Minor Ones (minor + ones)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Surgical Treatment of Chronic Gluteal Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Reused Skin Graft Technique

DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 2 2003
Hung-wen Kuo MD
BACKGROUND The treatment of chronic lesions in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) remains a challenge for dermatologists. In most cases, wide surgical excision of the affected skin reduces the recurrence rate to a minimum. Split-thickness skin grafts have usually been applied to resurface large postoperative defects. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to introduce an alternative method of skin grafting, called "reused" or "recycled" skin graft, for the reconstruction of the large skin defect with chronic gluteal HS. METHODS The study consisted of six patients (two females and four males) with gluteal HS. After a wide en bloc excision, the wound was immediately recovered with meshed-skin graft, made from the resected skin itself. Thus, the sacrifice of the skin donor is spared. The drum dermatome (Padgett-Hood) is suitable to take the split-skin graft from the resected skin of the affected buttock. The thickness of grafts was set between 12/1,000 and 20/1,000 inches, and all grafts were meshed with 1.5 times the expansion. The skin grafts were secured in place on the wound and a tie-over dressing was applied. RESULTS Postoperative complications were usually minor ones, such as hematoma, discharge, and small areas of graft skin necrosis (less than 1 cm2), although one patient developed a 3×4 cm2 graft necrosis and wound infection. The follow-up period after surgery ranged from 8 to 36 months. No patient experienced any functional disabilities or recurrence during follow-up years. CONCLUSION When the epidermal involvement remains mild to moderate, this reused skin graft technique is an alternative choice to resurface the surgical defect of gluteal HS. It is superior to the conventional procedure, which requires fresh skin donor site. [source]


Preliminary chemical characterization of Tunisian monovarietal virgin olive oils and comparison with Sicilian ones

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF LIPID SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 12 2007
Olfa Baccouri
Abstract Work was carried out on the characterization of monovarietal virgin olive oils (VOO) from Tunisia and Sicily (Italy). The two main Tunisian VOO (cvv. Chétoui of the North and cv. Chemlali grown in the Center and some regions of the South) and three principal Sicilian VOO (cvv. Nocellara del Belice, Biancolilla and Cerasuola) were studied. Moreover, the Chétoui oils were tested in a rain-fed control and an irrigation regime. All olive samples were picked at three different stages of ripeness. Analyses of major components (fatty acids and triacylglycerols) and minor ones (squalene, tocopherols and phenolic compounds) were carried out. Chétoui oils had a higher level of phenolic compounds followed by Chemlali. Generally, in the Sicilian oils these natural antioxidant contents were lower. These preliminary results indicate that it was possible to classify the Tunisian and Sicilian oils tested in their original growing area based on their chemical composition. [source]


Atmospheric impact of bioenergy based on perennial crop (reed canary grass, Phalaris arundinaceae, L.) cultivation on a drained boreal organic soil

GCB BIOENERGY, Issue 3 2010
NARASINHA J. SHURPALI
Abstract Marginal organic soils, abundant in the boreal region, are being increasingly used for bioenergy crop cultivation. Using long-term field experimental data on greenhouse gas (GHG) balance from a perennial bioenergy crop [reed canary grass (RCG), Phalaris arundinaceae L.] cultivated on a drained organic soil as an example, we show here for the first time that, with a proper cultivation and land-use practice, environmentally sound bioenergy production is possible on these problematic soil types. We performed a life cycle assessment (LCA) for RCG on this organic soil. We found that, on an average, this system produces 40% less CO2 -equivalents per MWh of energy in comparison with a conventional energy source such as coal. Climatic conditions regulating the RCG carbon exchange processes have a high impact on the benefits from this bioenergy production system. Under appropriate hydrological conditions, this system can even be carbon-negative. An LCA sensitivity analysis revealed that net ecosystem CO2 exchange and crop yield are the major LCA components, while non-CO2 GHG emissions and costs associated with crop production are the minor ones. Net bioenergy GHG emissions resulting from restricted net CO2 uptake and low crop yields, due to climatic and moisture stress during dry years, were comparable with coal emissions. However, net bioenergy emissions during wet years with high net uptake and crop yield were only a third of the coal emissions. As long-term experimental data on GHG balance of bioenergy production are scarce, scientific data stemming from field experiments are needed in shaping renewable energy source policies. [source]


BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF BORAGE (BORAGO OFFICINALIS L.) SEEDS

JOURNAL OF FOOD BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 3 2009
BAYA MHAMDI
ABSTRACT Gas chromatography,mass spectrometry analysis of seed Borago officinalis essential oil (EO) revealed the presence of 16 volatile components. ,-Caryophyllene (26%) and p-cymene-8-ol (19.7%) represented the major components, while nonadecane (0.7%) and hexanol (0.7%) were the minor ones. The EO composition was characterized by higher abundance of oxygenated monoterpenes (27.7%), followed by sesquiterpenes (26%). Fatty acid composition showed the predominance of linoleic (35.4%), oleic (24.2%) and ,-linolenic (20.4%) acids. Polyphenols were analyzed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography after acid hydrolysis of phenolic acid esters. Six phenolic acids were identified in seed extract and rosmarinic acid was the predominant one with 1.65 mg/g dry matter weight equivalent to 33% of total phenolic acids. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Borage (Borago officinalis L.) is of great interest because of its medicinal and nutritional properties. In fact, thanks to its characteristic composition in fatty acids, particularly high levels of gamma-linolenic acid in its seed oil, borage has gained importance. The potent consumers of this medicinal plant are hypertensive and hypercholesterolemic people. Borage consumption is also recommended for people suffering from rheumatism and eczema. Unfortunately, the knowledge about antioxidative/antiradical properties of borage is very scanty. So, recently, an extensive investigation was focused on the antioxidant properties of borage extracts. These extracts showed excellent antioxidant properties and their effects were attributed to their phenolic constituents. These antioxidants can be concentrated, either as crude extracts or individual phenolic compounds, to be used in highly unsaturated oils such as marine oils. Furthermore, borage consumption has been reported as a possible gastric cancer protective factor. [source]


Endpoint quantitative PCR assays for Bacteroides forsythus, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans

JOURNAL OF PERIODONTAL RESEARCH, Issue 5 2003
J. D. Rudney
Background:, Conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for periodontal pathogens are so sensitive that they detect infections of no clinical significance. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) may provide a solution to this problem. However, most qPCR systems require expensive real-time thermal cyclers. Objective:, Our goal was to develop qPCR assays which would allow endpoint quantification. Materials and methods:, 16S rRNA primers for Bacteroides forsythus, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans were adapted to the AmplifluorÔ qPCR system, which incorporates fluorescein into the PCR product so that endpoint fluorescence is proportional to the original amount of template. DNA dilutions representing known numbers of cells were used as standard curves. Pooled subgingival plaques from the four deepest pockets of 21 severe adult periodontitis patients were assayed. Buccal molar supragingival plaque from 35 dental students provided healthy controls. Endpoint fluorescence was measured with a microplate reader. Results:, Optimized standard curves were linear in log,log or semilog fits over a range of 100,106 cells. Countable B. forsythus was present in all patients, with counts (as logs) from 2.4 to 7.3 (mean = 5.0), and 11 controls with counts from 2.1 to 4.5 (mean = 3.0). P. gingivalis was present in 11 patients and no controls, with counts from 2.2 to 4.7 (mean = 3.2). A. actinomycetemcomitans was present in two patients, with counts of 1.5 and 3.5. Conclusions:, AmplifluorÔ qPCR assays discriminated between plaque samples differing by one log or more, allowing major infections to be distinguished from minor ones. This approach allows high-throughput qPCR of plaque samples, using equipment available to many laboratories. [source]


Roasting effects on fatty acid distributions of triacylglycerols and phospholipids in sesame (Sesamum indicum) seeds

JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 7 2001
Hiromi Yoshida
Abstract Sesame seeds were roasted at different temperatures (180,220,°C) using a domestic electric oven. The positional distribution of fatty acids in triacylglycerols (TAGs) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) isolated from total lipids in these seeds was investigated as well as the naturally occurring antioxidants that are present. Major lipid components were TAGs and phospholipids (PLs), while steryl esters (SEs), free fatty acids (FFAs) and sn -1,3- and sn -1,2-diacylglycerols (DAGs) were minor ones. Following roasting, a significant increase (P,<,0.05) was observed in FFAs and in both forms of DAG (primarily sn -1,3-DAG). The greatest PL losses (P,<,0.05) were observed in phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), followed by PC and phosphatidylinositol (PI). On the other hand, the amounts of ,-tocopherol and sesamin remained at over 80 and 90% respectively of the original levels after roasting at 220,°C. The principal characteristics of the positional distribution of fatty acids were still retained after 25,min of roasting: unsaturated fatty acids, especially linoleic and/or oleic, were predominantly concentrated in the sn -2-position, and saturated fatty acids, especially stearic and/or palmitic, primarily occupied the sn -1- or sn -3-position. The results suggest that unsaturated fatty acids located in the sn -2-position are significantly protected from oxidation during roasting at elevated temperatures. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


In vitro availability of minerals of some tropical and citrus fruits as influenced by antinutritional factors

MOLECULAR NUTRITION & FOOD RESEARCH (FORMERLY NAHRUNG/FOOD), Issue 1 2004
Inass O. Malik
Abstract Four tropical fruits and three citrus fruits were analyzed for moisture, ash, antinutritional factors (phytate, oxalate, and polyphenols) contents, and total and available minerals. Moisture contents ranged from 6.0 to 83.17% for tropical fruits while that of citrus fruits ranged from 88.20 to 89.50%. Ash contents ranged from 2.56 to 4.50% and from 3.83 to 4.83%, for tropical and citrus fruits, respectively. All fruits contained no oxalate while phytate and polyphenols ranged from 48.1 to 134.1 mg/100 g and from 0.115 to 0.34%, respectively. For all fruits major minerals contents ranged from 7.7 to 433.3 while trace ones ranged from 0.116 to 1.91 mg/100 g. In vitro availabilities of major minerals (% of total) varied from 11.1 to 86.2% while for minor ones it ranged from 13 to 72.5%. [source]