Characterization of high molecular weight coffee fractions and their fermentation by human intestinal microbiota

To investigate the structure and fermentability of high M(r) components of coffee brews by human gut bacteria Arabica coffee samples of three different degrees of roast (light, medium, and dark) were used for drip brew preparations and fractionation by ultrafiltration with different M(r) cut-offs. Total carbohydrates of the fractions ranged from 28.6 g/100 g to 56.7 g/100 g. Galactomannans and arabinogalactans were the main polysaccharides and made up between one-fourth and one-half of the respective coffee fraction. After 24 h of incubation with a human fecal suspension the polysaccharides of all fractions were extensively degraded. A decrease in the absorbance values at 405 and 280 nm, respectively, indicated that also chemically noncharacterized UV-active components such as Maillard reaction products, had been partially degraded or modified by the human gut bacteria. The remainder after 24 h of fermentation still showed antioxidant activity. Bacterial cells belonging to the Bacteroides-Prevotella group increased 2- to 40-fold during fermentation depending on the M(r) range of the fraction and the degree of roast. The production of high amounts of acetate and propionate is in accordance with a role of these bacteria in the degradation of high M(r) components from coffee.     

Lycopene from two food sources does not affect antioxidant or cholesterol status of middle-aged adults

Background

Epidemiological studies have reported associations between reduced cardiovascular disease and diets rich in tomato and/or lycopene. Intervention studies have shown that lycopene-containing foods may reduce cholesterol levels and lipid peroxidation, factors implicated in the initiation of cardiovascular disease. The objective of this study was to determine whether consumption of lycopene rich foods conferred cardiovascular protection to middle-aged adults as indicated by plasma lipid concentrations and measures of ex vivo antioxidants.

Methods

Ten healthy men and women consumed a low lycopene diet with no added lycopene (control treatment) or supplemented with watermelon or tomato juice each containing 20 mg lycopene. Subjects consumed each treatment for three weeks in a crossover design. Plasma, collected weekly was analyzed for total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride concentrations and for the antioxidant biomarkers of malondialdehyde formation products (MDA), plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP). Data were analyzed using Proc Mixed Procedure and associations between antioxidant and lipid measures were identified by Pearson's product moment correlation analysis.

Results

Compared to the control diet, the lycopene-containing foods did not affect plasma lipid concentrations or antioxidant biomarkers. Women had higher total cholesterol, HDL-C and triglyceride concentrations than did the men. Total cholesterol was positively correlated to MDA and FRAP while HDL-C was positively correlated to MDA and GPX. GPX was negatively correlated to triglyceride concentration.

Conclusions

The inclusion of watermelon or tomato juice containing 20 mg lycopene did not affect plasma lipid concentrations or antioxidant status of healthy subjects. However, plasma cholesterol levels impacted the results of MDA and FRAP antioxidant tests.     

Vilsmeier–Haack–Arnold formylations of aliphatic substrates with N-chloromethylene-N,N-dimethylammonium salts

The classical electrophilic substitution of activated aromatics with the Vilsmeier–Haack reagent N-chloromethylen-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride (Schemes 1 and 2) has been more recently extended to a great variety of aliphatic substrates, mainly due to the work of Arnold. In this review, a collection of representative examples for these henceforth called Vilsmeier–Haack–Arnold (VHA) formylation reaction of aliphatics is given: the reaction of polymethine cyanines, merocyanines, and other vinylogous iminium salts with the VHA reagent gives, after hydrolysis of the primary substitution products, trialdehydes such as triformylmethane (Scheme 3); VHA reaction with ene-diamines and diene-diamines yields N,N-dialkylaminomalonaldehydes and tetraaldehydes such as 1,1,2,2-tetraformylethane, respectively (Schemes 4 and 5); aldehyde acetals, enol ethers, and carboxylic acids deliver with VHA reagents 2-substituted malonaldehydes (Scheme 6), and α-amino acids give derivatives of the unstable aminomalonaldehyde (Scheme 7); alkenes and polyenes react with VHA reagents to give α,β-unsaturated or higher vinylogous aldehydes (Schemes 8 and 9), and alkenes with donor substituents yield alkylidene-malonaldehydes (Scheme 10); enolizable methyl and methylene ketones produce with VHA reagents 3-chlorovinylaldehydes (Scheme 11). Eventually, the VHA reagent can be used for the intermediate preparation of nucleophilic amino-chlorocarbenes (Scheme 12).     

The determination of protein content of milk, cheese, and meat with the use of the biuret reaction]

A review is given of the different composition of biuret test solutions and experiments with the estimation of protein content of milk, cheese and meat by means of the biuret method are reported. The pure protein and the casein content of skimmed milk and the protein content of whole milk could be determined with biuret test solutions containing potassium hydroxide and a detergent. The use of the biuret method is advantageous in the case of cheese and meat, which are dissolved in potash lye or alkaline detergent solutions. Disturbances of the biuret method caused by lactose, fat or turbidity were eliminated after addition of hydrogen peroxide, by means of extraction or of additional measurements with a copper-free, zinc-containing biuret reagent. Deviations of the color intensity of biuret complexes were compensated by inclusion of standards in the measurement series.     

Monitoring kidney and renal cyst volumes applying MR approaches on a rapamycin treated mouse model of ADPKD

Object  The aim of our study was to determine total cystic volume in a mouse model of PKD using MR imaging to monitor therapeutic effects in vivo. Materials and methods  We imaged eight female pcy-mice in two groups: four belonged to an untreated control group and four were treated with the anticystic agent rapamycin, which has proven to be effective in reducing cystogenesis in animal models. The mice were imaged using a 9.4 Tesla animal scanner. MRI measurements were taken at six time points during the therapy. Total renal volumes and total cyst volumes were calculated using a thresholding approach. Results  During the course of the treatment, the total cyst volume increased significantly faster than the total renal volume in the untreated group, indicating that growth of the total renal volume in the untreated group was primarily due to the growth of the cysts, rather than the parenchyma. The measured total renal volume in the control (placebo) group was significantly higher than the volume in the treated group. Conclusion  Using MRI, we were able to monitor the cystic volume in a mouse model of PKD to assess the therapeutic effect of anticystic treatment.     

Transmetacarpal amputation of the index finger: a clinical assessment of hand strength and complications

A clinical study of hand strength and complications in 41 patients with a transmetacarpal amputation of the index finger found that the average prehension strength was reduced by 20% and stability of grip by almost 50%. Tendon transfers or other operative modifications did not affect the results. The most disabling complication, hyperesthesia, or painful sensitivity to light touch, in the thumb--long-finger web was present in 59% of patients and interfered with hand function in 37%.     

Granulomas and cholestatic--hepatocellular injury associated with phenylbutazone. Report of two cases

A combined cholestatic-hepatocellular injury and noncaseating granulomas occurred in two patients 1 and 4 weeks after phenylbutazone therapy. Both patients were jaundiced, one had a macular rash, and both had peripheral blood eosinophilia. Symptoms and signs subsided, and abnormal findings from tests of hepatic function rapidly returned to normal following withdrawal of the drug. Sections of liver biopsy specimens 6 months later showed no granulomas or other pathologic changes. Previously reported cases are reviewed.