Paediatric HUS Cases Related to the Consumption of Raw Milk Sold by Vending Machines in Italy: Quantitative Risk Assessment Based on Escherichia coli O157 Official Controls over 7 years

A quantitative risk assessment (RA) was developed to estimate haemolytic‐uremic syndrome (HUS) cases in paediatric population associated with the consumption of raw milk sold in vending machines in Italy. The historical national evolution of raw milk consumption phenomenon since 2008, when consumer interest started to grow, and after 7 years of marketing adjustment, is outlined. Exposure assessment was based on the official Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (STEC) microbiological records of raw milk samples from vending machines monitored by the regional Veterinary Authorities from 2008 to 2014, microbial growth during storage, consumption frequency of raw milk, serving size, consumption preference and age of consumers. The differential risk considered milk handled under regulation conditions (4°C throughout all phases) and the worst time–temperature field handling conditions detected. In case of boiling milk before consumption, we assumed that the risk of HUS is fixed at zero. The model estimates clearly show that the public health significance of HUS cases due to raw milk STEC contamination depends on the current variability surrounding the risk profile of the food and the consumer behaviour has more impact than milk storage scenario. The estimated HUS cases predicted by our model are roughly in line with the effective STEC O157‐associated HUS cases notified in Italy only when the proportion of consumers not boiling milk before consumption is assumed to be 1%. Raw milk consumption remains a source of E. coli O157:H7 for humans, but its overall relevance is likely to have subsided and significant caution should be exerted for temporal, geographical and consumers behaviour analysis. Health education programmes and regulatory actions are required to educate people, primarily children, on other STEC sources.     

Carvedilol in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is characterized by reduced systolic function, heightened sympathetic tone, and high morbidity and mortality. Little is known regarding the safety and efficacy of beta-blocker treatment in dogs with DCM. HYPOTHESIS: Carvedilol improves echocardiographic and neurohormonal variables in dogs with DCM over a 4-month treatment period. METHODS: Prospective, placebo-controlled, double-blinded randomized study. Dogs with DCM underwent echocardiography, ECG, thoracic radiographs, and neurohormonal profiling, followed by titration onto carvedilol (0.3 mg/kg q12h) or placebo over a 4-week period and subsequently received 3 months of therapy. Primary study endpoints included left ventricular volume and function. RESULTS: Sixteen dogs received carvedilol and 7 received placebo. At study end, 13 carvedilol dogs and 5 placebo dogs were alive. There was no difference in the mean percentage change in left ventricular volume at end-diastole (LVVd), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVVs), and ejection fraction (EF) between treatment groups, suggesting that both groups experienced similar amounts of disease progression. Carvedilol treatment did not result in significant changes in neurohormonal activation, radiographic heart size, heart rate, or owner perceived quality-of-life. Baseline B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) predicted dogs in the carvedilol-treated group that maintained or improved their EF over the study duration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Carvedilol administration did not improve echocardiographic or neurohormonal indicators of heart function. The lack of effect may be related to severity of disease, carvedilol dose, or brevity of follow-up time. Statistical power of the present study was adversely affected by a high fatality rate in study dogs and small sample size.     

Pathology and Neurotoxicity in Dogs after Repeat Dose Exposure to a Serotonin 5-HT1B Inhibitor

AZD3783, a cationic amphiphilic drug and a potent inhibitor of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT_1B) receptor, was explored as a potential treatment for depression. To support clinical trials, repeat dose toxicity studies in rats and dogs were conducted. Here we report toxicity findings in dogs after dosing from 1 to 3 months. In the 1-month study, there were minimal neuronal vacuolation in the brain, a marked increase in liver enzymes accompanied by hepatocellular degeneration/necrosis and phospholipidosis (PLD), and PLD/cholecystitis in the gallbladder of animals dosed at 47 mg/kg/day. In the 3-month study, neurotoxicity resulted in euthanasia of one animal dosed at 30 mg/kg/day after 86 days. Extensive pathologic changes were seen in all animals in retina epithelium (inclusion bodies), brain (neuronal vacuolation, degeneration, or necrosis and nerve fiber degeneration), spinal ganglia (vacuolation, degeneration, or necrosis), as well as sciatic and optic nerves (degeneration). Pigment-laden macrophages were observed in the lung, kidney, liver, gallbladder, bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract, and lymphoid tissues. Also seen were vitrel and retinal hemorrhage in the eyes. A brain concentration and pathology study showed that the concentration of AZD3783 in the brain was approximately 4 times higher than in the plasma after 4 weeks of dosing, however, they were similar in all regions examined, and did not correlate with areas with pathologic findings. Our findings with AZD3783 in dogs have not been reported previously with other CNS compounds that effect through serotonergic pharmacology.     

乳中硫氰酸盐对人类健康的风险评估

全面综述了乳中硫氰酸盐对人类健康的风险。介绍了硫氰酸盐在生鲜乳中保鲜使用情况,乳中硫氰酸盐的正常生理浓度和检测方法,乳及人体内硫氰酸盐的来源和影响因素,乳中硫氰酸盐对人类健康的毒性作用及风险评估。     

辽宁地区樗蚕的生物学特性及人工饲育技术研究

樗蚕(Samia cynthia Walker et Felde)是一种珍贵的泌丝及食用昆虫资源。通过室内及野外人工饲育的方法,观察分布在辽宁地区的樗蚕的形态特征和生活习性,发现与分布于其它地区的樗蚕存在不同程度的差异。辽宁地区的樗蚕年发生1-2代,喜食臭椿(Ailanthus altissima)、山花椒(Zanthoxylum schinifollum)、枣树(Zizyphus jujube)、黄檗(Phellodendron amu-rense)等的树叶,幼虫4眠5龄,龄期经过25-37d,饲料种类不同可造成龄期差异;以蛹滞育。人工饲育樗蚕可采用小蚕室内育,大蚕野外育的饲养形式;种茧保护可采用柞蚕(Antheraea pernyi)的种茧越冬保护技术与方法,春季种茧出库后在温度20～23℃、相对湿度75%～85%的条件下暖茧,成虫交配时间超过4h的卵孵化率较高;樗蚕的主要病害有细菌性软化病、白僵病、微粒子病,春、秋季野外饲养的樗蚕易被蚕饰腹寄蝇(Blepharip azebina)寄生危害。樗蚕茧丝的纤度为1.80～3.60dtex,茧层丝胶练减率平均为25%,茧丝中的丝素蛋白约78%。     

新疆野生木本饲用植物评价及其开发利用

新疆野生木本饲用植物资源丰富。据统计，共有１５科，５４属，２１０种。该类群植物，适口性好，抗逆性强，鲜叶及嫩枝产量同，粗蛋白质，总能，有机质消化率和总消化养分可与野生的优良牧草相媲美。     

从江香猪生精上皮周期及睾丸发育的形态学分析

试验旨在探究初情期前后生精上皮周期差异及睾丸发育过程中的形态学变化。通过测定15、30、60和90 d睾丸相关指数,结合睾丸组织形态学特征,判断香猪初情期,划分从江香猪生精上皮周期。结果显示,30 d的睾丸指数较15 d极显著升高（P<0.01）,睾丸重、长轴及短轴的增长率分别为298.05%、66.42%和65.45%,60和90 d两个阶段睾丸重增长率相对稳定。形态学观察表明,从江香猪30 d时生精小管出现游离精子,完成第一次生精并进入初情期;与15 d相比,30 d生精小管面积和生精上皮厚度极显著增加（P<0.01）,增长率分别为136.12%和40.19%,在60和90 d均处于稳定增长状态。睾丸细胞数统计显示,日龄增加不影响支持细胞（setoli cells,SC）数量（P>0.05）,而30 d生殖细胞数（germ cells,GC）较15 d极显著增加（P<0.01）。相关分析结果发现,生殖细胞数量增加与生精小管面积增大、生精上皮厚度变化之间呈明显正相关（r=0.994;0.96）。根据生殖细胞组合形式差异,将初情期前后生精上皮分为3和8个阶段。初情期前生殖细胞以第一次减数分裂前期为主,A、B型精原细胞、SC、初级精母细胞（primary spermatocyte,Ps）、前细线期（preleptotene,PI）、细线期（leptotene,L）等生殖细胞在初情期前后生精上皮中均存在,而圆形精子（round spermatids,R）、延伸精子（elongating spermatid,E）、精子细胞（spermatozoa,S）仅存在于初情期后的生精上皮。本研究结果表明,从江香猪30 d初情,睾丸发育以生殖细胞和生精小管面积的迅速增加为主,该结果对从江香猪早熟性状挖掘、种猪选育及开发利用等有重要的指导意义。     

华蟾毒精对胃腺癌细胞MGC-803作用的研究

研究华蟾毒精（cinobufagin,CBG）体外对人胃腺癌细胞MGC-803的抑制作用,并初步探讨其抗肿瘤的作用机制。MTT法测定CBG对胃腺癌MGC-803细胞的生长抑制情况;采用光镜观察CBG对人胃腺癌细胞MGC-803形态的影响;流式细胞术检测CBG对MGC-803细胞的抑制作用、细胞周期及细胞早期凋亡的影响。一定浓度范围内CBG对MGC-803细胞的增殖有剂量、时间依赖性抑制作用;光镜下可见细胞形态明显发生变化,细胞变圆,分泌颗粒增多,细胞折光性下降,大部分细胞脱壁;流式细胞仪检测MGC-803细胞,G1期细胞减少,大量细胞停滞在G2/M期,凋亡细胞增多。CBG对MGC-803细胞的抑制作用与诱导其细胞阻滞及凋亡密切相关。     

肉牛场生命周期估计及环境影响评价

试验采用生命周期估计(life cycle assessment,LCA)方法对江西高安某存栏1 800头的肉牛育肥场在整个育肥期间(7个月)的污染物排放量,以及污染物在全球变暖、环境酸化、富营养化、光化学臭氧合成方面对环境的影响进行了评估。系统边界包括化肥生产、农作物种植、饲料运输、肉牛生产和粪便处理。结果表明:温室气体排放量为(以CO2当量计)为11 908t,环境酸化气体排放量(以SO2当量计)为84.6t,富营养化气体排放量为(以PO43-当量计)为14.4t,光化学臭氧合成问题气体排放量为(以C2H4当量计)为1.68t。其中饲料运输主要影响全球变暖(占总排放量的49.8%)和光化学臭氧合成问题(占总排放量的54.1%),而粪便处理主要影响环境酸化(占总排放量的70.1%)和富营养化(占总排放量的76.4%),肉牛生产对环境的影响主要是全球变暖(占总排放量的18.1%)和光化学臭氧合成问题(占总排放量的30.9%)。因此,可考虑通过降低运输距离,改善饲料配方、粪便处理方式等降低污染物排放量。