obese individuals in 2030.

RESULTS

Overall, 23.2% (95% confidence interval 22.8-23.5%) of the world's adult population in 2005 was overweight (24.0% in men (23.4-24.5%) and 22.4% in women (21.9-22.9%)), and 9.8% (9.6-10.0%) was obese (7.7% in men (7.4-7.9%) and 11.9% in women (11.6-12.2%)). The estimated total numbers of overweight and obese adults in 2005 were 937 million (922-951 million) and 396 million (388-405 million), respectively. By 2030, the respective number of overweight and obese adults was projected to be 1.35 billion and 573 million individuals without adjusting for secular trends. If recent secular trends continue unabated, the absolute numbers were projected to total 2.16 billion overweight and 1.12 billion obese individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

Overweight and obesity are important clinical and public health burdens worldwide. National programs for the prevention and treatment of overweight, obesity and related comorbidities and mortalities should be a public health priority.

Etoposide sensitivity does not predict MLL rearrangements or risk of therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia

Therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML) caused by MLL rearrangements (rMLL) can arise from topoisomerase II agents. However, whether rMLL-related leukemogenesis is inextricably linked to drug cytotoxicity remains controversial. We therefore compared (i) rMLL in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who developed t-AML and those who did not, (ii) epipodophyllotoxin toxicity in patients with t-AML and in controls, and (iii) rMLL in cells sensitive to etoposide and in those resistant to etoposide. In children with ALL, rMLL appeared to be more frequent in children who developed t-AML than in those who did not (seven pairs, P = 0.04), although independent of the cumulative etoposide dose (P = 0.5). Similarly, the frequency of epipodophyllotoxin-related toxicities did not differ between patients with t-AML and controls (26 pairs, P > 0.17). Moreover, in 25 cell lines, etoposide-induced MLL fusions did not differ in sensitive vs. resistant lines at equitoxic concentrations (P = 0.65). Together, these results indicate that epipodophyllotoxin-mediated leukemogenesis is not directly linked to drug cytotoxicity.

Optimising nasal spray parameters for efficient drug delivery using computational fluid dynamics

Experimental images from particle/droplet image analyser (PDIA) and particle image velocimetry (PIV) imaging techniques of particle formation from a nasal spray device were taken to determine critical parameters for the study and design of effective nasal drug delivery devices. The critical parameters found were particle size, diameter of spray cone at a break-up length and a spray cone angle. A range of values for each of the parameters were ascertained through imaging analysis which were then transposed into initial particle boundary conditions for particle flow simulation within the nasal cavity by using Computational Fluid Dynamics software. An Eulerian-Lagrangian scheme was utilised to track mono-dispersed particles (10 and 20 microm) at a breathing rate of 10 L/min. The results from this qualitative study aim to assist the pharmaceutical industry to improve and help guide the design of nasal spray devices.

The metabolic effects of once daily extended-release metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes: a multicentre study

AIM

To investigate the effects of extended-release metformin (MXR) compared with immediate-release metformin (MIR) on post-prandial glycaemic excursion, chronic glycaemia, lipid profiles, insulin resistance and islet function in type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

A randomised, open-labelled, positive-controlled multicentre study was conducted on 150 Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes. After 2 weeks of run-in period with MIR, 150 subjects were randomised into MXR group and MIR group. The patients in MXR group were assigned to take MXR 1500 mg once daily after dinner, while the patients in MIR group were assigned to continue MIR 500 mg thrice daily after meals for 12 weeks. Standard meal tests were carried out at baseline and at the end of this study. Plasma glucose, serum insulin, HbA1c and lipid profiles were measured. Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) was used to evaluate insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) and islet beta-cell function index (HOMA-B).

RESULTS

Either MIR or MXR modestly, but significantly decreased HbA1c levels and body mass index (BMI) after 12 weeks of treatment. However, there were no significant differences between two groups. The post-prandial glycaemia at 120 min after a standard meal in MXR group was higher than in MIR group (11.02 +/- 3.08 mmol/l vs. 9.74 +/- 2.61 mmol/l, p < 0.05). Moreover, no differences in the areas under curve of insulin release response, HOMA-B, HOMA-IR and lipid profiles were found within or between groups after 12 weeks of treatment.

CONCLUSION

The effects of once daily MXR on chronic glycaemia, BMI, lipid profiles, insulin resistance and islet function are comparable with that of thrice daily MIR in oriental population.

Triphalangeal thumb-polysyndactyly syndrome and syndactyly type IV are caused by genomic duplications involving the long range, limb-specific SHH enhancer

BACKGROUND

The Sonic hedgehog (SHH) protein produced in the zone of polarising activity (ZPA) is a major determinant of the identity and numbers of digits in early limb development. Preaxial polydactyly types II (PPD2) and III (PPD3) have been mapped to a critical region at 7q36, and subsequently shown to be caused by point mutations in the ZPA regulatory sequence (ZRS), a long range cis-regulator for the SHH gene. Triphalangeal thumb-polysyndactyly syndrome (TPTPS) and syndactyly type IV (SD4) were also mapped to the 7q36 region but pathogenic mutations in ZRS have not yet been affirmed.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We performed linkage and haplotype analysis in six Han Chinese families with TPTPS and/or SD4, and refined the disease locus to an interval of 646 kb containing ZRS. In all families, the affected individuals heterozygous at rs10254391 (a single nucleotide polymorphism within ZRS) revealed a remarkable allele imbalance on sequence chromatogram. Using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), we identified duplication of ZRS and found that this duplication segregated with the limb phenotypes in all families but was not detected in unaffected family members or in unrelated control individuals. The duplication was also confirmed by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) in an affected individual. We designed 17 additional qPCR assays and defined the minimum duplications in all six families, ranging from 131kb to 398kb.

CONCLUSION

Both TPTPS and SD4 are due to duplications involving ZRS, the limb specific SHH enhancer. Point mutations in the ZRS and duplications encompassing the ZRS cause distinctive limb phenotypes.

Comparison of vildagliptin and acarbose monotherapy in patients with Type 2 diabetes: a 24-week, double-blind, randomized trial

AIMS

To compare the efficacy and tolerability of the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, vildagliptin, with the alpha glucosidase inhibitor, acarbose, in drug-naive patients with Type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

This multi-centre, randomized, double-blind, parallel-arm study compared the efficacy and tolerability of vildagliptin (100 mg daily, given as 50 mg twice daily, n = 441) and acarbose (up to 300 mg daily, given as three equally divided doses, n = 220) during 24-week treatment in drug-naive patients with Type 2 diabetes.

RESULTS

Monotherapy with vildagliptin or acarbose decreased glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)) (baseline approximately 8.6%) to a similar extent during 24-week treatment. The adjusted mean change from baseline to end-point (AMDelta) in HbA(1c) was -1.4 +/- 0.1% and -1.3 +/- 0.1% in patients receiving vildagliptin and acarbose, respectively, meeting the statistical criterion for non-inferiority (upper limit of 95% confidence interval for between-treatment difference < or = 0.4%). The decrease in fasting plasma glucose was similar with acarbose (-1.5 +/- 0.2 mmol/l) and vildagliptin (-1.2 +/- 0.1 mmol/l). Body weight did not change in vildagliptin-treated patients (-0.4 +/- 0.1 kg) but decreased in acarbose-treated patients (-1.7 +/- 0.2 kg, P < 0.001 vs. vildagliptin). The proportion of patients experiencing any adverse event (AE) was 35% vs. 51% in patients receiving vildagliptin or acarbose, respectively; gastrointestinal AEs were significantly more frequent with acarbose (25.5%) than vildagliptin (12.3%, P < 0.001). No hypoglycaemia was reported for either group.

CONCLUSIONS

Vildagliptin is effective and well tolerated in patients with Type 2 diabetes, demonstrating similar glycaemic reductions to acarbose, but with better tolerability.