Extruded instant corn flour (EICF) samples with hydrocolloids (gums), such as gum arabic, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), guar and xanthan and with different concentrations of lime (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% ...w/w) were prepared by extrusion. The gums were added before or after thermal processing. The dehydration process followed through the weight loss (WL) in masa, the physicochemical (water absorption capacity (WAC) and WL during cooking) characteristics of masa were optimized to give longer dehydration times and tortillas with good textural (rollability, tensile strength and cutting force) properties. The lowest effective moisture diffusion coefficient (D*) was found in masa samples containing 0.2% (w/w) of lime and 0.5% (w/w) of the xanthan gum added before extrusion. These masas produce tortillas with optimum textural characteristics and highest yields.
Introducción: La vitamina D ha sido implicada en diversas patologías, entre las que se encuentra el cáncer. Diversos estudios han relacionado los niveles de vitamina D con el cáncer de mama. El ...objetivo de este estudio fue establecer la importancia de concentraciones adecuadas de vitamina D en la prevención del cáncer de mama. Materiales y métodos: Estudio transversal de casos/controles que incluyó a 76 mujeres: 24 eran pacientes con cáncer de mama (grupo de casos), mientras que 52 mujeres sin cáncer de mama fueron asignadas al grupo control. En todas ellas se evaluaron los hábitos alimenticios, la exposición solar, el índice de masa corporal (IMC) y el tipo de piel. Se midió la vitamina D mediante cromatografía de líquidos. Se analizó el pleomorfismo del receptor de vitamina D mediante inmunohistoquímica. Resultados: La ingesta de vitamina D fue deficiente en 18 pacientes y 22 controles, y suficiente en 6 pacientes y 30 controles (odds ratio=4,09, intervalo de confianza (IC) 95%: 1,04-11,0; p=0,016). La exposición solar estuvo presente en 9 pacientes y 15 controles; 15 pacientes y 37 controles estuvieron menos expuestas a la radiación solar y usaban protección. Dos pacientes y 13 controles tuvieron niveles normales de vitamina D (30-60 ng/mL); dos pacientes y 26 controles tuvieron niveles bajos (20-30 ng/mL); y 18 pacientes y 12 controles tuvieron niveles muy bajos (<20 ng/mL). La odds ratio entre las pacientes con niveles séricos de vitamina D ≤20 ng/mL o mayores fue 9, IC 95%: 2,95-27,5, (p<0,001). Estos niveles fueron independientes del IMC. Conclusión: Existe una estrecha relación entre bajas concentraciones de vitamina D y desarrollo de cáncer de mama en una región con alta exposición solar. Se requieren otros estudios para confirmar esta observación.
We performed serial umbilical artery Doppler flow velocimetry studies on 314 women and grouped them according to history of antepartum cocaine abuse, placental abruption with antepartum cocaine ...abuse, preterm labor with antepartum cocaine abuse, preterm labor without antepartum cocaine abuse, and controls without preterm labor or antepartum cocaine abuse. Analyses excluded twin gestation, diabetes, and hypertension. The overall incidence of deliveries at or before 36 weeks was 28% (31 of 112). Thirteen (12%) of the infants were small for gestational age (SGA) and 33 (29%) were low birth weight (LBW). Almost all subjects with a history of cocaine abuse had normal systolic-diastolic ratios (S/Ds). All patients with abruption had abnormal S/Ds, as did 14 of 64 subjects who had preterm labor and a history of cocaine abuse. No abnormal S/Ds were found in the women with preterm labor or in controls. Among cocaine-abusing women, there was a significant correlation between placental abruption and abnormal S/Ds (P less than .05) and between abnormal S/Ds and the incidence of preterm birth and SGA and LBW infants.
Ballantyne syndrome is a condition of multiple causes and is characterized by maternal, placental, and fetal edema. We describe the first case of Ballantyne syndrome in a patient whose fetus had ...ultrasonographic demonstration of an aneurysm of Galen's vein.
Isolated herpes simplex virus encephalitis in pregnancy is a rare illness with an elusive diagnosis. We describe the second patient to survive this disease and the first to have no sequelae, because ...of prompt diagnosis and treatment with acyclovir.
Pancreatic enzyme activity in pregnancy Ordorica, S A; Frieden, F J; Marks, F ...
Journal of reproductive medicine,
05/1991, Letnik:
36, Številka:
5
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Serum amylase activity and the amylase:creatinine clearance ratio (Cam:Ccr%) are two of the most commonly used indicators for the diagnosis of pancreatitis. However, published data on the effect of ...pregnancy on these indicators are conflicting. Furthermore, there are no published data on the effect of pregnancy on serum lipase activity, which is considered one of the most sensitive and specific indicators of pancreatitis. A study was undertaken to determine the effect of pregnancy and gestational age on serum amylase, serum lipase and Cam:Ccr% levels and to establish a baseline of normal values for use in the diagnosis of pancreatitis in pregnant women. Serum amylase, serum lipase and Cam:Ccr% levels were determined on a sample population consisting of 175 pregnant women with gestational ages ranging from 5 to 40 weeks and on a control group of 44 reproductive-age, nonpregnant women. The study results indicated that there is no significant difference in serum amylase, serum lipase and Cam:Ccr% levels between pregnant and nonpregnant women. Cam:Ccr% showed a small but statistically significant increase in the third trimester of pregnancy.
We calculated the amniotic fluid indexes (AFIs) of 310 women on 459 occasions. Normative data were analyzed and compared with data in several high-risk groups. In the normal gestations there was a ...progressive increase in AFI with advancing gestation until 32 weeks, after which there was a decline. The mean AFIs in abnormal gestations varied with the clinical diagnoses. These values were compared to those obtained by assessing amniotic fluid volume (AFV), that is a pocket more than 2 cm. There were 51 patients with abnormal AFVs. Forty-two had decreased fluid, six also had decreased AFIs; nine had increased AFVs and five (all with diabetes) also had increased AFIs. Thus, AFIs in normal pregnancies showed an orderly pattern of change with gestational age, and there was no accurate correlation between AFI and AFV. Thus, using AFV alone may lead to false interpretations of amniotic fluid status.
Chorioamnionitis during pregnancy is a common diagnostic dilemma for the obstetrician. Fast and accurate diagnosis poses the most significant problem. Since leukocytes are known to be released in ...response to infections, examination of amniotic fluid for their presence is an important part of the evaluation for chorioamnionitis. These neutrophils contain several esterases that are not present in serum, urine, or vaginal secretions. The esterases are not influenced by bacteria or by commonly used drugs. We have previously described the reliability of leukocyte esterase (LE) activity for the detection of chorioamnionitis in term pregnancies uncomplicated by other diseases. A prospective study was performed to assess the presence or absence of LE activity to establish normal values in amniotic fluid at various gestational ages prior to term before its use as a possible predictor for chorioamnionitis. Sterile amniotic fluid specimens were obtained from 13 patients undergoing second trimester genetic amniocentesis (with gestational ages varying from 15 to 19 weeks) and from 11 patients with a wide variety of medical problems, undergoing amniocentesis for Rh sensitization or lung maturation studies (with gestational ages ranging from 25 to 27 weeks). All patients with ruptured membranes or preterm labor were excluded. Each amniotic fluid sample was divided into two parts, one of which was transported to the laboratory for aerobic and anaerobic cultures and the other used for LE activity detection as measured by dipstick. The LE results were retrospectively compared with the results of the cultures. LE activity was always found to be negative when the culture results were negative. negative.
The Shirodkar operation: a reappraisal Frieden, F J; Ordorica, S A; Hoskins, I A ...
American journal of obstetrics and gynecology,
09/1990, Letnik:
163, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Sixty-six cerclages were performed by one surgeon in 46 patients with documented cervical incompetence. The mean operative blood loss was 25 ml, and the mean operating time was 18 minutes with no ...postoperative morbidity. Fifty-five of the pregnancies were carried for at least 37 weeks, eight were delivered before 37 weeks, and three are continuing. Six of the eight preterm deliveries were a result of factors unrelated to cervical incompetence. The two remaining preterm births were probably also unrelated because one occurred 8 days after emergent cerclage placement and the other occurred 12 weeks after the procedure, both as a result of premature rupture of membranes. There were no cesarean deliveries related to the Shirodkar suture. The efficacy of the procedure was demonstrated by a corrected perinatal survival rate of 100% and term delivery of 88%. (Since this article was written all three of the undelivered patients were delivered of infants after 37 weeks' gestation for a term delivery rate of 88% with 100% neonatal survival.
Accurate and rapid diagnosis of chorioamnionitis poses a major diagnostic dilemma. We previously reported that leukocyte esterase activity in amniotic fluid, as measured by dipstick assay, could be ...used as an aid in the diagnosis of chorioamnionitis. This study examines the effectiveness of an in vitro spectrophotometric assay of esterase activity in amniotic fluid. We define baseline levels of esterase activity in uninfected amniotic fluid and demonstrate a quantitative increase when infection is present. Fifty-seven amniotic fluid samples obtained at second- and third-trimester amniocenteses were divided into three parts, one for culture and two for a comparison of esterase activities by the dipstick and spectrophotometric methods. In this study, the spectrophotometric assay, because of its higher specificity and sensitivity in the determination of elevated esterase activity, was shown to be more reliable for predicting chorioamnionitis than either the dipstick or culture method.
