Survival in vitro and virulence of Trypanosoma cruzi in açaí pulp in experimental acute Chagas disease

Chagas disease is a parasitic infection with high socioeconomic impact throughout Latin America. Although this severe, incurable disease can be transmitted by several routes, oral transmission is currently the most important route in the Amazon Basin. A?aí pulp has nutritional properties and is popular throughout Brazil and abroad. However, this pulp has been associated with microepidemics of acute Chagas disease (ACD) in northern Brazil, where a?aí fruit is the main food supplement. In this study, we examined the in vitro survival and in vivo virulence of Trypanosoma cruzi Y strain in a?aí pulp. Aliquots of in natura a?aí pulp produced in Belém city in the northern Brazilian state of Pará were mixed with 10? trypomastigotes. The samples were incubated at room temperature or at 4 or -20°C for various periods, and the parasites were isolated by forced sieving. The resulting eluates were examined by microscopy, and the trypomastigotes were administered intraperitoneally, orally, or by gavage to immunodeficient mice (C.B-17-Prkdc(scid)/PasUnib) that had been pretreated with antibiotics. Parasitemia was quantified by the Brener method, and mortality was recorded daily. All routes of administration resulted in ACD. A 5-day delay in the onset of parasitemia occurred with oral administration. The survival and virulence of the parasites were unaffected by prior incubation at room temperature for 24 h, at 4°C for 144 h, and at -20°C for 26 h. These results indicate that T. cruzi can survive and retain its virulence in a?aí pulp under various conditions and that cooling and freezing are not suitable methods for preventing foodborne ACD.     

Assessment of Energy Consumption in a Meat-Processing Plant—a Case Study

Meat-processing plants have their specific characteristics due to quantity of raw materials processed, production technology, degree of mechanisation of production and space utilization. These characteristics affect variability in consumption of energy carriers. This paper presents a case study of energy consumption in a small meat processing plant. It is attempting to identify and evaluate key factors which may be useful in conducting an in-depth analysis of energy consumption in the meat industry, and so this analysis may be important in selecting the best production techniques available. The results of the analysis are of critical importance for the selection of production technology selection assuming high plant efficiency.     

Nanotechnology in fibrous materials–a new perspective

This issue reviews various areas where nanotechnology has come up predominately in fibrous materials, namely in electrospun polymeric nanofibers and polymer layered silicate nanocomposites. It includes synthesis, characterization, various methods of collecting nanofibers, factors affecting electrospinning, methods of increasing the productivity of the electrospinning process, and different electrospinning designs. It also covers synthesis and characterization of polymer nanocomposites. Various properties of nanocomposites are discussed. The rheological behavior and morphology of nanocomposites are covered. Different modeling and simulation methods applicable to electrospun nanofibers and polymer layered silicate nanocomposites are discussed. Some of the potential application areas of electrospun nanofibers, polymer layered silicate nanocomposites, and various products available in the market based on nanotechnology are also discussed. Some of the lacking areas and future prospects in nanofibrous structures (nanofibers and nanocomposites) are emphasized in this issue.     

Ochratoxin A in liquorice products – a review

Liquorice is a herbal medicine produced mainly in China and Iran. This plant is suspected to contain ochratoxin A (OTA), a secondary metabolite produced by fungi. Although liquorice is not included in the daily dietary of humans, the high levels of OTA reported in this product have concerned consumers. Registration of a standard method for measuring the amount of this mycotoxin in liquorice-derived products is an important challenge and requires the introduction of a reliable, simple, fast-performance and reproducible technique. This review examines studies carried out concerning the occurrence of OTA in liquorice products. Recent information regarding contaminated liquorice, the regulatory framework and methods to degrade OTA in liquorice are discussed.     

Relationship between chlorophyll a and β-carotene in a lipid-containing model system during illumination

The relationship between chlorophyll a (Chl a) and β-carotene during illumination in the presence of fatty acid esters, methyl stearate methyl oleate and methyl linoleate was studied. Mixtures of Chl a, β-carotene and fatty acid esters were exposed to a 40 w light for 3 h. Isomerization and degradation reations of Chl a and β-carotene were monitored using HPLC with diode array detection Three isomers of Chl a and four cis isomers of β-carotene were separated and detected. Both the degradations of total amount of Chl a and β-carotene fit the first-order model. The degradation rate of total amount of β-carotene was highest in methyl stearate, followed by in methyl oleate and in methyl linoleate, while a reverse order was observed for the degradation rate of total amount of Chl a. In the presence of three fatty acid esters, Chl a is more susceptible to isomerization and degradation than β-carotene, and the degradation rates for both Chl a and β-carotene are significantly different (p < 0.05).     

Adsorption of rutin onto a food-grade styrene–divinylbenzene copolymer in a model system

Adsorption of quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (rutin) onto Amberlite^® XAD 16HP was studied applying a modified D-optimal design. Temperature, pH value, rutin concentration and resin amount were studied as independent factors determining rutin adsorption. Using the mathematical model resulting from the analysis of the D-optimal design the optimal conditions for rutin adsorption onto the styrene–divinylbenzene copolymer were determined. Furthermore, the model equation was successfully applied to calculate the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm parameters of this particular solute–sorbent system. In addition, the data obtained from the D-optimal design allowed the calculation of ΔG, ΔH and ΔS for the adsorption process. The results presented in this study are of utmost importance for a better understanding of adsorption phenomena. The more detailed knowledge of such sorbent systems is required to improve the cost-effectiveness of industrial processes for the recovery of secondary plant metabolites, such as polyphenols, based on resin adsorption technology.     

Observation of ClNO₂ in a mid-continental urban environment

In the troposphere, nitryl chloride (ClNO?), produced from uptake of dinitrogen pentoxide (N?O?) on chloride containing aerosol, can be an important nocturnal reservoir of NO(x) (= NO + NO?) and a source of atomic Cl, particularly in polluted coastal environments. Here, we present measurements of ClNO? mixing ratios by chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada over a 3-day period. The observed ClNO? mixing ratios exhibited a strong diurnal profile, with nocturnal maxima in the range of 80 to 250 parts-per-trillion by volume (pptv) and minima below the detection limit of 5 pptv in the early afternoon. At night, ClNO? constituted up to 2% of odd nitrogen, or NO(y). The peak mixing ratios of ClNO? observed were considerably below the modeled integrated heterogeneous losses of N?O?, indicating that ClNO? production was a minor pathway compared to heterogeneous hydrolysis of N?O?. Back trajectory analysis using HYSPLIT showed that the study region was not influenced by fresh injections of marine aerosol, implying that aerosol chloride was derived from anthropogenic sources. Molecular chlorine (Cl?), derived from local anthropogenic sources, was observed at mixing ratios of up to 65 pptv and possibly contributed to formation of aerosol chloride and hence the formation of ClNO?.     

Fumonisins in plant-origin food and fodder – a review

Fumonisins are mycotoxins produced by the Fusarium group of fungi commonly found on crops, mainly on maize. Some data suggest that as much as 25% of world crops may be lost because of mycotoxin contamination. Therefore, researchers in many countries (particularly in those in which relatively large amounts of maize are directly consumed by humans) are concerned with fumonisin levels in plant-origin foodstuffs and feeds available in their local markets. There is no doubt the levels are strongly correlated with the climate conditions prevailing in the region in which the maize was cultivated: the hotter the climate, the more serious the problem. Negative consequences of consumption of fumonisin-contaminated food by humans include an increased risk of oesophagus cancer and decreased body mass growth. In recent years some trials have been undertaken to reduce fumonisin levels in food and feed by the application of isothiocyanates naturally occurring in plants or peptidoglycans isolated from lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The results of these studies suggested that some reduction in contamination levels might be achieved. Additionally, some recent studies indicate that Sphingopyxis sp. bacteria produce enzymes that are able to break down the fumonisin molecule. Some fumonisins present in food may be bound/coupled with other compounds, and therefore difficult to detect. Such complexes in which the toxins are masked or hidden may even be at higher levels than the not-bound (free) molecules. The problem of how to evaluate effectively and efficiently the concentration of fumonisins in various foodstuffs is therefore a real-life challenge for scientists.     

Future perspectives in Orbitrap™-high-resolution mass spectrometry in food analysis: a review

A literature search from 2007 to 2014 was conducted to identify publications where principally LC-Orbitrap?-high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) has been employed in food analysis. Of a total of 212 relevant references, only 22 papers were from 2007–10, but in subsequent years there has been a steady growth in publications with 38–55 relevant papers being published each year from 2011 to 2014. In the food safety area, over 50% of the published papers were equally divided between pesticides, veterinary drug residues and natural toxins (including mycotoxins) focused primarily on multi-analyte target analysis. LC-Orbitrap-HRMS was also found to be increasingly important for the analysis of bioactive substances, principally phenolic compounds in foods. A number of studies reported for the first time the identification of new fungal metabolites, predominantly various conjugated forms of known mycotoxins. Novel process contaminants were also identified by LC-Orbitrap-HRMS, as were various substances used for food adulteration and bioactive substances in herbal products and dietary supplements. Untargeted analysis is seen as a major future trend where HRMS plays a significant role. Retrospective analysis of scanned high-resolution mass spectra in conjunction with relevant databases can provide new insights. Metabolomics is also being increasingly used where foods are being profiled through fingerprinting using HRMS. All evidence points towards future growth in the number of applications of HRMS in food safety and quality, as the power of this technique gains wider recognition.     

Is there a future for antioxidants in atherogenesis?

Antioxidants, preferentially those of dietary origin, have for a long time been considered to help against diseases that are presumably aggravated by oxidative stress, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders. The outcome of clinical trials undertaken to corroborate this hypothesis, however, remained largely inconclusive. Evidence is now emerging that some dietary "antioxidants" influence signaling pathways and the expression of genes relevant in atherosclerosis by mechanisms other than antioxidative ones. By concrete examples we show that (1) vitamin E has gene regulatory functions which might be more important than acting as an antioxidant in vivo, (2) selenium itself is not an antioxidant at all, and even not in general when incorporated into glutathione peroxidases, and (3) a moderate oxidative stress is beneficial rather than detrimental since it can induce defense mechanisms counteracting xenobiotic and oxidative stress. Thus, there is only a future for antioxidants in the prevention of any disease if their real mechanism of action is considered and suitable read-outs and biomarkers are established.     

Effect of a health reminder on consumers’ selection of ultra-processed foods in a supermarket

Consumers report difficulties when trying to make healthy food choices in supermarkets due to environmental cues that favour the acquisition of unhealthy food items. This study’s objective was to investigate food selection in a supermarket to prepare a last minute meal by consumers with different levels of health consciousness. In an experimental design, 50 high (HHC) and 50 low health conscious (LHC) participants (n = 100) were told to choose all food items to prepare a meal for themselves plus a guest. For half the participants (25 HHC and 25 LHC), the expression ‘healthy meal’ was embedded in the instruction. To evaluate shopping healthfulness, foods selected by the participants were categorized according to level of industrial processing in Unprocessed/Minimally Processed (U/MP); Processed Culinary Ingredient (PCI); Processed (P), or Ultra-Processed (UP). The health reminder positively affected the choices of HHC and LHC individuals. Results indicate that placing reminders of healthy eating in shopping environments where P and UP foods sales are heavily promoted, such as supermarkets, can be a useful tool to promote healthy choices in accordance with what is recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population.     

Is intersucking in dairy cows the continuation of a habit developed in early life?

Intersucking, i.e., cattle sucking the udder of heifers or cows, is a frequent problem in dairy herds and may lead to udder damage, mastitis, milk loss, and culling of breeding animals. Using epidemiological methods, we conducted an observational cross-sectional study to investigate risk factors for intersucking in Swiss dairy cows. We asked 114 randomly selected dairy farmers about a broad spectrum of environmental factors possibly associated with intersucking, such as housing conditions, management, and feeding of calves, heifers, and cows. Thirty of the 114 farms were confronted with intersucking in cows. The mean proportion of intersucking cows per farm was 1.6%. From a total of 3077 cows (Swiss Brown Cattle, Simmental, and Holstein Friesian) we recorded 49 cows that had performed or were currently intersucking. In 69% of these cows, intersucking had been observed as heifers. Using path analysis and multivariable stepwise backward logistic and linear regression analyses, we revealed that the most important risk factor for intersucking cows was the presence of intersucking heifers on a farm (odds ratio = 7.8). The results suggest that intersucking in cows is the continuation of a habit that was already established in a cow's subadult life. This emphasizes the importance of looking not only at the animal's current environmental situation but also considering its entire life history for the prevention of behavioral problems.     

Do rituals serve as a brake on innovation in staple food cropping in Timor-Leste?

Ritual practices from Christian and older animist belief systems persist across Timor-Leste (T-L). Significant events such as deaths and marriages include elements from both beliefs, and resources to conduct the associated ceremonies can affect agricultural production. In addition, ceremonies based on family lineage groups - lisan - are conducted for numerous purposes, with many related to food production and consumption. To investigate such rituals from a food security perspective, interviews on ritual practices were conducted in a longitudinal study among 18 households in four municipalities in 2006–2007 and among 56 respondents in three municipalities in 2015. Time and resources dedicated to ritual practices varied significantly across respondents, localities and crops. Despite extensive rural poverty, almost all communities dedicated significant resources and time to conduct ceremonies, particularly for maize and rice. Importantly, innovation in cropping was not stifled by rituals. Rituals reinforce social networks that have already been found to be important to food security, so in a broad sense rituals may even contribute to crop production. There was wide overlap between the composition of lineage lisan and mutual labour groups, which can be critical in T-L where, with limited availability of farm mechanization, the household unit of labour is insufficient for some agricultural tasks. A reallocation of resources from rituals to other objectives such as education and home maintenance is now gradually occurring. Looking ahead, respondents indicated that, while rituals could become less elaborate, continuance of the traditions was essential. Agricultural rituals contribute to the social capital needed for crop production and food security in T-L.