Retrogradation of Rice Flour Gel and Dough: Plasticization Effects of Some Food Additives

Certain food additives commonly used in flour products also have a plasticization effect on product shelf life regarding retrogradation. Sucrose, sorbitol, glycerol, citric acid, and acetic acid at 25, 25, 25, 0.5, and 0.5%, respectively, were added to two different starch gel systems: slurry (high‐amylose rice flour gel) and dough (waxy rice flour dough). All plasticizers increased gelatinization temperature, decreased enthalpy (ΔH), and promoted a more homogeneous system. Sucrose had the greatest effect on gelatinization increase. Rice dough was more susceptible to plasticizers, resulting in higher moisture content and a more amorphous structure. Retrogradation was highly positively correlated with amylose content, moisture retention, ratio of protons of water/starch, and previous occurrence of retrogradation. Moisture retention was increased in plasticizer‐added samples, especially waxy rice dough. Over a longer storage period, sucrose and sorbitol showed an antiplasticization effect in waxy rice flour dough, but glycerol and acid caused higher retrogradation in high‐amylose rice flour gel.     

Prevalence of autoantibodies that bind to kidney tissues in cats and association risk with antibodies to feline viral rhinotracheitis,calicivirus, and panleukopenia

BackgroundThe feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia (FVRCP) vaccine, prepared from viruses grown in the Crandell-Rees feline kidney cell line, can induce antibodies to cross-react with feline kidney tissues.ObjectivesThis study surveyed the prevalence of autoantibodies to feline kidney tissues and their association with the frequency of FVRCP vaccination.MethodsSerum samples and kidneys were collected from 156 live and 26 cadaveric cats. Antibodies that bind to kidney tissues and antibodies to the FVRCP antigen were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and kidney-bound antibody patterns were investigated by examining immunofluorescence. Proteins recognized by antibodies were identified by Western blot analysis.ResultsThe prevalences of autoantibodies that bind to kidney tissues in cats were 41% and 13% by ELISA and immunofluorescence, respectively. Kidney-bound antibodies were observed at interstitial cells, apical border, and cytoplasm of proximal and distal tubules; the antibodies were bound to proteins with molecular weights of 40, 47, 38, and 20 kDa. There was no direct link between vaccination and anti-kidney antibodies, but positive antibodies to kidney tissues were significantly associated with the anti-FVRCP antibody. The odds ratio or association in finding the autoantibody in cats with the antibody to FVRCP was 2.8 times higher than that in cats without the antibody to FVRCP.ConclusionsThese preliminary results demonstrate an association between anti-FVRCP and anti-cat kidney tissues. However, an increase in the risk of inducing kidney-bound antibodies by repeat vaccinations could not be shown directly. It will be interesting to expand the sample size and follow-up on whether these autoantibodies can lead to kidney function impairment.