Efecto de edulcorantes no calóricos en la calidad sensorial de jugo de naranja / Effect of non caloric sweeteners in sensory quality of orange juice

The consumption of non-caloric sweeteners is increasing in Chile being present in a wide variety of foods. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of distinct non-caloric sweeteners in the sensory qualities of orange juice as compared to sugar. The sweeteners selected were stevia, sucralose, saccharin and aspartame. These were added to natural juices in amounts equivalent to sugar in sweetness. Sensory analysis was performed with a group of youths of both sexes. An acceptability test was applied with an hedonic scale of 5 points evaluating aroma and flavor. The results indicate that the juice aroma is not affected by the use of sugar or sweeteners rated 3.5 to 3.7 (corresponding to "I like"). However, in the evaluation of flavor, significant differences were found, the best results corresponding to juice sweetened with sugar and sucralose (3,5 y 3,6 respectively).

El consumo de edulcorantes no calóricos es cada vez más masivo en nuestro país y están presentes en una gran variedad de alimentos. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto de edulcorantes no calóricos en la calidad sensorial de jugo de naranja, en comparación con el azúcar. Los edulcorantes seleccionados fueron estevia, sucralosa, sacarina y aspartamo. Se adicionaron a jugos naturales en cantidades equivalentes de dulzor respecto al azúcar. El análisis sensorial se realizó con un grupo de jóvenes de ambos sexos. Se aplicó una prueba de aceptabilidad con escala hedónica de 5 puntos, evaluando los parámetros de aroma y sabor. Los resultados indican que el aroma de los jugos no se ve afectado por la utilización de azúcar o edulcorantes, con calificación entre 3,5 a 3,7 (que corresponde a "me gusta"). Sin embargo, en la evaluación de sabor las muestras significativamente mejor evaluadas corresponden a jugos endulzados con azúcar y sucralosa (3,5 y 3,6 respectivamente).

6-Benzylaminopurine: a plant derived cytokinin inducing positive inotropism by P2-purinoceptors.

Positive inotropic effects induced by 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BAP), kinetin and zeatin were studied in rat atria. The potency order observed was 6-BAP > or = kinetin > zeatin. Suramin, a P2-purinoceptor antagonist, inhibited the positive effect of 6-BAP suggesting the involvement of P2-purinoceptors in the positive effect of this cytokinin. In order to elucidate this point, 6-BAP was used against R-PIA (a P1-purinoceptor agonist) and ATP and UTP (both P2-purinoceptor agonists). 6-BAP did not influence negative inotropism by R-PIA whereas both nucleotides were inhibited after pretreatment with the cytokinin. LY 83583, an inhibitor of cGMP production, reduced the inotropic effect by cytokinin whereas L-NAME, an inhibitor of the L-arginine/nitric oxide pathway, did not influence the effect induced by 6-BAP. Indomethacin, an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase, and neomycin, an inhibitor of phospholipase C, did not significantly modify positive inotropism by 6-BAP. Verapamil, an inhibitor of L-type calcium channels, did not change the positive effect of 6-BAP while TMB-8 and dantrolene, two inhibitors of intracellular calcium release, reduced the increase of contractile tension induced by cytokinin. Our data on rat atria suggest that 6-BAP causes a positive inotropism through activation of P2-purinoceptors, involving modification of cGMP and of intracellular calcium.

Ultrasound-assisted internal jugular vein catheterization in the ED.

A prospective, descriptive study is reported on the use and success of ultrasound-assisted internal jugular central vein catheterization (CVC) in the emergency department (ED). In patients not in cardiac arrest who had an indication for internal jugular CVC, lines were placed by trained ED staff using ultrasound. Data were collected prospectively on age, sex, body habitus, indication, vein visibility, number of punctures and needle passes, and success. There were 40 attempts at internal jugular CVC in 34 patients and ultrasound was used in 32 of the 40 (80%) attempts. Incidences of successful puncture and cannulation using ultrasound were 93.8% (30 of 32) and 81.3% (26 of 32), respectively, compared with 62.5% (5 of 8) and 62.5% (5 of 8) in the landmark group. In 8 patients with no visual or palpable landmarks, cannulation was successful in 100% (7 of 7) using ultrasound and in 0% (0 of 1) using landmark technique. Ultrasound-assisted internal jugular CVC is an easily learned technique that is useful in the ED. It may be especially helpful in patients in whom landmarks are not visible and not palpable.

Toxic streptococcal syndrome.

The streptococcal toxic shocklike syndrome is a recently recognized, multisystem disorder that shares many of the features of staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome, but is caused by toxins elaborated by group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus. We describe a patient who fulfilled the major criteria for the clinical diagnosis of toxic shock syndrome (fever, hypotension, multisystem dysfunction, and diffuse macular erythroderma followed by desquamation) and who demonstrated serologic evidence suggesting streptococcal infection. In patients presenting with clinical findings consistent with a toxic shocklike syndrome, the emergency physician should consider streptococcal infection as a potential etiology.

Locked-in syndrome: report of a case.

Locked-in syndrome is a unique clinical condition associated with ventral pontine lesions. The locked-in state is characterized by tetraplegia and mutism with maintenance of alertness as well as vertical eye movements and eye blinking, by which communication is possible. A case of locked-in syndrome in a 58-year-old man that demonstrates the clinical manifestations of the disorder is reported. Unless the physician is familiar with the signs and symptoms of the locked-in syndrome, the diagnosis may be missed and the patient may erroneously be considered comatose.