Mycotoxins multi detection by ELISA

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by some fungi  that may occur in certain vegetable food like corn, cereals or nuts that have not been stored properly. They occur more often in countries with tropical weather and the three main fungi genera that produce them are Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium. The most common mycotoxines are aflatoxins, fumonisins, ochratoxin, zearalenone and deoxynivalenol. These compounds are toxic and they can produce health disorders in people or animals fed with contaminated food. Aflatoxines are considerated the most powerful cancerogenic natural compounds. The high toxicity of mycotoxins has forced setting maximum limits by governments. Several methods are used for detection and quantification of mycotoxins. ELISA (Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay) tests are sensitive and relatively rapid methods. There are specific commercial kits for each type of mycotoxins, which detect levels within the legal limits for each mycotoxin. In this project, the samples processing, extraction and implementation of the tests used to detect the various mycotoxins are described. It is intend a research project to develop an improved ELISA kit to detect several mycotoxins  while maintaining the sensitivity and efficiency. This improvement will be based on the use of different chromogens, to distinguish between the different mycotoxins that could be detected by the test

Real-time measurement of the average temperature profiles in liquid cooling using digital holographic interferometry

We present an alternative optical method to estimate the temperature during the cooling process of a liquid using digital holographic interferometry (DHI). We make use of phase variations that are linked to variations in the refractive index and the temperature property of a liquid. In DHI, a hologram is first recorded using an object beam scattered from a rectangular container with a liquid at a certain reference temperature. A second hologram is then recorded when the temperature is decreased slightly. A phase difference between the two holograms indicates a temperature variation, and it is possible to obtain the temperature value at each small point of the sensed optical field. The relative phase map between the two object states is obtained simply and quickly through Fourier-transform method. Our experimental results reveal that the temperature values measured using this method and those obtained with a thermometer are consistent. We additionally show that it is possible to analyze the heat-loss process of a liquid sample in dynamic events using DHI. (C) 2016 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE

Giant vesicles in electric fields

This review is dedicated to electric field effects on giant unilamellar vesicles, a cell-size membrane system. We summarize various types of behavior observed when vesicles are subjected either to weak AC fields at various frequency, or to strong DC pulses. Different processes such as electrodeformation, -poration and -fusion of giant vesicles are considered. We describe some recent developments, which allowed us to detect the dynamics of the vesicle response with a resolution below milliseconds for all of these processes. Novel aspects on electric field effects on vesicles in the gel phase are introduced

Electrohydrodynamic model of vesicle deformation in alternating electric fields

We develop an analytical theory to explain the experimentally-observed morphological transitions of giant vesicles induced by AC electric fields (1). The model treats the inner and suspending media as lossy dielectrics, while the membrane as an ion-impermeable flexible incompressible-fluid sheet. The vesicle shape is obtained by balancing electric, hydrodynamic, and bending stresses exerted on the membrane. Considering a nearly spherical vesicle, the solution to the electrohydrodynamic problem is obtained as a regular perturbation expansion in the excess area. The theory predicts that stationary vesicle deformation depends on field frequency and conductivity conditions. If the inner fluid is more conducting than the suspending medium, the vesicle always adopts a prolate shape. In the opposite case, the vesicle undergoes a transition from a prolate to oblate ellipsoid at a critical frequency, which the theory identifies with the inverse membrane charging time. At frequencies higher than the inverse Maxwell-Wagner polarization time, the electrohydrodynamic stresses become too small to alter the vesicle's quasi-spherical rest shape. The analysis shows that the evolution towards the stationary vesicle deformation strongly depends on membrane properties such as viscosity. The model can be applied to rationalize the transient and steady deformation of biological cells in electric fields

Clinical Characterization and Diagnostic Approaches for Patients Reporting Hypersensitivity Reactions to Quinolones

[EN] BACKGROUND: Quinolones are the second most frequent cause of hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) to antibiotics. A marked increase in the number of patients with HSRs to quinolones has been detected. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical characteristics of patients with HSRs to quinolones and present methods for their diagnosis. METHODS: Patients attending the allergy unit due to reactions suggestive of HSRs to quinolones were prospectively evaluated between 2005 and 2018. Diagnosis was achieved using clinical history, skin tests (STs), basophil activation tests (BATs), and drug provocation tests (DPTs) if ST and BAT results were negative. RESULTS: We included 128 subjects confirmed as having HSRs to quinolones and 42 found to be tolerant. Anaphylaxis was the most frequent entity in immediate HSRs and was most commonly induced by moxifloxacin. Patients were evaluated a median of 150 days (interquartile range, 60-365 days) after the reaction. Of patients who underwent ST and BAT, 40.7% and 70%, respectively, were positive. DPT with a quinolone was performed in 48 cases, giving results depending on the culprit drug: when moxifloxacin was involved, 62.5% of patients gave a positive DPT result to ciprofloxacin, whereas none reacted to levofloxacin. The risk of HSR was 96 times higher in subjects who reported moxifloxacin-induced anaphylaxis and 18 times higher in those reporting immediate reactions compared with clinical entities induced by quinolones other than moxi-floxacin and nonimmediate reactions. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of HSR to quinolones is complex. The use of clinical history is essential as a first step. BAT shows higher sensitivity than STs. DPTs can be useful for finding safe alternative quinolones.The present study has been supported by the Institute of Health "Carlos III" of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (grants cofounded by European Regional Development Fund: RETIC ARADYALRD16/0006/0001, RD16/0006/0010, RD16/0006/0019, and RD16/0006/0030). I.D. is a clinical investigator (B0001-2017) from Consejeria de Salud of the Andalusian government, Junta de Andalucia. N.P.-S. holds a Rio Hortega research contract (CM17/0014), and E.B. a Juan Rodes research contract (JR18/00049), both from the Institute of Health "Carlos III," Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (grants cofounded by the European Social Fund).Doña, I.; Pérez-Sánchez, N.; Salas, M.; Barrionuevo, E.; Ruiz-San Francisco, A.; Hernández Fernández De Rojas, D.; Martí-Garrido, J.... (2020). Clinical Characterization and Diagnostic Approaches for Patients Reporting Hypersensitivity Reactions to Quinolones. 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Severe drug-induced anaphylaxis: analysis of 333 cases recorded by the Allergy Vigilance Network from 2002 to 2010. Allergy, 68(7), 929-937. doi:10.1111/all.12168Blanca-López, N., Ariza, A., Doña, I., Mayorga, C., Montañez, M. I., Garcia-Campos, J., … Torres, M. J. (2013). Hypersensitivity reactions to fluoroquinolones: analysis of the factors involved. Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 43(5), 560-567. doi:10.1111/cea.12099Johannes, C. B., Ziyadeh, N., Seeger, J. D., Tucker, E., Reiter, C., & Faich, G. (2007). Incidence of Allergic Reactions Associated with Antibacterial Use in a Large, Managed Care Organisation. Drug Safety, 30(8), 705-713. doi:10.2165/00002018-200730080-00007Kulthanan, K., Chularojanamontri, L., Manapajon, A., Dhana, N., & Jongjarearnprasert, K. (2011). Cutaneous Adverse Reactions to Fluoroquinolones. Dermatitis, 22(3), 155-160. doi:10.2310/6620.2011.10115Neuman, M. G., Cohen, L. B., & Nanau, R. M. (2015). Quinolones-induced hypersensitivity reactions. 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Bluefin tuna fishery policy in Malta: The plight of artisanal fishermen caught in the capitalist net

The bluefin tuna fishery has undergone a major shift in Malta, moving from an open access artisanal nature to a privatized and industrialized activity dominated by the purse seining fleet and the BFT ranching industry.The shift has been exacerbated by the national implementation of anindividual transferable quota system, which has enabled the concertation of quotas into fewer hands.The main objective of this article is to understand how privatization hasevolved within the sector and the way the Maltese artisanal fishermen are experiencing the shift. This study takes an exploratory mixed-method approach to quantitatively and qualitatively understand how policy underpinnings interplay with the sustainability dimension of the small-scale fishing sector. Results show that the transition of the bluefin tuna fishery from artisanal to industrial has generated a legitimacy crisis over fishing rights, decreased profitability amongst most of the artisanal fleet, and led to a series of socio-ecological impacts on the artisanal fisheries system at large.It is concluded that the neo-liberal trajectories of industrialization have directly undermined the continued sustainability of artisanal fishing communities

Malaria in Africa: Vector Species' Niche Models and Relative Risk Maps

A central theoretical goal of epidemiology is the construction of spatial models of disease prevalence and risk, including maps for the potential spread of infectious disease. We provide three continent-wide maps representing the relative risk of malaria in Africa based on ecological niche models of vector species and risk analysis at a spatial resolution of 1 arc-minute (9 185 275 cells of approximately 4 sq km). Using a maximum entropy method we construct niche models for 10 malaria vector species based on species occurrence records since 1980, 19 climatic variables, altitude, and land cover data (in 14 classes). For seven vectors (Anopheles coustani, A. funestus, A. melas, A. merus, A. moucheti, A. nili, and A. paludis) these are the first published niche models. We predict that Central Africa has poor habitat for both A. arabiensis and A. gambiae, and that A. quadriannulatus and A. arabiensis have restricted habitats in Southern Africa as claimed by field experts in criticism of previous models. The results of the niche models are incorporated into three relative risk models which assume different ecological interactions between vector species. The “additive” model assumes no interaction; the “minimax” model assumes maximum relative risk due to any vector in a cell; and the “competitive exclusion” model assumes the relative risk that arises from the most suitable vector for a cell. All models include variable anthrophilicity of vectors and spatial variation in human population density. Relative risk maps are produced from these models. All models predict that human population density is the critical factor determining malaria risk. Our method of constructing relative risk maps is equally general. We discuss the limits of the relative risk maps reported here, and the additional data that are required for their improvement. The protocol developed here can be used for any other vector-borne disease