Application of one- and two-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatography methodologies for the analysis of C-glycosylflavones from fenugreek seeds.

The composition of C-glycosylflavones in fenugreek seeds is complicated and comprises of flavone mono- and di-C-glycosides, derivatives of both apigenin and luteolin as well as their ester forms. In this paper the application of one- and two-dimensional HPLC techniques: off-line heart-cutting and on-line comprehensive for the analysis of flavone C-glycosides in fenugreek seeds is presented. For the identification of flavone C-glycosides two types of detectors: diode array detector and mass detector, coupled to HPLC were used. 18 flavones were separated and identified in the methanol extract from fenugreek seeds. The best separation was achieved in off-line heart-cutting mode. The presence of two new compounds in fenugreek seeds was shown, namely: vicenin-3 and isoschaftoside. Furthermore, five unknown C-glycosides, possibly derivatives of apigenin were revealed.

The antimicrobial activity of fruits from some cultivar varieties of Rubus idaeus and Rubus occidentalis.

Raspberries, derived from different cultivar varieties, are a popular ingredient of everyday diet, and their biological activity is a point of interest for researchers. The ethanol-water extracts from four varieties of red (Rubus idaeus'Ljulin', 'Veten', 'Poranna Rosa') and black (Rubus occidentalis'Litacz') raspberries were evaluated in the range of their antimicrobial properties as well as phenolic content - sanguiin H-6, free ellagic acid and anthocyanins. The antimicrobial assay was performed with the use of fifteen strains of bacteria, both Gram-negative and Gram-positive. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts varied and depended on the analysed strain of bacteria and cultivar variety, with the exception of Helicobacter pylori, towards which the extracts displayed the same growth inhibiting activity. Two human pathogens Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Moraxella catarrhalis proved to be the most sensitive to raspberry extracts. Contrary to the extracts, sanguiin H-6 and ellagic acid were only active against eight and nine bacterial strains, respectively. The determined MIC and MBC values of both compounds were several times lower than the tested extracts. The highest sensitivity of Corynebacterium diphtheriae to extracts from both black and red raspberries may be due to its sensitivity to sanguiin H-6 and ellagic acid.

HPLC analysis of polyphenols in the fruits of Rubus idaeus L. (Rosaceae).

The separation of anthocyanins present in the fruits of 11 varieties of red raspberries (Rubus idaeus L.) was performed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a diode-array detector and evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD). The ELSD parameters--drift tube temperature, nebulising gas flow rate and gain value--were optimised to get the best detection and identification of the anthocyanins. The varieties Heritage and Willamette had the simplest anthocyanin sets consisting of only two predominant anthocyanins--cyanidin-3-O-sophoroside (1) and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (3), while in the other varieties two other predominant compounds were also present, cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside (4) and cyanidin-3-O-(2(G)-O-glucosylrutinoside) (2). Moreover, using ELSD, simultaneous analysis of anthocyanins and sanguiin H-6 (5), an ellagitannin, was performed. The contents of anthocyanins and sanguiin H-6 (5) were estimated by HPLC with ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) light detection. The determined concentrations of anthocyanins varied from 76.22 to 277.06 mg per 100 g of dry weight (d.w.). The content of sanguiin H-6 (5) was in the range from 135.04 to 547.48 mg per 100 g of d.w.

A comparison of weightbearing pressures in various postoperative devices.

Currently, there are a multitude of computerized gait analysis systems to evaluate weightbearing patterns in the foot. The following study utilizes the F-Scan System of foot pressure analysis. This system was applied to evaluate plantar pressures as they occur in various postoperative shoe gear and to determine which devices are most clinically beneficial in ambulatory surgery. A pressure sensor recorded plantar pressures in 20 feet wearing various types of postoperative shoe wear. Initially, a stockinette was used to simulate barefoot pressure, followed by a wooden postoperative shoe, a Darco postoperative shoe, a Darco closed postoperative shoe, a Darco "softie," a Darco wedge, an Equalizer Premium Walker, an Equalizer Low Top Walker, and an Aircast. The results demonstrated that the Equalizer Premium Walker was most efficient in reducing forefoot pressures, while the postoperative surgical shoes had variable results, noticeably with several increases in pressure being recorded.

Foreign body reaction in a Dacron-meshed hemi-implant.

With increased experience in the use of silicone elastomer great toe implants, there has been a commensurate increased incidence of foreign body reaction to these prostheses. In the mid- to late 1970s, the use of Dacron-meshed hemi-implants was abandoned due to the high incidence of such reactions. Although previously thought to be due to the Dacron mesh itself, the authors content that it was, rather, due to the inferior grade of silicone elastomer used in these products.