Mikotoksini su sekundarni metaboliti toksigenih plijesni široko rasprostranjenih u usjevima. Biljke, životinje, bakterije i plijesni posjeduju sposobnost modifikacije mikotoksina, a do nje može doći ...i tijekom obrade hrane, što rezultira nastankomvelikog broja „maskiranih” oblika mikotoksina. Tako modificirani oblici mikotoksina često ostaju nevidljivi pri različitim analitičkim tehnikama, što utječe i na točnu procjenu rizika jer se nakon konzumacije kontaminiranih namirnica modificirani oblici mikotoksina u probavnom sustavu vraćaju u izvorni oblik. To je dovelo do potrebe za analitičkim tehnikama kojima se mogu detektirati i kvantificirati modificirani oblici mikotoksina. Sprega tekućinske kromatografije i spektrometrije masa (LC-MS/MS) analitička je tehnika detekcije koja najviše obećava, a za otkrivanje novih modificiranih spojeva uglavnom se primjenjuju spektrometri masa visoke rezolucije. Unatoč tome, toksični utjecaj modificiranih oblika mikotoksina još nije do kraja razjašnjen.
Considering that research of adverse effects of mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) and monobutyl phthalate (MBP), two key metabolites of the most common phthalates used as plasticisers in various ...daily-life products, has been scattered and limited, the aim of our study was to provide a more comprehensive analysis by focusing on major organ systems, including blood, liver, kidney, and pancreas in 66 male pubertal rats randomised into eleven groups of six. The animals were receiving either metabolite at doses of 25, 50, 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg bw a day by gavage for 28 days. The control group was receiving corn oil. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected for biochemical, haematological, and immunological analyses. Samples of kidney, liver, and pancreas were dissected for histopathological analyses. Exposure to either compound resulted in increased liver and decreased pancreas weight, especially at the highest doses. Exposed rats had increased ALT, AST, glucose, and triglyceride levels and decreased total protein and albumin levels. Both compounds increased MCV and decreased haemoglobin levels compared to control. Although they also lowered the insulin level, exposed rats had negative islet cell and insulin antibodies, same as control. Treatment-related histopathological changes included sinusoidal degeneration in the liver, glomerular degeneration in the kidney, and degeneration of pancreatic islets. Our findings document toxic outcomes of MEHP and MBP on endocrine organs in male pubertal rats but also suggest the need for additional studies to better understand the mechanisms behind adverse effects in chronic exposure.
Frangula rupestris and F. alnus are the only two species of the genus Frangula in the flora of the Balkan Peninsula. Frangula alnus is well-known for anthranoid content, and its stem bark and fruits ...are widely used as laxatives. Data on anatomy, plant metabolites, and potential use of F. rupestris are scarce. In this work we analysed anatomy of the stem and leaves and performed phytochemical screening of the bark and leaves of F. rupestris. Specific anatomical characteristics of the stem include the presence of large mucilage cavities in the bark and pith, as well as numerous parenchyma cells containing solitary or cluster crystals of calcium oxalate. The majority of leaf epidermal cells are filled with mucilage. In the main leaf vein there is parenchyma with numerous mucilage cavities and solitary or cluster crystals of calcium oxalate. The levels of flavonoids, total phenolics, and tannins in bark and leaves of plants from two localities were determined by spectrophotometric methods, and the results were compared with those obtained for bark of F. alnus. Bark and leaves of F. rupestris contained 2.68-3.03% and 2.22-3.77% total phenolics, 1.70-2.10% and 0.57-1.54% tannins, and 0.12-0.36% and 0.57-0.99% flavonoids, respectively. The conducted HPLC and LC-MS analyses of hydromethanol extracts of bark and leaves of F. rupestris revealed the presence of flavonols. The dominant compound in all extracts was hyperoside and its content, determined by HPLC, ranged from 30.40 to 82.03 mg/g. Swelling indices determined for 0.5 g of plant material of F. rupestris bark and leaves (5.8-11.4 and 5.8-13.8) were higher than that of the bark of F. alnus (4.4) and greater than those of the mucilaginous drugs Althaeae folium and Althaeae radix (4.7-4.8). The high swelling indices of F. rupestris bark and (especially) leaves suggest their potential use as bulk-forming laxatives. In addition, differences in the content of metabolites were observed in plants from different localities.
The control of groundwater and surface water quality in relation to the presence of pesticides and their metabolites is a rather complicated task. National and local authorities with the ...responsibility to guarantee an adequate quality of water cannot rely on international guidelines for monitoring activities. In a national project, forty-three pesticides and pesticide metabolites were selected on the basis of sale, monitoring and physical-chemical data, and investigated from some of the main Italian agricultural areas, susceptible to pesticide contamination. Twelve compounds were found in the tested water samples at levels exceeding the 0.1 µg/L European Union (EU) limit for drinking water (European Directive 98/83/EC). Maximum levels up to 0.62 were determined. Several water samples were characterized by the simultaneous occurrence of pesticides and their metabolites (up to ten). In some samples, the total concentration of pesticides and their metabolites was higher than the EU limit of 0.5 µg/L. Total triazine concentrations up to 1.02 µg/L were found. In all the cases the highest concentrations were well below the respective guideline values defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking water quality.
Stone cultural heritage materials are at risk of bio-deterioration caused by diverse populations of microorganisms living in biofilms. The microbial metabolites of these biofilms are responsible for ...the deterioration of the underlying substratum and may lead to physical weakening and discoloration of stone 1,18. Fungal ability in producing pigments and organic acids have a crucial role in the discoloration and degradation of different types of stone in cultural heritage objects. Additionally, stone objects may support the communities of microorganisms that are active in the biodeterioration process. This investigation focuses on the mycological analyses of microbial biofilm from the Bhimkichak temple, in Malhar of Bilaspur District of Chhattisgarh state which is made of sandstone, and is heavily colonized by fungi. Eight fungal species on the sandstone were isolated. Aspergillus sp. was observed, a common species in the stone structure of this monument. The identified micro fungi cause discoloration as well as mechanical exfoliation of the building stone material which was analyzed through mechanical hyphae penetration and production of dark pigments and organic acids.
Seventy two Landrace x Large White barrows were divided into three groups and fed different diets: a control traditional diet based on cereals (C) and two with 15 or 30% dried sugar beet pulp (BP15 ...and BP30, respectively). Animals weighed 106 kg at start and 167 kg at the end of the experiment. Feeding was restricted (2.5 kg DM/head, on average).
The aim of the present experiment was to investigate the influence of high levels of beet pulp in the diet of fattening heavy pigs on some endocrine/metabolic traits, on the slaughter dressing percentage and on some parameters related to meat quality, composition and on the ham quality, after 14 months of seasoning.
During the experimental period, jugular vein blood samples were collected from C and BP30-fed pigs and plasma was analysed for several metabolic traits. BP30 diet initially increased the plasma glucose level and decreased free amino acids (P<0.05), but this difference disappeared at the end of the experimental period, when insulin level was decreased (P=0.06) by beet pulp administration. During the entire period, 30% beet pulp diet increased total protein and albumin levels (P<0.001) and decreased urea (P<0.05) without affecting plasma leptin.
At slaughter, pigs fed BP30 diet were lighter (P<0.001) and with a lower dressing percentage (P<0.001) in comparison with the other two treatments. Pigs fed BP30 diet also had lower ham and loin weights (P<0.05) (but similar ham and loin percentages) and higher liver weight (P<0.05), liver/carcass ratio (P<0.001), gastrointestinal-tract weight (P<0.001) and gastrointestinal-tract/carcass ratio (P<0.001). Pigs fed C diet had a higher dressing percentage in comparison with pigs fed BP15 diet (P<0.01), but no other significant difference was found between pigs fed diets C and BP15.
At slaughter, liver samples were taken from C and BP30-fed pigs in order to evaluate the effect of the diet on liver composition. BP30 diet increased dry liver weight (P<0.05) and liver fat content (P<0.01).
The iodine value and the fatty acid composition of the backfat revealed no significant difference between pigs fed the control diet and those fed the high fibre diets.
Finally, considering the economic importance of ham production, the characteristics of the seasoned hams were evaluated. No difference was observed on ham quality.
In conclusion, feeding a diet with a high percentage of dried sugar beet pulp alters protein and energy metabolism and slaughter parameters, without affecting the quality of the seasoned ham.
Budući da su ograničene spoznaje o štetnim učincima mono(2-etilheksil) ftalata i monobutil ftalata, dvaju ključnih metabolita najčešćih ftalata koji se rabe u izradi plastike u različitim proizvodima ...za svakodnevnu primjenu, cilj je našeg istraživanja bio dobiti potpuniju sliku o njima s obzirom na organske sustave, uključujući krv, jetru, bubreg i gušteraču u 66 mužjaka štakora u pubertetu, nasumce raspoređenih u jedanaest skupina po 6 životinja, od kojih su neke gavažom primale jedan od tih dvaju metabolita 28 dana u dozama od 25, 50, 100, 200 ili 400 mg/kg tjelesne mase na dan. Kontrolna je skupina primala samo kukuruzno ulje, koje je u drugim skupinama služilo kao otapalo za metabolite. Na kraju pokusa prikupljeni su uzorci krvi za biokemijske, hematološke i imunološke pretrage. Uzorci bubrega, jetre I gušterače uzeti su disekcijom za histopatološku analizu. Izloženost bilo kojemu od tih dvaju metabolita dovela je do povećanja mase jetre i smanjenja mase gušterače, posebice pri najvišim dozama. Izloženi štakori imali su povišene vrijednosti ALT, AST, glukoze i triglicerida te snižene vrijednosti ukupnih proteina i albumina u krvi. Oba su metabolita dovela do povećanja prosječnog volumena eritrocita (MCV) i pada hemoglobina u usporedbi s kontrolnom skupinom. Premda su doveli i do pada razina inzulina u krvi, nalazi na antitijela na stanice Langerhansovih otočića i inzulin u izloženih štakora bili su negativni, baš kao i u kontrolnoj skupini. Histopatološke promjene povezane s izloženosti obuhvaćale su sinusoidnu degeneraciju u jetri, glomerulsku degeneraciju u bubregu te degeneraciju otočića gušterače. Naši rezultati potvrđuju toksično djelovanje MEHP-a i MBP-a na endokrine organe mužjaka štakora u pubertetu, ali isto tako upućuju na potrebu za daljnjim istraživanjima ne bi li se bolje razumjeli mehanizmi koji stoje iza štetnih događaja, naročito pri kroničnoj izloženosti ftalatima.
As part of a study on fungal toxins, we isolated and identified a series of naphthalenone-related compounds derived from five species of pathogenic fungi. We report here the investigation of the ...liquid culture medium of Phaeoacremonium aleophilum, one of the most important pathogens in the first stage of esca. Various biological assays on grapevine callus and on Arabidopsis thaliana were performed to ascertain the toxic effect of the seven naphthatlenones isolated from this pathogen
Nel quadro di uno studio sulle tossine fungine, abbiamo isolato e identificato una serie di composti riferiti al naftalenone derivanti da cinque specie di funghi patogeni. In questo contributo riferiamo sullo studio del mezzo di coltura liquido di Phaeoacremonium aleophilum, uno dei patogeni più importanti nel primo stadio del mal dell´esca. Sono stati effettuati vari saggi biologici sul callo di vite e su Arabidopsis thaliana al fine di accertare l´effetto tossico di sette naftalenoni isolati da questo fungo patogeno.
The aim of this PhD thesis was to examine the effect of prepartal propylthiouracil (PTU) treatment on endocrine and metabolic status of Holstein heifers in late pregnancy and early lactation. The ...study was conducted on a total of 30 Holstein heifers, selected in advanced pregnancy. Both groups of heifers were fed a meal adjusted to the nutritive needs for pregnancy and lactation. Experimental group of heifers was orally treated with 4 mg PTU/kg body weight, mixed with 25 ml of maltose syrup, with aim to induce hypothyroidism. Treatment lasted from day 20 before the expected calving date to calving date. Control group of heifers daily received only 25 ml of maltose syrup. Blood samples were taken by jugular vein puncture 20 days before expected calving date, 3 and 7 days later, daily for 5 days before and 5 days after calving, then 7, 15, 30 and 60 days after calving. Liver tissue samples were taken from all heifers by percutaneous biopsy 7 days before expected calving and 7 days after calving. Concentrations of T4, T3, insulin and glucose were determined in all blood samples. Based on insulin and glucose concentrations HOMA index value for all sampling periods was calculated. Concentration of IGF-I was determined in blood samples taken on days 20, 17, 13, 7 and 4 before and 7, 30 and 60 days after calving. Relative presence of IGFBP-2, IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-4 were determined in samples taken on days 20 and 7 before and 7 and 30 after calving. Concentrations of BHBA and total bilirubin were determined in blood samples taken on days 20, 17, 13, 7, 4 and 1 before and 1, 3, 5, 7, 15, 30 and 60 after calving. Concentrations of total protein and albumin were determined in blood samples taken on days 20, 17, 13, 7 and 4 before, and 3, 4, 7, 15, 30 and 60 after calving. In the liver tissue samples deiodinase activity, degree of fatty liver and glycogen content were determined. Daily milk production was monitored from days 7 to 60 of lactation, and the service period is calculated on the basis of the reproductive data records of farm. During PTU treatment, experimental group of heifers showed a statistically significant decrease in T4, T3 and BHBA concentration and liver DIO1 activity, as well as a statistically significant increase in serum insulin, IGF-I and glucose concentration, compared to control group of heifers. After cessation of treatment, experimental group heifers there showed a statistically significant and temporary increase of T4 and T3 concentration and liver DIO1 activity, compared to the prepartal values, while control group heifers simultaneously showed a declining trend. Concentrations of insulin, IGF-I and glucose in experimental group of heifers remained significantly higher compared to the control group during the postpartum period. Postpartum concentration of BHBA in experimental group of heifers was statistically significantly lower compared to the control group of heifers until 5 days after calving and then significantly higher from day 15 after calving until the end of the study. HOMA index value was higher in experimental group of heifers during the entire study period compared to controls, although statistically significant differences existed only for a period from day 13 before to day 3 after calving. DIO1/DIO3 ratio in experimental group of heifers grew from prepartal the postpartum period (0,57 ± 0,28 vs. 3,03 ± 1,53), while in control group of heifers decrease trend was found (1,90 ± 1,09 vs. 1,75 ± 1,03). In experimental group of heifers relative presence of IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-4 was slightly increased from prepartal to postpartum period, while in control group heifers statistically significant increase in their relative presence was found. The relative percentage of IGFBP-3 in experimental group of heifers increased from prepartal the postpartum period, while in control group of heifers downward trend was established. Concentrations of total protein and albumin found in experimental group of heifers were higher than in control group throughout the study period, although the statistical significance of differences existed only in certain periods of testing. The concentration of total bilirubin in experimental group of heifers was significantly higher compared to controls only during the period from day 13 before calving until the day of calving, while in other periods of testing no statistically significant differences were found. In liver tissue samples taken before parturition neither one of groups had signs of fatty liver, and hepatocyte glycogen content was slightly higher in experimental group of heifers.In liver tissue samples taken after calving in control group of heifers a moderate degree of fatty liver (20,25 ± 6,51% fat) and reduced glycogen content were found. Mild degree of fatty liver (6,70 ± 4,45% fat) was found in same sampling period in experimental group of heifers, while the glycogen content remained at a high level. The difference in the postpartum degree of fatty liver between the experimental and control group of heifers was statistically significant. Daily milk yield of experimental group of heifers was significantly lower in the period from day 7 to 12 of lactation, and, from day 41 of lactation until the end of the study period, significantly higher than in control group of heifers. Experimental group of heifers had a shorter service period compared to control group of heifers, although statistically significant difference was not found. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the enhanced activity of thyroid gland in the early postpartum period may contribute to the preservation of the morphological and functional integrity of the liver, and thus reestablishing energy balance in early lactation, which is very important for cows with a genetic predisposition for high milk production.
Cilj ove doktorske disertacije bio je da se ispita uticaj prepartalne aplikacije propiltiouracila na endokrini i metabolički status junica holštajn rase u kasnom graviditetu i ranoj laktaciji. Ispitivanje je sprovedeno na ukupno 30 junica holštajn rase, odabranih u visokom graviditetu. Obje grupe junica su hranjene obrokom prilagođenim potrebama za graviditet, odnosno laktaciju. Junice ogledne grupe su u cilju indukcije hipotireoze od 20. dana prije očekivanog teljenja do dana teljenja svakodnevno peroralno tretirane sa 4 mg PTU/kg tjelesne mase, pomiješanog sa 25 ml maltoznog sirupa. Junice kontrolne grupe su svakodnevno primale samo 25 ml maltoznog sirupa. Uzorci krvi uzeti su punkcijom v. jugularis 20 dana prije očekivanog termina teljenja, 3 i 7 dana kasnije, svakodnevno tokom pet dana prije i pet dana nakon teljenja, a zatim 7., 15., 30. i 60. dana nakon teljenja. Uzorci tkiva jetre uzeti su od svih junica perkutanom biopsijom 7. dana prije očekivanog teljenja i 7. dana nakon teljenja. U svim uzetim uzorcima krvi određene su koncentracije T4, T3, insulina i glukoze. Na osnovu koncentracije insulina i glukoze izračunata je vrijednost HOMA indeksa za sve periode uzorkovanja. U uzorcima uzetim 20., 17., 13., 7. i 4. dana prije i 7., 30. i 60. dana nakon teljenja određena je koncentracija IGF-I, a u uzorcima uzetim 20. i 7. dana prije i 7. i 30. dana nakon teljenja relativna zastupljenost IGFBP-2, IGFBP-3 i IGFBP-4. U uzorcima uzetim 20., 17., 13., 7., 4. i 1. dana prije, i 1., 3., 5., 7., 15., 30. i 60. dana nakon teljenja određene su koncentracije BHBA i ukupnog bilirubina. U uzorcima uzetim 20., 17., 13., 7. i 4. dana prije, na dan teljenja, kao i 3., 4., 7., 15., 30. i 60. dana nakon teljenja određene su koncentracije ukupnih proteina i albumina. U uzetim uzorcima tkiva jetre određena je aktivnost dejodinaza, stepen zamašćenja jetre i sadržaj glikogena. Dnevna proizvodnja mlijeka praćena je u periodu od 7. do 60. dana laktacije, a trajanje servis perioda je izračunato na osnovu podataka sa farme. Tokom tretmana sa PTU kod junica ogledne grupe ustanovljeno je statistički značajno opadanje koncentracije T4, T3, BHBA i aktivnosti DIO1 u tkivu jetre, te statistički značajan porast koncentracije insulina, IGF-I i glukoze u odnosu na junice kontrolne grupe. Nakon prestanka tretmana kod junica ogledne grupe došlo je do privremenog i statistički značajnog povišenja koncentracije T4, T3 i aktivnosti DIO1 u odnosu na prepartalne vrijednosti, dok je kod junica kontrolne grupe istovremeno ustanovljen trend opadanja. Koncentracije insulina, IGF-I i glukoze kod junica ogledne grupe ostale su statistički značajno više u odnosu na kontrolnu grupu i tokom postpartalnog perioda. Postpartalna koncentracija BHBA kod junica ogledne grupe bila je statistički značajno niža u odnosu na junice kontrolne grupe sve do 5. dana nakon teljenja, a zatim statistički značajno viša od 15. dana nakon teljenja do kraja ispitivanog perioda. Kod junica ogledne grupe vrijednost HOMA indeksa je tokom cijelog ispitivanog perioda bila viša u odnosu na kontrolnu, iako su statistički značajne razlike postojale samo u periodu od 13. dana prije do 3. dana nakon teljenja. Odnos DIO1/DIO3 kod ogledne grupe junica je rastao od prepartalnog prema postpartalnom periodu (0,57±0,28 naprema 3,03±1,53), dok je kod junica kontrolne grupe ustanovljeno njegovo smanjenje (1,90±1,09 naprema 1,75±1,03). Kod junica ogledne grupe relativna zastupljenost IGFBP-2 i IGFBP-4 je blago porasla od prepartalnog ka postpartalnom periodu, dok je kod junica kontrolne grupe ustanovljen statistički značajan porast njihove relativne zastupljenosti. Relativna zastupljenost IGFBP-3 kod junica ogledne grupe je rasla od prepartalnog prema postpartalnom periodu, dok je kod junica kontrolne grupe ustanovljen trend opadanja. Koncentracije ukupnih proteina i albumina su kod junica ogledne grupe bile više u odnosu na kontrolnu grupu tokom cijelog ispitivanog perioda, iako je statistička značajnost razlika postojala samo u pojedinim periodima ispitivanja. Koncentracija ukupnog bilirubina kod junica ogledne grupe bila je statistički značajno viša u odnosu na
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