Acute cyanide intoxication due to apricot seed ingestion. / Intoxicación aguda por cianuro debido a ingestión de semillas de damasco.

Introduction: Cyanide poisoning, whether it be accidental or intentional, remains a significant danger to adults and children, especially in societies where agriculture is a primary source of income. We examined the clinical follow-up, complications, and results of cyanide poisoning cases that occurred after eating the pits and seeds of plants containing cyanide glycosides, such as apricot kernels and almonds. Methods: Between 01/01/2017 and 01/08/2022, 14 children aged 1-18 years who were followed up with a prediagnosis of cyanide poisoning in our Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) were retrospectively analysed. Results: Eight of the patients followed with a preliminary diagnosis of cyanide poisoning were female and six were male. The most common admission month was July (42.8%) coinciding with the agricultural season. The most common symptoms at presentation were weakness and fatigue (n = 7). In the PICU, 4 patients presented lip cyanosis; 3, altered level of consciousness. Vomiting, seizure, headache, dizziness and palpitatons were less frequent. Four patients were treated with hydroxocobalamin (Cyanokit®) as an antidote due to acidosis in their blood gases. All patients treated for cyanide poisoning were discharged. Conclusions: Cyanide poisoning should be considered in paediatric patients with suspicious findings, sudden loss of consciousness, increased anion gap acidosis and lactic acidosis. The history of eating the seeds of plants such as apricot and almonds should be investigated.

Introducción. La intoxicación por cianuro, sea accidental o intencional, es un peligro importante para adultos y niños, en especial en las comunidades donde la agricultura es la fuente principal de ingresos. Se describe la evolución clínica, complicaciones y resultados de casos de intoxicación por cianuro ocurridos luego de ingerir carozos y semillas de plantas que contienen glicósidos de cianuro, como los carozos de damasco y las almendras amargas. Población y métodos. Se incluyeron todos los niños de 1-18 años de edad que ingresaron a la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos (UCIP), con el diagnóstico presuntivo de intoxicación por cianuro, entre el 1 de enero de 2017 y el 8 de enero de 2022. Sus datos se analizaron retrospectivamente. Resultados. Se analizaron 14 pacientes de los cuales 8 eran mujeres. El mes con más ingresos fue julio (42,8 %) en coincidencia con la estación de mayor actividad agrícola. Los síntomas más frecuentes fueron debilidad y fatiga (n = 7). Durante la internación, 4 pacientes presentaron cianosis y 3 tuvieron alteración del nivel de conciencia. Fue menos frecuente la presencia de vómitos, convulsiones, cefaleas, mareos y palpitaciones. En 4 pacientes se indicó hidroxocobalamina como antídoto por presentar acidosis en el estudio de gases en sangre. Todos los pacientes fueron dados de alta. Conclusiones. La intoxicación por cianuro debería considerarse en pacientes pediátricos con hallazgos sospechosos, pérdida brusca de conocimiento, acidosis con brecha aniónica aumentada y acidosis láctica. Se debería investigar el antecedente de ingestión de damascos y almendras amargas.

High-Pressure Carbon Dioxide Use to Control Dried Apricot Pests, Tribolium castaneum and Rhyzopertha dominica, and Assessing the Qualitative Traits of Dried Pieces of Treated Apricot.

One of the new ways of warehouse pest control is the carbon dioxide treatment, which had no residues on the target products. In the present research, at first, CO2 gas was applied to control two important pest species infesting dried apricots. Dry apricots infested with adults of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) or Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) were exposed to CO2 gas pressures correspond to 9.1, 16.7, 23.1, 28.6, and 33.4 mol% for 24 h. The results showed higher mortality rates with increasing the gas pressures in all the experiments. The minimum and maximum losses of the pests were determined at concentrations of 9.1 and 33.4 mol%, respectively. Evaluation of CO2 gas effects on the quality characteristics of dried apricots showed no impacts on the color, brittleness, hardness, sweetness, sourness, and general acceptance of products. CO2 gas treatments at the concentration of 33.4 mol% showed no significant influences on the chemical features of dried apricots, including pH, acidity, Brix, humidity percentage, reducing sugar, and total sugar. It was concluded that CO2 gas had the potential to control T. castaneum and R. dominica in warehouses of dried apricots, without any significant impacts on product qualities.

Phenolic compounds and vitamins in wild and cultivated apricot (Prunus armeniaca L) fruits grown in irrigated and dry farming conditions

BACKGROUND: Turkey is the main apricot producer in the world and apricots have been produced under both dry and irrigated conditions in the country. In this study, phenolic compounds and vitamins in fruits of one wild (Zerdali) and three main apricot cultivars ('Cataloglu', 'Hacihaliloglu' and 'Kabaasi') grown in both dry and irrigated conditions in Malatya provinces in Turkey were investigated. RESULTS: The findings indicated that higher content of phenolic compounds and vitamins was found in apricot fruits grown in irrigated conditions. Among the cultivars, 'Cataloglu' had the highest rutin contents both in irrigated and dry farming conditions as 2855 µg in irrigated and 6952 µg per 100 g dried weight base in dry conditions and the highest chlorogenic acid content in irrigated and dry farming conditions were measured in fruits of 'Hacihaliloglu' cultivar as 7542 µg and 15251 µg per 100 g dried weight base. Vitamin C contents in homogenates of fruit flesh and skin was found to be higher than ß-caroten, retinol, vitamin E and lycopen contents in apricot fruits both in irrigated and dry farming conditions. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that apricot fruits grown in both dry and irrigated conditions had high health benefits phytochemicals and phytochemical content varied among cultivars and irrigation conditions as well. However, more detailed biological and pharmacological studies are needed for the demonstration and clarification of health benefits of apricot fruits.

Indolbutyric acid concentration in the propagation of mume by air layering / Concentrações de ácido indolbutírico na propagação do umezeiro por alporquia

Some research works were developed to propagate mume by cutting, even so the results were not exciting. The objective of present work was to verify the air layering in IAC-10 mume (japanese apricot) treated with different concentration of indolbutyric acid (IBA). In woody branches of approximately one year, air layering was accomplished with a 2 cm wide ring treated with IBA (0, 1,000; 2,000; 3,000 and 4,000 mg L-1), involved with humidified sphagnum moss, covered and tied in the extremities with transparent plastic film. After 90 days, percentage of survival air layering, rooting, callous and number of roots were evaluated. According to the results, mume can be propagated by air layering with a concentration of 1000 mg L-1 of IBA in order to provide a higher number of roots and a good rooting.

Alguns trabalhos foram desenvolvidos com o intuito de se propagar o umezeiro por estaquia, porém os resultados não foram animadores. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo verificar a viabilidade da propagação do umezeiro (Prunus mume sieb & Zucc), clone IAC-10, por alporquia. Ramos lenhosos de aproximadamente um ano de idade, localizados na parte mediana da copa, foram utilizados para a confecção dos alporques. Realizou um anel com aproximadamente dois centímetros de largura (suprimindo apenas a casca do ramo), pincelando-se com diferentes concentrações de IBA (0, 1000, 2000, 3000 e 4000 mg L-1), distribuídos em todo o anel com o auxílio de pincel. Os alporques foram envolvidos com esfagno umedecido, como substrato, cobertos e amarrados nas extremidades com plástico transparente. Após 90 dias da realização da alporquia, coletaram-se os seguintes dados biométricos: porcentagem de alporques vivos, enraizados, calejados e número médio de raízes por alporque. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, conclui-se que o umezeiro pode ser propagado por alporquia, devendo ser utilizado a concentração de 1000 mg L-1 de IBA, a fim de propiciar maior enraizamento e número de raízes por alporque.

Indolbutyric acid concentration in the propagation of mume by air layering / Concentrações de ácido indolbutírico na propagação do umezeiro por alporquia

Some research works were developed to propagate mume by cutting, even so the results were not exciting. The objective of present work was to verify the air layering in IAC-10 mume (japanese apricot) treated with different concentration of indolbutyric acid (IBA). In woody branches of approximately one year, air layering was accomplished with a 2 cm wide ring treated with IBA (0, 1,000; 2,000; 3,000 and 4,000 mg L-1), involved with humidified sphagnum moss, covered and tied in the extremities with transparent plastic film. After 90 days, percentage of survival air layering, rooting, callous and number of roots were evaluated. According to the results, mume can be propagated by air layering with a concentration of 1000 mg L-1 of IBA in order to provide a higher number of roots and a good rooting.

Alguns trabalhos foram desenvolvidos com o intuito de se propagar o umezeiro por estaquia, porém os resultados não foram animadores. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo verificar a viabilidade da propagação do umezeiro (Prunus mume sieb & Zucc), clone IAC-10, por alporquia. Ramos lenhosos de aproximadamente um ano de idade, localizados na parte mediana da copa, foram utilizados para a confecção dos alporques. Realizou um anel com aproximadamente dois centímetros de largura (suprimindo apenas a casca do ramo), pincelando-se com diferentes concentrações de IBA (0, 1000, 2000, 3000 e 4000 mg L-1), distribuídos em todo o anel com o auxílio de pincel. Os alporques foram envolvidos com esfagno umedecido, como substrato, cobertos e amarrados nas extremidades com plástico transparente. Após 90 dias da realização da alporquia, coletaram-se os seguintes dados biométricos: porcentagem de alporques vivos, enraizados, calejados e número médio de raízes por alporque. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, conclui-se que o umezeiro pode ser propagado por alporquia, devendo ser utilizado a concentração de 1000 mg L-1 de IBA, a fim de propiciar maior enraizamento e número de raízes por alporque.

Accumulation of Antioxidants in Apricot Fruit through Ripening: Characterization of a Genotype with Enhanced Functional Properties

Two apricot genotypes, 'Gonci magyarkajszi' and 'Preventa' were assayed at three ripening stages for flesh color indices (L*, a*, b*, C* and Hº), contents of total phenolics and vitamin C, and both water- and lipid-soluble antioxidant capacities (ferric reducing antioxidant power; 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity; total radical scavenging activity; and Photochem lipid-soluble antioxidant capacity) to compare their dynamics in the accumulation of antioxidant compounds and capacities through ripening. The increase in a*, b* and C* and decrease in Hº during ripening represented a color shift from green to yellow and orange due to carotenoid accumulation. Parallel to carotenoid accumulation, contents of total phenolics and vitamin C and antioxidant capacity increased significantly (p < 0.05) from unripe to fully ripe fruits. More phenolics and vitamin C accumulated in fully ripe fruits of 'Preventa' than 'Gonci magyarkajszi'. The accumulation patterns of these compounds were different: while the vitamin C contents in unripe fruit of 'Preventa' and 'Gonci magyarkajszi' were identical (approx. 6 mg/100 g fresh weight), unripe 'Preventa' contained even more phenolics (approx. 12 mmolGA/l) than fully ripe 'Gonci magyarkajszi' (8 mmolGA/l). Our results confirm that fully ripe 'Preventa' fruits are characterized by outstanding functional properties due to the increased accumulation of vitamin C and phenolics throughout the ripening process.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of bitter and sweet apricot (Prunus armeniaca L. ) kernels

The present study describes the in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of methanol and water extracts of sweet and bitterapricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) kernels. The antioxidant properties of apricot kernels were evaluated by determining radicalscavenging power, lipid peroxidation inhibition activity and total phenol content measured with a DPPH test, the thiocyanatemethod and the Folin method, respectively. In contrast to extracts of the bitter kernels, both the water and methanol extracts ofsweet kernels have antioxidant potential. The highest percent inhibition of lipid peroxidation (69%) and total phenolic content (7.9± 0.2 μg/mL) were detected in the methanol extract of sweet kernels (Hasanbey) and in the water extract of the same cultivar,respectively. The antimicrobial activities of the above extracts were also tested against human pathogenic microorganismsusing a disc-diffusion method, and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of each active extract were determined. Themost effective antibacterial activity was observed in the methanol and water extracts of bitter kernels and in the methanol extractof sweet kernels against the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally, the methanol extracts of the bitterkernels were very potent against the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli (0.312 mg/mL MIC value). Significant anti-candidaactivity was also observed with the methanol extract of bitter apricot kernels against Candida albicans, consisting of a 14 mm indiameter of inhibition zone and a 0.625 mg/mL MIC value.

Estimating evapotranspiration by capacitance and neutron probes in a drip-irrigated apricot orchard / Estimación de la evapotranspiración por capacitancia y sondas neutrónicas en una plantación de albaricoque irrigada por goteo / Estimação da evapotranspiração por capacitância e sondas neutrônicas em uma plantação de damasco irrigada por goteejamento.

This paper describes how a neutron probe (NP) and a multi sensor capacitance probe (MCP) can be used for monitoring the soil water content in order to develop a soil water balance and to estimate the evapotranspiration (ETc) of an apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) crop. The van Genuchten model was applied to estimate water drainage below the active root zone, based on the measurements from both devices. Average crop evapotranspiration (ETc), estimated from the soil water balance for the whole period (17 months), was 1.6 and 1.5mm/day for NP and MCP, respectively, while the crop evapotranspiration calculated by the Penman-Monteith method (ETc-FAO) was 2.3mm/day. Drainage measured by both devices was negligible. The ETc measured by MCP was better correlated with the ETc measured by FAO methodology than with that corresponding to NP. A good correlation between the ETc values measured by NP and MCP was found. However, MCP permits continuous recording of the soil water content, is cheaper and less dangerous, while NP produces more accurate measurements than MCP.

En este trabajo se describe la forma en que un sensor de neutrones (SN) y una sonda multisensor de capacitancia (SMSC) pueden ser utilizados para el monitoreo del contenido de agua del suelo, a fin de establecer un balance hídrico de agua y estimar la evapotranspiración (ETc) en un cultivo de albaricoque (Prunus armeniaca L.). El modelo de van Genuchten fue aplicado para estimar el drenaje bajo la zona activa radical, con base en las mediciones hechas con los dos artefactos. La evpotranspiración promedio de la siembra (ETc), estimada a partir del balance de agua del suelo para todo el período (17 meses) fue de 1,6 y 1,5mm/día para SN y SMSC, respectivamente, mientras que la evapotranspitación calculada por el método de Penman-Monteith (ETc-FAO) fue de 2,3mm/día. El drenaje medido por ambos artefactos fue despreciable. La ETc medida con la SMSC resultó mejor correlacionada con la medida por la metodología de la FAO que aquella correspondiente al SN. Se encontró una buena correlación entre los valores de ETc medidos por SN y por SMSC. No obstante, la SMSC permite un registro continuo del contenido de agua del suelo, es más económica y menos peligrosa, mientras que el SN produce mediciones más precisas que la SMSC.

Neste trabalho se descreve a forma em que um sensor de nêutrons (SN) e uma sonda multisensor de capacitância (SMSC) podem ser utilizados para a monitoração do conteúdo de água do solo, a fim de estabelecer um balanço edáfico hídrico e estimar a evapotranspiração (ETc) em um cultivo de damasco (Prunus armeniaca L.). O modelo de van Genuchten foi aplicado para estimar a circulação de água sob a zona ativa radical, com base nas medições feitas com os dois artefatos. A evapotranspiração media da plantação (ETc), estimada a partir do balanço de água do solo para todo o período (17 meses) foi de 1,6 e 1,5mm/dia para SN e SMSC, respectivamente, enquanto a evapotranspiração calculada pelo método de Penman-Monteith (ETs-FAO) foi de 2,3mm/dia. A circulação medida por ambos os artefatos foi desprezível. A ETs medida com a SMSC resultou melhor correlacionada com a medida pela metodologia da FAO que aquela correspondente ao SN. Encontrou-se uma boa correlação entre os valores de ETs medidos por SN e por SMSC. No entanto, a SMSC permite um registro continuo do conteúdo de água do solo, é mais econômica e menos perigosa, enquanto que o SN produz medições mais precisas que a SMSC.