In vitro fermentative capacity of swine large intestine: comparison between native Lantang and commercial Duroc breeds

Native Lantang and commercial Duroc pigs were used as animal models to evaluate the differences existing in dietary fiber utilization ability between breeds. Animals were fed the same diet from weaning (4 weeks) to 4 months of age. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) from wheat bran (as substrate) and fecal samples from the two breeds (as inoculum) were used in an in vitro gas production trial. Results showed that cumulative and maximum gas productions were higher in inocula from Lantang than those from the Duroc breed (P < 0.05). The degradation capacity of NDF for microbiome from Lantang fecal samples were significantly higher compared to Duroc (P < 0.01). The total quantity of short‐chain fatty acids and its constituents from the fermentation liquors were different between breeds, suggesting that the dynamic characteristics of fermentation differed between the two breeds. The PCR denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis fingerprint and cluster analysis demonstrated that microbial communities of the two breeds were separated into two clusters and the bacterial community structure of large intestine among the two breed of pigs was different. Our results concluded that Lantang had higher dietary fiber degradation capacity than Duroc pigs, and the higher degradation capacity for the former breed was due to differences in the inherent microbial community in their respective large intestines.     

Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic evaluation of grapiprant in a carrageenan‐induced inflammatory pain model in the rabbit

Grapiprant is the novel selective EP4 receptor inhibitor recently issued on the veterinary market for dogs affected by osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was twofold: to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and the pharmacodynamics of grapiprant in the induced inflammatory pain model in the rabbit after a single IV injection of 2 mg/kg; to compare the thermal antinociception effect after 2 mg/kg IV grapiprant, with that generated by 0.5 mg/kg meloxicam SC injected. Rabbits (n = 12) were randomly assigned to two crossover studies (single‐dose, two‐period crossover). The first study group A (n = 3) received a single IV dose of grapiprant at 2 mg/kg dissolved in ethanol. Group B (n = 3) received a single IV injection of ethanol (equivalent volume to grapiprant volume) at the same site. The second study group C (n = 3) received a single SC dose of meloxicam at 0.5 mg/kg. Group D (n = 3) received a single SC injection of 15% ethanol (equivalent volume to grapiprant volume) at the same site. After a 2‐week washout period, the groups were rotated and the experiments repeated. Blood samples (0.7 mL) were collected from the right ear artery at assigned times and grapiprant plasma concentrations determined by a validated HPLC‐FL method. Three hours prior to administration of the drugs, inflammation was induced by SC injection of lambda carrageenan (200 μL, 3% in physiological saline) under the plantar surface of the right hind paw. At a similar time to the blood collection, an infrared thermal stimuli (40 °C) was applied to the plantar surface of the rabbits’ hindlimbs to evaluate the thermal withdrawal latency (TWL). The thermal antinociceptive effect was expressed as maximum possible response (% MPR). Grapiprant plasma concentrations were detectable up to the 10‐h time point (concentration range 17–7495 ng/mL). The grapiprant‐treated group showed a significant increase in TWL from 1 h and up to 10 h after drug administration compared to the control. In contrast, the meloxicam group showed a significant increase in TWL from 4 up to 10 h after drug administration, compared to control. The maximal MPR% was not statistically different between the grapiprant and meloxicam group from 4 to 8 h, while significant differences were shown at 1, 1.5, 2, 10 and 24 h. Given these findings, grapiprant appears to be an attractive option for antinociception in rabbits, due to its rapid onset and extended duration of effect.     

The influence of weathering processes on labile and stable organic matter in Mediterranean volcanic soils

The relationship and mechanisms among weathering processes, cation fluxes, clay mineralogy, organic matter composition and stability were studied in soils developing on basaltic material in southern Italy (Sicily). The soils were transitions between Phaeozems and Vertisols. Intense losses of the elements Na, Ca and Mg were measured indicating that weathering has occurred over a long period of time. The main weathering processes followed the sequence: amphibole, mica, volcanic glass or if ash was the primary source → smectite → interstratified smectite–kaolinite → kaolinite. Kaolinite formation was strongly related to high Al, Mg and Na losses. The good correlation between oxyhydroxides and kaolinite in the soils suggests that (macro)aggregates have formed due to physical or electrostatic interactions between the 1:1 clay minerals and oxides. The stability of organic matter was investigated with a H₂O₂-treatment that assumes that chemical oxidation mimics the natural oxidative processes. The ratio of C after the H₂O₂ treatment to the total organic C ranged from 1–28%. No correlation between clay content and organic matter (labile or stable fraction) was found. The refractory organic fraction was enriched in aliphatic compounds and did not greatly interact with the kaolinite, smectite or poorly crystalline Fe or Al phases. A part of this fraction (most probably proteins) was bound to crystalline Fe-oxides. In contrast, the oxidisable fraction showed a strong relationship with poorly crystalline oxyhydroxides and kaolinite. Surprisingly, smectite did not contribute to the stabilisation of any of the organic C fractions. The stabilisation of organic matter in the soils has, therefore, two main mechanisms: 1) the protection of labile (oxidisable with H₂O₂) organic matter, including also aromatic-rich compounds such as charcoal, by the formation of aggregates with oxyhydroxides and kaolinite and 2) the formation of a refractory fraction enriched in aliphatic compounds.     

Determination of free flavan-3-ol content in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) air-classified flours: comparative study of HPLC-DAD/MS and spectrophotometric determinations

The determination of free flavan-3-ol compounds in barley flours (cv. Gotic) and two resulting milling fractions (fine fraction 57% and coarse fraction 43%, w/w) obtained by air classification of dehulled grain is herein described. The determinations were carried out using reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with both diode array detection and ESI-MS compared with conventional spectrophotometric determinations (total phenolic compounds by the Folin-Ciocalteu method and free radical scavenging activity with the DPPH assay). Significant correlations among the HPLC quantification, the spectrophotometric data, and the antioxidant capacity of extracts were revealed by Pearson's analysis. Nine flavan-3-ols were identified by HPLC-MS. Catechins and their derivatives were found to make a substantial contribution to the antioxidant power of extracts. The coarse fraction showed larger concentrations of flavan-3-ols (221%) with respect to the fine fraction. This was confirmed by the antioxidant activity of the analyzed flours. The coarse fraction showed the greatest antioxidant activity (1200.1 +/- 66.2 micromol of Trolox equiv/100 g of flour) with respect to whole meal and fine fraction (1025.9 +/- 18.3 and 761.7 +/- 55.3 micromol of Trolox equiv/100 g of flour, respectively).     

Validating erosion rate estimates provided by caesium‐137 measurements for two small forested catchments in Calabria,southern Italy

Increasing concern for problems of soil degradation and the off‐site impacts of accelerated erosion has generated a need for improved methods of estimating rates and patterns of soil erosion by water. The use of environmental radionuclides, particularly ¹³⁷Cs, to estimate erosion rates has attracted increased attention and the approach has been shown to possess several important advantages. However, the use of ¹³⁷Cs measurements to estimate erosion rates introduces one important uncertainty, namely, the need to employ a conversion model or relationship to convert the measured reduction in the ¹³⁷Cs inventory to an estimate of the erosion rate. There have been few attempts to validate these theoretical conversion models and the resulting erosion rate estimates. However, there is an important need for such validation, if the ¹³⁷Cs approach is to be more widely applied and reliance is to be placed on the results obtained. This paper reports the results of a study aimed at validating the use of two theoretical conversion models, namely the exponential depth distribution model and the diffusion and migration model, that have been used in several recent studies to convert measurements of ¹³⁷Cs inventories on uncultivated soils to estimates of soil erosion rates. The study is based on data assembled for two small catchments (1.38 and 1.65 ha) in Calabria, southern Italy, for which measurements of sediment output are available for the catchment outlet. The two catchments differ in terms of the steepness of their terrain, and this difference is reflected by their sediment yields. Because there is no evidence of significant deposition within the two catchments, sediment delivery ratios close to 1.0 can be assumed. It is therefore possible to make a direct comparison between the estimates of the mean annual erosion rates within the two catchments derived from ¹³⁷Cs measurements and the measured sediment outputs. The results of the comparison show that the erosion rate estimates provided by both models are reasonably consistent with the measured sediment yields at the catchment outlets. However, more detailed assessment of the results shows that the validity of the erosion rate estimates is influenced by the magnitude of the erosion rates within the catchment. The exponential depth distribution model appears to perform better for the catchment with higher erosion rates and to overestimate erosion rates in the other catchment. Similarly, the basic migration and diffusion model performs better for the catchment with lower erosion rates and overestimates erosion rates in the other catchment. However, the improved migration and diffusion model appears to perform satisfactorily for both catchments. There is a need for further studies to extend such independent validation of the ¹³⁷Cs technique to other environments, including cultivated soils, and to other conversion models and procedures. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Identification of a G2-like porcine rotavirus bearing a novel VP4 type, P[32]

A porcine group A rotavirus (GARV) strain, 61/07/Ire, was isolated from a 4–5 week asymptomatic piglet, during an epidemiological survey of porcine herds in Southern Ireland, in 2007. The nucleotide (nt) and amino acid (aa) sequence of the full-length VP4 protein of the PoRV strain 61/07/Ire was determined. Based on the entire VP4 open reading frame (nt), strain 61/07/Ire displayed ≤ 76.5% identity to representatives of the established 31 P-types, a value far lower than the percentage identity cutoff value (80%) established by the Rotavirus Classification Working Group (RCWG) to define a novel P genotype. Strain 61/07/Ire revealed low aa identity, ranging from 57.1% to 83.6%, to the cognate sequences of representatives of the various P genotypes. The aa identity was lower in the VP8* trypsin-cleavage fragment of the VP4, which encompasses the VP4 hypervariable region, ranging from 36.9% to 75.3%. Sequence analyses of the VP7, VP6, and NSP4 genes revealed that the GARV strain 61/07/Ire possessed a G2-like VP7, an E9 NSP4 genotype and an I5 VP6 genotype. Altogether, these results indicate that the GARV strain 61/07/Ire should be considered as a prototype of a new VP4 genotype, P[32], and provide further evidence for the vast heterogeneity of group A rotaviruses.     

Variations in the Composition,Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Cystoseira compressa during Seasonal Growth

The underexplored biodiversity of seaweeds has recently drawn great attention from researchers to find the bioactive compounds that might contribute to the growth of the blue economy. In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of seasonal growth (from May to September) on the in vitro antioxidant (FRAP, DPPH, and ORAC) and antimicrobial effects (MIC and MBC) of Cystoseira compressa collected in the Central Adriatic Sea. Algal compounds were analyzed by UPLC-PDA-ESI-QTOF, and TPC and TTC were determined. Fatty acids, among which oleic acid, palmitoleic acid, and palmitic acid were the dominant compounds in samples. The highest TPC, TTC and FRAP were obtained for June extract, 83.4 ± 4.0 mg GAE/g, 8.8 ± 0.8 mg CE/g and 2.7 ± 0.1 mM TE, respectively. The highest ORAC value of 72.1 ± 1.2 µM TE was obtained for the August samples, and all samples showed extremely high free radical scavenging activity and DPPH inhibition (>80%). The MIC and MBC results showed the best antibacterial activity for the June, July and August samples, when sea temperature was the highest, against Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella enteritidis. The results show C. compressa as a potential species for the industrial production of nutraceuticals or functional food ingredients.     

Effect of different solarizing materials on weed suppression and lettuce response

The effect of four solarizing plastic materials on weed suppression and yield response of two lettuce cultivars (‘Bacio’ and ‘Moringa’) grown during two consecutive seasons was investigated at Metaponto (40°23′N; 16°47′E; 10 m a.s.l.), southern Italy. All solarization treatments suppressed winter and summer weeds with no significant difference among the plastic materials, although biodegradable film was less efficient in controlling common purslane and common amaranth. Weed infestation at the harvest of both lettuce cultivars was not affected by the solarizing material, whereas fewer weeds were found in the plots grown with ‘Bacio’ than with ‘Moringa’. Lettuce yield in two successive growing seasons was always significantly higher in solarized plots than in nontreated control, without any statistical difference among the plastic materials. Yield and head quality of cv. ‘Bacio’ were higher than ‘Moringa’ in the first growing season, but the opposite occurred in the second crop. Soil solarization was confirmed to be effective for weed management in field lettuce crops in the Mediterranean areas, although weed suppression may be affected also by the lettuce cultivar. Choice of solarizing materials, when similarly effective on weeds and crop yield, should take into account also their cost. Low density polyethylene plastics emerged as the best choice in conventional lettuce crops as highly effective as, and less expensive than the other materials, whereas the use of biodegradable films should be limited to organic lettuce systems.     

Regional variation in shea butter lipid and triterpene composition in four African countries

The triacylglycerol, fatty acid, and polycyclic triterpene compositions of shea butter were determined for 150 samples from the sub-Saharan countries of Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Uganda. The compositional profiles showed high variability in all three classes of compounds. Shea butter is made up mainly of four triglycerides (TAG) differing in carbon number (CN) by two, starting from CN 50 to CN 56. The greatest source of variation was in the CN 54 TAG. Shea butter is characterized by 16 saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in greatly varying proportion, the major ones being the even homologues in the range of C(16)-C(20). Oleic acid is dominant in Ugandan provenances, whereas stearic acid is dominant in West African shea butter. Acetyl and cinnamyl polycyclic triterpene means for countries ranged from 3.69 to 12.57%, with the highest values found in Nigerian provenances. Statistical comparisons of fat composition show that the geographic distance between shea populations is reflected in the degree of separation of their chemical profiles.