Development and validation of a method for the analysis of Ochratoxin A in roasted coffee by liquid chromatography/electrospray-mass spectrometry in Tandem (LC/ESI-MS/MS)

A method using LC/ESI-MS/MS for the quantitative analysis of Ochratoxin A in roasted coffee was described. Linearity was demonstrated (r = 0.9175). The limits of detection and quantification were 1.0 and 3.0 ng g-1, respectively. Trueness, repeatability and intermediate precision values were 89.0-108.8%; 2.4-13.7%; 12.5-17.8%, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in which Ochratoxin A in roasted coffee is analysed by LC/ESI-MS/MS, contributing to the field of mycotoxin analysis, and it will be used for future production of Certified Reference Material

Length-weight relationships and prediction equations of body composition of farm raised Astyanax aff. Fasciatus (Actinopterygii: Characiformes: Characidae)

This study ascertains the length-weight relationship and predicts body composition equations in cultivated Astyanax aff. fasciatus. A total of 300 fish were distributed in five groups according to body weight: 1.19 ± 0.18, 3.7 ± 0.70, 7.55 ± 0.97, 12.28 ± 2.32 and 22.16 ± 2.64 g. The length-weight relationship was elaborated using linear (y i = b0 + b1x i) or second-order (y i = b0 + b1x i + b1x i²) regression analysis. The value of the b slope in the length-weight relationship was 3.6971 and the intercept was 0.0031. The prediction equations obtained for body moisture, crude protein, crude lipid and ash were, y = 71.680 - 0.404BW, y = 17.140 - 0.095BW, y = 8.432 +0.364BW and y = 3.720 - 0.032BW, respectively, where BW is the body weight of fish (g). The use of prediction equations to describe body composition as a tool to support fish production and commercialization is suggested

Development and validation of a method for the analysis of ochratoxin a in roasted coffee

6 p. : il.A method using LC/ESI-MS/MS for the quantitative analysis of Ochratoxin A in roasted coffee was described. Linearity was demonstrated (r = 0.9175). The limits of detection and quantification were 1.0 and 3.0 ng g-1, respectively. Trueness, repeatability and intermediate precision values were 89.0-108.8%; 2.4-13.7%; 12.5-17.8%, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in which Ochratoxin A in roasted coffee is analysed by LC/ESI-MS/MS, contributing to the field of mycotoxin analysis, and it will be used for future production of Certified Reference Material

Solid papillary breast carcinomas resembling the tall cell variant of papillary thyroid neoplasms (solid papillary carcinomas with reverse polarity) harbour recurrent mutations affecting IDH2 and PIK3CA: a validation cohort

Aims: Solid papillary breast carcinoma resembling the tall cell variant of papillary thyroid neoplasms (BPTC), also known as solid papillary carcinomawith reverse polarity, is a rare histological type of breast cancer that resembles morphologically the tall cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma. BPTCs are characterised by IDH2 R172 hot spot somatic mutations or mutually exclusive TET2 somatic mutations, concurrently with mutations affecting PI3K pathway-related genes. We sought to characterise their histology and investigate the frequency of IDH2 and PIK3CA mutations in an independent cohort of BPTCs, as well as in conventional solid papillary carcinomas (SPCs).Methods and results: Six BPTCs, not previously analysed molecularly, and 10 SPCs were reviewed centrally. Tumour DNA was extracted from microdissected histological sections and subjected to Sanger sequencing of the IDH2 R172 hotspot locus and exons 9 and 20 of PIK3CA. All six BPTCs were characterised by solid, papillary and follicular architecture with circumscribed, invasive tumour nodules composed of epithelial cells with reverse polarity. IDH2 mutations were identified in all six BPTCs (three R172S, two R172T and one R172G), four of which also harboured PIK3CA mutations (two H1047R, one Q546K and one Q546R). By contrast, all SPCs lacked IDH2 mutations, while one of 10 harboured a PIK3CA mutation (H1047R).Conclusion: We validated the presence of IDH2R172 hotspot mutations and PIK3CA hotspot mutations in 100% and 67% BPTCs tested, respectively,and documented absence of IDH2 R172 mutations in SPCs. These findings confirm the genotypical–phenotypical correlation reported previously in BPTC, which constitutes an entity distinct from conventional SPC

Identification of genes from the general phenylpropanoid and monolignol-specific metabolism in two sugarcane lignin-contrasting genotypes

The phenylpropanoid pathway is an important route of secondary metabolism involved in the synthesis of different phenolic compounds such as phenylpropenes, anthocyanins, stilbenoids, flavonoids, and monolignols. The flux toward monolignol biosynthesis through the phenylpropanoid pathway is controlled by specific genes from at least ten families. Lignin polymer is one of the major components of the plant cell wall and is mainly responsible for recalcitrance to saccharification in ethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass. Here, we identified and characterized sugarcane candidate genes from the general phenylpropanoid and monolignol-specific metabolism through a search of the sugarcane EST databases, phylogenetic analysis, a search for conserved amino acid residues important for enzymatic function, and analysis of expression patterns during culm development in two lignin-contrasting genotypes. Of these genes, 15 were cloned and, when available, their loci were identified using the recently released sugarcane genomes from Saccharum hybrid R570 and Saccharum spontaneum cultivars. Our analysis points out that ShPAL1, ShPAL2, ShC4H4, Sh4CL1, ShHCT1, ShC3H1, ShC3H2, ShCCoAOMT1, ShCOMT1, ShF5H1, ShCCR1, ShCAD2, and ShCAD7 are strong candidates to be bona fide lignin biosynthesis genes. Together, the results provide information about the candidate genes involved in monolignol biosynthesis in sugarcane and may provide useful information for further molecular genetic studies in sugarcane