Functional changes induced by extrusion during cocoa alkalization.

Polyphenols, a group of secondary metabolites, have well-known relevant effects on human health. During traditional alkalization, this content dramatically lowers. We aimed to evaluate an alternative alkalization method based on extrusion on cocoa functional characteristics. The results showed that the antioxidant capacity and total phenolic values increased as alkali concentration and temperature did, and these values doubled under less extreme conditions. Comparing the functional properties between extruded and traditionally produced powders revealed that catechin, epicatechin and dimers B1 and B2 contents were 43%, 33%, 54% and 34% lower in the extruded samples, respectively. However, this reduction was partially balanced by increased clovamide content up to 50%. Thus the total phenol content and antioxidant capacity of the extruded samples were statistically above those of the commercial one. Hence extrusion alkalization should be considered a new processing alternative to avoid markedly reducing functional properties.

[Arterial closure devices. What device for which clinical situation?]. / Arterielle Verschlusssysteme. Welches wofür?

CLINICAL/METHODICAL ISSUE: Access site complications after endovascular catheterization sometimes require open surgery and negatively impair safety, patient comfort and reimbursement. Increasing numbers of procedures and patients with multiple anticoagulants as well as cost pressure explain the demand for an immediate and stable access site closure. STANDARD RADIOLOGICAL METHODS: Manual compression followed by compression bandage and bed rest for 4-24 h is still the gold standard but is unable to prevent access site complications in all cases. METHODICAL INNOVATIONS: Arterial vascular closure devices allow immediate and stable closure of the puncture channel either by suture or by implantation of occluding foreign bodies or gluing fluids. PERFORMANCE: The safety has been proven in several clinical trials. The main advantage lies in closing large lumen access sites without surgery and in patients treated with multiple anticoagulants as well as in outpatient procedures. ACHIEVEMENTS: They have become a valuable supplement to the interventional arsenal. PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS: The physician, however, has to decide between different systems and mechanisms with respect to patient constitution, selected access vessel and level of calcification and diameter. Furthermore, all systems require a defined training prior the first use.

Neural tolerance of iotrolan 300 in ascending cervical myelography: results of a multicenter study.

This study examined the opacification, dose, and tolerance of iotrolan 300 on 231 patients in ascending cervical myelography. The contrast was rated good in 188 (81.4%) of the cases and satisfactory in 40 (17.3%) of the cases. The contrast was poor in only three (1.3%) cases. In 152 patients a dose of 10 ml or less of iotrolan 300 was administered. A good contrast quality was obtained in 84.2% of all examinations. From a total of 231 patients, 146 exhibited no concomitant effects. The intensity of the headache and neck ache was recorded by the patients themselves by means of an analog scale. The frequency and degree of the postmyelographic complaints did not increase with higher doses, i.e., they were not dose dependent. Neurologic irritation, in the form of radicular symptoms, appeared in only 2 of 231 examinations. These data demonstrate that iotrolan 300 is excellent for use in ascending cervical myelography.

[Use of nonionic contrast media in computerized tomography]. / Anwendung nichtionischer Kontrastmittel in der Computertomographie.

In a prospective multicentre study of 4,970 contrast enhanced CT's with intravenous application of lohexol, no contrast medium induced side effects could be diagnosed in 98.4% of the patients. Patients with a positive history of allergic diathesis had an increased risk of unexpected contrast-medium induced systemic reactions (factor 2 to 3). In 21% the diagnosis could not be established by non-enhanced CT alone, whereas in 56% the diagnostic accuracy was improved by intravenous contrast medium injection.

Methionine and cystine requirements of growing turkeys.

Sulfur amino acid requirements of starting, growing, finishing male Large White turkeys were investigated in three experiments using 3000 turkeys. Requirements were determined by least squares analyses of response curves obtained by supplementing methionine and cystine deficient basal diets with graded levels of DL-methionine and/or L-cystine. Experiments were conducted from 1 to 4, 8 to 12, and 16 to 20 weeks of age. Diets included starch, soybean meal, faba beans, and field peas. Requirements for total sulfur amino acids (TSAA) determined with diets marginally deficient in cystine were .95 to 1.01, .70 to .71, and .43 to .48% of the diet for starting (1 to 4 weeks), growing (8 to 12 weeks), finishing (16 to 20 weeks) turkeys, respectively, in different experiments. On the basis of dietary metabolizable energy, the respective TSAA requirement values (in %/therm) were .298 to .332, .205 to .221, and .128 to .134. Minimum methionine requirements (determined with excess dietary cystine) were .46, .30, and .19% of the diet for starting, growing, and finishing turkeys, respectively. Cystine replacement values, calculated by dividing the maximum usable levels of cystine (TSAA requirements minus methionine requirements) by TSAA requirements were 55, 58, and 57% of the TSAA requirement for starting, growing, and finishing turkeys, respectively.