Evolution of the Phenolic Content and Extractability Indices During Ripening of Nebbiolo Grapes from the Piedmont Growing Areas over Six Consecutive Years

The phenolic composition and extractability indices of grape berries play a key role in assessing redwine quality because the relationship between grape phenolic maturity and wine phenolic compositionis well known. In this work, grape quality indices were determined in Nebbiolo grapes from two growingareas of Langhe (South Piedmont), at different stages throughout the ripening process in six consecutiveyears (2004 to 2009), with the aim of evaluating the ripening- and growing area-related changes in thegrape indices separately. The effect of vintage was also investigated. Ripeness data were compared withanalogous data determined in Nebbiolo grapes grown in the Carema area (North Piedmont). The vintageeffect far outweighed any changes in the grape indices introduced by the ripening stage, even those arisingfrom differences in the production area. In the Langhe and Carema zones, the average berry mass, pH,total acidity, total anthocyanins extractable at pH 3.2, total flavonoids and non-anthocyanin flavonoidsextractable at pH 1, and the seed maturity index were seasonally dependent. The more ripening-affectedparameters were the technological ones. This work highlights the importance of determining the phenolextractability, since it provides relevant information that allows improved management of the macerationstage

Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from cattle with central nervous system disorders after storage for 24 hours with autologous serum

BACKGROUND: We compared the changes in cell morphology, total and differential cell counts between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples analyzed within an hour of collection (fresh sample) and after the addition of autologous serum and storage for 24 h (stored sample) in 27 cattle with central nervous system disorders. RESULTS: There was a positive linear correlation between total and differential cell counts in the fresh and the stored samples. Cell morphology was preserved in all stored samples, except for increased vacuolization of mononuclear cells and cleaved nuclei of some small mononuclear cells. In the stored CSF samples, the total nucleated cell count and monocyte percentage were decreased (P = 0.01; P = 0.03), while the lymphocyte percentage was increased (P = 0.04). Mononuclear pleocytosis diagnosed in 20 fresh samples was cytologically confirmed in 12 of the 20 stored samples. In the remaining eight stored samples, the number of total nucleated cells was within the normal range. Neutrophilic pleocytosis was confirmed in all seven stored samples. The overall agreement rate between cytologic interpretation of the fresh and the stored CSF samples was 70 % (100 % for neutrophilic pleocytosis and 60 % for mononuclear pleocytosis). CONCLUSIONS: Adding 11 % of autologous serum to CSF samples might allow delayed analysis with a good agreement rate for CSF cytological interpretation. Caution is nonetheless warranted, as animal age, anamnesis, and neurological presentation need to be considered when interpreting stored CSF without pleocytosis. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12917-015-0502-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Evolution of the Phenolic Content and Extractability Indices During Ripening of Nebbiolo Grapes from the Piedmont Growing Areas over Six Consecutive Years

The phenolic composition and extractability indices of grape berries play a key role in assessing red wine quality because the relationship between grape phenolic maturity and wine phenolic composition is well known. In this work, grape quality indices were determined in Nebbiolo grapes from two growing areas of Langhe (South Piedmont), at different stages throughout the ripening process in six consecutive years (2004 to 2009), with the aim of evaluating the ripening- and growing area-related changes in the grape indices separately. The effect of vintage was also investigated. Ripeness data were compared with analogous data determined in Nebbiolo grapes grown in the Carema area (North Piedmont). The vintage effect far outweighed any changes in the grape indices introduced by the ripening stage, even those arising from differences in the production area. In the Langhe and Carema zones, the average berry mass, pH, total acidity, total anthocyanins extractable at pH 3.2, total flavonoids and non-anthocyanin flavonoids extractable at pH 1, and the seed maturity index were seasonally dependent. The more ripening-affected parameters were the technological ones. This work highlights the importance of determining the phenol extractability, since it provides relevant information that allows improved management of the maceration stage