Hygroscopic behavior of lyophilized acerola pulp powder

ABSTRACT Powder products are characterized by their practicality and long life. However, fruit powders have high hygroscopicity and tend to agglomerate due to its hydrophilic nature. The isotherms of equilibrium moisture content apply to the study of dehydrated food preservation potential. Acerola is a nutritionally rich fruit, with great economic and industrial potential. The objective of this study was to analyse acerola powder adsorption isotherms obtained by lyophilization and characterize the powder obtained from lyophilized acerola pulp. Analysis of hygroscopicity, solubility and degree of caking were performed. Isotherms were represented by the mathematical models of GAB, BET, Henderson and Oswin, at temperatures of 25, 35 and 45 °C. According to the results, the obtained powder showed hygroscopicity of 5.96 g of absorbed water 100g-1 of solids, solubility of 95.08% and caking of 14.12%. The BET model showed the best fit to the adsorption isotherms of the acerola pulp powder obtained by lyophilization. The obtained isotherm was of type III, with a "J" shape. There was an inversion of the effect of temperature on the isotherms of acerola powders

Melorheostosis of the thumb and trapezium bone

Melorheostosis of the hand is rare. We report a 28-year-old woman with persistent pain associated with a slowly growing mass on the dorsum of the right thumb. The radiographs, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging were used to examine characteristic of melorheostosis involving the trapezium bone, first metacarpal, and proximal phalange. The lesions underwent a surgical debulking of the hyperostotic cortex and a cortical fenestration

Hydrogen-Peroxide as a Potent Activator of T-Lymphocyte Functions

During inflammatory processes infiltrating cells produce large amounts of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI). Increasing evidence suggests that ROI besides being cytotoxic may act as important mediators influencing various cellular and immunological processes. In this study, we have investigated the effects of hydrogen peroxide on several aspects of lymphocyte activation. In ESb-L T lymphoma cells, micromolar concentrations of hydrogen peroxide rapidly induced activation of the transcription factor NF-kappa B, whereas DNA-binding activity of the transcription factor AP-1 was virtually not affected. In addition, hydrogen peroxide induced early gene expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and the IL-2 receptor alpha chain. The stimulation of IL-2 expression was found to be conferred by a kappa B-like cis-regulatory region within the IL-2 gene promoter. In contrast to these activating effects, addition of hydrogen peroxide was largely inhibitory on cell proliferation which is consistent with a general requirement of thiol compounds for lymphocyte proliferation. However, hydrogen peroxide significantly increased T cell proliferation when applied for a short period under reducing conditions. These data indicate that ROI may act as an important competence signal in T lymphocytes inducing early gene expression as well as cell proliferation

Reproductive pattern comparison of Uca thayeri Rathbun, 1900 and U. uruguayensis Nobili, 1901 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Ocypodidae)

Ovigerous females of Uca thayeri and U. uruguayensis were used to achieve and compare their reproductive pattern. The females mean size was 6.6 &plusmn; 0.8mm for U. uruguayensis and 17.3&plusmn; 4.4mm for U. thayeri. The mean fecundity obtained for U. uruguayensis was 1883 &plusmn; 490 eggs (N = 27) and for U. thayeri was 31068 &plusmn; 11186 eggs (N = 31). The differences observed in reproductive pattern of U. thayeri and U. uruguayensis suggest an adaptive strategy by each species: U. thayeri presented seasonal reproduction with a pronounced intensity from January to March and higher fecundity, while U. uruguayensis reproduction was continuous all year round, but with lower fecundity.<br>Fêmeas ovígeras de U. thayeri e de U. uruguayensis foram utilizadas para se avaliar e comparar o padrão reprodutivo. O tamanho médio das fêmeas foi de 6,6 &plusmn; 0,8mm para U. uruguayensis, variando de 17,3 &plusmn; 4,4mm para U. thayeri. A fecundidade média obtida para U. uruguayensis foi 1883 &plusmn; 490 ovos (N = 27) e para U. thayeri de 31068 &plusmn; 11185 ovos (N = 31). As diferenças observadas no padrão reprodutivo de U. thayeri e U. uruguayensis sugerem estratégias adaptativas: U. thayeri apresenta uma reprodução sazonal, com atividade pronunciada de janeiro a março e alta fecundidade, enquanto U. uruguayensis reproduz-se continuamente, mas com proles menores