Reducing acrylamide formation in fried potato chips and assessment of the consequent risks

Acrylamide is a toxin that can potentially occur in high concentrations in heated starchy foods especially potato products such as crisps and fries. Acrylamide in processed potato products is formed via the Maillard type reaction between the amino acid aspargine and a carbonyl source such as the reducing sugars glucose and fructose. During cooking acrylamide formation begins to occur at temperatures above 100[degree sign] C and increases up to temperatures of 220[degree sign] C but decreases thereafter due to thermal degradation of the compound. The main objective of this investigation was to study the effect of different pretreatments for frying potato chips on the reduction of acrylamide formation during frying at 180 [degree sign] C. Prior to frying potato chips were soaked in [0.5-1%] solution for 60 min. in one of the following [glycine, lysine, Cacl[2] and Nacl]. Concentration is increased to [2-4%] in case of citric acid. Potato chips were fried using sun flower oil. This study was carried on 36 male albino rats of Sprague-Dawley strain weighing [130 +/- 10 gm] were housed in well aerated wire cages. All animals were kept under normal healthy condition and fed on basal diet for one week for adaptation. After adaptation period, rats were divided into 6 groups [6 rats/group]. Group A [Negative control]: fed on standard diet only. Group B: fed on the basal diet and drinking water treated with 5 mg/l acrylamide. Group C: fed on the basal diet contained 20 mg/kg dietacrylamide. Group D: fed on the basal diet contained 40% fried potato chips. Groups E: fed on the basal diet contained 40% fried potato chips [pretreated with citric acid solution 4% for 60 min. Group F: fed on the basal diet contained 40% potato chips fried in sun flower oil contained 1% extracted rosemary. The experimental period was 6 weeks. The results showed that, rats group fed on basal diet contained 40% fried potato chips without any pretreatments, rats group fed on basal diet and drank water contained 5 mg/l acrylamide and /or fed on diet contained 20 mg/kg diet acrylamide accompanied by alteration in kidney and liver functions. Consequently, results also showed that, the highest dose of acrylamide [20 mg] caused severe symptoms in rats' organs such as, neuronophagia of necrotic neurons of brain, kupffer cells activation of liver, atrophy of glomerular tuft and presence of eosinophilic protein cast in the lumen of renal tubules of kidney, focal necrosis of urothelium and submucosal infiltration with inflammatory cells of urinary bladder but there were no differences or little changes were observed for rats of urinary bladder, but there were no differences or little changes were observed for rats fed on potato chips pretreated with citric aid and/ or fired in sun flower oil contained 1% rosemary extract

Role of BAL cellularity in assessment of severity of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Study the role of BAL cellularity in assessment of the degree of severity of IPF. Forty IPF patients underwent, history taking, clinical examination, HRCT chest, ABGs, 6MWT, spirometry, echocardiography, FOB and BAL. Neutrophils were present in 28 patients, mean value 57.25 and SD +/- 31.27. The second predominant cell was Alveolar Macrophages with mean value 24.25 and SD +/- 27.828.HRCT pattern and BAL cellularity, showed the most predominant cell neutrophils in the ground glass and Honey combing on HRCT. There was no statistical significance between the sex and the BAL cellularity, the most predominant cell was neutrophils in both sexes. Corticosteroids did not have an effect on BAL cellularity and the predominant cell was neutrophils in IPF patients using steroids and those not. BAL cellularity in relation to treatment by azathioprine and/or acetlycysteine showed no statistical significance between patients using those drugs and those not, the most predominant cell was neutrophils in both groups.Correlation between BAL cellularity and age, showed no statistical significance but there was a negative correlation between age to neutrophils and lymphocytes. There was a negative correlation between neutrophils and PaCO2, PaO2, SO2, FVC%, FEV1 and 6MWT with no statistical significance but with significance to FEF25-75%.Macrophages showed a positive correlation with age, PaO2, 6MWT, FVC%, FEV1% with no statistical significance but with significance to SO2 and FEF25-75% and a negative correlation with PaCO2 and PASP. There was a positive correlation between neutrophils and severity of the disease and a negative correlation between Macrophages and severity of the disease. Most commonly used drugs did not show any effect on BAL cellularity

Parotidectomy--a prospective study.

Preservation of facial nerve is a real challenge in parotidectomy. Total conservative parotidectomy and superficial parotidectomy are the commonly practised operations for parotid diseases. Twelve patients have undergone total conservative parotidectomy and 52 patients have undergone superficial perotidectomy with preservation of integrity and function of the facial nerve and its branches. Fifty-eight patients were suffering from neoplastic conditions of which 46 had pleomorphic adenoma, 7 had muco-epidermoid carcinoma, 3 had carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenoma, and 2 had adenoid cystic carcinoma. Non-neoplastic conditions were seen in 6 cases of which 3 had chronic parotitis and 3 had congenital parotid fistula. The aim of the study was to observe the efficacy of preservation of facial nerve in parotidectomy done in 64 patients.

Anticonvulsant and sedative effect of ethanolic extract of Centella asiatica on albino mice

This research work has been designed to show the CNS neurotransmitter receptors activity especially anticonvulsant and sedative activity of ethanolic extracts of Centella asiatica on a number of pharmacological model in mice. Phenobarbitone and diazepam induced sleeping time model was used to demonstrate the sedative activity and the ethanolic extract of Centella asiatica significantly prolonged [p<0.00 1] phenobarbitone and diazepam induced sleeping time in mice as compared with the control suggesting possible interaction with GABA-BNZ receptors complex to mediate sedative action. According to Nikethamide induced convulsion model where tonic and clonic convulsion as well as mortality and morbidity rate was considered and the extracts of Centella asiatica were shown to be delayed the Nikethamide [300 mg/kg, i.p.] induced convulsion indicating a possible action involving GABA and glutamate receptors to mediate anti-convulsant effects. Therefore, this plant may have the potential in the treatment of various CNS disorders like anxiety, depression, insomnia and convulsion as well as this data can also be used in the development of novel psychopharmatherapeutic agents