Study on Color and Antioxidant Properties of Rambutan Seed Fat as Cocoa Butter Alternative

In this paper, the color (whiteness, L*, a*, b*) and antioxidant properties (radical scavenging activity, total phenolic compound) of rambutan seed fat (RSF) and its mixture with cocoa butter (CB) were investigated. Different proportions were applied in preparing the samples between (RSF) and (CB). The results showed that significant differences among samples in the whiteness, (L*) and (a*) value, whereas (b*) value had no significant differences. With regard antioxidant activity the results showed that total phenolic compound (TPC) of cocoa butter was (47.37±0.02) mg GA/100 g fat, while the other mixtures between (RSF) and (CB) showed (40.49±0.01-11.12±0.02) mg GA/100 g fat. Radical scavenging activity (DPPH) of cocoa butter valued (67.32±0.44) µmol trolox/100 g fat, similar to the mixture M1 (60.16±0.23). Based on the results the study recommended that mixture ratio up to 40% rambutan seed fat (RSF) can benefit as a cocoa butter replacer whereas a higher ratio completely change original cocoa butter characteristics. Thus, there is the possibility of using the (RSF) as replacer of (CB) and could utilize by chocolate products

Frequency of abdominal aortic aneurysm in persons who have been examined with ultrasound at Kasr Al-Ainy Hospitals: a single center pilot study

Introduction: To know frequency of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) using ultrasound and clarify associated risk factors in 1000 Egyptians. Material and methods: Prospective study. 1000 patients aged 50 years or more (mean: 57.97 ± [7.68]) were examined by B-mode ultrasound at our radiology department to measure suprarenal maximum diameter of the abdominal aorta (wall to wall measurement) and to identify the occurrence of AAA (aneurysms were defined as 1.5 times the mean diameter). Demographic data and risk factors were also noted. Results: Mean aortic diameter in study population was 18.9 ± (3.2) mm. AAA diameter was 28.3 mm. Frequency of AAA was 1.5%. AAA prevalence: 2.35% in males versus 0.75% in females. Prevalence of AAA in different age groups: < 60 years (n = 653), 60–70 (n = 282), > 70 years (n = 65) was 6 (0.9%), 6 (2.1%), 3 (4.6%) respectively. Patients with AAA were older (P < 0.001), more often male (P < 0.001), smokers (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Study showed that mean aortic diameter was 18.9 mm and AAA is present in 1.5% of the study population which was less than that seen in previously conducted studies in other countries

The health-related quality of life in normal and obese children

AbstractBackgroundOverweight and obesity have a major impact on the quality of life (QOL) in different patterns and magnitudes.ObjectiveTo assess the effect of obesity on the quality of life in children.Patients and methodsThe study was carried out on 111 children aged from six to twelve years in National Nutrition Institute. They were divided according to age into two groups; group I for children ⩽8years (n=42) and group II for children >8years (n=69). Only obese children of nutritional cause of obesity were included in this study. The data were collected by different tools, questionnaire and clinical Assessment.ResultsResults showed that; in group I (⩽8years); 20 children were of normalweight (47.6%) and 22 were obese (52.4%), while in group II (>8years old); 29 of them were of normal weight (42.0%) and 40 were obese (58.0%). The Mean±SD of body mass index (BMI), height and weight in normal and obese children were significantly different. The socioeconomic class relation between normal and obese children was significantly different. The total quality of life score was ⩾75 (very good QoL) in 95.0% and 82.8% of normal weight children, while the percentage was only 4.5% and 5.0% in obese children (⩽8years and >8years, respectively). On the other hand, the total score was ⩽25% (bad QoL Life) in only 0.0% and 6.9% of normal weight children, while it was 31.8% and 17.5% in obese children (⩽8years and >8years, respectively).There was a negative correlation relationship between total quality of life scores and BMI, waist circumference, weight and a positive correlation relationship between quality of life scores and father’s and mother’s education and father’s occupation.ConclusionObesity in children had a negative impact on their quality of life

Nitric oxide overcomes Cd and Cu toxicity in in vitro-grown tobacco plants through increasing contents and activities of rubisco and rubisco activase

AbstractToxic heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) are global problems that are a growing threat to the environment. Despite some heavy metals are required for plant growth and development, others are considered toxic elements and do not play any known physiological role in plant cells. Elevated doses of Cd or Cu cause toxicity in plants and generate damages due to the stress condition and eventually cause a significant reduction in quantity and quality of crop plants. The nitric oxide (NO) donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) is reported to alleviate the toxicity of some heavy metals like Cd and Cu. In the current study, the role of NO in alleviating stresses of Cd and Cu was investigated in in vitro-grown tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) Based on plant growth, total chlorophyll contents, contents and activities of rubisco and rubisco activase. According to the results of this study, the growth and total chlorophyll contents of Cd/Cu stressed plants were hugely decreased in the absence of SNP, while the supplementation of SNP resulted in a significant increase of both fresh weight and total chlorophyll contents. Remarkable reductions of Rubisco and rubisco activase contents and activities were observed in Cd and Cu-induced plants. SNP supplementation showed the highest contents and activities of rubisco and rubisco activase compared to the control and Cu/Cd-stressed plants. Taken together, our findings suggest that SNP could play a protective role in regulation of plant responses to abiotic stresses such as Cd and Cu by enhancing Rubisco and Rubisco activase

Pharmacodynamic and Pharmacokinetic Studies on Tetracycline Hydrochloride in Rabbits

Tetracycline is one of the most important groups of antibiotics that have harmful effects on the consumers, therefore the public health safety against its residues represents a significant issue. This study aimed to estimate the effect of tetracycline hydrochloride on some hematological parameters, kidneys function tests as well as liver and breast muscle enzymes with special reference to the supposed withdrawal time of this drug in different rabbits’ tissues (kidney, liver and muscles), following oral dose of tetracycline using High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Tetracycline was administrated to eighteen rabbits directly into the stomach at a dose of 35 mg/kg BW once daily for five successive days. Samples were collected on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th days after the last oral dose. The results revealed that, tetracycline caused a significant increase in the uric acid, urea, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities with no significant changes in the hematological parameters when compared with the control group. The residues remained in the liver and kidney for 7 days, while in muscles for 3 days only after the last oral dose of the drug. In conclusion, the disturbances in the biological parameters occurred by tetracycline administration in rabbits was transient and returned to normal after 7 days of last treatment. The withdrawal time of tetracycline was 14 days from the rabbit's tissues

Spatial Distribution, Air-Water Fugacity Ratios and Source Apportionment of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in the Lower Great Lakes Basin

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) continue to be contaminants of concern across the Great Lakes. It is unclear whether current concentrations are driven by ongoing primary emissions from their original uses, or whether ambient PCBs are dominated by their environmental cycling. Freely dissolved PCBs in air and water were measured using polyethylene passive samplers across Lakes Erie and Ontario during summer and fall, 2011, to investigate their spatial distribution, determine and apportion their sources and to asses their air–water exchange gradients. Average gaseous and freely dissolved ∑29 PCB concentrations ranged from 5.0 to 160 pg/m3 and 2.0 to 55 pg/L respectively. Gaseous concentrations were significantly correlated (R2 = 0.80) with the urban area within a 3−20 km radius. Fugacity ratios indicated that the majority of PCBs are volatilizing from the water thus acting as a secondary source for the atmosphere. Dissolved PCBs were probably linked to PCB emissions from contaminated sites and areas of concern. Positive matrix factorization indicated that although volatilized Aroclors (gaseous PCBs) and unaltered Aroclors (dissolved PCBs) dominate in some samples, ongoing non-Aroclor sources such as paints/pigments (PCB 11) and coal/wood combustion showed significant contributions across the lower Great Lakes. Accordingly, control strategies should give further attention to PCBs emitted from current use sources

Novel polysaccharide hybrid scaffold loaded with hydroxyapatite: Fabrication, bioactivity, and in vivo study

© 2018 Elsevier B.V. The main goal of this study was to produce a novel porous scaffold for rapid in vivo bone healing behavior. Lyophilization technique was used to produce this highly porous hybrid scaffold from Na-alginate (S) and hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) impregnated with different concentration of hydroxyapatite (HA). After cross-linking the scaffolds, their incubation was carried out in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 4 weeks at 37 °C to investigate their bioactivity. A number of techniques were employed (e.g., XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDX, and texture analyzer) to characterize the designed scaffolds. It was observed that the mechanical properties of the scaffolds increase deformation energy (182 ± 16 J/m3) and rigidity gradient (19.44 ± 0.85 Pa) after loading with HA. Furthermore, the scaffolds were implanted in femur critical size defects (2 mm) of adult male Wistar rats for 6 weeks. In vitro and in vivo analyses demonstrated impressive bioactivity and biocompatibility for the prepared scaffolds, especially those containing HA. Based on the obtained results we conclude that the designed scaffolds are promising solutions for bone regeneration applications

Late gadolinium enhancement and adverse outcomes in a contemporary cohort of adult survivors of tetralogy of Fallot

Objective: Myocardial fibrosis has been associated with poorer outcomes in tetralogy of Fallot, however only a handful of studies have assessed its significance in the current era. Our aim was to quantify the amount of late gadolinium enhancement in both the LV and RV in a contemporary cohort of adults with surgically repaired tetralogy of Fallot, and assess the relationship with adverse clinical outcomes. Design: Single centre cohort study Setting: National tertiary referral center Patients: One hundred fourteen patients with surgically repaired tetralogy of Fallot with median age 29.5 years (range 17.5-64.2). Prospective follow-up for mean 2.4 years (SD 1.29). Interventions: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance was performed, and late gadolinium enhancement mass was estimated for the LV using the 5-SD remote myocardium method, and for the RV using a segmental scoring system. Cohort characterization was determined through the use of a computerized database. Outcome measures: Survival analysis from time of scan to first adverse event, defined as an episode of atrial arrhythmia, sustained ventricular arrhythmia, hospitalization with heart failure, or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator insertion. Results: Eleven patients experienced an adverse outcome in the follow-up period, although there were no deaths. LV late gadolinium enhancement was associated with adverse outcomes in a univariate model (P = .027). However, when adjusted for age at scan the significant variables included NYHA class (P = .006), peak oxygen uptake (P = .028), number of prior sternotomies (P = .044), and higher indexed RV and LV end diastolic volumes (P = .002 and P < .001), but not RV or LV late gadolinium enhancement. Conclusions: Formal quantification of late gadolinium enhancement is not currently as helpful in ascertaining prognosis compared to other, more easily assessed parameters in a contemporary cohort of tetralogy of Fallot survivors, however assessment particularly of the LV holds promise for the future