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AbstractAuthentication of dairy systems is of growing interest for the dairy industry and we investigated the potentiality of using volatile fingerprinting of ripened cheeses by proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry. A total of 1,075 individual model cheeses made from milk of individual Brown Swiss cows of 72 farms were analysed. Using a linear discriminant analysis, cows and herds were assigned to 3 or 5 dairy systems differing in management, available facilities, and diets. We obtained variable discrimination abilities (up to 77% of correct classification of cheeses and 70% of farms with cross-validation). We found m/z 61,028 (acetic acid), 109,070 (pyrazine), and m/z 137,132 (terpene) characterising model cheeses from traditional dairy systems and m/z 71,086 (3-methyl-butan-1-ol, 3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol, pentan-1-ol), m/z 101,097 (hexan-2-one, hexanal), m/z 123,117 (nonenal), m/z 129,127 (octan-1-one, octanal), and two unidentified peaks m/z 83,071 and m/z 93,090 characterising model cheeses from the modern farms. In conclusion, it seems possible to discriminate between a range of dairy systems using fast volatile fingerprinting of ripened cheeses but a proper validation of results obtained is needed.HighlightsMass spectrometry technique (PTR-ToF-MS) was able to discriminate between dairy systems.We found m/z 61,028 (acetic acid), 109,070 (pyrazine), and m/z 137,132 (terpene) characterising model cheeses from traditional dairy systems.We found m/z 71,086 (3-methyl-butan-1-ol, 3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol, pentan-1-ol), m/z 101,097 (hexan-2-one, hexanal), m/z 123,117 (nonenal), m/z 129,127 (octan-1-one, octanal), and two unidentified peaks m/z 83,071 and m/z 93,090 characterising model cheeses from the modern farms.

Dairy goat farming is practiced worldwide, within a range of different farming systems. Here we investigated the effects of environmental factors and morphology on milk traits of the Sardinian goat population. Sardinian goats are currently reared in Sardinia (Italy) in a low-input context, similar to many goat farming systems, especially in developing countries. Milk and morphological traits from 1,050 Sardinian goats from 42 farms were recorded. We observed a high variability regarding morphological traits, such as coat color, ear length and direction, horn presence, and udder shape. Such variability derived partly from the unplanned repeated crossbreeding of the native Sardinian goats with exotic breeds, especially Maltese goats. The farms located in the mountains were characterized by the traditional farming system and the lowest percentage of crossbred goats. Explanatory factors analysis was used to summarize the interrelated measured milk variables. The explanatory factor related to fat, protein, and energy content of milk (the “Quality” latent variable) explained about 30% of the variance of the whole data set of measured milk traits followed by the “Hygiene” (19%), “Production” (19%), and “Acidity” (11%) factors. The “Quality” and “Hygiene” factors were not affected by any of the farm classification items, whereas “Production” and “Acidity” were affected only by altitude and size of herds, respectively, indicating the adaptation of the local goat population to different environmental conditions. The use of latent explanatory factor analysis allowed us to clearly explain the large variability of milk traits, revealing that the Sardinian goat population cannot be divided into subpopulations based on milk attitude.The factors, properly integrated with genetic data, may be useful tools in future selection programs.

SummaryThe effects of innovative techniques for orchard light management on the sensory properties and quality of apple (Malus_ domesticaBorkh.) fruit were measured using sensory and instrumental techniques. In the first experiment, ‘Rosy Glow’ fruit, thinned chemically or by shading, were compared. In the second experiment, ‘Fuji’ fruit were grown under five different coloured photo-selective hail nets and compared. For ‘Rosy Glow’ fruit, the efficacy of both thinning methods was comparable in terms of crop load, and no sensory differences were perceived between treatments by a trained sensory panel, based on quantitative descriptive profiling, except for the “green flesh” attribute. Nevertheless, ‘Rosy Glow’ fruit from the shade-based thinning had a higher mean fresh weight (FW; 215 g vs. 198 g) and higher titratable acidity (5.3 vs. 4.5 malic acid eq. 100 g-1 juice). Some significant differences were reported by the trained sensory panel for four out of the ten attributes rated among the ‘Fuji’ apples produced under the neutral black net (control), and the red, white, yellow, and blue photo-selective hail nets. Differences were greatest between fruit from the red and yellow hail nets. Apples from the red hail net had higher scores for yellow colour perception (average intensity 42.3 vs. 28.5, based on a linear scale anchored at 0 as the minimum and 100 as the maximum), sweet taste (score 54.9 vs. 42.4), and hardness (i.e., sensory definition for firmness; score 52.0 vs. 43.0), and a lower score for green colour (4.6 vs. 10.0). In terms of objective instrumental measurements, fruit from the red net treatment had a higher mean FW (217 g), with larger cells and larger intercellular spaces measured in terms of the number of cells mm-3 and the percentage of intercellular spaces, and a higher mean dry matter (DM) content [14.7% (w/w)], when compared to fruit from the other photo-selective net treatments. The spectrum of transmitted light influenced fruit growth by affecting cell proliferation and ripening, which changed the sensory perceptions of fruit appearance, taste, and texture.This study demonstrated that it is possible to use sensory panel analysis to measure the impact of new pre-harvest treatments on the quality of harvested apple fruit.

The novel quaternary ammonium salt (3R)-3-[[[(3-fluorophenyl)[(3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)methyl]amino]carbonyl]oxy]-1-[2-oxo-2-(2-thienyl)ethyl]-1-azoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane bromide (CHF5407) showed subnanomolar affinities for human muscarinic M1 (hM1), M2 (hM2), and M3 (hM3) receptors and dissociated very slowly from hM3 receptors (t(½) = 166 min) with a large part of the receptorial complex (54%) remaining undissociated at 32 h from radioligand washout. In contrast, [(3)H]CHF5407 dissociated quickly from hM2 receptors (t(½) = 31 min), whereas [(3)H]tiotropium dissociated slowly from both hM3 (t(½) = 163 min) and hM2 receptor (t(½) = 297 min). In the guinea pig isolated trachea and human isolated bronchus, CHF5407 produced a potent (pIC(50) = 9.0-9.6) and long-lasting (up to 24 h) inhibition of M3 receptor-mediated contractile responses to carbachol. In the guinea pig electrically driven left atrium, the M2 receptor-mediated inhibitory response to carbachol was recovered more quickly in CHF5407-pretreated than in tiotropium-pretreated preparations. CHF5407, administered intratracheally to anesthetized guinea pigs, potently inhibited acetylcholine (Ach)-induced bronchoconstriction with an ED(50) value of 0.15 nmol/kg. The effect was sustained over a period of 24 h, with a residual 57% inhibition 48 h after antagonist administration at 1 nmol/kg. In conscious guinea pigs, inhaled CHF5407 inhibited Ach-induced bronchoconstriction for at least 24 h as did tiotropium at similar dosages. Cardiovascular parameters in anesthetized guinea pigs were not significantly changed by CHF5407, up to 100 nmol/kg i.v. and up to 1000 nmol/kg i.t. In conclusion, CHF5407 shows a prolonged antibronchospastic activity both in vitro and in vivo, caused by a very slow dissociation from M3 receptors. In contrast, CHF5407 is markedly short-acting at M2 receptors, a behavior not shared by tiotropium.

Recent studies have shown that the silver-stained nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) score is related to the cell growth rate in several neoplasms. In the work presented here, we tested the AgNOR technique in 79 ovarian epithelial tumors (13 benign, 10 borderline, 56 malignant) to evaluate the diagnostic potential of AgNOR count in distinguishing between ovarian borderline tumors and carcinomas and to assess its prognostic value in carcinomas. Ovarian carcinomas exhibited higher mean AgNOR values than borderline and benign tumors, but statistically significant differences were found only in the serous type. Statistical analysis showed a positive correlation of higher AgNOR score, advanced tumor stage, and adverse prognosis. On the contrary, low AgNOR counts identified stages I and II carcinomas with disease-free follow-up. These results suggest that the AgNOR count may improve the prognostic evaluation of ovarian epithelial tumors by representing a reliable indicator of survival.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of estrogens and androgens on hypothalamic beta-endorphin (β-EP) concentrations. Intact or castrated female rats were chronically (2 weeks) treated with estrogen (estradiol benzoate) and/or an-tiestrogens (clomiphene, cyclophenil or epimestrol), and with androgens (dihydrote-stosterone or dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate) and/or antiandrogen (cyproterone acetate). A group of rats treated with vehicle were studied as comparison. The β-EP concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay on acidic extracts of rat hypothalami. The administration of clomiphene and cyclophenil significantly reduced hypothalamic β-EP concentrations in intact rats, while both drugs or estradiol benzoate increased the peptide concentration in castrated rats. Both intact and castrated rats treated with epimestrol showed hypothalamic β-EP concentrations higher than vehicle treated rats. The estradiol-induced increase of β-EP was not changed by the concomitant administration of an-tiestrogens. The administration of dihydrotes-tosterone significantly decreased β-EP concentrations in both intact and castrated female rats, while the treatment with dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate only slightly decreased β-EP levels in intact female rats. The cyproterone acetate-chronically treated rats showed higher β-EP concentrations than vehicle-treated rats and these changes were reversed by the concomitant addition of dihydrotestosterone or dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate. These results showed that estrogens play a positive role while androgens negatively influence the hypothalamic β-EP concentrations in female rats, supporting the view that central β-EP might be a target of gonadal steroid feedback signals.

Endogenous opioid peptides have a tonic inhibitory control on LH secretion, participating in the functional changes of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. To evaluate the activity of the endogenous opioid systems during the oestrous cycle, we measured plasma LH levels after naloxone administration (5 mg/kg, s.c.) at 09.00 and 16.00 h on all days of the cycle (two further measurements were taken at 14.00 and 18.00 h on the day of pro-oestrus) and after one dose or one week's treatment with oestradiol benzoate (OB; 0·2 μg/rat). Concentrations of LH were measured in the same experimental models after injection of LH-releasing hormone (LHRH; 1 μg/kg, i.p.) or saline. Naloxone induced a significant rise in LH levels on the day of oestrus, dioestrus day-1 and dioestrus day-2; this response was blunted on the morning of pro-oestrus and absent in the afternoon and after acute and chronic OB treatment. Conversely LHRH was most effective in increasing LH levels on the day of pro-oestrus and in OB-treated rats.These results indicate that opioid mechanisms, independently of the time of day and the pituitary responsiveness, exhibit a reduced activity when preovulatory changes occur, probably as a result of increased oestrogen levels.J. Endocr.(1986) 108,89–94

Hypothalamic and pituitary beta-endorphin (B-EP) concentrations are modified by ovariectomy and estrogen treatments, supporting a direct interaction between this peptidergic system and gonadal steroids.Because the use of progestins is becoming even more diffuse in clinical practice, we evaluated the effect of progesterone and of the synthetic progestins medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), norethisterone acetate (NET) and desogestrel on the concentration of B-EP in the medial-basal hypothalamus and the anterior and neurointermediate pituitary lobes in ovariectomized rats (OVX), treated or untreated with estradiol benzoate (EB).B-EP concentrations were significantly increased by desogestrel in the anterior lobe and by progesterone, desogestrel and medroxyprogesterone acetate in the neurointermediate lobe. Progesterone and progestins significantly reduced B-EP increase induced by estradiol benzoate in the anterior lobe. Estradiol benzoate treatment did not modify the effect of progesterone and desogestrel on B-EP in the neuro-intermediate pituitary lobe. Norethisterone acetate and progesterone increased B-EP concentrations in the medial-basal hypothalamus, while the other steroids were inactive. In contrast, in the hypothalamus all progestins attenuated the increase of B-EP induced by estradiol benzoate (p < 0.01).These data indicate that progesterone and progestins modulate the hypothalamic and pituitary B-EP concentrations in concert with estrogens. The capacity of progestins to modify the hypothalamic contents of B-EP may represent one of the mechanisms of action of these steroids in influencing brain function.

1. The effects of mechanical activation of aortic sympathetic sensory fibres have been studied in conscious dogs. 2. A cannula covered by an inflatable rubber balloon, previously implanted in the descending thoracic aorta, was used to stretch the aortic walls without obstructing blood flow. 3. Aortic stretch significantly increased mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate from control values in the absence of pseudo-affective reactions. 4. This response indicates that positive feedback sympathetic reflexes are operative in the conscious, fully innervated animal.

La cryptococcose est une infection induite par une levure encapsulée, le Cryptococcus neoformans, un mycète dimorphique saprophyte du milieu externe (sol, fiente pigeon), qui se développe à l’occasion d’un déficit immunitaire. La clinique est souvent polymorphe : lésions acnéiformes, purpura, vésicules, nodules, abcès, granulomes, ulcères et pustules.