Fungi can grow on many food commodities. Some fungal species, such as
Aspergillus flavus,
Aspergillus parasiticus,
Aspergillus niger and
Fusarium spp., can produce, under suitable conditions, ...mycotoxins, secondary metabolites which are toxic for humans and animals. Toxigenic fungi are a real issue, especially for the cereal industry. The aim of this work is to carry out a non destructive, hyperspectral imaging-based method to detect toxigenic fungi on maize kernels, and to discriminate between healthy and diseased kernels. A desktop spectral scanner equipped with an imaging based spectrometer ImSpector– Specim V10, working in the visible-near infrared spectral range (400–1000
nm) was used. The results show that the hyperspectral imaging is able to rapidly discriminate commercial maize kernels infected with toxigenic fungi from uninfected controls when traditional methods are not yet effective: i.e. from 48
h after inoculation with
A. niger or
A. flavus.
► Thermodynamic database for geochemical calculations. ► Mineralogical information as a help for modellers. ► Guide lines for thermodynamic data selection. ► FeII–H2O and FeIII–H2O chemical system ...refinement.
The development of Thermoddem, a thermodynamic database devoted to geochemical modelling for environmental studies in general and, more specifically, to chemical systems involving waste materials, is discussed here. Concerns are also focused on taking into account some specific needs for modellers by proposing different output formats and some important information concerning the solid phases, the transformation path, paragenesis and insights into crystallographic details. This additional information aims to avoid considering phases that may not be “active” under current environmental conditions. The database is especially devoted to environmental applications, ranging from waste material management to pollutant behaviour, including the context of deep underground disposal. Selection rules and conventions are illustrated through the example of the Fe-water system, while a second example details the relationships between low and high ionic strength media, from the point of view of thermodynamic databases. Technical aspects concerning the development of a management information system for Thermoddem and its availability on the web (http://thermoddem.brgm.fr) are also provided.
Interest in vegetarian diets is growing in Italy and elsewhere, as government agencies and health/nutrition organizations are emphasizing that regular consumption of plant foods may provide health ...benefits and help prevent certain diseases.
We conducted a Pubmed search, up to September, 2015, for studies on key nutrients (proteins, vitamin B12, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin D, and n-3 fatty acids) in vegetarian diets. From 295 eligible publications the following emerged: Vegetarians should be encouraged to supplement their diets with a reliable source of vitamin B12 (vitamin-fortified foods or supplements). Since the plant protein digestibility is lower than that of animal proteins it may be appropriate for vegetarians to consume more proteins than recommended for the general population. Vegetarians should also be encouraged to habitually consume good sources of calcium, iron and zinc – particularly vegetables that are low in oxalate and phytate (e.g. Brassicaceae), nuts and seeds, and calcium-rich mineral water. Calcium, iron, and zinc bioavailability can be improved by soaking, germination, and sour-dough leavening that lower the phytate content of pulses and cereals. Vegetarians can ensure good n-3 fatty acid status by habitually consuming good sources of a-linolenic acid (walnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and their oils) and limiting linoleic acid intake (corn and sunflower oils).
Well-planned vegetarian diets that include a wide variety of plant foods, and a reliable source of vitamin B12, provide adequate nutrient intake. Government agencies and health/nutrition organizations should provide more educational resources to help Italians consume nutritionally adequate vegetarian diets.
•Vegetarian diets that include a wide variety of plant foods provide adequate nutrient intake for Italians of all ages.•However, vitamin B12 intake may be low, so vitamin-fortified foods/B12 supplements are advised.•Vegetarians should eat more protein than recommended for omnivores because of reduced plant protein digestibility.•Vegetarians should eat good sources of Ca, Fe and Zn and prepare foods to enhance Ca, Fe and Zn bioavailability.•Vegetarians should eat sufficient α-linolenic acid and limit linoleic acid intake.
Extending and controlling the spectral range of light detectors is very appealing for several sensing and imaging applications. Here we report on a normal incidence dual band photodetector operating ...in the visible and near infrared with a bias tunable spectral response. The device architecture is a germanium on silicon epitaxial structure made of two back-to-back connected photodiodes. The photodetectors show a broad photoresponse extending from 390nm to 1600nm with the capability to electronically select the shorter (400-1100 nm) or the longer (1000-1600 nm) portion with a relatively low applied voltage. Devices exhibit peak VIS and NIR responsivities of 0.33 and 0.63 A/W, respectively, a low optical crosstalk (<-30dB), a wide dynamic range (>120dB) and, thanks to their low voltage operation, maximum specific detectivities of 7·10
cmHz
/W and 2·10
cmHz
/W in the VIS and NIR, respectively.
Summary
Background
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is historically classified into type 1 and type 2 on the basis of the autoantibody profile, anti‐nuclear and/or anti‐smooth muscle antibodies being the ...serological markers of type 1 AIH, whereas anti‐liver/kidney microsomal antibody type 1 and/or anti‐liver cytosol antibody type 1 characterise type 2 AIH.
Aim
To evaluate whether such a distinction is justified on the basis of different expression of the disease in adults.
Methods
Twenty‐six adult patients with type 2 AIH and 52 age‐ and sex‐matched patients with type 1 AIH, representative of the entire cohort of adults with type 1 AIH, were compared at onset and during follow‐up.
Results
At diagnosis, median age was 26 years (range 17–53), female sex 86%, acute presentation 43%, severe liver histology 54%, cirrhosis 14%, complete response to treatment 52%, progression of the disease 17%, and median disease duration 72 months (range 12–280). HLA‐DRB1*0301 was present in 26%, HLA‐DRB1*0401 in 23% and HLA‐DRB1*0701 in 25%. Clinical presentation, biochemical parameters, severe liver histology, genetic profile, response rate and progression of the disease were identical between type 1 and type 2 AIH.
Conclusion
There is not enough clinical, biochemical, histological or genetic reason to subdivide adults with autoimmune hepatitis into type 1 and type 2 on the basis of the autoantibody profile, and the term ‘autoimmune hepatitis’ without qualification should be preferred.
Summary
Background
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a disease of unknown aetiology characterised by interface hepatitis, hypergammaglobulinaemia, circulating autoantibodies and a favourable response to ...immunosuppression.
Aim
To review recent advancements in understanding aetiopathogenesis, clinical, serological and histological features, diagnostic criteria and treatment strategies of AIH.
Methods
Published studies on AIH extracted mainly from PubMed during the last 15 years.
Results
Autoimmune hepatitis has a global distribution affecting any age, both sexes and all ethnic groups. Clinical manifestations are variable ranging from no symptoms to severe acute hepatitis and only seldom to fulminant hepatic failure. Autoimmune attack is perpetuated, possibly via molecular mimicry mechanisms, and favoured by the impaired control of regulatory T‐cells. A typical laboratory finding is hypergammaglobulinaemia with selective elevation of IgG, although in 15–25% of patients – particularly children, elderly and acute cases – IgG levels are normal. Liver histology and autoantibodies, although not pathognomonic, still remain the hallmark for diagnosis. Immunosuppressive treatment is mandatory and life‐saving; however, to meet strict response criteria, the conventional therapy with prednisolone with or without azathioprine is far from ideal.
Conclusions
Autoimmune hepatitis remains a major diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The clinician, the hepato‐pathologist and the laboratory personnel need to become more familiar with different expressions of the disease, interpretation of liver histology and autoimmune serology. According to the strict definition of treatment response issued by the 2010 AASLD guidelines, many patients are nonresponders to conventional treatment. Newer immunosuppressive agents targeting pathogenetic mechanisms can improve patient management, which needs to be tailored on a case‐by‐case basis.
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