Survey of 1012 moldy dwellings by culture fungal analysis: Threshold proposal for asthmatic patient management

Different countries have tried to define guidelines to quantify what levels of fungi are considered as inappropriate for housing. This retrospective study analyzes indoor fungi by cultures of airborne samples from 1012 dwellings. Altogether, 908 patients suffering from rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and asthma were compared to 104 controls free of allergies. Portuguese decree law no 118/2013 (PDL118), ANSES (a French environmental and health agency) recommendations, and health regulations of Besançon University Hospital were applied to determine the rates of non‐conforming dwellings, which were respectively 55.2%, 5.2%, and 19%. Environmental microbiological results and medical data were compared. The whole number of colonies per cubic meter of air was correlated with asthma (P < 0.001) and rhinitis (P = 0.002). Sixty‐seven genera and species were detected in bedrooms. Asthma was correlated to Aspergillus versicolor (P = 0.004) and Cladosporium spp. (P = 0.02). Thresholds of 300 cfu/m³ for A. versicolor or 495 cfu/m³ for Cladosporium spp. are able to discriminate 90% of the asthmatic dwellings. We propose a new protocol to obtain an optimal cost for indoor fungi surveys, excluding surface analyses, and a new guideline to interpret the results based on >1000 cfu/m³ of whole colonies and/or above threshold levels for A. versicolor or Cladosporium spp.     

Influence of pressurised cryogenic nitrogen technology on Arthrospira platensis (spirulina) preservation during storage

In this study, preservation of spirulina using the new pressurised cryogenic nitrogen technology (PCN) was compared to classical methods used in laboratories and industry. Spirulina morphology was better preserved by PCN compared to unpressurised cryogeny and classical freezing at −20 °C that led to cells fragmentation. A 25% loss of Phycocyanin-C content against 60% were measured after 98 days storage for 6-Bar PCN process and frozen samples, respectively. The Total AntiOxidant Power (PAOT Liquid Technology^®) was used for determination of total antioxidant and oxidant power of spirulina extracts. PAOT value of PCN samples was 50% higher than the frozen sample. From ABTS measurements on PCN spirulina fractions sonicated or not, it was suggested that pressurisation at 6 bars allowed a better preservation of free antioxidants (outside the cells) due to replacement of oxygen by nitrogen in the frozen beads. After dehydration, phycocyanin-C content variation during storage at 20 °C and 33% RH showed higher loss for freeze-dried spirulina treated at 0 compared to 6 Bars.     

Palm oil deodorizer distillate as toughening agent in polylactide packaging films

Polylactide (PLA) is the most used biodegradable and biobased food packaging polymer for rigid containers and films. However, its low ductility is a hurdle for increasing its applications in flexible food packaging. A solution is the use of additives. Palm oil deodorizer distillate (PODC) is revealed to be an excellent additive promoting PLA ductility. PODC is a by‐product of vegetable oil refining, which is available in stable quality and in sufficient amounts. Amorphous PLA/PODC blends had an elongation at break of around 130% and that of semi‐crystalline blends was still around 55% compared to the initial 5% of neat PLA. At the same time the PLA rigidity and high glass transition temperatures were kept. PODC was also a very efficient processing aid, allowing for film blow extrusion. The blends were stable in properties during six months without exudation. They complied with legal norms of Food Contact Materials (EU 10/2011) and induced no sensorial alteration of packed food. Therefore PODC is a very interesting alternative to common plasticizers for the production of flexible PLA packaging films. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry     

Can the dietary element content of virgin argan oils really be used for adulteration detection?

Levels of eight dietary elements were assessed by ICP-AES in virgin edible and beauty argan oil samples prepared from four remote locations of the argan forest, and over a three-year period. The data showed sufficiently little variability to assess that all argan oil samples present, in terms of dietary elements, a similar composition, independently from the tree location within the argan forest. Therefore, adulteration detection by trace element analysis in edible and beauty argan oil is a method that can be generalised.     

Pyropheophytin a and 1,2-Diacyl-glycerols Over Time Under Different Storage Conditions in Natural Olive Oils

The effect of storage conditions (light, temperature, container types) and time on the quality of natural olive oils from different cultivars and Australian regions were studied. The oils’ changing quality was monitored through several physico-chemical methods (free fatty acids, peroxide value, UV-spectrometry (K₂₃₂, K ₂₇₀ and ΔK), induction time, total polyphenol content, bitterness, pyropheophytin a and 1,2-diacyl-glycerol content) and sensory analysis over 24 months. Pyropheophytins a and 1,2-diacyl-glycerols criteria showed very good performance as indicators of overall olive oil quality and freshness as well as highlighting any problems during the storage of the product. Pyropheophytin a increment averaged 7 % per year and the 1,2-diacyl-glycerols decreased at an average of 23 % per year at normal storage conditions over time.     

A Single Bout of Ultra-Endurance Exercise Reveals Early Signs of Muscle Aging in Master Athletes

Middle-aged and master endurance athletes exhibit similar physical performance and long-term muscle adaptation to aerobic exercise. Nevertheless, we hypothesized that the short-term plasticity of the skeletal muscle might be distinctly altered for master athletes when they are challenged by a single bout of prolonged moderate-intensity exercise. Six middle-aged (37Y) and five older (50Y) master highly-trained athletes performed a 24-h treadmill run (24TR). Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were collected before and after the run and assessed for proteomics, fiber morphometry, intramyocellular lipid droplets (LD), mitochondrial oxidative activity, extracellular matrix (ECM), and micro-vascularisation. Before 24TR, muscle fiber type morphometry, intramyocellular LD, oxidative activity, ECM and micro-vascularisation were similar between master and middle-aged runners. For 37Y runners, 24TR was associated with ECM thickening, increased capillary-to-fiber interface, and an 89% depletion of LD in type-I fibers. In contrast, for 50Y runners, 24TR did not alter ECM and capillarization and poorly depleted LDs. Moreover, an impaired succinate dehydrogenase activity and functional class scoring of proteomes suggested reduced oxidative phosphorylation post-24TR exclusively in 50Y muscle. Collectively, our data support that middle-aged and master endurance athletes exhibit distinct transient plasticity in response to a single bout of ultra-endurance exercise, which may constitute early signs of muscle aging for master athletes.