Quantitative Analysis of the Biologically Active Compounds Present in Leaves of Mexican Sweet Potato Accessions: Phenols,Flavonoids, Anthocyanins, 3,4,5-Tri-Caffeoylquinic Acid and 4-Feruloyl-5-Caffeoylquinic Acid

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Sweet potato is one of the oldest crops cultivated in Mexico, and Mesoamerica is considered as a region with the greatest diversity of this species. Therefore, the...     

Influence of lipids in the generation of phenylacetaldehyde in wort-related model systems

The effect of lipids on the formation of the Strecker aldehyde phenylacetaldehyde during wort boiling was studied to determine the role that small changes in the lipid content of the wort have in the production of significant flavor compounds in beer. Wort was treated with 0-2.77 mmol per liter of glucose, linoleic acid, or 2,4-decadienal and heated at 60-98 degrees C for 1 h. After this time, the amount of the Strecker aldehyde phenylacetaldehyde increased in the samples treated with linoleic acid or decadienal but not in the samples treated with glucose. Thus, the amount of phenylacetaldehyde produced in the presence of linoleic acid was 1.1-2.5 times the amount of the Strecker aldehyde produced in the control wort, and this amount increased to 3.6-4.6 times when decadienal was employed. The higher reactivity of decadienal than linoleic acid for this reaction decreased with temperature and was related to the oxidation of linoleic acid that occurred to a higher extent at higher temperatures. The above results suggest that lipids can contribute to the formation of Strecker aldehydes during wort boiling and that changes in the lipid content of the wort will produce significant changes in the formation of Strecker aldehydes in addition to other well-known consequences in beer quality and yeast metabolism. On the other hand, because of the high glucose content in wort, small changes in its content are not expected to affect the amount of Strecker aldehydes produced.     

Excretion of BSE and scrapie prions in stools from murine models

Faeces from infected animals have been suggested as a potential source of contamination and transmission of prion diseases in the environment. This work describes the development of a procedure for the detection of PrP(res) in stools which is based on a detergent-based extraction and immunoprecipitation (IP). The procedure was evaluated by analyzing TSE-spiked sheep and mice faeces, and proved to be specific for PrP(res) with sensitivities of 5-10mug of infected brain tissue. In order to analyze the shedding of prions, we studied stools from orally inoculated mice over 4-days post-inoculation and also stools from terminally sick scrapie-infected mice. PrP(res) was only detected in stools shortly after the oral ingestion of TSE agents. The procedure described could be a useful tool for studying the excretion of prions and for evaluating potential environmental contamination by prions.     

Immunohistochemical Detection of Receptors for Oestrogen and Progesterone in Endometrial Glands and Stroma during the Oestrous Cycle in Nelore (Bos taurus indicus) Cows

The aim of the present study was to monitor endometrial distribution and concentrations of oestrogen receptors α (ERα) and progesterone receptors (PR) by immunohistochemistry in Nelore cows (Bos taurus indicus) during the oestrous cycle. Blood samples were collected for progesterone measurement and endometrial samples were taken from the uterine horn contra lateral to the corpus luteum in 16 cows at days 0 (ovulation), 5, 9, 13 and 19 of the oestrous cycle. Immunostaining evaluation for ERα and PR in the glandular epithelium and uterine stroma was performed by two methods: positive nuclei counting and staining intensity of the nuclei. Specific positive staining reactions for both receptors were limited to cell nuclei and they were not identified in the cytoplasm. The proportion of ERα positive nuclei had a temporal variation throughout the oestrous cycle in both cell types evaluated and was higher in uterine stroma than the glandular epithelium (p < 0.05). The greatest proportion of ERα stained nuclei was observed at oestrus and during the initial and mid luteal phase (days 5, 9 and 13) (p < 0.05) in the glandular epithelium and at days 0, 5 and 9 in the uterine stroma (p < 0.01). The proportion of PR positive nuclei remained constant throughout the entire oestrous cycle for both cell types evaluated (p > 0.05). A higher proportion of PR positive nuclei was measured in the uterine stroma compared with the glandular epithelium (p < 0.05). Intensity of staining for ERα and PR varied throughout the oestrous cycle (p < 0.01). There was a higher staining intensity at days 0 and 5 in the stroma for ERα (p < 0.01) and PR (p < 0.01) and in the glandular epithelium at days 0, 5, 9 and 13 for ERα (p < 0.01) and at days 0, 5 and 9 for PR (p < 0.01) when compared with the other evaluated days. These data demonstrate that ERα and PR expression varied throughout the oestrous cycle in Nelore cows, in general with highest concentrations at oestrus and the lowest during the luteal phase. This is similar to patterns observed in Bos taurus taurus.     

Retrospective – systematic study and quantitative analysis of cellular proliferation and apoptosis in normal, hyperplastic and neoplastic perianal glands in dogs

Neoplasms in the perianal region are frequently diagnosed in dogs. The aetiology is unknown, and most of them are benign. In this study, 240 neoplasms of the perianal glands of dogs were retrieved from the Department of Pathology archives of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechny of University of São Paulo (FMVZ/USP), from 1984 to 2004. All 240 cases were re‐examined by two pathologists. Nine cases (4%) were diagnosed as hyperplasia, 49 (20%) as group I adenoma, 81 (34%) were classified as moderately differentiated adenomas of the group II, 46 (19%) were poorly differentiated adenomas of group II, 48 (20%) were carcinoma of the group III according to the classification proposed by Berrocal, and 7 (13%) were other kind of tumours. Males over 8 years of age were predominantly affected. Cell proliferation was quantified by counting proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positive nuclei, and apoptosis was quantified by counting fluorescent eosin‐stained apoptotic corpuscles (AC) in normal tissue, hyperplasia and in different histologic types of neoplasia of these glands. A parallel pattern of increase in both parameters (cell proliferation and apoptosis) was obtained. The net growth index (NGI), represents how much a cell population is proliferating or dying and was achieved by dividing the mean PCNA count in 1000 cells by the mean AC stain count in 1000 cells. NGI was different between hyperplasia and neoplasia; group I adenomas have a much higher potential of growth, and NGI decreases from benign towards malignant lesions. These results show up the importance of studying cell proliferation and apoptosis to understand the carcinogenesis of dog perianal gland.     

Comparative analysis of in vitro proliferative,migratory and pro-angiogenic potentials of bovine fetal mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow and adipose tissue

Veterinary Research Communications - Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are found in virtually all tissues, where they self-renew and differentiate into multiple cell types. Cumulative data indicate...     

Seasonal and dietary effects on Vitamin D deficiencies detected in wild boar from mid‐western Spain

Vitamin D (VitD) is involved in important mammalian physiological mechanisms, such as Ca–P metabolism, bone development and immunological response. VitD deficiencies are frequently detected in domestic animals and related to various health problems (e.g., rickets, bone deformation). However, knowledge about the status of VitD in wildlife species, such as the wild boar, is scarce. The aims of this work were to explore VitD status in wild boar populations from mid‐western Spain and to elucidate the influence of daylight exposure and food supplementation in levels of VitD. Serum concentration of VitD (measured as 25‐hydroxivitaminD) was assessed in 276 wild boar from 27 game estates located in mid‐western Spain using a commercial ELISA kit. In 19 out of 27 estates, the staff supplied a specific VitD‐enriched food (2,000 UI/Kg) ad libitum throughout the year, while in the remaining estates (8), no food was supplied. Blood samples were extracted from hunted animals (198) between October and February of hunting seasons 2016/2017 and 2017/2018, and from live wild boar (78) that were captured, sampled and released (March–September of 2017). The percentage of animals with VitD deficiency (<20 ng/ml), VitD insufficiency (20–30 ng/ml) and VitD sufficiency (>30 ng/ml) was estimated, and the relationship of these levels to factors like sex, age and season was assessed using chi‐square tests. Furthermore, associations between daylight exposure and supplemental food with VitD levels were explored using linear models. Of the studied wild boar population, 82.2% showed a VitD deficiency or insufficiency. VitD deficiencies were more frequent in animals sampled in winter and spring. Furthermore, levels of VitD positively correlated with daylight exposure and supplemental food intake. Ad libitum supplementation with VitD‐enriched food was insufficient to prevent VitD deficiencies in wild boar from November to April, probably because food consumption is lower during this period.     

Bactericidal and fungicidal activity of Aspergillus ochraceus metabolites and some derivatives

The bactericidal and fungicidal activities of aspyrone and asperlactone, secondary metabolites of Aspergillus ochraceus, and some aspyrone derivatives were studied. In general, aspyrone exhibited better activity than asperlactone or aspyrone derivatives. The inhibition patterns of the assayed compounds were different. Helminthosporium monoceras was the tested mould most inhibited by the studied compounds. The comparative study of the activity of the different compounds showed that the epoxy group seems to be necessary for activity against some micro-organisms. © 1998 SCI