Extraction and physicochemical characterization of broiler (Gallus gallus domesticus) skin gelatin compared to commercial bovine gelatin

Gelatin was extracted from broiler (Gallus gallus domesticus) skins and analyzed to compare its physicochemical properties with those of commercial bovine gelatin. The average yield of broiler skin gelatin was 6.5% on a wet weight basis. Broiler skin gelatin had more α1-and α2-chains than β-chain and contained high molecular weight (γ-chain) polymers. Glycine was the dominant amino acid in broiler skin gelatin (20.26%), followed by proline (Pro) (15.12%) then hydroxyproline (Hyp) (11.36%). Compared to commercial bovine gelatin, broiler skin gelatin had less total imino acids (Pro and Hyp) but a higher (33.65 vs. 31.38°C) melting temperature (P < 0.01). The differences in physical properties between the broiler and commercial bovine gelatins appeared to be associated with differences in their amino acid composition and molecular weight distribution. The sensory evaluation results revealed that broiler skin gelatin could be a potential alternative to commercial bovine gelatin, useful in various food products.

Investigation of histopathological effects after intra-arterial sugammadex injection in an experimental animal model

PURPOSE

Intra-arterial injection of medications are related to mortality and morbidity. It was aimed to investigate the histopathological effects caused by two different intra-arterial doses of sugammadex, a new selective relaxant binding agent used to reverse the effects of steroidal systemic muscle relaxants used in surgeries carried out under general anesthesia.

METHODS

A total of 15 rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups. The control group was given 1 mL saline bolus into the central artery of the ear. The other two groups (Group Sgdx2 and group Sgdx16) were given 2 and 16 mg/kg sugammadex, respectively, intra-arterially.

RESULTS

In control group, histopathological evaluation was in normal limits. The cross-sections belonging to Group Sgdx2 did not have any significant pathological change compared with control group (p > 0.05). Edema and single-cell necrosis were significantly higher in Group Sgdx16 when compared to control group (p < 0.05). In comparison to Group Sgdx2, single-cell necrosis was significantly higher in Group Sgdx16 (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Being broadly used in anesthesia, sugammadex should be administered with care because when given by intra-arterial route it may cause tissue damage and tissue loss and the patients' arteries should be carefully checked.

The effect of fermentation and storage on free amino acids of tarhana

A study on the evaluation of free amino acids (FAAs) in tarhana during fermentation and storage was performed. The FAAs in tarhana were determined by RP-HPLC with a fluorescence detector following extraction from the sample and derivatization with dansyl chloride. The amount of FAAs increased significantly (p<0.01) during fermentation and storage. The increase in the content of total free amino acids (TFAAs) and total free essential amino acids (TFEAAs) of fermented tarhana, which was used with yogurt bacteria and baker's yeast, was 57% and 93%, respectively. The amino acids primarily responsible for the increase were valine and tryptophan followed by methionine, alanine, isoleucine + leucine, phenylalanine, arginine, proline, and lysine. The TFAA content of tarhana at the end of fermentation was found to be 8% of total protein (16.8%). The ratio of TFEAAs/TFAAs was initially 0.46 and increased to 0.57 at the end of fermentation. The TFAA content of wet tarhanas was higher than that of the dry counterpart. It was found that the TFAA content of dry tarhana was 25% lower than the fresh wet tarhana (FWT), at the end of fermentation. It was concluded that the decrease in FAAs in dry tarhana was due to the Maillard reaction and partial degradation of FAAs during dehydration.

Thorax deformity, joint hypermobility, and anxiety disorders

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between thorax deformities, panic disorder, and joint hypermobility

METHODS

The study includes 52 males diagnosed with thorax deformity, and 40 healthy male controls without thorax deformity, in Tatvan Bitlis and Isparta, Turkey. The study was carried out from 2004 to 2006. The teleradiographic and thoracic lateral images of the subjects were evaluated to obtain the Beighton scores; subjects' psychiatric conditions were evaluated using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-1), and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) was applied in order to determine the anxiety levels. Both the subjects and controls were compared in sociodemographic, anxiety levels, and joint mobility levels. In addition, males with joint hypermobility and thorax deformity were compared to the group with thorax deformity without joint hypermobility.

RESULTS

A significant difference in HAM-A scores was found between the groups with thorax deformity and without. In addition, 21 subjects with thorax deformity met the joint hypermobility criteria in the group with thorax deformity, and 7 subjects without thorax deformity met the joint hypermobility criteria in the group without thorax deformity, according to Beighton scoring. The Beighton scores of the subjects with thorax deformity were significantly different from those of the group without deformity. Additionally, anxiety scores of the males with thorax deformity and joint hypermobility were found higher than males with thorax deformity without joint hypermobility.

CONCLUSION

Anxiety disorders, particularly panic disorder, have a significantly higher distribution in male subjects with thorax deformity compared to the healthy control group. In addition, the anxiety level of males with thorax deformity and joint hypermobility is higher than males with thorax deformity without joint hypermobility.

Persistent serpentine supravenous hyperpigmented eruption associated with docetaxel

Various mucocutaneous reactions have been reported with the use of systemic docetaxel. We describe a 47-year-old man who developed a persistent serpentine supravenous hyperpigmented eruption (PSSHE), beginning at the site of docetaxel injection and spreading along the superficial venous network in the anterior aspect of the right forearm and distal arm. The eruption occurred after the first infusion of docetaxel following insufficient venous washing. A second infusion was administered through a vein in the other forearm, but this time, abundant venous washing was performed and a similar eruption did not occur. To our knowledge, this is the second report of docetaxel-induced supravenous discoloration and we discussed the terminology and mechanism of this unique reaction.