Biochemical changes during the storage of high hydrostatic pressure processed avocado paste.

High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) processing improves the shelf life of avocado paste without a significant impact on flavor; however, scarce information is available on biochemical modifications during its extended storage period. The present study focused on the changes in oxidative enzyme activities of pressurized avocado paste (600 MPa for 3 min) during refrigerated storage (45 d at 4 degrees C). Aerobic plate counts (APC), lactic acid bacteria counts (LAB), pH, and instrumental color were also evaluated during storage. Processing with HHP caused a decrease in polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and lipoxygenase (LOX) activities, resulting in residual enzyme levels of 50.72% and 55.16%, respectively. Although instrumental color values didn't change significantly during the evaluated storage period, both enzymes (PPO and LOX) recuperated their activities at 10 to 15 d of storage, reached the original values observed in the fresh paste, and then started a declining phase until the end of the storage period. Pulp pH presented a consistent decline during the first 20 d of storage. LAB counts were very low during storage, discarding lactic acid production as responsible for the observed pH decline. Enzyme reactivation, cell disruption, and a gradual migration of intracellular components such as organic acids are herein proposed as the main mechanisms for the deterioration of HHP treated avocado paste during its refrigerated storage. Practical Application: At the present, HHP is the most effective commercial nonthermal technology to process avocado paste when compared to thermal and chemical alternatives. Although it has proven to be an excellent product-technology match, little information is known on the biochemical changes that take place in the product during its refrigerated shelf life. Biochemical reactions during storage are important, since they can influence avocado paste nutritional and flavor qualities at the time of product consumption. The present study reports for the first time the re-activation of PPO and LOX during storage of avocado paste under commercial and economically feasible processing conditions (600 MPa and 3 min). The reactivation of oxidative enzymes observed in the present study is relevant for future studies on the HHP stability of food systems in general, and it is considered an important finding for the food industry and researchers seeking to deliver products with superior nutritional and flavor characteristics.

Paediatric psoriasis--narrowband UVB treatment.

UNLABELLED: Narrowband UV-B is a safe and efficacious option for the treatment of adult psoriasis. However, the use of this therapy has been limited in children due to its long-term carcinogenic potential. It has proven to be an adequate alternative in patients whose condition is refractory to topical treatment. AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy and short-term safety of narrowband UV-B in the treatment of paediatric psoriasis, and to compare our results with those obtained in other studies on paediatric psoriasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over a period of 2 years and 4 months, we administered narrowband UV-B to 20 children diagnosed with psoriasis that was refractory to topical therapy. The therapeutic response was measured using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). RESULTS: Between August 2005 and December 2007, 20 children received narrowband UV-B. Their median age was 13 years (range, 5-17 years), and the median initial PASI score was 8.25 (2.7-22.2). A median of 28 (10-59) sessions was required to achieve clearance, reaching almost complete or total remission (median final PASI) in all but two patients. Six patients required a new therapeutic course because of relapse, and the mean duration of remission was 8 months (4-18). No patients experienced severe adverse events during therapy, and only one discontinued treatment, for unrelated reasons. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Narrowband UV-B for the treatment of paediatric psoriasis has received little attention in the literature. This treatment has been limited in children because of its potential long-term carcinogenic effects, and most information has been extrapolated from adults. Nevertheless, narrowband UV-B phototherapy is an effective and well-tolerated therapeutic alternative in paediatric patients with severe psoriasis.

Correlations of antioxidant activity against phenolic content revisited: a new approach in data analysis for food and medicinal plants.

This study presents a new approach to analyze data correlating total antioxidant activity and total phenolic compounds in foods. The correlation of both variables is a common practice found in the literature. The purpose of these correlations is to determine the contribution of phenolics to the total antioxidant activity of foods. When low R(2) values are obtained, the general conclusion is that other compounds have a higher relevance than phenolics in the total antioxidant activity of the samples. However, these correlations do not consider differences in the phenolic profiles that can be qualitatively (type of phenolics present) and quantitatively (the relative amounts or proportions of phenolics present) among the samples under investigation. The new approach to analyze these simple correlations presented herein takes into consideration the phenolic profiles and provides information on the effectiveness of phenolics present in the samples to neutralize free radicals. Data obtained from carrots stored under conditions of air and hyperoxia (superatmospheric oxygen) are used to exemplify how to apply this new approach.

Accuracy of sentinel lymph node in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The sentinel lymph node has been used in several tumors. The aim of this study was to analyze the accuracy of the sentinel node in papillary thyroid carcinoma. METHODS: A series of 22 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma were included. Approximately 0.5 cc of isosulfan blue dye was injected at operation to trace the sentinel node. Lymph node dissection of the ipsilateral central compartment and extensive sampling of the jugular compartment were performed in addition to sentinel node resection. Surgical specimens were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and negative sentinel nodes were subsequently stained with immunohistochemistry for cytokeratin-7. RESULTS: Mean age was 37 +/- 14 years. Twenty patients were women, and 2 were men. Mean tumor size was 2.5 +/- 1 cm. A sentinel lymph node was found in 20 patients. With use of hematoxylin-eosin, metastases were identified in 12/20 sentinel nodes (60%). Eleven patients with positive sentinel nodes presented additional lymph node metastases: 9 in the central compartment, 1 in the jugular compartment, and 1 in both compartments. Two patients with negative sentinel nodes had lymph node metastases elsewhere. When sentinel nodes were processed by immunohistochemistry, accuracy increased to 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Sentinel node is highly accurate for diagnosing metastases in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

[Primary lymphoma of the prostate: report of a clinico-pathological case and review of the literature]. / Linfoma primario de próstata: presentación de un caso clínico-patológico y revisión de la literatura.

Lymphoma involving the prostate is rare, wether presenting as primary extranodal lymphoma or as a secondary spread to the prostate from other sites. There are less than 100 cases reported in the literature and accounts for 0.09-0.1%. The clinical presentation can be attributed to nodular hyperplasia or prostatic carcinoma. Criteria for primary prostatic lymphoma include: 1) tumor limited to the prostate and adjacent soft tissues. 2) the absence of lymph node involvement. 3) a lymphoma free interval of at least 1 month. The evolution is rapid and the prognosis remains poor regardless of the patient age, histologic type, treatment, or clinical stage of disease at presentation. We report a case of a 65 years old male in which the incidental diagnosis of lymphoma of the prostate was performed in the adenomectomy. The clinico-pathological criteria and the histogenesis of this entity are described.

[Clinical characteristics and course of severe hypercalcemia caused by primary hyperparathyroidism in surgically treated patients]. / Características clínicas y evolución de la hipercalcemia grave por hiperparatiroidismo primario en pacientes intervenidos quirúrgicamente.

AIM: To describe presentation, diagnosis, management and outcome of severe hypercalcemia due to primary hyperparathyroidism in a series of patients. METHODS: Clinical characteristics, presentation, diagnosis, acute preoperative medical management, surgical findings and strategy, short outcome and complications of a cohort of 21 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) and severe hypercalcemia (serum calcium > or = 14 mg/dL) were analyzed. This group was selected from a total of 118 patients who underwent surgery for HPT in the time period. RESULTS: Mean age was 47 +/- 17 years-old and the male:female ratio was 4:17. A total of 95% of patients presented one or more symptoms related to hypercalcemia while 62% had an abnormal EKG and 76% also had radiological abnormalities. All patients received intense hydration often associated to diuretics. Uniglandular disease was found in 13 patients, multiglandular involvement was identified in 4 and parathyroid carcinoma was documented in other 4. Normalization of the calcemia was achieved in all patients with benign disease. CONCLUSIONS: Severe hypercalcemia was relatively frequent in our patients with HPT. Most patients were symptomatic and presented radiological or cardiac abnormalities. Surgical normalization of the calcemia was achieved in all patients with benign disease.