The color of fruits and vegetables results from the presence of chlorophyll, carotenoid, and anthocyanin pigments. Instrumental measurements of color are used routinely in describing processes of changing color, such as fruit ripening. The applicability of using skin color measurements to predict changes in pigment composition was investigated using a wide range of fruit and vegetables. Skin color was measured using a Hunter Colorlab and represented as the coordinates X, Y, Z, L*, a*, b*, chroma (C*), and hue angle (ho). Identical skin samples were extracted and analyzed for chlorophyll, carotenoid, and anthocyanin concentration. Sets of pairwise scatter plots were generated for each set of color variables and for the chlorophyll, anthocyanin, and carotenoid pigments. There were linear relationships between ho and anthocyanin concentration and between L* and log [chlorophyll concentration]. Multiple regressions for each pigment variable and sets of color variables also were calculated. However, there was no unique linear combination of pigments that gave rise to a unique point in the color space. Conversely, a given set of coordinates in the color space can be accounted for by many combinations of pigments. Therefore, a given color measurement cannot be described in terms of a unique combination of pigments. Caution is urged in interpreting tristimulus color coordinates in terms of a simple change in pigment composition without prior knowledge of the pigment composition within the fruits and vegetables. The surface topography of fruits and vegetables may be of considerable significance in measuring color.

No abstract

Use of cardiotomy suction resulted in significant increases in thrombin, neutrophil, and platelet activation, as well as the release of neuron-specific enolase, after cardiopulmonary bypass. Limiting increases in these markers would be best accomplished by eliminating cardiotomy suction and routinely using heparin-bonded circuits whenever possible.

No abstract

There is controversy as to the recommended daily intake of selenium (Se), and whether current New Zealand diets are adequate in this nutrient. Various functional single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) polymorphisms may affect the efficacy of Se utilisation. These include the glutathione peroxidases GPx1 rs1050450, GPx4 rs713041, as well as selenoproteins SEPP1 rs3877899, SEL15 rs5845, SELS rs28665122 and SELS rs4965373. This cross-sectional study measured serum Se levels of 503 healthy Caucasian men in Auckland, New Zealand, between ages 20-81. The Se distribution was compared with activities of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase, and DNA damage as measured by the single cell gel electrophoresis assay, both without and with a peroxide-induced oxidative challenge. Serum Se was measured using inductively coupled plasma-dynamic reaction cell-mass spectrometry, while selenoprotein SNPs were estimated using TaqMan(®) SNP genotyping assays. While antioxidant enzyme activities and DNA damage recorded after a peroxide challenge increased with increasing serum selenium, the inherent DNA damage levels in leukocytes showed no statistically significant relationship with serum selenium. However, these relationships and dietary Se requirements at the individual level were modified by several different SNPs in genes for selenoproteins. The GPx1 rs1050450 C allele was significantly associated with GPx activity. Significant correlations between serum Se level and GPX activity were seen with all genotypes except for homozygous minor allele carriers, while the GPx1 rs1050450 CT genotype showed the highest correlation. Several genotypes showed significant correlations between serum Se and TR activity with SEPP1 rs3877899 GG genotype showing the highest correlation. A significant decreasing trend in DNA damage with increasing serum Se was seen among GPx1 rs1050450 CC and GPx4 rs713041 TT genotype carriers up to a serum Se level of 116 and 149 ng/ml, respectively. In the absence of this genetic information, we would recommend a serum Se concentration in the region of 100-150 ng/ml as providing a useful compromise.

DNA profiles from multiple-contributor samples are interpreted by comparing the probabilities of the profiles under alternative propositions. The propositions may specify some known contributors to the sample and may also specify a number of unknown contributors. The probability of the alleles carried by the set of people, known or unknown, depends on the allelic frequencies and also upon any relationships among the people. Membership of the same subpopulation implies a relationship from a shared evolutionary history, and this effect has been incorporated into the probabilities. This acknowledgment of the effects of population structure requires account to be taken of all people in a subpopulation who are typed, whether or not they contributed to the sample.

No abstract

No abstract