The purpose of this research was to provide basic information for cookies made with black soybeans, chick peas, lentils, oatmeal, and brewer's yeast and to establish the optimum formula for the development of low glycemic index (GI) cookies with high biotin content for lactating women. This study was performed to determine the optimal composite recipe of oatmeal cookies with two different concentrations levels of bean powder (black soybeans, chick peas, lentils) and brewer's yeast using a central composite design. In addition, the mixing conditions of oatmeal cookies were optimized using response surface methodology of sensory evaluation and mechanical and physicochemical analysis. As a result, mechanical and physicochemical analyses showed significant values for lightness, redness, yellowness, hardness, and water content (P < 0.05), while sensory evaluation showed significant values for flavor, taste, crispness, and overall acceptability (P < 0.05). The optimal sensory combination was suggested to be 3.73 g of bean powder and 1.59 g of brewer's yeast. Considering all outcomes obtained throughout the experiments, brewer's yeast, black soybeans, chick peas, lentils, and oatmeal are suitable ingredients for increasing functionality and consumer acceptability of cookies. In addition, these results are expected to be useful in producing cookies of optimal quality, contributing to the development of various nutritious foods, and improving the food industry for lactating women.
Biotin ; Female ; Food Industry ; Glycemic Index ; Hardness ; Humans ; Lens Plant ; Peas ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; Skin ; Soybeans ; Water

OBJECTIVETo establish a purificatory method of alpha-fetoprotein variant (AFP-L3) based on microspincolumn with lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA).

METHODSLCA was isolated by ammonium sulfate precipitation method from lens culinaris. AFP-L3 affinity adsorption microspincolumns which were made from LCA coupled with activated Sepharose 4B were prepared. By adding into the centrifuge column, serum was absorbed and eluted to purify AFP-L3. The results of purified AFP-L3 detection of 10 cases AFP positive sera by electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay were compared with traditional crossed affinity immunoelectrophoresis.

RESULTS8 of 10 cases AFP-L3 concentration were greater than 5 ng/ml in purified sera. Six cases show positive reaction in affinity immune cross electrophoresis experiment.

CONCLUSIONSuccessfully established purification method of AFP-L3 by affinity absorption based on microspincolumn. The method was more conducive to clinical laboratory applications due to its high sensitive and easy operation.

Adsorption ; Chromatography, Affinity ; methods ; Immunoelectrophoresis ; Lens Plant ; Plant Lectins ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVE: Lectins are cell-agglutinating and sugar specific proteins or glycoproteins of non-immune origin that precipitate glycoconjugates having saccharides of appropriate complementarity. Because of these properties, plant lectins have been used to help characterize the carbohydrate moieties of glycoproteins in the zona pellucida (ZP) of several mammalian species including pigs. Treatment of oocytes with various lectins blocks sperm binding to the ZP in various mammalian species. This study was undertaken to examine the distribution of sugar residues in the ZP of pig oocytes matured in vitro and the ability of spermatozoa to bind to ZP and in vitro penetration in oocytes treated with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled lectins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The lectins of Banderiaea simplicifolia (BS-II, bind to beta-D-Nacetylglucosamine), Canavalin ensiformis (Con A, bind to alpha-D-Mannose), Lens culinaris (LCA, bind to alpha-D-Mannose), Ricinus communis (RCA-I, bind to beta-D-Galactose) and Ulex europaeus (UEA-I, bind to alpha-L-Fucose) were examined for spermatozoa penetration, binding capacity to ZP and distribution of lectins. RESULTS: The penetration rates were significantry (p<0.05) higher in control oocytes (63%) than those treated with all lectins, but penetration rates (40~49%) were simililar in group treated with lectins. The incidence of monospermy was similar in oocytes untreated and UEA-I, but it was higher in oocytes treated with BS-II, Con A, RCA-I and LCA. The porcine oocytes cultured for 48 h in TC-199 medium were freed from cumulus cells and treated for 30 min with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled lectins. When examined under fluorescein illumination, higher (p<0.001) proportions of oocytes showed fluorescein of zona pellucida after treatment with Con A (93%), LCA (93%) and RCA-I (100%) than BS-II (37%) and UEA-I (50%). All of the oocytes treated with RCA-I exhibited strong fluorescein in the outer region of the zona pellucida while those treated with LCA exhibited strong fluorescein throughout the zona pellucida. BS-II bounded mainly to the outer region and UEA-I bounded mainly to the inner region of the zona pellucida, with either strong or weak fluorescein. At 120 min after insemination in vitro, fewer spermatozoa were bound to the zona pellucida of the oocytes treated with BS-II, Con-A and RCA-I. Of the lectins, Con A most inhibited sperm binding. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that beta-D-Galactose residues in the porcine zona pellucida may act as primary sperm receptors and inducers of the sperm acrosome reaction and these sugar residues may be involved in the block to polyspermy.
Acrosome Reaction ; Cumulus Cells ; Fluorescein ; Glycoconjugates ; Glycoproteins ; Herpes Zoster* ; Incidence ; Insemination ; Lectins* ; Lens Plant ; Lighting ; Oocytes ; Plant Lectins ; Ricinus ; Sperm-Ovum Interactions ; Spermatozoa ; Swine ; Ulex ; Zona Pellucida*

OBJECTIVETo explore the significance of Lens culinaris-reactive alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP-L3) detection in primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODSAFP-L3 was isolated by using microspin column coupled with lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA), AFP and AFP-L3 were detected with chemiluminescent immunoassay, the proportion of AFP L3 levels were calculated, and the relationship between the elevated AFP-L3 (%) levels and benign and malignant liver disease was analyzed.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in positive rate between the patients of HCC, suspected HCC and other liver disease (81.80%, 73.68%, 11.80%, respectively, P < 0.05). Among the undetermined HCC (suspected HCC, liver disease) patients, 12 out of 21 cases of AFP-13 positive were diagnosed to be HCC within 6 months, and 6 of them were diagnosed to be the single small HCC at the early stage through B-Ultrasonic Diagnosis or CT. Among 62 cases of AFP-L3 negative, 3 cases were diagnosed to be HCC within 6 months and the risk of occurrence of HCC for AFP-L3 positive increased 11.9 times.

CONCLUSIONAFP-L3 has no correlation with AFP value, and it can be used as an independent HCC diagnosis factor. The detection of AFP-L3 has a significant implication for the identification of benign or malignant liver disease and the early stage predictive diagnosis of HCC while AFP increases.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lens Plant ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Plant Lectins ; analysis ; Young Adult ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; analysis

PURPOSE: Combined with vitreoretinal surgery, silicone oil endotamponade has become a standard technique and improved the prognosis of complex retinal diseases. To improve success rate of silicone oil endotamponade, the authors analysed complications and associated with other variables. METHODS: The authors analysed 90 cases of silicone oil endotamponade (102 eyes), all operated by one surgeon from 1995 to 2000 and followed-up over 6 months. The series consisted of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (48 eyes), complex retinal detachment (33 eyes), proliferative vitreoretinpathy (11 eyes) and ocular trauma (10 eyes). Analysed variables were preoperative visual acuity, rubeosis iridis, nuber of operations, duration of tamponade, emulsification of silicone oil, lentile status, anterior proliferative vitreoretinpathy, keratopathy, change of ocular tension, redetachment, macular degeneration and electroretinogram. RESULTS: Anatomic success was achieved in 95 of 102 eyes (93.1%) and functional success was achieved in 66 eyes (64.7%). Change of ocular tension over 10mmHg, anterior proliferative vitreoretinpathy and anatomical failure were statistically significant prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Silicone oil endotamponade is an effective measure for complex retinal diseases, but its complication has always been an issue. If these complications can well be kept under the control, silicone oil endotamponade will become more widely used surgical modality.
Diabetic Retinopathy ; Endotamponade* ; Intraocular Pressure ; Lens Plant ; Macular Degeneration ; Prognosis ; Retinal Detachment ; Retinal Diseases ; Silicone Oils* ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy ; Vitreoretinal Surgery

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Lens culinaris agglutinin-A reactive alpha-fetoprotein (AFP L3) has been reported to be highly specific for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of AFP-L3 for the diagnosis of HCC in the patients either with chronic liver disease or with HCC in complete remission who showed significant increment of serum AFP level and no mass lesion in the liver on ultrasonography. METHODS: A total numer of 34 patients (24 with chronic liver disease, 10 with HCC in complete remission) were enrolled, who showed significant increment of serum AFP level and no mass lesion in the liver on ultrasonography. Serum AFP L3 levels were analysed by AFP differentiation kit L. Abdominal spiral CT or ultrasonogram was performed at 1-3 month intervals and all of the patients were followed up for more than 6 months. RESULTS: Among 24 patients with chronic liver disease, two were positive (higher than 15%) for AFP L3; however, HCC was not detected in these patients, while HCCs were detected in two of 22 patients negative for AFP L3 during followe-up. Eight of the 10 patients with HCC in complete remission were positive for AFP L3; recurrent HCCs were detected in 7 of those 8 patients as well as in the rest 2 patients negative for AFP L3 during follow-up. The overall sensitivity and specificity of AFP L3 measurement for the detection of HCC within 6 months of follow-up were 63.6% and 87.0%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive value for HCC in patients with chronic liver disease were O% and 90.9% and for recurrent HCC in HCC patients in remission were 87.5% and ON, respectively. CONCLUSION: The measurement of AFP L3 is suggested to be useful for the diagnostic strategy in patients either with chronic liver disease or hepatocellular carcinoma in complete remission, who showed progressive increment of serum AFP level and no mass lesion in liver on ultrasonogram.
alpha-Fetoproteins* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Diagnosis* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lens Plant* ; Liver Diseases* ; Liver* ; Recurrence ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Ultrasonography*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Prothrombin induced by Vitamin K Antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) subtype reacting with Lens Culinaris Agglutinin (AFP-L3) are known as specific tumor markers for HCC. Recently a more sensitive EIA method for PIVKA-II and an automatic analyzer with Liquid Phase Binding Assay method (LBA method) for AFP-L3 have been developed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of PIVKA-II and AFP-L3 measured by newly developed methods as complementary tumor markers to AFP in the diagnosis of HCC. METHODS: The serum concentration of AFP, PIVKA-II, and a fraction of AFP-L3 were determined from 188 patients with HCC and 118 patients with various liver diseases including 46 with liver cirrhosis, 10 with chronic hepatitis, 50 with metastatic liver cancers, and 12 with benign tumors of the liver. AFP was measured by EIA, PIVKA-II by sensitive EIA, and AFP-L3 by the LBA method with LiBASys Auto-analyzer. The cutoff values for AFP, PIVKA-II, and AFP-L3 were 400 ng/mL, 40 mAU/mL, and 15%, respectively. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of serum PIVKA-II were 69.2% and 76.5%, respectively. Sixty-two (51.2%) of 121 patients with HCC, in which AFP was less than 400 ng/mL were PIVKA-II positive. The sensitivity and specificity of serum AFP-L3 were 48.8% and 90.8%, respectively. When AFP-L3 was used in combination with PIVKA-II, 31 (46.3%) of the 67 patients with small less than 3 cm HCC were positive for at least one of these markers. CONCLUSION: PIVKA-II measured by sensitive EIA may be useful for the diagnosis of HCC with low AFP level. AFP-L3 and PIVKA-II may improve the detection rate of small HCCs less than 3 cm.
alpha-Fetoproteins ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Diagnosis* ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Lens Plant ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Neoplasms ; Prothrombin ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Vitamin K

AFP has been the most useful tumor marker of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) because AFP is tumor specific and organ specific. However it can be elevated in liver cirrhosis (LC) and chronic hepatitis as well. AFP in hepatocellular carcinoma has been known to be highly reactive Lens Culinaris Agglutinin-A (LCA-A). The aim of our study is to find whether LCA-A reactive AFP (AFP-L3) is useful in differentiation of HCC and LC with high serum AFP level (>20 ng/ml). METHODS: The material consists of sera from 18 patients with HCC and 16 patients with LC whose serum AFP concentration was above 20 ng/ml. Sera were tested for AFP-L3 by lectin-affinity electrophoresis, coupled with antibody affinity blotting with alpha-fetoprotein differentiation kit L (Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Osaka, Japan). AFP-L3 fraction percentage was checked by densitometry (580nm, Cliniscan II, Helena). RESULTS: AFP-L3 detection rate in membrane was 61.1% in HCC and 37.5% in LC. When cut-off value level is 15%, the positive rate was 61.1% in HCC and 31.2% in LC, and sensitivity and specificity of AFP-L3 fraction in HCC was 61.1% and 68.8% respectively. In according to these results, AFP-L3 was a useful marker in differentiation HCC and LC with high serum AFP level. There was no significant relation in AFP-L3 fraction and tumor size, but there was significant relation between AFP-L3 fraction and total AFP serum level(P=0.049). CONCLUSION: These results lead us to conclude that the level of AFP-L3 is a useful marker in differentiation of HCC and LC with high serum AFP level.
alpha-Fetoproteins ; Antibody Affinity ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Chemical Industry ; Densitometry ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Electrophoresis ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Lens Plant* ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Membranes ; Sensitivity and Specificity

AFP has been the most useful tumor marker of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) because AFP is tumor specific and organ specific. However it can be elevated in liver cirrhosis (LC) and chronic hepatitis as well. AFP in hepatocellular carcinoma has been known to be highly reactive Lens Culinaris Agglutinin-A (LCA-A). The aim of our study is to find whether LCA-A reactive AFP (AFP-L3) is useful in differentiation of HCC and LC with high serum AFP level (>20 ng/ml). METHODS: The material consists of sera from 18 patients with HCC and 16 patients with LC whose serum AFP concentration was above 20 ng/ml. Sera were tested for AFP-L3 by lectin-affinity electrophoresis, coupled with antibody affinity blotting with alpha-fetoprotein differentiation kit L (Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Osaka, Japan). AFP-L3 fraction percentage was checked by densitometry (580nm, Cliniscan II, Helena). RESULTS: AFP-L3 detection rate in membrane was 61.1% in HCC and 37.5% in LC. When cut-off value level is 15%, the positive rate was 61.1% in HCC and 31.2% in LC, and sensitivity and specificity of AFP-L3 fraction in HCC was 61.1% and 68.8% respectively. In according to these results, AFP-L3 was a useful marker in differentiation HCC and LC with high serum AFP level. There was no significant relation in AFP-L3 fraction and tumor size, but there was significant relation between AFP-L3 fraction and total AFP serum level(P=0.049). CONCLUSION: These results lead us to conclude that the level of AFP-L3 is a useful marker in differentiation of HCC and LC with high serum AFP level.
alpha-Fetoproteins ; Antibody Affinity ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Chemical Industry ; Densitometry ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Electrophoresis ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Lens Plant* ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Membranes ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the aldose reductase inhibitory (ARI) activity of different fractions of Hybanthus enneaspermus for potential use in diabetic cataract.

METHODSTotal phenol and flavonoid content of different fractions was determined. ARI activity of different fractions in rat lens was investigated in vitro.

RESULTSThe results showed significant level of phenolic and flavonoid content in ethyl acetate fraction [total phenol (212.15±0.79 mg/g), total flavonoid (39.11±2.27 mg/g)] and aqueous fraction [total phenol (140.62±0.57 mg/g), total flavonoid (26.07±1.49 mg/g)] as compared with the chloroform fraction [total phenol (68.56±0.51 mg/g), total flavonoid (13.41±0.82 mg/g)] and petrolium ether fraction [total phenol (36.68±0.43 mg/g), total flavonoid (11.55±1.06 mg/g)]. There was a significant difference in the ARI activity of each fraction, and it was found to be the highest in ethyl acetate fraction [IC50 (49.26±1.76 µg/mL)] followed by aqueous extract [IC50 (70.83±2.82 µg/mL)] and it was least in the petroleum ether fraction [IC50 (118.89±0.71 µg/mL)]. Chloroform fraction showed moderate activity [IC50 (98.52±1.80 µg/mL)].

CONCLUSIONSDifferent fractions showed significanct amount of ARI activity, where in ethyl acetate fraction it was found to be maximum which may be due to its high phenolic and flavonoid content. The extract after further evaluation may be used in the treatment of diabetic cataract.

Aldehyde Reductase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Animals ; Cataract ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Diabetes Complications ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Diabetes Mellitus ; pathology ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Lens, Crystalline ; enzymology ; Phenols ; analysis ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Violaceae ; metabolism