Conrado Carrascosa

Influence of Different Cooking Methods on the Concentration of Glucosinolates and Vitamin C in Broccoli

Broccoli belongs to the Brassicaceae family and the Brassica genus, also designated crucifers, which has been linked to reduced risk of certain diseases for their content of compounds like glucosinolates (GLS) and vitamin C. Isothiocyanates, nitriles, and thiocyanates are degradation products of glucosinolates, are substances that protect cells against oxidative stress, and present many other health benefits. Vitamin C also contains antioxidant properties that contribute to the beneficial effects that broccoli have for health. The present paper is an overview of the reduction of secondary plant products, such as GLS and vitamin C, by cooking. Nonetheless, these concentrations can be modified if the cell structure of the plant is disrupted, e.g., while cutting, chewing, or cooking. Myrosinase can come into contact with GLS and hydrolyze it to isothiocyanate sulforaphane or sulforaphane nitrile, depending on the environmental conditions, which produces changes in the composition and concentration of GLS. Thus, cooking induces many chemical and physical modifications in food, among which GLS and vitamin C content in broccoli can change. Vitamin C and GLS are water-soluble, which makes them more susceptible to loss during the cooking process. Despite some controversy, most reviewed studies show that conventional cooking methods (boiling, steaming, and frying) and nonconventional ones (microwaving) significantly lead to the degradation of vitamin C and GLS. Nonetheless, steaming is the conventional method that obtains the best result to better preserve these two compounds.

Analysis of equine cervical spine using three-dimensional computed tomographic reconstruction

The purpose of this paper was to define the normal three-dimensional computed tomographic reconstruction of the equine cervical spine. Two millimetres thick transverse images of two foals were obtained. Images provided excellent anatomic detail of cervical spine and relevant anatomic structures were identified. Tridimensional reconstruction can be a valuable diagnostic aid for clinical evaluation of several spinal disturbances in foals. In addition, this technique can be used as a tool for teaching anatomy in veterinary schools.

Microbial Growth Models in Gilthead Sea Bream (Sparus Aurata) Stored in Ice

ABSTRACT This study analyzes microbiological changes in whole, ungutted farmed gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) stored for an 18-day period in ice using traditional methods for mesophilic aerobic bacteria, psychrotrophic, Pseudomonas spp., Aeromonas spp., Shewanella putrefaciens, Enterobacteriaceae, sulphide-reducing Clostridium (Clostridia), and Photobacterium phosphoreum in muscle, skin, and gills, evaluating their seasonal differentiation. Two different statistical models were used to analyze microbiological growth. Simultaneously, physicochemical parameters such as the temperature, pH, biological oxygen demand (BOD), total dissolved solids, salinity, ammonia nitrogen, and total phosphorus content of growing waters were analyzed. The results showed that by the end of the storage time, specific spoilage bacteria (SSB) such as Pseudomonas spp., Aeromonas spp., and S. putrefaciens as H2S-producing bacteria were dominant in sea bream harvested in temperate water in the Canary Islands. Muscle tissue had the least contamination, followed by skin and gills. The values of the analyzed seawater parameters were constant during the four seasons, except that the temperature showed a small difference between winter and summer. Seasonal effects were observed among the fish analyzed, suggesting that the lower levels of contamination detected in winter may have been due to the slight difference observed in water temperature in that season.

Puffer fish and its consumption: To eat or not to eat?

ABSTRACT This systematic review was done to examine the substantial increase in the number of intoxication cases in puffer fish associated with tetrodotoxin. In the past 5 years, 430 cases of intoxication and 52 deaths associated with puffer fish have been reported worldwide. It has also been verified that puffer fish have migrated to different regions, which has led to a negative environmental impact. Based on the information obtained herein, consumption of puffer fish should be legally limited, although it still remains very popular in several regions with negative social and economic impacts.

Non-specific reactive hepatitis in dolphins stranded in the Canary Islands

This paper describes the features of non-specific reactive hepatitis (NSRH) in dolphins stranded on the coast of the Canary Islands (Spain). The histological appearance of NSRH was marked by the proliferation of Kupffer cells and the presence of granulocytes, plus lymphocytes and plasma cells scattered throughout the liver parenchyma and in the portal or perivenular stroma, without or with minimal evidence of hepatocyte necrosis. NSRH was composed of inflammatory infiltration of CD3+ T-lymphocytes and IgG+ plasma cells in the portal spaces and hepatic sinusoids. The anti-S100 protein polyclonal antibody reacted with a variable number of lymphocytes from the portal areas and hepatic sinusoids and with Kupffer cells and the epithelial cells of the bile ducts.

Three-dimensional reconstruction by computed tomography of an undifferentiated sarcoma in a dog

The purpose of this paper was to show a three-dimensional computed tomographic reconstruction of the undifferentiated sarcoma in a dog. Two-millimetre-thick transverse images were obtained. Images provided excellent anatomic detail of the severity of the tumour and can be a valuable diagnostic aid for clinical evaluation of several types of neoplasias in dogs. Computed tomography provides detailed information regarding the extent of disease and accurate discrimination of neoplastic versus non-neoplastic diseases. In addition, this technique can be used as a tool for teaching clinical anatomy in veterinary schools.

Traditional consumption of and rearing edible insects in Africa, Asia and Europe

ABSTRACT The traditional consumption of edible insects is common in one third of the worlds population, mostly in Latin America, Africa and Asia. There are over one thousand identified species of insects eaten in some stage of their life cycle; and they play important roles in ensuring food security. The most common way to collect insects are from the wild, which is seasonal with limited availability and has an increasing demand resulting in a disruption to the ecosystem. There is a growing interest shown in rearing insects for commercial purposes, and an industrial scale production will be required to ensure steady supplies. Industrial production will need to take into account the living environment of insects, the nutritional composition of their feed and the overall efficiency of the production system. We provide a short overview on the consumption of and rearing insects in Africa, Asia and Europe. For Africa, a snapshot is given for Nigeria, Ghana, Central African Republic, Kenya and Uganda, while the following countries are reported for Asia: China, Japan, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, Thailand and Vietnam. In addition, a list of insect species with the highest potential for food and feed in the European Union is provided with some reference to The Netherlands and Finland. The review concludes that there is need to better understand the rearing and farming procedures that will yield high quality edible insects in Africa, Asia and Europe.

Bisphenol A: Food Exposure and Impact on Human Health: Bisphenol A and human health effect…

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial compound used extensively to produce synthetic polymers, such as epoxy resins, which are incorporated into the inner coating of metal cans, and also to manufacture polycarbonates with applications in bottles, including bottles of water. Several studies have reported on the transfer of this compound to food. Regarding human exposure to BPA, food intake can be considered the most serious among all the routes, not only because it potentially reaches more people in different age groups (including infants, an especially vulnerable group), but also because it inadvertently occurs over long time periods. BPA is considered an endocrine disruptor and several studies have proposed a relationship between exposure to BPA and the appearance of adverse health effects, such as cancer, infertility, diabetes, and obesity, among others. In 2015 however, the European Food Safety Authority concluded in its last scientific opinion that this compound does not pose any risk to the exposed populations health. Therefore, the EU regards BPA as an authorized product to be used as food contact material. Although BPA intake through food is apparently below the set limits, research into BPA and its potential negative effects is still ongoing. This review contains the most recent in vitro and in vivo studies on BPA toxicity and its harmful effects on health, and it intends to address human exposure to BPA, namely through dietary exposure and its impact on human health.

Mobile Artisanal Cheese Vending in Small Street Markets of Gran Canaria

This survey-based study evaluates the effect of three factors (market location, kind of stall facilities and presence of intermediaries) on the hygienic-sanitary quality of markets, which could condition the food risk of the artisanal cheeses sold in them. As street vending in the Canaries archipelago is important tocommercialise traditional reference products, thisstudy compares the hygienic-sanitary conditions of stalls in several street markets on the Gran CanariaIsland by taking artisanal cheese as a reference product. The results show that the markets in coastal areas obtain a higher food sellers score than those in inland areas. Presence of permanent stalls allows the hygienic-sanitary criteria set out by law on street sales to be better applied than markets with temporary stalls. The former obtain much higher scores than the latter. Finally, presence of intermediaries made the survey scores drastically lower, but theywere higher when producers ranstalls. Facilitating the staff in this sector access to specialised training is fundamental. This is the main problem faced in such businesses, followed by asking competent authorities to collaborate more to ensure that current legislation is met, and to protect and improve traditional sales as their importance in society and today’s economy in many regions is vital.

Small Food Businesses: Trying to Improve Taking Records with a Mobile Device Application

PDA’s (Personal Digital Assistant) and mobile phones have become multitasking devices that provide an enormous potential in various fields, including HACCP. We have designed a record taking software in order to be used in small food catering establishments, like canteens or restaurants. It’s developed for Windows Mobile(R) for use in mobile devices such as PDA’s and Smartphone’s. It enables the creation of four types of records: -Reception; -Temperature; -Cleaning; -Chlorine level in water. It’s possible to export data to common file formats like .pdf or .word. An Android OS version is currently under development.