Sucrose in the concentrated solution or the supercooled “state” : a review of caramelisation reactions and physical behaviour

Sucrose is probably one of the most studied molecules by food scientists, since it plays an important role as an ingredient or preserving agent in many formulations and technological processes. When sucrose is present in a product with a concentration near or greater than the saturation point—i.e. in the supercooled state—it possesses high potentialities for the food industry in areas as different as pastry industry, dairy and frozen desserts or films and coatings production. This paper presents a review on critical issues and research on highly concentrated sucrose solutions—mainly, on sucrose thermal degradation and relaxation behaviour in such solutions. The reviewed works allow identifying several issues with great potential for contributing to significant advances in Food Science and Technology.Authors are grateful for the valuable discussions with Teresa S. Brandao and Rosiane Lopes da Cunha during this research. Author M. A. C. Quintas acknowledges the financial support of her research by FCT grant SFRH/BPD/41715/2007

Muscular cystic hydatidosis: case report

BACKGROUND: Hydatidosis is a zoonosis caused by Echinococcus granulosus, and ingesting eggs released through the faeces from infected dogs infects humans. The location of the hydatid cysts is mostly hepatic and/or pulmonary, whereas musculoskeletal hydatidosis is very rare. CASE PRESENTATION: We report an unusual case of primary muscular hydatidosis in proximity of the big adductor in a young Sicilian man. The patient, 34 years old, was admitted to the Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases for ultrasonographic detection, with successive confirmation by magnetic resonance imaging, of an ovular mass (13 × 8 cm) in the big adductor of the left thigh, cyst-like, and containing several small cystic formations. Serological tests for hydatidosis gave negative results. A second drawing of blood was done 10 days after the first one and showed an increase in the antibody titer for hydatidosis. The patient was submitted to surgical excision of the lesion with perioperatory prophylaxis with albendazole. The histopathological examination of the bioptic material was not diriment in the diagnosis, therefore further tests were performed: additional serological tests for hydatidosis for the evaluation of IgE and IgG serotype (Western Blot and REAST), and molecular analysis of the excised material. These more specific serological tests gave positive results for hydatidosis, and the sequencing of the polymerase chain reaction products from the cyst evidenced E. granulosus DNA, genotype G1. Any post-surgery complications was observed during 6 following months. CONCLUSION: Cystic hydatidosis should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of any cystic mass, regardless of its location, also in epidemiological contests less suggestive of the disease. The diagnosis should be achieved by taking into consideration the clinical aspects, the epidemiology of the disease, the imaging and immunological tests but, as demonstrated in this case, without neglecting the numerous possibilities offered by new serological devices and modern day molecular biology techniques

Protective effect of allopurinol on experimental ovarian ischemia-reperfusion injury model of rats

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of allopurinol on an experimentally induced ovarian ischemia-reperfusion model. STUDY DESIGN: Female rats in the estrous cycle (n=32) were divided into sham, ischemia, ischemia-reperfusion, and ischemia-reperfusion+allopurinol-treated groups. In the sham group the ovaries were opened and closed. In the ischemia group the ovaries were sealed for 2-hour ischemia. In the ischemia-reperfusion group, after ischemia, 2.5 hours of reperfusion was done. In the ischemia-reperfusion+allopurinol group, 3 hours after ischemia-reperfusion, 50 mg/kg allopurinol was administered. RESULTS: In the allopurinol-administered group, MDA levels were decreased. GSH values were decreased in the ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion group but increased in the allopurinol-treated group as compared to the control group. Caspase-3 expression was positive in enlarged corpus luteum cells. sFlt-1 expression was positive in vascular endothelial cells between preantral and antral follicles and some macrophages but negative in granular cells. In the ischemia group, sFlt-1 expression was positive in degenerative preantral and antral follicle cells, endothelial cells, and intense inflammatory cells. In the ischemia-reperfusion group, increased sFlt-1 expression was observed in luteal cells of the corpus luteum, vascular endothelial, and inflammatory cells. In the ischemia-reperfusion+allopurinol group, granular cells and corpus luteum cells showed decreased sFlt-1 expression, while being positive in vascular endothelial cells. CONCLUSION: Allopurinol inhibits development of apoptosis and reduces oxidative load in the ischemia-reperfusion stage, thus protecting the ovary from damage. © Science Printers and Publishers, Inc

Protective effect of allopurinol on experimental ovarian ischemia-reperfusion injury model of rats

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of allopurinol on an experimentally induced ovarian ischemia-reperfusion model. STUDY DESIGN: Female rats in the estrous cycle (n=32) were divided into sham, ischemia, ischemia-reperfusion, and ischemia-reperfusion+allopurinol-treated groups. In the sham group the ovaries were opened and closed. In the ischemia group the ovaries were sealed for 2-hour ischemia. In the ischemia-reperfusion group, after ischemia, 2.5 hours of reperfusion was done. In the ischemia-reperfusion+allopurinol group, 3 hours after ischemia-reperfusion, 50 mg/kg allopurinol was administered. RESULTS: In the allopurinol-administered group, MDA levels were decreased. GSH values were decreased in the ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion group but increased in the allopurinol-treated group as compared to the control group. Caspase-3 expression was positive in enlarged corpus luteum cells. sFlt-1 expression was positive in vascular endothelial cells between preantral and antral follicles and some macrophages but negative in granular cells. In the ischemia group, sFlt-1 expression was positive in degenerative preantral and antral follicle cells, endothelial cells, and intense inflammatory cells. In the ischemia-reperfusion group, increased sFlt-1 expression was observed in luteal cells of the corpus luteum, vascular endothelial, and inflammatory cells. In the ischemia-reperfusion+allopurinol group, granular cells and corpus luteum cells showed decreased sFlt-1 expression, while being positive in vascular endothelial cells. CONCLUSION: Allopurinol inhibits development of apoptosis and reduces oxidative load in the ischemia-reperfusion stage, thus protecting the ovary from damage. © Science Printers and Publishers, Inc

A previously healthy 77-year-old man with a painful mass in the calf for two months

PubMedID: 17582916[No abstract available

A new technique of subtrochanteric shortening in total hip replacement for crowe type 3 to 4 dysplasia of the hip

PubMedID: 19577893A new technique of femoral fixation that uses a transverse osteotomy for subtrochanteric shortening and derotation in total hip arthroplasty for Crowe type 3 to 4 dysplasia of the hip is described. This series included 21 cases in 12 women and 2 men, with a mean age of 42.3 years. Follow-up averaged 41.2 months. Bone pegs prepared from the resected femoral segment were seated in the medullary canal around the stem for femoral fixation. Merle d'Aubigné scores for pain, motion, and walking improved from 2.9, 4.4, and 3.7 to 5.2, 5.4, and 5.5, respectively. Radiographic union was detected within 12 ± 3.4 (range, 6-24) weeks in all cases. Complications were early dislocation in 2 cases. This technique allows correction of anteversion, provides excellent rotational stability, and eliminates the need for additional osteosynthesis regardless of the stem design. © 2010 Elsevier Inc