Abstract Banana preserve is produced by mixing the puree of the fruit with sucrose and organic acids. However, concerns about body esthetics or health reasons have encouraged the search for low-calorie products. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of calcium chloride (CaCl2), carrageenan gum, and low methoxyl pectin (LM-pectin) on the physicochemical and sensory characteristics of sugar-free banana preserves. By using a central composite rotational design (CCRD) of 2³ + 6 axial points + 4 central points, we obtained 18 formulations that were further tested. Lower CaCl2 concentrations (0.54% to 0.61%) resulted in preserves with lower pH and more vivid color. The increased concentration of LM-pectin (1.40% to 1.64%) resulted in formulations with a yellowish-red hue and with lower moisture, thus, reducing the flavor and purchase intention of the product. Higher concentrations of carrageenan gum (1.04% to 1.15%) decreased the perception of banana preserve aroma. Therefore, concentrations of CaCl2 ranging from 0.54% to 0.61%, carrageenan gum ranging from 0.74% to 0.89% and LM-pectin ranging from 1.40% to 1.64% resulted in sugar-free banana preserves with ideal sweetness and consistency and were, therefore, more acceptable.

Abstract The consumption of medicinal plants has been currently increasing, either as alternative medicine (under the argument that “natural is innocuous”) or as first-line medicine, due to the lack of health services; however, scientifically there is little certainty about the safety of these products, a situation that far from favoring the consumer’s health, might put it at risk. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the presence of total and fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, fungi and total aflatoxins in the most marketed medicinal plants in the city of Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico. Analyzed medicinal plants were the most commercialized for the autumn-winter and spring-summer seasons. The results showed that 51.8 % of the analyzed samples were contaminated by total coliforms, 12 % by fecal coliforms and 6 % by E. coli. Regarding fungi, those of greatest presence were of the genus Aspergillus, identifying the species A. niger, A. fumigatus, and A. terreus. Aflatoxins were found in 44.6 % of analyzed samples and 21.7 % showed levels above the permissible limits (>20ppb). The presence of this type of contaminants in medicinal plants evidenced bad practices in the handling of this type of products, and represented a risk for consumer’s health, since the microorganisms detected in this work are potential pathogens, and in the case of mycotoxins, they are carcinogenic. Thus, a strict regulation in the management (cultivation, storage and commercialization) of this type of products is necessary to ensure their safety.

Resumen Actualmente el consumo de hierbas medicinales ha ido en aumento, ya sea como medicina alternativa (bajo el argumento de que lo “natural es inocuo”) o como medicina de primera instancia, debido a la carencia de servicios de salud; sin embargo, científicamente existe poca certidumbre sobre la inocuidad de estos productos, situación que lejos de favorecer la salud del consumidor, puede poner en riesgo la misma. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la presencia de bacterias coliformes totales, fecales, Escherichia coli, hongos y aflatoxinas totales en las hierbas medicinales más comercializadas en la Ciudad de Tepic, Nayarit, México. Las hierbas medicinales analizadas fueron las de mayor comercialización para la temporada otoño-invierno y primavera-verano. Los resultados mostraron que el 51.8 % de las muestras analizadas presentaron contaminación por coliformes totales, el 12 % por coliformes fecales y el 6 % por E. coli. Con respecto a los hongos, los de mayor presencia fueron del género Aspergillus, identificándose las especies A. niger, A. fumigatus y A. terreus. La presencia de aflatoxinas se encontraron en el 44.6 % de las muestras analizadas y el 21.7 % presentaron niveles por arriba de los límites permisibles (>20ppb). La presencia de este tipo de contaminantes en hierbas medicinales, evidencian malas prácticas en el manejo de este tipo de productos representando un riesgo para la salud del consumidor, ya que los microorganismos detectados en este trabajo son patógenos potenciales, y en el caso de las micotoxinas, son carcinogénicas, por lo que es necesaria una regulación estricta en el manejo (cultivo, almacenamiento y comercialización) de este tipo de productos que permitan asegurar su inocuidad.

Objective: Patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) have a poorer quality of life than those with other chronic liver diseases. However, some of the factors that determine health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in these patients, such as the degree of liver fibrosis, are still controversial. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of CHC on HRQOL by conducting clinical, psychiatric, and sociodemographic evaluations. Methods: One hundred and twenty-four consecutive patients attending a referral center for hepatitis were evaluated using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatry Interview, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to quantify independent associations between HRQOL and the clinical, psychiatric, and sociodemographic variables of interest. Results: Reduced HRQOL was independently associated with major depressive disorder (MDD) and with elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase, but was not associated with hepatic cirrhosis. Conclusions: MDD rather than the grade of liver fibrosis was strongly associated with HRQOL impairment in patients with CHC. These findings highlight that, in patients with CHC, the psychological effects of the disease deserve more attention and the implementation of integrated medical, psychiatric, and psychological care may be helpful.

O estudo histológico do ovario de Penaeus paulensis, nas diversas fases do processo de maturação do órgão, permitiu identificar três tipos de cé lulas germinativas, além de células foliculares. Todas as células da zona de proliferação, que representam fases iniciais da ovogênese, foram englobadas sob a denominação genérica de ovogonias, uma vez que a sua distinção requer estudos citologicos. Estão sendo efetuadas investigações ultra-estruturais e histoquímicas à respeito dos corpos per féricos.

The histologic observations carried out in the ovary of the pink shrimp reveal, during the sexual cycle, which presents phases that may be identified also by the anatomical examination, three cell types beyond the follicle-cells. All the cells of the proliferation zone, in the various initial phases of the oogenesis, were named oogonia, because its distinction requires cytological studies. Observations about the peripheral bodies of the germinaI cells prosecute by means of electron microscope and histochemical tecniques.