Application of hexanal,E-2-hexenal,and hexyl acetate to improve the safety of fresh-sliced apples

The aims of this work were to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of hexanal, (E)-2-hexenal, hexyl acetate, and their mixtures on the fate of pathogenic species such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, and Listeria monocytogenes inoculated in model systems as well as the antimicrobial activity against the target species of the chosen molecules when added to the packaging atmosphere of inoculated fresh-sliced apples. The result obtained in this work pointed out the potential use of compounds such as hexanal, (E)-2-hexenal, and hexyl acetate for both the extension of shelf life and an improvement of hygienic safety of "minimally processed foods". In fact, hexanal, (E)-2-hexenal, and hexyl acetate had a significant inhibitory effect against pathogen microorganisms frequently isolated from raw materials (E. coli, S. enteritidis, and L. monocytogenes) when inoculated in both model and real systems. In this last condition, these compounds, at the levels used (150, 150, and 20 ppm for hexanal, hexyl acetate, and (E)-2-hexenal, respectively), displayed a bactericide effect on L. monocytogenes and they exhibited significant extensions of lag phase of E. coli and S. enteritidis inoculated at levels of 10(4)-10(5) CFU/g.     

Acylglycerol and fatty acid components of pulp,seed, and whole olive fruit oils. Their use to characterize fruit variety by chemometrics

The contents of triacylglycerols and diacylglycerols in three kinds of olive fruit oils (pulp, seed, and whole fruit) were determined. The fatty acid composition and the quality ratios 1,2-diacylglycerols/1,3-diacylglycerols and 1,2-diacylglycerols/total diacylglycerols were also assessed. Seven major Italian olive varieties were considered. Results of univariate statistical analyses indicated that the above analytical parameters (glyceridic ratios excepted) were effective in discriminating between pulp and seed oils. The seed oil fraction did not determine any change in the glyceridic indices and the acylglycerol or fatty acid composition concerning the whole fruit oil (mixture of pulp and seed oil fractions), the weight (%) of seed ( approximately 2%) being by far lower than the weight (%) of pulp ( approximately 85%) (fruit weight basis). Based on the data of triacylglycerol or fatty acid composition, and using appropriate parametric or nonparametric multivariate statistics, the genetic origins (olive variety) of the three fruit oil kinds were characterized.     

Correction of ADA-SCID by stem cell gene therapy combined with nonmyeloablative conditioning

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) gene therapy for adenosine deaminase (ADA)-deficient severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) has shown limited clinical efficacy because of the small proportion of engrafted genetically corrected HSCs. We describe an improved protocol for gene transfer into HSCs associated with nonmyeloablative conditioning. This protocol was used in two patients for whom enzyme replacement therapy was not available, which allowed the effect of gene therapy alone to be evaluated. Sustained engraftment of engineered HSCs with differentiation into multiple lineages resulted in increased lymphocyte counts, improved immune functions (including antigen-specific responses), and lower toxic metabolites. Both patients are currently at home and clinically well, with normal growth and development. These results indicate the safety and efficacy of HSC gene therapy combined with nonmyeloablative conditioning for the treatment of SCID.     

Transient floral change and rapid global warming at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary

Rapid global warming of 5 degrees to 10 degrees C during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) coincided with major turnover in vertebrate faunas, but previous studies have found little floral change. Plant fossils discovered in Wyoming, United States, show that PETM floras were a mixture of native and migrant lineages and that plant range shifts were large and rapid (occurring within 10,000 years). Floral composition and leaf shape and size suggest that climate warmed by approximately 5 degrees C during the PETM and that precipitation was low early in the event and increased later. Floral response to warming and/or increased atmospheric CO2 during the PETM was comparable in rate and magnitude to that seen in postglacial floras and to the predicted effects of anthropogenic carbon release and climate change on future vegetation.     

Unusual case of uterine stump pyometra in a cat

This report describes an unusual case of uterine stump pyometra in a cat whose main clinical sign at presentation was abdominal straining. At the time of ovariohysterectomy, the surgeon reported that the uterine body had a purulent content. Nearly a month after the surgery the cat showed abdominal straining. The enlarged uterine stump, filled with purulent fluid, had caused a compression of the rectum and secondary intestinal sub-occlusion. Surgical revision consisted of draining the purulent content of the remnant of the uterine body and ablating as much of it as possible; checking of the ovarian pedicles revealed the presence of a small fragment of whitish tissue on the right side, which was shown to contain, by means of histological observation and immunohistochemical staining, ovarian tissue. Four months after surgical revision the queen did not show any pathological signs and 1 year later she is still in good health.     

Multinucleated giant cells with an osteoclast phenotype derived from caprine peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Formation of multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) by macrophage fusion is a typical cytopathic effect of lentiviral replication in caprine monocytes and MGC formation from cultured caprine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) has been considered to be diagnostic for small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) infection. In this study, formation of MGCs was observed after 7–14 days when PBMCs were cultured from healthy goats free from SRLV infection. These MGCs expressed tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, calcitonin receptor, integrin αVβ3, cathepsin K and matrix metalloproteinase 9 and were able to resorb bone in vitro in the absence of RANKL and macrophage colony stimulating factor, consistent with an osteoclast phenotype.     

Cluster analysis applied to the exploratory analysis of commercial spanish olive oils by means of excitation-emission fluorescence spectroscopy

Olive oil fluorescence is related to oil composition. Here it is shown that the natural clustering of different types of commercial Spanish olive oils depends on their fluorescence excitation-emission matrices (EEMs). Fifty-six commercial samples of olive oil (29 virgin olive oils, 20 pure olive oils, and 7 olive-pomace oils) were used. The clustering method was hierarchical agglomerative clustering using the Euclidean distance as a similarity measure and the average linkage. Two spectral ranges were considered (which either contained the fluorescence peak of the chlorophylls or did not), and various methods for preprocessing the fluorescence spectra were compared. The oils were clearly distinguished using the unfolded EEMs measured between lambda(ex) = 300-400 nm and lambda(em) = 400-600 nm. The optimal preprocessing was normalization of the unfolded spectra followed by column autoscaling. Also shown are the advantages of using second-order data (EEMs) instead of first-order data (a single fluorescence spectrum) for each sample.     

Fecal streptococci recoveries in different marine areas

The usual media and procedures were followed to measure the concentration of fecal streptococci (MPN on Azide Dextrose and Ethyl Violet Azide broths, membrane filtration on m-Enterococcus, KF and Pfizer Selective Enterococcus agars and according to the mE procedure) in samples collected along two different marine areas. The results were evaluated on the basis of three parameters: total concentrations, number of enterococci-like colonies (namely colonies gram positive, catalase negative, coccus shaped) and rate of strictly named fecal streptococci. From the results it appears that the various media and procedures employed gave different yields and their capacity to measure fecal streptococci varies according to the origin of samples. The accompanying bacterial flora may play an important role on the selectivity of each technique to measure the fecal streptococci.     

Conserving indigenous crayfish: stock assessment and habitat requirements in the threatened Austropotamobius italicus

• 1. As part of the Austropotamobius pallipes species complex, the crayfish Austropotamobius italicus is a species of community interest whose preservation requires the designation of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) (Annex II, EU Habitats Directive). This study aimed at (1) assessing the conservation status of this threatened indigenous species by stock assessment in central Italy and (2) identifying some aspects of its elective habitat.
• 2. Surveys were conducted in nine streams harbouring A. italicus (streams WI) and in 10 streams where crayfish populations became extinct at least 5 years before the study (streams WO).
• 3. The results confirmed that A. italicus is a K‐selected species, with a relatively slow growth rate (males: 0.34; females: 0.37) and a long life expectancy (males: 8.2 years; females: 7.8 years). The extant populations are healthy, showing balanced sex‐ratios and well structured age‐class compositions. Mortality is mainly due to fishing, which is illegal in Tuscany.
• 4. Principal Components Analyses showed that the streams WI and WO differ in the abundance of allochthonous plant detritus but not in the taxonomic composition of their macroinvertebrate communities. Age classes were found to be spatially segregated, juveniles mainly using cobbles as substrates and adults seemingly avoiding them.
• 5. The loss of the pristine riverine landscape seems to have been responsible, together with illegal fishing, for the local extinction of the species. As a consequence, retaining, enhancing, and restoring the habitat and its complexity are required for the preservation of A. italicus.
• 6. The designation of SACs might help in this endeavour if accompanied by programmes aimed at publicizing the need for conservation of this species. Unfortunately, crayfish‐focused projects supported by LIFE in Italy since 1992 (4%) and the SACs involved (1.4%) have been relatively few, despite the poor conservation status of this species and its well recognized ecological role.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of breed and gender on bovine liver cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) expression and inter-species comparison with other domestic ruminants

The cytochrome P450 (P450) superfamily represents a group of relevant enzymes in the field of drug metabolism and several exogenous or constitutional factors contribute to regulate its expression. Cattle represent an important source of animal-derived food-products and studies concerning the P450 expression are needed for the extrapolation of pharmacotoxicological data from one species to another and for the evaluation of the consumer's risk associated with the consumption of harmful residues found in foodstuffs. In the present study, possible breed-, gender- and species-differences in P4503A (the P450 subfamily more expressed in the human liver) expression were studied in vitro in Piedmontese (PDM) and Limousin (LIM) meat cattle breeds of both sexes and in domestic Ruminants (cattle, sheep and goats). Cytochrome P450 and P4503A contents as well as CYP3A-dependent drug metabolising enzymes (DME) were measured in liver microsomes. Significant lower levels of P450 (P < 0.001) and P4503A (P < 0.05) contents were observed in PDM vs. LIM of both sexes; the P4503A-dependent DME activities were significantly (P values ranging from 0.05 up to 0.001) higher in PDM cattle, particularly in males. A gender-effect in DME activities was noticed (P < 0.05) only in PDM male cattle. With regards to the species, the expression of both P4503A apoprotein and some of the related DME activities were more pronounced in sheep (P < 0.01 vs. cattle) and in goats (P < 0.05 vs. sheep; P < 0.01 vs. cattle) than in cattle. The significant differences in P4503A expression observed in LIM and PDM cattle are consistent with previously published data on strain- and breed-differences pointed out in rats and men. As far as a possible sex-effect is concerned, no clear-cut evidence is likely to be drawn. Finally, P4503A expression was more relevant in small ruminants.