Short communication: determination of potential 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde and 2-furaldehyde compounds in follow-on milks and infant formulas using the high-performance liquid chromatography method.

The aim of present study was to determine the levels of potential 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (HMF) and 2-furaldehyde (F) in 109 baby food samples (60 follow-on milks, 49 cereal- and milk-based infant formulas) obtained from different markets in Ankara (Turkey). Potential HMF and F compounds were determined by HPLC. Mean levels (± standard error) of HMF and F of follow-on milk samples were found to be 237.85±18.25 and 9.44±0.39 µg/100mL, respectively. Regarding the infant formulas, mean levels of HMF and F were found to be 905.41±91.94 and 13.22±1.21 µg/100g. As a result, potential HMF was determined in all of the samples; potential F was determined in all the samples except 1. The mean levels of potential HMF and F of infant formulas were higher than mean levels of potential HMF and F of follow-on milks. In addition, HMF and F values of some samples with an imminent expiration date were found to be higher than HMF and F values of the other samples. At present, no limits have been established in the Turkish Food Codex (TFC) for furfural compounds concentrations in infant formula and milks. Establishing limits related to these compounds would be important for protecting the quality of infant foods.

Infantile pseudotumor cerebri related to viral illness.

Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) presents with varied spectrum of manifestations, association with diverse pathological conditions and variable outcome. A preliminary observation on children presenting with PTC is being presented because of certain peculiarities, not observed earlier, like occurring in clusters during particular season, all were infants having close relationship with viral illness and all had extremely benign outcome. Children presenting with raised ICP were hospitalised and evaluated. The relevant investigations carried out included lumbar puncture, cranial ultrasonography, CT Scan and culture studies. Fifteen children, all in infancy with male-female ratio of 2:3 presented in clusters of 11 (73.3%) cases during late summer and early fall presented with bulging fontanelle, vomiting 11, fever 12, respiratory infection 5, diarrhea 5, lateral deviation of eye balls 4 and skin rashes 5 cases. Contact with viral illness in the family was found in 10 cases. Lumbar puncture showed high opening high CSF pressure in all. Results of this study suggest peculiar and perhaps different form of PTC seen recently which affected only the infants. These were closely related to viral illness and had benign outcome.

The dying child and overt parental behavior.

In order to study the immediate grief reaction in parents of children dying in the hospital each parental reaction was scored on a 'grief reaction and intervention' (GRI) scale (minimum 0; maximum 4). The death events of 73 children comprised the study. The GRI score was 0 in 10 (13.7%), 1 in 19 (26.1%), 2 in 21 (28.7%), 3 in 15 (20.5%) and 4 in 8 (11%) cases; the mean (+/- SD) score was 1.89 (+/- 1.20). Crying, weeping spells, hostility, restlessness, denial of death, mutism, impulsivity and destructive behavior were observed. A significantly higher grief reaction was observed among parents of grown up children and those from an urban background. An intense reaction was also seen in cases when the course of illness was acute and death was not anticipated. Parents of male children of the first and second birth order also had higher GRI scores. Our findings suggest that socio-cultural factors may influence the intensity of the parental grief reaction.

Toxicity of Senecio vernalis to laying hens and evaluation of residues in eggs.

Diets with 0.0, 0.5,2.0, or 4.0% ground-aerIal parts of Senecio vernalis were fed to groups of 10 laying hens for 210 d. Plant alkaloid content was 0.14% with 8.57% in the basic form and 91.43% in the N-oxide form. Specific alkaloids were senecionin (66.65%), senecivernin (10.37%), seneciphylline (8.51%), integerrimine (8.44%), retrorsine (3.03%), senkirkine (2.35%) and hydroxysenkirkine (0.65%). At the end of the feeding period, no mortality or clinical signs occurred in any test group. However, decreases in egg production, feed efficiency, feed intake and body weight occurred on diets containing 2 or 4% of the plant. Serum gamma-GT was significantly elevated and serum albumin and protein were significantly decreased in hens fed the 2 and 4% diets. Total bilirubin was significantly higher in the 4% group. No free pyrrolizidine alkaloids were detected in eggs indicating that at these rates of dietary exposure, they did not produce residues at the level of detection or that they were bound irreversibly to egg proteins. Hens fed 2 or 4% plant diets had mild to moderate chronic liver changes of periportal or septal fibrosis, megalocytosis, bile duct hyperplasia and early regenerative nodule formation.

Toxicity of dietary Heliotropium circinatum to rats.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloid intoxication was produced in adult, male rats by feeding different levels (0, 1, 3, 5 or 10%) of Heliotropium circinatum for 20 w. Combined GC-MS revealed 0.15% total alkaloid content in the plant material of which 12% and 88% were basic and N-oxide forms, respectively. The specific alkaloids identified were europine (67.33%), heliotrine (16.34%), lasiocarpine (8.12%), heleurine (4.18%), echinatine (1.56%), 7-angeylheliotrine (1.19%), and an unknown alkaloid (1.28%). Neither mortality nor significant clinical changes occurred in test groups. Mild to moderate, dose-related hepatic megalocytosis was the most prominent histopathological finding. In addition to chronic hepatotoxicity, notable medial thickening occurred in the pulmonary arterioles and arteries of the high-dosed groups. This study indicated that H. circinatum plant has limited toxic potential in rats with mild to moderate histological changes and no mortality at the dosing levels, total doses, or time of exposure employed.