Bacteria and antibiotic resistance detection in fractures of wild birds from wildlife rehabilitation centres in Spain

Anatomic adaptations make birds more prone to open fractures with exposed bone parts losing vascularization. As a result of this exposure, fractures are colonized by different microorganisms, including different types of bacteria, both aerobic and anaerobic, causing osteomyelitis in many cases. For this reason, antibiotic treatment is common. However, carrying out antibiotic treatment without carrying out a previous antibiogram may contribute to increased resistance against antibiotics, especially in migratory wild birds. In this paper, bacterial counts regarding fracture type, bacterial identification and antibiotic resistance have been analysed in wild birds from wildlife rehabilitation centres in Spain. The results obtained showed that open fractures had higher bacterial counts (CFU/mL) than closed ones. Bacteria in family Enterobacteriaceae, identified were Escherichia spp., Enterobacter spp., Shigella spp., Hafnia alvei, Proteus mirabilis, Leclercia adecarboxylata and Pantoea agglomerans. Other bacteria present in wild birds’ fractures were Aeromonas spp., Enterococcus spp. Bacillus wiedmannii and Staphylococcus sciuri. All species found presented resistance to at least one of the antibiotics used. Wild birds can be implicated in the introduction, maintenance and global spreading of antibiotic resistant bacteria and represent an emerging public health concern. Results obtained in this paper support the idea that it is necessary to take this fact into account before antibiotic administration to wild animals, since it could increase the number of bacteria resistant to antibiotics.     

The potential of naked barley sourdough to improve the quality and dietary fibre content of barley enriched wheat bread

The possibility of using naked barley for food products is gaining popularity due to its dietary fibre content, especially β-glucans. The technological process (dough preparation, fermentation and baking) influences bread quality but also may contribute to degradation or preservation of valuable grain components. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of different wholemeal barley flour share and bread production method on the quality of bread and non-starch polysaccharides content and solubility.Barley enriched bread contained more both soluble and insoluble dietary fibre and β-glucans, products of 40% barley share contained 67% more total dietary fibre and 160% more β-glucans than control. However, barley incorporation decreased the amount of soluble arabinoxylans. High barley contents contributed to the breads’ volume reduction by 14% and change in their crumb and crust colour. However, barley enriched breads gained higher ratings of taste than wheat bread. Barley sourdough fermentation improved breads’ volume, colour and sensory properties. Sourdough fermentation also resulted in higher concentration of dietary fibre, arabinoxylans and β-glucans. The beneficial effect of barley addition to wheat bread may be successfully enhanced by using barley wholemeal sourdough fermentation.     

Kernel vitreousness and protein content: Relationship,interaction and synergistic effects on durum wheat quality

Four sets of durum samples were used in this study to further understand the interrelationships among hard vitreous kernels (HVK), protein content, and pigment concentration, with a focus on the interaction and synergistic effects of protein content and vitreousness on durum quality. HVK level increases with higher protein content in the range of 9.5–12.5%, but this relationship is less evident in durum samples with high protein content (12.5–14.5%). Both protein content and kernel vitreousness can significantly affect durum milling quality. White starchy kernels (WSK) in low protein durum have a very detrimental impact on milling and pasta processing quality, but high protein content can mitigate the adverse impact of WSK on durum quality. Although protein content plays a dominant role, higher HVK might contribute positively to pasta firmness. There was no significant difference in yellow pigment content between HVK and WSK. However, pigment loss from semolina to dough was higher for WSK than HVK. Despite the difference in protein content, HVK and WSK have little difference in gluten strength. The monomeric protein was preferentially accumulated in HVK. The glutenin proteins of HVK and WSK were similar in the ratios of 1Bx/1By and HMW/LMW-GS.     

Characteristics of grain quality and starch fine structure of japonica rice kernels following preharvest sprouting

Preharvest sprouting (PHS) is one of the most serious defects that impacts rice production and grain quality. Knowledge about the effects of PHS on the eating and cooking quality (ECQ) of milled rice is limited. Here, we selected four japonica rice varieties to study the influences of PHS on grain quality. The results showed that PHS strongly led to poor grain appearance and the development of small starch granules whose surfaces were eroded. Analysis of starch fine structure revealed that PHS resulted in amylose (AM) degradation; in particular, PHS caused a decrease in the content of long AM chains. Moreover, PHS led to a decrease in the content of short amylopectin (AP) chains in the varieties Yandao 815 (YD815), Wuyugeng 27 (WY27) and Yangeng 13 (YG13), while the variety Sidao 785 (SD785) displayed the opposite trend. We propose that the main reasons for the decrease in starch crystallinity and the pasting profiles of the germinated rice were due to both the tendency of the AM content to decrease and the degree of this decrease in the content of the different AM chains along with changes in AP and other major components. All these changes caused by PHS led to a decrease in both ECQ and palatability of milled rice.     

Effects of germination and kilning on the phenolic compounds and nutritional properties of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) and kiwicha (Amaranthus caudatus)

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) and kiwicha (Amaranthus caudatus) are nutritious pseudocereals that originate from the Andean region. The aim of this research was to study the effect of germination and the subsequent kilning on the phenolic compounds and proximate composition in selected Peruvian varieties of quinoa (“Chullpi”) and kiwicha (“Oscar Blanco”). The germination process was carried out for 24, 48 and 72 h at 22 °C, and the kilning was performed with samples germinated for 72 h by drying the seeds at 90 °C for 5 min. Both processes increased the protein content of the samples. However, lipid content was reduced during germination. On the other hand, germination and kilning clearly increased the concentration of total phenolic compounds in both quinoa and kiwicha. Germination for 72 h either with or without kilning process resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the total content of phenolics compared to untreated materials, which was especially due to coumaric acid and a kaempferol tri-glycoside in quinoa and caffeoylquinic acid in kiwicha. Based on the results, germination and kilning may improve the nutritional quality of the Andean grains, encouraging the usage of the processed grains as ingredients in functional products for people with special gluten-free or vegetarian diets.     

Recent progress in analytical method development to ensure the safety of gluten-free foods for celiac disease patients

As laid down by the Codex Alimentarius, products bearing a gluten-free label must not contain gluten levels above 20 mg/kg to be safe for consumption by celiac disease patients. Analytical methods to detect gluten from wheat, rye and barley need to be sufficiently sensitive, specific, suitable for routine analyses and validated by collaborative studies. With continuous progress in the field of gluten analysis, the aim of this paper is to provide an up-to-date overview of legislation regarding gluten-free products worldwide, as well as immunochemical, proteomics-based, genomics-based and other methods designed to analyse gluten traces. While ELISA test kits and PCR are still most widely used in quality control, liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is gaining more and more importance by providing unprecedented insights into gluten. Several other methods such as immunosensors, other sensors and microarrays are being developed. The pro's and con's of the different methods are discussed as well as the remaining challenges, including the need for improved extraction procedures, comprehensive reference materials and independent reference methods.     

Accelerated ageingof wheat grains: Part I- Influence on rheological properties of wheat flour

Natural ageing is defined as handling and storage of freshly harvested grain for several years under storage condition to achieve suitable flour quality after milling. Accelerated ageing of wheat which is obtained using higher temperature during a specific storage time under controlled relative humidity may improve the quality of wheat flour. The present study addresses the effect of accelerated ageing on the rheological properties of wheat flour produced by freshly harvested wheat. The process of accelerated aging was performed by three different factors including rise in wheat moisture content (16, 18 and 20% w/w), control of storage temperature (30, 40 and 50°C) and control of the storage time (2, 5 and 8 days) using a central composite design. After the grain milling, rheological properties of wheat flour of different treatments were studied. Results indicated that promoting the storage time to 8 days and temperature up to 40°C could improve rheological properties such as dough stability, dough development time and farinograph quality number. This phenomenon may be due to oxidation and rearrangement of disulfide bonds resulting in increasing strength and improving flour quality. Increasing moisture content and storing in higher temperatures resulted in weakening rheological properties.     

Antiinflammatory activity of glucomoringin isothiocyanate in a mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Glucomoringin (4(α-L-rhamnosyloxy)-benzyl glucosinolate) (GMG) is an uncommon member of glucosinolate group belonging to the Moringaceae family, of which Moringa oleifera Lam. is the most widely distributed. Bioactivation of GMG with the enzyme myrosinase forms the corresponding isothiocyanate (4(α-L-rhamnosyloxy)-benzyl isothiocyanate) (GMG-ITC), which can play a key role in antitumoral activity and counteract the inflammatory response. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of GMG-ITC treatment in an experimental mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS), an inflammatory demyelinating disease with neurodegeneration characterized by demyelinating plaques, neuronal, and axonal loss.For this reason, C57Bl/6 male mice were injected with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein35–55 which is able to evoke an autoimmune response against myelin fibers miming human multiple sclerosis physiopatogenesis.Results clearly showed that the treatment was able to counteract the inflammatory cascade that underlies the processes leading to severe MS. In particular, GMG-ITC was effective against proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α. Oxidative species generation including the influence of iNOS, nitrotyrosine tissue expression and cell apoptotic death pathway was also evaluated resulting in a lower Bax/Bcl-2 unbalance. Taken together, this work adds new interesting properties and applicability of GMG-ITC and this compound can be suggested as a useful drug for the treatment or prevention of MS, at least in association with current conventional therapy.     

Effect of process conditions and amylose/amylopectin ratio on the pasting behavior of maize starch: A modeling approach

The effects of different process conditions on the pasting behavior of the 14%, w/w suspensions of high amylose, waxy and normal maize starches at mixing speeds of 50, 160 and 250 rpm with the heating rates of 2.5, 5 and 10 °C/min were investigated. In addition, the impact of the starch mixture with an amylose-amylopectin ratio of 0–70% at 160 rpm and a heating rate of 5 °C/min on the pasting parameters was studied. According to the results, when stirring speed decreased from 250 rpm to 50 rpm, the peak viscosity dramatically increased. Furthermore, both heating and stirring rates significantly affected the pasting properties (p < 0.05). The amylose content of maize starch had a negative correlation with peak viscosity, trough viscosity, breakdown viscosity, final viscosity, and setback viscosity. Besides, syneresis values decreased as amylose content decreased from 70% to 0%. According to the kinetic modelling of pasting curves, starch coefficients were found to be higher than 1 for all starches, indicating that the penetration of water into starch granules increased granule swelling rate. The findings of the present study confirmed that both process conditions and amylose/amylopectin ratio can be optimized without necessity of starch modification to obtain the products with the desired quality.