repeatability and reproducibility of the cornell net carbohydrate and protein system analytical determinations

The increasing use in Italy of the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) led researchers of five Italianuniversities to carry out a collaborative study to evaluate the precision of the CNCPS chemical analysis and derivate fractions.Each laboratory conducted in duplicate the chemical analyses according to the Weende (dry matter; crude protein;ether extract; crude fibre; ash), Van Soest (neutral and acid detergent fibre, NDF and ADF; acid detergent lignin; ADL)and CNCPS (soluble proteins, SP; non-protein nitrogen, NPN; neutral and acid detergent insoluble protein, NDIP andADIP; starch, ST) schemes on the same five feeds (barley meal, wheat straw, maize silage, dried lucerne and fieldbeans). Anomalous analytical data were identified and corrected by the “box-plot” graphic tool before the calculation ofthe CNCPS protein (B1, B2 and B3) and carbohydrate (A, B2 and C) fractions. Finally, repeatability (chemical analysis) andreproducibility (chemical analysis and fractions) were calculated and expressed as relative values (repeatability andreproducibility standard deviation as percentage of the corresponding mean, RSDr and RSDR, respectively). Chemicalanalyses of the Weende scheme, together with NDF, ADF and ST analyses, have satisfactory repeatability (0.3-6.2%) andreproducibility (0.3-11.2%) values. On the contrary the ADL, NPN, NDIP and ADIP analyses showed high variability, bothwithin and between laboratories (RSDr and RSDR between 20 and 45%). The SP analysis had an intermediate value ofprecision (RSDr=10.6%; RSDR=16.4%).Finally, since different combinations of several chemical analyses with scarce (ADL, NPN, NDIP, ADIP, SP) or average precision(e.g. NDF and starch) are used to calculate CNCPS fractions (excluding B2 protein fraction), also the reproducibilitiesof these fractions are poor and range from 10 to 20%

NEW TRENDS IN THE BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS OF MILK: A REVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITIES AND PROCESSING EFFECTS

Milk has a complex highly variable nutritional com-position based on the different species and animal breeds, together with the strategy and management of the animal feed. It is the first food consumed by chil-dren, exclusively for the initial months because it contains all the nutrients necessary for body growth and the development of cognitive functions. Consid-ering the Mediterranean diet, cow and goat milk is consumed fresh or used for the production of dairy products, while sheep and buffalo milk is used exclu-sively for cheese production. In developing countries, sheep milk or milk from particular animal species such as the yak is also used for fresh consumption and is a low-cost food source for consumers. Milk is the only raw food with a complete profile of all nutri-ents, from proteins to fats, carbohydrates, water, min-erals, and vitamins. Several bioactive compounds are present in milk or originate during protein digestion and fat fraction. Thus, milk can be defined as a func-tional food because it adapts to the definition "any food or food ingredient that can provide a health ben-efit over the traditional nutrients it contains"

Efficacy of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common cause of adult-onset dementia is characterized by a progressive decline of cognitive functions accompanied by behavioral manifestations. The main class of drugs currently used for the treatment of AD are acetylcholinesterase/cholinesterase inhibitors (ChE-Is). The first ChE-I licensed for symptomatic treatment of AD was tacrine. The ChE-Is currently available in the market are donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine as tacrine is no longer in use, due to its hepatotoxicity. According to mechanism of action the ChE-Is are classified as short-acting or reversible agents such as tacrine, donepezil, and galantamine, as intermediate-acting or pseudo-irreversible agent such as rivastigmine. Overall, the efficacy of the three ChE-Is available in the market is similar and the benefit of administration of these compounds is mild and may not be clinically significant. Due to gastrointestinal side effects of these drugs, medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical delivery studies have investigated solutions to improve the pharmacological activity of these compounds. In spite of the limited activity of ChE-Is, waiting for more effective approaches, these drugs still represent a pharmacotherapeutic resource for the treatment of AD. Other approaches in which ChE-Is were investigated is in their use in combination with other classes of drugs such as cholinergic precursors, N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists and antioxidant agents. After many years from the introduction in therapy of ChE-Is, the combination with other classes of drugs may represent the chance for a renewed interest of ChE-Is in the treatment of adult-onset dementia disorders

Unraveling the Antimicrobial Effectiveness of Coridothymus capitatus Hydrolate against Listeria monocytogenes in Environmental Conditions Encountered in Foods: An In Vitro Study

The increased resistance of bacteria to antimicrobials, as well as the growing interest in innovative and sustainable alternatives to traditional food additives, are driving research towards the use of natural food preservatives. Among these, hydrolates (HYs) have gained attention as "mild" alternatives to conventional antimicrobial compounds. In this study, the response of L. monocytogenes ATCC 7644 exposed to increasing concentrations of Coridothymus capitatus HY (CHY) for 1 h at 37 °C was evaluated by means of Phenotype Microarray, modelling the kinetic data obtained by inoculating control and treated cells into GEN III microplates, after CHY removal. The results revealed differences concerning the growth dynamics in environmental conditions commonly encountered in food processing environments (different carbon sources, pH 6.0, pH 5.0, 1-8% NaCl). More specifically, for treated cells, the lag phase was extended, the growth rate was slowed down and, in most cases, the maximum concentration was diminished, suggesting the persistence of stress even after CHY removal. Confocal Laser Scanner Microscopy evidenced a diffuse aggregation and suffering of the treated cells, as a response to the stress encountered. In conclusion, the treatment with HY caused a stressing effect that persisted after its removal. The results suggest the potential of CHY application to control L. monocytogenes in food environments

Genetic Diversity of 17 Autochthonous Italian Chicken Breeds and Their Extinction Risk Status

The preservation of genetic variability of autochthonous poultry breeds is crucial in global biodiversity. A recent report revealed small breed size and potential risk of extinction of all native Italian poultry breeds; therefore, a correct assessment of their genetic diversity is necessary for a suitable management of their preservation. In this work, we provided an overview of the contribution to poultry biodiversity of some Italian autochthonous breeds reared in conservation centers devoted to local biodiversity preservation. The level of genetic diversity, molecular kinship, inbreeding, contribution to overall genetic diversity, and rate of extinction of each breed were analyzed with a set of 14 microsatellite loci in 17 autochthonous chicken breeds. To evaluate genetic variability, total number (Na), and effective number (Ne) of alleles, observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosity, and F (Wright’s inbreeding coefficient) index were surveyed. The contribution of each analyzed breed to genetic diversity of the whole dataset was assessed using MolKin3.0; global genetic diversity and allelic richness contributions were evaluated. All the investigated loci were polymorphic; 209 alleles were identified (94 of which private alleles). The average number of alleles per locus was 3.62, and the effective number of alleles was 2.27. The Ne resulted lower in all breeds due to the presence of low-frequency alleles that can be easily lost by genetic drift, thus reducing the genetic variability of the breeds, and increasing their risk of extinction. The global molecular kinship was 27%, the average breed molecular kinship was 53%, and the mean inbreeding rate 43%, with a self-coancestry of 78%. Wright’s statistical analysis showed a 41% excess of homozygous due to breed genetic differences (34%) and to inbreeding within the breed (9%). Genetic variability analysis showed that 11 breeds were in endangered status. The contribution to Italian poultry genetic diversity, estimated as global genetic diversity, and ranged from 30.2 to 98.5%. In conclusion, the investigated breeds maintain a unique genetic pattern and play an important role in global Italian poultry biodiversity, providing a remarkable contribution to genetic variability

Alfalfa for a sustainable ovine farming system: Proposed research for a new feeding strategy based on alfalfa and ecological leftovers in drought conditions

In the past 10 years, the average demand for meat and milk across the world has significantly increased, especially in developing countries. Therefore, to support the production of animal-derived food products, a huge quantity of feed resources is needed. This paper does not present original research, but rather provides a conceptual strategy to improve primary production in a sustainable way, in relation to forthcoming issues linked to climate change. Increases in meat and milk production could be achieved by formulating balanced diets for ovines based on alfalfa integrated with local agricultural by-products. As the central component of the diet is alfalfa, one goal of the project is increasing the yield of alfalfa in a sustainable way via inoculating seeds with symbiotic rhizobia (i.e., Sinorhizobium meliloti). Seed inoculants are already present on the market but have not been optimized for arid soils. Furthermore, a part of the project is focused on the selection of elite symbiotic strains that show increased resistance to salt stress and competitiveness. The second component of the experimental diets is bio-waste, especially that obtained from olive oil manufacturing (i.e., pomace). The addition of agro-by-products allows us to use such waste as a resource for animal feeding, and possibly, to modulate rumen metabolism, thereby increasing the nutritional quality of milk and meat

Mixtures of mono-, di- and tri-glycerides as energy supplements to broilers’ diets

Mixtures of mono-, di- and tri-glycerides from olive oil (MDT) were added to: palm oil (PO), olive oil (OO), soybean oil (SO), free fatty acids from palm oil (PFA), free fatty acids from olive oil (OFA). The compound mixtures were used as energy supplements in the diets of broiler chickens in comparison with plain SO and plain animal fat (AF). Two hundred and ten birds were randomly allotted to 7 dietary treatments with the diverse oil sources: 6 birds per cage, 5 cages per treatment. The effects of the treatments on growth rates, feed/gain ratios and acidic composition of abdominal fat of hybrid Ross 308 female chickens were studied. The animals were slaughtered at the end of the trial, at day 35. The breast meat quality was then evaluated by a panel of 15 trained members and analysed for shelf life duration. The AF treat- ment gave the highest weight gain, but only in the first week. MDT + OO (50/50) resulted the best combination, with slight, non significant, better performances and a decidedly better quality in terms of acidic composition of abdominal fat, taste and juiciness of breast meat and shelf life

Choline-Containing Phospholipids: Structure-Activity Relationships Versus Therapeutic Applications.

Choline is a quaternary ammonium salt, and being an essential component of different membrane phospholipids (PLs) contributes to the structural integrity of cell membranes. Choline-containing phospholipids (CCPLs) include phosphatidylcholine (PC), sphingomyelin (SM), and choline alphoscerate (GPC). PC is the major phospholipid in most eukaryotic cells. It is involved in SM synthesis, choline/choline metabolite re-generation, and fatty acid/GPC formation. This paper has reviewed chemical, biological and therapeutic features of CCPLs by analyzing: a) effects of exogenous CCPLs, b) influence of GPC treatment on brain cholinergic neurotransmission, and c) neuroprotective effects of GPC alone or in association with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in animal models of brain vascular injury, d) synthesis of the choline analogs, containing a short alkyl chain instead of a methyl group. Cytidine-diphosphocholine and GPC, protect cell membranes and could be helpful in the sequelae of cerebrovascular accident treatment. Moreover, cellular membrane breakdown is suggested as a feature of neurodegeneration both in acute (stroke) and in chronic (Alzheimer and vascular dementia) brain disorders. Published data were focused to a larger extent on the biosynthesis, relevant role in cell life, and crucial involvement of CCPLs in cholinergic neurotransmission. The possibility of their use in the treatment of cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative disorders is suggested by published clinical studies. In line with these potential practical applications in pharmacotherapy, the need of further research in the field of the synthesis of new choline derivatives with possible activity in nervous system diseases characterized by cholinergic impairment is discussed