Potential indicator enzyme s at broccoli blanching tecnology

Blanching of vegetables before freezing has some advantages as well as a number of disadvantages. Process optimization involves measuring the rate of enzyme destruction, such that the blanching time is just long enough to destroy the indicator enzyme. Eventually, peroxidases were almost universally the enzymes of choice, as they are usually the most heat-stable enzymes found in vegetables and fruits, so by the time they are inactivated no other enzymes or micro-organisms remain. But there is no evidence that peroxidases are involved in deteriorative reactions in the food. The aim of this work was to improve blanching technology in Hungarian frozen food industry with special emphasis on broccoli treatment. Instead of peroxidases, lipoxygenases were chosen to determine the adequate blanching parameters. Usually, lipoxygenases accompany lipases, so lipase activity is measured, too. On the basis of model blanching experiments, the conclusion is that lipoxygenase could be used as indicator enzyme. Being less heat stable than peroxidase, this enzyme requires shorter heat treatment, hence its inactivation should result in minimum quality deterioration and economic loss

Search for direct production of charginos and neutralinos in events with three leptons and missing transverse momentum in √s = 7 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for the direct production of charginos and neutralinos in final states with three electrons or muons and missing transverse momentum is presented. The analysis is based on 4.7 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data delivered by the Large Hadron Collider and recorded with the ATLAS detector. Observations are consistent with Standard Model expectations in three signal regions that are either depleted or enriched in Z-boson decays. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set in R-parity conserving phenomenological minimal supersymmetric models and in simplified models, significantly extending previous results

A comparative analysis of Hungarian robinia and milkweed honeys based on their chemical and physical characteristics

Sugar composition, pH, invertase and diastase activity and colour of 7 robinia (Robinia pseudoacacia) and 8 milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) honey samples were compared, all purchased from producers and wholesalers. Milkweed honeys proved to be of darker colour and more acidic. The two unifloral honeys showed statistically significant differences between their diastase and invertase activities, milkweed honey showed higher enzyme activity values than robinia honey. The fructose to glucose ratio was 1.58 in case of robinia honey and 1.28 in case of milkweed honey. There was also a significant difference between the di- and trisaccharide content of the two unifloral honeys

Characterization of red beet and carrot with special emphasis on nitrate accumulation

Nitrate accumulation in plants is a natural phenomenon resulting from uptake of nitrate ion in excess of its reduction and subsequent assimilation. The water soluble nitrate content of various carrot and red beet varieties was measured as a function of irrigation and mineral supplement in three years. In the first year, the nitrate content increased in both roots (significant differences were found for three carrot and at three red beet cultivars) following the irrigation. The activity of nitrate-reductase in the leaves was also significantly higher after irrigation in three red beet varieties in 1998. The mineral supplement in most of the carrot varieties increased the nitrate content. In the third year, the impact of water supply showed various tendencies in nitrate accumulation in both vegetables. On the basis of results for three years, the conclusion was that the seasonal and varietal differences were also remarkable

Investigation of enzyme activity in Hungarian acacia and milkweed honeys

Diastase and glucose-oxidase activity was determined in 8 samples of Hungarian milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) honey and in 10 samples of Hungarian acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia) honey. The aim of the study was to compare diastase and glucose-oxidase activity of milkweed and acacia honey. Mean value for diastase was 16.28 diastase number (DN) (±2.53) in acacia honey and 24.48 DN (±5.07) in milkweed honey. Mean value for glucose-oxidase was 3.67 nmol unit g–1 (±3.31) in acacia honey and 8.24 (±4.21) in milkweed honey. The differences both in diastase and glucose-oxidase activities of the two honey types were statistically significant

Decreased level of serum NT-proCNP associates with disease severity in COVID-19

Abstract Background C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is an endothelium-derived paracrine molecule with an important role in vascular homeostasis. In septic patients, the serum level of the amino-terminal propeptide of CNP (NT-proCNP) shows a strong positive correlation with inflammatory biomarkers and, if elevated, correlates with disease severity and indicates a poor outcome. It is not yet known whether NT-proCNP also correlates with the clinical outcome of patients suffering from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. In the current study, we aimed to determine possible changes in the NT-proCNP levels of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with special regard to disease severity and outcome. Methods In this retrospective analysis, we determined the serum level of NT-proCNP in hospitalized patients with symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection, using their blood samples taken on admission, stored in a biobank. The NT-proCNP levels of 32 SARS-CoV-2 positive and 35 SARS-CoV-2 negative patients were measured to investigate possible correlation with disease outcome. SARS-CoV-2 positive patients were then divided into two groups based on their need for intensive care unit treatment (severe and mild COVID-19). Results The NT-proCNP was significantly different in the study groups (e.g. severe and mild COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients), but showed inverse changes compared to previous observations in septic patients: lowest levels were detected in critically ill COVID-19 patients, while highest levels in the non-COVID-19 group. A low level of NT-proCNP on admission was significantly associated with severe disease outcome. Conclusions Low-level NT-proCNP on hospital admission is associated with a severe COVID-19 disease course. The pathomechanism underlying this observation remains to be elucidated, while future studies in larger patient cohorts are necessary to confirm these observations and reveal therapeutic importance. Trial registration DRKS00026655 Registered 26. November 202