Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women with high mortality. Sensitive and specific methods for the detection, characterization and quantification of endogenous steroids in body fluids or tissues are needed for the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of breast cancer and many other diseases. At present, non-invasive diagnostic methods are gaining more and more prominence, which enable a relatively fast and painless way of detecting many diseases. Metabolomics is a promising analytical method, the principle of which is the study and analysis of metabolites in biological material. It represents a comprehensive non-invasive diagnosis, which has a high potential for use in the diagnosis and prognosis of cancers, including breast cancer. This short review focuses on the targeted metabolomics of steroid hormones, which play an important role in the development and classification of breast cancer. The most commonly used diagnostic tool is the chromatographic method with mass spectrometry detection, which can simultaneously determine several steroid hormones and metabolites in one sample. This analytical procedure has a high potential in effective diagnosis of steroidogenesis disorders. Due to the association between steroidogenesis and breast cancer progression, steroid profiling is an important tool, as well as in monitoring disease progression, improving prognosis, and minimizing recurrence.

Viticulture is one of the traditional industries in Slovakia, where there are six wine-growing regions: Malokarpatska, Southern Slovakia, Central Slovakia, Nitra, Eastern Slovakia, and Tokaj. This study focuses on the detection of microbiota in soil samples, grape leaves and berries, and samples taken from fermenting must and young wine (the variety Tramín červený) in relation to the detected concentrations of biogenic amines during the fermentation process. In the examined samples, the number of yeasts and molds (from 3.8 to 6.8 log cfu/g or mL) and TVC (from 3.7 to 6.5 log cfu/g or mL) were determined via culture examination. At the same time, the number of LAB (from ˂3.0 to 4.4 log cfu/g or mL) was determined, which was the highest on day 4 of the must fermentation process and was related to the detected of the highest concentration of biogenic amines (histamine and tyramine) on day 6 in the investigated must samples using the UHPLC system. Mycobiota species were identified by MALDI-TOF MS, PCR, ITS-PCR-RFLP, and PCR sequencing of the amplified products. The study confirmed the presence of the yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Metschnikowia pulcherrima, Hanseniospora uvarum, Pichia kudriavzevii, Pichia kluyveri, Pichia fermentas, Torulaspora delbrueckii, and Candida tenuis. At the same time, the presence of molds (Cladosporium herbarum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Penicillium granulatum, Penicillium mononematosum, Botritis cinerea, and Penicillium glabrum) was also confirmed in soil samples, leaves, grape berries, and fresh grape must. The study confirmed the reduction in the species diversity of the microbiota during the must fermentation process, which resulted in decreases in the concentrations of the monitored biogenic amines in the early stages of the must fermentation process and young wine of the variety Tramín červený.

Valko-Rokytovská M, et al. J Vet Sci. 2019 Oct;21:e23. https://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2020.21.e23

Due to advances in molecular technologies and the expanding knowledge of biomarkers, their use in patient screening, diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted therapy is continuously increasing. Biomarker characteristics play a crucial role across all areas of medical research/practice. Biomarkers often reflect changes in the biochemical composition of biofluids, which can be qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed using methods such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) at various stages of clinical intervention. This study focuses on establishing physiological reference ranges for selected biochemical and metabolomic indicators by analyzing blood serum samples from domestic sheep. A total of sixty samples are examined using standard biochemical assays and HPLC, resulting in the determination of experimental reference values for twenty-one biochemical and eight metabolomic parameters. Reliable and reproducible preclinical testing is essential before any diagnostic method can be introduced into clinical use. A thorough understanding of the safety and efficacy of such methods in animal models is a prerequisite for initiating human trials. Species selection and the definition of physiological biomarker ranges are therefore critical components in the development of effective preclinical protocols. This work contributes to the foundation needed for further clinical testing by establishing reference values for relevant biomarkers in a commonly used animal model.

Grape maceration is essential in modulating the quality of Tokaj wines. The aim of this research was to analyse the effect of two maceration practices—one utilizing the application of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae culture and the other being maceration without a yeast culture in experimental Lipovina (Vitis vinifera L.) white wine from the Slovak part of the Tokaj region. Multiple factor analysis was used for the examination of wine quality regarding the formation of biogenic amines (BAs), and chemical, microbial and sensory variables were analysed over three months of wine production. The formation of bioactive components in wine was affected by maceration and maceration with the addition of a yeast culture, which resulted in a significantly increased antioxidant activity, as well as total phenolic and flavonoid content (p < 0.001). The wine samples that underwent maceration scored significantly lower in their appearance, aroma and taste (p < 0.05), which could be caused by a higher phenolic content and specific taste. The dynamics of BA formation in wine, evaluated using multiple factor analysis, highlighted that the maceration and maceration with an added yeast culture significantly affected these processes (p < 0.05). Microbiological examination promoted stable yeast counts during the maceration process, ensuring their longer presence during fermentation. Future research should aim to optimize maceration time in order to enhance the sensory quality of macerated wines without increasing the BA concentration, especially that of histamine.

The objective of this study was to analyze the minerals transferred to Sauvignon blanc must and wine as an effect of foliar fertilizer application. The mineral composition was determined via atomic absorption spectroscopy. Experimental leaf and berry samples were examined during the phenological grapevine growth phases. A foliar fertilizer mixture (0.5 L/hL) with humic acids (8.51%) and B (0.031 kg) was applied. It was observed that the application of humic acids and boron significantly influenced the quality of Sauvignon blanc wine samples. During the blooming period, there was a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) in P, K, and B in the experimental group. The results showed that using HAs and B in foliar fertilizer significantly (p < 0.05) increased the concentration of minerals in the experimental group. However, P and Fe content in the leaves decreased after veraison. After processing the berries in the vinification process, the levels of B in the must (0.71 ± 0.06 mg/kg) and, subsequently, in the wine (0.61 ± 0.06 mg/kg) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the experimental group. Data showed that the foliar fertilizer significantly increased the concentration of N (176.24 ± 0.02 mg/L) in the experimental must. These changes were also observed in wine samples. In wine, a statistically significant decrease in Ca (82.86 ± 0.29 mg/kg) was observed.