Evaluation of potential interfering agents on in vitro methods for the determination of the antioxidant capacity in anthocyanin extracts

The evaluation of the effects of sugars, metals, acids and other antioxidants on the in vitro antioxidant capacity of purified anthocyanin extract by different techniques was the purpose of this study. Three methods and the ways of expressing their results were evaluated: ABTS_TEAC (capacity equivalent to Trolox, by ABTS (2,2′‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulphonic acid))), DPPH_TEAC (capacity equivalent to Trolox, by DPPH (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl)), DPPH_EC50 (50% reduction in the radical, by DPPH), DPPH_%Sca (reduction in the scavenging capacity, by DPPH), FRAP_TEAC (capacity equivalent to Trolox, by FRAP (reduction power of iron)) and FRAP_EC50 (50% reduction in the radical, by FRAP). The way of expressing DPPH and FRAP results as EC50 showed the greater interfering extent, mainly when the medium contained tartaric and ascorbic acids. The most coherent method was ABTS_TEAC in which only ascorbic acid interfered. Ascorbic acid was shown to interfere in all methods; thus, it must be removed prior to determining the in vitro antioxidant capacity of anthocyanins in food materials.     

Compared Analysis of Metro Networks Supported by Graph Theory

This paper brings into focus the topological and geographical evaluation of metro networks through the definition of a methodological approach based on a set of indicators, a lot of which are defined in the sector literature. Once the methodology was stated, the results of an application on the metro networks of 13 big metropolitan areas were illustrated. Statistical comparative analyses are proposed to classify networks.     

Evaluation of culture media for enumeration of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium animalis in the presence of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus

The study compared the growth capability of probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus La05, Lactobacillus casei Lc01 and Bifidobacterium animalis Bb12) and non-probiotic (Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus) cultures on twenty-one culture media grouped according to selectivity: non-selective agars, selective agars without antibiotics and MRS agars containing different combinations of lithium chloride, cystein, bile salts and antibiotics. Four of these media were selected for quantitative enumeration of L. acidophilus La05, L. casei Lc01, and B. animalis Bb12. The best culture media and incubation conditions for enumeration of the probiotic cultures were: B. animalis: MRS agar with dicloxacillin, 37 °C or 42 °C, anaerobiosis; L. acidophilus: MRS agar with bile salts, 37 °C or 42 °C, aerobiosis; L. casei: MRS agar with lithium chloride and sodium propionate, 37 °C or 42 °C, aerobiosis or anaerobiosis. Plating on MRS with glucose replaced by maltose, 37 °C or 42 °C, anaerobiosis, will distinguish probiotic from non-probiotic cultures. For enumeration of each probiotic in a mixed culture, the following media and incubation conditions were recommended: B. animalis: 4ABC-MRS, 42 °C, anaerobiosis, L. acidophilus: LC medium, 42 °C, aerobiosis or anaerobiosis and L. casei: LP-MRS, 42 °C, aerobiosis or anaerobiosis. In all experiments, differences in counts using pour plating or surface plating were not significant (P ≤ 0.05).     

Distribution of serotypes and pulsotypes of Listeria monocytogenes from human,food and environmental isolates (Italy 2002–2005)

This work was undertaken to study the serotypes and pulsotypes of 674 Listeria monocytogenes isolates from human (57), food (558) and environmental (59) sources, collected from different Italian geographical areas during 2002–2005, to determine whether certain subtypes were associated with certain foods and more often involved in cases of listeriosis, and to determine possible geographical or temporal associations. Eleven different L. monocytogenes serotypes were found in the food, environmental and human isolates. Most isolates belonged to only four serotypes (1/2a, 1/2b, 1/2c, 4b). The isolates were divided into 133 distinct AscI pulsotypes grouped into 26 pulsogroups. Pulsogroups ranged from a minimum of 2 up to 212 isolates, and contained 1–19 different pulsotypes. When associations between subtypes and isolates from specific foods selected as being most frequently involved in cases of listeriosis were tested some of these associations were highly significant but not exclusive, indicating that there was no close correlation between specific subtypes and specific food products. Despite the limitations of this study (few human isolates versus many food isolates prevalently collected from one food category), we believe that a large-scale database of L. monocytogenes subtypes and a timely epidemiological investigation can facilitate risk assessment and outbreak detection and control.     

A novel bioactive vitroceramic presents similar biological responses as autogenous bone grafts

Bioactive glasses represent an interesting class of bone substitute's biomaterials. The present study investigated the repair of bone defects filled with a novel bioactive vitroceramic (Biosilicate(?)), alone or in association with particulate autogenous bone grafts in calvaria defects of rabbits. After 7, 14, and 30 days the specimens were retrieved for histological, histomorphometric and immunohistochemistry analysis. Satisfactory bone formation was observed in all groups, and direct bone-biomaterial surface was noted. Histomorphometric assessment did not show statistically significant differences in bone formation among the groups and periods, except for BG group at day 14. Immunoexpression of Runx-2 was similar among the groups containing the graft and the biomaterial, being more intense than in control group. Similar result was observed for VEGF expression, especially in the last experimental period. These results revealed that Biosilicate(?) presented a favorable behavior, comparable to autogenous bone graft.     

Prevalence, populations and pheno- and genotypic characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from ready-to-eat vegetables marketed in São Paulo, Brazil

Detection of food-borne viruses such as noroviruses, rotaviruses and hepatitis A virus in food products differs from detection of most food-borne bacteria, as most of these viruses cannot be cultivated in cell culture to date. Therefore, detection of food-borne viruses in food products requires multiple steps: first, virus extraction; second, purification of the viral genomic material (RNA for the majority of food-borne viruses); and last, molecular detection. This review is focused on the first step, the virus extraction. All of the numerous published protocols for virus extraction from food samples are based on 3 main approaches: 1) (acid adsorption-) elution-concentration; 2) direct RNA extraction; and 3) proteinase K treatment. This review summarizes these virus extraction approaches and the results obtained from published protocols. The use of process controls is also briefly described.     

Occurrence and distribution of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in retail oysters in Sao Paulo State, Brazil

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a potentially pathogenic bacterium that occurs naturally in estuarine environments worldwide, and is often associated with gastroenteritis in humans following consumption of raw bivalve mollusks, especially raw oysters. The occurrence of total and pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus in 74 samples of raw oysters collected in restaurants, supermarkets, groceries and beach huts in Sao Paulo State, was monitored between February 2006 and January 2007. Enumeration of V. parahaemolyticus was performed according to the most probable number (MPN) procedure. Five to ten typical colonies were selected from thiosulfate-citrate-bile salts-sucrose (TCBS) agar plates for confirmation by the presence of the species-specific gene tlh and the virulence genes tdh and trh by multiplex PCR. V. parahaemolyticus was detected in 100% of samples. The densities of total V. parahaemolyticus varied from 1.78 to 6.04 log₁₀ (MPN/g), with higher densities being detected in fall and summer, and lower densities in winter (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference among densities of V parahaemolyticus regarding the site of collection. None of the 1943 V. parahaemolyticus isolates contained tdh and/or trh. These data provide information for the assessment of exposure to V. parahaemolyticus in oysters consumed in Sao Paulo, State, Brazil.     

Immune Checkpoints,Inhibitors and Radionuclides in Prostate Cancer: Promising Combinatorial Therapy Approach

Emerging research demonstrates that co-inhibitory immune checkpoints (ICs) remain the most promising immunotherapy targets in various malignancies. Nonetheless, ICIs have offered insignificant clinical benefits in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer (PCa) especially when they are used as monotherapies. Current existing PCa treatment initially offers an improved clinical outcome and overall survival (OS), however, after a while the treatment becomes resistant leading to aggressive and uncontrolled disease associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Concurrent combination of the ICIs with radionuclides therapy that has rapidly emerged as safe and effective targeted approach for treating PCa patients may shift the paradigm of PCa treatment. Here, we provide an overview of the contextual contribution of old and new emerging inhibitory ICs in PCa, preclinical and clinical studies supporting the use of these ICs in treating PCa patients. Furthermore, we will also describe the potential of using a combinatory approach of ICIs and radionuclides therapy in treating PCa patients to enhance efficacy, durable cancer control and OS. The inhibitory ICs considered in this review are cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4), programmed cell death 1 (PD1), V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA), indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), T cell Immunoglobulin Domain and Mucin Domain 3 (TIM-3), lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3), T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT), B7 homolog 3 (B7-H3) and B7-H4.