Can fruit seeds and undigested plant residuals cause acute appendicitis

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relation between fruit seeds, plants residuals and appendicitis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Among cases that underwent appendectomy, the appendicitis cases having fruit seeds and undigested plant residuals in their etiology were examined retrospectively. Also, histopathological features, age, sex, and parameters of morbidity and mortality were used.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Fruit seed was found in one case (0.05%) with presence of pus in appendix lumen, undigested plant residuals in 7 cases (0.35%). It was determined that there were appendix inflammation in 2 of the plant residuals cases, while there were obstruction and lymphoid hyperplasia in the appendix lumen of 5 cases. No mortality was observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The ratio of acute appendicitis caused by plants is minimal among all appendectomised patients, but avoidence of eating undigested fruit seeds and chewing plants well may help to prevent appendicitis.</p>

Can fruit seeds and undigested plant residuals cause acute appendicitis

Objective:To investigate the relation between fruit seeds, plants residuals and appendicitis. Methods: Among cases that underwent appendectomy, the appendicitis cases having fruit seeds and undigested plant residuals in their etiology were examined retrospectively. Also, histopathological features, age, sex, and parameters of morbidity and mortality were used. Results: Fruit seed was found in one case(0.05%) with presence of pus in appendix lumen, undigested plant residuals in 7 cases(0.35%). It was determined that there were appendix inflammation in 2 of the plant residuals cases, while there were obstruction and lymphoid hyperplasia in the appendix lumen of5 cases. No mortality was observed.Conclusions: The ratio of acute appendicitis caused by plants is minimal among all appendectomised patients, but avoidence of eating undigested fruit seeds and chewing plants well may help to prevent appendicitis.

A galactomannan-hydrolysing α-galactosidase from jack fruit (Artocarpus integrifolia) seed: Affinity chromatographic purification and properties.

An acid α-galactosidase from the seeds of the jack fruit seed (Artocarpus integrifolia) has been purified to homogeneity by affinity chromatography on a matrix formed by cross-linking the soluble α-galactose-bearing guar seed galactomannan. The 35kDa enzyme was a homotetramer of 9·5kDa subunits. Its carbohydrate part (5·5%) was composed of galactose and arabinose. The Km with p-nitrophenyl α-D-galactoside as substrate was 0·35 mM. The Ki values indicated inhibition by galactose, 1-O-methyl α-galactose and melibiose in the decreasing order. Among α-galactosides, the enzyme liberated galactose from melibiose, but not from raffinose or stachyose at its pH optimum (5·2). The guar seed galactomannan was however efficiently degalactosidated; limited enzyme treatment abolished the precipitability of the polysaccharide by the α-galactose-specific jack fruit seed lectin, and complete hydrolysis yielded insoluble polysaccharide. Though similar in sugar specificity and subunit assembly, α-galactosidase and the lectin coexisting in the jack fruit seed gave no indication of immunological identity.

Binding site amino acid residues of jack fruit (Artocarpusintegrifolia) seed lectin: Chemical modification and protein difference spectral studies.

The effect of chemical modification of amino acid residues essential for sugar binding in the α-D-galactoside specific jack fruit (Artocarpus integrifolia) seed lectin and the protection of the residues by specific sugar from modification were studied. Citraconylation or maleylation of 75 % of its lysyl residues or acetylation of 70 % of the tyrosyl residues completely abolished sugar binding and agglutination without dissociation of subunits. 1-Omethyl α-D-galactoside could protect its essential lysyl and tyrosyl groups from modification. Tryptophan could not be detected in the protein. Difference absorption spectra on binding of the above sugar confirmed the role of tyrosine residues and showed an association constant Κ = 0·4 × 103 Μ-1. Data suggests that the lectin could be immobilized without any loss of sugar binding activity.

α -D-Galactose-specific lectin from jack fruit (A rtocarpus integra) seed.

An α-D-galactose-specific lectin from the seeds of jack fruit (Artocarpus integra) has been isolated in pure form by affinity chromatography on immobilised guar gum (a galactomannan). The lectin is shown to be a glycoprotein containing 3% carbohydrate and having a molecular weight of 39,500 as determined by gel filtration. Sodium dodecyl sulphate gel electrophoresis revealed a single polypeptide of 10,500 dalton, indicating that the native lectin is a tetrarner of identical subunits. The hemagglutinating activity of the lectin towards erythrocytes of all blood groups is found to be the same.