Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in small ruminants.

Small ruminants are an important component of the global production systems of meat and wool, and their reproductive biology is well known. However, the incorporation of assisted reproduction techniques (ART) in the production systems of small ruminants is not as well developed as for other domestic species. Normally, production systems that incorporate ARTs are restricted to artificial insemination or in vivo embryo transfer. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is one of the ARTs techniques reported for small ruminants and consists of the injection of spermatozoa inside an oocyte, bypassing the natural process of sperm-oocyte interaction. In goats and sheep, there are few live births by ICSI reported, with no reports from other species of small ruminants. Currently, there has not been intensive research about ICSI in small ruminants. However, ICSI has potentially important applications in animal production systems, primarily its use with semen of valued animals, with epididymal sperm, in the fertilization of prepubertal or cryopreserved oocytes. Other applications include more advanced techniques, such as transgenic-ICSI or its combination with spermatogonial transplantation. In this article, we review the "state of the art" of this technique in small ruminants including its historical development, research needs for its improvement and future applications.

Migration of bisphenol A from polycarbonate baby bottles purchased in the Spanish market by liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection.

During the last decade the safety of bisphenol A (BPA) monomer in polycarbonate baby bottles has drawn the attention of both the public and the scientific community. This paper presents the results of BPA migration from polycarbonate baby bottles bought in the Spanish market, into simulant B (3% acetic acid), 50% ethanol and into real food (reconstituted infant formula). Furthermore, it was also the objective of this study to assess the suitability of 50% ethanol as a simulant for infant formula. BPA was analysed by a multi-analyte liquid chromatography method with fluorescence detection and mass spectrometry confirmation. The method was in-house validated and accredited by the national accreditation body. The validation results for this analyte in the previous mentioned matrices were: LOD = 0.004-0.007 mg kg(-1); LOQ (validated) = 0.03 mg kg(-1); RSD% = 3.4-5.8; and recovery = 106.6-118.2%. A collection of 72 different baby bottle samples from 12 different brands were analysed. Baby bottle material was identified by FTIR. The migration test conditions used were those recommended for baby bottles in the Guidelines on testing conditions for articles in contact with foodstuffs (with a focus on kitchenware), prepared by the European network of laboratories for food-contact materials. In most of the migration assays the results were below the LOD. In four of the commercial brands there was detectable migration into the simulant 50% ethanol and BPA was detected in only two samples of infant formula (0.01 mg kg(-1)). Migration results obtained were in compliance with European Union regulations.

Determination of furan in jarred baby food purchased from the Spanish market by headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS).

The aim of this paper is to offer a method based on headspace gas chromatography-mass (HS-GC-MS) spectrometry technique in-house validated and use to estimate furan concentrations in jarred baby-food samples purchased from the Spanish market. The validation was performed according to ISO 17025 and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) requirements and the results obtained (limit of detection (LOD) = 0.05 microg kg(-1); limit of quantification (LOQ) = 4 microg kg(-1), lowest validated level; relative standard deviation (RSD) = 3.1-10.5%; recoveries = 85.4-101.5%) confirm that this method is fit for the routine analysis of furan in jarred baby food control. Furan was analysed in 39 different baby-food samples and the mean levels varied between 64.6 microg kg(-1) (rice and chicken samples) and less than or equal to the LOQ (fruit-based samples). The mean concentrations found for the different matrices were 5.0, 37.8, 25.2, 33.8 and 30.5 microg kg(-1) for fruit, vegetables, meat/vegetables, fish/vegetables and dairy-containing baby foods, respectively. According to the statistical analyses, fruit-based baby-food samples had significantly lower concentrations of furan. Mean values for the other matrices were at least five times higher, and this is in accordance with the levels reported in other studies.

Prenatal diagnosis of right aortic arch: associated findings, pregnancy outcome, and clinical significance of vascular rings.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the characteristics and clinical implications of right aortic arch (RAA) detected in fetal life. METHODS: Retrospective study of all cases of RAA diagnosed prenatally in high-risk patients who underwent fetal echocardiography between 2000 and 2007. RESULTS: There were 48 RAA; 18 had vascular ring (Group 1), including 15 RAA with aberrant left subclavian artery and 3 double aortic arch, and 30 had not vascular ring (Group 2), all RAA with mirror-image branching. The prenatal diagnosis was confirmed in 94%. In Group 1 most fetuses had normal heart (89%), and none had 22q11 deletion. There were 16 live births and all infants but one are asymptomatic (mean follow-up of 31 months). In Group 2 almost all fetuses had congenital heart defects (CHDs) (97%), and five were chromosomally abnormal (17%), including four 22q11 deleted. The 1-year survival rate was 69%, which was significantly higher in Group 1 (89% vs 57%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: RAA can be accurately diagnosed by fetal echocardiography. The outlook for these patients largely depends on the presence of associated defects, mainly CHDs, and their severity. If isolated, aortic arch anomalies are asymptomatic vascular variants in most cases. This information is important to assist parental counseling in pregnancy.