Dynamic monitoring of the shelf life of Cobia (Rachycentron canadum): a study on the applicability of a smart photochromic indicator.

To ensure the marketing of fresh fish-based products, it is necessary to develop fast methods that assess its freshness in real time. This study therefore evaluated the applicability of a photochromic time?temperature indicator (TTI) to monitor the time and temperature history during the period of validity of the whole fish of the cobia specimen stored in ice. The TTI response was both visibly interpreted as well as adaptable to measurement using suitable equipment. The results showed that the smart indicator activated during 6 s of ultraviolet light showed a similar rate of deterioration of the analysed product visual response, proving to be a dynamic shelf life indicator that can assure consumers the ultimate quality point of the entire cobia easily, cheaply and accurately

First Insights Into Trace Element Accumulation by Philoscia affinis (Crustacea, Isopoda): a Novel Tracer to Assess Soil Contamination in Lowland Plains?

Isopods are terrestrial invertebrates that accumulate trace elements in large quantities, thus providing information on levels of soil contamination. However, the accumulation pattern seems to be species dependent. For this study, specimens of Philoscia affinis (Isopoda, Oniscidea) and soil samples were collected from both a protected area (site 1) and urban roadside (site 2) in the low plain of Friuli-Venezia Giulia (northeast Italy) to determine whether P. affinis could serve as a potential candidate for monitoring soil contamination. To do this, the following objectives were achieved: a) the level of trace elements (Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Pb, Zn) were detected in soils and isopods; 2) the difference in trace elements accumulation was compared in the two sampling sites; 3) the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) was calculated for each element. With some exceptions, trace element concentrations were higher in both isopods and soil samples from the urban roadside compared to the protected area. Furthermore, except for Cd, Cu, and Zn, trace element levels were higher in the soil than in the isopod samples. The higher mean BAF values were recorded for Cd (6.169 and 6.974 for site 1 and 2, respectively), Cu (10.324 and 11.452 for site 1 and 2, respectively), and Zn (1.836 and 2: 1.943 for site 1 and 2, respectively), whereas BAF values <1 were recorded for the other elements. Philoscia affinis was found to be a potential candidate to monitor soil contamination as a macro-concentrator of Cu and Cd and a micro-concentrator of Zn

Expression and subcellular localization of the bromodomain-containing protein 7 is a prognostic biomarker in breast cancer

Bromodomain-containing protein 7 (BRD7) is a member of the bromodomain-containing protein family. Previous studies suggest that BRD7 is predominantly localized in the nucleus, wherein it functions as a transcriptional regulator. Several lines of evidence imply a tumour suppressor function for BRD7. However, the importance of BRD7 in the pathogenesis of breast cancer is not well understood. We have investigated the expression, CpG island methylation and subcellular localization of BRD7 in breast cancer cell lines and clinical cases and thereby assessed its prognostic significance by correlating with clinical-pathological features and time-dependent clinical outcomes. We show that nuclear exclusion of BRD7 occurs commonly in breast cancer and is strongly associated with cases expressing wild-type p53. Moreover, clinical outcomes are significantly less favourable in cases with nuclear exclusion or loss of expression than those in which there is nuclear expression of BRD7. Methylation of the CpG island of BRD7 increases in breast cancer relative to normal breast tissue, but there is not an obvious correlation between methylation and reduced expression or between methylation and clinical outcomes. Overall, our results suggest that nuclear exclusion, rather than transcriptional silencing, is a common mechanism by which the tumour suppressor function of wild-type p53 is inhibited in breast cancer, and show that BRD7 is a promising candidate biomarker in breast cancer