Physico-Chemical, Textural and Sensory Evaluation of Emulsion Gel Formulated with By-Products from the Vegetable Oil Industry

The aim of this study was to obtain low fat mayonnaise-like emulsion gels using sesame cake and walnut cake by-products resulting from vegetable oil extraction. The ingredients used to formulate the mayonnaise like emulsion gel samples were corn starch, sesame seed cake (SSC), walnuts seed cake (WSC), lemon juice, sunflower oil, mustard, sugar, salt, gelatin and water. Five different samples were prepared: one control lab sample (M) containing only corn starch and the other ingredients (without SSC and WSC), two samples (SO1 and SO2) with 2 and 4% of SSC (without corn starch and WSC) and two samples (WO1 and WO2) with 2 and 4% of WSC (without corn starch and SSC). Also, an egg-free commercial mayonnaise (CM) was purchased and used for comparison. Physicochemical (fat, protein, moisture, ash, carbohydrate, water activity, emulsion stability, viscosity, density and color), textural (hardness, adhesiveness, springiness, cohesiveness, gumminess and chewiness), and sensory (aspect, color, texture/firmness, flavor, taste and acceptability) attributes of all samples were investigated. The results showed that carbohydrate content decreased in all four seed cakes samples compared to the control sample, while protein and fat content increased in all seed cakes samples, with the largest increases observed in the sesame seed cake samples. It was observed that the CM sample has a carbohydrate content value close to that obtained for the M sample, while the protein content has the lowest value for the CM sample compared to all samples analyzed. The stability of the emulsion gels increased from 70.73% (control sample) to 83.64% for the sample with 2% addition sesame seed cake and to 84.09% for the 2% walnut cake added, due to the coagulation capacity of the added cakes. The type and concentration of oil seeds cake added in emulsion gels affected their textural properties such as hardness, adhesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness. The hardness and adhesiveness of low-fat mayonnaise-like emulsion gels samples decreased with the addition of oil seeds cake. However, the addition of by-products improved the sensory properties of emulsion gels. This study provided a theoretical basis for the food industry's application of oilseed cakes, especially for the development of low-fat mayonnaise.

Serum Urate Levels and Ultrasound Characteristics of Carotid Atherosclerosis across Obesity Phenotypes

BACKGROUND

Existing evidence suggests a close link among high levels of serum urate (SU), obesity and carotid atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the interrelations between SU levels and carotid atherosclerosis in subjects with different obesity phenotypes.

METHODS

In this study, a total of 2076 subjects (mean age 48.1 ± 13.1 years; 1307 women) were recruited: 59 with general obesity, 616 with central obesity, 715 with mixed (general-central) obesity and 686 non-obese. Anthropometric measurements, vascular risk factors, blood biochemistry analysis (including SU levels), and carotid ultrasound were performed. Ultrasound assessment included evaluation of intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque characteristics, including number, total area and type (vulnerable vs. stable) of plaques.

RESULTS

After adjustment for potential confounders, the highest levels of SU were observed in subjects with mixed obesity, followed by subjects with central obesity, general obesity and the non-obese (309.4 ± 82.2 vs. 301.2 ± 73.1 vs. 272.9 ± 61.8 vs. 234.2 ± 59.8 μmol/L, respectively; F = 149.2, post hoc p < 0.001). Similarly, subjects with mixed and central obesity presented higher values of IMT compared to subjects with general obesity and the non-obese (0.68 ± 0.16 vs. 0.67 ± 0.16 vs. 0.62 ± 0.14 vs. 0.57 ± 0.13 mm, respectively; F = 54.2, post hoc p < 0.001). No difference in number, total area and type of plaques among obesity groups were attested (all p > 0.05). Significantly higher IMT values were observed in subjects with increased SU levels compared to subjects with normal SU levels (0.70 ± 0.10 vs. 0.62 ± 0.14 mm, p = 0.02) only within the central obesity group. Increasing levels of SU were associated with a higher frequency of increased IMT only in subjects with central obesity (OR 1.033, 95% CI 1.025-1.041). Similarly, SU levels yielded a satisfactory performance in detecting subjects with increased IMT (AUC 0.65, 95% CI 0.50-0.73, subjects with carotid plaques (0.62, 95% CI 0.55-0.68) and subjects with vulnerable plaque types (0.68, 0.59-0.76) only within the central obesity group.

CONCLUSIONS

Among the studied obesity types, the association between SU levels and markers of carotid atherosclerosis was of particular significance in subjects with central obesity.

Bilateral primary fallopian tube carcinoma: a case report

Primary cancer of the fallopian tube is a very rare tumor nowadays, accounting for approximately 0.14-0.3% of all tumors of the female genital tract. From these, bilateral primary cancer is found in less than 25% of all cases. We report here a case of bilateral primary cancer of the fallopian tube in a 48-year-old woman, associating uterine fibromatosis.

The Non-isothermal Degradation Process of some Polyethers and Azo-polyethers

The paper presents a non-isothermal kinetic study of the degradation process of some aromatic copolyethers containing a tetra-methylenic spacer. The polymers were synthesized using the phase transfer catalysis technique, starting from 1,4-dichlorobutane and various bisphenols (4,4'-dihidroxyazobenzene, 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl, bisphenol A and 2,7-dihydroxynaphthlene). Dynamic thermal analysis methods such as ATG, DTG and ATD were used. In order to work out the basic kinetic parameters and the reliance between activation energy and conversion degree, differential methods based on the `order reaction model' were applied and standard kinetic models were also used. The thermostability of the good samples up to 320°C was demonstrated. The degradation mechanism took place by successive reactions, controlled by a nucleation process influenced by the polymer molecular structure.

[Oculo-orbital manifestations of paranasal sinus diseases]

PURPOSE

The paper is a study of the oculo-orbital affections established by the sinusal lesions.

METHODS

The study is retrospective for five years and it is affected by the patients with ocular and orbital affections hospitalized in Ophthalmological Clinic. Were used the sheets of the patients and a collaboration with ORL Clinica, where the sinusal affections were surgical cured.

RESULTS

The ocular lesions caused by the sinusal inflammations were: acute uveitis, orbital cellulitis, unilateral exophthalmia without obvious inflammatory signs. The oculo-orbital signs were missing with oculo/sinusal treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Without treatment, the inflammatory or tumoral affections of the paranasal sinus, established oculo-orbital complications and the patients request the first time the oculist. It is necessary a collaboration between the ORL--ist and the oculist physician for of these cases.

[Adenocarcinoma of Moll's glands]

A Moll gland adenocarcinoma case is presented. The female patient was 47 years old and the affection was localized at the inferior eyelid. The histopathological exam shows the presence of intense eosinophil cells with gland-shape disposition. The histopathological exam was necessary both for the diagnosis and for the establishment of the degree of differentiation of the tumour, emphasizing the extension of infiltration localization for the neighbouring structures.

[A prevalence study of serum markers in hepatitis virus infection in the epidemiological anamnesis of the population]

Pandemic of the infections with hepatitis viruses is a priority in public health. In Romania, the very high acute and chronic morbidity by viral hepatitis demands the rapid implementation of a feasible preventive program. In the population of 5 districts from Transylvania we conducted a sero-epidemiological survey in order to find the real and specific characteristics of the prevalence of the infections with hepatitis viruses. The study was a cross-sectional study on the anamnestic presence of the infections in the population. The evolution of the cumulative prevalence of infections with HAV (74.3%) and HBV (31.7%) are proving a high endemoepidemicity. For the infections with HCV (4.9%) and HDV (1.7%) we observed an active process of endemicity. The high rate of persistent infections following HBV acute infections (19.1%) suggests a growing-up tendency of chronic hepatic diseases. In actual epidemiologic conditions, the rate of exposure to a potential hepatic viral infections in the population we studied could be 1.68 infections/person, during a period equal to life expectancy at birth.

[Postrubella secondary pigmentary retinopathy]

The paper presents the case of an 11 years-old child with secondary pigmentary retinopathy, atrial septal defect, facial dysmorphia with mandibular hypoplasia: all these malformations are part of the congenital rubeola syndrome. The patient has a twin brother presenting similar manifestations, but having a different expressivity.

[Normal and pathological conjunctival cytology]

The authors propose a cytological study of the conjunctiva, using the conjunctival print method, at patients with different (degenerative inflammatory and tumoral) ocular diseases. The conjunctival print method is less traumatic and contributes, together with the data supplied by the clinical examination, in elucidating the etiological diagnosis and orientating therapeutical conduct. Without representing a pathognomonic exam, the cytological study of the conjunctiva brings important diagnosis data, but also data concerning the evolution, so it is recommended to be done in the dynamics.

[Progressive external ophthalmoplegia and distal myopathy]

A patient, 58 years old, presents progressive blepharoptosis, in both eyes and external ophthalmoplegia. The general somatic examination, shows, at the level of the higher limbs, distal myopathy with muscular hypotony and articular deformities fibrosis and tendinous retraction. On examining the eye bottom we found colloid degeneration in the muscle region. Within the same family a ten-year-old nephew presents congenital ptosis. The muscular biopsy from the levator palpebrae shows muscular degenerative lesions with the reduction of nuclei and the proliferation of conjunctive tissue. It is shown that progressive external ophthalmoplegia must be interpreted as an ocular myopathy. The association with the distal myopathy at the level of the higher limbs, in the presented observation, upholds this pathogeny.

[Mesodermal dysgenesis of the anterior segment]

A patient is 18 years old; he presents Peters' anomaly, microcornea, the persisting of papillar membrana, congenital specifying lens for both eyes and atypical iridic coloboma for the right eye. The eye sight is diminished under the limit of practice usefulness for both eyes. The disease is thought to be a mesodermal dysgenesis of the anterior segment having some persisting fetal structures. The absence of such lesions within the same family pleads for the action of a teratogen factor that have belated action during the 4th-5th month of pregnancy.

[Brachymorphy and cataract]

A 43-years-old male patient presents pathological cataract at both eyes. The thorough somatic examination shows little size, with adiposity, short members with brachydactyly. It is discussed the presence of the pathological cataract as part of a mesodermal dysgenetic syndrome with brachymorphy and brachydactyly, different from the Weill-Marchesani syndrome.