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The present work outlines the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using black pepper fruit extract (piperine) as bioreductive and capping agent, followed by their conjugation with piperine and characterization thereof. Several approaches for elucidation of the properites of both non-conjugated and piperine-conjugated AgNPs were implemented. The formation of silver nanoparticles was monitored at 420 nm, corresponding to the surface plasmon resonance band of the obtained AgNPs. SEM and AFM analyses demonstrated the spherical shape of the NPs, while the DLS analysis revealed the negative charge of the NPs with mean diameter of 116.6 ± 8.9 nm and 142.1 ± 10.7 nm for AgNPs and piperine-conjugated AgNPs, respectively. Characteristic Raman bands at 237 cm−1 for AgNPs and at 249 cm−1 for piperine-AgNPs, indicate Ag+ reduction to nanoscaled Ag, in addition to emergence of new bands as a result of the formation of bonds with oxygen atoms from the extracted organic molecules. The bands in the Amide I region characteristic for β-sheets in the structure, followed by bands from the α-helices were also assigned. The work represents the first conjugation of the AgNPs with bioactive piperine, that further might be evaluated as promising new delivery system in the pharmaceutical and biomedical industry.

The growing urban population in the cities consequently leads to a steady increase in activities in industrial sector, especially in agriculture and farming, thus influence the increased sewage and wastewater generation, respectively. These activities, pose a threat to human health, generating excessive content of pollutants with different chemical compositions in wastewater. Among many pollutants, the ones with bonded nitrogen atoms in form of organic compounds, ammonia and nitrite/nitrate ions, interconvert in wastewaters causing an eutrophication of the aquatic eco-systems (Wang et al., 2010). Furthermore, reduction of nitrates into nitrites is associated with nitrosamines generation, which increase the prevalence of liver cancer, for example (Hosseini et al., 2011). The extent of the wastewater treatment is estimated based on the correlation of the inlet parameters of an influent (wastewater before treatment) and the outlet parameters of an effluent (treated wastewater). The extend of fluctuation in water flow, chemical composition and temperature, due to weather conditions annual variations, impacts the capacity for chemical and biological treatment of wastewater in the wastewater treatment plant. Designing mathematical models based on Linear Regression analyses using the correlated data sets of influent and effluent offer opportunity for prediction SWOT analyses for the efficiency of treatment of the nitrogen compounds (The Nitrates Directives 91/676/EEC) in the wastewater that obey to biological treatment (Morsy et al., 2020). The presented study reveals how the monitoring of the water quality of the surface watercourses across the municipality of Kumanovo.

Increased understanding of subjective well-being (SWB), as well as factors that influence it, are essential to enhance well-being at the individual and national level. We have applied a hedonic and eudaimonic 9-item composed tool (SWB score) to measure SWB across several Mediterranean (MED) and non-Mediterranean (non-MED) countries, and to explore the association between the SWB score and a range of sociodemographic, health and Mediterranean lifestyle factors. A specifically designed web-based questionnaire was distributed to adult participants (N = 2400) from Spain, Italy, Portugal, Bulgaria and Republic of North Macedonia. Results showed that the SWB score was significantly different across the examined countries with the MED participants displaying slightly higher average scores than the non-MED ones (6.3 ± 1.5 vs. 6.1 ± 1.6, p = 0.002). Several sociodemographic, health status and lifestyle factors displayed a significant but limited association with the 9-item SWB score, with a multiple regression model explaining around 17% of the variance. Nevertheless, our results support that a closer adherence to Mediterranean lifestyle habits—the Mediterranean Diet, spending time with friends, family, and in nature, being active, and getting adequate rest at night — has a positive influence on the 9-item SWB score. Further research is needed to advance the understanding of the measuring and differentiating of SWB across different populations and to establish all the factors that influence it., Portuguese part of this research was funded by Life Quality Research Centre—UIDP/04748/2020, a program financially supported by FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnolo-gia/ Ministério da Educação e Ciência. The Bulgarian part of the study is supported by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science under the National Research Program “Healthy Foods for a Strong Bio-Economy and Quality of Life” approved by DCM # 577/17.08.2018.

Background: Fish is consumed as food worldwide and is considered as a rich source of essential nutrients required for a healthy life. Supplementation with fish oil has been adopted as a solution to prevent or cure many pathophysiological states and diseases by both the professionals and the civil population. The beneficial effects are, however, being questioned, as some controversial results were obtained in clinical and population studies. Methods: Critical evaluation of studies regarding known effects of fish oil, both in favour of its consumption and related controversies. Results: From the literature review, contradictory allegations about the positive action of the fish oil on human health emerged, so that a clear line about its beneficial effect cannot be withdrawn. Conclusion: Scientific results on the application of fish oil should be taken with caution as there is still no standardised approach in testing its effects and there are significantly different baselines in respect to nutritional and other lifestyle habits of different populations.

The Mediterranean diet (MD) has been sponsored worldwide as a healthy and sustainable diet. Our aim was to update and compare MD adherence and food choices across several Southern European countries: Spain (SP), Portugal (PT), Italy (IT), Greece (GR), and Cyprus (CY) (MED, Mediterranean), and Bulgaria (BG) and the Republic of North Macedonia (NMK) (non-MED, non-Mediterranean). Participants (N = 3145, ≥18 y) completed a survey (MeDiWeB) with sociodemographic, anthropometric, and food questions (14-item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener, 14-MEDAS). The MED and non-MED populations showed moderate (7.08 ± 1.96) and weak (5.58 ± 1.82) MD adherence, respectively, with significant yet small differences across countries (SP &gt, PT &gt, GR &gt, IT &gt, CY &gt, BG &gt, NMK, p-value &lt, 0.001). The MED participants scored higher than the non-MED ones for most of the Mediterranean-typical foods, with the greatest differences found for olive oil (OO) and white meat preference. In most countries, ≥70% of the participants reported quantities of red meat, butter, sweet drinks, and desserts below the recommended cutoff points, whereas &lt, 50% achieved the targets for plant-based foods, OO, fish, and wine. Being a woman and increasing age were associated with superior adherence (p-value &lt, 0.001), but differences were rather small. Our results suggest that the campaigns carried out to support and reinforce the MD and to promote plant-based foods have limited success across Southern Europe, and that more hard-hitting strategies are needed.

Khechechuri is an endemic species of a pear spread over one region of Western Georgia, called Adjara. Pears are a dietary source of bioactive components such as polyphenols and triterpenic acid. In addition to highlighting its gastronomic value, the aim of the article was to examine and compare phenolic compounds, flavonoids, catechins, phenolic acids, and antioxidant activities in Khechechuri collected from various villages in the Adjara region, namely Adjaristskali, Merisi, Dandalo, Shuakhevi, and Khulo. Five parts of the fruit, the skin, edible pulp, whole pear (skin + pulp), juice, and pomace, were analyzed and the results compared. Our study indicated that the highest total phenolic content was found in the skin of West Georgian pear types (4650 mg/kg.) Moreover, the pomace showed significant amounts of total phenolic content in each of the Khechechuri samples analyzed. Flavonoids were found in each part of the Khechechuri pears, with the notable exception of the fruit juice. A positive correlation between the total phenolic content and the geographical altitude of where the fruits were collected was observed.

The Mediterranean diet (MD) and other lifestyle characteristics have been associated with well-being, a broad multiparameter concept that includes individual&rsquo, s subjective assessment of their own well-being (SWB). Some studies have suggested that diet influences SWB, thus, this work aimed to add novel information on the association of MD and SWB in a sample of Portuguese adults. Data on sociodemographic, economic, lifestyle, diet, and SWB were collected through a self-filled online questionnaire. MD adherence was assessed by the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) score ]. Results showed a moderate adherence to the MD in 490 Portuguese adults (mean MEDAS of 7.4 &plusmn, 2.1). A higher MD adherence was found to be significantly positively associated with women, employed individuals, a higher number of meals per day, and those with frequent contact with nature (p-value &lt, 0.0025, using Bonferroni adjustment). As a novelty, this study divided the participants into low SWB, medium SWB, and medium to high SWB profiles (3.9 &plusmn, 1.0, 6.2 &plusmn, 8.2 &plusmn, 1.3, respectively, p-value &lt, 0.05), which reported significantly increasing MEDAS scores (6.5 &plusmn, 2.1, 7.3 &plusmn, 7.8 &plusmn, 1.9, respectively, p-value &lt, 0.05).

The Caucasus is an area situated between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea and occupied by Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. It is home to the Caucasus Mountains, including the Greater Caucasus mountain range, which has historically been considered a natural barrier between Eastern Europe and Western Asia. Georgia is a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Eurasia is the largest continental landmass on Earth, comprising all of Europe and Asia. Special kind of pear spreads in one region of western Georgia (Adjara) called Khechechuri was the main research topic. Pear is a dietary source of bioactive components such as polyphenols and triterpenic acid. A total of five species of Khechechuri collected from various regions in Adjara were identified, including Adjaristskali, Merisi, Dandalo, Shuakhevi, and Khulo. Each pear fruit was examined and compared by five parts, skin, edible pulp, the whole pear (skin + pulp), Juice and the pomace. All parts were analysed for phenolic compounds, flavonoids, catechins, phenolic acids, and antioxidant activities. The total amounts of phenols, catechines, phenolic acids, and flavonoids were defined with the help of spectral methods and the antioxidant activity was established. The highest amount of total phenolic was found in the skin of Khulo and Adjaristskali which were around (4650, 4500) mg, respectively in 1 kg of the skin. pomace showed significant amount of the total phenolic in all species of khechechuri. It is worth to mention that Khechechuri parts in all different species studied contain flavonoids except the juice of the fruit species.

Nanoparticles can be synthesized by chemical, physical and biological methods. In general, physico-chemical methods can be toxic, expensive, produce NPs with low yield and limitations for medical/pharmaceutical use (contamination from precursors, solvents, etc.). Thus, the biosynthesis of NPs using plant extracts has become very important topic for research in recent years. As information about the physical, chemical,and biological properties of the NPs is still missing, in this work, we try to go a step further in revealing characteristics of biosynthesized AgNPs by performing a vibrational spectroscopic investigation.

Background: Many of the activities associated with pepper fruits have been attributed to piperine, the most active compound present in these spices. Objective: This paper aims to provide an overview of the known properties of piperine, i.e. piperine’s chemistry, its physiological activity, documented interactions as a bioenhancer and reported data concerning its toxicity, antioxidant properties and anticancer activity. Discussion: It is known that piperine possesses several properties. In its interaction with other drugs, it can act as a bioavailability enhancer; this effect is also manifested in combination with other nutraceuticals, e.g. with curcumin, i.e. piperine can modify curcumin’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anticancer effects. Piperine displays significant immunomodulating, antioxidant, chemopreventive and anticancer activity; these effects have been shown to be dose-dependent and tissue-specific. However, the main limitation associated with piperine seems to be its low bioavailability, a disadvantage that innovative formulations are overcoming. Conclusion: It is predicted that an increasing number of studies will focus on piperine, especially those directed towards unraveling its properties at molecular level. The current knowledge about the action of piperine will form a foundation for ways to improve piperine’s bioavailability e.g. exploitation of different carrier systems. The therapeutical applications of this compound will be clarified, and piperine will be recognized as an important nutraceutical.

Background: The immense development in the field of anticancer research has led to an increase in the research of bioactive compounds with anticancer potential. It has been known that many bioactive natural compounds have low solubility (and low bioavailability) as their main drawback when it comes to the formulation and drug delivery to specific sites.Objective:As many attempts have been made to overcome this issue, this review gives a summary of the current accomplishments regarding the development of new Drug Delivery Systems (DDSs) represented by nanoparticles (NPs) and exosomes.Methods:We analyzed the published data concerning selected compounds that present the most prominent plant secondary metabolites with anticancer potential, specifically flavone (quercetin), isoflavone (genistein and curcumin) and stilbene (resveratrol) groups that have been formulated as NPs and exosomes. In addition, we summarized the patent literature published from 2015-2018 that address these formulations.Results:Although the exact mechanism of action for the selected natural compounds still remains unclear, the anticancer effect is evident and the main research efforts are directed to finding the most suitable delivery systems. Recent patents in this field serve as evidence that these newly designed natural compound delivery systems could be powerful new anticancer agents in the very near future if the noted difficulties are overcome.Conclusion:The focus of recent research is not only to clarify the exact mechanisms of action and therapeutic effects, but also to answer the issue of suitable delivery systems that can transport sufficient doses of bioactive compounds to the desired target.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a chronic multifactorial pathology and a current and essential challenge for public health, with a negative impact on the geriatric patient’s quality of life. The pathophysiology is not fully known; therefore, no specific treatment has been found to date. The increase in the number of newly diagnosed cases of KOA is worrying, and it is essential to reduce the risk factors and detect those with a protective role in this context. The destructive effects of free radicals consist of the acceleration of chondrosenescence and apoptosis. Among other risk factors, the influence of redox imbalance on the homeostasis of the osteoarticular system is highlighted. The evolution of KOA can be correlated with oxidative stress markers or antioxidant status. These factors reveal the importance of maintaining a redox balance for the joints and the whole body’s health, emphasizing the importance of an individualized therapeutic approach based on antioxidant effects. This paper aims to present an updated picture of the implications of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in KOA from pathophysiological and biochemical perspectives, focusing on antioxidant systems that could establish the premises for appropriate treatment to restore the redox balance and improve the condition of patients with KOA.

This study provides comprehensive validation of the 14-item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (14-MEDAS) in an adult population from Greece (GR), Portugal (PT), Italy (IT), Spain (SP), Cyprus (CY), Republic of North Macedonia (NMK), and Bulgaria (BG). A moderate association between the 14-MEDAS and the reference food diary was estimated for the entire population (Pearson r = 0.573, p-value &lt, 0.001, Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) = 0.692, p-value &lt, 0.001) with the strongest correlation found in GR, followed by PT, IT, SP, and CY. These results were supported by kappa statistics in GR, PT, IT, and SP with &ge, 50% of food items exhibiting a fair or better agreement. Bland&ndash, Altman analyses showed an overestimation of the 14-MEDAS score in the whole population (0.79 &plusmn, 1.81, 95%Confidence Interval (CI) 0.61, 0.96), but this value was variable across countries, with GR, NMK, and BG exhibiting the lowest bias. Taking all analyses together, the validation achieved slightly better results in the Mediterranean countries but a definitive validation ranking order was not evident. Considering growing evidence of the shift from Mediterranean Diet (MD) adherence and of the importance of culture in making food choices it is crucial that we further improve validation protocols with specific applications to compare MD adherence across countries.

Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy were used to study the molecular structure of the recombinant monoclonal antibody and anti-CD20-conjugates which are intended to be used as anti-cancer therapeutic agents. We characterized the secondary structure of a therapeutic immunoconjugates, formulated with different bifunctional chelating agents and labeled with non-radioactive lutetium and yttrium. The secondary structure content of all three immunoconjugates was assessed to be similar to that of unlabeled antibody. In addition, no significant changes upon lyophilizing procedures were observed. The results demonstrate that amide bands could be taken as analytical peak which enables quick and reliable way for screening of protein pharmaceuticals during development of lyophilized formulations.