Application of Iron Oxide as a pH-dependent Indicator for Improving the Nutritional Quality

Acid food indicators can be used as pH indicators for evaluating the quality and freshness of fermented products during the full course of distribution. Iron oxide particles are hardly suspended in water, but partially or completely agglomerated. The agglomeration degree of the iron oxide particles depends on the pH. The pH-dependent particle agglomeration or dispersion can be useful for monitoring the acidity of food. The zeta potential of iron oxide showed a decreasing trend as the pH increased from 2 to 8, while the point of zero charge (PZC) was observed around at pH 6.0-7.0. These results suggested that the size of the iron oxide particles was affected by the change in pH levels. As a result, the particle sizes of iron oxide were smaller at lower pH than at neutral pH. In addition, agglomeration of the iron oxide particles increased as the pH increased from 2 to 7. In the time-dependent aggregation test, the average particle size was 730.4 nm and 1,340.3 nm at pH 2 and 7, respectively. These properties of iron oxide particles can be used to develop an ideal acid indicator for food pH and to monitor food quality, besides a colorant or nutrient for nutrition enhancement and sensory promotion in food industry.

Estimation of Apple Intake for the Exposure Assessment of Residual Chemicals Using Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Database

The aims of this study were to develop strategies and algorithms of calculating food commodity intake suitable for exposure assessment of residual chemicals by using the food intake database of Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). In this study, apples and their processed food products were chosen as a model food for accurate calculation of food commodity intakes uthrough the recently developed Korea food commodity intake calculation (KFCIC) software. The average daily intakes of total apples in Korea Health Statistics were 29.60 g in 2008, 32.40 g in 2009, 34.30 g in 2010, 28.10 g in 2011, and 24.60 g in 2012. The average daily intakes of apples by KFCIC software was 2.65 g higher than that by Korea Health Statistics. The food intake data in Korea Health Statistics might have less reflected the intake of apples from mixed and processed foods than KFCIC software has. These results can affect outcome of risk assessment for residual chemicals in foods. Therefore, the accurate estimation of the average daily intake of food commodities is very important, and more data for food intakes and recipes have to be applied to improve the quality of data. Nevertheless, this study can contribute to the predictive estimation of exposure to possible residual chemicals and subsequent analysis for their potential risks.

Process optimization for ethanol production from very high gravity [VHG] finger millet medium using response surface methodology

The Box-Wilson central composite design [CCD] based on response surface methodology [RSM] was used for ethanol fermentation using very high gravity [VHG] finger millet hydrolysate. Optimized process variables were namely, concentrations of yeast extract, magnesium sulphate and pH of the medium. High gravity mashes [>300 g dissolved solids per liter] were prepared by a thermo-stable alpha -amylase, followed by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation [SSF] at 30°C for 60 h. Ethanol concentration as high as 13.66% [v/v] was obtained after optimizing the variables. The coefficient of determination [R[2]] value of 0.9808 indicates the goodness of fit for regression model. The predicted values for optimization process conditions were in good agreement with experimental data. The optimum values for tested variables were yeast extract 7.13 [g/l] magnesium sulphate 23.32 mM and pH 4.8. Verification of the model indicated no significant difference between predicted and observed values

The Early Escharectomy in Massive Burns

PURPOSE: Burn wound infection, sepsis and organ failure have been major causes of death in massive burn patient. Because it is difficult to fundamentally prevent bacterial colonization by medical treatment, the need of surgical intervention is advocated by many authors. Therefore the effects of early excision and optimal time were studied. METHODS: Twenty four patients with thermal injuries, on whom early excision of eschar was performed, between June and Aug. 2003, were studied. Fascial excision over third and fourth degree burns and tangential excision over indeterminate areas were performed. Superficial and deep layers of eschar was separated and cultivated, and bacterial colony counts performed. The patients were divided into two groups: a colony count equal or greater than 10(5)/g (group A) and less than 10(5)/g (group B), and studied. The plasma endotoxin levels were assayed and compared. RESULTS: Sepsis occurred at a higher rate when the bacterial colony counts were equal or greater than 10(5)/g at the wound site. Bacterial colonization appears to be greatly increased on the 4th in of escharectomy in superficial layers, and on the 5th in deep layers, in old aged or young child patients tends to occur earlier and with greater severity. The microorganism isolated in all patients was Pseudomonas aeruginosa. There was no statistical difference in the plasma endotoxin levels between groups A and B. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that all massive burn injuries would be better treated with early excision, within 3 days after burns, especially in old aged or young child patients.