Preparation, characterization and functional evaluation of soy protein isolate-peach gum conjugates prepared by wet heating Maillard reaction.

This study was conducted to formulate a conjugate of soy protein isolate (SPI) and peach gum (PG) with improved functional properties, interacting at mass ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 2:1, and 2:3 by Maillard reaction via wet heating method. Conjugation efficiency was confirmed by grafting degree (DG) and browning index (BI). Results indicated that DG increased with increasing concentration of PG, and decreased with increasing pH, whereas no remarkable change was observed with increasing reaction time. The conjugates were optimized at a ratio of 1:3. SDS-PAGE confirmed conjugate formation, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and circular dichroism (CD) verified conjugate secondary structural changes, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated significant overall structural changes. The functional properties, solubility, emulsifying stability, water holding, foaming, and antioxidant activity were significantly improved. This study revealed the wet heating method as an effective approach to improve the functional properties of soy protein.

Alginate-based nanocarriers for the delivery and controlled-release of bioactive compounds.

Alginate-based nanocarriers are propitious vehicles used for the delivery of bioactive compounds (bioactives). In this area, calcium alginate and sodium alginate are the most promising wall materials because they are nontoxic, comparatively cheap, simple in production, biocompatible and biodegradable. In this review, we have highlighted different alginate-based nanocarriers such as nanoparticles, nanofibers, nanoemulsions, nanocomplexes, and nanohydrogels; also entrapment of different bioactives within alginate nanocarriers and their bioavailability in the gastric environment has been comprehensively discussed. Being biopolymers, alginates can be exploited as emulsifiers/ encapsulants for entrapment and delivery of different bioactives such as vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, peptides, essential oils, bioactive oils, polyphenols and carotenoids. Furthermore, the use of alginate-based nanocarriers in combination with other polysaccharides/ emulsifiers was recognized as the most effective and favorable approach for the protection, delivery and sustained release of bioactives.

Influence of doum (Hyphaene thebaica L.) flour addition on dough mixing properties, bread quality and antioxidant potential.

In this covenant of functional foods, the world seeks for new healthier food products with appropriate proportions of bioactive constituents such as fiber, mineral elements, phenols and flavonoids. The doum fruit has good nutritional and pharmaceutical properties; therefore, its incorporation in breads could be beneficial in improving human health. In the current study, partial substitution of wheat flour (WF) with doum fruit flour (DFF) at levels of 5 %, 10 %, 15 % and 20 % were carried out to investigate the dough viscoelastic properties, baking performance, proximate compositions and antioxidant properties of the breads. Partial substitution of WF with DFF increased the water absorption and developing time of dough (P ≤ 0.05), while, the dough extensibility, resistance to extension and the deformation energy were reduced. Bread supplemented with DFF resulted in a reduction in quality in terms of specific loaf volume, conferred softness, hardness, cohesiveness and gumminess to the bread crumbs. DFF up to 15 % could partially replace WF in bread; increase its nutritional value in terms of fiber content and minerals, with only a small depreciation in the bread quality. Sensory evaluation showed that breads supplemented up to 15 % DFF were acceptable to the panelists and there was no significant difference in terms of taste, texture and overall acceptability compared to the control. The incorporation of DFF increased the total phenolic contents, total flavonoids contents and antioxidant properties compared to the control (for both flour and bread).

Inducing common carotid fusiform aneurysms in rabbit with the porcine pancreatic elastase extravascular digestion method / 中国脑血管病杂志

Objective To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of inducing rabbit common carotid fusiform aneurysms via the common carotid extravascular digestion method. Methods Sixteen New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned into either an experiment group ( n=12 ) or a control group (n=4). Porcine pancreatic elastase 80-400 U were used to incubate and digest 2 to 4 cm segment of artery distal to the origin of right common carotid artery. One week after modeling,intravenous angiography was performed and the length and width of fusiform dilatation of common carotid artery were measured. The fusiform dilated artery was examined with hematoxylin and eosin staining and the vascular morphological changes were observed with scanning electron microscope. Isotonic saline solution was used to incubate common carotid arteries of the 4 New Zealand white rabbits in the control group. After one week,the same method was used to observe the lumen of common carotid artery and intimal changes. Results After the digestion of common carotid artery adventitia,the angiography of 12 New Zealand white rabbits of the experimental group revealed fusiform dilatation of common carotid artery of the 10 model rabbits. The widest diameter of the fusiform artery was 3. 70 ± 0. 32 mm;two rabbits had common carotid artery occlusion. Compared with the control group,the right common carotid artery diameter enlarged significantly in the experimental group (1. 80 ± 0. 16 mm,P<0. 01). The HE staining showed that the lumen widened, adventitia and media reduced. Scanning electron microscope showed intimal inflammatory injury and thrombus attachment. Conclusion Using porcine pancreatic elastase to digest the adventitia of common carotid artery can make fusiform dilatation of common carotid artery in rabbits. Using this method may effectively induce a model of fusiform aneurysm,and it has certain feasibility.

Preparation of fusiform aneurysms model in rabbits / 介入放射学杂志

Objective To establish the carotid fusiform aneurysm model in rabbits carrying similar characteristics of human intracranial aneurysms by using induction method with porcine pancreatic elastase. Methods Twenty-five New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into normal control group (n=5), saline control group (n = 5) and study group (n = 15). The rabbits of the study group were randomly and equally subdivided into 7-day subgroup, 14-day subgroup and 21-day subgroup. By using induction method with porcine pancreatic elastase to digest right common carotid the fusiform aneurysm model was established in all the rabbits of the study group. DSA examination , HE staining and elastic fiber staining pathologic examination were carried out at 7, 14 and 21 days after the procedure to observe the imaging and pathologic changes of the fusiform aneurysm models. Results DSA angiography showed that the mean vascular diameters of the normal control group and the saline control group were (1.64 ± 0.17) mm and (1.66 ± 0.24) mm respectively. The mean length and width of the fusiform aneurysm of the 7-day subgroup, 14-day subgroup and 21-day subgroup were (19.33 ± 1.65) mm and (2.86 ± 0.21) mm, (19.66 ± 1.18) mm and (3.95 ± 0.54) mm, and (19.84 ± 0.82) mm and (4.03 ± 0.95) mm, respectively. Pathologically, rupture of internal elastic membrane, disordered structure of tunica media smooth muscle and distortion of cell shape were observed in the rabbits of 7-day subgroup. Gradually stabilized aneurysmal lumen intimal hyperplasia was seen in the rabbits of 14-day subgroup. Remarkable structure changes at the aneurysmal neck-cavity junction were found in the rabbits of 21-day subgroup. Elastic fiber staining demonstrated that strikingly thinned elastic layer was observed in the rabbits of 7-day subgroup, gradually thinning elastic layer at the aneurysmal neck-cavity junction was seen in the rabbits of 14-day subgroup, and the thinned elastic layer became stable in the rabbits of 21-day subgroup. Conclusion Using simple surgical method combined with porcine pancreatic elastase to digest vascular wall, carotid fusiform aneurysm models can be reliably established in New Zealand white rabbits which carry similar morphologic and pathologic characteristics of human intracranial aneurysms.

Optimization and comparison of ultrasound/microwave assisted extraction (UMAE) and ultrasonic assisted extraction (UAE) of lycopene from tomatoes.

The extracting technology including ultrasonic and microwave assisted extraction (UMAE) and ultrasonic assisted extraction (UAE) of lycopene from tomato paste were optimized and compared. The results showed that the optimal conditions for UMAE were 98 W microwave power together with 40 KHz ultrasonic processing, the ratio of solvents to tomato paste was 10.6:1 (V/W) and the extracting time should be 367 s; as for UAE, the extracting temperature was 86.4 degrees C, the ratio of the solvents to tomato paste was 8.0:1 (V/W) and the extracting time should be 29.1 min, while the percentage of lycopene yield was 97.4% and 89.4% for UMAE and UAE, respectively. These results implied that UMAE was far more efficient extracting method than UAE.