Validation of a UHPLC-FLD method for the simultaneous quantification of aflatoxins, ochratoxin A and zearalenone in barley

A fast and simple UHPLC-FLD method has been developed for the simultaneous determination in barley of aflatoxins (B1, G1, B2 and G2), ochratoxin A (OTA) and zearalenone (ZEA), some of the most important mycotoxins due to their toxicity and occurrence. The procedure is based on the extraction of the six mycotoxins with a mixture of acetonitrile and water, and the purification of the extract with immunoaffinity columns before analysis. Detection of AFB1 and AFG1 is improved using a photochemical reaction. The method has been validated with satisfactory results. Limits of detection were 340 ng kg-1 for ZEA, 13 ng kg-1 for OTA and varied from 0.5 to 15 ng kg-1 for aflatoxins. Recovery percentages were between 78.2 and 109.2%. After being validated, the method has been successfully applied to 20 barley samples cultivated in a region of northern Spain (Navarra)

Responses of wood anatomy and carbon isotope composition of Quercus pubescens saplings subjected to two consecutive years of summer drought

International audienceTo withstand and to recover from severe summer drought is crucial for trees, as dry periods are predicted to occur more frequently over the coming decades.* In order to better understand growth-related tree responses to drought, wood formation, vessel characteristics and stable carbon isotope composition (δ13C) in tree rings of Quercus pubescens saplings imposed to two consecutive summer droughts were compared with regularly watered control trees.* In both years, photosynthetic activity was strongly inhibited during the drought periods of five to seven weeks but quickly restored after re-watering, reinitiating wood formation. Stress caused more than a 20% reduction in ring width, a 0.5‰ increase in latewood δ13C and changes in vessels characteristics in both the current year latewood and the next year earlywood. The latewood displayed up to 90% increased hydraulic conductivity than control trees, likely to compensate for a cavitation-induced reduction of water transport.* The earlywood after the first drought year was characterized by more but smaller vessels suggesting the attempt of restoring conductivity while minimizing the risk of hydraulic failure. However, after the second year, the reduction of hydraulic conductivity and the increased δ13C values indicate a structural adjustment towards a reduced growth induced by exhaustion of carbon reserves

The novel RUNX3/p33 isoform is induced upon monocyte-derived dendritic cell maturation and downregulates IL-8 expression

10.1016/j.imbio.2010.05.018Immunobiology2159-10812-82

Detecção de anticorpos para Toxoplasma gondii em soro de suínos criados e abatidos em frigoríficos da região da grande Porto Alegre-RS, Brasil Detection of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in sera from swine bred and slaughtered in the great Porto Alegre-RS abbattoirs, Brazil

No presente trabalho, objetivou-se contribuir com dados sobre a freqüência de sororeagentes para Toxoplasma gondii em suínos criados e abatidos na Região da Grande Porto Alegre e fornecer subsídios sobre a importância da transmissão deste protozoário, por suínos. Foram coletadas amostras de 240 suínos em frigoríficos da região. A freqüência de anticorpos anti- Toxoplasma gondii, determinada através da técnica de hemaglutinação indireta, foi de 20 % de soros iguais ou superiores a diluição 1:64. Na técnica de imunofluorescência indireta, foram encontrados 33,75% de soro com diluição iguais a 1:16 ou superiores.<br>This report objectived to contribuite with data about the antibodies occurence of Toxoplasma gondii in swine bred and slaughtered in the area of Great Porto Alegre- RS, Brazil. The data should supply with subsidies on the importance of this protozoan transmission through swines. Samples were taken from 240 swines at slaughterhouses in that region. The frequency of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies, determinanet through the indirect hemagglutination technic was of 20% of serum equal or superior to 1:64 dilution. In the indirect immunofluorescence technic was found 33.75% in serum with a diluition equal to 1:16 or superior