Platelet‐Rich Fibrin Constructs Elute Higher Concentrations of Transforming Growth Factor‐β1 and Increase Tendon Cell Proliferation Over Time when Compared to Blood Clots: A Comparative In Vitro Analysis

Objective: To compare the concentration of a representative growth factor (transforming growth factor‐beta [TGF‐β]1) eluted from a platelet‐rich fibrin matrix (PRFMatrix), a platelet‐rich fibrin membrane (PRFMembrane), and a whole blood clot (BC) over time, and to compare the mitogenic effect of the eluents from each construct. Study Design: In vitro study. Sample Population: PRFMatrix, PRFMembrane, and BC (n=4/construct/time point). Methods: Each construct was placed in tissue culture wells containing media for 7 days. The media was collected and replenished on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 and the concentration of eluted TGF‐β1 was measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Canine tendon cells were subjected to additional aliquots of the conditioned media and the amount of cell proliferation compared. Results: The media from both PRFM (PRFMatrix and PRFMembrane) constructs contained significantly more (P≤.026) TGF‐β1 at days 1 and 3 and produced a significant increase (P≤.044) in cell proliferation at all time points compared with the BC. The PRFMembrane media contained significantly more (P≤.05) TGF‐β1 at days 1 and 3 and produced a significant increase (P≤.002) in cell proliferation at all time points compared with the PRFMatrix. Conclusions: Both PRFM constructs are comprised of a dense fibrin scaffold that contains increased concentrations of TGF‐β1 and are capable of increasing tendon cell proliferation over time when compared with a BC. Clinical Relevance: The sustained increase in growth factor availability in PRFM constructs may be beneficial in the healing of biologically compromised tissues.     

Trypanosoma evansi infection in mainland Spain

An outbreak of Trypanosoma evansi infection that occurred in mainland Spain is described. The outbreak occurred on an equine and camel farm to which dromedary camels from an infected area of the Canary Islands had recently been introduced. One of these camels developed clinical signs and T. evansi was discovered in a blood smear examination. The herd was evaluated in order to determine the extent of the disease. The results showed that 76% of the camels, 35% of the donkeys and 2% of the horses were affected. The animals were isolated and treated using Cymelarsan^® (0.5 mg/kg). After treatment, three blood analysis using parasitological methods revealed negative results. This is the first T. evansi outbreak to have occurred in mainland Spain and the second in mainland Europe, both occurring after the introduction of dromedary camels from the Canary Islands.     

Linseed oil inclusion in sea bream diets: effect on muscle quality and shelf life

Dietary lipid source in aquaculture has become a central topic in research whilst natural resources availability diminishes. Hence, to weigh up and forecast consumers impressions, the impact of partial (70%) and complete (100%) dietary replacement of fish oil (FO) by linseed oil (LO) on sensory and quality attributes was studied during the edible shelf life of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). Physico‐chemical parameters (pH, torrymeter, total volatile basic nitrogen, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and texture), and sensory analysis, both in cooked and raw fish were carried out during 17 days of ice storage. Throughout ice storage, feeding with LO diets, TBARS values remained lower on muscle than those found when feeding FO control diet. On freshly caught fish (day 0 of ice storage), statistically significant dietary texture variations were recorded on cooked fillet fed FO diet. No sensory differences on Quality Index Method, sensory profile or Torry scheme were found with partial or total LO replacement diets.     

Functional characterization of FaCCD1: a carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase from strawberry involved in lutein degradation during fruit ripening

A gene encoding a carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase class 1 enzyme (FaCCD1) was identified among a strawberry fruit expressed sequence tag collection. The full-length cDNA was isolated, and the expression profiles along fruit receptacle development and ripening, determined by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction, showed that FaCCD1 is a ripening-related gene that reaches its maximal level of expression in the red fully ripe stage. FaCCD1 was expressed in Escherichia coli, and the products formed by the recombinant protein through oxidative cleavage of carotenoids were identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses. The FaCCD1 protein cleaves zeaxanthin, lutein, and beta-apo-8'-carotenal in vitro. Although beta-carotene is not a good substrate for FaCCD1 in vitro, the expression of FaCCD1 in an engineered carotenoid-producing E. coli strain caused the degradation of beta-carotene in vivo. Additionally, the carotenoid profile in strawberry was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode detection, and a correlation between the increase of the expression level of FaCCD1 during ripening and the decrease of the lutein content suggests that lutein could constitute the main natural substrate of FaCCD1 activity in vivo.     

Modeling the Requirements of Agricultural Limestone in Acid Sulfate Soils of Brazil and Colombia

The aim of this study was to model the determination of the amount of agricultural limestone necessary to correct acidification in acid sulfate soils (ASS). This study used 14 equations and the chemical variables of the soils including pH, soil organic matter (SOM), potential acidity (H+ Al), sum of bases (BS), potential acidity (T), base saturation (V) and exchangeable Al with KCl. The results indicated that in the studied, the lowest requirements for doses of limestone (DL) were described by the equations DL = 2.906((H+ Al) (45-V)/100)°⁸⁰, DL = 0.08 + 1.22Al_KCl, DL = 0.6T – BS, and DL = 1.5Al_KCl, with mean values of 29.5, 30.5, 31.5 and 37.4 t ha^?1. In addition, the models with the best correlation for determining the limestone requirements to obtain 80% of the maximum production of sorghum (dry matter) were DL = ?1.43 + 0.9237 (SOM (6-pH)) and DL = ?0.022 + 2.7425 ((H+ Al) (45-V)/100).     

Inhibition of African swine fever infection in the presence of immune sera in vivo and in vitro

In assay cultures, sera from African swine fever convalescent pigs inhibited infection by homologous African swine fever virus. The infection-inhibition capacity did not correspond with the virus-neutralizing capacity. The serum did not prevent infection by heterologous virulent viruses. Sera from pigs challenge inoculated with the homologous virulent virus and later with a heterologous virulent virus inhibited the infection by different heterologous virulent viruses. These sera did not interfere with the infection by pseudorabies virus. The specificity of the reaction indicated that the infection inhibition was caused by antibody.     

Quantitative structure-activity relationship of rubiscolin analogues as delta opioid peptides using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA)

Three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) studies were carried out on a series of 38 rubiscolins as delta opioid peptides using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA). Quantitative information on structure-activity relationships is provided for further rational development and direction of selective synthesis. All models were carried out over a training set including 30 peptides. The best CoMFA model included electrostatic and steric fields and had a moderate Q (2) = 0.503. CoMSIA analysis surpassed the CoMFA results: the best CoMSIA model included only the hydrophobic field and had a Q (2) = 0.661. In addition, this model predicted adequately the peptides contained in the test set. Our model identified that the potency of delta opioid activity of rubiscolin analogues essentially exhibited a significant relationship with local hydrophobic and hydrophilic characteristics of amino acids at positions 3, 4, 5, and 6.