Metabolomics to understand placental biology: Where are we now?

Metabolomics, the application of analytical chemistry methodologies to survey the chemical composition of a biological system, is used to globally profile and compare metabolites in one or more groups of samples. Given that metabolites are the terminal end-products of cellular metabolic processes, or 'phenotype' of a cell, tissue, or organism, metabolomics is valuable to the study of the maternal-fetal interface as it has the potential to reveal nuanced complexities of a biological system as well as differences over time or between individuals. The placenta acts as the primary site of maternal-fetal exchange, the success of which is paramount to growth and development of offspring during pregnancy and beyond. Although the study of metabolomics has proven moderately useful for the screening, diagnosis, and understanding of the pathophysiology of pregnancy complications, the placental metabolome in the context of a healthy pregnancy remains poorly characterized and understood. Herein, we discuss the technical aspects of metabolomics and review the current literature describing the placental metabolome in human and animal models, in the context of health and disease. Finally, we highlight areas for future opportunities in the emerging field of placental metabolomics.

Impact of storm runoff on Salmonella and Escherichia coli prevalence in irrigation ponds of fresh produce farms in southern Georgia.

AIMS: To examine Salmonella and Escherichia coli in storm runoff and irrigation ponds used by fresh produce growers, and compare Salmonella serovars with those found in cases of human salmonellosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: We collected water before and after rain events at two irrigation ponds on farms in southern Georgia, USA, and collected storm runoff/storm flow within the contributing watershed of each pond. Salmonella and E. coli concentrations were higher in ponds after rain events by an average of 0·46 (P < 0·01) and 0·61 (P < 0·05) log10 most probable number (MPN) per 100 ml respectively. Salmonella concentrations in storm runoff from fields and forests were not significantly higher than in ponds before rain events, but concentrations in storm flow from streams and ditches were higher by an average of 1·22 log10 MPN per 100 ml (P < 0·001). Eighteen Salmonella serovars were identified from 155 serotyped isolates, and eight serovars were shared between storm runoff/storm flow and ponds. Seven of the serovars, including five of the shared serovars, were present in cases of human illness in the study region in the same year. However, several serovars most commonly associated with human illness in the study region (e.g. Javiana, Enteritidis, and Montevideo) were not found in any water samples. CONCLUSIONS: Salmonella and E. coli concentrations in irrigation ponds were higher, on average, after rain events, but concentrations of Salmonella were low, and the ponds met FDA water quality standards based on E. coli. Some similarities and notable differences were found between Salmonella serovars in water samples and in cases of human illness. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study directly examined storm runoff/storm flow into irrigation ponds and quantified increases in Salmonella and E. coli following rain events, with potential implications for irrigation pond management as well as human health.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Kenyan Leafy Green Vegetables, Wild Fruits, and Medicinal Plants with Potential Relevance for Kwashiorkor.

Background. Inflammation, together with related oxidative stress, is linked with the etiology of kwashiorkor, a form of severe acute malnutrition in children. A diet rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant phytochemicals may offer potential for the prevention and treatment of kwashiorkor. We selected and assayed five leafy green vegetables, two wild fruits, and six medicinal plants from Kenya for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Consensus regarding medicinal plant use was established from ethnobotanical data. Methods. Antioxidant activity and phenolic content were determined using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay and Folin-Ciocalteu procedure, respectively. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed in vitro targeting the inflammatory mediator tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Results. Mangifera indica (leaves used medicinally) showed the greatest antioxidant activity (5940 ± 632 µM TE/µg) and total phenolic content (337 ± 3 mg GAE/g) but Amaranthus dubius (leafy vegetable) showed the greatest inhibition of TNF-α (IC50 = 9 ± 1 µg/mL), followed by Ocimum americanum (medicinal plant) (IC50 = 16 ± 1 µg/mL). Informant consensus was significantly correlated with anti-inflammatory effects among active medicinal plants (r (2) = 0.7639, P = 0.0228). Conclusions. Several plant species commonly consumed by Kenyan children possess activity profiles relevant to the prevention and treatment of kwashiorkor and warrant further investigation.

Internet Relay Chat: a window of opportunity for healthcare quality.

Internet Relay Chat (IRC) program is a medium that can provide low-cost interactive conferencing for healthcare organizations. This article analyzes IRC in the context of the many facets of the Internet, discusses some precautions regarding IRC use, and lists some sources of help for the user. IRC is an extremely powerful adjunct to other Internet programs.

Measuring nonmedical psychiatric treatment interventions with statistical software.

This article addresses, from both research and political perspectives, the issue of quantifying data on nonmedical psychiatric treatment activity in large residential treatment settings. It presents a method of collecting this type of data that includes the use of readily available statistical software. It describes the methodology in detail and examines the variables. The system has had an impact on treatment, administration, and personnel at the facility.

Building a computer-supported quality improvement system in one year: the experience of a large state psychiatric hospital.

BACKGROUND: G. Pierce Wood Memorial Hospital, a large state psychiatric hospital, implemented a data-intensive quality improvement (QI) program as part of its efforts to attain Joint Commission accreditation. EARLY STEPS OF QI IMPLEMENTATION: With the December 1993 Joint Commission survey date in mind, the Executive QI Committee started weekly meetings in December 1992 to plan initiatives and establish a viable information management system for the QI process. A QI coach was hired to help plan all phases of the QI program, and a 40-hour training program on statistics and QI principles was provided to key middle managers. SOFTWARE CHOICE ISSUES: Software options can be examined in terms of data cleaning, data manipulation, statistical flexibility, graphics strength, word processor compatibility, and utility strength. SOFTWARE CONFIGURATION: The present configuration of our statistical software is relatively elaborate. Organizations new to using statistical software should start off modestly to avoid being overwhelmed by the infinite possibilities that large numbers of interlinked modules present. DATA NETWORK CONFIGURATION: The technical core of the computerized QI system and how it operates are discussed. The data interface between the local area network (LAN) and statistical system data is described in three stages: (1) the creation of the "system" file; (2) the generation of the raw data; and (3) the transference of the raw data into the system file. QI ACTIONS: A QI reporting form was developed on which each report user states his/her analysis of the monthly indicator data report and identifies root causes, describes the actions taken to resolve the problems, or evaluates the effectiveness of prior actions taken. In addition, each indicator manager presents a quarterly verbal report to the Executive QI Committee on QI occurrences in his/her area of responsibility. CASE STUDIES: A nursing department indicator revealed an insufficient amount of supplies being placed in the code-blue ambulance. Determination of root causes led to the identification of a breakdown in the process whereby each shift adds and reviews supplies. As another example, the initiation of the stat IM (use of intramuscular injections or tranquilizing medications to restrain persons) indicator report led to a decrease in the number of IMs ordered. CONCLUSIONS: If we could have developed this statistical software-based QI program in only one year, then virtually any organization, large or small, can attain the technical capability to conduct "state of the art" QI.

A comparison of the effects of hard rock and easy listening on the frequency of observed inappropriate behaviors: control of environmental antecedents in a large public area.

Observation of clients at a state mental health hospital by direct care staff indicated that they appeared to act in more inappropriate ways when "hard rock" or "rap" music was played in an open courtyard than when "easy listening" or "country" music was played. A study was conducted to compare the inappropriate behavior of clients when hard rock and rap music were played (21 days), followed by easy listening and country and western music (21 days). This comparison was followed by a reversal phase in which hard rock and rap music were again played (18 days). The behaviors of the clients were observed and recorded via a controlled methodology. The results demonstrated that more inappropriate behavior was observed under conditions in which hard rock and rap music were played than when easy listening and country western music were played. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Childhood asphyxiation by food. A national analysis and overview.

Data on all identified food-related asphyxiations of infants and children aged 0 to 9 years in 41 states from 1979 to 1981 were analyzed by type of food and age of child. Nationally, one death occurred approximately every five days. More than 90% occurred in infants and children younger than 5 years and 65% in infants younger than 2 years. Round foods were most often mentioned of the 103 foods specifically identified on death certificates. Most frequently cited were hot dog products (17 cases, 17%), candy, ten; nuts, nine; and grapes, eight. Hot dogs caused deaths from infancy through 3 years (more than two thirds of all deaths from meat products) and seven of ten deaths in 3-year-olds. Characteristics of foods, children, and environment can be related to three phases of food asphyxiation: penetration, occlusion, and expulsion. Preventive measures include product modification, warning labels, and dissemination of information on high-risk foods.

Depth, connectedness, and structural relevance in the object-superiority effect: line segments are harder to see in flatter patterns.

A briefly flashed line can be identified more accurately when it is part of certain types of pattern than in others (the 'object-superiority effects'). Three experiments were designed to investigate what aspects of these patterns determine the facilitatory effect of context. Subjects identified which of four line segments was present in various briefly flashed figures. Other subjects rated the figures for three-dimensionality, connectedness, and 'structural relevance' of the target line. Little relationship was found between connectedness ratings and accuracy in the identification task, but accuracy was highly correlated with mean depth rating (accounting for 95% of variance) and with mean structural-relevance rating (88%). Because of the high correlation (r = 0.98) between these two judgments in the present experiments, and confounding with other stimulus variables in previously published studies, the relative importance of these two global attributes cannot yet be determined definitively (though there was some evidence that for these patterns depth judgments were primary and structural-relevance judgments derivative). A reexamination of pertinent research suggests that comparisons between well-matched stimuli (as in the object-superiority effect) are likely to be more robust and informative than comparisons between lines alone and in context (the 'object-line effect').

Combined effects of broadband noise and complex waveform vibration on cognitive performance.

The performance of 12 subjects was measured on a Complex Counting Task during exposure to each of four experimental conditions for a duration of 30 min. Two levels of noise, 65 dBA and 100 dBA, were presented both with and without 0.36 R.M.S. Gz sum-of-sines vibration. Combined 100 dBA noise and vibration produced less adverse effects than the vibration combined with 65 dBA noise. This result agrees with out previous studies using tracking tasks. However, two effects were demonstrated that had not been obtained previously. First, a clearcut adverse effect of vibration on the Counting Task was obtained. Second, an adverse effect of 100 dBA noise on the counting task was demonstrated. Previously, a 110 dBA noise was required to adversely affect tracking performance.

Effects of infrasound on cognitive performance.

The cognitive performance of 40 subjects was measured during exposure to infrasound and noise in three experiments. In the first experiment, 12 subjects were exposed for 15 min to each of four experimental conditions while performing a Serial Search Task. The conditions were: 65 dB ambient noise (AN), a low-frequency background noise (BN) at 110 dB, a 7-Hz tone at 125 dB + AN, and the 125 dB tone + BN. The second experiment was the same as the first except a Complex Counting Task was used and the exposure duration was increased from 15 min to 30 min. In the third experiment, the Complex Counting Task was used and the subjects were exposed for 15 min to each of the following four conditions: BN, 125 dB at 7 Hz plus BN, 132 dB at 7 Hz plus BN, and 142 dB at 7 Hz plus BN. No decrements in performance were obtained in any of the three experiments, and there were no subjective reports of dizziness or disorientation as suggested in some of the previous literature. The authors conclude that adverse effects of infrasound have been exaggerated and the current levels of infrasound components as produced by modern jet aircraft are not considered in themselves a practical problem.

Review of the effects of infrasound on man.

Claims that infrasound adversely affects human performance, makes people "drunk," and directly elicits nystagmus, have not been clearly demonstrated in any experimental study. The effects obtained at low intensity levels of 105 to 120 dB, if they can be substantiated at all, have been exaggerated. Recent well-designed studies conducted at higher intensity levels have found no adverse effects of infrasound on reaction time or human equilibrium. The levels at which infrasound becomes a hazard to man are still unknown. However, the hazardous levels are certain to be much higher than have been suggested in some of the literature. The preliminary exposure limits which were proposed several years ago for use in the U.S.A. are still considered safe and adequate based on present knowledge. Caution is necessary in future research because artifacts produced by faulty experimental procedures can suggest genuine psychological or physiological effects.

Visual detection of line segments: an object-superiority effect.

Observers identified a briefly flashed line segment more accurately when it was part of a drawing that looked unitary and three-dimensional than when the line was in one of several less coherent flat designs.