Combined processes effects of osmotic dehydration in sucrose solutions and freezing on apple cubes preservation were analysed. Two multifactorial experimental designs, in two levels, were conducted consecutively to quantify the effects of the following factors: temperature, osmotic dehydration time, concentration of the osmotic medium and freezing rate. The response variables considered were: sensory evaluation, colour, texture, water activity ( aw) and reducing and total sugars. The first experimental design selected fast freezing as the best process to preserve texture and colour of the fruit. From the second experimental design, under fast freezing, were obtained the following optimal levels: 55 ºBx for the concentration of the osmotic medium, 35 ºC for the syrup temperature and 60 min for the osmotic dehydration time. A test of acceptability was performed under these conditions with 80 potential consumers on a 7-point hedonic scale, which gave 93% acceptance. Glass transition temperature (Tg') of the maximally cryoconcentrated liquid was –41.89 ºC for the product processed under optimum conditions. Significant correlations ( P= 0.05) were found between sensory and instrumental responses.
Elevation of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) in biological fluids indicates a deficiency in the branched-chain ketoacid dehydrogenase complex, which causes maple syrup urine disease (MSUD). Detection of increased levels of alloisoleucine confirms the diagnosis, while routine monitoring of leucine concentration is crucial for preventing metabolic decompensation and neurological dysfunction. In the metabolic center at Universidad de Chile, we have confirmed and monitored more than fifty MSUD patients in the last 20 years. Most diagnoses were made by clinical and sibling diagnosis, as MSUD is not included in the Chilean national newborn screening program. Shortening diagnosis time has a fundamental impact on the outcome of patients, therefore we focused on implementing detection of BCAAs in dried blood spot by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MSMS) for disease confirmation as well as for biochemical monitoring. Retrospective analysis of samples from 9 diagnosed MSUD patients were performed; BCAAs values were determined via MSMS and LC-MSMS conducted in parallel. Leucine and alloisoleucine levels were positively correlated with patient's diagnosis age. Alloisoleucine was significatively elevated as early as 24 hr after birth. A predictable variation in BCAAs levels after nutritional intervention among diagnosed MSUD patients was found.
Treatment and follow-up in Hereditary Tyrosinemia type 1 (HT-1) patients require comprehensive clinical and dietary management, which involves drug therapy with NTBC and the laboratory monitoring of parameters, including NTBC levels, succinylacetone (SA), amino acids, and various biomarkers of liver and kidney function. Good adherence to treatment and optimal adjustment of the NTBC dose, according to clinical manifestations and laboratory parameters, can prevent severe liver complications such as hepatocarcinogenesis (HCC). We analyzed several laboratory parameters for 15 HT-1 patients over one year of follow-up in a cohort that included long-term NTBC-treated patients (more than 20 years), as well as short-term patients (one year). Based on this analysis, we described the overall adherence by our cohort of 70% adherence to drug and dietary treatment. A positive correlation was found between blood and plasma NTBC concentration with a conversion factor of 2.57. Nonetheless, there was no correlation of the NTBC level with SA levels, αFP, liver biomarkers, and amino acids in paired samples analysis. By separating according to the range of the NTBC concentration, we therefore determined the mean concentration of each biochemical marker, for NTBC ranges above 15–25 μmol/L. SA in urine and αFP showed mean levels within controlled parameters in our group of patients. Future studies analyzing a longer follow-up period, as well as SA determination in the blood, are encouraged to confirm the present findings.
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