The radiorecovery potential of nutraceuticals in cellular defense after ionizing radiation in vitro.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two nutraceuticals Amazon Megamin and Immunarc forte in radiorecovery of human lymphocytes after exposure to ionizing radiation in vitro. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The incidences of micronuclei, cell proliferation, apoptosis and lipid peroxidation products were examined in cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes before and after ionizing radiation in a present of nutraceuticals in vitro. RESULTS: Results showed that Amazon Megamin and Immunarc forte possess antioxidant properties; they act by eliminating the toxic metabolites, scavenging the free radicals and decreasing lipid peroxidation. CONCLUSION: The obtained results indicated that the studied nutraceuticals can help in prevention of the development of injurious caused by ionizing irradiation and, therefore, they encourage studies on their radioprotective properties.

Growth performance, carcass characteristics, and selected meat quality traits of two strains of Pekin duck reared in intensive vs semi-intensive housing systems.

Selection of optimal hybrid of Pekin duck and housing system could improve yield and quality of duck meat. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two rearing systems (intensive vs semi-intensive housing) on growth performance, carcass quality, and selected physical meat quality traits of two commercial strains of Pekin ducks. The study was performed on 240 one-day-old Pekin ducklings of two different strains (120 ducklings of STAR 53 medium hybrid and 120 ducklings of SM3 heavy hybrid) during a 49-day period. Half the birds (120) were reared in a complete confinement system on a floor (intensive system), while the remaining 120 ducks had access to land outside (semi-intensive system). Growth performance of ducks was determined by BW, weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR), carcass quality by dressing percentage, percentage of basic cuts in carcasses, and content of various tissues in basic cuts, while meat quality was determined by pH, drip loss, cooking loss, Warner-Bratzler shear force, and color (L*, a*, and b*) values. At the end of the study, SM3 heavy hybrid and STAR 53 hybrid Pekin ducks achieved similar BWs. Higher final BW and lower overall FCR were found in ducks reared in the intensive system than in ducks kept in the semi-intensive system. Higher dressing percentage, weight and percentage of breast, but also a lower percentage of back with pelvis in the carcasses were determined in SM3 hybrid ducks than in STAR 53 hybrid ducks. The strain of duck did not affect meat pH, drip loss, or L* color value. Moreover, housing system affected the physical meat quality of the ducks, since breasts from ducks reared in the semi-intensive system had higher initial meat pH, higher percentage of EZ-drip loss and cooking loss, and higher L*, a*, and b* values than did breasts from intensively-reared ducks. In conclusion, SM3 ducks were more suited for broiler production due to their better carcass quality than STAR 53 ducks. Furthermore, ducks reared in the intensive system had better growth performance results and better physical meat quality traits than did ducks from the semi-intensive system.

Molecular aspects of microcystin-induced hepatotoxicity and hepatocarcinogenesis.

It is known that microcystin (MC) is a cyanotoxin that is a potent environmental inhibitor of eucariotic protein serine/threonine phosphatase 1 and 2A, both in vitro and in vivo. Consequently, these cyanobacterial toxins (MC-IARC group 2B carcinogen, MC extracts-group 3) are potent tumor promoters and there is an indication that they may also act as tumor initiators. The ability of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) to act as a tumor initiator is based on fact that it can induce DNA damage either by direct interaction with DNA or by indirect mechanisms through formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Both acute and chronic exposures, to either low or high doses of MC-LR, can activate apoptotic pathways. Chronic exposure to low concentrations of MC-LR contributes to increased risk for cancer development. Epidemiological studies, in certain areas of China, have suggested that MC is one of the risk factors for the high incidence of primary liver cancer (PLC). Recently, we have reported a correlation between PLC and cyanobacterial "blooms" in reservoirs used as a source for drinking water supply in central Serbia. It appears that the combination of acute and chronic exposures to both high and low doses of MC can lead to PLC initiation and promotion. Based on this, we propose that the requirement for the co-factors such as aflatoxin B1 and other mycotoxins, HBV, HCV, alcohol, etc. is not needed for initiation and promotion of PLC by MC-LR as was suggested earlier. The possible mechanisms of the genotoxicity of MC and its role as a hepatocarcinogen are outlined in this review. Furthermore, we show that the exposure of hepatocytes to MC can lead either to malignant proliferation or apoptosis.

Effects of gluconodeltalactone and Lactobacillus plantarum on the production of histamine and tyramine in fermented sausages.

Fermented sausages were made experimentally with addition of 0.3% (w/w) gluconodeltalactone (GDL) or a starter culture of Lactobacillus plantarum, unable to produce histamine or tyramine. Controls were produced without GDL and starter culture. During 15 days preparation and storage periods, number of bacteria and lactobacilli, pH, and levels of histamine, tyrosine and tyramine were monitored, and organoleptic evaluations were carried out. Maximal histamine levels were 19.41 micrograms/g of dry matter in the GDL-added sausages, 18.64 micrograms/g in the control, and 17.20 micrograms/g in the starter sausages. Maximal tyramine levels were 1249.16 micrograms/g in the GDL sausages, 1101.16 micrograms/g in the control, and 906.35 micrograms/g in the starter sausages. Sausages produced with GDL proved less acceptable in organoleptic evaluation due to an unpleasant sour flavour.

Flow cytometric analysis of T8 lymphocytes in patients with ovarian carcinoma in relation to clinical response.

The objective of this study was to examine variations of T8 lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of patients with ovarian carcinoma after surgical treatment and chemotherapy in relation to clinical response. In a prospective randomized study 30 women with ovarian carcinoma were studied. In the control group 30 patients had benign tumors of ovary. We examined the distribution of T8 lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of women with ovarian carcinoma preoperatively, during chemotherapy and 1 and 3 months postoperatively as well as in the control group. Quantification of suppressor/cytotoxic lymphocytes in peripheral blood was performed using specific monoclonal antibody (anti-T8) and flow cytometry. Values of T8 lymphocytes in the group of patients with complete response, 1 month after operation, were higher (0.67 +/- 0.3) compared to the control group (0.53 +/- 0.24), but lower in patients with partial response (0.45 +/- 0.20) and no effect (0.35 +/- 0.1). Three months after the operation, we recorded a decreased number of peripheral T8 lymphocytes in all patients of the examined group, compared to the values after 1 month.

Ovarian carcinoma: modification of T4 lymphocytes after surgery and during chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the values of helper/inducer lymphocytes (T4), preoperatively, and during the chemotherapy, 1 and 3 months postoperatively in a prospective randomized study of women with cancer. The study included 30 surgically-treated patients with ovarian cancer at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia. In the control group, 20 patients had no malignant ovarian tumor. Patients with ovarian cancer, besides surgical treatment, were treated with chemotherapy (CP protocol). Helper/inducer lymphocytes were defined by monoclonal antibody--CD4, conducted by laser flow cytometry. The average values of T4 lymphocytes in relation to control group (1.09 +/- 0.50), in IIIa, IIIb and IIIc stage of ovarian cancer decreased preoperatively (0.55 +/- 0.26), but increased in stages Ia and Ic (1.12 +/- 0.57) and in stage IV (0.31 +/- 0.51). Post surgery treatment (1 and 3 months) and during chemotherapy (CP protocol), the average values of T4 lymphocytes were lowered in relation to preoperative values.

The effects of lairage time and handling procedure prior to slaughter on stress and meat quality parameters in pigs.

Lairage time (short - 8min to 2.7h, n=28 vs. long - 14 to 21.5h, n=72) and pig handling (gentle - no use of stick or electric prod, pig not slipping, falling, nor emitting high-pitched vocalizations vs. rough - where any of these occurred) effects on pig stress and meat quality were measured. Blood lactate and cortisol, plus post-mortem pH (pH60min; pH24h), temperature (T60min), drip loss, sensory and instrumental color and meat quality for the longissimus dorsi, pars lumbalis derived meat were determined. Carcass rigor mortis and skin damages were measured. Lairage time significantly affected blood lactate, carcass rigor mortis, skin damages, drip loss, color and meat quality. Handling procedure influenced blood lactate, pH60min and T60min. Long lairage was more stressful, and was detrimental to carcass quality, but caused better meat quality compared to short lairage. Rough handling was related to higher lactate and lower meat quality.