Correlation between antioxidant capacity and total polyphenol content in fruit juice concentrates

In our current research, the total polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity of 6 types of 65% fruit juice concentrates (pomegranate, red grapes, oranges, lemons, apples, pineapples) were investigated and compared with TEAC and FRAP methods. For each juice concentrate, a significant relationship was found between the total polyphenol content and the antioxidant capacity: the most outstanding values were measured for pomegranates, followed by red grapes, followed by oranges and lemons. At the same time, the TPC and FRAP values of apple and pineapple were significantly lower compared to the other 4 types of juice concentrates

Changes in antioxidant properties of fruit and vegetable concentrates under the effect of vacuum drying

During our experiment, we examined changes in the antioxidant capacity and total polyphenol content of 2 types of 65% vegetable juices (carrots, pumpkin) rich in polyphenols, minerals, and retinoids, as well as two kinds of fruit juice concentrates (lemons, oranges) rich in citrus flavonoids. In our studies, the antioxidant/reducing properties of the preparations were measured and compared using TEAC and FRAP methods. Our various analytical measurements found significant differences between the antioxidant capacity values and total polyphenol content of each fruit-vegetable juice concentrate and the same instant powders prepared from them before and after vacuum drying

Imported Zika virus infections in Hungary between 2016 and 2018

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus with significant public health concern due to its association with neurological symptoms and intrauterine malformations. Although it is endemic in tropical and subtropical areas, sexual transmission raises the possibility of autochthonous spreading elsewhere. We describe the first laboratory diagnosed imported Zika-infections of Hungary, to highlight the challenges of microbiological identification of the pathogen, caused by serological cross-reactivity and short viremia. Serological examination was carried out using indirect immunofluorescent assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Plaque-reduction neutralization test was used for verification purposes. A wide range of clinical specimens: serum, whole-blood, urine, saliva, and semen were analyzed by molecular methods, and sequencing was applied in case of PCR positive results to identify the virus strain. Zika-infected patients with previous vaccination against flaviviruses or possible flavivirus infection in the past showed high serological cross-reactivity, and even cross-neutralizing antibodies were observed. Zika virus RNA could be detected in urine specimen in case of two patients, and in EDTA-anticoagulated whole-blood sample of one patient. The detected strains belong to the Asian lineage of the virus. We presume that serological investigation of imported Zika virus could be altered by infections, vaccination of endemic flaviviruses in Hungary and vice versa

Relationships of total polyphenol content, antioxidant capacity and antibacterial effect in fruit-vegetable instant powders

Commercially available FlaViva Flavurin and FlaViva Vasgyúró instant drink powders produced by vacuum drying from vegetable and fruit juice concentrates, rich in flavonoids, polyphenols and other valuable components, was tested their total polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity by spectrophotometric method. In addition, the antibacterial effects of both products on strains of bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli were examined in vitro, by agar hole diffusion method. Microbiological measurements have shown that FlaViva FlavUrin instant drink powder had a significantly higher antibacterial effect than Vasgyúró for all three bacterias. An examination of the antioxidant capacity of the 2 food concentrates – measured by FRAP method – showed that the antibacterial effect does not correlate with the iron content of the products, as the antioxidant capacity of the iron-rich Vasgyúró was 13.77 times higher than FlavUrin. The total polyphenol content of the 2 food concentrates did not differ significantly, so this factor alone could not have caused a significant antibacterial effect. Therefore we also measured the TPC of each ingredients in both products and we discovered highly significant differences between them: extremely high TPC values in rosehip powder and cranberry powder present only in FlavUrin, which may have contributed to the significantly higher antibacterial effect. The common ingredients of two food concentrates were elderberry-, blueberry- and blackcurrant powder. Since Vasgyúró also had a lower, but detectable antibacterial effect, these 3 components may have contributed to the antibacterial effects. In addition to quantitative TPC differences between individual components, it is assumed that different varieties of qualitative individual components, as well as other bioactive components, may be responsible for the significant antibacterial effect and therefore their exploration requires further research. Analytic and microbiological studies of functional food concentrates and the relationships between their results may draw attention to a number of health and therapeutic options and therefore require further research

Intelligence and executive functions in 9–10 year-old preterm children born with very low and extremely low birth weight

Theoretical background: Premature birth is in the focus of research interest as it is the most common perinatal risk endangering the development of children. However, the implications of prematurity for the long-term outcome are far from fully understood. Compromised development of cognitive and executive functions may be underlying academic underachievement in school-age preterm children. Aim: to assess the school-age outcomes of Hungarian VLBW/ELBW preterm children in basic cognitive abilities and executive function as compared to typically developing, full-term children as well as to investigate the background of individual differences. Method: 54 preterm children (27 ELBW, 27 VLBW) and a matched group of 27 healthy full-term children, aged 9–10 years, were tested using the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children (WISC-IV), the Corsi Block Tapping Task (digital version) for measuring spatial–visual working memory and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST, digital version) for testing cognitive flexibility. As background variables perinatal and socioeconomic factors were entered in the analysis. Results: In each measure of the WISC-IV all three groups performed in the normal range. The ELBW children displayed certain developmental lags. They scored significantly lower in the Full-Scale IQ and the Processing Speed than the other two groups, and in the Perceptual Reasoning and one measure of spatial–visual working memory as compared to the non-risk comparison group. Perinatal complications and maternal education were related to the outcome. Conclusions: With the improved perinatal care preterm children have fair chances for good developmental outcomes. However, the individual variations are great and various perinatal and social factors may hamper the development of cognitive and executive functions. A birthweight below 1000 grams is a notable risk, particularly if combined with perinatal complications

The importance of beetroot consumption in everyday life

There is a growing worldwide demand for healthy foods, such as fruit and vegetables, including beetroot (Beta vulgaris L. ssp. esculenta convar. crassa provar. rubra), with its extremely valuable content. During the measurements (amino acids, betanin and vulgaxanthin, polyphenol content, antioxidant capacity), the peel and flesh of commercially available spherical and oblong morphology beets as well as 4 organic beetroot juices of different origins (some with additional components) were examined. Based on the results, it was established that carrot root and biojuices have different amino acid compositions. It has been proven that the peel of beets is extremely rich in valuable components, which is also worth considering when consuming. When examining beetroot juices, added supplements, e.g. lemon juice, have an influencing effect on the measured parameters

Determination of antioxidant capacity in some fruit concentrates and powders by different methods

There is a great demand on consumption of natural and healthy foods, which includes also fresh fruits and food products made by different technological processes. In our experiment, fruit concentrates and powders of elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) and blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) were studied. For evaluating their health protective effect, the antioxidant/ reducing properties of both fruits were obtained. The total phenolic content (TPC) and the antioxidant capacity determined by the FRAP, TEAC, and DPPH methods were analysed. Results are expressed on a dry matter basis for better comparison. TPC and antioxidant activity detected by different methods were higher in elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) for both concentrates and powders than in blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.). Dry powders made from fruit concentrates showed in almost all cases a lower antioxidant activity than the concentrates. The results clearly show that it is recommended to characterize the antioxidant properties in as many ways as possible in order to evaluate the beneficial effects of fruits and their processed goods on the human organism