Chemical characterization and in vitro colonic fermentation of grape pomace extracts

BACKGROUND

Currently, there is growing interest in extracts derived from winery by-products because of their beneficial health properties, which are associated with the presence of bioactive compounds. In this paper, we have carried out the chemical characterization and in vitro colonic fermentation of four grape pomace (GP) extracts rich in polyphenols and dietary fibre.

RESULT

Firstly, phenolic and dietary fibre composition of the GP extracts was determined. The highest individual phenolic concentrations corresponded to gallic and ellagic acids, followed by catechins and flavonols. The non-digestible fibre fraction ranged from 66% to 83% of the GP extracts, which indicated that they mainly contained non-digestible cell wall components. Secondly, when GP extracts were subjected to fermentation by faecal microbiota, a total of 16 bacterial phenolic metabolites were found in the fermented samples, confirming that polyphenols contained in the GP extracts were metabolized to different active metabolites by microbiota. In addition, the GP extracts tended to promote the growth of intestinal microbiota, although it was only significant for the Enterococcus group.

CONCLUSION

These findings, together with other information available in the literature, support the high added value of products obtained from winery by-products. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

The food matrix affects the anthocyanin profile of fortified egg and dairy matrices during processing and in vitro digestion

The aim of the present study was to understand to what extent the inclusion of anthocyanins into dairy and egg matrices could affect their stability after processing and their release and solubility during digestion. For this purpose, individual and total anthocyanin content of four different enriched matrices, namely custard dessert, milkshake, pancake and omelettete, was determined after their manufacturing and during in vitro digestion. Results showed that anthocyanin recovery after processing largely varied among matrices, mainly due to the treatments applied and the interactions developed with other food components. In terms of digestion, the present study showed that the inclusion of anthocyanins into food matrices could be an effective way to protect them against intestinal degradation, and also the incorporation of anthocyanins into matrices with different compositions and structures could represent an interesting and effective method to control the delivery of anthocyanins within the different compartments of the digestive tract.

Specific phenolic compounds and sensory properties of a new dealcoholized red wine with pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) extract

The pomegranate ( Punica granatum L.) fruit has a long history of human consumption and possesses notable antioxidant and cardiovascular properties. This work evaluated the feasibility to provide a new functional beverage based on a dealcoholized red wine matrix supplemented by a pomegranate extract. The potential bioactive compounds in the pomegranate extract, punicalagin A and B and ellagic acid, were analyzed during the downstream process in order to evaluate the functional dose in the final beverage. The addition of pomegranate extract to the dealcoholized red wine resulted in a product with more intense yeast odor, acidity, yeast flavor, and astringency and with a less intense berry flavor. Consumer acceptance of the product was also investigated and the results revealed the existence of a niche of consumers willing to consume dealcoholized wine enriched with pomegranate extract. After tasting, 50% and 40% of those consumers initially interested by this product concept declared to be interested to purchase the control sample and the functional beverage, respectively. The daily consumption of two servings of 250 mL of this new pomegranate-enriched dealcoholized wine provides 82 mg of total ellagitannins, corresponding to the sum of punicalagin A and B and ellagic acid.

Standardized method to minimize variability in a functional P2X(7) flow cytometric assay for a multi-center clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Flow cytometric analysis of human P2X(7) pore activity segregates variant from common P2RX7 genotypes and may serve as a biomarker for cancer, pain, inflammation, and immune responses to infection. Standardization is needed to accommodate variable sample age and instrumentation differences in a multicenter clinical trial.

METHODS

CD14-PE-stained whole blood samples were treated with YO-PRO-1 combined with a P2X(7) agonist (BzATP) or control, followed by the addition of PI after closure of the P2X(7) pore. Recalled instrument settings from previous publications were used to adapt a standardized fluorescent particle-adjusted set-up method. Experiments were performed to compare the two methods while evaluating components of systematic variability and facilitating reliable processing of samples with varied ages.

RESULTS

The median YO-PRO-1 fluorescence of BzATP-treated samples had less variability when collected by the bead-adjusted method and was less influenced by the compensation strategy used. The average day-to-day coefficient of variance for assessments of P2X(7) pore activity by this method was 0.11 +/- 0.04, and the exclusion of nonviable cells was found to accommodate samples aged up to 4 days after phlebotomy. The bead-adjusted set-up method produced measurements differing by only 2.0% +/- 1.5% on two analog cytometers, and within similar decades when comparing analog to digital instruments.

CONCLUSIONS

These results provide a standardized method for quantitative flow cytometric analysis of P2X(7) receptor phenotypes in blood monocytes with minimal intralaboratory variation and potential for interlaboratory comparisons that can greatly facilitate multicenter functional genomic clinical studies.

Combination of radiation therapy and interferon alpha-2b in patients with advanced cervical carcinoma: a pilot study

Carcinoma of the uterine cervix is the most frequent malignancy in women in developing countries. Based on the possible synergistic effect of the combination of interferon and radiotherapy, a clinical trial was conducted in patients with advanced cervical cancer. The objective was to evaluate the efficacy and security of such a therapeutic approach. This prospective phase II trial was done at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología in Mexico City. The study included 17 consecutive patients with previously untreated squamous cell cervical cancer, clinical stages III and IV, and tumor mean size of 9.7 cm. The patients received radiotherapy and interferon alpha-2b at a dose of 5 x 106 IU/m2 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Eleven (64%) complete responses were obtained among these patients. Long-term survival was observed in 4 patients (24%) who achieved complete response and are alive after 10 years of follow-up. Immediate toxicity was mild. Late toxicity included the development of proctitis in 13 patients, colostomy was performed in 3 (23%) of them. Our results indicate that the combination of radiotherapy and this cytokine is an active therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Effect of copper ion on the motility, viability, acrosome reaction and fertilizing capacity of human spermatozoa in vitro

The objective of this study is to provide additional information on the effect of copper ion (Cu2+) in preventing pregnancy. Human spermatozoa, selected by the swim-up method, were incubated for 0, 5 or 24 h in the presence of 10 ng, 1 microgram, 10 micrograms or 100 micrograms of Cu2+ mL-1 in BWW culture medium, and then evaluated in terms of their motility, viability, acrosome reaction (AR) and the capacity to penetrate zona-free hamster eggs. AR and penetration in zona-free hamster eggs were assessed at 5 h of incubation. Motility, viability and AR in sperm incubated for 5 h were significantly affected by Cu2+ at a concentration of 100 micrograms mL-1, but not at the lower concentrations. Incubation for 24 h did not affect motility and viability of sperm incubated in the presence of concentrations of Cu2+ ranging from 10 ng mL-1 to 10 micrograms mL-1, but a concentration of 100 micrograms mL-1 caused a significant decrease in both parameters. In contrast, the penetration rate of zona-free hamster oocytes significantly decreased compared with that of controls, when only sperm were incubated in the presence of concentrations of Cu2+ ranging from 10 ng mL-1 to 10 micrograms mL-1, and no penetration was observed in the presence of 100 micrograms mL-1 of Cu2+ . When only oocytes were exposed to Cu2+, the penetration rate dropped to 50% of that of the controls. Finally, when both gametes were exposed to Cu2+ before co-incubation, the penetration rate fell to zero for every concentration tested. Results showed that copper, at concentrations similar to those released from intrauterine devices (IUD), affects the fertilizing capacity of human gametes in vitro and interferes with the sperm-oocyte interaction leading to fertilization. These effects suggest that the principle action of Cu2+ released from Cu-IUD is to act as a preconception contraceptive agent when delivered in endometrial and oviducal fluids.

Pregnancy rate in an oocyte donation program

Oocyte donation programs offer an alternative treatment for infertile women with ovarian failure or abnormal ovarian function. Seventeen cycles of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer with donated oocytes were performed in 13 women, with a mean age of 34.8 years. The hormonal replacement therapy consisted of a fixed dose of oral estradiol valerate, 6 mg daily, and intramuscular progesterone in oil, 100 mg daily. Estrogen and progesterone were continued for 10 more weeks after embryo transfer if pregnancy was established. After 13 embryo transfers, 8 pregnancies were obtained, for a pregnancy rate per transfer of 61.5%. Today seven pregnancies are progressing normally, including one set of twins. This results suggest that an oocyte donation program using a fixed and simple hormonal replacement therapy is an adequate treatment for these infertile couples.

High potassium concentration and the cumulus corona oocyte complex stimulate the fertilizing capacity of human spermatozoa

Progressively motile spermatozoa were incubated for 24 hours in culture media containing 4.7 or 25 mM K, in the presence or absence of hamster cumulus oophorus. The percentage of spermatozoa with progressive motility was significantly higher at 24 hours in the presence of cumulus corona oocyte complexes, irrespective of K concentration. A significant decrease in sperm mortality was observed with the association of 25 mM K and cumulus cells. A higher percentage of acrosome reaction was observed in spermatozoa incubated in 25 mM K when compared with 4.7 mM K, irrespective of time and the presence or absence of cumulus. The percentage of penetrated oocytes at 2 and 5 hours of incubation was higher when sperm had been incubated in 25 mM K than in 4.7 mM K. The presence of cumulus in the culture medium induced an additional significant increase in the percentage of penetrated oocyte. Although at 24 hours of incubation the percentage of acrosome reaction was higher than at 2 and 5 hours, the percentage of penetrated oocytes did not increase proportionally.

High potassium concentration improves the rate of acrosome reaction in human spermatozoa

Progressively motile spermatozoa recovered by swim-up method from semen of two fertile men were incubated for 24 hours in culture media containing either 4.7, 15, or 25 mM of potassium (K). Aliquots of each culture condition were obtained at 0, 1, 5, 10, and 24 hours of incubation for the assessment of progressive motility, percentage of dead spermatozoa, and percentage of acrosome reaction (AR), as measured by triple-stain technique. A total of ten experiments including each K concentration were analyzed. The results of this study showed no effect of K concentration on the percentage of progressively motile spermatozoa, irrespective of the time of incubation. The percentage of live spermatozoa was significantly greater in culture medium containing 25 mM K (P less than 0.05). There was a greater percentage of reacted spermatozoa with 25 mM K, as compared with 4.7 and 15 mM (P less than 0.05). Furthermore, the time taken to achieve 20% of AR was 2 hours at 25 mM K compared with 10.9 hours at 4.7 mM K.