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This recommended practice enables the quantification of volatile compounds in flavourings to be made by gas chromatography with flame-ionization detection, without having authentic compounds available, and also in many cases it can avoid time-consuming calibration procedures. The relative-response factors (RRF) can be predicted from the molecular formula of the compound, and this approach can be applied to compounds containing the atoms C, H, O, N, S, F, Cl, Br, I, and Si, providing that the molecular formula and number of benzene rings in the analytes are known. The purity of chemically-defined flavouring substances or chromatographic standards can also be estimated using these predicted RRF, and this procedure can also be used to quantify (poly)hydroxylated compounds, after their derivatization into trimethylsilyl ethers or esters. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many flavour regulations around the world contain a list of so-called 'restricted substances' (RS), i.e. substances that occur naturally in source materials for flavourings and food ingredients with flavouring properties, but whose presence in certain foods is restricted and/or for which maximum levels are set, for example, the European regulation 1334/2008. Only a few publications refer to the determination of RS in compound flavourings or their raw materials, and the latter only concern the analysis of one or two individual RS in single essential oils. The Working Group on Methods of Analysis of the International Organization of the Flavor Industry (IOFI) has developed a method for the rapid routine determination of β-asarone, coumarin, menthofuran, methylchavicol, methyleugenol, pulegone, safrole and α- and β-thujones in flavourings and their raw materials by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), using selected-ion monitoring and internal standards. The method has been evaluated by nine flavour-industry laboratories using a complex surrogate flavouring containing all of the above analytes, at concentrations that would be likely to produce levels in finished foods of around typical maximum limits for these RS. Results were obtained from a total of 15 columns and sets of analytical conditions, using 11 GC/MS instruments, with in each case a determination of the analyte in two versions of the flavouring. With reproducibility relative standard deviations (RSDR) of less than about 20%, and recoveries of 80-120%, the method performance can be considered as satisfactory for rapid routine checks on the levels of restricted substances in compound flavourings. The method is intended for flavour-industry laboratories in order for them to fulfil their obligation to inform food-industry clients of the amounts of these substances in commercial flavourings, but is not intended for their analysis in finished foods. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To survey veterinary practitioners in Australia on how they administer pentosan polysulfate ( PPS) to horses and their perceptions of the efficacy of PPS for: the prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis ( OA), the treatment of OA when PPS is combined with other drugs, and the efficacy of PPS compared with other disease-modifying osteoarthritic drugs. Design Practitioners were contacted by email, which contained a link to an online survey. Results A total of 76 responses (34.5%) to the survey were received. Respondents most commonly used PPS as prophylactic therapy prior to competition (80.3%). As a prophylactic agent, PPS was considered by 48.2% of respondents to have high efficacy. The most common dose regimen for prevention and treatment of OA was 3 mg/kg, intramuscularly, once weekly for 4 weeks followed by monthly injections. Most respondents (78%) combined PPS with other drugs for treatment of OA. Intra-articular corticosteroids and hyaluronate ( HA) was the most common drug combination used with PPS. PPS was preferred as a prophylactic agent when compared with HA (88.7% vs 11.3%). For treating OA, 83% of respondents considered a combination of PPS, HA and glucosamine to be more efficacious than PPS alone. However, the most common reason not to use this combination was cost (79.1%). Conclusion All respondents used PPS for prophylaxis and/or treatment of OA despite limited published scientific evidence proving its efficacy in horses. Further research is necessary to provide evidence of the clinical efficacy of PPS for the prevention and treatment of OA in horses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Evaluate synovial fluid cytology, total protein concentration and viscosity after intra-articular administration of combined pentosan polysulfate and glucosamine in horses. Design Ten adult Standardbred horses had each carpal joint (n = 20) randomly assigned to one of two treatments: control (5 mL saline) or treated (pentosan polysulfate and glucosamine). All horses received an intra-articular injection every 7 days for 3 weeks and synovial fluid samples were collected on days 1 (baseline), 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16 and 21. Synovial fluid variables measured included total protein concentration, total nucleated cell count, red blood cell count, the neutrophil, lymphocyte, mononuclear cell and eosinophil percentages, and viscosity. Results Following injection, the total nucleated cell count increased in the synovial fluid samples from both groups. Values were significantly higher in treated joints on days 2, 3, 15 and 16. Red blood cell counts were low and no differences were seen between treated and control joints. Total protein concentrations and neutrophil percentages increased in both groups after injection, but decreased towards normal ranges within 7 days. Total protein concentration was significantly higher in treated joints on days 1, 3, 8, 9 and 15. Percentages of neutrophils were higher in treated joints on day 2, but significantly lower on days 8 and 15. Viscosity was significantly higher in treated joints on day 2 only. Conclusions Intra-articular administration of combined pentosan polysulfate and glucosamine causes a mild inflammatory synovitis that is not substantially different to that elicited by injection of a similar volume of saline and so we conclude that these drugs are safe to use in the horse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the anaesthetist has induced anaesthesia, it is desirable that the surgeon is present and ready to start surgery, otherwise the team needs to wait for the surgeon. From another perspective, however, the surgeon does not necessarily wish to be present from the start of induction, since that process can take a variable time and the surgeon might be otherwise occupied in productive activity rather than waiting for the patient to be ready. Waiting times in the morning can therefore be a source of constant friction between anaesthetists and surgeons. In this prospective study we used the data from 718 first cases of the day, during a 4-week study period at two university hospitals, to develop a simple spreadsheet-based method to analyse the interaction of anaesthesia and surgical start time, anaesthesia technique and the probability of waiting time for anaesthetist or surgeon, respectively. This method can be used to determine the best surgical or anaesthesia start time for each case, so that the waiting time for anaesthetists and surgeons can be minimised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiation-induced skin burns can be produced by high doses of fluoroscopic X rays. Though uncommon, such injuries can cause considerable distress to the patient and they can lead to deep ulcers requiring skin grafts. Factors that increase the chance of a burn can be readily identified and in nearly all instances they can be avoided or minimized. We discuss these issues and use case illustrations to point out how burns can be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disturbances of the motor and sensory system as well as an alteration of the preparation of movements have been reported to play a role in the pathogenesis of dystonias. However, it is unclear whether higher aspects of cortical – like cognitive – functions are also involved. Recently, the NoGo-anteriorization (NGA) elicited with a visual continuous performance test (CPT) during recording of a 21-channel electroencephalogram has been proposed as an electrophysiological standard-index for cognitive response control. The NGA consists of a more anterior location of the positive area of the brain electrical field associated with the inhibition (NoGo-condition) compared with that of the execution (Go-condition) of a prepared motor response in the CPT. This response control paradigm was applied in 16 patients with writer’s cramp (WC) and 14 age matched healthy controls. Topographical analysis of the associated event-related potentials revealed a significant (P < 0.05) NGA effect for both patients and controls. Moreover, patients with WC showed a significantly higher global field power value (P < 0.05) in the Go-condition and a significantly higher difference-amplitude (P < 0.05) in the NoGo-condition. A source location analysis with the low resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) method demonstrated a hypoactivity for the Go-condition in the parietal cortex of the right hemisphere and a hyperactivity in the NoGo-condition in the left parietal cortex in patients with WC compared with healthy controls. These results indicate an altered response control in patients with WC in widespread cortical brain areas and therefore support the hypothesis that the pathogenesis of WC is not restricted to a pure sensory-motor dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Simultaneous distillation-extraction (SDE) combines, in a single step, hydro-distillation of volatiles from a sample with continuous solvent extraction of the solutes dissolved in the aqueous distillate. The solvent extract containing the isolated flavour volatiles can be subsequently analysed by gas chromatography. The technique is applicable to compounds possessing a wide range of volatility, but it is suitable neither for compounds of low volatility (e.g. vanillin), nor for highly volatile materials (e.g. methanethiol). The present guidelines concern the isolation of flavouring substances by simultaneous distillation-extraction (SDE), based on the experience of the authors in laboratories of the flavour industry. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring the reality status of conscious experience is essential for a human being to interact successfully with the external world. Despite its importance for everyday functioning, reality monitoring can systematically become erroneous, for example, while dreaming or during hallucinatory experiences. To investigate brain processes associated with reality monitoring occurring online during an experience, i.e., perceptual reality monitoring, we assessed EEG microstates in healthy, young participants. In a within-subjects design, we compared the experience of reality when being confronted with dream-like bizarre elements versus realistic elements in an otherwise highly naturalistic real-world scenario in immersive virtual reality. Dream-like bizarreness induced changes in the subjective experience of reality and bizarreness, and led to an increase in the contribution of a specific microstate labelled C'. Microstate C' was related to the suspension of disbelief, i.e. the suppression of bizarre mismatches. Together with the functional interpretation of microstate C' as reported by previous studies, the findings of this study point to the importance of prefrontal meta-conscious control processes in perceptual reality monitoring., (© 2024 The Author(s). European Journal of Neuroscience published by Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a haematological malignancy characterized by a poor prognosis. Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BM MSCs) support leukaemic cells in preventing chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. This encouraged us to investigate leukaemia-BM niche-associated signalling and to identify signalling cascades supporting the interaction of leukaemic cells and BM MSC. Our study demonstrated functional differences between MSCs originating from leukaemic (AML MSCs) and healthy donors (HD MSCs). The direct interaction of leukaemic and AML MSCs was indispensable in influencing AML cell proliferation. We further identified an important role for Notch expression and its activation in AML MSCs contributing to the enhanced proliferation of AML cells. Supporting this observation, overexpression of the intracellular Notch domain (Notch ICN) in AML MSCs enhanced AML cells' proliferation. From a therapeutic point of view, dexamethasone treatment impeded Notch signalling in AML MSCs resulting in reduced AML cell proliferation. Concurrent with our data, Notch inhibitors had only a marginal effect on leukaemic cells alone but strongly influenced Notch signalling in AML MSCs and abrogated their cytoprotective function on AML cells. In vivo, dexamethasone treatment impeded Notch signalling in AML MSCs leading to a reduced number of AML MSCs and improved survival of leukaemic mice. In summary, targeting the interaction of leukaemic cells and AML MSCs using dexamethasone or Notch inhibitors might further improve treatment outcomes in AML patients., (© 2021 The Authors. British Journal of Haematology published by British Society for Haematology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Neuroscientific models of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) postulate an imbalance between automatic, implicit, and controlled (conscious) processes. Implicit associations towards alcohol indicate the automatically attributed appeal of alcohol-related stimuli. First, behavioral studies indicate that negative alcohol associations are less pronounced in patients compared to controls, but potential neurophysiological differences remain unexplored. This study investigates neurophysiological correlates of implicit alcohol associations in recently abstinent patients with AUD for the first time, including possible gender effects., Methods: A total of 62 patients (40 males and 22 females) and 21 controls performed an alcohol valence Implicit Association Test, combining alcohol-related pictures with positive (incongruent condition) or negative (congruent condition) words, while brain activity was recorded using 64-channel electroencephalography. Event-related potentials (ERPs) for alcohol-negative and alcohol-positive trials were computed. Microstate analyses investigated the effects of group (patients, controls) and condition (incongruent, congruent); furthermore, possible gender effects in patients were analyzed. Significant effects were localized with standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic topography analysis., Results: Although no behavioral group differences were found, ERPs of patients and controls were characterized by distinct microstates from 320 ms onwards. ERPs between conditions differed only in patients with higher signal strength during incongruent trials. Around 600 ms, controls displayed higher signal strength than patients. A gender effect mirrored this pattern with enhanced signal strength in females as opposed to male patients. Around 690 ms, a group-by-valence interaction indicated enhanced signal strength in congruent compared to incongruent trials, which was more pronounced in controls., Conclusions: For patients with AUD, the pattern, timing, and source localization of effects suggest greater effort regarding semantic and self-relevant integration around 400 ms during incongruent trials and attenuated emotional processing during the late positive potential timeframe. Interestingly, this emotional attenuation seemed reduced in female patients, thus corroborating the importance of gender-sensitive research and potential treatment of AUD., (© 2020 The Authors. Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Research Society on Alcoholism.)

Background: Most contemporary neuroscientific models of alcohol use disorders (AUD) incorporate an imbalance between enhanced cue reactivity, which results in a strong urge to consume, and the impaired inhibitory control of that urge. While these phenomena have been frequently investigated separately, studies involving both aspects and thus precisely investigating the postulated imbalance are rare. In this study, inhibition was investigated in an addiction-specific context and individual craving levels were also examined., Methods: This study compared inhibition in alcohol-related and neutral contexts in patients with AUD and healthy controls, while also taking into account the individual amount of craving. All subjects performed a Go/NoGo task involving neutral and alcohol-related NoGo trials, while their brain activity was recorded using multichannel electroencephalography. The map strength and topography of the N2 and P3 components of the NoGo event-related potentials were compared between groups and contexts using whole-scalp randomization-based methods. The effects of interest were further investigated with sLORETA source analysis., Results: For the N2 component, the context by craving interaction was strong for map strength and map topography. The source analysis indicated that in subjects with high craving, alcohol-related context led to enhanced and prolonged activation in the posterior cingulate and premotor cortical areas. This interaction was specific for craving, but not for diagnostic classification. The amplitude of the P3 component was reduced in subjects with AUD, which replicated previous findings., Conclusions: In subjects with strong craving, the conflict reflected in the NoGo-N2 was enhanced in the alcohol-related context. Such enhanced conflict probably makes the successful inhibition of the urge to drink in high-risk situations even more difficult for this subgroup of patients and should therefore be addressed in individualized treatment planning., (Copyright © 2017 by the Research Society on Alcoholism.)

Menarche age was assessed in 93 adolescent females in a sample of public schools in East Hawaii. Native Hawaiian girls had significantly lower reported age at menarche than non-Hawaiian classmates. Age at menarche was significantly correlated with total fatness as measured by the sum of six skinfolds in girls who had reached menarche at least 2 years previous to measurement. When fatness was controlled in comparisons, the ethnic differences were not significant. Fat distribution, independent of fatness, was also significantly related to age at menarche. Socioeconomic, cultural, and admixture variables were not significantly related to age at menarche. Adiposity appears to be both a cause and a consequence of early age at menarche, with the relationship dependent on the elapsed time between menarche and measurement. This suggests that studies relating body composition to age at menarche must carefully control for the time interval between measurement and the date of menarche.