Manufacture of Requeijão cremoso processed cheese with galactooligosaccharide.

The addition of galactooligosaccharide, (GOS, 0, 1.5, 3 or 4g/100g) on the quality parameters of requeijão cremoso was investigated. Chemical characteristics (pH, moisture, fat and protein), color (L*, a*, b*), water mobility by TD- nuclear magnetic resonance, rheology (flow curve and oscillatory tests), microstructure and sensory acceptance (consumer test) were evaluated. The addition of GOS provided a denser and compact structure and reduced number and size of fat globules. Increased GOS level (3 and 4g/100g) improved the softness and spreadability (decrease of G', G″ and apparent viscosity and an increase of tan δ and melting index) and impacted positively on the aroma and taste of the requeijão cremoso. Overall, the addition of GOS in requeijão cremoso was proved to be a potential and interesting technological option.

Effect of galactooligosaccharide addition on the physical, optical, and sensory acceptance of vanilla ice cream.

The effect of the addition of galactooligosaccharide (GOS) on the physicochemical, optical, and sensory characteristics of ice cream was investigated. Vanilla ice cream was supplemented with 0, 1.5, and 3.0% (wt/wt) GOS and characterized for pH, firmness, color, melting, overrun, as well as subjected to a discriminative sensory test (triangle test). For comparison purposes, ice creams containing fructooligosaccharide were also manufactured. The GOS ice creams were characterized by increased firmness and lower melting rates. Different perceptions were reported in the sensory evaluation for the 3.0% GOS ice cream when compared with the control, which was not observed for the fructooligosaccharide ice cream. Overall, the findings suggest it is possible to produce GOS ice cream with improved stability in relation to the physicochemical parameters and sensory perception.

Freeze-dried powdered yacon: effects of FOS on serum glucose, lipids and intestinal transit in the elderly.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Freeze-dried powdered yacon (FDY) can be considered a prebiotic product due to its fructooligosaccharides (FOS) content. The effect of 9 weeks of daily intake of FDY containing 7.4 g of FOS on glucose, lipid metabolism and intestinal transit in a group of elderly people was investigated. METHODS: Seventy-two elderly (mean age 67.11 ± 6.11) men and women were studied for 9 weeks in a double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment. They were randomly assigned to the supplement group (which received 7.4 g of FOS as FDY) or the control group. At the beginning and end of the study, anthropometric measurements, blood sampling, clinical analyses and dietary intake were assessed. RESULTS: A daily intake of FDY containing 7.4 g of FOS for 9 weeks was associated with a mean decrease in serum glucose (p = 0.013), but supplementation did not reduce serum lipids in the study group. The administered dose did not adversely affect intestinal transit. It did not cause bloating, flatulence or intestinal discomfort. CONCLUSION: Freeze-dried powdered yacon is a good source of FOS, and daily consumption can have a favourable effect on serum glucose in the elderly. It is also practical, easy and safe to use and store.

Evaluation of the antioxidant and antiproliferative potential of bioflavors.

α-Terpineol is a relatively cheap and abundant aroma compound. It is widely used in food, cosmetics, and household products. Many of its monoterpene counterparts have been applied in antiproliferative assays, leading to promising results in the prevention or even treatment of cancers. However, despite its theoretic potential, no paper reports the evaluation of antiproliferative capacity of this alcohol. Thus, antioxidant potential of three monoterpenoids (carvone, perillyl alcohol, and α-terpineol) was measured using two methods: DPPH and ORAC. Also, the antiproliferative effect of these monoterpenoids against nine cancerous cell lines were performed and compared to limonene and doxorubicin. Results showed that all samples tested had very low antioxidant activity in the DPPH assay, but α-terpineol (2.72µmolTrolox equiv./µmol) could be compared to commercial antioxidants in the ORAC assay. The antiproliferative results obtained encourage future in vivo studies for α-terpineol, since this monoterpenoid presented cytostatic effect against six cell lines, especially for breast adenocarcinoma and chronic myeloid leukemia, in a range of 181-588µM.

Characterization of monoterpene biotransformation in two pseudomonads.

AIMS: To study the metabolic profile of Pseudomonas rhodesiae and Pseudomonas fluorescens in water-organic solvent systems using terpene substrates for both growth and biotransformation processes and to determine the aerobic or anaerobic status of these degradation pathways. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Substrates from pinene (alpha-pinene, alpha-pinene oxide, beta-pinene, beta-pinene oxide, turpentine) and limonene (limonene, limonene-1,2-oxide, orange peel oil) families were tested. For the bioconversion, the terpene-grown biomass was concentrated and used either as whole cells or as a crude enzymatic extract. CONCLUSION: Pseudomonas rhodesiae was the most suitable biocatalyst for the production of isonovalal from alpha-pinene oxide and did not metabolize limonene. Pseudomonas fluorescens was a more versatile micro-organism and metabolized limonene in two different ways. The first (anaerobic, cofactor-independent, noninducible) allowed limonene elimination by synthesizing alpha-terpineol. The second (aerobic, cofactor-dependent) involved limonene-1,2-oxide as an intermediate for energy production through a beta-oxidation process. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Enzymatic isomerization of beta- to alpha-pinene was described for the first time for both strains. Alpha-terpineol production by P. fluorescens was very efficient and appeared as a promising alternative for the commercial production of this bioflavour.

Biodecolorization screening of synthetic dyes by four white-rot fungi in a solid medium: possible role of siderophores.

AIMS: Four selected fungi were screened for their ability to decolourize a textile effluent and commercial reactive dyes in a solid medium. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ligninolytic enzymes activities (lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase and laccase) and siderophores presence were monitored in decolourized plates. RESULTS: The results showed low lignin peroxidase activity and no manganese peroxidase activity was detected for all fungi. Laccase activity was observed in Reactive Blue 19 decolourized plates by Trametes versicolor and Trametes villosa. Siderophores presence was observed in Trametes versicolor, Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Lentinus edodes decolourized plates. CONCLUSION: Lentinus edodes displayed the greatest decolourization ability both in terms of extent and rapidity of decolourization. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The transformation observed for dyes open the possibility to study siderophores to treat dyes and textile effluents.

Early ambulation after diagnostic cardiac catheterization: a 4 French study.

This study is intended to test whether the use of new 4 French (Fr) catheters can safely eliminate the need for supine bed rest and allow earlier ambulation while decreasing groin site complications and patient discomfort. Diagnostic left heart catheterization was performed using 4 Fr catheters via the femoral approach in 100 consecutive patients. After femoral sheath removal, the mean compression time with a mechanical compression device was 16.07 +/- 3.19 minutes. Mean manual compression time was 18.3 +/- 5.7 minutes. Ninety-eight patients were able to sit up 30 degrees immediately after hemostasis was achieved. The mean ambulation time was 2.18 +/- 0.71 hours. There were no major vascular complications. Four patients developed a small area (2.5-5 cm) of ecchymosis at the femoral arterial puncture site. The study demonstrated that upper body elevation and early ambulation are safe as soon as hemostasis is achieved after 4 Fr cardiac catheterization.

Expanded-bed adsorption utilizing ion-exchange resin to purify extracellular beta-galactosidase.

The application of expanded-bed ion-exchange resins allows the elimination of intermediary particulate separation steps like filtration or centrifugation prior to adsorption steps in enzyme-purification processes from crude fermentation broths. This work is concerned with the experimental evaluation data of a process related to the adsorption of an extracellular p-galactosidase from the fungi Scopulariopsis. The protein recovery in the ion-exchange resin Accell Plus QMA was accomplished using a continuous-monitoring method. The direct adsorption step was followed by a elution step with concentrated NaCl solutions aiming to improve the enzyme-specific activity. Experimental data for fixed and expanded bed were compared.