Changes in carbohydrates during germination of lentils

Summary The effect of germination on soluble carbohydrates, total and digestible starch, and components of dietary fiber (neutral detergent fiber, cellulose and hemicellulose) in two varieties of lentils (Lens culinaris medicus var. vulgaris and variabilis) were investigated. In germinated lentils the amount of total soluble sugars decreased (from 4.3% to 2.0% and from 5.3% to 2.2%, respectively); glucose, not present in raw seeds, was relatively high (0.6% and 0.7%), fructose increased slightly, and sucrose decreased slightly. The oligosaccharides of the raffinose family disappeared from germinated seeds. Total starch decreased considerably in germinated lentils (from 60.3% to 41.4% and from 57.4% to 36.4%), but the digestibility of the starch was greatly improved. In germinated lentils, the content of neutral detergent fiber and hemicellulose were lower but that of cellulose and lignin were higher than in raw lentils. Thus, the nutritive value of both varieties of lentils may increase with germination processes.

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Veränderungen im Kohlenhydratgehalt in keimenden Linsen

Zusammenfassung In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde der Einfluß der Keimung auf die Gehalte an löslichen Kohlenhydraten, Gesamt- und verdaulicher Stärke und Komponenten der Rohfaser (neutral detergent fiber, Cellulose und Hemicellulose), in zwei Linsensorten (Lens culinaris medicus var. vulgaris und variabilis) untersucht. Der Gesamtzuckergehalt nimmt durch die Keimung bei beiden Sorten ab (von 4,3% bis 2,0% und von 5,3% bis 2,2%). Glucose, die sich in rohen Samen nicht findet, lag bei 0,6% und 0,7% in den gekeimten Linsen. Fructose und Sucrose änderten sich nur wenig. Die Raffinose-Oligosaccharide sind bei den gekeimten Linsen nicht vorhanden. Die Gesamt-Stärke nimmt deutlich während der Keimung ab (von 60,27% bis 41,39% und von 57,41% bis 36,39%), aber die Verdaulichkeit der Stärke wurde signifikant verbessert. Die Gehalte an neutral detergent fiber und Hemicellulose bei gekeimten Linsen waren niedriger als bei rohen Linsen, aber die Cellulose- und Ligningehalte waren nach der Keimung größer. Der Proteinnährwert bei beiden Linsensorten kann durch die Keimung verbessert werden.

     

Metabolic role of glutamine and its importance in nutritional therapy

The advances in the field of nutritional support have made certain nutrients very relevant, which, although they have been known for a long time, at present represent an important chapter in nutrition, entering into what is known as "nutritional pharmacology". Among these nutrients is glutamine, an amino acid classified as non-essential, but which in certain circumstances may become to be considered as an "essential nutrient". In the present review, a review is made of its metabolic role, synthesis and degradation, metabolic routes and functions under normal conditions as well as under critical conditions. It is known that glutamine stimulates the synthesis and inhibits the degradation of proteins, it is an important vehicle for the transport of nitrogen and carbon within the tissues, it stimulates the synthesis of hepatic glycogen, it is an energy source for cell division, for the growth of different cells of rapid replication, such as enterocytes, colonocytes, and fibroblasts, as well as for other cells of the immune system, such as lymphocytes and macrophages. Thus its role in the maintenance of structure, in metabolism and function of the intestinal mucosa, and in dysfunctions of the immune system. In parenteral nutrition, at present there are no preparations which include it, given the stability problems which it presents, although attempts have been made to resolve this, using different possibilities, such as di-peptides. However, in enteral nutrition, the diets tend to include it, although in a small proportion. Nevertheless, having recognized its beneficial role in a certain type of patients, at present there are diets which contain glutamine in higher doses, with the object of attempting to cover the increased demands of glutamine which shall arise in these situations. The inclusion of glutamine in nutritional therapy is supported by multiple studies which reflect the beneficial effect of this nutrient, both in enteral nutrition as in parenteral nutrition.     

Characterizing executive functioning in older special populations: From cognitively elite to cognitively impaired.

The authors examined the structure and invariance of executive functions (EF) across (a) a continuum of cognitive status in 3 groups of older adults (cognitively elite [CE], cognitively normal [CN], and cognitively impaired [CI]) and (b) a 3-year longitudinal interval. Using latent variable analyses (LISREL 8.80), the authors tested 3-factor models (“Inhibition”: Hayling [Burgess & Shallice, 1997], Stroop [Regard, 1981]; “Shifting”: Brixton [Burgess & Shallice, 1997], Color Trails [D’Elia et al., 1996]; and “Updating”: Reading and Computational Span [Salthouse & Babcock, 1991]) and 1-factor models within each group. Participants (initial N = 570; 53–90 years) were from the Victoria Longitudinal Study (Sample 3, Waves 1 and 2). Cross-sectionally, the authors observed a 3-factor EF structure especially for the CE group and 1-factor solutions for all 3 groups. Longitudinally, temporal invariance was supported for the 3-factor model (CE and CN groups) and the 1-factor model (CI and CN groups). Subgroups with higher cognitive status and greater 3-year stability performed better on EF factors than corresponding groups with lower cognitive status and less stability. Studies of EF structure, performance, dedifferentiation, and dysfunction will benefit from considering initial cognitive status and longitudinal stability. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An Experimental Model of Neuro–Immune Interactions in the Eye: Corneal Sensory Nerves and Resident Dendritic Cells

The cornea is an avascular connective tissue that is crucial, not only as the primary barrier of the eye but also as a proper transparent refractive structure. Corneal transparency is necessary for vision and is the result of several factors, including its highly organized structure, the physiology of its few cellular components, the lack of myelinated nerves (although it is extremely innervated), the tightly controlled hydration state, and the absence of blood and lymphatic vessels in healthy conditions, among others. The avascular, immune-privileged tissue of the cornea is an ideal model to study the interactions between its well-characterized and dense sensory nerves (easily accessible for both focal electrophysiological recording and morphological studies) and the low number of resident immune cell types, distinguished from those cells migrating from blood vessels. This paper presents an overview of the corneal structure and innervation, the resident dendritic cell (DC) subpopulations present in the cornea, their distribution in relation to corneal nerves, and their role in ocular inflammatory diseases. A mouse model in which sensory axons are constitutively labeled with tdTomato and DCs with green fluorescent protein (GFP) allows further analysis of the neuro-immune crosstalk under inflammatory and steady-state conditions of the eye.     

Role of volatilization in changing TBA and MTBE concentrations at MTBE-contaminated sites

Tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA) is commonly found as an impurity in methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) added to gasoline. Frequent observations of high TBA, and especially rising TBA/MTBE concentration ratios, in groundwater at gasoline spill sites are generally attributed to microbial conversion of MTBE to TBA. Typically overlooked is the role of volatilization in the attenuation of these chemicals especially in the vadose zone, which is a source of contamination to groundwater. Here we show that volatilization, particularly through remediation by vapor extraction, can substantially affect the trends in TBA and MTBE concentrations and the respective mass available to impact groundwater aquifers, through the preferential removal of more volatile compounds, including MTBE, and the apparent enrichment of less volatile compounds like TBA. We demonstrate this phenomenon through numerical simulations of remedial-enhanced volatilization. Results show increases in TBA/MTBE concentration ratios consistent with ratios observed in groundwater at gasoline spill sites. Volatilization is an important, and potentially dominant, process that can result in concentration trends similar to those typically attributed to biodegradation.