Gallic acid oxidizes Met residues in peptides released from bovine β-lactoglobulin by in vitro digestion

Phenolic compounds (PCs) are frequently present in foods. However, little is known about the effect of PCs on enzymatic digestion process of food proteins and their products. In this study, the effect of gallic acid (GA) on in vitro digestion of β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) was investigated as a model system for analysis of the interaction between PCs and food proteins. GA showed no effect on the initial rate of β-LG digestion. However, after 1.5 h of digestion, the observed degree of hydrolysis of β-LG was lower in the presence than in the absence of GA. The peptides released from β-LG were characterized by LC/IT-TOF-MS and thirty peptides were identified. In particular, four new peaks were obtained following in vitro digestion of β-LG in the presence of GA. Met(7), Met(24) and Met(145) in the peptides corresponding to these peaks were oxidized to methionine sulfoxide residues.     

Colorimetric microdetermination of sulphites in foods by use of the modified rankine apparatus. IV.

Summary Detection and determination of traces of sulphites in foods was attempted by use of the modified Rankine apparatus and pararosaniline colorimetry. Replacement of alkaline titration reported previously by pararosaniline colorimetry lowered the absolute detection limit from 30 g (titration method) to 2 g. In view of clean analysis, in the color developing system, 0.1 N-sodium hydroxide was used in place of mercuric chloride solution commonly used as an absorbant of sulphites. In order to prevent oxidative decomposition of sulphites during operation, nitrogen gas was used as carrier instead of air. Dimedone and sodium azide were used for the elimination of aldehydes and nitrites, respecitvely, in the sample, which will disturb the color development of sulphites with pararosaniline-formaldehyde reagents. With this improved method, it was possible to determine the residual sulphites in frozen peeled shrimps, sugared beans and other foods with low sulphite contents accurately.

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Colorimetrische Mikrobestimmung von Sulfiten in Lebensmitteln bei Anwendung der modifizierten IV. Rankine Apparatur

Zusammenfassung Geringe Sulfitmengen in Lebensmitteln (geschälte Garnelen, gezuckerte Bohnen) können colorimetrisch bestimmt werden. Die neuentwickelte Methode beruht auf einer Kombination von colorimetrischer Bestimmung mittels p-Rosanilin und der Bestimmungsmethode nach Rankine. Auf diese Weise lassen sich Gehalte von 2 g noch genau bestimmen. Bei der Farbentwicklung wurde das giftige Quecksilbertetrachlorid durch 0.1 n-NaOH ersetzt, anstelle von Luft Stickstoff als Trägergas verwendet und somit eine Oxydation des Sulfits während der Bestimmung vermieden. Da Nitrit und Aldehyde die Farbentwicklung stören, wurde ihr Einfluß durch Dimedon und Natriumazid ausgeschaltet.

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Studies on the Analyses of Sulphites in Foods (IV)     

Establishment of a modified rankine method for the separate determination of free and combined sulphites in foods. III

Summary Considerable improvements were made to the original Rankine method. Replacement of aspiration with an injection system contributed a great deal to the simplification of procedure, being accompanied with an increase in reproducibility. Air (flow rate 1.01/min) was used for injection because the use of inert gas gave little increase in recovery rate.Sodium bisulphite (free sulphite) and three kinds of combined sulphite compound (bisulphite adducts of acetaldehyde, pyruvic acid and D-mannose) were used to find the most suitable conditions for the separate determination of free and combine sulphites.Free sulphite was expelled from the sample by bubbling at 0 °C for 30 min. It was confirmed that no combined sulphite was dissociated under these conditions. The phosphoric acid concentration had an important role in the liberation of sulphite. When 25% phosphoric acid was used, more than 99% of free sulphite was expelled by cold bubbling and more than 99% of combined sulphite was recovered by heating afterwards for 10 min.The scope of the modified Rankine method was also extended to the determination of sulphite in concentrated orange juice.

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Verwendung der modifizierten Rankine-Methode zur getrennten Bestimmung von Sulfiten in Lebensmitteln. III

Zusammenfassung Die Rankine-Methode wurde bedeutend verbessert. Ein Umtausch der Aspiration mit Blasensystem trug beträchtlich zur Vereinfachung des Bestimmungsverfahrens bei, und die Reproduzierbarkeit wurde verbessert. Luft (Fließrate 1,01/min) wurde als Blasengas benutzt, da der Gebrauch von Inertgas für die Wiederfindungsrate unbedeutend ist.Natriumhydrogensulfit (freies Sulfit) und drei Arten gebundener Sulfite (Acetaldehydhydrogensulfit, Pyruvathydrogensulfit undd-Mannosehydrogensulfit) dienten dazu, die geeignetsten Bedingungen für die getrennte Bestimmung der freien und gebundenen Sulfite zu ermitteln.Freies Sulfit wurde bei 0 °C durch 30 min Durchblasen vertrieben. Hierbei ging kein gebundenes Sulîit verloren. Die Phosphorsäurekonzentration war wichtig für die Freisetzung des Sulfites. Wenn man 25%ige Phosphorsäure verwendet, werden > 99% freien Sulfites beim Durchblasen in der Kälte vertrieben, während > 99% gebundenen Sulfites durch nachheriges 10 min langes Erhitzen wiedergewonnen werden.Die modifizierte Rankine-Methode wurde weiterhin für konzentrierte Säfte verwendet.

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Studies on the Analyses of Sulphites in Foods (III)     

Cytoskeletal Protein 4.1G Is Essential for the Primary Ciliogenesis and Osteoblast Differentiation in Bone Formation

The primary cilium is a hair-like immotile organelle with specific membrane receptors, including the receptor of Hedgehog signaling, smoothened. The cilium organized in preosteoblasts promotes differentiation of the cells into osteoblasts (osteoblast differentiation) by mediating Hedgehog signaling to achieve bone formation. Notably, 4.1G is a plasma membrane-associated cytoskeletal protein that plays essential roles in various tissues, including the peripheral nervous system, testis, and retina. However, its function in the bone remains unexplored. In this study, we identified 4.1G expression in the bone. We found that, in the 4.1G-knockout mice, calcium deposits and primary cilium formation were suppressed in the trabecular bone, which is preosteoblast-rich region of the newborn tibia, indicating that 4.1G is a prerequisite for osteoblast differentiation by organizing the primary cilia in preosteoblasts. Next, we found that the primary cilium was elongated in the differentiating mouse preosteoblast cell line MC3T3-E1, whereas the knockdown of 4.1G suppressed its elongation. Moreover, 4.1G-knockdown suppressed the induction of the cilia-mediated Hedgehog signaling and subsequent osteoblast differentiation. These results demonstrate a new regulatory mechanism of 4.1G in bone formation that promotes the primary ciliogenesis in the differentiating preosteoblasts and induction of cilia-mediated osteoblast differentiation, resulting in bone formation at the newborn stage.     

Loss of H19 imprinting and up-regulation of H19 and SNRPN in a case with malignant mixed Müllerian tumor of the uterus

An unusual clinical presentation of a patient with neuronal intestinal dysplasia is presented. A 46-year-old male noted a palpable mass in the right lower quadrant of his abdomen for two months. A computed axial tomographic scan showed a thickened wall of the cecum with a tumor-like appearance. The excised specimen consisted of a mass caused by the thickened, edematous wall of the dilated cecum and appendix. The wall of the cecum and appendix measured up to 2.5 and 0.8 cm, respectively, in thickness. Microscopic studies showed extensive hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the ganglia and nerve plexuses and hypertrophy of the muscularis propria, consistent with neuronal intestinal dysplasia.     

RADIOLYTIC DEGRADATION OF A CROWN ETHER FOR EXTRACT ABILITY OF STRONTIUM

ABSTRACT

Dicyclohexano- 18-crown-6 (DC18C6), dissolved in chloroform, 1-octanol, toluene or cyclohexane, was irradiated by ⁶⁰Co γ-rays. Radiolytic destruction of DC18C6, measured by gas chromatography, decreased in the order: chloroform > cyclohexane > 1-octanol > toluene. Distribution coefficients in the solvent extraction of strontium from nitric acid solution were measured. These distribution coefficients were minimally affected by γ-irradiation in toluene solution, but decreased with the absorbed dose in chloroform solution. It was suggested that the distribution coefficient for the liquid-liquid extraction system was influenced by radiolytic products. The effect of radiolytic products on the distribution coefficients was evaluated by considering DC18C6 remaining in the organic phase after irradiation. The distribution coefficient measured for the organic phase with radiolytic products was larger than that without radiolytic products. The radiolytic products were thus shown to contribute to the increase in the distribution coefficient.     

SYNTHESIS OF NANOSTRUCTURED LiM0.15Mn1.85O4 (M = Mn,Co, Al,AND Fe) PARTICLES BY SPRAY PYROLYSIS IN A FLUIDIZED BED REACTOR

A novel technique has been developed to directly produce fine ceramic powders from liquid solution via spray pyrolysis in a fluidized bed reactor (SPFBR). Using this technique the preparation of LiM_0.15Mn_1.85O₄ (M = Mn, Co, Al, and Fe), which are the most promising cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries, has been carried out at a superficial velocity U₀ of 0.71 m/s, a reactor temperature T of 800°C, and a static bed height L_s of 100 mm. The as-prepared powders were spherical nanostructured particles that comprised primary particles of a few tens of nanometers in size, and they exhibited a pure cubic spinel structure without any impurities in the XRD patterns. The chemical composition of as-prepared samples showed good agreement with the theoretical values that proved stoichiometric formulae of the compounds. The specific surface area of as-prepared LiM_0.15Mn_1.85O₄ (M = Mn, Co, Al, and Fe) powders decreases with increasing the static bed height in each doping metal, while the crystallite size increases with the static bed height. As a result, the as-prepared powders showed larger crystallite size and smaller specific surface area than those prepared by conventional spray pyrolysis.     

Spray pyrolysis synthesis of nanostructured LiFexMn2−xO4 cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries

A series of partially Fe-substituted lithium manganese oxides LiFe_xMn_2−xO₄ (0 ≦ x ≦ 0.3) was successfully synthesized by an ultrasonic spray pyrolysis technique. The resulting powders were spherical nanostructured particles which comprised the primary particles with a few tens of nanometer in size, while the morphology changed from spherical and porous to spherical and dense with increasing Fe substitution. The densification of particles progressed with the amount of Fe substitution. All the samples exhibited a pure cubic spinel structure without any impurities in the XRD patterns.The as-prepared powders were then sintered at 750 °C for 4 h in air. However, the particles morphology and pure spinel phase of LiFe_xMn_2−xO₄ powders did not change after sintering. The as-sintered powders were used as cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries, and cycle performance of the materials was investigated using half-cells Li/LiFe_xMn_2−xO₄. The first discharge capacity of Li/LiFe_xMn_2−xO₄ cell in a voltage 3.5-4.4 V decreased as the value x increased, however these cells exhibited stable cycling performance at wide ranges of charge-discharge rates.