This investigation identified a point-source STEC O104:H4 outbreak associated with consumption of fenugreek sprouts. Comparison of results from French and German STEC O104:H4 outbreak investigations enabled identification of a common food vehicle, fenugreek sprouts, and resulted in implementation of Europe-wide control measures in July 2011.

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Short-term effects of air pollution on common morbidity are largely unknown. The authors explored links between daily levels of air pollution (nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and particulate matter less than 10 microm in diameter (PM(10))) and medical home visits made for diverse reasons in Bordeaux, France, during 2000-2006. Daily numbers of visits were obtained from a network of general practitioners. The excess relative risk (ERR) of a visit for each indicator associated with increased pollutant levels was estimated by fitting a Poisson regression model, controlling for well-known confounding factors and temporal trends. Positive and significant associations were found between air pollution and most health indicators. A 10-microg/m(3) increase in PM(10) levels was associated with increases in visits for upper and lower respiratory diseases (ERRs were 1.5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.3, 2.7) and 2.5% (95% CI: 0.5, 4.4), respectively), headache and asthenia (ERR = 3.5%, 95% CI: 1.3, 5.9), and skin rash and conjunctivitis (ERR = 3.2%, 95% CI: -0.2, 6.8). Significant associations were also found between nitrogen dioxide and ozone and several health indicators. Distributed-lag models showed no harvesting effect, and some effects persisted up to 15 days after exposure increased. These results suggest that considering only the most severe effects of air pollution leads to underestimation of its impact on public health.

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Two distinguishable chemotypes of Ferula communis have been described: the 'nonpoisonous' chemotype, containing as main constituents the daucane esters; and the 'poisonous' chemotype containing prenylated coumarins, such as ferulenol and ferprenin. Ferulenol and ferprenin are 4-oxygenated molecules such as dicoumarol and warfarin, the first developed antivitamin K molecules. Antivitamin K molecules specifically inhibit VKORC1, an enzyme essential for recycling vitamin K. This latest is involved in the activation of clotting factors II, VII, IX, X. The inhibiting effect of ferulenol on VKORC1 was shown in rat, but not for species exposed to F. communis while in vivo studies suggest differences between animal susceptibility to ferulenol. The inhibiting effect of ferprenin on VKORC1 was never demonstrated. The aim of this study was to compare the inhibiting effect of both compounds on VKORC1 of different species exposed to F. communis. Vitamin K epoxide activity was evaluated for each species from liver microsomes and inhibiting effect of ferulenol and ferprenin was characterized. Ferulenol and ferprenin were shown to be able to inhibit VKORC1 from all analyzed species. Nevertheless, susceptibility to ferulenol and ferprenin presented differences between species, suggesting a different susceptibility to 'poisonous' chemotypes of F. communis.