Ionic Liquid-Assisted Selective Extraction and Partitioning of Biomolecules from Macroalgae.

Macroalgae are a promising feedstock for several industries due to their large content of proteins and carbohydrates and the high biomass productivities. A novel extraction and fractionation concept based on ionic liquids (ILs) using as model organism is presented. Biomolecules are first extracted by means of IL-assisted mechanical shear, followed by two-phase partitioning or ultrafiltration in order to fractionate proteins and carbohydrates and to recover the IL.

Selective and energy efficient extraction of functional proteins from microalgae for food applications.

The use of a single controlled bead milling step of the microalga Tetraselmis suecica resulted in a soluble fraction, rich in functional proteins. This was achieved by fine-tuning the processing time, thereby exploiting the difference in rates of protein and carbohydrate release during milling. Soluble proteins were extracted under mild conditions -room temperature, no addition of chemicals, pH 6.

Energy efficient bead milling of microalgae: Effect of bead size on disintegration and release of proteins and carbohydrates.

The disintegration of three industry relevant algae (Chlorella vulgaris, Neochloris oleoabundans and Tetraselmis suecica) was studied in a lab scale bead mill at different bead sizes (0.3-1mm). Cell disintegration, proteins and carbohydrates released into the water phase followed a first order kinetics.

[Biochemical, serological and virologic follow-up in patients with chronic untreated hepatitis B virus infection: inactive carrier, chronic HBeAg-negative and immune-tolerant hepatitis].

Biochemical, serological and virologic follow-up is necessary for patients with chronic untreated HBV infection while the infection persists. For patients who are inactive carriers, follow-up helps detect reactivation or loss of HBsAg. After the loss of HBsAg, follow-up is not recommended unless the patient requires immunosuppressive therapy.

[Drugs treatment of hepatitis B].

Objective: To define the role of those drugs available for hepatitis B treatment and analyse current treatment guides prepared by the leading scientific societies in the field.

Methods: Bibliographic searches were carried out in the databases PubMed and EMBASE, using the search word <>, limited by <> plus <>, <> or <>, within the period 1991-2007.

Results: Six drugs are currently available: interferon alpha (conventional or pegylated), lamivudine, adefovir, entecavir and telbivudine.

Acute hepatitis due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection without lung involvement in adult patients.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae has been associated with cholestatic hepatitis in children, while in adults, the lack of liver involvement has been considered as a typical feature of M. pneumoniae infection. Controversial data have been reported about the possibility of liver involvement with M.

[Sarcoidosis following combined ribavirin and interferon therapy: a case report and review of the literature].

Treatment of active chronic viral hepatitis type C with interferon alpha has proved effective and therefore its use is being extended to a large number of patients. Common side effects include respiratory manifestations. One side effect attributable to the immunomodulatory effect of interferon is the possible triggering or exacerbation of systemic or cutaneous sarcoidosis.

Antiphospholipid antibodies are related to portal vein thrombosis in patients with liver cirrhosis.

The pathogenesis of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in cirrhotic liver patients is not known. PVT has been related to liver dysfunction, neoplasm, hemodynamic factors, and hypercoagulability states. PVT has been reported in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome without liver cirrhosis.

Lens culinaris, Phaseolus vulgaris and vicia faba lectins specifically trigger IL-8 production by the human colon carcinoma cell line CACO-2.

Cultured Caco-2 cells were stimulated with Lens culinaris, Phaseolus vulgarisandVicia fabalectins. The production of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1 was measured by ELISA and RT-PCR. IL-8 production appeared to be specifically triggered upon stimulation with all three lectins used, since none of the other cytokines tested were produced.

[Prevalence and clinical significance of antiphospholipid antibodies in chronic hepatitis C].

Background: To know the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies in chronic hepatitis C and their relationship with disease progression.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-eight patients with chronic hepatitis C and 93 healthy controls were enrolled up. We determined platelets, ALT, gamma GT, RNAHCV in serum and liver and non-organ specific antibodies, grade and stage in liver biopsy, risk factors, duration of disease and alcohol intake were also included.

[Anti-Sp100 and anti-Gp210 in the diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis in patients with autoimmune cholangitis].

We describe 2 women with features of autoimmune cholangitis. Serum biochemical studies showed cholestasis and increased immunoglobulin M with negative antimitochondrial antibodies. Markers of hepatitis B and C viruses were absent.

[Influence of pregnancy in chronic hepatitis C virus infection].

Background: There is scarce information about the influence of pregnancy in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection is little know.

Patients And Methods: 6,556 pregnant women were screened for anti-HCV (ELISA II). We determine ALT, HCV-RNA by PCR (Amplicor Roche) and HCV viraemia (Amplicor-HCV-Monitor Roche) in the third trimester of pregnancy and after 6 months of delivery.

Sarcoidosis, sclerosing cholangitis, and chronic atrophic autoimmune gastritis: a case of infiltrative sclerosing cholangitis.

We report a patient in whom sarcoidosis coexisted with sclerosing cholangitis and chronic atrophic autoimmune gastritis. There are some autoimmune diseases associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis; the difference between sarcoidosis and all other autoimmune diseases associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis is the ability of the former to damage the biliary tree. Moreover, when sarcoidosis behaves like cholestasis it can damage the biliary tree, mimicking primary sclerosing cholangitis, with high immunoglobulin M but without inflammatory bowel disease and p-ANCAs negative.