Circulating Salicylic Acid and Metabolic and Inflammatory Responses after Fruit Ingestion

We hypothesized that fruit ingestion provides measurable amounts of salicylic acid (SA) and produces different metabolic and inflammatory responses compared to mere fruit sugars. In a randomized-crossover study, 26 healthy subjects received a peach shake meal (PSM) (SA: 0,06 ± 0,001 mg/100 g) and a mixed sugar meal (MSM), consisting in an aqueous solution with the same sugars found in the peach shake. In order to control for the SA contribution from meals in the previous day, 16 subjects (Group 1) abstained from fruits and vegetables consumption the evening before trials, and 10 subjects (Group 2) maintained their usual diet. Circulating SA, glucose, insulin, free fatty acids, and interleukin-6 were determined. Basal SA was lower in Group 1 than in Group 2 (0.09 ± 0.02 vs. 0.30 ± 0.03 μmol/l, p < 0.001), peaked at 90 min in both groups (0.18 ± 0.01 vs. 0.38 ± 0.02 μmol/l, p < 0.01) and remained above baseline (p < 0.05) up to 3 h. Glycemia increased less after PSM at 15 min (p < 0.01) with a lower average glucose excursion (p < 0.05). Insulin peaked at 45 min with both meals but decreased less rapidly with PSM. Free fatty acids decreased more (p < 0.01), and interleukin-6 increased less (p < 0.05) with PSM. Dietary fruit intake increases the concentration of SA in vivo, and provides non-nutrients capable to modulate the inflammatory and metabolic responses to carbohydrates.     

Synchronization of ovulation in brook char (Salvelinus fontinalis, Mitchill 1814) using emulsified d-Arg6Pro9NEt sGnRHa

Effects of physiological saline (PS)-dissolved or Freund′s incomplete adjuvant (FIA)-emulsified sGnRHa on the induction and advancement of ovulation in brook char were assessed. Two-year-old females were randomly divided into 5 groups. Groups A and B received intraperitoneal injection of FIA-emulsified sGnRHa (sGnRHa-FIA) at dosages of 50 and 25 μg kg^?1 body weight (BW), respectively. Females in group C were treated with a double injection (DI) of PS-dissolved sGnRHa (sGnRHa-PS) at 25 μg kg^?1 BW spaced 3 days apart. Fish in group D received a 25 μg kg^?1 BW single injection (SI) of sGnRHa-PS. Group E was established as a control group. After stripping, ovarian plasma pH level was measured, and an egg sample was taken from each female to record egg weight and diameter and survival to the eyed stage. Females in the GnRHa-treated groups ovulated significantly earlier than did females in the control group (P < 0.01). No significant differences were found among GnRHa-treated groups in ovulation dynamics and mean time to ovulation. Ovarian fluid pH was significantly higher in groups A, B, and C compared to control group E (P < 0.05). Significantly lower egg weight was found only in group B (P < 0.01), although all advanced groups tended to have lower egg weight than the control group. Egg diameters paralleled egg weight. Survival to the eyed stage was significantly higher in GnRHa-advanced groups compared to the control. A negative relationship was found between egg weight end eyed eggs percent (R ² = 0.26). No pre-spawning or post-spawning mortality was observed during a 6-month period. Neither sGnRHa-PS nor sGnRHa-FIA are associated with negative influences on the health of females. The sGnRHa-FIA injections proved to exhibit the same efficacy as the DI protocol with sGnRHa-PS. Although no statistical differences were found in ovulation dynamics, we do not recommend the use of SI with sGnRHa-PS in brook char.     

Changes in a knitted fabric’s surface properties due to enzyme treatments

Enzyme treatment technologies in textile processing have become commonly-applied techniques for the modification of fabric-handle appearance, and other surface and mechanical characteristics of fabrics. Most studies have focused on understanding the impact of enzyme treatments on the fabric preparation, dyeing, and finishing processes of woven fabrics, whilst only limited research has been reported regarding any enzymatic effects on the surface and handproperties of knitted fabrics. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of two different enzymes Trichoderma reesei whole cellulase, and enriched (EGIII) endoglucanase cellulase, at three different enzyme dosages on 100 % cotton interlock knitted fabric. This was in order to evaluate certain surface properties such as pilling, friction. and geometrical roughness. Furthermore, the compression and tactile properties of knitted fabric were also analyzed. The results show that treatment conditions with enzyme Trichoderma reesei whole cellulase had the more pronounced effect on the surface properties compared to the enriched EGIII enzymes. In general, it can be concluded that both types of enzymes improved the surface properties and hand when compared with the silicone softener-treated reference sample of interlock knitted fabric, as is statistically confirmed by one-way analysis of variance.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium oxysporum</Emphasis> f. Sp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">melonis-</Emphasis>melon interaction<Emphasis Type="Italic">:</Emphasis> Effect of grafting combination on pathogen gene expression

Bread wheat (BW) and durum wheat (DW) are both strongly affected by Septoria tritici blotch caused by the hemibiotrophic fungus Zymoseptoria tritici. However, only the BW-Z. tritici pathosystem has been well studied so far. Here, we compared compatible interactions between Z. tritici and both BW and DW species at the cytological, biochemical and molecular levels. Fungal infection process investigations showed close spore germination and leaf penetration features in both interactions, although differences in the patterns of these events were observed. During the necrotrophic phase, disease severity and sporulation levels were associated in both interactions with increases of the two cell-wall degrading enzyme activities endo-β-1,4-xylanase and endo-β-1,3-glucanase as well as protease. An analysis of plant defense responses during the first five days post inoculation revealed inductions of GLUC, Chi4, POX and PAL and a repression of LOX gene expressions in both wheat species, although differences in kinetics and levels of induction or repression were observed. In addition, peroxidase, catalase, glucanase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and lipoxygenase activities were induced in both wheat species, while only weak accumulations of hydrogen peroxide and polyphenols were detected at the fungal penetration sites. Our study revealed overall a similarity in Z. tritici infection process and triggered wheat defense pathways on both pathosystems.     

Nano-delivery of trace minerals for marine fish larvae: influence on skeletal ossification,and the expression of genes involved in intestinal transport of minerals,osteoblast differentiation,and oxidative stress response

Currently, the larviculture of many marine fish species with small-sized larvae depends for a short time after hatching, on the supply of high-quality live zooplankton to ensure high survival and growth rates. During the last few decades, the research community has made great efforts to develop artificial diets, which can completely substitute live prey. However, studies aimed at determining optimal levels of minerals in marine larvae compound feeds and the potential of novel delivery vectors for mineral acquisition has only very recently begun. Recently, the agro-food industry has developed several nano-delivery systems, which could be used for animal feed, too. Delivery through nano-encapsulation of minerals and feed additives would protect the bioactive molecules during feed manufacturing and fish feeding and allow an efficient acquisition of active substances into biological system. The idea is that dietary minerals in the form of nanoparticles may enter cells more easily than their larger counterparts enter and thus speed up their assimilation in fish. Accordingly, we evaluated the efficacy of early weaning diets fortified with organic, inorganic, or nanoparticle forms of trace minerals (Se, Zn, and Mn) in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) larvae. We tested four experimental diets: a trace mineral-deficient control diet, and three diets supplemented with different forms of trace minerals. At the end of the feeding trial, larvae growth performance and ossification, and the level of expression of six target genes (SLC11A2β, dmt1, BMP2, OC, SOD, GPX), were evaluated. Our data demonstrated that weaning diets supplemented with Mn, Se, and Zn in amino acid-chelated (organic) or nanoparticle form were more effective than diets supplemented with inorganic form of minerals to promote bone mineralization, and prevent skeletal anomalies in seabream larvae. Furthermore, nanometals markedly improved larval stress resistance in comparison to inorganic minerals and upregulated mRNA copy number of OC gene. The expression of this gene was strongly correlated with mineralization degree, thus confirming its potency as a good marker of bone mineralization in gilthead seabream larvae.     

Interspecific germ cell transplantation: a new light in the conservation of valuable Balkan trout genetic resources?

Interspecific transplantation of germ cells from the brown trout Salmo trutta m. fario and the European grayling Thymallus thymallus into rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss recipients was carried out in order to improve current practices in conservation of genetic resources of endangered salmonid species in the Balkan Peninsula. Current conservation methods mainly include in situ efforts such as the maintenance of purebred individuals in isolated streams and restocking with purebred fingerlings; however, additional ex situ strategies such as surrogate production are needed. Steps required for transplantation such as isolation of high number of viable germ cells and fluorescent labeling of germ cells which are to be transplanted have been optimized. Isolated and labeled brown trout and grayling germ cells were intraperitoneally transplanted into 3 to 5 days post hatch rainbow trout larvae. Survival of the injected larvae was comparable to the controls. Sixty days after transplantation, fluorescently labeled donor cells were detected within the recipient gonads indicating successful incorporation of germ cells (brown trout spermatogonia and oogonia—27%; grayling spermatogonia—28%; grayling oogonia—23%). PCR amplification of donor mtDNA CR fragments within the recipient gonads additionally corroborated the success of incorporation. Overall, the transplantation method demonstrated in this study presents the first step and a possible onset of the application of the germ cell transplantation technology in conservation and revitalization of genetic resources of endangered and endemic species or populations of salmonid fish and thus give rise to new or improved management strategies for such species.     

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric ion-switching determination of chlorantraniliprole and flubendiamide in fruits and vegetables

The anthranilic and phthalic diamides, chlorantraniliprole (CAP) and flubendiamide (FLU), respectively, represent a new class of very effective insecticides that activate the ryanodine-sensitive intracellular calcium release channel (ryanodine receptor). This paper reports an analytical method for the simultaneous determination of the two insecticides on fruits and vegetables by liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry operated in the positive and negative ionization switching mode. The two diamides were extracted with acetonitrile and separated on a Zorbax Column Eclipse XDB C8 (4.6 mm x 150 mm i.d., 3 microm) by isocratic elution with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water with 0.1% formic acid pumped at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. The diamides were selectively detected by multiple reaction monitoring for transitions of proton adduct precursor ions simultaneously: positive m/z 484.3-->285 for CAP, m/z 445.5-->169 for internal standard, and negative m/z 681.4-->253 for FLU. For CAP calibration in the positive mode was linear over a working range of 2 to 1000 microg/L with r > 0.992. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for CAP were 0.8 and 1.6 microg/kg, respectively. For FLU in the negative mode the corresponding values were 1-1000 microg/L for linear working range, with r > 0.996 and 0.4 and 0.8 microg/L for LOD and LOQ, respectively. Moreover, the presence of interfering compounds in the fruit and vegetable extracts was found to be minimal. Due to the linear behavior of the MS detector response for the two analytes, it was concluded that the multiple reaction transitions of molecular ions in the ion-switching mode can be used for analytical purposes, that is, for identification and quantification of diamides in fruit and vegetable extracts at trace levels.