Factors affecting emulsion stability and quality of oil recovered from enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction of soybeans

The objectives of the present study were to assess how the stability of the emulsion recovered from aqueous extraction processing of soybeans was affected by characteristics of the starting material and extraction and demulsification conditions. Adding endopeptidase Protex 6L during enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction processing (EAEP) of extruded soybean flakes was vital to obtaining emulsions that were easily demulsified with enzymes. Adding salt (up to 1.5 mM NaCl or MgCl(2)) during extraction and storing extruded flakes before extraction at 4 and 30 degrees C for up to 3 months did not affect the stabilities of emulsions recovered from EAEP of soy flour, flakes and extruded flakes. After demulsification, highest free oil yield was obtained with EAEP of extruded flakes, followed by flour and then flakes. The same protease used for the extraction step was used to demulsify the EAEP cream emulsion from extruded full-fat soy flakes at concentrations ranging from 0.03% to 2.50% w/w, incubation times ranging from 2 to 90 min, and temperatures of 25, 50 or 65 degrees C. Highest free oil recoveries were achieved at high enzyme concentrations, mild temperatures, and short incubation times. Both the nature of enzyme (i.e., protease and phospholipase), added alone or as a cocktail, concentration of enzymes (0.5% vs. 2.5%) and incubation time (1 vs. 3 h), use during the extraction step, and nature of enzyme added for demulsifying affected free oil yield. The free oil recovered from EAEP of extruded flakes contained less phosphorus compared with conventional hexane-extracted oil. The present study identified conditions rendering the emulsion less stable, which is critical to increasing free oil yield recovered during EAEP of soybeans, an environmentally friendly alternative processing method to hexane extraction.

Improvement in skin wrinkles from the use of photostable retinyl retinoate: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Photoaged skin can be treated with retinoids, which are natural and synthetic vitamin A derivatives. However, these are photounstable and can cause skin irritation, which is a major limitation in their use in general cosmetics. Retinyl retinoate, which is an ester of all-trans retinoic acid (RA) and all-trans retinol, has reduced toxicity due to blocking of the carboxyl end group of RA and higher skin regeneration activity than retinol.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the efficacy of a photostable retinyl retinoate in treating women over 30 years old with periorbital wrinkles.

METHODS

We conducted two clinical studies with a total of 46 Korean women with periorbital wrinkles, who were not pregnant, nursing or undergoing any concurrent therapy. In the first clinical study, the efficacy of retinyl retinoate was compared with placebo. Twenty-four patients completed a 12-week trial of 0.06% retinyl retinoate applied twice daily to one side of the face and a placebo applied to the other side. In the second clinical study, the efficacy of retinyl retinoate was compared with retinol. Twenty-two patients completed an 8-week trial of 0.06% retinyl retinoate applied twice daily to one side of the face and 0.075% retinol applied to the other side. Efficacy was based on a global photodamage score, photographs, and image analysis using replicas and visiometer analysis (Skin-Visiometer SV 600; Courage & Khazaka, Cologne, Germany) every 4 weeks. The standard wrinkle and roughness parameters used in assessing skin by visiometer were calculated and statistically analysed.

RESULTS

The retinyl retinoate-treated wrinkles improved compared with wrinkles treated with placebo or retinol, as assessed by both the investigators and the subjects. Also, skin replica analysis indicated significant improvements in retinyl retinoate-treated skin in both studies, especially in average roughness.

CONCLUSIONS

Retinyl retinoate applied twice daily was significantly more effective than a placebo or retinol in treating periorbital wrinkles. Importantly, no severe side-effects were observed.

Meta-analysis of gene expression in human pancreatic islets after in vitro expansion

Pancreatic islet transplantation as a potential cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D) cannot be scaled up due to a scarcity of human pancreas donors. In vitro expansion of beta-cells from mature human pancreatic islets provides an alternative source of insulin-producing cells. The exact nature of the expanded cells produced by diverse expansion protocols and their potential for differentiation into functional beta-cells remain elusive. We performed a large-scale meta-analysis of gene expression in human pancreatic islet cells, which were processed using three different previously described protocols for expansion and for which redifferentiation was attempted. All three expansion protocols induced dramatic changes in the expression profiles of pancreatic islets; many of these changes are shared among the three protocols. Attempts at redifferentiation of expanded cells induce a limited number of gene expression changes. Nevertheless, these fail to restore a pancreatic islet-like gene expression pattern. Comparison with a collection of public microarray datasets confirmed that expanded cells are highly comparable to mesenchymal stem cells. Genes induced in expanded cells are also enriched for targets of transcription factors important for pluripotency induction. The present data increase our understanding of the active pathways in expanded and redifferentiated islets. Knowledge of the mesenchymal stem cell potential may help development of drug therapeutics to restore beta-cell mass in T1D patients.

Pemetrexed versus gefitinib versus erlotinib in previously treated non-small cell lung cancer by retrospective analysis

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Background: The standards in 2nd-line therapy with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were erlotinib or pemetrexed as well as docetaxel. To evaluate the efficacies and safeties of pemetrexed, gefitinib, and erlotinib in previously treated NSCLC we analyzed the datas retrospectively. Methods: Eligible patents were 1) histologically confirmed pretreated advanced (stage IIIB or IV) NSCLC, 2) with at least one measurable lesion, 3) age over 18 years, 4) performance status (PS) 0–2, and 5) should never experience other two drugs as previous therapy. Patients of pemetrexed group received IV infusion of 500mg/m2 pemetrexed mixed with normal saline every 3 weeks with vitamin B12 and folate supplementation. Patients of gefitinib group received gefitinib 250mg PO daily and of erlotinib took erlotinib 150mg PO daily. Cycles of IV pemetrexed or taking PO drugs were continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Results: we analyzed 57 patients (pemetrexed; 20, gefitnib; 20, and erlotinib; 17). The response rates were 5.3%, 25.0%, and 12.5% (P=0.22), and the disease control rate were 5.3%, 40.0%, and 50.0% respectively (P<0.01). Median progression-free survival (PFS) of pemetrexed, gefitinib, and erlotinib were 1.7, 3.5 and 4.4 months (P<0.01) and median overall survival (OS) were 5.6, 21.8 and 21.5 months respectively (P=0.04). In subgroup analysis, patients with non-squamous carcinoma, smokers and good PS (0 or 1) showed longer PFS and OS in gefitinib and erlotinib compared with in pemetrexed. All of these agents showed mild and tolerable toxicity. Conclusions: In retrospective analysis, the patients with gefitinib or erlotinib had longer PFS and OS than pemetrexed, eventhough there was no significant difference for response rate in three group. These results have to confirm by large randomized prospective study because the sample size was small and it was not randomized.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

TAC (docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide) adjuvant chemotherapy supported by G-CSF without dose-reduction in node-positive breast cancer

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Background: For node-positive breast cancer, TAC (Docetaxel-Doxorubicin-Cyclophosphamide) chemotherapy is preferred as an adjuvant treatment. However, due to its high toxicity profiles such as severe neutropenia, TAC is a lot beyond enthusiasm. G-CSF support or even prophylaxis has been recommended to help patients recover from nadir, along with some dose-reduction schedule. We tried to evaluate whether TAC with G-CSF support from day 5 can be sustained without dose reduction in women under 69-years old. Methods: After getting IRB approval, between Mar. 2005 and Oct. 2008, 61 node-positive breast cancer patients (33 - 69 years old) had underwent TAC chemotherapy as an adjuvant treatment after curative resection after getting informed consent. Total of 366 cycles (6 cycles per patient, 75–50–500 mg/m2)were completed, G-CSF support was initiated from day 5 to full neutrophil recovery. In case of neutropenia, prophylactic antibiotics (cefoperazone 2 g and tobramycin 200 mg iv) were given. Results: Among 366 cycles, not a single cycle should be delayed to recover from any hematologic shortcomings such as neutropenia, anemia or thrombocytopenia. Interval of three weeks between each cycle could be maintained. No other problem happened for any patient to stop or postpone scheduled chemotherapy. None of antibiotics except prophylaxis with cefoperazone and tobramycin was needed. Conclusions: Maximum tolerable dose of chemotherapeutic agents should be given to patients to get the best oncologic outcome to fight against cancer. It is evident that huge scale prospective clinical trials can answer this question, but we presume that node-positive breast cancer patients between in her fourth and seventh decade can stand TAC chemotherapy with G-CSF support without dose reduction as routine.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Effect of a synthetic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) ligand on breast cancer cells

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Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) ligands have been identified as a potential source of therapy for human cancers. And, it is reported that PPAR-γ ligands could serve as negative regulators of breast cancer development and progression, but their mechanism is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the PPAR- γ ligand induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of MDA-MB-231(ERα-negative) and MCF-7(ERα-positive) breast cancer cell. Methods: The effect of PPAR-γ ligands on the cell viability of breast cancer cells was determined using mitochondrial tetrazolium(MTT) assay. The cell cycle distribution and apoptosis induction were evaluated by using the flow cytometry. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins were measured with Western blot analysis. Results: The treatment of MDA-MB- 231 cell with PPAR-γ ligand, troglitazone was shown to induce cell cycle G1 arrest and induction of apoptosis. Moreover, troglitazone treatment, applied in a dose-dependent manner, caused a marked decrease in phosphorylated retinoblastoma(pRb), cyclin D1, D2, D3, cyclin dependent kinase(Cdk) 2, 4, and 6 expression as well as a significant increase in Cdk inhibitor, p21 and p27. Troglitazone showed antiproliferative effect on MCF-7 cell with tamoxifen, respectively and synergically. Troglitazone and tamoxifen could induce G1 arrest and apoptosis of MCF-7 cell, through upregulation of Bax and downregulation of Bcl-2 and cyclin D1. Conclusions: PPAR-γ ligand, troglitazone induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cell and increases the sensitivity of anti-hormonal therapy in MCF-7 cell. These results suggest that troglitazone has anticancer effect on both ERα-negative and positive breast cancer cells.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Weight gain after adjuvant TAC (docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide) chemotherapy for node-positive breast cancer

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Background: Despite of its proven therapeutic efficacy, TAC (docetaxel, Doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide) regimen as an adjuvant chemotherapy has some serious adverse effects such as fluid retention and neutropenia. Even though dexamethasone is known to be given for three days to the patients having TAC chemotherapy to prevent severe fluid retention, most patients have ironically been complaining of much weight gain more than 15% increase after the use of dexamethasone. We tried to determine abbreviated use of dexamethasone is better to decrease the extent of weight gain after TAC chemotherapy. Methods: Eighty node-positive patients between Jan. 2006 and Oct. 2007 were randomly assigned either into 24-hr (group A: 10 mg dexamethasone the night before TAC, and 10 mg dexamethasone (bid) were given for the day 1) or 72-hr dexamethasone premedication (group B) only after getting informed consent since all the protocols were reviewed by IRB. We compared the incidence of severe weight gain (more than 15%) on completion of six cycles in two groups. No patient was found to have heart or kidney problem before the commencement of chemotherapy. Results: Each group was comprised of 40 patients. All patients underwent 6 cycles. Mean age of each group was 48.5 (A) and 50.3 (B) years. The incidence of severe weight gain was 47.3 % in Group A, and 78.4 % in Group B. There was no difference in the duration of recovering from weight gain in both groups (A: 6.52 months vs. B: 7.02 months). No other hematologic complications seemed different between two groups. Conclusions: Though larger scale prosepctive randomized trials should be required to get the definitive conclusion on this matter, we think that current dexamethasone premedication may aggravate weight gain than to prevent it. If shorter schedule is as much effective as longer one, abbreviated and reduced dexamethasone premedication is more helpful for patients having TAC chemotherapy.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Quantum phase transitions and continuous observation of spinor dynamics in an antiferromagnetic condensate

Condensates of spin-1 sodium display rich spin dynamics due to the antiferromagnetic nature of the interactions in this system. We use Faraday rotation spectroscopy to make a continuous and minimally destructive measurement of the dynamics over multiple spin oscillations on a single evolving condensate. This method provides a sharp signature to locate a magnetically tuned separatrix in phase space which depends on the net magnetization. We also observe a phase transition from a two- to a three-component condensate at a low but finite temperature using a Stern-Gerlach imaging technique. This transition should be preserved as a zero-temperature quantum phase transition.