Stability of virgin olive oil. 2. Photo-oxidation studies

Virgin olive oil samples with similar oxidative stabilities and fatty acid compositions were exposed to 12100 lx (25 +/- 1 degrees C) in closed bottles until bleached. The observed low changes in the substrate and polar phenols were related to oxygen availability. HPLC monitoring showed that pheophytin agradual degradation (> 90%) was accompanied by a considerable alpha-tocopherol loss (22-35%) due to the reaction of the latter with singlet oxygen. No changes were recorded for carotenoids, which acted as physical quenchers and light filters. Squalene loss was confined (4-12%). Complementary experiments on the activity of pheophytin a, using olive oil models, indicated a concentration dependence, enhanced by oxygen availability. In closed bottles, the degradation rate constant was higher at low amounts of pheophytin a. Squalene was preferentially consumed to protect alpha-tocopherol. An urgent change in the practice of packaging is needed to preserve the precious characteristics of the product during commercialization.     

Rapid, fully automated flow injection antioxidant capacity assay

A flow injection method for antioxidant capacity assessment based on a low-cost laboratory-made analyzer is reported. A sample of 30 microL is injected in acetate buffer stream, pH 4.6, that converges with ABTS*(+) reagent stream. Detection is achieved by monitoring absorbance at 414 nm. The proposed method achieves a sample throughput of up to 120 samples h(-1), the detection limit being 1.3 microM trolox. Precision was better than 5% relative standard deviation (n = 4) and the linear range was 4-100 microM, expanded to 250 microM trolox utilizing concentration gradients formed along the injected sample bolus. Information on reaction kinetics is obtained through a single injection. The method was applied to pure compounds and wine and honey samples. Good correlation was found between antioxidant capacity assessed through the proposed method and phenolic content: r = 0.94 for red wines, r = 0.96 for white and rose wines, and r = 0.89 for honeys.     

The Impact of Cl ?? Cd Interrelationship on Planning Wastewater Reuse in Cabbage

Two greenhouse pot experiments were conducted in Agrinion, Greece, using a randomized block design in four replications, respectively, as follows: The first one included five levels of treated municipal wastewater (TMWW), being used as an irrigation water source. The second one, five levels of applied Cl at a constant soil applied Cd level of 10.36?mg/kg soil, the plants being irrigated with fresh well water. The purpose of these experiments was to study the impact of the Cl ?? Cd interrelationship on planning TMWW reuse, for the irrigation of Brassica oleracea var. Capitata (cabbage) cv F1 Gloria, ehich was used as test plant, in both of these experiments. It was found that the TMWW Cl content, originating mainly from the procedure of wastewater chlorination, was synergistically interrelated with the toxic heavy metal Cd, increasing its soil availability and cabbage plant leaf uptake (edible plant part). As this increase is directly associated with the consumer??s health, it was suggested that the TMWW be subjected to dechlorination process or the disinfection be made by ozonation or UV, which do not include Cl.     

Biological Control of Botrytis cinerea by Volatiles of 'Isabella' Grapes

ABSTRACT The effect of volatiles from cv. Isabella (Vitis labrusca) on the growth of Botrytis cinerea was tested in vitro and in situ, in the latter case on 'Roditis' grapes (V. vinifera), at various temperatures. The goal of the research was to determine whether the volatiles emitted by Isabella grapes could be effective biocontrol agents of Botrytis cinerea. The closed Mariotte system was used as a bioassay method to analyze quantitatively the biological action of these volatiles on fungal growth and disease development. The in vitro experiments revealed the inhibitory action of the Isabella volatiles on the sporulation and sclerotia formation of the fungus, as well as the stimulating action of the Roditis volatiles on the sporulation of the fungus. The in situ study confirmed the antifungal action of the Isabella volatiles as they reduced the inoculum and pathogenicity of B. cinerea. The antibiotic action was more pronounced at 21 degrees C. The study indicates that Isabella volatiles act as biocontrol agents of B. cinerea.     

Survival,food consumption and growth of Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) kept in laboratory conditions

Successful commercial aquaculture of crustacean species is dependent on satisfying their nutritional requirements and on producing rapidly growing and healthy animals. The results of the present study provide valuable information for feeding habits and growth of Nephrops norvegicus L., 1758) under laboratory conditions. The aim of the present study was to examine food consumption, growth and physiology of the Norway lobster N. norvegicus under laboratory conditions. N. norvegicus (15 g wet weight) were distributed into 1001 tanks consisting of five numbered compartments each. They were fed the experimental diets (frozen mussels and pellets) for a period of 6 months. A group of starved Nephrops was stocked and fasted for 8 months. Although Nephrops grew well when fed the frozen mussels diet, feeding on a dry pellet feed was unsatisfactory. The starvation group, despite the fact that showed the highest mortality (50%), exhibited a remarkable tolerance to the lack of food supply. The study offers further insight by correlating the amino acid profiles of Nephrops tail muscle with the two diets. The deviations from the mussel's diet for asparagine, alanine and glutamic acid suggest a deficiency of these amino acids in this diet. The results of the present study showed that the concentrations of free amino acids are lower in relative amount than those of protein-bound amino acids, except for arginine, proline and glycine. The present study contributes to the improvement of our knowledge on nutritional requirements of the above species.     

Ulvan-Based Nanofibrous Patches Enhance Wound Healing of Skin Trauma Resulting from Cryosurgical Treatment of Keloids

Keloids are skin fibroproliferative disorders, resulting from abnormal healing of deep cutaneous injuries. Cryosurgery, the most common treatment for keloids, causes skin traumas. Even though the clinical practice of cryosurgery has increased, effective wound healing therapy is still lacking. In this investigation, nonwoven nanofibrous patches composed of ulvan, a marine sulfated polysaccharide exhibiting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, and polyethylene oxide (PEO) were fabricated through electrospinning and characterized. Their wound healing efficacy on skin traumas resulting from cryosurgical treatment of keloids was clinically tested and evaluated in comparison to a reference product. Twenty-four volunteer patients undergoing cryosurgery as a treatment of keloids were selected to apply either the ulvan/PEO patch or the reference product for 21 days. The ulvan/PEO patch, 21 days after cryosurgery, showed significant wound healing, elimination of skin inflammation, restoration of biophysical parameters similar to normal values and significant decrease in haemoglobin concentration, skin texture and volume, while no discomfort or adverse reaction was observed. In contrast, the reference product showed inferior performance in all evaluated parameters. The designed ulvan/PEO patch represents the first wound dressing to effectively heal skin trauma after cryosurgical treatment of keloids.     

Yolk‐sac larval development of the substrate‐brooding cichlid Archocentrus nigrofasciatus in relation to temperature

In order to conserve and culture the cichlid fish Archocentrus nigrofasciatus, more information about its reproductive biology and its larval behavior and morphogenesis is necessary. Currently, temperatures ranging from 21 to 27 °C are used in ornamental aquaculture hatcheries. Lower temperatures are preferred to reduce the costs of water heating, and 23 °C is usually the selected temperature. However, there is limited information on culturing protocols for ornamental species and most of the information generated on this topic remains scarce. Thus, the present study examines the morphological development of Archocentrus nigrofasciatus during the yolk‐sac period up to the age of 100 h post‐hatching in relation to 2 temperature regimes used in ornamental aquaculture: a temperature of 27 °C (thermal optimum) and a decreased temperature of 23 °C (thermal tolerance). The results of this study suggest that the 27 °C temperature generates intense morphological changes in yolk‐sac development in a shorter period. This has advantages as it reduces the time of yolk‐sac larval development, and, thus, minimizes the transition phase to exogenous feeding and maximizes the efficiency at which yolk is converted into body tissues. The present paper provides necessary information to produce freshwater ornamental fish with better practices so as to increase larval survival and capitalize on time for growth.     

Clinical and neuropathological features of West Nile virus equine encephalomyelitis in Italy

West Nile (WN) virus infection is a mosquito-borne flavivirosis endemic in Africa and Asia. Clinical disease is usually rare and mild and only in a few cases the infection causes encephalomyelitis in horses, fever and meningoencephalitis in man. We report here the clinical and pathological findings in an epidemic of the disease involving 14 horses from Tuscany, Italy. All cases were observed from August to October 1998. Affected horses showed ataxia, weakness paresis of the hindlimbs and, in 6 cases, there was paraparesis progressing to tetraplegia and recumbency within 2 to 9 days. Eight animals recovered without any important consequences. Serological investigations revealed positivity to WN virus in all the 14 horses and the agent was isolated from the cerebellum and spinal cord of an affected horse. Postmortem examination was carried out on 6 horses. The neuropathological pattern was that of a mild to moderate, nonsuppurative polioencephalomyelitis with constant involvement of the ventral horns of the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord, where focal gliosis and haemorrhage were also apparent in some cases. Differential diagnoses with other equine viral encephalomyelitides are discussed. Climatological and environmental characteristics of the geographic area in which the outbreaks occurred suggest the existence of suitable conditions for the development of the disease. This is the first report of WN virus equine encephalomyelitis in Italy.     

Auranofin improves overall survival when combined with standard of care in a pilot study involving dogs with osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is the most common paediatric primary bone malignancy. The major cause of death in osteosarcoma is drug‐resistant pulmonary metastasis. Previous studies have shown that thioredoxin reductase 2 is a driver of metastasis in osteosarcoma and can be inhibited by auranofin (AF). Moreover, studies have shown that AF significantly reduces pulmonary metastases in xenotransplant models. Here, we describe a phase I/II study of AF in canine osteosarcoma, a well‐recognized spontaneous model of human osteosarcoma. We performed a single‐arm multicentre pilot study of AF in combination with standard of care (SOC) (amputation + carboplatin). We recruited 40 dogs to the trial and used a historical SOC‐only control group (n = 26). Dogs >15 kg received 9 mg AF q3d PO and dogs <15 kg received 6 mg q3d. Follow‐up occurred over at least a 3‐year period. Auranofin plus SOC improved overall survival (OS) (P = .036) in all dogs treated. The improved outcome was attributable entirely to improved OS in male dogs (P = .009). At the time of writing, 10 dogs (25%) survive without measurable disease in the treatment group with survival times ranging between 806 and 1525 days. Our study shows that AF improves OS in male dogs when combined with SOC. Our findings have translational relevance for the management of canine and human osteosarcoma. Our data justify a larger multicentre phase 2 trial in dogs and a phase I/II trial in human patients with refractory disease at the time of initial surgery.     

Nutritional quality of greenhouse lettuce at harvest and after storage in relation to N application and cultivation season

The effect of five levels of nitrogen fertilization on the growth and nutritional quality of Cos lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Parris Island) at harvest and after storage was studied during autumn and winter in South-West Greece. Plants were cultivated hydroponically in a greenhouse and the nitrate, chlorophyll and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) concentrations within the plant tissues were measured at harvest and following storage at 5 or 10 °C for 10 days. Nitrate accumulated in the leaves with increasing amounts of N within the nutrient solution and was higher in the winter than in the autumn. At the lowest N level (20 mg L⁻¹), the inner leaves accumulated more nitrate than the outer leaves, whereas at higher N levels (140, 200 or 260 mg L⁻¹) nitrate accumulation was higher in the outer leaves. Overall, the highest nitrate concentrations were detected in the petiole and the proximal end of the leaf, but at the lowest N application rate (20 mg L⁻¹) nitrate accumulated in the distal region of the leaf too. Although the nitrate concentrations within the leaves did not change significantly during 10 days storage at 5 or 10 °C, the chlorophyll and vitamin C concentrations decreased. Chlorophyll loss was higher in lettuce that was grown under low N levels and was higher at 10 °C than at 5 °C, but was reduced by enclosure of the lettuce in polyethylene film. It is concluded that the optimum N application rate for Cos lettuce grown hydroponically under cover during autumn and winter in South-West Greece, and in other areas with a similar climate, is 200 mg N L⁻¹ because at this N rate yield is satisfactory and leaf nitrate concentrations are below the maximum acceptable level for human consumption. Nutritional value (vitamin C concentration) and market quality (chlorophyll content) are highest at harvest and decrease during storage, but quality in terms of nitrate concentration does not change.