Shelf-life extension of traditional licorice root “sherbet” with a novel pulsed electric field processing

Pulsed electric field (PEF) processing of licorice root “sherbet” (LRS) by various electric field strengths (7.00, 15.50, and 24.10 kV/cm), treatment times (108, 432, and 756 µsec), and processing temperatures (6, 18, and 30°C) according to the Box–Behnken design were performed. The samples were analyzed for pH, titratable acidity, conductivity, turbidity, total reducing sugar, color (L*, a*, and b*), hue, chroma, total color difference, color intensity, color tone (yellow, red, and blue color tones), total antioxidant capacity, total phenolic substance content, and sensory properties. Results revealed that PEF processing did not adversely affect most of the physical, chemical, and sensory properties of LRS, with a maximum of 2.48, 4.04, 1.78, and 1.20 log reductions on the initial total mesophilic aerobic bacteria, total mold and yeast, Bacillus circulans, and Candida tropicalis. The response variable modeled for the PEF was found to be conductivity, with the optimum processing conditions of 6.90 kV/cm, 756.00 µs, and 7.48°C. After that, the samples were stored at 4°C and 22°C for shelf-life studies. Control samples at 4°C and 22°C were spoiled on the fifth and second days, whereas PEF-treated samples stored at 4°C began to deteriorate after the 40th day and the samples stored at 22°C after the 30th day, respectively. It was revealed that PEF is a suitable process to extend the shelf-life of licorice “sherbet” with preservation of physicochemical and sensory properties

Knowledge and Prejudice about HIV/AIDS among Physicians and Nurses at a University Hospital

INTRODUCTION: The prejudice of healthcare personnel may be reflected as an important problem in patient follow-up. This study aimed to evaluate knowledge and prejudice regarding HIV/AIDS among physicians and nurses working in a university hospital. METHODS: The sample size of this cross-sectional study was calculated as 191 by taking distance from confidence limit(s) to mean 1 and standard deviation 7 in two-sided 95% confidence interval. In Dicle University Hospitals, 6 nurses, 4 assistant physicians and 1 specialist physician/lecturer/teaching staff were invited by random sampling method from each of the 23 clinics. Total of 218 physicians and nurses were included. A questionnaire including demographic variables and 30 statements about HIV/AIDS was applied. The data obtained were analyzed using R-3.5.1 program. RESULTS: 33.5% of the participants stated that they were involved in the follow-up of a HIV-infected patient. The mean HIV knowledge score was 76.3+-13.7; higher in men(78.9+-13.5) and doctors(83.2+-11.1). The mean HIV prejudice score was 39.0+-21.2; higher in nurses(42.0+-22.3) and lower in participants with HIV-infected relatives/friends(23,6+-14,3). There was a weak negative correlation between HIV knowledge and prejudice scores. 40.6% of the participants stated that HIV/AIDS is not a curable disease. 52.5 percent stated that they would not prefer to follow HIV/AIDS patients. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Considering that the healthcare professionals working in Turkey, which is located in a high endemic area in terms of HIV/AIDS, will encounter this disease more, the results are worrying. Health personnel should be considered as a special group in all studies that will be done to reduce HIV/AIDS stigma

Anti-Inflammatory and Antinociceptive Potential of Major Phenolics from Verbascum Salviifolium Boiss

Scopu

Clinical, Laboratory, and Radiological Evaluation of 32 Cases with Tuberculous Meningitis

Introduction: Tuberculous meningitis is an important central nervous system infection, and it is the most severe clinical form of tuberculosis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the frequently isolated microorganism, and it is associated with high morbidity and mortality among central nervous system infections. Despite all the advances in medicine, diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis is still a significant problem. In our study, we aimed to evaluate clinical, microbiological and radiological features of the patients with tuberculous meningitis in detail

Secondary metabolites from the aerial parts of Verbascum dudleyanum and their biological activities

From the overground parts of Verbascum dudleyanum, six iridoid glycosides, aucubin, ajugol, catalpol, 6-O-?-L-rhamnopyranosylcatalpol, saccatoside, and 6-O-(3¨-O-trans-p-coumaroyl)-?-L-rhamnopyranosylcatalpol, and two saponins, ilwensisaponin A and C, as well as a flavonoid, luteolin-7-O-ß-glucopyranoside, together with an acetophenone glucoside, picein, were isolated. The structures of isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. These compounds showed biological acitivites. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc

Inhibitory Effect Of The Methanolic Extract Of Verbascum Latisepalum Hub.-Mor. On Endothelium-Dependent Relaxation In Rat Thoracic Aorta

The leaves and flowers of Verbascum species are used to treat respiratory disorders, haemorrhoids, rheumatic pain, and wounds as well as for the treatment of eczema and other types of inflammatory skin conditions in traditional Turkish medicine. We examined the effect of the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Verbascum latisepalum Hub.-Mor. on the endothelium-dependent relaxation response in rat aortic rings which is mediated by nitric oxide (NO). Six fractions, A F, were obtained from the methanolic extract through bioassay-guided fractionation procedures. The phenylethanoid glycoside verbascoside was isolated from fraction D and its structure elucidated by spectral techniques. The inhibitory effects of the extract, its fractions, and verbascoside on the acetylcholine-induced relaxation response in phenylephrine-precontracted aorta was examined in the absence and presence of L-arginine, a precursor in the synthesis of NO. The observation that the effects of the methanolic extract, of fraction D, and of verbascoside were reversed by L-arginine, indicates that verbascoside has an inhibitory effect on the synthesis of NO. This effect should be taken into consideration in view of the wide range of uses of Verbascum species in Turkish folk medicine.WoSScopu

Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activities And Lc-Ms Analysis Of The Antioxidant Ferula Caspica M. Bieb. And F. Halophila Pesmen Extracts

The aim of the current study is to evaluate the biological activity of F. caspica M. Bieb. which is used for the treatment of diabetes in traditional Turkish medicine and to compare with F. halophila Pesmen. Antioxidant capacities and total phenolic contents of the plants' extracts were tested by DPPH radical scavenging assay and Folin Ciocalteu assay, respectively. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of the extracts were investigated with the aim of indicating whether there was a correlation with their antioxidant capacities. Different quinic acid and flavonoid derivatives which may be responsible for the activities of the extracts were detected using LC-MS screening in the methanol extracts. The methanol extract from the aerial parts of F. caspica was found to show most antioxidant capacity and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity.WoSScopu

Diplopisiz Oküler Distopi ve Eksudatif Retina Dekolmanına Yol Açan Maksiller Sinüs Mukoseli

Mucocele is a cystic lesion occuring by the obstruction of drainage of normal paranasal sinus secretions due to infections, trauma, and rarely tumor. This lesion can impress to orbital contents by eroding orbital bone and it can be confused with malignant tumors. Most mucoceles originate from frontal and ethmoid sinuses, whereas maxillary and sphenoid sinus presentation is rare. In this case report we have presented a maxillary sinus mucocele case leading to asymptomatic inferior exudative retinal detachment and pushing up glob. A 43-year-old woman presented with swelling on her right malar region and lower eyelid lasting one year and increasing last three months. The patient had upward ocular dystopia and an exudative retinal detachment not extending the macula at the inferior retinal area in her right eye. She had diagnosed right maxillary sinus tumor suspicion by clinical examination and imaging methods. Operation was performed by the earnose-throat department. While ocular dystopia completely recovers, exudative retinal detachment was still present at the postoperative first day. As a result, maxillary sinus mucocele can lead to findings such as ocular dystopia without diplopia and exudative retinal detachment, and clinical signs may mimic the tumor.Mukosel travma, infeksiyon ve nadiren de tümör nedeniyle normal paranasal sinus drenajının engellenmesi ile oluşan kistik bir lezyondur. Bu lezyon orbital kemiği erode ederek orbital içeriğe bası yapabilir ve malign tümörlerle karıştırılabilir. Çoğu mukosel frontal ve etmoid sinus kaynaklıdır, oysa maksiller ve sfenoidal sinus presentasyonu nadirdir. Biz bu makalede globu iten ve asemptomatik alt kadran eksudatif retina dekolmanına yol açan bir maksiller sinus mukoseli olgusunu sunduk. Kırk-üç yaşında bir kadın, sağ yanak ve alt göz kapağı bölgesinde 1 yıldır var olan ve son 3 aydır artan şişlik ile başvurdu. Glopta yukarı distopi ve retinanın alt bölgesinde makülaya taşmayan eksudatif retina dekolmanı mevcuttu. Klinik muayene ve görüntüleme yöntemleri ile maksiller sinüs tümörü şüphesi ile kulak-burun-boğaz hastalıkları bölümü tarafından operasyon uygulandı. Postoperatif birinci gün oküler distopi tamamen düzelirken retinal eksudasyon hala mevcuttu. Sonuç olarak, maksiller sinus mukoseli diplopi olmaksızın oküler distopi ve eksudatif retina dekolmanı gibi bulgulara yol açabilir ve klinik bulgular tümörü taklit edebilir