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Biomedical subjects

A Zuleta

Publications and source records attributed to A Zuleta.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Inulin determination for food labeling.

Inulin and oligofructose exhibit valuable nutritional and functional attributes, so they are used as supplements as soluble fiber or as macronutrient substitutes. As classic analytical methods for dietary fiber measurement are not effective, several specific methods have been proposed. These methods measure total fructans and are based on one or more enzymatic sample treatments and determination of released sugars. To determine inulin for labeling purposes, we developed an easy and rapid anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method following water extraction of inulin. HPLC conditions included an Aminex HPX- 87C column (Bio-Rad), deionized water at 85 degrees C as the mobile phase and a refractive index detector. The tested foods included tailor-made food products containing known amounts of inulin and commercial products (cookies, milk, ice creams, cheese, and cereal bars). The average recovery was 97%, and the coefficient of variation ranged from 1.1 to 5% in the food matrixes. The obtained results showed that this method provides an easier, faster and cheaper alternative than previous techniques for determining inulin with enough accuracy and precision for routine labeling purposes by direct determination of inulin by HPLC with refractive index detection.

Animals↗

[In vitro analysis of the iron availability in fortified rice].

Cereals are rich in fiber but also in phytate which is considered the principal inhibitor of mineral availability. On this basis, iron availability of fortified rice, and the inhibitory effect of bran phytate was studied in: white rice fortified with electrolytic iron (ABF) from commercial origin; and mixtures of ABF plus 4.76% and 9.09% of rice bran (ABF2 and ABF3 respectively) to simulate brown rice. Samples were analysed before and after phytic acid hydrolysis with phytase: Dietary fiber and phytic acid were assessed according AOAC; iron availability, expressed as dialisable iron by the in vitro method of Kapsokefalou and Miller modified by Valencia et al.; iron content was assessed by AAS. Results showed that added bran depressed iron availability, 9.65%; 4.04% and 1.82% as expected (ABF, ABF2 and ABF3 respectively). After phytic acid hydrolysis iron availability reached 28.20%; 27.95% and 25.30% for the same samples. These values were not different. After phytic acid hydrolysis, fiber content of ABF2 and ABF3 were lower than before. However multiple regression analysis of the data showed that fiber had not influence on iron availability and that phytic acid would be the principal responsible of it. These results indicate that brown rice should have a higher level of iron fortification than in white rice or be combined with other foods that improve iron availability as meats, vegetables or fruits.

Dietary Fiber↗

Literature review: sinus pericranii.

Sinus pericranii is a rare circumscribed fluctuating vascular swelling of the scalp that communicates with the intracranial venous system. It has been associated with other intracranial vascular malformations. The tumour is usually round, fluctuant, nonpulsatile, and disappears with compression. Its size increases during manoeuvers that increase the intracranial pressure. Approximately 100 cases were reported in the literature. The antecedents, different surgical procedures, differential diagnoses, and associated malformations were reviewed.

Adolescent↗

[Nutrient content in raw and processed foods derived from cereals and legumes. I: Centesimal composition and energetic value].

Proximate composition and metabolizable energy of raw and processed foods derived from cereals and legumes, were determined. Results can be used to revise the out of day national composition table, to incorporate data of ash, new data of dietary fiber obtained by an enzimatic hydrolysis method, asimilable carbohydrates and metabolizable energy. They also replace the composition of various foods which were compiled from foreing tables. Difference observed on values of lipids in those foods with low lipid content, are imputed to the solvents used in the extraction.

Dietary Fiber↗

Cloverleaf skull syndrome.

4 cases of cloverleaf skull syndrome are reported and analyzed after a brief review of the literature is presented. It is noted that reported cases of surgical management of this entity are extraordinarily rare. The rather characteristic displacement of intracranial contents suggests early onset of craniosynostosis (in intrauterine life) and that hydrocephalus is not an invariable complication present at the time of birth. Rather, it appears that the hydrocephalus is secondary to obliteration of the cortical subarachnoid spaces and the presence of a cranial ring. Total craniectomy proved to be a satisfactory treatment, one which was responsible for the reversal of hydrocephalus. Early detection and treatment of this rather rare malformation results in acceptable cosmetic and neurologic improvement.

Craniosynostoses↗

Micro-abscesses and presumptive inflammatory nodules of the brain.

Sixteen cases of micro-abscesses and presumptive inflammatory nodules of the brain are analyzed. The increasing frequency of cortico-subcortical small nodular lesions diagnosed by CT scan, as well as the number of cases successfully treated with antibiotics, are stressed. In the authors opinion, initial antibiotic treatment with a high possibility of a cure is indicated in patients with a presumptive inflammatory cortico-subcortical nodular lesions diagnosed by CT scan.

Adolescent↗

Gamma-encephalography in the diagnosis of subdural effusions in infancy and childhood.

The results of the use of gamma-encephalography (GEG) as a diagnostic tool in a group of 28 patients with subdural effusions and 46 membranes confirmed at surgery are presented. 27 patients were submitted to bilateral surgical expolorations and 1 was unilaterally explored. Positive GEG: membranes were present in 34, in 8 the test was nonconclusive and there were 4 false-negatives. Negative GEG: membranes were absent in 6, 1 case was nonconclusive and 2 were false-positive tests. Therefore, from 28 patients with 46 membranes the GEG was correct in two thirds of the cases, it was nonconclusive in 9 cases and the image did not confirm the surgical findings in 6 cases (false-positive or false-negative). The results suggest that the presence of a medium or thick membrane almost always results in a positive image, whereas the presence of a thin membrane leads to a nonconclusive result or in some cases a false-negative one. The general data from the literature correlates well with the present series.

Child, Preschool↗

[Ultrasonography in spinal dysraphism and tethered cord].

Spinal dysraphism is relatively common in children and includes a wide spectrum of congenital anomalies in the normal closure of the posterior elements of the spine. The prognosis will depend mostly on early diagnosis and treatment. Occult spinal dysraphism may present without external anomalies and the diagnosis could be suspected lately, when neurological symptoms are present and often irreversible. Occult spinal dysraphism is frequently associated to a tethered cord, most commonly secondary to the presence of a lipoma. Ultrasonography has been proven highly sensitive in the detection of intraspinal anomalies, especially in the diagnosis of tethered cord, in children under two years of age due to lack of ossification of the posterior elements of the spine. Today ultrasonography should be the examination of choice in all those patients in whom some kind of spinal dysraphism is suspected. We report our experience with three infants with occult spinal dysraphism in whom diagnosis was initially made by US and later on proved by either computed tomography, magnetic resonance or myelography. All of them had corrective surgery and neurological abnormalities were not detected afterwards.

Humans↗