Hepatitis E virus in Cuba: A cross-sectional serological and virological study in pigs and people occupationally exposed to pigs

Surveillance of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in risk groups is an important strategy to monitor its circulation pattern and to timely detect changes thereof. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to estimate the prevalence of HEV infections in pigs and humans from different regions of the country, to identify risk factors for increasing anti-HEV IgG prevalence and to characterize HEV strains. The presence of anti-HEV antibodies was assessed by commercial ELISA in serum samples from the general population, farm and slaughterhouse employees, as well as pigs sampled in the three regions of Cuba from February to September 2016. Overall, individuals with occupational exposure to swine or swine products (70/248, 28.2%) were 4 times more likely to be seropositive compared to the general population (25/285, 8.7%; OR: 4.18; p < .001). Within the risk group, risk factors included age, number of years working in a professional activity with direct exposure to swine, geographic region and distance between residence and closest professional swine setting, while wearing gloves had a protective effect. Prevalence of total anti-HEV antibodies in swine was 88.2% (165/187) and HEV RNA was detected by real-time RT-PCR in 9.2% (16/173) swine stools. All HEV strains sequenced clustered within genotype 3. Some strains clearly belonged to subtype 3a, while another group of strains was related with subtypes 3b and 3 k but partial HEV sequences did not allow unequivocal subtype assignment. These findings suggest that the high HEV exposure in Cuban individuals with swine-related occupations could be due to enzootic HEV in certain regions, direct contact with infectious animals or their products as well as environmental contamination.     

Effect of the Nixtamalization Process on the Dietary Fiber Content,Starch Digestibility,and Antioxidant Capacity of Blue Maize Tortilla

Nixtamalization is an ancient process developed by the Mesoamerican cultures. Initially, volcanic ashes were used and then calcium hydroxide in commercial production, and more recently nixtamalization with calcium salts (NCS) has been proposed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of NCS on carbohydrate digestibility and antioxidant capacity in the elaboration of blue maize tortillas. NCS in blue tortillas showed a high amount of total dietary fiber (14.27 g/100 g), the main fraction being insoluble dietary fiber. The contents of resistant starch and slowly digestible starch did not change with the nixtamalization process. The predicted glycemic index value was lower in blue tortillas with the NCS process (58) than with the traditional nixtamalization process (71). In general, NCS in blue tortillas presented a higher antioxidant capacity than traditional tortillas (ferric reducing antioxidant power method), indicating that phenolics present in blue maize maintain their activity after cooking. It can be concluded that the nutraceutical features (high dietary fiber content and antioxidant capacity) of blue maize tortillas are enhanced when they are elaborated with the NCS process.     

Soyabean-seed Yield Response in Row- and Hill-plots under a Recurrent Selection Programme

Several studies have indicated a possible link between genome size and earliness in maize. In this study, an original maize population, South African photo-period insensitive maize composite II (C₀) and several selected generations were analyzed for days to flowering, plant height, ear height, and yield. The selection criterion was earliness. Over six cycles of selection a 14-day decrease in days to flowering was obtained with no significant reduction in grain yield. In the initial population (C₀) and the most advanced selection (C₆) 101 plants were analyzed for nuclear DNA content. A significant decrease in the mean nuclear DNA content of the C₀ population (102 AU) was observed with respect to the C₀ population (105 AU). This reduction was the result of a decrease in frequency of plants in the C₆ population with large genome sizes. Therefore it was concluded that selection for earliness resulted in selection against plants with large genome sizes. Hence, the nucleotype of a maize plant can be modified by selection such as early flowering time.     

Genotypic differences in organogenesis from callus of ten triticale lines

Summary Callus was obtained from immature excised embryos of triticale using MS medium supplemented with 3 mg/l 2,4-D and 1 mg/l kinetin. The presence of 2,4-D was essential for continued callus proliferation. Plantlets were induced from the calli by sub-culturing on medium either devoid of auxin or containing 0.1 mg/l 2,4-D. The capacity to produce callus and to form organs and plantlets differed markedly among the genotypes used. Lines also had distinct response to presence and absence of 2,4-D in the regeneration media. The callus of most triticale lines used differentiated into organs more readily on MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/l 2,4-D than on medium without growth regulators. Very high frequencies (up to 75%) of plantlet regeneration were observed in several of the triticale lines studied.     

Volatile compounds of Psidium salutare (H.B.K.) Berg. fruit

Volatile compounds were isolated from Psidium salutare fruits by simultaneous steam distillation-solvent extraction according to the Likens-Nickerson procedure. Compounds were identified by capillary GC and GC-MS. One hundred and fifty compounds were identified in the aroma concentrate, from which limonene, myrcene, and alpha-pinene were found to be the major constituents in the fruit.     

Pharmacokinetics of marbofloxacin after a single oral dose to loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta)

The single-dose disposition kinetics of marbofloxacin (MBX) were determined in clinically healthy loggerhead sea turtles (n = 5) after oral (PO) administration of 2 mg kg⁻¹ bodyweight. Marbofloxacin plasma concentrations were determined by DAD–HPLC (LOD/LOQ 0.015/0.05 μg ml⁻¹). Data were subjected to non-compartmental analysis. Following PO administration, marbofloxacin achieved maximum plasma concentrations of 11.66 ± 2.53 mg L⁻¹ at 15.00 ± 3.00 h. The absence of general adverse reactions in the turtles of the study, and the favourable pharmacokinetic properties (long half-life and high maximum plasma concentration) of MBX administered PO at the single-dose of 2 mg kg⁻¹ suggest the possibility of its safe and effective clinical use in loggerhead sea turtles.     

A nucleation site and mechanism leading to epitaxial growth of diamond films

A diamond nucleation site responsible for epitaxial growth of diamond on silicon by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is identified in high-resolution transmission electron microscopic images. Other sites in the same sample leading to polycrystalline growth, but deleterious to epitaxial CVD growth, are also described. A mechanism for the heteroepitaxial growth of diamond is suggested, in which etching of the nondiamond carbon binder exposes and removes nonadherent nanodiamond nuclei, leaving intact only those directly nucleated on the silicon substrate. This work enhances our understanding of diamond nucleation and heteroepitaxial growth and its potential applications.     

Value of Vicia faba for promoting the recovery of protein depleted rats

A comparative study has been made of the effects of the refeeding of rats with Casein andVivia faba diets used to promobe recovery from hypoproteinemia produced by a protein free diet.During protein fasting, loss of body weight, decrease in liver protein and increase in liver lipid content were observed. The levels for total serum proteins, albumin, and -globulin decreased, and the level for -globulin increased.The growth rate and the recovery of the hepatic parameters of the rats refed onVicia faba were similar to those of the rats refed on Casein with the same protein level. 12% protein diets bothVicia faba and Casein, were less effective than those of 20% in reducing hepatic lipids to normal level. Vicia faba did not have the same effect as Casein on the recovery of serum proteins. Recovery of the serum fractions to normal was observed in rats refed on Casein; in rats refed on 12%Vicia faba there was a slight increase in total serum proteins but no significant change in the albumin content was observed.ThusVicia faba appear to be effective in the recovery of the body weight of depleted rats but not so effective as Casein in the recovery of serum protein fractions.

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Zusammenfassung Eine vergleichende Studie wurde über die Wirkung einer Ernährung, die aus einer Diät von Casein undVicia faba bestand, durchgeführt. Ziel dieser Studie war die Wiederherstellung der Ratten nach Hypoproteinämie, verursacht durch eine vorangegangene Eiweiß-freie Ernährung.Während des Protein-Fastens beobachtete man einen Verlust an Körpergewicht und an Eiweiß in der Leber sowie einen Anstieg der Leber-Lipide. Während dieser Periode ergab sich gleichzeitig eine Reduzierung der gesamten Eiweiße im Serum, in den Albuminen und -Globulinen sowie ein Ansteigen in -Globulinen.Die Ratten, die dann wieder mitVicia faba ernährt wurden, zeigten ein Wachstum und eine Wiederherstellung der Leberparameter in ähnlicher Weise wie Ratten, die wiederernährt wurden mit dem gleichen Anteil an Eiweiß aus Casein. Die 12%-Eiweiß-Diät für Ratten — gleich ob sie aus Casein oder ausVicia faba kam — war weniger wirksam bezüglich einer Reduzierung der Leberlipide zu normalen Werten als die 20%ige.

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Résumé Il a été réalisé une étude comparative de l'effet de la réalimentation par diètes de Caséine ou deVicia faba sur la récupération de l'hypoprotéinémie provoquée chez les rats par alimentation préalable par diète aprotéinique.Pendant le jeune protéique, nous observons une perte du poids corporal et des protéines du foie ainse qu'un accroissement des lipides hépatiques. C'est à cette période que se produit également une diminution des protéines sériques totales, albumine et -globuline et un accroissement des -globulines.Les rats réalimentés parVicia faba présentaient pour le même niveau protéique une croissance et une récupération des paramètres hépatiques semblables à celles des rats réalimentés par diètes de Caséine. L'efficacité des diètes à 12% de protéines, fussentelles de Caséine ou deVicia faba, est moindre que celles à 20% pour ramener les lipides hépatiques à des valeurs normales.La capacité de récupération des fractions protéiques sériques des diètes deVicia faba est différente de celle des diètes de Caséine. C'est ainsi que les rats réalimentés par Caséine recouvraient toutes ces fractions sériques à leurs valeurs normales. D'autre part, les rats réalimentés par diète deVicia faba à 12% présentaient un accroissement léger en protéines sériques totales, sans changement significatif en albumine.LaVicia faba semble ainsi être effective pour la récupération du poids corporel des rats soumis à un jeune protéique, mais elle n'est pas aussi efficace que la Caséine pour ramener les fractions protéiques sériques à leurs valeurs normales.