N-[(RS)-1-Carboxy-3-phenyl-propyl]-Ala-Ala-Phe-4-Abz-OH

For the development of healthful gluten-free soy bread acceptable to consumers, we evaluated the effects of various processing procedures for soy flour on bread quality, in terms of beany flavour and texture. We pretreated soy flour by both non-heating (raw:NS and germinated:GS) and heating (steamed:SS and roasted:RS) methods. In addition, to improve the loaf volume, we added 1% hydroxypropyl-methylcellulose (HPMC) to RS flour. Lipoxygenase activity was retained in the non-heat-treated flours (279 U/g for NS and 255 U/g for GS), but was significantly reduced in the heat-treated flours (106U/g for SS and 69 U/g for RS). Moreover, heat-treated flour had higher isoflavone and ferric reducing antioxidant power than had non-heat-treated flour. However, RS flour had the lowest moisture content and lowest L value. The GS bread had the highest specific loaf volume (3.53 cm(3)/g), followed by NS (2.96 cm(3)/g), RS (2.25c m(3)/g), and SS (1.81 cm(3)/g) bread. GS bread had the lowest hardness (1.53N), followed by NS (1.65 N), RS (2.00 N), and SS (3.75 N) bread. The addition of 1% HPMC to RS increased the loaf volume (2.44 cm(3)/g), but decreased the bread's hardness (1.80N). As to the sensory properties, the bread with heat-treated flour was perceived to have a less beany odour and taste than was the bread with non-heat-treated flour. However, the latter had a better appearance than the former. These results indicated that soy flour pretreatment could enhance the loaf volume and reduce the beany flavour of whole soy bread.

The complex relationship between BMI, thyroid and its effects on OSA raises a question on how patients with suspected OSA should be evaluated. Some studies have described an association between thyroid disorders and OSA. Whether this is a direct effect of thyroid disorders, or it is indirectly related to BMI values is an important point to ponder. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of thyroid disorders in relation to BMI in newly diagnosed patients with OSA (AHI > 5/h on diagnostic Polysomnography) at sleep lab of our tertiary care centre. In addition, we compared baseline characteristics of OSA patients with thyroid parameters. Material: In this hospital based observational study, recently diagnosed OSA on the basis of PSG showing AHI > 5/ h according to the AASM 2012 scoring rules and age more than 18 years were recruited from OPD and in-patients of SMS Medical College Jaipur. Patients on previous CPAP treatment, mixed or predominantly central sleep apnea, known diabetics and language barriers or cognitive or psychiatric disorders that made informed consent difficult to obtain were excluded. Observation: During the study period, 65 patients with treatment naïve OSA and a mean age of 52.28±10.92 year, a mean body mass index (BMI) of 34.73±7.20 kg/m2 underwent thyroid function tests. In the OSA patients, the prevalence of newly diagnosed clinical hypothyroidism was 12.3%. In Mild OSA the mean FT3 (ng/ml), FT4 (ng/dl), TSH (mIU/l) and mean AHI score was 3.10±0.71, 1.37±0.58, 3.64±1.37 and 7.74±3.55 respectively. Similarly, mean FT3 (ng/ml), FT4 (ng/dl), TSH (mIU/l) and mean AHI score were 2.97±0.93, 1.46±0.79, 6.33±8.05 and 17.42±88.90 respectively in moderate OSA and 3.32±0.58, 1.23±0.46, 3.55±1.82 and 45.54±21.38 respectively in severe OSA. There was a statistically significant difference between mild moderate and severe OSA regarding thyroid profile as well as BMI with p of <0.05. Conclusion: The prevalence of hypothyroidism was common among patients with OSA and the severity of OSA correlated with thyroid function tests and BMI.

Anthropogenic activities have increased nitrogen (N) inputs to grassland ecosystems. Knowledge of the impact of soil N availability on soil respiration (RS) is critical to understand soil carbon balances and their responses to global climate change. A 2-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the response of RS to soil mineral N in a temperate grassland in northern China. RS, abiotic and biotic factors, and N mineralization were measured in the grassland, at rates of N addition ranging from 0 to 25gNm(-2)yr(-1). Annual and dormant-season RS ranged from 241.34 to 283.64g C m(-2) and from 61.34 to 83.84g C m(-2) respectively. High N application significantly increased RS, possibly due to increased root biomass and increased microbial biomass. High N treatment significantly increased soil NO3-N and inorganic N content compared with the control. The ratio of NO3-N to NH4-N and the N mineralization rate were significantly positively correlated with RS, but NH4-N was not correlated or negatively correlated with RS during the growing season. The temperature sensitivity of RS (Q10) was not significantly affected by N levels, and ranged from 1.90 to 2.20, but decreased marginally significantly at high N. RS outside the growing season is an important component of annual RS, accounting for 25.0 to 29.6% of the total. High N application indirectly stimulated RS by increasing soil NO3-N and net nitrification, thereby eliminating soil N limitations, promoting ecosystem productivity, and increasing soil CO2 efflux. Our results show the importance of distinguishing between NO3-N and NH4-N, as their impact on soil CO2 efflux differed.