The effect of natural antioxidants on haemoglobin-mediated lipid oxidation during enzymatic hydrolysis of cod protein

Heating and changes in pH often practised during fish protein hydrolysis can cause lipid oxidation. The effect of natural antioxidants towards haemoglobin-mediated lipid oxidation during enzymatic hydrolysis of cod proteins was investigated. Different variants of a washed cod model system, containing different combinations of haemoglobin and natural antioxidants (l-ascorbic acid and Fuscus vesiculosus extract), were hydrolysed using Protease P “Amano” 6 at pH 8 and 36 °C to achieve 20% degree of hydrolysis. Lipid hydroperoxides and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were analysed periodically during the hydrolysis process. The in vitro antioxidant activity of the final products was investigated. Results indicate that oxidation can develop rapidly during hydrolysis and antioxidant strategies are preferable to produce good quality products. Oxidation products did not have an impact on the in vitro antioxidant activity of the hydrolysates. The natural antioxidants inhibited oxidation during hydrolysis and contributed to the antioxidant activity of the final product.     

Gelation of protein isolates extracted from tilapia light muscle by pH shift processing

The gelation properties of protein isolates extracted from tilapia muscle with acid and alkali-aided processing were compared to washed tilapia muscle. Gels were prepared with and without the addition of 2% NaCl (w/w) slightly above neutral pH and gelation properties and gel quality were determined using various procedures. Hardness and elasticity of gels as assessed by torsion testing was improved using 2% NaCl (w/w) compared to treatments without salt. Small strain oscillatory testing showed that storage modulus (G′) of gel pastes prior to thermal gelation was significantly higher in the absence of salt, while smaller differences were seen after thermal gelation. Small strain oscillatory tests demonstrated a different gel forming mechanism for acid and alkali treated proteins compared to washed muscle. Fold tests demonstrated that acid treated proteins and washed muscle had significantly lower gel quality compared to alkali treated proteins. Addition of salt in gels improved gel water-holding capacity for acid and alkali treated proteins. Overall, the acid treated proteins exhibited poorer gelling ability compared to alkali treated proteins. Total content of SH-groups was measured before and after gelation and S–S bonding did not explain the difference in gel forming ability of different treatments. The results indicate that the alkali-aided process can be used to produce high quality protein gels from tilapia muscle suitable for manufacturing of imitation seafood products.     

Lipid oxidation and fishy odour development in protein hydrolysate from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) muscle as affected by freshness and antioxidants

Lipid oxidation and fishy odour development in protein hydrolysate from fresh and ice-stored Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were investigated. During iced storage of 18 days, heme iron content decreased with a concomitant increase in non-heme iron content (P < 0.05). Peroxide value (PV) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values increased. Phospholipid content decreased with a corresponding increase in free fatty acid content. The results suggested that lipid hydrolysis and oxidation took place during storage. When protein hydrolysates were produced from fresh and 18 days ice-stored Nile tilapia muscle, higher lipid oxidation and fishy odour/flavour along with higher amount volatile compounds were obtained in hydrolysate for unfresh sample (P < 0.05). However, the addition of mixed antioxidants during hydrolysis process markedly lowered lipid oxidation, b^∗, ΔC^∗, ΔE^∗ values, fishy odour/flavour as well as the formation of volatile compounds in the resulting hydrolysates prepared from both fresh and unfresh samples. Therefore, hydrolysate from Nile tilapia muscle with reduced fishy odour and lighter colour could be prepared by using fresh fish and incorporation of mixed antioxidants during hydrolysis.     

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition of fish protein hydrolysates prepared from alkaline‐aided channel catfish protein isolate

Peptides derived from aquatic animals have been shown to have inhibitory activity against angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), which is a key enzyme behind elevated blood pressure. In this study a catfish protein isolate was prepared and hydrolyzed to 5%, 15% and 30% degrees of hydrolysis (% DH) and soluble peptides separated from the total hydrolysate. The hydrolysate and its soluble peptide fraction were studied separately. Increased hydrolysis produced smaller peptides, with the smallest peptides remaining in the soluble fraction. Both hydrolysates and its soluble fraction had high ACE inhibition activities, from 70% to 90.6%, depending on fraction and % DH. Results suggested that there is not a simple relationship between average peptide size and extent of % DH and ACE inactivation, but clearly the soluble fraction of the hydrolysate, containing the smallest peptides, is responsible for most of the ACE inhibition activity of the hydrolysate. Hydrolysates prepared from a pure and uniform catfish protein isolate substrate do therefore show a potential for ACE inhibition and may find use as bioactive ingredients. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

The clinical indications for identical pathogenesis of isolated and non-isolated testicular relapses in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

In the present population-based study, we compared the clinical data of testicular relapses with and without concurrent bone marrow relapse and clinical data of the relapses in other locations among boys with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), in order to study the possible evidence of early sequestration and local regulation of leukaemic lymphoblast in the testis of humans. The results suggest that the pathogenesis of isolated testicular relapse (T) and testicular relapse with a concurrent bone marrow relapse (T + BM) is likely to be similar. Isolated and non-isolated testicular relapses appeared late after the achievement of remission (T 34 +/- 16 months, T + BM 32 +/- 15 months) in ALL compared to relapses in other locations (CNS 23 +/- 11 months, BM 25 +/- 19 months). The better prognosis after testicular relapses (estimated second event free survival probability, 2-EFS: T 0.63, T + BM 0.32) compared to bone marrow relapse (2-EFS: BM 0.13) further suggests that testicular relapse with a concurrent bone marrow relapse possibly originates from the isolated testicular relapse, and that the isolated testicular relapse is a separate entity and not a manifestation of systemic recurrence. Higher frequencies of isolated and non-isolated testicular relapses (T 9%, T + BM 5%) were observed among boys with onset of ALL in early puberty (10-12 y) compared to those among younger (T 4%, T + BM 2%) and older (T 0%, T + BM 0%) boys. The late occurrence, the possible association with hormonal maturation and the good prognosis after testicular relapses suggest a possible local regulation of the residual leukaemic lymphoblast in human testis.     

Mutations in the gene for cardiac myosin-binding protein C and late-onset familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND: Mutations in the gene for cardiac myosin-binding protein C account for approximately 15 percent of cases of familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The spectrum of disease-causing mutations and the associated clinical features of these gene defects are unknown. METHODS: DNA sequences encoding cardiac myosin-binding protein C were determined in unrelated patients with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Mutations were found in 16 probands, who had 574 family members at risk of inheriting these defects. The genotypes of these family members were determined, and the clinical status of 212 family members with mutations in the gene for cardiac myosin-binding protein C was assessed. RESULTS: Twelve novel mutations were identified in probands from 16 families. Four were missense mutations; eight defects (insertions, deletions, and splice mutations) were predicted to truncate cardiac myosin-binding protein C. The clinical expression of either missense or truncation mutations was similar to that observed for other genetic causes of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but the age at onset of the disease differed markedly. Only 58 percent of adults under the age of 50 years who had a mutation in the cardiac myosin-binding protein C gene (68 of 117 patients) had cardiac hypertrophy; disease penetrance remained incomplete through the age of 60 years. Survival was generally better than that observed among patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy caused by other mutations in the genes for sarcomere proteins. Most deaths due to cardiac causes in these families occurred suddenly. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical expression of mutations in the gene for cardiac myosin-binding protein C is often delayed until middle age or old age. Delayed expression of cardiac hypertrophy and a favorable clinical course may hinder recognition of the heritable nature of mutations in the cardiac myosin-binding protein C gene. Clinical screening in adult life may be warranted for members of families characterized by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.     

Interactive Learning or Technology Transfer as a Way to Catch‐Up? Analysing the Wind Energy Industry in Denmark and India

This paper uses sectoral systems of innovation framework to examine the relationship between technology policy and industrial development by comparing the emergence of the wind energy industry in Denmark and India. Since the late 1970s Denmark has led the development of a global wind energy industry and in 2004 wind energy supplied 18.8 per cent of Denmark's electricity consumption. India was however a late entrant that managed in a few years to establish itself as the fifth largest producer of wind energy in the world. We suggest that India's unique policy of “interactive learning” with international and especially Danish actors, instead of imitation of foreign technology policies and institutions, was a substantial contributor to India's success in developing their wind energy industry.     

Effect of high pressure treatment on the quality of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and mahi mahi (Coryphaena hippurus)

ABSTRACT:  High pressure processing (HPP) is becoming a promising seafood preservation method. The objective was to investigate the effect of HPP on quality of rainbow trout and mahi mahi during cold storage. Skinless fillets treated with different pressures (150, 300, 450, and 600 MPa for 15 min) and stored at 4 °C were analyzed at 1, 3, and 6 d storage. Red muscle was analyzed for lipid oxidation products by measuring thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS) and whole muscle was analyzed for total aerobic count, texture profile analysis, and color. A pressure of 300 MPa effectively inactivated the initial microbial population in rainbow trout (6-log reduction). However, inactivation of the initial population on mahi mahi was only about 4-log reduction at the same pressure. Microbial growth was significantly retarded after HPP. Color results showed that redness ( a * value) of rainbow trout at 300 MPa and above was significantly ( P < 0.05) lower compared to mahi mahi. TBARS values for rainbow trout increased with increased pressure, whereas the same trend was not seen for mahi mahi where maximum oxidation was found at 300 MPa and then declined. This study demonstrates the usefulness of HPP in seafood processing and the influence of species variation on processing parameters. The optimum HPP conditions for influencing lipid oxidation, microbial load, and color changes were found to be 300 MPa for rainbow trout and 450 MPa for mahi mahi.     

Conformational and rheological changes in catfish myosin during alkali-induced unfolding and refolding

Changes in the conformation of catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) myosin due to (i) cations (ii) alkaline pH and (iii) salt addition were determined using circular dichroism, tryptophan fluorescence, differential scanning calorimetry and hydrophobicity studies. The relation between conformation and storage modulus (G′) of alkali treated myosin was studied. Two types of bases, NaOH and KOH were used for unfolding myosin under three alkaline conditions, pH 11.0, 11.5 and 12.0. Myosin, unfolded under alkali conditions was immediately refolded by adjusting pH back to 7.3. Subjecting myosin to alkaline conditions and subsequent readjustment to pH 7.3 increased the G′ of thermally treated myosin. G′ was affected by the presence or absence of salt during alkali treatments. When salt was present during alkali unfolding of myosin, the added salt stabilized the conformation of myosin against alkali unfolding and denaturation. In the absence of salt or when salt was added after refolding, myosin showed significantly higher denaturation and high G′ on heating and cooling. Among the different alkaline pH values, myosin treated at pH 11.0 showed higher G′. The type of anions influenced the conformation of myosin and the strength of gels. Treatment of myosin with KOH resulted in greater denaturation and higher gelling ability (G′) compared to NaOH.