Validation of a human immunoturbidimetric assay to measure canine albumin in urine and cerebrospinal fluid.

The aim of this study was to validate an automated immunoturbidimetric assay used to quantify human albumin in urine and to accurately measure canine albumin concentrations in both urine and cerebrospinal fluid. The partial homology existing between human and canine albumin limited the accuracy of the human assays in measuring canine albumin without method modifications. Thus, the assay was modified by calibrating the analyzer with calibrators made in the laboratory containing known concentrations of canine albumin. To prepare the set of calibrators, the albumin concentration of pooled sera of healthy dogs was assessed in 5 replicates using the BromocresolGreen assay. Pooled samples were aliquoted and serially diluted to obtain the expected concentrations of albumin (0.5, 1, 5, 13, and 30 mg/dl) for establishing the canine calibration curve. Thereafter, the performance was assessed by analyzing canine urine and CSF The modified assay accurately quantified canine albumin in both specimens, as indicated by the following. Intra- and interassay variability was 0.92% and 2.74%, respectively; recovery was 99.66% and 99.07% in urine and 105.02% in CSF No interference was detected when hemolysate and glucose were added to urine. The test was linear within the verified range (0-225 mg/dl). These results demonstrate that the modified human albumin immunoturbidimetric assay can be a useful tool in the veterinary diagnostic laboratory. It is accurate and tends itself to automatization on chemistry analyzers.     

Productive and biochemical responses of durum wheat to UV filtration

A UV exclusion experiment was conducted on durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf. var. Claudio) grown in pots. Plants were grown under three different radiative treatments in greenhouses covered with plastic filters: Teflon, transparent to the entire region of natural UV‐visible sunlight (TEF); polyester, transparent above 312 nm (MYL, excluding UVB) and Lee, transparent above 400 nm (LEE, excluding both UVA and UVB). Analyses have been carried out to determine the concentration of photosynthetic pigments in leaves, UV‐absorbing compounds, nitrogen and carbon in leaves, culms and spikes and proteins and gluten in grains. In particular, plants grown under UV exclusion showed a reduction in protein and dry gluten content (consequently without variation in the ratio dry gluten/protein), but at the same time, a significant increase of gluten index, which is a parameter to define the quality of gluten, was observed. The results highlighted the influence played by UV radiation on some biochemical parameters, mainly UV‐absorbing compounds, leaf nitrogen and grain protein characteristics of durum wheat cultivated under Mediterranean conditions. In particular, natural level of UV in the Mediterranean improves the characteristics of durum wheat flour important for pasta production (high dry gluten level), while the UV exclusion could improve characteristics of flour important for bread production (high gluten index).     

Platelet abnormalities and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios in canine immunosuppressant-responsive and non-responsive enteropathy: A retrospective study in 41 dogs

Few studies have examined platelet alterations in dogs with chronic enteropathy. Our aim was to investigate platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in dogs diagnosed with immunosuppressant-responsive enteropathy (IRE). In this retrospective study of 41 dogs, data regarding signalment, canine chronic enteropathy clinical activity index (CCECAI), endoscopic and histopathological scores, PLT, MPV, PLR, total serum protein concentrations, albumin, and iron were collected. Clinical response and relapse were assessed with the evaluation of CCECAI over time. One month after starting therapy, dogs with >25% CCECAI reduction were considered responders. During a three-month CCECAI evaluation as part of a twelve-month follow-up, a CCECAI >3 together with a ≥2 unit increase in responder dogs was considered a relapse. PLT and PLR displayed significant negative correlation with MPV. MPV was positively correlated with total protein and albumin levels and negatively correlated with CCECAI. Three dogs were classified as non-responders, and 14 relapsed within 12 months. No differences were observed in PLT, MPV, or PLR between responding/non-responding and relapsing/non-relapsing groups. PLT, MPV, and PLR correlated with total protein, albumin, and CCECAI, confirming PLT as a potential marker, and suggesting MPV as a new marker of clinical efficacy against canine IRE.     

Protective Effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Juglans regia</Emphasis> L. Walnut Extract Against Oxidative DNA Damage

Walnuts (Juglans regia L.) are relevant components of the Mediterranean diet providing important macronutrients, micronutrients and other bioactive constituents including unsaturated fatty acids, proteins, fiber, vitamins, minerals, phytosterols and polyphenols. Although the walnut beneficial effects in human health are widely recognized by a lot of epidemiologic studies very little is known regarding its effect on damaged DNA. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Juglans regia L. ethanolic extract from kernel on the induction of DNA strand breaks by thiol/Fe³⁺/O₂ mixed function oxidase, tert-butyl hydroperoxide or UVC radiations in acellular and cellular models. Plasmid DNA cleavage and fast Halo assay were used to monitor oxidative damage to DNA. Both approaches showed protection of oxidatively injured DNA. These results agree with a lot of scientific proofs which recommend walnut as dietary adjunct in health promotion and prevention as well as in treatment of lifestyle-related oxidative diseases.     

Bioefficacy of compounds from Dittrichia viscosa (Asteraceae) as protectant of chickpea seeds against the cowpea seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The efficacy of four bi- and tri-cyclic sesquiterpenes, namely inuloxins A, B and C and α-costic acid, extracted from aerial parts of Dittrichia...     

Effects of accumulate dead and alive insects in trap on the capture ofTribolium castaneum (herbst)

In the trapping ofTribolium castaneum (Herbst), the activity of traps baited or not baited with aggregation pheromone 4,8-dimethyldecanal is influenced by the presence in the traps of accumulate specimens trapped. This fact has been observed both in trap containing alive or dead specimens. Interactions in the different substances produced by adults of Red Flour Beetle during their communication relationship are involved in this behaviour.The results obtained in the trials suggests that the presence of alive insects in traps is attractive for other free specimens, but under conditions of overcrowding quinone produced by them regulate population density by counteracting the effect of the aggregation pheromone, causing the insects to disperse or suppressing aggregation behaviour.     

Effects of accumulate dead and alive insects in trap on the capture ofTribolium castaneum (herbst)

In the trapping ofTribolium castaneum (Herbst), the activity of traps baited or not baited with aggregation pheromone 4,8-dimethyldecanal is influenced by the presence in the traps of accumulate specimens trapped. This fact has been observed both in trap containing alive or dead specimens. Interactions in the different substances produced by adults of Red Flour Beetle during their communication relationship are involved in this behaviour.The results obtained in the trials suggests that the presence of alive insects in traps is attractive for other free specimens, but under conditions of overcrowding quinone produced by them regulate population density by counteracting the effect of the aggregation pheromone, causing the insects to disperse or suppressing aggregation behaviour.The presence of dead insects in the traps, baited or not baited with pheromone, can be repellent for other free specimens ofT. castaneum, probably related to the presence of a residual alarm pheromone produced by the specimens before of death.With 10 figures and 3 tables     

Lipoxygenase distribution in coffee (Coffea arabica L.) berries

In this paper lipoxygenase (LOX) presence was investigated in coffee berries to determine its involvement in lipid degradative metabolism of plants grown in organic and conventional cultivations. An immunochemical analysis has evidenced a ca. 80 kDa protein, cross-reacting with an anti-LOX antibody, only in the pulp fraction of berries obtained from plants of both cultivations. LOX activity in this fraction could be monitored either as conjugated diene formation or reaction products (determined by HPLC) and was mainly associated with a heavy membrane fraction (HMF, enriched in tonoplast, endoplasmic reticulum, plasma membrane, and mitochondria) and a light membrane fraction (LMF, enriched in plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum, with low levels of tonoplast and mitochondria). The LOX activity of LMF from berries of both cultivations showed an optimum at pH 8.0. The HMF exhibited a different activity peak in samples from conventional (pH 8.0) and organic (pH 5.5) cultures, suggesting the presence of different isoenzymes. These findings were also confirmed by variation of the ratio of 9- and 13-hydroperoxides in organic (1:1) and conventional cultivations (1:10), indicating that the organic one was subjected to an oxidative stress in the coffee pulp fraction leading to the expression of an acidic LOX. Such de novo synthesized LOX activity could be responsible for the production of secondary metabolites, which may interfere with the organoleptic profile of coffee.     

Natural occurrence of ochratoxin A and antioxidant activities of green and roasted coffees and corresponding byproducts

Ochratoxin A is an important mycotoxin that can enter the human food chain in cereals, wine, coffee, spices, beer, cocoa, dried fruits, and pork meats. Coffee is one of the most common beverages and, consequently, it has a potential risk factor for human health related to ochratoxin A exposure. In this study, coffee and corresponding byproducts from seven different geographic regions were investigated for ochratoxin A natural occurrence by HPLC-FLD, nutritional characterization, and antioxidant activities by spectrophotometric assay. The research focused on composition changes in coffee during the processing step "from field to cup". Costa Rica and Indian green coffees were the most contaminated samples, with 13 and 11 microg/kg, respectively, while the Ethiopian coffee was the least contaminated, with 3.8 microg/kg of ochratoxin A. The reduction of ochratoxin A contamination during the roasting step was comparable for any samples that were considered under the recommended level of 4 microg/kg. Total dietary fibers ranged from 58.7% for Vietnam and 48.6% for Ivory Coast in green coffees and ranged from 58.6% for Costa Rica to 61.2% for India in roasted coffee. Coffee silverskin byproduct obtained from Ivory Coast was the highest, with 69.2 and 64.2% of insoluble dietary fibers, respectively.