Detection of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli in meat foods using DNA probes, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and polymerase chain reaction

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) is an important cause of diarrhoea with blood and haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in children and elderly people. Infections with EHEC are a world-wide public health problem, related to consumption of contaminated ground beef. The aim of this study was to establish whether different meat foods sold in Santiago, Chile pose an infection risk by EHEC and to evaluate three different diagnostic techniques in foods, to determine which is most applicable for use in Chile. A parallel analysis was performed on 64 samples of meat foods (23 refrigerated ground meat, 23 refrigerated long pork sausages and 18 frozen hamburgers) sold in Santiago, Chile using DNA probes, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Twenty-four samples (24 of 64 = 37.5%) were positive by DNA probes, ELISA or PCR. The positive and negative predictive values, sensitivity and specificity of ELISA were 26.7, 81.6, 30.8 and 78.4%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values, sensitivity and specificity of PCR were 91.7, 96.2, 84.6 and 98%, respectively. The EHEC serogroups most frequently isolated were O158, O157, O119, O125 and O114. These results show that, although molecular techniques such as enzyme immunoassays are useful for EHEC detection in meat foods, PCR has advantages in terms of sensitivity, specificity, cost and ease of implementation in Chile.     

Alterations triggered by steroid gonadal hormones in triglycerides and the cellular immune response of Calomys callosus infected with the Y strain of Trypanosoma cruzi

Calomys callosus is a wild rodent found naturally infected with different Trypanosoma cruzi strains. In the work described here, groups of male and female C. callosus were subjected to orchiectomy, ovariectomy and sham operation. One month after surgery, animals were inoculated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 4x10(4) blood trypomastigotes of the "Y" strain of T. cruzi. Parasitemia, triglycerides, nitric oxide (NO) and concanavalin A (ConA)-induced proliferation were evaluated. Parasitemia during the course of infection was significantly higher in infected and sham operated animals as compared to infected orchiectomized animals. The opposite was observed in the ovariectomized and infected group. Orchiectomized and infected animals displayed elevated triglyceride levels, as well as a more vigorous immune response, with higher splenocyte proliferation and elevated concentrations of NO. Ovariectomy resulted in an impaired immune response, as observed by a reduction of splenocyte proliferation and NO concentration. The results suggest a pivotal role for gonadal hormones in the modulation of triglyceride levels and the magnitude of the immune response during the acute phase of T. cruzi infection.     

Composition and structure of organosolv lignins from four eucalypt species

Lignins were extracted from different species using organosolv process (ethanol/water). Obtained organosolv lignins were characterised by various methods to determine their composition, structure and functional groups with the purpose of evaluating their potential use for obtaining value-added compounds. The purity of organosolv lignins was determined. The total phenols content and the antioxidant power were analysed in order to know the reactivity of lignins. The ratio S/G was determined by nitrobenzene oxidation. In addition, molecular weight distribution, infrared spectroscopy and thermo gravimetrical analysis were carried out in order to determine the physical and chemical properties of organosolv lignins. Obtained organosolv lignins have very high purity and low sugar and inorganic contamination. All organosolv lignins samples have high polydispersity, and lignin from grey ironbark wood had the highest molecular weight average. Among the organosolv lignins, lemon-scented gum showed the highest average value of S/G ratio and the lowest average value of total phenols.     

Analysis of the influence of gully erosion in the flow pattern of catchment streams, Southeastern Brazil

The baseflow of tributaries to the Velhas River in the northwest region of Ouro Preto County (São Francisco Basin, Brazil) has been declining in the last years, without a simultaneous decrease in the water input. This can only be attributed to badly planned human activities, which result in soil crusting or compaction, erosion, among other types of impact, such as groundwater overexploitation and wetland drainage. Almost all of the study area has been eroded by hundreds of large-size gullies. In order to analyze the influence of erosion in the hydrological behavior of small streams, two similar and contiguous catchments were selected. The only remarkable difference between them is a gully that occupies circa 42% of one of the catchments (“eroded catchment”). Rainfall, flow rates and chemical data were obtained throughout a hydrological year and the results showed that the eroded catchment presented smaller baseflow rates and bigger but short-lived stormflows. This contrasting flow regime is attributed to the gully, which is causing the partial withdraw of the regolith and the exposure of weathered rock. As the regolith has smaller hydraulic conductivities and higher storage coefficients, the exposure of weathered rock on the gully floor explains the odd flow behavior of the eroded catchment. Other studies in the same region confirm the impact caused by the gullies. Thus, the superposition of many gullies can cause decrease of the baseflow and increase of the stormflow. As gullies are very common erosion features in Brazil, they should be much more studied in order to better understand this and other similar types of environmental impact.     

Quantitative determinations of chemical compounds with nutritional value from inca crops:Chenopodium quinoa (‘quinoa’)

Quantitative determinations of total and soluble proteins, total and free sugars, starch, total lipids, tanins, ash (Ca, Na, K, Fe, and P), and caloric value were carried out on quinoa flour.Results show that the amount of soluble proteins was higher than the standard value for wheat and maize and was very close to that of barley's. The yield of free sugars like glucose (4.55%), fructose (2.41%) and sucrose (2.39%) were also of importance.Iron and calcium levels were higher than the reported values for maize and barley. The same occurred for the caloric value (435.5 Kcal/100 g).The content of saponins was also examined since its effect on red blood cells of group A and O has been related as a potential problem of the Andes population.From the chemical analysis a more complete view about quinoa as human food was presented.     

Structural collapse prevents beta-carotene loss in a supercooled polymeric matrix

The kinetics of degradation and surface color changes of beta-carotene encapsulated in a polymeric matrix (PVP-40) and its relationship with physical changes (manifested as structural collapse) of the matrix were studied during storage of samples at several water activities at constant temperature. The degradation rate constants obtained decreased with an increase in the relative humidity (RH) of the storage atmosphere. Beta-carotene losses were observed mainly at RHs below the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the corresponding systems, and the lower degradation constant rates were observed under conditions where the matrices were fully plasticized (i.e., rubbery) and collapsed (RH, 64 and 75%). An inverse correlation was observed between collapse and degradation rate constants. The results presented here indicated that the molecular mobility of the matrix is not rate limiting for the degradation of beta-carotene. Factors such as microstructure and porosity of the polymeric matrix may be more important as modifiers of kinetic reactions. Surface color was not a sensitive indicator of beta-carotene retention, because it was mostly affected by the degree of matrix hydration and collapse phenomena.     

Accompanying ions of ammonium sources and nitrate : ammonium ratios in tomato plants

The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivar Micro‐Tom (MT) is widely used in physiological studies, but the effects of nitrate ( ) and ammonium ( ) ratios ( : ratios) and, in particular, the effects of the accompanying ions in sources are unknown. To determine whether the accompanying ions in sources influence toxicity, the effects of : ratios on the physiology, electrolyte leakage index, nutrition, and dry weight were studied using hydroponics. The sources were ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl) or ammonium sulfate [(NH₄)₂SO₄], and five : ratios were used: 100 : 0, 75 : 25, 50 : 50, 25 : 75, and 0 : 100. The source was calcium nitrate [Ca(NO₃)₂], and the nitrogen (N) concentration was 15 mmol L^?1. The results indicate that NH₄Cl or (NH₄)₂SO₄ can be used in studies on toxicity because the accompanying ions did not influence the tomato plants. In addition, : ratios of 100 : 0 and 75 : 25 resulted in the highest dry weight of tomato plants, whereas ratios of 25 : 75 or 0 : 100 were toxic.     

Variation of Seed Mineral Concentrations in Seven Quinoa Cultivars Grown in Two Agroecological Sites

Variations in concentration and tissue distribution of mineral elements in seeds of seven quinoa cultivars from both a “natural” habitat (Patacamaya, Bolivia, 3,960 m above sea level) and a “nonnatural” habitat (Encalilla, Argentina, 1,980 m above sea level) were analyzed. Data clearly showed inter‐ and intravarietal differences in seed mineral concentrations between the two sites. Correlation analysis revealed that concentrations of major and minor dietary minerals as well as essential ultratrace elements of Encalilla seeds showed, in general, higher correlations with both seed protein and seed yield than did element concentrations of Patacamaya seeds. Results of scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy showed clearly differences in the contents of major mineral elements (calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and sulfur) in the pericarp and embryonic axis (cotyledon + radicle). Obtained data could indicate that genotype × environment interactions are responsible for mineral variations occurring in quinoa cultivars. Results can also be useful for developing mineral biofortification strategies for the world's poorest regions.