Stability study of a sulfadimidine-containing medicated premix and its mixture with farm feed

The objective of this paper was to study the stability of a medicated premix and a medicated farm feed containing sulfadimidine as the active ingredient. The medicated premix is supplied as powdered form and administered orally after mixing with animal feed. The sulfadimidine analytical method described in United States Pharmacopoeia 23 cannot be used to carry out the stability study because of its lack of specificity for different degradation products. Therefore, a high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed to assay sulfadimidine. This method was optimized and validated for the stability study. According to International Committee Harmonization (ICH) guidelines, the samples were stored under long-term testing and accelerated conditions for the stability study of the premix and the medicated farm feed. Sulfadimidine degradation was not detected in either form under any of the conditions studied.     

Reaction of B. cereus bacteria and peroxidase enzymes under pressures >400 MPa.

It is known that B. cereus (Gram-positive bacteria) and peroxidase enzymes are resistant to pressures of approximately 400 MPa in fruit and vegetable products among others. The aim of the present work is to have knowledge about their behavior when using pressures >400 MPa without other combined treatments. The results showed that B. cereus was not inactivated at pressures of 1000 MPa for 15 min at 20 degrees C. In peroxidase enzymes the results remained similar and the pressure of 1000 MPa for 30 min was not enough to inactivate them. The apple cell structure at these high-pressure levels revealed that it changed and the cells were less cemented. The treated apple presented a translucent aspect, and some fluids migrated from the inside to the outside of the cell.     

Evidence of the glycation and denaturation of LTP1 during the malting and brewing process

The influence of malting and brewing processes on the chemical and structural modifications occurring on LTP1 was investigated by mass spectrometry and circular dichroism. Proteins were first purified from malt, and samples were collected at various steps of beer processing performed on two barley cultivars. The levels of LTP1 found in malt were not significantly different from the amounts in barley seed. However, in malt, both LTP1b, a post-translational form of LTP1, and a third isoform named LTP1c were isolated. Moreover, both of these proteins were found to be heterogeneously glycated but still exhibited an alpha-helix structure. Both glycated LTP1 and LTP1b were recovered during mashing. It was also shown that glycated LTP1 was unfolded during heat treatment of wort boiling, which is in agreement with the denatured form previously isolated from beer.     

Carbon-14 biolabeling of (+)-catechin and proanthocyanidin oligomers in willow tree cuttings.

Proanthocyanidin polymers, oligomers, and the structurally related monomer (+)-catechin were labeled by incorporation of radioactive precursors in shoots of willow tree (Salix caprea L.). [1-(14)C]-Acetate and [U-(14)C]-phenylalanine precursors were fed through the cut stems or petioles of leaves. Optimization of several parameters such as the nature and origin of the plant material, leaf maturity, nature, and quantity of radioactive precursor applied and the duration of metabolism led to incorporation yields of 3.2% and to specific activities of 500 microCi/g. Detailed characterization of the products (polymerization degree, procyanidin/prodelphinidin ratio, specific activities) and purification by chromatography are reported. Some sugars bound to radiolabeled proanthocyanidin polymers were removed by enzymic treatment with a mixture of glycosidases. A radioactive purity close to 100% and specific activities suitable for bioavailability studies were obtained.     

Classification of Peruvian highland maize races using plant traits

The maize of Latin America, with its enormous diversity, has played an important role in the development of modern maize cultivars of the American continent. Peruvian highland maize shows a high degree of variation stemming from its history of cultivation by Andean farmers. Multivariate statistical methods for classifying accessions have become powerful tools for classifying genetic resources conservation and the formation of core subsets. This study has two objectives: (1) to use a numerical classification strategy for classifying eight Peruvian highland races of maize based on six vegetative traits evaluated in two years and (2) to compare this classification with the existing racial classification. The numerical classification maintained the main structure of the eight races, but reclassified parts of the races into new groups (Gi). The new groups are more separated and well defined with a decreasing accession within group × environment interaction. Most of the accessions from G1 are from Cusco Gigante, all of the accessions from G3 (except one) are from Confite Morocho, and all of the accessions from G7 are from Chullpi. Group G2 has four accessions from Huayleño and four accessions from Paro, whereas G4 has four accessions from Huayleño and five accessions from San Geronimo. Group G5 has accessions from four races, and G6 and G8 formed small groups with two and one accession each, respectively. These groups can be used for forming core subsets for the purpose of germplasm enhancement and assembling gene pools for further breeding.     

Alginate and chitosan functionalization for micronutrient encapsulation

A new method for encapsulation of micronutrients was successfully developed. The encapsulation matrix consisted of two polymers (alginate and chitosan), which were functionalized by acylation with palmitoyl chloride. The structural modifications of polymers were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Beads were formed by ionic gelation, and their mechanical and physical characteristics (puncture strength and deformation, viscoelasticity, water vapor permeability, and rate of gel swelling) were evaluated using beads or films made of bead-forming solutions. Functionalization increased elasticity and water impermeability of polymer films. Stability of selected encapsulated micronutrients (ferrous fumarate, ascorbic acid, and beta-carotene) was also evaluated under two levels of temperature (23 and 45 degrees C) and relative humidity (56 and 100%) for 6 months. Encapsulation strongly increased the stability of micronutrients. No difference was observed in the encapsulated micronutrients' stability between nonfunctionalized and functionalized beads. Finally, a release study in gastrointestinal media was conducted. Results showed that beads were not susceptible to enzymatic and acidic attacks during stomach transit. This research demonstrates the potential of a new encapsulation method to protect bioactive molecules from temperature, moisture, and acidic conditions.     

Prediction chemical composition and alveograph parameters on wheat by near-infrared transmittance spectroscopy

Moisture, protein, wet gluten, dry gluten, and alveograph parameters (W, P, and P/L) of whole wheat grown in different countries around the world were analyzed using near infrared (NIR) transmittance spectroscopy. Modified partial least squares on NIR spectra (850-1048.2 nm) were developed for each constituent or physical property. The best models were obtained for protein, moisture, wet gluten, and dry gluten with r(2) = 0.99, 0.99, 0.95, and 0.96, respectively. Initial alveograph NIR models proposed for all wheat samples did not perform well. However, when wheat samples were divided in two groups depending on W (deformation energy) values, NIR models were highly improved, showing enough prediction accuracy for screening wheat at the receiving stage at mills or elevators.     

Occurrence of PCBr in Ambient Air and Surface Soil in an Urban Site of Madrid

This article describes the temperature dependence of sixteen PCBs in ambient air from the relationship ln(C) = m + (1000/T) + b and the Clausius-Clapeyron equation from data obtained at an open urban area of Madrid. The study was applied to predice long/short range transport influence as PCB sources in a typical semi-urban ambient without the influence of industrialised or contaminated sites around. The present study also relate surface soil/ambient air data to characterise soil/air cycled seasonal behaviour in the observation site. Regarding both compartments, a comparison was done calculating fugacity quotients from one full year data.     

Role of aldehydic derivatives in the condensation of phenolic compounds with emphasis on the sensorial properties of fruit-derived foods

The reactions between (epi)catechin, mavidin 3-O-glucoside, and some aldehydes were investigated by LC/DAD and LC/ESI-MS analysis. The obtained results showed that the acetaldehyde-mediated condensation occurred more generally and glyoxylic acid, furfural, and 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF) react in the same way in the first stages of the reactions. In terms of reactivity, reactions were faster with acetaldehyde than with glyoxylic acid, furfural, or HMF, where the reactions were slower. In the case of acetaldehyde, the obtained purple derivatives were more predominant and stable than the colorless adducts and no xanthylium salt was detected. Interactions involving glyoxylic acid yield purple adducts, which were obtained in small amount compared to the colorless ones. The latter were shown to proceed to more polymerized and yellowish derivatives. Finally, in the case of furfural and HMF, purple compounds involving flavanol and anthocyanin units were detected, and colorless compounds were shown to be predominant and to yield yellowish xanthylium salts.