Detection and characterisation of frauds in bovine meat in natura by non-meat ingredient additions using data fusion of chemical parameters and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy.

Concerns about meat authenticity are increasing recently, due to great fraud scandals. This paper analysed real samples (43 adulterated and 12 controls) originated from criminal networks dismantled by the Brazilian Police. This fraud consisted of injecting solutions of non-meat ingredients (NaCl, phosphates, carrageenan, maltodextrin) in bovine meat, aiming to increase its water holding capacity. Five physico-chemical variables were determined, protein, ash, chloride, sodium, phosphate. Additionally, infrared spectra were recorded. Supervised classification PLS-DA models were built with each data set individually, but the best model was obtained with data fusion, correctly detecting 91% of the adulterated samples. From this model, a variable selection based on the highest VIPscores was performed and a new data fusion model was built with only one chemical variable, providing slightly lower predictions, but a good cost/performance ratio. Finally, some of the selected infrared bands were specifically associated to the presence of adulterants NaCl, tripolyphosphate and carrageenan.

Plasma total homocysteine levels and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Thrombotic episodes account for approximately 80% of deaths in type 2 diabetic patients. Hyperhomocysteinaemia is a well recognized independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and thromboembolism. Increased homocysteine levels may occur due to a number of factors including inherited gene polymorphism of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T. Here, we evaluate plas- ma total homocysteine (tHcy) levels and frequency of the MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism in asymptomatic healthy volunteers and type 2 diabetic patients with hypertension but without nephropathy. We have also investigated the relationship between tHcy levels and the presence of MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism. METHODS: Plasma tHcy levels and MTHFR C677T genotype were investigated in a total of 53 subjects. These included asymptomatic healthy volunteers (n = 16), patients with type 2 diabetes (n = 7), subjects with hypertension (n = 12) and patients with both type 2 diabetes and hypertension (n = 18). Renal function, serum lipids and other metabolites were also assessed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in tHcy levels between the groups studied. The frequency of MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism observed was similar to that obtained for the general Brazilian population. In patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension but without impaired renal function, we observed no meaningful correlation between increased tHcy levels and the presence of MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism. CONCLUSIONS: Type 2 diabetics who are homozygous or heterozygous for the MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism showed normal tHcy levels. Our results further suggest that diabetes without an associated adverse risk profile is not an independent correlate of increased tHcy levels.

Avaliação da incidência das mutações G1691A no gene do fator V (fator V Leiden) e G20210A no gene da protrombina em pacientes com diabetes mellitus tipo 2 / Incidence of G1691A factor V gene (factor V Leiden) and G20210A prothrombin gene mutations in type 2 diabetes patients

Em virtude da alta prevalência de Diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2) na população mundial e da alta taxa de mortalidade decorrente de eventos trombóticos, é de extrema importância o conhecimento das alterações no sistema hemostático em pacientes portadores deste distúrbio. A mutação no gene do fator V (G1691A - fator V Leiden) em heterozigose ou homozigose confere aos portadores o fenótipo de resistência à proteína C ativada, situação que aumenta em sete vezes o risco de desenvolver uma trombose. A mutação G20210A no gene da protrombina resulta no quadro de hiperprotrombinemia, aumentando o risco de trombose em três vezes. A pesquisa dessas mutações de interesse em trombofilia é de grande relevância considerando que a presença das mesmas pode exacerbar o estado de hipercoagulabilidade acelerando as complicações no diabetes. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a incidência dessas mutações em indivíduos hígidos (Controle, n=16), pacientes com DM2 (n=7), com hipertensão (HAS, n=12) e com DM2+HAS (n=18), através da técnica de PCR-RFLP. As freqüências encontradas nos grupos estudados foram baixas e similares àquelas observadas na população brasileira em geral. Não foi possível estabelecer correlação entre a presença da mutação e características específicas de cada grupo. Dessa forma, ainda não está claro se há ou não uma maior prevalência dessas mutações em indivíduos diabéticos e se a presença das mesmas contribui para o aumento do risco de desenvolver trombose nesses indivíduos, sendo necessário estudos mais amplos para a elucidação da questão.

Because of the high prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) worldwide and the high mortality rate due to thrombotic events, it is extremely important to know about changes in the hemostatic system of such patients. Factor V mutation (G1691A - factor V Leiden) in either heterozygosis or homozygosis confers the activated protein C resistant phenotype, which increases the risk of thrombotic events by a factor of seven. The G20210A mutation of the prothrombin gene results in hyperprothrombinemia, increasing the risk of thrombotic events by a multiple of three. These mutations are of great relevance considering that the presence of one or both can contribute to a hypercoagulability state accelerating complications in diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of these mutations in controls (n=16), DM2 subjects (n=7), hypertensive subjects (HAS) (n=12) and DM2+HAS subjects (n=18). The frequencies found were low and similar to those observed in the Brazilian population in general. It was not possible to establish any correlation among mutations and specific features of each group. It is still not clear if there is or not a higher prevalence of these mutations in diabetic individuals or if the mutation contributes to an increase in the risk of thrombotic events in these individuals. Further studies involving a larger number of patients are necessary in order to answer these questions.