Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

The medicinal properties of hawthorn (Crataegus spp., a genus comprising approximately 300 species) have been utilized by many cultures for a variety of therapeutic purposes for many centuries. In the Western world cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become one of the single most significant causes of premature death. Echoing this situation, more recent research into the therapeutic benefits of hawthorn preparations has focused primarily upon its cardiovascular effects. This review covers research into the various mechanisms of action proposed for Crataegus preparations, clinical trials involving Crataegus preparations, and the herb's safety profile.Clinical trials reviewed have been inconsistent in terms of criteria used (sample size, preparation, dosage, etc) but have been largely consistent with regard to positive outcomes. An investigation into data available to date regarding hawthorn preparations and herb/drug interactions reveals that theoretical adverse interactions have not been experienced in practice. Further, adverse reactions relating to the use of hawthorn preparations are infrequent and mild, even at higher dosage ranges. A recent retrospective study by Zick et al. has suggested a negative outcome for the long-term use of hawthorn in the prognosis of heart failure. These findings are examined in this paper.Although further research is needed in certain areas, current research to date suggests that hawthorn may potentially represent a safe, effective, nontoxic agent in the treatment of CVD and ischemic heart disease (IHD).

Sensitive and rapid molecular detection assays for Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium and Heidelberg.

Salmonella enterica is a significant cause of gastroenteritis worldwide, with serovars Typhimurium and Heidelberg being particularly prevalent, which have broad host ranges infecting poultry, dairy animals, and humans. Traditional methods used for the detection of Salmonella from contaminated food products are time-consuming and labor-intensive. The aim of this study was to develop a sensitive and rapid PCR-based detection method with optimized specificity for high-throughput screening of food and clinical samples. We used bioinformatics to identify potential serovar-specific regions from the available S. enterica sequenced genomes. We designed primer pairs to targeted regions unique to Typhimurium and Heidelberg. A primer pair targeting a putative cytoplasmic protein STM4492 amplified a 759-bp product specific to Typhimurium, and a primer pair targeting a putative inner membrane protein STM2745 amplified a 199-bp product from both Typhimurium and Heidelberg. A primer pair for the oriC locus was used to identify all Salmonella. We screened 217 isolates including the Salmonella reference collections A and B, validating the specificity of each primer set. Next, a multiplex PCR (mPCR) assay and quantitative real-time PCR assay were optimized for identification and differentiation of Typhimurium and Heidelberg. An mPCR assay was developed and successfully detected S. enterica isolates from inoculated Cheddar cheese, raw turkey, and cooked turkey at concentrations as low as 1 CFU/g of food. The reaction conditions for this mPCR have significantly reduced the time needed to identify S. enterica Typhimurium and Heidelberg, making this a rapid selective tool.

Rapid multiplex PCR and real-time TaqMan PCR assays for detection of Salmonella enterica and the highly virulent serovars Choleraesuis and Paratyphi C.

Salmonella enterica is a human pathogen with over 2,500 serovars characterized. S. enterica serovars Choleraesuis and Paratyphi C are two globally distributed serovars. We have developed a rapid molecular-typing method to detect serovars Choleraesuis and Paratyphi C in food samples by using a comparative-genomics approach to identify regions unique to each serovar from the sequenced genomes. A Salmonella-specific primer pair based on oriC was designed as an internal control to establish accuracy, sensitivity, and reproducibility. Serovar-specific primer sets based on regions of difference between serovars Choleraesuis and Paratyphi C were designed for real-time PCR assays. Three primer sets were used to screen a collection of over 100 Salmonella strains, and both serovars Choleraesuis and Paratyphi C gave unique amplification patterns. To develop the technique for practical use, its sensitivity for detection of Salmonella spp. in a food matrix was determined by spiking experiments. The technique was also adapted for a real-time PCR rapid-detection assay for both serovars Choleraesuis and Paratyphi C that complements the current procedures for Salmonella sp. isolation and serotyping.

Comparison of Salmonella species recovered from Irish liquid milk production holdings with temporal clinical veterinary isolates.

The presence of microbiological hazards in foodstuffs including, Salmonella, form a major source of food-borne diseases in humans. In-line milk filters from 97 liquid milk production holdings in Cork, the largest dairy region in Ireland, were surveyed for the presence of Salmonella species at herd level over a 2-year period (September 2001-September 2003). Each dairy farm was visited 6 times at 4 monthly intervals (denoted by cycles A-F). Six of the 97 herds (6%) were positive. Ten isolates were detected based on culture methods. These included five (5%) Salmonella Typhimurium DT104, 4 (4%) Salmonella Dublin, and 1 (1%) Salmonella Agona from a total of 556 filters. During cycle C, in addition to the milk filters, a bulk tank milk (BTM) sample was procured from each dairy holding and analysed but no Salmonella were isolated. For comparison purposes a further 26 temporal veterinary clinical isolates (21 S. Typhimurium of varying phage type, and 5 S. Dublin) were procured from the Cork Veterinary Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory, Cork. The study collection showed resistance to one or more antimicrobial agents. During the study, Salmonella spp. were isolated from five of the herds prior to any clinical signs in the farm animals. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profiles indicated clonality among the isolates pre- and post-clinical illness. A phenotypic and genotypic database for Salmonella spp. has been developed and used for comparative purposes.

Investigation of a global collection of nontyphoidal Salmonella of various serotypes cultured between 1953 and 2004 for the presence of class 1 integrons.

In this study, antibiotic resistance profiles, and the presence of class 1 integrons were determined for 108 Salmonella isolates comprising 37 serotypes cultured from a variety of sources between 1953 and 2004. Antibiogram analyses showed that all isolates were resistant to streptomycin/spectinomycin. Molecular analysis revealed that 50% of the collection contained an integrase-encoding gene (int1) and 25% contained class 1 integrons. A Salmonella Wien isolate possessing a complete class 1 integron with a dfrA5-ereA2 gene arrangement within the variable region was characterized.

In-line milk filter analysis: Escherichia coli O157 surveillance of milk production holdings.

Escherichia coli O157 is a major etiological agent of food-borne illness. Bovine animals are recognized reservoirs for this organism and represent a significant source from where these pathogens can enter the food chain. Food products derived from these animals are convenient vehicles, and are often the focal point(s) of infection. As a useful strategy to provide herd-level surveillance and to investigate for the presence of this pathogen in a population of Irish dairy cattle, milk filters from 97 farms were analysed by conventional culture and other methods. Five hundred and thirty-six milk filters were evaluated over a 2-year period. Filters from 12 of the 97 farms (12%) were found to contain E. coli O157, based on culture methods. Sixteen verocytotoxigenic E. coli O157 organisms were recovered and characterized in detail. The farm families in each case were consuming raw milk from their respective herds. The potential risk to public health associated with the detection of E. coli O157 and the local consumption of raw milk are discussed.