Iron metabolism in rats consuming oil from fresh or fried sardines

The influence of the consumption of diets containing oil from either fresh sardines or fried sardines, under domestic conditions, on the dietary iron metabolism of rats has been investigated. Three groups of rats were fed, over 28 d, semipurified diets containing 8% of: olive oil (OO), fresh sardine (Clupea pilchardus) oil (SO) and oil from sardines previously fried in olive oil (FSO). Body mass and food intake were monitored and, during the periods 5-12 d and 21-28 d, faeces and urine were collected. At the end of the experiment, the animals were killed and blood, liver, spleen and a segment of skin were stored. Food intake and body mass decreased markedly in the SO rats. These parameters were slightly increased in the FSO group compared with OO. Iron absorption and retention were lower in SO than in OO or FSO. This was primarily caused by the poor food intake but also by the lower efficiency of absorption and high urinary Fe losses. Liver and spleen iron contents were reduced by half in SO compared with the other groups, partly owing to the smaller size of the organs, and liver Fe concentration also decreased. These results, together with the high total iron binding capacity, the decreased level of hemoglobin and total erythrocytic iron found in the SO animals, indicate that the consumption of fresh sardine oil as the only dietary fat resulted in iron depletion. The SO animals showed a higher Fe accumulation in skin than OO or FSO. It was concluded that a diet high in sardine fatty acid administered as a unique source of fat, can cause metabolic alterations including iron depletion, but these negative effects of sardine oil disappear with frying, probably owing to the exchange that takes place between fatty acids in the olive oil used in frying and those in the sardine oil.     

Software architecture for multi-bed FDK-based reconstruction in X-ray CT scanners

Most small-animal X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanners are based on cone-beam geometry with a flat-panel detector orbiting in a circular trajectory. Image reconstruction in these systems is usually performed by approximate methods based on the algorithm proposed by Feldkamp et al. (FDK). Besides the implementation of the reconstruction algorithm itself, in order to design a real system it is necessary to take into account numerous issues so as to obtain the best quality images from the acquired data. This work presents a comprehensive, novel software architecture for small-animal CT scanners based on cone-beam geometry with circular scanning trajectory. The proposed architecture covers all the steps from the system calibration to the volume reconstruction and conversion into Hounsfield units. It includes an efficient implementation of an FDK-based reconstruction algorithm that takes advantage of system symmetries and allows for parallel reconstruction using a multiprocessor computer. Strategies for calibration and artifact correction are discussed to justify the strategies adopted. New procedures for multi-bed misalignment, beam-hardening, and Housfield units calibration are proposed. Experiments with phantoms and real data showed the suitability of the proposed software architecture for an X-ray small animal CT based on cone-beam geometry.     

On Measuring Disturbances in the Force: Advanced Cloud Monitoring Systems

Monitoring large scale infrastructures hosting an even larger number of applications in highly consolidated multi-tenant environments presents a wealth of problems. Dealing with these challenges is essential since monitoring is the cornerstone to make clouds responsive, failure-tolerant, automated and cost-efficient for operators. In this special issue, you will find the foundations together with cutting-edge developments in the state of the art of cloud monitoring systems. This special issue is targeted at a broad readership, ranging from newcomers wanting a smooth acquaintance with these technologies and experts aiming to dive deeper into the latest developments.     

Regulatory aspects of radiation protection

The paper introduces the projects launched by the European Community to foster prospects in dosimetry, radiation protection and best use of equipment in the medical field. These projects are put in perspective with the European legal framework for radiation protection, in particular, the Basic Safety Standards Directive, the Medical Exposures Directive and the Directive on High-Activity Sealed Sources. A summary is given of the overall mission statements of the commission services in the field of radiation protection, including the field of research, and how they relate to other actions in the overall health policy of the EU. In conclusion, a number of priority areas for future work in the medical field are highlighted.     

Evaluation of disconnected quark loops for hadron structure using GPUs

A number of stochastic methods developed for the calculation of fermion loops are investigated and compared, in particular with respect to their efficiency when implemented on Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). We assess the performance of the various methods by studying the convergence and statistical accuracy obtained for observables that require a large number of stochastic noise vectors, such as the isoscalar nucleon axial charge. The various methods are also examined for the evaluation of sigma-terms where noise reduction techniques specific to the twisted mass formulation can be utilized thus reducing the required number of stochastic noise vectors.     

Novel environmentally benign procedure for the synthesis of 2‐aryl‐ and 2‐hetaryl‐4(3H)‐quinazolinones

A novel environmentally benign procedure for the synthesis of 2‐aryl‐ or 2‐hetaryl‐4(3H)‐quinazolinones by condensation of anthranilamide with various aromatic aldehydes in polyethylene glycol under microwave irradiation has been developed. In contrast with other reported methods, this procedure provides the corresponding quinazolinones with good to high yields and purity, in very short reaction times and without the use of an oxidant.     

Dietary phenolics against colorectal cancer—From promising preclinical results to poor translation into clinical trials: Pitfalls and future needs

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major cause of cancer death worldwide. Over 70% of CRC cases are sporadic and related to lifestyle. Epidemiological studies inversely correlate CRC incidence with the intake of fruits and vegetables but not with their phenolic content. Preclinical studies using in vitro (cell lines) and animal models of CRC have reported anticancer effects for dietary phenolics through the regulation of different markers and signaling pathways. Herein, we review and contrast the evidence between preclinical studies and clinical trials (patients with CRC or at risk, familial adenopolyposis or aberrant crypt foci) investigating the protective effects of curcumin, resveratrol, isoflavones, green tea extracts (epigallocatechin gallate), black raspberry powder (anthocyanins and ellagitannins), bilberry extract (anthocyanins), ginger extracts (gingerol derivatives), and pomegranate extracts (ellagitannins and ellagic acid). To date, curcumin is the most promising polyphenol as possible future adjuvant in CRC management. Overall, the clinical evidence of dietary phenolics against CRC is still weak and the amounts needed to exert some effects largely exceed common dietary doses. We discuss here the possible reasons behind the gap between preclinical and clinical research (inconsistence of results, lack of clinical endpoints, etc.), and provide an outlook and a roadmap to approach this topic.     

Monitoring of evoked potentials during spinal cord ischaemia: experimental evaluation in a rabbit model

OBJECTIVES: Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs), spinal evoked potentials (Spinal-EPs), and motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) were monitored in a rabbit model of spinal cord ischaemia to evaluate their accuracy and relationship to clinical status. METHODS: A modified rabbit spinal cord ischaemia model of infrarenal aortic occlusion for 21 min was employed (30 rabbits). After baseline SEPs, Spinal-EPs, and MEPs were obtained, evoked potentials were recorded continuously during and after clamping of the aorta (30 min). Neurological outcome at 24 h was correlated with evoked potentials, and histopathological findings. RESULTS: Fifteen animals became paraplegic. MEPs were always abolished after clamping of the aorta while Spinal-EPs and SEPs remained. The sensory evoked potentials (SEPs and Spinal-EPs) were the least sensitive to spinal cord ischaemia, and their presence had no correlation with the final clinical status (50% of false negatives). This was consistent with histopathological examination that showed damage almost entirely confined to the anterior horn, while the dorsal columns were generally well preserved. High spine MEPs evoked by twitch stimulation was the best predictor of clinical outcome (0% of false negatives, 0% of false positives). CONCLUSIONS: SEPs and Spinal-EPs cannot be used as safe monitors of ischaemia of the spinal cord. High spine MEPs evoked by twitch stimulation was the most useful for real-time evaluation of spinal cord ischaemia, and the best predictor of neurologic outcome during reperfusion.