THE CONTRIBUTION OF DEXTRINS TO BEER SENSORY PROPERTIES PART I. MOUTHFEEL

The effect of dextrins on the mouthfeel of beer was assessed using instrumental and sensory techniques. By measuring the viscosity of beer with a rheogoniometer, it was shown that beer is a newtonian fluid, i.e., shear stress increased linearly with shear rate. A capillary viscometer and a rheogoniometer gave viscosity measurements that did not differ significantly for six beers ranging in viscosity from 1.1 to 2.6 centipoise (cP). In carbonated beer, the amount of dextrins needed to produce an increase in viscosity detectable by judges was 52 g/litre, which raised the viscosity by 0.31 cP as measured by capillary viscometry. Since beer usually contains between 10 and 50 g/litre of dextrins, it is concluded that dextrins are not the sole determinant of beer viscosity.     

THE CONTRIBUTION OF DEXTRINS OF BEER SENSORY PROPERTIES PART II. AFTERTASTE

We investigated the possibility that dextrins could contribute to the aftertaste of beer by being broken down to sweet sugars by salivary α-amylase after beer Ingestion. The volume, pH and temperature of beer and saliva present in the oral cavity after swallowing were measured on several subjects and found adequate for the hydrolysis of beer dextrins by salivary amylase. The in vitro hydrolysis of a 6% dextrin solution and of commercial beers by pancreatic α-amylase yielded significant amounts of glucose and maltose in addition to maltotriose. Similarly, the hydrolysis of commercial beers by human saliva produced between 2.7 and 7.4 g/litre of sweet-tasting maltose and glucose, depending on the duration of the hydrolysis (30 sec to 2 min) and the amount of saliva added to 2.5 ml of beer (0.5 or 2 ml). This much sugar, because it is produced over a period of time, may not cause a detectable sweet taste but it might partially mask the bitter aftertaste of beer.     

A modified sorting task to investigate consumer perceptions of extra virgin olive oils

A two-stage sorting task was used to probe Californian consumers’ opinions of twenty-five extra virgin olive oils based on visual assessments of the bottles. The modification of the simple sorting task aimed to encourage consumers to further discriminate products through sub-groupings of products within the groups they had already made. Sorting data were analyzed using a 3-way extension of classical multidimensional scaling called DISTATIS which explores the level of consumer agreement as well as the structure of the extra virgin olive oil products. Consumer agreements were explained by 46% of the variances found in the ways consumers sorted the bottles. Decreased amount of explained variance from the first stage to the second stage of the sorting task was observed in the olive oil product structures. Consumers were asked to describe the characteristics defining each group formed. Consumer comments were analyzed qualitatively prior to statistical analysis and were later used to understand the sorting results. Despite background differences in the usage of olive oil products, the majority of the consumers perceived the product set similarly. The two-stage sorting task allowed subjects to provide more criteria or multidimensional views of their perception of the products.     

The beta 1 integrin, very late activation antigen-4 on human neutrophils can contribute to neutrophil migration through connective tissue fibroblast barriers

Polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMNL) accumulation in extravascular tissues and inflammatory exudates is dependent on their migration through blood vessel endothelium and then through connective tissue. Previously we utilized a barrier of human synovial and dermal fibroblasts (HSF or HDF) grown on microporous filters, as a model of PMNL migration through connective tissue. Those studies showed that beta 2 (CD18) and the beta 1 integrins, very late activation antigen-5 (VLA-5) and VLA-6, in part mediate this PMNL migration. Here we report that VLA-4, which can also be expressed at low levels on activated PMNL, is also involved in PMNL migration induced by C5a through fibroblast (HSF and HDF) barriers, because monoclonal antibody (mAb) to VLA-4 significantly inhibited (by 20-30%) PMNL migration. Blocking the function of CD18, VLA-5 or VLA-6 was not required for detection of the VLA-4-mediated migration. Combination treatment with mAb to VLA-4 and with mAb to VLA-5 or to VLA-6 further inhibited PMNL migration, irrespective of whether CD11/CD18 mechanisms were blocked with anti-CD18 mAb or not. Treatment of PMNL with a peptide based on the VLA-4-binding domain in the CS-1 fragment of fibronectin, but not a control peptide, inhibited PMNL migration to a comparable extent to treatment with mAb to VLA-4. A low level of VLA-4 was expressed on C5a-activated PMNL, detected by immunofluorescence flow cytometry. These results suggest that VLA-4 can be mobilized by human peripheral blood PMNL and can, in addition to VLA-5, VLA-6 and CD11/CD18 integrins, mediate PMNL migration through connective tissue. This is in marked contrast to PMNL transendothelial migration, where beta 1 integrins appear to play no significant role.     

Unfavorable mechanical effects of heat and moisture exchangers in ventilated patients

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanical effects of artificial noses. SETTING: A general intensive care unit of a university hospital. PATIENTS: 10 patients in pressure support ventilation for acute respiratory failure. INTERVENTIONS: The following three conditions were randomly tested on each patient: the use of a heated humidifier (control condition), the use of a heat and moisture exchanger without filtering function (HME), and the use of a combined heat and moisture exchanger and mechanical filter (HMEF). The pressure support level was automatically adapted by means of a closed-loop control in order to obtain constancy, throughout the study, of patient inspiratory effort as evaluated from airway occlusion pressure at 0.1 s (P0.1). Patient's ventilatory pattern, P0.1, work of breathing, and blood gases were recorded. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The artificial noses increased different components of the inspiratory load: inspiratory resistance, ventilation requirements (due to increased dead space ventilation), and dynamic intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP). The additional load imposed by the artificial noses was entirely undertaken by the ventilator, being the closed-loop control of P0.1 effective to maintain constancy of patient inspiratory work by means of adequate increases in pressure support level. CONCLUSIONS: The artificial noses cause unfavorable mechanical effects by increasing inspiratory resistance, ventilation requirements, and dynamic intrinsic PEEP. Clinicians should consider these effects when setting mechanical ventilation and when assessing patients' ability to breathe spontaneously.     

Treatment of chronic allodynia in spinally injured rats: effects of intrathecal selective opioid receptor agonists

We examined the effects of intrathecal (i.t.) selective opioid receptor agonists in alleviating mechanical and cold allodynia in spinally injured rats. Both DAMGO ([D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol]-enkephalin, a mu-opioid receptor agonist) and DPDPE ([D-Phe2,D-Phe5]-enkephalin, a delta-opioid receptor agonist) dose-dependently relieved the chronic allodynia-like behavior at doses selective for their respective receptors. The anti-allodynic effect of DAMGO and DPDPE was reversed by the selective mu- and delta-opioid receptor antagonists CTOP (D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Orn-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2) and naltrindole, respectively. In contrast, the selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist U50488H did not alleviate the allodynia-like behavior, but rather enhanced it. The anti-nociceptive and anti-allodynic effect of i.t. DAMGO was blocked by U50488H. Thus, activation of spinal mu- and delta-, but not kappa-opioid receptors produced anti-allodynic effect in this model of central pain. Drugs which act selectively on opioid receptor subtypes may be useful in managing chronic central pain of spinal cord origin.     

Changes in pulmonary mechanics after fiberoptic bronchoalveolar lavage in mechanically ventilated patients

We describe perinatal findings in a female fetus with partial trisomy 8q(8q24.1-->8qter) and partial monosomy 15q(15q26.1-->15qter) resulting from a paternal t(8;15) reciprocal translocation. Prenatal sonographic examination showed intra-uterine growth retardation, bilateral ventriculomegaly, cardiomegaly with arrhythmia, anhydramnios, and absent kidney and urinary bladder images. The pregnancy was terminated at 28 weeks of gestation. At birth, the infant manifested typical dysmorphic features of partial trisomy 8q. Necropsy further revealed hydrocephalus, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, ventricular septal defect, a horseshoe kidney with renal hypoplasia, and kyphoscoliosis. Our case shows that the coexistence of partial trisomy 8q24.1-->8qter and partial monosomy 15q26.1-->15qter are more detrimental than either defect alone and can result in a complex of major malformations. Prenatal ultrasound examination and cytogenetic assessment should be offered in subsequent pregnancies.