Evaluation of the nutritional aspects and cholesterol oxidation products of pork liver and fish patés

A comparative study between traditional patés elaborated with pork liver and fish patés (salmon, anchovy and cod) was carried out. The nutritional value and their security related to cholesterol oxidation products (COP) content were evaluated. Salmon paté showed similar fat content (24-28%) and energetic value (300Kcal/100g) to pork liver patés, whereas patés made with anchovy and cod showed less fat (13-16%) and calories (200-236 Kcal/100g). PUFA/SFA ratios were much higher in all fish patés (1.55-4.95) than in liver pork patés (0.36-0.44). No great differences were found in ω-6/ω-3 ratio between salmon and pork liver patés (11.34-18.4), being even much higher this ratio in anchovy (32.32) and cod patés (62.77). EPA and DHA supply was around 0.63 for salmon, 0.21 for anchovy and 0.07 for cod patés. Cholesterol amounts were lower in fish patés (31-37mg/100g) than in pork liver patés (77-102mg/100g). Total COP ranged 0.38-2.83ppm, without clear differences between pork liver and fish patés

On the structure of maximal solvable extensions and of Levi extensions of nilpotent algebras

We establish an improved upper estimate on dimension of any solvable algebra s with its nilradical isomorphic to a given nilpotent Lie algebra n. Next we consider Levi decomposable algebras with a given nilradical n and investigate restrictions on possible Levi factors originating from the structure of characteristic ideals of n. We present a new perspective on Turkowski's classification of Levi decomposable algebras up to dimension 9.Comment: 21 pages; major revision - one section added, another erased; author's version of the published pape

Óxidos de colesterol en langostinos frescos y congelados, crudos y a la plancha

Los óxidos de colesterol (COPs) se relacionan con diferentes efectos tóxicos entre los que destacan su implicación en los procesos de aterosclerosis. Se estudió la presencia de óxidos de colesterol en langostinos comercializados en fresco y en congelación, tanto en crudo, como sometidos a una tecnología culinaria habitual (plancha). La determinación se realizó por cromatografía de gases acoplada a espectrometría de masas (CG-EM). En los langostinos frescos se detectaron todos los COPs analizados con excepción del 7-hidroxicolesterol, presentando una cantidad total de 33,15 μg COPs/g grasa. Por el contrario, en los langostinos comercializados congelados sólo se detectaron el 7-ketocolesterol y el 7-hidroxicolesterol, dando lugar a una cantidad total de 2,38 μg COPs/g grasa. Estos resultados indican la gran efectividad de la comercialización bajo condiciones de congelación de este tipo de alimentos en cuanto a ralentizar la formación de COPs. El tratamiento culinario incrementó el contenido de COPs en ambos tipos de langostinos, alcanzando 55,43 μg COPs/g grasa en los frescos y sólo 13,06 μg COPs/g grasa en los congelados.Cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) have been related to different toxic effects, being the atherosclerotic process one of the best known. The presence of cholesterol oxides in freshly and frozenly commercialised shrimps, both raw and grilled, was studied. The determination was made by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS). Fresh shrimps showed significant amounts of all analysed COPs, except for 7-hydroxycholesterol, accounting in total for 33.15 μg COPs/g fat. In contrast, in frozen commercialised shrimps only 7-ketocholesterol and 7-hydroxycholesterol were detected. These results point out the great effectiveness of the commercialisation of this type of products under freezing, in terms of to the minimisation of the COPs formation. The cooking method (grilling) increased the COPs content in both types of shrimps, reaching 55.43 μg COPs/g fat in fresh shrimps and only 13.06 μg COPs/g fat in frozen ones

Specific Visualization of Glioma Cells in Living Low-Grade Tumor Tissue

BACKGROUND: The current therapy of malignant gliomas is based on surgical resection, radio-chemotherapy and chemotherapy. Recent retrospective case-series have highlighted the significance of the extent of resection as a prognostic factor predicting the course of the disease. Complete resection in low-grade gliomas that show no MRI-enhanced images are especially difficult. The aim in this study was to develop a robust, specific, new fluorescent probe for glioma cells that is easy to apply to live tumor biopsies and could identify tumor cells from normal brain cells at all levels of magnification. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this investigation we employed brightly fluorescent, photostable quantum dots (QDs) to specifically target epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) that is upregulated in many gliomas. Living glioma and normal cells or tissue biopsies were incubated with QDs coupled to EGF and/or monoclonal antibodies against EGFR for 30 minutes, washed and imaged. The data include results from cell-culture, animal model and ex vivo human tumor biopsies of both low-grade and high-grade gliomas and show high probe specificity. Tumor cells could be visualized from the macroscopic to single cell level with contrast ratios as high as 1000: 1 compared to normal brain tissue. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The ability of the targeted probes to clearly distinguish tumor cells in low-grade tumor biopsies, where no enhanced MRI image was obtained, demonstrates the great potential of the method. We propose that future application of specifically targeted fluorescent particles during surgery could allow intraoperative guidance for the removal of residual tumor cells from the resection cavity and thus increase patient survival

Temporal and Spatial Profiling of Root Growth Revealed Novel Response of Maize Roots under Various Nitrogen Supplies in the Field

A challenge for Chinese agriculture is to limit the overapplication of nitrogen (N) without reducing grain yield. Roots take up N and participate in N assimilation, facilitating dry matter accumulation in grains. However, little is known about how the root system in soil profile responds to various N supplies. In the present study, N uptake, temporal and spatial distributions of maize roots, and soil mineral N (Nmin) were thoroughly studied under field conditions in three consecutive years. The results showed that in spite of transient stimulation of growth of early initiated nodal roots, N deficiency completely suppressed growth of the later-initiated nodal roots and accelerated root death, causing an early decrease in the total root length at the rapid vegetative growth stage of maize plants. Early N excess, deficiency, or delayed N topdressing reduced plant N content, resulting in a significant decrease in dry matter accumulation and grain yield. Notably, N overapplication led to N leaching that stimulated root growth in the 40–50 cm soil layer. It was concluded that the temporal and spatial growth patterns of maize roots were controlled by shoot growth and local soil Nmin, respectively. Improving N management involves not only controlling the total amount of chemical N fertilizer applied, but also synchronizing crop N demand and soil N supply by split N applications

A preliminary study of mercury exposure and blood pressure in the Brazilian Amazon

BACKGROUND: Fish is considered protective for coronary heart disease (CHD), but mercury (Hg) intake from fish may counterbalance beneficial effects. Although neurotoxic effects of methylmercury (MeHg) are well established, cardiovascular effects are still debated. The objective of the present study was to evaluate blood pressure in relation to Hg exposure and fish consumption among a non-indigenous fish-eating population in the Brazilian Amazon. METHODS: The study was conducted among 251 persons from six communities along the Tapajós River, a major tributary of the Amazon. Data was obtained for socio-demographic information, fish consumption, height and weight to determine body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and Hg concentration in hair samples. RESULTS: Results showed that overall, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, were relatively low (mean: 113.9 mmHg ± 14.6 and 73.7 mmHg ± 11.0). Blood pressure was significantly associated with hair total Hg (H-Hg), age, BMI and gender. No association was observed between fish consumption and blood pressure, although there were significant inter-community differences. Logistic regression analyses showed that the Odds Ratio (OR) for elevated systolic blood pressure (≥ 130 mmHg) with H-Hg ≥ 10 μg/g was 2.91 [1.26–7.28], taking into account age, BMI, smoking, gender and community. CONCLUSION: The findings of this preliminary study add further support for Hg cardiovascular toxicity

Sunflower evapotranspiration and water use efficiency in response to plant density

This study quantified sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) water use efficiency for seed (WUEg) and for oil yield (WUEo) and their components (i.e., evapotranspiration [ET], seed and oil yields) in response to plant density increments and studied, in particular, the underlying processes relevant to the responses of crop ET to plant density (i.e. water uptake pattern, intercepted photosynthetically active radiation [iPAR], and soil water depletion profile). Sunflower was grown at 3, 6, and 9 plants m−2 in Season 1 and at 2, 3 and 6 plants m−2 in Season 2. Measurements included (i) soil water content and iPAR during the whole growing season, and (ii) seed and oil yield at physiological maturity. Crop ET was estimated by means of a water balance, and it was analyzed during three different periods (i.e. vegetative, critical period for seed set, and seed filling period). Increasing sunflower plant density from 2 to 9 plants m−2 did not modify seasonal ET, but it changed the water uptake pattern through the season; it increased ET during the vegetative period by depleting more water from deep soil layers (i.e., 41–140 cm), but it reduced ET during the seed-filling period. Increments in plant density increased seed and oil yield in accordance with significant iPAR increments, whereas harvest index remained stable. Sunflower WUEg ranged from 4.8 to 9.4 kg ha−1 mm−1, WUEo ranged from 1.8 to 4.5 kg oil ha−1 mm−1 across plant densities, and they were positively and closely associated with seasonal iPAR.Fil: Echarte, Laura. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Echarte, Maria Mercedes. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Cerrudo, Diego. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez, V. H.. No especifíca;Fil: Alfonso, C.. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Cambareri, M.. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Hernandez, M.. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Nagore, Maria Luján. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Della Maggiora, A.. No especifíca