Redox chemistry of red wine. Quantification by an oscillating reaction of the overall antioxidant power as a function of the temperature

The redox and acid-base reactivity of red wines was studied from both the analytical and kinetic standpoint. Four homemade wines, made from Italian red grape varieties of two different vintages, were tested to study the effect of temperature (25 and 37 degrees C) on the overall antioxidant power, through the Briggs-Rauscher oscillating reaction. The reaction was monitored by potentiometry (platinum electrode) and by direct chronometric detection. A reference scale based on the response of gallic acid was also employed, so as to achieve a quantitative evaluation: the novel Briggs-Rauscher antioxidant index (BRAI) was developed to express the overall antioxidant power quantitatively versus the chosen standard molecule. Overall antioxidant power was found to be related to total polyphenol content measured using the Folin-Ciocalteu method: the older wines had a lower antioxidant ability. Total acidity was also estimated indirectly by means of coupled pH-metric/photometric titrations and visible spectrophotometric measurements; it revealed an overlap between acid-base and redox chemistry of red wine.     

Effect of a tomato-based drink on markers of inflammation, immunomodulation, and oxidative stress

Regular consumption of tomato and its products is being consistently associated with lower risk of several types of cancer and, to a lesser extent, coronary heart disease. Among the many tomato components credited with healthful properties, carotenoids and particularly lycopene are being actively investigated. Given the recognized role of immune/inflammatory processes in atherogenesis, the effects of a tomato-based drink (Lyc-o-Mato), which was previously shown to afford DNA protection from oxidative stress, on the modulation of immune and inflammatory markers (by enzyme immunoessay), on basal lymphocyte DNA damage (by comet assay), and on F2-isoprostane excretion (by LC-MS/MS), were investigated in 26 healthy young volunteers. In a placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study, Lyc-o-Mato (5.7 mg of lycopene, 3.7 mg of phytoene, 2.7 mg of phytofluene, 1 mg of beta-carotene, and 1.8 mg of alpha-tocopherol) or a placebo drink (same taste and flavor, but devoid of active compounds) were given for 26 days, separated by a wash-out period. During the study subjects maintained their habitual, hence unrestricted, diet. TNF-alpha production by whole blood was 34.4% lower after 26 days of drink consumption, whereas the other parameters were not significantly modified by the treatment. In turn, modest effects of the regular intake of a tomato drink, providing small amounts of carotenoids, were found on the production of inflammatory mediators, such as TNF-alpha, in young healthy volunteers. Future intervention trials in subjects with low carotenoid status and/or compromised immune system will resolve the issue of whether carotenoids modulate immune parameters in humans.     

Corrected surface energy balance to measure and model the evapotranspiration of irrigated orange orchards in semi-arid Mediterranean conditions

In this paper, based on the analysis of a long-term energy balance monitoring programme, a Bowen ratio-based method (BR) was proposed to resolve the lack of closure of the eddy covariance technique to obtain reliable sensible (H) and latent heat fluxes (λE). Evapotranspiration (ET) values determined from the BR method (ET_c,corr) were compared with the upscaled transpiration data determined by the sap flow heat pulse (HP) technique, evidencing the degree of correspondence between instantaneous transpirational flux at tree level and the micrometeorological measurement of ET at orchard level. Using the BR-corrected λE fluxes, a crop ET model implementing the Penman–Monteith approach, where the canopy surface resistance was determined from standard microclimatic variables, was applied to determine the crop coefficient values. The performance of the model was evaluated by comparing it with the sap flow HP data. The results of the comparison were satisfactory, and therefore, the proposed methodology may be considered valid for characterizing the ET process for orange orchards grown in a Mediterranean climate. By contrast to reports in the FAO 56 paper, the crop growth coefficient of the orange orchard being studied was not constant throughout the growing season.     

Mycoplasma synoviae invades non-phagocytic chicken cells in vitro

Mycoplasma synoviae and Mycoplasma gallisepticum are major poultry pathogens, but their strains differ significantly in invasiveness and pathogenicity. Recent studies have demonstrated that M. gallisepticum invades chicken erythrocytes (CER) and chicken embryonic fibroblasts. The aim of this study was to determine whether M. synoviae also invades chicken cells. Using the gentamicin invasion assay, relative invasion frequency (RIF) of four M. synoviae strains was determined for CER, chicken embryonic cell line (CEC-32) and/or primary chicken chondrocytes (CCH). All tested strains of M. synoviae were capable of invading chicken cells within 24 h after infection. The type strain WVU 1853 showed significantly higher invasiveness in CER (RIF 7.5 ± 1.5%) and CEC-32 (RIF 7.0 ± 0.3%) than field strain ULB 02/T6 and M. gallisepticum strain R_low. Surprisingly, WVU 1853, which is capable of causing synovitis and arthritis in chickens, was less invasive for CCH with a RIF (1.2 ± 0.3%) similar to that of R_low (1.1 ± 0.1%). This is the first study documenting the invasiveness of M. synoviae strains for non-phagocytic chicken cells.     

Potential food additives from Carex distachya roots: identification and in vitro antioxidant properties

In the present study, the chemical composition and antioxidant properties of root methanol extract of Carex distachya Desf. (Cyperaceae) were assessed to use this plant as sources of food additives and nutraceuticals. The IC50 of the extract (4.2 microg/mL), derived from the DPPH radical scavenging capacity assay, was similar to those of ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, and BHT. These results revealed a strong antioxidant activity because of the presence of an extraordinary quantity of bioactive phytochemicals. The phytochemical study of the root extract led to the isolation and identification of new and known polyphenols, most of them common constituents of plant foods. A total of 16 polyphenols, identified on the basis of spectroscopic data as 7 lignans, 4 phenylethanoids, 3 resveratrol derivatives, a monolignol, and a secoiridoid glucoside, were isolated. The tentative structural elucidation of the new metabolites 5'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-3,3'-dimethoxy-7,9'-epoxylignan-4,8',9-triol and 3,5-bis-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-3'-methoxy-trans-stilben-4'-ol have been performed by a combined approach using ESI/TQ/MS techniques and 1D and 2D NMR experiments. All of the compounds have been tested for their antioxidant activity using six different antioxidant and radical scavenging tests. Interestingly, the extract contained high quantities of polyphenols, most of them reported as constituents of edible plants, such as grape and olive, suggesting that the methanol root extract of this plant could be used as a source of natural antioxidants useful as potential food additives.     

Nodular presentation of Dirofilaria repens infection in a cat mimicking a fibrosarcoma

A cat with multiple subcutaneous nodules suggesting a soft tissue sarcoma by physical and computed tomographic examination was diagnosed as being affected by subcutaneous filariosis based on cytologic and ultrasonographic assessments. Nodules were surgically removed and extracted nematodes were identified by PCR as Dirofilaria repens. Furthermore, DNA of Dipetalonema dracunculoides (syn. Acantocheilonema dracunculoides) was detected by PCR, with no evidence of circulating microfilariae. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this represents the first report describing adults of D repens in multiple subcutaneous nodules in a cat. Cytopathologic examination allowed characterization of the parasitic nature of the nodules. Veterinary practitioners should be aware of the possible nodular presentation of D repens in cats and should include D repens in the differential diagnosis of subcutaneous neoformations in the cat.     

Pulmonary Angiomatosis and Hemangioma in Common Dolphins (Delphinus delphis) Stranded in Canary Islands

Vascular tumors and disorders, like angiomatosis, are rarely described in cetacean species. A retrospective histological study was carried out on lung samples from 35 common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) stranded in the Canary Islands coasts looking for morphological vascular changes and likely related causes. Twenty-five out of thirty-five (71%) common dolphins showed focal or multifocal angiomatosis-like lesions. A high association between this type of vascular proliferation and parasitic infestation was observed. In addition, a single pulmonary cavernous hemangioma not previously reported in common dolphins is presented.     

Paraneoplastic hypereosinophilia in a dog with intestinal T-cell lymphoma

A 9-year-old, intact male Doberman Pinscher was examined because of anorexia and weakness. Results of a CBC showed severe, microcytic, hypochromic anemia with mild eosinophilia (2944 cells/microL, reference interval 100-1250/microL) and thrombocytosis. Hypoferremia, hypoferritinemia, and a positive fecal occult blood test supported a diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia secondary to chronic intestinal hemorrhage. Abdominal ultrasound evaluation showed a thickened small intestinal loop, of which representative specimens were obtained during exploratory laparotomy. Histologically, the intestinal wall was infiltrated by a neoplastic population of large, round, lymphoid cells with vesicular chromatin, 1 or more prominent nucleoli, and a high number of mitotic figures. The cells were closely admixed with mature eosinophils, but were negative for metachromatic granules with toluidine blue. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells were positive for CD3, and negative for CD21, Pan B, and CD79a. A diagnosis of intestinal T-cell lymphoma was made. Chemotherapy was begun, with 30 mg/m;2 of doxorubicin administered intravenously every 3 weeks. Eosinophil concentration was 880/microL 2 weeks after surgery (on day 15 after presentation) but increased markedly to 62,914/microL on day 30, 62,400/microL on day 37, and 39,444/microL on day 58 after presentation. An association between hypereosinophilia and T-cell lymphoma is well established in human patients, in whom production of IL-5 by neoplastic T cells has been demonstrated. Hypereosinophilia has been reported only rarely with intestinal lymphoma in cats and horses, and with T-cell lymphoma in dogs.     

Haemangiopericytoma: histological spectrum, immunohistochemical characterization and prognosis

Canine haemangiopericytoma (CHP) is a vascular neoplasm thought to be derived from pericytes. The histological pattern and immunohistochemical profile were studied in 31 CHPs. Twenty-three subjects were followed for 2 years to evaluate the correlation among tumour location, histotype, immunostaining and outcome of the disease. Of the 31 CHPs examined, 20 exhibited a perivascular whorled pattern, 8 were storiform and 3 were epithelioid. All tumours were positive for vimentin and negative for cytokeratin, factor VIII-related antigen, glial fibrillary acidic protein and S-100 protein. Seventeen CHPs were positive for actin and nine co-expressed desmin. Six CHPs were also positive for CD34 antigen. The panel of immunohistochemical markers used confirmed the vascular lineage of CHP and aided in the exclusion of other mesenchymal tumours. Of the 23 dogs submitted to follow-up, 6 had recurrence or metastases of the primary tumour. The epithelioid pattern or a noncutaneous location were associated with a poorer prognosis.