Effect of tiger nut fibre on quality characteristics of pork burger.

Horchata is a refreshing beverage obtained from tiger nut tubers that yields high amount of by-products. These by-products have a high content of fibre that allows its application in the development of dietary fibre rich foods. The utilization of increasing levels (0%-control, 5%, 10% and 15%) of tiger nut fibre (TNF), in the formulation of pork burgers was evaluated. This evaluation was based on: chemical composition, physicochemical, cooking characteristics and sensory properties of burgers. Pork burgers elaborated with TNF had higher nutritional value (higher fibre content) and better cooking characteristics (higher cooking yield, fat retention and moisture retention) than control burgers. Some of the negative changes in colour (a* decrease and b* increase) and texture (chewiness and springiness increase) parameters due to TNF addition observed in raw burgers were masked by the stronger modifications due to the cooking process. Burgers with TNF were perceived as less greasy, less juicy, more grainy and with less meaty flavour than controls; although this perception did not reduce the overall acceptability of burgers. Overall acceptability scores were slightly lower in burgers with 15% TNF, although no significant differences were detected with the scores of control, 5% and 10% TNF burgers. TNF addition to burgers is a promising and convenient application as dietary fibre of burgers was significantly increased without changes in sensory acceptance.

Granular parakeratosis

This is a report of a 60 year-old black female patient presenting with pruritic brownish crusted plaques on both axillae of one month evolution. Histopathology revealed findings characteristic of axillary granular parakeratosis. This entity was first described by Northcutt et al in 1991. Since then, involvement of other intertriginous areas have also been reported. A review of the literature was performed and the term granular parakeratosis is suggested to emphasize its pathognomonic histopathologic features

Presacral extramedullary haematopoiesis with involvement of the sciatic nerve.

We present the case of a 60-year-old woman with no known blood disease who developed an extramedullary haematopoiesis of presacral localization that affected the right sciatic nerve. The diagnosis was made with imaging studies and CT-guided fine-needle aspiration.

Thoracoscopic pericardial window and penetrating cardiac trauma.

Between September of 1991 and February of 1996, 108 patients with penetrating wounds near the heart, and with no obvious signs of cardiac injury, underwent the creation of a diagnostic thoracoscopic pericardial window to rule out cardiac injury. In 33 patients (30.6%), the procedure identified hemopericardium. Sensitivity for the procedure was 100%, specificity 96%, and accuracy 97%. There were no deaths and no complications due to the procedure. The thoracoscopic pericardial window has proved to be a precise, rapid, and safe method for the diagnosis of heart wounds in patients with no clear signs or symptoms, and it also allows the evaluation of other thoracic injuries and the evacuation of hemothorax when present. We recommend this procedure as the standard diagnostic approach for cardiac injuries in patients in stable condition.

pH-Dependent self-association of the Src homology 2 (SH2) domain of the Src homologous and collagen-like (SHC) protein.

The Src homologous and collagen-like (SHC) protein plays an essential role in signal transduction pathways in that it participates in the chain of events that leads to the activation of the protein Ras. The crystal structure of the SH2 domain of SHC has been determined using the method of multiple isomorphous replacement at a resolution of 2.5 A. The SH2 domain of SHC is similar in fold to other SH2 domains. The peptide-binding surfaces resemble that of the SH2 domain of Src in that a deep pocket is formed where the third amino acid C-terminal to the phosphotyrosine can insert. A novel feature of this structure is the observation of a disulfide bond and an extensive dimer interface between two symmetry-related molecules. Solution studies under reducing conditions using analytical centrifugation and PAGE suggest that the SH2 domain of SHC dimerizes in a pH-dependent manner where low pH conditions (approximately 4.5) are conducive to dimer formation. Dimerization of SHC may have important biological implications in that it may promote the assembly of large heteromultimeric signaling complexes.

Puente gástrico subesternal en cáncer de esófago / Subesternal gastric by pass in esophageal cancer

Entre 1984 y 1991 hemos efectuado 20 puentes gástricos subesternal como tratamiento paliativo de un cáncer de esófago irresecable. El 85% de los pacientes presentaron complicaciones postoperatorias serias. Hubo seis muertes hospitalarias (30%), cinco fístulas de la anastomosis (25%), tres estenosis de la anastomosis (15%), dos abscesos subfrénicos (10%), dos peritonitis (10%). El promedio de hospitalización postoperatoria fue de 34 días (rango de 16-81 días). La sobrevida media fue de 9,1 meses (rango de 1,5-56,5 meses). Sólo siete pacientes (el 50% de los sobrevivientes) consiguieron una buena paliación con el puente. Se concluye que el puente gástrico subesternal tiene una mortalidad operatoria inaceptable en estos pacientes que tienen una corta esperanza de vida y que debe indicarse sólo en enfermos seleccionados

B2 kinin receptor-mediated internalization of bradykinin in DDT1 MF-2 smooth muscle cells is paralleled by sequestration of the occupied receptors.

We have previously shown that exposure of DDT1 MF-2 smooth muscle cells to the agonist bradykinin (BK) results in a rapid B2 kinin receptor-mediated internalization of BK followed by degradation of the intracellular BK [Munoz, C. M., and Leeb-Lundberg, L. M. F. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 303-309]. Here, we show that BK internalization is paralleled by sequestration of the occupied B2 receptors. Sequestration was observed as a stoichiometric decrease in the number of accessible B2 receptors, i.e., the binding of one molecule of BK effectively compartmented that receptor so as to render the binding site unavailable to the extracellular environment. The rate at which BK stimulated sequestration (t1/2 approximately 7 min) was almost the same as that for BK internalization (t1/2 approximately 9 min). Agonist specificity for the receptor sequestration was indicated by the lack of effect by the high affinity B2 kinin receptor-specific antagonist [D-Arg0, Hyp3, D-Phe7, Thi5,8]-BK (10 microM). Removal of free and bound extracellular BK resulted in a rapid (t1/2 approximately 15 min) reappearance of accessible receptors and this process was not sensitive to the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide. Essentially all of the cellular receptors identified by BK were associated with the plasma membrane fraction. A majority of the sequestered receptors remained inaccessible following cell disruption. However, sequestered receptors were retrievable by treating particulate fractions with the detergent 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]propanesulfonic acid. Pretreatment with BK (1 microM), the alpha 1-adrenergic agonist norepinephrine (10 microM), or the tumor promoting phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (0.1 microM) resulted in desensitization of BK stimulation of phosphatidylinositol (PI) turnover. On the other hand, only BK stimulated B2 receptor sequestration. Together, these results suggest that B2 kinin receptors become sequestered by the cell in a compartment contiguous with the plasma membrane following occupancy of the receptor by an agonist. This sequestration appears to be closely associated with BK internalization and not a general mechanism for desensitization of BK-stimulated PI turnover.

Bradykinin binding to B2 kinin receptors and stimulation of phosphoinositide turnover and arachidonic acid release in primary cultures of cells from late pregnant rat myometrium.

Primary cultures of cells from late pregnant rat myometrium contain B2 kinin receptors through which bradykinin (BK) stimulates inositol phosphate (InsP) formation and arachidonic acid (20:4) release. Equilibrium binding at 4 degrees C revealed that [3H]BK identified a maximal number of cell surface B2 kinin receptor binding sites on rat myometrial cells of 308 +/- 78 fmol/10(6) cells with apparently a single equilibrium dissociation constant of 1.8 +/- 0.2 nM. At 37 degrees C, [3H]BK binding was associated with a time-dependent decrease in the reversibility of the binding. This decrease was due in part to formation of slowly dissociating cell surface receptor [3H]BK binding and in part to internalization of the receptor-bound [3H]BK. Exposure of labeled cells to BK resulted in dose-dependent increases in [3H]InsP3, [3H]InsP2 ([3H]Ins(1,4)P2), and [3H]InsP1 ([3H]Ins(1)P1) formation and [3H]20:4 release. Pretreatment with 100 ng/mL pertussis toxin did not perturb BK stimulation of [3H]InsP formation but partially (approximately 30%) inhibited BK stimulation of [3H]20:4 release. BK stimulation of [3H]20:4 release was directly proportional to the number of receptor sites occupied by BK. In contrast, stimulation of [3H]InsP formation required a threshold level of receptor occupancy, which decreased as a function of time of BK exposure. These results show that BK interacts with B2 kinin receptors on rat myometrial cells with apparently a single affinity through which BK stimulates [3H]InsP formation and [3H]20:4 release. BK stimulation of [3H]InsP formation requires a threshold BK concentration, which decreases with time, and we suggest that the decrease is due to a time-dependent formation of a BK receptor binding state from which BK slowly dissociates.

Receptor-mediated internalization of bradykinin. DDT1 MF-2 smooth muscle cells process internalized bradykinin via multiple degradative pathways.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the role of internalization in the action of the peptide autacoid bradykinin (BK). At 4 degrees C [3H]BK binds to an apparently single class of B2 kinin receptors on DDT1 MF-2 smooth muscle cells (C. M. Munoz, S. Cotecchia, and L. M. F. Leeb-Lundberg, manuscript submitted). At this temperature the [3H]BK binding was confined exclusively to the cell surface. On the other hand, at 37 degrees C the B2 receptor-specific cell surface [3H]BK binding was rapidly followed by a receptor-specific internalization of [3H]BK (t1/2 approximately 9 min). The internalization reached a steady-state level after 30-40 min that was 80-100% of the level of specifically bound [3H]BK on the cell surface at 4 degrees C, and this level was maintained for greater than or equal to 2 h. Internalized [3H]BK was routed via at least two intracellular degradative pathways which were distinguished primarily based on subcellular localization but also on a small but significant difference in the rate of [3H]BK degradation. One pathway was localized in a plasma membrane-enriched fraction and had a relatively high degradative capacity. Another pathway was localized in a microsomal fraction and had a relatively low degradative capacity. The internalized [3H]BK activity was rapidly released into the media (t1/2 approximately 24 min). Following a single round of internalization, the released activity consisted almost exclusively of small [3H]BK fragments (less than [3H]BK(1-5)). In contrast, at steady-state [3H]BK represented 30-40% of the released activity. While chloroquine (100 microM) did not alter the rate of [3H]BK internalization or release or the intracellular distribution of [3H]BK, this agent significantly decreased the rate of [3H]BK degradation in both pathways. In all, these results show that B2 kinin receptor-mediated internalization of BK is a process integral to the interaction of BK with DDT1 MF-2 smooth muscle cells and may be a mechanism for terminating BK actions by rapidly removing extracellular free and receptor-bound BK and accessing various intracellular BK degradative pathways.