Utilization of bitter vegetable leaves (Gongronema latifolium, Vernonia amygdalina) and Garcinia kola extracts as substitutes for hops in sorghum beer production

Sorghum beer was brewed using extracts of ‘utasi’ leaf (Gongronema latifolium), bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) and bitter kola (Garcinia kola) to impact bitter taste and flavour as substitutes for hops used for beer production. The physicochemical and sensory characteristics of the beer samples were evaluated. The results showed that ‘utasi’ leaf, bitter leaf and bitter kola flavoured beer samples had alcohol values in the range of (12.50 - 12.55%), pH (3.37 - 4.44), specific gravity (1.0140 - 1.0400), titratable acidity (0.107 - 0.328%), volatile acidity (0.003 - 0.103%), soluble solids (0.12 - 0.97%), moisture content (95.71 - 98.37%), protein (0.17 - 0.85%), ash (0.20 - 0.29%) and fat (1.25 - 2.95%). Sensory evaluation of the beer by trained panelists (connoisseurs) showed that the utasi flavoured beer was preferred to the other beer samples and compared favourably with hopped beer in terms of flavour and taste.Keywords: Beer production, ‘utasi’ leaf, bitter kola, bitter leaf, hops substitute

Studies on the antimicrobial effect of corn steep liquor on some diarrhoea causing organisms

The antimicrobial effect of Corn Steep Liquor (CSL) was investigated over a five day period. The pH and titrable acidity of the liquor were determined, while the antimicrobial effect on some diarrhoea causing organisms such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteriditis, Staphylococcus aureus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus was also determined. Using well diffusion method, 0.1 ml (100 μl) of the liquor effectively inhibited the growth of the test organisms with zones of inhibition ranging from 4.00 ± 0.28 to 20.20 ± 0.14 mm. The zones of inhibition increased with increasing number of days of fermentation of the filtrate on which is the CSL. However, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the antimicrobial properties of the liquor on day 3 and 4 for S. enteriditis, S. aureus and V. parahaemolyticus. The zone of inhibition on day 5 was significantly different (P<0.05) from all other days except in S. enteriditis whose zone of inhibition was not significantly different from day 4 and 5. The degree of inhibition was highest in E. coli (20.20 ± 0.14 mm), followed by V. paraheamolyticus (18.50 ± 2.12mm); while S. enteriditis showed the minimum degree of inhibition to the CSL (13.20 ± 0.28 mm. The total microbial count and the titrable acidity of the liquor increased with increasing number of days and reached a peak on day 4 (355.60 ± 21.07 cfu/ml and 23.25 ± 2.05%, respectively). The pH however decreased with number of days. The result suggests that corn steep liquor which is considered a waste inhibits the growth of some diarrhoeic microbes especially by day four of fermentation.Keywords: Anti-microbials, diarrhoea, pH, titrable acidityAfrican Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 13(2), pp. 332-335, 8 January, 201

The MOBILIZE Boston Study: Design and methods of a prospective cohort study of novel risk factors for falls in an older population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Falls are the sixth leading cause of death in elderly people in the U.S. Despite progress in understanding risk factors for falls, many suspected risk factors have not been adequately studied. Putative risk factors for falls such as pain, reductions in cerebral blood flow, somatosensory deficits, and foot disorders are poorly understood, in part because they pose measurement challenges, particularly for large observational studies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The MOBILIZE Boston Study (MBS), an NIA-funded Program Project, is a prospective cohort study of a unique set of risk factors for falls in seniors in the Boston area. Using a door-to-door population-based recruitment, we have enrolled 765 persons aged 70 and older. The baseline assessment was conducted in 2 segments: a 3-hour home interview followed within 4 weeks by a 3-hour clinic examination. Measures included pain, cerebral hemodynamics, and foot disorders as well as established fall risk factors. For the falls follow-up, participants return fall calendar postcards to the research center at the end of each month. Reports of falls are followed-up with a telephone interview to assess circumstances and consequences of each fall. A second assessment is performed 18 months following baseline.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 2382 who met all eligibility criteria at the door, 1616 (67.8%) agreed to participate and were referred to the research center for further screening. The primary reason for ineligibility was inability to communicate in English. Results from the first 600 participants showed that participants are largely representative of seniors in the Boston area in terms of age, sex, race and Hispanic ethnicity. The average age of study participants was 77.9 years (s.d. 5.5) and nearly two-thirds were women. The study cohort was 78% white and 17% black. Many participants (39%) reported having fallen at least once in the year before baseline.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results demonstrate the feasibility of conducting comprehensive assessments, including rigorous physiologic measurements, in a diverse population of older adults to study non-traditional risk factors for falls and disability. The MBS will provide an important new data resource for examining novel risk factors for falls and mobility problems in the older population.</p