Marcelo Rodrigues Marques

Peptides from cowpea present antioxidant activity, inhibit cholesterol synthesis and its solubilisation into micelles

In previous studies, it was reported that the protein isolated from the cowpea interferes favourably in lipid metabolism, and reduces cholesterol synthesis. The present study investigated the role of cowpea peptide fractions in the micellar solubilisation of cholesterol, in the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) activity, and in the in vitro antioxidant capacity, considering the effects of thermal processing. The protein was isolated from the raw and cooked beans and digested to simulate human digestion. The peptides from the protein isolate of raw bean with molecular mass lower than 3kDa reduced 89% of the HMGCR enzymatic reaction velocity. The cooked cowpeas were more effective in inhibiting the micellar solubility of cholesterol than the raw ones but not the antioxidant activity. This is the first report that cowpea peptides inhibit cholesterol homeostasis in vitro in two distinct routes, and act as an antioxidant.

The Effect of Bioindicator Preparation and Storage on Thermal Resistance of Bacillus stearothermophilus Spores

Paper strips inoculated with spores of Bacillus stearothermophilus ATCC 7953 were conventionally dried (lot 1) and lyophilized (lot 2); stored in defined environments of 32 and 86% relative humidity at 10, 25 and 33 degrees C for 210 d; and submitted to moist heat treatments at 121 degrees C. A significant decrease in thermal resistance from initial starting levels was found for lyophilized bioindicators stored at 86% relative humidity. The respective average D121 degrees C values were 1.55+/-0.05 and 1.37+/-0.10 min for lyophilized bioindicators stored at 32 and 86% relative humidity; and 1.65+/-0.15 min and 1.57+/-0.11 min for dried bioindicators stored in the same environments.

The Effect of Composition of Parenteral Solution on the Thermal Resistance of Bacillus stearothermophilus and Bacillus subtilis Spores

Large-volume parenteral solutions were submitted to heat treatments after being inoculated with Bacillus stearothermophilus ATCC 7953 (Tr=121°C) and Bacillus subtilis ATCC 9372 (Tr=104.5°C) spores. The average decimal reduction time for B. stearothermophilus ranged from a D121°C value of 1.31 to 3.14 min, in glucophysiologic and Ringer’s solutions respectively. For B. subtilis, D104.5°C value increased from 0.69 to 1.37 min, in Ringer’s (pH=5.91) and 50% glucose (pH 3.05) solutions respectively. The z value ranged from 7.95°C (20% mannitol solution) to 13.14°C (50% glucose solution), corresponding to an activation energy (Ea) of 81.48 and 49.30 kcal/mol, respectively.

Risk and Prevalence of Anemia among Women Attending Public and Private Universities

Anemia is a global public health problem. Women are known to be more susceptible to anemia; however, no controlled study has yet assessed differences in the prevalence of anemia exclusively among women with higher education. The aim of the study was to establish the prevalence of anemia among women attending universities. The hemoglobin concentration of 140 women aged 18 to 45 years old from a private and a public university was measured. Anthropometric and socioeconomic data were also collected. The risk of developing anemia was almost threefold higher among the students attending the public university (OR: 2.71; p = .0248). The prevalence of anemia was much higher than in the overall female population (79%). The higher education was not a protective factor for anemia in women when analysed separately from the total population of women.