Microbial profiles of frozen trimmings and silver sides prepared at Indian buffalo meat packing plants

To assess microbiological quality of buffalo meat trimmings (TT = 114) and silver sides (SS = 41), samples were collected from four different Indian meat packing plants. The aim of this study was: (i) to evaluate standard plate count (SPC), psychrotrophic count (PTC), Enterococcus feacalis count (EFC), Staphylococcus aureus count (SAC) and Escherichia coli count (ECC) and the presence of Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes; and (ii) also to determine vero toxic E. coli (VTEC) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). TT samples had significantly higher (P < 0.001) SPC, PTC, EFC, and SAC than SS, while across the meat types there was no difference (P > 0.05) in ECC. E. coli was recovered from 32.4% TT and 19.5% SS samples. The prevalence rate of Salmonella spp. and L. monocytogenes in TT was 1.75% and 0.87%, respectively. But no SS sample was found to be positive for any of these two pathogens. VTEC was found in 2.58% of all the tested samples. This finding suggests that TT contain higher microbes but only small numbers of pathogens of latent zoonotic importance. The present study confirmed the importance of maintaining good process hygiene at meat plants for microbiological status of buffalo meat.     

The value-congruence model of memory for emotional experiences: An explanation for cultural differences in emotional self-reports.

In 3 studies, the authors found support for the value-congruence model that accounts for cultural variations in memory for emotional experiences. In Study 1, the authors found that in the made-in-the-U.S. scenario condition, European Americans were more accurate than were Asian Americans in their retrospective frequency judgments of emotions. However, in the made-in-Japan scenario condition, European Americans were less accurate than were Asian Americans. In Study 2, the authors demonstrated that value orientation mediates the Culture×Type of Event congruence effect. In Study 3 (a daily event sampling study), the authors showed that the congruence effect was explained by the importance of parental approval. In sum, emotional events congruent with personal values remain in memory longer and influence retrospective frequency judgments of emotion more than do incongruent events. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparative analysis of antioxidant and antimelanogenesis properties of three local guava (Psidium guajava L.) varieties of Thailand, via different extraction solvents

The antioxidant and antimelanogenesis potentials of three local varieties of guava (Psidium guajava L.) from Thailand namely: Pansithong, Thai original and Kimju were studied. The extracts were made with water, 40 % ethanol and simulated gastrointestinal digestion (SGD). Antioxidant properties were determined by total polyphenolic compounds, DPPH assay, superoxide anion assay and hydroxyl radical assay. Antimelanogenesis properties were determined by anti-tyrosinase assay, total phenolic acid and total vitamin C contents. The results for antioxidant analysis revealed that Pansithong, when extracted by 40 % ethanol and SGD showed the presence of highest polyphenol compounds, and DPPH antioxidant activity respectively. Kimju exhibited the highest hydroxyl radical antioxidant activity among all extracts and highest superoxide anion antioxidant activity, when extracted by 40 % ethanol. The results for antimelanogenesis determination presented that Kimju showed highest tyrosinase inhibition, total phenolic acid and total vitamin C contents. It was concluded that Pansithong showed highest antioxidant potential while the highest antimelanogenesis potential was found in Kimju. Over all water has been found as the best solvent for antioxidant extraction followed by 40 % ethanol and SGD.     

Graphene as a nanocarrier for tamoxifen induces apoptosis in transformed cancer cell lines of different origins

A cationic amphiphile, cholest-5en-3β-oxyethyl pyridinium bromide (PY(+) -Chol), is able to efficiently disperse exfoliated graphene (GR) in water by the physical adsorption of PY(+) -Chol on the surface of GR to form stable, dark aqueous suspensions at room temperature. The GR-PY(+) -Chol suspension can then be used to solubilize Tamoxifen Citrate (TmC), a breast cancer drug, in water. The resulting TmC-GR-PY(+) -Chol is stable for a long time without any precipitation. Fluorescence emission and UV absorption spectra indicate the existence of noncovalent interactions between TmC, GR, and PY(+) -Chol in these suspensions. Electron microscopy shows the existence of segregated GR sheets and TmC 'ribbons' in the composite suspensions. Atomic force microscopy indicates the presence of 'extended' structures of GR-PY(+) -Chol, which grows wider in the presence of TmC. The slow time-dependent release of TmC is noticed in a reconstituted cell culture medium, a property useful as a drug carrier. TmC-GR-PY(+) -Chol selectively enhanced the cell death (apoptosis) of the transformed cancer cells compared to normal cells. This potency is found to be true for a wide range of transformed cancer cells viz. HeLa, A549, ras oncogene-transformed NIH3T3, HepG2, MDA-MB231, MCF-7, and HEK293T compared to the normal cell HEK293 in vitro. Confocal microscopy confirmed the high efficiency of TmC-GR-PY(+) -Chol in delivering the drug to the cells, compared to the suspensions devoid of GR.     

Quality characteristics of loaves from buffalo meat, liver and vegetables

The present investigation explored the possibilities of commercial utilization of buffalo liver in comminuted meat products. In this study, the effect of incorporating liver with meat and vegetables in loaves was studied. Different types of loaves were evaluated: (1) Control meat loaf, (2) liver-meat loaf (20% liver) and (3) liver-vegetable loaves (40% liver, 1:1 ratio of carrot and potato). The pH's; yield's, emulsion stabilities and proximate compositions were not significantly different between meat and liver-meat loaves. However, liver-vegetable loaves gave significantly (P<0.05) lower yields and different proximate compositions. Although, liver-meat and liver-vegetable loaves had acceptable sensory scores (above 6), control meat loaves gave significantly (P<0.05) higher sensory scores. Instrumental color evaluation suggested significantly (P<0.05) higher redness (a(*)) and chroma values in meat loaves and significantly (P<0.05) higher values of brightness (L(*)), yellowness (b(*)) and hue values in liver-meat and liver-vegetable loaves. Texture profile analysis showed that liver-meat and liver-vegetable loaves had significantly (P<0.05) lower values of hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, gumminess and chewiness than the control meat loaves. Among the loaves, liver-vegetable loaves were softer and hence had lower values for the textural parameters than liver-meat loaves. During refrigerated storage, liver-vegetable loaves had significantly (P<0.05) lower thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) values than meat and liver-meat loaves. Shelf life studies indicated a shelf life of 15 days for meat and liver-meat loaves and 10 days for liver-vegetable loaves at 4±1 °C. It was concluded that buffalo liver could be commercially utilized for the preparation of acceptable comminuted meat products.     

Physicochemical, functional and microbiological quality of buffalo liver

Buffalo liver is an important edible meat byproduct. However, in developing countries including India, it has a low commercial value and is underutilized. The present investigation was conducted to provide basic information on physicochemical, functional and microbiological quality of buffalo liver. Proximate composition was: moisture - 71.92%, protein - 18.44%, fat - 5.60%, carbohydrate - 2.72%, total ash - 1.32% and total energy - 135 kcal. Mineral concentrations (mg%) in liver were: Na - 60.04, K - 274, Ca - 5.60, Mg - 6.20, Fe - 20.86 and Cu - 5.60. Mean glycogen (mg/g), total liver pigments (mg/g) and cholesterol (mg%) were 7.07,8.49 and 283.88, respectively. The mean pH values of buffalo liver was 6.42, WHC - 38 ml per 100 g and cooking yield was 73.15%. Protein extractability studies indicated that liver contains higher amounts of water-soluble proteins (20-40%) than salt soluble proteins (7-15%) and presence of high molecular weight proteins in salt soluble protein fractions. The average microbial counts (log(10) cfu/g) for different organisms were APC - 6.10; psychrotrophs - 4.30; enterobacteriaceae counts - 4.97; staphylococcal counts 2.50 and total coliforms - 2.82.     

Reduction-Triggered Doxorubicin Delivery by Self-Assembled Nanospheres of Lipoylated Caffeine

This study reports a new amphiphilic bioconjugate (CAFF-LA) derived from the lipoylation of a hydroxyethyl derivative of caffeine. In water, CAFF-LA self-assembles into nanospheres with an average size of 155 nm, as evidenced from dynamic light scattering and electron microscopy studies. The nanospheres are stable in serum and could be disintegrated upon exposure to the reducing environment of dithiothreitol (DTT; 10 mM) and glutathione (GSH; 10 mM). These nanospheres easily encapsulate the chemotherapy medication, doxorubicin (DOX), and demonstrate an efficacious transport into doxorubicin-resistant cervical cancer (HeLa) cells, wherein a marked induction in apoptosis and significantly lower IC₅₀ have been observed when compared to that of free drug. The in vitro assessment of cell viability and hemocompatibility present these nanospheres as potentially safe and efficient intracellular reduction stimulus-responsive drug-delivery vehicles.     

What makes a life good?

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the longitudinal changes in energy expenditure and body composition in relationship to alterations in carbohydrate metabolism in women with normal and abnormal glucose metabolism. We hypothesized that women with decreased insulin sensitivity before conception would have less fat accretion and smaller increases in energy expenditure. STUDY DESIGN: Six women with normal glucose tolerance and 10 women with abnormal glucose tolerance were evaluated before conception, and in early (12 to 14 weeks) and late (34 to 36 weeks) gestation. Body composition was estimated by hydrodensitometry, resting energy expenditure, and glucose and fat metabolism by indirect calorimetry, endogenous glucose production by infusion of [6-6 2H2] glucose, and insulin sensitivity using a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp (40 mU/m2/min). RESULTS: There was a smaller increase in fat mass (1.3 kg [P = .04]) in early pregnancy in women with abnormal glucose tolerance before pregnancy. Indirect calorimetry measured gestational age-related increases in basal oxygen utilization, with or without correction for fat-free mass (VO2, P = .002), resting energy expenditure (expressed in kilocalories, P = .0001), and carbohydrate oxidation (P = .0003). The insulin-mediated elevation in VO2 increased in later gestation VO2 (P = .005), as did resting energy expenditure (P = .0001) and fat oxidation (P = 0.0001). However, there was a decrease in respiratory quotient (P = .0001), carbohydrate oxidation (P = .002), and nonoxidative carbohydrate metabolism (P = .0001) with advancing gestation during insulin infusion. In early pregnancy, changes in fat mass correlated inversely with changes in insulin sensitivity (r= -0.52, P = .04) and changes in basal VO2 correlated inversely with decreases in basal endogenous glucose production (r = -0.74, P = .01). CONCLUSION: In early gestation, the changes in maternal fat mass and basal oxygen consumption are inversely related to the changes in insulin sensitivity. This response in lean women with decreased insulin sensitivity before conception may have survival value by providing a larger amount of available substrate to meet fetoplacental needs during gestation.     

Cross-Situational Consistency of Affective Experiences Across Cultures.

This study examined cross-situational consistency of affective experiences using an experience-sampling method in Japan, India, and the United States. Participants recorded their moods and situations when signaled at random moments for 7 days. The authors examined relative (interindividual) consistency and absolute (within-person) consistency. They found stable interindividual differences of affective experiences across various situations (mean r = .52 for positive affect .51 for negative affect) and cultural invariance of the cross-situational consistency of affective experiences. Simultaneously, the authors found a considerable degree of within-person cross-situational variation in affective experiences, and cultural differences in within-person cross-situational consistency. Thus, global affective traits exist among non-Western samples, but the degree to which situations exert an influence on the absolute level of affective experience varies across cultures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

BODIPY‐Appended 2‐(2‐Pyridyl)benzimidazole Platinum(II) Catecholates for Mitochondria‐Targeted Photocytotoxicity

Platinum(II) complexes of the type [Pt(L)(cat)] ( 1 and 2 ), in which H₂cat is catechol and L represents two 2‐(2‐pyridyl)benzimidazole ligands with 4,4‐difluoro‐4‐bora‐3a,4a‐diaza‐s‐indacene (BODIPY) pendants, were synthesized to achieve mitochondria‐targeted photocytotoxicity. The complexes showed strong absorptions in the range λ=510–540 nm. Complex 1 exhibited intense emission at λ=525 nm in 1 % DMSO/water solution (fluorescence quantum yield of 0.06). Nanosecond transient absorption spectral features indicated an enhanced population of the triplet excited state in di‐iodinated complex 2 . The generation of singlet oxygen by complex 2 upon exposure to visible light, as evidenced from experiments with 1,3‐diphenylisobenzofuran, is suitable for photodynamic therapy because of the remarkable photosensitizing ability. The complexes resulted in excellent photocytotoxicity in HaCaT cells (half maximal inhibitory concentration IC₅₀≈3 μm , λ=400–700 nm, light dose=10 J cm^?2), but they remained non‐toxic in the dark (IC₅₀>100 μm ). Confocal microscopy images of 1 and Pt estimation from isolated mitochondria showed colocalization of the complexes in the mitochondria. Complex 2 displayed generation of reactive oxygen species induced by visible light, disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential, and apoptosis.