Quantitative risk assessment for aflatoxin M1 associated with the consumption of milk and traditional dairy products in Argentina

A quantitative risk assessment for exposure to aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) related to the consumption of milk and traditional dairy products of Argentina was developed. The frequency and concentration of AFM1 was modelled at various stages through the milk processes, considering Argentinean practices. Concentration of AFM1 (0.046 μg/l, 95%CI = 0.002?0.264 μg/l) in raw milk was estimated. The AFM1 concentration in milk was sensitive to the carry-over rate (r = 0.80), and milk yield in the first third of lactation during the spring?summer season (r = 0.11). AFB1 levels in silage (r = 0.22), pasture during the spring?summer season (r = 0.11), concentrate (r = 0.08), and cotton seed (r = 0.05) were the factors most correlated with AFM1 concentrations. Although the results showed that MoE values for the mean and median exposure to AFM1 were 1) for exposure to AFM1 for infants, toddlers, and other children were 45%, 49.1%, and 40.6%, respectively. Under this scenario, the most susceptible population at risk was children < 10 years old; therefore, it is necessary to establish measures to prevent contamination of AFM1 in milk and milk products.Fil: Costamagna, D.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Investigacion de la Cadena Lactea. - Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Santa Fe. Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela. Instituto de Investigacion de la Cadena Lactea.; ArgentinaFil: Gaggiotti, M.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Investigacion de la Cadena Lactea. - Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Santa Fe. Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela. Instituto de Investigacion de la Cadena Lactea.; ArgentinaFil: Signorini Porchietto, Marcelo Lisandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Investigacion de la Cadena Lactea. - Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Santa Fe. Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela. Instituto de Investigacion de la Cadena Lactea.; Argentin

Peptides, DNA and MIPs in gas sensing. From the realization of the sensors to sample analysis

Detection and monitoring of volatiles is a challenging and fascinating issue in environmental analysis, agriculture and food quality, process control in industry, as well as in ‘point of care’ diagnostics. Gas chromatographic approaches remain the reference method for the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs); however, gas sensors (GSs), with their advantages of low cost and no or very little sample preparation, have become a reality. Gas sensors can be used singularly or in array format (e.g., e-noses); coupling data output with multivariate statical treatment allows un-target analysis of samples headspace. Within this frame, the use of new binding elements as recognition/interaction elements in gas sensing is a challenging hot-topic that allowed unexpected advancement. In this review, the latest development of gas sensors and gas sensor arrays, realized using peptides, molecularly imprinted polymers and DNA is reported. This work is focused on the description of the strategies used for the GSs development, the sensing elements function, the sensors array set-up, and the application in real cases

Supplementation of Dairy Cows under Alfalfa Grazing Conditions with Ground Corn

Two trials were carried out during the Autumn of 1991 and 1992 to investigate the effects of corn supplementation on lactational performance of dairy cows under alfalfa grazing. Forty two multiparous Holstein cows with 30-60 days in milk were used in a randomized continuous design with covariance analysis. The treatments were 0.0, 3.5 and 7.0 kg.day-1 of corn grain supplementation (T1, T2 and T3 respectively) in 1991 and 0.0, 3.0, 6.0 and 9.0 kg.day-1 (T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively) in 1992. Six cows per treatment were used divided in 3 cows per grazing paddock. Dry matter (DM) intake (DMI) was estimated weekly for each group of cows. The pasture allowance was between 22-26 kg DM.cow-1.day-1. Pasture and grain DMI were 16.6 and 0.0, 13.5 and 3.2, 13.3 and 6.1 kg.cow-1.day-1 (T1, T2 and T3 respectively) in 1991; 16.8 and 0.0, 15.7 and 2.1, 14.0 and 4.1, 12.2 and 6.3 kg.cow-1.day-1 (T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively) in 1992. The substitution rate was 0.66 kgDM pasture per kgDM corn. There was a lineal effect of supplementation on milk production the responses were 0.936 (1991) and 1.173 (1992) kg milk kgDM-1 corn. However, non significant effects (P \u3e0.05) on fat content (32.8 and 31.9 g. kg-1 milk) and protein contents (30.7 and 30.7 g. kg-1 milk) in milk during both years (1991 and 1992 respectively) were observed

High Moisture Sorghum Grain Silage: Effects of Tannin Content and Urea Treatment on the Performance of Dairy Cows

Grain sorghum silage tannin content effect was evaluated on milk production and chemical composition of Argentinean Holstein bred cows, and it are described dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) in situ digestion parameters and effective degradability. The base diet was constituted by alfalfa pasture, maize silage, and a protein – mineral supplement, differing in three treatments based on high moisture grain silage characteristic: LTS= Low tannin grain sorghum, HTS= High tannin grain sorghum, and HTSu= High tannin sorghum plus the addition of urea. Grain sorghum silage tannin content affects milk production, without significant alteration of chemical composition. Beside the effect of urea addition on grain sorghum tannin content, improvement in animal response was only moderate

Influence of environmental heterogeneity on the distribution and persistence of a subterranean rodent in a highly unstable landscape

O.E.G was supported by the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland.In this study we combine information from landscape characteristics, demographic inference and species distribution modelling to identify environmental factors that shape the genetic distribution of the fossorial rodent Ctenomys. We sequenced the mtDNA control region and amplified 12 microsatellites from 27 populations distributed across the Iberá wetland ecosystem. Hierarchical Bayesian modelling was used to construct phylogenies and estimate divergence times. We developed species distribution models to determine what climatic variables and soil parameters predicted species presence by comparing the current to the historic and predicted future distribution of the species. Finally, we explore the impact of environmental variables on the genetic structure of Ctenomys based on current and past species distributions. The variables that consistently correlated with the predicted distribution of the species and explained the observed genetic differentiation among populations included the distribution of well-drained sandy soils and temperature seasonality. A core region of stable suitable habitat was identified from the Last Interglacial, which is projected to remain stable into the future. This region is also the most genetically diverse and is currently under strong anthropogenic pressure. Results reveal complex demographic dynamics, which have been in constant change in both time and space, and are likely linked to the evolution of the Paraná River. We suggest that any alteration of soil properties (climatic or anthropic) may significantly impact the availability of suitable habitat and consequently the ability of individuals to disperse. The protection of this core stable habitat is of prime importance given the increasing levels of human disturbance across this wetland system and the threat of climate change.PostprintPeer reviewe

Recurrent exercise-induced acute renal failure in a young Pakistani man with severe renal hypouricemia and SLC2A9 compound heterozygosity.

BACKGROUND: Familial renal hypouricemia (RHUC) is a hereditary disease characterized by hypouricemia, high renal fractional excretion of uric acid (FE-UA) and can be complicated by acute kidney failure and nephrolithiasis. Loss-of-function mutations in the SLC22A12 gene cause renal hypouricemia type 1 (RHUC1), whereas renal hypouricemia type 2 (RHUC2) is caused by mutations in the SLC2A9 gene. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a 24-year-old Pakistani man who was admitted twice to our hospital for severe exercise-induced acute renal failure (EIARF), abdominal pain and fever; he had very low serum UA levels (0.2 mg/dl the first time and 0.09 mg/dl the second time) and high FE-UA (200% and 732% respectively), suggestive of RHUC. Mutational analyses of both urate transporters revealed a new compound heterozygosity for two distinct missense mutations in the SLC2A9 gene: p.Arg380Trp, already identified in heterozygosity, and p.Gly216Arg, previously found in homozygosity or compound heterozygosity in some RHUC2 patients. Compared with previously reported patients harbouring these mutations, our proband showed the highest FE-UA levels, suggesting that the combination of p.Arg380Trp and p.Gly216Arg mutations most severely affects the renal handling of UA. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical and molecular findings from this patient and a review of the literature provide new insights into the genotype-phenotype correlation of this disorder, supporting the evidence of an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern for RHUC2. Further investigations into the functional properties of GLUT9, URAT1 and other urate transporters are required to assess their potential research and clinical implications

Exposure assessment of mycotoxins in cow's milk in Argentina

A stochastic simulation model was developed to carry out the first quantitative risk exposure assessment of the mycotoxin level in cow's milk produced in Argentina. The prevalence and concentration of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) were modeled at various stages through milk processes complying with Argentinean practices. Concentration of AFM1 (0.059. ppb), DON (0.338. ppb) and ZEA (0.125. ppb) in dairy milk were estimated. The proportion of feed samples that exceeded the maximum level accepted by European regulations for AFB1, DON and ZEA were estimated at 25.07%, 0.0% and 8.9%, respectively. The percentage of milk samples that exceeded the maximum level accepted for AFB1 by the MERCOSUR (0.5. ppb) and the European Union regulations (0.05. ppb) were 0.81 and 32.65, respectively. The probability distribution of AFM1 concentration in milk was affected by the carry-over rate equations applied in the model. Mycotoxin levels in corn silage and concentrated feeds were the factors most correlated with mycotoxin concentrations in milk. Therefore, agricultural practices, crop management and feed production require prompt attention regarding mycotoxin issues. Elsevier Ltd.Fil: Signorini Porchietto, Marcelo Lisandro. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Santa Fe. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; ArgentinaFil: Gaggiotti, M.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Santa Fe. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela; ArgentinaFil: Molineri, Ana Inés. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Santa Fe. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; ArgentinaFil: Chiericatti, C. A.. Universidad Nacional del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Zapata de Basílico, M. L.. Universidad Nacional del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Basílico, J. .. Universidad Nacional del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Pisani, M.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Santa Fe. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela; Argentin

End-of-life care in high-grade glioma patients. The palliative and supportive perspective

High-grade gliomas (HGGs) are the most frequently diagnosed primary brain tumors. Even though it has been demonstrated that combined surgical therapy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy improve survival, HGGs still harbor a very poor prognosis and limited overall survival. Differently from other types of primary neoplasm, HGG manifests also as a neurological disease. According to this, palliative care of HGG patients represents a peculiar challenge for healthcare providers and caregivers since it has to be directed to both general and neurological cancer symptoms. In this way, the end-of-life (EOL) phase of HGG patients appears to be like a journey through medical issues, progressive neurological deterioration, and psychological, social, and affective concerns. EOL is intended as the time prior to death when symptoms increase and antitumoral therapy is no longer effective. In this phase, palliative care is intended as an integrated support aimed to reduce the symptoms burden and improve the Quality Of Life (QOL). Palliative care is represented by medical, physical, psychological, spiritual, and social interventions which are primarily aimed to sustain patients’ functions during the disease time, while maintaining an acceptable quality of life and ensuring a dignified death. Since HGGs represent also a family concern, due to the profound emotional and relational issues that the progression of the disease poses, palliative care may also relieve the distress of the caregivers and increase the satisfaction of patients’ relatives. We present the results of a literature review addressed to enlighten and classify the best medical, psychological, rehabilitative, and social interventions that are addressed both to patients and to their caregivers, which are currently adopted as palliative care during the EOL phase of HGG patients in order to orientate the best medical practice in HGG management

Nomadism and movement as epistemologies of the contemporary world (El nomadismo y el movimiento como epistemologías del mundo contemporáneo)

In the same way that movement and nomadism as a lifestyles opposite to sedentism involve not only the abandonment of the idea of a permanent home, but also an active challenge or furtive avoidance of the state's sedentary authority, movement and nomadism as epistemologies confront the generally fixed order of languages, discourses and perspectives with which science tries to explain our social world. New ways of thinking about movement, subjectivities, groups and institutions emerge, in a world that is not only global, but real and virtual at the same time. In this special issue we have gathered the contributions that experiment and questioning static thinking