Evaluation of Anti-Fungal Activity of Chitosan and Its Effect on the Moisture Absorption and Organoleptic Characteristics of Pistachio Nuts

Pistachio is one of the main export products of Iran and Iran is one of the largest producer and exporter of pistachio in the world. Unfavourable environmental conditions during storage, causes a sharp drop in quality of product through musty and toxin production, especially aflatoxin by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, Absorption of foreign odors and moisture, Tissue destruction of undesirable flavour. The aim of this study was to study the anti-fungal activity of chitosan and its effect on the organoleptic characteristics of pistachio nuts.  Therefore, using acetic acid 1% V / V, chitosan concentrations of 0.5%, 1% and 1.5 % V/W was prepared and pistachios were coated by these solutions. Also acetic acid at concentration 1% without chitosan was used as a treatment for coating to determine the antimicrobial effect of acetic acid. The results showed that chitosan significantly (p <0.05) inhibited the growth of the Aspergillus and its effect was increased with increased concentration. Chitosan also prevented moisture absorption and weight change in pistachio nuts, while chitosan concentration showed no significant effect on moisture absorption and weight change of pistachio nuts. Chitosan 1.5% had a significant effect (p <0.05) on the flavour of pistachio, but other concentrations had no effect. However, chitosan in general had no significant effect (p <0.05) on color, texture and acceptability of pistachio nuts

Crocin loaded nano-emulsions: Factors affecting emulsion properties in spontaneous emulsification

Spontaneous emulsification may be used for encapsulating bioactive compounds in food and pharmaceutical industry. It has several advantages over high energy and other low energy methods including, protecting sensitive compounds against severe conditions of high energy method and its ability to minimize surfactant, removal of cosurfactant and thermal stability compared with other low energy methods. In this study, we examined possibility of encapsulating highly soluble crocin in W/O micro-emulsions using spontaneous method which further could be used for making double emulsions. Nonionic surfactants of Span 80 and polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) were used for making micro-emulsions that showed the high potential of PGPR for spontaneous method. Surfactant to water ratio (SWR) was evaluated to find the highest amount of aqueous phase which can be dispersed in organic phase. Droplet size decreased by increasing SWR toward the SWR = 100 which had the smallest droplet size and then increased at higher levels of surfactant. By increasing SWR, shear viscosity increased which showed the high effect of PGPR on rheological properties. This study shows in addition to W/O micro-emulsions, spontaneous method could be used for preparing stable O/W micro-emulsions. © 2015 Elsevier B.V

Maternal haemoglobin concentrations before and during pregnancy and stillbirth risk: A population-based case-control study

Background: Results of previous studies on the association between maternal haemoglobin concentration during pregnancy and stillbirth risk are inconclusive. It is not clear if haemoglobin concentration before pregnancy has a role. Using prospectively collected information from pre-pregnancy and antenatal visits, we investigated associations of maternal haemoglobin concentrations before and during pregnancy and haemoglobin dilution with stillbirth risk. Methods: In a population-based case-control study from rural Golestan, a province in northern Iran, we identified 495 stillbirths (cases) and randomly selected 2,888 control live births among antenatal health-care visits between 2007 and 2009. Using logistic regression, we estimated associations of maternal haemoglobin concentrations, haemoglobin dilution at different stages of pregnancy, with stillbirth risk. Results: Compared with normal maternal haemoglobin concentration (110-120g/l) at the end of the second trimester, high maternal haemoglobin concentration (≥140g/l) was associated with a more than two-fold increased stillbirth risk (OR = 2.31, 95% CI [1.30-4.10]), while low maternal haemoglobin concentration (<110g/l) was associated with a 37% reduction in stillbirth risk. Haemoglobin concentration before pregnancy was not associated with stillbirth risk. Decreased haemoglobin concentration, as measured during pregnancy (OR = 0.61, 95% CI [0.46, 0.80]), or only during the second trimester (OR = 0.75, 95% CI [0.62, 0.90]), were associated with reduced stillbirth risk. The associations were essentially similar for preterm and term stillbirths. Conclusions: Haemoglobin concentration before pregnancy is not associated with stillbirth risk. High haemoglobin level and absence of haemoglobin dilution during pregnancy could be considered as indicators of a high-risk pregnancy. © 2016 The Author(s)

Consanguineous marriage, prepregnancy maternal characteristics and stillbirth risk: A population-based case-control study

Introduction. Consanguineous marriage is associated with increased risks for congenital anomalies, low birthweight, and other adverse perinatal outcomes. In this population-based, case-control study we investigated the association between consanguineous marriage (first-cousin marriage) and stillbirth risk, using prospectively collected information from prepregnancy visits. Material and methods. From 2007 to 2009, we identified 283 stillbirths (cases) and 2088 randomly selected live control births through prepregnancy visits in rural Golestan, Iran. The associations between consanguinity and prepregnancy maternal characteristics and stillbirth risk were examined using multivariate logistic regression. Results. The rate of consanguineous marriage was 19.4% among cases and 13.6% among controls. Consanguinity was associated with increased stillbirth risk [odds ratio (OR) 1.53; 95% CI 1.10-2.14]. The association was significantly increased for preterm stillbirth (< 37 gestational weeks) (OR 2.43; 95% CI 1.46-4.04) but not for term stillbirth (≥ 37 weeks) (OR 1.14; 95% CI 0.75-1.74). Low and high maternal age, underweight, obesity, nulliparity, a history of infertility or miscarriage, previous obstetric complications (preeclampsia, preterm delivery, and stillbirth in previous pregnancies) were also associated with increased stillbirth risks. Conclusions. Consanguineous marriage is associated with increased risk of stillbirth, particularly preterm stillbirth. Findings for other maternal risk factors for stillbirth in rural Iran are consistent with previously reported findings from high-income countries. © 2015 Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Monitoring hydroperoxides formation as a measure of predicting walnut oxidative stability

It is believed that lipids are the most important factor affecting nuts shelf-life. In the present study, an accelerated shelf-life testing by means of elevated temperatures 62, 72, and 82 °C was conducted to predict the oxidation stability of walnuts over a long-term storage. Peroxide value (PV) was employed to monitor the lipid oxidation progression in the walnuts. A range of 74.01–79.57 kJ mol−1 K−1 energy was required for formation of primary oxidation products. The reaction changes followed an apparent first-order kinetic. Formation of hydroperoxides in walnut kernels was found to be a temperature-dependent reaction with Q10 of 2.1. Walnut kernels were also kept in normal condition (temp: 20–30 °C; relative humidity (RH): 35–45%) for 12 months to validate the shelf-life estimation approach. The results showed that PV could provide a proper estimation for oxidative stability of the walnuts stored in ordinary condition

Persica qeshmensis gen. nov. sp. nov from the Persian Gulf (Platyhelminthes: Polycladida: Acotylea), with remarks on reproductive structures

A new genus of acotylean polyclad, Persica qeshmensis gen. nov. sp. nov. (Acotylea, Pleioplanidae), was collected from intertidal rocky shores of the Northern Persian Gulf, Iran. The genus Persica is established on the presence of small tentacles; tentacular and cerebral eyes; spermiducal bulbs; true seminal vesicle; prostatic vesicle of atomata-type; muscular coiled ejaculatory duct, provided with a stylet, absence of a vagina bulbosa or Lang's vesicle. Persica qeshmensis is characterised by a sandy beige to light brown background colour, with pale brown microdots, light grey ventral body surface, coiled ejaculatory duct embedded in parenchymatous cell mass, elongated sigmoid stylet, a well-developed penis sheath located in a small male atrium, and with a non-muscular blind chamber extending anteriad from the vagina to the level of the genital sucker.Fil: Maghsoudlou, Abdolvahab . University of Teheran. College of Science; IránFil: Bulnes, Verónica Natalia. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnológico Bahia Blanca. Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas y Biomedicas del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Rahimian, Hassan . University of Teheran. College of Science; Irá

A population-based study of risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes in northern rural Iran : a follow-up from pre-pregnancy to delivery

There is a substantial lack of knowledge about adverse pregnancy outcomes and their risk factors in middle and low-income countries, including Iran. This thesis has endeavored to examine the association between maternal characteristics and risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes, using prospectively collected information from pre-pregnancy, antenatal visits and delivery records. Our specific objectives were as follows: to investigate the association between parental consanguinity (first cousin marriage) and the risk of stillbirth, to examine whether risk of stillbirth is influenced by decreasing maternal blood hemoglobin concentrations before and during pregnancy, and to study the effects of maternal opium use during pregnancy on risks of spontaneous or medically induced preterm birth and fetal growth restriction. As a secondary aim, we examined the prevalence of previously reported risk factors in the study population. This project was conducted in a rural part of the Golestan province in northern Iran which has a population of 1,700,000 (50% living in rural areas) where there are 17,000 registered pregnancies annually. The first study was restricted to singleton pregnancies who had received a pre-pregnancy visit. This case-control study consisted of 283 cases and 2,088 controls and was conducted to investigate the association between consanguinity and risk of stillbirth. The second study consisted of 495 singleton stillbirths (cases) and 2,888 singleton live births (controls). The third and fourth studies were population-based cohort studies, comprising a total of 920 opium users (“exposed”) and 920 non-opium users (“unexposed”) during pregnancy. In the first study, our findingsindicated that consanguinity was associated with an increased risk of preterm (<37 gestational weeks) stillbirth. The second study showed that compared with normal maternal hemoglobin concentration, high maternal hemoglobin concentrations (≥140 g/l) was associated with a more than twofold stillbirth risk. In addition, low maternal hemoglobin concentrations (<110 g/l) was associated with a reduction in stillbirth risk. The third study showed that compared with non-use of opium and tobacco, use of only opium during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of preterm delivery and the risk was more than doubled among dual users of opium and tobacco. In the fourth study, a positive association was found between intrauterine opium exposure and risk of the birth of a Small for Gestational Age (SGA) infant. Among term births, opium use was also associated with short crown-heel length and small head circumference. These associations were slightly magnified for infants of dual user mothers. In conclusion, this project reported that consanguineous marriage was associated with an increased risk of preterm stillbirth. High hemoglobin levels and an absence of hemoglobin dilution during pregnancy could be considered as an indicator of a high risk pregnancy. Opium use during pregnancy had an association with a higher risk of preterm delivery. Infants of women who had used only opium had an increased risk of short crown-heel length and small head circumference at term birth. Opium use during pregnancy was also associated with a higher risk of Small for Gestational Age at birth

Influence of Selected Packaging Materials on Quality Aspects of High Pressure Processed Boccoli Puree

In the present study, role of packaging properties on pressure and thermal processed broccoli puree quality were investigated. Samples were packaged in two multilayer packaging pouches (PET/PA/LLLDPE and BOPP/LLDPE). Packaging type significantly influenced the product colour. PET/PA/LLLDPE package best preserved broccoli puree quality. Thermal processes at both intensity levels, had a significant effect on quality properties of broccoli puree. Tensile strength of both packaging materials were improved by severe HP and thermal pasteurization. The shape of endothermic heating curves of both packaging materials as well as Tg value of BOPP/LLDPE, compromised by conventional thermal treatments. High pressure processing at 600 MPa (holding time: 10 min/initial temperature: 10 °C) improved the colour (a* and L* values) compared to severe HP pasteurization and thermal pasteurization processes. Both packaging materials resulted in inactivation of the inoculated Listeria innocua to a level below the detection limit at HP and thermally processed broccoli pure. Keywords: Packaging material, Broccoli, Puree, Thermal processing, High pressure processing, Barrier propertie