Effect of pepper extracts on the viability kinetics, topography and Quantitative NanoMechanics (QNM) of Campylobacter jejuni evaluated with AFM.

Campylobacter jejuni is a pathogen bacterium that causes foodborne gastroenteritis in humans. However, phenolic compounds extracted from natural sources such as capsicum pepper plant (Capsicum annuum L. var. aviculare) could inhibit the growth of C. jejuni. Therefore, different extracts were prepared using ultrasonic extraction (USE), conventional extraction (CE) and thermosonic extraction (TSE). C. jejuni was then exposed to chili extracts to examine the antimicrobial effect and their growth/death bacterial kinetics were studied using different mathematical models. Atomic force microscopy was applied to investigate the microstructural and nanomechanical changes in the bacteria. Extracts obtained by TSE had the highest phenolic content (4.59 ± 0.03 mg/g of chili fresh weight [FW]) in comparison to USE (4.12 ± 0.05 mg/g of chili FW) and CE (4.28 ± 0.07 mg/g of chili FW). The inactivation of C. jejuni was more efficient when thermosonic extract was used. The Gompertz model was the most suitable mathematical model to describe the inactivation kinetics of C. jejuni. Roughness and nanomechanical analysis performed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) provided evidence that the chili extracts had significant effects on morphology, surface, and the reduced Young's modulus of C. jejuni. The novelty of this work was integrating growth/death bacterial kinetics of C. jejuni using different mathematical models and chili extracts, and its relationship with the morphological, topographic and nanomechanical changes estimated by AFM.

Isolation of Yeasts from Guajillo Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Fermentation and Study of Some Probiotic Characteristics.

Three yeast strains were isolated from the spontaneous fermentation of guajillo pepper: Hanseniaspora opuntiae, Pichia kudriavzevii, and Wickerhamomyces anomalus, which were identified by amplification of the ITS/5.8S ribosomal DNA. Some probiotic characteristics of these strains were evaluated and compared with one commercial probiotic yeast (Saccharomyces boulardii). The survival percentage of all the yeasts was similar to that of the commercial product. They showed different hydrophobicity characteristics with hydrocarbons, autoaggregation > 90%, and characteristics of co-aggregation with pathogenic microorganisms. The adhesion capacity to mucin of the three yeast samples was similar to the reference yeast. The antioxidant activity of the yeasts varied between 155 and 178 µM Trolox equivalents. All exhibited cholesterol reduction capacity, and W. anomalus was able to decrease up to 83% of cholesterol after 48 h of incubation. The 7.5-fold concentrated H. opuntiae supernatant had antimicrobial activity against Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium ATCC 14028 and Candida albicans ENCBDM2; tests suggest this activity against S. Typhimurium is due to a proteinaceous metabolite with a weight between 10 and 30 kDa. Among the yeasts, P. kudriavzevii exhibited the highest protective effect on the viability of Lactobacillus casei Shirota in gastric and intestinal conditions. These results suggest that yeasts isolated from guajillo pepper may have a probiotic potential.

Biochemical changes in an intermediate moisture cecina-like meat during storage.

Biochemical and microbiological changes in two cecina-like products were evaluated during storage. Two products were prepared, one by salting and the other by infusion in a salt-glycerol solution. The samples were vacuum packed and tested monthly for pH, colour, haematin complex, soluble nitrogen and microbiological spoilage. Proteolysis and increase in pH showed a high correlation for both samples. Temperature-dependent changes in colour and concentration of haematin complex during storage were also found in both samples. The activation energy for haematin transformation was found to be around 1 kcal/mol. Based on the low activation energy for haematin complex degradation (around 1 kcal/mol) for both samples, this process may be regarded as a low energy biochemical process.

A traditional intermediate moisture meat: Beef cecina.

Cecina is an intermediate moisture meat produced and consumed to a large extent in Mexico. Four samples of cecina coming from different States of this country, were tested for water activity, colour, texture, fat, protein, moisture and chloride content. Sensory and microbiological analyses were also performed. Different fabrication methods for producing cecina were identified, involving large variations in the formulation of the product. There was a significant difference (P < 0·05) among samples regarding fat and chloride content, colour and texture. Differences in colour and saltiness were recorded through sensory analysis. Microbiological analysis showed higher counts than those recommended in the Mexican Official Standard for chopped and raw meat, due to poor sanitary conditions during production and marketing.

[Effects of clonidine++ administration in children with familial short stature and retarded body growth]. / Efectos de la administración de clonidina en niños con talla baja familiar y retardo constitucional del crecimiento.

The effect of chronic clonidine administration on the height velocity of two groups of children with short stature either familial (FSS) or with constitutional growth delay (CGD) is presented. The patients whose age ranged between 5 to 12 years had a height below the third percentile; otherwise they were healthy. Both groups received 100 micrograms/m2 of clonidine orally during 12 months. In the group with FSS there was an increase in height velocity from 3.6 +/- 0.6 cm/years pretreatment values to 5.1 +/- 0.9 cm/years. The group with CGD showed an increase from 3.6 +/- 0.7 cm/years to 6.5 +/- 3.4. No secondary reactions were observed. The possible impact of this treatment on final height is discussed.

[Congenital adrenal hyperplasia secondary to 21-hydroxylase deficiency]. / Hiperplasia adrenal congénita secundaria a deficiencia de 21-hidroxilasa.

The clinical charts belonging to patients suffering from congenital adrenal hyperplasia secondary to a deficiency of the enzyme 21-hydroxylase seen at the Endocrinology Department during 1978 to 1988 were reviewed. The 34 patients were analyzed for various clinical and biochemical parameters when admitted and during their follow-up. The reason for their consultation, in 73.5% of the cases was due to the presence of ambiguity in their genitalia at the time of their birth. The most frequent clinical variety was the classical or "salt-loser" in 55.8% of the cases. The growth chart analysis showed that those patients who were "salt-losers" grew and were categorized in lesser percentiles than those who had the simple variety of the disease. The results are similar to those reported in worldwide literature. A close follow-up with emphasis placed on clinical and laboratory data seems to allow for adequate growth and development of these patients.

[Results of the treatment of growth hormone deficiency with methionine-somatotropin or recombinant somatotropin]. / Resultados del tratamiento de la deficiencia de hormona de crecimiento con metionina-somatotropina o con somatotropina-recombinante.

Sixteen children with hGH deficiency were treated for a year with methionyl-somatotropin (Somatonorm) or recombinant-somatotropin (Genotropin). The hormone was administrated subcutaneously 3 time/week, 0.45-0.6 IU/kg/week. After a year of treatment, the mean growth rate in those who received Somatonorm increased from 3.96 +/- 0.8 cm/yr to 9.08 +/- 2.7 cm/yr, and in those who received Genotropin from 3.6 +/- 0.6 cm/yr to 8.58 +/- 1.1 cm/yr with no significant difference. No adverse effects were observed, but four children that received Somatonorm developed antihGH antibodies with a very low binding capacity, of less than 0.1 mg/L. All the children that received Genotropin were negative for antihGH antibodies.

[Clinical experience with the treatment of dwarfism caused by growth hormone deficiency using biosynthetic somatotropin (Somatonorm)]. / Experiencia clínica del tratamiento del enanismo por deficiencia de hormona del crecimiento con somatotropina biosintética (Somatonorm).

The treatment of growth hormone deficiency requires human growth hormone administration. Recently biosynthetic growth hormone has been developed by means of the recombinant DNA technic and the first clinic tests seem to be very promising. In order to evaluate the efficacy and security of the synthetic hormone in growth hormone deficient mexican children, nine children received methionyl-somatotropin (Somatonorm, Kabi Vitrum) for 12 months, there was an increment on the growth rate, from 3.3 +/- 0.7 mm/month before treatment to 7.5 +/- 2.7 mm/month during treatment. There were not secondary reactions. Low titres of antisomatotropin antibodies wer developed in four patients with a binding capacity not enough to interfere with the hormone activity.

[Fluoroangiographic study of the retina in healthy siblings of diabetic patients]. / Estudio fluorangiográfico de retina en hermanos sanos de pacientes diabéticos.

There are still great incognites in the etiology and physiopathology of the so called chronic complications of diabetes mellitus. There are specially many questions about the origin of the diabetic microangiopathy which is the cause of several alterations like the diabetic retinopathy. Genetic, immunological and environmental factors have been involucrated in its development. In order to study the genetic involvement, in fifteen normal brothers and sisters of known diabetics type I a retina fluorangiographic study was performed. In all the cases the fluorangiography was normal suggesting that the genetic factors must coexist with the metabolic disturbance to produce retina vessels damage.