Organoleptic and Quality Characteristics of Malagousia Variety, Grapes Fermented with Selected Indigenous Yeast Strains

Commercial Malagousia varietal wines, which are produced in almost all Greek viticultural zones, represent a relatively important part of Greek wine activity. This study presents the results of a profile compilation of volatile aroma compounds of Malagousia musts fermented under identical conditions with selected yeast strains. In total, 62 volatile aroma compounds were identified and separated into their chemical classes (aldehydes, higher alcohols, volatile phenols, terpenes, C13-norisoprenoids, lactones, esters, fatty acids, sulphur compounds, other compounds, and other alcohols). Alcohols and higher alcohols, such as cis-hexen- 1-ol and geraniol, terpenes like linalool, esters such as ethyl isovalerate, ketones such us betadamascenone, beta-ionone and zingerone, and fatty acids such as geranic acid and phenylacetaldehyde, were found in all the samples. Among them, linalool and phenylacetaldehyde had the strongest effect on the volatile compound profile of Malagousia wines. The same wine samples were subjected to sensorial analysis by a trained panel of 10 wine tasters, and a statistical analysis of both analyses presents similarities between the two analysis approaches. It is hoped that the results will contribute to a better understanding of the quality potential of the Malagousia variety so as to evaluate possible differences on the basis of the detected aroma concentrations.

FT-IR Spectroscopy Study in Early Diagnosis of Skin Cancer

BACKGROUND/AIM

Mid-infrared spectroscopy (4000-500 cm^-1) was used to analyze the spectral changes and differences of the characteristic absorption bands of the skin components due to cancer development for early clinical diagnosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Human biopsies from basal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and nevus were used, while normal skin tissue served as a control.

RESULTS

The high quality of Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra showed that upon cancer development the intensity of the absorption band at approximately 3062 cm^-1 was increased, indicating that most of the proteins had the configuration of amide B and the β-sheet protein structure predominated. The stretching vibration bands of vCH₂ in the region 2950-2850 cm^-1 were increased in melanoma and nevus, while were less pronounced in basal cell carcinoma due to the increased lipophilic environment. In addition, the intensity of a new band at 1744 cm^-1, which is assigned to aldehyde, was increased in melanoma and nevus and appeared as a shoulder in the spectra of normal skin. The absorption band of amide I at 1650 cm^-1 was split into two bands, at 1650 cm^-1 and 1633 cm^-1, due to the presence of both α-helix and random coil protein conformations for melanoma and nevus. This was confirmed from the amide II band at 1550 cm^-1, which shifted to lower frequencies at 1536 cm^-1 and 1540 cm^-1 for basal cell carcinoma and melanoma, respectively, indicating a damage of the native structure of proteins. The bands at 841 and 815 cm^-1, which are assigned to B-DNA and Z-DNA, respectively, indicated that only the bands of the cancerous Z-DNA form are pronounced in melanoma, while in BCC both the characteristic bands of B-DNA and Z-DNA forms are found.

CONCLUSION

It is proposed that the bands described above could be used as "diagnostic marker" bands for DNA forms, in the diagnosis of skin cancer.

TNP-assisted fascial closure in a patient with acute abdomen and abdominal compartment syndrome

Topical negative pressure was applied to prevent abdominal compartment syndrome in a patient following surgery for an acute abdomen. It delayed fascial closure, protected the underlying bowel and facilitated abdominal re-entry.

Peroneal artery pseudo-aneurysm following blunt injury

The peroneal artery is injured less frequently than the popliteal and tibial arteries, because of its anatomical relationships. Pseudo-aneurysm of the peroneal artery due to a blunt injury is a rare complication. These injuries are usually occult, but more have been identified with the introduction and increasing use of angiography, following a high clinical suspicion of the trauma team involved. We report a case of peroneal artery false aneurysm following blunt trauma, presented with intermittent haemorrhage. In trauma, isolated peroneal artery pseudo-aneurysms, although rare, may occur. Early diagnosis can be confirmed by angiography and when less-invasive procedures cannot be applied, a posterior approach is an attractive surgical option in the management of proximal peroneal artery traumatic lesions.