Determination of regulated and emerging mycotoxins in organic and conventional gluten-free flours by LC-MS/MS

Gluten-free cereal products have grown in popularity in recent years as they are perceived as “healthier” alternatives and can be safely consumed by celiac patients, and people with gluten intolerance or wheat allergies. Molds that produce mycotoxins contaminate cereal crops, posing a threat to global food security. Maximum levels have been set for certain mycotoxins in cereal flours; however, little is known about the levels of emerging mycotoxins in these flours. The aim of this study was to develop an efficient, sensitive, and selective method for the detection of four emerging (beauvericin and enniatins A1, B, and B1) and three regulated (aflatoxin B1, zearalenone, and deoxynivalenol) mycotoxins in gluten-free flours. Ultrasound-assisted matrix solid-phase dispersion was used in the extraction of these mycotoxins from flour samples. The validated method was utilized for the LC-MS/MS analysis of conventional and organic wholegrain oat and rice flours. Six of the seven target mycotoxins were detected in these samples. Multi-mycotoxin contamination was found in all flour types, particularly in conventional wholegrain oat flour. Despite the low detection frequency in rice flour, one sample was found to contain zearalenone at a concentration of 83.2 µg/kg, which was higher than the level set by the European Commission for cereal flours. The emerging mycotoxins had the highest detection frequencies; enniatin B was present in 53% of the samples at a maximum concentration of 56 µg/kg, followed by enniatin B1 and beauvericin, which were detected in 46% of the samples, and at levels reaching 21 µg/kg and 10 µg/kg, respectively. These results highlight the need to improve the current knowledge and regulations on the presence of mycotoxins, particularly emerging ones, in gluten-free flours and cereal-based product

Aromatic characterization of Moscato Giallo by GC-MS/MS and stable isotopic ratio analysis of the major volatile compounds

Among the Moscato grapes, Moscato Giallo is a winegrape variety characterized by a highcontent of free and glycosylated monoterpenoids, which gives very aromatic wines. Thearomatic bouquet of Moscato Giallo is strongly influenced by the high concentration of linalool, geraniol, linalool oxides, limonene, α-terpineol, citronellol, HO-trienol, HO-diols, 8-Hydroxylinalool, geranic acid and β-myrcene, that give citrus, rose, and peach notes. Except the quali-quantitative analysis, no investigations regarding the isotopic values of the target volatile compounds are documented in literature. Stable isotope ratio analysis represents a modern and powerful tool used by the laboratories responsible for official consumer protection, for the food quality and genuineness assessment. In this study, samples of Moscato Giallo were collected during the harvest season in 2019 from two Italian regions:Trentino – Alto Adige and Veneto, known lands for the cultivation of this aromatic variety. The flavor compounds were extracted from grapes and wines, after alcoholic fermentation of grape juice, and analysed by GC-MS/MS. The results confirmed the presence of typical terpenoids both in free and glycosylated form, responsible for the characteristic aroma of Moscato Giallo variety. The aromatic compounds were also analysed by GC-C\Py-IRMS for a preliminary investigation. The compound-specific isotope ratio analysis allowed to determine the carbon (δ13C) and hydrogen (δ2H) isotopic signatures of the major volatile compounds for the first time

The influence of dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on serum leptin concentration in lactating sows

CLA may be useful in sow nutrition to increase CLA content in colostrum and milk (Bee, 2000). However CLA fed animals displayed also significantly reduced body fat (Pariza et al., 2001) and this effect may be detrimental to reproductive efficiency in sows per se and for the effects on metabolic hormones as well. Moreover some CLA isomers has been reported to influence leptin gene expression (Houseknacht et al., 1998). The present study examined the effects of dietary supplement of CLA on serum leptin in lactating sows. Conclusions: These results indicate that dietary CLA does not influence feed intake and body condition in lactating sows. By these results it does not seem that circulating leptin in lactating sows may be related to body weight and body condition as established in humans and rodents. Further research could explain if the higher leptin level in CLA fed sows is due to changes in leptin gene expression or in leptin clearance as well

RIP1-HAT1-SirT complex identification and targeting in treatment and prevention of cancer

Purpose: Alteration in cell death is a hallmark of cancer. A functional role regulating survival, apoptosis, and necroptosis has been attributed to RIP1/3 complexes.Experimental Design: We have investigated the role of RIP1 and the effects of MC2494 in cell death induction, using different methods as flow cytometry, transcriptome analysis, immunoprecipitation, enzymatic assays, transfections, mutagenesis, and in vivo studies with different mice models.Results: Here, we show that RIP1 is highly expressed in cancer, and we define a novel RIP1/3-SIRT1/2-HAT1/4 complex. Mass spectrometry identified five acetylations in the kinase and death domain of RIP1. The novel characterized pan-SIRT inhibitor, MC2494, increases RIP1 acetylation at two additional sites in the death domain. Mutagenesis of the acetylated lysine decreases RIP1-dependent cell death, suggesting a role for acetylation of the RIP1 complex in cell death modulation. Accordingly, MC2494 displays tumor-selective potential in vitro, in leukemic blasts ex vivo, and in vivo in both xenograft and allograft cancer models. Mechanistically, MC2494 induces bona fide tumor-restricted acetylated RIP1/caspase-8-mediated apoptosis. Excitingly, MC2494 displays tumor-preventive activity by blocking 7,12-dimethylbenz(α)anthracene-induced mammary gland hyperproliferation in vivoConclusions: These preventive features might prove useful in patients who may benefit from a recurrence-preventive approach with low toxicity during follow-up phases and in cases of established cancer predisposition. Thus, targeting the newly identified RIP1 complex may represent an attractive novel paradigm in cancer treatment and prevention

Acido laurico saponificato con il calcio nella dieta di suinetti in post svezzamento: effetti sulle performance di crescita e sulla salute intestinale

\uc8 noto che gli acidi grassi a media catena (MCFA) hanno un\u2019azione antibatterica, in particolare nei confronti dei batteri Gram+. Lo scopo del lavoro \ue8 stato valutare gli effetti dell\u2019acido laurico (C12) saponificato con il calcio sulle performance produttive e la salute intestinale dei suinetti in svezzamento. Per la prova sono stati impiegati 192 suinetti, ripartiti in 3 gruppi, alimentati rispettivamente con una dieta basale (Db= Ctr), Db+Amoxicillina, 400mg/kg (T1) e Db+C12-Ca, 1kg/ton (T2). L\u2019integrazione della dieta con C12-Ca ha comportato una riduzione della mortalit\ue0 e dei trattamenti medicamentosi rispetto ai soggetti Ctr. L\u2019efficienza alimentare \ue8 risultata analoga nei soggetti alimentati con la dieta integrata con laurato di calcio e in quelli trattati con antibiotico, con una differenza significativa rispetto ai controlli (P<0,05). La somministrazione del laurato ha infine determinato un miglioramento dello stato antiossidante della mucosa intestinale rispetto ai soggetti degli altri due gruppi con un aumento della capacit\ue0 antiossidante totale TAOC (P <0,01) e una riduzione dei livelli di Malondialdeide (P<0,01). I risultati suggeriscono che l\u2019inclusione nella dieta dei suinetti di C12-Ca pu\uf2 migliorare la salute intestinale e pu\uf2 rappresentare una possibile alternativa all\u2019antibiotico, impiegato per scopi di profilassi

Evaluation of polyphenolic content and antioxidant activity in agri-food wastes and by-products using chemical and physiological extraction

EU-28 produces about 100 Mtonnes/year of food waste, of which 40% is generated from agri-food industries. Agri-food waste (AFW) and by-products may contain components that could be valorised for their bioactivity. However, the bioaccessibility of these products is highly variable and dependent on a wide range of factors, including food matrix characteristics. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the total phenolic content and the antioxidant capacity of some by-products and AFW using two different extraction methods. Twelve samples of by products (grape marc, Camelina sativa cake, olive pomace and whey) and 12 samples of AFW (fruits and vegetables waste FVW, citrus pulp, strawberry and orange dried) were processed using: methanol extraction (chemical procedure) and in vitro physiological extraction simulating pig gastro-intestinal tract adapted from Regmi et al., 2009. Soy and wheat were included as controls. Afterwards, the polyphenolic content was assessed by Folin\u2013Ciocalteu assay while antioxidant capacity was determined by 2,2-Azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic Acid (ABTS) assay. Results obtained showed that the chemical extracts of by-products and AFW contain different amount of polyphenols; in particular, as expected, the grape marc showed the highest significant (4.5% w/w; p<.05) polyphenolic content compared to all samples considered. Of note, Camilina sativa cake, olive pomace, FVW, orange and strawberry dried showed a polyphenolic content of 1.3, 0.7, 1.3, 1.6 and 1.3% w/w, respectively. The antioxidant capacity of grape marc exhibited a higher (p<.05) value of 573.6 mmol Trolox equivalent (TE)/g compared to the other samples considered. Camilina sativa cake, olive pomace, FVW, orange and strawberry dried showed an antioxidant capacity of 29.2, 11.0, 28.4, 16.3 and 31.0mmol TE/g. The physiological extraction of grape marcs, Camilina sativa cake, olive pomace, FVW, orange, strawberry dried yielded a polyphenolic content of 3.6, 1.8, 3.2, 3.6 and 2.3% w/w, respectively. The antioxidant capacity showed a similar trend to polyphenolic content after physiological extraction. The results obtained in this study indicate that AFW and by-products could be considered a promising bioaccessible source of antioxidants and phenolic compounds with industrial applications for the production of ingredients to functionalize feedstuffs for monogastric animal

Dietary conjugated linoleic acid positively affects immunologic variables in lactating sows and piglets

We studied the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on metabolic and immunologic variables in lactating sows and piglets. Gestating sows (n = 16) were assigned to 1 of 2 weight- and parity-matched groups supplemented with 0% (C) or 0.5% (T) of a CLA preparation containing 50% CLA isomers. Supplementation started in late pregnancy and continued throughout lactation. At weaning, 80 piglets, half from each group of sows, were assigned to 0% CLA (C) or 0.5% CLA (T). Thus, there were four groups of 20 piglets: C-C, C-T, T-T, and T-C. Body weight and the number of piglets per litter at birth and weaning, and the chemical composition of colostrum did not differ among the groups. CLA affected the fatty acid composition of colostrum fat; palmitoleic and gamma-linolenic acid were significantly lower compared with controls, whereas eicosenoic and eicosatrienoic acids were significantly higher. Feeding CLA increased (P < 0.05) colostrum IgG in sows. Sows fed CLA had higher (P < 0.05) serum leptin, IgG, and lysozyme. Nursing piglets from CLA-fed sows had significantly higher (P < 0.01) serum lysozyme and IgG. Consumption of CLA did not affect postweaning growth. Postweaning piglets fed CLA (T-T, C-T) had a higher IgG titer at 25 d (P < 0.05) and 35 d (P < 0.01) after weaning. Serum lysozyme was also higher at 25 d (P < 0.05) in CLA-fed piglets (T-T, C-T). At 35 d, serum alfa-1 acylglicoprotein was lower (P < 0.05) in piglets fed CLA. Dietary CLA had a positive effect on immunologic variables in lactating sows and piglets

Development of a Machine Vision Method for the Monitoring of Laying Hens and Detection of Multiple Nest Occupations

Free range systems can improve the welfare of laying hens. However, the access to environmental resources can be partially limited by social interactions, feeding of hens, and productivity, can be not stable and damaging behaviors, or negative events, can be observed more frequently than in conventional housing systems. In order to reach a real improvement of the hens' welfare the study of their laying performances and behaviors is necessary. With this purpose, many systems have been developed. However, most of them do not detect a multiple occupation of the nest negatively affecting the accuracy of data collected. To overcome this issue, a new "nest-usage-sensor" was developed and tested. It was based on the evaluation of thermografic images, as acquired by a thermo-camera, and the performing of patter recognitions on images acquired from the nest interior. The sensor was setup with a "Multiple Nest Occupation Threshold" of 796 colored pixels and a template of triangular shape and sizes of 43 7 33 pixels (high per base). It was tested through an experimental nesting system where 10 hens were reared for a month. Results showed that the evaluation of thermografic images could increase the detection performance of a multiple occupation of the nest and to apply an image pattern recognition technique could allow for counting the number of hens in the nest in case of a multiple occupation. As a consequence, the accuracy of data collected in studies on laying performances and behaviors of hens, reared in a free-range housing system, could result to be improved