Discriminative power of DNA-based, volatilome, near infrared spectroscopy, elements and stable isotopes methods for the origin authentication of typical Italian mountain cheese using sPLS-DA modeling

Origin authentication methods are pivotal in counteracting frauds and provide evidence for certification systems. For these reasons, geographical origin authentication methods are used to ensure product origin. This study focused on the origin authentication (i.e. at the producer level) of a typical mountain cheese origin using various approaches, including shotgun metagenomics, volatilome, near infrared spectroscopy, stable isotopes, and elemental analyses. DNA-based analysis revealed that viral communities achieved a higher classification accuracy rate (97.4 ± 2.6 %) than bacterial communities (96.1 ± 4.0 %). Non-starter lactic acid bacteria and phages specific to each origin were identified. Volatile organic compounds exhibited potential clusters according to cheese origin, with a classification accuracy rate of 90.0 ± 11.1 %. Near-infrared spectroscopy showed lower discriminative power for cheese authentication, yielding only a 76.0 ± 31.6 % classification accuracy rate. Model performances were influenced by specific regions of the infrared spectrum, possibly associated with fat content, lipid profile and protein characteristics. Furthermore, we analyzed the elemental composition of mountain Caciotta cheese and identified significant differences in elements related to dairy equipment, macronutrients, and rare earth elements among different origins. The combination of elements and isotopes showed a decrease in authentication performance (97.0 ± 3.1 %) compared to the original element models, which were found to achieve the best classification accuracy rate (99.0 ± 0.01 %). Overall, our findings emphasize the potential of multi-omics techniques in cheese origin authentication and highlight the complexity of factors influencing cheese composition and hence typicity.

Characterization of the archaeal community in foods: The neglected part of the food microbiota

Despite the large number of studies conducted on archaea associated with extreme environments, the archaeal community composition in food products is still poorly known. Here, we investigated a new insight into exploring the archaeal community in several food matrices, with a particular focus on determining whether living archaea were present. A total of 71 samples of milk, cheese and its derived brine, honey, hamburger, clam, and trout were analyzed by high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing. Archaea were detected in all the samples, ranging from 0.62 % of microbial communities in trout to 37.71 % in brine. Methanogens dominated 47.28 % of the archaeal communities, except for brine, which was dominated by halophilic taxa affiliated with the genus Haloquadratum (52.45 %). Clams were found to be a food with high richness and diversity of archaea and were targeted for culturing living archaea under different incubation time and temperature conditions. A subset of 16 communities derived from culture-dependent and culture-independent communities were assessed. Among the homogenates and living archaeal communities, the predominant taxa were distributed in the genera Nitrosopumilus (47.61 %) and Halorussus (78.78 %), respectively. A comparison of the 28 total taxa obtained by culture-dependent and culture-independent methods enabled their categorization into different groups, including detectable (8 out of 28), cultivable (8 out of 28), and detectable-cultivable (12 out of 28) taxa. Furthermore, using the culture method, the majority (14 out of 20) of living taxa grew at lower temperatures of 22 and 4 °C during long-term incubation, and few taxa (2 out of 20) were found at 37 °C during the initial days of incubation. Our results demonstrated the distribution of archaea in all analyzed food matrices, which opens new perspectives to expand our knowledge on archaea in foods and their beneficial and detrimental effects.

Theoretical studies on optical properties of Beltrami-shaped curved graphene

We compute the optical conductivity and polarization for an out-of-plane deformation in graphene nanostructure using a theoretical approach based on Dirac equation solutions on curved2+1dimensional space-time, where the space part is considered to correspond to the Beltrami pseudosphere which belongs to the family of surfaces with negative constant Gaussian curvature. We found that different parameters of deformation along one direction translate into an enhancement of the optical conductivity peaks and polarization magnitude in the far-infrared frequencies. This allows for a very high degree of polarization with a single layer graphene and opens up a potential prospect of employing graphene layer as efficient polarizers. Therefore the experimental predictions related to the electronic configuration of the corresponding graphene-like sample may be explicitly worked out.

High frequency of BRAF V600E mutation in Iranian population ameloblastomas

Background

Ameloblastoma is a common locally invasive but slow-growing neoplasm of the jaws with an odontogenic origin. Association between BRAF V600E mutation and clinicopathologic features and behavior of ameloblastoma remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate BRAF V600E gene mutation and expression of its related proteins with clinicopathologic parameters in conventional ameloblastoma.

Material and Methods

50 Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks were included in this study. Immunohistochemistry was done using rabbit monoclonal BRAF V600E mutation-specific antibody VE1. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay was used for evaluating of BRAF V600E mutation.

Results

Expression of BRAF V600E antibody was Positive in 42 out of 50 cases (84%). 46 (92%) out of 50 specimens showed BRAF V600E mutation. There were 13 cases of recurrence (26%). 3 out of 4 cases with negative mutations did not show recurrence.

Conclusions

We report the highest frequency (92%) of BRAF V600E mutation in ameloblastomas in the Iranian population. Although there was not a significant association between BRAF V600E‑positive immunoexpression and recurrence and clinicopathologic parameters, its high frequency could emphasize its role as a therapeutic marker in the future.

Key words:Conventional ameloblastoma, BRAF V600E, recurrence.

The prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in vegetables, fruits, and fresh produce: a systematic review and meta-analysis

There are a number of reports indicating correlation between outbreaks of campylobacteriosis and the consumption of raw vegetables. This study is a meta-analysis on the prevalence of Campylobacter in fresh vegetables and fruits without any location limitation, which was performed through a documented review of the available resources. Relevant literature was reviewed by trained reviewers, who examined the results for the inclusion of articles in the meta-analysis. The prevalence of Campylobacter in raw vegetables, the sample source, the Campylobacter species, and the method of detection were extracted. The prevalence of Campylobacter in vegetables, fruits, and fresh produce were estimated to be 0.53%. Analysis of the various sample groups initially showed that the bean and sprouts group was the vegetable with the highest prevalence of Campylobacter (11.08%). The rate of contamination was higher when both the molecular and conventional methods were employed. The highest prevalence of Campylobacter was found in Asia (33.4%). Despite the low prevalence, consumption of raw vegetables is inherently risky because no treatment is used to inactivate the pathogens. Therefore, proper sanitation methods are recommended to treat the raw products.

Tumor development and cytokine production by human colon tissues and carcinoma cell lines

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Solid tumors evade the host immunologic responses they initiate by unknown mechanisms. The authors investigated patterns of cytokine content in human colon carcinomas, colon cancer cell lines in vitro, and nude mouse xenografts from those lines in order to clarify those mechanisms.

METHODS

Epithelial tumor cell lines were developed from specimens of human colon adenocarcinoma. Aliquots of these cells were then xenografted into female heterozygous BALB/c nu/+ immunologically deficient mice and serially passaged. Original tumors, cell lines, and resultant xenografts were then analyzed for histology/cytology and for levels of TGF-beta and TNF-alpha by enzyme linked immunoassay.

RESULTS

Cytokine levels were elevated beyond baseline mucosal levels in original tumors and xenograft mouse tumors but not detectable in extracts from epithelial cultures.

CONCLUSIONS

While the precise source of cytokine production remains unclear, these data suggest tumor/host interactions not found in pure epithelial cancer cells in culture.

An atraumatic method to establish human colon carcinoma in long-term culture

Techniques for creation of colon carcinoma epithelial cells lines in long-term culture have been available for years, but these techniques have involved mechanical or enzymatic methods to separate epithelial cells from surrounding tissues. While this practice has been intermittently successful, the effect of these traumatic methods on long-term cellular behavior is unknown. Samples of colon carcinoma from patient volunteers were subjected to serial nonenzymatic disruptions of carcinoma cells from surrounding fibrous tissues. Cells were collected, allowed to proliferate, and then tested for their epithelial characteristics (mucin, vimentin, cytokeratin, colon-specific antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen) by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Growth characteristics were determined by phase-contrast microscopy, multiple passage, and freeze/thaw effects. Tumorigenicity was proven in nude mice. Of 11 initial attempts, three resulted in stable long-term culture lines of cells which are demonstrated to behave similarly to the original tumors from which they were derived. This technique adds another reliable in vitro tool for the study of colon carcinoma.

Effect of glutamine-supplemented elemental diet on mucosal adaptation following bowel resection in rats

Glutamine is the major fuel for enterocytes and prevents mucosal atrophy in certain animal models. Previous studies in our laboratory have failed to show a trophic effect of glutamine on the small-bowel mucosa following massive resection when added to a chow diet. However, the complexity of the chow diet might potentially interfere with the adequate evaluation of the trophic effect of a single agent such as glutamine. This study was therefore designed to determine whether the addition of glutamine to an elemental diet would augment mucosal adaptation following massive small intestinal resection in a rat model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two dietary groups, one receiving an amino acid-based pediatric elemental diet supplemented with 2% glutamine, and the other receiving the diet supplemented with 2% glucose. One half of the animals in each dietary group received 80% jejunoileal resection, and the remainder were sham operated. Fifteen days postsurgery, mucosal weight, DNA, protein, and sucrase activities were determined in both the proximal and the distal small intestine. While both groups of resected animals developed marked increases in all parameters of adaptation, the glutamine-supplemented group did not differ from the control diet group in any parameter. The addition of glutamine to an elemental diet had no enhancing effect on intestinal adaptation after bowel resection. These results are similar to those previously observed in our laboratory when glutamine was added to chow diet. The addition of glutamine to an elemental diet cannot be justified on the basis of its trophic effect in animals.

Dexamethasone inhibits mucosal adaptation after small bowel resection

The present study examined the effects of dexamethasone on mucosal adaptation after massive small bowel resection. Rats underwent 80% jejunoileal resection or a sham operation and received either vehicle or 128 micrograms.kg-1.day-1 sc dexamethasone for 7 days. Dexamethasone infusion resulted in decreased weight, DNA content, and protein content in the duodenojejunal and ileal mucosa in both sham and resected rats. Sucrase, lactase, and maltase activities (all in mumol.g protein-1.min-1) in the duodenojejunal mucosa were elevated by dexamethasone infusion. By contrast, enzyme activities were elevated only in the ileal mucosa of dexamethasone-infused sham-operated rats compared with sham-operated control rats, and dexamethasone did not elevate enzyme activities in resected rats. We further examined whether the inhibitory effects of dexamethasone on mucosal adaptation may be related to changes in either insulin-like growth factor (IGF) or IGF binding protein (BP) serum levels. Serum IGF-I and IGF-II levels were markedly decreased in dexamethasone-infused resected and sham-operated rats. IGF BP-1 serum levels were elevated by dexamethasone treatment with a concomitant depression in serum IGF BP-2 levels. IGF BP-3 levels were lowered by dexamethasone treatment in sham-operated rats and by gut resection, and serum IGF BP-4 levels did not change. These results suggest that the growth-inhibiting effects of dexamethasone in small intestinal mucosa may be partially mediated by decreased serum IGF levels or by alterations in IGF activity associated with changes in serum levels of IGF BPs.

Assessment of radiolabeled stabilized F(ab')2 fragments of monoclonal antiferritin in nude mouse model

The biodistribution of 111In-labeled stabilized fragments of monoclonal antiferritin was studied in nude mice bearing a human hepatoma tumor xenograft. Pharmacokinetics and tumor targeting of fragment Fab'-linker-Fab' fragment molecules (stabilized F(ab')2) were compared to unmodified F(ab')2 fragment molecules and immunoglobulin G (IgG). Significant differences were observed in tumor and normal organ uptake at 12, 24, 48 and 72 hr. Tumor retention of stabilized F(ab')2 fragments was approximately 2.5-fold higher than of unmodified F(ab')2 at 48 hr. Blood clearance for stabilized F(ab')2 was relatively faster than intact IgG, while unmodified F(ab')2 cleared more rapidly from the circulation. Kidney radioactivity of unmodified F(ab')2 was at least two times higher than kidney radioactivity of stabilized F(ab')2 at all time points. Stabilized F(ab')2 demonstrated 40% less liver uptake than intact IgG. In these studies with nude mice, substantial retention of stabilized F(ab')2 in tumor and significant reduction in liver and kidney uptake of these fragments indicated that they could also have a higher therapeutic ratio than IgG or unmodified F(ab')2 in human patients.

Secretion of insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) and IGF-binding protein-2 by intestinal epithelial (IEC-6) cells: implications for autocrine growth regulation

To identify the factors regulating the proliferation of intestinal epithelium, we examined the effects of various growth factors on [3H] thymidine incorporation into the DNA of IEC-6 cells, an intestinal epithelial cell line derived from rat jejunal crypts. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), IGF-II, and insulin stimulated the DNA and protein synthesis of IEC-6 cells in serum-free medium supplemented with transferrin, dexamethasone, and BSA (basal medium). Concentration-response experiments demonstrated that IGF-I is approximately 10 times more potent than IGF-II or insulin in producing 2- to 3-fold stimulations of DNA and protein synthesis by IEC-6 cells. In addition, IEC-6 cells proliferated slowly in the basal medium without any added growth factors. Analysis of medium conditioned by IEC-6 cells by gel filtration chromatography, RIA, HPLC, and N-terminal sequencing revealed that IEC-6 cells synthesize and secrete mature, 7,500 mo wt (M(r)) IGF-II as well as high M(r) forms of IGF-II. In addition, ligand blot, immunoblot, and N-terminal sequence analyses showed that IEC-6 cells produce the 34,000 M(r) IGF-binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2). To determine if IGFBP-2 modulates IGF responses in IEC-6 cells, the IGF-I analogs, Des-(1-3)-IGF-I and [Gln3,Ala4,Tyr15,Leu16]IGF-I, both of which have a reduced affinity for IGFBPs, were tested for their effects on IEC-6 cell proliferation. Both analogs exhibited 10-fold greater potency than IGF-I, presumably because endogenously secreted IGFBPs depress IGF-I binding to cell surface receptors. Finally, purified IGFBP-2 attenuated the DNA synthesis of IEC-6 cells in a dose-dependent manner. We conclude that IGFBP-2 secreted by intestinal epithelial cells is capable of limiting the mitogenic activity of both exogenous and endogenous IGFs by blocking the association of the growth factors with cell surface binding sites. These results further suggest that the growth of IEC-6 cells is modulated by autocrine mechanisms involving IGF-II and IGFBP-2.

Truncated and native insulinlike growth factor I enhance mucosal adaptation after jejunoileal resection

It has been shown previously that insulinlike growth factors (IGFs) stimulate the proliferation of intestinal crypt cells in vitro. To examine the in vivo effects of IGF-I on mucosal adaptation, three groups of Sprague-Dawley rats underwent 80% jejunoileal resection. Miniosmotic pumps were then inserted under the skin immediately after resection to deliver vehicle (resected control), 1.5 mg/kg per day of IGF-I, or 1.5 mg/kg per day of des-(1-3)-IGF-I (des-IGF-I). Des-IGF-I is a truncated form of IGF-I that binds as well to type I IGF receptors but less tightly to several forms of IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) than IGF-I. Ad libitum food intake did not differ among the three resected groups. Body weight gains were greater in animals receiving des-IGF-I than in those receiving IGF-I, which were greater than resected controls. All animals were killed 7 days postoperatively, and the remaining small intestine was removed and divided at the anastomotic site. Both IGF-I and des-IGF-I induced hyperplasia (increased DNA and protein content) in the duodenojejunum but not in the ileum. IGF-I and des-IGF-I were equally active. In contrast, sucrase, maltase, and leucine aminopeptidase activities were greater only in the ileum of animals receiving IGF-I and des-IGF-I than in resected controls. Although more potent in stimulating overall body weight gain, des-IGF-I was not more potent than IGF-I when duodenal and ileal responses were determined. IGF infusion (IGF-I greater than des-IGF-I) increased the levels of circulating IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-2, which may act to modulate the biological effectiveness of the infused peptides. These results suggest that both IGF-I and des-IGF-I may have potential as therapeutic agents for short bowel patients.

Effects of oral supplementation of glutamine on small intestinal mucosal mass following resection

Following massive small bowel resection, the remaining small bowel increases in mucosal weight, protein, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content and absorptive function. Enteral nutrients are known to be important in stimulating this response. Recently, glutamine has been described as an essential fuel for the small intestinal mucosa and is thought to be trophic to the small bowel. We investigated if glutamine, when added to the diet in large quantities, might stimulate mucosal adaptation beyond that which normally occurs following physiologic feedings. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were placed on powdered rat chow supplemented with either 5% glutamine, 5% glycine or 5% glucose. After 4 days rats underwent 70% jejunoileal resection. Fourteen days after resection, protein, DNA and sucrase activity in the duodenum of the glutaminefed animals were all significantly lower than results from both the glycine and glucose groups. Duodenal mucosal weight was lower in the glutamine group than in the glycine group. In the ileum, DNA content was significantly lower for the glutamine group than the glycine group. These results suggest that high concentrations of glutamine in the diet can have negative effects on intestinal adaptation.

Effect of dietary menhaden oil on normal growth and development and on ameliorating mucosal injury in rats

We evaluated the effects of menhaden oil on growth and development of the small intestinal mucosa in growing rats and on the progression and resolution of methotrexate-induced mucosal injury in the rats. One study compared effects of diets containing 10% safflower oil(SO), 9% SO and 1% menhaden oil (MO), 10% MO, or 9% MO and 1% SO on mucosal growth and development for 125 d. In another study, animals fed the 10% MO or the 10% SO diet for 5 wk were subjected to subcutaneous methotrexate injections for 3 consecutive days. Feeding rats a diet containing large amounts of menhaden oil resulted in lower prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4 synthesis and lower sucrase activities. Indicators of mucosal mass after methotrexate-induced injury were significantly improved in both the jejunum and ileum at 3 and 10 d after methotrexate administration. Our data suggest that dietary menhaden oil stimulates mucosal regeneration after methotrexate-induced injury.

Effects of dietary lipids on recovery from mucosal injury

The present studies were conducted to determine if diets containing a large amount of fat stimulate the regeneration of damaged intestinal mucosa in the presence or absence of essential fatty acid deficiency. To simulate injury, male Sprague-Dawley rats were given methotrexate, 2.5 mg/kg body wt, subcutaneously for 3 consecutive days. Twenty-four hours after the last methotrexate injection, rats were placed on diets containing either 0%, 1%, or 10% safflower oil. Mucosal weight, protein, deoxyribonucleic acid, maltase, sucrase, lactase, alkaline phosphatase, leucine aminopeptidase, and fatty acids were all determined 3 and 12 days after methotrexate. Crypt-cell production rates were also determined. Essential fatty acid deficiency was confirmed in the 0% safflower oil group, in which triene-tetraene ratios were greater than 0.4. Mucosal weight, deoxyribonucleic acid, protein content, and villus height were all greater in the 1% safflower oil group than in the 0% group at 12 days. In the ileum, 1-h thymidine incorporation was greater in the 0% safflower oil group than in the other two groups. No differences in any of the parameters studied were observed between the 1% and 10% groups. These results suggest that diets deficient in essential fatty acids may impair the recovery of intestinal mucosa from injury.

Dietary iron and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin induced alterations in hepatic lipid peroxidation, glutathione content and body weight

The effects of various levels of dietary iron on hepatic lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde [MDA] content), reduced glutathione (GSH) and GSH peroxidase (GSH-PX) activity as well as liver and body weights of female rats following TCDD administration were examined. Rats were fed diets containing deficient (6 ppm), normal (35 ppm) and supplemented (120 ppm) iron for 17, 24 and 31 days. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD, 40 micrograms/kg/day P.O.) in corn oil or the vehicle was given on days 9, 8 and 7 prior to sacrifice. TCDD treatment produced a 3-fold increase in hepatic MDA content in animals on normal iron diet. TCDD administration failed to increased MDA content in iron deficient animals. In the iron supplemented groups, TCDD resulted in 2.5 fold increases in lipid peroxidation. Dietary iron had no effect on hepatic GSH-PX activity. Animals on the iron deficient diet had 12-21% decreases in hepatic GSH content. TCDD administration resulted in 15-22% decreases in GSH content in animals on the control and iron supplemented diets. TCDD treatment resulted in significant decreases in body weights of animals on all 3 diets. TCDD induced lipid peroxidation appears to be iron dependent. However, the loss in body weight due to TCDD toxicity may not be dependent on lipid peroxidation.

Comparative effects of BHA and ascorbic acid on the toxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in rats

1. The abilities of BHA and ascorbic acid to prevent the toxic manifestations of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) were examined in female Sprague-Dawley rats. 2. Rats treated with BHA were partially protected from TCDD-induced lipid peroxidation, inhibition of glutathione peroxidase activity, and losses in liver, thymus and body weights. 3. Ascorbic acid had no effect on TCDD-induced alterations in glutathione peroxidase and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activities, or body, liver and thymus weight changes. Ascorbic acid was unable to protect against the lethality of TCDD. 4. Some of the toxic manifestations of TCDD may be mediated by reactive oxygen species and free radical processes.