The effect of whey protein-based ingredients on the quality of bread was tested. Bread was supplemented with β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) enriched fractions, and the results were compared with bread manufactured with whey protein concentrate (WPC), α-lactalbumin (a-LA) fractions and high heat skim milk powder (HHSMP) as well as with bread baked without any dairy ingredients. Whey protein fractions were manufactured from sweet cheese whey or casein whey by means of membrane filtration techniques. α-Lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin were separated by chromatographic (HPA α-LA, HPA β-LG cas, dem) or alternatively by heat precipitation methods (Pearce α-LA, Pearce β-LG, R&B α-LA, R&B p-LG). All milk protein fractions tested were acceptable for baking bread. The best dough handling properties were achieved with high-heat skim milk powder (HHSMP), and the fractions rated good were HPA α-LA (cas), HPA α-LA (dem), HPA β-LG (cas) and R&B β-LG. Bread with significantly lower loaf volumes was produced with HPA α-LA (cas) and Pearce α-LA. Baking loss of bread was significantly higher in Pearce β-LG loaves than in HPA β-LG (cas, dem), HPA α-LA (cas, dem), WPC, and water bread loaves. Moreover, baking loss in HHSMP loaves was significantly higher than in HPA β-LG (dem), HPA α-LA (dem), WPC and water loaves.
Background TGF-β 1 expression has been described to increase along with time from transplantation and has also been linked to allograft dysfunction and toxic effects of cyclosporine. Our aim was to correlate intragraft TGF-β 1 expression with cyclosporine exposure after kidney transplantation. Methods Altogether 53 kidney allograft protocol biopsies from 42 patients on a low-dose cyclosporine-based regimen obtained at 3, 6, and 12 months were classified according to Banff and the chronic allograft damage index (CADI). TGF-β 1 expression in tubules, glomeruli, vessels, and inflammatory cells was semi-quantitatively scored and correlated with cyclosporine concentrations (C0 and C2), CADI, and graft function. Results TGF-β 1 expression was mildly increased along time from transplantation, but the results were not statistically significant. TGF-β 1 expression was neither related to CADI nor to the use of ACE inhibitors/ARB. TGF-β 1 expression in the kidney was not correlated with C0 or C2 levels or kidney graft function during follow-up. Conclusion In protocol biopsies from patients on low-dose cyclosporine regimen, expression of TGB-β 1 was not significantly increased along time since transplantation, and did not correlate with cyclosporine exposure. Our findings suggest that the toxic effects of low-dose cyclosporine on TGF-β expression may be milder than previously thought.
Background. The role of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in chronic kidney allograft rejection remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of CMV infection on histopathologic changes in 6-month protocol biopsy specimens of kidney allografts. Methods. Altogether, 52 renal allograft recipients were studied. CMV infection was diagnosed by CMV antigenemia test, viral cultures from blood and urine, or both. CMV was demonstrated in the biopsy specimens by antigen detection and hybridization in situ. Acute rejections were diagnosed by biopsy histology, and biopsy specimens were graded according to the Banff ’97 classification. Results. CMV infection was diagnosed in 41 patients. The 11 patients in whom CMV infection was not detected were used as controls. Acute rejection was diagnosed in 22 of 41 CMV patients and in 6 of 11 control patients. CMV was demonstrated in the biopsy specimens of 19 of 41 CMV patients. CMV was not associated with increased glomerular, tubular, or interstitial changes. However, the arteriosclerotic changes in small arterioles were significantly increased in the subgroup of patients where CMV was demonstrated in the graft as compared with controls (P <0.01). Analysis of the impact of acute rejection on arteriolar thickening showed that only a positive history of both acute rejection and CMV found in the graft was associated with significantly increased vascular changes compared with CMV-free recipients (P <0.05). Conclusions. Neither CMV nor acute rejection alone was associated with increased vascular or other histopathologic changes in 6-month protocol biopsy specimens of kidney allografts, but a previous history of both acute rejection and the presence of CMV in the graft was associated with increased vascular changes.
