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'Golden' is the most cultivated apple group in Europe. In recent years, new mutants have emerged which improve both aspects of production and sensory attributes. In this work, emission of volatile compounds and the activity of lipoxygenase system-related enzymes in 'Golden Reinders' apples were analysed after 19 and 30 weeks under ultra low oxygen atmosphere (ULO) or under ULO plus different periods in cold air atmosphere and after remaining 1 and 7 days at 20 °C. This study examined modifications in the capacity for volatile ester production, specifically focusing on modification in lipoxygenase and hydroperoxide lyase activity. Volatile compound emission reached a maximum after 30 weeks of cold storage plus 7 days at 20 °C. Straight-chain esters were closely related to lipoxygenase activity in the flesh tissue, leading, suggesting that lipoxygenase enzyme plays an important role in the emission of straight-chain esters: the most characteristic volatile type associated with this apple variety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since several years there has been a demand for food products free of palm oil, noticeable in the Western European market. Alternatives based on liquid oils, fully hydrogenated fats, and exotic fats like shea and sal etc., have been developed by the research groups of several specialty oils and fats suppliers. This article describes the advantages and disadvantages of those products and compares them to similar products based on palm oil. It is also discussed how reasonable the replacement of palm products would be, since sustainable and 3-MCPD/glycidolester-reduced palm based specialty oils are also available on the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The methyl ester form of fumaric acid named dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is an effective mould-growth inhibitor. Its irritating and sensitizing properties were demonstrated in animal models. Recently, DMF has been identified as responsible for furniture contact dermatitis in Europe. Objective: To describe the clinical manifestations, patch test results, shoe chemical analysis, and source of exposure to DMF-induced shoe contact dermatitis. Patients, Materials, and Methods: Patients with suspected shoe contact dermatitis were studied in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Patch test results obtained with their own shoe and the European baseline series, acrylates and fumaric acid esters (FAE), were recorded according to international guidelines. The content of DMF in shoes was analysed with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Results: Acute, immediate irritant contact dermatitis and non-immunological contact urticaria were observed in eight adults and two children, respectively. All the adult patients studied developed a delayed sensitization demonstrated by a positive patch testing to DMF ≤ 0.1% in pet. Cross-reactivity with other FAEs and acrylates was observed. At least 12 different shoe brands were investigated. The chemical analysis from the available shoes showed the presence of DMF. Conclusion: DMF in shoes was responsible for severe contact dermatitis. Global preventive measures for avoiding contact with DMF are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: During November 2005, a dense bloom of Dinophysis spp. dominated (>97%) by Dinophysis acuta in the Galician Rías Baixas (NW Spain), provided a unique opportunity to describe the full toxin profile – including toxins that represent a low percentage and escape detection in analyses of single-cell isolates – in plankton concentrates rich in this species. Detection and identification of toxins were carried out by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS), a method that is based on their retention times (RT) and the fragmentation patterns of their mass spectra. OA-D8 diol-ester and PTX11 were detected in co-occurrence with okadaic acid analogues (OA, DTX2) and PTX2 in plankton concentrates dominated by D. acuta. The presence of a PTX11-isomer, which was suggested to be PTX13 or a novel PTX11-isomer, released in the sea water, was also confirmed in samples obtained after deployment of passive samplers (SPATT) in situ at the time of the D. acuta bloom maximum. The amount of PTX11 per cell of D. acuta, estimated as PTX2 equivalents, ranged between not detected and 2.2pg cell−1, and represented a maximum of 2.9% of the total toxin content. The variation in PTX11 content per cell of D. acuta, during a daily cycle, followed the same pattern than that of PTX2, with maxima at 21:00 and 03:00h (dark hours), but the amounts per cell were one order of magnitude lower. This is the first report of PTX11, together with the confirmation of OA-D8 diol-ester in D. acuta populations from Europe. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article offers information on the evaluation of several health claims by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). It is stated that EFSA has evaluated several claims made by several institutions and associations of Europe. Consideration of benzyl derivatives which were claimed to be structurally related to benzyl alcohols, benzaldehydes, a related acetal, benzoic acids and related esters were evaluated by EFSA. The agency also looked into a health claim which showed the relation of vitamin D and bone growth. Also a health claim of alicyclic primary alcohols, aldehydes, acids and related esters to be structurally related to primary saturated or unsaturated alicyclic alcohol, aldehyde and esters were evaluated by the EFSA.

The number of various transport facilities used in Europe is rapidly growing. They release a big amount of pollutants into the atmosphere. Therefore, environment protection from these pollutants ejected by internal combustion engines is a key problem facing us today and which will be acute in the future. Biofuel is the only effective and widely used alternative fuel which can reduce pollution of the environment. The main aim of the present paper is to perform a comparative analysis of burnt gases of engines using rapeseed oil methyl ester and petroleum diesel oil and to determine ecological effectiveness of biofuel used in diesel locomotive engines in railway transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A photochemical trajectory model has been used to assess reactivity-based VOC emission control strategies for Europe by implementing a detailed speciated VOC emission inventory and a highly explicit Master Chemical Mechanism. These reactivity-based strategies envisaged that the emissions of the xylenes, trimethylbenzenes and all aromatic species could be replaced or substituted by the emission of one of a potential range of 94 organic compounds, each present in current emissions. Depending on the reactivity of the substituted VOC species, ozone mixing ratios along an east–west air parcel trajectory travelling for 5 days across northwest Europe would increase or decrease relative to a base case without substitution. In all, eight alcohols, six esters, six ketones, three ethers and an alkane, a cycloalkane and a glycol ether have been identified that give greater ozone reductions when substituting for aromatic compounds than would be given by the corresponding mass-based control strategy. It is concluded that VOC substitution strategies for the stationary sources would offer significant ozone benefits compared with simple across-the-board mass emission reduction strategies of the kind proposed by the EU CAFÉ and UN ECE LRTAP convention processes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• The non-regulated cyclic imine toxins are potent antagonists of muscle/neuronal nAChRs. • Robust bioassay for fast & early detection of cyclic imine toxins in shellfish samples. • High incidence of cyclic imine toxins in shellfish collected in eight european countries. • First report showing the bioaccumulation of the apoptosis-inducer portimine in mussels. • We determined the mode of action of 28- O -palmitoyl ester of pinnatoxin-G on nAChR. Cyclic imine toxins exhibit fast acting neurotoxicity and lethality by respiratory arrest in mice explained by their potent antagonistic activity against muscular nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. We performed a survey of gymnodimine-A, 13-desmethyl spirolide-C, 13,19-didesmethyl spirolide-C, 20-methyl spirolide-G, pinnatoxin-A, pinnatoxin-G, portimine-A and 28- O -palmitoyl ester of pinnatoxin-G in 36 shellfish samples collected in coastal areas of 8 European countries using a microplate receptor binding assay and UPLC-MS/MS for toxin identification and quantification. The major toxins found in these samples were pinnatoxin-G, 20-methyl spirolide-G, 13-desmethyl spirolide-C, gymnodimine-A and portimine-A. Traces of 13,19-didesmethyl spirolide-C, pinnatoxin-A and 28- O -palmitoyl ester of pinnatoxin-G were also detected. The rapid death of mice was correlated with higher pinnatoxin-G concentrations in mussel digestive gland extracts injected intraperitoneally. Our survey included nontoxic control samples that were found to contain moderate to trace amounts of several cyclic imine toxins. Shellfish may bioaccumulate not only cyclic imine toxins but also a large number of acyl derivatives as a product of metabolic transformation of these neurotoxins. This is the first report in which portimine-A and 28- O -palmitoyl ester of pinnatoxin-G were detected in shellfish extracts from digestive glands of mussels collected in Ingril lagoon. The bioaccumulation of portimine-A is particularly of concern because it is cytotoxic and is able to induce apotosis. The mode of action of 28- O -palmitoyl ester of pinnatoxin-G was studied by receptor binding-assay and by two-electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology. The antagonistic behavior of the acylated pinnatoxin-G towards nicotinic acetylcholine receptor of muscle type is shown here for the first time. Since cyclic imine toxins are not regulated further monitoring of these emerging toxins is needed to improve evidence gathering of their occurrence in shellfish commercialized for human consumption in Europe given their potent antagonism against muscle and neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phycotoxins in the marine food-web represent a serious threat to human health. Consumption of contaminated shellfish and/or finfish poses risk to consumer safety: several cases of toxins-related seafood poisoning have been recorded so far worldwide. Cyclic imines are emerging lipophilic toxins, which have been detected in shellfish from different European countries. Currently, they are not regulated due to the lack of toxicological comprehensive data and hence the European Food Safety Authority has required more scientific efforts before establishing a maximum permitted level in seafood. In this work, a novel data dependent liquid chromatography - high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) approach has been successfully applied and combined with targeted studies for an in-depth investigation of the metabolic profile of shellfish samples. The proposed analytical methodology has allowed: i) to discover a plethora of unknown fatty acid esters of gymnodimines and ii) to conceive a brand new MS-based strategy, termed as backward analysis, for discovery and identification of new analogues. In particular, the implemented analytical workflow has broadened the structural diversity of cyclic imine family through the inclusion of five new congeners, namely gymnodimine -F, -G, -H, -I and -J. In addition, gymnodimine A (376.5 μg/kg), 13-desmethyl spirolide C (11.0-29.0 μg/kg) and pinnatoxin G (3.1-7.7 μg/kg) have been detected in shellfish from different sites of the Mediterranean basin (Tunisia and Italy) and the Atlantic coast of Spain, with the confirmation of the first finding of pinnatoxin G in mussels harvested in Sardinia (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy)., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Topical application of phylloquinone (PK) is beneficial to the skin; however, its topical use is limited in Europe owing to its photosensitive properties such as photodegradation and phototoxicity. We evaluated the suitability of ester derivatives of phyllohydroquinone (PKH), the active form of PK, for topical application to overcome the abovementioned problems of PK. We used the PKH derivatives PKH-1,4-bis-N,N-dimethylglycinate hydrochloride (PKH-DMG) and PKH-1,4-bis-hemisuccinate (PKH-SUC) for our studies. Photostability was determined by measuring the residual concentration after irradiation with artificial sunlight and multi-wavelength light. Phototoxicity after ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation was assessed by measuring drug-induced singlet oxygen and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and cell viability of a human epidermal keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). Delivery of PKH into HaCaT cells was assessed by measuring PK epoxide (PKO) levels. The PKH derivatives showed higher photostability than PK. After UVA irradiation, PK induced high singlet oxygen levels and intracellular ROS generation, and reduced cell viability, whereas the PKH derivatives showed no effects. The PKH derivatives increased intracellular PKO levels. AUC PKO(0-72 h) values after PKH-DMG and PKH-SUC treatments were 0.741- and 22.9-fold higher than that after PK treatment, respectively. In conclusion, PKH derivatives act as PKH prodrugs and are suitable for topical application without the need for special protection from light., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Organophosphate triesters (tri-OPEs) have recently been widely identified in aquatic ecosystems, but information on their organophosphate diester (di-OPE) metabolites is sparsely available. Herein, uniform fishmeal products were collected across the globe (the U.S., China, Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia). Sixteen representative tri-OPEs and eight di-OPEs were investigated to reveal whether industrial production, metabolism, environmental persistence, or physicochemical properties are the key factors influencing their environmental burden and distribution. Tri-OPEs and di-OPEs were 100% detected in fishmeal, with bis(2-chloroethyl) hydrogen phosphate (BCEP) and bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BDCIPP) at discernible levels in marine fauna for the first time. Average concentration of di-OPEs (49.6 ± 27.5 ng/g dw) was of the same order of magnitude as that of tri-OPEs (59.3 ± 92.2 ng/g dw). Geographical-specific distributions of tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP), triphenyl phosphate (TPhP), tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP), and 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP) were statistically significant ( p < 0.05). Mean concentration ratios ranged from 0.087 for the BCEP-TCEP pair to 507 for the dimethyl phosphate (DMP)-trimethyl phosphate (TMP) pair. Only the TPhP-diphenyl phosphate (DPhP) pair presented a strong positive linear correlation ( r = 0.731; p < 0.01), and DPhP was proved a degradation origin. Commercial sources had a significant overall impact on distribution patterns of the DMP-TMP and the dibutyl phosphate (DnBP) - tri- n -butyl phosphate (TnBP) pairs, whereas biotic transformation and abiotic stability profoundly influenced the bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (BEHP)-tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP), the bis(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BCIPP)-TCIPP, and the BCEP-TCEP pairs. Di-OPEs are critical to understand environmental behavior of tri-OPEs in marine fauna.

This study aims to provide an overview of human studies on the association of exposure to phthalates and insulin resistance. We systematically searched human studies available until 15 January 2018.We conducted a literature search in Scopus, ISI Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Collaboration. We used the following keywords to identify relevant articles: "phthalate", "phthalate ester", "metabolic syndrome", "insulin resistance", "glucose intolerance", and "diabetes". For analyzing data, we conducted meta-analysis using the Stata software. We appraised each study to examine the sources of heterogeneity, including difference in clinical outcomes and exposure measurements. To determine the robustness and whether some of the factors have the highest impact on the results of the present meta-analysis, several sensitivity analyses were conducted. Sensitivity analysis showed that by removing studies with the highest weight and age groups, no change was observed in heterogeneity. Moreover, with excluding the study conducted in Europe, the results remained unchanged and constant. In addition, the funnel plot and Egger's tests were executed to access publication bias. Both the funnel plots and Egger's test did not show any evidence of publication bias (P = 0.31). In the random effects meta-analysis of all studies (n = 8), the pooled correlation coefficient between phthalate exposure and HOMA-IR was 0.10 (95% CI; 0.07-0.12, P < 0.001), with significant heterogeneity (P < 0.001, I 2  = 85.5%). Our findings revealed positive association between exposure to phthalate metabolites and increased HOMA-IR; this association remained significant even after adjusting the analysis for multiple confounding variables.

Potential risks to aquatic organisms by four commercial phthalate esters, dimethyl (DMP), diethyl (DEP), di-n-butyl (DBP), and butylbenzyl (BBP), were assessed using measured and calculated concentrations in North American and Western European surface waters. Predicted no effect concentrations (PNECs) were calculated using statistical extrapolation procedures and the large aquatic toxicity database. Surface water concentrations of DMP, DEP, DBP, and BBP were calculated using reported emissions to US surface waters from the toxics release inventory (TRI). Monitoring data obtained from the US EPA STORET database and literature surveys from North America and Western Europe show that DMP, DEP, DBP, and BBP are infrequently detected in surface water. Calculated and measured concentrations of DMP, DEP, DBP, and BBP are typically several orders of magnitude below their respective PNECs, indicating that these phthalate esters do not pose a ubiquitous threat to aquatic organisms in North American and Western European surface waters.