Effect of Osmo-air drying on quality of dried onion

Osmotic dehydration is a process of partial removing of water from food by immersion of the product in a hypertonic aqueous solution. This study aimed to investigate  the effect of osmotic dehydration on quality of hot- air- dried onion. Azarshahr red onion variety was used for the experiments. In order to define an optimum condition for osmo-drying process, some parameters including temperature, time and concentration of dehydration solution was evaluated. Based on water loss(WL) and solid gained (SG), the best treatment of temperature, time and concentration of dehydration solution were determined as 40˚C, 1 h and %5 respectively. One series of samples were prepared and dried in oven at 65˚C for 12 h. These samples were packed in two different ways including aluminium foil under the pressure of inert gas and in polyethylene packs. The samples were kept in ambient temperature. Every 2 months during storage period, parameters  such as rehydration and organoleptic properties were performed on the samples.The results organoleptic test revealed that, the quality of samples decreases after 4 months of storage.Moreover, the samples that were packed by polyethylene showed the most desirable properties. Among osmotic samples, the degree of rehydration of the sample prepared with concentration of % 5 in 40˚C in 1 hour and packed in foil under inert gas, was greater than the other osmotic samples. Rehydration parameters had direct relation with temperature and the time of rehydration. Therefore, the amount of rehydration improves with increasing time and temperature

The study of the stability, toxicity and antimicrobial effect of allicin solution

Abstract Introduction: Allicin is extracted from Garlic, and can attach to the tiol groups of proteins by tiosulfanate group. This attachment leads to damage of various proteins and enzymes of microbes, and can affect wide spectrum of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. The aim of this study was to investigate the stability, toxicity and antimicrobial effect of allicin solution. Methods: First, serial concentrations of allicin solution were prepared, and exposed to suspension of standard isolates of bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, andPsodomonasaerogina) and fungi (Aspergillusnige rand Candida albicans).The minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC50 and MIC90) of this compound against each isolate was determined. To evaluate the toxicity of allicin solution, the suspension of skin cells of Balb/C mice was prepared, and incubated with serial concentrations of allicin for 6, 12 and 24 h. Then, cell viability was calculated by MTT assay, based on control. To evaluate stability of allicin solution,some pieces of sterilized marble were prepared, and their surfaces were treated with the solution of allicin. After 6, 12 and 24 h,marbles were sampled, inoculated on the nutrient agar, and incubated for 48 h at 37 °C. Finally, the number of colonies grown on each plate was counted. Results: The micro-dilution test showed that allicin solution had antimicrobial effecton the all bacterial and fungal isolates which studied. This study also showed that the toxicity of allicin solution slightly dependent on the time and concentration, but increase the time until 24 h had nota significant impact on the reducing of stability. Conclusions: The allicin solution has antimicrobial activity and its toxicity is negligible. Also, this material has high stability in the environmental conditions. Keywords: Antimicrobial activity, Nanoparticles, Allicin, Toxicity, Stabilit

Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Risk in Elderly Treated Hypertensive Patients

Abstract BACKGROUND The independent prognostic significance of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in the elderly is not yet clear. We investigated the association between MetS and cardiovascular risk (composite endpoint of stroke and coronary events) in elderly treated hypertensive patients. METHODS Cardiovascular outcome was evaluated in 1,191 elderly treated hypertensive patients (≥60 years). Among them, 578 (48.5%) had MetS according to a modified joint interim statement definition (body mass index in place of waist circumference). RESULTS During the follow-up (9.1±4.9 years, range 0.4–20 years), 139 strokes and 120 coronary events occurred. In univariate analysis, patients with MetS had higher risk of the composite endpoint (hazard ratio (HR) 1.322, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.035–1.688, P < 0.05). Among the single components of MetS, only blood pressure (BP) level and impaired fasting glucose/diabetes were significantly associated with increased cardiovascular risk. After adjustment for age, previous events, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and left atrial (LA) enlargement, the prognostic relevance of MetS was attenuated (HR 1.245, 95% CI 0.974–1.591, P = 0.08). After further adjustment for the above-mentioned variables and ambulatory BP parameters and impaired fasting glucose/diabetes, Cox regression analysis showed that MetS was not independently associated with increased cardiovascular risk (HR 1.090, 95% CI 0.805–1.475, P = 0.58). CONCLUSIONS In elderly treated hypertensive patients, MetS is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, but not independently of BP and glucose levels and of organ damage

An Elevated Level of Cholesterol Impairs Self-Assembly of Pulmonary Surfactant into a Functional Film

In adult respiratory distress syndrome, the primary function of pulmonary surfactant to strongly reduce the surface tension of the air-alveolar interface is impaired, resulting in diminished lung compliance, a decreased lung volume, and severe hypoxemia. Dysfunction coincides with an increased level of cholesterol in surfactant which on its own or together with other factors causes surfactant failure. In the current study, we investigated by atomic force microscopy and Kelvin-probe force microscopy how the increased level of cholesterol disrupts the assembly of an efficient film. Functional surfactant films underwent a monolayer-bilayer conversion upon contraction and resulted in a film with lipid bilayer stacks, scattered over a lipid monolayer. Large stacks were at positive electrical potential, small stacks at negative potential with respect to the surrounding monolayer areas. Dysfunctional films formed only few stacks. The surface potential of the occasional stacks was also not different from the surrounding monolayer. Based on film topology and potential distribution, we propose a mechanism for formation of stacked bilayer patches whereby the helical surfactant-associated protein SP-C becomes inserted into the bilayers with defined polarity. We discuss the functional role of the stacks as mechanically reinforcing elements and how an elevated level of cholesterol inhibits the formation of the stacks. This offers a simple biophysical explanation for surfactant inhibition in adult respiratory distress syndrome and possible targets for treatment