Low-Molecular-Weight Synthetic Antioxidants: Classification, Pharmacological Profile, Effectiveness and Trends.

Mounting research has been performed and published on natural antioxidants, more so than on synthetic ones, as key molecules that control oxidative damage and its pathway to disease. Since the discovery of vitamins, various fully synthetic or natural-identical compounds have been developed as stable small molecules translated into constantly active and completely controlled products which are widely exploited in the food and pharmaceutical industries. There is currently a debate within the literature about their mechanism of action, bioavailability, safety and real benefit for human health.

Reliability of a decision-tree model in predicting occupational lead poisoning in a group of highly exposed workers.

Objective: This study aimed to provide the toxicological profile of some lead-exposed workers and obtain a predictive model for lead poisoning.

Methods: Data regarding external and absorbed exposure were collected from 585 subjects employed in ten metallurgical production departments. Airborne lead concentration, blood lead level (BLL), cumulative blood lead index (CBLI), urine delta-aminolevulinic acid (DALA), age, workplace/section, exposure period, and whether reported lead poisoning as occupational disease were examined using ANOVA, and, post-ANOVA, Pearson correlation matrix, PCA (principal component analysis), decision-tree modeling, and logistic modeling.

Conventional and ultrasound-assisted extraction of anthocyanins from blackberry and sweet cherry cultivars.

Blackberry and sweet cherry are important plant foods rich in anthocyanins well-known for their pharmacological and antioxidant effects. The aim of the present paper was to comparatively investigate conventional and ultrasound-assisted extraction procedures in order to isolate an enriched crude anthocyanin extract from blackberry (Thornfree cultivar) and sweet cherry (Black Gold cultivar). Hydroethanolic solution and acidified ethanol were used to conventionally extract anthocyanins by a discontinuous process at 4 degreeC for 2/ 24 hours.

Immunodetection of added glycomacropeptide in milk formulas and milk powders.

The present study aimed the detection of fraudulent manipulation of milk powder with a low cost component--whey powder, by applying the immunochromatographic assay to identify glycomacropeptide. Five commercial milk powder samples of various brands from the national market were analyzed: lactose enriched milk powder type 26, two whole milk powders, vitamin enriched milk powder and full cream milk powder. Our results showed additional whey (1-2%) in 60% of the selected samples after casein removal by precipitation with 20% trichloracetic acid.