Whey protein supplement adulteration with rice flour quantification: A simple method using ATR-FT-MIR and iPLS

In this work, a method using ATR-FT-MIR and iPLS was developed to quantify whey protein supplement adulteration with rice flour. The original vanilla flavor commercial whey protein samples were adulterated with commercial rice flour with concentrations between 11.49% to 29.14% (w/w). After the adulteration, the ATR-FT-MIR spectra were obtained with no additional preparation procedure. The iPLS model analysis was performed using RStudio software with the mdatools package. The RMSEC was 1.26, the R2= 0.954 and the cross-validation error (RMSECV) was 3.31. The prediction error (RMSEP) for the validation set was equal 3.48 and the validation R2 was 0.610. These parameters, associated with the fact that the method does not require sample preparation, demonstrate the procedure viability as a tool to quantify adulterations of whey protein with rice flour

Levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) among children with steady-state sickle cell disease

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The search for sickle cell disease (SCD) prognosis biomarkers is a challenge. These markers identification can help to establish further therapy, later severe clinical complications and with patients follow-up. We attempted to study a possible involvement of levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in steady-state children with SCD, once that this lipid marker has been correlated with anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-aggregation, anti-coagulant and pro-fibrinolytic activities, important aspects to be considered in sickle cell disease pathogenesis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We prospectively analyzed biochemical, inflammatory and hematological biomarkers of 152 steady-state infants with SCD and 132 healthy subjects using immunochemistry, immunoassay and electronic cell counter respectively. Clinical data were collected from patient medical records.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 152 infants investigated had a significant positive association of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol with hemoglobin (P < 0.001), hematocrit (P < 0.001) and total cholesterol (P < 0.001) and a negative significant association with reticulocytes (P = 0.046), leukocytes (P = 0.015), monocytes (P = 0.004) and platelets (P = 0.005), bilirubins [total bilirubin (P < 0.001), direct bilirubin (P < 0.001) and indirect bilirubin (P < 0.001], iron (P < 0.001), aminotransferases [aspartate aminotransferase (P = 0.004), alanine aminotransferase (P = 0.035)], lactate dehydrogenase (P < 0.001), urea (P = 0.030), alpha 1-antitrypsin (P < 0.001), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.003), triglycerides (P = 0.005) and hemoglobin S (P = 0.002). Low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration was associated with the history of cardiac abnormalities (P = 0.025), pneumonia (P = 0.033) and blood transfusion use (P = 0.025). Lipids and inflammatory markers were associated with the presence of cholelithiasis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We hypothesize that some SCD patients can have a specific dyslipidemic subphenotype characterized by low HDL-C with hypertriglyceridemia and high VLDL-C in association with other biomarkers, including those related to inflammation. This represents an important step toward a more reliable clinical prognosis. Additional studies are warranted to test this hypothesis and the probably mechanisms involved in this complex network of markers and their role in SCD pathogenesis.</p

AVALIAÇÃO DA EFICIÊNCIA ANTIBACTERIANA DE EXTRATO DE Lentinula edodes E DA SOLUÇÃO AQUOSA DO LÁTEX DE Euphorbia tirucalli FRENTE À BACTÉRIA Streptococcus agalactiae: ESTUDOS PRELIMINARES

Streptococcus agalactiae é agente causador de enfermidades em seres humanos e animais, sendo uma das principais causas de mastite bovina e perdas econômicas para os produtores leiteiros. Ademais, este patógeno tem apresentado resistência a antimicrobianos que são amplamente utilizados nos diferentes setores de produção animal. Diante disto, métodos alternativos de tratamento têm sido investigados visando o combate desta bactéria, dentre estes fitoterápicos e fungos. Dois agentes terapêuticos: Lentinula edodes e Euphorbia tirucalli têm demonstrado bons resultados como antimicrobianos e imunoestimulantes contra outros patógenos. Entretanto, não há estudos que comprovem a eficácia destes agentes frente S. agalatiae. Portanto o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a ação antimicrobiana de extrato de Lentinula edodes e Solução aquosa de Euphorbia tirucalli obtidos destes agentes contra S. agalactiae. Foram utilizadas 25 bactérias pertencentes ao banco de cultura do Laboratório de Microbiologia da UFLA, isoladas de mastite bovina e uma amostra ATCC BAA – 611como controle positivo dos testes. O método de concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) foi realizado para avaliar a eficiência dos extratos contra S. agalactiae utilizando uma faixa de concentração de 1000 μg/mL a 15,65 μg/mL, de cada um dos extratos. Não foi observada inibição de crescimento em nenhuma das amostras avaliadas, portanto as concentrações estudadas dos agentes não foram eficazes contra S. agalactiae.  Palavras-chave: mastite bovina. Fungo shiitake, coroa de cristo, GBS, Concentração inibitória mínima

The Antioxidant Capacity of Rosemary and Green Tea Extracts to Replace the Carcinogenic Antioxidant (BHA) in Chicken Burgers

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of natural extracts (rosemary and green tea extracts) in frozen storage of chicken burgers. Chicken burger treatments were prepared as follows: control (CON), 20 mg BHA/kg (BHA20), 10 mg green tea extract/kg (GT10), 38 mg green tea extract/kg (GT38), 18.6 mg rosemary extract/kg (RO18), and 480 mg rosemary extract/kg (RO480). Analysis of physicochemical parameters, color, TBAR index, and sensory acceptance were performed at 0, 30, 60, and 120 days of storage at −18°C in burgers packaged in LDPE plastic bags. The addition of natural antioxidants did not affect (p>0.05) the color and physicochemical parameters of the chicken burgers. After 120 days at −18°C, the RO480 sample showed a TBAR index similar (p>0.05) to BHA20 (0.423 and 0.369 mg, resp.). Sensory acceptance did not differ (p>0.05) among the treatments throughout the storage period (p>0.05)

Mapping density, diversity and species-richness of the Amazon tree flora

Using 2.046 botanically-inventoried tree plots across the largest tropical forest on Earth, we mapped tree species-diversity and tree species-richness at 0.1-degree resolution, and investigated drivers for diversity and richness. Using only location, stratified by forest type, as predictor, our spatial model, to the best of our knowledge, provides the most accurate map of tree diversity in Amazonia to date, explaining approximately 70% of the tree diversity and species-richness. Large soil-forest combinations determine a significant percentage of the variation in tree species-richness and tree alpha-diversity in Amazonian forest-plots. We suggest that the size and fragmentation of these systems drive their large-scale diversity patterns and hence local diversity. A model not using location but cumulative water deficit, tree density, and temperature seasonality explains 47% of the tree species-richness in the terra-firme forest in Amazonia. Over large areas across Amazonia, residuals of this relationship are small and poorly spatially structured, suggesting that much of the residual variation may be local. The Guyana Shield area has consistently negative residuals, showing that this area has lower tree species-richness than expected by our models. We provide extensive plot meta-data, including tree density, tree alpha-diversity and tree species-richness results and gridded maps at 0.1-degree resolution