Investigation of rheological, physicochemical, and sensorial properties of traditional low-fat Doogh formulated.

Doogh is a fermented beverage made from yoghurt with water and salt. Similarly, drinks based on yoghurt are available in different countries with varying degrees of dilution, fat content, rheological properties, and taste. In this project, the use of mathematical calculations in describing rheological parameters from traditional low-fat Doogh enriched with Caspian Sea (Huso huso) gelatin (0.4 w/v %), xanthan hydrocolloids (0.4 w/v %), and their mixture at a ratio of 0.2:0.2 w/v % studied. Also, serum isolation, pH, and sensory evaluation of samples were investigated. Also, the relationship between apparent viscosity and temperature of Doogh samples using the Arrhenius equation was studied. The sensory evaluation revealed that the overall acceptance scores of the samples containing gelatin, xanthan, mix, and control were 4.31, 4.33, 4.58, and 4.12, respectively. The study on serum separation value showed control sample (45.07) and mix sample (0.84) at the end of 30 days. On the first day, the pH of the Doogh samples decreased with the addition of hydrocolloids, and this trend was time dependent. pH reduction was higher in Doogh with gelatin than in other samples. Mathematical calculations showed that the low-fat Doogh is a non-Newtonian type and shear-thinning (Pseudoplastic) fluid. The activation energy was calculated between 11.65 and 19.15 kJ/mol. According to the obtained results, it concluded that the use of two hydrocolloid compounds improved the physicochemical and sensory characteristics of the low-fat Doogh samples. Also, the Ostwald-de Waele mathematical model had a high correlation with the rheological behavior of the samples.

Assessment of virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance among the Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from animal meat and carcass samples.

BACKGROUND: Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria are emerging causes of food spoilage and foodborne diseases. Raw meat of animal species may consider a reservoir of P. aeruginosa strains. OBJECTIVES: The present survey was done to assess the prevalence, antibiotic resistance properties and distribution of virulence factors among the P. aeruginosa strains isolated from raw meat and carcass surface swab samples of animal species. METHODS: Five hundred and fifty raw meat and carcass surface swab samples were collected from cattle and sheep species referred to as slaughterhouses. P. aeruginosa bacteria were identified using culture and biochemical tests. The pattern of antibiotic resistance was determined by disk diffusion. The distribution of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes was determined using polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Forty-seven of 550 (8.54%) examined samples were contaminated with P. aeruginosa. The prevalence of P. aeruginosa in raw meat and carcass surface swab samples were 6.57 and 12%, respectively. P. aeruginosa isolates showed the maximum resistance rate toward penicillin (87.23%), ampicillin (85.10%), tetracycline (85.10%), gentamicin (65.95%) and trimethoprim (57.44%). The most commonly detected antibiotic resistance genes were BlaCTX-M (53.19%), blaDHA (42.55%) and blaTEM (27.65%). The most commonly detected virulence factors was ExoS (42.55%), algD (31.91%), lasA (31.91%), plcH (31.91%) and exoU (25.53%). CONCLUSIONS: Meat and carcass surface swab samples may be sources of resistant and virulent P. aeruginosa, which pose a hygienic threat in their consumption. However, further investigations are required to identify additional epidemiological features of P. aeruginosa in meat and carcass surface samples.

A new electroanalytical approach for sunset yellow monitoring in fruit juices based on a modified sensor amplified with nano-catalyst and ionic liquid.

The determination of food additives is one of the major points in the food industry that directly is relative to human health. This research work focused on sensing and monitoring sunset yellow as azo additive dyes in fruit juices using an electrochemical sensor amplified with Ni doped Pt decorated carbon nanotubes (NiO/Pt/CNTs) as nano-catalyst and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([HMIM][Cl]) as an ionic liquid binder. Carbon paste electrode (CPE) amplified with NiO/Pt/CNTs and [HMIM][Cl] (CPE/([HMIM][Cl])/NiO/Pt/CNTs) improved the sensitivity of sunset yellow sensing in aqueous solution in acidic condition and successfully monitored this azo dye in concentration range 1.0 nM-280 µM with detection limit 0.4 nM. On the other hand, the CPE/([HMIM][Cl])/NiO/Pt/CNTs was used for sensing and analysis of sunset yellow in different fruit juices, and recovery data between 98.65% and 103.66% confirmed the powerful ability of sensor for monitoring of sunset yellow in food samples.

Th17/Treg cell balance in stable liver transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Immune monitoring of transplanted patients may provide a reliable basis for the individualization of immunosuppressive therapy. In addition, it might be applied for realizing the early and non-invasive diagnosis of acute allograft rejection. METHODS: Percentages of TCD4 + IL-17+ (Th17) and TCD4 + CD25 + CD127dim/- (Treg) cells, as well as serum levels of interleukin (IL)-17 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1, were evaluated in 30 stable patients using flow cytometry and ELISA techniques before and six months after liver transplantation. Besides, the same cells and cytokines were quantified in 10 recipients with acute allograft rejection. RESULTS: Six months post-transplant, the percentage of Th17 and Treg cells in the peripheral blood of stable liver transplant recipients reduced significantly, but the Th17/Treg ratios were comparable to the pre-transplant period (1.24 vs. 1.56); however, Th17/Treg ratios in the rejection group was significantly higher than in the stable recipients (4.06 vs. 1.56, P-value = 0.001). Stable patients showed decreased amounts of serum IL-17 which was remarkably lower than in the rejection group (P-value = 0.01). Moreover, there was a significant correlation between the serum level of IL-17 and the percentage of Th17 cells (P-value <0.001). Th17 frequency was negatively associated with the liver allograft function. Notably, TGF-ß1 levels differed neither between pre-and post-transplant samplings nor between stable and rejection groups. CONCLUSION: Six months after liver transplantation, the mean Th17/Treg ratio in stable recipients remained comparable to the pre-transplant values; however, it was significantly elevated in patients with acute allograft rejection, suggesting the Th17/Treg ratio as a probable predictor of acute rejection.

A systematic review of miRNAs as biomarkers in osteoporosis disease.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is often considered to be a disease of the elderly, which is characterized by two characteristics: low bone mineral density (BMD) and increased risk of fracture. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to play a potential role in bone formation and resorption, bone remodeling, bone homeostasis regulation, and bone cell differentiation. Therefore, altered expression of different miRNAs may impact the pathology of bone diseases such as osteoporosis. A systematic review was conducted to extract all miRNA found to be significantly dys-regulated in the peripheral blood. METHODS: This review was carried out using a systematically search on PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science (WoS), and Cochrane databases from 1990 to 2018 to explore the diagnostic value of miRNAs as a biomarker in osteoporosis. RESULTS: A total of 31 studies were identified in the systematic review that indicated more than 30 kinds of up-regulated and down-regulated miRNAs in three categories; postmenopausal osteoporosis, postmenopausal osteoporosis with fracture risk, and other types of osteoporosis and fracture risk. CONCLUSION: The collective data presented in this review indicate that miRNAs could serve as biomarkers for the diagnosis (onset) and prognosis (progression of osteoporosis), while the clinical application of these findings has yet to be verified. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-021-00873-5.

Comparing IRF-4 Gene Expression Between Acute T cell- Mediated Rejection and Stable Renal Transplant Recipients.

INTRODUCTION: Renal transplant rejection is one of the clinical challenges, which usually requires administration of immunosuppressive drugs causing serious side effects. Therefore, invention of effective and specific therapeutics is necessary to control undesired immune responses particularly T-cell reactions to allograft. Interferon Regulatory Factor-4 (IRF-4) due to its implication on T cells differentiation and function might be targeted to treat T cell-mediated cellular rejection (TCMR). The aim of this study was to investigate the association between IRF-4 gene expression and acute TCMR, as well as to examine the correlation between IRF-4 gene expression and cellular expression of Programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and Helios molecules. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 30 patients with biopsy proven acute TCMR and 30 stable recipients. IRF-4 gene expression was quantified using RT-PCR, and cellular expression of PD-1 and Helios were evaluated with flowcytometry. RESULTS: IRF-4 gene expression was significantly increased in acute TCMR patients compared with stable recipients (P < .05). Helios protein expression was slightly decreased in TCMR group but this was not statistically significant. There was a negative correlation between IRF-4 gene expression and PD-1 as well as Helios frequency in the whole studied population. CONCLUSION: IRF-4 expression increases in acute TCMR which might also lead to a diminished expression of downstream immunoregulatory molecules such as PD-1 and Helios. Therefore, specific inhibition of IRF-4 may be helpful in managing acute TCMR.

Substitution of modified starch with hydrogen peroxide-modified rice bran in salad dressing formulation: physicochemical, texture, rheological and sensory properties.

Rice bran samples were treated under different conditions including hydrogen peroxide content (1, 4, and 7 wt%) and media pH (10.5, 11.5, and 12.5). Water holding capacity and color measurement results showed acceptable improvements compared with the untreated native bran confirmed by Fourier transform infrared analysis. Optimization of modification conditions upon characterization results suggested the introduction of 7% hydrogen peroxide at pH = 12.5. Accordingly, 1, 2 and 3 wt% of the rice bran treated under the optimized conditions, was used in salad dressing formulation; as for .3 wt% of modified starch in the formulation of blank sample, 1 wt% of treated rice bran dietary fiber was substituted. Biopolymer swelling and formation of a stable viscous gel network promoted by the chemical treatment of lignocellulosic rice bran restrict the mobility of oil droplets dispersed in the continuous phase which would consequently retard the emulsion instability phenomena. This effect was also confirmed by flow behavior and viscoelastic characterization results. Salad dressing samples containing 1 and 2 wt% treated rice bran showed acceptable physicochemical, rheological and organoleptic properties besides superior nutritional characteristics compared with the commercial modified starch traditionally used in salad dressing formulations. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Despite recommended consumption of dietary fibers, addition of unprocessed lignocellulosic materials to food products usually raise negative effects in sensory, color, and texture quality. This study investigates the modification of rice bran, the byproduct of brown rice milling, to substitute modified starch traditionally used in salad dressing formulations to achieve optimum properties desirable for the final product. Optimization of modification conditions upon characterization of the formulated samples in this study would suggest new improved formulation for the commercial product.