Analysis of ergosterol in single kernel and ground grain by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A method for analyzing ergosterol in a single kernel and ground barley and wheat was developed using gas chromatography−mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Samples were saponified in methanolic KOH. Ergosterol was extracted by “one step” hexane extraction and subsequently silylated by N-trimethylsilylimidazole/trimethylchlorosilane (TMSI/TMCS) reagent at room temperature. The recoveries of ergosterol from ground barley were 96.6, 97.1, 97.1, 88.5, and 90.3% at the levels of 0.2, 1, 5, 10, and 20 μg/g (ppm), respectively. The recoveries from a single kernel were between 93.0 and 95.9%. The precision (coefficient of variance) of the method was in the range 0.8−12.3%. The method detection limit (MDL) and the method quantification limit (MQL) were 18.5 and 55.6 ng/g (ppb), respectively. The ergosterol analysis method developed can be used to handle 80 samples daily by one person, making it suitable for screening cereal cultivars for resistance to fungal infection. The ability for detecting low levels of ergosterol in a single kernel provides a tool to investigate early fungal invasion and to study mechanisms of resistance to fungal diseases

Effects of infection time and moisture on development of ear blight and deoxynivalenol production by Fusarium spp. in wheat

Wheat ears were inoculated with conidia of Fusarium spp. at different growth stages between ear emergence and harvest and moist conditions were maintained for up to 7 days subsequently by mist irrigation. Of the fungi tested (Fusarium culmorum, F. avenaceum, F. tricinctum, F. sporotrichioides and Microdochium nivale), only F. culmorum produced ear blight symptoms and grain samples were found subsequently to contain deoxynivalenol. Most ear infection and deoxynivalenol formation occurred following inoculation at about mid-anthesis. Small amounts of deoxynivalenol were formed and some F. culmorum was isolated even in the absence of ear blight symptoms. An overnight wet period was sufficient to initiate infection and deoxynivalenol formation but both were increased by extending the wet period up to at least 3 days. Recovery of Fusarium spp, from harvested grain was usually possible whether or not symptoms developed. F. culmorum usually persisted and often increased to moderately high levels after storage for 7 wk in a range of moisture conditions

Molds and mycotoxins in feeds

1 online resource (PDF, 15 pages)This archival publication may not reflect current scientific knowledge or recommendations. Current information available from the University of Minnesota Extension: https://www.extension.umn.edu

Blood Pressure Variability, Metabolic Profile and Target Organ Damage in Patients with Essential Hypertension

Cel pracy Próba określenia powiązań między ciśnieniem tętniczym krwi, jego zmiennością a profilem metabolicznym i zmianami narządowymi u chorych z łagodnym i umiarkowanym nadciśnieniem tętniczym. Materiał i metody Badanie przeprowadzono u 71 mężczyzn z nadciśnieniem tętniczym pierwotnym łagodnym i umiarkowanym w wieku 20–60 lat. U wszystkich badanych wykonano 24-godzinną automatyczną rejestrację ciśnienia (ABPM). Ocena zmian narządowych obejmowała badanie echograficzne, ultrasonograficzne badanie tętnic szyjnych i ocenę dobowego wydalania albumin z moczem. Oznaczono stężenie lipidów we krwi, cholesterolu całkowitego (TC), cholesterolu frakcji HDL i LDL, triglicerydów (TG) oraz glukozy i insuliny na czczo, a także po 1 i 2 godzinach od obciążenia glukozą (INS 0, INS 1, INS 2). Wyniki Grupę arbitralnie podzielono według stężenia INS 0 – 12 j.m./ml i 25 j.m./ml oraz INS 1 poniżej i powyżej średniej (102,1 j.m./ml). Chorzy z INS 0 powyżej 12 j.m./ml charakteryzowali się wyższym wskaźnikiem masy ciała (BMI), większym wymiarem lewej komory w rozkurczu (LVIDD) oraz większą masą lewej komory (LVM). Spadek nocny ciśnienia rozkurczowego był w tej grupie niższy. W grupie z INS 0 powyżej 25 j.m./ml stwierdzono większe BMI oraz wyższe wartości odchyleń standardowych ciśnienia skurczowego i rozkurczowego w nocy. Chorzy ze stężeniem INS 1 przekraczającym średnią charakteryzowali się większym odchyleniem standardowym ciśnienia rozkurczowego w ciągu dnia oraz większym BMI. U chorych z mikroalbuminurią stwierdzono wyższe wartości ciśnienia skurczowego i rozkurczowego oraz mniejszy spadek nocny ciśnienia rozkurczowego. W ocenie niezależnych czynników ryzyka rozwoju powikłań narządowych nadciśnienia tętniczego wykorzystano metodę regresji logistycznej. Zarówno INS 0, jak i INS 1, cholesterol całkowity, frakcji LDL, niskie stężenie cholesterolu frakcji HDL oraz wartości ciśnienia skurczowego i rozkurczowego wydają się być niezależnymi czynnikami ryzyka przerostu błony środkowej i wewnętrznej tętnic (IMT). Ryzyko wystąpienia mikroalbuminurii wiąże się z wartościami ciśnienia skurczowego w ciągu dnia i odchylenia standardowego ciśnienia skurczowego w nocy. Wnioski: Chorzy z wyższymi stężeniami insuliny, w porównaniu z pacjentami ze stężeniami niższymi, charakteryzują się większą zmiennością ciśnienia w godzinach nocnych, mniejszym spadkiem nocnym ciśnienia rozkurczowego oraz bardziej zaawansowanymi zmianami narządowymi. U chorych z nadciśnieniem łagodnym i umiarkowanym oraz mikroalbuminurią stwierdza się wyższe wartości ciśnienia skurczowego i rozkurczowego oraz niższy spadek nocny ciśnienia rozkurczowego. Czynnikami ryzyka powikłań naczyniowych są: hiperinsulinemia, podwyższone stężenie cholesterolu całkowitego i frakcji LDL, obniżone stężenie cholesterolu frakcji HDL, wartości ciśnienia skurczowego i rozkurczowego w ABPM oraz zmienność ciśnienia skurczowego w godzinach nocnych. Czynnikiem ryzyka wystąpienia mikroalbuminurii jest zmienność ciśnienia skurczowego w ciągu dnia i wartości ciśnienia skurczowego w godzinach nocnych.Background To assess the connection between metabolic profile, blood pressure and blood pressure variability, and target organ damage in patients (pts) with essential hypertension. Material and methods 71 men with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension (HT) (age 20–60 years). In all pts 24 hour blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was performed. Echocardiography, Doppler ultrasound examination of common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and microalbumin excretion (MA) were performed to evaluate target organ status. Blood sample were taken to assess cholesterol — total (CHOL), LDL, HDL, trigliceryde (TG) level, glucose serum concentration and insulin during the glucose load test (INS 0, INS 1, INS 2). Results According to the insulin level 3 groups of pts were analyzed — group one: INS 0 above vs. below 12mIU/ml, group two: INS 0 above vs. below 25mIU/ml and group three: INS 1 above vs. below mean values for the whole group — 102mIU/ml. The pts in group one with INS 0 above 12 uIU/ml were characterized by higher BMI, left ventricle diastolic diameter (LVIDD) and left ventricle mass (LVM) and decreased fall of blood pressure at night in comparison to pts with INS 0 below this level. In group two increased BMI and higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure variability at night were observed in patients with INS 0 above 25 uIU/ml. In group three greater BMI and greater diastolic blood pressure variability during the day were observed in pts with INS 1 above mean values. According to the albumin excretion two groups of pts were assessed — with MA above and below 30 mg/24 h. Pts with MA above 30 mg/24 h were characterized by higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure during the day and the night as well as by lower night fall of diastolic blood pressure. To assess independent risk factors of target organ damage, the logistic regression was applied. It seems probable that high level of INS 0, INS 1, total cholesterol, LDL–cholesterol as well as low level of HDL–cholesterol are risk factors for hypertrophy of carotid artery wall in pts with hypertension. The risk of MA seems to be connected with values of systolic blood pressure during the day and systolic blood pressure variability at night. Conclusions The hypertensives with higher insuline levels are characterized by higher blood pressure variability and lower diastolic blood pressure fall at night as well as more pronounced target organ lesions than hypertensives with lower insulin levels. In hypertensives with MA higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure values and lower diastolic blood pressure fall at night are observed. Hyperinsulinemia, high level of cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and low level of HDL-cholesterol seem to be the independent risk factors of vascular complications in hypertensive pts. LDL-cholesterol, and low level of HDL-cholesterol seem to be the independent risk factors of vascular complications in hypertensive pts. The risk of microalbuminuria is connected with systolic blood pressure during the day and with systolic blood pressure variability at nigh

Using Satellite-Derived Fire Arrival Times for Coupled Wildfire-Air Quality Simulations at Regional Scales of the 2020 California Wildfire Season

Wildfire frequency has increased in the Western US over recent decades, driven by climate change and a legacy of forest management practices. Consequently, human structures, health, and life are increasingly at risk due to wildfires. Furthermore, wildfire smoke presents a growing hazard for regional and national air quality. In response, many scientific tools have been developed to study and forecast wildfire behavior, or test interventions that may mitigate risk. In this study, we present a retrospective analysis of 1 month of the 2020 Northern California wildfire season, when many wildfires with varying environments and behavior impacted regional air quality. We simulated this period using a coupled numerical weather prediction model with online atmospheric chemistry, and compare two approaches to representing smoke emissions: an online fire spread model driven by remotely sensed fire arrival times and a biomass burning emissions inventory. First, we quantify the differences in smoke emissions and timing of fire activity, and characterize the subsequent impact on estimates of smoke emissions. Next, we compare the simulated smoke to surface observations and remotely sensed smoke; we find that despite differences in the simulated smoke surface concentrations, the two models achieve similar levels of accuracy. We present a detailed comparison between the performance and relative strengths of both approaches, and discuss potential refinements that could further improve future simulations of wildfire smoke. Finally, we characterize the interactions between smoke and meteorology during this event, and discuss the implications that increases in regional smoke may have on future meteorological conditions