Characteristics of New England India Pale Ale Beer Produced with the Use of Norwegian KVEIK Yeast

The aim of this research was to determine the potential of four unconventional Norwegian yeasts of the KVEIK type to produce NEIPA beer. The influence of yeast strains on fermentation process, physicochemical properties, antioxidant potential, volatile compounds, and sensory properties was investigated. The KVEIK-fermented beer did not differ in terms of physicochemical parameters from the beer produced with the commercial variants of US-05 yeast. The yeast strain influenced the sensory quality (taste and aroma) of the beers, with KVEIK-fermented beer rating significantly higher. The antioxidant activity of the tested beers also significantly depended on the yeast strain applied. The beers fermented with KVEIK had a significantly higher antioxidant potential (ABTS^•+) than those fermented with US-05. The strongest antioxidant activity was found in the beer brewed with the Lida KVEIK yeast. The use of KVEIK to produce NEIPA beer allowed enrichment of the finished products with volatile compounds isobutanol, 2-pentanol, 3-methylobutanol, ethyl octanoate, and ethyl decanoate.

Changes in the Antioxidative Activity and the Content of Phenolics and Iridoids during Fermentation and Aging of Natural Fruit Meads

The aim of the study was to investigate changes in the content of biologically active compounds during the fermentation and aging of natural meads with the addition of three Cornelian cherry juices from three cultivars: 'Koralovyi', 'Podolski' and 'Yantarnyi', in the amount of 10% v/v. After the fermentation process the content of gallic and ellagic acids significantly increased, in relation to wort. Whereas the greatest losses were observed among unstable anthocyanins. The three-month aging process also reduced the content of the analyzed compounds except for ellagic acid, the content of which increased by up to 90%. The content of biologically active compounds, including iridoids and antioxidant phenolics, are constantly changing in the process of fermentation and aging of fruit meads. The studies proved that the addition of Cornelian cherry juice allows significantly enriched classic meads with new biologically active compounds, such as: exceptional iridoids (loganic acid, cornuside, loganine, sweroside), flavonols, phenolic acids and anthocyanins.

Application of white grape pomace in the brewing technology and its impact on the concentration of esters and alcohols, physicochemical parameteres and antioxidative properties of the beer

Main by-product of white wine production is white grape pomace (WGP). It has attracted attention of food scientists, because it possesses high concentration of nutrients and bioactive substances. In this study, WGP was added to the beer after primary fermentation in two different concentrations (10% w/w and 20% w/w) and two different pretreatments (pasteurised and unpasteurised) to determine, whether the most abundant waste from white wine industry could be used to modify the volatilome and phenolic content of the beer. The addition of white grape pomace increased the concentration of phenolic compounds in all of the tested beers (from 321.584 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/dm³ to 501.459 mg GAE/dm³). Antioxidant activity of the beers with addition of WGP (tested with the ABTS^+•, DPPH^• and FRAP assays) also increased. The composition of volatiles in beers changed as WGP was added. The most significant difference was in the concentration of acetaldehyde - beers with WGP added had 4-7 times lower acetaldehyde content (17.425-31.425 mg/dm³) than the control sample (134.050 mg/dm³).

Assessment of Volatiles and Polyphenol Content, Physicochemical Parameters and Antioxidant Activity in Beers with Dotted Hawthorn (Crataegus punctata)

Beer with the addition of dotted hawthorn (Crataegus punctata) fruit and juice was prepared and analysed. The content of carbohydrates, glycerol and ethanol in beers was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Analysis of the total content of polyphenols was also performed using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, as well as determining antioxidant capacity by DPPH^• and ABTS^+• assay, and the ability to reduce iron ions by FRAP assay. Content of volatile compounds was analysed by means of solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy. Beers with addition of hawthorn, both juice and fruit, had higher antioxidative potential and higher polyphenols concentration compared to control beer. The content of polyphenols in beers was in the range 200.5–410.0 mg GAE/L, and the antioxidant activity was in the range of 0.936–2.04 mmol TE/L (ABTS^+• assay), 0.352–2.175 mmol TE/L (DPPH^• assay) and 0.512–1.35 mmol TE/L (FRAP assay). A sensory evaluation of beers was also carried out. Beer with hawthorn fruit addition obtained the best scores in sensory analysis for criteria such as aroma, taste and overall quality. This beer had the highest content of volatile compounds (287.9 µg/100 mL of beer), while the control beer had lowest concentrations (35.9 µg/100 mL of beer).

Permeability hysterisis of limestone during isotropic compression

The evolution of permeability hysterisis in Indiana Limestone during application of isotropic confining pressures up to 60 MPa was measured by conducting one-dimensional constant flow rate tests. These tests were carried out either during monotonic application of the confining pressure or during loading-partial unloading cycles. Irreversible permeability changes occurred during both monotonic and repeated incremental compression of the limestone. Mathematical relationships are developed for describing the evolution of path-dependent permeability during isotropic compression.

Dermatan sulfates of normal and scarred fascia

We evaluated the composition of dermatan sulfates (DS) derived from 23 samples of normal and 23 samples of scarred fascia lata. We analyzed the molecular weight of intact DS chains and the length of chain regions comprising: (1) clusters of L-iduronate-containing disaccharides ("iduronic sections"); (2) clusters of D-glucuronate-containing disaccharides ("glucuronic sections"); and (3) copolymeric sections with both types of disaccharides. A portion of scarred fascia DS chains demonstrated higher molecular weight compared with those from normal tissue. Most disaccharides of DS chains derived from both fascia types form copolymeric segments - heterogeneous in size - with alternatively distributed single disaccharides with glucuronic residues and mainly single ones with iduronate. Only a small number of disaccharides form "glucuronic sections" of heterogeneous size or short "iduronic sections". However, the scarred fascia DS chains demonstrate an increased content of shorter "glucuronic sections" and shorter, often oversulfated, copolymeric segments. It seems that in normal fascia, the DS chain type with a single, long copolymeric region and a single, shorter "glucuronic section" is predominant, while in scarred tissue an increase in multidomain DS chain content may occur.

An accumulation of proteoglycans in scarred fascia

A little is known about proteoglycan (PG) changes, occuring in the course of scarring of tissues another than skin. The aim of present study was biochemical characterization of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and proteoglycans (PGs) of normal and scarred fascia. Samples of normal fascia lata were taken at autopsy from 23 individuals and samples of scarred fascia lata were removed from 23 patients at reoperations for femoral fracture. The obtained tissues were divided into two samples: first of them was submitted to GAG isolation and the second one to PG isolation. GAGs were extracted by extensive papain digestion followed by the fractionation using cetylpyridinium chloride. In order to qualitative and quantitative characterization GAGs were submitted to electrophoresis on cellulose acetate before and after treatment with enzymes, specifically depolymerizing some kinds of GAGs. PGs were extracted using 4 M guanidine HCl followed by purification by forming complexes with Alcian blue. PGs were submitted to gel permeation chromatography on Sepharose 4B. In order to obtain core proteins PGs were depolymerized with chondroitinase ABC. The purified PGs and their core proteins were separated with sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS/PAGE). It was found that total GAGs content was significantly elevated in scarred fascia. Both types of fascia contained chondroitin-, dermatan- and heparan sulphates and hyaluronic acid. Dermatan sulphates (DS) were the predominant GAGs of normal and scarred fascia. The contents of all GAG types were increased in scarred fascia. Both types of fascia contained two kinds of dermatan sulphate proteoglycans (DSPGs); first being similar to biglycan and the second one similar to decorin, as it was judged by molecular weight of their native molecules and core proteins as well as type of GAG components. Densitometric analysis showed that decorin is a predominant DSPG in both fascia types, but in scarred tissue the ratio of biglycan to decorin is considerably higher. Moreover, in scarred fascia a large chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan (CSPG) was also observed. The obtained results have shown that the scar formation is accompanied by quantitative and qualitative alterations in GAGs/PGs resembling those observed in hypertrophic skin scars. The biochemical modification of the scarred fascia lata may partly explain the clinically manifested damage to biomechanical properties of this tissue.

[Therapeutic efficacy of low-dose alpha interferon therapy in liver cirrhosis associated with HBV]

The aim of this study was the assessment the efficacy and safety of therapy with interferon alpha (Intron A) administered s.c. 3 MU x 3/week for 12 weeks for patients with HBV related liver cirrhosis (Child's class A). Fifteen patients completed therapy and 12 months follow-up. At the end of follow-up sustained response to the therapy, defined by clearance of HBV-DNA, normalization of ALAT activity in serum and improvement in the liver histology was achieved in 46.6% of treated patients. Moreover, among few patients from group of nonresponders (patients without sustained clearance of HBV-DNA) decrease of HBV-DNA level, ALAT activity in serum and improvement in the liver histology were observed. Adverse effects of IFN alpha therapy were typical, but in any case were no necessity terminate the therapy.

Glycosaminoglycans of human serum and their alterations in diabetes mellitus

Human serum contains several glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), mainly chondroitin sulphates and significantly less of heparan sulphate + heparin and dermatan sulphate. The non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (with vascular complications) was associated with a significant increase in total serum GAG concentration, mainly of chondroitin sulphates and dermatan sulphate, with a simultaneous decrease in heparan sulphate + heparin level. These alterations were much more evident in patients with poor metabolic control. Hyaluronic acid (undetectable in healthy subjects and in patients with good metabolic control) appeared only in trace amounts in poorly controlled diabetic individuals. The obtained data allow to conclude that the diabetes mellitus-associated disturbances in tissue GAG metabolism lead to significant alterations in serum GAG composition.

Influence of chronic mercury poisoning upon the connective tissue in rats. I. Effect of mercuric chloride on glycosaminoglycan levels in tissues, serum and urine

Rats were intoxicated with mercuric chloride (1mg/kg b.w.) daily, for 12 weeks. A decrease in total glycosaminoglycan content was shown in the skin, the lungs, the liver and the heart muscle. These changes were accompanied by a slight alteration of the glycosaminoglycan pattern, a decrease in hyaluronic acid in the skin, the lungs and the heart muscle and an enhancement of heparan sulphate level in the kidneys. In serum of mercury-intoxicated rats, an increase in total glycosaminoglycan levels was shown. This enhancement was caused by elevation of almost all fractions. Urine output of glycosaminoglycans was higher in mercury-treated animals as compared to the controls.