Exogenous proteinases in dairy technology

Glavna primjena proteinaza u mljekarskoj tehnologiji je u proizvodnji sira. Prikazana je prva enzimatska te druga ne-enzimatska faza koagulacije mlijeka sirilom. Ukratko su prodiskutirane mogućnosti zamjene telećeg sirila, a u detalje razvoj imobilizirajućih sirila. Razmatrana je također mogućnost ubrzanja zrenja sira dodavanjem proteinaza. Dat je pregled sporedne upotrebe proteinaza uključujući proizvodnju proteinskih hidrolizata, modifikaciju proteina i proizvodnju dječje hrane.The principal applications of proteinases in dairy technology are in cheese manufacture. The enzymatic primary phase and non-enzymatic secondary phase of rennet coagulation of milk are reviewed. Aspects of veal rennet substitutes are briefly discussed and developments in immobilized rennets considered in detail. The possibility of accelerating cheese ripening via added proteinases is also considered. Minor applications of proteinases including production of protein hidrolyzates, protein modification and baby food manufacture are reviewed

Feasibility and Safety of Using External Counterpulsation to Augment Cerebral Blood Flow in Acute Ischemic Stroke—The Counterpulsation to Upgrade Forward Flow in Stroke (CUFFS) Trial

BackgroundExternal counterpulsation (ECP) increases perfusion to a variety of organs and may be helpful for acute stroke.MethodsWe conducted a single-blinded, prospective, randomized controlled feasibility and safety trial of ECP for acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) ischemic stroke. Twenty-three patients presenting within 48 hours of symptom onset were randomized into one of two groups. One group was treated with ECP for 1 hour at a pressure of up to 300 mmHg ("full pressure"). During the procedure, we also determined the highest possible pressure that would augment MCA mean flow velocity (MFV) by 15%. The other group was treated with ECP at 75 mmHg ("sham pressure"). Transcranial Doppler MCA flow velocities and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores of both groups were checked before, during, and after ECP. Outcomes were assessed at 30 days after randomization.ResultsAlthough the procedures were feasible to implement, there was a frequent inability to augment MFV by 15% despite maximal pressures in full-pressure patients. In sham-pressure patients, however, MFV frequently increased as shown by increases in peak systolic velocity and end diastolic velocity. In both groups, starting ECP was often associated with contemporaneous improvements in NIHSS stroke scores. There were no between-group differences in NIHSS, modified Rankin Scale Scores, and Barthel Indices, and no device or treatment-related serious adverse events, deaths, intracerebral hemorrhages, or episodes of acute neuro-worsening.ConclusionsECP was safe and feasible to use in patients with acute ischemic stroke. It was associated with unexpected effects on flow velocity, and contemporaneous improvements in NIHSS score regardless of pressure used, with a possibility that even very low ECP pressures had an effect. Further study is warranted

The transient receptor potential channel on the yeast vacuole is mechanosensitive

Ca(2+) is released from the vacuole into the yeast cytoplasm on an osmotic upshock, but how this upshock is perceived was unknown. We found the vacuolar channel, Yvc1p, to be mechanosensitive, showing that the Ca(2+) conduit is also the sensing molecule. Although fragile, the yeast vacuole allows limited direct mechanical examination. Pressures at tens of millimeters of Hg (1 mmHg = 133 Pa) activate the 400-pS Yvc1p conductance in whole-vacuole recording mode as well as in the excised cytoplasmic-side-out mode. Raising the bath osmolarity activates this channel and causes vacuolar shrinkage and deformation. It appears that, on upshock, a transient osmotic force activates Yvc1p to release Ca(2+) from the vacuole. Mechanical activation of Yvc1p occurs regardless of Ca(2+) concentration and is apparently independent of its known Ca(2+) activation, which we now propose to be an amplification mechanism (Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release). Yvc1p is a member of the transient receptor potential-family channels, several of which have been associated with mechanosensation in animals. The possible use of Yvc1p as a molecular model to study mechanosensation in general is discussed

Feasibility and Safety of Using External Counterpulsation to Augment Cerebral Blood Flow in Acute Ischemic Stroke—The Counterpulsation to Upgrade Forward Flow in Stroke (CUFFS) Trial

BackgroundExternal counterpulsation (ECP) increases perfusion to a variety of organs and may be helpful for acute stroke.MethodsWe conducted a single-blinded, prospective, randomized controlled feasibility and safety trial of ECP for acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) ischemic stroke. Twenty-three patients presenting within 48 hours of symptom onset were randomized into one of two groups. One group was treated with ECP for 1 hour at a pressure of up to 300 mmHg ("full pressure"). During the procedure, we also determined the highest possible pressure that would augment MCA mean flow velocity (MFV) by 15%. The other group was treated with ECP at 75 mmHg ("sham pressure"). Transcranial Doppler MCA flow velocities and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores of both groups were checked before, during, and after ECP. Outcomes were assessed at 30 days after randomization.ResultsAlthough the procedures were feasible to implement, there was a frequent inability to augment MFV by 15% despite maximal pressures in full-pressure patients. In sham-pressure patients, however, MFV frequently increased as shown by increases in peak systolic velocity and end diastolic velocity. In both groups, starting ECP was often associated with contemporaneous improvements in NIHSS stroke scores. There were no between-group differences in NIHSS, modified Rankin Scale Scores, and Barthel Indices, and no device or treatment-related serious adverse events, deaths, intracerebral hemorrhages, or episodes of acute neuro-worsening.ConclusionsECP was safe and feasible to use in patients with acute ischemic stroke. It was associated with unexpected effects on flow velocity, and contemporaneous improvements in NIHSS score regardless of pressure used, with a possibility that even very low ECP pressures had an effect. Further study is warranted

Fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of aggressive and non-aggressive urothelial cell carcinomas in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition

Item does not contain fulltextBACKGROUND: Many epidemiological studies have examined fruit and vegetable consumption in relation to the risk of urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) of the bladder, but results are inconsistent. The association between fruit and vegetable consumption and UCC risk may vary by bladder tumour aggressiveness. Therefore, we examined the relation between fruit and vegetable consumption and the risk of aggressive and non-aggressive UCC in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). METHODS: After 8.9years of follow-up, 947UCC were diagnosed among 468,656 EPIC participants. Of these, 421 could be classified as aggressive UCC and 433 as non-aggressive UCC cases. At recruitment, fruit and vegetable consumption was assessed by validated dietary questionnaires. Multivariable hazard ratios were estimated using Cox regression stratified by age, sex and center and adjusted for smoking status, duration and intensity of smoking, and energy intake. RESULTS: Total consumption of fruits and vegetables was not associated with aggressive UCC nor with non-aggressive UCC. A 25g/day increase in leafy vegetables and grapes consumption was associated with a reduced risk of non-aggressive UCC (hazard ratio (HR) 0.88; 95%confidence interval (CI) 0.78-1.00 and HR 0.87; 95%CI 0.77-0.98, respectively), while the intake of root vegetables was inversely associated with risk of aggressive UCC (HR 0.87; 95%CI 0.77-0.98). CONCLUSION: Our study did not confirm a protective effect of total fruit and/or vegetable consumption on aggressive or non-aggressive UCC. High consumption of certain types of vegetables and of fruits may reduce the risk of aggressive or non-aggressive UCC; however chance findings cannot be excluded