The effects of weak oscillating magnetic fields (OMFs ≤7 mT at 50 Hz) on freezing were studied in three systems of different complexity. To do so, ferric chloride solutions, lactate dehydrogenase ...(LDH), and minced hake muscle experimentally infected with
L3 were frozen with and without OMF application. OMFs did not affect freezing kinetics of either ferric chloride solutions or minced hake muscle. LDH activity,
mortality, and water-holding capacity of the hake muscle after thawing were not affected by OMF either. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of stronger OMFs in a wider frequency range.
Two different sources of omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil concentrate and menhaden oil) with or without the addition of natural antioxidants (rosemary and green tea) were incorporated into surimi gels ...at equivalent levels and examined for changes in sensory and physical properties and resistance to oxidation during 9 months of frozen storage. Gels with menhaden oil showed higher acceptance than gels with fish oil concentrate, which displayed a fishy taste that was partially masked by natural antioxidants. Formation of volatile compounds was similar in all samples. Upon heating to form the gel, there was a ca 20-25% decrease in the relative polyene index of the control containing no rosemary or green tea extract. Formulations with menhaden oil containing green tea and rosemary were more stable immediately after cooking; however, a slight pro-oxidant effect occurred during storage. Omega-3 fortified gels were whiter than gels with no added oil. Rosemary and green tea extracts increased yellowness (b*) and redness (a*), respectively. Strength increased in all formulations during frozen storage.
Physical, chemical, and sensory properties of cooked surimi seafood gels (crab analogue) fortified with omega-3 fatty acids (FA) were monitored during chilled storage. Three sources of stabilized ...omega-3 FA (fish oil concentrate, menhaden oil, and a purified marine oil) were each incorporated into gels to an omega-3 FA content of 1.5 or 2.5%, w/w. Omega-3 FA stability, development of off-flavors, and changes in color and texture were monitored during chilled storage for 2 months. Gels with fish oil concentrate developed fishy flavor and aroma within 30 days and were eliminated from the study. Gels containing menhaden oil and purified marine oil exhibited little change in sensory properties or oxidation products throughout 2 months of storage. Relative polyene index values (ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids) indicated that the omega-3 FA were stable at both levels of addition. Omega-3 fortified gels were whiter than control gels, and gel texture was modified when menhaden and purified oils were added but not significantly affected by the level of omega-3 addition. Keywords: Omega-3; surimi; lipid stability; chilled storage
Optimal conditions for proteolytic activity in both nonpressurized and pressurized (300 MPa, 7°C, 20 min) squid (Todaropsis eblanae) muscle occurred at acid pH levels (pH 3) over a broad range of ...temperatures. Pressure treatment did not modify optimal pH and temperatures but did increase proteolytic activity. The acid cysteine proteases, and to a lesser extent the acid serine proteases, were the enzymes mainly affected by the high‐pressure treatment. The sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) was indicative of increased protein hydrolysis by pressurization. Myosin heavy chain in both nonpressurized and pressurized squid was degraded at all the temperatures tested, but actin was susceptible only to proteolysis in the pressure‐treated muscle at 7°C and 40°C. This behavior was not observed at 55°C.
High-pressure technology is used as an alternative to heat processing because of its inactivating effect on microorganisms and enzymes. However, it can also alter the structure of other muscle ...proteins. The present study compares the effects of high pressure (300 MPa, 7°C, 20 min) on the proteolytic degradation and alterations in the myofibrillar proteins of sardine and blue whiting muscle. Also, muscle homogenates and enzyme extracts were pressurized in order to evaluate the high-pressure effects on unprotected proteolytic enzymes outside the whole muscle structure. Peak proteolytic activity was found to occur at 55°C in both species. The peak activity pH was pH 3 for the sardine and pH 8 for the blue whiting; the main enzyme families being aspartic proteases in the former and alkaline serine proteases in the latter. Pressurization lowered activity levels at the peak activity pH and temperature in the fish muscle (by 30.8% in the sardine and by 9.5% in the blue whiting) and also slightly in the enzyme extracts (by 16.8% in the sardine and by 19.4% in the blue whiting). The electrophoretic profiles disclosed higher protein degradation in the pressurized muscle. Overall, the observed changes in proteolytic activity can be attributed not only to the effect of high pressure on the enzymes, but also and mainly, to the effect on other muscle proteins.
This paper examines the effect of high pressure treatment (300 MPa, 25 °C, 15 min), combined with a prior or a subsequent setting step (25 °C, 2 h), on gelling properties of mackerel mince containing ...1.5% chitosan and/or 0.02% microbial transglutaminase (MTG). Rheological analyses (folding test, puncture test and stress–relaxation test), scanning electron microscopy, protein solubility and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were performed in gels. Chitosan did not substantially modify rheological and microstructural properties of gels obtained under high pressure conditions but reduced lipid oxidation. It exhibited only a slight reduction in gel elasticity, whereas MTG, alone or in combination with chitosan, led to an increase in hardness and to a considerable decrease in elasticity and breaking deformation. No evidence of synergism between chitosan and MTG was found. Pressurization with previous setting induced more deformable and stronger gels and reduced the amount of TBARS as compared to high pressure without setting, or with a setting step following pressurization.
Wistar rats were fed with surimi gels containing either sunflower oil, fish oil (omega3), and the same formulation additionally supplemented with 1.05 g kg(-1) quercetin (omega3-Q). Antioxidant ...capacity was highest in gels with added quercetin when measured by the ferric-reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) method, but not by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical assay. Lipid stability was not enhanced by quercetin since commercial fish oil already contains stabilizers. Quercetin modified neither rheological properties nor water-holding capacity of the gels; however, it produced a large increase in yellowness (b*). Serum lipid profile of rats was not significantly different. Total serum antioxidant capacity by FRAP was significantly increased only in the omega3-Q group. Plasma malondialdehyde was similar in the omega3 and omega3-Q groups, indicating no prooxidative effect of quercetin in vivo. These results suggest that quercetin might be used as a food ingredient in fish gel to improve some nutritional properties of the gel.
Thermal gelation profiles of batters from newly frozen and long-term (five months) frozen squid with added protease inhibitors, microbial transglutaminase (MTG) or a combination of the two, revealed ...notable differences as a consequence of frozen storage, attributed in part to decreased autolytic activity in the muscle. Puncture and compression-relaxation tests in gels revealed that the incorporation of protease inhibitors in addition to MTG considerably improved gel elasticity; however, MTG alone produced higher breaking deformation than in other samples. SDS-PAGE showed a higher prevalence of covalent cross-linking in gels containing MTG, where MHC and paramyosin were mainly involved. The combination of protease inhibitors and MTG produced the hardest gels, which achieved the maximum score in the folding test.
Background
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease leading to nonscarring hair loss on the scalp or body. There are different treatments including immunosuppressants, hair growth stimulants, and ...contact immunotherapy.
Objectives
To assess the benefits and harms of the treatments for alopecia areata (AA), alopecia totalis (AT), and alopecia universalis (AU) in children and adults.
Search methods
The Cochrane Skin Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov and WHO ICTRP were searched up to July 2022.
Selection criteria
We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated classical immunosuppressants, biologics, small molecule inhibitors, contact immunotherapy, hair growth stimulants, and other therapies in paediatric and adult populations with AA.
Data collection and analysis
We used the standard procedures expected by Cochrane including assessment of risks of bias using RoB2 and the certainty of the evidence using GRADE. The primary outcomes were short‐term hair regrowth ≥ 75% (between 12 and 26 weeks of follow‐up), and incidence of serious adverse events. The secondary outcomes were long‐term hair regrowth ≥ 75% (greater than 26 weeks of follow‐up) and health‐related quality of life. We could not perform a network meta‐analysis as very few trials compared the same treatments. We presented direct comparisons and made a narrative description of the findings.
Main results
We included 63 studies that tested 47 different treatments in 4817 randomised participants. All trials used a parallel‐group design except one that used a cross‐over design. The mean sample size was 78 participants. All trials recruited outpatients from dermatology clinics. Participants were between 2 and 74 years old. The trials included patients with AA (n = 25), AT (n = 1), AU (n = 1), mixed cases (n = 31), and unclear types of alopecia (n = 4).
Thirty‐three out of 63 studies (52.3%) reported the proportion of participants achieving short‐term hair regrowth ≥ 75% (between 12 and 26 weeks). Forty‐seven studies (74.6%) reported serious adverse events and only one study (1.5%) reported health‐related quality of life. Five studies (7.9%) reported the proportion of participants with long‐term hair regrowth ≥ 75% (greater than 26 weeks).
Amongst the variety of interventions found, we prioritised some groups of interventions for their relevance to clinical practice: systemic therapies (classical immunosuppressants, biologics, and small molecule inhibitors), and local therapies (intralesional corticosteroids, topical small molecule inhibitors, contact immunotherapy, hair growth stimulants and cryotherapy).
Considering only the prioritised interventions, 14 studies from 12 comparisons reported short‐term hair regrowth ≥ 75% and 22 studies from 10 comparisons reported serious adverse events (18 reported zero events and 4 reported at least one). One study (1 comparison) reported quality of life, and two studies (1 comparison) reported long‐term hair regrowth ≥ 75%.
For the main outcome of short‐term hair regrowth ≥ 75%, the evidence is very uncertain about the effect of oral prednisolone or cyclosporine versus placebo (RR 4.68, 95% CI 0.57 to 38.27; 79 participants; 2 studies; very low‐certainty evidence), intralesional betamethasone or triamcinolone versus placebo (RR 13.84, 95% CI 0.87 to 219.76; 231 participants; 1 study; very low‐certainty evidence), oral ruxolitinib versus oral tofacitinib (RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.52; 80 participants; 1 study; very low‐certainty evidence), diphencyprone or squaric acid dibutil ester versus placebo (RR 1.16, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.71; 99 participants; 1 study; very‐low‐certainty evidence), diphencyprone or squaric acid dibutyl ester versus topical minoxidil (RR 1.16, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.71; 99 participants; 1 study; very low‐certainty evidence), diphencyprone plus topical minoxidil versus diphencyprone (RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.13 to 3.44; 30 participants; 1 study; very low‐certainty evidence), topical minoxidil 1% and 2% versus placebo (RR 2.31, 95% CI 1.34 to 3.96; 202 participants; 2 studies; very low‐certainty evidence) and cryotherapy versus fractional CO2 laser (RR 0.31, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.86; 80 participants; 1 study; very low‐certainty evidence). The evidence suggests oral betamethasone may increase short‐term hair regrowth ≥ 75% compared to prednisolone or azathioprine (RR 1.67, 95% CI 0.96 to 2.88; 80 participants; 2 studies; low‐certainty evidence). There may be little to no difference between subcutaneous dupilumab and placebo in short‐term hair regrowth ≥ 75% (RR 3.59, 95% CI 0.19 to 66.22; 60 participants; 1 study; low‐certainty evidence) as well as between topical ruxolitinib and placebo (RR 5.00, 95% CI 0.25 to 100.89; 78 participants; 1 study; low‐certainty evidence). However, baricitinib results in an increase in short‐term hair regrowth ≥ 75% when compared to placebo (RR 7.54, 95% CI 3.90 to 14.58; 1200 participants; 2 studies; high‐certainty evidence).
For the incidence of serious adverse events, the evidence is very uncertain about the effect of topical ruxolitinib versus placebo (RR 0.33, 95% CI 0.01 to 7.94; 78 participants; 1 study; very low‐certainty evidence). Baricitinib and apremilast may result in little to no difference in the incidence of serious adverse events versus placebo (RR 1.47, 95% CI 0.60 to 3.60; 1224 participants; 3 studies; low‐certainty evidence). The same result is observed for subcutaneous dupilumab compared to placebo (RR 1.54, 95% CI 0.07 to 36.11; 60 participants; 1 study; low‐certainty evidence).
For health‐related quality of life, the evidence is very uncertain about the effect of oral cyclosporine compared to placebo (MD 0.01, 95% CI ‐0.04 to 0.07; very low‐certainty evidence).
Baricitinib results in an increase in long‐term hair regrowth ≥ 75% compared to placebo (RR 8.49, 95% CI 4.70 to 15.34; 1200 participants; 2 studies; high‐certainty evidence).
Regarding the risk of bias, the most relevant issues were the lack of details about randomisation and allocation concealment, the limited efforts to keep patients and assessors unaware of the assigned intervention, and losses to follow‐up.
Authors' conclusions
We found that treatment with baricitinib results in an increase in short‐ and long‐term hair regrowth compared to placebo. Although we found inconclusive results for the risk of serious adverse effects with baricitinib, the reported small incidence of serious adverse events in the baricitinib arm should be balanced with the expected benefits. We also found that the impact of other treatments on hair regrowth is very uncertain. Evidence for health‐related quality of life is still scant.
Multivariate statistical methods were applied to data sets of measured gelling properties of blue whiting mince with several hydrocolloids added (locust bean gum, guar gum, xanthan gum, ...carboxymethylcellulose, iota -carrageenan, Kappa -carrageenan or alginate) induced under different pressure-time-temperature gelling conditions. The main differences between gels were attributed to the process; all the gels were classified in three clusters on the basis of gelling treatment: (1) high-pressure at moderate heating, (2) high-pressure at cold temperature and (3) heating at atmospheric pressure. Cluster 1 was characterized by very elastic, light gels with high water holding capacity. In cluster 2, gels presented high puncture test properties (breaking deformation, breaking force, work of penetration) and high cohesiveness and water holding capacity. Cluster 3 gels presented low penetration test properties and cohesiveness; high adhesiveness and hardness; high lightness and yellowness. Each cluster was subdivided to describe the gel properties between the hydrocolloid groups, attributing the differences mainly to yellowness (b*), breaking deformation, breaking force and work of penetration.
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