Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric determination of epoxidized soybean oil contamination of foods by migration from plastic packaging

A method for the quantitative determination of epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO) in foods is described. The procedure involves addition of a diepoxidized fatty acid ester internal standard, followed by lipid extraction from the food and transmethylation under basic conditions. Without further cleanup, the methylated fatty acid epoxides are derivatized to form 1,3-dioxolanes, which are then determined by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring. A detection limit of 2.0 mg/kg of epoxidized soybean oil in foods and a relative standard deviation of 7% have been achieved routinely. The method has been applied successfully to the analysis of cheeses, sandwiches, cakes, and microwave-cooked meals which have been contaminated with ESBO by migration from PVC film.     

Development and validation of an optical SPR biosensor assay for tylosin residues in honey

In recent years there has been an increase in the use of tylosin in apiculture as bacterial brood diseases become resistant to oxytetracycline. Confirmatory mass spectrometry based methods have been developed but up until now there has been no complementary screening method available capable of sub 10 microg kg(-1) detection limits. In this paper the development and validation of a screening method using optical biosensor technology is presented. The honey was first dissolved in a phosphate buffer and following solid-phase extraction (SPE) cleanup was analyzed using a Biacore Q instrument. Using the criteria specified in European Commission Decision 2002/657/EC for qualitative screening methods, the detection capability (CCbeta) of the method was determined to be 2.5 microg kg(-)(1). Honey samples containing trace residue levels of tylosin were analyzed by both the biosensor screening method and a LC-MS/MS confirmatory procedure; the results were in good agreement.     

The Antibody Response in Pigs Inoculated with Attenuated African Swine Fever Virus

Pigs were inoculated with a modified isolate of African swine fever virus (ASFV). Complement-fixing (CF) and agar gel diffusion precipitin (AGDP) antibodies could be detected in the serums of most pigs from 14-days postinoculation (DPI) until their immunity was challenged with virulent ASFV at 117 DPI.

Reductive cleavage with 2-mercaptoethanol showed that serums collected at 14 to 35 DPI contained 19S antibody, but that the 7S antibody was dominant at 35 and 117 DPI. This distribution of antibody was confirmed by sucrose-gradient centrifugation. Nearly all of the early serums also contained 7S antibodies which fixed complement and reacted in the AGDP test. Pigs whose serums contained both CF and AGDP antibodies at time of challenge failed to develop acute disease while pigs without CF antibodies were usually not protected.

Pigs surviving challenge with virulent virus showed no increase in antibody titers, or reversion to 19S antibody.

     

Cyanide poisoning of cattle grazing "reed sweet-grass"

Abstract Extract Reed sweet-grass, Poa aquatica (Glyceria maxima, Glyceria acquatica), a member of the Gramineae family, is an introduced plant found in wet places in various localities in both the North and South Islands, but mainly in Otago and Southland (Allan, 1940 ). Garner ( 1961 , p. 318) quotes Quisumbine (1947) as listing 25 species belonging to the family Gramineae, including Poa aquatica, which contain hydrocyanic acid. Connor (1951) , however, does not list Poa aquatica as one of the poisonous plants of New Zealand, and no previous references to poisoning by this plant have been found.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of aflatoxin levels in peanut butters using an immunoaffinity column cleanup method: international collaborative trial

Thirteen laboratories in 7 different countries participated in a collaborative trial to evaluate the immunoaffinity column cleanup procedure with quantitation by fluorescence liquid chromatography (post-column derivatization) for the determination of aflatoxins in peanut butters. Participants were sent 10 randomly numbered samples of roasted peanut butter for analysis (5 pairs of undisclosed duplicates). Two of the pairs were "blank" peanut butters to which aflatoxin standards had been added; these "spiked" samples were used for recovery purposes. The other 3 pairs of samples were a nominal "blank" and 2 naturally contaminated peanut butters. A full statistical presentation of the results is given. Coefficients of variation (CVs) for the total aflatoxin determinations for mean levels of 4, 15, and 38 microns/kg were between 32 and 44% for the blank and 2 trial samples. Recovery levels for the 2 spiked samples were 51-67%, with aflatoxin B1 recovery of 60%. Relative standard deviations for method repeatability (RSDr) and reproductibility (RSDR) for the 3 trial samples were 15-26% and 33-45%, respectively.     

Activated coagulation times in normal cats and dogs using MAX-ACTTM tubes

Objective  To establish reference values for activated coagulation time (ACT) in normal cats and dogs, by visual assessment of clot formation using the MAX-ACT^TM tube.
Subjects  We recruited 43 cats and 50 dogs for the study; 11 cats and 4 dogs were excluded from the statistical analysis because of abnormalities on clinical examination or laboratory testing including anaemia, prolonged prothrombin time (PT) or activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), or insufficient plasma volume for comprehensive laboratory coagulation testing.
Procedure  Blood samples were collected via direct venipuncture for MAX-ACT, packed cell volume/total solids, manual platelet estimation and PT/APTT measurement. Blood (0.5 mL) was mixed gently in the MAX-ACT tube at 37°C for 30 s, then assessed for clot formation every 5 to 10 s by tipping the tube gently on its side and monitoring for magnet movement. The endpoint was defined as the magnet lodging in the clot. The technique was tested with 10 dogs by collecting two blood samples from the same needle insertion and running a MAX-ACT on each simultaneously.
Results  In normal cats the mean MAX-ACT was 66 s (range 55–85 s). In normal dogs the mean was 71 s (range 55–80 s). There was no statistical difference between the first and second samples collected from the same needle insertion.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance  In both cats and dogs, a MAX-ACT result >85 s should be considered abnormal and further coagulation testing should be performed. Additionally, failure to discard the first few drops of the sample does not appear to significantly affect results.