Fermented batter characteristics in relation with the sensory properties of idli

Idli is one of the very popular fermented breakfast foods in the Indian subcontinent, prepared from a cereal-legume mix of rice (Oryza sativa) and black gram dhal (Phaseolus mungo). It is a natural microflora fermentation dominated by lactic acid bacteria and yeasts. Reduction in fermentation time, quality standardization and enhancement of the idli batter is of great commercial importance for large scale idli production and this can be potentially achieved though better understanding of idli batter fermentation. The present study documents how the dynamics of microbial growth influence the batter characteristics and idli qualities like firmness, cohesiveness and springiness. The results show that the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeast and mould (YM) counts influence the physico-chemical properties of idli batter and consequently the organoleptic qualities of prepared idli

<i>Limosilactobacillus reuteri</i> Fermented Brown Rice: A Product with Enhanced Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Potential

Oxidative stress has been postulated to play a role in several diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and stress-related disorders (anxiety/depression). Presently, natural plant-derived phytochemicals are an important tool in reducing metabolomic disorders or for avoiding the side effects of current medicinal therapies. Brown Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important part of Asian diets reported as a rich source of bioactive phytonutrients. In our present study, we have analyzed the effect of different lactic acid bacteria (LABs) fermentation on antioxidant properties and in the enhancement of bioactive constituents in Korean brown rice. Therefore, the antioxidant activities and phytochemical analysis were investigated for raw brown rice (BR) and different fermented brown rice (FBR). BR fermented with Limosilactobacillus reuteri, showed the highest antioxidant activities among all samples: DPPH (121.19 ± 1.0), ABTS (145.80 ± 0.99), and FRAP (171.89 ± 0.71) mg Trolox equiv./100 g, dry weight (DW). Total phenolic content (108.86 ± 0.63) mg GAE equiv./100 g, DW and total flavonoids content (86.79 ± 0.83) mg catechin equiv./100 g, DW was also observed highest in Limosilactobacillus reuteri FBR. Furthermore, phytochemical profiling using ultra-high-performance liquid tandem chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF/MS) and cell antioxidant assay (CAA) revealed L. reuteri FBR as a strong antioxidant with an abundance of bioactive compounds such as gamma-aminobutyric acid, coumarin, cinnamic acid, butanoic acid, ascorbic acid, nicotinic acid, and stearic acid. This study expanded current knowledge on the impact of fermentation leading to the enhancement of antioxidant capacity with an abundance of health-related bioactive compounds in BR. The results obtained may provide useful information on functional food production using fermented brown rice

Curcumin, Quercetin, Catechins and Metabolic Diseases: The Role of Gut Microbiota

Polyphenols (PPs) are the naturally occurring bioactive components in fruits and vegetables, and they are the most abundant antioxidant in the human diet. Studies are suggesting that ingestion of PPs might be helpful to ameliorate metabolic syndromes that may contribute in the prevention of several chronic disorders like diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and colon cancer. PPs have structural diversity which impacts their bioavailability as they accumulate in the large intestine and are extensively metabolized through gut microbiota (GM). Intestinal microbiota transforms PPs into their metabolites to make them bioactive. Interestingly, not only GM act on PPs to metabolize them but PPs also modulate the composition of GM. Thus, change in GM from pathogenic to beneficial ones may be helpful to ameliorate gut health and associated diseases. However, to overcome the low bioavailability of PPs, various approaches have been developed to improve their solubility and transportation through the gut. In this review, we present evidence supporting the structural changes that occur after metabolic reactions in PPs (curcumin, quercetin, and catechins) and their effect on GM composition that leads to improving overall gut health and helping to ameliorate metabolic disorders

Phytochemical profiling and cellular antioxidant efficacy of different rice varieties in colorectal adenocarcinoma cells exposed to oxidative stress

In the present study, white (Baegilmi), brown (hyunmi) and black (chalheugmi) Korean local rice varieties ethanol extracts were analyzed for in-vitro antioxidant assays (ABTS, FRAP and DPPH), cellular antioxidant activities (CAAs) and phenolic phytochemicals content. The highest antioxidant assays, phenolic, flavonoid and anthocyanins content were identified among the free fractions of black rice. Phenolic phytochemicals were detected and quantified using the ultra-high-performance liquid tandem chromatography quadrupole flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS2). Which indicated the richness of several phytochemicals like ascorbic acid, vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, catechin, epigallocatechin and quercetin in black rice than in other rice samples. The cellular antioxidant activities (CAA) of black rice were found equivalent to that of ascorbic acid, the standard employed in the assay. The CAAs of free fractions were as follows: white rice &lt; brown rice &lt; black rice. These findings are significant for enhancing human health through increased consumption of black and brown rice in the development of functional food products

Differentiation of Bacillus thuringiensis From Bacilluscereus Group Using a Unique Marker Based on Real-Time PCR

The efficiency of a novel biomarker (the transcriptional regulator, XRE) was tested and evaluated in differentiating Bacillus thuringiensis from Bacillus cereus group species in environmental and spiked samples based on PCR and real-time PCR. Totally 120 strains, representing two bacterial groups, B. cereus group and non-Bacillus sp., were used to evaluate the performance of XRE and crystal protein (cry2, an existing biomarker). Further, three diverse samples (kimbap, lettuce, and spinach) were inoculated with B. thuringiensis and prominent biomarkers XRE and cry2 were used as targets. Direct analysis of the detection results for the pure cultures of B. cereus group wild-types, references and type strains revealed an accuracy rate of 97.5% targeting XRE, and 83.3% targeting cry2. The real-time PCR was constructed with a R2-value of 0.993. For the artificially contaminated samples, a concentration of 103 CFU/g of B. thuringiensis in spiked food samples could be detected using real-time PCR targeting XRE. A good performance was obtained with XRE in discriminating B. thuringiensis from B. cereus groups, as well as detecting B. thuringiensis in spiked food samples with PCR or real-time PCR. Therefore, this real-time PCR targeting XRE can be used as a dependable and promising tool to identify B. thuringiensis in foods

Green microalgal strain Chlorella vulgaris isolated from industrial wastewater with remediation capacity

The present work primarily focused on isolation of Chlorella vulgaris from industrial wastewater, and use as an effective feedstock for producing renewable biodiesel. Post isolation, the lipid was extracted from Chlorella vulgaris using Soxhlet’s extraction method; and the extracted lipid was converted into algal oil biodiesel, which was then characterized using GC–MS spectral analysis. From the optimized reaction parameters: reaction temperature (45 ◦C), methanol/ C. vulgaris bio-oil ratio (4:1), catalyst concentration (300 mg) of synthesized lipase immobilized magnetic nanoparticles, and reaction time (6 h) under continuous stirring, the highest yield of C. vulgaris biodiesel was recorded as 87.6%. Besides, the lipase immobilized nano-bio catalyst used in the production process, was found to be highly efficient for about 5 to 6 cycles without any significant loss in the conversion efficiency. Finally, the evaluated fuel properties of the produced C. vulgaris biodiesel were in good agreement with ASTM D6751 standards.National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) 41950410573 China Postdoctoral Science Foundation 2019M663213 King Saud University RSP-2021/112Versión publicada - versión final del edito

Rapid multiplication of COVID Virus

Rapid multiplication of COVID Virus 63). Thisis a time-lapse video of a cell-culture infected with the novelcoronavirus. A single layer of kidney cells is visible at thestart of the footage, and slowly, black dots appear across thecell sheet. The Virus cannot be seen, but evidence of itspresence can be as infected cells that appear as black dots.As more cells become infected with Virus, they lift off thecell layer and appear as black dots. More and more infectedcells become visible. The video footage starts following40hrs of culture and finishes following 80hrs of incubation.Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (DohertyInstitute) scientists have successfully grown the 2019 novelcoronavirus (COVID-19) from a patient sample, providinglaboratories worldwide with crucial information to helpcombat the Virus</div

Optimising the management of dysplastic lesions in the oesophagus with photodynamic therapy

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Current trends in staging rectal cancer

Management of rectal cancer has evolved over the years. In this condition preoperative investigations assist in deciding the optimal treatment. The relation of the tumor edge to the circumferential margin (CRM) is an important factor in deciding the need for neoadjuvant treatment and determines the prognosis. Those with threatened or involved margins are offered long course chemoradiation to enable R0 surgical resection. Endoanal ultrasound (EUS) is useful for tumor (T) staging; hence EUS is a useful imaging modality for early rectal cancer. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is useful for assessing the mesorectum and the mesorectal fascia which has useful prognostic significance and for early identification of local recurrence. Computerized tomography (CT) of the chest, abdomen and pelvis is used to rule out distant metastasis. Identification of the malignant nodes using EUS, CT and MRI is based on the size, morphology and internal characteristics but has drawbacks. Most of the common imaging techniques are suboptimal for imaging following chemoradiation as they struggle to differentiate fibrotic changes and tumor. In this situation, EUS and MRI may provide complementary information to decide further treatment. Functional imaging using positron emission tomography (PET) is useful, particularly PET/CT fusion scans to identify areas of the functionally hot spots. In the current state, imaging has enabled the multidisciplinary team of surgeons, oncologists, radiologists and pathologists to decide on the patient centered management of rectal cancer. In future, functional imaging may play an active role in identifying patients with lymph node metastasis and those with residual and recurrent disease following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy