Thermal Control Using Far-Infrared Irradiation for Producing Deglycosylated Bioactive Compounds from Korean Ginseng Leaves.

Although ginseng leaf is a good source of health-beneficial phytochemicals, such as polyphenols and ginsenosides, few studies have focused on the variation in compounds and bioactivities during leaf thermal processing. The efficiency of far-infrared irradiation (FIR) between 160 °C and 200 °C on the deglycosylation of bioactive compounds in ginseng leaves was analyzed. FIR treatment significantly increased the total polyphenol content (TPC) and kaempferol production from panasenoside conversion. The highest content or conversion ratio was observed at 180 °C (FIR-180). Major ginsenoside contents gradually decreased as the FIR temperature increased, while minor ginsenoside contents significantly increased. FIR exhibited high efficiency to produce dehydrated minor ginsenosides, of which F4, Rg6, Rh4, Rk3, Rk1, and Rg5 increased to their highest levels at FIR-190, by 278-, 149-, 176-, 275-, 64-, and 81-fold, respectively. Moreover, significantly increased antioxidant activities were also observed in FIR-treated leaves, particularly FIR-180, mainly due to the breakage of phenolic polymers to release antioxidants. These results suggest that FIR treatment is a rapid and efficient processing method for producing various health-beneficial bioactive compounds from ginseng leaves. After 30 min of treatment without leaf burning, FIR-190 was the optimum temperature for producing minor ginsenosides, whereas FIR-180 was the optimum temperature for producing polyphenols and kaempferol. In addition, the results suggested that the antioxidant benefits of ginseng leaves are mainly due to polyphenols rather than ginsenosides.

Development of a Polymer-Mediated Soybean Nanocomposite by Hot Melt Extrusion to Improve Its Functionality and Antioxidant Properties.

The poor bioaccessibility of the phenolic compounds of soybeans is a key challenge to developing functional food products. Therefore, a novel hydrophilic food-grade hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) polymer was added to soybean to prepare a soybean food composite (SFC), in order to improve the soybean's functionality. The SFC was prepared with soybean (95%) plus HPMC (5%) (w/w) mixes (HSE), as well as 100% soybean extrudate (SE), at 80 °C and 130 °C by a hot melt extrusion (HME) process. A non-extrudate 100% soybean material was considered as a control. It is observed that water solubility was significantly increased (35.18%), and particle size reached to nano-size (171.5 nm) in HSE at 130 °C compared to the control (7.14% and 1166 nm, respectively). The total phenolic, flavonoid, and single isoflavones content, including daidzin, daidzein, glycitein, genistein, and genistin was significantly increased in HSE at 130 °C compared to the control. The antioxidant properties were also significantly increased in HSE at 130 °C compared to the control, measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1 picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), a ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP), and the phosphomolybdenum method (PPMD). Finally, it is concluded that the HPMC polymer could be used as a novel excipient to develop nanocomposite via HME, in order to improve the functionality of soybean food products.

Unenhanced Computed Tomography to Visualize Hollow Viscera and/or Mesenteric Injury After Blunt Abdominal Trauma: A Single-Institution Experience.

To identify and describe the major features of unenhanced computed tomography (CT) images of blunt hollow viscera and/or mesenteric injury (BHVI/MI) and to determine the value of unenhanced CT in the diagnosis of BHVI/MI. This retrospective study included 151 patients who underwent unenhanced CT before laparotomy for blunt abdominal trauma between January 2011 and December 2013. According to surgical observations, patients were classified as having BHVI/MI (n = 73) or not (n = 78). Sensitivity, specificity, P values, and likelihood ratios were calculated by comparing CT findings between the 2 groups. Six significant CT findings (P < 0.05) for BHVI/MI were identified and their sensitivity and specificity values determined, as follows: bowel wall thickening (39.7%, 96.2%), mesentery thickening (46.6%, 88.5%), mesenteric fat infiltration (12.3%, 98.7%), peritoneal fat infiltration (31.5%, 87.1%), parietal peritoneum thickening (30.1%, 85.9%), and intra- or retro-peritoneal air (34.2%, 96.2%). Unenhanced CT scan was useful as an initial assessment tool for BHVI/MI after blunt abdominal trauma. Six key features on CT were correlated with BHVI/MI.

Application and validation of autochthonous Lactobacillus plantarum starter cultures for controlled malolactic fermentation and its influence on the aromatic profile of cherry wines.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) used for malolactic fermentation (MLF) has a great effect on the production and quality of cherry wines. The present study used an autochthonous Lb. plantarum strain of SGJ-24 which was isolated from spontaneous MLF cherry wines and selected by its best MLF performance and tolerance, to investigate its effect on the kinetic of vinification and on chemical and volatile characteristics of Rainer and May Duck cherry wines, in comparison with a commercial Oenococcus oeni strain of 31 MBR. Monitoring of MLF was carried out by measuring cell viability and malic acid metabolism, and results showed that for both cherry varieties, SGJ-24 can significantly minimize MLF duration. After fermentation, wine samples were chemically characterized and analyzed for volatile profiles. Results demonstrated that no negative impact on the analytical parameters has been found, and a general increase of volatile esters and terpenes was observed when SGJ-24 was involved. Sensory analysis revealed that the global aromatic intensity was enhanced by the introduction of SGJ-24. All these data suggested that the application of Lb. plantarum strain of SGJ-24 as a worthwhile alternative LAB species for Rainer and May Duck cherry winemaking.

Sequential culture with Torulaspora delbrueckii and Saccharomyces cerevisiae and management of fermentation temperature to improve cherry wine quality.

BACKGROUND: There has been limited research on the use of non-Saccharomyces yeasts for the production of cherry wines. This work used an autochthonous Torulaspora delbrueckii strain 49 (TD49) in association with a commercial S. cerevisiae RC212 yeast, to investigate the effect of multi-starter culture (sequential inoculation and simultaneous inoculation) and fermentation temperature on the quality of cherry wines. RESULTS: Both TD49 and RC212 proliferated during alcoholic fermentation (AF) under sequential inoculation conditions, whereas in the case of simultaneous inoculation, TD49 increased slowly at first and then declined sharply near the fermentation end. The analytical profile showed that both mixed fermentations produced lower levels of volatile acidy and higher levels of aromatic compounds than those from RC212 mono-culture. During sensory analysis, wines from sequential fermentation obtained the highest score, mainly due to the higher intensity in 'fruity' and 'floral' characters. As for the influence of temperature, a low temperature (20 °C) enhanced TD49 persistence during AF, but the sensory quality decreased anyway; 30 °C resulted in decreases in most measured descriptors. Therefore, 25 °C was selected as the best culture temperature. CONCLUSION: TD49/RC212 sequential inoculation and fermentation at 25 °C significantly enhanced the cherry wine quality.

Gene cloning of an important eukaryotic translation initiation factor family, eIF2A gene in halophytic Leymus chinensis (Trin.).

Eukaryotic initiation factors eIF2A and eIF2 both play important roles in the mRNA translation of protein synthesis, whereas the functions of eIF2A are usually overlooked, as both functions of binding methyionly-tRNAi (Met-tRNAi) to 40S are similar under the same complementary factor and nucleotide requirements. Recently, the functions of eIF2A were reported to differ from those of eIF2 in manners when binding Met-tRNAi to 40S. Given that eukaryotic initiation factor eIF2 has been well known, eIF2A was still deficient in understanding of its sequence, structure and functions. In this work, we collected a high salt-tolerant grass Leymus chinensis (Trin.) as the object of study, and cloned and sequenced the eIF2A gene from this species. Based on the DNA alignment and analysis of eIF2A gene sequences from other organisms, an effective primer set was newly designed. Using this primer set, a DNA fragment with length of about 500 bp was obtained, and we have submitted this sequencing result to NCBI GenBank database (accession number: KF279515). The Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) result showed that our sequence is highly identical to eIF2A gene sequences that existed in NCBI GenBank database. This work would help to further understand the function of eIF2A, and provide more potential target genes for studying their functions in relation to stress tolerance mechanisms.

Is Dor fundoplication optimum after laparoscopic Heller myotomy for achalasia? A meta-analysis.

AIM: To compare the outcome of acid reflux prevention by Dor fundoplication after laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM) for achalasia. METHODS: Electronic database PubMed, Ovid (Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews, EmBase and Ovid MEDLINE) and Cochrane Library were searched between January 1995 and September 2012. Bibliographic citation management software (EndNote X3) was used for extracted literature management. Quality assessment of random controlled studies (RCTs) and non-RCTs was performed according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions 5.1.0 and a modification of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, respectively. The data were analyzed using Review Manager (Version 5.1), and sensitivity analysis was performed by sequentially omitting each study. RESULTS: Finally, 6 studies, including a total of 523 achalasia patients, compared Dor fundoplication with other types of fundoplication after LHM (Dor-other group), and 8 studies, including a total of 528 achalasia patients, compared Dor fundoplication with no fundoplication after LHM (Dor-no group). Dor fundoplication was associated with a significantly higher recurrence rate of clinical regurgitation and pathological acid reflux compared with the other fundoplication group (OR = 7.16, 95%CI: 1.25-40.93, P = 0.03, and OR = 3.79, 95%CI: 1.23-11.72, P = 0.02, respectively). In addition, there were no significant differences between Dor fundoplication and no fundoplication in all subjects. Other outcomes, including complications, dysphagia, postoperative physiologic testing, and operation-related data displayed no significant differences in the two comparison groups. CONCLUSION: Dor fundoplication is not the optimum procedure after LHM for achalasia. We suggest more attention should be paid on quality of life among different fundoplications.

Changes in flavonoid content and tyrosinase inhibitory activity in kenaf leaf extract after far-infrared treatment.

The tyrosinase inhibitory activity of ethanolic extract of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) leaf was evaluated before and after subjecting it to far-infrared (FIR) irradiation. The main component of the extract was analyzed as kaempferitrin (kaempferol-3,7-O-α-dirhamnoside). Prior to FIR irradiation, no inhibitory activity of the extract was detected in a tyrosinase assay. However, after FIR irradiation for 1h at 60°C, significant tyrosinase inhibitory activity (IC(50)=3500 ppm) was observed in it. In HPLC analysis, derhamnosylation products (kaempferol, afzelin, and α-rhamnoisorobin) were detected. The inhibitory activity may be due to the existence of derhamnosylation products. This study demonstrated that FIR irradiation can be used as a convenient tool for deglycosylation of flavonoid glycoside.

Chitinophaga ginsengisegetis sp. nov. and Chitinophaga ginsengisoli sp. nov., isolated from soil of a ginseng field in South Korea.

Two novel strains belonging to the phylum Bacteroidetes [formerly the Cytophaga-Flexibacter-Bacteroides (CFB) group], designated Gsoil 040(T) and Gsoil 052(T), were isolated from the soil of a ginseng field in Pocheon province, South Korea. A polyphasic approach was used to characterize the taxonomic position of the novel strains. Both strains were Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the novel isolates belong to the genus Chitinophaga but are clearly separated from the recognized species of this genus; gene sequence similarities between the novel isolates and type strains of recognized species ranged from 91.2 to 96.5 %. One exception was found; strain Gsoil 052(T) and the type strain of Chitinophaga filiformis had a gene sequence similarity of 99.6 % but had a DNA-DNA relatedness value of 38 %. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data (major menaquinone, MK-7; major fatty acids, iso-C(15 : 0) and C(16 : 1)omega5c; major hydroxy fatty acid, iso-C(17 : 0) 3-OH and major polyamine, homospermidine) supported the affiliation of both strains Gsoil 040(T) and Gsoil 052(T) to the genus Chitinophaga. The results of physiological and biochemical tests enabled the genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of the novel strains from the other recognized species of the genus Chitinophaga. Therefore, it is suggested that the new isolates represent two novel species, for which the names Chitinophaga ginsengisoli [corrected] sp. nov. [type strain Gsoil 040(T) (=KCTC 12654(T)=DSM 18108(T))] and Chitinophaga ginsengisoli sp. nov. [type strain Gsoil 052(T) (=KCTC 12592(T)=DSM 18017(T))] are proposed.