Vascular calcification decreases compliance and increases morbidity. Mechanisms of this process are unclear. The role of oxidative stress and effects of antioxidants have been poorly explored. We investigated effects of the antioxidants lipoic acid (LA) and tempol in a model of atherosclerosis associated with elastocalcinosis. Male New Zealand white rabbits (2.5-3.0 kg) were fed regular chow (controls) or a 0.5% cholesterol (chol) diet+104 IU/day vitamin D2 (vitD) for 12 weeks, and assigned to treatment with water (vehicle, n=20), 0.12 mmol·kg-1·day-1 LA (n=11) or 0.1 mmol·kg-1·day-1 tempol (n=15). Chol+vitD-fed rabbits developed atherosclerotic plaques associated with expansive remodeling, elastic fiber disruption, medial calcification, and increased aortic stiffness. Histologically, LA prevented medial calcification by ∼60% and aortic stiffening by ∼60%. LA also preserved responsiveness to constrictor agents, while intima-media thickening was increased. In contrast to LA, tempol was associated with increased plaque collagen content, medial calcification and aortic stiffness, and produced differential changes in vasoactive responses in the chol+vitD group. Both LA and tempol prevented superoxide signals with chol+vitD. However, only LA prevented hydrogen peroxide-related signals with chol+vitD, while tempol enhanced them. These data suggest that LA, opposite to tempol, can minimize calcification and compliance loss in elastocalcionosis by inhibition of hydrogen peroxide generation.

The physicochemical properties and quality of four fractions of wheat flour produced in an industrial mill and compared with wheat flour obtained by experimental milling were evaluated. The milling process modified damaged starch and ash content of the flours. An increase in the damaged starch content and a decrease in the ash content were observed. Significant variations in solvent retention capacity profile (SRC) and sodium dodecyl sulfate sedimentation index (SDS-SI) were recorded. The cookie factor (CF), hardness, surface roughness and the area of cracking of the cookies showed significant changes depending on the fraction of flour tested. The milling process significantly affected the ability of the flour for making cookies. The principal component analysis was used to discriminate between the different fractions of flours, from this; it is possible to conclude that the combination of physicochemical and rheological evaluations can predict the technological flour behavior to make cookies.

Se evaluaron las propiedades físico-químicas y calidad galletitera de distintas fracciones de harina de trigo pan obtenidas por molienda industrial, y se compararon con una harina de trigo pan obtenida por molienda experimental. Se determinó que los procedimientos de molienda incidieron sobre el contenido de almidón dañado y el porcentaje de cenizas en las harinas. Se observó un incremento en el contenido de almidón dañado y una disminución en el contenido de cenizas. Se registraron variaciones significativas en el perfil de capacidad de retención de solventes (SRC) e Índice de sedimentación en dodecil sulfato de sodio (IS-SDS). El factor galletita (FG), la dureza, la rugosidad superficial y la fracción de área de agrietamiento de las galletitas mostraron cambios significativos según la fracción de harina utilizada. El proceso de molienda afectó significativamente la capacidad de las harinas para la elaboración de galletitas. El análisis de componentes principales permitió discriminar entre las diferentes fracciones de harinas a partir de las evaluaciones fisicoquímicas y reológicas, lo que indica que la combinación de ambos tipos de determinaciones permite predecir el comportamiento tecnológico de una harina para la elaboración de galletitas.