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Traditional production of dry salted shrimp enhances cholesterol oxidation and astaxanthin degradation in the product. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of addition of the antioxidants butylhydroxytoluene (BHT) and tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) to cooked shrimp on the formation of cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) and astaxanthin degradation during solar drying of shrimp.The added antioxidants significantly inhibited COPs formation after the product was boiled in brine. Smaller amounts of COPs were formed in antioxidant-treated shrimps (~-23%) as compared to untreated samples. The antioxidants continued to significantly inhibit COPs formation (~-39%) during sun drying. Similarly, TBHQ and BHT reduced by 51.3% and 37.2%, respectively, the degradation rate of astaxanthin, favoring a higher retention of this carotenoid in the final product.The use of the antioxidants BHT and TBHQ in the preparation of dry salted shrimp significantly inhibited the formation of COPs after cooking raw shrimp and during direct solar drying. They also protected astaxanthin contained in the cooked shrimp from photodegradation. These results are technologically relevant because it is possible to prepare a product with a higher content of astaxanthin and lower the presence of hazardous COPs. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Two juvenile alpacas, 1 male and 1 female, were presented for evaluation of grade V/VI bilateral basilar systolic heart murmurs. Both animals were ultimately diagnosed with severe valvular pulmonic stenosis and a small ventricular septal defect. Transvenous balloon valvuloplasty was performed in each animal using methods described in the dog. A double balloon technique was employed in the first case, with a balloon‐annulus ratio of ~1.55. For the second case, a high‐pressure dilatation balloon catheter with a balloon‐annulus ratio of ~1.33 was selected. Experience with both procedures indicates that balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty is technically feasible in alpacas using techniques extrapolated from those used in dogs. Furthermore, accepted criteria for procedural success were fulfilled for both alpacas, with more than a 50% reduction in the echocardiographically derived transpulmonic pressure gradient after intervention.

Fil: Ostermann Porcel, Maria Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnologia Quimica. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Quimica, Bioquimica y Farmacia. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnologia Quimica; Argentina

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 1% sodium hypochlorite (H1%) and 4% chlorhexidine gluconate (CG4%) on the adhesion of Candida albicans to denture base acrylic resins, as well as to verify the effect of the acquired salivary pellicle (ASP) formation on this process. Materials and Methods A total of 300 acrylic specimens were immersed in distilled water (control) (n = 100), H1% (n = 100), or CG4% (n = 100) for 30 days. Twenty specimens were used in each experimental period (0, 1, 7, 15, 30 days). At the end of disinfection testing periods, 10 specimens of each group were exposed to human whole saliva to simulate ASP formation, and then all specimens were incubated with C. albicans ATTC 90028. Microorganism adhesion was analyzed by fluorescence microscopy, after staining with Acridine orange. Results In the 30th disinfection cycle in relation to baseline, the H1% or CG4%, without ASP formation, reduced the C. albicans adhesion by approximately 80%; however, with ASP, this reduction after disinfection with H1% was higher (88%). The presence of ASP resulted in higher reduction of adhered fungal cells in comparison to resin without ASP, at the 1st H1% or CG4% disinfection cycle, as well as at 30th H1% disinfection cycles. Conclusions Our results suggest that the presence of saliva might influence the adhesion of C. albicans and improve the effectiveness of methods to reduce fungal adhesion.

OBJECTIVES The aims of this pilot study were to describe quantitative ultrasound (US) measurements and peripheral bone mineral density (BMD) of the hand phalanges on dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and to examine the correlations between them in elderly Spanish men. METHODS We studied 199 healthy men (mean age ± SD, 73.31 ± 5.10 years). The participants were not taking any medications, and they reported no diseases, including diseases that are associated with abnormalities in mineral metabolism. Phalangeal and calcaneal quantitative US measurements and phalangeal BMD measurements were performed in all participants. RESULTS A bivariate correlation analysis showed no association between quantitative US assessments at the phalanges or the calcaneus (P = .409). After adjustment for potential confounders, the correlation between phalangeal BMD and phalangeal quantitative US measurements was r = 0.417 (P < .0001), and the correlation for calcaneal quantitative US was r = 0.26 (P = .001). Further adjustment by percentage of body fat increased quantitative US correlations with phalangeal BMD: r = 0.450 (P < .0001) at the phalanges; r = 0.291 (P = .001) at the calcaneus. CONCLUSIONS There is a small correlation between quantitative US measurements at the calcaneus and phalangeal BMD that increases to a moderate level with quantitative US measurements at the phalanges in elderly Spanish men.

Background The cobas® TaqScreen MPX Test, version 2.0, a multiplex, multi-dye nucleic acid amplification technology (NAT) test from Roche was evaluated by two European Blood Banks, the German Red Cross Blood Donor Service, Frankfurt, Germany and Centro de Hemoterapia y Hemodonacion de Castilla y Leon, Valladolid, Spain. In addition, the cobas® TaqScreen DPX Test was evaluated for the simultaneous detection and quantitation of parvovirus B19 and the detection of hepatitis A virus (HAV). Study Design and Methods The performances of the two tests were evaluated regarding the analytical sensitivity, the reproducibility of the tests using samples containing low concentrations of each virus and cross-contamination using samples containing high titres of virus. Results The analytical sensitivity of the MPX Test, version 2.0, obtained by the German Red Cross Blood Donor Service was 1·1, 3·9 and 43·3 IU/ml for HBV, HCV and HIV-1, respectively. The comparable analytical sensitivity at Centro de Hemoterapia y Hemodonacion de Castilla y Leon was 3·5, 17·6 and 50·6 IU/ml for HBV, HCV and HIV-1, respectively. The analytical sensitivity of the DPX test determined by the German Red Cross Blood Donor Service was 0·6 and 3·8 IU/ml for HAV and B19. Conclusion These multiplex and multi-dye blood screening assays represent a flexible NAT screening system for mini-pools between 6 and 96 samples per pool and fulfil all requirements of the European Pharmacopoeia for HCV and B19V testing of plasma for fractionation. The inclusion of a new multi-dye technology means discriminatory assays are no longer required for either test thus improving workflow, turn-around time and minimize the risk of obtaining a reactive result for which the virus cannot be identified.

Children’s home learning environments were examined in a low-income sample of 1,852 children and families when children were 15, 25, 37, and 63 months. During home visits, children’s participation in literacy activities, the quality of mothers’ engagements with their children, and the availability of learning materials were assessed, yielding a total learning environment score at each age. At 63 months, children’s vocabulary and literacy skills were assessed. Six learning environment trajectories were identified, including environments that were consistently low, environments that were consistently high, and environments characterized by varying patterns of change. The skills of children at the extremes of learning environment trajectories differed by more than 1 SD and the timing of learning experiences related to specific emerging skills.

The ability of Candida albicans to form biofilms on denture surfaces is a significant cofactor in the pathogenesis of denture stomatitis. In this study, we applied a differential staining approach and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to analyse the effect of sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine gluconate on the viability, removal and morphology of C. albicans forming biofilms on denture acrylic using an in vitro model. Immediately after treatment, to distinguish live from dead C. albicans cells in the remaining biofilms, the specimens were stained differentially and analysed by confocal scanning laser microscopy. Moreover, morphological alterations of fungal cells were investigated using scanning electron microscopy. All disinfectant solutions killed all remaining fungal cells on the specimens. Interestingly, 4% chlorhexidine did not remove these cells from the acrylic resin surface whereas sodium hypochlorite solutions (1% and 2%) provided almost complete biofilm removal. Furthermore, treating the specimens with sodium hypochlorite induced cell morphology alterations, as seen in the residual fungal cells. Finally, according to our findings, it can be suggested that sodium hypochlorite solutions are the first choice as denture cleanser when compared with 4% chlorhexidine because those solutions not only killed C. albicans biofilms but also removed them from the heat-polymerised acrylic resin.

doi:10.1111/j.1741-2358.2009.00282.x Effect of repeated cycles of chemical disinfection on the roughness and hardness of hard reline acrylic resins Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of repeated cycles of five chemical disinfectant solutions on the roughness and hardness of three hard chairside reliners. Methods: A total of 180 circular specimens (30 mm × 6 mm) were fabricated using three hard chairside reliners (Jet; n = 60, Kooliner; n = 60, Tokuyama Rebase II Fast; n = 60), which were immersed in deionised water (control), and five disinfectant solutions (1%, 2%, 5.25% sodium hypochlorite; 2% glutaraldehyde; 4% chlorhexidine gluconate). They were tested for Knoop hardness (KHN) and surface roughness (μm), before and after 30 simulated disinfecting cycles. Data was analysed by the factorial scheme (6 × 2), two-way analysis of variance (anova), followed by Tukey’s test. Results: For Jet (from 18.74 to 13.86 KHN), Kooliner (from 14.09 to 8.72 KHN), Tokuyama (from 12.57 to 8.28 KHN) a significant decrease in hardness was observed irrespective of the solution used on all materials. For Jet (from 0.09 to 0.11 μm) there was a statistically significant increase in roughness. Kooliner (from 0.36 to 0.26 μm) presented a statistically significant decrease in roughness and Tokuyama (from 0.15 to 0.11 μm) presented no statistically significant difference after 30 days. Conclusions: This study showed that all disinfectant solutions promoted a statistically significant decrease in hardness, whereas with roughness, the materials tested showed a statistically significant increase, except for Tokuyama. Although statistically significant values were registered, these results could not be considered clinically significant.

SUMMARY Three sisters are described, all of whom show characteristic features of spondylo-thoracic dysplasia. The radiological alterations reveal the severity with which the vertebral column and the ribs are affected. One of the children showed incomplete agenesis of the odontoid process. Despite the fact that in these cases the condition seems to result from a recessive autosome, with great penetration of the gene, the clinical manifestations are similar to those observed in cases with dominant heredity described in the medical literature. RESUME Dysplasie spondylo-thoracique chez trois soeurs L'etude rapporte le cas de trois soeurs presentant toutes les aspects caracteristiques d'une dysplasie spondylo-thoracique. Les alterations radiologiques soulignent la gravite de l'atteinte du rachis et des cotes. L'une des enfants presentait une agenesie incomplete de l'apophyse odontoide. En depit du fait que dans le cas present, l'heredite semble etre du type recessif autosomique, avec forte penetration du gene, les manifestations cliniques sont identiques a celles que l'on observe dans les cas d'heredite dominante, decrite dans la litterature medicale. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Spondylo-thorakale Dysplasie bei drei Schwestern Es werden drei Schwestern beschrieben, die alle die charakteristischen Merkmale der spondylo-thorakalen Dysplasie aufwiesen. Die radiologischen Veranderungen zeigen, wie schwer die Wirbelsaule und die Rippen betroffen sind. Eines der Kinder zeigte eine vollstandige Agenesie des Prozessus odontoideus Obwohl bei diesen Fallen die Vererbung autosomal recessiv zu erfolgen schien mit gro ser Penetration des Gens, gleichen die klinischen Manifestationen denen, die bei Fallen mit dominantem Erbgang beobachtet und in der medizinischen Literatur beschrieben wurden. RESUMEN Displasia espondilo-toracica en tres hermanas Se describen tres hermanas mostrando todas ellas alteraciones caracteristicas de displasia espondilo-toracica. Las alteraciones neurologicas revelan la gravedad de la afectacion de raquis y costillas. Una de las ninas mostraba una agenesia incompleta del proceso odontoideo. Apesar del hecho de que en estos casos la herencia parece ser el resultado de un autosoma recesivo, con gran penetracion del gen, las manifestaciones clinicas son similares a las observadas en casos con herencia dominante y descritos en la literatura medica.

Three children, two girls and one boy, are described as suffering from a new syndrome, 'cerebro-facio-thoracic dysplasia'. The characteristic findings are mental retardation, characteristic facies, narrow forehead, bushy eyebrows with synophrys, hypertelorism, broad nose, wide philtrum, triangular-shaped mouth, short neck, marked maxillary hypoplasia, a low hairline (especially posteriorly in the midline on the neck), brachycephaly, calcified clinoid ligements, and multiple bony abnormalities in the upper thoracic vertebrae and sometimes in the cervical region, together with a variety of deformities of the upper ribs. It seems possible that the condition is hereditary and that it may be inherited as a result of an autosomal recessive trait.

A simple and direct wet chemistry method is reported to simultaneously synthesize nanostructured carbon films and particles through self-assembly of poly(styrene)-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-P4VP) and carbohydrate precursors (turanose, raffinose, glucose, etc.) in two fabrication processes—spin-coating and aerosol processing. Starting with a homogeneous solution containing PS-P4VP and carbohydrates, evaporation of solvent during either spin-coating or an aerosol process leads to the formation of ordered mesostructured films and particles. High temperature treatment in argon atmosphere removes PS fragments, carbonizes carbohydrates and partial PVP fragments, and results in ordered nanoporous carbon films and particles. SEM, TEM, and GISAXS characterization indicates that these nanostructured carbon materials exhibit large nanopores (> 20 nm), controlled 1–3 dimensional structures, and controlled surface chemistry. Nitrogen sorption isotherms and electrochemistry characterization indicates the accessibility of the carbon nanopores to both gas phase and aqueous phase. Results suggest that the nanostructured carbon films and particles can be tuned through solvent annealing, precursor concentration, and choice of block copolymers used. These carbon materials present varied practical applications for sorption and separation, sensors, electrode materials, etc.

Nanocrystals and their ordered arrays hold many important applications in fields such as catalysis, surface-enhanced Rainan spectroscopy based sensors, memory storage, and electronic and optical nanodevices. Herein, a simple and general method to synthesize ordered, three-dimensional, transparent gold nanocrystal/silica superlattice thin films by self-assembly of gold nano crystal micelles with silica or organosilsesquioxane by spin-coating is reported. The self-assembly process is conducted under acidic sol-gel conditions (ca. pH2), ensuring spin-solution homogeneity and stability and facilitating the formation of ordered and transparent gold nanocrystal/silica films. The monodisperse nanocrystals are organized within inorganic host matrices as a face-centered cubic mesostructure, and characterized by transmission electron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction.

A new poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)-based microchip capillary electrophoresis (CE) device, with a thick-film electrochemical detector, is described. The end-column design relies on screen-printing the amperometric carbon working electrode on the base plate of a PDMS microchip (opposite to the exit of the microchannel). Since the channel depth and electrode height are quite similar, this is a flow-onto/flow-by hybrid arrangement. The influence of relevant experimental variables, such as the separation and detection potentials, is reported along with the attractive analytical performance. Flat baselines and extremely low noise levels are observed even at high separation fields (approaching 700 V/cm), reflecting the effective electrical isolation of the detector. The resulting detection limits (150 nM for epinephrine and 280 nM for catechol) compare favorably with those obtained by other PDMS-based electrochemical detectors. Such coupling of low-cost and versatile PDMS chips and thick-film electrochemical detectors holds great promise for high-volume production of disposable microfluidic analytical devices.

BACKGROUND Febrile neutropenia is a heterogeneous condition. Recently, several risk factors have been defined, permitting the definition of a lower risk group of patients who may benefit form less aggressive therapy. The use of an oral antibiotic approach was tested in the current trial. METHODS From May 1997 to March 1998, 154 episodes of lower risk febrile neutropenia in 128 children with a mean age of 62 (range, 8–200) months were enrolled in this randomized, single-institution trial. Inclusion criteria were fever (> 38 °C), neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count < 500/mm3), lower risk features (i.e., absence of severe comorbidity factors, good clinical condition, negative blood cultures, control of local infection, no fever during the last 24 hours), and compliance of parents. After 3 days of ceftriaxone (100 mg/kg/day administered intravenously [i.v.]) every 12 hours plus amikacin (15 mg/kg/day i.v.) every 24 hours for 3 days, all patients were discharged and randomized to be allocated to 2 treatment arms. Group A (n = 74) received ceftriaxone cefixime (8 mg/kg/day administered orally) every 24 hours for 4 days, whereas Group B (n = 80) was treated with ceftriaxone plus amikacin for 7 days. Failure was defined as the need for second hospitalization during the same episode of neutropenia, or fever during the 7 days after discharge. RESULTS Most of the patients (49% in Group A and 55% in Group B) had acute leukemia. Fifty-four (72%) children in Group A and 46 (56%) in Group B had fever of unknown origin (P = not significant [NS]). No significant differences were found in the sites of initial infection between the two groups. Overall results were outstanding, with a favorable outcome in 73 of 78 cases (98.6%) in Group A and 78 of 80 cases (97.5%) in Group B (P = NS). Three patients needed a second hospitalization due to failure of the initial therapy: one in Group A and two in Group B. All three did well with secondary treatment. CONCLUSIONS In lower risk febrile neutropenic children receiving anticancer therapy, the efficacy of oral cefixime, given for 4 days after 72 hours of intravenous ceftriaxone plus amikacin, was similar to that of 7 days of parenteral ceftriaxone plus amikacin. The oral outpatient therapy approach to the treatment of lower risk febrile neutropenia after chemotherapy is safe and may be cost-saving. This strategy might be adopted as standard therapy in the future. Cancer 2000;88:2848–52. © 2000 American Cancer Society.

We report a case of scleritis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. The infection was successfully treated with antifungal drugs, cryotherapy and dura mater grafting. A 67-year-old man developed a scleral ulcer 2 months after suffering a trauma in his right eye caused by the branch of a tree. Diagnosis was made after biopsy of a scleral nodule. Scrapings showed hyphal fragments and cultures were positive for Aspergillus fumigatus. Although therapy with oral fluconazol and topical amphotericin B was begun, the scleritis continued to worsen, so cryotherapy and dura mater grafting were performed. The patient showed no signs of infection for 8 months after discontinuation of antifungal drugs.

Background Lymphangiectasia results from acquired dilation of lymphatic vessels. Areas of skin affected by obstruction or destruction of lymphatic drainage are said to be prone to the development of lymphangiectasia. Cirrhosis is a cause of alterations of lymph flow. Methods Case report. Results We report a case of acquired, late-onset, lymphangiectasia associated with alcoholic hepatic cirrhosis. Lesions were scattered over the right, lower, anterior abdominal wall, a region that is drained by a common group of lymphatic vessels that were probably disordered. Conclusion We think that this is the first reported case of lymphangiectasia associated with altered lymph flow in cirrhosis and ascites.

In transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), an altered form of prion protein (PrP), PrPres, aggregates in amyloid fibrils and accumulates in the brain. Several point mutations of the PrP gene have been associated with the TSEs, so, to investigate how the mutations affect the biological activity of PrP, we analyzed the biological effects and chemicophysical characteristics of the peptide homologous to the wild-type and mutated sequence of PrP fragments. The mutation P102L altered the biological activity of PrP 89-106, which became neurotoxic without changing its fibrillogenic capacity. The mutation (D178N) in the PrP 169-185 strongly increased the neurotoxic activity of the native sequence. In this case, there was also a clear alteration of the structural conformation. None of the other mutations considered, including A117V, seemed to influence the biological activities of the respective peptides. These data identify new neurotoxic fragments of PrP in the mutated form and elucidate their genetic influence on the pathogenesis of TSEs.

Conradi-Hunermann syndrome is a type of chondrodysplasia punctata characterized by skeletal, cutaneous, and ocular anomalies. Genetic heterogeneity and incomplete penetrance may explain the wide clinical spectrum. We report a 7-day-old girl, product of a preterm pregnancy and delivery, with ichthyosiform erythoderma on the right half of the body at birth, as well as patchy cutaneous involvement of the contralateral side. On physical examination, we observed an ipsilateral shortening of the leg and a lenticular opacity of the right eye. Histopathologic study showed parakeratotic hyperkeratosis with prominent follicular involvement and atrophy of the granular and spinous layers. The skin eruption disappeared during the first 2 months. At 2 months of age, radiologic examination revealed stippled calcifications in the ribs, vertebral, and paravertebral areas. The most important differential diagnosis was CHILD syndrome. We emphasize the importance of the histopathologic study in the differential diagnosis of both syndromes.

OBJECTIVE The methoxyindole pathway metabolite, melatonin (aMT), and the kynurenine pathway metabolites, kynurenic acid (KYNA), xanturenic acid (XA) and 3-hydroxyantranilic acid (3HANA) are anticonvulsants, whereas the kynurenine pathway metabolites, l-kynurenine (KYN) and 3-hydroxykynurenine (3HK), are proconvulsants. It is thought that alterations in the concentrations of these compounds may be responsible for the excitotoxic aspect of human seizures. The aim of this study was to determine whether alterations in tryptophan metabolism might be related to the occurrence and type (febrile or non-febrile) of seizures in children. DESIGN One hundred and eighteen children from the University of Granada Hospital were studied. They were divided into two main groups (febrile or epileptic convulsive) depending upon their clinical diagnosis. An age-, weight- and gender-matched control group was also studied. Each group was then divided into two subgroups of patients sampled between 0900 h and 2100 h (diurnal groups) and patients sampled between 2100 h and 0900 h (nocturnal groups). MEASUREMENTS Plasma melatonin was measured in samples obtained from both the diurnal and nocturnal groups. Urinary excretion of melatonin and kynurenine metabolites were measured in an aliquot of 12-h urine samples collected from both the diurnal and nocturnal groups. RESULTS Besides the typical circadian rhythm of melatonin we also found diurnal/nocturnal differences in the concentrations of all the kynurenines, which reached significantly higher levels during the day. In normal humans the production of methoxyindoles is lower during the day and rises at night, whereas the production of kynurenines is higher during the day and decreases at night. In patients suffering from febrile and epileptic convulsions, however, there was a significant increase in the nocturnal production of KYN, 3HK, KYNA and XA. Thus we found the circadian rhythm of kynurenines to be altered in convulsive patients. Furthermore, while the various kynurenine metabolites increased by the same amount during the night in febrile convulsive children, in epileptic children the increase in KYN and 3HK was significantly lower than the increase in KYNA and XA. During the day the proconvulsant KYN decreased significantly and the anticonvulsant XA increased in both convulsive groups. Moreover, plasma aMT increased during the day in febrile convulsive group and also during the night in both febrile and epileptic groups although showing no significant change in their urinary excretion levels. CONCLUSIONS Our results point to the existence of an imbalance in the tryptophan metabolite pathways during convulsions, blunting the normal diurnal–nocturnal rhythm of kynurenines. They also support the idea of a difference in the production of tryptophan metabolites between febrile and epileptic patients, suggesting that the tryptophan pathways follow different routes depending upon the type and duration of the convulsion.

The Blue Valley Center for Advanced Professional Studies (BVCAPS) SMART Team members researched the actions of the microbe Vibrio cholera in causing the water born disease cholera, which infects mi...

Plasma melatonin was measured in 118 infants and children (39 controls, 28 with epileptic convulsions, and 51 with febrile convulsions). The control group displayed a typical circadian rhythm, with melatonin peaking between 0200 and 0400. This normal daily variation significantly changed in the epileptic group, which showed a characteristic phase-advance, with the nocturnal melatonin peak appearing between 2400 and 0200. Febrile convulsions were associated with the disappearance of the normal circadian rhythm of melatonin, which was replaced by melatonin bursts throughout the light:dark cycle. In both febrile and epileptic children, melatonin levels were significantly increased in comparison with normal children.

The reactivity of 3-methyl-5-phenylisothiazole with carbonyl compounds in the presence of n-butyllithium and the system lithium isopropylcyclohexylamide-N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylendiamine (LICA-TMEDA) is studied. n-Butyllithium is found to lead to higher yields of the hydroxy derivatives of the isothiazole compound than LICA-TMEDA. Ring opening products are not detected under the reaction conditions used.

In order to assess the existence of a rhythmic secretion of melatonin (aMT) in newborns and whether this rhythm is affected by neonatal stress, we studied 112 newborns classified in three groups: normal babies delivered at term, preterm infants born before the 38th week, and babies with fetal distress. Melatonin was measured by RIA in the umbilical artery and vein at the time of birth. Melatonin levels in umbilical arterial and venous blood showed a diurnal rhythm in all groups. Melatonin levels in umbilical cord artery and vein were closely related. Nocturnal melatonin levels were increased in newborns with acute fetal distress in comparison with normal term and preterm neonates. These results suggest that (1) a rhythm of aMT secretion exists in newborns, although it cannot be determined whether this rhythm is of maternal or fetal origin and (2) neonatal stress (acute fetal distress) increases aMT production during the night in comparison with normal term and preterm neonates.

The synthesis of three-dimensionally ordered, transparent gold-nanocrystal (NC)/silica superlattice thin films using the self-assembly (by spin-coating) of water-soluble gold nanocrystal micelles and soluble silica is reported by Fan and co-workers on p. 891. The robust, 3D NC/silica superlattice films are of interest for the development of collective optical and electronic phenomena, and, importantly, for the integration of NC arrays into device architectures. Nanocrystals and their ordered arrays hold many important applications in fields such as catalysis, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy based sensors, memory storage, and electronic and optical nanodevices. Herein, a simple and general method to synthesize ordered, three-dimensional, transparent gold nanocrystal/silica superlattice thin films by self-assembly of gold nanocrystal micelles with silica or organosilsesquioxane by spin-coating is reported. The self-assembly process is conducted under acidic sol–gel conditions (ca. pH 2), ensuring spin-solution homogeneity and stability and facilitating the formation of ordered and transparent gold nanocrystal/silica films. The monodisperse nanocrystals are organized within inorganic host matrices as a face-centered cubic mesostructure, and characterized by transmission electron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction.

The spatial and seasonal distribution of the viable heterotrophic population and three heterotrophic physiological groups, i.e. ammonifyers, nitrate reducers and sulphate reducers, were studied in two reservoirs in the province of Vizcaya (Spain). Using indicative parameters, both reservoirs were classified as warm monomictics, one hypereutrophic and the other mesotrophic. A direct relation between the size of the bacterial populations and the trophic levels of the reservoirs was observed. Likewise, the distributions of the bacterial populations in the water column are basically different. In the hypereutrophic lake there is a direct relationship between the bacterial distribution and the physical-chemical environment of the reservoir that cannot be observed in the mesotrophic lake.

The use of a dietary rosemary extract (DRE) containing carnosic acid and carnosol at 1:1 (w/w) for enhancing the lipid oxidative stability in the cooked-chilled lamb meat is evaluated. Three diets for fattening lambs are tested: i) a cereal-based concentrate as negative control (C-diet); ii) the C-diet plus 600 mg vitamin E per kg feed as positive control (E-diet); and iii) the C-diet plus 600 mg rosemary diterpenes per kg feed (R-diet). Lipid and cholesterol oxidative stability is assessed in cooked-chilled lamb patties kept at 4 °C and lighting for 2 days, simulating catering conditions. Both diterpenes and -tocopherol are highly resistant to the feed pelleting procedure. In contrast, diterpenes have a lower deposition rate than vitamin E in lamb muscle and are completely degraded during cooking. Consequently, the DRE is less effective than dietary vitamin E in enhancing the oxidative stability of lipids in the cooked-chilled lamb patties. After 2 days of storage, the R-diet shows lower (p < 0.01) peroxide values (PV) and lower levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances than the C-diet, while, in contrast to the E-diet, it does not inhibit (p > 0.05) the formation of cholesterol oxidation products. In addition, the R-diet increases (p < 0.05) the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids and decreases (p < 0.05) the n-6/n-3 FA ratio, improving the nutritional profile of lamb fat. These findings suggest antioxidant protection by dietary bioactive compounds beyond the direct radical scavenging activity that is able to stabilize lipids during the meat shelf life. Practical Applications: Cooked-chilled meat lipids strongly oxidize in ready-to-eat dishes kept in retailing conditions, which may negatively affect their levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), cholesterol oxidation products (COP), and other lipid oxidation products. Dietary rosemary diterpenes can be used as a clean alternative to feed additives to enhance the oxidative stability of cooked-chilled meat. Improved health and antioxidant status of the animal might be able to reduce oxidative spoilage during meat shelf-life. Diterpenes provide lesser antioxidant protection than dietary vitamin E but may improve the PUFA content, with positive implications for the nutritional quality of lamb fat. The use of dietary antioxidants with different properties may contribute to improving the efficacy of animal feeds to improve meat quality.

Thirteen monovarietal extra virgin olive oils (EVOos) from two Italian regions were evaluated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to study statistical correlations among major and minor chemical components and thermal properties obtained by cooling transitions and their deconvoluted peaks. The application of DSC for the discrimination of EVOos according to the cultivar and geographical origin was also considered. Thermal properties of the cooling transitions (except for the crystallization enthalpy) were almost all influenced by triolein content and fatty acid composition. Thermal properties (area, onset and offset temperatures of transition, transition range, and peak temperature) of the three deconvoluted peaks were found to be significantly correlated not only to major but also to minor components (diacylglycerols, free fatty acids) and oxidative stability indices. The analysis of thermal properties obtained by cooling transition did not lead to sample discrimination according to geographical provenience. However, Ton, Toff, and peak areas of the two deconvoluted transitions that peaked at the lowest temperatures, as well as Toff of deconvoluted peak at the highest temperature, significantly differentiated oil samples according to their geographical origin. These findings may be confirmed by the appliance of multivariate statistical analysis to a larger set of samples to select thermal parameters able to discriminate among EVOos of different geographical provenience. Practical applications DSC application exhibits some advantages upon the classical analytical methods as it does not require sample preparation and use of solvents, thus resulting in a reduced environmental impact. The results of this study suggest that DSC can be used to test quality and to determine geographical origin of EVOo.

Cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) have been associated with the genesis of chronic degenerative diseases, such as atherosclerosis. The purpose of this work was to study the histological changes by toxic effects of dietary COPs in liver and kidney. Five-week old male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into three groups of ten rats each. Standard rat chow was supplemented with either 1% (w/w) pure cholesterol or 1% oxidized cholesterol and fed to the rats for 8 weeks. Control animals were fed standard rat chow. At the end of the treatment period, the serum lipids profile was determined. The aorta, liver and kidneys were excised immediately, frozen with liquid nitrogen, and held at -70°C. The histological study was carried out using conventional hematoxylin-eosin staining, and histochemical red oil “O” was applied. COPs were analyzed by gas chromatography. Intake of dietary COPs altered biochemical parameters involved in lipid metabolism, which are associated with atherogenesis in rats: total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, and low density lipoproteins in serum. COPs detected in the liver and kidneys, modified the organ original structure, caused an inflammatory process and promoted atherogenesis and athropy of the tissue.