Predicting attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiant disorder from preschool diagnostic assessments.

The present study examined the power of measures of early preschool behavior to predict later diagnoses of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)/conduct disorder (CD). Participants were 168 children with behavior problems at age 3 who underwent a multimethod assessment of ADHD and ODD symptoms and were followed annually for 3 years. Fifty-eight percent of 3-year-old children with behavior problems met criteria for ADHD and/or ODD/CD 3 years later. Using a diagnostic interview and rating scales at age 3, the authors could accurately predict later diagnostic status for 3/4 of children for ADHD and for 2/3 of children for ODD/CD. Predictive power of the best models did not increase significantly at age 4 and age 5 compared with age 3. Results provide support for the validity of early diagnoses of ADHD, although caution is needed in making diagnoses because a significant minority of children with early hyperactivity and inattention do outgrow their problems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A Novel Cartesian Plot Analysis for Fixed Monolayers That Relates Cell Phenotype to Transfer of Contents between Fibroblasts and Cancer Cells by Cell-Projection Pumping

We recently described cell-projection pumping as a mechanism transferring cytoplasm between cells. The uptake of fibroblast cytoplasm by co-cultured SAOS-2 osteosarcoma cells changes SAOS-2 morphology and increases cell migration and proliferation, as seen by single-cell tracking and in FACS separated SAOS-2 from co-cultures. Morphological changes in SAOS-2 seen by single cell tracking are consistent with previous observations in fixed monolayers of SAOS-2 co-cultures. Notably, earlier studies with fixed co-cultures were limited by the absence of a quantitative method for identifying sub-populations of co-cultured cells, or for quantitating transfer relative to control populations of SAOS-2 or fibroblasts cultured alone. We now overcome that limitation by a novel Cartesian plot analysis that identifies individual co-cultured cells as belonging to one of five distinct cell populations, and also gives numerical measure of similarity to control cell populations. We verified the utility of the method by first confirming the previously established relationship between SAOS-2 morphology and uptake of fibroblast contents, and also demonstrated similar effects in other cancer cell lines including from melanomas, and cancers of the ovary and colon. The method was extended to examine global DNA methylation, and while there was no clear effect on SAOS-2 DNA methylation, co-cultured fibroblasts had greatly reduced DNA methylation, similar to cancer associated fibroblasts.     

Fluorotelomer alcohol biodegradation yields poly- and perfluorinated acids

The widespread detection of environmentally persistent perfluorinated acids (PFCAs) such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and its longer chained homologues (C9>C15) in biota has instigated a need to identify potential sources. It has recently been suggested that fluorinated telomer alcohols (FTOHs) are probable precursor compounds that may undergo transformation reactions in the environment leading to the formation of these potentially toxic and bioaccumulative PFCAs. This study examined the aerobic biodegradation of the 8:2 telomer alcohol (8:2 FTOH, CF3(CF2)7CH2CH2OH) using a mixed microbial system. The initial measured half-life of the 8:2 FTOH was approximately 0.2 days mg(-1) of initial biomass protein. The degradation of the telomer alcohol was monitored using a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector (GC/ECD). Volatile metabolites were identified using gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and nonvolatile metabolites were identified and quantified using liquid chromatography/ tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Telomer acids (CF3(CF2)7CH2COOH; CF3(CF2)6CFCHCOOH) and PFOA were identified as metabolites during the degradation, the unsaturated telomer acid being the predominant metabolite measured. The overall mechanism involves the oxidation of the 8:2 FTOH to the telomer acid via the transient telomer aldehyde. The telomer acid via a beta-oxidation mechanism was furthertransformed, leading to the unsaturated acid and ultimately producing the highly stable PFOA. Telomer alcohols were demonstrated to be potential sources of PFCAs as a consequence of biotic degradation. Biological transformation may be a major degradation pathway for fluorinated telomer alcohols in aquatic systems.     

Estrogen content of dairy and swine wastes

Naturally occurring estrogens in animal wastes may cause negative environmental impacts, yet their abundance in animal waste treatment and storage structures is poorly documented. To better quantify estrogen concentrations in animal wastes, multiple waste samples were collected from treatment and storage structures at dairy and swine facilities and analyzed for concentrations of 17beta-estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), and 17alpha-estradiol by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy and by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (E2 only). Mass ratios of each estrogen to the macronutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were also determined. Because manure application rates are typically macronutrient-based, estrogen to macronutrient ratios are proportional to areal mass application rates of estrogen to fields. Swine farrowing waste (from farrowing sows and piglets) had the highest ratios of E2 to macronutrients. Mean ratios in swine farrowing waste were roughly twice those in swine finishing waste (from growing male and nonpregnant female animals) and more than four times higher than those in dairy waste (from lactating cows in various stages of their reproductive cycles); these differences were statistically significant (alpha = 0.05). Estrone followed a similar trend. In contrast, ratios of 17alpha-estradiol to macronutrients were highest in dairy operations. These results can be used to better predict estrogen loading rates on fields receiving swine and dairy wastes.     

Prevalence and characterization of Salmonella enterica serovar Weltevreden from imported seafood

During 2001-2005, 210 Salmonella enterica strains were isolated from seafood samples imported into US. Strains of S. enterica serovar Weltevreden were the most predominantly found among the 64 different serovars isolated. A total of 37 Salmonella Weltevreden isolates were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), plasmid profiles and antibiotic susceptibility to assess genetic diversity. Our results showed a low frequency of antibiotic resistance; 35 of the 37 isolates were sensitive to ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, sulfisoxazole, streptomycin and kanamycin. Only two isolates, from samples originating in the Philippines and India, showed resistance to ampicillin and tetracycline and to streptomycin, sulfisoxazole and tetracycline, respectively. Of the 37 isolates, two isolates did not carry any plasmid and 35 isolates harbored several small and mega-plasmids. These isolates were differentiated into 10 distinct types based on plasmid profiles. Four different PFGE clusters were obtained with a genetic similarity of 66-76%. Four groups of isolates (formed by two or three isolates each) showed 100% similarity in the PFGE profiles. One of these groups included strains isolated in Vietnam in 2003, 2004 and 2005 from fish and shrimp. The other groups included strains isolated in Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand in 2000, 2004 and 2005 from snail, shrimp and fish. Our findings show genetic diversity and temporal persistence of S. enterica serovar Weltevreden in recently monitored seafood imports.     

Impact of γ-irradiation,CIPC treatment,and storage conditions on physicochemical and nutritional properties of potato starches

In the present study, three potato varieties were treated with chlorpropham (CIPC, 35 ppm), γ-irradiated (0.1 kGy) and stored for up to 5 months at 8 °C, and the physicochemical properties and in vitro starch digestibility of native and cooked starches were investigated. Sprouting was found to be satisfactorily suppressed by γ-irradiation and CIPC treatment. However, irradiation increased total free glucose content in two potato varieties, and decreased the thermal transition and pasting temperature of starch. The crystallinity of starch in irradiated potatoes decreased significantly (p ? 0.05) which may explain its decreased resistant starch content. Sprout inhibiting treatments and storage had no effect on in vitro starch digestibility in cooked starches, but cooling cooked starch significantly (p ? 0.05) increased its resistant starch content.     

Analysis of the flavonoid component of bioactive New Zealand mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) honey and the isolation,characterisation and synthesis of an unusual pyrrole

The flavonoid components of New Zealand mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) honey have been quantified in a series of 31 honeys of varying non-peroxide antibacterial activity to clarify discrepancies between previous studies reported in the literature. Total flavonoid content was 1.16 mg/100 g honey. The principal flavonoids present were pinobanksin, pinocembrin, luteolin and chrysin and together these represented 61% of the total flavonoid content. 1, 2-formyl-5-(2-methoxyphenyl)-pyrrole, which was weakly correlated with the non-peroxide antibacterial activity, was isolated from the flavonoid fraction and separately synthesised. 1 did not display inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus in vitro and thus the origin of the correlation, which is still unknown, is not a direct contribution.     

Minimal effects of high-pressure treatment on Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium inoculated into peanut butter and peanut products

About 1.2 billion pounds of peanut butter are consumed annually in the United States. In 2008 to 2009, an outbreak involving Salmonella Typhimurium in peanut butter led to a recall of over 3900 products by over 200 companies. More than 700 people became sick, 100 were hospitalized, and 9 people died from this outbreak. This study examines the efficacy of high-pressure processing (HPP) to decrease S. Typhimurium American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) 53647 inoculated into peanut butter and model systems. The viability of S. Typhimurium in peanut butter stored at room temperature was investigated. A culture of S. Typhimurium (6.88 log CFU/g) was inoculated into peanut butter. Following 28 d at 20 °C there was a 1.23-log reduction. Approximately 10(6) to 10(7) CFU/g S. Typhimurium were inoculated into 4 brands of peanut butter, 3 natural peanut butters and peanut flour slurries at 2, 5, and 10% peanut flour protein in peanut oil and in distilled water. All were treated at 600 MPa for 5 min at 45 °C. While significant differences were found between natural peanut butter and peanut protein mixtures, the reduction was <1.0 log. The peanut flour/oil mixtures had a 1.7, 1.6, and 1.0-log reduction from HPP (2, 5, and 10% protein, respectively) whereas peanut flour/water mixtures had a 6.7-log reduction for all protein levels. Oil had a protective effect indicating HPP may not help the microbial safety of water-in-oil food emulsions including peanut butter. Practical Application: There have been multiple outbreaks of foodborne illness involving peanut butter products. This study looks at the potential use of high-pressure processing to reduce the bacteria that may be in peanut butter.     

Factors influencing the national distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls in British soils

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, ideno[1,2,3,-cd]-pyrene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene and the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) 8, 18, 28, 29, 31, 52, 77, 101, 105, 114, 118, 123, 126, 128, 138, 141, 149, 153, 156, 157, 163, 169, 170, 171, 180, 183, 187, 189, 194, 199, 201, 206, and 209 were measured in -200 rural soils across Great Britain (GB). Dominance of soil PAH profiles by heavier compounds (4-6 rings) provided initial evidence for the importance of source in governing soil PAH concentrations. No relationship was found between soil organic matter (SOM) and sum concentration of total and "heavy" PAHs, although there was a weak positive relationship with lighter compounds. A spatial statistical technique showed that highest soil PAH concentrations were usually found close to industrial/urban centers where presumably source intensity is highest. PCBs clustered into seven groups, five of which contained a single "dioxin like" PCB, one contained lighter congeners (2-4 chlorines), and one contained heavy congeners (5-10 chlorines). Linear regressions with SOM explained up to 24.3% of variation for the sum concentration of penta- to deca- congeners, but <1% for the lighter congener groups. No significant relationships were found with latitude. Spatial statistical techniques showed clusters of high soil PCB concentrations predominantly in west and south east GB, either associated with urbanized areas or on the West coast.