Effects of additives and ingredient sizing on the shelf-life of "Amaretti" cookies

Cookies are characterised by moisture and water activity (aw) higher than 7% and 0.5, respectively. Cookies have the capacity of bending after baking, when they are fresh, unlike biscuits that break when bent. Hardening is the main cause of quality deterioration of cookies, which change from soft and pliable to firm and crumbly within a few days or even hours after baking. Little research has been done on cookies. "Amaretti" are typical Italian cookies, found in several regions of Italy. Freshly baked "Amaretti" are soft and delicious but undergo severe hardening after seven to ten days, thus limiting the shelf-life, so Amaretti can be marketed only locally. In the present work several attempts have been made in order to extend the shelf-life of Sardinian "Amaretti". In particular, changes to the formulation and to the almond particle size were made. The traditional formulation was, in fact, modified by adding rice starch (thickening agent) or mono-diglyceride of fatty acids (emulsifier). Almonds were grinded to a particle size lower or higher than 1 mm. Amaretti baked with the traditional recipe were used as control. After baking and cooling cookies were wrapped with an aluminium foil and stored at controlled temperature and humidity. Evolution of texture (as hardness) and aw during storage were followed instrumentally by a texture analyser and a hygrometer, respectively

Effects of Th2 cytokines on expression of collagen, MMP-1, and TIMP-1 in conjunctival fibroblasts.

PURPOSE. To determine whether cytokines involved in chronic allergic conjunctival disorders may affect formation of giant papillae and tissue remodeling. METHODS. Conjunctival fibroblast cultures were challenged with different concentrations of human recombinant interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, interferon (IFN)- and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-. Procollagens I (PIP) and III (PIIIP), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and -9, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 were measured in supernatants, and their respective mRNAs were evaluated by RT-PCR. RESULTS. IL-4 and -13 (10 ng/mL) significantly increased production and expression of PIP compared with nonstimulated cells, whereas IFN- elicited the opposite effect, at both the protein and mRNA levels. Both IL-4 and -13 significantly decreased production of MMP-1 and increased that of TIMP-1, whereas TNF- increased production of MMP-1 and -9. Expression of MMP-1 was reduced by IL-4 and increased by the other tested cytokines, whereas expression of TIMP-1 was increased by all tested cytokines. CONCLUSIONS. IL-4 and -13 increased production of collagen and modified the equilibrium between MMP-1 and its inhibitor, TIMP-1. These effects were partially opposed by IFN- and TNF- .( Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2003;44:183‐189) DOI

Strategies to Reverse Endothelial Progenitor Cell Dysfunction in Diabetes

Bone-marrow-derived cells-mediated postnatal vasculogenesis has been reported as the main responsible for the regulation of vascular homeostasis in adults. Since their discovery, endothelial progenitor cells have been depicted as mediators of postnatal vasculogenesis for their peculiar phenotype (partially staminal and partially endothelial), their ability to differentiate in endothelial cell line and to be incorporated into the vessels wall during ischemia/damage. Diabetes mellitus, a condition characterized by cardiovascular disease, nephropathy, and micro- and macroangiopathy, showed a dysfunction of endothelial progenitor cells. Herein, we review the mechanisms involved in diabetes-related dysfunction of endothelial progenitor cells, highlighting how hyperglycemia affects the different steps of endothelial progenitor cells lifetime (i.e., bone marrow mobilization, trafficking into the bloodstream, differentiation in endothelial cells, and homing in damaged tissues/organs). Finally, we review preclinical and clinical strategies that aim to revert diabetes-induced dysfunction of endothelial progenitor cells as a means of finding new strategies to prevent diabetic complications

Autoantibody Response to Islet Transplantation in Type 1 Diabetes

Islet allotransplantation into patients with autoimmune type 1 diabetes represents a reexposure to autoantigen. Here, measurement of antibodies to GAD and IA-2 autoantigens before and after islet transplantation in 36 patients (33 receiving islet plus kidney grafts with cyclosporin and steroid-based immunosuppression, and 3 receiving solitary islet transplants with mycophenolate but cyclosporin-free immunosuppression) demonstrated marked rises in GAD antibodies within 7 days posttransplantation in 5 patients (3 receiving islet after kidney transplants, and 2 receiving solitary islet transplants) and within 30 days in the third patient receiving solitary islet transplantation. GAD antibodies were of the IgG1 subclass, against major autoantigenic epitopes, and in cases of islet after kidney transplants, the responses were short-lived and not accompanied by HLA antibodies. Two of these patients had subsequent marked rises of IA-2 antibodies, and an additional patient had a marked rise in IgM-GAD antibodies 3 years after transplantation. Insulin independence was not achieved in patients with autoantibody elevations and was significantly less frequent in these patients. These data are consistent with a reactivation of autoimmunity that may be dependent on immunosuppression therapy and is associated with impaired graft function

Rendimiento de achicoria ‘Folha larga’ y ‘Pão de açúcar’ en función de la densidad de plantación

1 recurso en línea (páginas 322-328) : ilustraciones color.La densidad de planta influye directamente en el potencial productivo de los cultivos y la mejor puede no ser la misma para todos. Debido a la falta de investigación en esta línea con achicoria, con el objetivo de estudiar el efecto de la densidad de plantas sobre el rendimiento de los dos cultivares de achicoria, de Folha Larga y Pão de Açúcar. Se evaluaron siete densidades de plantas (444.444, 370.370, 333.333, 277.778, 266.667, 222.222 y 185.185 plantas/ha), en un diseño de bloques al azar con cuatro repeticiones. Se evaluaron el peso fresco, altura de planta, número de hojas y la rendimiento. A pesar de la densidad no influyó en altura de la planta, había una disminución en el peso fresco y el número de hojas por planta y hubo un aumento de la rendimiento de los dos cultivares de mayor densidad.Plant density directly influences the productive potential of crops, and the best density is not the same for all cultivars. Because of a lack of research in this area with chicory, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of plant density on the production of two chicory cultivares, Folha Larga and Pão de Açúcar. Seven planting densities were evaluated (444,444; 370,370; 333,333; 277,778; 266,667; 222,222 and 185,185 plants/ha); the experiment design used a randomized block design with four replications. The fresh weight, plant height, leaf number and yield were evaluated. Despite the fact that density did not influence plant height, mass reduction was observed in the fresh weight and number of leaves per plant and there was an increase in yield of both cultivars with the higher density.Bibliografía: páginas 327-328

Evoluzione chimico-fisica, sensoriale e della texture di un formaggio fresco pecorino confezionato in atmosfera modificata durante la shelf-life

This paper reports the results obtained from the analysis of a fresh ewe’s cheese packed under different modified atmospheres during the shelf- life. Cheese stored in 80% N2/20% CO2, at the end of the shelf-life was better than cheese packed with a 10% CO2, both for sensory characteristics and for rheological parameters, specially for the puncture force and hardness and chewiness obtained from the TPA assay. The colour was slightly more yellow than the cheese stored with 10% CO2. Il presente lavoro riporta i risultati ottenuti dall’analisi di un formaggio pecorino fresco conservato in atmosfera modificata mediante due differenti condizioni e prodotto ad una settimana di distanza uno dall’altro. L’analisi dei cambiamenti fisico-chimici, di texture e sensoriali durante la shelf-life, ha evidenziato che il campione conservato in atmosfera modificata con una percentuale di N2/CO2 pari a 80/20 si è rivelato qualitativamente superiore rispetto a quello conservato con una percentuale di N2/CO2pari a 90/10, sia per quanto concerne le caratteristiche sensoriali sia per i parametri di texture, in particolar modo per la forza alla rottura in compressione e per la durezza e masticabilità all’analisi TPA, anche se ha mostrato un ingiallimento del colore leggermente superiore rispetto alla prova conservata in miscela di gas 90/10

Rapamycin does not adversely affect intrahepatic islet engraftment in mice and improves early islet engraftment in humans.

Objective: In this study we examined the effect of rapamycin (RAPA), a key component of the immunosuppressive regimen in clinical islet transplantation, on islet engraftment and function in vivo. Methods and results: Diabetic C57BL/6 or BALB/C recipient mice were transplanted with 350 syngeneic islets through the portal vein (PV-Tx; C57BL/6 n = 60; BALB/C n = 22) and treated with once-daily oral RAPA (1 mg/kg) or vehicle. No differences in post-transplant blood glucose concentrations and glucose tolerance were observed between RAPA-and vehicle-treated mice. The impact of RAPA on human islet engraftment was assessed in 10 patients with type 1 diabetes treated with 0.1 mg/kg/day rapamycin before islet transplantation. Compared to non pre-treated islet transplant recipents (n = 12), RAPA pre-treated patients had increased blood RAPA concentrations (p = 0.006) and fasting C-peptide concentrations (p = 0.005) in the two weeks post-transplant. RAPA pre-treatment was associated with a reduction in chemokines CCL2 and CCL3 concentrations pre-transplant (p < 0.01), and a dampened chemokine response (p = 0.005) post-transplant. Concordantly, in vitro RAPA inhibited the secretion of CCL2 and CCL3 by monocytes. Conclusion: Rapamycin does not adversely affect intrahepatic islet engraftment in the mouse, and potentially improves islet engraftment in humans by an anti-inflammatory mechanism

Mendelian breeding units <i>versus</i> standard sampling strategies: mitochondrial DNA variation in southwest Sardinia

We report a sampling strategy based on Mendelian Breeding Units (MBUs), representing an interbreeding group of individuals sharing a common gene pool. The identification of MBUs is crucial for case-control experimental design in association studies. The aim of this work was to evaluate the possible existence of bias in terms of genetic variability and haplogroup frequencies in the MBU sample, due to severe sample selection. In order to reach this goal, the MBU sampling strategy was compared to a standard selection of individuals according to their surname and place of birth. We analysed mitochondrial DNA variation (first hypervariable segment and coding region) in unrelated healthy subjects from two different areas of Sardinia: the area around the town of Cabras and the western Campidano area. No statistically significant differences were observed when the two sampling methods were compared, indicating that the stringent sample selection needed to establish a MBU does not alter original genetic variability and haplogroup distribution. Therefore, the MBU sampling strategy can be considered a useful tool in association studies of complex traits

Urokinase Plasminogen Activator, uPa Receptor, and Its Inhibitor in Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis

PURPOSE. Plasminogen activators play a role, not only in fibrinolysis but also in events such as chemotaxis, collagen degradation, and cell spreading. The serine protease urokinase (uPA) is a potent chemoattractant for leukocytes that may be involved in the pathogenesis of severe forms of allergic conjunctivitis such as vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC). METHODS. Tear and peripheral blood samples were obtained from 20 patients with active VKC and from 19 normal subjects who formed the control group. Levels of plasminogen activity, uPA, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), and their inhibitor, plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) were measured in tears and plasma of patients with VKC. The presence of tPA, uPA, and urokinase receptor (uPAR) in conjunctival tissues were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. uPA, uPAR, and PAI-1 expression and production were measured in conjunctival epithelial cell and fibroblast cultures treated with cytokines. RESULTS. Tear levels of uPA and tPA and tear plasminogen activity levels were significantly greater in patients with VKC than in control subjects. Increased staining for uPA and uPAR was found in VKC tissues compared with normal conjunctiva. Both conjunctival epithelial cells and fibroblasts demonstrated an increased expression of uPAR after exposure to IL-4 or -13, whereas uPA was highly expressed by epithelial cells exposed to IL-4. PAI-1 levels in culture medium were increased in IL-4-exposed epithelial cells compared to nonstimulated cells and were decreased in fibroblast culture. CONCLUSIONS. Increased expression of fibrinolytic system components and imbalance between plasminogen activators and PAI may be involved in the pathogenesis of severe allergic conjunctivitis, thus contributing to inflammatory cell migration and tissue remodeling. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2005;46: 1364‐1370) DOI:10.1167/iovs.04-119