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One of the most important challenges facing mechanical parts that are exposed to dynamic loads in various industries, such as automotive and aerospace, is their failure due to fatigue. Al-2024 series alloys are widely used due to their high strength-to-weight ratio and high fatigue resistance. Therefore, increasing the fatigue life of structures made of these types of alloys is always one of the most important design issues. In this study, the impact of changes in laser pulse pressure parameters as well as the percentage of overlap of laser effect points in the laser shock process, its effect on the fracture and fatigue behavior of aluminum alloy with the help of numerical modeling methods and also experimental tests were carried out and then evaluated. they got. After examining the results of the fracture tests, it was observed that the fracture toughness of the shocked samples increases by 38%. Also, the fatigue life of the samples treated with this method has been improved by 10-32% in different conditions, and in general, the shock process has been effective in improving the fracture and fatigue behavior of aluminum alloy.

IntroductionThrombotic events in neonates and children represent a rare although severe occurrence in view of the associated risk of mortality and sequelae. Quality evidence is limited in this field, and registry studies provide an essential base for research. The aim of this paper is to present the new Italian Registry of Infantile Thrombosis (RITI), set it into the scene of international thrombosis and stroke registries, and provide some insight on the challenges associated with registry management.MethodsWe present the detailed structure and content of the new RITI registry, a brief overview of its main data, and a reflection on its features, pitfalls and the main challenges related to its management.ResultsThe RITI, initially started in 2007 and officially re-launched in 2017 after structural modifications, is a non-interventional retrospective and prospective registry study collecting data on neonatal and pediatric patients (0–18 years) who experienced a systemic or cerebral thrombotic event in Italy. The RITI is managed by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in pediatric thrombosis, and participation is open to all Italian physicians, on a voluntary basis. The overall aim of the registry is to acquire new evidence to better characterize the population of children with thrombotic events and improve their management and outcome. 48 Italian pediatric and intensive care units are actively involved in the RITI, including 85 medical doctors from 16 Italian regions. A total of 1,001 neonates and children affected by cerebral or systemic thrombosis have been enrolled.DiscussionThe RITI is one of the largest available European registries of neonatal and pediatric thrombosis. National registries like the RITI represent a model for the study of rare conditions based on multidisciplinary and multicenter collaboration, aimed at overcoming the limitations due to small populations of patients, and creating a network of experts for patient referral and continuous education. Moreover, registry studies have a pivotal role in the research on pediatric thrombosis, due to the limited feasibility of high-quality studies. In our experience, the main critical stages, pitfalls and challenges in registry management include adequate registry designing, diffusion, data completeness and quality control.

The objective of this study is to create a reliable predictive model for the electrochemical performance of self-powered biosensors that rely on urea-based biological energy sources. Specifically, this model focuses on the development of a human energy harvesting model based on the utilization of urea found in sweat, which will enable the development of self-powered biosensors. In the process, the potential of urea hydrolysis in the presence of a urease enzyme is employed as a bioreaction for self-powered biosensors. The enzymatic reaction yields a positive potential difference that can be harnessed to power biofuel cells (BFCs) and act as an energy source for biosensors. This process provides the energy required for self-powered biosensors as biofuel cells (BFCs). To this end, initially, the platinum electrodes are modified by multi-walled carbon nanotubes to increase their conductivity. After stabilizing the urease enzyme on the surface of the platinum electrode, the amount of electrical current produced in the process is measured. The optimal design of the experiments is performed based on the Taguchi method to investigate the effect of urea concentration, buffer concentration, and pH on the generated electrical current. A general equation is employed as a prediction model and its coefficients calculated using an evolutionary strategy. Also, the evaluation of effective parameters is performed based on error rates. The obtained results show that the established model predicts the electrical current in terms of urea concentration, buffer concentration, and pH with high accuracy.

Aim: Evaluation of fibrin role on cancer cells implantation in injured tissues and studying the molecular mechanism of cancer cell interaction with the peritoneal damage. Material and methods: Mouse colon cancer (CT26) and human mesothelial cells (HMCs) were used. CT26 cells were implanted on injured peritoneal zones. Icodextrin was used as a lubricant. For in vitro studies, fibrin clots from human plasma were used. The cell-fibrin interaction was observed by optical, electronic, and confocal microscopies. Aprotinin was used as a plasmin inhibitor. Hemostasis impact quantified by (1) the fibrin degradation product D-Dimer and PAR expression in HMCs; (2) the expression of plasminogen activator (PA) and its inhibitor (PAI-1) in cancer cells by qPCR and in supernatants through ELISA after in vitro HMC incubation with 2U of thrombin for 24 h. Results: (i) Cancer cell lines were adhered and implanted into the wound area in vivo in both the incision and peeling zones of the peritoneum and on the fibrin network in vitro. (ii) Icodextrin significantly inhibited cancer nodule formation in the scar and the incision or peritoneal damaged zones after surgery. (iii) In in vitro studies, cancer cell interaction with the fibrin clot generated a lysed area, causing an increase in plasmin-dependent fibrinolysis measured by D-dimer levels in the supernatants that was inhibited by aprotinin. (iv) Aprotinin inhibited cell-fibrin interaction and invasion. (v) Thrombin upregulates PAI-1 and downregulates PA expression in HMC. Conclusion: Injured tissues favor cancer cell implantation through generated fibrin. Fibrin-cancer cells adhesion can be inhibited by icodextrin.

In this paper, two novel and simple approaches are presented for the evaluation of friction in the metal forming processed. By employing the data obtained from a cylinder compression test in addition to the flow curve, the friction coefficient of the process can also be evaluated. Hence, no extra measurement is required. Two new exponential parameters are introduced, geometrical and force barreling factors which are defined based on the change in geometry and forging force of the deformed cylinder, respectively. Numerical simulations are carried out to determine friction calibration curve diagram of cylindrical samples under various friction conditions. Then, by plotting the experimental data on the calibration curve diagram, the coefficient of friction of the process is determined. The results of the friction coefficients obtained from the geometrical and force barreling approaches are the same. The conventional ring compression tests are also performed for the corresponding lubricants to validate the proposed approaches. It is observed that the friction coefficients predicted by the presented approaches are identical to those obtained from the ring compression test. Also, friction coefficients that are greater than 0.2 can be determined more precisely than the ring compression test due to the increase in the distance of the curves.

Abstract Background It may be impossible to perform cancer surgery with free margins in the presence of an unresectable structure. Local drug treatment after surgery has been proposed to increase the rate of tumor control. Methods Multi-nanolayers (10-330 nm) were generated by a low-pressure (375mTorr) inductively coupled plasma (13.56 MHz) reactor for anticancer drug delivery by the deposition of polycaprolactone-polyethylene glycol multistack barrier on the collagen membrane (100 μm thickness). Carboplatin (300 μg/cm2) was used for the in vitro and in vivo investigations. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (15 keV), scanning electron microscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry were used to detect the presence of carboplatin in the nanolayer, the tumor sample and the culture medium. Preclinical studies were performed on ovarian (OVCAR-3NIH) and colon (CT26) cancer cell lines as xenografts (45 days) and allografts (23 days) in Swiss-nude (n = 6) and immunocompetent BALB/cByJ mice (n = 24), respectively. Results The loading of carboplatin or other drugs between the nanofilm on the collagen membrane did not modify the mesh complex architecture or the drug properties. Drugs were detectable on the membrane for more than 2 weeks in the in vitro analysis and more than 10 days in the in vivo analysis. Cytotoxic mesh decreased cell adherence (down 5.42-fold) and induced cancer cell destruction (up to 7.87-fold). Implantation of the mesh on the mouse tumor nodule modified the cell architecture and decreased the tumor size (50.26%) compared to the control by inducing cell apoptosis. Conclusion Plasma technology allows a mesh to be built with multi-nanolayer anticancer drug delivery on collagen membranes.

The present study focuses on the influence of the tumor microenvironment on the expression of HLA-G in ovarian cancer and its impact on immune cells. We used carcinomatosis fluids (n = 16) collected from patients diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer, detected by an increase in CA125 levels. Our results indicate that HLA-G is expressed by 1) ascitic cell clusters, 2) stromal cells (hospicells) extracted from cancer cell clusters, and 3) cancer cell lines and tumor cells. The origin of HLA-G was linked to inflammatory cytokines present in the cancer microenvironment. In parallel, the ascitic fluid of patients with ovarian cancer contains soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G). The mesothelial cell layer and submesothelial tissues, as well as the immune cell infiltrate, do not secrete HLA-G. In contrast, sHLA-G is absorbed by peritoneal tissues along with mesothelial layers as well as immune cell infiltrates. We demonstrated that interleukin-1β along with TGF-β can be a major HLA-G–inducing factor that upregulates HLA-G expression through the NF-κB pathway. The level of HLA-G in ascites correlated positively with the expression of T regulatory (T-regs) cells, while it negatively correlated with the expression of natural killer and memory cells in tumor-infiltrating immune cells. In conclusion, the production of HLA-G is associated with the presence of inflammatory cytokines and is strongly correlated with microenvironment tolerant cells such as T-regs and diminution of NK and memory T cells.

Introduction: work-related musculoskeletal complications are one of the causes of disability and risk factors such as manual handling and repetitive work can cause or exacerbate these disorders. Considering the fact that in the industry, people with a wide range of risk factors for these disorders and high mental health are facing, this study was designed to investigate the position of work posture and mental load and their relationship with the operating personnel of Sarcheshmeh copper. Method: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 220 individuals were selected randomly from a population of 800 people based on the demographic distribution of the units and the field study of the working areas. Data were collected using demographic, Nordic and NASA mental workload index and QEC software. SPSS software was used to analyze the data. Results: In this industry, due to the nature of work, the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was high in at least one region of the subjects. The prevalence of these disorders was related to the area of rest and back (38.6%) and back (38.2%) and The least of them was one or two females (2.3%) and there was a significant relationship between the mean total burden of mental health and the risk level and prevalence of disorders (p

Abstract Background Minimal residual disease is the main issue of advanced ovarian cancer treatment. According to the literature and previous results, we hypothesized that Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSC) could support this minimal residual disease by protecting ovarian cancer cells (OCC) from chemotherapy. In vitro study confirmed that MSC could induce OCC chemoresistance without contact using transwell setting. Further experiments showed that this induced chemoresistance was dependent on IL-6 OCC stimulation. Methods We combined meticulous in vitro profiling and tumor xenograft models to study the role of IL-6 in MSC/OCC intereactions. Results We demonstrated that Tocilizumab® (anti-IL-6R therapy) in association with chemotherapy significantly reduced the peritoneal carcinosis index (PCI) than chemotherapy alone in mice xenografted with OCCs+MSCs. Further experiments showed that CCL2 and CCL5 are released by MSC in transwell co-culture and induce OCCs IL-6 secretion and chemoresistance. Finally, we found that IL-6 induced chemoresistance was dependent on PYK2 phosphorylation. Conclusions These findings highlight the potential key role of the stroma in protecting minimal residual disease from chemotherapy, thus favoring recurrences. Future clinical trials targeting stroma could use anti-IL-6 therapy in association with chemotherapy.

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is the world's most expensive spice. Moreover, it is important since it contains various drug metabolites. Saffron is a triploid (2n=3X=24) and sterile plant and it does not have any viable seeds. Because of the sterility, classical breeding of this plant is limited. Developing an efficient callus induction protocol is studied for two reasons, i.e. molecular breeding and the production of secondary metabolites. In order to provide a suitable callus induction protocol, establishment of corms was considered. Five different treatments were applied to sterilization of corms. Thin cell layer explants with approximately 1 mm thickness and typical explants with approximately 1 cm thickness were prepared from sterilized corms. For callus induction, different explants were planted in MS medium containing different concentration of 2, 4-D, BAP and NAA. Then, they were incubated in dark conditions at 20 ±20C for 3 months. The results showed that the use of Benomyl fungicide, followed by surface sterilization using sodium hypochlorite (2.5 %) was the best sterilization treatment. The highest survival rates of explants (90%) were observed in this treatment and all explants were free of contamination. The highest amount of callus induction (75%) was obtained in MS medium supplemented with 2mg/l NAA and 0/5 mg/l BAP from thin cell layer of basal corm. The same result was observed with 1mg/l 2, 4-D from typical explants of basal corm. The results obtained from this study show that the thin cell layer explants are suitable explants because of the high amount of callus formation and the advantages for gene transfer studies. The results showed that the use of Benomyl fungicide, followed by surface sterilization using sodium hypochlorite (2.5 %) was the best sterilization treatment. The highest survival rates of explants (90%) was observed in this treatment and all explants were free of contamination. The highest amount of callus induction (75%) was obtained in MS medium supplemented with 2mg/l NAA and 0/5 mg/l BAP from thin cell layer of basal corm. The same result was observed with 1mg/l 2,4-D from typical explants of basal corm. Our results showed that the thin cell layer explants are suitable explant because of high amount of callus formation and advantages for gene transfer studies.

Background:. Auricular reconstruction is 1 of the biggest challenges of facial plastic surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of 1-stage reconstruction of an auricle using a temporoparietal fascia flap (TPFF). Methods:. In this nonrandomized study, autologous auricle bodies with emergency condition and cartilaginous graft from projection of a costal arch from the VI–VII ribs were used. Temporal fascia sample with vascular pedicle (a temporal artery with the accompanying veins) by the Z-shaped incision of skin in temporal area for auricular reconstruction was extracted. Skin grafts were taken from the supraclavicular area or from the left or right flank. Grafts of partial auricle bodies (n = 8) along with cartilaginous framework from a costal arch (n = 21) were used for auricle reconstruction. The follow-up period studied after 6 months in 29 operated patients. Results:. The graft of partial auricle bodies or the graft of a cartilaginous framework from a costal arch presented a perfect auricular reconstruction. By avoiding a difficult microsurgery and its possible complications, the use of TPFF led to beneficial results in 75% and 90.4% of cases, respectively. Overall, no major complication (alopecia, hematoma, or necrosis) occurred, and further surgery was not required. Conclusion:. TPFF is a technique of choice for surgical treatment of traumatic auricle defects.

AIM:To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of tetracycline vs. high-dose amoxicillin in bismuth-based quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) eradication. METHODS:This randomized, open-label clinical trial included 228 patients with H.pylori infection and duodenal ulcer without a history of H.pylori treatment. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. The amoxicillin group received metronidazole 500mg, bismuth subcitrate 240mg, and amoxicillin 1000mg, all three times a day, plus omeprazole 20 mg twice a day, for 14 days. The tetracycline group received metronidazole 500mg three times a day; bismuth subcitrate240mg and tetracycline HCl 500mg, both four times a day; and omeprazole 20 mg twice a day, for 14 days. Evaluation for compliance and drug-relatedadverse effects were evaluated at the end of two weeks. Eight weeks after the end of treatment, the rate of H.pylori eradication was assessed by the C13urease breath test. RESULTS:There were no significant demographic differences between the two groups. Eradication rate was higher with the amoxicillin-containing regimen than the tetracycline-containing regimen: 105/110 (95.51%; 95% confidence interval, 91.5%-99.3%) vs. 88/105 (83.8%; 95%CI, 76.7%-90.8%) by per-protocol analysis (p = 0.005) and 92.9% (95%CI, 88.1%-97.6%) vs. 76.5% (95%CI, 68.7%-84.2%) by intention-to-treat analysis (ITT, p = 0.001). Adverse effects were significant higher in the tetracycline groupthan in the amoxicillin group (65.2% vs. 43.4%; p = 0.001). CONCLUSION:Bismuth-based quadruple therapy including high-dose amoxicillin and metronidazole achieved an acceptable rate of H.pylori infection eradication with good tolerance in patients with duodenal ulcer. This regimen can overcome treatment resistance in areas with high prevalence of metronidazole and clarithromycin resistance. TRIAL REGISTRATION:The Thai Clinical Trial Registry (TCTR) 20170623004.

The thrombopoietin (TPO) gene expression in human ovary and cancer cells from patients with ovarian carcinomatosis, as well as several cancer cell lines including MDA-MB231 (breast cancer), K562 and HL60 (Leukemic cells), OVCAR-3NIH and SKOV-3 (ovarian cancer), was performed using RT PCR, real-time PCR, and gene sequencing. Human liver tissues are used as controls. The presence of TPO in the cells and its regulation by activated protein C were explored by flow cytometry. TPO content of cell extract as well as plasma of a patient with ovarian cancer was evaluated by ELISA. The functionality of TPO was performed in coculture on the basis of the viability of a TPO-dependent cell line (Ba/F3), MTT assay, and Annexin-V labeling. As in liver, ovarian tissues and all cancer cells lines except the MDA-MB231 express the three TPO-1 (full length TPO), TPO-2 (12 bp deletion), and TPO-3 (116 pb deletion) variants. Primary ovarian cancer cells as well as cancer cell lines produce TPO. The thrombopoietin production by OVCAR-3 increased when cells are stimulated by aPC. OVCAR-3 cell’s supernatant can replace exogenous TPO and inhibited TPO-dependent cell line (Ba/F3) apoptosis. The thrombopoietin produced by tumor may have a direct effect on thrombocytosis/thrombosis occurrence in patients with ovarian cancer.

AIM: To establish a new and reliable assay for quantification of the soluble fibrin (SF) in combination with that of D-dimer for early diagnosis of venous thromboembolism. METHODS AND SAMPLES: The SF assay is based on D-dimer generated after incubation of plasma with tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA). SF and standard D-dimer assays, run in blind, were used to test 119 untreated outpatients with clinically suspected deep-vein thrombosis (DVT, 49 patients) or pulmonary embolism (PE, 70 patients) consulting at the emergency unit of the hospital. Thromboses were confirmed by current imaging methods such as ultrasonography, scintigraphy, computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and ventilation/perfusion scan. RESULTS: SF assay was validated in 270 healthy volunteers [51.8% males; mean age years ± SD: 41±13; age range 19 to 65]. Among these normal plasmas, SF levels were ≤200 ng/mL in 97.8% of them, and 200-250 ng/mL in the remainder [26-46 years old; 50% males]. ROC curves were used to determine the SF cut-off value for plasma SF positivity, which was found to be 300 ng/mL. In patients with suspected venous thromboembolism, SF sensitivities for DVT and PE (92% and 94%, respectively) were comparable to those of D-dimer (96% and 94%), whereas SF specificities (86% and 95%) were higher than those of D-dimer (50% and 54%). Positive-predictive values for SF (89% and 94%) were again higher than those of D-dimer (70% and 65%) in DVT and PE. The amount of circulating SF normalized rapidly after anticoagulant therapy. CONCLUSION: Results from this small group of patients suggest that the evaluation of plasma SF, in combination with that of D-dimer, represents a potentially useful tool for the early diagnosis of venous thromboembolism, provided that the patients have not been treated previously by anticoagulants.

CD133 mesenchymal cells were enriched using magnetic microbead anti-CD133 antibody from bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs). Flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry analysis using specific antibodies revealed that these cells were essentially 89 ± 4% CD133+ and 8 ± 5% CD34+. CD133+/CD34+ BMMNCs secrete important bioactive proteins such as cardiotrophin-1, angiogenic and neurogenic factors, morphogenetic proteins, and proinflammatory and remodeling factors in vitro. Single intracoronary infusions of autologous CD133+/CD34+ BMMNCs are effective and reduce infarct size in patients as analyzed by Tc99m MIBI myocardial scintigraphy. The majority of patients were treated via left coronary artery. Nine months after cell therapy, 5 out of 8 patients showed a net positive response to therapy in different regions of the heart. Uptake of Tc99 isotope and revitalization of the heart area in inferoseptal region are more pronounced (P=0.016) as compared to apex and anterosptal regions after intracoronary injection of the stem cells. The cells chosen here have the properties essential for their potential use in cell therapy and their homing can be followed without major difficulty by the scintigraphy. The cell therapy proposed here is safe and should be practiced, as we found, in conjunction with scintigraphic observation of areas of heart which respond optimally to the infusion of autologous CD133+/CD34+ BMMNCs.

Tumor microenvironment is an important actor of ovarian cancer progression but the relations between mesenchymal cells and ovarian cancer cells remain unclear. The objective of this study was to determine the ovarian cancer cells' biological modifications induced by mesenchymal cells. To address this issue, we used two different ovarian cancer cell lines (NIH:OVCAR3 and SKOV3) and co-cultured them with mesenchymal cells. Upon co-culture the different cell populations were sorted to study their transcriptome and biological properties. Transcriptomic analysis revealed three biological-function gene clusters were enriched upon contact with mesenchymal cells. These were related to the increase of metastatic abilities (adhesion, migration and invasion), proliferation and chemoresistance in vitro. Therefore, contact with the mesenchymal cell niche could increase metastatic initiation and expansion through modification of cancer cells. Taken together these findings suggest that pathways involved in hetero-cellular interaction may be targeted to disrupt the acquired pro-metastatic profile.

BackgroundThe microenvironment plays a major role in the onset and progression of metastasis. Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) tends to metastasize to the peritoneal cavity where interactions within the microenvironment might lead to chemoresistance. Mesothelial cells are important actors of the peritoneal homeostasis; we determined their role in the acquisition of chemoresistance of ovarian tumours.Methodology/principal findingsWe isolated an original type of stromal cells, referred to as "Hospicells" from ascitis of patients with ovarian carcinosis using limiting dilution. We studied their ability to confer chemoresistance through heterocellular interactions. These stromal cells displayed a new phenotype with positive immunostaining for CD9, CD10, CD29, CD146, CD166 and Multi drug resistance protein. They preferentially interacted with epithelial ovarian cancer cells. This interaction induced chemoresistance to platin and taxans with the implication of multi-drug resistance proteins. This contact enabled EOC cells to capture patches of the Hospicells membrane through oncologic trogocytosis, therefore acquiring their functional P-gp proteins and thus developing chemoresistance. Presence of Hospicells on ovarian cancer tissue micro-array from patients with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy was also significantly associated to chemoresistance.Conclusions/significanceThis is the first report of trogocytosis occurring between a cancer cell and an original type of stromal cell. This interaction induced autonomous acquisition of chemoresistance. The presence of stromal cells within patient's tumour might be predictive of chemoresistance. The specific interaction between cancer cells and stromal cells might be targeted during chemotherapy.

Considering the increasing use of nanotubes in various industries, it is of great importance to investigate the mechanical properties of these nanostructures. Today, due to the extraordinary properties that nanotubes have shown in various sciences, they have attracted the attention of many scientists. Boron nitride nanotubes are a form of boron nitride that are structurally very similar to carbon nanotubes. Many studies have been done to achieve the mechanical properties of these materials, and scientists have achieved this with different methods. But finding an easy and simple solution has always been the focus of many scientists who are still trying to achieve it. In this study, the molecular mechanics and solid mechanics properties of boron nitride nanotubes have been studied using a mechanical model to predict Young's modulus; and a spatial structure consisting of a unit cell has been used to describe the mechanical response of boron nitride nanotubes to applied loading. According to this assumption, a new unit cell, named mechanical unit cell, is introduced here to make a boron nitride plate or wall of boron nitride nanotubes. The analytical research presented in this research provides a simple method for predicting the Young's modulus of boron nitride nanotubes, and the obtained results are in good agreement with experimental and theoretical data.

Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) synthesized by lactic acid bacteria (LAB), have recently received much interest because of their various functional features in several industries. Food wastes (FWs) have become a major source of worry, as they can cause serious environmental contamination if improperly disposed. The utilization of these FWs is an excellent choice (approach) for producing value-added products such as EPSs, which will efficiently remediate wastes. The overall EPSs yield for the selected producers is strain-specific, and is heavily influenced by the nutritional and growing conditions used. This review emphasizes what is currently known about LAB's ability to generate economically relevant EPSs from FWs. In addition, a concise overview of the food industry, packaging, pharmaceutical and clinical applications application is discussed., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Steviolbioside (Sb) was synthesized from stevioside and characterized by infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H NMR and 13 C NMR) spectroscopy. The purity melting point, solubility, acute toxicity, heat stability and sensory properties of Sb were evaluated. Physico-chemical and sensory properties of low calorie fruit drinks and shortened cake prepared by replacing sugar with Sb were evaluated. Sb was stable in neutral or acidic aqueous solutions maintained at 100 °C for 2 h. The sweetness intensity rate of Sb was found to be about 44 and 18.51 times sweeter than 0.5% and 10% sucrose solution, respectively. Sb solutions had sweet taste without bitterness compared to stevioside. No significant differences between the organoleptic properties of cakes prepared using sugar and those prepared replacing sugar with 50% Sb were observed. All drinks replacing sugar with Sb at 66% level had the highest overall acceptability scores comparable to those prepared using sugar alone.

New stevia amino acid sweeteners, stevia glycine ethyl ester (ST-GL) and stevia l-alanine methyl ester (ST-GL), were synthesised and characterised by IR, NMR ((1)H NMR and (13)C NMR) and elemental analysis. The purity of the new sweeteners was determined by HPLC and their sensory properties were evaluated relative to sucrose in an aqueous system. Furthermore, the stevia derivatives (ST-GL and ST-AL) were evaluated for their acute toxicity, melting point, solubility and heat stability. The novel sweeteners were stable in acidic, neutral or basic aqueous solutions maintained at 100 °C for 2 h. The sweetness intensity rate of the novel sweeteners was higher than sucrose. Stevia amino acid (ST-GL and ST-AL) solutions had a clean sweetness taste without bitterness when compared to stevioside. The novel sweeteners can be utilised as non-caloric sweeteners in the production of low-calorie food., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Several attempts to decrease sugar demand by introducing stevioside as a sugar substitute in children's food products have been made, but safety issues were concerned. This exploratory study investigated the effects of stevioside low dose (SL), high dose (SH) and low dose with inulin (SL + I) for 12 weeks on the body weight, organ relative weight, hematological and biochemical parameters and enzyme activities of young male rats. The SL dose used in this study was 15 mg kg(-1) per day and the SH dose was 100-fold the low dose. Enormous similarities in most parameters were observed with no significant differences between SL, SL + I and control except in the lipid profile. Total lipid reduction in SL and SL + I and significant high-density lipoprotein increase in SL + I were observed, which may be considered as clinically beneficial. Significant decreases in serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity were also observed in all treatments. Treatment with SH caused significant changes in all investigated toxicological parameters. The results indicated that, although the SL dose was higher than the stevioside temporary accepted daily intake (5.0 mg kg(-1) body weight), no toxicological effects were observed in SL or SL + I on body weight, organ relative weight, hematological and biochemical parameters or enzyme activities investigated in this study, whereas stevioside high dose (1500 mg kg(-1) per day) may be considered as a toxic dose for the same biological parameters in young male rats. However, the effects of SL, SH and SL + I on serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity need more investigation., (Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)