Foam-Mat Freeze-Drying of Blueberry Juice by Using Trehalose-β-Lactoglobulin and Trehalose-Bovine Serum Albumin as Matrices

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of pure protein compounds and trehalose incorporated into blueberry juice for foam-mat freeze-drying on the foam and powder properties. Foam-mat freeze-drying (FMFD) of blueberry juice was tested at − 55 °C for 24 h. Matrices used were trehalose + β-lactoglobulin (T3BL1) and trehalose + bovine serum albumin (T3A1) and compared with maltodextrin + whey protein isolate (M3W1). Physicochemical properties of foam and powder, e.g., foam stability, foam density, moisture, rehydration time, color, particle morphology, total phenolic, and anthocyanins (total and individuals), were investigated. T3BL1 and T3A1 had more stable foam than M3W1. However, overrun of T3BL1 and T3A1 foamed were inferior to the M3W1 sample. The M3W1 sample recovered 79% powder (dry weight) and was superior to others. Rehydration time of powdered T3BL1 and T3A1, with bulk densities of 0.55–0.60 g cm−3, was the fastest (34–36 s). The blueberry powders of M3W1 showed more irregular particle size and shape, while the samples with trehalose and pure proteins generated particles of more uniform size with obvious pores. T3BL1 and T3A1 showed less redness (a*) values than the M3W1 product. All samples were considered pure red due to hue values < 90. M3W1 was superior in total phenolic content (TPC) and total monomeric anthocyanins (TMA) compared with both samples made with trehalose + β-lactoglobulin and trehalose+bovine serum albumin. Delphinidin-3-glucoside (Del3Gl) concentration was found to be higher in M3W1. Also, M3W1 had higher cyanidin-3-glucoside (Cyn3Gl) and malvidin-3-glucoside (Mal3Gl) concentration. M3W1 also prevented the degradation of these bioactive compounds better than the other FMFD samples. The use of pure proteins and trehalose as matrices in the FMFD process had little advantage compared with maltodextrin/whey protein isolate. Thus, maltodextrin/whey protein isolate seems an ideal matrix for the manufacture of FMFD blueberry

Effect of drying methods on nut quality of hazelnuts (Corylus avellana L.)

Turan, Ali/0000-0002-2961-6605WOS: 000446480300020PubMed: 30333652This study was conducted to determine the effects of hazelnut drying machine (DM1 and DM2; at 45 degrees C and 50 degrees C, respectively) and sun-drying (concrete ground and grass ground) methods on the chemical properties of Tombul, Palaz, and Ordu Levant hazelnuts. For this purpose, protein, lipid and moisture content, water activity, free fatty acid (FFA), peroxide value (PV), rancimat value (RV) and fatty acid composition were analyzed. As expected, it was observed that monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) was the main fatty acid group (81.58-84.80%) followed by polyunsaturated (PUFA; 9.53-11.42%) and saturated fatty acids (SFA; 5.87-6.92%), and the major group constituted similar to 99.00% of the total fatty acids, whereas the minor group constituted similar to 0.5% of these acids. However, caproic (C6: 0), caprylic (C8: 0), capric (C10: 0), lauric (C12: 0), eicosadienoic (20: 2), erucic (22: 1), docosadienoic (22: 2), and lignoceric (C24: 0) fatty acids were below limit of detection (< 0.001%). Samples dried in DM1 and DM2 had more MUFA (84.49%, 84.80, respectively), and lower SFA and PUFA than those using sun-drying methods. Following the drying process, the lowest FFA and PV (0.04-0.17%, 0.00-0.27 meq O-2 kg(-1), respectively) and the highest RV (5.46-6.05 h) were recorded in the DM1 method. Furthermore, it was also observed that as the heat increased (DM1 and DM2; 45-50 degrees C, respectively), oleic/linoleic acidity ratio, FFA, and PV increased and iodine value and RV decreased. Therefore, DM1 was thought to be a promising method for hazelnut drying.Altas Oil Industry Inc (Ordu, Turkey); Gursoy Tarimsal Urunler Gida Sanayi ve Ticaret AS (Ordu, Turkey)This study was supported by Altas Oil Industry Inc and Gursoy Tarimsal Urunler Gida Sanayi ve Ticaret AS (Ordu, Turkey). The author wishes to thank Assist Prof Fatih ONER for statistical analysis

Infliximab treatment for ocular and extraocular manifestations of Behçet's disease

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and safety of infliximab in the treatment of sight-threatening uveitis and extraocular manifestations in patients with Behçet's disease. Methods: Twelve patients with Behçet's disease and uveitis were treated with infliximab after unsuccessful therapy with other immunosuppressive drugs. The main outcome measures were as follows: the number of uveitis relapses, the number of Behçet's disease-related extraocular lesions, and the amount of corticosteroids administered during the treatment as well as during an equal prior period of time while the patients were on other immunosuppressive agents. Visual acuity was recorded at the beginning of infliximab therapy and at the end of follow-up, and was defined as stable if it did not change from baseline, increased if it showed at least one line of improvement from baseline, and decreased if it showed at least a one line decrease from baseline. Results: During an average follow-up of 16.67 ± 7.63 months (median, 15 months), 11 patients (91.6%) showed a reduction in the number of ocular relapses (relapse/month, from 0.35 ± 0.17 to 0.12 ± 0.17, P < 0.001). All of the patients (n = 11) who were taking corticosteroids before infliximab were able to reduce the amount of corticosteroids taken daily during infliximab treatment (from 24.33 ± 10.84∈mg/prednisone per day to 8.97 ± 6.81∈mg/prednisone per day, P < 0.001), and all presented with a reduced onset of extraocular manifestations of Behçet's disease (mean total number, from 2.83 ± 3.61 to 1.51 ± 2.35, P = 0.039). One patient, who had to stop treatment 2 months after starting because of the onset of pulmonary tuberculosis, showed the same number of relapses during infliximab treatment but was able to reduce the mean daily corticosteroid dose. Visual acuity increased by one or more lines in three eyes (12.5%) and remained unchanged in 87.5% of the eyes. Infliximab-related side effects appeared in four patients (33.3%). Conclusions: Infliximab was effective in the treatment of uveitis in these Behçet's disease patients, significantly reducing the number of ocular relapses and making possible a significant reduction in the daily dose of corticosteroids administered. Extraocular manifestations of Behçet's disease were also controlled by infliximab. Nevertheless, side effects were not uncommon, and an extensive study of systemic conditions before infliximab administration had to be carried out to exclude systemic infection, particularly prior tuberculosis. © Japanese Ophthalmological Society 2007

Common surgical procedures in pilonidal sinus disease: A meta-analysis, merged data analysis, and comprehensive study on recurrence

Abstract We systematically searched available databases. We reviewed 6,143 studies published from 1833 to 2017. Reports in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish were considered, as were publications in other languages if definitive treatment and recurrence at specific follow-up times were described in an English abstract. We assessed data in the manner of a meta-analysis of RCTs; further we assessed non-RCTs in the manner of a merged data analysis. In the RCT analysis including 11,730 patients, Limberg & Dufourmentel operations were associated with low recurrence of 0.6% (95%CI 0.3–0.9%) 12 months and 1.8% (95%CI 1.1–2.4%) respectively 24 months postoperatively. Analysing 89,583 patients from RCTs and non-RCTs, the Karydakis & Bascom approaches were associated with recurrence of only 0.2% (95%CI 0.1–0.3%) 12 months and 0.6% (95%CI 0.5–0.8%) 24 months postoperatively. Primary midline closure exhibited long-term recurrence up to 67.9% (95%CI 53.3–82.4%) 240 months post-surgery. For most procedures, only a few RCTs without long term follow up data exist, but substitute data from numerous non-RCTs are available. Recurrence in PSD is highly dependent on surgical procedure and by follow-up time; both must be considered when drawing conclusions regarding the efficacy of a procedure