Rheological and physical properties of spray-dried mucilage obtained from Hylocereus undatus cladodes.

This study examines the rheological behavior of reconstituted spray-dried mucilage isolated from the cladodes of pitahaya (Hylocereus undatus), the effects of concentration and its relationship with physical properties were analyzed in reconstituted solutions. Drying process optimization was carried out through the surface response method, utilizing a factorial 2(3) design with three central points, in order to evaluate yield and rheological properties. The reconstituted mucilage exhibited non-Newtonian shear-thinning behavior, which adequately fit the Cross model (R(2)>0.95). This dynamic response suggests a random coil configuration. The steady-shear viscosity and dynamic response are suitably correlated through the Cox-Merz rule, confirming the mucilage's stability of flow. Analysis of the physical properties of the mucilage (Tg, DTP, and particle morphology) explains the shear-thinning behavior.

True density and apparent density during the drying process for vegetables and fruits: a review.

This review presents the concepts involved in determining the density of foodstuffs, and summarizes the volumetric determination techniques used to calculate true density and apparent density in foodstuffs exposed to the drying process. The behavior of density with respect to moisture content (X) and drying temperature (T) is presented and explained with a basis in changes in structure, conformation, chemical composition, and second-order phase changes that occur in the processes of mass and heat transport, as reported to date in the literature. A review of the empirical and theoretical equations that represent density is presented, and their application in foodstuffs is discussed. This review also addresses cases with nonideal density behavior, including variations in ρ(s) and ρ(w) as a function of the inside temperature of the material, depending on drying conditions (X, T). A compilation of studies regarding the density of dehydrated foodstuffs is also presented.

[Idiopathic myelofibrosis with cutaneous extramedullary hematopoiesis]. / Mielofibrosis idiopática con hematopoyesis extramedular cutánea.

Idiopathic myelofibrosis is a chronic myeloproliferative syndrome characterized by the proliferation of the three hemopoietic series and the marrow connective tissue and the development of extramedullary hemopoiesis in the liver and spleen. Cutaneous extramedullary hemopoiesis is and uncommon finding, and only thirteen cases have been reported up to now. We report the first case in the Spanish literature. The patient was a 78-year-old male in whom skin lesions preceded the diagnosis of myelofibrosis. These lesions, consisting of violet coloured maculae and papulae, contained elements from the three hemopoietic series. Therapy with hydroxyurea was started, but the patient died because of cardiorespiratory complications.

[Amyloid arthropathy associated with multiple myeloma]. / Artropatía amiloide asociada a mieloma múltiple.

Amyloidosis as a complication of patients afflicted with multiple myeloma only arose in 15% of the cases. The articular localization is particularly rare, the clinical findings being similar to rheumatoid arthritis. A case of amyloid arthritis associated to Bence-Jones myeloma, kappa type, is presented and the literature is reviewed.