Isolation and identification of 3,3',5,5'-tetrabis(tert-butyl)stilbenequinone from polyethylene closures containing titanium dioxide and butylated hydroxytoluene.

A yellow compound was isolated from commercially available, discolored, polyethylene ophthalmic closures containing titanium dioxide and butylated hydroxytoluene (I). This compound was present at 7.46 ppm (w/w). It was identified by UV, IR, and mass spectra as 3,3',5,5'-tetrabis(tert-butyl)stilbenequinone (II), a dimer of I. Further structural confirmation was obtained by NMR. Formation of II is catalyzed by titanium dioxide.

Changes in texture, cooking losses, and myofibrillar structure of bovine M. semitendinosus during heating.

Vacuum-packed slices of bovine semitendinosus (ST) muscle were retorted to internal temperatures of 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, and 121°C. Changes in texture of the meat were evaluated by measurements of Texture Profile Analysis (TPA) parameters. Changes in microstructure were evaluated using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and measuring fibre diameter and sarcomere length. Cooking losses were also estimated. During heating the TPA parameters changed independently of each other. They reached a maxima at different endpoint temperatures of the meat and then decreased. A decrease in fibre diameter was observed in samples heated to 60 and 121°C. Sarcomere length decreased continuously in the range 50-121°C. Cooking losses increased with increased heating temperature. Relationships between changes in sarcomere length and cooking losses and between springiness and fibre diameter were found.

[Polyneuropathies as a diagnostic and therapeutic task]. / Polyneuropathien als diagnostische und therapeutische Aufgabe

Despite their variety the syndromes of peripheral neuropathy are variations of just one subject. The most different lesions might be their cause. Therefore, one should not be satisfied with the diagnosis peripheral neuropathy, but should always try to clarify the etiology. Form and extension of the disturbances give essential hints. As far as possible, therapy should be directed against the respective causes. For several types of neuropathy prevention is possible. Symptomatic treatment is also important and in many cases even essential for survival.

Identification of soy protein in meat by pyrolysis-high-resolution gas chromatography.

Pyrolysis-gas chromatography was applied to the characterization of ground beef and soy protein isolate and its mixtures at the 50, 30 and 10% levels. A cryogenic trap pyrolysis mode was employed and the volatile pyrolysates were analysed by a high-resolution capillary gas chromatograph. Two phenolic derivatives, o-methoxy- and dimethoxyphenol, as well as 2,3-dithiabutane are uniquely observed at a large concentration in the soy pyrolysate. Quantification of these characteristic compounds allow the estimation of the level of soy inclusion in the mixture. This approach effectively denotes soy addition up to the 10% level in comminuted beef.