Concentration of apricot juice using complex membrane technology

In this study, pressed apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) juice was concentrated using complex membrane technology with different module combinations: UF-RO-OD, UF-RO-MD, UF-NF-OD and UF-NF-MD. In case of the best combination a cross-flow polyethylene ultrafiltration membrane (UF) was applied for clarification, after which preconcentration was done using reverse osmosis (RO) with a polyamide membrane, and the final concentration was completed by osmotic distillation (OD) using a polypropylene module. The UF-RO-OD procedure resulted in a final concentrate with a 65-70 °Brix dry solid content and an excellent quality juice with high polyphenol content and high antioxidant capacity.Nanofiltration (NF) and membrane distillation (MD) were not proper economic solutions.The influence of certain operation parameters was examined experimentally. Temperatures of UF and RO were: 25, 30, and 35 °C, and of OD 25 °C. Recycle flow rates were: UF: 1, 1.5, and 2 m3 h−1; RO: 200, 400, and 600 l h−1; OD: 20, 30 and 40 l h−1. The flow rates in the module were expressed by the Reynolds number, as well. Based on preliminary experiments, the transmembrane pressures of UF and RO filtration were 4 bar and 50 bar, respectively. Each experimental run was performed three times. The following optimal operation parameters provided the lowest total cost: UF: 35 °C, 2 m3 h−1, 4 bar; RO: 35 °C, 600 l h−1, 50 bar; OD: 20, 30 and 40 l h−1; temperature 25 °C.In addition, experiments were performed for apricot juice concentration by evaporation, which technique is widely applied in the industry using vacuum and low temperature.For description the UF filtration, a dynamic model and regression by SPSS 14.0 statistics software were applied

Identifying risk factors for blood culture negative infective endocarditis: An international ID-IRI study

Background: Blood culture-negative endocarditis (BCNE) is a diagnostic challenge, therefore our objective was to pinpoint high-risk cohorts for BCNE. Methods: The study included adult patients with definite endocarditis. Data were collected via the Infectious Diseases International Research Initiative (ID-IRI). The study analysing one of the largest case series ever reported was conducted across 41 centers in 13 countries. We analysed the database to determine the predictors of BCNE using univariate and logistic regression analyses. Results: Blood cultures were negative in 101 (11.65 %) of 867 patients. We disclosed that as patients age, the likelihood of a negative blood culture significantly decreases (OR 0.975, 95 % CI 0.963–0.987, p < 0.001). Additionally, factors such as rheumatic heart disease (OR 2.036, 95 % CI 0.970–4.276, p = 0.049), aortic stenosis (OR 3.066, 95 % CI 1.564–6.010, p = 0.001), mitral regurgitation (OR 1.693, 95 % CI 1.012–2.833, p = 0.045), and prosthetic valves (OR 2.539, 95 % CI 1.599–4.031, p < 0.001) are associated with higher likelihoods of negative blood cultures. Our model can predict whether a patient falls into the culture-negative or culture-positive groups with a threshold of 0.104 (AUC±SE = 0.707 ± 0.027). The final model demonstrates a sensitivity of 70.3 % and a specificity of 57.0 %. Conclusion: Caution should be exercised when diagnosing endocarditis in patients with concurrent cardiac disorders, particularly in younger cases

Trace elements in hemodialysis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hemodialysis patients are at risk for deficiency of essential trace elements and excess of toxic trace elements, both of which can affect health. We conducted a systematic review to summarize existing literature on trace element status in hemodialysis patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>All studies which reported relevant data for chronic hemodialysis patients and a healthy control population were eligible, regardless of language or publication status. We included studies which measured at least one of the following elements in whole blood, serum, or plasma: antimony, arsenic, boron, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, fluorine, iodine, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, tellurium, thallium, vanadium, and zinc. We calculated differences between hemodialysis patients and controls using the differences in mean trace element level, divided by the pooled standard deviation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We identified 128 eligible studies. Available data suggested that levels of cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, and vanadium were higher and that levels of selenium, zinc and manganese were lower in hemodialysis patients, compared with controls. Pooled standard mean differences exceeded 0.8 standard deviation units (a large difference) higher than controls for cadmium, chromium, vanadium, and lower than controls for selenium, zinc, and manganese. No studies reported data on antimony, iodine, tellurium, and thallium concentrations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Average blood levels of biologically important trace elements were substantially different in hemodialysis patients, compared with healthy controls. Since both deficiency and excess of trace elements are potentially harmful yet amenable to therapy, the hypothesis that trace element status influences the risk of adverse clinical outcomes is worthy of investigation.</p

Relationship between total thiol status and thrombocytopenia in patients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever

PubMed ID: 23413704The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum total thiol level and total oxidant status (TOS) and thrombocytopenia among patients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF). Eighty-three subjects and 56 controls were enrolled in the study. Thiol levels were measured with the DTNB method and TOS was measured with the Erel's method among subjects and controls. Thiol levels were lower in subjects than controls and TOS levels were higher in subjects than controls. There was a significant correlation between total thiol levels and platelet counts (r=0.84, p<0.0001) among subjects. Further investigations are needed into the link between total thiol level and TOS and the pathogenesis of hemorrhage in CCHF

Pervaporation separation of ethylacetate-water mixtures through a crosslinked poly(vinylalcohol) membrane

The pervaporation separation of ethyl acetate-water mixtures was carried Out using poly(vinyl alcohol) membranes prepared by crosslinking with tartaric acid. Pervaporation experiments were conducted for 1-2.5 wt% water containing ethylacetate-water binary mixtures at 30 degrees C, 40 degrees C and 50 degrees C. It is observed that permeation rates increased and selectivity decreased with increasing content of water in the feed. As a result of variations in fluxes, with an increase in temperature, the selectivity increased for the 2 and 2.5 wt% water containing mixture, but decreased for the 1 wt% water content. However, the selectivity of the 1.5 wt% water containing mixture decreased slightly. The ethylacetate and water fluxes showed almost the same trend with both temperature and water concentration changes in the feed. Meanwhile, the variation amount between fluxes of ethylacetate at 40 degrees C and 50 degrees C was evidently less than those of fluxes at 30 degrees C and 40 degrees C. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Effect of postconditioning on intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting events in the early minutes of reperfusion in rats

45th Congress of the European-Society-for-Surgical-Research -- JUN 09-12, 2010 -- Geneva, SWITZERLANDSengul, Ilker/0000-0001-5217-0755WOS: 000281136400066…European Soc Surg Re