Detection of High Fructose Corn Syrup in Apple Juice by Mass Spectrometric 13C/12C Analysis: Collaborative Study

The addition of high fructose corn syrups (HFCSs) to apple juice can be detected by mass spectrometric determination of 13C/12C ratios. Forty-one pure apple juice samples, representing 18 varieties, gave a mean value for δ13C of −25.3‰ (parts per thousand), while 4 HFCSs averaged −9.7‰. In a collaborative study, 1 pure apple juice and 4 apple juice-HFCS mixtures containing from 25 to 70% apple juice were properly classified by 6 laboratories. Samples with δ13C values less negative than −20.2‰, 4 standard deviations from the mean of pure juices, can, with a high degree of confidence, be classified as adulterated. Because of the range of values for pure apple juices, other interpretations of δ13C data on suspect samples are meaningless (i.e., samples with values more negative than −20.2‰ must be considered unadulterated with HFCS). The 13C/12C mass spectrometric method for corn syrup products, 31.150-31.153, has been adopted official first action for detecting HFCS in apple juice.

Tinea capitis profunda mit Pediculosis capitis − eine ungewöhnliche Kombination

Hauterkrankungen im Kindesalter stellen immer wieder eine Herausforderung dar. Pilzinfektionen überwiegen gegenüber bakteriellen Hautinfektionen und nehmen an Häufigkeit zu 1. Ektoparasitosen gehören zu den häufigen Dermatosen im Kindesalter, und man beobachtet ebenfalls eine zunehmende Inzidenz 1. Die Pediculosis capitis gilt als die häufigste Epizoonose im Kindesalter. Die Kopfläuse (Pediculi capitis) sind flügellose, blutsaugende Insekten. Sie verursachen stark juckende Papeln, mit darauffolgend entstandenen Kratzartefakten und Ekzematisation. Als mögliche Komplikation eines Läusebefalls kann eine bakterielle Superinfektion auftreten 1. Das Erregerspektrum der Tinea capitis im Kindesalter ist groß und umfasst viele zoophile und anthropophile Dermatophyten. Insbesondere der zoophile Erreger Trichophyton benhamiae (früher Trichophyton-Spezies von Arthroderma benhamiae) wird in letzter Zeit in Deutschland häufiger beobachtet 10. Infektionsquelle sind u. a. Meerschweinchen sowie andere kleine Nagetiere wie Hamster und Ratten 6. Eine Ektoparasitose mit gleichzeitig bestehender Pilzinfektion der Kopfhaut stellt in Europa eine Rarität dar und bedarf höchster Aufmerksamkeit. Wir berichten hier über einen 12-jährigen Knaben mit simultanem Kopflausbefall mit einer Tinea capitis profunda, verursacht durch den zoophilen Dermatophyten Trichophyton benhamiae.

More Up-To-Date Monitoring of Long-Term Survival Rates by Cancer Registries: An Empirical Example

A few years ago, a new method of survival analysis, denoted period analysis, has been developed to derive more up-to-date estimates of long-term survival rates of cancer patients, but this method has rarely been applied so far. Using empirical examples from the Saarland Cancer Registry, we illustrate how seriously traditional long-term survival estimates may lag behind survival expectations of newly diagnosed cancer patients in the case of recent improvement in prognosis, and to what extent this problem may be reduced by period analysis of survival. We conclude that period analysis should be more widely used for deriving more up-to-date long-term survival estimates.

Spezifische Hautbeteiligung als erstes klinisches Symptom eines Hodgkin-Lymphoms

Das Hodgkin-Lymphom ist eine maligne Erkrankung der Lymphknoten und des lymphatischen Systems, bei der zusätzlich weitere Organe befallen sein können. Bei etwa 15 % aller Lymphome handelt es sich um ein Hodgkin-Lymphom. Die Prognose des Hodgkin-Lymphoms ist im Allgemeinen gut. Auch in fortgeschritteneren Stadien beträgt die 5-Jahres-Überlebensrate immer noch über 90 %. Eine Hautbeteiligung beim Hodgkin-Lymphom ist extrem selten und tritt vor allem im fortgeschrittenen Stadium der Krankheit auf. Die Prognose ist in diesen Fällen sehr schlecht. Die Behandlung von Patienten mit kutaner Beteiligung des Hodgkin-Lymphoms hängt vom Stadium der Erkrankung ab. Die Mehrheit der Daten basiert auf Einzelfällen oder Fallsammlungen. Wir berichten über einen Fall eines 37-jährigen Patienten, der aufgrund multipler Ulzerationen am vorderen Stamm bei uns vorstellig wurde und bei dem histologisch eine Hautbeteiligung eines noch nicht vorher bekannten Hodgkin-Lymphoms im Stadium IVAE nach modifizierter Ann-Arbor-Klassifikation diagnostiziert wurde.

Uptake and Efflux of [35S] Sulfite by Protoplasts and their Chloroplasts of Oat (Avena sativa L.)

Processes of 35S-labelled sulfite uptake and efflux by oat protoplasts and their chloroplasts are very rapid: during the first minutes (or perhaps even seconds) after sulfite supply a state of equilibrium is established between the protoplasts and their chloroplasts and the incubation medium. Bicarbonate concentrations ranging from 1 to 5 mᴍ in the medium had no significant effect on sulfite uptake. At pH 7.0 sulfite uptake is much greater than at pH 7.6. Light of low intensity (9 W m-2) had no significant effect on this uptake. The 35S concentration in chloroplasts was always much higher than in the whole protoplasts. One hour's incubation at sulfite concentra­ tions of 0.1 and 0.5 mᴍ in the medium, concentrations slightly stimulating or inhibiting photosyn­ thesis, results in sulfite concentrations of 0.004 to 0.230 mᴍ in chloroplasts. At a sulfite concentration photosynthesis, these values are 0.120 to 0.551 and 2.045 to 3.531, respectively.

Quantitative Histochemical Analysis of Starch, Malate and K+, together with the Activity of Phospho-enolpyruvate Carboxylase along an Elongating Primary Leaf of Hordeum vulgare

The content of starch, malate, potassium and the activity of phospho-enolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) were analyzed by quantitative histochemistry in mesophyll cells of different zones along the axis of lyophylized primary elongating leaves of barley. The concentrations of potassium and malate were low in the region of the intercalary meristem (close to the point of grain attachment), but concentrations of solutes increased abruptly and stoichiometrically (equivalent basis) in the elongation zone (2 to 10 mm from the leaf base), where they contributed approximately -0.17 megapascal to the solute potential. Although this solute concentration represents only a minor portion of the reported solute potential, the specific nature of the change, its correlation with a decrease of starch content, and the distribution of the activity of PEPC indicate cell expansion in barley could be augmented by a potassium malate osmoregulatory system that utilizes starch as a source of carbon skeletons.

[Is the experimental gold standard actually worth a mint for evidence-based early support systems?]

The article discusses the capacities of experimental impact research in the practice of early support systems or primary prevention. It criticizes the conception of evidence-based child and youth welfare services relying on results of such experimental research. In the final section, the potentials of an alternative form of impact research, such as process-mechanism research, are discussed with respect to professional practice in child and youth welfare.

Xylem-tapping mistletoes: water or nutrient parasites?

Most mistletoes parasitize higher plants by tapping the xylem (a conduction tissue) of their hosts. Field observations of diurnal gas exchange parameters and carbon isotope ratios in xylem-tapping mistletoes from three continents support the hypotheses that water use efficiency and carbon isotope composition are related and that mistletoes which are parasitic for water are also nutrient parasites, differing in their water use efficiency relative to that of their hosts on the basis of host nitrogen supply in the transpiration stream.

Lifetime prevalence of self-reported atopic diseases in a population-based sample of elderly subjects: results of the ESTHER study

BACKGROUND

Prevalence studies of atopic diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD), hay fever and allergic asthma have mostly been performed in children. Studies in the adult population are still rare.

OBJECTIVES

We estimated the lifetime prevalence of different atopic diseases in an elderly population in Saarland, Germany. Additionally we investigated the association between atopic diseases and sociodemographic factors including age, gender, duration of school education (as a proxy measure of socioeconomic status), family history, and size of place of residence.

METHODS

This study was conducted between June 2000 and December 2002 in the State of Saarland, Germany. Participants aged 50-75 years (n=9961) were recruited by their general practitioner in the context of a general health screening examination. All filled out a standardized questionnaire and reported whether a physician had ever diagnosed an atopic disease (hay fever, AD or asthma).

RESULTS

Overall, 9949 subjects (mean age 62 years, 45% men) were included in this analysis. The lifetime prevalence of reported AD, hay fever and asthma was 4.3%, 8.3% and 5.5%, respectively. Lifetime prevalence of AD and asthma among women, and lifetime prevalence of hay fever among both genders, strongly decreased with age. Duration of school education (<or= 9 years, 10-11 years, > 11 years) was strongly associated with AD (3.7%, 5.7%, 6.8%; P trend < 0.0001) and hay fever (7.2%, 11.2%, 12.8%; P trend < 0.0001), but only tentatively with asthma.

CONCLUSIONS

The lifetime prevalence of AD is considerably lower in the elderly compared with the prevalence reported among younger adults in recent studies. Adults with a longer duration of school education appeared to have a higher risk for atopic diseases.

Trends in population-based cancer survival in Germany: to what extent does progress reach older patients?

BACKGROUND

The ageing of populations makes outcome monitoring among elderly cancer patients particularly important.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Using data from the population-based Cancer Registry of Saarland, we examined age-specific trends in 5-year relative survival from 1979 to 2003 for patients with 15 common cancers in Germany. Model-based period analysis was applied to estimate 5-year relative survival for four age groups (15-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75+) in the periods 1979-1983, 1984-1988, 1989-1993, 1994-1998, and 1999-2003.

RESULTS

Overall, 5-year relative survival improved steadily from 42.2% in 1979-1983 to 56.7% in 1999-2003. From the youngest to the oldest age group, 5-year relative survival increased by 14.5, 12.1, 12.5, and 8.4 percent units, respectively, after adjusting for changes in the spectrum of cancer sites, and survival significantly improved for 10, 12, 11, and 5 cancer sites, respectively. The age gradient particularly increased for cancer sites with major progress in chemotherapeutic treatment regimens, such as ovarian cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and leukemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Relative survival of cancer patients increased considerably for many forms of cancer in Germany from 1979 to 2003. Increases were much less pronounced among elderly patients, leading to an increasing age gradient in prognosis.

Photoallergic contact dermatitis from topical diclofenac in SolarazeR gel

Solaraze gel (Shire Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Cologne, Germany) containing 3% diclofenac has been licensed in 2001 as a topical treatment for actinic keratoses. It is commonly used in dermatological practice. Undesirable effects are believed to be rare but include pruritus, paresthesia and application-site reactions (dry skin, rash, erythema, contact dermatitis and vesicobullous eruptions). Recently, a few cases of contact dermatitis due to three different allergens including diclofenac have been reported (1,2).