Effect of Lactic Acid Bacteria on the Fermentation Quality and Mycotoxins Concentrations of Corn Silage Infested with Mycotoxigenic Fungi

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on fermentation quality, mycotoxin concentrations, and microbial communities of whole-crop corn silages infested with mycotoxigenic fungi. Cultured spores (10⁶ cfu/mL) of mycotoxigenic Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium graminearum were sprayed (5 mL) on corn forage on 27 July and 10 August 2018. On 21 August 2018, sprayed (FI; 3 plots) and unsprayed (NFI; 3 plots) corn forage were harvested at the 1/2 kernel milk line stage, followed by chopping and ensiling without inoculants (CON), or with Lactobacillus buchneri (LB, 1 × 10⁶ cfu/g FW), Lactobacillus plantarum (LT, 1 × 10⁶ cfu/g FW), or L. buchneri + L. plantarum (BT: both L. buchneri and L. plantarum applied at 0.5 × 10⁶ cfu/g FW). After 90 d of ensiling, FI silages had a higher (p < 0.05) pH value and higher acetic acid (ACA), ethanol, and ammonia nitrogen (ammonia N) concentrations, but lower (p < 0.05) lactic acid (LA) concentrations than NFI silage. The inoculants decreased pH and increased LA concentration and LA/ACA compared with CON. The aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) was only detected in FI fresh corn and silages; ensiling decreased (p < 0.05) AFB₁ concentration compared with fresh corn, and LB and BT decreased AFB₁ concentration compared with CON. The zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON), and fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) concentrations were similar (p < 0.05) for NFI silages, while ZEN concentration in BT was the lowest (p < 0.05) among all FI silages; DON and FB₁ concentrations in LB, LT, and BT silages were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than those of CON in FI silages. The fungal infestation increased the bacterial and fungal diversity of silages compared with NFI silages. The FI silages had a higher relative abundance (RA) of Lactobacillus, Weissella, Wickerhamomyces, Pichia, and Epicoccum than the corresponding NFI silages. The RA of Aspergillus and Fusarium markedly decreased after 90 d of ensiling, and the inoculation expanded this trend irrespective of fungal infestation. The Penicillium in FI silages survived after 90 d of ensiling, while the inoculants decreased the RA of Penicillium. Inoculants mitigate the adverse effects of fungal infestation on corn silage quality by changing the bacterial and fungal communities.     

青贮饲料的优点及制作技术

国内外畜牧业发展成功的经验证明,青贮饲料是现代畜牧业发展不可替代的重要饲料形式。笔者从长期的科研工作实践,结合相关资料分析整理总结出了青贮饲料的优点及贮制方法,饲喂要点等。可供广大农牧民在生产实际操作中参用。     

优质青贮饲草料调制与品质鉴定及利用技术探讨

调制青贮饲料优越性很多。营养损失少,消化率高,适口性好,能保持营养平衡。要大力推广青贮饲料的调制技术。优质青贮饲料的调制,需要有相关的技术和制作工艺,掌握好其要领才能调制出优质的青贮饲料。如科学、合理的利用青贮饲料饲喂家畜,定会收到良好经济效益。     

Evaluation of the procoagulant activity in the plasma of cancer patients using a thrombin generation assay

Introduction

Circulating microparticles are reported to play a role in cancer hypercoagulability. The procoagulant properties of microparticles derive from the amount of tissue factor and/or phosphatidylserine that they can expose. The aim of our study is to assess the procoagulant activity, including microparticles’ activity, in the plasma of newly diagnosed cancer patients with a simple assay, easy to implement in the laboratory.

Material and methods

Newly diagnosed cancer patients (n = 31) before the start of anticoagulant or chemotherapy were compared to matched controls. We used a thrombin generation assay in four conditions: 1: addition of 1pM tissue factor and 4 μM procoagulant phospholipids, 2: without any trigger, 3 and 4: addition of tissue factor or procoagulant phospholipids alone respectively.

Results

When we added only phospholipids, so that thrombin generation is dependent upon endogenous tissue factor, the lag time was significantly shorter in cancer patients. When we added only tissue factor, i.e. made the results dependent upon phospholipids, the endogenous thrombin potential, the peak, and the velocity index were significantly higher and the time-to-peak was significantly shorter. This suggests that the plasma of cancer patients contained a higher activity of endogenous phospholipids and/or tissue factor which may be borne by microparticles.

Conclusion

This new simple methodology can demonstrate a procoagulant activity in the plasma of newly diagnosed cancer patients which can be explained by higher procoagulant phospholipids and tissue factor activity and thus, brings potentially useful information that current coagulation tests cannot provide.     

New alternative in treatment of callus

The pathological transformation of the skin into a thick and hard callus due to repetitive trauma or friction is commonly known as corn. Although a variety of medical and operative treatment choices have been proposed, an ideal treatment method is yet to be defined. Effectiveness of tangential excision together with topical cantharidin has been evaluated. We used Canthacur-PS as an adjunct to excision in an outpatient setting. Canthacur-PS is a commercially available topical solution that includes 1% cantharidin, 30% salicylic acid and 5% podophyllin. The treatment has been applied to 72 patients. We found that 65 patients (90.3%) had corn on their feet and seven patients (9.7%) on their hands. Thick, hard and hyperkeratotic skin area was scraped with the help of a no. 15 blade. The solution was applied on and around the periphery (up to 1–2 mm) of the lesion with a cotton swab, and kept closed for 5 days with an antibiotic dressing. All the patients had been followed up for at least 1 year and evaluated by clinical examination and patient satisfaction query. One session of treatment succeeded in 57 (79.2%) corn patients. Two sessions in nine corn patients (12.5%), three sessions in five corn patients (6.9%) and four sessions in one patient (1.4%) were needed. Only one recurrence (1.4%) was seen. No scar formation or other side-effects were seen. Our findings show that this treatment method is a simple, minimally invasive and reliable treatment for calluses.     

洁净手术室净化空调系统调试

洁净手术室净化空调系统施工,历经前期净化空调方案的论证,经济效益和费用的评价,方案批准后的深化设计,实施阶段的安装和中间验收,最后到达系统调试和综合性能检测阶段。为把方案、安装阶段的优势转化为合乎规范要求的工程综合性能检测指标,必须对净化空调系统调试工作进行深入策划,制定可靠的路线图,按图索骥,严格执行调试流程规范,才能取得洁净手术室建设的丰硕成果。     

制革工业园区周围小麦和玉米的铬污染评价

[目的]了解制革工业园区周围粮食的铬污染程度,为粮食铬污染防治策略制定提供背景数据。[方法]采集制革园区周围农田所产粮食（36份）和对照区种植粮食样品（22份）,分别检测其铬含量,采用《食品中污染物限量》（GB2762-2005）计算其超标率,采用单因子污染指数法评价粮食中铬污染程度。[结果]制革工业园区周围农田所产粮食的铬含量为0．74mg／kg,而对照区为0．18mg／kg,差异有统计学意义（P〈O．05）;该工业园区周围种植粮食铬超标率为16．66％,明显高于对照区（0％）（P〈0．05）;小麦和玉米单因子污染指数平均值均小于l。[结论]该制革工业园区周围部分种植点粮食受到了铬污染,可能会对暴露人群构成危害。     

Lens and cornea lesions of rats fed corn syrup and the protective effects of alpha lipoic acid

Objective: To examine the pathological findings that occurred in the lens and cornea and biochemical findings in the lens of rats fed with corn syrup and the protective effects of alpha lipoic acid (ALA).

Materials and methods: Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into three groups. Group I served as the control group. Group II was used as the study group; the rats were treated with 30% corn sugar solution for 10 weeks. Group III was the treatment group. Corn syrup was given by the oral route to the rats during the study, and ALA (100?mg/kg) was added to the treatment 4 weeks after the study began. At the end of the experiment, central corneal thickness (CCT) was measured in all rats with an ultrasonic pachymeter. Then the right eyes of the rats were enucleated for histopathological examination of the cornea and lens. The left lenses were homogenized for biochemical analyses.

Results: The lenses of the rats treated with corn syrup revealed severe damage; many lens fibers appeared swollen and ruptured with large vacuoles near the lens epithelium. In addition, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, a parameter of oxidative stress, increased but not significantly in Group II; however. ALA treatment decreased MDA levels significantly. Antioxidant enzyme and catalase (CAT) activities were significantly decreased in Group II, and ALA treatment increased these activities; however, the increase was not significant. Changes were observed in the cornea such as epithelial alterations, subepithelial vacuolizations, collagen fibers loss in the stromal layer, interruptions in the subepithelial basement membrane and central corneal thickening.

Conclusions: Corn syrup can cause severe damage in rat lenses and corneas. However, ALA ameliorates the effect of corn syrup-related lesions on the cornea and lens.     

Natural Occurrence of Mycotoxin-Producing Fusaria in Market-Bought Peruvian Cereals: A Food Safety Threat for Andean Populations

Consumption of cereals contaminated by mycotoxins poses health risks. For instance, Fumonisins B, mainly produced by Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium proliferatum, and the type B trichothecene deoxynivalenol, typically produced by Fusarium graminearum, are highly prevalent on cereal grains that are staples of many cultural diets and known to represent a toxic risk hazard. In Peru, corn and other cereals are frequently consumed on a daily basis under various forms, the majority of food grains being sold through traditional markets for direct consumption. Here, we surveyed mycotoxin contents of market-bought grain samples in order to assess the threat these mycotoxins might represent to Peruvian population, with a focus on corn. We found that nearly one sample of Peruvian corn out of six was contaminated with very high levels of Fumonisins, levels mostly ascribed to the presence of F. verticillioides. Extensive profiling of Peruvian corn kernels for fungal contaminants could provide elements to refine the potential risk associated with Fusarium toxins and help define adapted food safety standards.     

活性碳色谱法分离制备高F值寡肽混合物

比较了１８种颗粒及粉状活性碳吸附和解脱芳香族氨基酸的能力。找出了较适宜的活性碳品种、吸附条件和解脱溶液。显示了活性碳色谱法分离制备高Ｆ值寡肽混合物的有效性。测定了高Ｆ值寡肽混合物的氨基酸组成，计算出Ｆ值＞２０。并用ＨＰＬＣ测定了相对分子质量分布。