Colour assessment on bread wheat and triticale fresh pasta

Although durum wheat is the cereal of choice for pasta production, in many areas of Argentina pasta is made from bread wheat, since durum wheat is cultivated only in a small region of the country. The purpose of this work was to determine the influence of different bread flours on the colour of laminated fresh pasta. Triticale flour was also studied. In addition, ash, protein, and protein fractions of each flour were measured. Also, the formulation was modified using different gluten, starch, and water concentrations. Pasta lightness and redness were affected mainly by the ash content, while yellowness was affected by the protein content of different flours. A similar effect was found when the formulation was substituted for starch and gluten, due to protein dilution and concentration, respectively. Albumins and globulins correlated with a* component, while gliadins, soluble and insoluble glutenins correlated with b* component; however, only glutenins presented correlation with colour score (CS = [L* + (b*×2)]/20). The greatest amount of water added to the dough produced a decrease of lightness and an increase of redness and yellowness of pasta samples. The overall ANOVA revealed that the greatest sources of variation for pasta colour were the different flours used, in comparison with the effect of starch and gluten substitution, and with the addition of different amounts of water.Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimento

Pyrite-induced uv-photocatalytic abiotic nitrogen fixation : implications for early atmospheres and Life

Acknowledgements This work has been supported by the MINECO project ESP2017- 89053. Te Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial supported the work performed at CAB. Tomas and Celina Huttel Serrano are acknowledged for providing the pyrite samples. This Project has been partially funded by the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI) Project No. MDM-2017-0737 Unidad de Excelencia “María de Maeztu”- Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Prognostic significance of TRAIL-R3 and CCR-2 expression in tumor epithelial cells of patients with early breast cancer

Tumor epithelial cells (TEpCs) and spindle-shaped stromal cells, not associated with the vasculature, of patients with early breast cancer express osteoprotegerin (OPG), tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand, stromal cell derived factor-1, interleukin-6, macrophage colony stimulating factor, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand-2 (CCL-2) and their receptors at significantly higher levels compared with non-neoplastic breast tissues. We evaluated the clinicopathological significance of these ligands and receptors in TEpC and spindle-shaped stromal cells, not associated with the vasculature, to determine their impact on prognosis of patients with early-stage breast cancer.Fil: Labovsky, Vivian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Martinez, Leandro Marcelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Davies, Kevin Mauro. Hospital Italiano; ArgentinaFil: de Luján Calcagno, María. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; ArgentinaFil: García Rivello, Hernán. Hospital Italiano; ArgentinaFil: Wernicke, Alejandra. Hospital Italiano; ArgentinaFil: Feldman, Leonardo. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Matas, Ayelen. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Giorello, María Belén. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Borzone, Francisco Raúl. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional del Cancer; ArgentinaFil: Choi, Hosoon. Central Texas Veterans Research Foundation; Estados UnidosFil: Howard, Scott C.. University of Tennessee; Estados UnidosFil: Chasseing, Norma Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; Argentin

Colour assessment on bread wheat and triticale fresh pasta

Although durum wheat is the cereal of choice for pasta production, in many areas of Argentina pasta is made from bread wheat, since durum wheat is cultivated only in a small region of the country. The purpose of this work was to determine the influence of different bread flours on the colour of laminated fresh pasta. Triticale flour was also studied. In addition, ash, protein, and protein fractions of each flour were measured. Also, the formulation was modified using different gluten, starch, and water concentrations. Pasta lightness and redness were affected mainly by the ash content, while yellowness was affected by the protein content of different flours. A similar effect was found when the formulation was substituted for starch and gluten, due to protein dilution and concentration, respectively. Albumins and globulins correlated with a* component, while gliadins, soluble and insoluble glutenins correlated with b* component; however, only glutenins presented correlation with colour score (CS = [L* + (b*×2)]/20). The greatest amount of water added to the dough produced a decrease of lightness and an increase of redness and yellowness of pasta samples. The overall ANOVA revealed that the greatest sources of variation for pasta colour were the different flours used, in comparison with the effect of starch and gluten substitution, and with the addition of different amounts of water.Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimento

The eSS rat, a nonobese model of disordered glucose and lipid metabolism and fatty liver

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>eSS is a rat model of type 2 diabetes characterized by fasting hyperglycemia, glucose intolerance, hyperinsulinemia and early hypertriglyceridemia. Diabetic symptoms worsen during the second year of life as insulin release decreases. In 12-month-old males a diffuse hepatic steatosis was detected. We report the disturbances of lipid metabolism of the model with regard to the diabetic syndrome.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study was conducted in eight 12-month-old eSS male rats and seven age/weight matched eumetabolic Wistar rats fed with a complete commercial diet <it>al libitum</it>. Fasting plasmatic glucose, insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density and high-density lipoprotein, and nonesterified fatty acids levels were measured. Very low density and intermediate-density lipoproteins were analyzed and hepatic lipase activity was determined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>eSS rats developed hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia, indicating insulin resistance. Compared with controls, diabetic rats exhibited high plasmatic levels of NEFA, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (Chol) and LDL-Chol while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol values were reduced. eSS rats also displayed TG-rich VLDL and IDL particles without changes in hepatic lipase activity.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The nonobese eSS rats develop a syndrome characterized by glucose and lipid disorders and hepatic steatosis that may provide new opportunities for studying the pathogenesis of human type 2 diabetes.</p

Synchronous neoplastic lesions in colorectal cancer. An analysis of possible risk factors favouring presentation

Aim: few data have been published regarding the causes of synchronous lesions in patients with colorectal cancer. The aim of our study was to identify potential factors that might be implicated in the development of multicentric lesions, since this knowledge could be useful for tailored follow-up once initial synchronous lesions have been removed. Methods: we retrospectively reviewed 382 colorectal cancer cases diagnosed by total colonoscopy and histological study of surgical specimens. We divided our population into 2 groups, based on whether they had synchronous lesions or otherwise. Several data related to personal and family history, habits, symptoms, and tumor characteristics were assessed. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed. Results: 208 (54.5%) patients had synchronous adenomas and 28 (7.3%) had synchronous cancer. A multivariate analysis showed that the following parameters were consistently related to the presence of multicentric lesions –male gender: OR = 1.97; CI = 1.13-3.45; p = 0.017; age ≥ 59 years: OR = 2.57; CI = 1.54-4.29; p < 0.001; personal history of colonic adenomas: OR = 3.04; CI = 1.04-8.85; p = 0.042; and obstructive tumors: OR = 0.48; CI = 0.27-0.85; p = 0.012. Conclusion: our results show that several parameters that are easy to measure could be considered risk factors for the development of multicentric lesions. These factors need to be confirmed with follow-up studies analyzing their role in patients with and without metachronic lesions once all synchronous lesions have been removed

Hepatocellular carcinoma: updates in pathogenesis, detection and treatment

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent primary liver cancer and the second most common cause of cancer mortality worldwide [1]. The prognosis of HCC patients is very poor. The rates of HCC incidence and mortality are almost equivalent [2] and have increased across most countries over the past three decades [3]. HCC development is closely associated with the presence of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, albeit the risk factors underlying this condition vary geographically. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and aflatoxin B1 exposure are predominant risk factors in Asia and Africa, while hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and alcohol consumption are the main risk factors in Europe, the USA and Japan [3,4,5]. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently the most prevalent liver disease worldwide, and approximately 60% of biopsied NAFLD patients have non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) [3]. Importantly, patients with NASH are at high risk of developing HCC even without presenting established cirrhosis [6]. With widespread HBV vaccination and the advent of direct-acting antiviral drugs for HCV infection, NAFLD and associated conditions such as diabetes and obesity are emerging as major global risk factors for HCC. In view of the dismal prognosis of HCC patients, implementing preventive strategies would be an ideal approach to quell the incidence of the disease. Obvious interventions include advocating HBV vaccination in endemic regions, achieving HCV eradication with direct-acting antivirals, promoting healthy nutrition and weight reduction, improving diabetes control, and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption. Still, the implementation of these measures is not always feasible

Análisis de la posible influencia de las lesiones sincrónicas en el pronóstico del cáncer colorrectal resecado

Aim: To analyze the relationship between synchronous lesions in patients with colorectal cancer and their prognostic value. Patients and methods: We have retrospectively reviewed 369 patients with resected colorectal cancer. We compared the rate of apparently curative surgery, progression and tumoral relapse, development of extracolonic cancer and mortality between patients with and without synchronous cancer. Afterwards, we analyzed the same parameters in colorectal cancer with and without synchronous adenomas. Finally, we repeated the analysis after stratification of cancers in 2 groups according to pTNM staging: 0-I-II stage vs III-IV. Results: We found synchronous adenomas in 54.7% of our patients and synchronous cancers in 7.6%. Follow-up period of groups with and without synchronous lesions were: 70.8 ± 22.9 and 67.2 ± 24.5 months (p = 0.55) respectivelly. Synchronous cancers showed higher mortality: 35.7 vs. 14.4%: p = 0.006; OR = 3.31 (1.33-8.13), higher tumoral progression : 39.3 vs. 19.1%: p = 0.011; OR = 2.75 (1.14-6.56) and higher relapse rate: 10.7 vs. 3.5%: p = 0.096. Stratifying according to stage, patients with stage 0-I-II and synchronous cancer showed worse prognosis: mortality = 27.7 vs. 8.1%, p = 0.019; OR = 4.45 (1.2-15.1), tumoral progression = 27.8 vs. 8.5%, p = 0.02; OR = 4.12 (1.14-14.19), and extracolonic cancer = 16.7 vs. 6.4% p = 0.095. There were no statistical differences between cases with and without synchronous adenomas. Conclusions: Synchronous cancers showed worse prognosis after resection, with higher rate of tumoral progression and mortality. This difference is focused on the cases diagnosed in stage 0-I-II, not being found in III-IV. The presence of synchronous adenomas doesn’t influence prognosis

Biomarcadores del estado inflamatorio: nexo de unión con la obesidad y complicaciones asociadas

El objetivo de este trabajo ha consistido en realizar una revisión de los biomarcadores que actualmente se proponen como el nexo de unión entre la inflamación, la obesidad y complicaciones asociadas, seleccionando los estudios llevados a cabo y las cuestiones pendientes. Cada vez hay mayor evidencia científica de que la inflamación puede jugar un papel importante en la etiología de diversas enfermedades crónicas de gran relevancia para la salud pública. En los últimos años, distintos estudios han sugerido que la obesidad podría ser un desorden inflamatorio. Asimismo, el estrés oxidativo se ha propuesto como un potencial inductor de la inflamación y de la susceptibilidad a la obesidad y patología asociadas. Entre los biomarcadores relacionados con la obesidad, la resistencia insulínica, las enfermedades cardiovasculares y el síndrome metabólico se encuentran: el factor de necrosis tumoral alfa, interleuquinas 6 y 18, angiotensinógeno, factor de crecimiento TGF-beta, inhibidor de la activación del plasminógeno, leptina, resistina, proteína C reactiva, amiloide A, ácido siálico, marcadores de disfunción endotelial (factor von Willebrand, ICAMs, vCAMs) factor 3 del sistema del complemento, haptoglobina, glicoproteína zinc-alfa2, eotaxina, visfatina, apelina, alfa1-antitripsina, vaspina, omentina, proteína transportadora de retinol 4, ceruloplasmina, adiponectina y desnutrina. Algunos de estos biomarcadores son buenos predictores de riesgo cardiovascular (inhibidor de la activación de plasminógeno 1, angiotensinógeno, fibrinógeno, ácido siálico, factor 3 del complemento y proteína C reactiva), adiposidad (leptina, visfatina, resistina, haptoglobina) y/o resistencia insulínica (ácido siálico, proteína C reactiva, inhibidor de la activación de plasminógeno 1, factor von Willebrand). Sin embargo, todavía queda por dilucidar el papel de muchos de ellos en la etiología de la obesidad y comorbilidades asociadas en humanos, así como los factores implicados en su regulación

Estudio in vivo de la oxidación mitocondrial en pacientes obesos tratados mediante restricción calórica

La restricción calórica es la terapia nutricional más frecuente en el tratamiento de la obesidad, cuya eficacia depende de la respuesta oxidativa del organismo para evitar la modificación del peso corporal. En este contexto, el objetivo del presente trabajo fue examinarin vivo la oxidación mitocondrial de voluntarios obesos, antes y después de adelgazar, utilizando el test en aliento con 2-ceto[1-13C]isocaproato. El estudio se realizó en 32 voluntarios de ambos sexos: 16 controles (índice de masa corporal: 19,0-27,0 kg/m2), y 16 obesos (índice de masa corporal: 30,0-41,6 kg/m2) que siguieron un período de restricción calórica (-500 kcal) durante 10 semanas. El test con 2-ceto[1-13C]isocaproato se realizó antes y después del tratamiento, a partir de la ingestión de 1 mg/kg de trazador y 20 mg/kg de L-leucina, disueltos en 200 mL de zumo de naranja. Antes y después de la ingestión (cada 10 minutos durante 2 horas), se tomaron muestras de aliento en las que se midió el enriquecimiento en13C mediante espectrometría de masas de relación isotópica. A partir de estas determinaciones se calculó el porcentaje de trazador oxidado en las mitocondrias (%13C). Los obesos tendieron a oxidar un porcentaje menor de trazador que los controles (25,1 ± 5,5% vs 27,5 ± 4,0% p = 0,175). Tras el período de intervención, la pérdida de peso medio fue -7,8 ± 3% (p < 0,001), y se acompañó de un aumento significativo en la oxidación del trazador (25,1 ± 5,5% vs 34,3 ± 5,2% p < 0,001). De hecho, el peso corporal y el porcentaje de 2-ceto[1-13C]isocaproato oxidado fueron inversamente proporcionales (r = -0,34, p = 0,018). Por tanto, el test en aliento con 2-ceto[113-C]isocaproato detectó in vivo la adaptación de la oxidación mitocondrial en obesos tratados mediante restricción calórica, ofreciendo una información complementaria sobre la pérdida de peso