EXTRACTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FREE NONPOLAR LIPID FRACTION OF CHOCOLATE USING A RAPID ANALYTICAL PROCEDURE

In this work has been developed a new analytical procedure to extract the non-polar component of the lipid fraction of the chocolate, in a simple, rapid and economical way and its subsequent analysis by using a gas chromatograph equipped with flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The interest to isolate the non-polar lipid fraction containing triglycerides, waxes, sterol esters and minor components, such as sterols and liposoluble vitamins from the polar fraction could be of three types: analytical, nutritional and commercial. In analytical scope, the quality parameters of the lipid component of chocolate concern the non-polar component. Moreover, the chemical-physical parameters such as the melting point, refractive index, color, etc. were relative to a mixture of fatty substances was not well defined. From the nutritional point of view, the non-polar lipid fraction is the one that gives the largest contribution to the calorific value of the chocolate and then the separation of the two fractions could be useful to better assess the total caloric intake. For economic reasons, not the least important was considering the possibility of fraudulent additions of polar lipid components to replace the non-polar component more valuable, this alteration was not detectable only by applying the official method. The results obtained by the proposed procedure, combined with those obtained with the official method allowed to obtain more complete information on the composition of the lipid component of chocolate. Consequently, the ultimate goal could be reported this information on the nutrition labels of chocolate, for greater product transparency and greater consumer protection

EXTRACTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FREE NONPOLAR LIPID FRACTION OF CHOCOLATE USING A RAPID ANALYTICAL PROCEDURE

In this work has been developed a new analytical procedure to extract the non-polar component of the lipid fraction of the chocolate, in a simple, rapid and economical way and its subsequent analysis by using a gas chromatograph equipped with flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The interest to isolate the non-polar lipid fraction containing triglycerides, waxes, sterol esters and minor components, such as sterols and liposoluble vitamins from the polar fraction could be of three types: analytical, nutritional and commercial. In analytical scope, the quality parameters of the lipid component of chocolate concern the non-polar component. Moreover, the chemical-physical parameters such as the melting point, refractive index, color, etc. were relative to a mixture of fatty substances was not well defined. From the nutritional point of view, the non-polar lipid fraction is the one that gives the largest contribution to the calorific value of the chocolate and then the separation of the two fractions could be useful to better assess the total caloric intake. For economic reasons, not the least important was considering the possibility of fraudulent additions of polar lipid components to replace the non-polar component more valuable, this alteration was not detectable only by applying the official method. The results obtained by the proposed procedure, combined with those obtained with the official method allowed to obtain more complete information on the composition of the lipid component of chocolate. Consequently, the ultimate goal could be reported this information on the nutrition labels of chocolate, for greater product transparency and greater consumer protection

EXTRACTION OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS OF SAFFRON (CROCUS SATIVUS L.) BY ULTRASOUND ASSISTED EXTRACTION (UAE) AND BY RAPID SOLID-LIQUID DYNAMIC EXTRACTION (RSLDE)

Crocus sativus L. (Iridaceae), commonly known as saffron is not only used as a spice in food, but also for its medicinal properties. For these reasons, in this study the comparison between a conventional extraction technique using ultrasounds (UAE) and a cyclically pressurized solid-liquid extraction with the Naviglio extractor (NE) or Rapid Solid-Liquid Dynamic Extraction (RSLDE) was performed, in order to obtain qualitative and quantitative data related to bioactive compounds of saffron. The extracts obtained were analyzed for their antioxidant activity using ABTS, DPPH and FRAP assays, for their total polyphenol content (Folin-Ciocalteu) and for the metabolic profile using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS).The efficiency of extraction of active principles obtained with the Naviglio extractor was about four times higher than that resulting from the sonication extraction. The results obtained showed that the extracts of the Naviglio extractor had significant advantages in terms of extraction efficiency and quality of extract; moreover savings of time and therefore represented an important data in anticipation of the use of such extracts for the preparation of functional food and also phytodrugs

Lactic dehydrogenase and cancer: an overview

Despite the intense scientific efforts made, there are still many tumors that are difficult to treat and the percentage of patient survival in the long-term is still too low. Thus, new approaches to the treatment of cancer are needed. Cancer is a highly heterogeneous and complex disease, whose development requires a reorganization of cell metabolism. Most tumor cells downregulate mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and increase the rate of glucose consumption and lactate release, independently of oxygen availability (Warburg effect). This metabolic rewiring is largely believed to favour tumor growth and survival, although the underlying molecular mechanisms are not completely understood. Importantly, the correlation between the aerobic glycolysis and cancer is widely regarded as a useful biochemical basis for the development of novel anticancer strategies. Among the enzymes involved in glycolysis, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is emerging as a very attractive target for possible pharmacological approaches in cancer therapy. This review addresses the state of the art and the perspectives concerning LDH both as a useful diagnostic marker and a relevant molecular target in cancer therapy and management

Global profiling of viral and cellular non-coding RNAs in Epstein-Barr virus-induced lymphoblastoid cell lines and released exosome cargos.

Abstract The human EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL), obtained by infecting peripheral blood monocular cells with Epstein–Barr Virus, has been extensively used for human genetic, pharmacogenomic, and immunologic studies. Recently, the role of exosomes has also been indicated as crucial in the crosstalk between EBV and the host microenvironment. Because the role that the LCL and LCL exosomal cargo might play in maintaining persistent infection, and since little is known regarding the non-coding RNAs of LCL, the aim of our work was the comprehensive characterization of this class of RNA, cellular and viral miRNAs, and cellular lncRNAs, in LCL compared with PBMC derived from the same donors. In this study, we have demonstrated, for the first time, that all the viral miRNAs expressed by LCL are also packaged in the exosomes, and we found that two miRNAs, ebv-miR-BART3 and ebv-miR-BHRF1-1, are more abundant in the exosomes, suggesting a microvescicular viral microRNA transfer. In addition, lncRNA profiling revealed that LCLs were enriched in lncRNA H19 and H19 antisense, and released these through exosomes, suggesting a leading role in the regulation of the tumor microenvironment

Parasitic Infections Represent a Significant Health Threat Among Recent Immigrants in Chicago

Parasitic infections are likely under-recognized among immigrant populations in the USA. We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate if such infections have health impacts among recent immigrants in Chicago and to identify predictive factors for parasitic infections. A total of 133 recent immigrants were enrolled, filling out a standardized medical questionnaire and providing blood and stool samples. Appriximately 12% of subjects (15/125) who provided a blood or stool sample for testing were found to have evidence of current or prior infection with a pathogenic parasite, of which Toxocara spp. (8 subjects, 6.4%) and Strongyloides stercoralis (5 subjects, 4%) were most commonly identified. Parasitic infection was more likely among subjects who had immigrated within the previous 2 years and those with a self-reported history of worms in the stool. The most useful surrogate markers identified for parasitic infections were an elevated immunoglobulin E level (seen in 46.7% (7/15) of subjects with parasitic infections and 20% (22/110) of uninfected individuals, p = 0.04) and the presence of Blastocystis hominis cysts on Ova & Parasite exam (detected in 38.5% (5/13) of subjects with parasitic infections who provided a stool sample and 5.1% (5/98) of uninfected subjects, p = 0.002). Our study found that parasitic infections may be common in recent US immigrants, which highlights an important health disparity among a vulnerable population that merits further study. Additionally, clinical risk factors, symptoms, and laboratory findings traditionally thought to be associated with parasites were commonly found but not predictive of infection in this study population

Genomic Insight of Alicyclobacillus mali FL18 Isolated From an Arsenic-Rich Hot Spring

Extreme environments are excellent places to find microorganisms capable of tolerating extreme temperature, pH, salinity pressure, and elevated concentration of heavy metals and other toxic compounds. In the last decades, extremophilic microorganisms have been extensively studied since they can be applied in several fields of biotechnology along with their enzymes. In this context, the characterization of heavy metal resistance determinants in thermophilic microorganisms is the starting point for the development of new biosystems and bioprocesses for environmental monitoring and remediation. This work focuses on the isolation and the genomic exploration of a new arsenic-tolerant microorganism, classified as Alicyclobacillus mali FL18. The bacterium was isolated from a hot mud pool of the solfataric terrains in Pisciarelli, a well-known hydrothermally active zone of the Campi Flegrei volcano near Naples in Italy. A. mali FL18 showed a good tolerance to arsenite (MIC value of 41 mM), as well as to other metals such as nickel (MIC 30 mM), cobalt, and mercury (MIC 3 mM and 17 μM, respectively). Signatures of arsenic resistance genes (one arsenate reductase, one arsenite methyltransferase, and several arsenite exporters) were found interspersed in the genome as well as several multidrug resistance efflux transporters that could be involved in the export of drugs and heavy metal ions. Moreover, the strain showed a high resistance to bacitracin and ciprofloxacin, suggesting that the extreme environment has positively selected multiple resistances to different toxic compounds. This work provides, for the first time, insights into the heavy metal tolerance and antibiotic susceptibility of an Alicyclobacillus strain and highlights its putative molecular determinants