Partial replacement of meat and fat with hydrated wheat fiber in beef burgers decreases caloric value without reducing the feeling of satiety after consumption.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of hydrated wheat fiber replacing meat and fat in beef burgers on technological characteristics, sensory acceptance and hunger satisfaction. The different levels of hydrated wheat fiber (1 g fiber: 6 g water) were 0, 1.25, 2.5, 3.75 and 5.0 g of fiber/80 g burger portion. Results showed that the greater the addition of hydrated wheat fiber, the lower the protein (P < .0001) and lipid (P = .0006) content and consequently the greater the reduction in caloric value. Burgers with up to 3.75 g fiber/80 g portion showed the same (P > .05) sensory acceptance as the Control burgers (those without added fiber). Sandwiches comprised of burgers with 2.5 and 5.0 g fiber/80 g portion caused the same (P > .05) hunger satisfaction (satiety feeling) as those comprised of Control burgers for up to 3 h after consumption. Burgers containing 3.75 g fiber/80 g burger may represent an interesting alternative for people who want to reduce caloric intake and/or increase the proportion of insoluble fiber in their diet.

Environmentally friendly procedure based on VA-MSPD for the determination of booster biocides in fish tissue.

Booster biocides have been widely applied to ships and other submerged structures. These compounds can be released into the marine environment as the result of vessel hull leaching and may remain in different environmental compartments. This study aimed at introducing an environmentally friendly procedure for the extraction of irgarol and diuron from fish samples by vortex-assisted matrix solid phase dispersion (VA-MSPD) with detection by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Different types of solid supports and solvents were evaluated. The best results were found when 0.5g mussel shell, 0.5g sodium sulfate and 5mL ethanol were used. Analytical recoveries ranged from 81 to 110%, with RSD below 10%, whereas the matrix effect was between -17 and 1% (for all samples under study). LOQ values of irgarol and diuron were 5 and 50ngg-1, respectively. The method under investigation proved to be a promising alternative to controlling contamination of fish by booster biocides, with low consumption of biodegradable reagents.

Solanum paniculatum L. decreases levels of inflammatory cytokines by reducing NFKB, TBET and GATA3 gene expression in vitro.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Solanum paniculatum L., popularly known as jurubeba, is a common subtropical plant from Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina, that is used in folk medicine for the treatment of anemia, gastrointestinal disorders and inflammatory conditions in general. In addition to that, an ethnobotanical survey in "Todos os Santos" Bay have pointed out S. paniculatum as an herb to treat asthma. Previous publications have shown that S. paniculatum possesses antibiotic, antioxidant and modulatory effects on gastric acid secretion; however, its anti-inflammatory potential remains unexplored. AIM OF THE STUDY: Herein, we analyzed the S. paniculatum fruits hexane extract (SpE) for the presence of stigmasterol and ß-sitosterol and investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of SpE in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SpE was subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for standardization and quantification of stigmasterol and ß-sitosterol. Spleen cells from BALB/c mice were cultivated and stimulated with pokeweed mitogen and also exposed to 15, 30 and 60µg/mL of SpE. Following treatment, levels of IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 in the culture supernatants were assessed by ELISA. We also evaluated nitric oxide (NO) production by murine LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages using the Griess technique. In addition, the ability of SpE to stabilize membranes was assessed using a model of hemolysis induced by heat on murine erythrocytes. Gene expression of Th1-cell-specific Tbx21 transcription factor (TBET), zinc-finger transcription factor-3 (GATA3), and nuclear factor-κB (NFKB) in murine spleen cells were assessed by quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). RESULTS: SpE at 15, 30 and 60µg/mL significantly attenuated cell proliferation, decreased IL-4 release, reduced NO production and improved erythrocyte membrane stabilization in a concentration-dependent manner. SpE was also able to decrease the release of IFN-γ without altering IL-10 levels. The mechanism whereby SpE decreased inflammatory markers may be related to the reduction of NFKB, TBET and GATA3 gene expression. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to test the anti-inflammatory action of S. paniculatum. Herein, we provided evidence for the popular use of S. paniculatum in inflammatory conditions. Additional studies must be conducted to further explore the anti-inflammatory potential of SpE and to elucidate possible clinical applications.

Propranolol impairs the closure of pressure ulcers in mice.

AIMS: ß-Adrenoceptors modulate acute wound healing; however, few studies have shown the effects of ß-adrenoceptor blockade on chronic wounds. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of ß1-/ß2-adrenoceptor blockade in wound healing of pressure ulcers. MAIN METHODS: Male mice were daily treated with propranolol (ß1-/ß2-adrenoceptor antagonist) until euthanasia. One day after the beginning of treatment, two cycles of ischemia-reperfusion by external application of two magnetic plates were performed in skin to induce pressure ulcer formation. KEY FINDINGS: Propranolol administration reduced keratinocyte migration, transforming growth factor-ß protein expression, re-epithelialization, and necrotic tissue loss. Neutrophil number and neutrophil elastase protein expression were increased in propranolol-treated group when compared with control group. Propranolol administration delayed macrophage mobilization and metalloproteinase-12 protein expression and reduced monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 protein expression. Myofibroblastic differentiation, angiogenesis, and wound closure were delayed in the propranolol-treated animals. Propranolol administration increased neo-epidermis thickness, reduced collagen deposition, and enhanced tenascin-C expression resulting in the formation of an immature and disorganized collagenous scar. SIGNIFICANCE: ß1-/ß2-Adrenoceptor blockade delays wound healing of ischemia-reperfusion skin injury through the impairment of the re-epithelialization and necrotic tissue loss which compromise wound inflammation, dermal reconstruction, and scar formation.

Impact of different cocoa hybrids (Theobroma cacao L.) and S. cerevisiae UFLA CA11 inoculation on microbial communities and volatile compounds of cocoa fermentation.

The aim of this work was to study the microbial communities and volatile compounds profile of different fermentations: using four different cocoa hybrids and adding Saccharomyces cerevisiae UFLA CA11 as starter culture. Each hybrid showed particular characteristics: size, peel, seed and pulp. The temperature of the cocoa mass increased during fermentations (24°C to 47°C). The hybrid FA13 inoculated with S. cerevisiae showed the lowest temperatures (26 to 37°C). The pulp's compositions were different between the hybrids, mainly regarding citric acid (0.5 to 3.2g/kg). The carbohydrates were more rapidly (60h) metabolized in inoculated fermentations than in spontaneous fermentations (84h). Thirty-nine volatile compounds were identified by GC-FID for all fermentation processes. Esters (14 compounds) and alcohols (12) were the most important groups. Yeast communities were similar among the different processes while bacterial communities were dependent on the hybrid and process. The inoculation accelerated the fermentation and the hybrid characteristics influenced on the fermentation requiring particular management.