Influence of Instant Controlled Pressure Drop (DIC) on Allergenic Potential of Tree Nuts

Pistachio and cashew contain allergenic proteins, which causes them to be removed from the diet of allergic people. Previous studies have demonstrated that food processing (thermal and non-thermal) can produce structural and/or conformational changes in proteins by altering their allergenic capacity. In this study, the influence of instant controlled pressure drop (DIC) on pistachio and cashew allergenic capacity has been studied. Western blot was carried out using IgG anti-11S and anti-2S and IgE antibodies from sera of patients sensitized to pistachio and cashew. DIC processing causes changes in the electrophoretic pattern, reducing the number and intensity of protein bands, as the pressure and temperature treatment increment, which results in a remarkable decrease in detection of potentially allergenic proteins. The harshest conditions of DIC (7 bar, 120 s) markedly reduce the immunodetection of allergenic proteins, not only by using IgG (anti 11S and anti 2S) but also when IgE sera from sensitized patients were used for Western blots. Such immunodetection is more affected in pistachio than in cashew nuts, but is not completely removed. Therefore, cashew proteins are possibly more resistant than pistachio proteins. According these findings, instant controlled pressure drop (DIC) can be considered a suitable technique in order to obtain hypoallergenic tree nut flour to be used in the food industry.

Effects of mastic oleoresin on wound healing and episiotomy pain: A mixed methods study

INTRODUCTION

Mastic (Pistacia lentiscus) oleoresin (MO is used by traditional Baluch healers to precipitate wound healing and relieve episiotomy pain.

OBJECTIVE(S)

To investigate the effects of MO on wound healing and episiotomy pain intensity in nulliparous Baluch women.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study had a mixed methods design. In the qualitative phase, we interviewed 9 traditional healers and 13 women to understand how the indigenous people use MO for wound healing. In the quantitative phase, a randomized controlled trial was performed on primiparous women during July 23-November 22 in 2016. One hundred and forty-seven women were randomly assigned to intervention (n=73) and control (n=74) groups. At 48h postpartum, 15g of MO was provided to the women to be administered for three days (through smoking the episiotomy wound). Pain and wound healing were measured at 3, 7, and 10 days postpartum using the visual analogue scale and REEDA scale, respectively.

RESULTS

MO had no significant effect on episiotomy pain intensity at 3, 7, and 10 days postpartum (p=0.61, p=0.76, and p=0.45, respectively). In addition, healing rates of the episiotomy wounds treated by MO (mean: 0.11±0.45, 0.15±0.51, and 0.15±0.57, respectively) were higher than those in the control group (mean: 0.21±0.70, 0.16±0.63, and 0.49±0.28, respectively) at 3, 7, and 10 days postpartum; however, the difference between the two groups was not significant (p=0.27, p=0.76, and p=0.23, respectively).

CONCLUSION

In the current study, healing rates in the MO group were higher than those in the control group; however, further studies should be undertaken to identify the effects of MO.

Acute toxicity of Opuntia ficus indica and Pistacia lentiscus seed oils in mice

Opuntia ficus indica and Pistacia lentiscus L. seeds are used in traditional medicine. The objective of this study was to investigate the toxicity of the fixed oil of Opuntia ficus indica and Pistacia lentiscus L. seeds in mice through determination of LD₅₀ values, and also the physicochemical characteristics of the fixed oil of these oils. The acute toxicity of their fixed oil were also investigated in mice using the method of Kabba and Berhens. The fixed oil of Pistacia lentiscus and Opuntia ficus indica seeds were extracted and analyzed for its chemical and physical properties such as acid value, free fatty acid percentage (% FFA), iodine index, and saponification value as well as refractive index and density. LD₅₀ values obtained by single doses, orally and intraperitoneally administered in mice, were respectively 43 ± 0,8 ;[40.7- 45.4 ] ml/kg body wt. p.o. and 2.72 ± 0,1 ;[2.52-2.92] ml/kg body wt. i.p. for Opuntia ficus indica ; and 37 ± 1 ;[34.4 - 39.8 ] ml/kg body wt. p.o. and 2.52 ± 0,2 ;[2.22 - 2.81 ] ml/kg body wt. i.p. for Pistacia lentiscus respectively. The yields of seed oil were respectively calculated as 20.25% and 10.41%. The acid and free fatty acid values indicated that the oil has a low acidity.

Cloning, expression, characterization, and computational approach for cross-reactivity prediction of manganese superoxide dismutase allergen from pistachio nut

BACKGROUND

Tree nut allergy is one of the common potentially life-threatening food allergies in children and adults. Recombinant food allergens offer new perspectives to solve problems of clinical and molecular allergology in diagnosis, research, and therapy of food allergies. So far, superoxide dismutase (s) has been identified as a panallergen and studied in different allergenic sources. Manganese Superoxide Dismutase (MnSOD) has also been reported in pistachio that may cause allergic reactions in atopic subjects. The aim of this study was to describe the cloning, expression, and purification of MnSOD from pistachio nut.

METHODS

The pistachio MnSOD was cloned and expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) using a vector pET-32b (+). A recombinant protein was purified by metal precipitation. The protein immunoreactivity was evaluated using patients' IgE binding by means of ELISA and immunoblotting assays.

RESULTS

The MnSOD gene from pistachio was successfully cloned and expressed in E. coli. The purified pistachio MnSOD was recognized by IgE in 10 (40%) out of the 25 sera tested. Our results also showed that this protein might trigger some cross-reactions toward IgE antibodies and thus could be considered as a panallergen.

CONCLUSIONS

For the first time recombinant manganese superoxide dismutase from nut source was expressed as a possible allergen. This pistachio allergen could be a possible basis for cross-reactivity with MnSOD from other sources.

[A case undergoing repeated anaphylactic shock after systemic administration of vinorelbine]

We here describe a 49-year-old man who suffered repeated anaphylactic shock after systemic chemotherapy with vinorelbine for stage IV left lung adenocarcinoma (S1+2). He was treated using a combination of cisplatin and weekly irinotecan (CPT-11) as the first line; however, the regimen was changed to a combination of vinorelbine (VNR) and gemcitabine (GEM) because of his progressive disease. He was admitted to our hospital for examination of the unknown cause of hypotension and loss of consciousness. The second shock occurred after eating pistachios, and the third one at cancerous pain. After pain control, the shock no longer occurred. Anaphylactic shock may show two peaks and late symptoms. In patients with a history of anaphylactic shock, we should pay attention to foods, drugs, and various stresses which might cause anaphylaxis.

Pistachio nutshell foreign body of the oral cavity in two children

Pistachio nutshell foreign bodies have been documented in the literature, occurring most commonly in the bronchi. The objective of this study is to report on two cases of oral cavity lesions, which were subsequently found to be pistachio nutshell foreign bodies. The first patient is a 9-month-old male who presented with a hard palate mass measuring 1.5 cm. The patient was evaluated in the operating room, and found to have a submucosal pistachio nutshell foreign body. The second patient is a 17-month-old female who presented with a firm, fixed midline hard palate mass. The lesion was subsequently noted to dislodge from the palate, and was identified as a pistachio nutshell.