Effects of continuous flow microwave treatment on chemical and microbiological characteristics of milk

Raw cows' and goats' milks were heated by microwave in a continuous flow unit up to temperatures ranging from 73.1 to 96.7°C. The effects of the heat treatments were estimated by measurements of lactose isomerization, protein denaturation, inactivation of alkaline phosphatase and peroxidase and the total bacterial count. Negative phosphatase tests and low bacterial counts, together with low degrees of whey protein denaturation, were achieved under several temperature/time combinations. The results indicate that continuous microwave processing may be an efficient and mild approach for the pasteurization of milk.     

At-line quantitative ion mobility spectrometry for direct analysis of swabs for pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment cleaning verification

The potential for ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) to provide rapid at-line quantitation of residues on surfaces via direct analysis of swabs is attractive for pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment cleaning verification. In this study, the development of an IMS method to provide acceptable quantitation of active pharmaceutical ingredients and cleaning agents is described. Key modifications to commercially available instrumentation were made to achieve a dynamic range of 5-100 microg per 25 cm2 surface area and acceptable analyte recovery in the presence of ionizable matrix components. The results of this study effectively demonstrate the capability of IMS to serve as an at-line quantitative analytical method.     

Sustained Elevated Blood Pressure Accelerates Atherosclerosis Development in a Preclinical Model of Disease

The continuous relationship between blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular events makes the distinction between elevated BP and hypertension based on arbitrary cut-off values for BP. Even mild BP elevations manifesting as high-normal BP have been associated with cardiovascular risk. We hypothesize that persistent elevated BP increases atherosclerotic plaque development. To evaluate this causal link, we developed a new mouse model of elevated BP based on adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene transfer. We constructed AAV vectors to support transfer of the hRenin and hAngiotensinogen genes. A single injection of AAV-Ren/Ang (10¹¹ total viral particles) induced sustained systolic BP increase (130 ± 20 mmHg, vs. 110 ± 15 mmHg in controls; p = 0.05). In ApoE^−/− mice, AAV-induced mild BP elevation caused larger atherosclerotic lesions evaluated by histology (10-fold increase vs. normotensive controls). In this preclinical model, atheroma plaques development was attenuated by BP control with a calcium channel blocker, indicating that a small increase in BP within a physiological range has a substantial impact on plaque development in a preclinical model of atherosclerosis. These data support that non-optimal BP represents a risk for atherosclerosis development. Earlier intervention in elevated BP may prevent or delay morbidity and mortality associated with atherosclerosis.     

Discrimination of sweet wines partially fermented by two osmo-ethanol-tolerant yeasts by gas chromatographic analysis and electronic nose

Some special sweet wines are obtained by partial fermentation of musts from off-vine dried grapes containing large amounts of sugars. This process is very slow and subject to serious stop problems that can be avoided by using osmo-ethanol-tolerant yeasts. Musts containing 371 g/l of sugars were partially fermented with selected Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, X4 and X5, to 12% (v/v) and the wines obtained with X5 exhibited a higher volatile acidity but lower concentrations of higher alcohols, carbonyl compounds and polyols than those obtained with X4. A principal component analysis (PCA) of the data provided by an electronic nose (E-nose) afforded discrimination between fermented and unfermented musts, but not between wines obtained with X4 or X5. The PCA applied to the major volatile compounds and polyols shows similar results, but a clear discrimination between wines is obtained by removing the polyols glycerol and 2,3-butanediol from the PCA.     

Teriflunomide Inhibits JCPyV Infection and Spread in Glial Cells and Choroid Plexus Epithelial Cells

Several classes of immunomodulators are used for treating relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Most of these disease-modifying therapies, except teriflunomide, carry the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a severely debilitating, often fatal virus-induced demyelinating disease. Because teriflunomide has been shown to have antiviral activity against DNA viruses, we investigated whether treatment of cells with teriflunomide inhibits infection and spread of JC polyomavirus (JCPyV), the causative agent of PML. Treatment of choroid plexus epithelial cells and astrocytes with teriflunomide reduced JCPyV infection and spread. We also used droplet digital PCR to quantify JCPyV DNA associated with extracellular vesicles isolated from RRMS patients. We detected JCPyV DNA in all patients with confirmed PML diagnosis (n = 2), and in six natalizumab-treated (n = 12), two teriflunomide-treated (n = 7), and two nonimmunomodulated (n = 2) patients. Of the 21 patients, 12 (57%) had detectable JCPyV in either plasma or serum. CSF was uniformly negative for JCPyV. Isolation of extracellular vesicles did not increase the level of detection of JCPyV DNA versus bulk unprocessed biofluid. Overall, our study demonstrated an effect of teriflunomide inhibiting JCPyV infection and spread in glial and choroid plexus epithelial cells. Larger studies using patient samples are needed to correlate these in vitro findings with patient data.     

Metabolic Activity of Radish Sprouts Derived Isothiocyanates in Drosophila melanogaster

We used Drosophila melanogaster as a model system to study the absorption, metabolism and potential health benefits of plant bioactives derived from radish sprouts (Raphanus sativus cv. Rambo), a Brassicaceae species rich in glucosinolates and other phytochemicals. Flies were subjected to a diet supplemented with lyophilized radish sprouts (10.6 g/L) for 10 days, containing high amounts of glucoraphenin and glucoraphasatin, which can be hydrolyzed by myrosinase to the isothiocyanates sulforaphene and raphasatin, respectively. We demonstrate that Drosophila melanogaster takes up and metabolizes isothiocyanates from radish sprouts through the detection of the metabolite sulforaphane-cysteine in fly homogenates. Moreover, we report a decrease in the glucose content of flies, an upregulation of spargel expression, the Drosophila homolog of the mammalian PPARγ-coactivator 1 α, as well as the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase in vitro. Overall, we show that the consumption of radish sprouts affects energy metabolism in Drosophila melanogaster which is reflected by lower glucose levels and an increased expression of spargel, a central player in mitochondrial biogenesis. These processes are often affected in chronic diseases associated with aging, including type II diabetes mellitus.     

Application of the colloidal stability of TiO2 particles for recovery and reuse in solar photocatalysis

TiO2-catalyst suspensions work efficiently in photocatalysis for wastewater treatment. Nevertheless, once photocatalysis is complete, separation of the catalyst from solution becomes the main problem. Catalyst recovery has been enhanced through charge neutralisation and coagulation with electrolytes at lab and pilot-plant scale (40 L) to evaluate the potential for its separation after photocatalytic degradation of pollutants. Zeta-potential analysis showed that the isoelectric point (IEP) of TiO2 suspensions is near pH 7. Settling rates and hydrodynamic diameter of TiO2 particles are maximum at the IEP. However, suspensions are stable at different pH. TiO2 was reused in solar photocatalysis pilot-plant (40 L) for treatment of tetrachloroethylene (C2Cl4) comparing two procedures: reuse of the entire suspension after destruction of the organics without separation of the catalyst, and reuse of the catalyst after it had settled to the bottom and clear water had been removed. Photocatalytic efficiency worsens with successive runs when catalyst and water are reused without separation, whereas, when TiO2 is separated, the photocatalyst is not deactivated.