The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal mixing conditions of different amounts of Jinuni beans and fresh cream for the preparation of Jinuni bean chocolate. An experiment was designed using the central composite design of the response surface, which required 10 experimental treatments including 2 replicates for the Jinuni bean and fresh cream. The compositional and functional properties of the treatments were measured and these values were applied to the mathematical model. A canonical form and perturbation plot showed the influence of each ingredient on the mixture products. The color value L (Lightness) decreased with an increase in the amount of added Jinuni bean but the color value a (redness) and color value b (yellowness) did not change. In addition, the hardness value increased with the addition of the Jinuni bean. The results of the sensory evaluation showed very significant differences in the values of the texture (p< 0.01), taste (p<0.05), and overall quality (p<0.01). As a result, the optimum formulations as determined by the numerical and graphical methods were 27.98 g of Jinuni bean and 67.0 g of fresh cream.
Cacao ; Fabaceae ; Hardness ; Models, Theoretical

Aims: Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is a group of bacteria that colonise plant roots and enhance plant growth by a diverse range of mechanisms. This study aims to determine the capabilities of PGPR isolated from cocoa tree roots and their efficiency in enhancing plant growth under greenhouse conditions. Methodology and results: Eight samples of healthy cocoa tree roots were collected from different locations in Malaysia. Isolated bacteria were screened based on nitrogen fixation, phosphate and potassium solubilization, and catalase activity. The efficiency of purified PGPR was evaluated from pot experiments of cocoa seedlings under greenhouse conditions. Out of 122 isolates, 18 isolates showed several traits of nitrogen fixation, phosphorus and potassium solubilization and were further screened for other plant growth promoting (PGP) traits like catalase and production of indole acetic acid (IAA). Out of all the PGP trait tests, seven isolates showed the most prominent results for in vitro tests and were further tested in vivo for growth promotion of cocoa seedlings under greenhouse conditions. In the presence of bacterial isolates with 2.5 g of inorganic fertilizer, Leclercia adecarboxylata resulted in increases in plant height, leaf number, root length, stem fresh weight and total fresh and dry weight of cocoa seedlings by 15.68%, 17.14%, 9.48%, 5.67%, 11.84% and 25.12%, respectively. Conclusion, significance and impact of study Based on the result, L. adecarboxylata incorporated with selected carrier material improve cocoa seedling growth and biomass. This formulation also reduces the production cost of inorganic fertilizer and increase the application and development of biofertilizer.
Cacao--growth & ; development ; Rhizosphere

Trichoderma species are able to persist on living sapwood and leaves of cacao (Theobroma cacao) in an endophytic relationship. In this research, we evaluated the ability of Trichodema asperellum introduced at the incision site in the bark for side grafting with the concentration of 4 g/10 mL, 4 g/100 mL, and 4 g/1,000 mL (suspended in water) in suppressing vascular streak dieback (VSD) incidence and promoting growth of side grafts in the field. The incidence of VSD in two local clones of cacao, MCC1 and M04, without application of T. asperellum was 71.2% and 70.1% at 21 wk after grafting, respectively. However, when the two clones were treated with a concentration of 4 g/10 mL T. asperellum, the incidence was 20.6% and 21.7%, respectively, compared to 29.1% and 20.9% at 4 g/100 mL and 18.2% and 15.6% at 4 g/1,000 mL. By comparing to the control, the treatment with the same concentrations of T. asperellum listed above, the total number of stomata in MCC1 decreased by 41.9%, 30.2%, and 14.0% and in M04 by 30.5%, 21.9%, and -2.5% (exception), respectively. Otherwise, the total area of stomata opening increased by 91.4%, 99.7%, and 28.6% in MCC1 and by 203.8%, 253.5%, and 35.9% in M04, respectively. Furthermore, the number of buds and branches treated with a mixture concentration on the the two clones increased by 90.7% and 21.7%, respectively. These data showed that the application of T. asperellum to cacao scions while grafting can decrease VSD incidence in side grafts and increase growth of grafts in addition to decreasing total number of stomata, increasing total area of opened stomata, and increasing number of buds and branches.
Cacao* ; Clone Cells ; Incidence* ; Transplants* ; Trichoderma*

BACKGROUND: Colonial morphology of Candida albicans known as 'spiking' on a primary isolation blood agar plate (BAP) allows rapid and presumptive identification of C. albicans. We evaluated the 'spiking' appearance to identify C. albicans. METHODS: A total of 144 fully identified clinical isolates of yeasts and 10 type strains of yeasts were tested. All isolates obtained from the 5% CO2 incubation on BAP and chocolate agar plate (CHOC) were macroscopically examined for the presence of an irregular margin (spiking). The germ tube test was performed by incubating test organisms in 0.5 mL of pooled human sera. RESULTS: The sensitivity for BAP-spiking, CHOC-spiking and germ tube test were 93.7%, 91.1%, and 98.7%, respectively. The specificity for three methods was 100%. CONCLUSION: Use of the spiking identification on BAP can be useful for the economic and rapid presumptive identification of C. albicans in routine laboratories.
Agar* ; Cacao* ; Candida albicans* ; Candida* ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Yeasts

The analytical method of trace toxic metals in livestock products was confirmed and validated through certified reference material (CRM) and the international proficiency tests. There are some difficulties to determine low levels of toxic metals in livestock products because of interferences due to the matrix. The recoveries of CRM (NIST 1577c) ranged from 73.9 to 119% for lead and from 86.4 to 111% for cadmium in bovine liver. The international proficiency tests were carried out with the milk powder and cocoa powder samples including metals provided by Food Analysis Performance Assessment Scheme (FAPAS(R), UK). The test samples were prepared by microwave digestion using solution of HNO3 : H2O2 : H2O (v/v/v = 5 : 2 : 4) and analyzed by ICP/MS. The analytical result of cadmium in milk powder was 121 microg/kg with -0.3 of the z-score compared to the assigned value of 131 microg/kg by FAPAS(R). The analytical results of lead and cadmium in cocoa powder were 29.2 microg/kg and 97.6 microg/kg, respectively, which satisfied the assigned values of 34.2 microg/kg for lead and 126 microg/kg for cadmium by FAPAS(R). It is verified that the analytical method is accurate and reliable to determine trace lead and cadmium in livestock products by microwave digestion and ICP/MS.
Cacao ; Cadmium ; Digestion ; Food Analysis ; Liver ; Livestock ; Metals ; Microwaves ; Milk

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Optimal culture conditions for Helicobacter pylori have not been established. We compared the effectiveness of four different agar-based media for the growth of H. pylori. MATERIALS AND METHODS: G27, ATCC #43504 and 60190, and primary cultured strains were used. H. pylori strains were cultured for four days under four culture conditions: chocolate agar, Thayer-Martin (TM) agar containing vancomycin-colistin-nystatin inhibitor (VCNI), Brucella agar, and brain heart infusion (BHI) agar containing 5% horse blood and IsoVitaleX (BBL™ BD, USA). Culture of cells in each medium was repeated fourteen times. The growth of H. pylori was measured by using a spectrophotometer. RESULTS: TM, Brucella, and BHI agars showed mean absorbance values of 0.099, 0.059, 1.410, and 0.913, respectively. These values were significantly different (P=0.030). After post-adjustment by Bonferroni correction, similar growth was noted for in chocolate, Brucella, and BHI agars; however, TM agar significantly suppressed H. pylori growth compared with Brucella agar (P=0.031). CONCLUSIONS: Chocolate, Brucella, and BHI agars provided effective culture conditions for the growth of H. pylori. TM agar containing VCNI suppressed the growth of H. pylori and other organisms.
Agar ; Brain ; Brucella ; Cacao ; Heart ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Horses

One case of Incontinentia pigmenti associated with convulsion has been presented and she has delayed growing and emerciation. The patient who was four months old girl had been affected irregular mesh-like dark brown or chocolate colored pigmentation on both leg (inner surfeee). Diagnosis was confirmed by characteristic clinical appearance, laboratory findings and histopathology.
Cacao ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Incontinentia Pigmenti ; Leg ; Pigmentation ; Seizures

Five cases of chronic encapsulated intracerebral hematomas(so called "chocolate cysts") presented slowly progressive neurological deficits and hence mimicked brain tumors. The median duration of symptoms was 21 days. The first symptoms were severe headache and vomiting. At one case generalized seizure was noted. Computed tomography almost consistently demonstrated ring shaped lesions with central high density and minimal perifocal edema. Cerebral angiographic studies showed avascular mass lesions. All cases had superficial white matter lesions. Soft, well-encapsulated, organized, large intracerebral hematomas were removed surgically. Arteriovenous malformations were detected in two cases. All cases recovered completely but at one case postoperative brain swelling was noted transiently. Increasing awareness of "chocolate cyst" as a clinical and pathological entiry was necessary.
Arteriovenous Malformations ; Brain Edema ; Brain Neoplasms ; Cacao* ; Edema ; Headache ; Hematoma* ; Seizures ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: Culture media that perform as intended are crucial to accurate work by a clinical microbiology laboratory. The author evaluated commercially prepared microbiological culture media for quality assurance. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five types of commercially prepared media from Shin Yang Chemical Co., Ltd. were evaluated in Hanyang University Hospital for one year. Five types included blood agar media, chocolate agar, MacConkey agar, Salmonella-Shigella agar and Mueller-Hinton agar. All media were evaluated by NCCLS M22-A2 (Quality assurance for commercially prepared microbiological culture media-second edition; approved standard, 1996). RESULTS: Blood agar media provided luxuriant growth of many bacteria-especially the fastidious streptococci and pneumococci, as shown by early colonial development and clear hemolytic reactions with S. pyogeses. Chocolate agar supported growth of fastidious bacteria such as N. gonorrheae and H. influenzae. MacConkey agar gave excellent differentiation between coliforms and non-lactose fermenters with inhibition of Gram-positive micrococci. Salmonella-Shigella agar was a good differential selective medium for the isolation of Salmonella and some Shigella species from clinical specimens. Mueller-Hinton agar showed good reproducibility for antimicrobial susceptibility test by the disk diffusion method. CONCLUSION: The five types of commercially prepared culture media have demonstrated competence and integrity for bacterial culture in clinical trial. Theses media could be used without performance quality assurance test by user.
Agar ; Bacteria ; Cacao ; Culture Media* ; Diffusion ; Gonorrhea ; Influenza, Human ; Mental Competency ; Quality Control ; Salmonella ; Shigella

BACKGROUND: We investigated whether culture using an automated blood culture system enhances the recovery of bacteria and fungi from body fluids other than blood when compared to conventional solid media culture methods. METHODS: A total of 734 specimens [ascites (n=457), bile (n=5), CAPD (n=28), CSF (n=32), joint fluids (n=165), pericardial fluid (n=17), and pleural fluid (n=30)] were included in the study. Half of the volume of each specimen was inoculated directly into automated blood culture bottles (bioMeriux, Marcy-I'Etoile, France). The remaining volume was inoculated onto conventional solid media (sheep blood agar, chocolate agar, and phenylethyl alcohol agar) after centrifuging at 3,000 rpm for 10 min. RESULTS: Clinically significant microorganisms were isolated from 62 specimens (8.5%) by automated blood culture and 61 specimens (8.3%) by the conventional solid media culture (kappa index: 0.81, 95% confidence interval: 0.75~0.89). Contamination was observed in 11 (1.8%) of the automated blood culture specimens and 3 (0.4%) of the solid media culture specimens. The mean turnaround times of the automated blood cultures and the conventional solid media cultures were 3.7 and 2.8 days, respectively (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Compared with conventional culture methods, no improvement in the recovery of clinically significant microorganisms was noted with the use of the automated blood culture system for the culture of body fluids other than blood.
Agar ; Bacteria ; Bile ; Body Fluids ; Cacao ; Fungi ; Joints ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; Phenylethyl Alcohol