Iron,Copper, and Zinc in Some Fish Species of the Atrato River Delta,Colombian Caribbean

The concentrations of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) were evaluated in 96 samples of the following eight fish species: Centropomus undecimalis, Caranx hippos, Scomberomorus brasiliensis, Lutjanus purpureus, Caranx crysos, Megalops atlanticus, Elops saurus, and Epinephelus itajara collected in the Atrato River Delta in the Gulf of Urabá. Three fish were caught from each of the following common fishing grounds: Bahía Candelaria, Bahía Marirrío, Bocas del Roto, and Bocas del Atrato. Fish were captured during a one-year period, with one specimen per species in each climatic period: dry, transient, and wet. The quantification was performed by microwave plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy. The highest levels of Fe and Cu were found in Caranx crysos, and highest level of Zn in Megalops atlanticus. According to the percentage of the daily value per food serving, Caranx crysos and Caranx hippos are good sources of Fe, and Caranx crysos is a good source of Cu.     

Effects of two diets on lipid composition and reproductive performance of brill (Scophthalmus rhombus) eggs

The effects of two diets with different lipid composition (squid Loligo gahi and one commercial pellet for breeders) on reproductive performance and egg lipid composition of brill (Scophthalmus rhombus) were compared. A total of 36 adult brill weighing 1482 ± 432 g were randomly distributed in the experimental tanks. A flow‐through system composed of four tanks with 4.2 m² of bottom area (5.0 m³ × 1.2 m water depth) was used. The experiment lasted for approximately 5 months (168 days). From the four mature females fed squid, three ovulated. Five females fed pellets matured and ovulated. Total ovulations were of 10 and 44, by the three females fed squid and the five ovulating female fed pellets respectively. Egg viability was higher, although not significantly, for females fed pellets. This indicates that pellets could be a better food for breeding females. In general, the egg total lipid content and the lipid classes composition did not seem to be affected by diet. In contrast, results indicate that not only diets but also individual females, regardless of the diet consumed, are determinant for egg fatty acid composition, clearly modulating their composition.     

Effect of caffeic acid on the color of red wine

The copigmentation effect of prefermentation additions of different doses of caffeic acid was investigated during the 1997 harvest. Microfermentation with the major red grape cultivars Listán negro and Negramoll, grown in the Canary Islands, was carried out with the same protocol. Visible and UV spectra were registered periodically. HPLC chromatograms were carried out. The color enhancement of cv. Negramoll wine varied between 13 and 75% (AU at 520 nm), and that of cv. Listán negro wine between 25 and 45% at the end of fermentation. During aging these values were enhanced to reach even >100% in some cases. An initial complex of the 1:1 type, where one molecule of caffeic acid associates with one molecule of anthocyanin, has been identified using the mathematical procedure of Brouillard et al. (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1989, 111, 2604-2610). Caffeic acid seems to contribute to color stability and protection against oxidation. The importance of nonpigment composition in pigment extraction and color retention during and after fermentation is demonstrated.     

Evaluation of Mercury,Lead, Arsenic,and Cadmium in Some Species of Fish in the Atrato River Delta,Gulf of Urabá, Colombian Caribbean

The concentrations of mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic were evaluated in 96 samples, 12 by each one of the following eight fish species: snook (Centropomus undecimalis), crevalle jack (Caranx hippos), Serra Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus brasiliensis), southern red snapper (Lutjanus purpureus), blue runner (Caranx crysos), Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus), ladyfish (Elops saurus), and Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara), which were collected during 1 year in the Atrato River Delta in the Gulf of Urabá, Colombian Caribbean. Three fish were caught from each of the following sites the community usually uses to catch them (known as fishing grounds): Bahía Candelaria, Bahía Marirrío, Bocas del Roto, and Bocas del Atrato. The quantification of metals was performed by microwave-induced plasma-optical emission spectrometry. The Pb concentration fluctuated from 0.672 to 3.110 mg kg^?1, surpassing the maximum permissible limit (MPL?=?0.3 mg kg^?1) for human consumption for all species. The Hg concentration ranged between < Limit of detection and 6.303 mg kg^?1, and in the crevalle jack and Atlantic tarpon, concentrations exceeded the MPL (0.5 mg kg^?1). The levels of Cd and As were not significant in the studied species and did not exceed the MPL (0.05 mg kg^?1).     

Submerged citric acid fermentation on orange peel autohydrolysate

The citrus-processing industry generates in the Mediterranean area huge amounts of orange peel as a byproduct from the industrial extraction of citrus juices. To reduce its environmental impact as well as to provide an extra profit, this residue was investigated in this study as an alternative substrate for the fermentative production of citric acid. Orange peel contained 16.9% soluble sugars, 9.21% cellulose, 10.5% hemicellulose, and 42.5% pectin as the most important components. To get solutions rich in soluble and starchy sugars to be used as a carbon source for citric acid fermentation, this raw material was submitted to autohydrolysis, a process that does not make use of any acidic catalyst. Liquors obtained by this process under optimum conditions (temperature of 130 degrees C and a liquid/solid ratio of 8.0 g/g) contained 38.2 g/L free sugars (8.3 g/L sucrose, 13.7 g/L glucose, and 16.2 g/L fructose) and significant amounts of metals, particularly Mg, Ca, Zn, and K. Without additional nutrients, these liquors were employed for citric acid production by Aspergillus niger CECT 2090 (ATCC 9142, NRRL 599). Addition of calcium carbonate enhanced citric acid production because it prevented progressive acidification of the medium. Moreover, the influence of methanol addition on citric acid formation was investigated. Under the best conditions (40 mL of methanol/kg of medium), an effective conversion of sugars into citric acid was ensured (maximum citric acid concentration of 9.2 g/L, volumetric productivity of 0.128 g/(L.h), and yield of product on consumed sugars of 0.53 g/g), hence demonstrating the potential of orange peel wastes as an alternative raw material for citric acid fermentation.     

Ultrasound‐assisted periconal ocular blockade in rabbits

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the benefit and specifically the feasibility of using ultrasound in ophthalmologic periconal block, and the occurrence of complications.Study designProspective experimental study.AnimalsTen healthy New Zealand White rabbits (6–8 months of age), weighing 2.0–3.5 kg.MethodsRabbits were anesthetized by intramuscular injection of acepromazine (1 mg kg⁻¹), ketamine (30 mg kg⁻¹) and xylazine (3 mg kg⁻¹). Ultrasound-assisted periconal block with lidocaine was performed on 18 eyes. Intraocular pressure was measured by applanation tonometry whereas corneal sensitivity was assessed using an esthesiometer, before and after each periconal anesthesia.ResultsIn all 18 eyes, it was possible to adequately visualize the needle shaft within the periconal space, as well as muscular cone, optic nerve and local anesthetic solution spread. Lidocaine 2% without epinephrine (0.79 ± 0.19 mL) was injected into the periconal space. There was no statistical difference between the intraocular pressure (mean ± SD) measured before (10.9 ± 2.9 mmHg) and after (11.9 ± 3.8 mmHg) the periconal anesthesia (p = 0.38). The effectiveness of the ultrasound-assisted technique was shown according to the values for corneal sensitivity, assessed before and after periconal anesthesia (p < 0.0001). Complications were not observed in this study.ConclusionsEye ultrasonography allowed visualization of all anatomic structures necessary to perform a periconal block, as well as the needle insertion and anesthetic spread in real time. Further studies are required to prove the real potential of ultrasound for reducing the incidence of complications associated with ophthalmic blocks, especially when anatomic disorders of the eye could potentially increase the risk.Clinical relevanceUltrasonography is a painless, noninvasive tool that may improve safety of ophthalmic regional blocks, potentially by reducing the prevalence of globe perforation or penetration of the optic nerve associated with the needle-based techniques.     

Sugars Profiles of Different Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) and Almond (Prunus dulcis) Cultivars by HPLC-RI

Sugar profiles of different almond and chestnut cultivars were obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), by means of a refractive index (RI) detector. A solid-liquid extraction procedure was used in defatted and dried samples. The chromatographic separation was achieved using a Eurospher 100-5 NH₂ column using an isocratic elution with acetonitrile/water (70:30, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. All the compounds were separated in 16 min. The method was optimized and proved to be reproducible and accurate. Generally, more than 95% of sugars were identified for both matrixes. Sugars profiles were quite homogeneous for almond cultivars; sucrose was the main sugar (11.46 ± 0.14 in Marcona to 22.23 ± 0.59 in Ferragnes g/100 g of dried weight), followed by raffinose (0.71 ± 0.05 in Ferraduel to 2.11 ± 0.29 in Duro Italiano), glucose (0.42 ± 0.12 in Pegarinhos two seeded to 1.47 ± 0.19 in Ferragnes) and fructose (0.11 ± 0.02 in Pegarinhos two seeded to 0.59 ± 0.05 in Gloriette). Commercial cultivars proved to have higher sucrose contents, except in the case of Marcona. Nevertheless, chestnut cultivars revealed a high heterogeneity. Sucrose was the main sugar in Aveleira (22.05 ± 1.48), Judia (23.30 ± 0.83) and Longal (9.56 ± 0.91), while glucose was slightly prevalent in Boa Ventura (6.63 ± 0.49). The observed variance could serve for inter-cultivar discrimination.     

Effect of elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) on phenolic acids,flavonoids, tocopherols,tocotrienols, γ-oryzanol and antioxidant capacities of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

There have been no studies conducted with the objective of investigating the effect of elevated CO₂ concentrations ([CO₂]) on antioxidants in grains. Therefore, a two-year field experiment was conducted using open-top chambers with two levels of atmospheric CO₂ (375 and 550 μmol/mol) to evaluate their effects on rice grain antioxidants. Following exposure to high [CO₂], the total phenolic content of all rice milling fractions decreased (3%–18%), with the highest reduction in the brown rice for sinapic acid (167%), and in the white rice for p-hydroxybenzoic acid (100%). The total flavonoid content also decreased under elevated [CO₂] in all rice milling fractions (8%–14%), with apigenin (25%) being highly affected in the white rice, and tricin (12%) in the bran. The same trend was found for γ-oryzanol, with decreases of 35%, 32%, 25%, and 2% in the white rice, brown rice, husk, and bran, respectively. In the white and brown rices, tocopherols and tocotrienols were all lower under elevated [CO₂], with reductions larger for α-tocotrienol (69%), γ-tocotrienol (46%), and α-tocopherol (38%). Good correlations between antioxidant contents and DPPH radical scavenging capacities indicated that these decreases may be meaningful in the preventive ability of rice against free radical-mediated degenerative diseases.     

Chemometric characterization of fruit juices from Spanish cultivars according to their phenolic compound contents: I. Citrus fruits

The data set composed by phenolic compound profiles of 83 Citrus juices (determined by HPLC-DAD-MS/MS) was evaluated by chemometrics to differentiate them according to Citrus species (sweet orange, tangerine, lemon, and grapefruit). Cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA) showed natural sample grouping among Citrus species and even the Citrus subclass. Most of the information contained in the full data set can be captured if only 15 phenolic compounds (concentration ≥10 mg/L), which can be quantified with fast and accurate methods in real samples, are introduced in the models; a good classification which allows the confirmation of the authenticity of juices is achieved by linear discriminant analysis. Using this reduced data set, fast and routine methods have been developed for predicting the percentage of grapefruit in adulterated sweet orange juices using principal component regression (PCR) and partial least-squares regression (PLS). The PLS model has provided suitable estimation errors.