Effect of Milling and Parboiling Processes on Arsenic Species Distribution in Rice Grains

This study identified the role of milling and parboiling on arsenic (As) content and its species in large numbers of rice samples. Total As contents were 108 ± 33 μg/kg in polished rice grains (PR), 159 ± 46 μg/kg in unpolished rice grains (UR), 145 ± 42 μg/kg in parboiled polished rice grains (PPR) and 145 ± 44 μg/kg in parboiled unpolished rice grains (PUR). The percentages of inorganic As (iAs) were 66% ± 8% in PR and from 72% to 77% in other grain categories. The polishing process reduced the As content in the rice grains, removing outer part of the UR with high amount of As, whereas the parboiling technique transferred the semimetal content within the grain. Total As and iAs contents were not significantly different in UR, PPR and PUR, homogenizing its distribution inside the grains. The results allowed to understand how different operations affect As fate and its chemical forms in grains.     

PRIMARY IRRADIATION OF CANINE INTRACRANIAL MASSES

Twenty-nine dogs received primary radiation therapy for intracranial lesions and clinical signs suggestive of neoplasia. Presumptive diagnosis and tumor categorization was based on computed tomographic or magnetic resonance images. Meningioma was the most likely tumor type in 22 dogs and glioma or choroid plexus tumors were tentatively identified in 4 and 3 dogs, respectively. Cobalt-60 radiation was delivered in 3 Gy fractions on a daily, Monday-through-Friday basis for a total dose of 48 Gy (16 fractions) in 28 dogs; one dog received 54 Gy. Two of 29 dogs died during treatment of signs suggestive of progressive tumor growth but were included in the overall evaluation of response to treatment. Median overall survival was 250 days (range 21-804). Mild acute radiation effects on normal tissue developed and did not influence outcome in any dog. Late radiation effects could not be evaluated in this study. No significant predictive indicators were identified from the clinical or imaging data. Radiation therapy is superior to medical treatment of brain tumors in dogs with steroids, is useful for tumors that are not currently operable and may be preferable to surgical resection in dogs if the mass appears infiltrative. However, 22/29 (76%) dogs died of recurrent progressive neuropathy suggestive of tumor regrowth or progression. Thus, alternative methods for delivery of radiation to dogs with brain tumors or novel combinations of therapy should continue to undergo evaluation.     

Ganglioneuroblastoma in a cat: a rare neoplasm treated with electrochemotherapy

An 8-year-old male castrated cat was referred for sudden onset of lameness. Physical examination revealed a 1x2x1cm mass originating from a footpad of the right hind leg. A diagnosis of ganglioneuroblastoma was suggested by the tumour appearance following histopathological staining with haematoxylin and eosin and haematoxylin/van Gieson. Immunohistochemical staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), vimentin, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), neurofilament and S100 further confirmed the diagnosis. The staging process did not indicate metastatic spread. The cat was treated with three sessions of electrochemotherapy (ECT) 1 week apart, following local injection of bleomycin. The tumour had completely regressed within 1 week of the third ECT application and remained in remission for 402 days at which time a small recurrence was noted. The animal was given a further session of ECT using intra-lesional cisplatin and again went into remission. It remained tumour free at 450 days. Electrochemotherapy is considered a safe and effective treatment for localised neoplasms of cats and dogs and warrants further investigation.     

p62/SQSTM1 expression in canine mammary tumours: Evolutionary notes

Recent studies highlighted the role of autophagy as a cardinal regulatory system for homeostasis and cancer‐related signalling pathways. In this context, the deregulated expression of p62 – Sequestosome1 (p62/SQSTM1) – a protein acting both as an autophagy receptor and signalling hub, has been associated with tumour development and chronic inflammation. Multiple clinical studies test drugs targeting autophagy, and even more research is on the way to clinical trials. However, no comparative investigations have been carried out to identify adequate preclinical models to assess p62‐based medicine. In veterinary oncology the role of p62 in cancer‐related pathways has been largely ignored. We compared p62 sequences in multiple organisms and found that canine p62 significantly diverges from the humans and from other animals sequences. Then, we chart by immunohistochemistry the expression levels of p62 in canine mammary tumours. A total of 66 tumours and 10 non‐neoplastic mammary samples were examined. The expression of p62 was higher in normal tissue and adenomas than carcinomas, with lowest levels of p62 protein detected in high grade carcinomas. In all cases examined the tumour stroma appeared to be p62‐negative. Taken together our results would suggest that in dogs the association between p62 expression and cancer cells overturns that reported in human breast carcinoma, where p62 accumulates in malignant cells as compared to normal epithelium. Thus, at least in canine mammary tumours, p62 should be not considered a tumour‐rejection antigen for an anti‐cancer immunotherapy.     

Dynamics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae</Emphasis> seroconversion and infection in pigs in the three main production systems

In this study, we investigated the dynamics of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infections in 66 pig farms, with different production systems (one-, two-, and three-site systems), and considered different risk factors. Serological assay was used to detect serum antibodies against M. hyopneumoniae and real time polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) was performed to detect M. hyopneumoniae DNA in tracheobronchial swabs. Results demonstrated that M. hyopneumoniae infection status was predominantly influenced by the age of the animals and the type of production system. Infection rates were higher in older animals and the prevalence was higher in the one- and two-site systems than in the three-site systems. Dynamics of infection by RT-PCR showed that earlier M. hyopneumoniae infection on one-site farms occurs earlier, while on two- and three-site farms occurs later but spreads faster, suggesting that contact between animals of different age favors the transmission.     

Radiographic assessment of cattle hoofs (ungulae) of the Nellore breed: Reference standards

The purpose of this work was to determine a radiographic standard of normality for lateral and medial ungulae in 3‐year‐old bovine females of the Nellore breed. Twenty‐six cows underwent radiographic exposure of the medial and lateral ungulae of the hindlimbs and forelimbs; abaxioaxial projections were used. The images were analyzed; distances were measured between the dorsal surface of the distal phalanx and the surface of the hoof capsule. The two angles formed, i.e., an angle between the dorsal surface of the distal phalanx and a line parallel to the sole (inner), and an angle between the dorsal surface of the hoof and a line parallel to the sole (outer), were also recorded. The results suggested a standard of normality for the proximal, middle and distal distances of the ungulae of the forelimbs: 0.96 ± 0.12 cm. For the measurement of hindlimbs, except for the distal distances of the side ungulae, the suggested value was 1.02 ± 0.14 cm; for the distal measurement of the lateral ungulae of the hindlimbs, the value was 1.09 ± 0.12 cm. For inner and outer angles, the values were 36.45° ± 4.4° for the medial ungulae of the forelimbs and 42.50° ± 3.8° for other ungulae of the forelimbs and hindlimbs (standard deviations of the values suggested for the angles should be used as variations between different animals, limbs and ungulae; they should not be used between angles of the same ungula).     

Partially defatted black soldier fly larva meal inclusion in piglet diets: effects on the growth performance,nutrient digestibility,blood profile,gut morphology and histological features

Background: The aim of this trial was to investigate the effects of different inclusion levels of a partial y defatted black soldier fly(BSF, Hermetia il ucens L.) larva meal on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profile, gut morphology and histological features of piglets. A total of 48 newly weaned piglets were individual y weighed(initial body weight(IBW): 6.1 ± 0.16 kg) and randomly al ocated to 3 dietary treatments(4 boxes as replicates/treatment and 4 animals/box). BSF larva meal was included at increasing levels(0% [BSF0], 5% [BSF5] and 10% [BSF10]) in isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets formulated for two feeding phases: I(from d 1 to d 23) and I(from d 24 to d 61). The weight gain(WG), average daily gain(ADG), average daily feed intake(ADFI) and feed conversion ratio(FCR) were calculated for each feeding phase and for the whole trial. The haematochemical parameters and nutrient digestibility of the piglets were also evaluated. A total of 3 piglets per box were slaughtered on d 61 and the slaughtered piglets were submitted to morphometric investigations and histopathological examinations.Results: No overal significant differences were observed for growth performance(P 0.05), except for the ADFI of phase I, which showed a linear response to increasing BSF meal levels(P 0.05, maximum for the BSF10 group). Dietary BSF meal inclusion did not significantly influence the blood profile, except as far as monocytes and neutrophils are concerned,and these showed a linear and quadratic response, respectively, to increasing BSF meal levels(P 0.05, maximum for the BSF10 and BSF5 groups, respectively). On the other hand, the nutrient digestibility, gut morphology and histological features were not affected by dietary BSF meal inclusion(P 0.05).Conclusions: The obtained results show that a partial y defatted BSF larva meal can be used as a feed ingredient in diets for weaned piglets without negatively affecting their growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profile, gut morphology or histological features.     

Phytochemical Characterization and Effects on Cell Proliferation of Lentisk (Pistacia lentiscus) Berry Oil: a Revalued Source of Phenolics

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - The ethno-pharmaceutical use of the edible fixed oil produced from lentisk (Pistacia lentiscus) berries covers a long tradition in several Mediterranean regions....     

Drag force due to vegetation in mangrove swamps

Field studies of tidal flows in largely pristine mangrove swamps suggestthat the momentum equation simplifies to a balance between the water surfaceslope and the drag force. The controlling parameter is the vegetation lengthscale L_E, which is a function of the projected area ofmangrove vegetation and the volume of the vegetation. The value ofL_E varies greatly with mangrove species and water depth. It isfound that the drag coefficient is related to the Reynolds number Re definedusing L_E. The drag coefficient decreases with increasingvalues of Re from a maximum value of 10 at low value of Re (<10⁴), and converges towards 0.4 for Re < 5 ×10⁴.