Investigating isotopic markers for hazelnut geographical authentication: Promising variables and potential applications.

Hazelnuts' features and price are influenced by their geographical origin, making them susceptible to fraud, especially counterfeit claims regarding their provenance. Stable isotope analysis is a recognised approach to establish the geographical origin of foods, yet its potential in hazelnut authentication remains unexplored. In this prospective study, we assessed multiple isotopic markers in hazelnuts from different origins and evaluated the most promising variables for geographical authentication by chemometric tools. Our findings indicate that bulk δ18O, along with δ2H and δ13C in the main fatty acid methyl esters, exhibit significant potential in discriminating geographical origins, and 87Sr/86Sr analysis could serve as a proficient confirmatory tool. Though no single marker alone can differentiate between all the studied origins, employing a multi-isotopic approach based on PLS-DA models achieved up to 92.5 % accuracy in leave-10 %-out cross-validation. These findings will probably lay the groundwork for developing robust models for hazelnut geographical authentication based on larger datasets.

Prospective exploration of hazelnut's unsaponifiable fraction for geographical and varietal authentication: A comparative study of advanced fingerprinting and untargeted profiling techniques.

This study compares two data processing techniques (fingerprinting and untargeted profiling) to authenticate hazelnut cultivar and provenance based on its unsaponifiable fraction by GC-MS. PLS-DA classification models were developed on a selected sample set (n = 176). As test cases, cultivar models were developed for "Tonda di Giffoni" vs other cultivars, whereas provenance models were developed for three origins (Chile, Italy or Spain). Both fingerprinting and untargeted profiling successfully classified hazelnuts by cultivar or provenance, revealing the potential of the unsaponifiable fraction. External validation provided over 90 % correct classification, with fingerprinting slightly outperforming. Analysing PLS-DA models' regression coefficients and tentatively identifying compounds corresponding to highly relevant variables showed consistent agreement in key discriminant compounds across both approaches. However, fingerprinting in selected ion mode extracted slightly more information from chromatographic data, including minor discriminant species. Conversely, untargeted profiling acquired in full scan mode, provided pure spectra, facilitating chemical interpretability.

Effect of feeding olive pomace acid oil on pork lipid composition, oxidative stability, colour, and sensory acceptance.

One of the targets of the meat industry is to reduce production costs and to increase the sustainability of the food chain, which has driven the attention towards the use of by-products as feed ingredients. Acid oils are fat by-products coming from the chemical refining process of edible oils, with a high energy value and that are approved as feed ingredients in the European Union. However, meat producers are hesitant to utilise them due to their varying composition and the limited understanding of their impact on animal performance and meat quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of using olive pomace acid oil (OPAO) instead of its corresponding crude olive pomace oil (OPO) or crude palm oil (PO) in pig diets on lipid composition, lipid oxidation and quality of pork loin (longissimus dorsi), fresh and after commercial refrigerated storage for 8 days. The experimental design consisted of feeding pigs with four diets supplemented with a 5% of PO, OPO, OPAO or a blend (B) of PO and OPAO (50:50, w/w). Fresh and refrigerated pork loin samples were assessed for fatty acid profile; tocopherol (T) and tocotrienol (T3) composition; lipid oxidative stability with the ferrous oxidation-xylenol orange method; 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value; volatile compounds; colour; and sensory acceptance. Results showed that refrigeration reduced the total T + T3 levels and increased the TBA values and the volatile compound concentrations. The refrigerated storage also affected the instrumental colour parameters (L*, a* and b*) but not the overall acceptance of pork. Regarding the diet, pork from OPAO diet showed a higher unsaturated-to-saturated fatty acid ratio than pork from PO and B diets. The lowest T + T3 concentration was found in OPO and OPAO fresh pork and in OPAO refrigerated pork. The oxidative stability of fresh pork was lower for OPAO than for PO diet, but no significant effect of the diet was observed for this parameter in refrigerated pork. The TBA values and volatile compound concentrations of fresh pork were not affected by the diet. After refrigeration, OPAO pork had the highest TBA value and volatile compound concentrations. In any case, colour and consumer acceptance of pork were not affected by diet. In conclusion, in order to upcycle acid oils in pig diets, and considering results on the lipid oxidative stability of pork, it would be preferable to add the OPAO used in this study blended with PO.

Influence of free fatty acid content and degree of fat saturation in laying hen diets on egg quality, yolk fatty acid profile, and cholesterol content.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of dietary free fatty acid (FFA) content and the degree of saturation on egg quality, yolk fatty acid (FA) profile, and yolk cholesterol content. For a 15-wk period, a total of 144 laying hens (19-wk-old) were randomly assigned to 8 treatments arranged in a 2 × 4 factorial design, with 2 sources of crude oil (soybean oil and palm oil) and 4 levels of FFA (10, 20, 30, and 45%). The dietary treatments were achieved by progressively substituting the original oils with equivalent amounts of their corresponding acid oils (soybean acid oil and palm fatty acid distillate, respectively). No differences in ADFI or egg mass were found. However, dietary FFA reduced egg production (linear, P < 0.05) and increased the feed conversion ratio (linear, P < 0.05). Higher levels of FFA in soybean diets resulted in higher egg weight with higher albumen and yolk weights (linear, P < 0.01). Palm diets presented higher yolk:albumen ratio than soybean diets (P < 0.001), but the effect of FFA did not follow a linear trend. Hens fed soybean diets laid eggs with higher Haugh units (HU) than palm diets (P < 0.001), although increasing the dietary FFA% reduced the HU values in both (linear, P < 0.001). Palm diets enhanced shell quality with greater resistance to breakage, and higher dry matter and ash content than soybean diets (P < 0.05). No differences in egg chemical composition and yolk cholesterol content were found (P > 0.05). The saturation degree had a significant effect on all the analyzed yolk FA (P < 0.001) except for arachidonic acid (C20:4 n-6), whereas increasing the FFA content did not affect to a great extent. These results show that varying dietary FFA level did not affect egg quality and yolk composition as much as the dietary fat source did, supporting the use of acid oils and fatty acid distillates as fat ingredients for feed.

Controlled cell death by magnetic hyperthermia: effects of exposure time, field amplitude, and nanoparticle concentration.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of alternating magnetic fields (AMF) on the death rate of dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as heating agents. AMF exposure time and amplitude as well as the MNPs concentration were screened to assess the best conditions for a controlled field-induced cell death. METHODS: Human-monocyte-derived DCs were co-incubated with dextran-coated MNPs. The cells were exposed to AMF (f = 260 kHz; 0 < H(0) < 12.7 kA/m) for intervals from 5 to 15 min. Morphology changes were assessed by scanning electron microscopy. Cell viability was measured by Trypan blue and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) using Annexin-propidium iodide markers. RESULTS: We were able to control the DCs viability by a proper choice AMF amplitude and exposure time, depending on the amount of MNPs uploaded. About 20% of cells showed Annexin-negative/PI-positive staining after 5-10 min of AMF exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Controlled cell death of MNP-loaded DCs can be obtained by adequate tuning of the physical AMF parameters and MNPs concentration. Necrotic-like populations were observed after exposure times as short as 10 min, suggesting a fast underlying mechanism for cell death. Power absorption by the MNPs might locally disrupt endosomic membranes, thus provoking irreversible cell damage.

Olive pomace oil and acid oil as alternative fat sources in growing-finishing broiler chicken diets.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of olive pomace oil and olive pomace acid oil, which are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (FA) but differ in free FA content, on growth performance, digestibility and FA profile of abdominal fat and breast meat. A total of 3,048 one-day-old mixed-sex broiler chickens (Ross 308) were randomly distributed into 24 pens and 3 dietary treatments (8 replicates per treatment). Experimental diets were administered for growing (from 22 to 29 d) and finishing (from 30 to 39 d) periods, consisting of a basal diet supplemented with 6% (as-fed basis) palm oil (PO), olive pomace oil (O), or olive pomace acid oil (OA). Animals fed O achieved the lowest feed conversion ratio (P < 0.01), together with the highest AME value (P = 0.003), but no differences were observed between OA and PO. Regarding FA digestibility, O and OA showed higher values than PO for all FA in both apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and apparent total tract digestibility. Comparing the AID between O and OA, no differences were observed for total FA, monounsaturated FA, or polyunsaturated FA, but animals fed OA showed lower AID values for saturated FA than those fed O (P < 0.001). The FA profile of abdominal fat and breast meat reflected that of the diet, with higher monounsaturated FA and lower saturated FA in animals fed O and OA compared to those fed PO. In sum, the inclusion of both olive pomace oil and acid oil in growing-finishing broiler chicken diets led to great performance parameters and high FA digestibility values, together with an enrichment with monounsaturated FA in abdominal fat and breast meat compared to the use of palm oil. However, a better AID of saturated FA and feed conversion ratio is achieved with O compared to OA.

Cell death induced by the application of alternating magnetic fields to nanoparticle-loaded dendritic cells.

In this work, the capability of primary, monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) to uptake iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) is assessed and a strategy to induce selective cell death in these MNP-loaded DCs using external alternating magnetic fields (AMFs) is reported. No significant decrease in the cell viability of MNP-loaded DCs, compared to the control samples, was observed after five days of culture. The number of MNPs incorporated into the cytoplasm was measured by magnetometry, which confirmed that 1-5 pg of the particles were uploaded per cell. The intracellular distribution of these MNPs, assessed by transmission electron microscopy, was found to be primarily inside the endosomic structures. These cells were then subjected to an AMF for 30 min and the viability of the blank DCs (i.e. without MNPs), which were used as control samples, remained essentially unaffected. However, a remarkable decrease of viability from approximately 90% to 2-5% of DCs previously loaded with MNPs was observed after the same 30 min exposure to an AMF. The same results were obtained using MNPs having either positive (NH(2)(+)) or negative (COOH(-)) surface functional groups. In spite of the massive cell death induced by application of AMF to MNP-loaded DCs, the number of incorporated magnetic particles did not raise the temperature of the cell culture. Clear morphological changes at the cell structure after magnetic field application were observed using scanning electron microscopy. Therefore, local damage produced by the MNPs could be the main mechanism for the selective cell death of MNP-loaded DCs under an AMF. Based on the ability of these cells to evade the reticuloendothelial system, these complexes combined with an AMF should be considered as a potentially powerful tool for tumour therapy.

Effects of free-fatty-acid content and saturation degree of the dietary oil sources on lipid-class content and fatty-acid digestibility along the gastrointestinal tract in broilers from 22 to 37 days of age.

The aim of the present study is to assess the effect of the free-fatty-acid (FFA) content and saturation degree of dietary fat (added at 6%) on the fatty-acid (FA) digestibility and lipid-class content along the gastrointestinal tract and excreta in broilers from 22 to 37 d of age. This is essential to determine the potential use of acid oils (refining by-products rich in FFA) in broiler diets as an alternative to crude oils. The study consisted of a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement, which included 2 fat sources (soybean oils - unsaturated, or palm oils - saturated) and 4 levels of FFA (5, 15, 35, and 50%). Samples of digestive content of the gizzard, duodenum, jejunum, ileum and of the excreta were obtained at 37 d of age. Irrespective of the dietary fat source, more than 80% of total FA (TFA) was absorbed in the jejunum. Broilers fed with unsaturated diets had a higher absorption efficiency of FA than did those fed with saturated diets. This conclusion is supported by the lower FFA content and the higher TFA and polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) digestibility coefficients in the ileum (P < 0.001) observed in the former group. The dietary FFA level did not affect the FA absorption process as much as the dietary fat source did. This was supported by the lack of statistical differences among the diets with a similar saturation degree but rather different levels of FFA, for TFA, saturated FA, and PUFA digestibility coefficients both in the jejunum and ileum. However, the interactions reported in the ileum for triacylglycerol and diacylglycerol contents (P < 0.001), as well as for monounsaturated FA digestibility coefficients (P < 0.05) show that the dietary FFA content affects the FA absorption process. The present results show that the inclusion of acid oils in grower-finisher broiler diets with FFA levels up to 35% does not have a negative impact on the FA absorption process.

Evolution of lipid classes and fatty acid digestibility along the gastrointestinal tract of broiler chickens fed different fat sources at different ages.

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of the dietary fat saturation degree and age on the lipid class (TAG, DAG, MAG, and FFA) composition and fatty acid digestibility along the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and excreta in broiler chickens. A total of 120 one-day-old female broiler chickens were randomly distributed in 2 dietary treatments (6 cages/treatment), which resulted from the supplementation of a basal diet with 6% of soybean oil or palm oil. Two digestibility balances were carried out at 14 and 35 d and fatty acid digestibility and lipid class composition were determined in the gizzard, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and excreta. Along de GIT, both fatty acid digestibility and lipid class composition were influenced by the dietary fat source and the age of the chickens. The absorption of the unsaturated fat was more efficient and faster than it was for the saturated fat. The ability of adult chickens to absorb fat was higher than for young chickens. The results show that the duodenum is the main place of fat digestion (hydrolysis), and the jejunum the main place of fat absorption. The role of the ileum on fat absorption is very important, as it is the last segment of the GIT where the absorption of fatty acids has been described. Thus, it was the contribution of the ileum that was responsible for the higher fat utilization observed for animals fed the unsaturated diet than for those fed the saturated diet at 14 d, and it was also responsible for the improvement on the utilization of the saturated diet between 14 and 35 d. All the results suggest that the absorption of fatty acids is more limiting than is hydrolysis, because the main differences were observed in the jejunum and ileum, where the absorption of fatty acids takes place.

Effects of dietary free fatty-acid content and saturation degree on lipid-class composition and fatty-acid digestibility along the gastrointestinal tract in broiler starter chickens.

The aim of the present study is to assess the effect of the dietary free fatty acid (FFA) content and dietary fat saturation degree on the fatty-acid (FA) digestibility and lipid-class content along the gastrointestinal tract and excreta in broiler chickens. The 8 experimental diets resulted from replacing crude soybean oil with soybean acid oil from chemical refining, or crude palm oil with palm FA distillate from physical refining. Thus, there were 4 soybean and 4 palm diets with 6% added fat varying in their FFA% (5, 15, 35, and 50%). Samples of digestive content (gizzard, duodenum, jejunum, and ileum) and excreta were collected at 14 D for the determination of the FA digestibility and lipid-class content. The total FA digestibility coefficients reported for the chickens fed S diets in the jejunum, ileum, and excreta were higher than for those fed P diets (P ≤ 0.02). The general greater digestibility of the unsaturated diets was mainly explained by a higher contribution of the ileum to the absorption of saturated FA. The dietary FFA content mainly affected the FA absorption process. The diets with 50% FFA presented lower saturated FA digestibility coefficients in the jejunum and ileum (P ≤ 0.03), and higher content of FFA in the ileum and excreta (P ≤ 0.014), in comparison to the diets with 5% FFA. The 15% FFA diets were not different from the 5% FFA diets, regarding the saturated FA digestibility in the jejunum and excreta, and the FFA content in the ileum and excreta. It was concluded that unsaturated diets with moderate content of dietary FFA (up to 15%) could be used in broiler-chicken starter diets, as they led to similar FA absorption and performance results to the diets with the lowest dietary FFA content. From the present study, it has also been concluded that dietary saturated FA content has a greater impact on FA absorption than the dietary FFA content has.

Buckypaper-Bilirubin Oxidase Biointerface for Electrocatalytic Applications: Buckypaper Thickness.

Electrode materials play an important role on the electrocatalytic properties of immobilized biocatalysts. In this regard, achieving direct electronic communication between the electrode and redox sites of biocatalysts eliminates the need for additional electron transfer mediators for biocatalytic applications in fuel cells and other electrochemical energy devices. In order to increase electrocatalytic currents and power in fuel cells and metal-air batteries, conductive carbon-nanostructure-modified large surface area electrodes are quite useful. Among various electrode materials, freestanding buckypapers made from carbon nanotubes have gained significance as they do not require a solid support material and thus facilitate miniaturization. In this article, we present the effect of buckypaper (BP) thickness on the electrocatalytic properties of a bilirubin oxidase (BOD) enzyme. In this study, we prepared BPs of varying thicknesses ranging from 87 µm, the minimum thickness for suitable handling with a good stability in aqueous experiments, to 380 µm. BOD was adsorbed overnight onto the BPs, mostly via hydrophobic and π-π interactions since the nanotubes used were not chemically functionalized. Furthermore, intercalation of the BOD molecules onto the nanotubes' multicylindrical network is feasible. We determined that the lower range BP thickness (<220 µm) exhibited better sigmoidal shaped electrocatalytic currents than the higher BP-thickness-based BOD biofilms with larger capacitive currents. An oxygen reduction current density of up to 3 mA cm-2 is achieved without the use of any redox mediators or tedious electrode modifications. Using the 87 µm thick BP as the representative case, we were able to obtain distinguishable peaks for all Cu sites of BOD and assign their types, T1, T2, and T3, based on the peak-width at half-maximum in anaerobic cyclic voltammograms. Our peak assignment is further supported by the appearance of dual electrocatalytic oxygen reduction waves at a higher scan rate region (>10 mV s-1) in oxygen-saturated buffer, which is identified to be driven by an ∼3.5 times faster electron transfer rate from the buckypaper to the T2/T3 center than the T1 Cu site. Findings from this study are significant for designing enzyme electrocatalytic systems and biosensors in general and fuel cells and aerobic energy storage devices in particular, where the cathodic oxygen reduction current is often inadequate.

The different molecular structure and glycerol-to-fatty acid ratio of palm oils affect their nutritive value in broiler chicken diets.

The aim of this study is to assess how the fat molecular structure and its glycerol-to-fatty acid ratio (G : FA) affect the fatty acid (FA) apparent absorption of palm oils in broiler chickens. The experimental diets were the result of a basal diet supplemented with 6% of different palm oils. Native palm oil (N), rich in triacylglycerols, was the positive control (T1), and acid palm oil (A), rich in free FA, was the negative control (T2). In order to improve the nutritive value of A, two different nutritional strategies were performed. The first strategy was achieved by adding increasing amounts of free glycerol (G) (4% (T3), 8% (T4) and 16% (T5)) to A, and the second one by adding increasing amounts of mono- (MAG) and diacylglycerols (DAG), coming from re-esterified palm oil (E) (40% (T6), 70% (T7), and 100% (T8)) to A. As a result, eight dietary treatments were formulated with a G : FA ratio ranging from 0.04 to 0.67. These treatments were randomly assigned to 192 one-day-old female broiler chickens (Ross 308), distributed in 48 cages. The results showed how, by keeping the G : FA ratio constant (0.33 mol/mol), the diet with a high MAG and DAG content (T7) achieved higher saturated FA apparent absorption values than did the diet with a high triacylglycerol content (T1) and this, in turn, more than did the diet with a high free FA content (T4). The behavior of oils with high or low G : FA ratio was dependent on whether G was in a free state or esterified as part of acylglycerol molecules. Thus, increasing amounts of G to A did not enhance the total FA apparent absorption, but rather quite the opposite, even impairing the absorption of mono- and polyunsaturated FA. However, increasing amounts of E (rich in MAG and DAG) to A (rich in FFA) did enhance total FA apparent absorption, primarily due to the increased absorption of saturated FA. In conclusion, the greater the G : FA ratio of a palm oil, the greater the absorption of total FA, as long as G is esterified as part of acylglycerol molecules. Thus, the re-esterification process for obtaining E makes sense in order to give added value to A, achieving even greater digestibility values than does its corresponding N.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in the treatment of high-risk febrile neutropenia: a multicenter randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSFs) have been shown to help prevent febrile neutropenia in certain subgroups of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, but their role in treating febrile neutropenia is controversial. The purpose of our study was to evaluate-in a prospective multicenter randomized clinical trial-the efficacy of adding G-CSF to broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment of patients with solid tumors and high-risk febrile neutropenia. METHODS: A total of 210 patients with solid tumors treated with conventional-dose chemotherapy who presented with fever and grade IV neutropenia were considered to be eligible for the trial. They met at least one of the following high-risk criteria: profound neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count <100/mm(3)), short latency from previous chemotherapy cycle (<10 days), sepsis or clinically documented infection at presentation, severe comorbidity, performance status of 3-4 (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group scale), or prior inpatient status. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to receive the antibiotics ceftazidime and amikacin, with or without G-CSF (5 microg/kg per day). The primary study end point was the duration of hospitalization. All P values were two-sided. RESULTS: Patients randomly assigned to receive G-CSF had a significantly shorter duration of grade IV neutropenia (median, 2 days versus 3 days; P = 0.0004), antibiotic therapy (median, 5 days versus 6 days; P = 0.013), and hospital stay (median, 5 days versus 7 days; P = 0.015) than patients in the control arm. The incidence of serious medical complications not present at the initial clinical evaluation was 10% in the G-CSF group and 17% in the control group (P = 0.12), including five deaths in each study arm. The median cost of hospital stay and the median overall cost per patient admission were reduced by 17% (P = 0.01) and by 11% (P = 0.07), respectively, in the G-CSF arm compared with the control arm. CONCLUSIONS: Adding G-CSF to antibiotic therapy shortens the duration of neutropenia, reduces the duration of antibiotic therapy and hospitalization, and decreases hospital costs in patients with high-risk febrile neutropenia.

[Surveillance of commensal flora evolution and infections in neutropenic cancer patients submitted to chemoprophylaxis]. / Vigilancia de la evolución de la flora comensal y de las infecciones en pacientes oncológicos con neutropenia sometidos a quimioprofilaxis.

The evolution of the flora and its resistance to different antimicrobials in neutropenic patients submitted to high-dose chemotherapy with autologous blood stem-cell transplantation, and the relation of these findings to the etiology of the infections the patients developed was studied in order to evaluate the suitability of the chemoprophylaxis and the empirical antibiotic therapy used. Forty-one patients were analyzed in a period of 28 months. The chemoprophylaxis used was levofloxacin, fluconazole and acyclovir. The empirical sequential treatment was an initial administration of cefepime, followed by teicoplanin and amikacin. Cultures were done of nasal and pharyngeal smears, Hickman catheter and stools, 1 day before chemoprophylaxis started and then on days 5 and 9. In the case of fever, three sets of blood cultures and urine cultures were done and samples from areas related to the clinical condition were analyzed. Levofloxacin induced the selection of resistant strains or species in the flora and in the infectious agents. Fluconazole also selected resistant species in the flora. Seventeen infections were documented in eleven patients, produced by Gram-positive bacteria in thirteen cases (81.25%) and by Gram-negative bacteria in three (18.75%). The coagulase negative staphylococci and Enterococcus faecalis were the most frequent agents of infection. We identified on nine occasions the same microorganism in the flora and in the pathological product; this suggests its endogenous origin and supports the use of prospective cultures of the flora, monitoring the sensibility of the microorganisms isolated to the antimicrobials used in chemoprophylaxis and empirical treatment.

Use of re-esterified palm oils, differing in their acylglycerol structure, in fattening pig diets.

Re-esterified oils are new fat sources obtained from the chemical esterification of acid oils with glycerol (both economically interesting by-products from oil refining and biodiesel industries, respectively). The different fatty acid (FA) positional distribution and acylglycerol composition of re-esterified oils may enhance the apparent absorption of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and, therefore, their overall nutritive value, which might lead to an increased deposition of SFA. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential use of re-esterified palm oils, in comparison with their corresponding acid and native oils in fattening pig diets, studying their effects on fatty acid apparent absorption, acylglycerol and free fatty acid (FFA) composition of feces, growth performance, carcass-fat depots and fatty acid composition of backfat. Seventy-two crossbred boars and gilts (average weight of 24.7 ± 2.55 kg) were blocked by initial BW (nine blocks of BW for each gender), housed in adjacent individual boxes, and fed one of the four dietary treatments, which were the result of a basal diet supplemented with 4% (as-fed basis) of native palm oil (PN), acid palm oil (PA), re-esterified palm oil low in mono- and diacylglycerols (PEL), or re-esterified palm oil high in mono- and diacylglycerols (PEH). Regarding results from the digestibility balance, PA and PN showed similar apparent absorption coefficients (P>0.05), despite the high, FFA content of the former. However, re-esterified palm oils (both PEL and PEH) showed a higher apparent absorption of total FA than did their corresponding native and acid oils (P0.05). We conclude that re-esterified oils are interesting fat sources to be considered in fattening pigs.

Use of re-esterified palm oils, differing in their acylglycerol structure, in weaning-piglet diets.

Re-esterified oils are new fat sources obtained from chemical esterification of acid oils with glycerol (both economically interesting by-products from oil refining and biodiesel industries, respectively). The different fatty acid (FA) positional distribution and acylglycerol composition of re-esterified oils may enhance the apparent absorption of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and, thus, their overall nutritive value. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential use of re-esterified palm oils, in comparison with their corresponding acid and native oils, and also with an unsaturated fat source in weaning-piglet diets. The parameters assessed were: FA apparent absorption, acylglycerol and free fatty acid (FFA) composition of feces, and growth performance. One-hundred and twenty weaning piglets (average weight of 8.50±1.778 kg) were blocked by initial BW (six blocks) and randomly assigned to five dietary treatments, resulting in four piglets per pen and six replicates per treatment. Dietary treatments were a basal diet supplemented with 10% (as-fed basis) of native soybean oil (SN), native palm oil (PN), acid palm oil (PA), re-esterified palm oil low in mono- (MAG) and diacylglycerols (DAG) (PEL), or re-esterified palm oil high in MAG and DAG (PEH). Results from the digestibility balance showed that SN reached the greatest total FA apparent absorption, and statistically different from PN, PA and PEL (P0.05), but PEH achieved the greatest total FA apparent absorption. Animals fed PEL, despite the fact that PEL oil contained more sn-2 SFA, did not show an improved absorption of SFA (P>0.05). Animals fed PA and PN showed similar apparent absorption coefficients (P>0.05), despite the high FFA content of PA oil. The acylglycerol and FFA composition of feces was mainly composed of FFA. There were no significant differences in growth performance (P>0.05). Results of the present study suggest that, despite the different acylglycerol structure of re-esterified oils, there were no significant differences in digestibility or performance with respect to their corresponding PN and PA oils in weaning-piglet diets.

Reversible peripheral neuropathy induced by a single administration of high-dose paclitaxel.

Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is the main side effect with cycles of paclitaxel at standard doses (175 mg/m2 for 21 days). Administration of a single high-dose paclitaxel (HDP) is a novel approach for the treatment of cancer. We have prospectively measured neurotoxicity induced by HDP during a phase I trial. Nineteen patients were treated with escalating doses of paclitaxel by 24-hour infusion. In our study, PN induced by HDP was moderate, reversible, and not dose limiting. Severe PN was seen in patients who had received previous neurotoxic chemotherapy, and caution on the administration of HDP in this setting is warranted.

Phase I trial of weekly irinotecan combined with UFT as second-line treatment for advanced colorectal cancer.

The aim of this study was to determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of weekly Irinotecan (CPT-11) plus UFT, and to assess the antitumour activity of this combination as second-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma, 31 patients with measurable advanced colorectal carcinoma were treated. Cohorts of 3 patients received increasing dose levels of the combination. Levels 1 to 4 included a fixed dose of oral (p.o.) UFT (250 mg/m(2)/day) for 21 days of a 28-day cycle combined with increasing intravenous (i.v.) doses of CPT-11 (80, 100, 110 and 120 mg/m(2)) on days 1, 8 and 15. Levels 5 and 6 included a higher fixed dose of oral UFT (300 mg/m(2)) combined with increasing i.v. doses of CPT-11 (100 and 110 mg/m(2)) on days 1, 8 and 15. 147 courses were administered. MTD were reached at level 4 (2 cases of grade 4 diarrhoea and 1 grade 3 asthenia), and level 6 (1 grade 4 diarrhoea, 1 grade 3 diarrhoea and 1 grade 3 febrile neutropenia). Responses in 30 evaluable patients were: 3 partial responses (10%), 15 stable disease (50%) and progressive disease in 12 patients (40%). Median time to progression was 4.5 months (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 3.4-6.6 months) and median survival was 11 months (95% CI: 7.9-14.1 months). The recommended doses for phase II trials are: (a) CPT-11 110 mg/m(2) i.v. on days 1, 8 and 15 every 28 days plus UFT 250 mg/m(2) p.o. on days 1 through to 21 or (b) CPT-11 100 mg/m(2) and UFT 300 mg/m(2).

Diet and the risk of breast cancer in Spain.

A case-control study of the role of diet in the cause of breast cancer was conducted between 1988 and 1991 in Navarra, North Spain; 100 women with breast cancer and 100 hospital controls admitted during the same period were interviewed, using a food frequency-consumption questionnaire. Cases reported significantly lower consumption of fruits, vegetables and fish; relative risk (RR) for persons in the lowest tertile of consumers was: fruits, RR = 3.83, confidence limit (CL) = 9.12-1.66, P = 0.01; vegetables, RR = 1.92, CL = 4.57-0.80, P = 0.09; fish, RR = 0.32, CL = 6.31-0.83, P = 0.05. The risk increased for persons in the highest tertile of processed meat intake, RR = 3.20, P = 0.05. Nutrient intakes for individuals were estimated by multiplying the nutrient content of a selected typical portion size for each specified food item by the frequency that the food was used per month, and adding these estimates for all food items. Cases reported significantly less frequent consumption of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and monounsaturated fatty acid; after controlling for total calorie intake, the RR was estimated for consumption of vitamin C (RR = 0.40, CL = 0.2-0.9), and monounsaturated fatty acid (RR = 0.30, CL = 0.1-1.08).

Phase II trial of oral tegafur and folinic acid with mitoxantrone as first-line regimen in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Tegafur acts as a deport form of 5-fluorouracil when administered orally for long periods of time since it is an active drug in metastatic breast cancer, with response rates of 29-44%. Biochemical modulation with folinic acid and the addition of mitoxantrone could increase the efficacy of tegafur in patients with metastatic breast cancer. METHODS: A prospective phase II trial in patients with previously untreated metastatic breast cancer was carried out. The scheme consisted of mitoxantrone, 12 mg/m2 intravenous day 1, oral tegafur, 750 mg/m2/day divided in three equal doses, and leucovorin 15 mg/8 h orally for days 1-21, given in a 4-week schedule. None patient had received chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer, although 16 patients had received previous adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients were included. Objective responses were achieved in 20 of 32 patients assessable for response, with 1 complete response and 19 partial responses. The objective response rate was 62.5% (95% confidence intervals, 48-76%). The median duration of response was 10 months. Grade III-IV toxicity according to WHO criteria was digestive (nausea/vomiting) in 12.5%, diarrhea in 25% and stomatitis in 25% of patients. Other toxicities were low. Eight patients required dose-reduction. CONCLUSIONS: We achieved a significant response rate with the scheme, which was administered on an outpatient basis. It seems to be safe and effective as first-line treatment in metastatic breast cancer, with a short median response duration. The size of the trial does not permit definitive conclusions, and the role of biochemical modulation of tegafur in combination with mitoxantrone remains to be defined.