Effects of TLR Agonists on the Hypoxia-Regulated Transcription Factor HIF-1α and Dendritic Cell Maturation under Normoxic Conditions

Dendritic cells (DC) are professional antigen presenting cells that represent an important link between innate and adaptive immunity. Danger signals such as toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists induce maturation of DC leading to a T-cell mediated adaptive immune response. In this study, we show that exogenous as well as endogenous inflammatory stimuli for TLR4 and TLR2 induce the expression of HIF-1α in human monocyte-derived DC under normoxic conditions. On the functional level, inhibition of HIF-1α using chetomin (CTM), YC-1 and digoxin lead to no consistent effect on MoDC maturation, or cytokine secretion despite having the common effect of blocking HIF-1α stabilization or activity through different mechanisms. Stabilization of HIF-1α protein by hypoxia or CoCl2 did not result in maturation of human DC. In addition, we could show that TLR stimulation resulted in an increase of HIF-1α controlled VEGF secretion. These results show that stimulation of human MoDC with exogenous as well as endogenous TLR agonists induces the expression of HIF-1α in a time-dependent manner. Hypoxia alone does not induce maturation of DC, but is able to augment maturation after TLR ligation. Current evidence suggests that different target genes may be affected by HIF-1α under normoxic conditions with physiological roles that differ from those induced by hypoxia

Management of colorectal cancer presenting with synchronous liver metastases

Up to a fifth of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) present with synchronous hepatic metastases. In patients with CRC who present without intestinal obstruction or perforation and in whom comprehensive whole-body imaging confirms the absence of extrahepatic disease, evidence indicates a state of equipoise between several different management pathways, none of which has demonstrated superiority. Neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy is advocated by current guidelines, but must be integrated with surgical management in order to remove the primary tumour and liver metastatic burden. Surgery for CRC with synchronous liver metastases can take a number of forms: the 'classic' approach, involving initial colorectal resection, interval chemotherapy and liver resection as the final step; simultaneous removal of the liver and bowel tumours with neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy; or a 'liver-first' approach (before or after systemic chemotherapy) with removal of the colorectal tumour as the final procedure. In patients with rectal primary tumours, the liver-first approach can potentially avoid rectal surgery in patients with a complete response to chemoradiotherapy. We overview the importance of precise nomenclature, the influence of clinical presentation on treatment options, and the need for accurate, up-to-date surgical terminology, staging tests and contemporary management options in CRC and synchronous hepatic metastatic disease, with an emphasis on multidisciplinary care

Effect of processing and cooking on total and soluble oxalate content in frozen root vegetables prepared for consumption

The oxalate content of beetroot, carrot, celeriac and parsnip after freezing by traditional and modified methods (the latter resulting in a convenience food product), and after the preparation of frozen products for consumption was evaluated. The highest content of total and soluble oxalates (105 and 82 mg 100 g-1 fresh matter) was found in beetroot. The lowest proportion (55%) of soluble oxalates was noted in celeriac; this proportion was higher in the remaining vegetables, being broadly similar for each of them. Blanching brought about a significant decrease in total and soluble oxalates in fresh vegetables. Cooking resulted in a higher loss of oxalates. The level of oxalates in products prepared for consumption directly after freezing approximated that before freezing. Compared with the content before freezing, vegetables prepared for consumption by cooking after frozen storage contained less oxalates, except for total oxalates in parsnip and soluble oxalates in beetroot and celeriac. The highest ratio of oxalates to calcium was found in raw beetroot; it was two times lower in raw carrot; five times lower in raw celeriac; and eight times lower in raw parsnip. These ratios were lower after technological and culinary processing. The percentage of oxalate bound calcium depended on the species; this parameter was not significantly affected by the procedures applied. The true retention of oxalates according to Judprasong et al. (2006) was lower than retention calculated taking its content in 100 g fresh matter into account.

Badanie przydatnosci szpinaku nowozelandzkiego do mrozenia

Mrożonki ze szpinaku nowozelandzkiego wykonano z liści wraz z młodymi pędami, długości nie przekraczającej 15 cm. Materiał po blanszowaniu w wodzie i rozdrabnianiu na miazgę zawierał o 3-48% mniej analizowanych składników fizykochemicznych niż surowiec. Mrożenie w niewielkim stopniu wpłynęło na zawartość badanych składników. Większe zmiany zaobserwowano w trakcie zamrażalniczego składowania mrożonek. W całym procesie technologicznym największe ubytki, wahające się od 20 do 79%, dotyczyły składników mineralnych, azotanów, cukrów, kwasów ogółem oraz witaminy C. Jednocześnie obserwowano wzrost poziomu azotynów. Jakość sensoryczna wyrobu była dobra, zbliżona do szpinaku zwyczajnego.Frozen products of New Zealand spinach were prepared from leaves and young shoots not exceeding 15 cm. In the material blanched in water and reduced to a pulp the content of physico-chemical components was by 3-48% smaller than in the raw material. The content of the investigated components was to a small degree affected by freezing, greater changes having been observed during the storage of frozen products. In the entire technological process the greatest losses, varying from 20-79%, concerned mineral components, nitrates, sugars, total acids, and vitamin C. At the same time the level of nitrites increased. The sensory quality of the product was good, approximating that of common spinach

Effect of freezing and sterilization on content of amino acids and quality of protein of immature seeds of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Celem pracy była ocena zawartości aminokwasów w nasionach dwóch odmian fasoli zwyczajnej (‘Igołomska’ i ‘Laponia’) zbieranych w stadium dojrzałości woskowej oraz ocena wpływu sposobu konserwowania na zawartość tych składników. Analizowano nasiona świeże i ugotowane, produkty mrożone metodą tradycyjną oraz produkty typu żywność wygodna (mrożone metodą zmodyfikowaną i sterylizowane). Produkty mrożone uzyskano metodami: tradycyjną (blanszowanie – mrożenie – zamrażalnicze składowanie – gotowanie) i zmodyfikowaną (gotowanie – mrożenie – zamrażalnicze składowanie – rozmrożenie i podgrzanie w kuchence mikrofalowej). Świeże nasiona fasoli zebrane w stadium dojrzałości woskowej o zawartości suchej masy na poziomie 40 g/100 g zawierały 7085 - 7886 mg aminokwasów w 100 g części jadalnych. Obróbka technologiczna i przygotowanie produktów do spożycia powodowały zmiany zawartości poszczególnych aminokwasów w zakresie od -33 do 27 %, w porównaniu z surowcem. Wartość odżywczą białka ograniczały aminokwasy siarkowe, tym samym obniżając jego jakość. Indeks EAA (aminokwasów egzogennych) nasion przygotowanych do spożycia zawierał się w przedziale 118 - 139. Najwyższą wartością indeksu EAA charakteryzowało się białko mrożonek otrzymanych metodą zmodyfikowaną i przygotowanych do spożycia, następnie: konserw sterylizowanych, mrożonki tradycyjnej i nasion ugotowanych bezpośrednio po zbiorze, a wśród odmian wyższą jakością białka charakteryzowały się nasiona odmiany ‘Laponia’.The objective of the research study was to assess the content of amino acids in seeds of two cultivars (‘Igołomska’ and ‘Laponia’) of common bean harvested at the wax stage of maturity and the impact of canning method on the content of those components. Analyzed were: raw seeds, cooked seeds, products frozen using a traditional method, and products of a convenience foods type (frozen using a modified method and sterilized). The traditional freezing method consisted in: blanching, freezing, frozen storage, and cooking; the modified method in: cooking, freezing, frozen storage, defrosting, and heating in a microwave oven. The raw seeds of bean harvested at the wax stage of maturity and with a content of dry matter of about 40 g/100 g contained 7085-7886 mg of amino acids per 100 g of edible portion. A technological treatment and the process of preparing the products to be ready-to-eat caused the contents of individual amino acids to change within a range between -33% and +27% compared to the raw material. The nutritional value of protein was limited by sulphur containing amino acids, thus, its quality was reduced. In the ready-to-eat products, the EAA index (of essential amino acids) ranged between 118 and 139. The protein in the frozen products obtained using the modified method and prepared as ready-to-eat foods was characterized by the highest value of EAA index, the next were: the protein in the sterilized canned products, the protein in the traditionally frozen products, and the protein in the seeds cooked immediately after harvest. Of the cultivars analyzed, the seeds of Laponia cultivar were characterized by the best quality of protein

The effect of processing on the amino acid content in green cauliflower

The aim of the work was to evaluate the level of amino acids and quality of protein in fresh green cauliflower and in three kinds of products as eaten: fresh cauliflower after cookin

Wplyw zabiegow technologicznych na sklad chemiczny i cechy sensoryczne mrozonych deserow z banana

W pracy podjęto próbę wykorzystania owoców banana o daleko posuniętej dojrzałości konsumpcyjnej do otrzymywania mrożonych deserów. Banany po pokrojeniu na plastry poddano obróbce wstępnej tj. blanszowaniu w 30% syropie cukrowym, zakwaszonym kwasem cytrynowym, bądź 24 godzinnemu moczeniu w 50% zakwaszonym syropie cukrowym z różnymi dodatkami, w tym z kwasem L-askorbinowym, wodorosiarczynem sodu oraz chlorkiem wapnia. Zabiegi te wykonano w celu stabilizacji barwy, usunięcia substancji gazowych i ewentualnego utwardzenia. W surowcu, spreparowanych plastrach oraz w produkcie po 6. miesiącach zamrażalniczego przechowywania oznaczono zawartość suchej masy, cukrów, kwasów, protopektyn, pektyn, polifenoli, witaminy C, wapnia, SO2 oraz aktywność peroksydazy. Ocena sensoryczna produktów wykazała, że przeprowadzenie blanszowania nie gwarantuje otrzymania dobrej jakości mrożonych deserów. Spośród 6. różnych prób poddanych moczeniu tylko próba, w której do syropu dodawano 0,8% kwasu cytrynowego, 0,2% kwasu L-askorbinowego i 1% chlorku wapnia gwarantowała otrzymanie mrożonek o jakości sensorycznej zbliżonej do oceny dobrej.It was attempted to utilize banana fruit of far-advanced consumption ripeness for the preparation of frozen desserts. Bananas cut in slices were subjected to the preliminary treatment of blanching in 30% sugar syrup acidified with citric acid or soaking during 24 h in 50% acidified sugar syrup with different additives such as L-ascorbic acid, sodium bisulphite and calcium chloride. The aim of the treatment was to stabilize colour, remove gaseous substances, and if possible harden the fruit. The level of dry matter, sugars, acids, protopectins, pectins, polyphenols, vitamin C, calcium, SO2, and the activity of peroxidase were determined in the raw material, prepared slices, and in the product after 6 months of frozen storage. Sensorial analysis of the products showed that the blanching did not ensure a good quality of frozen desserts. Of 6 different samples subjected to soaking only that in syrup enriched with 0.8% citric acid, 0.2% L-ascorbic acid, and 1% calcium chloride ensured the preparation of frozen products whose sensorial quality approximated to a good grade