Iron bioavailability from ferric pyrophosphate in rats fed with fructan-containing yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) flour

The effects of inulin-type fructans (ITF)-containing yacon flour (YF) on Fe bioavailability from ferric pyrophosphate (FP) were evaluated in Fe-deficient rats using the Hb repletion efficiency (HRE) assay. Weanling male Wistar rats were fed a low-Fe diet (12 mg/kg) for 15 days followed by 2 weeks of Fe repletion with diets providing 35 mg Fe/kg as either ferrous sulphate (FS) or FP, supplemented with 7.5% ITF as either YF or Raftilose (RAF), a purified ITF. ITF increased caecal fermentation, whereas YF was more butyrogenic than RAF. ITF improved FIRE in FP-fed rats, and those fed YF had a higher relative biological value compared with those fed FP and RAF. Liver Fe was increased by ITF, but only YF led to values similar to those in the FS group. It is observed that ITF increased caecal fermentation and Fe bioavailability. These effects were more pronounced when YF was the ITF source. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Organophosphate and carbamate poisonings in the northwest of Parana state, Brazil from 1994 to 2005: clinical and epidemiological aspects

In the present study, clinical and epidemiological aspects of 529 intoxication cases of organophosphate or carbamate pesticides in the northwest of the state of Parana, Brazil, over a twelve-year period (1994-2005), are presented. One hundred-five of 257 patients (40.8%) who attempted suicide were admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICUs), with an average hospital stay of two days (range 1-40 days). Men corresponded to 56.4% of the cases of suicide attempts and sixteen individuals died. One hundred-forty patients intoxicated due to occupational exposure were all young adults and nine of them were admitted to ICU, with average hospital stays of eight days (range 1-16 days). Of these cases, two patients died. One hundred twenty-four patients intoxicated due to accidental exposure were mainly children and had a hospital average stay of four days. Twenty patients were admitted to the ICU, and one of them died. Overall complications included respiratory failure, convulsions, and aspiration pneumonia. Deliberate ingestion of organophosphates and carbamates Was much more toxic than occupational and accidental exposure. Men aged 15-39 years were the most likely to attempt suicide with these agents and had more prolonged ICU with significant complications and mortality

Synthesis of seleno-carbohydrates derived from D-galactose

The synthesis of seleno-galactopyranosides in a short and efficient manner is described, starting from the parent carbohydrate D-galactose. The approach described allows the synthesis of small libraries of compounds with a number of structural variations at the group attached to selenium. Compounds with aryl, propargyl, allyl, acyl, and alkyl substituents are described. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Bio-Dis and the Paddle Dissolution Apparatuses Applied to the Release Characterization of Ketoprofen from Hypromellose Matrices

The purposes of this work were: (1) to comparatively evaluate the effects of hypromellose viscosity grade and content on ketoprofen release from matrix tablets, using Bio-Dis and the paddle apparatuses, (2) to investigate the influence of the pH of the dissolution medium on drug release. Furthermore, since direct compression had not shown to be appropriate to obtain the matrices under study, it was also an objective (3) to evaluate the impact of granulation on drug release process. Six formulations of ketoprofen matrix tablets were obtained by compression, with or without previous granulation, varying the content and viscosity grade of hypromellose. Dissolution tests were carried out at a fixed pH, in each experiment, with the paddle method (pH 4.5, 6.0, 6.8, or 7.2), while a pH gradient was used in Bio-Dis (pH 1.2 to 7.2). The higher the hypromellose viscosity grade and content were, the lower the amount of ketoprofen released was in both apparatuses, the content effect being more expressive. Drug dissolution enhanced with the increase of the pH of the medium due to its pH-dependent solubility. Granulation caused an increase in drug dissolution and modified the mechanism of the release process.

Synthesis of selenium- and tellurium-containing nucleosides derived from uridine

The synthesis of selenium- and tellurium-containing nucleosides, derived from uridine is described herein. These compounds were prepared in a concise and short synthetic route in good yields, by nucleophilic substitution of a tosylate group by organoselenium nucleophiles. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synthesis of benzophenones from geminal biaryl ethenes using m-chloroperbenzoic acid

The oxidation of geminal biaryl ethenes 3 and 1,3-enynes 5 using m-chloroperbenzoic acid in dichloromethane at room temperature presents a catalyst-free approach for the synthesis of functionalized benzophenones 4 and ynones 6, respectively. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influence of Urea, Isopropanol, and Propylene Glycol on Rutin In Vitro Release from Cosmetic Semisolid Systems Estimated by Factorial Design

Rutin, one of the major flavonoids found in an assortment of plants, was reported to act as a sun protection factor booster with high anti-UVA defense, antioxidant, antiaging, and anticellulite, by improvement of the cutaneous microcirculation. This research work aimed at evaluating the rutin in vitro release from semisolid systems, in vertical diffusion cells, containing urea, isopropanol and propylene glycol, associated or not, according to the factorial design with two levels with center point. Urea (alone and in association with isopropanol and propylene glycol) and isopropanol (alone and in association with propylene glycol) influenced significant and negatively rutin liberation in diverse parameters: flux (g/cm2.h); apparent permeability coefficient (cm/h); rutin amount released (g/cm2); and liberation enhancement factor. In accordance with the results, the presence of propylene glycol 5.0% (wt/wt) presented statistically favorable to promote rutin release from this semisolid system with flux = 105.12 8.59 g/cm2.h; apparent permeability coefficient = 7.01 0.572 cm/h; rutin amount released = 648.80 53.01 g/cm2; and liberation enhancement factor = 1.21 0.07.

CO(2) from Alcoholic Fermentation for Continuous Cultivation of Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis in Tubular Photobioreactor Using Urea as Nitrogen Source

Carbon dioxide released from alcoholic fermentation accounts for 33% of the whole CO(2) involved in the use of ethanol as fuel derived from glucose. As Arthrospira platensis can uptake this greenhouse gas, this study evaluates the use of the CO(2) released from alcoholic fermentation for the production of Arthrospira platensis. For this purpose, this cyanobacterium was cultivated in continuous process using urea as nitrogen source, either using CO(2) from alcoholic fermentation, without any treatment, or using pure CO(2) from cylinder. The experiments were carried out at 120 mu mol photons m(-2) s(-1) in tubular photobioreactor at different dilution rates (0.2 <= D <= 0.8 d(-1)). Using CO(2) from alcoholic fermentation, maximum steady-state cell concentration (2661 +/- 71 mg L(-1)) was achieved at D 0.2 d(-1), whereas higher dilution rate (0.6 d(-1)) was needed to maximize cell productivity (839 mg L(-1) d(-1)). This value was 10% lower than the one obtained with pure CO(2), and there was no significant difference in the biomass protein content. With D 0.8 d(-1), it was possible to obtain 56% +/- 1.5% and 50% +/- 1.2% of protein in the dry biomass, using pure CO(2) and CO(2) from alcoholic fermentation, respectively. These results demonstrate that the use of such cost free CO(2) from alcoholic fermentation as carbon source, associated with low cost nitrogen source, may be a promising way to reduce costs of continuous cultivation of photosynthetic microorganisms, contributing at the same time to mitigate the greenhouse effect. (C) 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 27: 650-656, 2011

LPS Removal from an E. Coli Fermentation Broth Using Aqueous Two-Phase Micellar System

In biotechnology, endotoxin (LPS) removal from recombinant proteins is a critical and challenging step in the preparation of injectable therapeutics, as endotoxin is a natural component of bacterial expression systems widely used to manufacture therapeutic proteins. The viability of large-scale industrial production of recombinant biomolecules of pharmaceutical interest significantly depends on the separation and purification techniques used. The aim of this work was to evaluate the use of aqueous two-phase micellar system (ATPMS) for endotoxin removal from preparations containing recombinant proteins of pharmaceutical interest, such as green fluorescent protein (GFPuv). Partition assays were carried out initially using pure LPS, and afterwards in the presence of E. coli cell lysate. The ATPMS technology proved to be effective in GFPuv recovery, preferentially into the micelle-poor phase (K(GFPuv) < 1.00), and LPS removal into the micelle-rich phase (%REM(LPS) > 98.00%). Therefore, this system can be exploited as the first step for purification in biotechnology processes for removal of higher LPS concentrations. (C) 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 26: 1644-1653, 2010

Batch purification of high-purity lysozyme from egg white and characterization of the enzyme modified by PEGylation

PEGylation is one of the most promising and extensively studied strategies for improving the pharmacological properties of proteins as well as their physical and thermal stability. Purified lysozyme obtained from hen egg white by batch mode was modified by PEGylation with methoxypolyethyleneglycol succinimidyl succinato (mPEG-SS, MW 5000). The conjugates produced retained full enzyme activity with the substrate glycol chitosan, independent of degree of enzyme modification, although lysozyme activity with the substrate Micrococcus lysodeikticus was altered according to the degree of modification. The conjugate with a low degree of modification by mPEG-SS retained 67% of its enzyme activity with the M. lysodeikticus substrate. The mPEG-SS was also shown to be a highly reactive polymer. The effects of pH and temperature on PEGylated lysozymes indicated that the conjugate was active over a wide pH range and was stable up to 50 degrees C. This conjugate also showed resistance to proteolytic degradation, remained stable in human serum, and displayed greater antimicrobial activity than native lysozyme against Gram-negative bacteria.

Extraction of Ascorbate Oxidase from Cucurbita maxima by Continuous Process in Perforated Rotating Disc Contactor Using Aqueous Two-Phase Systems

The ascorbate oxidase is the enzyme used to determine the content of ascorbic acid in the pharmaceutical and food industries and clinics analyses. The techniques currently used for the purification of this enzyme raise its production cost. Thus, the development of alternative processes and with the potential to reduce costs is interesting. The application of aqueous two-phase system is proposed as an alternative to purification because it enables good separation of biomolecules. The objective of this study was to determine the conditions to continuously pre-purify the enzyme ascorbate oxidase by an aqueous two-phase system (PEG/citrate) using rotating column provided with perforated discs. Under the best conditions (20,000 g/mol PEG molar mass, 10% PEG concentration, and 25% citrate concentration), the system showed satisfactory results (partition coefficient, 3.35; separation efficiency, 54.98%; and purification factor, 1.46) and proved suitable for the pre-purification of ascorbate oxidase in continuous process.

Liquid-liquid extraction by mixed micellar systems: A new approach for clavulanic acid recovery from fermented broth

This work is the first attempt to apply aqueous two-phase mixed micellar systems (ATPMS) of the nonionic surfactant Triton X-114 and the anionic one AOT to extract clavulanic acid (CA) from broth fermented by Streptomyces clavuligerus. Cloud points were determined in McIlvane buffer pH 6.5 with or without NaCl, and diagram phases/coexistence curves were constructed. CA partition was investigated following a 2(4)-full factorial design in which AOT (0.022, 0.033 and 0.044% w/w), Triton X-114 (1.0, 3.0 and 5.0% w/w) and NaCl (0, 2.85 and 5.70% w/w) concentrations and temperature (24,26 and 28 degrees C) were selected as independent variables, and CA partition coefficient (K(CA)) and yield in the top phase (eta(CA)) as responses. CA partitioned always to the top, micelle-poor phase. The regression analysis pointed out that NaCl concentration and interaction between temperature and Triton X-114 concentration had statistically significant effects on K(CA), while eta(CA) was mainly influenced by temperature, Triton X-114 concentration and their interaction. Different ATPMS compositions were then needed to maximize these responses, specifically 0.022% (w/w) AOT, 5% (w/w) Triton X-114 for K(CA) (2.08), and 0.044% (w/w) AOT, 1% (w/w) Triton X-114 for eta(CA) (98.7%), both at 24 degrees C without NaCl. Since at 0.022% (w/w) AOT, 1% (w/w) Triton X-114 and 28 degrees C without NaCl the system was able to ensure satisfactory intermediate results (K(CA) = 1.48; eta(CA) = 86.3%), these conditions were selected as the best ones. These preliminary results are of concern for possible industrial application, because CA partition to the dilute phase can simplify the subsequent purification protocol. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Thermal Behavior, Microstructure, Polymorphism, and Crystallization Properties of Zero Trans Fats from Soybean Oil and Fully Hydrogenated Soybean Oil

Blends of soybean oil (SO) and fully hydrogenated soybean oil (FHSBO), with 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% (w/w) FHSBO content were interesterified under the following conditions: 20 min reaction time, 0.4% sodium methoxide catalyst, and 500 rpm stirring speed, at 100 A degrees C. The original and interesterified blends were examined for triacylglycerol composition, thermal behavior, microstructure, crystallization kinetics, and polymorphism. Interesterification produced substantial rearrangement of the triacylglycerol species in all the blends, reduction of trisaturated triacylglycerol content and increase in monounsaturated-disaturated and diunsaturated-monosaturated triacylglycerols. Evaluation of thermal behavior parameters showed linear relations with FHSBO content in the original blends. Blend melting and crystallization thermograms were significantly modified by the randomization. Interesterification caused significant reductions in maximum crystal diameter in all blends, in addition to modifying crystal morphology. Characterization of crystallization kinetics revealed that crystal formation induction period (tau (SFC)) and maximum solid fat content (SFC(max)) were altered according to FHSBO content in the original blends and as a result of the random rearrangement. Changes in Avrami constant (k) and exponent (n) indicated, respectively, that-as compared with the original blends-interesterification decreased crystallization velocities and modified crystallization processes, altering crystalline morphology and nucleation mechanism. X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that interesterification altered crystalline polymorphism. The interesterified blends showed a predominance of the beta` polymorph, which is of more interest for food applications.

Zero trans fats from soybean oil and fully hydrogenated soybean oil: Physico-chemical properties and food applications

Blends of soybean oil (50) and fully hydrogenated soybean oil (FHSBO), with 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% FHSBO (w/w) content were interesterified under the following conditions: 0.4% sodium methoxide, 500 rpm stirring, 100 degrees C, 20 min. The original and interesterified blends were examined for triacylglycerol composition, melting point, solid fat content (SFC) and consistency. Interesterification caused considerable rearrangement of triacylglycerol species, reduction of trisaturated triacylglycerol content and increase in monounsaturated and diunsaturated triacylglycerols, resulting in lowering of respective melting points. The interesterified blends displayed reduced SFC at all temperatures and more linear melting profiles as compared with the original blends. Yield values showed increased plasticity in the blends after the reaction. Isosolid diagrams before and after the reaction showed no eutectic interactions. The 90:10, 80:20, 70:30 and 60:40 interesterified SO:FHSBO blends displayed characteristics suited to application, respectively, as liquid shortening, table margarine, baking/confectionery fat and all-purpose shortenings/biscuit-filing base. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Continuous extraction of alpha-toxin from a fermented broth of Clostridium perfringens Type A in perforated rotating disc contactor using aqueous two-phase PEG-phosphate system

A 2(3-1) factorial experimental design was used to evaluate the performance of a perforated rotating disc contactor to extract alpha-toxin from the fermented broth of Clostridium perfringens Type A by aqueous two-phase system of polyethylene glycol-phosphate salts. The influence of three independent variables, specifically the dispersed phase flowrate, the continuous phase flowrate and the disc rotational speed, was investigated on the hold up, the mass transfer coefficient, the separation efficiency and the purification factor, taken as the response variables. The optimum dispersed phase flowrate was 3.0 mL/min for all these responses. Besides, maximum values of hold up (0.80), separation efficiency (0. 10) and purification factor (2.4) were obtained at this flowrate using the lowest disc rotational speed (35 rpm), while the optimum mass transfer coefficient (0. 165 h(-1)) was achieved at the highest agitation level (140 rpm). The results of this study demonstrated that the dispersed phase flowrate strongly influenced the performance of PRDC, in that both the mass transfer coefficient and hold up increased with this parameter. (c) 2007 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.