Determination of Lutein from Fruit and Vegetables Through an Alkaline Hydrolysis Extraction Method and HPLC Analysis.

A simple and rapid analytical method for the determination of lutein content, successfully used for cereal matrices, was evaluated in fruit and vegetables. The method involved the determination of lutein after an alkaline hydrolysis of the sample matrix, followed by extraction with solvents and analysis by normal phase HPLC. The optimized method was simple, precise, and accurate and it was characterized by few steps that could prevent loss of lutein and its degradation.

Degradation of carotenoids in apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) during drying process.

Carotenoids are natural compounds whose nutritional importance comes from the provitamin A activity of some of them and their protection against several serious human disorders. The degradation of carotenoids was investigated during apricot drying by microwave and convective hot-air at 60 and 70 °C. Seven carotenoids were identified: antheraxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, 13-cis-β-carotene, all-trans-β-carotene and 9-cis-β-carotene; among these, all-trans-β-carotene was found to be about 50 % of total carotenoids.

An innovative pre-ripening drying method to improve the quality of pasta filata cheeses.

In order to optimise the pre-ripening of pasta filata cheeses, two traditional Italian cheeses, Caciocavallo and Scamorza, were dried for different times at 15 °C, 50% relative humidity and airflow rate of 1000 m3/h, by using a pre-ripening plant. During ripening, microbiological, chemical-physical and sensorial analyses were applied to the products in order to evaluate the impact of the innovative pre-ripening technique used on the cheese characteristics. The used plant led to commercial time saving and to the standardisation of the process, making it unaffected by the effects of temperature and humidity variations, common in small industries.

Production of functional probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic ice creams.

In this work, 3 types of ice cream were produced: a probiotic ice cream produced by adding potentially probiotic microorganisms such as Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus; a prebiotic ice cream produced by adding inulin, a prebiotic substrate; and a synbiotic ice cream produced by adding probiotic microorganisms and inulin in combination. In addition to microbial counts, pH, acidity, and physical and functional properties of the ice creams were evaluated. The experimental ice creams preserved the probiotic bacteria and had counts of viable lactic acid bacteria after frozen storage that met the minimum required to achieve probiotic effects.

[Biomechanical aspects of the space gaining therapy according to Cetlin].

The non extraction technique according to N. Cetlin for the treatment of crowded and protrusive dentitions in class I and class II malocclusions is assessed. The intent of this article is to outline the approach to non extraction treatment with the following major clinical objectives: 1) space gaining in both maxillary and mandibular arches; 2) anchorage preservation throughout treatment and 3) intrusion of the maxillary incisors.

Computational and experimental investigation of the fields generated by a 1-3 piezocomposite transducer.

Large-scale three-dimensional numerical simulations using the finite-difference time domain technique are used to compute the continuous wave fields associated with a composite transducer. The interior of the transducer is made of a periodic array of square rods. This lattice causes elastic wave Bragg diffraction similar to electrons in a periodic lattice.

Oral pemphigus: long term behaviour and clinical response to treatment with deflazacort in sixteen cases.

Systemic corticosteroids remain the mainstay of therapy for pemphigus. Their use has transformed what was almost invariably a fatal illness into one whose mortality is now below 10%. Unfortunately, the high doses and prolonged administration of corticosteroids that are often needed to control the disease result in numerous side effects, many of which are serious or even life-threatening.

Oral lichen planus and HCV infection: a clinical evaluation of 263 cases.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection induces variable dermatologic manifestations. Our purpose was to determine whether there is an association between HCV infection and oral lichen planus (OLP).

Methods: Antibodies to HCV were determined in patients with OLP (263 patients; 156 women and 107 men, with a mean age of 55.

[The presence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in microinvasive in situ spinocellular carcinoma of the oral cavity. Preliminary report].

Background: The authors examined 15 cases of in situ and early oral SCC to detect the presence of HPV genoma.

Methods: They proceeded to in situ hybridization on paraffined specimens utilizing DNA-biotinylated fragments in commercial kit (Vyra Type in situ, Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, MD, USA).

Results: HPV-DNA was detected in 9 cases: 6/11, 16/18, 31/33/35 serotypes were detected.

Real-time parallel computation and visualization of ultrasonic pulses in solids.

Parallel processing has changed the way much computational physics is done. Areas such as condensed matter physics, fluid dynamics, and other fields are making use of massively parallel computers to solve immense and important problems in new ways. Simulating wave propagation is another area that has benefited through the use of parallel processing.

[Pathogenesis of periapical inflammatory processes. 2].

The Authors describe the aetiological mechanisms of periapical diseases. They deal with immunologic reactions in inflammation with particular features on the lymphocytic and macrophagic products and their role in the periapical reactions. Furthermore, they describe the pathogenesis of bone resorption, a common evolution of the chronic periapical disease.

[Pathogenesis of periapical inflammatory processes].

The Authors, after a short description of the anatomy of the root canal, deal with the aetiological factors of the periapical pathology, acute and chronic. They examine the pathogenetic mechanisms of acute flogistic process of the periapical tissue and consider the principal mediators involved in the tissue lesion.

[Burning mouth syndrome].

The Authors describe the Burning Mouth Syndrome or B. M. S.

Multiparameter system for investigation of the effects of high-power ultrasound on metals.

A multiparameter system has been developed which, for the first time, permits simultaneous measurement of sufficient quantities to test all of the proposed mechanisms for the influence of high-power ultrasound on metal specimens. Results of measurements using this system give new insight into the mechanical and thermal processes involved. Data are presented which show typical results obtained during tensile elongation of polycrystalline and single-crystal aluminum specimens.