Development of Araticum (Annona crassiflora Mart.) jams: evaluation of physical, microbiological, and sensorial stability in different packages.

Araticum is an exotic fruit with unique sensory features and also high nutritional value characteristics. This study aimed to develop araticum jams with substitution of commercial pectin for passion fruit albedo, as well as to evaluate its physical, microbiological and sensorial stability during storage in polyethylene and polypropylene packages. Samples were analyzed at 25 and 35 °C for 130 days. During the storage the values of pH (3.5-4.9), titratable acidity (0.27-0.62%), color (L* 20.56-28.49, a* 1.32-7.03, and b* 1.32-9.29), chroma (1.86-11.65), hue (0.60-1.03), soluble solids (68-79.70 ºBrix), reducing sugars (12.60-60.30%), non-reducing sugars (6.22-56.19%), total sugars (55.30-96.30%), and carotenoids (0.21-1.27 mg.100 g-1) varied. The indicated shelf life was approximately 117 and 65 days for jams in polypropylene package, and 112 and 63 days for those kept in the polyethylene package, when the temperature of storage was 25 and 35 ºC, respectively. Araticum fruit is a good source for jams, that can contribute to the increased insertion of foods of better nutritional value in the consumer market.

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) rind flour: Development and characterization of a novel watermelon byproduct.

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a fruit widely consumed by the Brazilian population; however, its rind is usually discarded, despite its nutritional value. This work aimed to develop a watermelon rind flour (WRF) and a fiber-rich bread. The WRF was submitted to microbiological analysis, proximate composition, antioxidant activity, and a profile of phenolic compounds. Six types of bread were developed: three using WRF (20%, 30%, and 40% of wheat flour replacement) and three control samples (only wheat flour), which were submitted to the same analysis, in addition to colorimetric properties, instrumental texture profile, and sensory evaluation (check-all-that-apply, purchase intent, and acceptance test). A high fiber content was observed in WRF (27.15%). The total concentration of phenolic compounds was 2.38 ± 0.20 mg of gallic acid equivalent per g and benzoic acid was the main compound found (73.50 mg/100 g WRF). The results of the antioxidant capacity through the DPPH method indicated a 30% reduction. The WRF 40% bread had 3.06 g of insoluble fiber, characterizing itself as a source of fiber. In the instrumental texture analysis, it was observed that bread hardness increased significantly as the WRF content increased. The formulation of the bread containing WRF is an alternative for the use of waste, favoring the development of a fiber-source product, with a functional food claim.

The bioactive constituents and antioxidant activities of ten selected Brazilian Cerrado fruits.

This study measured the total levels of phenolic, anthocyanin, carotenoid, and tocopherol compounds, and vitamin C in ten fruits from the Brazilian Cerrado: araçá-boi, bacaba, bacupari, biribá, cajuí, curriola, marmelada-espinho, mirindiba, murici, and puçá-preto. Five extracts were prepared from each fruit using solvents with different polarities. The Trolox equivalent antioxidant activity, oxygen radical absorbance capacity, and inhibition of ß-carotene bleaching were determined for each extract. Scott-Knott test and principal component analysis showed that the analyzed fruits were rich sources of different classes of bioactive compounds, with levels comparable to those in commonly consumed fruits such as guavas, and various berries and citrus fruits. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study of the bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities of biribá, cajuí, marmelada-espinho, and mirindiba. Moreover, mirindiba was found to be a rich source of vitamin C and phenolics, with an average level of carotenoids and tocopherols.

Inequalities in food acquisition according to the social profiles of the head of households in Brazil.

Brazil is characterized by strong social inequalities and differences in access to quality food and sufficient quantities of it, which represent a violation of the human right to adequate food. The aim was to assess food expenditures according to the social profiles of the head of the households. Data from the cross-sectional Brazilian Household Budget Survey (2017/2018) were used with a nationally representative sample of household survey participants (n=52,917). Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) to assess the association of different social profiles with the acquisition of food. The profile characterized by woman self-classified as white, with a higher education, which characteristics were positively and significantly associated with more acquisition of fruits (PR=1.22; CI95% 1.09-1.36) and vegetables and greens (PR=1.24; CI95% 1.09-1.41). Black women with low education levels showed a negative association with the consumption of soda (PR=0.53; CI95% 0.45-0.62), and prepared food (PR=0.52; CI95% 0.37-0.74). The results reveal great inequalities in the purchase of food between the social profiles of the heads of the family.

Inequalities in food acquisition according to the social profiles of the head of households in Brazil / Desigualdades na aquisição de alimentos de acordo com a renda e os perfis sociais do chefe de família no Brasil

Abstract Brazil is characterized by strong social inequalities and differences in access to quality food and sufficient quantities of it, which represent a violation of the human right to adequate food. The aim was to assess food expenditures according to the social profiles of the head of the households. Data from the cross-sectional Brazilian Household Budget Survey (2017/2018) were used with a nationally representative sample of household survey participants (n=52,917). Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) to assess the association of different social profiles with the acquisition of food. The profile characterized by woman self-classified as white, with a higher education, which characteristics were positively and significantly associated with more acquisition of fruits (PR=1.22; CI95% 1.09-1.36) and vegetables and greens (PR=1.24; CI95% 1.09-1.41). Black women with low education levels showed a negative association with the consumption of soda (PR=0.53; CI95% 0.45-0.62), and prepared food (PR=0.52; CI95% 0.37-0.74). The results reveal great inequalities in the purchase of food between the social profiles of the heads of the family.

Resumo O Brasil é caracterizado por fortes desigualdades sociais e diferenças no acesso a alimentos de qualidade e em quantidade suficiente, o que representa uma violação do direito humano à alimentação adequada. O objetivo foi avaliar os gastos com alimentação de acordo com o perfil social do responsável pelo domicílio. Dados da Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares Brasileiros de corte transversal (2017/2018) foram usados com uma amostra nacionalmente representativa de participantes da pesquisa domiciliar (n=52.917). A regressão de Poisson foi utilizada para estimar razões de prevalência (RP) para avaliar a associação de diferentes perfis sociais com a aquisição de alimentos. O perfil caracterizado pela mulher auto classificada como branca, com maior escolaridade, cujas características estiveram positiva e significativamente associadas a maior aquisição de frutas (RP=1,22; IC95% 1,09-1,36), verduras e legumes (PR=1,24; IC95% 1,09-1,41) e queijo (RP=1,32; IC95% 1,09-1,59). Mulheres negras com baixa escolaridade apresentaram associação negativa com o consumo de refrigerantes (RP=0,53; IC95% 0,45-0,62) e alimentos preparados (RP=0,52; IC95% 0,37-0,74). Os resultados revelam grandes desigualdades na aquisição de alimentos entre os perfis sociais dos chefes de família.

Serum S100B protein is increased in fasting rats.

BACKGROUND: S100B is a calcium-binding protein expressed and secreted by astrocytes; serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) S100B elevation has been proposed as an index of brain damage. However, other tissues are shown to produce this protein and the clinical significance of serum S100B elevation has been discussed. METHODS: We investigated the levels of serum and CSF S100B in fasting Wistar rats. Animals were divided into two groups, control and fasting for 48 h, and S100B levels in serum and CSF were determined by ELISA. S100B secretion in dissociated epididymal fat cells was investigated in the presence of epinephrine. RESULTS: We observed a significant >2-fold increase of S100B levels in serum of fasting rats, without changes in its CSF content. Moreover, we demonstrated in vitro epinephrine stimulated S100B release from fat cells. CONCLUSIONS: Present results reinforce that extracerebral sources of S100B, particularly adipocytes, contribute to its serum levels and support the idea that caution is needed when interpreting serum S100B increase as a clinical marker of brain damage.

Ketogenic diet fed rats have low levels of S100B in cerebrospinal fluid.

Ketogenic diets have been used to treat seizure disorders of children resistant to conventional anti-epileptic drug treatment. The mechanism of action of this diet, however, is unknown. Gliosis is a very common characteristic in tissues associated with epileptogenesis and glial cytokines may be involved in the pathology of seizure disorders. We investigate herein, whether ketogenic diet fed rats demonstrate changes in the immunocontent of S100B, an astrocyte-derived cytokine elevated in the temporal lobe of refractory epilepsy. Lower levels of S100B were observed in cerebrospinal fluid with no significant changes in S100B and GFAP content in brain tissue. Ketogenic fed rats presented a lower seizure severity induced by pentylenetetrazole and no change in cerebrospinal fluid S100B after pentylenetetrazole administration. These results support the concept that the ketogenic diet is neuroprotective in seizure disorders. Since S100B has an extracellular activity in neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity, it would be reasonable to conceive that a decrease in the S100B could be involved in the mechanism of action of the ketogenic diet. However, it is not possible to establish a direct link between reduced CSF S100B and decreased severity of PTZ-induced attacks at present moment. Regardless of this, CSF S100B could be proposed as an index of efficacy of ketogenic diet for seizure disorders.

APOE genotype and extent of bleeding and outcome in lobar intracerebral haemorrhage: a genetic association study.

BACKGROUND: Carriers of APOE ε2 and ε4 have an increased risk of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) in lobar regions, presumably because of the effects of these gene variants on risk of cerebral amyloid angiopathy. We aimed to assess whether these variants also associate with severity of ICH, in terms of haematoma volume at presentation and subsequent outcome. METHODS: We investigated the association of APOE ε2 and ε4 with ICH volume and outcomes in patients with primary ICH in three phases: a discovery phase of 865 individuals of European ancestry from the Genetics of Cerebral Hemorrhage on Anticoagulation study, and replication phases of 946 Europeans (replication 1) and 214 African-Americans (replication 2) from an additional six studies. We also assessed the association of APOE variants with ICH volume and outcomes in meta-analyses of results from all three phases, and the association of APOE ε4 with mortality in a further meta-analysis including data from previous reports. Admission ICH volume was quantified on CT scan. We assessed functional outcome (modified Rankin scale score 3-6) and mortality at 90 days. We used linear regression to establish the effect of genotype on haematoma volume and logistic regression to assess the effect on outcome from ICH. FINDINGS: For patients with lobar ICH, carriers of the APOE ε2 allele had larger ICH volumes than did non-carriers in the discovery phase (p=2·5×10(-5)), in both replication phases (p=0·008 in Europeans and p=0·016 in African-Americans), and in the meta-analysis (p=3·2×10(-8)). In the meta-analysis, each copy of APOE ε2 increased haematoma size by a mean of 5·3 mL (95% CI 4·7-5·9; p=0·004). Carriers of APOE ε2 had increased mortality (odds ratio [OR] 1·50, 95% CI 1·23-1·82; p=2·45×10(-5)) and poorer functional outcomes (modified Rankin scale score 3-6; 1·52, 1·25-1·85; p=1·74×10(-5)) compared with non-carriers after lobar ICH. APOE ε4 was not associated with lobar ICH volume, functional outcome, or mortality in the discovery phase, replication phases, or meta-analysis of these three phases; in our further meta-analysis of 2194 patients, this variant did not increase risk of mortality (1·08, 0·86-1·36; p=0·52). APOE allele variants were not associated with deep ICH volume, functional outcome, or mortality. INTERPRETATION: Vasculopathic changes associated with the APOE ε2 allele might have a role in the severity and clinical course of lobar ICH. Screening of patients who have ICH to identify the ε2 variant might allow identification of those at increased risk of mortality and poor functional outcomes. FUNDING: US National Institutes of Health-National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Keane Stroke Genetics Research Fund, Edward and Maybeth Sonn Research Fund, and US National Center for Research Resources.

Cinética de degradação de vitamina c em mangas 'palmer' minimamente processadas armazenadas em diferentes temperaturas / Kinects of vitamin C degradation of 'palmer' mangoes (Mangifera indica L. ) stored at different temperatures

Conduziu-se este trabalho, com o objetivo de utilizar parâmetros cinéticos para avaliar a degradação de vitamina C sobre a vida útil de mangas (Mangifera indica L.) minimamente processadas e armazenadas em diferentes temperaturas. Mangas 'Palmer' foram lavadas em água corrente, sanificadas, descascadas, novamente sanificadas e fatiadas manualmente. O produto foi embalado em embalagem de polietileno com tampa e armazenado a 0ºC, 6ºC e 12ºC (85-90 por cento UR). Para o acompanhamento da sua vida útil, a cada 2 dias foram feitas as seguintes análises: valores L* a* e b*, perda de massa, pH, firmeza, sólidos solúveis (SS), acidez titulável (AT) e teor de vitamina C. As mangas minimamente processadas armazenadas à 0ºC e 6ºC apresentaram vida útil de 10 dias contra 4 dias das mangas armazenadas à 12ºC. Os dados obtidos por meio de regressão linear com os valores do logaritmo neperiano do teor de ácido ascórbico pelo tempo de armazenagem (dias) mostram que a reação de degradação da vitamina C se ajusta ao modelo cinético de 1ª ordem. O Modelo de Arrhenius foi aplicado às velocidades de reação (k) nas diferentes temperaturas estabelecendo energia de ativação (Ea) de 34,32 kcal mol-1. A degradação de vitamina C foi mais lenta (t1/2 = 63,6dias; e k = 0,0109 dias-1) à 0ºC o que proporcionou maior retenção de seus teores (89 por cento) durante 10 dias de armazenamento. As frutas armazenadas à 12ºC apresentaram maior velocidade de degradação (k = 0,1729 dias-1) e, consequentemente, t1/2 inferior às demais temperaturas (apenas 4 dias).

This work was used to evaluate the kinetic parameters for degradation of vitamin C on the shelf-life of minimally processed mangoes (Mangifera indica L.) stored at different temperatures. 'Palmer' Mangos were washed in running water, sanitized, peeled, manually sliced and again sanitized. The product was packaged in polyethylene packaging with lid and stored at 0ºC, 6°C and 12 °C (85-90 percent RH). To monitor its shelf-life, the following tests were done every two days: values L* a* b*, weight loss, pH, firmness, soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA) and content of vitamin C. The minimally processed mangoes stored at 0ºC and 6ºC showed shelf-life of 10 days, whereas the shelf-life of mangoes stored at 12°C was 4 days. The data obtained by linear regression with the values of the Neperian logarithm content of ascorbic acid by the time of storage (days) show that the reaction of degradation of vitamin C fits the kinetic model of 1st order. The Arrhenius model was applied to the speed of reaction (k) at different temperatures by setting the activation energy (Ea) of 34,32 kcal.mol-1. The degradation of vitamin C was slower (t1 / 2 = 63.6 days, and k = 0.0109 days-1) at 0°C, which provided greater retention of its contents (89 percent) during 10 days of storage. Fruits stored at 12°C showed a higher rate of degradation (k = 0.1729 days-1) and, consequently, t1 / 2 less than the other temperatures (only 4 days).