Studying the concentration of xenobiotics in milk and developing the biosensor method for their rapid determination.

In this article the content of toxic xenobiotics (heavy metals and pesticides) in cow milk collected from 5 districts of Eastern Kazakhstan was examined and their cumulative properties were determined. The content of organochlorine pesticides (HCCH, DDT) was not detected in the analyzed milk. The content of mercury and arsenic in milk samples does not exceed the maximum allowable concentration (0.005 and 0.05 mg/kg, respectively). The content of cadmium above the maximum allowable concentration (0.03 mg/kg) was found in milk sampled from Shemonaikha and Katon-Karagai districts. The content of lead and zinc above the maximum allowable concentration (0.1 and 5.0 mg/kg, respectively) was found in milk samples taken from all 5 studied districts. The content of copper above the maximum allowable concentration (1.0 mg/kg) was found in milk samples collected from 4 districts under study (Borodulikha, Beskaragai, Shemonaikha and Katon-Karagai). Based on the analysis of information data the need to develop an accelerated method of determining toxic xenobiotics in milk was substantiated. The basic directions of modernization of the biosensor for determination of cadmium and lead salts in milk and dairy products were selected. A new approach to the process of immobilization of the enzyme on the surface of a substrate for cadmium and lead salts determination in milk has been developed. The efficiency of using a polymeric plate with a graphite conducting layer as a basis for the enzyme biosensor was established.

Technofunctional quality assessment of soymilk fermented with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei.

The current research work was carried out to evaluate the effect of three different varieties (NARC-II, Williams 82, Ajmeri) of soybean along with single and coculture impact of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei on fermented soymilk. The periodically microbial and antioxidative activities of fermented soymilk were analyzed during the storage of 24 days. Moreover, the effect of fermentation on rheological and structural changes was examined along with isoflavone contents in fermented soymilk. Viability of cells and antioxidative activities were found to be significantly (P < 0.05) higher in fermented soymilk using mixed cultures. The rheological attributes demonstrated higher viscosity in coculture fermented soymilk. Scanning electron microscopic examination indicated that the growth characteristic of L. casei has a relatively more uniform texture and smaller pore size in comparison to L. acidophilus. Nevertheless, the combination of cultures exhibited precise pore formation with stronger cross-links of soybean protein throughout the structure. Assessment of isoflavones exhibited higher values, for daidzein (20.87 ppm) in comparison to genistein (6.57 ppm), in Ajmeri-based coculture soymilk. Conclusively, L. casei and L. acidophilous exhibited considerable antioxidant potential in the development of viscous, less porous, and rich in bioactive metabolites fermented soymilk, when used in combination and among varieties Ajmeri results it was the top of all. This suggests that the process evidence in this study could be recommended for high-quality soymilk production.

Use of Meat-Bone Paste to Develop Calcium-Enriched Liver Pâté.

The production technology of meat-bone paste and its effect on chemical, mineral and amino acid compositions of liver pâté were studied. The liver was replaced by meat-bone paste in the concentration of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25% for the production of experimental samples. The compositional analysis of pâté manufactured with meat-bone paste showed that the reformulation did not influence the content of moisture (~56%), fat (~28%), or protein (~11%) while producing a significant increase of ash and a decrease of carbohydrates in comparison with control pâtés. The higher amounts of minerals of bone-meat paste, including calcium (3080 mg/100 g), magnesium (2120 mg/100 g), phosphorous (2564 mg/100 g), and iron (7.30 mg/100 g), explained the higher amount of both ash and these minerals in the reformulated samples compared to the control samples. The total caloric value (~300 kcal/100 g) was also unaffected by the addition of bone-meat paste. The content of both essential and non-essential amino acids decreased with the inclusion of meat-bone paste, although this decrease was lower in essential (6280 mg/100 g in control vs. 5756 mg/100 g in samples with 25% of meat-bone paste) than in non-essential amino acids (6080 mg/100 g in control vs. 3590 mg/100 g in samples with 25% of meat-bone paste). This fact is due to several essential amino acids not showing differences between control and reformulated samples, while in non-essential amino acids, these differences were greater. The results of this study showed that meat-bone paste addition is a good strategy to produce liver pâté enriched in minerals and with minimum influence on the content of the other important nutrients. Therefore, these results can be used for the design of new liver pâté with an increased nutritional significance by using meat industry by-products. According to the balance of minerals, the use of 15% of meat-bone paste to reformulate liver pâté is the best strategy used in the present research. However, additional studies on the stability (during storage), shelf-life, and sensory acceptability of these reformulated pâtés should be carried out.

Pomegranate as a source of bioactive constituents: a review on their characterization, properties and applications.

Increasing awareness about the use of compounds obtained from natural sources exerting health-beneficial properties, including antimicrobial and antioxidant effects, led to increased number of research papers focusing on the study of functional properties of target compounds to be used as functional foods or in preventive medicine. Pomegranate has shown positive health properties due to the presence of bioactive constituents such as polyphenols, tannins, and anthocyanins. Punicalagin is the major antioxidant, abundantly found in pomegranate's peel. Research has shown that pomegranate polyphenols not only have a strong antioxidant capacity but they also inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria like V. cholera, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, B. cereus, E. coli, and S. virulence factor, and inhibits fungi such as A. Ochraceus, and P. citrinum. Compounds of natural origin inhibit the growth of various pathogens by extending the shelf life of foodstuffs and assuring their safety. Therefore, the need to find compounds to be used in combination with antibiotics or as new antimicrobial sources, such as plant extracts. On the basis of the above discussion, this review focuses on the health benefits of pomegranate, by summarizing the current body of research focusing on pomegranate bioactive constituents and their therapeutic potential against some pathogenic microbes.

Floral extracts-mediated green synthesis of NiO nanoparticles and their diverse pharmacological evaluations.

Biosynthesis has emerged as an exciting interface for assembling multifunctional metal oxide nanoparticles for diverse medicinal applications. Herein, biogenic nickel oxide (NiO-NPs) is synthesized by using floral extracts of Callistemon viminalis (C. viminalis) as a low cost, ecofriendly reducing and stabilizing agent. NiO-NPs were annealed at 300 °C, 400 °C and 500 °C while their physiochemical properties were established by HR-SEM/TEM, UV, XRD, FTIR, EDS, SAED and SQUID techniques. Particle size of NiO-NPs decreased with increase in annealing temperatures. Magnetization curves indicated superparamagnetic behavior of the biogenic NiO-NPs at 300 K. Highly crystalline NiO-NPs obtained after annealing at 500 °C were used for biomedical applications. The anti-leishmanial activity on Leishmania tropica promastigotes (KMH-23) and anticancer activity on HepG2 (RCB1648) revealed excellent inhibition potential with IC50 of 37.21 µg/mL and 47 µg/mL, respectively. Significant antibacterial effect was observed against Klebsiella pneumonia and Proteus vulgaris with MIC's of 12.5 µg/mL each. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and α-glucosidase inhibitory potential were comparable with positive control drugs. Moderate antioxidant activities were observed. NiO-NPs were observed to be hemolytic (30%) at higher dose (1000 µg/mL). Overall, NiO-NPs revealed a multifunctional nature that can be explored for diverse biomedical applications.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Quadrant of Difficulty-Usefulness (QoDU) as New Method in Preparing for Improvement of E-learning in Health College.

BACKGROUND: Many educational institutions around the world are implementing e-learning, but there are still many technical obstacles. Relatively many elements of e-learning must be improved in performance, so which elements should be selected which are prioritized to be improved first. METHODS: This research applied a new method in order to select e-learning elements of health professionals' education that will be prioritized for improvement. This new method was called the Quadrant of Difficulty-Usefulness (QoDU). The subjects of this study were 200 students of Environmental Health School of Magetan, Indonesia. RESULTS: The elements that were sorted by priority were learning design, handout, book, link to resources, discussion forum, chatting, assignment, feedback, quiz and survey. The attributes used as the basis for determining priorities were difficulty and usefulness. Data regarding attributes were obtained through filling out the questionnaire. For each element the following were determined: 1) difficulty and usefulness; 2) mean score of difficulty and mean score of usefulness. Furthermore, 4 quadrants were arranged based on 1) the difficulty position of each element compared to the mean-score of difficulty and; 2) the usefulness position of each element compared to the mean-score of usefulness. CONCLUSION: The order of elements of e-learning at the Environmental Health School of Magetan based on priority were assignment, quiz and discussion forum as the first priority; feedback and survey as second priority; link to resources and book as third priority; and learning design, handout and chatting as the last priority.

Lycopene as a Natural Antioxidant Used to Prevent Human Health Disorders.

Lycopene, belonging to the carotenoids, is a tetraterpene compound abundantly found in tomato and tomato-based products. It is fundamentally recognized as a potent antioxidant and a non-pro-vitamin A carotenoid. Lycopene has been found to be efficient in ameliorating cancer insurgences, diabetes mellitus, cardiac complications, oxidative stress-mediated malfunctions, inflammatory events, skin and bone diseases, hepatic, neural and reproductive disorders. This review summarizes information regarding its sources and uses amongst different societies, its biochemistry aspects, and the potential utilization of lycopene and possible mechanisms involved in alleviating the abovementioned disorders. Furthermore, future directions with the possible use of this nutraceutical against lifestyle-related disorders are emphasized. Its protective effects against recommended doses of toxic agents and toxicity and safety are also discussed.

Study of morphology, chemical, and amino acid composition of red deer meat.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate red deer (maral) meat quality based on chemical composition, pH, water-binding capacity (WBC), and amino acid content. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Maral meat surface morphology measurements were obtained by scanning electron microscopy. Active acidity (pH) was determined by potentiometry. Samples were analyzed for WBC by exudation of moisture to a filter paper by the application of pressure. Chemical composition (moisture, protein, fat, and ash fractions) was obtained by drying at 150°C and by extraction, using ethylic ether, and ashing at 500-600°C. The amino acid composition was obtained by liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Maral meat, with a pH of 5.85 and an average moisture content of 76.82%, was found to be low in fat (2.26%). Its protein content was 18.71% while its ash content was 2.21%. The amino acid composition showed that lysine (9.85 g/100 g), threonine (5.38 g/100 g), and valine (5.84 g/100 g) predominated in maral meat, while phenylalanine (4.08 g/100 g), methionine (3.29 g/100 g), and tryptophan (0.94 g/100 g) were relatively low in maral meat compared to other meats. The average WBC was found to be 65.82% and WBC was found to inversely correlate with moisture content. CONCLUSION: Low-fat content, high mineral content, and balanced amino-acid composition qualify maral meat as a worthy dietary and functional food.

Cs-137 in milk, vegetation, soil, and water near the former Soviet Union's Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site.

The present study was carried out to evaluate Cs-137 activity concentration in soil, water, vegetation, and cow's milk at 10 locations within three regions (Abai, Ayaguz, and Urdzhar) to the southeast of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site (SNTS) in Kazakhstan. Cs-137 activity concentrations, determined using a pure Ge gamma-ray spectrometer, showed that, all samples collected did not exceed the National maximum allowable limits of 10,000 Bq/kg for soil, 100 Bq/kg for cow's milk, 74 Bq/kg for vegetation, and 11 Bq/kg for water. Cs-137 is, therefore, not considered a health hazard in these regions. The highest levels of contamination were found in the Abai region, where the highest activity concentration of Cs-137 was 18.0 ± 1.0 Bq/kg in soil, 7.60 ± 0.31 Bq/kg in cow's milk, 4.00 ± 0.14 Bq/kg in the vegetation, and 3.00 ± 0.24 Bq/kg in water. The lowest levels were measured within the Urdzhar region, where 4.00 ± 0.14 Bq/kg was found in the soil, 0.30 ± 0.02 Bq/kg in the cow's milk, 1.00 ± 0.03 Bq/kg in the vegetation, and 0.20 ± 0.02 Bq/kg in the water.