Multivariate Curve Resolution - Alternate Least Square Analysis of Excitation-Emission Matrices for Maize Flour Contaminated with Aflatoxin B1.

In this preliminary study, we used the Multivariate Curve Resolution- Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS) algorithm to analyze the excitation-emission matrix for different samples of maize flour contaminated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) - uncontaminated, low-contaminated, high-contaminated and flour from the local market. We intended to see if there are differences in emission spectral parameters that depend on degree of contamination. The analysis used genuine emission of the fluorophores in the flour, in absence and presence of AFB1, which enables fast screening of the samples, without sample pre-processing. As a result of the analysis, two fluorescence components were derived from the emission spectra for all analyzed samples. The components' positions were the same for the uncontaminated reference sample and the commercial flour sample from the local market, whereas for the samples contaminated with the aflatoxin B1, the emitted peaks' positions were red-shifted. We found that the ratio of the areas of these two components is proportional to the intensity of contamination: 0.071 for uncontaminated sample, 0.090 for the sample from local market, 0.192 for low-contaminated sample and 1.431 for high-contaminated sample. These results indicate that fluorescence EEM coupled with MCR-ALS could be used for rapid and simple estimation of the degree AFB1 contamination in maize flour.

White and honey Chlorella vulgaris: Sustainable ingredients with the potential to improve nutritional value of pork frankfurters without compromising quality.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the chlorophyll-deficient microalgae mutants, honey (yellow) and white Chlorella vulgaris, (3%) on the nutritional, physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory characteristics of frankfurters. The presence of microalgae resulted in increased PUFA content and higher PUFA/SFA ratio, but lower n-6/n-3 ratio and lipid indices (P < 0.05). C. vulgaris inclusion in frankfurters increased (P < 0.05) Na, K, Ca, P, and Zn and improved the Na/K ratio, but lowered Mn, and in the case of white C. vulgaris, Cu content, compared to the control. The higher protein content decreased water release from emulsions elaborated with microalgae. White C. vulgaris inclusion decreased cohesiveness and springiness of the frankfurters. Due to the presence of pigment, microalgae inclusion led to a decrease in redness and an increase in yellowness of frankfurters. The presence of microalgae resulted in lower (P < 0.05) bacterial counts and did not affect TBARs during storage. The addition of microalgae in frankfurters produced acceptable sensory characteristics but resulted in lower scores compared to reference products.

Assessment of the Quality of Herbal Teas from Sabac, Serbia in Terms of the Content of Heavy Metals.

Chemical components of teas have received great interest because they are related to health. In this work, data on the determination of foreign matter, loss on drying/water content, total ash and ash insoluble in hydrochloric acid are presented. The content of seven heavy metals including Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Ni, Cd and Pb were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry in samples of several herbal teas: Matricariae flos, Thymi herba, Menthae piperitae folium, Betulae folium, Quercus cortex, Gentianae radix, Frangulae cortex, Althaeae radix, Uvae ursi folium and Glycyrrhizae radix collected from Sabac's market, Serbia. The sample preparation procedure involved dry digestion and dissolution of the ash in 6M HCl and then in 0.1 M HNO3. Herbal teas showed the concentration of heavy metals Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn and Ni in the range: 2.9 ± 0.1 - 22.2 ± 0.9 mg/kg, 118.5 ± 1.1 - 755.5 ± 2.5 mg/kg, 19.0 ± 5.8 - 561.0 ± 1.9 mg/kg, 6.5 ± 0.4 - 242.5 ± 1.4 mg/kg and 2.5 ± 0.1 - 10 ± 1.1 mg/kg, respectively. The level of copper in all samples was uniform. The highest content of Fe was in Thymi herba, while Mn and Zn were at maximum in Betulae folium. The levels of toxic heavy metals Cd and Pb were below the detection limit. The obtained values were compared with data available from literature. The herbal tea samples analyzed contained essential heavy metals (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn) and probably essential in trace (Ni), and could obey the daily dietary requirements. Noncancer health risk assessment detected that the herbal teas of Betulae folium and Frangulae cortex can manifest some health risk to consumers.

Full-term interstitial retroperitoneal pregnancy with delivery of a healthy infant.

Implantation in the interstitial part of the oviduct is frequently associated with severe fetal and maternal morbidity. We present a patient with primary interstitial and secondary retroperitoneal ectopic pregnancy. The suspicion of an ectopic pregnancy was raised after an ultrasound examination during the 18th week of pregnancy. An almost complete lack of symptoms led us to discard the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy. This normal-course pregnancy advanced to term. Due to anhydramnios and fetal malpresentation, a laparotomy was performed at 39 weeks of pregnancy and a healthy infant was delivered via cesarean section.

The effects of dietary Selenium-yeast level on glutathione peroxidase activity, tissue Selenium content, growth performance, and carcass and meat quality of broilers.

The present study was conducted to assess effects of selenium (Se)-yeast supplementation on glutathione peroxidase activity, Se levels in tissues, growth performance, carcass, and meat composition in broilers. A total of 275 one-d-old Cobb 500 broilers of both sexes were randomly allotted to 1 of 5 treatments during a 42-d period. The 5 treatments differed only in Se content: group 1 had no additional Se (background only); groups 2, 3, and 4 received 0.3 mg/kg of added Se from the beginning of the trial until d 21, whereas in the second half of the study (from d 22 to 42), these groups received 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 mg/kg of added Se, respectively; and group 5 received 0.9 mg/kg of Se for the entire experimental period. At the end of the study, the control group showed significantly lower (P < 0.01) glutathione peroxidase activity in blood plasma compared to Se-supplemented groups. Regarding Se concentration in various tissues, the groups receiving Se yeast showed higher plasma, feces, and meat Se contents than the control group (P < 0.01). Supplementation of Se improved broilers' body weight, weight gain and feed conversion ratio (P < 0.01). Dressing percentage was lower in the control group and the group with 0.3 mg/kg of added Se compared to other experimental groups (0.6 and 0.9 mg/kg of dietary Se). The proportion of less valuable carcass parts (wings and legs) was higher (P < 0.01) in the group fed the basal diet compared to groups supplemented with 0.9 mg/kg of Se. Initial and ultimate pH values differed among experimental groups (P < 0.05). Supplementation of Se improved the broiler's antioxidative resistance, growth performance, carcass quality, and chemical composition of meat.

Determination of heavy metals in muscle tissue of six fish species with different feeding habits from the Danube River, Belgrade-public health and environmental risk assessment.

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of heavy metals/metalloids (Pb, Cd, Hg, Cu, Fe, Zn, As) in the muscle tissue of fish from the Danube River (two locations: Zemun and Grocka). For the purpose of heavy metal determination in fish muscle, 120 samples of six different fish species, Prussian carp, barbel, bream, carp, pike perch, and catfish were collected. For determining heavy metals, we used microwave oven digestion and atomic absorption spectrometer methods. The highest average content of Pb (0.084 ± 0.004 mg kg-1), Cd (0.082 ± 0.003 mg kg-1), Hg (0.466 ± 0.006 mg kg-1), and As (0.333 ± 0.007 mg kg-1) was found in the muscle of carp (an omnivorous fish) from Grocka, while the highest average level of Fe (13.60 ± 0.03 mg kg-1) was deposited in bream (also omnivorous) from Zemun. Also, the average Cu level (1.62 ± 0.13 mg kg-1) was the highest in catfish muscle (a carnivorous fish) from Grocka, while the highest Zn content (11.16 ± 0.17 mg kg-1) was determined in muscle of Prussian carp (an omnivorous fish) from Zemun. The highest content of heavy metals (Cu, Fe, and Zn, respectively) in muscle of the six different types of fish from both locations was symmetrically arranged by species (catfish, barbel, and Prussian carp, respectively). Concentrations of Pb, Hg, and As in the Danube River fish muscle were under the maximum residual levels prescribed by the European Union (EU) and the maximum allowed concentrations (MAC) for Serbia. On the other hand, in all fish muscle from both locations (Zemun and Grocka), higher concentrations of Cd than prescribed (MAC) were found, with the exception of bream and pike perch.

[Hepatoprotective effects of silymarin in androgenic-anabolic steroid-induced liver damage]. / Hepatoprotektivno delovanje silimarina kod ostecenja jetre izazvanog androgenim-anabolikim steroidom.

INTRODUCTION: The use and abuse of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) commonly induces liver damage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 40 male Wistar rats, divided into 4 groups of 10 rats each. Animals in the first experimental group (M), were subjected to progressive systematic forced swimming test, 5 days a week, during 8 weeks. Animals in this group were treated with AAS methandienone, 2 mg/kg BW/day, per os, before swimming, 5 d/w for 8 weeks. After swimming, animals were given three times more food than the laboratory animals of the same age and kind. Animals in the second group (M+S), were subjected to progressive forced swimming test, 5 d/w 8 weeks. Animals in this group were treated with methandienone equally as the experimental group M and received the same amount of food. Apart from that, they received silymarin 20 mg/kg BW/day. Animals in the third group (K), represented the control group, which was neither subjected to swimming test, nor treated with methandienone or silymarin. Animals in this group received the same amount of food as animals in groups M and M+S. Animals in the fourth group (C), also represented a control. This group was not exercised nor treated, and animals received a standard amount of food for laboratory animals of this kind and age. Quantitative analysis of obtained hemataxylin-eosin, periodic acid shift and enzymohistochemical preparations was processed using Digital Image Analysis System: Microimage 3.0. RESULTS: It was established that processes in the nuclei of animals in groups M and K were significantly more intensive (p<0.001) in relation to groups M+S and C. The investigation of glycogen showed significantly higher density in the cells of groups M and M+S in comparison to groups K and C. Also, there was a significant difference between groups M+S and M. Density of enzyme activity of glutamate dehydrogenase in hepatocytes of animals in the group M+S was significantly higher in relation to the remaining three groups. A statistically significant difference was not found in enzyme activity of succinate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase. DISCUSSION: In cell nuclei of animals in the experimental group M, in the absence of silymarin effect, methandienone causes damages which induce regenerative processes and in this way increase high intensity activity. Silymarin significantly increases the glycogen density in hepatocytes. Increased activities of GDH are attributed to cell vitality. CONCLUSION: The present results show hepatoprotective effects of silymarin in androgenic-anabolic steroid induced liver damage.