Characterization of the anthocyanin fraction of sicilian blood orange juice by micro-HPLC-ESI/MS

Anthocyanins of red orange juices were analyzed by micro-HPLC coupled on-line with an MS detector equipped with an ESI source. The use of microcolumn HPLC greatly enhanced detection performance, allowing direct identification of the anthocyanins present in the orange juices. The use of a soft ionization technique allows detection of the molecular ions of the aglycons. Eight components were identified, five of them for the first time in red orange juice. Three additional anthocyanins were detected, of which only the aglycon was identified.     

Advances in Prostatic Diagnostics in Dogs: The Role of Canine Prostatic Specific Esterase in the Early Diagnosis of Prostatic Disorders

In last years, following the increased canine life expectancy and the rising attention pet-owners devote to their animals, several authors have carried on investigations concerning new techniques to early identify canine prostatic disorders that might affect the dog's quality of life. Prostatic disorders often have an asymptomatic onset and their early diagnosis is difficult: hence, they are usually identified at an advanced stage, only. Traditionally, the diagnosis of prostatic disorders is based on noninvasive tools, such as transrectal and abdominal palpation, seminal or prostatic fluid evaluation, and urinalysis and imaging. On the other hand, a definite diagnosis of prostatic abnormalities could be achieved through prostatic parenchyma Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) or biopsy. However, these investigations are performed rarely because of their invasiveness. Thus, several authors investigated canine serum biomarkers in order to achieve an earlier diagnostic timing and to apply therapeutic strategies for better outcomes. The Canine Prostatic Specific Esterase (CPSE) has been identified as a suitable biomarker to be included in a prostate health screening program, following the model of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in human medicine. A higher CPSE in dogs suffering from several prostatic diseases, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, bacterial prostatitis, or prostatic carcinoma, was reported in literature. Thanks to the potential usefulness in clinical practice, further studies should investigate the potential role of CPSE in monitoring the medical treatment success in the male reproductive system. Moreover, the spreading availability of serum biomarkers, easily carried out on blood samples in clinical practice, could assure a more accurate evaluation of the actual prevalence of prostatic disorders. The CPSE is actually recognized as a promising diagnostic tool for the detection of prostatic disorders in a "prostate health screening program," in order to properly select those patients requiring further more accurate and expensive diagnostic investigations.     

Molecular characterization of Newcastle disease viruses isolated from rural chicken in northwest Ethiopia reveals the circulation of three distinct genotypes in the country

Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly contagious disease that affects many species of birds and causes significant economic losses to the poultry industry worldwide. Fifteen Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolates obtained from rural chickens in northwest Ethiopia in 2011 and 2012 were characterized genotypically. The main functional region of the F gene was amplified and sequenced (260 nucleotides). Among the Ethiopian NDV isolates, 2 isolates had the virulent motif ¹¹²R-R-Q-K-R-F¹¹⁷ at the cleavage site of the fusion protein while 13 isolates contained the lentogenic motif ¹¹²G-G/R-Q-G-R-L¹¹⁷. Phylogenetic analysis based on the variable region of the F gene indicated that the two isolates exhibiting the virulent motif belonged to lineage 5 (genotype VII) subgenotype d and the remaining 13 isolates were grouped into lineage 2 (genotype II). The nucleotide sequences of lineage 5 isolates were genetically related to the Sudanese NDV isolates, suggesting potential epidemiological link of ND outbreaks between neighbouring countries. The lentogenic strains shared similarities with La Sota vaccine strain and probably originated from the vaccine strain either through direct exposure of birds to the live vaccine or to infectious La Sota-like strains circulating in rural poultry. This study provides genetic evidence on the existence of different NDV genotypes circulating in the rural poultry in Ethiopia. The virulent NDV continues to be a problem in poultry sector in Ethiopia, and their continuous circulation in rural and commercial poultry calls for improved surveillance and intensified vaccination and other control measures.     

Effects of the extensive culture system as finishing production strategy on biometric and chemical parameters in rainbow trout

The effect of finishing extensive farming period, to reduce fat content and manipulate the fatty acid profile of fish muscle, was evaluated in rainbow trout. Fish were stocked in an artificial lake, in which fish were fed only on naturally available nutrients with no supply of artificial feed, for different lengths of time from 0 to 120 days. No weight loss was noted during the whole finishing period while total length increased from 228±7 to 269±3 mm and the condition factor decreased from 1.41±0.04 to 0.89±0.02. The total fat content of the fillets decreased considerably from 4.7±0.6% at the beginning to 2.4±0.4% and 0.7±0.2% after 45 and 120 days respectively. Fillet fatty acid composition was affected by the time of stocking in the extensive farm. In contrast to the reduction in C18:1n‐9, C18:2n‐6, total monounsaturated fatty acid and total n‐6 percent values, an increase in the C20:5n‐3, C22:6n‐3, total polyunsaturated fatty acid and total n‐3 percent values was observed. It was shown that while other finishing strategies for salmonids have some disadvantages, the extensive culture system seems to be a potentially useful tool for increasing the general quality of the end product.     

Effects of no‐take area size and age of marine protected areas on fisheries yields: a meta‐analytical approach

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are often promoted as tools for biodiversity conservation as well as for fisheries management. Despite increasing evidence of their usefulness, questions remain regarding the optimal design of MPAs, in particular concerning their function as fisheries management tools, for which empirical studies are still lacking. Using 28 data sets from seven MPAs in Southern Europe, we developed a meta‐analytical approach to investigate the effects of protection on adjacent fisheries and asking how these effects are influenced by MPA size and age. Southern European MPAs showed clear effects on the surrounding fisheries, on the ‘catch per unit effort’ (CPUE) of target species, but especially on the CPUE of the marketable catch. These effects depended on the time of protection and on the size of the no‐take area. CPUE of both target species and the marketable catch increased gradually by 2–4% per year over a long time period (at least 30 years). The influence of the size of the no‐take area appeared to be more complex. The catch rates of the entire fishery in and around the MPA were higher when the no‐take areas were smaller. Conversely, catch rates of selected fisheries that were expected to benefit most from protection increased when the no‐take area was larger. Our results emphasize the importance of MPA size on its export functions and suggest that an adequate, often extended, time frame be used for the management and the evaluation of effectiveness of MPAs.     

Influence of irrigation regimes on growth and yield of potato cv. Spunta

Summary The effect of furrow and drip irrigation giving 0, 33, 66, 100 and 133% of the maximum evapotranspiration (ETM) was studied on leaf transpiration, stomatal resistance, tuber growth, yield and yield response of cv. Spunta. The research was carried out in Sicily in 1988 and 1989 on early potato crops grown during the winter/spring cycle. Increased water supply increased leaf transpiration, plant fresh weight, tuber growth rate, yield and earliness, and decreased stomatal resistance and tuber dry weight. A higher yield response was obtained at the lower water regimes (ETM of 33 and 66%). There were no significant differences between the two methods of irrigation.     

Développements récents de l'Application de la chromatographie en phase gazeuse des aliments,et proposition d'Une nouvelle méthode complémentaire ou subsidiaire pour la micro-détermination spécifique De quelques composants, à l'aide de la diagnose enzymatique

Resumé La chromatographie en phase gazeuse étant à la fois une méthode qualitative et quantitative, constitue une méthode idéale destinée à résoudre la complexité des analyses des additifs alimentaires. Après une énumération des perfectionnements récents apportés à ces appareils, l'auteur fait un exposé de l'application et des résultats, notamment dans les domaines: Huile d'olive, Beurre, Saindoux, Vin, Cacao, Chocolat. Identification des acides gras, table des constituants, recherches de falsifications, analyse des substances étrangères, altération des vins, discussion des résultats d'analyse.Pour le dosage des résidus de pesticides et pour la recherche des agents antifermentaires, la chromatographie en phase gazeuse s'avère d'une grande utilité en raison de sa précision et sa rapidité.Comme un complément de la chromatographie en phase gazeuse l'auteur insiste sur l'importance, dans le secteur alimentaire, d'une nouvelle méthode d'analyse, basée sur des réactions enzymatiques et sur les études exécutées par son Institut pour la mise ou point de telles méthodes enzymatiques: détermination du glucose, du fructose, du saccharose dans les moûts et les vins, etc...

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Summary Gas-chromatography being a qualitative and quantitative method at the same time, makes an ideal method enabling us to solve the complexity of the analyses of food additives. After enumerating the recent improvements in the gas-chromatography equipment the author explains its applications and shows the results obtained, more specially in the following fields: olive oil, butter, lard, wine, cocoa, chocolate, identification of fatty acids, table of components, search for adulterants, analysis of foreign substances, deterioration of wines, discussion of the results of analyses.In the determination of pesticide residues, and the search for antiferments, gas-chromatography appears to be extremely useful, thanks to its precision and rapidity.As a supplement to gas-chromatography the author insists on the importance, in this field of foods, of a new analytical method based on enzymatic reactions, and on the investigations, carried on in this Institute, aimed to set up such enzymatic methods, to be used in the study of glucose, fructose, and saccharose deteriorations in musts and wines, etc...

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Zusammenfassung Die Gaschromatographie ist gleichzeitig eine quantitative und qualitative Analysenmethode. Sie ist daher hervorragend für die Lösung der komplexen Probleme auf dem Gebiete der Lebensmittel-Zusatzstoffe geeignet. Nach Aufzählung der letzten Verbesserungen in der Apparatetechnik, werden Anwendungsmöglichkeiten und Ergebnisse besprochen, insbesondere für Analysen von Olivenöl, Butter, Schmalz, Wein, Kakao und Schokolade. Bestimmung der Fettsäuren, Liste der Bestandteile, Nachweis von Fälschungen, Fremdstoffanalysen, Weinalterung, kritische Betrachtung der Ergebnisse.Für den Nachweis der Pestizid-Rückstände und die Bestimmung von Antifermenten, leistet die Gaschromatographie infolge der Genauigkeit und Schnelligkeit der Methode bereits große Dienste.Zur Ergänzung der gaschromatographischen Verfahren schlägt der Autor, insbesondere für Lebensmittelanalysen ein auf enzymatischen Reaktionen fußendes neues Verfahren vor. Hierzu sind die Untersuchungen in seinem Institut weit fortgeschritten, insbesondere für die Bestimmung von Glukose, Fruktose, Saccharose in Most und Wein.