Effects of pretreatments with trehalose on drying of sliced vegetables (potato and carrot) were experimentally investigated. Two different pretreatment methods were tested. Sliced vegetables were steam-blanched and then immersed in a sugar solution. In another method sliced vegetables were coated with sugar powder, and then steam-blanched. Solid gain and water loss during pretreatment were meas...

We have measured the airway responses to methacholine on three days in sixteen non-asthmatic subjects. On the first day the methacholine challenge alone was performed. The other two days were randomized between pretreatment with distilled water or hypertonic saline administered by ultrasonic nebulizer. Distilled water and hypertonic saline did not affect baseline specific conductance (sGaw). Pr...

Nimodipine is a Ca2+-channel antagonist mainly used for the management of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) to prevent cerebral vasospasms. However, it is not clear if the better outcome of nimodipine-treated patients is mainly due to vasodilatation or whether other cellular neuroprotective or neuregenerative effects of nimodipine are involved. We analysed PC12 cells after different str...

UNLABELLED As a potential source of biofuel, the green colonial microalga Botryococcus braunii produces large amounts of hydrocarbons that are accumulated in the extracellular matrix. Generally, pretreatment such as drying or heating of wet algae is needed for sufficient recoveries of hydrocarbons from B. braunii using organic solvents. In this study, the Showa strain of B. braunii was cultured...

Tomato is one of the most cultivated vegetables, playing important role in human feed. Due to its characteristics and composition, tomatoes present reduced shelf life, preservative techniques are required. In this study, response surface methodology was used optimize process conditions during osmotic dehydration (OD) tomato slices, through desirability function. Optimization factors were absolu...

Aquaporins (AQPs) are expressed in the uterus, playing a physiological role during pregnancy. An osmotic pathway—through AQP5—may modify transient potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) function and uterine contraction. Our aim was to determine of TRPV4 antagonist citral regulation pregnant In vitro contractions were evoked by KCl response modified with citral. The expressions AQP5 measured RT-PCR Weste...

Preconditioning of plant material prior to cryopreservation is beneficial for increasing the survival of plant tissues. Pretreatment of plant cells and tissues can be divided into three categories. Cultural pretreatments may involve growth medium, cold acclimation or consideration of the plant part used. Chemical treatments may be osmotic or penetrating cryoprotectants. Desiccation treatments m...